LUMP SUM DESIGN-BUILD AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC (“OWNER”) AND FAGEN, INC. (“DESIGN-BUILDER”) November 16, 2006
EXHIBIT 10.12
BETWEEN
FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC (“OWNER”)
AND
XXXXX, INC. (“DESIGN-BUILDER”)
November 16, 2006
* Portions omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and filed separately with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
Article 1 Definitions; Rules of Interpretation |
1 | |||
1.1 Rules of Construction |
1 | |||
1.2 Defined Terms |
2 | |||
Article 2 The Project |
6 | |||
2.1 Services to be Performed |
6 | |||
2.2 Extent of Agreement |
6 | |||
2.3 Conflicting Provisions |
7 | |||
Article 3 Design-Builder Responsibilities |
7 | |||
3.1 Design-Builder’s Services in General |
7 | |||
3.2 Design Development and Services |
8 | |||
3.3 Standard of Care |
8 | |||
3.4 Government Approvals and Permits |
9 | |||
3.5 Subcontractors |
9 | |||
3.6 Maintenance of Site |
9 | |||
3.7 Project Safety |
9 | |||
3.8 Submission of Reports |
10 | |||
3.9 Training |
10 | |||
Article 4 Owner’s Responsibilities |
11 | |||
4.1 Duty to Cooperate |
11 | |||
4.2 Furnishing of Services and Information |
11 | |||
4.3 Financial Information; Cooperation with Lenders; Failure to Obtain Financial Closing |
12 | |||
4.4 Owner’s Representative |
12 | |||
4.5 Government Approvals and Permits |
13 | |||
4.6 Owner’s Separate Contractors |
13 | |||
4.7 Security |
13 | |||
Article 5 Ownership of Work Product; Risk of Loss |
13 | |||
5.1 Work Product |
13 | |||
5.2 Owner’s Limited License Upon Payment in Full |
13 | |||
5.3 Owner’s Limited License Upon Owner’s Termination for Convenience or Design-Builder’s Election to Terminate |
14 | |||
5.4 Owner’s Limited License Upon Design-Builder’s Default |
14 | |||
5.5 Owner’s Indemnification for Use of Work Product |
15 | |||
5.6 Risk of Loss |
15 | |||
Article 6 Commencement and Completion of the Project |
15 | |||
6.1 Phase I and Phase II Engineering |
15 | |||
6.2 Notice to Proceed; Commencement |
15 | |||
6.3 Project Start-Up and Testing |
16 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
6.4 Substantial Completion |
17 | |||
6.5 Final Completion |
18 | |||
6.6 Post Completion Support |
19 | |||
Article 7 Performance Testing and Liquidated Damages |
19 | |||
7.1 Performance Guarantee |
19 | |||
7.2 Performance Testing |
19 | |||
7.3 Liquidated Damages |
20 | |||
7.4 Bonds and Other Performance Security |
21 | |||
Article 8 Warranties |
22 | |||
8.1 Design-Builder Warranty |
22 | |||
8.2 Correction of Defective Work |
22 | |||
8.3 Warranty Period Not Limitation to Owner’s Rights |
23 | |||
Article 9 Contract Price |
23 | |||
9.1 Contract Price |
23 | |||
9.2 Effect of Construction Cost Index Increase on Contract Price |
24 | |||
Article 10 Payment Procedures |
24 | |||
10.1 Payment at Financial Closing |
24 | |||
10.2 Progress Payments |
24 | |||
10.3 Final Payment |
25 | |||
10.4 Failure to Pay Amounts Due |
26 | |||
10.5 Design-Builder’s Payment Obligations |
26 | |||
10.6 Record Keeping and Finance Controls |
26 | |||
Article 11 Hazardous Conditions and Differing Site Conditions |
26 | |||
11.1 Hazardous Conditions |
26 | |||
11.2 Differing Site Conditions; Inspection |
27 | |||
Article 12 Force Majeure; Change in Legal Requirements |
28 | |||
12.1 Force Majeure Event
|
28 | |||
12.2 Effect of Force Majeure Event |
28 | |||
12.3 Change in Legal Requirements |
29 | |||
12.4 Time Impact And Availability |
29 | |||
Article 13 Changes to the Contract Price and Scheduled Completion Dates |
29 | |||
13.1 Change Orders |
29 | |||
13.2 Contract Price Adjustments |
30 | |||
13.3 Emergencies |
31 | |||
13.4 Failure to Complete Owner’s Milestones |
31 | |||
Article 14 Indemnity |
31 | |||
14.1 Tax Claim Indemnification |
31 | |||
14.2 Payment Claim Indemnification |
31 | |||
14.3 Design-Builder’s General Indemnification |
31 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
14.4 Owner’s General Indemnification |
32 | |||
14.5 Patent and Copyright Infringement |
32 | |||
Article 15 Stop Work; Termination for Cause |
33 | |||
15.1 Owner’s Right to Stop Work |
33 | |||
15.2 Owner’s Right to Perform and Terminate for Cause |
33 | |||
15.3 Owner’s Right to Terminate for Convenience |
35 | |||
15.4 Design-Builder’s Right to Stop Work |
35 | |||
15.5 Design-Builder’s Right to Terminate for Cause |
36 | |||
15.6 Bankruptcy of Owner or Design-Builder |
36 | |||
15.7 Lenders’ Right to Cure |
37 | |||
Article 16 Representatives of the Parties |
37 | |||
16.1 Designation of Owner’s Representatives |
37 | |||
16.2 Designation of Design-Builder’s Representatives |
38 | |||
Article 17 Insurance |
38 | |||
17.1 Insurance |
38 | |||
17.2 Design-Builder’s Insurance Requirements |
39 | |||
17.3 Owner’s Liability Insurance |
40 | |||
17.4 Owner’s Property Insurance |
40 | |||
Article 18 Representations and Warranties |
42 | |||
18.1 Design-Builder and Owner Representations and Warranties |
42 | |||
18.2 Design-Builder Representations and Warranties |
42 | |||
Article 19 Dispute Resolution |
42 | |||
19.1 Dispute Avoidance and Mediation |
42 | |||
19.2 Arbitration |
43 | |||
19.3 Duty to Continue Performance |
44 | |||
19.4 No Consequential Damages |
44 | |||
19.5 Limitation of Liability |
44 | |||
Article 20 Confidentiality of Shared Information |
44 | |||
20.1 Non-Disclosure Obligation |
44 | |||
20.2 Publicity and Advertising |
46 | |||
20.3 Term of Obligation |
46 | |||
Article 21 Miscellaneous |
46 | |||
21.1 Assignment |
46 | |||
21.2 Successors |
46 | |||
21.3 Governing Law |
46 | |||
21.4 Severability |
46 | |||
21.5 NoWaiver |
47 | |||
21.6 Headings |
47 | |||
21.7 Notice |
47 | |||
21.8 No Privity with Design Consultant/Subcontractors |
48 |
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(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
21.9 Amendments |
48 | |||
21.10 Entire Agreement |
48 | |||
21.11 Third-Party Beneficiaries |
48 | |||
21.12 Counterparts |
48 | |||
21.13 Survival |
48 | |||
EXHIBIT A Performance Guarantee Criteria |
A-1 | |||
EXHIBIT B General Project Scope |
B-1 | |||
EXHIBIT C Owner’s Responsibilities |
C-1 | |||
EXHIBIT D ICM License Agreement |
D-1 | |||
EXHIBIT E Schedule of Values |
E-1 | |||
EXHIBIT F Form of Informational Report |
F-1 | |||
EXHIBIT G Required Permits |
G-1 | |||
EXHIBIT H Form of Performance Bond |
H-1 | |||
EXHIBIT I Form of Payment Bond |
I-1 | |||
EXHIBIT J Draw (Payment) Schedule |
J-1 | |||
EXHIBIT K Air Emissions Application or Permit |
K-1 | |||
EXHIBIT L Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement |
L-1 | |||
EXHIBIT M Form of Application for Payment |
M-1 | |||
EXHIBIT N Form of Lien Waiver |
N-1 | |||
EXHIBIT O Form of Consent to Assignment |
O-1 |
iv
LUMP SUM DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT
This LUMP SUM DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT (the “Agreement”) is made as of November 16, 2006,
(the “Effective Date”) by and between First United Ethanol, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company (the “Owner”) and Xxxxx, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the
“Design-Builder”) (each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”).
RECITALS
A. The Owner desires to develop, construct, own and operate a one hundred (100) million
gallons per year (“MGY”) natural gas-fired dry grind ethanol production facility located at
Camilla, Georgia (the “Plant”); and
B. Design-Builder desires to provide design, engineering, procurement and construction
services for the Plant.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations contained herein and
for other good and valuable consideration, Owner and Design-Builder agree as follows.
AGREEMENT
Article 1
Definitions; Rules of Interpretation
1.1 Rules of Construction. The capitalized terms listed in this Article shall have the meanings
set forth herein whenever the terms appear in this Agreement, whether in the singular or the plural
or in the present or past tense. Other terms used in this Agreement but not listed in this Article
shall have meanings as commonly used in the English language and, where applicable, in generally
accepted construction and design-build standards of the fuel ethanol industry in the United States.
Words not otherwise defined herein that have well known and generally accepted technical or trade
meanings are used herein in accordance with such recognized meanings. In addition, the following
rules of interpretation shall apply:
(a) | The masculine shall include the feminine and neuter. | ||
(b) | References to “Articles,” “Sections,” “Schedules,” or “Exhibits” shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits of this Agreement. | ||
(c) | This Agreement was negotiated and prepared by each of the Parties with the advice and participation of counsel. The Parties have agreed to the wording of this Agreement and none of the provisions hereof shall be construed against one Party on the ground that such Party is the author of this Agreement or any part hereof. |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
1.2 Defined Terms. In addition to definitions appearing elsewhere in this Agreement, the following
terms have the following meanings:
AAA is defined in Section 19.1.
Agreement is defined in the Preamble.
Air Emissions Tester means a third party entity engaged by Owner meeting all required state and
federal requirements for such testing entities, to conduct air emissions testing of the Plant in
accordance with Exhibit A.
Applicable Law means
(a) | any and all laws, legislation, statutes, codes, acts, rules, regulations, ordinances, treaties or other similar legal requirements enacted, issued or promulgated by a Governmental Authority; | ||
(b) | any and all orders, judgments, writs, decrees, injunctions, Governmental Approvals or other decisions of a Governmental Authority; and | ||
(c) | any and all legally binding announcements, directives or published practices or interpretations, regarding any of the foregoing in (a) or (b) of this definition, enacted, issued or promulgated by a Governmental Authority; |
to the extent, for each of the foregoing in (a), (b) and (c) of this definition, applicable to or
binding upon (i) a Party, its affiliates, its shareholders, its members, its partners or their
respective representatives, to the extent any such person is engaged in activities related to the
Project; or (ii) the property of a Party, its affiliates, its shareholders, its members, its
partners or their respective representatives, to the extent such property is used in connection
with the Project or an activity related to the Project.
Application for Payment is defined in Section 10.2.1.
As Built Plans is defined in Section 5.2.
Bankrupt Party is defined in Section 15.6.1.
Baseline Index is defined in Section 9.2.1.
Change Order is defined in Section 13.1.1.
CCI is defined in Section 9.2.
Certificate of Substantial Completion is defined in Section 6.4.3.
Confidential Information is defined in Section 20.1.
Construction Documents is defined in Section 3.2.1.
Contract Documents is defined in Section 2.2.
Contract Price is defined in Section 9.1.
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Contract Time(s) means scheduled dates provided for in the Contract Documents including Scheduled
Substantial Completion Date and Final Completion Date.
Damages is defined in Section 14.3.1.
Day or Days shall mean calendar days unless otherwise specifically noted in the Contract Documents.
Design-Builder is defined in the Preamble.
Design-Builder’s Representative is defined in Section 16.2.
Design-Builder’s Senior Representative is defined in Section 16.2.
Design Consultant is a qualified, licensed design professional that is not an employee of
Design-Builder, but is retained by Design-Builder, or employed or retained by anyone under contract
with Design-Builder or Subcontractor, to furnish design services required under the Contract
Documents.
Differing Site Conditions is defined in Section 11.2.1.
Early Completion Bonus is defined in Section 6.4.4.
Effective Date is defined in the Preamble.
Xxxxx Engineering is defined in Section 6.1.
Final Application for Payment is defined in Section 10.3.
Final Completion is defined in Section 6.5.2.
Final Completion Date is defined in Section 6.5.1.
Final Payment is defined in Section 10.3.
Financial Closing means the execution of the Financing Documents by all the parties thereto.
Financing Documents means the final loan documents with the Lender or Lenders providing financing
for the construction or term financing of the Plant and any and all agreements necessary to
demonstrate a binding commitment of Owner or Lenders to fund the construction of the Plant.
Force Majeure Event is defined in Section 12.1.
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Governmental Approvals are any material authorizations or permissions issued or granted by any
Governmental Authority to the Project, its Owner, the Design-Builder, Subcontractors and their
affiliates in connection with any activity related to the Project.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, local or municipal governmental body; any
governmental, quasi-governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other
authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative,
policy, regulatory or taxing authority or power; or any court or governmental tribunal; in each
case having jurisdiction over the Owner, the Design-Builder, the Project, or the Site.
Hazardous Conditions are any materials, wastes, substances and chemicals deemed to be hazardous
under applicable Legal Requirements, or the handling, storage, remediation, or disposal of which
are regulated by applicable Legal Requirements.
ICM means ICM, Inc., a Kansas corporation.
ICM License Agreement means the license agreement to be executed between Owner and ICM, Inc.,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
Indemnified Parties is defined in Section 5.2.
Independent Engineer means Owner’s and Lenders’ independent engineer.
Industry-Wide Disruption is defined in Section 12.4.
Informational Report is defined in Section 3.8.
Legal Requirements or Laws are all applicable federal, state and local statutes, laws, codes,
ordinances, rules, regulations, judicial decisions, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits,
tariffs, governmental agreements and governmental restrictions, whether now or hereafter in effect,
of any government or quasi-government entity having jurisdiction over the Project or Site, the
practices involved in the Project or Site, or any Work, including any consensus standards for
materials, products, systems, and services established by ASTM International, any successor
organization thereto, or any Governmental Authority.
Lenders means the lenders that are party to the Financing Documents.
Lenders’ Agent means an agent or agents acting on behalf of the Lenders.
Manufacturer’s Warranty shall mean a warranty provided by the original manufacturer or vendor of
equipment used by Design-Builder in the Plant.
MGY is defined in the Recitals.
Notice to Proceed is defined in Section 6.2.
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Operating Procedures means, without limitation, the process equipment and specifications
manuals, standards of quality, service protocols, data collection methods, construction
specifications, training methods, engineering standards and any other information prescribed by
Design-Builder and ICM from time to time concerning the ownership, operation, maintenance and
repair of the Plant, subject to the limitations provided in the Agreement and in the ICM License
Agreement.
Owner is defined in the Preamble.
Owner Indemnified Parties is defined in Section 14.3.1.
Owner’s Milestones is defined in Section 13.4.
Owner’s Operator means First United Ethanol, LLC or any other entity that Owner chooses to replace
First United Ethanol, LLC as operator of the Project.
Owner’s Representative is defined in Section 16.1.
Owner’s Senior Representative is defined in Section 16.1.
Party or Parties is defined in the Preamble.
Pass Through Warranties mean any warranties provided to Design-Builder by a Subcontractor which are
assigned to Owner.
Pay Period means, with respect to a given Application for Payment, the one (1) month period
following the last day of the previous Pay Period to which the immediately prior Application for
Payment is applied; provided that the initial Pay Period shall commence on the date of delivery of
the Notice to Proceed and end on the twenty-fourth (24th) day of the calendar month
during which the Notice to Proceed is issued.
Payment Bond is defined in Section 7.4.2.
Performance Bond is defined in Section 7.4.1.
Performance Guarantee Criteria means the criteria listed in Exhibit A.
Performance Tests is defined in Section 7.2.1.
Phase I is defined in Exhibit L.
Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement is defined in Section 6.1.
Phase II is defined in Exhibit L.
Plant is defined in the Recitals.
Project is defined in Section 2.1.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
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Punch List is defined in Section 6.4.3.
Qualified Independent Expert means an expert retained by Owner and approved by Design-Builder
pursuant to Section 11.1.2.
Safety Representative is defined in Section 3.7.1.
Schedule of Values is defined in Section 10.2.5.
Scheduled Substantial Completion Date is defined in Section 6.4.1.
Site is the land or premises on which the Project is located.
Subcontractor is any person or entity retained by Design-Builder, or by any person or entity
retained directly or indirectly by Design-Builder, in each case as an independent contractor to
perform a portion of the Work, and shall include materialmen and suppliers.
Substantial Completion is defined in Section 6.4.2.
Work is defined in Section 3.1.
Work Product is defined in Section 5.1.
Article 2
The Project
2.1 Services to be Performed.
Pursuant to this Agreement, Design-Builder shall perform all work and services in connection
with the engineering, design, procurement, construction startup, testing and training for the
operation and maintenance of the Plant, and provide all material, equipment, tools and labor
necessary to complete the Plant in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Plant,
together with all equipment, labor, services and materials furnished hereunder is defined as the
“Project.”
2.2 Extent of Agreement. This Agreement consists of the following documents, and all exhibits,
schedules, appendices and attachments hereto and thereto (collectively, the “Contract
Documents”):
2.2.1 All written modifications, amendments and change orders to this Agreement.
2.2.2 This Agreement, including all exhibits and attachments, executed by Owner and
Design-Builder, including those below:
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List of Exhibits
Exhibit A
|
Performance Guarantee Criteria | |
Exhibit B
|
General Project Scope | |
Exhibit C
|
Owner’s Responsibilities | |
Exhibit D
|
ICM License Agreement | |
Exhibit E
|
Schedule of Values | |
Exhibit F
|
Form of Informational Report | |
Exhibit G
|
Required Permits | |
Exhibit H
|
Form of Performance Bond | |
Exhibit I
|
Form of Payment Bond | |
Exhibit J
|
Draw (Payment) Schedule | |
Exhibit K
|
Air Emissions Application or Permit | |
Exhibit L
|
Phase I and Phase II Engineering
Services Agreement |
|
Exhibit M
|
Form of Application for Payment | |
Exhibit N
|
Form of Lien Waiver | |
Exhibit O
|
Form of Consent to Assignment |
2.2.3 Construction Documents to be prepared by Design-Builder pursuant to Section 3.2.1 shall
be incorporated in this Agreement.
2.3 Conflicting Provisions. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the body of this
Agreement and any Exhibit or Schedule hereto, the terms and provisions of this Agreement, as
amended from time to time, shall prevail and be given priority. Subject to the foregoing, the
several documents and instruments forming part of this Agreement are to be taken as mutually
explanatory of one another and in the case of ambiguities or discrepancies within or between such
parts the same shall be explained and interpreted, if possible, in a manner which gives effect to
each part and which avoids or minimizes conflicts among such parts. No oral representations or
other agreements have been made by the Parties except as specifically stated in the Contract
Documents.
Article 3
Design-Builder Responsibilities
3.1 Design-Builder’s Services in General. Except for services and information to be provided by
Owner and specifically set forth in Article 4 and Exhibit C, Design-Builder shall perform or cause
to be performed all design, engineering, procurement, construction services, supervision, labor,
inspection, testing, start-up, material, equipment, machinery, temporary utilities and other
temporary facilities to complete construction of the Project consistent with the Contract Documents
(the “Work”). All design and engineering and construction services and other Work of the
Design-Builder shall be performed in accordance with, and upon completion the Plant shall comply
with (i) the general project scope guidelines set forth in Exhibit B, (ii) the Construction
Documents, (iii) all Legal Requirements, and (iv) generally accepted construction and design-build
standards of the fuel ethanol industry in the United States during the relevant time period. Any
design and engineering or other professional service to be performed pursuant to this Agreement,
which under Applicable Law must be performed by licensed personnel, shall be performed by licensed
personnel as required by Law. The enumeration of specific duties and
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
7
obligations to be performed
by the Design-Builder under the Contract Documents shall not be construed to limit in any way the
general undertakings of the Design-Builder as set forth herein. Design-Builder’s Representative
shall be reasonably available to Owner and shall have the necessary expertise and
experience required to supervise the Work. Design-Builder’s Representative shall communicate
regularly with Owner and shall be vested with the authority to act on behalf of Design-Builder.
3.2 Design Development and Services.
3.2.1 Where required by Law, Design-Builder shall provide through qualified, licensed design
professionals employed by Design-Builder, or procured from qualified, independent licensed Design
Consultants, the necessary design services, including architectural, engineering and other design
professional services, for the preparation of the required drawings, specifications and other
design submittals required to permit construction of the Work in accordance with this Agreement
(such drawings, specifications and design submittals collectively, the “Construction
Documents”). To the extent not prohibited by Legal Requirements, Design-Builder may prepare
Construction Documents for a portion of the Work to permit construction to proceed on that portion
of the Work prior to completion of the Construction Documents for the entire Work.
3.2.2 Construction of the Plant shall be consistent with the Construction Documents.
3.2.3 Design-Builder shall maintain a current, complete set of drawings and specifications at
the Site. Owner shall have the right to review such drawings and specifications. Owner and
Independent Engineer may not make copies of the available drawings and specifications without
Design-Builder’s written permission, and, granted such permission, may only do so to the extent
such drawings and specifications directly pertain to the Plant; provided however that, pursuant
to Section 5.1 of this Agreement, Design-Builder retains ownership of and property interests in any
drawing or specifications made available and/or copied.
