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Soft FM meaning

What does Soft FM mean?
Soft FM describes the non-technical facilities management services that support the day-to-day operation of occupied premises, as distinct from Hard FM (building fabric and mechanical/electrical maintenance). It is not defined in legislation or case law; it is a descriptive term used in outsourcing agreements, PPP/PFI contracts, procurement documents and commercial leases. Typical Soft FM services include cleaning, catering, laundry, reception/front-of-house, security and access control, mailroom and porterage, waste management, pest control, grounds maintenance, helpdesk, moves and changes, vending and concierge services. Key legal features include detailed specifications, service levels and KPIs, performance deductions/bonuses, change control and benchmarking, and compliance with applicable health and safety, food hygiene and safeguarding requirements. Employment aspects are often material: the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (and the 2006 Regulations in Northern Ireland) or, in Ireland, the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003, may apply on outsourcing, insourcing or re-tendering. Public procurement rules may apply where the client is a contracting authority. In leased premises, Soft FM costs are commonly recovered through the service charge, subject to lease terms and applicable professional guidance. Usage is broadly consistent across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
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View the related Practice Notes about Soft FM

PRACTICE NOTES
UK Construction Law Glossary: F—Facilities Management, FIDIC, Final Account, Fitness for Purpose, Force Majeure, Frameworks and Funding

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Facilities management Facilities management contracting is, at its core, a commercial services contract arrangement, covering ‘Hard FM’ (relating to the upkeep and fabric of a building, for example mechanical and electrical systems), ‘Soft FM’ (relating to in-building support functions such as cleaning, security and helpdesk services) or ‘Total FM’ (which can combine a number of hard and soft facilities management services), as required within buildings. See subtopic: Facilities management for construction lawyers. Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs-Conseils (FIDIC) The International Federation of Consulting Engineers. FIDIC issues a suite of standard-form contracts for deployment on international construction projects. In common usage, ‘FIDIC’ typically refers to that family of contracts rather than the institution itself. See subtopics: FIDIC contracts 2017 onwards and FIDIC contracts pre-2017 editions in practice by practitioners. Feed-in tariff The Feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme—also sometimes known as the...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Facilities Management Contracting: hard, soft and total FM; staff and service transfer; TUPE; Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996; advantages and disadvantages

This Practice Note examines facilities management (FM) contracting, explaining what it involves and its advantages and disadvantages... A strategic approach to service provision FM contracting is, at heart, a commercial services contracting model, which may comprise: Hard FM – covering the upkeep and fabric of premises, such as mechanical and electrical systems Soft FM – covering support functions within a building, including cleaning, security and helpdesking Total FM – bundled packages that may integrate multiple hard and soft FM services The worth of FM contracting as a contractual mechanism is both economic and operational, enabling organisations to apply FM in strategic and tactical ways to reframe their own business activities... What makes FM different? FM is distinguished as a service sector by the binding contractual relationship between the FM contractor and the client, under which the contractor undertakes services that were traditionally delivered by the client itself. This makes FM agreements inherently complex, as they must address the...

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PRACTICE NOTES
PFI/PF2 project structures: parties, roles and interfaces in the UK

This Practice Note explores the principal parties commonly engaged in a PFI or PF2 project. It outlines the functions of public sector participants, private sector counterparts, finance providers and sub-contractors, together with support providers and other professionals involved. In the 2018 Budget (delivered on 29 October 2018), the government confirmed it would cease using PF2 for new schemes (see News Analysis: Budget 2018—what does it mean for infrastructure and housebuilding?). Nonetheless, live PFI and PF2 arrangements remain in operation and, given the usual duration and lifespan of these schemes, are expected to do so for many years to come. Public Sector Authority/Trust This is the public sector organisation that originates and procures the PFI scheme in question and seeks to have the asset constructed and properly maintained (the label 'Trust' applies only to NHS schemes). The public body will typically be a local authority (including fire and rescue and (formerly) police authorities), an NHS Trust or a government department or non-departmental public body. The Authority/Trust enters into a...

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