TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR SUPPLY OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES

1. DEFINITIONS

“Client” means the business seeking the consulting service..

“Fees” means the price or rate for the Project given in the Purchase Order.

“Key Personnel” means any person named on the Purchase Order as key

personnel or any person who the Authority notifies the Consultant is to be

regarded as a key personnel during the course of the Project.

“Premises” means any land or building where the Project is to be carried out.

“Project” means the consultancy services described in the Purchase Order

and any associated documentation.

“Order Number” means the unique number that appears on the Purchase

Order.

“Parties” means the Authority and the Consultant.

“Purchase Order” means an order for consultancy services served by the

Authority on the Consultant which includes a description of the Project, the

Fees payable and any terms applying to the Project which are additional to

these Terms and Conditions.

“Consultant” means the person, firm or company whose name appears as

the addressee in the Purchase Order.

“Terms and Conditions” means these terms and conditions for the supply of

consultancy services.

2. GENERAL

2.1 These Terms and Conditions together with the relevant Purchase Order and

any other document, plan or specification referred to in the Purchase Order

constitute the contract between the Parties for the Project (“the Contract”).

2.2 In the event of any conflict between a clause in these Terms and Conditions

and a term of the Purchase Order, the term of the Purchase Order shall

prevail.

2.3 The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties relating to

the Project and replaces all previous negotiations, agreements,

understandings and representations whether oral or in writing. However nothing in the Contract shall limit or exclude any liability for fraud.

2.4 Nothing in this Contract shall have the effect of making the Consultant a

servant or employee of the Authority.

3. THE PROJECT

3.1 The Consultant shall carry out and complete the Project:

1. in accordance with the Purchase Order;
2. with reasonable skill, care and diligence;
3. to the reasonable satisfaction of the Client
4. (where applicable) using staff or agents with appropriate skills and qualifications.

3.2 The Consultant shall not place or cause to be placed any orders with third

parties or otherwise incur any liabilities to third parties in the name of the

Authority without the prior written consent of the Authority.

4. TIME OF PERFORMANCE

4.1 The Consultant shall carry out the Project by the date or in accordance with

the timescales set out in the Purchase Order or in accordance with any

timescales reasonably notified to the Consultant by the Authority.

4.2 The Consultant shall submit such detailed programmes of work and progress

reports as the Authority may from time to time require.

4.3 The Consultant shall notify the Authority immediately if it becomes aware of

any event that it believes is likely to delay or impede the Project.

4.4 In the event that the Consultant fails to meet a date or dates set out in the

Purchase Order or comply with the timescales contained in the Purchase

Order it shall, on the request of the Authority, and without prejudice to the

Authority’s other rights and remedies, arrange to provide all such additional

resources as are necessary to fulfil its obligations at no additional cost to the

Authority.

5. REJECTION OF PROJECT

5.1 The Authority may at any time reject anything delivered or provided as part of

the Project which, in the reasonable view of the Authority, does not comply

with the Contract in any material way.

5.2 If the Authority rejects all or part of the Project under Condition 5.1 above, it

shall serve a notice on the Consultant stating the reasons for such rejection.

5.3 Following receipt of a notice of rejection of the Services, the Consultant shall

have 5 (five) working days (or such other period as the Parties may agree in

writing) during which the Consultant shall correct the faults which caused the

notice of rejection to be issued.

5.4 Without prejudice to the Authority’s other rights under this Contract, if the

Consultant fails to correct the faults which caused the notice of rejection to be

issued to the reasonable satisfaction of the Authority within 5 (five) working

days (or such longer period as the Parties have agreed), the Authority shall be

entitled to terminate this Contract.

6. CONSULTANT'S PERSONNEL AND SECURITY

6.1 The Consultant shall make Key Personnel available for the purposes of the

Project and shall not make any changes in the Key Personnel without the prior

written approval of the Authority.

6.2 If and when requested by the Authority, the Consultant shall provide the

Authority with a list of the names and addresses of any persons being used in

the Project or any part of it specifying in each case the capacities in which

they are involved and giving such other particulars, evidence of identity and

other supporting evidence as the Authority may reasonably require.

6.3 The Consultant shall comply with any notice reasonably given by the Client

stating that a person named in the notice is not to be involved any further in

the provision of the Project. The Consultant shall bear the cost of complying

with such a notice.

6.4 Where the Project is being carried out at Premises owned or occupied by the

Authority: 

1. the Consultant shall comply and shall ensure that its staff, sub-contractors and agents comply with any rules or regulations applied by the Authority in relation to security at its premises;
2. if the Authority gives the Consultant notice that any person is not to be admitted to or is to be removed from its land or premises or is not to become involved in or is to be removed from involvement in the Project, the Consultant shall take all reasonable steps to comply with such notice and shall bear the cost of any such notice. The Consultant shall ensure that any person who is removed is replaced by someone of equivalent qualifications and experience.

