Renegotiating PPP Contracts: Reinforcing the ‘P' in Partnership

Abstract

The issue of renegotiation is becoming increasingly important as a tool to address uncertainty of public private partnership (PPP) projects and as a mechanism to restore its economic and financial equilibrium. This paper aims to understand how and why renegotiations occur in long-lasting PPP projects and what are the pros and cons of the renegotiation. We depart from a literature review on contract incompleteness and on the determinant factors for the renegotiation of infrastructure concessions. To illustrate the discussion, the case studies of nine European PPP projects are analysed by examining the specific exogenous and endogenous determinant factors that conduce to renegotiating contracts. The implications of contractual renegotiations are explained and summarized through a comparison of our case studies with literature. Although renegotiation, per se, is not a solution for the successful implementation of PPP projects, our findings reinforce the idea of contractual flexibility as a tool that allows adapting to uncertainty. Moreover, effective communication mechanisms allow a better response to unforeseen events, reinforcing the partners’ commitment to deliver a win–win project.     

An agent‐based simulation model to assess the impacts of introducing a shared‐taxi system: an application to Lisbon (Portugal)

This paper presents a new concept of urban shared‐taxi services. The proposed system has a new organisational design and pricing scheme that aims to use the capacity in traditional taxi services in a more efficient way. In this system, a taxi acting in ‘sharing’ mode offers lower prices to its clients, in exchange for them to accept sharing the vehicle with other persons who have compatible trips (time and space). The paper proposes and tests an agent‐based simulation model in which a set of rules for space and time matching between a request of a client and the candidate shared taxis is identified. It considers that the client is only willing to accept a maximum deviation from his or her direct route and establishes an objective function for selecting the best candidate taxi. The function considers the minimum travel time combination of pickup and drop‐off of all the pool of clients sharing each taxi while allowing to establish a policy of bonuses to competing taxis with certain number of occupants. An experiment for the city of Lisbon is presented with the objectives of testing the proposed simulation conceptual model and showing the potential of sharing taxis for improving mobility management in urban areas. Results show that the proposed system may lead to significant fare and travel time savings to passengers, while not jeopardising that much the taxi revenues. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

汽车散热器性能评价的(火用)分析法

采用[火用]分析方法对汽车散热器性能进行评价,建立了相应的分析模型,提出以[火用]效率作为汽车散热器热力性能的评价指标。通过对汽车散热器因传热温差以及粘性流动阻力引起的不可逆[火用]损失进行热力学分析,推导得出了汽车散热器的[火用]效率计算公式。结合某管带式汽车散热器的试验数据进行了相关计算与分析。     

不同海拔地区下增压中冷柴油机的性能研究

采用微机化大气模拟测控系统对增压中冷柴油机运行在不同海拔地区下的性能进行了大量的专题试验研究,分析比较了不同海拔下的增压中冷柴油机负荷特性、速度特性、万有特性及排放特性的关系。试验结果表明：随着海拔高度的升高,大气压力减小,导致吸入气缸内的空气量减少,缸内吸气终了的温度和压力下降,从而使得增压中冷柴油机的动力性、经济性下降,等有效燃油消耗区明显变窄。     

商用车冷却模块匹配设计方法研究

分析车辆的冷却系统流动传热规律,提高冷却系统在车辆部件设计过程中的准确性。文章主要针对商用车的冷却模块作为主要的研究,从流体力学及传热学理论基础上,通过试验分析进行了车辆冷却的传热问题分析和数据测试,希望能够为实际应用提供冷却系统性能的改善指导。     

基于LabVIEW的应答器I/O特性异物测试研究

基于LabVIEW搭建应答器功能与性能自动测试平台,按照铁道行业标准应答器传输系统测试规范要求,通过定制测试工装,实现清水、盐水、铁矿石、金属物等异物环境下的应答器输入输出(I/O)特性测试,为在室外复杂环境条件下工作的应答器设备的芯片选型、故障分析等测试研究工作提供测试条件.     

基于通信的列车控制无线网络构架与安全性研究

介绍了当今无线局域网中常用的网络协议,以及无线技术在基于通信的列车控制网络构架中的应用。分析了网络中可能存在的安全隐患和漏洞。并以IPSec加密技术为例,介绍了如何采取相应措施来确保无线网络的安全。     

基于通信的列车控制技术在轨道交通信号系统升级中的应用

对轨道交通系统中信号系统的升级需求进行了分析,归纳了系统升级中应考虑的几个问题。以英国伦敦维多利亚线信号系统升级项目为实例,分别从过渡设备的安装、车辆测试、信号系统更新、控制中心升级等方面介绍了基于通信的列车控制技术的应用及其关键技术。     

To competitively tender or to negotiate - Weighing up the choices in a mature market

A key attribute of competitive tendering for the periodic selection of operators of subsidised public transport services is to secure the provision of specified services at efficient cost levels. This has proved particularly effective where services were previously provided by an inefficient monopoly operator. The arguments for the adoption of competitive tendering in preference to negotiation with the incumbent operator may be less clear-cut in other cases.Consideration is given to both theoretical and practical insights into the relative merits of competitive tendering and negotiation approaches in such situations. The limited literature on the topic is reviewed and insights and lessons identified. Influencing issues include prior conditions, the nature of the supplier market, features of contracts, negotiating and competitive tendering strategies and practice, accountability and transparency, and long-term market implications. The evidence suggests that ‘one size does not fit all’, and the choice will depend on specific circumstances.The relative merits of the two approaches for renewal of bus contracts are considered with regard to Adelaide, for contracts which have previously been awarded through competitive tendering. The paper draws out the main factors that could influence the authority’s choice between the options, and discusses the relevance of the findings to other situations.     

Goal achievement with trusting partnerships at the tactical level

Recent Thredbo Conferences have begun to explore the importance of the relationship between public transport service purchaser and provider in the development of successful public transport services. However, practical examples to test the trusting partnership model are rare. Bus service planning and delivery in Melbourne, Australia, has pioneered the trusting partnership approach, from agreement about desirable service standards and requisite operator qualifications (at the Tactical level) to detailed service delivery contracts. New negotiated performance-based metropolitan bus contracts commenced in January 2009, embodying principles discussed in previous Thredbo Conferences. This paper reports on the Tactical planning process that agreed service standards and the subsequent contract negotiation process, reflecting a trusting partnership between purchaser and provider, while remaining transparent and accountable and maintaining performance pressure on the provider. It shows how patronage growth rates have increased dramatically and identifies areas where further enhancements should be explored in the contracting area.