The University of California Facilities Manual (FM) is intended to allow easy access to important policies, procedures, and guidelines for all UC Facilities. Various departments at the Office of the President are responsible for FM preparation, publication, and administration. Policies and procedures are changed, updated, or transferred into the FM in an ongoing manner, and campuses are notified of changes through an email listserv.
Each Facility is encouraged to develop its own procedures manual that expands on and complements FM content.
The FM is organized into six volumes, each focused on a different aspect of Facilities management and operation:
- Volume 1: Executive Summary and University Administration
- Volume 2: Planning
- Volume 3: Design
- Volume 4: Construction Contracting
- Volume 5: Bidding and Construction Administration
- Volume 6: Plant Operation and Maintenance
This section explains how information is presented in the FM.
All FM volumes contain "Volume Introduction and Summary," followed by numbered chapters. Each Volume is subdivided into chapters, article numbers, and paragraph numbers. The final content level, the subparagraph, is not numbered but begins with a boldface, italic heading: e.g., Subparagraph Heading. Within each volume are links to a Resource Directory (RD) which contains templates and guidance, design contract templates, construction contract templates, a glossary, and a list of selected University policies.
When an item is cited, there will be a link to the Volume, Chapter, Article, and Paragraph. For references to the RD, items contain the RD and the title, e.g., (RD – Title of Document).
References to publications, laws, and University policies are listed at the beginning of the chapter, article, or paragraph they pertain to most. References are cited by a round bullet point, italicized, and underlined if a web link is available. By researching these references, readers can obtain further information on items covered in the FM.
The FM contains documents approved by the Office of the President and UC Legal - Office of the General Counsel (UCL) for use by the Facilities.
FM content is based on University policies. When a policy is being quoted or paraphrased, its name is referenced, and the text often contains the words shall or must: e.g., "The contractor must submit . . ."
Another major portion of the FM is composed of recommended guidelines. Guidelines often contain the words "should" or "may."
Terms that have special meaning within the context of the FM are capitalized throughout the text, e.g., "Facility" and "University," along with some titles and legal or contract terms: e.g., "President" and "Agreement." Definitions of special terms may be found in the Glossary.
This section contains background on the process by which the FM is distributed and updated.
The Office of the President maintains the FM entirely online now and no longer provides hard copy distribution.
FM redline revisions are distributed by the Office of the President via an electronic listserv. Comments and suggested revisions should be sent to: UCOP Design and Construction Services staff.