A design feature of PFI is a long term commitment to the provision of the contracted asset, maintenance and facilities management services. The long term nature of the commitment provides certainty for the contracting authority and the supplier, ensures that assets are appropriately maintained over the project life, and can have the effect of reducing the whole life costs for the public sector. However the long term contractual commitment reduces flexibility for changing public sector service requirements. The standardised contract terms contain specific compensation arrangements for the voluntary termination of a contract by the contracted authority. In addition, SoPC gives guidance on the option of building in to the contract specified break points that are priced by the contractor at the outset.