3.2.4 Except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, it is understood and agreed that review,
comment and/or approval by Owner (or its designees) or Independent Engineer of any documents or
submittals that Design-Builder is required to submit to Owner (or its designees) or Independent
Engineer hereunder for their review, comment and/or approval (including without limitation the
Construction Documents pursuant to Sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.3 hereof) shall not relieve or release
Design-Builder from any of its duties, obligations or liabilities provided for under the terms of
this Agreement or transfer any design liability from Design-Builder to Owner.
3.3 Standard of Care. All services performed by the Design-Builder and its Subcontractors pursuant
to the Construction Documents shall be performed in accordance with the standard of care and skill
generally accepted in the fuel ethanol industry in the United States during the relevant time
period or in accordance with any of the practices, methods and acts that in the exercise of
reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision was made, could have been
expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with good business
practices, safety and expedition. This standard of care is not intended to be limited to the
optimum practice, method or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather to be
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
8
acceptable
practices, methods or acts generally accepted in the construction and design-build standards of the
fuel ethanol industry in the United States. Design-Builder and its Subcontractors shall perform
all construction activities efficiently and with the requisite expertise, skill, competence,
resources and care to satisfy the requirements of the Contract Documents and all applicable Legal
Requirements. Design-Builder shall at all times exercise complete and exclusive control over the
means, methods, sequences and techniques of construction.
3.4 Government Approvals and Permits. Except as identified in Exhibit C and, with respect to items
identified as Owner’s responsibility, in Exhibit G (which items shall be obtained by Owner pursuant
to Section 4.5), Design-Builder shall obtain and pay for all necessary permits, approvals,
licenses, government charges and inspection fees required for the prosecution of the Work by any
government or quasi-government entity having jurisdiction over the Project. Design-Builder shall
provide reasonable assistance to Owner in obtaining those permits, approvals and licenses that are
Owner’s responsibility.
3.5 Subcontractors.
3.5.1 Design-Builder may subcontract portions of the Work in accordance with the terms hereof.
Any subcontractor employed by Xxxxx should be licensed and qualified to perform the Work
consistent with the Construction Documents.
3.5.2 Design-Builder assumes responsibility to Owner for the proper performance of the Work of
Subcontractors and any acts and omissions in connection with such performance. Nothing in the
Contract Documents is intended or deemed to create any legal or contractual relationship between
Owner and any Subcontractor, including but not limited to any third-party beneficiary rights.
3.5.3 Design-Builder shall coordinate the activities of all of Design-Builder’s
Subcontractors. If Owner performs other work on the Project or at the Site with separate
contractors under Owner’s control, Design-Builder agrees to reasonably cooperate and coordinate its
activities with those separate contractors so that the Project can be completed in an orderly and
coordinated manner without unreasonable disruption.
3.5.4 Design-Builder shall ensure that each subcontract with a Subcontractor is assignable to
Owner without consent of the Subcontractor or any other person or entity in the event that
Design-Builder shall be in an uncured default or terminated with cause under the terms of this
Agreement.
3.6 Maintenance of Site. Design-Builder shall keep the Site reasonably free from debris, trash and
construction wastes to permit Design-Builder to perform its construction services efficiently,
safely and without interfering with the use of adjacent land areas. Upon Substantial Completion of
the Work Design-Builder shall remove all debris, trash, construction wastes, materials, equipment,
machinery and tools arising from the Work to permit Owner to occupy the Project for its intended
use.
3.7 Project Safety.
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9
3.7.1 Design-Builder recognizes the importance of performing the Work in a safe manner so as
to prevent damage, injury or loss to (i) any individuals at the Site, whether
working or visiting, (ii) the Work, including materials and equipment incorporated into the
Work or stored on-Site or off-Site, and (iii) any other property at the Site or adjacent thereto.
Design-Builder assumes responsibility for implementing and monitoring all safety precautions and
programs related to the performance of the Work. Design-Builder shall, prior to commencing
construction, designate a representative (the “Safety Representative”) with the necessary
qualifications and experience to supervise the implementation and monitoring of all safety
precautions and programs related to the Work. Unless otherwise required by the Contract Documents,
Design-Builder’s Safety Representative shall be an individual stationed at the Site who may have
responsibilities on the Project in addition to safety. The Safety Representative shall make
routine daily inspections of the Site and shall hold weekly safety meetings with Design-Builder’s
personnel, Subcontractors and others as applicable.
3.7.2 Design-Builder and Subcontractors shall comply with all Legal Requirements relating to
safety, as well as any Owner-specific safety requirements set forth in the Contract Documents;
provided, that such Owner-specific requirements do not violate any applicable Legal Requirement.
As promptly as practicable, Design-Builder will report in writing any safety-related injury, loss,
damage or accident arising from the Work to Owner’s Representative and, to the extent mandated by
Legal Requirements, to all government or quasi-government authorities having jurisdiction over
safety-related matters involving the Project or the Work.
3.7.3 Design-Builder’s responsibility for safety under this Section 3.7 is not intended in any
way to relieve Subcontractors of their own contractual and legal obligations and responsibility for
(i) complying with all Legal Requirements, including those related to health and safety matters,
and (ii) taking all necessary measures to implement and monitor all safety precautions and programs
to guard against injury, losses, damages or accidents resulting from their performance of the Work.
3.8 Submission of Reports. Design-Builder shall provide Owner with a monthly informational report
substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto (“Informational Report”).
3.9 Training. At a mutually agreed time prior to start-up, Design-Builder shall provide up to two
(2) weeks of training at a facility designated by ICM (or other location) for all of Owner’s
employees and Owner Operator’s employees required for the operation and maintenance of the Plant in
accordance with all design specifications therefor contained in the Contract Documents and
necessary in order to maintain the Performance Guarantee Criteria, including operators, laboratory
personnel, general, plant and maintenance managers. Other personnel of Owner and Owner Operator may
receive such off-Site training by separate arrangement between Owner and Design-Builder and as time
is available. All training personnel and costs associated with such training personnel, including
labor and all training materials will be provided to Owner and Owner Operator within the Contract
Price at no additional cost. Owner and Owner Operator will be responsible for all travel and
expenses of their employees and the Owner and Owner Operator will pay all wages and all other
expenses for their personnel during the training. The training services will include training on
computers, laboratory procedures, field operating procedures, and overall plant section performance
expectations. Prior
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to the start-up training, Design-Builder
shall provide Owner training manuals and operating manuals and other documents reasonably necessary
for the start-up process.
Article 4
Owner’s Responsibilities
4.1 Duty to Cooperate.
4.1.1 Owner shall, throughout the performance of the Work, cooperate with Design-Builder and
perform its responsibilities, obligations and services in a timely manner to facilitate
Design-Builder’s timely and efficient performance of the Work and so as not to delay or interfere
with Design-Builder’s performance of its obligations under the Contract Documents.
4.1.2 Owner shall pay all reasonable costs incurred by Design-Builder for frost removal so
that winter construction can proceed. Such costs may include, but are not limited to, equipment
costs, equipment rental costs, sheltering costs, special material costs, fuel costs and associated
labor costs. Owner acknowledges and agrees that such costs are in addition to, and not included
in, the Contract Price, and that the payment of such costs, which shall be billed on a weekly
basis, shall not require the issuance of a Change Order or the obtaining of any Owner approval
prior to the issuance of invoices for such costs. Except for the costs contemplated under this
Section 4.1.2 or costs related to the performance of Owner’s responsibilities under this Agreement,
Owner shall have no responsibility for winter construction costs.
4.2 Furnishing of Services and Information.
4.2.1 Prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed, at its own cost and expense, Owner shall
provide the following items to Design-Builder for Design-Builder’s information and use and all of
which Design-Builder is entitled to rely upon in performing the Work:
(a) | surveys describing the property, boundaries, topography and reference points for use during construction, including existing service and utility lines; | ||
(b) | geotechnical studies describing subsurface conditions including soil borings, and other surveys describing other latent or concealed physical conditions at the Site; | ||
(c) | temporary and permanent easements, zoning and other requirements and encumbrances affecting land use, or necessary to permit the proper design and construction of the Project and enable Design-Builder to perform the Work; | ||
(d) | A legal description of the Site; | ||
(e) | to the extent available, as-built and record drawings of any existing structures at the Site; and | ||
(f) | all environmental studies, reports and impact statements describing the environmental conditions, including Hazardous Conditions, in existence at the Site that have been conducted or performed. |
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4.2.2 Owner shall provide to Design-Builder all Owner’s deliverables under Exhibit C pursuant
to Owner’s Milestones. Such deliverables shall be provided, at Owner’s own cost and expense, for
Design-Builder’s information and use. Design-Builder is entitled to rely upon such deliverables in
performing the Work.
4.2.3 Owner is responsible for securing and executing all necessary agreements with adjacent
land or property owners that are necessary to enable Design-Builder to perform the Work and that
have been identified and notified in writing by Design-Builder to Owner prior to the Effective
Date. Owner is further responsible for all costs, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in securing
these necessary agreements.
4.3 Financial Information; Cooperation with Lenders; Failure to Obtain Financial Closing.
Design-Builder acknowledges that Owner is seeking financing for the Project. Design-Builder agrees
to cooperate with Owner in good faith in order to satisfy the reasonable requirements of Owner’s
financing arrangements, including, where appropriate and reasonable, the execution and delivery of
documents or instruments necessary to accommodate the Financial Closing; provided, however, that
Design-Builder shall not be required to, in connection with this cooperation obligation or any
other obligation under this Agreement, assist Owner in obtaining any sales tax rebate or other tax
exemptions. Owner agrees to pay all documented costs incurred by Design-Builder incurred prior to
and at Financial Closing, and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, in connection with
satisfying the requirements of Owners’ financing arrangements including all documented attorney’s
fees. Design-Builder and Owner also acknowledge that the Lenders, as a condition to providing
financing for the Plant, shall require Owner to provide the Independent Engineer with certain
reasonable participation and review rights with respect to Design-Builder’s performance of the
Work. Design-Builder acknowledges and agrees that such reasonable participation and review rights
shall consist of the right to (i) enter the Site and inspect the Work upon reasonable notice to
Design-Builder; (ii) attend all start-up and testing procedures; and (iii) review and approve such
other items for which Owner is required by Lenders to obtain the concurrence, opinion or a
certificate of the Independent Engineer or the Lenders pursuant to the Financing Documents which
items do not alter the rights or impose additional obligations on Design-Builder. Nothing in this
Section 4.3 shall be deemed to require Design-Builder to agree to any amendments to this Agreement
that would adversely affect Design-Builder’s risks, rights or obligations under this Agreement.
Upon Financial Closing, Owner shall promptly provide to Design-Builder an officer’s certificate
certifying that Financial Closing has occurred and such Owner’s officer’s certificate shall
constitute evidence satisfactory to Design-Builder that Owner has adequate funds available and
committed to fulfill its obligations under the Contract Documents for all purposes hereunder.
Owner must provide such officer’s certificate prior to issuing the Notice to Proceed.
4.4 Owner’s Representative. Owner’s Representative, as set forth in Section 16.1 hereof, shall be
responsible for providing Owner-supplied information and approvals in a timely manner to permit
Design-Builder to fulfill its obligations under the Contract Documents. Owner’s Representative
shall also provide Design-Builder with prompt notice if it observes any failure on the part of
Design-Builder to fulfill its contractual obligations, including any errors, omissions or defects
in the performance of the Work. Owner’s Representative shall be vested with the authority to act
on behalf of Owner
and Design-Builder shall be entitled to rely on written communication from Owner’s Representative
with respect to a Project matter.
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4.5 Government Approvals and Permits. Owner shall obtain and pay for all necessary Governmental
Approvals required by Law, including permits, approvals, licenses, government charges and
inspection fees set forth in Exhibit C and, to the extent identified as Owner’s responsibility,
Exhibit G. Owner shall provide reasonable assistance to Design-Builder in obtaining those permits,
approvals and licenses that are Design-Builder’s responsibility pursuant to Exhibit G and Section
3.4.
4.6 Owner’s Separate Contractors. Owner is responsible for all work, including such work listed on
Exhibit C, performed on the Project or at the Site by separate contractors under Owner’s control.
Owner shall contractually require its separate contractors to cooperate with, and coordinate their
activities so as not to interfere with, Design-Builder in order to enable Design-Builder to timely
complete the Work consistent with the Contract Documents.
4.7 Security. Owner shall be responsible for Site security (including fencing, alarm systems,
security guarding services and the like) at all times during the term of this Agreement to prevent
vandalism, theft and danger to the Project, the Site, and personnel. Owner shall coordinate and
supervise ingress and egress from the Site so as to minimize disruption to the Work.
Article 5
Ownership of Work Product; Risk of Loss
5.1 Work Product. All drawings, specifications, calculations, data, notes and other materials and
documents, including electronic data furnished by Design-Builder to Owner under this Agreement
(“Work Product”) shall be instruments of service and Design-Builder shall retain the
ownership and property interests therein, including the copyrights thereto.
5.2 Owner’s Limited License Upon Payment in Full. Upon Owner’s payment in full for all Work
performed under the Contract Documents, Design-Builder shall grant Owner a limited license to use
the Work Product in connection with Owner’s occupancy, operation, maintenance and repair of the
Plant. Design-Builder acknowledges and agrees that the limited license to use the Work Product
granted hereby shall provide Owner sufficient rights in and to the Work Product as shall be
necessary for Owner to operate and maintain the Plant and shall include any Pass Through Warranties
in connection therewith. Design-Builder shall provide Owner with a copy of the plans of the Plant,
as built, (the “As Built Plans”) conditioned on Owner’s express understanding that its use
of the Work Product and its
acceptance of the As Built Plans is at Owner’s sole risk and without liability or legal exposure to
Design-Builder or anyone working by or through Design-Builder, including Design Consultants of any
tier (collectively the “Indemnified Parties”); provided, however, that any warranties (of
equipment or otherwise) shall remain in effect according to the terms of this Agreement.
5.2.1 Design-Builder is utilizing certain proprietary property and information of ICM in the
design and construction of the Project and Design-Builder may incorporate proprietary property and
information of ICM into the Work Product. Owner’s use of the proprietary property and information
of ICM shall be governed by the terms and provisions of
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the ICM License Agreement, to be executed
by Owner and ICM in connection with the execution of this Agreement. Owner shall be entitled to
use the Work Product solely for purposes relating to the Plant, but shall not be entitled to use
the Work Product for any other purposes whatsoever, including without limitation, expansion of the
Plant. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Owner shall be entitled to use the Work Product for
the operation, maintenance and repair of the plant including the interconnection of, but not the
design of, any future expansions to the Plant. The limited license granted to Owner under Sections
5.2, 5.3 or 5.4 to use the Work Product shall be limited by and construed according to the same
terms contained in the ICM License Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit D and incorporated herein
by reference thereto, except (i) references in such ICM License Agreement to ICM and Proprietary
Property shall refer to Design-Builder and Work Product, respectively, (ii) the Laws of the State
of Minnesota shall govern such limited license, and (iii) the dispute resolution provisions
contained in Article 19 hereof shall apply to any breach or threatened breach of Owner’s duties or
obligations under such limited license, except that Design-Builder shall have the right to seek
injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction against Owner or its Representatives for any
such breach or threatened breach. This paragraph also applies to Sections 5.3 and 5.4 below.
5.3 Owner’s Limited License Upon Owner’s Termination for Convenience or Design-Builder’s Election
to Terminate. If Owner terminates the Project for its convenience as set forth in Section 15.3
hereof, or if Design-Builder elects to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 15.5,
Design-Builder shall, upon Owner’s payment in full of the amounts due Design-Builder under this
Agreement, grant Owner a limited license to use the Work Product to complete the Plant and
subsequently occupy, operate, maintain and repair the Plant, subject to the following:
(a) | Use of the Work Product is at Owner’s sole risk without liability or legal exposure to any Indemnified Party; provided, however, that any Pass Through Warranties regarding equipment or express warranties regarding equipment provided by this Agreement shall remain in effect according to their terms; and | ||
(b) | If the termination for convenience is by Owner in accordance with Section 15.3 hereof, or if Design-Builder elects to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 15.5, then Owner agrees to pay Design-Builder the additional sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) as compensation for the limited right to use the Work Product completed “as is” on the date of termination in accordance with this Article 5. |
5.4 Owner’s Limited License Upon Design-Builder’s Default.
If this Agreement is terminated due to Design-Builder’s default pursuant to Section 15.2 and
(i) it is adjudged that Design-Builder was in default, and (ii) Owner has fully satisfied all of
its obligations under the Contract Documents through the time of Design-Builder’s default, then
Design-Builder shall grant Owner a limited license to use the Work Product in connection with
Owner’s completion and occupancy, operation, maintenance and repair of the Plant. This limited
license is conditioned on Owner’s express agreement that its use of the Work Product is at Owner’s
sole risk without liability or legal exposure to any Indemnified Party; provided, however, that any
Pass Through Warranties regarding equipment
or express warranties regarding equipment
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provided by
this Agreement shall remain in effect according to their terms. This limited license grants Owner
the ability to repair the Plant at Owner’s discretion.
5.5 Owner’s Indemnification for Use of Work Product. If Owner uses the Work Product or Plant under
any of the circumstances identified in this Article 5, to the fullest extent allowed by Law, Owner
shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all
claims, damages, liabilities, losses and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising out of or
resulting from the use of the Work Product and Plant; provided, however, that any Pass Through
Warranties regarding equipment or express warranties regarding equipment provided by this Agreement
shall remain in effect according to their terms.
5.6 Risk of Loss. Design-Builder shall have no liability for a physical loss of or damage to the
Work unless such loss or damage is caused by the willful misconduct or negligence of Design-Builder
or someone acting under its direction or control. Design-Builder shall not be liable for physical
loss of or damage to the Work where such loss or damage is caused by the willful misconduct or
negligence of Owner’s employees or third parties who are not Subcontractors. Design-Builder shall
have no liability for a physical loss of or damage to the Work occurring after Final Completion.
Design-Builder shall have no liability for losses or damages for which insurance coverage under
this Agreement is available to Owner; in such circumstances, any liability for losses and damages
as described in this Section 5.6 shall be limited to losses or damages which exceed insurance
coverage available to the Owner without the application of any reductions from such coverages due
to deductible, retention, or retrospective premiums.
Article 6
Commencement and Completion of the Project
6.1 Phase I and Phase II Engineering. Owner has entered into that certain Phase I and Phase II
Engineering Services Agreement dated January 10, 2006 between Owner and Xxxxx Engineering, LLC
(“Xxxxx Engineering”) which is attached hereto as Exhibit L (“Phase I and Phase II
Engineering Services Agreement”). The Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement
provides for Xxxxx Engineering to commence work on the Phase I and Phase II engineering for the
Project as set forth therein. Owner has agreed to pay Xxxxx Engineering Ninety-two Thousand Five
Hundred Dollars ($92,500.00) for such engineering services pursuant to the terms of that agreement,
the full amount of which shall be included in and credited to the Contract Price. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing sentence, if a Notice to Proceed is not issued pursuant to Section 6.2, or Financial
Closing is not obtained pursuant to Section 4.3, then no amount paid under the Phase I and Phase II
Engineering Services Agreement shall be refunded to Owner.
6.2 Notice to Proceed; Commencement. The Work shall commence within five (5) Days of
Design-Builder’s receipt of Owner’s written valid notice to proceed (“Notice to Proceed”)
unless the Parties mutually agree otherwise in writing. The Parties agree that a valid Owner’s
Notice to Proceed cannot be given until: (1) Owner has title to the real estate on which the
Project will be constructed; (2) the Phase I Site work required of Owner and a sufficient portion
of the Phase II Site work required of Owner, each as described in Exhibits C and L, have
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been
completed, at Design-Builder’s reasonable determination, so as to permit Design-Builder to commence
construction, and all relevant redline drawings for such completed Phase I and Phase II Site work
have been provided by Owner and deemed adequate by Design-Builder; (3) the air permit(s) and/or
other applicable local, state or federal permits necessary so that construction can begin, as
listed on Exhibit G, have been obtained; (4) Owner has obtained Financial Closing pursuant to
Section 4.3; (5) if applicable, Owner has executed a sales tax exemption certificate and provided
the same to Design-Builder; (6) Owner has provided the name of its property/all-risk insurance
carrier and the specific requirements for fire protection; (7) Owner has provided an insurance
certificate or copy of insurance policy demonstrating that Owner has obtained builder’s risk
insurance pursuant to Section 17.4.3 hereof, and (8) Design-Builder provides Owner written
notification of its acceptance of the Notice to Proceed which Notice to Proceed shall not be given
prior to January 3, 2007. Owner and Design-Builder mutually agree that time is of the essence with
respect to the dates and times set forth in the Contract Documents. Design-Builder must receive a
valid Owner’s Notice to Proceed by April 3, 2007; otherwise, this Agreement may be terminated, at
Design-Builder’s sole option. If Design-Builder chooses to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
its right under the immediately preceding sentence, then Design-Builder shall have no further
obligations hereunder.
6.2.1 Notice to Proceed shall be delivered by Owner to Design-Builder pursuant to the notice
requirements set forth in Section 21.7 hereof, with a copy to:
Xxxxx, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Within five (5) Days of receipt by Design-Builder of the Notice to Proceed, Design-Builder
shall deliver to Owner notice of either acceptance or denial of the Notice to Proceed including the
reasons for rejection, if applicable.
