New Forms of Procurement: PPP and Relational Contracting in the 21st Century

The last three decades have seen the evolution of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Relationship Contracting (RC) as alternative procurement approaches to traditional methods of delivering public infrastructure. The potential for growth in these new forms of procurement has led to an on-going debate on the nature of requirements, particularly in terms of policy development, encouraging private investment and value for money. A key argument for Governments to procure projects using PPPs and RC is that the process delivers better value for all the stakeholders, including the community and asset end-users. This wide-ranging study of such crucial procurement issues includes international historical context, collaboration and risk management, with a focus on sustainable procurement approaches. The international significance of PPPs and RC procurement is reinforced with case study examples from the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa and the Asia-Pacific. It features cutting-edge research from around the world on subjects such as:

• Reviews and reflection of the PPP approach
• Project Alliancing
• Implementation of RC in developing countries
• Changes in procurement policy
• Value for money, collaboration and stakeholder involvement
• Growth and emergence of PPPs in Asia
• Risk management

Including contributions from some of the world's most prominent academics and practitioners in this field, it is a crucial guide to the strategic choices governments now face for the provision of infrastructure, between using ‘public’ or ‘private’ mechanisms, or a combination of the two.

Marcus Jefferies is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Australia.

Steve Rowlinson is a Professor in the Department of Real Estate and Construction at the University of Hong Kong, SAR, China.