L4M3- Chapter 1- Understanding the legal issues Flashcards
What is a schedule?
Part of a contract that is time orientated and designed to be updated periodically
e.g. Annual price lists or a project delivery plan
Can also be the spec
What is an annex?
An attachment to a contract which is of direct relevance to the contract but is not updated regularly. E.g. addresses or org charts
Can also be the spec
What is an appendix?
Attachment to a contract which may be of interest but is independent of the contract (e.g. nice to know)
In law, a tender and quotation are essentially the same thing. In procurement what is the difference?
Quotation- used when the only variable is price, a simpler process and possibly even informal. Low value, lower risk items
Tender- Multiple variables (not just price). More formal, normally has deadlines
What is a framework agreement?
An agreement with one or more suppliers for the supply of an array of products, all with prices and T&Cs fixed for the duration of the agreement
What are the advantages and risks of RFQs?
ADV-
Formality- reduced spend on process because spec is clear and frees up resource
Speed- turnaround should be short as only variable is price. Quick to implement
DISADV
May be over simplified
Potential for a lack of an audit trail
Possible lack of transparency
Price may not be the only variable to consider
Need to comply with rules
What are the advantages and risks of ITT?
ADV
Full audit trail
Full robust process for transparency so reduces risk (e.g. conflicts of interest, bribery etc)
Forward planning as you need to think about timelines for an ITT
Clear and robust response schedules and timelines
DISADV
Requires documentation set up
Process driven so may not give specific thought
May be regulated by law
Long process
Lack of understanding of appropriate tender type
What are some of the issues that can be raised from sourcing? (seeking tenders and quotes)
Administrative costs
Audit trails
Transparency of process (ie. suppliers need to be sure its a fair process with no nepotism or coercion)
Urgency and speed (most procurement should be properly planned out not requiring immediate action scenarios)
Why are audit trails important?
Reduce bribery, corruption, collusion and extortion
Evidence for what actually has happened
Improved accountability
Trace errors
E.g. an RFQ may be less formal meaning less of an audit trail (unless using E-tenders), whereas an ITT will have a full robust audit trail
What is a waiver process?
A decision not to apply the normal rules.
To waive a tender process it needs high level authority and a business justification
May be caused by needing to do something urgently to maintain supply
If a specification is not clear, what could happen?
Poor bids (over or under priced)
Claims for extensions
Admin costs to clarify
Delay
Goods not meeting requirement
Why do you not want to over specify?
Miss opportunities for change or innovation
May refer to specific brands or manufacturers which are unnecessary
Wish list may be so specific that no supplier can meet it
Others I think:
Increased cost
Time and effort
What is PbR?
Payment by Results
This is a scheme where some or all of the payment depends on the provider achieving outcomes specified by the commissioner
This is used in the public sector in the UK
What are the main types of specification?
Performance
Conformance (also called prescriptive or technical)
Sometimes it can become a hybrid between the two
There is also outcome based schedule of outcome requirements- this is looser and more flexible than a specification and encourages innovation
What are the main differences between performance and conformance spec?
PERFORMANCE:
Focus on outputs
Sets out results
The ‘what’ not the ‘how’
Supplier has flexibility
Risk is with supplier
CONFORMANCE:
Focus on inputs
specifies methods, processes and materials
May use specific manufacturers, brands or components
It is the ‘how’ and the ‘what’
Ties suppliers to set details
Risk held by buyer
What are the 12 key things to think about when designing a specification?
Purpose
Perspective
Scope
Improvement
Compliance (standards)
Type
Relevance
Performance
Clarity
Service conditions (once in situ what does operating/ storage look like)
Budget
Waste
What problems can occur if a spec is only mentioned in the RFQ/ITT and not in the contract?
If it is not in the contract it is not valid
Anything spoken about in the tendering process could be omitted, undermining the whole contract
Failure to use the most up to date documents
What are the 3 key components of a performance management framework?
KPIs
Targets
Consequences
What are some examples of tender submission aspects that could be included in a contract?
Purchase price factors (price, inflation, payment terms)
Time scales for production
Logistical aspects e.g. delivery, packaging
Location
What are some examples of KPI aspects that could be included in a contract?
Delivery performance
Quality performance
response times
What are some examples of specification aspects that could be included in a contract?
Material requirements
ISO e.g. ISO 9001 for quality management
What determined if a contract is formal?
used for detailed contracts
where law may need to be enforced
Evidence of both parties signing and sealing
What are the advantages of a standard/template contract?
ADV
Unlikely to miss key areas
Standard clauses prompt though on relevance
Legal meaning has been fully considered
Standard list of schedules will be included
Cheaper
Consistent
DISADV
Could be inappropriate for use
Could become complacent when writing
May fail to cross check
References may be obsolete
May be ambiguity
What are the advantages of a bespoke contract?
