Consultancy standard terms and conditions of business

Our standard terms and conditions for consultancy work are as described below,
These clauses do not apply:
Delegation – clause 5.1

These definitions apply:
“The Terms of Engagement” means the written proposal submitted to the client .

These conditions also apply:
Quotations are valid for 1 month from the date of the proposal.
Sales Tax at the standard rate (if applicable) is applicable to all fees and expenses.
Work will be invoiced as per the individual proposal
Cancellation charges
The following cancellation charges apply once a proposal for a project, including (but not limited to) training courses, hire of our facilities and consultancy projects, has been accepted by the client and a start date has been agreed.
1. All direct costs already incurred by us in relation to the project will be re-charged in full to the client. This could include, for example, recruitment, facility hire or printing costs.
2. If the project is cancelled or postponed up to and including 10 working days before the scheduled start date, we will charge up to 50% of the fee.
3. If the project is cancelled or postponed less than 10 working days before the scheduled start date we will charge up to 100% of the fee.

4. If the project is cancelled within the implementation phase, we will charge a 50% clean break fee subject to the account being within approved credit limits. This is an alternative to the continuation of the contract to full term.
5 Refunds on fees paid will be made by credit note which may be used against subsequent invoices unless agreed in writing to the contrary

Standard Terms & Conditions

Contents
1. Export Developers Terms

2. Project and Terms of Reference

3. Charges and Payments

4. Confidentiality

5. Delegation

6. Intellectual Property

7. Liability and Insurance

8. Termination for Breach

9. Termination and Consequences

10. Recruitment of the Consultant’s Staff

11. Consultant’s Outputs, Materials and Information

12. Consultant’s References to Client

13. Force Majeure

14. Miscellaneous

15. Definitions

1 Export-Developers Terms

1.1 These terms are referred to as the “Export-Developers” terms and shall apply to the provision of services and goods under contracts into which they are expressly incorporated.
1.2 Once incorporated, these terms shall apply to the exclusion of all other terms and conditions including any terms which a Client may purport to apply under any confirmation of instruction or similar document. The terms shall continue to apply to all services provided to the Client under any contract hereafter until expressly excluded in writing.

2 Project and Terms of Reference

2.1 Export-Developers agrees to carry out the Project in accordance with the Terms of Reference.
2.2 The Client agrees to cooperate with Export-Developers in the performance of the Consultant’s services and to give such support, facilities and information as may be reasonably required.

3 Charges and Payments

3.1 The Client agrees to pay the charges and expenses in accordance with the provisions of the Terms of Engagement in the proposal.
3.2 All sums due from the Client which are not paid on the due date (without prejudice to the rights of Export-Developers under these terms) shall bear interest from day to day at the same annual rate as is prescribed from time to time pursuant to section 6 of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 with a minimum rate of 10% per annum.
3.3 Export-Developers may from time to time increase the hourly rates (if applicable) referred to in the Terms of Engagement by such amount as is reasonable and unless the Client objects to such increased rates within seven days of notification in writing all services shall thereafter be provided at the increased rates notified. If the Client objects to the increased rates, the Client shall remain liable for the existing contractual rate payable in accordance with the terms hereof plus such additional rate as shall be reasonable.
3.4 During any period in which payments from the Client are overdue, the obligations of Export- Developers may be suspended.
3.5 Expenses incurred by Export Developers and recoverable from the Client hereunder shall be subject to an administration charge of 5% of cost plus Sales Tax payable by the Client or as varied by the individual proposal.
3.6 Suppliers are deemed to accept the Export-Developers terms and Conditions unless varied by individual purchase order. By entering into a supply contract with Export-Developers directly or with Export-Developers on behalf of a Export-Developers client the following terms and conditions apply.
3.6.1 Payments will be made by BACS to the bank account designated by the supplier within 45 days of the presentation of a valid (Sales Tax) invoice which is the subject of a purchase order.
3.6.2 Invoices submitted without quoting the appropriate purchase order will automatically be rejected
3.6.3 Export-Developers reserves the right to charge a $250.00 (or equivalent in the currency contracted) correspondence fee in respect of extraneous, unsolicited, unwarranted or unnecessary correspondence from suppliers and or their agents.

