AB Svensk Byggtjänst published a new version of AMA AF, AMA AF 21, with associated RA (advice and instructions) at the start of the year. In this article, we briefly describe the 300-plus amendments that have been made and discuss its area of use.
What is AMA AF?
AMA AF (general materials and job description for administrative regulations) is designed to form the basis for the wording of administrative regulations for building, civil works and installation contracts. AMA AF serves as both a template and instructions and its structure reflects the contents of the AB and ABT standard agreements.
AMA AF is continuously updated through AMA-nytt and many new features and changes have been introduced since the most recent revision in 2012. Svensk Byggtjänst therefore considers that there is a pressing need for a revision, particularly to ensure that the book version of AMA AF is up to date.
Overall changes
Changes have been made to every chapter of AMA AF. Codes and headings have been added and some have been removed. Several structural changes have also been made and the language has been updated and adapted. Changes and additions made through AMA-nytt have been incorporated. The biggest changes are to be found in the RA, which have been updated and clarified through bulleted lists, for example.
When is it time to start using AMA AF 21?
The intention is, naturally, that AMA AF 21 will begin to be used in the wording of administrative regulations from when it is published. However, there is no set date for when AMA AF 12 ceases to apply and AMA AF 21 becomes the only valid version. Instead, the transition will depend on the willingness of the operators in the industry to adhere to it.
An overall view is presented here to help you take stock of the changes that AMA AF 12 involves.
AFA (General guidance)
Codes of a more general nature have been moved from AFB to AFA. For example, forms of procurement, contract and compensation are now set out under codes AFA.3, AFA.4 and AFA.5. A new code on security-sensitive activity has been inserted in AFA.23.
AFB (Procurement regulations)
The section on assessment of tenders has been supplemented with several new sub-codes in order to improve the structure of the section. The changes provide a clearer structure and fewer long, difficult-to-understand texts. The conditions for performance of the procurement (formerly AFB.17) have been moved to their own main heading AFB.2, which means that the remaining heading levels have been shifted by one step.
Questions during the procurement period are now dealt with in AFB.35 and have been supplemented with RA regarding the handling of questions and answers. Tendering is now dealt with in AFB.4, and RA now provided under AFB.41 – The form and contents of the tender – state that the client must ensure that the tender form is accurate. RA on electronic tendering have been added in both AFB.35 – Questions during the procurement period – and AFB.44 – Addressing.
The previous AFB.511 – Information from the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Enforcement Service – has been completely removed. Instead, documents and certificates that may be requested by the client will be included in AFB.61 – Exclusion of tenderers. Several subheadings have been added under the new AFB.62 – Examination of the suitability of tenderers – on eligibility, economic and financial position, technical and professional capacity and independence from other companies’ capacity.
RA associated with the new AFB.63 – Examination of tenders – specify the evaluation criteria in the case of public procurement. According to the new AFB.65 – Confidentiality of tender documents – supporting documents for assessment of confidentiality must be specified. AFB.66 on security-protected procurement has also been added.
AFC and AFC (Building contract regulations for construct-only and turnkey contracts)
AFC and AFD still reflect AB 04 and ABT 06, but several restructurings have been carried out in order to gather information in the same place. The code structure has also been adapted to bring it into line with developments in the environmental field. Greater focus on health and safety matters can also be observed.
AFC/AFD.13 – Conditions – has been supplemented with AFC/AFD.139 – Miscellaneous conditions – which includes matters such as bird protection and environmental permits in the case of water activities. AFC/AFD.151 – Goods from the contractor – has been supplemented with RA stating that a format for reporting building materials declarations must be specified. A subheading AFC/AFC.1511 – System for assessing goods – has been added in which systems, categories and level of requirements for climate impact, for example, can be specified.
A new AFC/AFD.2 has undergone major changes and now contains all provisions on quality, environmental and climate requirements. AFC/AFD.224 – Climate requirements – is a completely new heading with associated subheadings on climate requirements and impact.
AFG (general work and equipment)
The structure of the section is largely unchanged, but additions have been made to clarify the requirements imposed on public works and equipment, such as office sheds. Furthermore, all subheadings in AFG.2 – Measurement and setting out – have been removed in order to avoid misunderstandings as to where requirements for the contractor’s measurement work must be specified.
Section AFG.41 – Delivery – has been supplemented with information on interim storage, delivery methods and unloading. The term “dewatering” in AFG.81 has been defined in RA in order to distinguish it from the requirements set out in the technical description.
Would you like to know more about AMA AF?
Lindahl is following the development of the new AMA AF with interest and can assist with review of purchasing templates based on AMA AF 12 and development of new purchasing templates based on AMA AF 21. If there is any interest, we are also able to develop training courses and seminars on AMA AF and drawing up administrative regulations. You are very welcome to contact us using the contact details below.