6.3 Project Start-Up and Testing. Owner shall provide, at Owner’s cost, equipment, tools,
instruments and materials necessary for Owner to comply with its obligations under Exhibit C, raw
materials, consumables and personnel necessary for start-up and testing of the Plant, and
Design-Builder shall provide supervision,
standard and special test instruments, tools, equipment and materials required to perform component
and equipment checkout and testing, initial start-up, operations supervision and corrective
maintenance of all permanent Plant equipment within the scope of the Work. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, Design-Builder shall be responsible for raw materials and consumables to the
extent such amounts provided by Owner are destroyed or damaged (as opposed to consumed in the
ordinary course of start-up and testing) by Design-Builder or its personnel during start-up and
testing. Design-Builder shall supervise and direct Owner’s employees and Owner Operator’s personnel
who shall participate in the start-up activities with Design-Builder’s personnel to become familiar
with all aspects of the Plant. Owner and the Independent Engineer may witness start-up and testing
activities. Performance testing will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2
hereof.
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6.4 Substantial Completion.
6.4.1 Substantial Completion of the entire Work shall be achieved no later than Five Hundred
Forty-five (545) Days after the date of the Notice to Proceed, subject to adjustment in accordance
with the Contract Documents hereof (the “Scheduled Substantial Completion Date”).
6.4.2 “Substantial Completion” shall be deemed to occur on the date on which the Work
is sufficiently complete so that Owner can occupy and use the Plant for its intended purposes.
Substantial Completion shall be attained at the point in time when the Plant is ready to grind the
first batch of corn and begin operation for its intended use. No production is guaranteed on the
date of Substantial Completion.
6.4.3 Procedures. Design-Builder shall notify Owner in writing when it believes Substantial
Completion has been achieved with respect to the Work. Within five (5) Days of Owner’s receipt of
Design-Builder’s notice, Owner and Design-Builder will jointly inspect such Work to verify that it
is substantially complete in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents. If such
Work is deemed substantially complete, Design-Builder shall prepare and issue a “Certificate
of Substantial Completion” for the Work that will set forth (i) the date of Substantial
Completion, (ii) the remaining items of Work that have to be completed before Final Payment
(“Punch List”), (iii) provisions (to the extent not already provided in this Agreement)
establishing Owner’s and Design-Builder’s responsibility for the Project’s security, maintenance,
utilities and insurance pending Final Payment, and (iv) an acknowledgment that warranties with
respect to the Work commence on the date of Substantial Completion, except as may otherwise be
noted in the Certificate of Substantial Completion. Upon Substantial Completion of the entire Work
and satisfaction of the Performance Guarantee Criteria listed in Exhibit A, Owner shall release to
Design-Builder all retained amounts, less an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%)
of the reasonable value of all remaining or incomplete items of Work as noted in the Certificate of
Substantial Completion, and less an amount equal to the value of any Subcontractor lien waivers not
yet obtained.
6.4.4 Early Completion Bonus. If Substantial Completion is attained within Five Hundred
Forty-five (545) Days after the date of the Notice to Proceed, Owner shall pay Design-Builder at
the time of Final Payment under Section 10.3 hereof an early completion bonus (“Early
Completion Bonus”) of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) per Day for each Day that
Substantial Completion occurred in advance of said Five Hundred Forty-five (545)
Days. Owner’s liability for any Early Completion Bonus under this Section 6.4.4 shall be
capped at and shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
6.4.5 In all events, payment of said bonus, if applicable, at the time of Final Payment is
subject to release of funds by senior lender. If senior lender does not allow release of funds at
the time of Final Payment to pay said early completion bonus in full, any unpaid balance shall be
converted to an unsecured promissory note payable by Owner to Design-Builder, accruing interest at
Ten Percent (10%) per annum. On each anniversary of the note, any unpaid accrued interest shall be
converted to principal and shall accrue interest as principal thereafter. Owner shall pay said
promissory note as soon as allowed by senior lender; in any event, the note, plus accrued interest,
shall be paid in full before Owner pays or makes any distributions to or for
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the benefit of its
owners (shareholders, members, partners, etc.). All payments shall be applied first to accrued
interest and then to principal.
6.5 Final Completion.
6.5.1 Final Completion of the Work shall be achieved within ninety (90) Days after the earlier
of the actual date of Substantial Completion or the Scheduled Substantial Completion Date (the
“Final Completion Date”).
6.5.2 “Final Completion” shall be achieved when the Owner reasonably determines that
the following conditions have been met:
(a) | Substantial Completion has been achieved; | ||
(b) | any outstanding amounts owed by Design-Builder to Owner have been paid in full; | ||
(c) | the items identified on the Punch List have been completed by Design-Builder; | ||
(d) | clean-up of the Site has been completed; | ||
(e) | all permits required to have been obtained by Design-Builder have been obtained; | ||
(f) | the information in Section 6.5.4 has been provided to Owner; | ||
(g) | release and waiver of all claims and liens from Design-Builder and Subcontractors have been provided; and | ||
(h) | the Performance Tests have been successfully completed. |
6.5.3 After receipt of a Final Application for Payment from Design-Builder, Owner shall make
Final Payment in accordance with Section 10.3, less an amount equal to the value of any
Subcontractor lien waivers not yet obtained.
6.5.4 At the time of submission of its Final Application for Payment, Design-Builder shall
provide the following information:
(a) | an affidavit that there are no claims, obligations or liens outstanding or unsatisfied for labor, services, material, equipment, taxes or other items performed, furnished or incurred for or in connection with the Work which will in any way affect Owner’s interests; | ||
(b) | a general release executed by Design-Builder waiving, upon receipt of final payment by Design-Builder, all claims for payment, additional compensation, or damages for delay, except those previously made to Owner in writing and remaining unsettled at the time of Final Payment provided such general release shall not waive defenses to claims that may be asserted by Owner after payment or claims arising after payment; |
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(c) | consent of Design-Builder’s surety, if any, to Final Payment; and | ||
(d) | a hard copy of the As Built Plans; provided, however, that such plans will remain the Work Product of the Design-Builder and subject in all respects to Article 5. |
6.5.5 Upon making Final Payment, Owner waives all claims against Design-Builder except claims
relating to (i) Design-Builder’s failure to satisfy its payment obligations, (ii) Design-Builder’s
failure to complete the Work consistent with the Contract Documents, including defects appearing
within one (1) year after Substantial Completion, and (iii) the terms of any warranties required by
the Contract Documents.
6.6 Post Completion Support. Adequate personnel to complete all Work within the Contract Time(s)
will be maintained on-Site by Design-Builder or a Subcontractor until Final Completion has been
achieved. In addition to prosecuting the Work until Final Completion has been achieved,
Design-Builder or its Subcontractor will provide one (1) month of on-Site operational support for
Owner’s and Owner Operator’s personnel after successful completion of the Performance Tests and,
from the date of Substantial Completion, will provide six (6) months of off-Site technical and
operating procedure support by telephone and other electronic data transmission and communication.
Article 7
Performance Testing and Liquidated Damages
7.1 Performance Guarantee. The Design-Builder guarantees that the Plant will meet the performance
criteria listed in Exhibit A (the “Performance Guarantee Criteria”) during a performance
test conducted and concluded pursuant to the terms hereof not later than Ninety (90) Days after the
date of Substantial Completion. If there is a performance shortfall, Design-Builder will pay all
design and construction costs associated with making the necessary corrections. Design-Builder
retains the right to use its sole discretion in determining the method (which shall be in
accordance with generally accepted construction and design-build standards of the fuel ethanol
industry in the United States) to remedy any performance related issues.
7.2 Performance Testing.
7.2.1 The Design-Builder shall direct and supervise the tests and, if necessary, the retests
of the Plant using Design-Builder’s supervisory personnel and the Air Emissions Tester shall
conduct the air emissions test, in each case, in accordance with the testing procedures set forth
in Exhibit A (the “Performance Tests”), to demonstrate, at a minimum, compliance with the
Performance Guarantee Criteria. Owner is responsible for obtaining Air Emissions Tester and for
ensuring Air Emissions Tester’s timely performance. Design-Builder shall cooperate with the Air
Emissions Tester to facilitate performance of all air emissions tests. Design-Builder shall not be
held responsible for the actions of Owner’s employees and third parties involved in the Performance
Testing, including but not limited to Air Emissions Tester.
7.2.2 No later than thirty (30) Days prior to the earlier of the Scheduled Substantial
Completion Date or Substantial Completion, Design-Builder shall provide to Owner for review a
detailed testing plan for the Performance Tests (other than for air emissions).
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Owner and
Design-Builder shall agree upon a testing plan that shall be consistent with the Performance Test
Protocol contained in Exhibit A hereto. After such agreement has been reached, Design-Builder
shall notify the Owner five (5) business days prior to the date Design-Builder intends to commence
the Performance Tests and shall notify the Owner upon commencement of the Performance Tests. Owner
and Independent Engineer each have the right to witness all testing, including the Performance
Tests and any equipment testing, whether at the Site or at the Subcontractor’s or equipment
supplier’s premises during the course of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
Owner shall bear the costs of providing a witness to any such testing and all such witnesses shall
comply at all times with Design-Builder’s, Subcontractor’s or equipment supplier’s safety and
security procedures and other reasonable requirements, and otherwise conduct themselves in a manner
that does not interfere with Design-Builder’s, Subcontractor’s or equipment supplier’s activities
or operations.
7.2.3 Design-Builder shall provide to Owner a Performance Test report (excluding results from
air emissions testing), including all applicable test data, calculations and certificates
indicating the results of the Performance Tests and, within five (5) business days of Owner’s
receipt of such results, Owner, Independent Engineer and Design-Builder will jointly inspect such
Work and review the results of the Performance Tests to verify that the Performance Guarantee
Criteria have been met. If Owner or Independent Engineer reasonably determines that the
Performance Guarantee Criteria have not been met, Owner shall notify Design-Builder the reasons why
Owner determined that the Performance Guarantee Criteria have not been met and Design-Builder shall
promptly take such action or perform such additional work as will achieve the Performance Guarantee
Criteria and shall issue to the Owner another notice in accordance with Section 7.2.2; provided
however that if the notice relates to a retest, the notice may be provided no less than two (2)
business days prior to the Performance Tests. Such procedure shall be repeated as necessary until
Owner and Independent Engineer verifies that the Performance Guarantee Criteria have been met.
7.2.4 If Owner, for whatever reason, prevents Design-Builder from demonstrating the
Performance Guarantee Criteria within thirty (30) Days of Design-Builder’s notice that the Plant is
ready for Performance Testing, then Design-Builder shall be excused from demonstrating compliance
with the Performance Guarantee Criteria during such period of time that Design-Builder is prevented
from demonstrating compliance with the Performance Guarantee Criteria; provided however that
Design-Builder will be deemed to have fulfilled all of its obligations to demonstrate that the
Plant meets the Performance Guarantee Criteria should
such period of time during which Design-Builder is prevented from demonstrating the
Performance Criteria exceed thirty (30) Days or extend beyond the Final Completion Date.
7.3 Liquidated Damages.
7.3.1 Design-Builder understands that if Final Completion is not attained by the Final
Completion Date, Owner will suffer damages which are difficult to determine and accurately specify.
Design-Builder agrees that if Final Completion is not attained by the end of the Final Completion
Date, Design-Builder shall pay Owner Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) as liquidated damages,
and not as a penalty, for each Day that Final Completion extends beyond the Final Completion Date.
Owner, at its discretion, may elect to offset any such liquidated damages from any retainage.
Liquidated damages shall be paid by Design-Builder by the fifteenth (15th) Day of the
month following the month in which the liquidated damages were
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incurred. The liquidated damages
provided herein shall be in lieu of all liability for any and all extra costs, losses, loss of
profits, expenses, claims, penalties and any other damages, whether special or consequential, and
of whatsoever nature incurred by Owner which are occasioned solely by any delay in achieving Final
Completion.
7.3.2 Maximum Liquidated Damages. Design-Builder’s liability for liquidated damages under
Section 7.3.1 shall be capped at and shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
7.3.3 The liquidated damages provided herein shall be in lieu of all liability for any and all
extra costs, losses, loss of profits, expenses, claims, penalties and any other damages, whether
special or consequential, and of whatsoever nature incurred by Owner which arise solely due to a
delay in achieving Final Completion by the Final Completion Date; provided that such liquidated
damages shall not in any way detract from or limit Owner’s remedies or Design-Builder’s liabilities
in connection with any default by Design-Builder under Section 15.2 hereof.
7.3.4 Design-Builder shall not be liable for liquidated damages during any period of time for
which an extension of the Scheduled Substantial Completion Date and/or Final Completion Date is
available pursuant to Article 12.
7.4 Bonds and Other Performance Security.
7.4.1 On or prior to the date of Financial Closing, if requested by Owner, the Design-Builder
shall deliver to Owner a bond substantially in the form attached as Exhibit H (the “Performance
Bond”) in an initial amount equivalent to the Contract Price. Owner shall pay on the date of
Financial Closing all costs of obtaining such bond, plus pay Design-Builder a fee of seven and one
half percent (7.5%) for obtaining such bond, such fee to be calculated by multiplying seven and one
half percent (7.5%) times the cost of the Performance Bond. Any amounts payable to the surety due
to Design-Builder’s default under this Agreement or the Performance Bond shall be for the account
of Design-Builder.
(a) | Design-Builder shall post additional bonds or security (which must be in form and substance satisfactory to Owner and the Lenders) or shall increase the amount of the Performance Bond by the amount of any increases to the Contract Price; provided, however, that Owner shall pay all costs of obtaining such bonds or security, plus pay Design-Builder a fee of seven and one half percent (7.5%) for obtaining such bonds or security, such fee to be calculated by multiplying seven and one half percent (7.5%) times the cost of the bonds or security. | ||
(b) | The Performance Bond shall secure the Design-Builder’s obligations to complete the Work in accordance with this Agreement. |
7.4.2 On or prior to the date of Financial Closing, if requested by Owner, the Design-Builder
shall deliver to Owner a bond substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I (the “Payment
Bond”) in an initial amount equivalent to the Contract Price. Owner shall pay on the date of
Financial Closing all costs of obtaining such bond, plus pay Design-Builder a fee of seven and one
half percent (7.5%) for obtaining such bond, such fee to be calculated by multiplying seven and one
half percent (7.5%) times the cost of the Payment Bond but any
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amounts payable to the surety due to
Design-Builder’s default under this Agreement or the Payment Bond shall be for the account of
Design-Builder.
(a) | Design-Builder shall post additional bonds or security (which must be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Owner and the Lenders) or shall increase the amount of the Payment Bond by the amount of any increase to the Contract Price. | ||
(b) | The Payment Bond shall secure the Design-Builder’s obligations to pay its Subcontractors, vendors and suppliers. | ||
(c) | The Payment Bond shall provide the conditions upon which Subcontractors, vendors and suppliers may draw upon such Payment Bond following Design-Builder’s failure to pay amounts due such Subcontractors, vendors and suppliers. |
Article 8
Warranties
8.1 Design-Builder Warranty. Design-Builder warrants to Owner that the construction, including all
materials and equipment furnished as part of the construction, shall be new, of good quality, in
conformance with the Contract Documents and all Legal Requirements, free of defects in materials
and workmanship. Design-Builder’s warranty obligation excludes defects caused by abuse,
alterations, or failure to maintain the Work by persons other than Design-Builder or anyone for
whose acts Design-Builder may be liable. Nothing in this warranty is intended to limit any
Manufacturer’s Warranty which provides Owner with greater warranty rights than set forth in this
Section 8.1 or the Contract Documents. Design-Builder will provide to Owner all manufacturers’ and
Subcontractors’ warranties upon the earlier of Substantial Completion or termination of this
Agreement. Owner’s failure to comply with all Operating Procedures shall void those guarantees,
representations and warranties, whether expressed or implied, that were given by Design-Builder to
Owner, concerning the performance of the Plant that are reasonably determined by Design-Builder to
be affected by such failure. If Design-Builder reasonably determines that all damage caused by
such failure can be repaired and Owner makes all repairs needed to correct such damage, as
reasonably determined by Design-Builder, all guarantees, representations and warranties shall be
reinstated for the remaining term thereof, if any, from the date of the repair.
8.2 Correction of Defective Work.
8.2.1 Design-Builder agrees to correct any Work that is found to not be in conformance with
the Contract Documents, including that part of the Work subject to Section 8.1, within a period of
one (1) year from the date of Substantial Completion of the Work; provided that Owner must report
such non-conformance within seven (7) days of the appearance of such failure or non-conformance and
that such one (1)-year period shall be extended one (1) Day for any part of the Work that is found
to be not in conformance with the Contract Documents for each Day that such part of the Work is not
operating in conformity with the Contract Documents, including any time during which any part of
the Work is repaired or replaced pursuant to this Article 8.
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8.2.2 Design-Builder shall, within seven (7) Days of receipt of written notice from Owner that
the Work is not in conformance with the Contract Documents, take meaningful steps to commence
correction of such nonconforming Work, including the correction, removal or replacement of the
nonconforming Work and correction or replacement of any Work damaged by such nonconforming Work.
If Design-Builder fails to commence the necessary steps within such seven (7) Day period or fails
to continue to perform such steps through completion, Owner, in addition to any other remedies
provided under the Contract Documents, may provide Design-Builder with written notice that Owner
will commence or assume correction of such nonconforming Work and repair of such damaged Work with
its own resources. If, following such written notice, Owner performs such corrective and repair
Work, Design-Builder shall be responsible for all reasonable costs incurred by Owner in performing
the correction. If the non-conforming Work creates an emergency requiring an immediate response,
the seven (7) Day periods identified herein shall be inapplicable and Design-Builder shall
immediately correct, remove, or replace the non-conforming Work.
8.3 Warranty Period Not Limitation to Owner’s Rights. The one (1)-year period referenced in
Section 8.2 above applies only to Design-Builder’s obligation to correct nonconforming Work and is
not intended to constitute a period of limitations for any other rights or remedies Owner may have
regarding Design-Builder’s other obligations under the Contract Documents.
Article 9
Contract Price
9.1 Contract Price. As full consideration to Design-Builder for full and complete performance of
the Work and all costs incurred in connection therewith, Owner shall pay Design-Builder in
accordance with the terms of Article 10, the sum of One Hundred Twenty-five Million Nine Hundred
Three Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($125,903,700.00) (“Contract Price”), subject to
adjustments made in accordance with Article 13. The Contract Price does not include the water
pre-treatment system and the fire protection system which shall be provided by Design-Builder
pursuant to a separate side-letter agreement executed by Owner and Design-Builder at
Design-Builder’s standard time plus material rates during the relevant time period and at the
relevant locale.
Owner acknowledges that it has taken no action which would impose a union labor or prevailing wage
requirement on Design-Builder, Owner or the Project. The Parties acknowledge and agree that if
after the date hereof, an Owner’s action, a change in Applicable Law, or a Governmental Authority
acting pursuant to a change in Applicable Law shall require Design-Builder to employ union labor or
compensate labor at prevailing wages, the Contract Price shall be adjusted upwards to include any
increased costs associated with such labor or wages. Such adjustment shall include, but not be
limited to, increased labor, subcontractor, and material and equipment costs resulting from any
union or prevailing wage requirement; provided, however, that if an option is made available to
either employ union labor, or to compensate labor at prevailing wages, such option shall be at
Design-Builder’s sole discretion and that if such option is executed by Owner without
Design-Builder’s agreement, Design-Builder shall have the right to terminate this agreement and
shall be entitled to compensation pursuant to Section 15.3.1 hereof.
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9.2 Effect of Construction Cost Index Increase on Contract Price. If between the Effective Date
and the date on which a Notice to Proceed is given to Design-Builder the Construction Cost Index
published by Engineering News-Record Magazine (“CCI”) increases over the Baseline Index
established in Section 9.2.1, Design-Builder shall notify Owner in writing that it is adjusting the
Contract Price.
9.2.1 The Baseline Index for this Agreement shall be 7660.29 (January 2006) (“Baseline
Index”).
9.2.2 In the event that the CCI as of the date on which the Notice to Proceed is given
increases over the Baseline Index, the Contract Price shall be increased by a percentage amount
equal thereto.
Article 10
Payment Procedures
10.1 Payment at Financial Closing. As part of the Contract Price, Owner shall pay Design-Builder
Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000.00), as a mobilization fee, as soon as allowed by its
organizational documents and any other agreements or Laws and at the latest, at the earlier to
occur of Financial Closing or the issuance of a Notice to Proceed. The Eight Million Dollar
($8,000,000.00) mobilization fee payment shall be subject to retainage as provided by Section
10.2.7.
10.2 Progress Payments.
10.2.1 Application for Payment. Following the issuance of Notice to Proceed pursuant to
Section 6.2, Design Builder shall submit to Owner, on or before the twenty-fifth (25th) Day of each
month, its request for payment for all Work performed and not paid for during the previous Pay
Period (the “Application for Payment”). The Application for Payment shall be substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M. Design-Builder shall submit to Owner, along with each
Application for Payment, signed lien waivers, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
N, received from Design-Builder, Subcontractors and suppliers for the
Work included in the Application for Payment submitted for the immediately preceding Pay
Period and for which payment has been received.
10.2.2 The Application for Payment shall constitute Design-Builder’s representation that the
Work has been performed consistent with the Contract Documents and has progressed to the point
indicated in the Application for Payment. The Parties agree that the work completed at the Site,
the comparison of the Application for Payment against the work schedule, and the Schedule of Values
shall provide sufficient substantiation of the accuracy of the Application for Payment and that no
additional documentation will be provided to Owner or Independent Engineer in support of an
Application for Payment. Title to the Work, including Work reflected in an Application for Payment
which is in process, is in transit, is in storage, or has been incorporated into the Site, shall
pass to Owner free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrances, and security interests upon
Design-Builder’s receipt of payment therefor.
