Master Services Agreement
This Master Services Agreement ("Agreement") is by and between Systems Support Corporation ("Systems Support") and our valued client ("Client") and (individually referred to as "Party" and collectively as "Parties").
1.
Services: Systems Support shall provide Services to Client as described in more
detail in each Action Plan which shall be governed by this Agreement and
incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein. Each Action Plan shall provide a description
of the Services to be performed, the date upon which services will start, the
fees to by paid to Systems Support under the Action Plan and this Agreement,
the Services implementation plan, Client responsibilities and any other terms
and conditions agreed to by the Parties.
2. Onsite Services: Onsite support will be initiated at the sole discretion of Systems
Support as part of the escalation process for issues that cannot be corrected
remotely. Any onsite service work will first be approved and authorized by
Client. Client acknowledges that any onsite support work may result in travel
time charges.
3. Client Responsibilities:
Client
responsibilities are tailored to each Client's needs and are itemized in each
Action Plan executed between the Parties.
4. Term: This Agreement is effective upon the date
Client executes the Action Plan for IT Services ("Action Plan") and renews on
the first (1st ) day of every month thereafter.
5. Fees & Expenses; Payment Terms: Client will be invoiced pursuant to Client's
Action Plan on the first (1st) day of each month with payment due before
the first (1st) day of the following month ("due date"). Systems
Support reserves the right to adjust fees upon thirty (30) days advance notice
to Client. ACH payments will be
processed on the fifteenth (15th) day of the month in which the
invoice was issued (e.g. invoice issued June 1st, ACH processed June
15th). If payment is not
received by the due date, payment for both the prior month and current month will
become immediately due and owing.
Service will be suspended if payment in full is not received within 60
days of the due date. Systems Support shall charge interest at the rate of 1.5%
per month for any overdue amounts and shall be entitled to reimbursement for
all fees and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing the terms of this
Agreement, including but not limited to legal fees. Systems Support shall further be entitled
to reimbursement of all out-of-pocket costs incurred on behalf of Client.
6. Intellectual Property: Except for
pre-existing materials, as set forth below, Client is, and shall be, the sole
and exclusive owner of all rights, title and interest in and to Deliverables,
including all intellectual property rights therein. Systems Support agrees,
that with respect to any Deliverables that may qualify as "work made for hire"
as defined in 17 U.S.C. §101, such Deliverables shall be deemed a "work made
for hire" for Client. Upon the reasonable request of Client, Systems Support
shall promptly take such further actions, including execution and delivery of
all appropriate instruments of conveyance, as may be necessary to assist Client
to prosecute, register, perfect or record its rights in or to any Deliverables.
Systems Support and its licensors and any third-party licensors are, and
shall remain, the sole and exclusive owners of all right, title and interest in
and to any pre-existing intellectual property, including all intellectual
property rights therein. Systems Support hereby grants Client a
non-transferable license to use, display, reproduce, distribute or transmit any
pre-existing materials to the extent incorporated in, combined with or
otherwise necessary for the use of Deliverables. All other rights in and to the
pre-existing materials are expressly reserved by Systems Support.
7. Confidentiality: For purposes of this
Agreement, the term "Confidential Information" shall mean all non-public
information of either Party, whether or not marked as confidential or
proprietary, including, without limitation, client lists, client information,
supplier lists, financial information, contractual information, designs, pricing
information, internal business organization information, marketing, business
and expansion plans and all other business documents, notes, records, research
and development, intellectual property, technologies, processes, procedures,
programs, systems, products and methods of either Party, and all written, oral
or electronic information concerning any of the preceding. Confidential
Information shall not include any information which (i) was in the public
domain at the time it was disclosed, or thereafter enters the public domain
through no fault of the Party alleging violation of this Section; (ii) was
available to a Party at the time of disclosure to that Party, or thereafter
becomes known by that Party, on a non-confidential basis; (iii) information which
is independently developed by either Party without use of or reference to the
other Party's Confidential Information; or (iv) is disclosed or used by a Party
with the other Party's advance written approval.
The Parties
acknowledge that in the course of Systems Support's rendering of the Services,
the Parties will be exposed and may have access to each other's Confidential
Information. The Parties shall protect each other's Confidential Information
with the same degree of care as they use to protect their own Confidential
Information but no less than a reasonable degree of care. Except as otherwise
provided herein, upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, Client
will, upon request of Systems Support, return or certify the deletion of all
records, files and other documents, or copies thereof of the Confidential
Information then in Client's possession.
