Consistent with the National PPP Guidelines, the EOI phase is the first step of the formal bidding process. The purpose of the EOI phase is to allow Government to shortlist no more than three private parties to ensure overall transaction costs are minimised.
Responsible Agencies should, in consultation with NSW Treasury, develop the EOI documentation based on the NSW Treasury PPP templates with due consideration of minimising bid costs. Responsible Agencies should consider carefully the need and use of all the requested information detailed in the returnable schedules.
The EOI documentation and requirements should clearly communicate which technical advisers and documents are required at EOI stage. Responsible Agencies should provide sufficient flexibility to allow consortia to procure specialist advisers, which are not key to shortlisting, until after shortlisting. This is likely to increase competition among specialist advisers and enable consortia to obtain improved pricing.
Prior to releasing the EOI, the Responsible Agency must submit a completed checklist to NSW Treasury to confirm they are ready to release quality EOI documents and manage the EOI process.
Responsible Agencies should contact NSW Treasury for the EOI Checklist template. The checklists are designed to ensure that the EOI has been prepared such that bid costs are minimised, that the Government's project and services objectives are clear and that only quality and necessary information is received. In addition, the Checklist focuses on consistency of the PSC, SBM, Reference Project and Output Specification.
Consistent with Figure 3.1, certain documents may need to be updated prior to announcing short-listed bidders and requesting Cabinet approval to proceed to the RFP phase. This includes, if key information or assumptions change, updating the Business Case, Public Interest Evaluation (Appendix 1) and Fiscal Impact Tables (see Appendix 2).