Appendix+A+ID+Terms+and+Conditions.docx

APPENDIX A – IDAHO TERMS AND CONDITIONS BACKGROUND AND LIMITATIONS

RFQ 177 – Maintenance Management Software

Idaho Terms and Conditions – Background The Division of Purchasing issues solicitations on behalf of State of Idaho agencies. As public entities, the Division and the agencies it serves are subject to statutes, rules and policies that result in terms and conditions unlike those common in contracts between private parties. The Division of Purchasing does not have authority to vary many of these terms and in some instances variations are void under Idaho law. See IDAPA 38.05.01.112.

Idaho is not unique. Many of the terms in the State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions are similar to terms offered by most federal, state, and local government agencies. Vendors who seek to work with government agencies should become familiar with these terms. The discussion below is provided to assist you in becoming familiar with the legal and policy basis for the terms and to provide information for you to evaluate the risks and benefits of working with public entities.

Termination – Costs of Re-procurement The State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions provision concerning termination specifically identifies the costs of re-procurement as a damage arising from a breach of the contract by a vendor. This damage is identified because of the public agency budgeting process and the competitive solicitation process required by Idaho’s purchasing laws. The Idaho purchasing laws provide a preference for open, competitive procurements. These procurements come at a cost to the agency, which is generally included in the agency budget requested from the Idaho Legislature more than twelve months prior to incurring the expense. Unlike a private business, public agencies cannot independently pass through the costs of re-procurement to Idaho taxpayers, who are the customers of government. Instead, Idaho agencies must submit a request for the costs to the Idaho Legislature in a subsequent budget year, which is usually after the need to secure a replacement vendor for the breaching contractor arises. As a matter of public policy, the contractor whose breach caused the damage of requiring re-procurement must pay those costs at the time of breach so that the public can receive the benefit of the contract made on its behalf through re-procurement of a new contract. This policy is reflected in the State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions provision concerning termination and the Division of Purchasing does not generally vary this requirement.

Termination – Fiscal Necessity Idaho Constitution Article VII, section 11 prohibits an expenditure in excess of a legislative appropriation. Idaho Code section 59-1015 prohibits state agencies and officers from entering into contracts that create any expense or liability in excess of an appropriation. Idaho Code section 59-1016 provides that any such contract is void. IDAPA 38.05.01.112 contains the same provisions. An appropriation can be reduced under Idaho law through “give backs” and “hold backs” issued by the executive branch. When the Division of Purchasing enters into a contract, it must contain the term allowing for termination for fiscal necessity to comply with these provisions. Variation of this term is not offered.

Anti-Discrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity Many of the Idaho agencies served by the Division of Purchasing receive federal funding that is subject to a requirement concerning a pass-through to vendors of the obligation to comply with federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. The pass-through obligation may extend beyond the specific federal funds to all agency contracts. Variation of this term is not offered to prevent a breach of the State of Idaho’s obligations under its agreements with the United States.

Taxes The State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions provision concerning taxes identifies that Idaho agencies are exempt from the payment of taxes and provides that the contractor is responsible for all taxes assessed against the contractor as a result of doing business with the State of Idaho. State agencies are not granted an appropriation to pay taxes due to the exemptions that apply to government agencies. As discussed above under the heading Termination – Fiscal Necessity, terms in excess of appropriation are void under Idaho law. Variation of this term is not offered.

Indemnification Many vendors request the State of Idaho offer an indemnification of the vendor. An indemnification is a promise to pay funds that have not been appropriated in the current budget year or that may occur in a future budget year that has not yet been appropriated by the Idaho Legislature. Idaho Constitution Article VII, section 11 prohibits an expenditure in excess of a legislative appropriation. Idaho Code section 59-1015 prohibits state agencies and officers from entering into contracts that create any expense or liability in excess of an appropriation. Idaho Code section 59-1016 provides that any such contract is void. IDAPA 38.05.01.112 contains the same provisions. Variation of this term is not offered.

