Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): managing project handbacks

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), also known as Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) in the UK, have become a solution to a gap in public investment derived from natural budgetary constraints worldwide. This model is based upon joint working and risk sharing and brings together private sector solutions, technologies and investments and public sector oversight.

Long-term PPP contracts are marked by substantial complexity and involve elements of design, construction, financing, operations, legal and regulatory aspects that must be addressed for the success of a given PPP.

Learn more about the five major risk factors causing distress for PFIs/PPPs.

PPPs have expanded out of core infrastructure projects into new sectors such as district heating, broadband, cable and fibre communications, renewables, water and electric vehicle charging.

The UK is known as one of the pioneers in the use of PPPs where this model was first adopted in 1992 (£59 billion of private sector capital investment in over 722 UK infrastructure projects). In October 2018, the UK government announced that it would no longer use the PFI model. 78 projects are due to expire before December 2027 and a further 91 projects will expire in 2028-2030. PPP contract expiry is a complex transition and is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. To ensure a successful transition is it important to know which key risks and challenges the stakeholders are likely to face.

Risks associated with PFI/PPP contract expiry

• Contractual requirements are not well defined and not fully understood
• Public authorities are not being sufficiently prepared, incentivised and resourced for the handback process
• Disagreement regarding quality and condition of assets at handover
• Uncertainty regarding future of the assets or service delivery model
• Increased costs and risk to service continuity if handback preparation is delayed

Read more about major risk factors causing distress.

How to deliver smooth PFI/PPP handback?

Guidance and support plans have been released by various government agencies and independent organisations including the UK National Audit Office (NAO), UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), UK Local Partnerships and the Global Infrastructure Hub (GIH) which covers G20 countries.

All these are to help public authorities and private sector entities including investors, funders, asset managers and market suppliers to manage expiry and service transition. This is particularly important as both sides want to avoid disputes and work amicably and cooperatively towards a smooth exit, handover and transition process.

There is no hard and fast rule​ for when to start preparing for handback transition. But what did we learn from recent NAO, IPA guidance and GIH recommendations?

Early engagement and a collaborative approach between the private and public sector stakeholders are vital to facilitate the structured PPP handback transition process and minimise the risk of adversarial, protracted and costly disputes.

Plans for an orderly PPP handback should be developed and a strategy put in place for future service delivery model, to ensure that contract expiry can be a success.

Six steps to consider for a successful PFI/PPP handback

1. Undertake handback risk and opportunity assessment – The main emphasis should be given to development of plans for expiry preparation and future service provision, identification of ‘gaps’ in the processes, systems or areas of contractual ambiguity, assessment of availability of core information including contract documentation and asset registers as well as resource availability.
2. Ensure you have sufficient expertise to manage expiry as a programme – The need for improvement of multidisciplinary resources and skills has been identified when surveying public authorities. It is natural that both contract parties focus more on day-to-day operations and less on the ultimate backstop of expiry. Specialist project management, commercial and technical resources may need to be procured to support handback.
3. Focus on building collaborative relationships – Some public authorities do not engage in sufficient discussions with the private sector around expiry. It is important to remember that a collaborative approach benefits both the public and private sectors and, most importantly, the consumers and taxpayers.
4. Undertake joined survey to assess asset conditions – The majority of public authorities in the UK believe that they don’t have sufficient details about asset conditions and that the handback provisions are unclear. An accurate picture of the asset conditions is essential to ensure uninterrupted service provision once a PPP contract is handed over.
5. Ensure a robust commercial approach – Many public authorities and their private partners in PPPs do not have a clear view of the contractual provisions on handback. A clear and simple commercial guidance document will need to be developed to facilitate handback transition. This structured approach brings rigour and arm’s-length contracting practice.
6. Plan for future services – Public authorities must ensure that future services plans are developed early and integrated with the expiry process. The future service model will benefit from the lessons learned from the live PPP contracts and delivered handbacks. The modelling assumptions should also consider risks of rising inflation, any potential hidden charges and uncertainties related to asset conditions. The future service model should have clear and measurable protections of public authority interests e.g., performance deductions and maintenance reserve accounts.