The operations period includes the period between the Commercial Operations Date (COD) and the term date/expiry in a project. The following questions need to be answered as part of post award contract management activities during the operations period:
1. Are the service delivery quality, safety, user satisfaction, and emergencies duly monitored?
2. Is the maintenance (preventive, routine, periodic, major) being done as per the standards and in accordance with the O&M manual?
3. Are bimonthly site-visits carried out?
4. Are the financial performance, including the revenues, revenue sharing, etc. monitored and scrutinised from time to time?
5. Are the continuous fulfilment of mutual obligations and the implementation of course corrections (if any) happening?
6. Has there been a review of progress and adherence to the performance indicators set out for the project?
7. Have the contractual terms in case of non-compliance by the private partner been invoked?
8. Whether monthly reporting on the project status to the relevant Central Ministry/State Government is taking place?
The operations period is the longest of all the stages. Transparency and accountability in carrying out these activities must be ensured during all stages of project implementation.