In assessing the risk of doing business with the State of Idaho, vendors should consider the following. The State of Idaho has waived its sovereign immunity for torts as described in the Idaho Tort Claims Act, Idaho Code title 6 chapter 9. To the extent that the State or its employees have committed a tort, contractors have legal remedies available through that act. Tort liability is funded by the Idaho Legislature through an appropriation to the Retained Risk Program and appropriation issues do not arise in actions under the act. In addition, under existing Idaho court decisions, the State does not have sovereign immunity for contract claims arising from a properly entered contract. If the State is in breach of its contract obligations, contractors have the legal remedies available under any contract. Lastly, States are generally prohibited from the benefits of the federal bankruptcy laws. Unlike private companies, an indemnification clause is not required to preserve a remedy through the company’s insurer should the company declare bankruptcy.

Public Records All Idaho agencies are subject to the Idaho Public Records Act, Idaho Code title 74, chapter 1. State agencies cannot by contract vary the requirements of the Act or agree to violate the Act by withholding records properly subject to release under the Act. The State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions provision concerning disclosure of public records has been drafted to allow contractors to designate records as exempt under the provision of the Act if the contractor agrees to defend that designation and to indemnify the State of Idaho for any costs and penalties imposed under the Act. Variation of this term is not offered.

Assignments Idaho code section 67-9230 prohibits the transfer of a contract issued by the Division of Purchasing without written approval by the Administrator and the Idaho Board of Examiners. At the option of the Administrator, a contract transferred in violation of this provision can be annulled. Idaho Code section 67-1027 provides that the Idaho Controller shall not pay an assignee of a contract if the assignment has not been approved by the Idaho Board of Examiners. The State of Idaho Standard Terms and Conditions provision concerning assignment cannot be varied in a way that allows assignment without approval of the Administrator and the Idaho Board of Examiners.

Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Venue, Arbitration, Waiver of Jury Trial As a sovereign state, the State of Idaho is not subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of its sister states. The Idaho legislature has not consented to the waiver of this limitation by state agencies. The 11th amendment to the United States Constitution provides limitations on the jurisdiction of federal courts over claims against the State of Idaho. IDAPA 38.05.01.112, approved by the Idaho Legislature in 2015, provides that terms subjecting the State of Idaho to the jurisdiction of the courts of other states are void.

Agencies of the State of Idaho are subject to Idaho law and cannot vary the legal provisions governing the agency by contract. Based on this limitation, the Division of Purchasing will not consent to the application of laws other than the laws of the State of Idaho to all of a contract. Unless the agency certifies to the Division of Purchasing that it has consulted with the Office of the Attorney General and considered its advice, the Division of Purchasing will not consent to the application of laws other than the laws of the State of Idaho to a portion of the contract.

Idaho Code section 29-110 provides that any term of a contract subjecting a party to arbitration conducted outside the State of Idaho is void. IDAPA 38.05.01.112 requires that any agency must consult with the Office of the Attorney General prior to consenting to arbitration. At this time, the Office of the Attorney General does not generally advise agencies to consent to arbitration. Unless the agency certifies to the Division of Purchasing that it has consulted with the Office of the Attorney General and considered its advice, the Division of Purchasing will not consent to an arbitration provision.

IDAPA 38.05.01.112 requires that any agency must consult with the Office of the Attorney General prior to consenting to wavier of the right to a jury trial. At this time, the Office of the Attorney General does not generally advise agencies to consent to waiver of the right to a jury trial. Unless the agency certifies to the Division of Purchasing that it has consulted with the Office of the Attorney General and considered its advice, the Division of Purchasing will not consent to waiver of the right to a jury trial.

Payment Terms Idaho Code section 67-2302 establishes the general legal requirements for payments by Idaho agencies. Among other things, this section prohibits full payment on partial deliveries and establishes a statutory rate of interest and penalties on late payments. Idaho agencies cannot vary these terms by contract.

Limitations of Liability As a public entity representing Idahoans, requests to limit the liability of a contractor are considered as matters of public policy. Limitations of liability are authorized only when it is appropriate for the taxpayers of Idaho to bear the risk of the contractor’s breach or where the limitation is in excess of any reasonable contractor liability under the contract. In general, it is the policy of the Division of Purchasing to expect contractors to secure insurance to provide for the reasonable risks of operating the contractor’s business. As representatives of all Idahoans and a matter of public policy, the Division of Purchasing will not approve limitations of liability for death or personal injury or damage to real property.