L4M3 Commercial Contracting Question and Answers

A framework agreement is an agreement with one or more suppliers/providers which sets out terms and conditions under which individual contracts (call-offs) can be made throughout the term of the agreement.

A framework agreement itself is not a contract, but the call-offs made from it are.

Framework arrangements create a streamlined and flexible process for procuring goods, works or services

Where a framework for the same goods, works or services is awarded to several suppliers, there are three possible options for awarding call-off contracts: direct award (or direct call-off), mini-competition or a combination of both.

Option 1 – Apply the terms of the framework agreement (direct award).

Where your requirements match the terms and/or specification of the framework agreement (in the event of any query, you should clarify the situation with the organisation that established the framework), a particular call-off should be awarded without re-opening competition. The call-off should be awarded to the provider who is identified as the most economically advantageous tender based on the award criteria used at the time that the framework was established (i.e. the supplier ranked no. 1). Randomly selecting a supplier off a framework is not permitted.

Option 2 – Hold a mini-competition between capable suppliers.

If your requirements do not match the terms and/or the specification of the framework, you should conduct a mini-competition exercise. Whilst it is not permitted to substantially change the basic terms or specification of the framework, in running a mini-competition it is possible to supplement or refine the basic terms of the framework prior to making a call-off. Examples of such terms are:

- The particular goods/services/works required;

- Particular delivery timescales;

- Particular invoicing arrangements and payment profiles;

- Associated services such as installation, maintenance and training;

- Quantity;

- Functional specification.

Under no circumstances should brand names or brand-specific descriptions of goods be used e.g. BIC Biro Pen, Hewlett-Packard Printer, Dell computer. Descriptions should give reference to the characteristics and outputs of the product or service. Where no other description is possible, any reference should be qualified by adding the words ‘or equivalent’.

When a mini-competition exercise is held, all suppliers appointed to the framework that are capable of meeting the requirement must be invited to submit a tender. (This might just relate to suppliers within a particular ‘lot’). You must not limit the mini-competition exercise to selected providers. A time limit for submitting the tender must be set and advised to competing suppliers. This time limit must be reasonable, taking account of the complexity of the requirement.

The call-off must be awarded on the basis of the framework award criteria and new criteria cannot be added, although, where permitted, the weightings may be varied to take account of a particular requirement. However, in adjusting the weightings, care must be taken to ensure that any such changes do not have an adverse effect on competition.

Option 3 - Combination of direct award and mini-competition

To use a combination approach, the procurement documents must state that this route may be used. The procurement documents will also specify which terms may be subject to the re-opening of competition.

Service level agreement often sets out the minimum quality standards of the services provided, remedies if that standards are not met, consequences if the targets are exceeded. Penalty clauses and service credits are remedies that are often used in conjunction with service level agreement to ensure the performance and to compensate the purchaser if targets are not met.

A liquidated damages clause specifies a predetermined amount of money that must be paid as damages for failure to perform under a contract. The amount of the liquidated damages is supposed to be the parties’ best estimate at the time they sign the contract of the damages that would be caused by a breach. If a breach occurs and the liquidated damages clause is enforceable, the parties do not calculate the actual damages (i.e., how much money a party actually lost as a result of the breach). Instead, the breaching party pays the predetermined sum provided by the liquidated damages provision.

To be enforceable, a liquidated damages clause should meet the following criteria.

Damages are difficult to estimate. A court will be more likely to enforce a liquidated damages provision if the damages that will be incurred as a result of a breach of the contract are difficult to estimate when the contract is entered into. In certain situations, injuries are easy to prove. For example, if a breach will result in the loss of sales, it is easy to determine the actual damages by calculating lost profits. Others are more difficult, like the harm caused by breach of a confidentiality agreement or theft of trade secrets. To be enforceable, the damages should be either uncertain or difficult to quantify at the time the contract is entered into.

The amount is reasonable and not a penalty. If the amount of the liquidated damages is grossly disproportionate to the actual harm incurred, a court will likely find it is a penalty or punishment and will not enforce the provision. When making this analysis, courts usually consider what was reasonable at the time the contract was entered into as opposed to when the breach occurred. There have been cases, however, where courts will decide the reasonableness of the damage estimate based on the actual harm at the time of the breach.