4 Confidentiality

Export-Developers undertakes not at any time to divulge or allow to be divulged to any person any confidential information relating to the business or affairs of the Client other than to sub-contractors who have signed an appropriate secrecy undertaking or others where the Client has expressly or impliedly consented to the disclosure.

5 Delegation

5.1 Export-Developers or an Export-Developers Consultant (if an individual) undertakes to consult with the Client before delegating any of the obligations of Export-Developers hereunder.
5.2 Export-Developers shall have discretion as to which of its consultants are assigned to perform its services but shall consult with the Client concerning any significant changes.

6 Intellectual Property

Export-Developers undertakes not to cause or permit anything which may damage or endanger the intellectual property of the Client or the Client’s title to it or assist or allow others to do so.

7 Liability and Insurance

7.1 Export-Developers shall not be liable to the Client for loss or damage to the Client’s property unless due to the negligence or other failure to perform its obligations under this agreement or the general law.
7.2 Export-Developers shall have no liability to the Client for any indirect, special or consequential loss to the Client arising out of or in connection with the provision of any advice, goods or services pursuant to this agreement (except in respect of death or personal injury resulting from negligence) or the inability of the client to secure business orders or contracts from 3rd parties introduced by Export-Developers in any project work undertaken and the total liability of Export-Developers for any other loss of the Client arising pursuant to this agreement in respect of any one event or series of connected events shall not exceed the indemnity cover (if any) arranged pursuant to the proposal or if no such cover has been agreed between the Client and Export-Developers the charges payable by the Client in respect of the Consultancy services hereunder.

8 Termination for Breach

The following obligations are conditions of this agreement and any breach of them shall entitle the party not in breach to terminate this agreement by immediate written notice and the rights and liabilities of the parties shall then be determined in accordance with clause 9:
8.1 Failure on the part of the Client to make punctual payment of all sums due to the Export-Develoeprs under the terms of this agreement.
8.2 Failure on the part of Export-Develoepers to remedy any breach of its obligations hereunder within a reasonable time following written notice from the Client which: refers to this clause; specifies the breach with full particulars; indicates how the breach is to be remedied and specifies the Client’s opinion of a reasonable time for remedy.
8.3 The levying of distress or execution against the Client or the making by it of any composition or arrangement with creditors or the presentation of a petition for the Client’s liquidation or bankruptcy or administration or the appointment of a receiver over any part of the Client’s assets.
8.4 The doing or permitting of any act by which the rights of Export-Developers in any intellectual property may be prejudiced or put in jeopardy.
8.5 Any serious or persistent breach by the Client of its obligations hereunder.

9 Termination and Consequences

In the event of this agreement being terminated whether by effluxion of time, notice, breach or otherwise and without prejudice to any other remedy available to Export-Developers the Client shall immediately pay to the Consultant:
9.1 any sums due under the terms of this agreement, and
9.2 in the event of termination by reason of sub-clauses 8.1, 8.3, 8.4 or 8.5, any further sums which would but for the termination of this agreement have fallen due by the end of the project.

10 Recruitment of the Consultant’s Staff

10.1 The Client undertakes that it (including for this purpose any subsidiary or associated company) or any person connected with it will not directly or indirectly recruit as an employee or engage as an independent contractor any person employed or so engaged by Export-Develoeprs in connection with the services provided hereunder for a period of six months after such person last provided services to the Client.
10.2 In the event that the Client is in breach of the undertaking in sub-clause 10.1, the Client and Export-Developers agree and the Client will pay liquidated damages of a sum equal to 33% of the annual remuneration or payment and any other benefits payable to the relevant individual by Export-Developers at the rate payable during the week immediately prior to such individual ceasing to provide services on behalf of Export-Developers.

11 Consultant’s Outputs, Materials and Information

11.1 All intellectual property rights including copyright which are capable of existing in any documents, computer software or information or (without limit) other materials created or provided pursuant to this contract by Export-Developers shall be and remain the property of Export-Developers.
11.2 The Client undertakes to keep all materials, documents and information provided to it by Export-Develoepers confidential to itself and its employees and not to distribute any product of the services provided hereunder to any third party without the prior written consent of Export-Developers.
11.3 Any materials produced or supplied to the Client by Export-Developers in which intellectual property rights are capable of subsisting shall be licensed to the Client for internal use only in connection with the purposes of the terms of reference and such license shall forthwith terminate if notice is given by Export-Developers terminating this contract pursuant to clause 8.
11.4 The Client and Export-Developers undertake with each other not during the course of this contract to infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

12 Consultant’s References to Client

12.1 Subject to clause 4 (Confidentiality) Export-Developers shall be entitled to refer to its provision of services to the Client for any purpose in connection with the business provided that prior to any published reference to the Client Export-Developers shall give the Client an opportunity to object to such reference and in the event of objection upon reasonable grounds shall not refer to the Client as proposed.

