PFI ‘needs central procurement’
28 June 2012
A troubleshooting team should be set up within the Cabinet Office to support the delivery of privately financed infrastructure projects, an industry body has claimed.
The Association of Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has called for a ‘risk and procurement management team’ to be established in the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group.The cross-departmental body would strengthen expertise available to the public sector on PFI projects and target key problems during procurement, in particular procurement delays or increases in cost.
“A risk and procurement management team that can take action to bring specialist expertise to departments could be invaluable where a contract shows risks of delay, inefficiency or failure,” said ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin.
In April, Partnerships Bulletin looked at the potential for a central procurement body to speed up infrastructure delivery. To read, click here.
ACE’s report also proposed greater flexibility in a new model of PFI, arguing that changing capacity needs within a scheme could be included in the contract with provisions envisaging an ability to scale up when necessary.
However, the study admitted such staging of capital investment “would have cost implications”.
To see the full report, click here.
