13.  Detailed proposal requirements

An agency may proceed to a call for detailed proposals "the Call" from the short listed bidders after gaining any required BCC approvals. The call should clearly specify the information required from bidders to enable the agency to assess whether bidders have satisfied the evaluation criteria.

For financial information, sponsoring agencies usually provide bidders with templates to submit with their bids. This provides the agency with information in a consistent format and makes comparing bids easier. To help government fully understand the private sector's funding package, short listed bidders must provide-with their response to the call for detailed proposals-the financial model used to support their bid.

Other information which may be required includes:

•  signed terms sheets for key subcontractors (in some cases the agency may require draft contracts);

•  signed terms sheets for the financing agreements, including evidence of credit committee approvals;

•  in the case of equity funding, evidence of the extent to which equity has been committed; and

•  a binding Australian Tax Office (ATO) ruling supporting the proponent's belief that the viability of the project is not threatened by tax risks.

Generally, the call for detailed proposals would specify what constitutes a conforming bid as well as identifying parameters within which variations to the above requirements would be accepted and the terms on which they will be accepted and evaluated.

These are often referred to as a variant conforming bid. Generally, the call for detailed proposals will specify that a variant conforming bid will only be considered if a conforming bid also has been submitted by a proponent.

A non-conforming bid is a bid which does not comply with the requirements for a conforming bid or a variant conforming bid. Agencies should ensure the call states that whether or not a non-conforming bid is accepted will be at the agency's sole discretion.