Network Installation & Service - Terms and Conditions
When you use NSA for a network service project, these will, by default, represent our basic operating assumptions about our relationship unless otherwise stated in writing or on our web site. Your continued use and payment for our services constitutes acceptance of these terms.
Quality
Quality is the most important thing to us. We will not work in an environment where we are not satisfied that we can do the best job possible.
Our rates include all expenses and should be considered the bottom-line daily rate for our services. For all other work, our rates are competitive and range from $1500 to $2500 per day, plus any expenses. Rates vary depending only on the type of the project (standard consulting, laboratory testing, or training) and your scheduling window.
Expenses
We don't "surcharge" expenses, and we use normal service providers: UPS, Federal Express, etc. You are free to require any specific carriers or billing arrangements; in fact, we prefer to charge expenses of this type directly to you, if available.
Travel
We will handle any air travel in a way which balances your desire for thrift with our need to keep our staff healthy, happy, and effective. We will also respect any preferences you have for hotels, rental cars, and meals. If you would prefer fixed-cost for travel expenses, please ask, and we can prepare a quote based on your location and current market conditions.
Emergency and 'After Hours' Work
We do not like to work in panic mode. If you need us to work in panic mode, it will be very expensive. In particular, any project started on less than one month notice is defined as "panic mode." Panic mode rates start at 150% of normal rates and can be higher, depending on circumstances.
Scheduling
We travel frequently to client sites and may be unavailable. If you require our services, please schedule well in advance. In order to receive the $1200 discounted day rate, your appointment must be scheduled in advance so we can spread the travel cost among our clients in your area.
Cancellations
You may cancel a scheduled appointment and be fully relieved of all charges provided more than 10 working days notice (working days excludes all local holidays) is given. Once within this time period - a sliding scale of charges will apply as follows :
| No. Of Working Days Notice | % of Fee Payable |
|---|---|
| 10 - 6 days | - 50% |
| 5 - 0 days | - 100% |
All cancellations must be received in writing and acknowledged by NSA. Alternate day substitutions are acceptable provided notice is given prior to trip commencement and that the substitution meets all prerequisites or is approved by NSA Management.
In the situation where an appointment is exclusively for a customer - at one of NSA's Data centers, on a customer site or any other alternative venue - cancellation must be received in writing more than 10 working days in advance of the due commencement date. The full consulting fee and incurred expenses will remain chargeable for cancellations of such appointments within this period.
In the event that it is necessary for NSA to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we will endeavour to give a minimum 10 working days notice. In such circumstances, a full day of consulting or alternative date(s) will be available and all liability by NSA will be limited to the value of the original consulting fee.
TransfersYou may transfer the consulting booking to alternative dates and incur no additional costs provided the request is made in writing more than 10 working days in advance of the course commencement. Once within this time period a sliding scale of charges will apply as follows :
| No. Of Working Days Notice | % of Fee Payable |
|---|---|
| 10 - 6 days | 25% |
| 5 - 3 days | 50% |
| 2 - 0 days | 100% |
Appointments transferred within these time periods cannot subsequently be cancelled at any further time.
In the situation where an appointment is scheduled exclusively for a customer - at one of NSA Data Services centres, on a customer site or at any alternative venue - a transfer of appointment date must be received in writing more than 10 working days in advance of the appointment commencement. No transfers are available for such appointments within this period.
We will treat anything and everything you tell us as a trade secret, and not disclose it to any third party. Unless you ask specifically, our business relationship is not considered secret nor is the general nature of our work together.
Documentation
We may have occasion to provide you with software or documentation which we have written as part of our business and which belongs to us and which we consider our trade secret. You may use this freely within your organization, but you may not distribute it further. You should treat this software or documentation in the same way you treat your own trade secrets. You may ask us to develop new written materials or software to meet a particular need of yours. We do not consider these "works for hire," but we do agree that you have a non-exclusive right to do anything you want with them, including reselling them or making them widely available.
Payment
Accounting can be handled any way you prefer. Normally, we send out invoices for accumulated time once a month. If you prefer other arrangements, this is fine, but should be stated ahead of time. We will charge a 15% late fee on invoices which are more than one month overdue. Your accounting department should be told that we are a "Net 15" invoice. For tax purposes, you should handle any payments you make to us in the same way you treat other corporations.
Solicitation Policy
We will not solicit or accept business from your clients, and will not hire your employees for at least a year.
Exclusivity Policy
Our relationship is based on mutual respect and common business practice. When we work for you, it is for you exclusively. We don't take commissions from vendors, and we only recommend products and procedures that we have tested and used ourselves. If you have any question at all about why we suggest a particular solution, please ask.
© 1999 NSA