In the evolving landscape of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Unsolicited Proposals (USPs) Management in PPPs has emerged as a critical capability for governments seeking to harness private sector innovation and capital beyond traditional procurement, while simultaneously safeguarding public interest and ensuring value for money. USPs, initiated by the private sector without a formal public request, offer a unique pathway for novel infrastructure and service solutions but require a highly structured, transparent, and robust framework to prevent rent-seeking, ensure fair competition, and mitigate fiscal risks. This comprehensive training course is designed to equip public sector officials, PPP unit professionals, and private sector proponents with the essential knowledge and practical skills to understand the rationale, benefits, and inherent challenges of USPs, enabling them to develop, implement, and navigate effective policies and procedures for their responsible identification, evaluation, and potential integration into a national PPP program. Without a clear and consistent approach to Unsolicited Proposals (USPs) Management in PPPs, governments risk compromising transparency, fostering unfair competition, and accepting suboptimal projects, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Public Sector PPP Unit Members
• Government Officials involved in infrastructure planning and development
• Private Sector Project Developers and Proponents
• Legal and Financial Advisors
• Procurement Specialists
• Policy Makers and Regulators
• Economic Development Agencies
• Consultants advising on project origination
• Anyone involved in the submission or evaluation of unsolicited proposals

Objectives

• Understand the definition, rationale, and potential benefits of Unsolicited Proposals (USPs).
• Learn about the inherent challenges and risks associated with USPs for the public sector.
• Acquire skills in designing a robust policy and legal framework for USP management.
• Comprehend techniques for screening and evaluating USPs at various stages.
• Explore strategies for ensuring transparency and fairness in the USP process.
• Understand the importance of Value for Money (VfM) assessment for USPs.
• Gain insights into negotiation strategies for converting USPs into bankable projects.
• Develop a practical understanding of integrating USPs into a national PPP program.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Unsolicited Proposals (USPs)

• Definition of Unsolicited Proposals (USPs) in the PPP context.
• Rationale for USPs: innovation, speed, private sector initiative.
• Advantages of USPs for governments and private proponents.
• Disadvantages and inherent challenges of USPs (e.g., lack of competition, transparency issues).
• Global trends and prevalence of USPs in different regions.

Module 2: Policy and Legal Framework for USP Management

• Key elements of a comprehensive USP policy.
• Legal authority for receiving and processing USPs.
• Developing clear guidelines and procedures for USP submission and evaluation.
• Ensuring consistency with existing PPP laws and procurement regulations.
• International best practices in USP policy development.

Module 3: Initial Screening and Concept Evaluation

• Criteria for initial screening of USPs (e.g., strategic alignment, public need, innovation).
• Assessing the completeness and clarity of the initial submission.
• Preliminary technical and financial viability assessment.
• Identifying potential conflicts of interest.
• Decision to proceed to detailed evaluation or reject.

Module 4: Detailed Evaluation and Feasibility Assessment

• Conducting a comprehensive technical, economic, financial, and legal evaluation of the USP.
• Role of Value for Money (VfM) assessment in USP evaluation.
• Comparing the USP with a hypothetical Public Sector Comparator (PSC).
• Assessing the uniqueness and innovation of the proposal.
• Engaging independent advisors for due diligence.

Module 5: Ensuring Transparency and Competition

• Mechanisms to ensure transparency throughout the USP process.
• Addressing the "uniqueness" challenge: competitive dialogue, Swiss Challenge, competitive bidding.
• Fair treatment of the original proponent.
• Public disclosure requirements for USPs.
• Mitigating risks of corruption and rent-seeking.

Module 6: Negotiation and Contract Award for USPs

• Strategies for negotiating with the original proponent.
• Balancing public interest with private sector incentives.
• Key contractual provisions for USP-led PPP agreements.
• Conditions for direct negotiation vs. competitive process.
• Achieving financial close for USP projects.

Module 7: Integrating USPs into the National PPP Program

• How USPs fit into a broader national PPP strategy and pipeline.
• Managing fiscal implications of USP-led projects.
• Monitoring and oversight of USP-originated PPPs.
• Learning from USP experiences for future policy refinement.
• Capacity building for USP management within government.

Module 8: Case Studies and Lessons Learned in USP Management

• Analysis of successful and unsuccessful USP projects from around the world.
• Identifying critical success factors for USP-led PPPs.
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them in USP management.
• Best practices in managing the interface between innovation and public accountability.
• Workshop: Practical exercise in evaluating a hypothetical unsolicited proposal.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.