Figure 1: Gateway Review Process and the Project Life-cycle
Gateway Risk Assessment
Sponsoring agency completes and submits Gateway Assessment Tool for a project which has an ICT component valued at $10m and above, or an infrastructure or procurement component valued $20m and above.
Project Exceeds Risk Threshold?
If yes, follow the Gateway Review Process. If no, the gateway review process is not necessary.
Project Agreed by Government?If yes, follow the Gateway Review Process. If no, the gateway review process is not necessary.
Project Life-cycle
Phase 1 - Establish Business Need
Business need identified. Develop program or project strategic proposal to provide the framework for options to address the business need.
Gateway Review Process
Gate 0 – Business Need *
Focuses on the broader, strategic assessment of the business need of the Sponsoring Agency. Areas assessed include:
- stakeholder buy in
- project alignment to the organisation’s business strategy and
- arrangements for leading and managing the project.
Project Life-cycle Phase 2 - Develop Business Case
Options identified and appraised; affordability, achievability and value for money established. Clarify the way forward for the project.
Gate 1 – Business Case
Focuses on the robustness of the business case in respect to the proposed approach and supporting analysis. Areas assessed include:
- clarity and practicality of proposal
- risks and critical success factors.
Project Life-cycle Phase 3 - Develop Delivery Strategy
Specify requirements, document delivery strategy or develop in-house approach, update business case.
Gate 2 – Delivery Strategy
Focuses on the project’s preparedness to invite proposals or tenders, or the project’s preparedness to resource an in-house solution. Areas assessed include:
- exploration of sourcing options
- feasibility of project plan.
Project Life-cycle Phase 4 - Examine Delivery Solution
Evaluate bids, select or confirm supplier or partner, plan, design and develop solution, update business case.
Gate 3 – Investment Decision
Focuses on whether the supplier selection meets the business need and contract delivery controls exist. For in-house sourced solutions, robustness of planning is the focus. Areas assessed include:
- implementation of procurement plan
- robustness of planning, design and development approach
- project controls and progress against project plan.
Project Life-cycle Phase 5 - Deliver Solution
Award of contract or transition to new contract, testing and commissioning of asset or service, assess readiness for delivery.
Gate 4 – Readiness for Service
Focuses on assessing organisational readiness for delivery and ongoing management. Areas assessed include:
- achievability of implementation plans
- planning and implementation of risk management strategies.
Phase 6 - Manage the Contract/Transition to Business as Usual
Asset or service delivered, benefits achieved, performance and value for money maintained/improved.Gate 5 – Benefits Realisation
Focuses on measuring the project’s success to date in achieving its objectives and potential remedial actions. Areas assessed include:- whether anticipated benefits are being delivered- ongoing contract development and management.
Project Life-cycle - Closure
End of project.
* Gate 0, Business Need Reviews, are usually conducted as the initial Gate of a project to inform the government’s decision making. Gate 0 can be repeated periodically throughout the life of a program.
Contact for information on this page: gateway@finance.gov.au