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10.2.3 Within ten (10) Days after Owner’s receipt of each Application for Payment, Owner shall
pay Design-Builder all amounts properly due, but in each case less the total of payments previously
made, and less amounts properly withheld under this Agreement.
10.2.4 The Application for Payment may request payment for equipment and materials not yet
incorporated into the Project; provided that (i) Owner is satisfied that the equipment and
materials are suitably stored at either the Site or another acceptable location, (ii) the equipment
and materials are protected by suitable insurance, and (iii) upon payment, Owner will receive the
equipment and materials free and clear of all liens and encumbrances except for liens of the
Lenders and other liens and encumbrances permitted under the Financing Documents.
10.2.5 Schedule of Values. The schedule of values attached hereto as Exhibit E (the
“Schedule of Values”) (i) subdivides the Work into its respective parts, (ii) includes
values for all items comprising the Work, and (iii) serves as the basis for monthly progress
payments made to Design-Builder throughout the Work.
10.2.6 Withholding of Payments. On or before the date set forth in Section 10.2.3, Owner
shall pay Design-Builder all amounts properly due. If Owner determines that Design-Builder is not
entitled to all or part of an Application for Payment, it will notify Design-Builder in writing at
least five (5) Days prior to the date payment is due. The notice shall indicate the specific
amounts Owner intends to withhold, the reasons and contractual basis for the withholding, and the
specific measures Design-Builder must take to rectify Owner’s concerns. Design-Builder and Owner
will attempt to resolve Owner’s concerns prior to the date payment is due. If the Parties cannot
resolve such concerns, Design-Builder may pursue its rights under the Contract Documents, including
those under Article 19. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Contract Documents, Owner
shall pay Design-Builder all undisputed amounts in an Application for Payment within the times
required by the Agreement.
10.2.7 Retainage on Progress Payments. Owner will retain ten percent (10%) of each payment up
to a maximum of Six Million Two Hundred Ninety-five Thousand One Hundred Eighty-five Dollars
($6,295,185.00). Once Six Million Two Hundred Ninety-five Thousand One Hundred Eighty-five Dollars
($6,295,185.00) has been retained, in total, Owner will not retain any additional amounts from any
subsequent payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum retainage set forth herein shall
increase if the Contract Price is increased pursuant to Section 9.2 of this Agreement such that the
maximum retainage will equal five percent (5%) of the Contract Price as adjusted. Owner will also
reasonably consider reducing retainage for Subcontractors completing their work early in the
Project. Upon Substantial Completion of the Work Owner shall release to Design-Builder all
retained amounts less an amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the reasonable
value of all remaining or incomplete items of Work and less an amount equal to the value of any
Subcontractor lien waivers not yet obtained, as noted in the Certificate of Substantial Completion,
provided that such payment shall only be made if Design-Builder has met the Performance Guarantee
Criteria listed in Exhibit A.
10.3 Final Payment. Design-Builder shall deliver to Owner a request for final payment (the
“Final Application for Payment”) when Final Completion has been achieved in
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accordance with
Section 6.5. Owner shall make final payment within thirty (30) Days after Owner’s receipt of the
Final Application for Payment (“Final Payment”).
10.4 Failure to Pay Amounts Due.
10.4.1 Interest. Payments which are due and unpaid by Owner to Design-Builder, whether
progress payments or Final Payment, shall bear interest commencing five (5)
Days after payment is due at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum, or the maximum
rate allowed by Law.
10.4.2 Right to Suspend Work. If Owner fails to pay Design-Builder any undisputed amount that
becomes due, Design-Builder, in addition to all other remedies provided in the Contract Documents,
may stop Work pursuant to Section 15.4 hereof. All payments properly due and unpaid shall bear
interest at the rate set forth in Section 10.4.1.
10.4.3 Failure to Make Final Payment. Owner’s failure to make Final Payment pursuant to
section 10.3 hereof shall void any and all warranties, whether express or implied, provided by
Design-Builder pursuant to this Agreement.
10.5 Design-Builder’s Payment Obligations. Design-Builder will pay Design Consultants and
Subcontractors, in accordance with its contractual obligations to such parties, all the amounts
Design-Builder has received from Owner on account of their work. Design-Builder will impose
similar requirements on Design Consultants and Subcontractors to pay those parties with whom they
have contracted. Design-Builder will indemnify and defend Owner against any claims for payment and
mechanic’s liens as set forth in Section 14.2 hereof.
10.6 Record Keeping and Finance Controls. With respect to changes in the Work performed on a cost
basis by Design-Builder pursuant to the Contract Documents, Design-Builder shall keep full and
detailed accounts and exercise such controls as may be necessary for proper financial management,
using accounting and control systems in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and as may be provided in the Contract Documents. During the performance of the Work and for a
period of three (3) years after Final Payment, Owner and Owner’s accountants shall be afforded
access from time to time, upon reasonable notice, to Design-Builder’s records, books,
correspondence, receipts, subcontracts, purchase orders, vouchers, memoranda and other data
relating to changes in the Work performed on a cost basis in accordance with the Contract
Documents, all of which Design-Builder shall preserve for a period of three (3) years after Final
Payment.
Article 11
Hazardous Conditions and Differing Site Conditions
11.1 Hazardous Conditions.
11.1.1 Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Contract Documents to be part of the Work,
Design-Builder is not responsible for any Hazardous Conditions encountered at the Site. Upon
encountering any Hazardous Conditions, Design-
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Builder will stop Work immediately in the affected
area and as promptly as practicable notify Owner and, if Design-Builder is specifically required to
do so by Legal Requirements, all Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the Project or
Site. Design-Builder shall not remove, remediate or handle in any way (except in case of
emergency) any Hazardous Conditions encountered at the Site without prior written approval of
Owner.
11.1.2 Upon receiving notice of the presence of suspected Hazardous Conditions, Owner shall
take the necessary measures required to ensure that the Hazardous Conditions are remediated or
rendered harmless. Such necessary measures shall include Owner retaining Qualified Independent
Experts to (i) ascertain whether Hazardous Conditions have actually been encountered, and, if they
have been encountered, (ii) prescribe the remedial measures that Owner is required under applicable
Legal Requirements to take with respect to such Hazardous Conditions in order for the Work to
proceed. Owner’s choice of such Qualified Independent Experts shall be subject to the prior
approval of Design-Builder, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
11.1.3 Design-Builder shall be obligated to resume Work at the affected area of the Project
only after Owner’s Qualified Independent Expert provides it with written certification that (i) the
Hazardous Conditions have been removed or rendered harmless, and (ii) all necessary approvals have
been obtained from all government entities having jurisdiction over the Project or Site and a
remediation plan has been undertaken permitting the Work to proceed.
11.1.4 Design-Builder will be entitled, in accordance with this Article 11, to an adjustment
in its Contract Price and/or Contract Time(s) to the extent Design-Builder’s cost and/or time of
performance have been adversely impacted by the presence of Hazardous Conditions, provided that
such Hazardous Materials were not introduced to the Site by Design-Builder, Subcontractors or
anyone for whose acts they may be liable.
11.1.5 To the fullest extent permitted by Law, Owner shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Design-Builder, Design Consultants, Subcontractors, anyone employed directly or indirectly for any
of them, and their officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims,
losses, damages, liabilities and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of
or resulting from the presence, removal or remediation of Hazardous Conditions at the Site.
11.1.6 Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 11.1, Owner is not responsible
for Hazardous Conditions introduced to the Site by Design-Builder, Subcontractors or anyone for
whose acts they may be liable. Design-Builder shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owner and
Owner’s officers, directors, employees and agents from and against all claims, losses, damages,
liabilities and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of or resulting from
those Hazardous Conditions introduced to the Site by Design-Builder, Subcontractors or anyone for
whose acts they may be liable.
11.2 Differing Site Conditions; Inspection.
11.2.1 Concealed or latent physical conditions or subsurface conditions at the Site that (i)
differ from the conditions indicated in the Contract Documents, or (ii) are of an unusual nature,
differing from the conditions ordinarily encountered and generally recognized as inherent in the
Work are collectively referred to herein as “Differing Site Conditions.” If
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Design-Builder
encounters a Differing Site Condition, Design-Builder will be entitled to an adjustment in the
Contract Price and/or Contract Time(s) to the extent Design-Builder’s cost and/or time of
performance are adversely impacted by the Differing Site Condition.
11.2.2 Upon encountering a Differing Site Condition, Design-Builder shall provide prompt
written notice to Owner of such condition, which notice shall not be later than fourteen (14)
business days after such condition has been encountered. Design-Builder shall, to the extent
reasonably possible, provide such notice before the Differing Site Condition has been substantially
disturbed or altered.
Article 12
Force Majeure; Change in Legal Requirements
12.1 Force Majeure Event. A force Majeure event shall mean a cause or event beyond the reasonable
control of, and without the fault or negligence of a Party claiming Force Majeure, including,
without limitation, an emergency, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, adverse weather
conditions not reasonably anticipated or acts of God; sabotage; vandalism beyond that which could
reasonably be prevented by a Party claiming Force Majeure; terrorism; war; riots; fire; explosion;
blockades; insurrection; strike; slow down or labor disruptions (even if such difficulties could be
resolved by conceding to the demands of a labor group); economic hardship or delay in the delivery
of materials or equipment that is beyond the control of a Party claiming Force Majeure, and action
or failure to take action by any Governmental Authority after the Effective Date (including the
adoption or change in any rule or regulation or environmental constraints lawfully imposed by such
Governmental Authority), but only if such requirements, actions, or failures to act prevent or
delay performance; and inability, despite due diligence, to obtain any licenses, permits, or
approvals required by any Governmental Authority (any such event, a “Force Majeure Event”).
12.2 Effect of Force Majeure Event. Neither Party shall be considered in default in the
performance of any of the obligations contained in the Contract Documents, except for the Owners or
the Design-Builder’s obligations to pay money (including but not limited to, Progress Payments and
payments of liquidated damages which become due and payable with respect to the period prior to the
occurrence of the Force Majeure Event), when and to the extent the failure of performance shall be
caused by a Force Majeure Event. If either Party is rendered wholly or partly unable to perform
its obligations under the Contract Documents because of a Force Majeure Event, such Party will be
excused from performance affected by the Force Majeure Event to the extent and for the period of
time so affected; provided that:
(a) | the nonperforming Party, within forty-eight (48) hours after the nonperforming Party actually becomes aware of the occurrence and impact of the Force Majeure Event, gives the other Party written notice describing the event or circumstance in detail, including an estimation of its expected duration and probable impact on the performance of the affected Party’s obligations hereunder and continues to furnish timely regular reports with respect thereto during the continuation of and upon the termination of the Force Majeure Event; |
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(b) | the suspension of performance is of no greater scope and of no longer duration than is reasonably required by the Force Majeure Event; | ||
(c) | the obligations of either Party that arose before the occurrence causing the suspension of performance and the performance that is not prevented by the occurrence, shall not be excused as a result of such occurrence; | ||
(d) | the nonperforming Party uses its best efforts to remedy its inability to perform and mitigate the effect of such event and resumes its performance at the earliest practical time after cessation of such occurrence or until such time that performance is practicable; | ||
(e) | when the nonperforming Party is able to resume performance of its obligations under the Contract Documents, that Party shall give the other Party written notice to that effect; and | ||
(f) | Design-Builder shall be entitled to a Day-for-Day time extension for those events set forth in Section 12.1 to the extent the occurrence of such event delayed Design-Builder’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement. |
12.3 Change in Legal Requirements. The Contract Price and/or the Contract Time(s) shall be
adjusted to compensate Design-Builder for the effects of any changes to the Legal Requirements that
occur after the date of this Agreement and as a result of such change, the performance of the Work
is adversely affected. Such effects may include, without limitation, revisions Design-Builder is
required to make to the Construction Documents because of changes in Legal Requirements.
12.4 Time Impact And Availability. If the Design-Builder is delayed at any time in the
commencement or progress of the Work due to a delay in the delivery of, or unavailability of,
essential materials or labor to the Project as a result of a significant industry-wide economic
fluctuation or disruption beyond the control of and without the fault of the Design-Builder or its
Subcontractors which is experienced or expected to be experienced by certain markets providing
essential materials and equipment to the Project during the performance of the Work and such
economic fluctuation or disruption adversely impacts the price, availability, and delivery
timeframes of essential materials, equipment, or labor (such event an “Industry-Wide
Disruption”), the Design-Builder shall be entitled to an equitable extension of the Contract
Time(s) on a day-for-day basis equal to such delay. The Owner and Design-Builder shall undertake
reasonable steps to mitigate the effect of such delays. Notwithstanding any other provision to the
contrary, the Design-Builder shall not be liable to the Owner for any expenses, losses or damages
arising from a delay, or unavailability of, essential materials or labor to the Project as a result
of an Industry-Wide Disruption.
Article 13
Changes to the Contract Price and Scheduled Completion Dates
13.1 Change Orders.
29
13.1.1 A change order (“Change Order”) is a written instrument issued after execution
of this Agreement signed by Owner and Design-Builder, stating their agreement upon all of the
following:
(a) | the scope of the change in the Work; | ||
(b) | the amount of the adjustment to the Contract Price; and | ||
(c) | the extent of the adjustment to the Contract Time(s). |
13.1.2 All changes in the Work authorized by an applicable Change Order shall be performed
under the applicable conditions of the Contract Documents. Owner and Design-Builder shall
negotiate in good faith and as expeditiously as possible the appropriate adjustments for such
changes. Prior to incurring any costs with respect to estimating services, design services and any
other services involved in the preparation of the proposed revisions to the Contract Documents,
Design-Builder must obtain the written approval of Owner for such costs.
13.1.3 If Owner requests a proposal for a change in the Work from Design-Builder and
subsequently elects not to proceed with the change, a Change Order shall be issued to reimburse
Design-Builder for reasonable costs incurred for estimating services, design services and any other
services involved in the preparation of proposed revisions to the Contract Documents; provided that
such costs were previously approved by Owner pursuant to Section 13.1.2.
13.2 Contract Price Adjustments.
13.2.1 The increase or decrease in Contract Price resulting from a change in the Work shall be
a mutually accepted lump sum, properly itemized and supported by sufficient substantiating data to
permit evaluation by Owner.
13.2.2 If Owner and Design-Builder disagree upon whether Design-Builder is entitled to be paid
for any services required by Owner, or if there are any other disagreements over the scope of Work
or proposed changes to the Work, Owner and Design-Builder shall resolve the disagreement pursuant
to Article 19 hereof. As part of the negotiation process, Design-Builder shall furnish Owner with
a good faith estimate of the costs to perform the disputed services in accordance with Owner’s
interpretations. If the Parties are unable to agree and Owner expects Design-Builder to perform
the services in accordance with Owner’s interpretations, Design-Builder shall proceed to perform
the disputed services, conditioned upon Owner issuing a written order to Design-Builder (i)
directing Design-Builder to proceed, and (ii) specifying Owner’s interpretation of the services
that are to be performed. If this occurs, Design-Builder shall be entitled to submit in its
Applications for Payment an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of its reasonable estimated direct
cost to perform the services, and Owner agrees to pay such amounts, with the express understanding
that (x) such payment by Owner does not prejudice Owner’s right to argue that it has no
responsibility to pay for such services, and (y) receipt of such payment by Design-Builder does not
prejudice Design-Builder’s right to seek full payment of the disputed services if Owner’s order is
deemed to be a change to the Work.
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13.3 Emergencies. In any emergency affecting the safety of persons and/or property, Design-Builder
shall act, at its discretion, to prevent threatened damage, injury or loss and shall notify the
Owner as soon as practicable and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours after Design-Builder
becomes aware of the emergency. The notice to Owner shall describe the emergency in detail,
including a reasonable estimation of its expected duration and impact, if any, on the performance
of Design-Builder’s obligations hereunder. Any change in the Contract Price and/or the Contract
Time(s) on account of emergency work shall be determined as provided in this Article 13.
13.4 Failure to Complete Owner’s Milestones. The dates when Owner’s obligations are required to be
completed to enable Design-Builder to achieve the Contract Time(s) are identified in Table 3 in
Exhibit C (“Owner’s Milestones”). The Contract Time(s) shall be revised to provide a
Day-for-Day extension of the Contract Time(s) for completion of the Work for each full Day during
which Owner fails to timely complete its obligations pursuant to the Owner’s Milestones. In the
event of Owner’s failure to timely complete its obligations pursuant to Owner’s Milestones results
in the extension of the Contract Time(s), the Contract Price shall be adjusted to compensate
Design-Builder for the effects, if any, of such change.
Article 14
Indemnity
14.1 Tax Claim Indemnification. If, in accordance with Owner’s direction, an exemption for all or
part of the Work is claimed for taxes, Owner shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Design-Builder (and its officers, directors, agents, successors and assigns) from and against any
and all damages, claims costs, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including penalties, interest,
fines, taxes of any kind, attorneys’ fees, accountants and other professional fees and associated
expenses) incurred by Design-Builder in connection with or as a result of any action taken by
Design-Builder in accordance with Owner’s directive.
14.2 Payment Claim Indemnification. To the extent Design-Builder has received payment for the
Work, Design-Builder shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owner Indemnified Parties from any
claims or mechanic’s liens brought against Owner Indemnified Parties or against the Project as a
result of the failure of Design-Builder, or those for whose acts it is responsible, to pay for any
services, materials, labor, equipment, taxes or other items or obligations furnished or incurred
for or in connection with the Work. Within three (3) business days of receiving written notice
from Owner that such a claim or mechanic’s lien has been filed, Design-Builder shall commence to
take the steps necessary to discharge such claim or lien.
14.3 Design-Builder’s General Indemnification.
14.3.1 Design-Builder, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, shall indemnify, hold harmless
and defend Owner, Lenders, Lenders’ Agent, and their successors, assigns, officers, directors,
employees and agents (“Owner Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all losses,
costs, damages, injuries, liabilities, claims, demands, penalties, interest and causes of action,
including without limitation attorney’s fees (collectively, the “Damages”) for bodily
injury, sickness or death, and property damage or destruction (other than to the Work itself) to
the extent resulting from the negligent or intentionally wrongful acts or from omissions of
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Design-Builder, Design Consultants, Subcontractors, anyone employed directly or indirectly by any
of them or anyone for whose acts any of them may be liable.
14.3.2 If an employee of Design-Builder, Design Consultants, Subcontractors, anyone employed
directly or indirectly by any of them or anyone for whose acts any of them may be liable has a
claim against Owner Indemnified Parties, Design-Builder’s indemnity obligation set forth in Section
14.3.1 above shall not be limited by any limitation on the amount of damages, compensation or
benefits payable by or for Design-Builder, Design Consultants, Subcontractors, or other entity
under any employee benefit acts, including workers’ compensation or disability acts.
14.3.3 Without limiting the generality of Section 14.3.1 hereof, Design-Builder shall fully
indemnify, save harmless and defend the Owner Indemnified Parties from and against any and all
Damages in favor of any Governmental Authority or other third party to the extent caused by (a)
failure of Design-Builder or any Subcontractor to comply with Legal Requirements as required by
this Agreement, or (b) failure of Design-Builder or any Subcontractor to properly administer and
pay any taxes or fees required to be paid by Design-Builder under this Agreement.
14.3.4 Nothing in the Design-Builder’s General Indemnification contained in this Section 14.3
shall be read to limit in any way any entitlement Design-Builder shall have to insurance coverage
under any insurance policy, including any insurance policy required by either Party under this
Agreement.
14.4 Owner’s General Indemnification. Owner, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, shall
indemnify, hold harmless and defend Design-Builder and any of Design-Builder’s officers, directors,
employees, or agents from and against claims, losses, damages, liabilities, including attorneys’
fees and expenses, for bodily injury, sickness or death, and property damage or destruction (other
than to the Work itself) to the extent resulting from the negligent acts, willful misconduct, or
omissions of Owner, its officers, directors, employees, agents, or anyone for whose acts any of
them may be liable.
14.4.1 Without limiting the generality of Section 14.4 hereof, Owner shall fully indemnify,
save harmless and defend the Design-Builder and any of Design-Builder’s officers, directors,
employees, or agents from and against any and all Damages in favor of any Governmental Authority or
other third party to the extent caused by (a) failure of Owner or any of Owner’s agents to comply
with Legal Requirements as required by this Agreement, or (b) failure of Owner or Owner’s agents to
properly administer and pay any taxes or fees required to be paid by Owner under this Agreement.
14.4.2 Nothing in the Owner’s General Indemnification contained in this Section 14.4 shall be
read to limit in any way any entitlement Owner shall have to insurance coverage under any insurance
policy, including any insurance policy required by either Party under this Agreement.
14.5 Patent and Copyright Infringement.
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14.5.1 Design-Builder shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend Owner Indemnified Parties from
and against any and all Damages based on any claim that the Work, the Work Product, or any part
thereof, or the operation or use of the Work or any part thereof, constitutes infringement of any
United States or foreign patent, copyright or other intellectual property, now or hereafter issued.
Owner shall give prompt written notice to Design-Builder of any such action or proceeding and will
reasonably provide authority, information and assistance in the defense of same. Design-Builder
shall indemnify and hold harmless Owner Indemnified Parties from and against all damages and costs,
including but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses awarded against Owner or Design-Builder
in any such action or proceeding.
