OGC Gateway Reviews

Acquisition programmes and procurement projects in the central civil Government are subject to OGC Gateway™ reviews. The OGC Gateway process examines a programme or project at critical stages in its lifecycle, to provide assurance that it can progress successfully to the next stage. The process is based on well proven techniques that lead to more effective delivery of benefits, together with more predictable costs and outcomes. It is designed to be applied to delivery programmes and procurement projects, including those that procure services, property and construction, IT-enabled business change and procurements using framework contracts.

What is an OGC Gateway review?

In simple terms, it is a review of an acquisition programme or procurement project carried out at a key decision points by a team of experienced people, independent of the project team.

There are five OGC Gateway reviews during the lifecycle of a project, three before contract award and two looking at service implementation and confirmation of the operational benefits. A project is reviewed at the OGC Gateway review appropriate to the point reached in its lifecycle. Retrospective or combined OGC Gateway reviews are not supported. There may be additional OGC Gateway reviews, if required, such as the decision points between OGC Gateway reviews 3 and 4 for construction projects. The process emphasises early review for maximum added value.

OGC Gateway review 0 is a programme-only review, that is repeated throughout the programme's life. It can be applied to policy implementation, business change or other types of delivery programme involving acquisition. It sets the programme review in the wider policy or corporate context.

The OGC Gateway process provides assurance and support for senior responsible owners (SRO) in discharging their responsibilities to achieve their business aims by ensuring that:

• the best available skills and experience are deployed on the programme or project 
• all the stakeholders covered by the programme/project fully understand the programme/project status and the issues involved
• there is assurance that the programme/project can progress successfully to the next stage of development or implementation 
• more realistic time and cost targets are achieved for programmes and projects
• knowledge and skills among government staff are improved through participation in review teams  
• advice and guidance to programme and project teams are provided by fellow practitioners

The OGC Gateway Process meets the requirements of the Gershon Report on government procurement and the Cabinet Office report Successful IT: Modernising Government in Action (PDF, 804kb). It is also consistent with Achieving Excellence in Construction.

4ps works in partnership with all local authorities to secure funding and accelerate the development, procurement and implementation of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes, public private partnerships, complex projects and programmes. 4ps' multi-disciplinary team provides hands-on project support, OGC Gateway reviews, skills development and best practice know-how.