Feasibility study vs options appraisal - the difference
The two terms are used interchangeably in the procurement market but they are not the same. An options appraisal is a Stage 0-1 piece; a feasibility study almost always carries it into Stage 2 concept design and Cost Plan A.
The crisp distinction
An options appraisal weighs alternatives against the brief without committing to one. A feasibility study takes the preferred option forward into concept design, costing and pre-application. The first answers 'which?'; the second answers 'how, at what cost, with what risks?'.
RIBA mapping
Options appraisal: Stage 0 to Stage 1. Feasibility study: Stage 0 to Stage 2 (most commonly), sometimes Stage 0 to Stage 3.
What does GEMS expect
Good Estate Management for Schools expects the trust to demonstrate it has appraised options before committing capital. The options appraisal is the artefact that proves this [source: GEMS, verified 2026-06-24].
What does CIF expect
CIF Section B asks for condition evidence; Section C asks for a fundable cost narrative. In practice this means a study that has at least carried the chosen option to a Cost Plan A, i.e. a feasibility, not just an options appraisal [source: CIF 2025-26 guide, verified 2026-06-24].
Can a single brief cover both
Yes; most commercial briefs package the options appraisal as the Stage 0-1 phase of a wider Stage 0-2 feasibility. The fee envelope and the deliverables list change accordingly.