ADV
Precise needs considered
Avoids risk/ drawbacks of standard forms
DISADV
Language may be inconsistent with legal interpretation
Potential to omit areas of low risk
May identify risk but not consider wider consequences
What is CSF?
Critical success factors
Identify the key objectives of a contract and determine the conditions that will deliver them
What are warranties in a contract?
Lesser terms in a contract which result in damages but not termination
What are conditions in a contract?
The key elements in a contract which, if breached, can result in termination
What are innominate terms?
Could be warranties or conditions depending on judgements made as part of a dispute resolution process
What are the common 5 sections of a contract?
1) Articles- a summary of the basic agreement (party A is entering a purchase agreement with party B…)
2) Recitals- Context- what is the situation that the contract happens
3) Contract particulars- some specific parameters e.g. date of completion, insurance, conditions, warranties
4) T&Cs- ifs, buts and maybes and what will happen in different scenarios
5) Schedules- specific project detail
What is market leverage?
Another term for bargaining power
The purchaser usually takes the lead in delivery of contracts, what things should they be aware of?
Market leverage- suppliers can make changes if they hold power
Regulations in procurement- once advertised, it can be difficult to execute change
It is important that a buyer understands all terms in a contract, every term should do one of the following:
Protect the supplier
Protect the buyer
Balance the protection between them
Contracts should protect both parties but the degree to which they do will be based on the bargaining powers and their influence
What should key terms in a contract cover?
Price
Payment terms
Risk
Insurance
timescales
H&S
Actions and remedies
An informal contract can be difficult to understand the terms agreed, particularly if it was over the phone or was just an RFQ followed by payment and delivery, but how would the terms be esablished?
If there was a previous contract the terms could be assumed to apply again
If there were ‘normal’ sector expectations they may apply again
Either of the above could be discounted if there was evidence for other circumstances applying
What is a schedule?
A schedule to a contract is simply an attachment to the body of the contract form
It is an easier way to incorporate project specific information without having to impact the main body of a contract and allows for standardisation of the T&Cs
What are the benefits of using a schedule?
Simpler to draft a standard contract with a schedule specific to the project
Quicker and cost effective
Within an organisation specific clauses have identical wording to avoid risk
Uniform contracts are easier to understand
What are the most common types of schedule?
Pricing schedule- could be the fees payable at different stages
Specification- Exactly what is to be delivered
Preliminaries (costs that are needed to complete a project but are not tied to specific work e.g. project management) or contraction/operational matters- usually included to cover all associated overheads and risks
Performance management framework- KPIs, targets, incentives, disincentives, bonuses
Delegated authority and contractual management
Site lists, maps and plans
H&S
Method statements- describe how the desired result is to be achieved
Sub contractors- could be simply agreeing to certain manufacturers or the supply chain
Alliancing agreements- also called contractual joint ventures- setting up joint supply chains between contractors and sub contractors
Core lists or exclusion lists- linked to schedule of rates and overview the items that may be included as part of a discount
Suppliers staff- This is where the provision of services is reliant on the skill of an individual e.g. the contract may be terminated if they no longer participate
Codes of conduct
Data management- NDAs, cyber security, rules on GDPR, IPR
What is a schedule of rates?
A list of prices associated with the products or services to be provided. it can differ by volume
Contract variations are required in contracts because conditions may change, but what should be set out in the contract?
Who can request change
Who can authorise change
Who can accept change
Mechanisms for price adjustments
What happens if a variation/ change order is rejected
Details of variance management and configuration control processes
Responsibilities for notification of affected parties
What is a variation/change order?
Change orders are also called variations or variation orders. Any modification or change to works agreed in the contract is treated as a variation.
What are the 6 basic rules for contract formation? OACICB
Offer
Acceptance
Consideration
Intention to create legal relations
Capacity to contract
Be legally binding
What is a common law, sharia law ,civil law and case law system?
Common law = in UK, a body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents and established by courts
Sharia law = also uses courts but guided by the Quran for Islamic states
Civil law = A comprehensive system of rules and principles usually arranged in codes and easily accessible to citizens and jurists. Used in Austria and Poland
Case law = Case law (or judicial precedent) is law which is made by the courts and decided by judges.
What is an ITN?
Also called an invitation to treat
Effectively a seller showcasing a product or service that is available for sale and inviting the buyer to submit a price or initiate negotiations.
In the way a buyer sends an ITT to a seller, an ITN is a seller submitting to a buyer
An ITN alone IS NOT AN OFFER, the buyers response to an ITN constitutes the offer
Similarly, an ITT alone is not an offer, it is an invitation and only becomes an offer once the parties have responded with a bid
Give some examples of ITN
Advertisement of goods
Displaying goods for sale in a shop
Auctions/ E-auctions
Online catalogues
What is an offer?
A statement of what the offerer is willing to provide and the terms in which they will provide it