13 Force Majeure

Both parties shall be released from their respective obligations in the event of national emergency, war, prohibitive governmental regulation or if any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the parties or either of them renders the performance of this agreement impossible, whereupon all money accrued due under this agreement shall be paid.

14 Miscellaneous

14.1 Warranty
Each of the parties warrants its power to enter into this agreement and has obtained all necessary approvals to do so.
14.2 Whole Agreement
Each party acknowledges that this agreement (as varied) and the conditions contain the whole agreement between the parties and that it is not relied upon any oral or written representations made to it by the other or its employees or agents and has made its own independent investigations into all matters relevant to it.
14.3 Change of Address
Each of the parties shall give notice to the other of the change or acquisition of any address or telephone, telex or similar numbers at the earliest possible opportunity but in any event within 24 hours of such change or acquisition.
14.4 Notices
Any notice to be served on either of the parties by the other shall be sent by pre-paid recorded delivery or registered post to the address of the relevant party shown at the head of this agreement or such other address substituted in writing under clause 14.3 (and if more than one address any such address) or by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail or by telex and shall be deemed to have been received by the addressee within 72 hours of posting or 24 hours if sent by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail or by telex to the correct facsimile number or electronic mail number of the addressee (with correct answer back).
14.5 Headings
Headings contained in this agreement are for reference purposes only and should not be incorporated into this agreement and shall not be deemed to be any indication of the meaning of the clauses to which they relate.
14.6 Joint and Several
All agreements on the part of either of the parties which comprise more than one person or entity shall be joint and several and the neuter singular gender throughout this agreement shall include all genders and the plural and the successor in title to the parties.
14.7 Proper Law and Jurisdiction
14.7.1 – This agreement shall be governed by United States law in every particular including formation and interpretation and shall be deemed to have been made in the United States.
14.7.2 – Any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this agreement may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.
14.7.3 – The submission by the parties to such jurisdiction shall not limit the right of Export-Developers to commence any proceedings arising out of this agreement in any other jurisdiction it may consider appropriate.
14.7.4 – Any notice of proceedings or other notices in connection with or which would give effect to such proceedings may without prejudice to any other method of service be served upon any party in accordance with clause 14.4.
14.7.5 – In the event that the Client is resident outside the United States, its address for service in the United States shall be the address for such service nominated in this agreement and any time limits in any proceedings shall not be extended by virtue only of the foreign residence of the Client.
14.8 Waiver
Failure by either party to enforce at any time or for any period any one or more of the terms or conditions of this agreement shall not be a waiver of them or the right at any time subsequently to enforce all terms and conditions of this agreement.
14.9 Status of Consultant
14.9.1 – Export-Developers Consultants shall be independent contractors and not the employee of the Client.
14.9.2 – In such capacity, Export-Developers shall bear exclusive responsibility for the payment of National Insurance contributions as a self-employed person and for the discharge of any income tax , VAT liability or other taxation arising out of remuneration for the work performed by Export-Developers under this agreement.
14.9.3 – Export-Developers shall not be subject to directions from the Client as to the manner in which he or she shall perform his or her work.
14.10 Project or Sub-Contracting
Export-Developers shall be entitled to sub-contract any of its rights or duties under this agreement.
14.11 Set-off
The Client shall not be entitled to withhold payment of any sum otherwise payable to Export-Developers by reason of any claim, set-off or for damages in relation hereto.

15 Definitions

“The Project” means the Project referred to in the Terms of Engagement
“The Terms of Reference” means the Terms of Reference referred to in the Terms of Engagement
“The Terms of Engagement” means the written terms of the agreement between the client and the Consultant which incorporate these terms

“Export-Developers” means Export Developers Consultion, Export Developers Consultants or any other trading style under which a proposal is made to the client.