14.5.2 If Owner is enjoined from the operation or use of the Work, Work Product, the Project,
or any part thereof, as the result of any patent or copyright suit, claim, or proceeding,
Design-Builder shall at its sole expense take reasonable steps to procure the right to operate or
use the Work, Work Product or the Project. If Design-Builder cannot so procure such right within a
reasonable time, Design-Builder shall promptly, at Design-Builder’s option and at Design-Builder’s
expense, (i) modify the Work or Work Product so as to avoid infringement of any such patent or
copyright or (ii) replace the Work or Work Product with Work or Work Product that does not infringe
or violate any such patent, copyright, trade secret, proprietary right, confidential information or
intellectual property right.
14.5.3 Sections 14.5.1 and 14.5.2 above shall not be applicable to any suit, claim or
proceeding based on infringement or violation of a patent or copyright (i) relating solely to a
particular process or product of a particular manufacturer specified by Owner and not offered or
recommended by Design-Builder to Owner, or (ii) arising from modifications to the Work by Owner or
its agents after acceptance of the Work, or (iii) relating to the operation or use of the Work by
the Owner in a manner not permitted by this Agreement or the ICM License Agreement. If the suit,
claim or proceeding is based upon events set forth in the preceding sentence, Owner shall defend,
indemnify and hold harmless Design-Builder to the same extent Design-Builder is obligated to
defend, indemnify and hold harmless Owner in Section 14.5.1 above.
Article 15
Stop Work; Termination for Cause
15.1 Owner’s Right to Stop Work. Owner may, without cause and for its convenience, order
Design-Builder in writing to stop and suspend the Work. Such suspension shall not exceed sixty
(60) consecutive Days or aggregate more than ninety (90) Days during the duration of the Project.
Design-Builder is entitled to seek
an adjustment of the Contract Price and/or the Contract Time(s) if its cost or time to perform the
Work has been adversely impacted by any suspension or stoppage of work by Owner.
15.2 Owner’s Right to Perform and Terminate for Cause.
15.2.1 If Design-Builder persistently fails to: (i) provide a sufficient number of skilled
workers; (ii) supply the materials required by the Contract Documents; (iii) comply with applicable
Legal Requirements; (iv) timely pay, without cause, Design Consultants or Subcontractors; (v)
perform the Work with promptness and diligence to ensure that the Work is
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completed by the Contract
Time(s), as such times may be adjusted in accordance with this Agreement; (vi) perform material
obligations under the Contract Documents; or if Design-Builder fails to achieve Final Completion
within ninety (90) Days after the Final Completion Date as such date may be adjusted in accordance
with the terms hereof; then Owner, in addition to any other rights and remedies provided in the
Contract Documents or by law or equity, shall have the rights set forth in Sections 15.2.2 and
15.2.3 below.
15.2.2 Upon the occurrence of an event set forth in Section 15.2.1 above, Owner may provide
written notice to Design-Builder that it intends to terminate the Agreement unless the problem
cited is cured, or commenced to be cured within seven (7) Days of Design-Builder’s receipt of such
notice. If Design-Builder fails to cure, or reasonably commence to cure such problem and
thereafter diligently pursue such cure to completion, then Owner may give a second written notice
to Design-Builder of its intent to terminate following an additional seven (7) Day period. If
Design-Builder, within such second seven (7) Day period, fails to cure, or reasonably commence to
cure such problem and thereafter diligently pursue such cure to completion, then Owner may declare
the Agreement terminated for default by providing written notice to Design-Builder of such
declaration. If (i) the insurance coverage required by Design-Builder pursuant Article 17 hereof
is suspended or cancelled without Design-Builder providing immediate replacement coverage (and, in
any case, within fourteen (14) Days of the occurrence thereof) meeting the requirements specified
in Article 17 hereof; (ii) if applicable, a default occurs under the Performance Bond or the
Payment Bond, or the Performance Bond or Payment Bond is revoked or terminated and such Performance
Bond or the Payment Bond is not immediately replaced (and, in any case, within fourteen (14) Days
of the occurrence thereof) by Design-Builder with a Performance Bond or a Payment Bond providing at
least the same level of coverage in a form and from a surety acceptable to Owner and Lenders, or
the surety under the Performance Bond or Payment Bond institutes or has instituted against it a
case under the United States Bankruptcy Code; (iii) Design-Builder purports to make an assignment
of this Agreement in breach of the provisions of Section 21.1 hereof, or (iv) any representation or
warranty made by Design-Builder under Section 18.1 hereof was false or materially misleading when
made, then Owner may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Design-Builder.
15.2.3 Upon declaring the Agreement terminated pursuant to Section 15.2.2 above, Owner may
enter upon the premises and take possession, for the purpose of completing the Work, of all
materials, equipment, scaffolds, tools, appliances and other items thereon, which have been
purchased for the performance of the Work, all of which Design-Builder hereby transfers, assigns
and sets over to Owner for such purpose, and to employ any person or persons to complete the Work
and provide all of the required labor, services, materials, equipment and other items. In the
event of such termination, Design-Builder shall not be entitled to receive any further payments
under the Contract Documents until the Work shall be finally completed in
accordance with the Contract Documents. At such time, if the unpaid balance of the Contract
Price exceeds the cost and expense incurred by Owner in completing the Work, Design-Builder will be
paid promptly by Owner for Work performed prior to its default. If Owner’s cost and expense of
completing the Work exceeds the unpaid balance of the Contract Price, then Design-Builder shall be
obligated to promptly pay the difference to Owner. Such costs and expense shall include not only
the cost of completing the Work, but also losses, damages, costs and expenses, including attorneys’
fees and expenses, incurred by Owner in connection with the re-procurement and defense of claims
arising from Design-Builder’s default, subject to the waiver of consequential damages set forth in
Section 19.4 hereof. The limitation of liability set forth in
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Section 19.5 hereof shall not apply
to limit any costs that result from the difference between the expense of completing the Work and
the unpaid balance of the Contract Price.
15.2.4 If Owner improperly terminates the Agreement for cause, the termination for cause will
be converted to a termination for convenience in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.3.
15.3 Owner’s Right to Terminate for Convenience.
15.3.1 Upon ten (10) Days’ written notice to Design-Builder, Owner may, for its convenience
and without cause, elect to terminate this Agreement. In such event, Owner shall pay
Design-Builder for the following:
(a) | to the extent not already paid, all Work executed, and for proven loss, cost or expense in connection with the Work; | ||
(b) | the reasonable costs and expenses attributable to such termination, including demobilization costs; | ||
(c) | amounts due in settlement of terminated contracts with Subcontractors and Design Consultants; | ||
(d) | overhead and profit margin in the amount of fifteen percent (15%) on the sum of items (a) and (b) above; and | ||
(e) | all retainage withheld by Owner on account of Work that has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents. |
15.3.2 If Owner terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section 15.3 and proceeds to design
and construct the Project through its employees, agents or third parties, Owner’s rights to use the
Work Product shall be as set forth in Section 5.3.
15.4 Design-Builder’s Right to Stop Work.
15.4.1 Design-Builder may, in addition to any other rights afforded under the Contract
Documents or at Law, stop work for Owner’s failure to pay amounts properly due under
Design-Builder’s Application for Payment.
15.4.2 If any of the events set forth in Section 15.4.1 above occur, Design-Builder has the
right to stop work by providing written notice to Owner that Design-Builder will
stop work unless such event is cured within seven (7) Days from Owner’s receipt of
Design-Builder’s notice. If Owner fails to cure or reasonably commence to cure such problem and
thereafter diligently pursue such cure to completion, then Design-Builder may give a second written
notice to Owner of its intent to stop work within an additional seven (7) Day period. If Owner,
within such second seven (7) Day period, fails to cure, or reasonably commence to cure such problem
and thereafter diligently pursue such cure to completion, then Design-Builder may stop work. In
such case, Design-Builder shall be entitled to make a claim for adjustment to the Contract Price
and Contract Time(s) to the extent it has been adversely impacted by such stoppage.
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15.5 Design-Builder’s Right to Terminate for Cause.
15.5.1 Design-Builder, in addition to any other rights and remedies provided in the Contract
Documents or by Law, may terminate the Agreement for cause for the following reasons:
(a) | The Work has been stopped for sixty (60) consecutive Days, or more than ninety (90) Days during the duration of the Project, because of court order, any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Work, or orders by Owner under Section 15.1 hereof, provided that such stoppages are not due to the acts or omissions of Design-Builder, Design Consultant and their respective officers, agents, employees, Subcontractors or any other person for whose acts the Design-Builder may be liable under Law. | ||
(b) | Owner’s failure to provide Design-Builder with any information, permits or approvals that are Owner’s responsibility under the Contract Documents which result in the Work being stopped for sixty (60) consecutive Days, or more than ninety (90) Days during the duration of the Project, even though Owner has not ordered Design-Builder in writing to stop and suspend the Work pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof. | ||
(c) | Owner fails to meet its obligations under Exhibit C and such failure results in the Work being stopped for sixty (60) consecutive Days, or more than ninety (90) Days during the duration of the Project even though Owner has not ordered Design-Builder in writing to stop and suspend the Work pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof. | ||
(d) | Owner’s failure to cure the problems set forth in Section 15.4.1 above within seven (7) Days after Design-Builder has stopped the Work. |
15.5.2 Upon the occurrence of an event set forth in Section 15.5.1 above, Design-Builder may
elect to terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to Owner that it intends to terminate
the Agreement unless the problem cited is cured within seven (7) Days of Owner’s receipt of such
notice. If Owner fails to cure, or reasonably commence to cure, such problem, then Design-Builder
may give a second written notice to Owner of its intent to terminate within an additional seven (7)
Day period. If Owner, within such second seven (7) Day period, fails to cure such problem, then
Design-Builder may declare the Agreement terminated for default by providing written notice to
Owner of such declaration. In such case, Design-Builder shall be entitled to recover in the same
manner as if Owner had terminated the Agreement for its convenience under Section 15.3.
15.6 Bankruptcy of Owner or Design-Builder.
15.6.1 If either Owner or Design-Builder institutes or has instituted against it a case under
the United States Bankruptcy Code (such Party being referred to as the “Bankrupt
Party”), such event may impair or frustrate the Bankrupt Party’s ability to perform its
obligations under the Contract Documents. Accordingly, should such event occur:
(a) | The Bankrupt Party, its trustee or other successor, shall furnish, upon request of the non-Bankrupt Party, adequate assurance of the ability of the Bankrupt Party to |
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perform all future obligations under the Contract Documents, which assurances shall be provided within ten (10) Days after receiving notice of the request; and | |||
(b) | The Bankrupt Party shall file an appropriate action within the bankruptcy court to seek assumption or rejection of the Agreement within sixty (60) Days of the institution of the bankruptcy filing and shall diligently prosecute such action. |
15.6.2 If the Bankrupt Party fails to comply with its foregoing obligations, the non-Bankrupt
Party shall be entitled to request the bankruptcy court to reject the Agreement, declare the
Agreement terminated and pursue any other recourse available to the non-Bankrupt Party under this
Article 15.
15.6.3 The rights and remedies under this Section 15.6 shall not be deemed to limit the
ability of the non-Bankrupt Party to seek any other rights and remedies provided by the Contract
Documents or by Law, including its ability to seek relief from any automatic stays under the United
States Bankruptcy Code or the right of Design-Builder to stop Work under any applicable provision
of this Agreement.
15.7 Lenders’ Right to Cure. At any time after the occurrence of any event set forth in Section
15.4.1 or Section 15.5.1, but within the timeframes set forth therein, the Lenders shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to cure such default on behalf of Owner.
Article 16
Representatives of the Parties
16.1 Designation of Owner’s Representatives. Owner designates the individual listed below as its
senior representative (“Owner’s Senior Representative”), which individual has the authority
and responsibility for avoiding and resolving disputes under Article 19:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Chairman of the Board
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Chairman of the Board
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Owner designates the individual listed below as its representative (“Owner’s
Representative”), which individual has the authority and responsibility set forth in Section
4.4:
Xxxx Xxxxx
CEO
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
CEO
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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16.2 Designation of Design-Builder’s Representatives. Design-Builder designates the individual
listed below as its senior representative (“Design-Builder’s Senior Representative”), which
individual has the authority and responsibility for avoiding and resolving disputes under Article
19:
Xxxxxx “Xxx” Xxxxx
CEO and President
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Design-Builder designates the individual listed below as its representative
(“Design-Builder’s Representative”), which individual has the authority and
responsibility set forth in Section 3.1:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Chief Operating Officer
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Article 17
Insurance
17.1 Insurance. Design-Builder shall procure and maintain in force through the Final Completion
Date the following insurance coverages with the policy limits indicated, and otherwise in
compliance with the provisions of this Agreement:
Commercial General Liability: |
||||
General Aggregate
|
||||
Products-Comp/Op AGG |
$ | 2,000,000 | ||
Personal & Adv Injury |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Each Occurrence |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Fire Damage (Any one fire) |
$ | 50,000 | ||
Med Exp (Any one person) |
$ | 5,000 | ||
Automobile Liability: |
||||
Combined Single Limit |
||||
Each Occurrence |
$ | 1,000,000 |
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Excess Liability – Umbrella Form: |
||||
Each Occurrence |
$ | 20,000,000 | ||
Aggregate |
$ | 20,000,000 | ||
Workers’ Compensation |
||||
Statutory limits as required by the state in which the Work is performed. | ||||
Employers’ Liability: |
||||
Each Accident |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Disease-Policy Limit |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Disease-Each Employee |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Professional Errors and Omissions |
||||
Per Claim |
$ | 5,000,000 | ||
Annual |
$ | 5,000,000 |
17.2 Design-Builder’s Insurance Requirements.
17.2.1 Design-Builder is responsible for procuring and maintaining from insurance companies
authorized to do business in the state in which the Project is located, the following insurance
coverages for certain claims which may arise from or out of the performance of the Work and
obligations under the Contract Documents:
(a) | coverage for claims arising under workers’ compensation, disability and other similar employee benefit Laws applicable to the Work; | ||
(b) | coverage for claims by Design-Builder’s employees for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death; | ||
(c) | coverage for claims by any person other than Design-Builder’s employees for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death; | ||
(d) | coverage for usual personal injury liability claims for damages sustained by a person as a direct or indirect result of Design-Builder’s employment of the person, or sustained by any other person; | ||
(e) | coverage for claims for damages (other than to the Work) because of injury to or destruction of tangible property, including loss of use; | ||
(f) | coverage for claims of damages because of personal injury or death, or property damage resulting from ownership, use and maintenance of any motor vehicle; and | ||
(g) | coverage for contractual liability claims arising out of Design-Builder’s obligations under Section 14.2. |
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17.2.2 Design-Builder’s liability insurance required by this Section 17.2 shall be written for
the coverage amounts set forth in Section 17.1 and shall include completed operations insurance.
17.2.3 Design-Builder’s liability insurance set forth in Sections 17.2.1 (a) through (g) above
shall specifically delete any design-build or similar exclusions that could compromise coverages
because of the design-build delivery of the Project.
17.2.4 To the extent Owner requires Design-Builder or any Design Consultant to provide
professional liability insurance for claims arising from the negligent performance of design
services by Design-Builder or the Design Consultant, the coverage limits, duration and other
specifics of such insurance shall be as set forth in the Agreement. Any professional liability
shall specifically delete any design-build or similar exclusions that could compromise coverages
because of the design-build delivery of the Project. Such policies shall be provided prior to the
commencement of any design services hereunder.
17.2.5 Prior to commencing any construction services hereunder, Design-Builder shall provide
Owner with certificates evidencing that (i) all insurance obligations required by the Contract
Documents are in full force and in effect and will remain in effect for the duration required by
the Contract Documents and (ii) no insurance coverage required hereunder will be canceled, renewal
refused, or changed unless at least thirty (30) Days prior written notice is given to Owner.
17.3 Owner’s Liability Insurance. Owner shall procure and maintain from insurance companies
authorized to do business in the state in which the Project is located such liability insurance to
protect Owner from claims which may arise from the performance of Owner’s obligations under the
Contract Documents or Owner’s conduct during the course of the Project. The general and
professional liability insurance obtained by Owner shall name Design-Builder, the Lenders and
Lenders’ Agent as additional insureds, and shall include the interests of such parties and of
Design Consultants and Subcontractors without application of deductible, retention or retrospective
premiums as to the additional insureds, Design Consultants, and Subcontractors.
17.4 Owner’s Property Insurance.
17.4.1 Unless otherwise provided in the Contract Documents, Owner shall procure from insurance
companies authorized to do business in the state in which the Project is located, and maintain
through Final Completion, property insurance upon the entire Project in a minimum amount equal to
the full insurable value of the Project, including professional fees, overtime premiums and all
other expenses incurred to replace or repair the insured property. The property insurance obtained
by Owner shall include as additional insureds the interests of Owner, Design-Builder, the Lenders
and Lenders’ Agent, shall include the interests of such additional insureds and Design Consultants
and Subcontractors, and shall insure against the perils of fire and extended coverage, theft,
vandalism, malicious mischief, collapse, flood, earthquake, debris removal and other perils or
causes of loss as called for in the Contract Documents and without application of any deductible,
retention or retrospective premium with respect to such additional insureds, Design Consultants,
and Subcontractors. Owner shall maintain coverage equal to or in excess of the value of each of
Design-Builder’s, Design Consultants’, and Subcontractors’ property on the Site. The property
insurance shall include physical loss or damage to the Work,
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including materials and equipment in
transit, at the Site or at another location as may be indicated in Design-Builder’s Application for
Payment and approved by Owner.
17.4.2 Unless the Contract Documents provide otherwise, Owner shall procure and maintain
boiler and machinery insurance that will include as additional insureds the Owner and
Design-Builder, and shall include the interests of the additional insureds, Design Consultants, and
Subcontractors, in an amount not less than Contract Price and without application of any
deductible, retention or retrospective premium as to the additional insureds, Design Consultants,
and Subcontractors. Owner shall maintain coverage equal to or in excess of the value of each of
Design-Builder’s, Design Consultants’, and Subcontractors’ interest or investment in boiler or
machinery equipment on the Site.
17.4.3 Prior to Design-Builder commencing any Work, Owner shall obtain a builder’s risk
insurance policy naming Owner as the insured, with Design-Builder as additional insured, and
including the interests of the insured, additional insured, Design Consultants, and Subcontractors,
in an amount not less than the Contract Price and without application of deductible, retention or
retrospective premium as to the additional insured, Design Consultants or Subcontractors.
17.4.4 Owner shall also obtain, prior to Design-Builder commencing any Work, terrorism
coverage as described by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-297, 116 Stat.
2322 (2002), as extended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-144
(2005), or any successor act or renewing act for the period during which the Terrorism Risk
Insurance Act or any successor act or renewing act is in effect.
17.4.5 Prior to Design-Builder commencing any Work, Owner shall provide Design-Builder with
copies of the insurance certificates reflecting coverages required under this Section 17.4
evidencing that (i) all Owner’s insurance obligations required by the Contract Documents are in
full force and in effect and will remain in effect until Design-Builder has completed all of the
Work and has received Final Payment from Owner, and (ii) no insurance coverage will be canceled,
renewal refused, or changed unless at least thirty (30) Days prior written notice is given to
Design-Builder. Owner’s property insurance shall not lapse or be cancelled during the term of this
Agreement. Promptly after Owner’s receipt thereof, Owner shall be required to provide
Design-Builder with copies of all insurance policies to which
Design-Builder, Design Consultants, and Subcontractors are named as additional insureds. In
the event Owner replaces insurance providers for any policy required under this Section, revises
policy coverages, or otherwise modifies any applicable insurance policy in any way, Owner shall
provide Design-Builder, for its review or possession as provided under this Section 17.4.5, the
certificate of insurance and a copy of such new, revised or modified policy when available.
17.4.6 Any loss covered under Owner’s property insurance shall be adjusted with Owner and
Design-Builder and made payable to both of them as trustees for the insureds as their interests may
appear, subject to any applicable mortgage clause. All insurance proceeds received as a result of
any loss will be placed in a separate account and distributed in accordance with such agreement as
the interested parties may reach. Any disagreement concerning the distribution of any proceeds
will be resolved in accordance with Article 19 hereof.
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17.4.7 Owner and Design-Builder waive against each other and Owner’s separate contracts,
Design Consultants, Subcontractors, agents and employees of each and all of them all damages
covered by property insurance provided herein, except such rights as they may have to the proceeds
of such insurance. Design-Builder and Owner shall, where appropriate, require similar waivers of
subrogation from Owner’s separate contractors, Design Consultants Subcontractors, and insurance
providers and shall require each of them to include similar waivers in their contracts or policies.
Article 18
Representations and Warranties
18.1 Design-Builder and Owner Representations and Warranties. Each of Design-Builder and Owner
represents that:
(a) | it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; | ||
(b) | this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditor’s rights or by general equitable principles; | ||
(c) | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not conflict with or violate (a) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such Party, or (b) any Law applicable to such Party and other than the permits listed on Exhibit G, such execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not require any Governmental Approval; and | ||
(d) | there is no action pending or, to the knowledge of such Party, threatened, which would hinder, modify, delay or otherwise adversely affect such Party’s ability to perform its obligations under the Contract Documents. |
18.2 Design-Builder Representations and Warranties. Design-Builder further represents that it has
the necessary financial resources to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
Article 19
Dispute Resolution
19.1 Dispute Avoidance and Mediation. The Parties are fully committed to working with each other
throughout the Project and agree to communicate regularly with each other at all times so as to
avoid or minimize disputes or disagreements. If disputes or disagreements do
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arise, Design-Builder
and Owner each commit to resolving such disputes or disagreements in an amicable, professional and
expeditious manner so as to avoid unnecessary losses, delays and disruptions to the Work.
