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CASBO October 4, 2002. Phyllis Prokop, CPPB Supervisor of Purchases City of Middletown, Connecticut. Contracts- basic overview. For Purchasing Professionals-- Contracts and contract administration is the most difficult but necessary aspect of the job
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CASBOOctober 4, 2002 Phyllis Prokop, CPPB Supervisor of Purchases City of Middletown, Connecticut www.cityofmiddletown.com
Contracts- basic overview • For Purchasing Professionals-- Contracts and contract administration is the most difficult but necessary aspect of the job • A CONTRACT is the written document signifying an agreement between two parties—it details the promises or agreements for which the law has enforceable duties and remedies • CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION- the process by which purchasing ensures that the contract is performed in accordance with the stipulated terms www.cityofmiddletown.com
Contracts- continued • Contracts can be both Express or Implied • EXPRESS CONTRACT—can be written or oral and must have elements of a formal contract • IMPLIED IN FACT CONTRACT – the elements occur through actions/conduct rather than words • PURCHASE ORDER is considered a contract www.cityofmiddletown.com
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A CONTRACT • CONSIDERATION • OFFER and ACCEPTANCE • OBLIGATION • LEGALITY • COMPETENCY • DEFINITIVENESS www.cityofmiddletown.com
TYPES OF CONTRACTS • CONSTRUCTION • SERVICE • COMMODITY • TERM • TIME AND MATERIALS • CONSULTANTS www.cityofmiddletown.com
UCC ENACTED 1952 • Contracts are regulated by UCC -provide uniformity in laws among states to support interstate commerce • All contracts over $500 - must be in writing • deals only with sale and purchase of goods or sale /purchase of REAL ESTATE— does not apply to services or intangibles • Duration must be greater than 1 year • Application of reasonableness • Distinguishes between Merchant and Non- Merchant • PAROLE EVIDENCE RULE www.cityofmiddletown.com
MISTAKES IN CONTRACTS • Common law generally provides one remedy for a mistake • --- if mistake is not obvious, the party making the mistake is required to perform the contract if the other party wants it. • The party making the mistake may be relieved of the obligation to perform it under certain conditions • --- party accepting the offer may not enforce it if the offer contained is a mistake that was obvious or should have been obvious or detected. www.cityofmiddletown.com
DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF RECEIVER • Inspection : buyer must inspect goods in a timely fashion , defects must be reported promptly • Buyer has several options • 1.) reject all goods • 2) Accept all goods • 3.) reject non conforming goods • 4.) accept conforming goods • Latent Defects www.cityofmiddletown.com
PAROLE EVIDENCE RULE • court will not admit evidence, either written or oral, of prior understandings or negotiations to vary or contradict the contract’s terms ***Verbal commitments cannot be used to modify or contradict a written contract. www.cityofmiddletown.com
WARRANTIES • IMPLIED WARRANTY—that the goods will meet certain standards, that they will perform as they are intended. • IMPLIED WARRANTY FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE—seller knows about the buyers needs , buyer is relying on sellers expertise /knowledge to provide product to fit purpose • Merchant and Non- Merchant– the UCC rule becomes extremely important in this scenario. www.cityofmiddletown.com
BREACH OF CONTRACT • when party fails to perform in accordance with the contracts terms, the breach gives the other party a legal basis to pursue monetary damages • Lawsuits / Mediation • Liquidated Damages Clause: they specify a predetermined dollar amount assessed usually per day of delay • Performance Bonds www.cityofmiddletown.com
CONTRACT CLOSEOUT • Contract closeout requires the following: • Contractual issues must be settled • All changes incorporated into final document • All deliverables items received • All borrowed equipment returned • All classified documents must be returned • Final payment must be made • Contract Administrator must write formal closure document for file www.cityofmiddletown.com
CASBOOctober 4, 2002 Phyllis Prokop, CPPB Supervisor of Purchases City of Middletown, Connecticut www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • AUTOMATION • COMPUTERIZATION • E-COMMERCE • EBULLETIN BOARDS • ONLINE BIDDING www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • RULES MUST BE ENFORCED • LATE BID IS LATE- DO NOT ACCEPT • INCREASED EFFICIENCIES • COST SAVINGS www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • PROCUREMENT CARDS • Accepted widely • Easy to use • Financial controls • Reporting/ Financial integration www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • Misconception-Stumbling Block • Diverse Functions • Responsive to Customers- internal/external • Broad Knowledge www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • Resourceful: DODGE REPORTS / THOMAS REGIONALS • Networking: • PPAC- Public Purchasing Association of CT- 100+members www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING- (N.I.G.P) http://www.nigp.org/ • A PREMIER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION FOR PUBLIC PURCHASING OFFICIALS • PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ETHICS AND POLICY • CONVENES BEST PRACTICES FOR PUBLIC SECTOR PURCHASING • PROVIDES CERTIFICATION FOR PUBLIC PURCHASING AGENCIES www.cityofmiddletown.com
TRENDS IN PURCHASING • State of CT- DAS • CT Gov Center--Orderlink • CRCOG—cooperative contracts (natural gas) • U.S. COMMUNITIES- ECONOMIES OF SCALE- multi-state contracts www.cityofmiddletown.com
KEY CONTACTS • Web Information: • www.nigp.org • www.das.state.ct.us • www.StateGovCenter.com • www.uscommunities.org www.cityofmiddletown.com