Contract Guide

ACN CONTRACT GUIDE

Satisfactory client/consultant collaboration rests upon the shared understanding of project needs and agreement about how the project will be executed. A written statement is crucial to completion of the project in an effective and efficient manner.

The work agreement should include the following:

Services to be completed by the consultant and services to be completed by the client.
Arrangements to be made and/or paid for by the consultant and arrangements to be made and/or paid for by the client.
A timetable for completion of key tasks or products, including the start date and ending date of the agreement.
Description of fees (project-based or time-based), expense reimbursements, and/or payment schedules and method of payment. If the project is time-based, the contract should also include a projection of the hours necessary for the work.
Reporting requirements of both parties to the agreement.
Names of persons acting as liaisons for both the consultant and the client, and the name(s) of the person(s) authorized to commit the client organization to key decisions regarding the execution of the agreement.
A statement regarding conditions, policies, and/or procedures for cancellation of the agreement by either party.
A statement regarding the confidentiality policy used by either the client or consultant, or both.
A description of ownership of materials produced as a result of the agreement.
A statement of the employment status of the consultant in relation to the client.
Signatures of persons authorized to execute the agreement with dates of those signatures.

The agreement should also include all current requirements of the State of Illinois regarding contracts between consultants and not-for-profit organizations according to those terms decided upon (above) which have application to Illinois law.

The agreement may also state how the records or products prepared in the course of the work relationship shall be held, for how long, and in what manner, by either party.