Flinders Link Project

We have completed a review of the Flinders Link Project. We assessed whether the arrangements established by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to procure design and construction services for the project met appropriate procurement standards.

We concluded that the procurement process was not effectively managed because key elements did not meet those standards, proportionate to the high risk, high value nature of the project. They included: 

• robust procurement planning was not completed before procurement activity started 
• proper records of communications with Gateway South before completing the acquisition plan were not maintained 
• arrangements to manage probity were not implemented from the outset of the procurement 
• there was a lack of evidence‐based analysis and documentation to support key decisions made during the procurement process, including using a direct negotiation approach 
• the nature and extent of work performed to demonstrate value for money was not sufficiently documented.