Design-Builder and Owner will first attempt to resolve disputes or disagreements at the field level
through discussions between Design-Builder’s Representative and Owner’s Representative.
If a dispute or disagreement cannot be resolved through Design-Builder’s Representative and Owner’s
Representative, Design-Builder’s Senior Representative and Owner’s Senior Representative, upon the
request of either Party, shall meet as soon as conveniently possible, but in no case later than
thirty (30) Days after such a request is made, to attempt to resolve such dispute or disagreement.
Prior to any meetings between the Senior Representatives, the Parties will exchange relevant
information that will assist the Parties in resolving their dispute or disagreement.
If, after meeting, the Senior Representatives determine that the dispute or disagreement cannot be
resolved on terms satisfactory to both Parties, the Parties shall submit the dispute or
disagreement to non-binding mediation. The mediation shall be conducted in Minneapolis, Minnesota
by a mutually agreeable impartial mediator or, if the Parties cannot so agree, a mediator
designated by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) pursuant to its Construction
Industry Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures. The mediation will be governed by and
conducted pursuant to a mediation agreement negotiated by the Parties or, if the Parties cannot so
agree, by procedures established by the mediator.
19.2 Arbitration. Any claims, disputes or controversies between the Parties arising out of or
relating to the Agreement, or the breach thereof, which have not been resolved in accordance with
the procedures set forth in Section 19.1 above shall be decided by arbitration to be conducted in
Minneapolis, Minnesota in accordance with the Construction Industry Arbitration Rules and Mediation
Procedures of the AAA then in effect, unless the Parties mutually agree otherwise.
The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon the Parties without the right of
appeal to the courts. Judgment may be entered upon it in accordance with Applicable Law by any
court having jurisdiction thereof.
Design-Builder and Owner expressly agree that any arbitration pursuant to this Section 19.2 may be
joined or consolidated with any arbitration involving any other person or entity (i) necessary to
resolve the claim, dispute or controversy, or (ii) substantially involved in or affected by such
claim, dispute or controversy. Both Design-Builder and Owner will include appropriate provisions
in all contracts they execute with other parties in connection with the Project to require such
joinder or consolidation.
The prevailing Party in any arbitration, or any other final, binding dispute proceeding upon which
the Parties may agree, shall be entitled to recover from the other Party reasonable attorneys’ fees
and expenses incurred by the prevailing Party.
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19.3 Duty to Continue Performance. Unless provided to the contrary in the Contract Documents,
Design-Builder shall continue to perform the Work and Owner shall continue to satisfy its payment
obligations to Design-Builder, pending the final resolution of any dispute or disagreement between
Design-Builder and Owner.
19.4 No Consequential Damages.
19.4.1 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (except as set forth in Section 19.4.2
below), neither Design-Builder nor Owner shall be liable to the other for any consequential losses
or damages, whether arising in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability or
otherwise, including but not limited to, losses of use, profits, business, reputation or financing,
except that Design-Builder does not waive any such damages resulting from or arising out of any
breach of Owner’s duties and obligations under the limited license granted by Design-Builder to
Owner pursuant to Article 5.
19.4.2 The consequential damages limitation set forth in Section 19.4.1 above is not intended
to affect the payment of liquidated damages, if any, set forth in Section 7.3 of the Agreement,
which both Parties recognize has been established, in part, to reimburse Owner for some damages
that might otherwise be deemed to be consequential.
19.5 Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, the
aggregate liability of Design-Builder, its Subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, agents and
employees, to Owner (or any successor thereto or assignee thereof) for any and all claims and/or
liabilities arising out of or relating in any manner to the Work or to Design-Builder’s performance
or non-performance of its obligations hereunder, whether based in contract, tort (including
negligence), strict liability, or otherwise, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the Contract Price
and shall be reduced, upon the issuance of each Application for Payment, by seventy-five percent
(75%) of the total value of such Application for Payment; provided, however, that upon the earlier
of Substantial Completion or such point in time requests for payment pursuant to Article 10 have
been made for
ninety percent (90%) of the Contract Price, Design-Builder’s aggregate liability shall be limited
to the greater of (1) Ten Percent (10%) of the Contract Price or (2) the amount of insurance
coverage available to respond to the claim or liability under any policy of insurance provided by
Design-Builder under this Agreement. The aggregate liability of Design-Builder shall not include
increased costs of purchasing equipment, materials, supplies, or services, except to the extent
Owner has terminated the Agreement pursuant to Section 15.2 and such equipment, materials,
supplies, and services are required to complete the Work or to the extent that any of such
equipment, materials, supplies, and services may be included in the payment of liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum aggregate liability of
Design-Builder for failure to achieve the Contract Time(s) shall be as set forth in Section 7.3.
Article 20
Confidentiality of Shared Information
20.1 Non-Disclosure Obligation. Except as required by court order, subpoena, or Applicable Law,
the Parties will hold in confidence, and will use only for the purposes of
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44
completing the Project,
any and all Confidential Information disclosed to each other. Neither Party shall disclose to
third parties any Confidential Information without the express written consent of the other Party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Parties shall at all times use their
respective reasonable efforts to keep all Confidential Information and information regarding the
terms and conditions of this Agreement confidential. However, the Parties may disclose
Confidential Information to their respective lenders, lenders’ agents, advisors and/or consultants
only as reasonably necessary in connection with the financing of the Plant or to enable them to
advise the Parties with regard to the Contract Documents and the Project, provided that prior to
such disclosure any party to whom Confidential Information is disclosed is informed by the
disclosing Party of the existence of this confidentiality obligation and agrees to be obligated to
maintain the confidentiality of any information received. The term “Confidential
Information” will mean (i) confidential or proprietary information regarding the other Party’s
business affairs, finances, technology, processes, plans or installations, product information,
know-how, or other information that is received from the other Party pursuant to this Agreement or
the Parties’ relationship prior thereto or is developed pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) any and
all information concerning the Contract Documents, the Agreement, or the terms thereof, and (iii)
all information which one Party, directly or indirectly, may acquire from another Party; however,
Confidential Information will not include information falling into any of the following categories:
(a) | information that, at the time of disclosure hereunder, is in the public domain; | ||
(b) | information that, after disclosure hereunder, enters the public domain other than by breach of this Agreement or the obligation of confidentiality; | ||
(c) | information that, prior to disclosure hereunder, was already in the recipient’s possession, either without limitation on disclosure to others or subsequently becoming free of such limitation; | ||
(d) | information obtained by the recipient from a third party having an independent right to disclose this information; and | ||
(e) | information that is available through discovery by independent research without use of or access to the Confidential Information acquired from the other Party; and | ||
(f) | photographs and descriptive information regarding the Project, including Plant capacity, Owner’s name, and Project location, as used by Xxxxx for purposes of marketing and promotion. |
Each Party’s obligation to maintain Confidential Information in confidence will be deemed performed
if such Party observes with respect thereto the same safeguards and precautions which such Party
observes with respect to its own Confidential Information of the same or similar kind. It will not
be deemed to be a breach of the obligation to maintain Confidential Information in confidence if
Confidential Information is disclosed upon the order of a court or other authorized Governmental
Authority, or pursuant to other Legal Requirements. However, if Owner is required to file the
Contract Documents or a portion thereof with a Governmental Authority, it
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45
agrees that it will not
do so without first informing Design-Builder of the requirement and seeking confidential treatment
of the Contract Documents prior to filing the documents or a portion thereof.
20.2 Publicity and Advertising. Owner shall not make or permit any of its subcontractors, agents,
or vendors to make any external announcement or publication, release any photographs or information
concerning the Project or any part thereof, or make any other type of communication to any member
of the public, press, business entity, or any official body which names Xxxxx unless prior written
consent is obtained from Xxxxx, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
20.3 Term of Obligation. The confidentiality obligations of the Parties pursuant to this Article
20 shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Agreement for a period of five (5)
years.
Article 21
Miscellaneous
21.1 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of, and may be
performed by, the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties, except that neither
Design-Builder nor Owner shall, without the written consent of the other, assign or transfer this
Agreement or any of the Contract Documents. Design-Builder’s subcontracting portions of the Work
in accordance with this Agreement shall not be deemed to be an assignment of this Agreement. Owner
may assign all of its rights and obligations under the Contract Documents to its Lenders or
Lenders’ Agent
as collateral security in connection with Owner obtaining or arranging any financing for the
Project; provided, however, Owner shall deliver, at least ten (10) Days prior to any such
assignment, to Design-Builder (i) written notice of such assignment and (ii) a copy of the
instrument of assignment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Design-Builder, whose
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Lenders or Lenders’ Agent may assign the Contract
Documents or their rights under the Contract Documents, including without limitation in connection
with any foreclosure or other enforcement of their security interest. Design-Builder shall
execute, if requested, a consent to assignment for the benefit of the Lenders and/or the Lenders’
Agent in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Design-Builder, which form is attached hereto
as Exhibit O, provided that with respect to any such assignments such assignee demonstrates to
Design-Builder’s satisfaction that it has the capability to fulfill Owner’s obligations under this
Agreement.
21.2 Successors. Design-Builder and Owner intend that the provisions of the Contract Documents are
binding upon the Parties, their employees, agents, heirs, successors and assigns.
21.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with, the substantive laws of the state of Minnesota, without regard to the conflict of laws
provisions thereof.
21.4 Severability. If any provision or any part of a provision of the Contract Documents shall be
finally determined to be superseded, invalid, illegal, or otherwise
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46
unenforceable pursuant to any
applicable Legal Requirements, such determination shall not impair or otherwise affect the
validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provision or parts of the provision of the
Contract Documents, which shall remain in full force and effect as if the unenforceable provision
or part were deleted.
21.5 No Waiver. The failure of either Design-Builder or Owner to insist, in any one (1) or more
instances, on the performance of any of the obligations required by the other under the Contract
Documents shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of such obligation or right with
respect to future performance.
21.6 Headings. The table of contents and the headings used in this Agreement or any other Contract
Document, are for ease of reference only and shall not in any way be construed to limit, define,
extend, describe, alter, or otherwise affect the scope or the meaning of any provision of this
Agreement.
21.7 Notice.
Whenever the Contract Documents require that notice be provided to a Party, notice shall be
delivered in writing to such Party at the address listed below. Notice will be deemed to have been
validly given if delivered (i) in person to the individual intended to receive such notice, (ii) by
registered or by certified mail, postage prepaid to the address indicated in the Agreement within
four (4) Days after being sent, or (iii) by facsimile, by the time stated in a machine-generated
confirmation that notice was received at the facsimile number of the intended recipient.
If to Design-Builder, to:
Xxxxx, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxx, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
and to:
Xxxxx, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000
P. O. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
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47
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to Owner, to:
First United Ethanol, LLC
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
and
Lender’s Agent at the address provided for Lender’s Agent to Design-Builder by Owner
by notice within five (5) Days following the Financial Closing.
21.8 No Privity with Design Consultant/Subcontractors. Nothing in the Contract Documents is
intended or deemed to create any legal or contractual relationship between Owner and any Design
Consultant or Subcontractor.
21.9 Amendments. The Contract Documents may not be changed, altered, or amended in any way except
in writing signed by a duly authorized representative of each Party.
21.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement consists of the terms and conditions set forth herein, as
well as the Exhibits hereto, which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof.
This Agreement sets forth the full and complete understanding of the Parties as of the Effective
Date with respect to the subject matter hereof.
21.11 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement is intended
to be solely for the benefit of the Owner, the Design-Builder and permitted assigns, and is not
intended to and shall not confer any rights or benefits on any person not a signatory hereto.
21.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same Agreement,
and may be executed and delivered by facsimile signature, which shall be considered an original.
21.13 Survival. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Work Product
provisions set forth in Article 5 and the indemnity obligations set forth herein shall survive (in
full force and effect) the expiration or termination of this Agreement and shall continue to apply
to the Parties to this Agreement even after termination of this Agreement or the transfer of such
Party’s interest in this Agreement.
[The next page is the signature page.]
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48
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused their names to be hereunto subscribed by
their officers thereunto duly authorized, intending thereby that this Agreement shall be effective
as of this November 16, 2006.
OWNER:
|
DESIGN-BUILDER: | |||||
First United Ethanol, LLC
|
Xxxxx, Inc. | |||||
(Name of Owner)
|
(Name of Design-Builder) | |||||
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||||
(Signature)
|
(Signature) | |||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
Xxxxxx “Xxx” Xxxxx |
|||||
(Printed Name)
|
(Printed Name) | |||||
CEO
|
CEO and President |
|||||
(Title)
|
(Title) | |||||
Date: November 16, 2006
|
Date: 11/17/06 |
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49
EXHIBIT A
Performance Guarantee Criteria
Criteria | Specification | Testing Statement | Documentation | |||
Plant Capacity – fuel grade ethanol |
Operate at a rate of 100 million gallons per year of denatured fuel grade ethanol meeting the specifications of ASTM 4806 based on 353 days of operation per calendar year and 4.76% denaturant. | Seven day performance test |
Production records and written report by Design-Builder. | |||
Corn to Ethanol
Conversion ratio;
[*]
|
Not be less than 2.80 denatured gallons of ethanol per bushel (56#) of corn | As determined by meter readings during a seven day performance test. | Production records and written analysis by Design-Builder. | |||
Electrical Energy
|
0.75 kWh per denatured gallon of fuel grade ethanol [*] | As determined by meter readings during a seven day performance test. | Production records and written analysis by Design-Builder. | |||
Natural Gas
|
Shall not exceed 34,000 Btu per denatured gallon of fuel grade ethanol. (This Performance Criteria relates to production of ethanol and excludes any natural gas usage that may occur for drying corn.) | As determined by meter readings during a seven day performance test. | Production records and written analysis by Design-Builder. |
* | Portion omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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A-1
Process Water
Discharge (not
including cooling
tower and boiler
blowdown and water
pre-treatment (RO)
discharge)
|
Zero gallons under normal operations. | Process discharge meter. | Control System reports. | |||
Air Emissions
|
Must meet the requirements prescribed as of the date hereof by the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch. | Must meet the requirements as prescribed in the Air Permit Application and attached comments attached as Exhibit K. | Written report by Owner’s Air Emission Tester. |
As part of the Performance Guarantee Criteria the Plant shall operate in accordance with all Legal
Requirements.
DISCLAIMER:
Owner’s failure to materially comply with the operating procedures issued by ICM, Inc./Xxxxx, Inc.
shall void all performance guaranties and warranties set forth in this Design-Build Agreement.
Owner understands that the startup of the plant requires resources and cooperation of the Owner,
vendors and other suppliers to the project. Design-Builder disclaims any liability and Owner
indemnifies Design-Builder for non-attainment of the Performance Guarantee Criteria directly or
indirectly caused by material non-performance or negligence of third parties not retained by
Design-Builder.
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A-2
EXHIBIT B
General Project Scope
Construct a one hundred (100) million gallon per year (MGY) dry mill fuel ethanol plant near
Camilla, Georgia. The plant will grind approximately 35.8 million bushels of corn per year to
produce approximately 100 MGY of denatured fuel ethanol. The plant will also produce approximately
321,000 tons per year of 11% moisture dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), and
approximately 285,700 tons per year of raw carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.
Delivered corn will be dumped in the receiving building. The receiving building will have two
truck grain receiving bays and a rail receiving bay, including an underground conveyor from the
rail pit to the second truck receiving bay both of which share a common receiving leg. The truck
driver will drive onto one of two pitless scales located near the administration building, be
weighed and sampled, then drive to the receiving building, dump the grain, then proceed back to one
of two pitless scales and obtain a final weight ticket from the scale operator. Two independent
30,000 — bushel legs will lift the corn to one of five 500,000 – bushel concrete storage bins. The
two 30,000-bushel per hour legs can be operated in parallel making the rail unloading system
capable of removing corn from the unloading pit(s) at a rate of up to 60,000 bushels per hour. A
dust collection system will be installed on the grain receiving system to limit particulate
emissions as described in the Air Quality Permit application.
Ground corn will be mixed in a slurry tank, routed through a pressure vessel and steam flashed off
in a flash vessel. Cooked mash will continue through liquefaction tanks and into one of the
fermenters. Simultaneously, propagated yeast will be added to the mash as the fermenter is
filling. After batch fermentation is complete, the beer will be pumped to the beer well and then
to the beer column to vaporize the alcohol from the mash.
Alcohol streams are dehydrated in the rectifier column, the side stripper and the molecular sieve
system. Two hundred proof alcohol is pumped to the tank farm day tank and blended with five
percent natural gasoline as the product is being pumped into one of two 1,500,000 gallon final
storage tanks. Loading facilities for truck and rail cars will be provided. Tank farm tanks
include: one tank for 190 proof storage, one tank for 200 proof storage, one tank for denaturant
storage and two 1,500,000 gallon tanks for denatured ethanol storage.
Corn mash from the beer stripper is dewatered in the centrifuge(s). Wet cake from the
centrifuge(s) is conveyed to the DDGS dryer system. Wet cake is conveyed from the centrifuges to
the dryer(s) where the water is removed from the cake and the product is dried to 11% moisture. A
modified wet or wet cake pad is located along side the DDGS dryer building to divert modified wet
or wet cake to the pad when necessary or for limited production of modified wet or wet cake for
sales. Water in the thin stillage is evaporated and recycled by the Bio-Methanation system. Syrup
is added to the wet cake entering the dryer(s). DDGS is cooled and conveyed to flat storage in the
DDGS storage building. Shipping is accomplished by scooping and pushing the product with a
front-end loader into an in-floor conveyor system. The DDGS load out pit has capacity for
approximately one semi-trailer load. DDGS is weighed as it is loaded for shipment through a
bulk-weigh system.
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Fresh water for the boilers, cooking, cooling tower and other processes will be obtained from the
Owner supplied water pretreatment system. Boiler water conditioned in regenerative softeners will
be pumped through a deaerator scrubber and into a deaerator tank. Appropriate boiler chemicals
will be added as preheated water is sent to the boiler.
Steam energy will be provided by two Thermal Oxidizer (TO) driven boiler systems utilizing a high
percentage of condensate return to a condensate receiver tank.
The TO/Heat Recovery Steam Generator is a process used to thermally oxidize the exhaust gasses from
the Dryers. This process will be used to reduce VOCs and particulates that are in the dryer
exhaust and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The energy required to complete
thermal oxidization will then be ducted to a waste heat boiler that will produce 100% of the steam
requirements of the ethanol plant. The exhaust gasses from the waste heat boiler will be ducted
through stack gas economizer(s) to recover the maximum amount of energy possible from the exhaust
gas stream. After the economizer(s), the gas stream will be vented to atmosphere through a stack.
The process will be cooled by circulating water through heat exchangers, a chiller, and a cooling
tower.
The design includes a compressed air system consisting of air compressor(s), a receiver tank,
pre-filter, coalescing filter, and double air dryer(s).
The design also incorporates the use of a clean-in-place (CIP) system for cleaning xxxx,
fermentation, distillation, evaporation, centrifuges, and other systems. Fifty percent caustic
soda is received by truck and stored in a tank.
Under normal operating circumstances, the plant will not have any wastewater discharges that have
been in contact with corn, corn mash, cleaning system, or contact process water. An ICM/Phoenix
Bio-Methanator will reduce the BOD in process water allowing complete reuse within the plant. The
plant will have blowdown discharges from the cooling tower and may have water discharge from any
water pre-treatment processes. Owner shall provide on-site connection to sanitary sewer or septic
system.
Most plant processes are computer controlled by a Siemens/Xxxxx APACS distributed control system
with graphical user interface and three workstations. The control room control console will have
dual monitors to facilitate operator interface between two graphics screens at the same time.
Additional programmable logic controllers (PLCs) will control certain process equipment.
Design-Builder provides lab equipment.
The cooking system requires the use of anhydrous ammonia, and other systems require the use of
sulfuric acid. Therefore, a storage tank for ammonia and a storage tank for acid will be on site
to provide the quantities necessary. The ammonia storage requires that plant management implement
and enforce a Process Safety Management (PSM) program. The plant design may require additional
programs to ensure safety and to satisfy regulatory authorities.
NOTE: This Exhibit B is a general description of the Plant’s basic design and operation only. It
is not intended to be the final Project scope or to establish the final specifications. The final
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B-2
design of the Plant, including equipment incorporated, and equipment specifications will be
reflected in the As Built Plans.