6.5 If the Consultant employs anyone for the purposes of providing the Project,

the Consultant shall not unlawfully discriminate within the meaning and scope

of the provisions of any act of Parliament relating to discrimination in

employment.

7. PAYMENT

7.1 In consideration of the carrying out of the Project by the Consultant the

Authority shall pay the Consultant the Fees.

7.2 The Consultant shall submit an invoice for the Project to the Authority’s

address for invoices given in the Purchase Order. The invoice shall contain

the Order Number, a description of the part of the Project to which it refers

and the applicable Fees.

7.3 The Consultant shall be entitled to be reimbursed its reasonable expenses

actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the Project subject to

production of such receipts and documentation as the Authority reasonable

requires. Expenses shall be reimbursable at the standard civil service rates

which the Authority shall provide on request.

7.4 The Authority shall pay the Consultant within 30 days of receipt and

agreement of invoices, submitted monthly in arrears, for work completed to

the satisfaction of the Authority.

7.5 In addition to the Price, the Authority shall pay the Consultant a sum

equivalent to any Value Added Tax chargeable in respect of the Project. Value

Added Tax shall be shown as a separate item on the Consultant’s invoice.

7.6 The Consultant shall be entirely responsible for the payment of all and any

income tax, national insurance contributions and any similar liabilities on any

Fees earned under this Contract.

7.7 The Contractor shall implement any legislative requirement to account for

goods and services in Euro instead of or as well as Sterling at no cost to the

Authority. The Authority shall provide all reasonable assistance to facilitate

any such requirement

8. RECOVERY OF SUMS DUE

8.1 If any sum is recoverable from or payable by the Consultant under the

Contract, that sum may be deducted from any sum then due or which at a

later date becomes due to the Consultant under the Contract or under any

other agreement with the Authority.

9. AUDIT

9.1 The Consultant shall keep and maintain until two years after the Contract has

been completed records to the satisfaction of the Authority of all costs and

expenditures connected with the Project which are reimbursable by the

Authority. This shall include records of the hours worked and costs incurred

by the Consultant and the costs of any employees of the Consultant paid for

by the Authority. The Consultant shall on request afford the Authority or any

person reasonably specified by the Authority access to those records.

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

10.1 The intellectual property rights (including the copyright) in any reports,

documentation or materials are hereby assigned to and shall vest in the

Authority. This condition shall survive the termination of this Contract.

10.2 Save where the Project uses documentation and materials supplied by the

Authority, the Consultant warrants that none of the documentation and

materials used or created as part of the Project shall infringe any patent, trade

mark, registered design, copyright or other rights in industrial property of any

third party.

10.3 The Consultant shall indemnify the Authority against all actions, demands,

charges, expenses and costs (including legal costs on a solicitor and Client

basis) which the Authority may incur as a result of or in connection with any

breach of clause 10.2.

11. HEALTH AND SAFETY

11.1 The Consultant shall notify the Authority of any health and safety hazards that

may arise in connection with the performance of this Contract.

11.2 Where the project is being carried out at Premises owned or occupied by the

Authority, the Authority shall notify the Consultant of any health and safety

hazards which may exist or arise at its premises and which may affect the

Consultant. The Consultant shall draw these hazards to the attention of any of

its employees, subcontractors or agents who may be affected by them and

instruct such persons in connection with any necessary safety measures.

12. CONFIDENTIALITY

12.1 The Consultant undertakes to not disclose and to procure

that its employees, sub-contractors and agents to not

disclose any information of a confidential nature which it has obtained by

reason of this Contract. Nothing in this clause applies to information that is

already in the public domain or the possession of the Consultant other than by

reason of breach of this clause.

12.2 The provisions of this Condition shall survive the termination of this Contract

however that occurs.

13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

13.1 The Consultant shall disclose to the Authority any actual or potential conflict

of interest arising from the Project as soon as is reasonably practicable after

becoming aware of the conflict.

13.2 If the Parties are unable to resolve the conflict to the reasonable satisfaction

of the Authority, the Authority shall be entitled to terminate the Contract with

immediate effect.

14. INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE

14.1 Without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Authority the Consultant

shall indemnify the Authority against all actions, demands, losses, expenses

and costs (including legal costs on a solicitor and client basis) which the

Authority may suffer or incur as a result of or in connection with any damage

to property or any injury (whether fatal or otherwise) to any person which may

result directly or indirectly from any negligence or breach of this Contract by

the Consultant.

