L&J Morning Break:

Our expert attorneys give you the top tips for entering, enforcing and exiting vendor contracts.
Topics include:
• Get What You Pay For – Pay when they have finished!
• Indemnification and Insurance – Protection for when things go wrong.
• Time to go separate ways? – Make sure there is a clear exit path.

Key Terms and Provisions for Vendor Contracts:

Scope of Work – One of the main areas that often ends up in the center of a contract dispute is the scope of work or services covered under the contract. When it comes to defining the scope of work in a contract, less is definitely not more. It is vital to detail the exact expectations of the parties with respect to the work or the services to be provided. Avoid language that is vague or allows room for interpretation. The scope of work should be fully identified to specify expectations as to the level of service, quality of materials and quality of work. Specifications often can be obtained from product manufacturers, and, in some instances, hiring a professional to develop the scope of work is invaluable.

Payment and Payment Terms – Pay attention to payment terms. Look for hidden or additional fees. Many contracts will include provisions addressing additional fees for items that may be expected as part of the scope of work, but not
included in initial pricing.

When possible, the contract should state the total price for all the labor, materials and services expected under the agreement. When fixed pricing is not possible, try to negotiate for and specify price caps and requirements of written approval before vendors incur these unknown expenses.

If the contract calls for scheduled payments, then, other than reasonable down payments for project start-up costs, the remainder of the work performed under the contract should always be ahead of the payments. This will give the association leverage over the vendor to ensure quality and completion of the work. If a down payment is required in order to acquire materials, the contract should list, where possible, the materials that will be acquired with the down payment.

Term and Termination – When it comes to service contracts, such as pool vendors, landscape companies or cable providers, the term and termination provision can be the most important provision of the contract. In most cases, the term and termination provision is not favorable to the customer and makes it very difficult for the customer to terminate the contract and end the relationship. Contracts for the provisions of services should always be subject to termination without cause with a short notice period, such as 30 or 60 days. This allows an association to get out of a
contract for any reason, and will allow for better ease in terminating a bad relationship. Project contracts should have a detailed procedure affording a fair right to terminate if a vendor is not performing.

Insurance – Require the vendor to carry liability insurance to cover any claims against personal injury and property damage from the work or services being performed. Obtain a certificate of insurance directly from the vendor’s insurance agent showing the proper insurance coverage prior to the commencement of the work. Specify that the vendor must maintain the insurance for the term of the contract. If the vendor is not properly insured or not insured at all, the association could be held responsible for any claims of damages or injuries caused by the vendor.

Indemnification – The indemnification provisions go hand-in-hand with insurance provisions. Require the vendor to indemnify and hold harmless the association and all related parties from damages and claims that are caused by the vendor or the vendor’s employees or agents. An indemnification provision basically requires the vendor to cover the association if the association is sued because of the actions of the vendor. Often, the indemnification is covered by the vendor’s insurance carrier, so it is important to ensure that there is insurance to cover the indemnification obligation. Otherwise, the indemnification obligation is only as good as the worth or assets of the vendor.

More Information:

Check out our article on contracts. Also, take a look at our YouTube channel for the full L&J Morning Break archives and other educational videos.