The scenario is excerpted and edited based on a real world case law. In that case, the court held that GPP was entitled to liquidated damages under all four of the EPC contracts, ruling that the provisions did not amount to unenforceable penalties in each of the contracts.

Hank’s pre-contractual assurances may amount to misrepresentation. Fraudulent misrepresentation is a strong possibility since Hank had carried out no investigations into the viability of the project timescales. This could amount to recklessness in using information without taking any steps to see if it is true or not.

The scenario above was constructed based on the case BSkyB v EDS, a famous case in IT sector.

LO 1, AC 1.2

In the contract term, the buyer agrees to pay the contractor the cost of doing project plus a profit. This is an example of cost-plus pricing arrangement.

On the other hand, "Fixed-pricing arrangement" often refers to lump-sum contract or supply/service contract with fixed price. "Incentive pricing arrangement" and "Gain-share/pain-share arrangement" have the same meaning. In this type of arrangement, both supplier and buyer agree on a target (it can be cost, or lead time, or quality, etc). Once the supplier reaches that target, it will be rewarded with a portion of the gain that the buyer gets, and will pay the price if it fails.

When a written contract is based on oral negotiation, to avoid the conflicts between orally negotiated terms and final written contract, the contract should include an express term that specifically excludes all prior oral discussion. However, orally negotiated terms can be used to interpret the final contract.

This practice (excluding prior discussion) is so common in international commercial contract that UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts have an article (2.1.17) dealing with this.

When a party takes on a contractual obligation, they are legally required to perform the obligation.

That same contracting party is still entitled to subcontract out the work to another service provider, unless the contract:

- is a contract for personal services, such an employment contract

- contains an express term preventing subcontracting out the work, or an implied term

Subcontracting clauses are written to control whether the contractor is entitled to subcontract, and how purchaser shall control that subcontracting process.

If the deliveries often delay, buyer should use KPI to measure how many missed deliveries there are and the percentage of total missed deliveries on total number of deliveries for period. OTIF (one-time in-full) delivery might help.

Consignment stock availability means that the supplier holds adequate range/number of units of stock to offer a reliable service

Delay damages are the consequences caused by delay of deliveries

Technical support is the acceptable quality of technical information/support provided by supplier for goods supplied.

LO 2, AC 2.2

Courts may be called upon to interpret a statute due to disputes over the meaning of a word or phrase contained within a statute. These disputes may arise through a variety of reasons. It has long been held that words are an imperfect means of communication. Omissions may have occurred at the drafting stage, word or phraseology ambiguity, etymological change through time, oversight on specific points, or a failure to adapt legislation to new developments. This may result in the judiciary providing a role in statutory interpretation. Statutory interpretation in its broadest sense is the process of determining the true meaning of a written document. In UK, the Interpretation Act 1978 provides limited scope to assist judges with statutory interpretation in that it only provides standard definitions to common provisions such as a rebuttable presumption that terminology in the masculine gender also include the feminine, and that the singular includes plural.

An order of precedence clause sets out the order in which the contract documents take precedence in the event of an inconsistency.

The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (c 50) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates contracts by restricting the operation and legality of some contract terms. It extends to nearly all forms of contract and one of its most important functions is limiting the applicability of disclaimers of liability. The terms extend to both actual contract terms and notices that are seen to constitute a contractual obligation.

When a written contract is based on oral negotiation, to avoid the conflicts between orally negotiated terms and final written contract, the contract should include an express term that specifically excludes all prior oral discussion. However, orally negotiated terms can be used to interpret the final contract.

This practice (excluding prior discussion) is so common in international commercial contract that UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts have an article (2.1.17) dealing with this.

- Strict liability, sometimes called absolute liability, is the legal responsibility for damages, or injury, even if the person found strictly liable was not at fault or negligent. Strict liability has been applied to certain activities in tort, such as holding an employer absolutely liable for the torts of her employees, but today it is most commonly associated with defectively manufactured products. In addition, for reasons of public policy, certain activities may be conducted only if the person conducting them is willing to insure others against the harm that results from the risks the activities create.

- Current liabilities are a company's short-term financial obligations that are due within one year or within a normal operating cycle.

- Non-current liabilities, also called long-term liabilities or long-term debts, are long-term financial obligations listed on a company’s balance sheet

- Contingent liability is a potential liability that may occur, depending on the outcome of an uncertain future event.

