Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

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Drafting and Negotiating Effective Maintenance Contracts

Speaker: Thomas Conlon, Public Procurement Consultant

• Key contractual terms and clauses to include
• Avoiding ambiguity in scope of works and pricing models
• Negotiation strategies for both public and private sector organisations

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in Practice

• Setting clear, measurable performance indicators
• Remedies for poor performance and under-delivery
• Incentives vs penalties: what works best in Ireland

Dispute Resolution in Maintenance Agreements

• Common disputes in maintenance contracts: scope, performance, cost
• Mediation, arbitration and litigation — which is most effective?
• Drafting robust dispute resolution clauses to reduce risk

Performance Management – KPIs, Remedies and Contractor Replacement

Speaker: Chris Wheeler, In-House Solicitor, Elgin

• Setting meaningful KPIs and service levels in maintenance contracts
• Linking performance to financial remedies – deductions, profit adjustments and cost recovery
• Managing performance in essential services – uptime guarantees and back-up arrangements
• Escalation routes and early intervention before termination
• Replacing non-performing contractors – notice clauses, framework suspensions, re-tendering

Framework Agreements: Opportunities and Risks

Speaker: Ross McCarthy, MD, Keystone Procurement

• When to use frameworks vs stand-alone contracts
• Lessons from Irish and EU procurement law
• Ensuring fair competition and managing supplier relationships

Procurement Strategy & Futureproofing

Speaker: Paul Davis, Lecturer in the Faculty of Business, DCU

• Transparency and disclosure at PQQ stage – what’s required and when
• Insourcing vs outsourcing – lessons from integrated and hybrid FM models
• Managing multiple specialist vendors vs integrated FM contracts
• Knowledge transfer and succession planning when in-house expertise is lacking
• Maintenance of protected structures – balancing conservation duties with fire safety law

ISO 41001 and Maintenance Contracts: Embedding Facilities Management Standards into Agreements

• Translating ISO 41001 principles into enforceable contract clauses
• Using ISO 41012 to guide sourcing, delivery models, and agreement structure
• Incorporating audit rights, evidence requirements, and continuous improvement obligations
• Aligning with other standards (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001) for safety, environment, and energy
• Avoiding vague “follow ISO” clauses — how to draft obligations that stand up in practice