Schools Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
Here on the Schools Private Finance Initiative area of TeacherNet you can find general information about the scheme, as well as publications and guidance and the application toolkit. The site also holds a list of current projects; frequently asked questions; other useful information and a feedback page.
The Partnerships UK report: Schools PFI
Post Signature Review can be accessed here. The report shows in the schools and authorities surveyed, overall levels of satisfaction with the school buildings and services being delivered. It also highlighted some areas for improvement and the Department will work in support of these.
Partnerships UK provides significant technical support and market soundings to HM Treasury in developing its PFI/PPP policy and to the OGC in respect of guidance related to the procurement of IT-enabled procurement services. They also support departments and local authorities in bringing projects to market. The website contains the following useful resources:
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information on key procurement issues such as SOPC4 (the standardised contracts for PFI projects)
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the OGC ICT Services Model Agreement
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a well populated Partnerships UK database containing extensive financial and operational information in respect of PFI / PPP projects across Government
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FAQs on the Operational Help Desk it runs on behalf of the Treasury.
Letter from James Stewart, CEO of Partnerships UK
Read or download the letter (dated 17.02.09) here.
Schools-specific standard PFI contract
There are two versions of the Department's schools-specific PFI contract (October 2004 and May 2005). Both have been approved by HM Treasury as consistent with the Standardisation of PFI Contracts Version 3 (SoPC3). The Department has issued individual advice to local authorities procuring pre-BSF schools PFI projects on which version to use.
[22/05/05]
Reforms to local authority PFI grant announced
Results of a consultation into how local authority PFI support is calculated were announced by Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford. You will find more information here.
[28/01/05]
Standardisation of PFI contracts (SOPC) version 3
There is now a new version of standard wording and guidance to be used by public sector bodies when drafting PFI contracts. It supersedes Version 2, issued in September 2002 and contains new sections on refinancing and permitted borrowings. Transfer to the guidance on the HM Treasury website here.
[28/05/04]
UK map of schools PFI and PPP projects
A wall map is now available, for the first time from the DCSF, showing the extent of Private Finance Initiative (PFI ) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects throughout the UK, in the schools sector. The map shows all school PFI/PPP projects in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The map can be ordered, fee of charge, from Prolog on Tel: 0845 6022260 or by email. The reference number is: DCSF/0698/2003.
[22/09/03]
4Ps schools PFI procurement pack
A draft of the first four parts of the DCSF-commissioned schools PFI Procurement Pack is now available from the Public Private Partnerships Programme (4Ps). A brief summary of these parts is available here with details of how to order full copies.
The Pack is intended to be of value both to those new to the complex world of PFI, for whom these earlier sections of the Pack will be most useful, and to those more familiar with PFI. It should also be of value to many of the earlier projects that are more advanced in their procurement stages. The later sections of the Pack (to be added shortly) should be of most value to them. A Route Map for the whole process assists the reader to go straight to the most relevant section.
A formal consultation period will follow this draft publication, following which the Pack will be revised and re-published with official approval — probably in the Autumn of 2003.
The pack opens with a section putting in context the experience of Schools PFI over five years, and the new context of proposals for 'Building Schools for the Future'. Some of the objectives of the Pack include the provision of guidance and model documentation to help authorities develop a schools PFI project from an initial options appraisal in response to an identified need, through the procurement process, to the selection of a private sector partner and the signing of a long-term contract and project delivery, including contract management.
[01/07/03]
Send any queries or comments by email.
