1. The following addresses whether the project has the potential to be delivered as a service within a commercial arrangement.
2. Does the scope of the service lend itself to providing the service provider with "end-to-end" control of the relevant functional processes?
3. Are the boundaries of the service clear (especially with respect to non-negotiable areas of MOD-side control). Would you prefer a revised scope; are there capabilities that you would prefer to be included or excluded and why? How would these changes affect the attractiveness and value for money of any subsequent contract?
4. Does the service lend itself to establishing a genuinely incentivised payment regime to ensure that service levels are achieved (and payment withheld if they are not) and remain best value in terms of price, quality and delivery mechanism? What form might this mechanism take?
a. Would the private sector be reluctant to take full responsibility for any of the risk areas below:
b. design, (all components, facilities, resources and materiel required for design and development activity)?
c. financing, (establishing and maintaining the funding for service provision throughout the contract life)?
d. implementation, (all aspects of implementation, transition and certification)?
e. operation, (delivery of a high quality service at required levels of availability and continuity)?
f. regulatory change, (the consequences of changes in non- discriminatory legislation)?
g. technological obsolescence, (ensuring that the technology under-pinning service delivery remains consistent with contemporary market standards)?
h. service provider lock-in, (ensuring that the service is provided in such a way as not to constrain MOD's ability to continue to meet its requirements cost-effectively in due course via an alternative supplier/solution)?
i. residual value/disposal, (the residual value of the assets at the conclusion of the service contract)?
j. Demand risk?
5. Are there other major risk areas not identified above and how would you wish these to be allocated or shared between yourselves and MOD in order to maximise value for money?
6. What are the key issues in ensuring a smooth transition from the current arrangement to the proposed PFI service?
7. What are the issues with respect to maintaining service continuity through transition to war and full conflict [if appropriate]?
8. What are the personnel issues, either civilian or military, which you consider need to be addressed in determining the optimal procurement package?