The changes are made to the prime contract. They are also signed and approved by both parties. These changes are known as amendment (variation) to the contract. A contract amendment allows the parties to make a mutually agreed-upon change to an existing contract. An amendment can add to an existing contract, delete from it, or change parts of it. The original contract remains in place, only with some terms altered by way of the amendment.

In the 'battle of the forms', generally who shot the last will win. This is not applied to this case. Initial RFQ is an invitation to treat, then the quotation forms an offer. Transformers & Rectifiers Ltd edits terms and conditions then sends back to supplier, this act terminates Needs's offer and makes a new offer. Delivery of goods can be deemed as acceptance from Needs Ltd. The contract is formed with its details in the edited terms and conditions.

An insurance policy transfers a risk from one party to another in exchange for payment, it does not transfer the liabilities from the insured to insurer.

Insurance policies are taken out as a form of protection against a specific risk or unfortunate occurrence. If one party indemnifies another to protect that other party in the event of a risk occurring then the indemnity itself is merely a statement of intent. There also need to be some mechanism of substance to back up that indemnity. This BACK UP is the insurance policy which can be relied upon to meet the indemnity being given. In fact, most indemnity provisions are backed up by insurance coverage.

Professional indemnity or liability insurance offers such coverage to professional advice or service providing individuals and companies ensuring protection against any legal costs and damages awarded as a result of claims relating to negligence. Whereas more general forms of liability insurance focus on direct forms of harm such as sustaining injuries, professional indemnity insurance provides a far more detailed and comprehensive form of coverage. The cover protects a firm or individual's liability relating to any financial loss caused by errors or omissions in the service provided as well as any alleged failure to perform on behalf of a client.

Goods in transit insurance does what it says on the tin, protecting any goods your business delivers or transports from place to place. The responsibility to pay the insurance premium is negotiable, it may belong to the supplier or the buyer.

United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna Convention or CISG)

Vienna Convention was prepared by by the United Nations Commission on ¬International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and adopted by a diplomatic conference on 11 April 1980. The Convention was welcomed by several countries from different geographic areas, with different legal and political systems. As of 20 August 2020, the Convention has93 Contracting States. The Convention has proved the effectiveness of an uniform text on international trade law.

What CISG covers, and what it does not

In the 6 first articles of the Convention, the authors set up the boundaries of its application.

First is about where it applies. According to UNCITRAL, the Convention applies to contracts of sale of goods between parties whose places of business are in different States and either both of those States are Contracting States or the rules of private international law lead to the law of a Contracting State. A few States have availed themselves of the authorisation in article 95 to declare that they would apply the Convention only in the former and not in the latter of these two situations. As the Convention becomes more widely adopted, the practical significance of such a declaration will diminish. Finally, the Convention may also apply as the law applicable to the contract if so chosen by the parties. In that case, the operation of the Convention will be subject to any limits on contractual stipulations set by the otherwise applicable law.

Second, the Convention has a list of goods that are not subject to its application in Article 2. Article 3 clarifies the differences between manufacturing contracts and sale contract.

Third, Article 4 and 5 clearly states what CISG does not covers, including grounds for contract invalidity and liabilities to death or injury of person caused by the the goods

Finally, the Convention respects the contractual freedom of the trading parties. Trading parties may select this convention as governing law or select other instrument, such as UPICC or domestic laws.

A guarantee is an agreement given by a trader to a consumer, without any extra charge, to repair, replace or refund goods that do not meet the specifications set out in the guarantee. A guarantee is usually issued by the manufacturer of goods or by a trader that provides goods as part of a service - replacement windows, for instance. Generally, a guarantee provider undertakes to carry out free repairs, for a set period of time, for problems that can be attributed to manufacturing defects.

Lead time is the amount of time that passes from the start of a process until its conclusion. In procurement, lead time can be understood as the amount of time that passes from placing an order until the delivery.

In the scenario, the contract requires the supplier to make a delivery within 3 days since the order. This contract can only be amended with written consent from both parties. Therefore, there is no ground for shortening the lead time to 1 day because the new lead time is only the request of buyer. Then the supplier still makes delivery within agreed lead time.

LO 1, AC 1.1

If a service level agreement is used as a schedule to a contract, it will generally have the following contents:

- Service definitions. If the service information is provided by the specification, SLA should only refer to the specification to avoid any inconsistencies.

