Below are our standard terms and conditions of business.
1. DEFINITIONS
“Agreement” means these Terms and Conditions together with the terms of any applicable Development Proposal, Cost Specification and or Statement of Work Documents;
“Customer” means the person, company or organisation that purchases services or software from the Service Provider;
“Default” means any breach of the obligations of either party (including but not limited to fundamental breach or breach of a fundamental term) and/or any actionable default, act, omission, negligence or mis-statement of either party, its employees, agents or sub-contractors in connection with or in relation to the subject of this Agreement and in respect of which such party is liable to the other;
“Intellectual Property Rights” means any and all design rights, utility models, patents, inventions, service marks, logos, business names, trademarks (whether registered or unregistered), internet domain names, copyright, rights in databases, data, source codes, reports, drawings, specifications, know-how, trade secrets, confidential information, software designs and/or other materials, semi-conductor rights, topography rights, rights in the nature of unfair competition and the right to sue for passing off and any other equivalent rights whether or not registered or capable of registration and whether subsisting in Jersey, or any other part of the world together with all or any related goodwill;
“Premises” means any land or building for delivery of the Services set out in the Statement of Work;
“Purchase Order” means an order for consultancy services provided by the Customer to the Service Provider which includes an invoicing reference;
“Service Provider” means Dot Squared Technologies or another person, company or organisation which enters into the agreement;
“Services” means the services provided by the Service Provider to the Client including, but not limited to, IT consultancy and professional services;
“Statement of Work” means the document setting out the Services and the rates for such work;
“Termination Date” means the date specified in the Statement of Work when this Agreement shall end unless terminated earlier;
“Terms and Conditions” means these terms and conditions for the supply of consultancy services.
2. Resources
The Client shall provide to the Service Provider access to such resources during normal business hours and shall procure all licences as the Service Provider shall require to perform its obligations under the Agreement.
3. Services
In consideration of payment of the fees set out in the Statement of Work the Service Provider shall provide the Services in accordance with the Statement of Work and these terms and conditions.
4. Payment of fees
The Service Provider shall invoice the Client for payment of the fees and the Client shall pay them to the Service Provider as specified and at the time stated in the Statement of Work (the “Due Date”).
5. GST and payment
All sums payable under this Agreement are stated exclusive of Goods and Services Tax and/or equivalent taxes in other countries which may be added and payable by the Client at the applicable rate and all sums due shall be paid without set-off, counter claim or deduction.
6. Late payment
Where the payment of any invoice or any part of an invoice is not made in accordance with this Agreement, the Service Provider, without prejudice to its other rights under this Agreement or in law, shall be entitled to:-
- charge interest (both before and after judgement) on the outstanding amount at the rate of 4 per cent per annum above the Bank of England’s base rate from the Due Date until the date of payment in full; and/or
- suspend and/or withhold any services to be performed by the Service Provider for the Client under this Agreement or any other arrangement; and/or
- terminate this Agreement.
7. Expenses
In addition to the fees for Services the Customer shall reimburse all expenses reasonably and properly incurred by the Service Provider in the performance of the Services at any location including but not limited to travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses. The Service Provider will agree with the Customer in advance the nature and scope of these expenses. Any expenses incurred by the Service Provider will be recharged at cost. The Service Provider shall maintain adequate records of such expenses and, at the Customer reasonable request, shall produce copies for inspection. Any expenses will be invoiced monthly in arrears detailing the nature of the expense incurred and the person who incurred the expense.
8. Fees
The fees set out in the Statement of Work shall either be stated as fixed or on a time and materials basis. In any case other than fixed fee arrangements all timetables for work and/or performance dates are estimates only and such work will be performed on a daily rate basis. The Service Provider will be entitled to increase any Fees due under this Agreement, by giving the Client 30 days’ written notice.
9. Site Regulations
The Service Provider and the Client agree that when the Service Provider’s staff including its agents and sub-contractors, are present on the Client’s premises they shall be fully appraised by the Client of all rules, regulations and policies relating to the health and safety of personnel and security on those premises and they shall comply with such rules, regulations, procedures and policies. The Client is entitled to deny access to the Site to any of the Service Provider’s staff who in the Client’s reasonable opinion constitute a threat to the Client’s security or that of its Site, systems or equipment.
