Public project: outline work plan

An outline work plan for a publicly-funded project procured by design and build, PFI or prime contract is presented below. Project plans for privately-funded projects are available by clicking here.

Clicking on any of the stages will open up the detailed tasks necessary to complete that stage. Together, the tasks represent a single, consolidated plan from the first moment it becomes apparent a project might be required right through to post occupancy evaluation.

[edit] Public project

Stage 1: Business justification.

Stage 2: Feasibility studies.

Stage 3: Project brief.

Stage 4a: Tender.

or

Stage 4b: PFI tender.

Stage 5: Concept design.

Stage 6: Detailed design.

Stage 7: Production information.

Stage 8: Mobilisation.

Stage 9: Construction.

Stage 10: Occupation and defects liability period.

Stage 11: Post occupancy evaluation.

Moveable stages:

• Appointing consultants.
• Planning permission.

Notes

1. The Government Construction Strategy proposes that publicly-funded projects adopt either a design and build, private finance initiative (PFI) or prime contract procurement route. These routes involve the client contracting an integrated supply team (including designers, contractors and suppliers) to design, construct and sometimes to finance, operate and maintain the development. Traditional procurement routes that separate design and construction should not be used unless it can be demonstrated that they offer better value.
2. Unlike traditional contracts, the client does not appoint their own design consultants. This means that they might require assistance from independent client advisers to help carry out appraisals, prepare briefing documents and tender the project. The extent of services required from independent client advisers will depend on the experience of the client and so some of the tasks we attribute to independent client advisers may in fact be carried out by the client and vice versa.
3. Publicly-funded projects are expected to commission independent peer reviews called 'gateway reviews' at key points during their development. The work plan presented follows the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) Gateway Review procedure. The OGC has now been absorbed into the Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office, and the guidance supporting the OGC Gateway Review procedure has been archived, however, the procedure is still cited by the Government Construction Strategy, and remains the only complete, and detailed project plan relevant to all publicly-funded projects.
4. The damning 2011 House of Commons Treasury Select Committee report on PFI found '...that PFI projects are significantly more expensive to fund over the life of a project' and that there is no '...clear evidence of savings and benefits in other areas of PFI projects which are sufficient to offset this significantly higher cost of finance'. It is difficult to see where this leaves PFI, however as long as it continues to allow financing not to appear in government debt it is likely to remain a feature of procurement in the UK. See PF2 for more inforomation.

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