PPF

Progressive Partnering Contract Framework

WHAT THE PROGRESSIVE PARTNERING CONTRACT FRAMEWORK is

The Progressive Partnering Contract Framework, PPF, is a structured support system for collaborative project delivery. It helps owners prepare and initiate projects using collaborative delivery models by selecting suitable components, developing a tailored Project Delivery Model specifically for their project and creating a reliable basis for contract design, tendering, contract award, interim phase and execution.

MODEL FIRST, CONTRACT SECOND

The PPF helps project owners identify the most suitable Project Delivery Model for their specific project.

It does not only support the selection of one model, but also makes different delivery options comparable, such as IPD, Alliance Models or customized collaborative approaches.

By assessing project objectives, complexity, risk profile, planning maturity, governance and compensation logic before contract development, the PPF enables owners to make an informed decision on the delivery model that best fits their project.

Expert Support ALONG THE Process

RiskConsult provides specialised advisory services to owners, ministries, and infrastructure agencies engaging with the PPF. Our support spans the full lifecycle — from initial delivery model design through to financial audit and execution-phase validation.

9 Methodological principles

The PPF is anchored in nine core methodological principles. These principles define how a collaborative project delivery model is structured, priced, risk-managed, and incentivised. Together, they form the analytical backbone that distinguishes a robust Project Delivery Model from a standard procurement exercise.

PROJECT OWNERS OUTPUTS

The structured PPF process produces concrete, measurable outcomes for owners before a single contract clause is finalised. These outcomes reduce downstream risk, improve governance, and create the conditions for genuinely collaborative delivery.

PPF Questions & ANSWERS

PPF ProJECT EXPERIENCE

Amprion Elbquerung – IPD with the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering

Between Wewelsfleth in Schleswig-Holstein and Wischhafen in Lower Saxony, a tunnel is being built to cross the River Elbe: ElbB. Within the Korridor B project, project no. 48, it forms a separate approval section. The approval procedure is regulated by the German Grid Expansion Acceleration Act.

The tunnel structure for the Elbe crossing in Korridor B is approximately 5.2 kilometres long and has an internal tunnel diameter of 4.0 metres.

The project is being delivered using the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering. RiskConsult supports Amprion with calculation models, tender documents and documentation for the procurement process, as well as with the collaborative execution phase and the development of incentive systems.

Using RiskConsult’s in house software RIAAT, the monetary and schedule related impacts are determined probabilistically in an integrated model.

Source: Faktenblatt Korridor B, Elbquerung

Project volumen: k/A

2025 - on going

Amprion Rheinquerung – IPD with the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering

The Rhine crossing in the Wesel Utfort section is an 11.4 kilometre subsection of the new 380 kilovolt extra high voltage line Niederrhein/Wesel Osterath. It connects the two endpoints of the Binnenland section from Voerde to Budberg.

The Rhine crossing has been included by the legislator in the German Energy Line Expansion Act, EnLAG, as an underground cable pilot route. For the Rhine crossing, Amprion developed various spatial and technical cable options, as well as an overhead line option. After an intensive assessment of the different alternatives, Amprion decided on a combination of a short overhead line section and a longer underground cable section. This decision was made in particular because the route passes through a river floodplain landscape, the Lower Rhine bird protection area and several nature reserves. Special regulations apply here with regard to species protection, for example for native breeding birds and wintering migratory birds.

The project is being delivered using the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering. RiskConsult supports Amprion with calculation models, tender documents and documentation for the procurement process, as well as with the collaborative execution phase and the development of incentive systems.

Using RiskConsult’s in house software RIAAT, the monetary and schedule related impacts are determined probabilistically in an integrated model.

Project volume: n/a
2024 – ongoing

Amprion Korridor B – IPD with the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering

Korridor B is a central element of the energy transition. It consists of the two grid expansion projects no. 48, Heide/West – Polsum, and no. 49, Wilhelmshaven – Hamm, under the German Federal Requirements Plan Act, BBPlG.

The high voltage direct current connection is expected to transmit wind power from Schleswig Holstein and northern Lower Saxony to North Rhine Westphalia from the early 2030s onwards.

The project is being delivered using the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering. RiskConsult supports Amprion with calculation models, tender documents and documentation for the procurement process, as well as with the collaborative execution phase and the development of incentive systems.

Using RiskConsult’s in house software RIAAT, the monetary and schedule related impacts are determined probabilistically in an integrated model.

Project volume: n/a
2023 – ongoing

Amprion Rhein Main Link – IPD with the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering

The Rhein Main Link is one of the central grid expansion projects of the energy transition. From 2033 onwards, this high capacity energy corridor is expected to transport up to eight gigawatts, GW, of renewably generated wind power from Lower Saxony via North Rhine Westphalia directly to Hesse, strengthening the Rhein Main economic region.

The grid expansion project combines four direct current underground cable projects into one energy corridor. These are projects no. 82, DC34, 82a, DC35, 82b, NOR 16 3, and 82c, NOR 16 5, under the German Federal Requirements Plan Act, BBPlG, for which the Federal Network Agency has identified a common preferred corridor.

The project is being delivered using the Progressive Partnership Contract for Civil Engineering. RiskConsult supports Amprion with calculation models, tender documents and documentation for the procurement process, as well as with the collaborative execution phase and the development of incentive systems.

Using RiskConsult’s in house software RIAAT, the monetary and schedule related impacts are determined probabilistically in an integrated model.

Project volume: n/a
2023 – ongoing

Selected Publications

Advanced Contracting & Delivery to AddressEmployer´s Priorities, Risk Management and Insurance Needs.

REILLY J., SANDER P., SPIEGL M., STANGL B., LÖSCH R. G., FRIEDINGER C. P.: Advanced Contracting and Delivery to Address Employer’s Priorities, Risk Management and Insurance Needs, WTC 2026, World Tunnel Congress 2026, Montréal, 15 to 21 May 2026

The paper “Advanced Contracting and Delivery to Address Employer’s Priorities, Risk Management and Insurance Needs through the Use of the Progressive Partnering Framework” by John Reilly, Prof. Dr. Philip Sander, Dr. Markus Spiegl, Bastian Stangl, Ralf Lösch and Carl Philipp Friedinger was presented at the WTC 2026, World Tunnel Congress 2026 in Montréal.

The paper shows how a structured, risk based and modular approach can support the development of project delivery models that reflect employer priorities, assess risks transparently and probabilistically, reduce insurability and bankability concerns, lower dispute potential and improve cost and schedule certainty in complex underground projects. The focus of the presentation was on the Progressive Partnering Framework, PPF, and the PPF Digital Tool. PPF provides structure through clear governance and decision logic, transparent cost components as a basis for target costs and incentive mechanisms, integrated risk management across costs, schedules and risks, and clear rules for collaboration between all project participants.

2026-05-20_WTC presentation_inkl Notizen_V15_F00.pdf

2026_WTC Contracting Progressive Partnering_F01 (1).pdf