10. Personnel
The Service Provider shall use reasonable endeavours to retain personnel allocated to provide the Services but where it has no reasonable alternative but to replace such personnel, the Service Provider shall give the Client reasonable prior written notice and will use reasonable endeavours to replace the personnel with personnel of similar experience and qualification and unless the replacement has occurred for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the Service Provider, the Service Provider shall bear the cost of training such replacement personnel.
11. Non-solicitation
Each of the Client and the Service Provider agrees that for the period of the Agreement and until expiry of twelve months after termination of the Agreement it shall not without the prior written agreement of the other party knowingly employ or engage on any basis or offer employment or engagement to any staff of the other party who have been associated with the provision of the Services to the Client.
12. Consequences
If either party breaches clause 11, the party in default shall be liable to pay the other party liquidated damages of an amount equal to the greater of (i) £100,000; and (ii) an amount equal to the person’s aggregate annual gross remuneration package (calculated as at the date of termination of that staff member’s employment with that other party) and the parties agree that this is a reasonable pre-estimate of the likely loss a party will suffer as a result of a breach of clause 11.
13. Reports
If required by the Client, the Service Provider shall provide periodic status reports setting out the progress of the Services at intervals agreed by the parties. The parties shall hold progress meetings if one of the parties requests this by giving at least one week’s prior written notice. Unless an allowance for this activity has been included in the Statement of Work, the Client will be charged on a time and materials basis for at the rate specified in the Statement of Works for time spent on report writing and or attending meetings.
14. Scope of the Services
The nature and extent of the Services shall be set out in the Statement of Work but at any time prior to completion of the Services either party may request a change to them by notice in writing to the other party. The notice period required to vary an existing Statement of Work will be determined by the period remaining on the Statement of Work from the moment the request is received by the other party according to the following schedule:
- Less than 30 days: 1 days notice;
- Between 30 and 90-days: 1 weeks notice;
- Between 90 and 180 days: 1 months notice
- More than 180 days: 3 months notice
Each party has the right to reject the change request but shall not do so unreasonably. The Service Provider shall provide the Client with an estimate of the fees for the proposed changed Services and, in cases of change requests made by the Client, the Service Provider reserves the right to charge the Client for costing the change request at its then daily rates. If the parties agree to implement the change, details of the change and the fees, timetable of work and/or delivery dates shall be set out in a further Statement of Work signed by both parties and shall then be deemed to be incorporated into the Agreement.
15. Warranty
The Service Provider shall perform the Services with reasonable care and skill. The Client will promptly notify the Service Provider of any breach of the warranties contained in the Agreement as soon as practicable upon becoming aware of it and use reasonable endeavours to do so within 14 days. The Service Provider will be entitled and obliged to remedy such breach within a reasonable time from receipt of notification (which shall not be greater than 30 days unless otherwise agreed between the parties). This Clause 15 states the Service Provider’s entire liability with regard to any breach of the warranties contained in the Agreement.
16. Other Implied terms
Except as expressly stated in these terms and conditions, all warranties, undertakings, duties, terms and conditions, whether express or implied by statute, common law or otherwise (including but not limited to fitness for purpose) are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
17. Deliverables
Where the Services result in the production of reports, software or other materials (“Deliverables”) such Deliverables shall be submitted to the Client in draft form for the Client’s review and the Client shall provide the Service Provider with written feedback on those Deliverables. The Service Provider will incorporate agreed changes to the draft Deliverables and then issue them to the Client. If the Client does not provide any written feedback in relation to the Deliverables within fourteen days of issue, those Deliverables shall be deemed to be in final form. The Services shall be deemed to be completed upon the issue of all Deliverables in final form and/or upon the completion of all activity set out in the Statement of Work.
18. Client co-operation
The successful and timely performance by the Service Provider of the Services is dependent upon the Client’s prompt performance of its obligations under the Agreement. The Client agrees to make available to the Service Provider an authorised representative who will:
18.1 be authorised to make binding decisions for the Client with regard to the Agreement, including any change to the Services;
18.2 review all documents, including the draft Deliverables, provided by the Service Provider for review so that corrections or changes may be made by the Company; and
18.3 provide the Company with all reasonable information and documentation concerning the Client’s operations and activities which may be required by the Service Provider for the performance of the Services. The Client will be responsible and liable for all third party actions or omissions where such third party are under the control of the Client.