- Details on how to measure KPIs, who will measure KPIs

- Minimum requirements or targets

- Remedies if the minimum requirements are not met

Since SLA often lists out the KPI targets, consequences for not meeting the KPI targets and remedies to situation of poor performance, it is a part of performance management.

Regarding rule of offer and acceptance, there are some differences among legal system around the world. For example, mailbox rule is generally applied in common law countries such as UK, US, Australia,.. while it is ignored in civil law countries. To clarify on rule of offer and acceptance in international trade, offerors may use expressed terms in their offers. These terms known as deemed receipt protocol.

Request for quotations is often used when the only variable is price and the purchase value is under a financial threshold. This process is less formal than ITT. RFQ should be used in the following circumstances:

- Low-value, low-risk purchases

- When the specifications are sufficiently defined or the product/service is standardised

- Where the suppliers are pre-qualified

- Where there is a framework agreement which specifies the contract terms and conditions.

If a service level agreement is used as a schedule to a contract, it will generally have the following contents:

- Service definitions. If the service information is provided by the specification, SLA should only refer to the specification to avoid any inconsistencies.

- Details on how to measure KPIs, who will measure KPIs

- Minimum requirements or targets

- Remedies if the minimum requirements are not met

Since SLA often lists out the KPI targets, consequences for not meeting the KPI targets and remedies to situation of poor performance, it is a part of performance management.

In common law (the legal system in which most rules come from case law or precedents, such as UK, US, Australia, etc), the contract is legally binding if it has the following requirements:

- Offer

- Acceptance

- Certainty & Intention to Create Legal Relations

- Consideration & Promissory Estoppel

- Legal capacity

According to these rules, 'Blanket order', 'One-off purchase', and 'Hire purchase agreement' are contractually binding. One of the reason is that they have consideration.

However, there is a type of legal instruments that does not need consideration to be legally binding. They are called 'Deeds'. A deed (anciently "an evidence") is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms or confirms an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions, sealed. It is commonly associated with transferring (conveyancing) title to property. At common law, to be valid and enforceable, a deed must meet several requirements:

- It must state on its face that it is a deed, using wording like "This Deed..." or "executed as a deed".

- It must indicate that the instrument itself conveys some privilege or thing to someone.

- The grantor must have the legal ability to grant the thing or privilege, and the grantee must have the legal capacity to receive it.

- It must be executed by the grantor in presence of the prescribed number of witnesses, known as instrumentary witnesses (this is known as being in solemn form).

- In some jurisdictions, a seal must be affixed to it. Originally, affixing seals made persons parties to the deed and signatures optional, but seals are now outdated in most jurisdictions, so the signatures of the grantor and witnesses are primary.

- It must be delivered to (delivery) and, in some jurisdictions, accepted by the grantee (acceptance).

According to the scenario, customers' demand changes regularly but the construction project commencement often delays. If the contractor and the customer mutually sign a legally binding contract too soon long before the commencement, the contractor may suffer poor cash flow (it must buy the materials first but has to wait for long time to be paid). A framework agreement may help both parties.

A framework agreement is a formal agreement between two organisations that is intended to become legally binding in the event that a contract is created.

A framework agreement could benefit the both parties in the following ways:

- At the time of signing, the framework agreement has not yet become a legally binding contract. The contractor and client only agree on the principles of future contracts (such as whether the work can be subcontracted or how payment will be proceeded). A well structured framework agreement will allow both parties to apply changes before contract commencement, especially regarding price and quality.

- The framework agreement assures a certainty between the contractor and client.

- The administrative works is reduced under a framework agreement.

A Collateral Warranty is a contract under which a consultant, a building contractor or a sub- contractor warrants to a third party that is has fulfilled its obligations under its professional appointment, building contract or sub-contract. The purpose of a Collateral Warranty is to give a third party, who is not a party to the original contract, rights to enforce that original contract.

In this case, IBM is the subcontractor, then purchaser can use collateral warranty deed to bind them.

An implied term is a term which the courts imply into a contract because it has not been expressly included by the parties. This may be because the parties did not consider it, did not think that any problem would arise in relation to it or simply omitted to include it.

The courts are very reluctant to imply terms into contracts and will only do so in the following circumstances:

- terms implied under statute

- terms implied under common law

- terms implied because of custom or usage

- terms implied due to previous dealings

- terms implied ‘in fact’ or to reflect the parties’ intentions