Direct award process guide published

摘要

A 'high-level' guide to the process followed by DfT when making direct awards to incumbent franchisees has just been published. It includes a flow chart of the process showing the relationship between the activities of the incumbent operator, DfT and DfT's outputs in five 'packs' containing the documentation issued as the negotiations proceed. Reflecting the more rigorous approach to franchising following the cancellation of the Inter-City West Coast competition and the subsequent Brown review, DfT draws attention to the 'key decision points' in the process where specific approval to proceed further must be received from departmental governance boards 'on examination of the updated business case and other supporting evidence for the direct award'. The guide also provides the legal background to the direct award concept which was introduced to maintain a steady flow of two to three franchises being let at any time over the next five years.