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THE NORTHERN IRELAND GUIDE TO EXPENDITURE APPRAISAL AND EVALUATION (NIGEAE). Revised DFP guidance on Expenditure Appraisal, Evaluation, Approval and Management. Michael Brennan Strategic Policy Division Department of Finance & Personnel Signal Centre, 25 th November 2009. Background.
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THE NORTHERN IRELAND GUIDE TO EXPENDITURE APPRAISAL AND EVALUATION (NIGEAE) Revised DFP guidance on Expenditure Appraisal, Evaluation, Approval and Management Michael Brennan Strategic Policy Division Department of Finance & Personnel Signal Centre, 25th November 2009
Background • Green Book 2003 • NI Practical Guide 2003 • DFP appraisal website 2004 • Local guidance still required • Guidance needed refreshing
Key Points • Printed NIPG has been withdrawn • Online guidance will aid regular updating • New title – ‘NIGEAE’ • Basic steps of appraisal & evaluation unchanged • Some specific changes to procedures
Developments • NI v UK perspective • PPP v Conventional Procurement • Revised Approval Procedures • Refocusing of PPE monitoring • Revised guidance on: • Programme & project management • Use of consultants
NI versus UK Perspective • NI focus reflects devolution • Subtle change of focus, not a radical change • NI & UK impacts often coincide • Can make a difference in tourism & industrial assistance • Flexibility remains to consider UK, RoI and EU impacts
Infrastructure Procurement Options • Separate strategic & procurement appraisals • VFM assessment: • Consider different forms of both PPP and Conventional procurement • Examine Conventional Procurement Option at key procurement stages • Extra DFP approval required prior to appointment of a preferred bidder • March 2009 HMT Infrastructure Finance Unit • August 2009 HMT guidance on “PPP Projects in Current Market Conditions”
Approval Procedures • DFP must have reasonable time for consideration • Retrospective approval – Not likely! • Approval at SOC stage for major projects & ‘high profile’ cases • PFI projects require approval at four stages: SOC, OBC, ABC & FBC • Use of Gateways
DFP Monitoring of PPEs • PER & PPR required for all projects > £500k • Terms PPE & PPR used interchangeably • DFP will give priority to monitoring PPEs for larger projects & those with ‘read across’ • Approval letters will state whether PPE must be submitted to DFP in individual cases • PPEs are still required with proportionate effort in all cases – and DFP may test drill occasionally
The role of appraisal & evaluation in the current financial climate • Financial pressures = greater need to scrutinise spending • Appraisal principles are relevant to • the search for efficiencies • assessment of options for reductions • What is indispensable and what can be cut or discontinued? • How can we make savings with minimum impact on services? • The alternative to rational appraisal is arbitrary cuts!
Next Steps Departments should: • Absorb & disseminate NIGEAE • Reassess their own guidance in light of NIGEAE • CARRY ON APPRAISING!