A key Value-for-Money driver and critical requirement for effective procurement is the agency's ability to effectively negotiate and manage commercial issues with the private sector. To protect the public interest and achieve optimal Value-for-Money outcomes, agencies should make sure that they have, and are able to apply, sufficient capacity and capability to alliance contracting-in particular, it is important for the agency to apply commercial good sense to all procurement activities.
The agency should ensure that efficient and effective market engagement occurs throughout the planning, evaluation, implementation and post-delivery phases of the alliance project. Appropriate mechanisms should be put in place upfront to ensure the agency is able to fully benefit from a collaborative approach and does not suffer any disadvantage from a mismatch to the capacity and capability of Non-Owner Participants from the private sector.
The application of adequate resources to the project will put the agency in a better position to achieve the benefits of the alliance delivery method. By involving people with the requisite experience in managing the project, the agency is likely to achieve better alignment between the alliance Participants, and therefore more robust decision-making processes within the alliance. The agency should provide people with sufficient seniority and expertise to provide active leadership in the alliance.