19. Client’s staff
Where participation by, or access by the Service Provider to, the Client’s staff is necessary for the performance of the Services, the Client agrees that such staff will have the appropriate skill, qualifications and experience and will be available at the times agreed by the parties.
20. Rights in the Deliverables
To the extent that the Deliverables or any document, software, data or other material developed by the Service Provider in the course of performing the Services constitutes an original work or includes or incorporates a pre-existing work or proprietary item of the Service Provider all right, title and interest (including all Intellectual Property Rights) shall be and remain vested in the Service Provider. Subject to payment of all fees due under the Agreement, the Service Provider grants to the Client a non-exclusive licence to use the same to the extent necessary to enable the Client to possess and use the Deliverables for its internal business only.
21. Intellectual Property
The Client and the Service Provider shall retain all right, title and interest (including all Intellectual Property Rights) in all documents, software, data or other materials which constitute the pre-existing works or proprietary items belonging to them respectively and which are provided for use in connection with the performance of the Services. The Client grants to the Service Provider a non-exclusive royalty free licence to use these items belonging to the Client to perform the Services. Upon termination of the Agreement the Service Provider shall return to the Client or destroy, at the Client’s option, such documents, software, data or other materials, provided that if the Client does not notify the Service Provider of its election within one (1) month following termination, the Service Provider shall be entitled to dispose of those items in any reasonably appropriate manner.
22. Intellectual Property indemnity
Subject to the terms of this Agreement the Service Provider shall indemnify the Client against any loss, claims, damages or expenses (including reasonable costs) that may be incurred or suffered by the Client in respect of any claim or action that the possession or use of the Deliverables by the Client in the manner envisaged by the Agreement infringes the Intellectual Property Rights of any third party (an “Intellectual Property Infringement”) provided that the Client:
- gives notice to the Service Provider of any Intellectual Property Infringement as soon as reasonably practicable on becoming aware of it;
- gives the Service Provider the conduct of the defence to and any settlement negotiations in relation to any claim or action in respect of any Intellectual Property Infringement and does not at any time admit liability or attempt to settle or compromise the claim or action without prior consultation with and written consent of the Service Provider which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and
- acts in accordance with the reasonable wishes of the Service Provider and gives the Service Provider such assistance as the Service Provider shall reasonably require in respect of the conduct of the defence.
23. Liability
Neither party excludes or limits liability to the other party for:
- death or personal injury caused by its negligence or that of its subcontractors or agents;
- fraud; or
- breach of the implied terms as to title as set out in Part 2 and Part 4 of the Supply of Goods and Services (Jersey) Law 2009.
24. Limitation of liability
Subject always to clause 23, the entire aggregate liability of the Service Provider under or in connection with the Agreement, whether for tort (including negligence) misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of common law or otherwise, shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the fees paid to the Service Provider by the Client in any twelve month period prior to the relevant claim arising.
25. Exclusions
Subject to clause 23 in no event shall the Service Provider be liable for:
- indirect, pure economic or consequential loss or damage; or
- expenses or loss of profits; or
- loss of revenue, loss of contracts or loss of opportunity; or
- loss of or damage to goodwill; or
- loss of anticipated savings or opportunity; or
- loss of or loss of use of data and/or corruption of data; or
- business interruption; or
- aggravated, punitive, exemplary and/or special damages; or
- loss or damage incurred by the Client as a result of third party claims; or
- any loss or damage to the extent that it is caused by or results from any use of the Deliverables by the Client in any manner other than that for which they were provided.
26. Severability
If for any reason the exclusion of liability in clause 25 is void or unenforceable, in whole or in part, the Service Provider’s total liability for all loss or damage under the Agreement shall be as provided in clause 24. Each of the limitations and exclusions in clauses 24 and 25 is a separate limitation or exclusion which shall apply and survive even if, for any reason, one or other of them is held inapplicable or unreasonable in any circumstances. The limitations and exclusions in this Agreement shall survive any termination or expiry of this Agreement.