Systems Support and Client agree that all Confidential Information of
the other party will not be disclosed to any third person without the prior
express written approval of the other party.
Notwithstanding the above, Client agrees that Systems Support may (i)
utilize Client's name as part of its marketing efforts; (ii) without notice to
Client, report to the appropriate authorities any conduct by Client that
Systems Support believes violates applicable law; and (iii) disclose any
Confidential Information in its possession to any law enforcement,
governmental, or regulatory agency in response to a formal order that on its
face meets the requirements for such a request.
8.
Relationship. The Parties are independent parties; and this Agreement does not make
the Parties principal and agent, partners, employer and employee; nor does it
create a joint venture. It is further
understood that there is no relationship, including but not limited to a
partnership, joint venture, subcontractor or other commission-based
relationship, between any party that referred Systems Support or Client to the
other Party to this Agreement.
9.
Non-Solicitation: Neither Systems Support nor Client will solicit, recruit, or hire any
employee of the other party while under this Agreement and for a period of 12
months after termination of the Agreement for any reason. The Parties mutually agree that in the event of Client's breach of this
non-solicitation provision, Client shall pay liquidated damages in the amount
of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000).
10. DECLINED PRODUCTS OR SERVICES:
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION TO THE CONTRARY, SYSTEMS SUPPORT SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY FOR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE OFFERED TO CLIENT DURING THE TERM WHICH
SUCH PRODUCT OR SERVICE WAS DECLINED BY CLIENT.
Cyber Insurance: Client is responsible for its own cyber security insurance. Systems Support recommends that Client secure
and maintain Cyber Liability Insurance to insure Client's cyber exposures. If
Client elects not to obtain such insurance, it does so at its own risk and
Client understands that Systems Support's insurance policy may not cover Client's
expenses in the event of a cyber incident.
11. Equitable Relief: Each Party
acknowledges that a breach of this agreement may cause Systems Support
irreparable damages, for which an award of damages would not be adequate
compensation and therefore, in the event of such breach or threatened breach,
Systems Support will be entitled to equitable relief without being required to
post a bond or other form of security, including a restraining order,
injunctive relief, specific performance and any other relief that may be
available from any court, in addition to any other remedy available at law or
in equity. Such remedies shall not be deemed to be exclusive but shall be in
addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity.
12. Termination. A Party may terminate the
Agreement at any time by providing at least 30 days written notice to the other
Party at the address provided in this Agreement, or such other address as may
later be provided by either Party. Termination of this Agreement shall likewise
operate as a termination of all applicable Action Plans then in effect and be
subject to any and all applicable costs, expenses, and/or charges outlined in
this Agreement and the Action Plan. Systems Support may terminate this
Agreement and/or any Action Plan immediately: (a) if Client fails to pay any
applicable fees due for any Action Plan within ten (10) days after receipt of
written notice from Systems Support of non-payment; or (b) if Client commits
any other breach of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within ten
(10) business days after receipt of written notice from Systems Support. If an Action Plan is terminated, Client will
pay Systems Support for Services rendered within ten (10) days of the effective
date of such termination, and all expenses and reasonable termination costs
incurred through the termination date.
13.
Notices: All formal notices or demands shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery or, if mailed, by prepaid certified
mail return receipt requested, to the notice address shown in the Quote and
Systems Support documents and if to Systems Support at the address below.
Either Party may change its notification address by giving the other Party
prior written notice of the new address and the effective date. Notices to
Systems Support should be sent to:
Systems Support Corp.
462 Plain Street, Ste. 206
Marshfield, MA 02050
14.
Limited Warranty: TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SYSTEMS SUPPORT DISCLAIMS IN
ITS ENTIRETY ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER STATUTORY, EXPRESS, OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
WARRANTIES THAT SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR RESULT IN
COMPLETE SECURITY FROM DATA LOSS, WARRANTIES OF QUALITY, DURABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY. ALL SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED ON AN "AS-IS BASIS".
15.
Indemnification: Client shall indemnify and hold harmless Systems
Support and its officers, owners,
directors, agents, affiliates, and employees from and against any and all
claims, suits, judgments, proceedings, demands, liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, costs, penalties, fines, punitive damages, amounts in
interest, expenses and disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever
(including reasonable attorney's fees) unless caused by the willful misconduct
or gross negligence of Systems Support.