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B-3
EXHIBIT C
Owner’s Responsibilities
The Owner shall perform and provide the permits, authorizations, services and construction as
specifically described hereafter:
1) | Land and Grading — Owner shall provide a site near Camilla, Georgia. Owner shall obtain all legal authority to use the site for its intended purpose and perform technical due diligence to allow Design-Builder to perform including, but not limited to, proper zoning approvals, building permits, elevation restrictions, soil tests, and water tests. The site shall be rough graded per Design-Builder specifications and be +/- three inches of final grade including the rough grading for Site roadways. The site soils shall be modified as required to provide a minimum allowable soil bearing pressure as described in Table 1. | |
Other items to be provided by the Owner include, but are not limited to, the following: initial site survey (boundary and topographic) as required by the Design-Builder, layout of the property corners including two construction benchmarks, Soil Borings and subsequent Geotechnical Report describing recommendation for Roads, foundations and if required, soil stabilization/remediation, land disturbance permit, erosion control permit, site grading as described above with minimum soil standards, placement of erosion control measures, plant access road from a county, state or federal road designed to meet local county road standards, plant storm and sanitary sewers, fire water system with hydrants and plant water main branches taken from the system to be within five feet of the designated building locations, all tanks, motors and other equipment associated with or necessary to operate the fire water loop and associated systems, plant roads as specified and designed for the permanent elevations and effective depth, spill containment and drainage systems from both rail and truck loading spots into the tank farm or other location, “construction” grading plan as drawn (including site retention pond), plant water well and associated permit(s). The Owner shall provide for Design-Builder aggregate covered areas for construction trailers and parking along with adequate aggregate covered area or areas for material laydown purposes. The recommended aggregate specifications shall be as specified by the Owner’s geotechnical engineer. Owner shall also provide the final grading, seeding, and mulching, and the site fencing at the site. | ||
Owner is encouraged to obtain preliminary designs/information and estimates of the cost of performing all Owner required permits and services as stated in this Exhibit C. Specifically, the cost of the fire water systems (including associated fire water pumps, required tank, building (if required), sprinklers, and all other equipment and materials associated with the fire water delivery systems) is estimated being in excess of $2,000,000. The requirements of each state and the decisions of each Owner will increase or decrease the actual cost. Additionally, the cost of the required soil stabilization in Table 1 can be in the range of, or may exceed, $2.5MM which cost is not included in the Contract Price. Owner shall prepare site according to Design-Builder’s engineering plans provided for the site work under the Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement. |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-1
2) | Permits — Owner shall obtain all Operating Permits including, but not limited to, air quality permits, in a timely manner to allow construction and startup of the plant as scheduled by Design-Builder. | |
3) | Storm Water Runoff Permit – Owner shall obtain the construction storm-water runoff permit, permanent storm-water runoff permit, and erosion control/land disturbance permit. | |
4) | Georgia Pollutant Elimination Discharge Permit – Owner shall obtain a permit to discharge cooling tower water, boiler blowdown water, reverse osmosis (“R.O.”) reject water, and any other waste water directly to a designated waterway or other location. If required by item 9 below, Owner will secure appropriate permits for emergency process water discharges. | |
5) | Natural Gas Supply and Service Agreement – Continuous supply of natural gas of at least 3.2 billion cubic feet per year, at a minimum rate of 450 — 550 MCF per hour and at a minimum pressure of 75 – 200 psi at the plant site. Pressure reducing stations must be located so as to provide stable pressure at the point of use. Owner shall provide all gas piping to the use points and supply meters and regulators to provide burner tip pressures as specified by Design-Builder. Owner shall also supply a digital flowmeter on-site with appropriate output for monitoring by the plant’s computer control system. | |
6) | Temporary Electrical Service – Owner shall secure electrical service to supply a minimum 750 KW of 3-phase, 480/277 volt electrical power during construction. Owner shall procure, install, and maintain temporary service to up to three 3-phase, 480/277 volt temporary service transformers located throughout the site. The transformer sizing, locations, and underground electrical feed routing layout are to be determined jointly by the Owner, the Design-Builder and the energy supplier. Design-Builder shall pay energy demand and usage charges up to Substantial Completion. | |
7) | Permanent Electrical Service – (1) Owner is responsible to secure continuous service from an energy supplier to serve the facility. The service from the energy supplier shall be of sufficient size to provide at a minimum 12.5 MW of electrical capacity to the site. (2) The Owner is responsible for procurement, installation and maintenance of the site supply and distribution system, including but not limited to the required substation and all associated distribution lines. An on-site digital meter is also to be supplied for monitoring of electrical usage. (3) The responsibility of the Design-Builder starts at the secondary electrical terminals of the site distribution system transformers that have been installed by Owner (i.e., the 480 volt terminals for the process building transformers; the 480 volt terminals for the energy center transformers; the 480 volt terminals for the grains transformer; the 480 volt terminals for the pumphouse transformer; and the 4160 volt terminals for the chiller transformer; and the 4160 volt terminals of the thermal oxidizer transformer). (4) The site distribution system requirements, layout, and meters are to be determined jointly by the Owner, the Design-Builder and the energy supplier. | |
Design-Builder will be providing soft start motor controllers for all motors greater than 150 horsepower and where demanded by process requirements. Owner is encouraged to discuss |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-2
with its electrical supplier whether additional soft start motor controllers are advisable for this facility and such can be added, with any increased cost being an Owner’s cost. | ||
Design-Builder will provide power factor correction to 0.92 lagging at plant nameplate capacity. Owner is encouraged to discuss with its electrical service supplier any requirements for power factor correction above 0.92 lagging. Additional power factor correction can be added with any increased cost being an Owner’s cost. | ||
8) | Water Supply, Service Agreement, and Pre-Treatment System – Owner shall supply on-site process xxxxx or other water source that is capable of providing a quantity of raw water satisfying the needs of the Plant. Owner should consider providing a redundant water supply source. Owner will supply one process fresh water supply line terminating within five (5) feet of the point of entry designated by Design-Builder, and one potable supply line terminating within five (5) feet of the process building and to the administration building at a point of entry designated by administration building contractor. | |
Owner shall pay for a water pre-treatment system to be designed and constructed by Design-Builder and to be integrated into the Plant. The pre-treatment system will be designed to provide the Plant with the quantity and quality of raw and treated water needed to supply the Plant’s process needs. Owner shall maintain and use the water pre-treatment system, including the use of all chemicals specified for the operation of such water pre-treatment system, for the entirety of the warranty period set forth in the Design-Build agreement as such may be extended in accordance therewith. Owner’s failure to maintain and to properly use such water pre-treatment system for the warranty period set forth in the Design-Build Agreement shall void any and all warranties affected by such failure. The pre-treatment system shall be supplied by a vendor selected and approved by Design-Builder and shall meet specifications and designs approved by Design-Builder. The water pre-treatment system design will be required to meet the discharge requirements under the Plant’s wastewater discharge permit. Owner shall execute side-letter agreements with Design-Builder as necessary for the design and construction of such water pre-treatment system. Design-Builder shall recover costs for the design and construction of such system from the Owner at Design-Builder’s standard time plus material rates during the relevant time period and at the relevant locale. | ||
9) | Wastewater Discharge System, Permits and/or Service Agreement – Owner to provide discharge piping, septic tank and drainfield system or connect to municipal system as required for the sanitary sewer requirements of the Plant. These provisions shall comply with all federal, state, and local regulations, including any permitting issues. | |
10) | Roads and Utilities – Owner shall provide and maintain the ditches and permanent roads, including the gravel, pavement or concrete, with the roads passing standard compaction tests. (Design-Builder will maintain aggregate construction roads during construction of the Plant and will return to original pre-construction condition prior to Owner completing final grade and surfacing.) |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-3
Except as otherwise specifically stated herein the Owner shall install all utilities so that they are within five (5) feet of the designated building/structure locations. | ||
11) | Administration Building – The administration building – one story free standing, office computer system, telephone system, office copier and fax machine and office furniture and any other office equipment and personal property for the administration building shall be the sole and absolute cost and responsibility of Owner and Design-Builder shall have no responsibility in regards thereto. | |
12) | Maintenance and Power Equipment – The maintenance and power equipment as described in Table 2 and any other maintenance and power equipment as required by the plant or desired by Owner shall be the sole and absolute cost and responsibility of Owner and Design-Builder shall have no responsibility in regards thereto. | |
13) | Railroads – Owner is responsible for any costs associated with the railroads including, but not limited to, all rail design and engineering and construction and Design-Builder shall have no responsibility in regards thereto. Owner shall supply drawings and Phase II redline drawings to Design-Builder. | |
14) | Drawings – Owner shall supply drawings to Design-Builder of items supplied under items 11) and 13) and also supply Phase II redline drawings. | |
15) | Fire Protection System – Fire Protection System requirements vary by governmental requirements per location and by insurance carrier requirements. Owner is responsible to provide the required fire protection system for the Plant. This may include storage tanks, pumps, underground fire water mains, fire hydrants, foam or water monitor valves, sprinkler systems, smoke and heat detection, deluge systems, or other provisions as required by governmental codes or Owner’s insurance carrier’s fire protection criteria. | |
Owner shall pay for a Fire Protection System to be designed and constructed by Design-Builder and to be integrated into the Plant. The Fire Protection System shall be designed and constructed to meet the governmental and insurance requirements. Owner is to execute side-letter agreements as necessary for the design and construction of such Fire Protection System. Design-Builder shall recover costs for the design and construction of such system from Owner at Design-Builder’s standard time plus material rates during the relevant time period and at the relevant locale. A side-letter agreement between Owner and Design-Builder shall be executed by Owner and Design-Builder to compensate Design-Builder, at Design-Builder’s standard time plus materials rates during the relevant time period and at the relevant locale, for any costs and expenses related to such Fire Protection System. |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-4
Table 1 Minimum Soil Bearing Pressure – Responsibility of Owner
** Subject to revision based on detailed design and engineering.
Required Allowable Soil Bearing | ||||
Description |
Pressure (pounds per square foot) | |||
Grain Storage Silos |
8,000 | |||
DDGS Storage Silos |
8,000 | |||
Corn/DDGS Building |
4,000 | |||
Xxxx Water Tank |
3,500 | |||
Methanator Feed Tank |
3,500 | |||
Liquefaction Tank #1 |
3,500 | |||
Liquefaction Tank #2 |
3,500 | |||
Fermentation Tank #1 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #2 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #3 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #4 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #5 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #6 |
5,000 | |||
Fermentation Tank #7 |
5,000 | |||
Beerwell |
5,000 | |||
Whole Stillage Tank |
3,500 | |||
Thin Stillage Tank |
3,500 | |||
Syrup Tank |
3,500 | |||
190 Proof Day Tank |
3,000 | |||
200 Proof Day Tank |
3,000 | |||
Denaturant Tank |
3,000 | |||
Fire Water Tank |
3,000 | |||
Denatured Ethanol Tank #1 |
4,000 | |||
Denatured Ethanol Tank #2 |
4,000 | |||
All Other Areas |
3,000 |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-5
Table 2 Maintenance and Power Equipment – Responsibility of Owner
Description |
Additional Description | |
Spare Parts
|
Spare parts Parts bins Misc. materials, supplies and equipment |
|
Shop supplies and equipment
|
One shop welder One portable gas welder One plasma torch One acetylene torch One set of power tools Two sets of hand tools with tool boxes Carts and dollies Hoists (except centrifuge overhead crane) Shop tables Maintenance office furnishings & supplies Fire Extinguishers Reference books Safety manuals Safety cabinets & supplies, etc. Safety showers as required |
|
Rolling stock
|
Used 1 1/2 yard front end loader New Skid loader Used Fork lift Used Scissors lift, 30 foot Used Pickup truck Track Mobile |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-6
Table 3 Owner’s Milestones
Number Of Days To Be | ||||
Completed After Notice To | ||||
Owner’s Responsibilities | Proceed | |||
Temporary Electrical Service In Place |
0 | |||
Obtain Builder’s Risk policy in the amount of
the Contract Price, obtain Boiler and
Machinery Insurance, and obtain Terrorism
Coverage per TRIA as long as it is required
under Article 17 of the Agreement. |
0 | |||
Storm Water Permits Complete: Modify the
existing storm water discharge permit to
reflect the ethanol plant, if required. |
60 | |||
Natural Gas/Propane Transportation / Storage
Agreement Complete |
90 | |||
Water Supply and Service Agreements Complete |
90 | |||
Electrical Service Arrangement |
90 | |||
Wastewater Discharge System Complete |
180 | |||
TTB Operating Permits Complete |
200 | |||
Discharge Permits Complete |
200 | |||
Pumphouse/Water System Complete |
305 | |||
Fire Protection System Complete |
305 | |||
Paving (Plant Roads) Complete |
90 days prior to SC | |||
Rail Spur Complete |
90 days prior to SC | |||
Permanent Electrical Service Complete |
60 days prior to SC | |||
Maintenance and Power Equipment Onsite (Table
2) |
60 days prior to SC | |||
Employees Hired and Ready for Training |
60 days prior to SC | |||
Natural Gas Pipeline/Delivery System Complete |
60 days prior to SC |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
C-7
EXHIBIT D
ICM License Agreement
THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “License Agreement”) is entered into and made effective as of
November 16, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between First United Ethanol, LLC, a Georgia limited
liability company (“OWNER”), and ICM, Inc., a Kansas corporation (“ICM”).
WHEREAS, OWNER has entered into that certain Design-Build Lump Sum Contract dated November 16,
2006 (the “Contract”) with Xxxxx, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Xxxxx”), under which Xxxxx is to
design and construct a 100 million gallon per year ethanol plant for OWNER to be located in or near
Camilla, Georgia (the “Plant”);
WHEREAS, ICM has granted Xxxxx the right to use certain proprietary technology and information
of ICM in the design and construction of the Plant; and
WHEREAS, OWNER desires from ICM, and ICM desires to grant to OWNER, a license to use such
proprietary technology and information in connection with OWNER’s ownership, operation, maintenance
and repair of the Plant, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, agree as follows:
1. Upon substantial completion of the Plant by Xxxxx pursuant to the terms of the Contract or,
if later, payment by OWNER of all amounts due and owing to Xxxxx under the Contract, ICM grants
to OWNER a limited license to use the Proprietary Property (hereinafter defined) solely in
connection with the ownership, operation, maintenance and repair of the Plant, subject to the
limitations provided herein (the “Purpose”).
2. The “Proprietary Property” means, without limitation, documents, Operating Procedures
(hereinafter defined), materials and other information that are furnished by ICM to OWNER in
connection with the Purpose, whether orally, visually, in writing, or by any other means,
whether tangible or intangible, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through
Xxxxx) and in whatever form or medium including, without limitation, the design, arrangement,
configuration, and specifications of (i) the combinations of distillation, evaporation, and
alcohol dehydration equipment (including, but not limited to, pumps, vessels, tanks, heat
exchangers, piping, valves and associated electronic control equipment) and all documents
supporting those combinations; (ii) the combination of the distillers grain drying (DGD), and
heat recovery steam generation (HRSG) equipment (including, but not limited to, pumps, vessels,
tanks, heat exchangers, piping and associated electronic control equipment) and all documents
supporting those combinations; and (iii) the computer system, known as the distributed control
system (DCS and/or PLC) (including, but not limited to, the software configuration, programming,
parameters, set points, alarm points, ranges, graphical interface, and system hardware
connections) and all documents supporting that system. The “Operating Procedures” means,
without limitation, the process equipment and specifications manuals, standards of quality,
service protocols, data collection methods, construction specifications, training methods,
engineering standards and any other information prescribed by ICM from time to time concerning
the Purpose. Proprietary Property shall not include any information or materials that OWNER can
demonstrate by clear and convincing written evidence: (i) was lawfully in the possession of
OWNER prior to disclosure by ICM or Xxxxx; (ii) was in the public domain prior to disclosure by
ICM or Xxxxx; (iii) was disclosed to OWNER by a third party other than Xxxxx having the legal
right to
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
D-1
possess and disclose such information or materials; or (iv) after disclosure by ICM or Xxxxx
comes into the public domain through no fault of OWNER or its members, directors, officers,
employees, agents, contractors, consultants or other representatives (hereinafter collectively
referred to as “Representatives”). Information and materials shall not be deemed to be in the
public domain merely because such information is embraced by more general disclosures in the
public domain, and any combination of features shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing
exceptions merely because individual features are in the public domain if the combination itself
and its principles of operation are not in the public domain.
3. OWNER shall not use the Proprietary Property for any purpose other than the Purpose. OWNER
shall not use the Proprietary Property in connection with any expansion or enlargement of the
Plant. ICM and its Representatives shall have the express right at any time to enter upon the
premises of the Plant to inspect the Plant and its operation to ensure that OWNER is complying
with the terms of this License Agreement.
4. OWNER’s failure to materially comply with the Operating Procedures shall void all guarantees,
representations and warranties, whether expressed or implied, if any, that were given by ICM to
OWNER, directly or indirectly through Xxxxx, concerning the performance of the Plant that ICM
reasonably determines are materially affected by OWNER’s failure to materially comply with such
Operating Procedures. OWNER agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless ICM, Xxxxx and their
respective Representatives from any and all losses, damages and expenses including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees resulting from, relating to or arising out of Owner’s or
its Representatives’ (a) failure to materially comply with the Operating Procedures or (b)
negligent use of the Proprietary Property.
5. Any and all modifications to the Proprietary Property made by OWNER or its Representatives
shall be the property of ICM. OWNER shall promptly notify ICM of any such modification and
OWNER agrees to assign all right, title and interest in such modification to ICM; provided,
however, OWNER shall retain the right, at no cost, to use such modification in connection with
the Purpose.
6. ICM has the exclusive right and interest in and to the Proprietary Property and the goodwill
associated therewith. OWNER will not, directly or indirectly, contest ICM’s ownership of the
Proprietary Property. OWNER’s use of the Proprietary Property does not give OWNER any ownership
interest or other interest in or to the Proprietary Property except for the limited license
granted to OWNER herein.
7. OWNER shall pay no license fee or royalty to ICM for OWNER’s use of the Proprietary Property
pursuant to this License Agreement, the consideration for the limited license granted herein is
certain payments by Xxxxx to ICM, which is funded by and included in the amounts payable by
OWNER to Xxxxx for the construction of the Plant under the Contract.
8. OWNER may not assign the limited license granted herein, in whole or in part, without the
prior written consent of ICM, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Prior to any
assignment, OWNER shall obtain from such assignee a written instrument, in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to ICM, agreeing to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this
License Agreement. Any assignment of this License Agreement shall not release OWNER from (i)
its duties and obligations hereunder concerning the disclosure and use of the Proprietary
Property by OWNER or its Representatives, or (ii) damages to ICM resulting from, or arising out
of, a breach of such duties or obligations by OWNER or its Representatives. ICM may assign its
right, title and interest in the Proprietary Property, in whole or part, subject to the limited
license granted herein.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
D-2
9. The Proprietary Property is confidential and proprietary. OWNER shall keep the Proprietary
Property confidential and shall use all reasonable efforts to maintain the Proprietary Property
as secret and confidential for the sole use of OWNER and its Representatives for the Purpose.
OWNER shall retain all Proprietary Property at its principal place of business and/or the Plant.
OWNER shall not at any time without ICM’s prior written consent, copy, duplicate, record, or
otherwise reproduce the Proprietary Property, in whole or in part, or otherwise make the same
available to any unauthorized person provided, OWNER shall be permitted to copy, duplicate or
otherwise reproduce the Proprietary Property in whole or in part in connection with, and to the
extent it is necessary and essential for, the Purpose so long as all such copies, duplicates or
reproductions are kept at its principal place of business and/or the Plant and are treated the
same as any other Proprietary Property. OWNER shall not disclose the Proprietary Property
except to its Representatives who are directly involved with the Purpose, and even then only to
such extent as is necessary and essential for such Representative’s involvement. OWNER shall
inform such Representatives of the confidential and proprietary nature of such information and,
if requested by ICM, OWNER shall obtain from such Representative a written instrument, in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to ICM, agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and
provisions of this License Agreement to the same extent as OWNER. OWNER shall make all
reasonable efforts to safeguard the Proprietary Property from disclosure by its Representatives
to anyone other than permitted hereby. OWNER shall notify ICM immediately upon discovery of any
unauthorized use or disclosure of the Proprietary Property, or any other breach of this License
Agreement by OWNER or its Representatives, and shall cooperate with ICM in every reasonable way
to help ICM regain possession of the Proprietary Property and prevent its further unauthorized
use or disclosure. In the event that OWNER or its Representatives are required by law
to disclose the Proprietary Property, OWNER shall provide ICM with prompt written notice of same
so that ICM may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event that such
protective order or other appropriate remedy is not obtained, OWNER or its Representatives will
furnish only that portion of the Proprietary Property which in the reasonable opinion of its or
their legal counsel is legally required and will exercise its reasonable efforts to obtain
reliable assurance that the Proprietary Property so disclosed will be accorded confidential
treatment.
10. OWNER agrees to indemnify ICM for any and all damages (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or resulting from any unauthorized disclosure or use
of the Proprietary Property by OWNER or its Representatives. OWNER agrees that ICM would be
irreparably damaged by reason of a violation of the provisions contained herein and that any
remedy at law for a breach of such provisions would be inadequate. OWNER agrees that ICM shall
be entitled to seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction
against OWNER or its Representatives for any unauthorized disclosure or use of the Proprietary
Property without the necessity of proving actual monetary loss or posting any bond. It is
expressly understood that the remedy described herein shall not be the exclusive remedy of ICM
for any breach of such covenants, and ICM shall be entitled to seek such other relief or remedy,
at law or in equity, to which it may be entitled as a consequence of any breach of such duties
or obligations.
11. The duties and obligations of OWNER under this License Agreement, and all provisions
relating to the enforcement of such duties and obligations shall survive and remain in full
force and effect notwithstanding any termination or expiration of the Contract or this License
Agreement.
12. ICM may terminate this License Agreement upon written notice to OWNER if OWNER willfully or
wantonly (a) uses the Proprietary Property for any purpose, or (b) discloses the Proprietary
Property to anyone, in each case other than permitted herein. Upon termination of this License
Agreement, OWNER shall cease using the Proprietary Property for any purpose (including the
Purpose) and, upon request by ICM, shall promptly return to ICM all documents or other materials
in OWNER’s or its Representatives’ possession that contain Proprietary Property in whatever
format,
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
D-3
whether written or electronic, including any and all copies or reproductions of the Proprietary
Property. OWNER shall permanently delete all such Proprietary Property from its computer hard
drives and any other electronic storage medium (including any backup or archive system). OWNER
shall deliver to ICM a written certificate which certifies that all electronic copies or
reproductions of the Proprietary Property have been permanently deleted.
