During the construction phase, relationships with the private party that are embedded in the governance and reporting arrangements formally commence. Specific contract management issues can arise during the construction phase that can impact future service delivery or value for money.
The period of design development requires due diligence by the contract management team to ensure the government party receives the required standard of asset and that the asset will have the capability to provide the contracted services. The technical completion tests for the asset are a key milestone during the construction phase (in projects where technical completion is contemplated) as is the operational readiness period leading up to commercial acceptance and its related commissioning tests.
The role of the independent reviewer is also critical during the construction phase. Both the government party and the private party must cooperate and provide the information to the independent reviewer to ensure commissioning tests are able to be completed in a timely manner.