4.25 Soft facilities management (FM) (also referred to as 'soft services') generally relates to the day-to-day supporting services required in the operation of an asset. For example; catering, cleaning, security, and portering at a facility such as a hospital, school or office. While there is no single definition of soft FM, these services tend not to be capital intensive or to materially affect the underlying asset. However, the wide range of PFI projects and soft FM services available means that there is also room for variation in the importance and impact of soft FM for different assets, for example, depending on the sector and the particular soft service being considered.
4.26 As the most visible aspect of a project post-construction, soft services will have a significant impact on a user's perception of the project when in operation. In some projects the need for interim services will require that soft service provision commence prior to completion of asset construction. This means regardless of the procurement route chosen, the consideration of how soft services will be provided should begin at the earliest stages of project design.