On 24 March 2017, the Welsh Government launched its new project agreement model model for the use of privately funded infrastructure projects, known as the Mutual Investment Model (MIM). Two versions of the standard form have been published: one for road projects and the other for accommodation. A user manual has also been published. As the user manual makes clear, the development of the two versions of the model forms has been aligned “as far as possible” to “facilitate future management of interprofessional contracts.” Since then, the Welsh Government has also published a series of standard forms and guidelines on the use of adjudicator powers in the implementation of MIM projects. The Welsh Government also plans to adopt a standard shareholder pact form to allow participation in MIM projects, but it will not be published until later this year. As the UK takes to the sun during the longest heat wave in many years, the thoughts of the infrastructure community are turning to what will occupy the area after the summer holidays, is nothing but a memory. The good news is that the Welsh Government has made significant progress over the summer on its mutual investment model (MIM) pipeline, so these projects should soon be brought to market. The A465 is Méridiam`s second project in Wales, after the education project was won last September to develop, build, operate and manage new schools and colleges across Wales. The contract, worth more than 500 million euros, will support economic growth and recovery. Planning and development of the first schools will begin this fall and will be operational for 25 years or more. Built in 1956, the current Velindre Cancer Centre has been expanded several times and is nearing its end of useful life. The project is one of three Scout projects for the Welsh Government`s innovative Mutual Investment Model (MIM) programme. The programme was set up to support investment in investment infrastructure in Wales.
The cancer centre includes radiotherapy treatment devices, which are purchased separately by the adjudicator authority and are associated with project operations under the MIM project. The adjudicator authority is responsible for the specification, selection, procurement, commissioning, maintenance, replacement, decommissioning and disposal of these facilities. It is expected that the successful participant will be responsible for the installation. MIM adopts several proven procurement models and relies on them to give projects a local taste without fundamentally altering a proven structure. It can be expected that this additional capital will only be included if it reduces the costs of the project, and at the decoupling level proposed by the Welsh Government, a fairly significant reduction would be required to obtain such an advantage.
