The driver for centralising resources is to share specialised professional expertise and functions so they are available as needed across several projects (e.g. legal expertise). It also facilitates the sharing of knowledge between projects within a single jurisdiction and provides PPP training and capacity building. The type of support available will have an impact on the size and expertise needed within a contract management team.
In many jurisdictions, one or more central government bodies support the contract management team. This can take the form of a central PPP unit or a specific support team that sits within the Procuring Authority, which is involved in many PPP contracts. There may also be a sector-specific network established to promote PPPs, such as the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme in the UK. Centralised resources can play an important role in staff training, which is detailed in Section 3.2 (Contract management team training).
The extent of involvement of centralised professional expertise in PPP contract management responsibilities on induvial projects can vary. For example, Colombia's Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI) provides extensive support. In many other jurisdictions, PPP units are not as big as ANI and provide only ad hoc or intermittent ongoing support to the Procuring Authority's day-to-day contract management team in terms of specialised expert advice (e.g. legal), PPP training and development, and other contract management support.
EXAMPLE The Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme in the UK The Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme (WIDP) in the UK helps promote best practice and knowledge sharing. The members are encouraged within a closed network to talk openly with peers and shar lessons learned. The WIDP has issued a contract manual that is widely used and considered helpful. This network can provide transactional support and any other contract management advice on specific issues, and helps members stay abreast of topical issues and challenges faced by fellow members. |
EXAMPLE Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura in Colombia The Colombian National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), a government agency responsible for PPPs, was set up in 2011 as part of the Ministry for Transport. It has about 700 people leading infrastructure development of around 40 highway PPP projects worth approximately US$25 billion. As well as the structuring and implementation of PPP contracts, ANI is also responsible for contract management. |