What is a Service Agreement?
A service agreement (§ 611 BGB) is a contract where the contractor owes the performance of a specific activity. Unlike a works agreement, no concrete result is owed — diligent effort suffices.
Typical Service Agreements in Public Sector
Building cleaning, security, ongoing IT consulting, interim management, training, and temporary staffing.
No Warranty
Unlike works agreements, service agreements have no warranty. The contractor is only liable for breach of duty with fault, not for failure to achieve a specific result.
Compensation
Ongoing compensation (monthly, hourly, daily rates), no acceptance required.
Practical Tip
The contract classification determines your liability risks. Patterno helps you quickly identify matching tenders regardless of contract form.