27. Insurance
The Service Provider shall effect and maintain adequate insurance cover at its own cost with a reputable insurance company to cover the liability accepted by it under the terms of the Agreement and shall, at the Client’s reasonable request, produce reasonable evidence of the insurance policy.
28. Data
The client shall be responsible for IT security in accordance with industry best practices including the ISO27000 Series in connection with the performance of its obligations.
29. Confidentiality
Unless already known or in the public domain or required by law the parties undertake at all times to keep confidential and not to use or to disclose to any third party without the other party’s prior written consent any confidential information supplied by the other party or obtained as a result of the Agreement (or any discussions prior to execution of the Agreement) including all information (in whatever form) relating to the other party’s business, technology and customers and the terms of the Agreement. The parties shall procure that any third party or subcontractor to whom information is disclosed pursuant to the Agreement is made aware of and complies with obligations of confidentiality equivalent to those set out in these terms and conditions.
30. Exceptions
The parties agree that information is not to be regarded as confidential information and that the receiving party will have no obligation with respect to any information which that party can demonstrate:
- was already known to it and at its free disposal prior to its receipt from the disclosing party;
- was subsequently disclosed to it lawfully by a third party who did not obtain it (whether directly or indirectly) either from the disclosing party or under any obligation of confidence;
- was in the public domain at the time of receipt by the receiving party or had subsequently entered into the public domain other than by reason of the breach of the provisions of this Clause or of any obligation of confidence;
- is disclosed by the receiving party in compliance with a legal requirement of a Government agency or otherwise where disclosure is required by the operation of law, on condition that it gives the other party reasonable prior written notice of the proposed disclosure to allow that party to intervene.
31. Breach of confidence
Each party shall promptly inform the other if it becomes aware of any breach of confidence by any person and shall give the other party all reasonable assistance in connection with any proceedings which it may institute against such person.
32. Termination – Default
Either party may terminate the Agreement forthwith by notice in writing to the other party where the other Party has committed a material Default and where such Default is capable of remedy has failed to remedy such Default within thirty (30) days of receiving notice specifying the Default and requiring its remedy.
33. Termination – insolvency / en desastre
Either party may terminate the Agreement forthwith by notice in writing to the other party if the other party is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or if any action, application or proceeding is made with regard to it for:
- a voluntary arrangement or composition or reconstruction of its debts;
- its winding-up, dissolution or bankruptcy;
- the appointment of a liquidator, trustee, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or similar officer;
- any similar action, application or proceeding in any jurisdiction to which it is subject.
34. Duration
Unless terminated earlier the Agreement shall continue until the Services have been fully performed and all fees and expenses have been paid.
35. Consequences of termination
Termination of the Agreement shall not prejudice or affect any right of action or remedy which shall have accrued or shall accrue to either party and all provisions which are to survive this agreement or impliedly do so shall remain in force and in effect.
36. Force majeure
Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under the Agreement where such delay or failure is due to circumstances beyond its control (“Force Majeure Event”) provided that as soon as reasonably possible after the start of the Force Majeure Event, the affected party notifies the other party of the Force Majeure Event, the date on which it started, its anticipated duration and the anticipated effect of the Force Majeure Event on the affected party’s ability to perform its obligations.
37. Data Protection
Each party undertakes to the other party to comply with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 and shall procure that its employees, agents and subcontractors shall observe the provisions of that law.
38. Third Parties
A person who is not a party to the Agreement has no right to enforce any term of the Agreement.
39. Notices
Any notice to be given under the Agreement must be in writing and delivered to the registered address or principal place of business of the party to be served and shall be deemed served two days after despatch by first class post or immediately on delivery if hand delivered.
40. Variation and waiver
No failure, delay, relaxation or forbearance on the part of either party in exercising any power or right under the Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such power or right or of any other power or right. Any change to the Agreement shall only be valid if it is in writing and signed by the parties.
41. Personal Agreement
The Agreement is personal to the Client and the Client shall not assign the benefit of or any interest in or subcontract any obligation under the Agreement.
42. Entire Agreement
Except to the extent of any misrepresentation or breach of warranty which constitutes fraud, these terms and conditions and the Statement of Work together constitute the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter of the Agreement.
43. Law and Jurisdiction
The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Laws of Jersey and each party agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Jersey Courts.