Principle 4: Workshop feedback is to be clear, equitable and relate to the RFP

• Overall, the purpose of feedback is to provide clarity to bidders on the government's requirements and expectations.

• The government project team will not indicate or suggest how a bidder should comply with the RFP, but rather whether it considers the bidder does or does not comply. Comments should be framed in the context of the government's requirements as set out in the RFP, noting that at times it may be appropriate to clarify and expand on the requirements of the RFP, and the reasons behind the government's requirements rather than simply referring bidders back to the RFP.

• Feedback should not prescribe the content of bids or lead bidders to a particular solution. The bidder will need to form its own view of how to incorporate government project team feedback into its proposal.

• Bidders should not seek, and the government project team will not provide, outright endorsement, approval or evaluation of design concepts or other issues.

• In addition to responding to specific questions asked by a bidder, the government project team may unilaterally indicate where it has concerns regarding designs or other information presented to it. These concerns must be expressed however in terms of the specific requirements of the RFP e.g. a bidder may be asked how they believe the proposal addresses the requirements of particular section of the RFP.

• While the government project team will endeavour to draw the bidder's attention to an element of the proposal that it considers may be inconsistent with the RFP or fails to adequately meet the government's requirements, the government project team cannot and will not represent that every inconsistency or issue will be detected and/or commented upon.

• Government representatives should express a collective view and avoid personal opinions. In responding to questions the government project team shall ensure consistency of response.

• The government project team may decline to answer specific questions from a bidder at a workshop. In this case, the government project team should indicate why it considers answering the question is inappropriate.

• As a guiding principle, wherever possible, bidders should not be allowed to leave a workshop in a state of confusion with questions unanswered. A summary session should be held at the end of each meeting to ensure this does not occur and that bidders leave the session with a good understanding of the aspects of the RFP discussed.

• Where appropriate, significant issues that are raised by all bidders could be clarified by way of a "joint amplification session" involving all consortia.