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Treasury Taskforce Technical Note 7: How to achieve design quality in PFI projects

  • Last modified date:
    19 February 2007

This note is the seventh in a series of Technical Notes issued by the Treasury Taskforce providing practical guidance on key technical issues that arise from the implementation of the Private Finance Initiative.

The note is designed to assist public sector procurers to ensure that the highest quality design solutions for buildings or equipment are achieved.  Its focus is:-

  • The management of the relationships with bidders
  • The provision of clear information early in the competition about what is required and how bids will be evaluated
  • The need to ensure that design requirements are consistent with the budget available for the project

It explains how good design adds value and outlines what needs to be born in mind when producing output-based specifications.  The procurement process is considered, as is the identification of criteria for evaluation.

For NHS specific PFI guidance reference should be made to the Department's Design Development Protocol and Design Brief Framework for PSCs.

Whilst Technical Note 7 states that it should be read in conjunction with Technical Note 5, this has now been superseded by the Treasury's VFM assessment guidance.

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