14.2 The Consultant warrants that it has in place with a reputable insurance

company a policy or policies of insurance relating to all matters that are the

subject of indemnities and undertakings on the part of the Consultant

contained in this Contract. In particular, unless the Authority agrees that such

insurance is unnecessary the Consultant warrants that the work done in

relation to the Project is covered by a policy of professional indemnity

insurance. At the request of the Authority the Supplier shall produce the

relevant policy of insurance together with evidence of payment of its latest

premium.

15. CHANGE CONTROL

15.1 This Contract may not be varied or amended unless the variation or

amendment is in writing and agreed by both the Authority and the Consultant.

15.2 The price of any variation (if applicable) shall be the fair and reasonable price

taking into account the market price available to the Authority for similar work

or services.

15.3 If any change is agreed to anything included on the Purchase Order the

Authority reserves the right to issue a replacement Purchase Order. These

terms and conditions shall apply to any replacement Purchase Order in the

same way as they apply to the original Purchase Order.

16. ASSIGNMENT OR SUB-CONTRACTING

16.1 The Consultant shall not assign or sub-contract any part of the Project without

the written consent of the Authority.

16.2 No sub-contracting of this Contract shall in any way relieve the Consultant of

its obligations under the Contract.

16.3 Where the Consultant enters a sub-contract for the purpose of performing this

Contract it shall ensure that the sub-contract has a term requiring the

Consultant to pay the sub-contractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid

invoice.

17. RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES

17.1 This Contract shall not create any rights which are enforceable by anyone

other than the Parties.

18. TERMINATION

18.1 The Consultant shall notify the Authority in writing immediately upon the

occurrence of any of the following events:

1. (where the Consultant is an individual) if a petition is presented for the Consultant's bankruptcy or a criminal bankruptcy order is made against the Consultant, or the Consultant makes any composition or arrangement with or for the benefit of creditors, or makes any conveyance or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if an administrator is appointed to manage his affairs;
2. (where the Consultant is a firm; or a number of persons acting together in any capacity) if any event in (1) or (3) of this Condition occurs in respect of any partner in the firm or any of those persons or a petition is presented for the Consultant to be wound up as an unregistered company; or
3. where the Consultant is a company, if the company passes a resolution for winding-up or the court makes an administration order or a winding-up order, or the company makes a composition or arrangement with its creditors, or an administrative receiver, receiver or manager is appointed by a creditor or by the court, or possession is taken of any of its property under the terms of a floating charge.

18.2 The Authority shall be entitled to terminate this Contract by notice to the

Consultant with immediate effect if:

1. any of the events described in Condition 18.1 occurs; or
2. the Consultant has committed a material breach of this Contract which is not capable of remedy; or
3. the Consultant has committed a material breach of this Contract which is capable of remedy but has failed to remedy such breach within thirty days of being required by the Authority in writing to do so; or
4. (where the Consultant is an individual), if he shall die or be adjudged incapable of managing his affairs within the meaning of Part VII of the Mental Health Act 1983.

18.3 The Authority shall be entitled to terminate this Contract at any time by giving

to the Consultant not less than thirty days' notice to that effect.

19. NOTICES

19.1 Any notice or other communication given under or pursuant to this Contract

must be given in writing and must be delivered in person or sent by post.

Communications must be sent to the address for communications given in the

Purchase Order (which may be altered at any time by the altering Party giving

the other Party 15 days notice of a changed address). ). Communications to

the Authority must be sent to the address given for the buyer contact in the

Purchase Order and not to the address for invoices.

19.2 A notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received 2 working

days after posting in the case of first class delivery and 4 working days after

posting in the case of second class delivery unless the receiving party proves

otherwise.

20. DISPUTES AND MEDIATION

20.1 Before resorting to litigation, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate

a settlement to any dispute between them arising out of or in connection with

this Contract.

20.2 If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute, either party may, at any time,

refer the dispute to mediation by a neutral advisor or mediator (“the

Mediator”).

20.3 If the Parties are unable to agree on a Mediator within 7 days of the request

by one party to refer the dispute to mediation, they shall apply to the Centre

for Dispute Resolution (“CEDR”) to appoint a Mediator.

20.4 The Parties shall seek to agree directions for how the mediation is conducted

and, failing agreement, they shall seek directions from the Mediator.

20.5 If the Parties reach agreement on the resolution of their dispute the agreement

shall be reduced to writing and shall be binding.

21. GOVERNING LAW

21.1 Unless the Purchase Order specifies otherwise, this Contract shall be

governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales

and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and

Wales.

Version 1.0

Last Updated: 25/02/2025