16. Limitation of Liability: SYSTEMS SUPPORT
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO CLIENT FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, OR FOR DAMAGES THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY THE USE OF REASONABLE DILIGENCE, ARISING IN CONNECTION
WITH THE AGREEMENT OR THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY SYSTEMS SUPPORT, EVEN IF SYSTEMS
SUPPORT HAS BEEN ADVISED OR SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTRARY IN THE AGREEMENT, THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE
LIABILITY OF SYSTEMS SUPPORT AND ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, OWNERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS,
AFFILIATES, OR EMPLOYEES UNDER ANY THEORY OF LAW (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY AND INFRINGEMENT) SHALL BE A
PAYMENT OF MONEY NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAYABLE BY CLIENT TO SYSTEMS SUPPORT
FOR THREE MONTHS OF SERVICE.
17. CYBER SECURITY: Neither this Agreement nor
any Action Plan shall constitute an absolute guaranty regarding the security of
data of client. Additionally, absent an
action plan specifically including the design
and implementation of industry
standard administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect against
unauthorized access, Systems Support is not responsible or liable for any
damages related to the administrative, physical or technical safeguards Client
purchases to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure or use of
personally identifiable information maintained by Client.
18.
Third
Party Services: Client may elect
to have work done by third-parties or to perform work itself during the term of
this Agreement that may impact the work hereunder. Unless specifically in an
Action Plan as a provided service, Systems Support is not responsible for
assisting with, modifying or remediating any impact caused by Client or a
third-party. If any such work by a third-party invalidates, impacts, damages or
changes any of the settings, security or other network functionality, design or
access (collectively, "Network Changes") maintained by Systems Support, Client
accepts full risk of loss for such Network Changes. Client agrees to indemnify
and hold Systems Support harmless to the maximum extent permitted by law for
any direct, indirect damage, consequential, special or punitive damages caused
in whole or in part by any third-party action.
"Third-party" does not include Systems Support's employees, independent
contractors, third party contractors, vendors, or agents that Systems Support
elects to use in performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
19. Delays and Force Majeure: Systems Support will make reasonable effort to perform the services to
be provided to Client on a timely basis without delay caused by Systems
Support. Systems Support is not liable
or responsible in any manner for delays caused by Client or third parties and
any such delays shall not constitute default.
Further, Systems Support will not
be in default of any obligation under this Agreement if Systems Support is
unable to perform the obligation is due to any event beyond Systems Support's
control and without its fault or negligence ("Force Majeure"), including
without limitation, power grid or the internet failure, natural disaster, war,
riot, pandemic or epidemic, strikes, any acts or
omissions of any governmental authority, act
of a public enemy, acts of terrorism, riot, sabotage, disputes or differences with
workmen, power failure, communications delays/outages, delays in transportation
or deliveries of supplies or materials, cyberwarfare,
cyberterrorism, or hacking, malware or virus-related incidents that circumvent
then-current anti-virus or anti-malware software, and acts of God or
other events of similar magnitude. In any such event, Systems Support shall not
be liable in contract, tort, third-party liability, breach of statutory duty or
otherwise, in respect of any direct, indirect or consequential losses or
expenses, including without limitation loss of anticipated profits, company
shut-down, third-party loss or injury, any loss because of data breach, any
loss of personally identifiable or protected information, goodwill, use, market
reputation, business receipts or contracts or commercial opportunities, whether
or not foreseeable, if such loss was the result of or arose from a Force
Majeure.
20. Disputes: Any dispute between the parties shall be
resolved, in order, by (i) meaningful, good faith discussion between the
parties that is intended to resolve the dispute; (ii) escalation to senior
executives of the Parties for discussion with the intent to resolve the
dispute; (iii) the pursuit of any remedy available at law or in equity to
resolve the dispute.
21. Applicable Law & Venue: This Agreement
will be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts without reference to its principles of conflicts
of laws. Both Parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of any
court within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any dispute
arising out of, or in connection with this Agreement and the parties agree to
waive their rights to a jury trial
22. Assignment. Client may not assign its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without System Support's prior written consent,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
23. Severability: Should any provision of this
agreement be deemed unenforceable; the remaining provisions shall remain in
force.
24. Entire Agreement: This Agreement together
with any Action Plan(s) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties
with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements,
understandings, and negotiations, whether oral or written, between the Parties.
The Agreement may only be amended in writing and requires the signature of both
parties. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the Action Plan
and the provisions set forth in this Agreement, the provisions of this
Agreement shall govern.