Firm commitments to procurement timescales

3.15  On future procurements public sector procurement teams will set transparent and robust procurement timescales and will stick to these. This approach will enable both the public and private sector to plan and prepare efficiently.

3.16  To ensure this best practice is adopted in all PF2 projects, the Government will require Departmental Ministers to state their commitment to an ambitious procurement timetable, that runs from issuing the project tender to financial close ,when PF2 business cases are submitted to the Treasury for approval (at the Outline Business Case stage).

3.17  This project specific commitment will also be paired with a commitment from the Government that no PF2 projects will be allowed to take longer than 18 months for the procurement phase from the issue of the tender notice to the appointment of a preferred bidder. This is the most expensive phase of the procurement. After the 18 month point funding will not be approved by Treasury unless an exemption to the commitment is granted by the Chief Secretary. The Government will retain discretion to make a contribution to failed bid costs of shortlisted bidders where it sees fit. This blanket commitment aims to prevent PF2 projects being delayed in the dialogue phase of procurement and sets a firm limit on this phase.