Guide to Using the RIBA Professional Services Contracts 2018 - Other - Page 78
Contract terms
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Key watchpoints
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Take appropriate legal advice before signing any Supplementary Agreement.
Know the difference between novation and consultant switch.
Wherever possible use an appropriate standard form.
Append and reference all relevant documents to the PSC.
4.15 Schedule of Services
The Schedule of Services is a key section of the RIBA Professional Services
Contracts 2018 as it defines specifically what the Architect/Consultant is going
to undertake on the specific project for that Client. Each variant of the RIBA
Professional Services Contracts 2018 has a Schedule of Services to suit the type
and complexity of the particular RIBA PSC being used. This section looks at the level
of detail for each variant and points to look out for when completing the schedules.
What are the Schedules of Services?
The Schedule of Services, often referred to as the scope of work, is used to define
the Services to be performed by the Architect/Consultant by effectively listing the
tasks which are, or may be, required to be undertaken by the Architect/Consultant for
the project mapped to the stages of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013. It should be noted,
however, that although there is an option to include minor services at Stage 0 and
Stage 7 it is recommended that any work to be carried out at these stages should be
the subject of a separate and discrete PSC.
At the outset of the project the Architect/Consultant and the Client need to agree
and draw up the Schedule(s) of Services, not only for the Architect/Consultant
but also any other professionals needed to work on the project. In preparing the
Schedule of Services, the objective should be to ensure that the limits of the roles
and tasks are established in sufficient detail to protect the Architect/Consultant
from claims and allegations made against it at a later date. As well as ensuring
that the Schedule of Services covers all the work that the Architect/Consultant is
contracted and required to do, the services of any other professional consultancies
will need to be fully coordinated with those of the Architect/Consultant. This is to
ensure that all the tasks required to be undertaken are fully covered so that any
items missed will not fall back on the Architect/Consultant. It is equally as important
for the Architect/Consultant to state what they are NOT doing, and it is for this reason
that the RIBA PSCs suggested that the Architect/Consultant should finely strike out
such services but in a way that they can still be read so the Client can see what has
been excluded.
As an alternative to the standard RIBA Schedules of Services a Client or Architect/
Consultant may wish to use their own bespoke Schedule of Services, either
because of the limited nature of the services to be provided or the type of service
is not covered by the standard form. If this is the preferred option, then the bespoke
Schedule of Services should be numbered and attached to the PSC as an appendix
and the standard Schedule of Services crossed through and referenced to the
relevant appendix.
Whichever option is used, the completed Schedule of Services should accurately
reflect the Client’s requirements and the services that the Architect/Consultant has
agreed to provide, particularly where the Architect/Consultant is to perform other
professional services, is not to perform the full range of services within a stage,
or is only undertaking some stages, for example only providing services as far as
submitting a planning application.
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