2.  ACRONYMS

The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this guidance:

GU

the Central Government unit set up within HMT to invest equity in PF2 projects

HMRC

HM Revenue & Customs

HMT

HM Treasury

ISO

International Standards Organisation

IP

Intellectual Property

IPR

Intellectual Property Rights

IT

Information Technology

IUK

Infrastructure UK (a part of HMT)

ITPD

Invitation to participate in dialogue (i.e. the invitation to bidders who have pre-qualified to take part in a competitive dialogue under Regulation 18 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No. 5))

MOD

Ministry of Defence

NHS

National Health Service

NPV

Net Present Value

PFI

The previous Government's Private Finance Initiative programme

PF2

The Government's successor policy to the PFI for the delivery of infrastructure and services through public private partnerships

PPP

Public Private Partnership

PSBP

The Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Programme

PUK

Partnerships UK plc

SHA

Shareholders' Agreement

SoPC4

Standardisation of PFI Contracts, Version 4, March 2007

SPV

Special Purpose Vehicle

VfM

Value for Money