13. The laws of the State of Kansas, United States of America (or US), shall govern the validity
of the provisions contained herein, the construction of such provisions, and the interpretation
of the rights and duties of the parties. Any legal action brought to enforce or construe the
provisions of this License Agreement shall be brought in the federal or state courts located in
Wichita, Kansas, and the parties agree to and hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
such courts and agree that they will not invoke the doctrine of forum non conveniens or other
similar defenses in any such action brought in such courts. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this License Agreement will affect any right ICM may otherwise have to bring any
action or proceeding relating to this License Agreement against OWNER or its properties in the
courts of any jurisdiction. In the event the Plant is located in, or OWNER is organized under
the laws of, a country other than the US, OWNER hereby specifically agrees that any injunctive
or other equitable relief granted by a court located in the State of Kansas, US, or any award by
a court located in the State of Kansas, shall be specifically enforceable as a foreign judgment
in the country in which the Plant is located, OWNER is organized or both, as the case may be,
and agrees not to contest the validity of such relief or award in such foreign jurisdiction,
regardless of whether the laws of such foreign jurisdiction would otherwise authorize such
injunctive or other equitable relief, or award.
14. OWNER hereby agrees to waive all claims against ICM and ICM’s Representatives for any
consequential damages that may arise out of or relate to this License Agreement, the Contract or
the Proprietary Property whether arising in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence),
strict liability or otherwise, including but not limited to losses of use, profits, business,
reputation or financing. OWNER further agrees that the aggregate recovery of OWNER and Xxxxx
(and everyone claiming by or through OWNER and Xxxxx), as a whole, against ICM and ICM’s
Representatives, collectively, for any and all claims that arise out of, relate to or result
from this License Agreement, the Proprietary Property or the Contract, whether arising in
contract, warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, shall
not exceed One Million US Dollars ($1,000,000).
15. The terms and conditions of this License Agreement constitute the entire agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior understandings,
agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral. Any rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguity is to be resolved against the drafting party shall
not be applicable in the interpretation of this License Agreement. This License Agreement may
not be modified or amended at any time without the written consent of the parties.
16. All notices, requests, demands, reports, statements or other communications (herein referred
to collectively as “Notices”) required to be given hereunder or relating to this License
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if transmitted by
personal delivery or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the
address of the party as set forth below. Any such Notice shall be deemed to be delivered and
received as of the date so delivered, if delivered personally, or as of the third business day
following the day sent, if sent by certified mail. Any party may, at any time, designate a
different address to which Notices shall be directed by providing written notice in the manner
set forth in this paragraph.
17. In the event that any of the terms, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in this
License Agreement, or the application of any thereof, shall be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
D-4
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such term, condition, covenant or agreement shall be deemed
void ab initio and shall be deemed severed from this License Agreement. In such event, and
except if such determination by a court of competent jurisdiction materially changes the rights,
benefits and obligations of the parties under this License Agreement, the remaining provisions
of this License Agreement shall remain unchanged unaffected and unimpaired thereby and, to the
extent possible, such remaining provisions shall be construed such that the purpose of this
License Agreement and the intent of the parties can be achieved in a lawful manner.
18. The duties and obligations herein contained shall bind, and the benefits and advantages
shall inure to, the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
19. The waiver by any party hereto of the breach of any term, covenant, agreement or condition
herein contained shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other
term, covenant, agreement or condition herein, nor shall any custom, practice or course of
dealings arising among the parties hereto in the administration hereof be construed as a waiver
or diminution of the right of any party hereto to insist upon the strict performance by any
other party of the terms, covenants, agreement and conditions herein contained.
20. In this License Agreement, where applicable, (i) references to the singular shall include
the plural and references to the plural shall include the singular, and (ii) references to the
male, female, or neuter gender shall include references to all other such genders where the
context so requires.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this License Agreement, the Effective Date of
which is indicated on page 1 of this License Agreement.
OWNER: | ICM: | |||||||||
First United Ethanol, LLC | ICM, Inc. | |||||||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx Griend | |||||||
Title: CEO | Title: President & CEO | |||||||||
Date Signed: November 16, 2006 | Date Signed: 11-29-06 | |||||||||
Address for giving notices: | Address for giving notices: | |||||||||
X.X. Xxx 000 | 301 N First Street | |||||||||
Camilla, GA 31730 | Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
D-5
EXHIBIT E
Schedule of Values
Schedule of Values for:
FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC
Camilla, GA
100 MGY Dry Grind Ethanol Plant
FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC
Camilla, GA
100 MGY Dry Grind Ethanol Plant
DESCRIPTION | ||||||||
1 | MOBILIZATION |
$ | 8,000,000 | |||||
2 | ENGINEERING |
$ | [*] | |||||
3 | GENERAL CONDITIONS |
$ | [*] | |||||
4 | SITEWORK |
$ | [*] | |||||
5 | CONCRETE |
$ | [*] | |||||
6 | MASONRY / ARCHITECTURAL |
$ | [*] | |||||
7 | STRUCTURAL
STEEL - MISC. METALS |
$ | [*] | |||||
8 | PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDINGS |
$ | [*] | |||||
9 | GRAIN HANDLING SYSTEM |
$ | [*] | |||||
10 | PROCESS TANKS & VESSELS |
$ | [*] | |||||
11 | FIELD ERECTED TANKS |
$ | [*] | |||||
12 | HEAT EXCHANGERS |
$ | [*] | |||||
13 | PROCESS EQUIPMENT |
$ | [*] | |||||
14 | CENTRIFUGES |
$ | [*] | |||||
15 | CHILLER |
$ | [*] | |||||
16 | TRUCK SCALES & PROBE |
$ | [*] | |||||
17 | ETHANOL LOADOUT & FLARE SYSTEM |
$ | [*] | |||||
18 | COOLING TOWER |
$ | [*] | |||||
19 | DRYER SYSTEM |
$ | [*] | |||||
20 | THERMAL OXIDIZER |
$ | [*] | |||||
21 | METHANATOR |
$ | [*] | |||||
22 | PROCESS PIPING & VALVES |
$ | [*] | |||||
23 | PAINTING |
$ | [*] | |||||
24 | INSULATION |
$ | [*] | |||||
25 | PLUMBING & HVAC |
$ | [*] | |||||
26 | ELECTRICAL |
$ | [*] | |||||
27 | START-UP |
$ | [*] | |||||
28 | DEMOBILIZATION |
$ | [*] | |||||
$ | — | |||||||
TOTAL |
$ | 125,903,700 |
* | Portions omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
E-1
EXHIBIT F
Form of Informational Report
PROJECT MEETING: Two-Week Look Ahead(s) |
JOBSITE: | MEETING DATE: |
6 MANPOWER | TOTALS 6 | |||
Xxxxx, Inc. |
0 | |||
(sub) |
0 | |||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
JOBSITE TOTAL |
0 |
6 SAFETY ISSUES
1. text
2. text
2. text
6 WAREHOUSE ISSUES
1. text
2. text
2. text
6 PROCUREMENT ISSUES
1. text
2. text
2. text
6 OPERATIONS ISSUES
1. text
2. text
2. text
6 CIVIL
Area
1. text
2. text
2. text
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
X-0
0 XXXXXXXXXX
Xxxx
1. text
2. text
2. text
6 SIDING / INSULATION
Area
1. text
2.
2.
6 MILLWRIGHT
Area
1. text
2.
2.
6 PIPE
Area
1. text
2.
2.
6 ELECTRICAL
Area
1. text
2.
2.
6 DELIVERIES
Area
1. text
6 SUBCONTRACTOR
Subcontractor Name
1. text
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
F-2
EXHIBIT G
Required Permits
Responsibility for | Assistance in | |||||||
No. | Type of Application/Permit | Obtaining Permit | Preparation | Notes | ||||
1
|
Underground Utility Locating Service | Design-Builder/Owner | Notification service for underground work. | |||||
2
|
Septic Tank & Drain Field Permit | Owner | ||||||
3
|
Railroad Permit/Approval | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
4
|
Archeological Survey | Owner | ||||||
0
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Permit | Owner | State Department of Transportation or County | |||||
6
|
Building Permits | Design-Builder | ||||||
Mechanical | Design-Builder | |||||||
Electrical | Design-Builder | |||||||
Structures | Design-Builder | |||||||
7
|
Construction Air Permit | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
8
|
Construction Permit | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
9
|
Operations Permit | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
10
|
Wastewater Permit | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
11
|
Water Appropriation Permit | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
12
|
Fire Protection | Owner | Design-Builder | |||||
13
|
Above Ground Storage Tank Permit | Owner | ||||||
14
|
TTB Permit | Owner |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
G-1
EXHIBIT H
Form of Performance Bond
PERFORMANCE BOND
The American Institute of Architects,
AIA Document No. A312 (December, 1984 Edition)
Any singular reference to Contractor, Surety, Owner or other
party shall be considered plural where applicable.
The American Institute of Architects,
AIA Document No. A312 (December, 1984 Edition)
Any singular reference to Contractor, Surety, Owner or other
party shall be considered plural where applicable.
CONTRACTOR (Name and Address):
|
Amount: [Amount] | |
Xxxxx, Inc.
|
Description (Name and Location): | |
P. O. Box 159
|
[Project Name and Location] | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
|
OWNER (Name and Address): | |
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
|
[Owner Name/Address] | |
Date:
|
SURETY (Name and Principal Place of | |
Business): [Name/Place of Business] |
BOND#
Date (Not earlier than Construction Contract Date):
Amount:
Date (Not earlier than Construction Contract Date):
Amount:
Modifications to this Bond:
o None
o See Page 2
CONTRACTOR AS PRINCIPAL
|
SURETY | |
Company: (Corporate Seal)
|
Company: (Corporate Seal) | |
Xxxxx, Inc. |
Signature:
|
Signature: | |
Name and Title:
|
Name and Title: | |
(Any additional signatures appear an page 2.) |
||
(FOR
INFORMATION Only- Name, Address and Telephone) |
OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE (Architect, Engineer or other party): |
AGENT or BROKER:
1. The Contractor and the Surety, jointly and severally, bind themselves, their heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns to the Owner for the performance of the
Construction Contract, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. If the Contractor performs the Construction Contract, the Surety and the Contractor shall have
no obligation under this Bond, except to participate in conferences as provided in Subparagraph
3.1.
3. If there is no Owner Default, the Surety’s obligation under this Bond shall arise after:
3.1 The Owner has notified the Contractor and the Surety at its address described in Paragraph 10
below that the Owner is considering declaring a Contractor Default and has requested and attempted
to arrange a conference with the Contractor and the Surety to be held not later than fifteen days
after receipt of such notice to discuss methods of performing the Construction Contract. If the
Owner, the Contractor and the Surety agree, the Contractor shall be allowed a reasonable time to
perform the Construction Contract, but such an agreement shall not waive the Owner’s right, if any,
subsequently to declare a Contractor Default; and
3.2 The Owner has declared a Contractor Default and formally terminated the Contractor’s right to
complete the contract. Such Contractor Default shall not be declared earlier than twenty days
after the Contractor and Surety have received notice as provided in Subparagraph 3.1; and
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
H-1
3.3 The Owner has agreed to pay the Balance of the Contract Price to the Surety in accordance with
the terms of the Construction Contract or to a contractor selected to perform the Construction
Contract in accordance with the terms of the contract with the Owner.
4. When the Owner has satisfied the conditions of Paragraph 3, the Surety shall promptly and at the
Surety’s expense take one of the following actions:
4.1 Arrange for the Contractor with consent of the Owner, to perform and complete the Construction
Contract; or
4.2 Undertake to perform and complete the Construction Contract itself, through its agents or
through independent contractors; or
4.3 Obtain bids or negotiated proposals from qualified contractors acceptable to the Owner for a
contract for performance and completion of the Construction Contract, arrange for a contract to be
prepared for execution by the Owner and the contractor selected with the Owner’s concurrence, to be
secured with performance and payment bonds executed by a qualified surety equivalent to the bonds
issued on the Construction Contract, and pay to the Owner the amount of damages as described in
Paragraph 6 in excess of the Balance of the Contract Price incurred by the Owner resulting from the
Contractor’s default; or
4.4 Waive its right to perform and complete, arrange for completion, or obtain a new contractor and
with reasonable promptness under the circumstances:
.1 After investigation, determine the amount for which it may be liable to the Owner
and, as soon as practicable after the amount is determined, tender payment therefor to the
Owner; or
.2 Deny liability in whole or in part and notify the Owner citing reasons therefor.
5. If the Surety does not proceed as provided in Paragraph 4 with reasonable promptness, the Surety
shall be deemed to be in default on this Bond fifteen days after receipt of an additional written
notice from the Owner to the Surety demanding that the Surety perform its Obligations under this
Bond, and the Owner shall be entitled to enforce any remedy available to the Owner. If the Surety
proceeds as provided in Subparagraph 4.4, and the Owner refuses the payment tendered or the Surety
has denied liability, in whole or in part, without further notice the Owner shall be entitled to
enforce any remedy available to the Owner.
6. After the Owner has terminated the Contractor’s right to complete the Construction Contract, and
if the Surety elects to act under Subparagraph 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 above, then the responsibilities of
the Surety to the Owner shall not be greater than those of the Contractor under the Construction
Contract, and the responsibilities of the Owner to the Surety shall not be greater than those of
the Owner under the Construction Contract. To the limit of the amount of this Bond, but subject to
commitment by the Owner of the Balance of the Contract Price to mitigation of costs and damages on
the Construction Contract, the Surety is obligated without duplication for:
6.1 The responsibilities of the Contractor for correction of defective work and completion of the
Construction Contract;
6.2 Additional legal design professional and delay costs resulting from the Contractor’s Default,
and resulting from the actions or failure to act of the Surety under Paragraph 4; and
6.3 Liquidated damages, or if no liquidated damages are specified in the Construction Contract,
actual damages caused by delayed performance or non-performance of the Contractor.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
H-2
7. The Surety shall not be liable to the Owner or others for obligations of the Contractor that are
unrelated to the Construction Contract and the Balance of the Contract Price shall not be reduced
or set off on account of any such unrelated obligations. No right of action shall accrue on this
Bond to any person or entity other than the Owner or its heirs, executors, administrators or
successors.
8. The Surety hereby waives notice of any change, including changes of time, to the Construction
Contract or to related subcontracts, purchase orders and other obligations.
9. Any proceeding, legal or equitable, under this Bond may be instituted in any court of competent
jurisdiction in the location in which the work or part of the work is located and shall be
instituted within two years after Contractor Default or within two years after the Contractor
ceased working or within two years after the Surety refuses or fails to perform its obligations
under this Bond, whichever occurs first. If the provisions of this Paragraph are void or
prohibited by law, the minimum period of limitation available to sureties as a defense in the
jurisdiction of the suit shall be applicable.
10. Notice to the Surety, the Owner or the Contractor shall be mailed or delivered to the address
shown on the signature page.
11. When this Bond has been furnished to comply with a statutory or other legal requirement in the
location where the construction was to be performed, any provision in this Bond conflicting with
said statutory or legal requirement shall be deemed deleted herefrom and provisions conforming to
such statutory or other legal requirement shall be deemed incorporated herein. The intent is that
this Bond shall be construed as a statutory bond and not as a common law bond.
12. DEFINITIONS
12.1 Balance of the Contract Price: The total amount payable by the Owner to the Contractor under
the Construction Contract after all proper adjustments have been made, including allowance to the
Contractor of any amounts received or to be received by the Owner in settlement of insurance or
other claims for damages to which the Contractor is entitled, reduced by all valid and proper
payments made to or on behalf of the Contractor under the Construction Contract.
12.2 Construction Contract: The agreement between the Owner and the Contractor identified on the
signature page, including all Contract Documents and changes thereto.
12.3 Contractor Default: Failure of the Contractor, which has neither been remedied nor waived, to
perform or otherwise to comply with the terms of the Construction Contract.
12.4 Owner Default: Failure of the Owner, which has neither been remedied nor waived, to pay the
Contractor as required by the Construction Contract or to perform and complete or comply with the
other terms thereof.
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS BOND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
This bond is subject to the attached Dual Obligee Rider dated
(Space is provided below for additional signatures of added parties other than those appearing
on the cover page.)
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
H-3
CONTRACTOR AS PRINCIPAL | SURETY | |||||||||
(Corporate Seal) | (Corporate Seal) | |||||||||
Company:
|
Company: | |||||||||
Address:
|
Address: | |||||||||
Name and Title:
|
Name
and Title:
|
|||||||||
Signature:
|
Signature: | |||||||||
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
H-4
DUAL OBLIGEE RIDER
(TO BE ATTACHED TO BOND AT TIME OF ISSUANCE)
TO BE ATTACHED TO AND FORM PART OF Performance and Payment Bond NO. , dated concurrently
with the execution of this Rider, issued by the , a corporation, as
Surety, on behalf of Xxxxx, Inc., as Principal, and in favor of , as Obligee.
IT IS HEREBY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the above described bond(s) are hereby amended to
include the following paragraph:
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, there shall be no
liability on the part of the Principal or Surety under this bond to the Obligees, or
either of them, unless the Obligees, or either of them, shall make payments to the
Principal or to the Surety in case it arranges for completion of the Contract upon
default of the Principal, strictly in accordance with the terms of said Contract as
to payments, and shall perform all the other obligations required to be performed
under said Contract at the time and in the manner therein set forth.
IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that nothing herein contained shall be held to
change, alter or vary the terms of the above described bond(s) except as hereinbefore set forth.
SIGNED,
SEALED AND DATED this ___ day of , 200_.
Xxxxx, Inc. | ||||||
(Contractor) | ||||||
By: | ||||||
[ ] | ||||||
(Surety) | ||||||
By: | ||||||
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
H-5
EXHIBIT I
Form of Payment Bond
PAYMENT BOND
The American Institute of Architects,
AIA Document No. A312 (December, 1984 Edition)
Any singular reference to Contractor, Surety, Owner or other
party shall be considered plural where applicable.
The American Institute of Architects,
AIA Document No. A312 (December, 1984 Edition)
Any singular reference to Contractor, Surety, Owner or other
party shall be considered plural where applicable.
CONTRACTOR (Name and Address):
|
SURETY (Name and Principal Place of Business): | |
Xxxxx, Inc. |
||
P. O. Xxx 000 |
||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 |
||
OWNER (Name and Address): |
||
[NAME AND ADDRESS] |
||
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT |
||
Date: |
||
Amount: |
||
Description (Name and Location): |
||
BOND # |
||
Date (Not earlier than Construction Contract |
||
Date): |
||
Amount: |
Modifications to this Bond: o None o See Page 2
CONTRACTOR AS PRINCIPAL SURETY
Company: (Corporate Seal) Company: (Corporate Seal)
Xxxxx, Inc.
CONTRACTOR AS PRINCIPAL SURETY
Company: (Corporate Seal) Company: (Corporate Seal)
Xxxxx, Inc.
Signature:
|
Signature: | |||||||||||||
Name and Title:
|
Name and Title:
|
|||||||||||||
(Any additional signatures appear an page 2.) |
||||||||||||||
(FOR INFORMATION Only—Name, Address and Telephone) | OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE (Architect, Engineer or other party): |
AGENT or BROKER:
1. The Contractor and the Surety, jointly and severally, bind themselves, their heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns to the Owner to pay for labor, materials and
equipment furnished for use in the performance of the Construction Contract, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
2. With respect to the Owner, this obligation shall be null and void if the Contractor:
2.1 Promptly makes payment, directly or indirectly, for all sums due Claimants, and
2.2 Defends, indemnifies and holds harmless the Owner from claims, demands, liens or suits by
any person or entity whose claim, demand, lien or suit is for the payment for labor, materials or
equipment furnished for use in the performance of the Construction Contract, provided the Owner has
promptly notified the Contractor and the Surety
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
I-1
(at the address described in Paragraph 12) of any claims; demands, liens or suits and tendered
defense of such claims, demands, liens or suits to the Contractor and the Surety, and provided
there is no Owner Default.
3. With respect to Claimants, this obligation shall be null and void if the Contractor
promptly makes payment, directly or Indirectly, for all sums due.
4. The Surety shall have no obligation to Claimants under this Bond until:
4.1 Claimants who are employed by or have a direct contract with the Contractor have given
notice to the Surety (at the address described in Paragraph 12) and sent a copy, or notice thereof,
to the owner, stating that a claim is being made under this Bond and, with substantial accuracy,
the amount of the claim.
4.2 Claimants who do not have a direct contract with the Contractor:
4.2.1 Have furnished written notice to the Contractor and sent a copy, or notice
thereof, to the Owner, within 90 days after having last performed labor or last furnished
materials or equipment included in the claim stating, with substantial accuracy, the amount
of the claim and the name of the party to whom the materials were furnished or supplied or
for whom the labor was done or performed; and
4.2.2 Have either received a rejection in whole or in part from the Contractor, or not
received within 30 days of furnishing the above notice any communication from the Contractor
by which the Contractor has indicated the claim will be paid directly or Indirectly; and
4.2.3 Not having been paid within the above 30 days, have sent a written notice to the
Surety (at the address described in Paragraph 12) and sent a copy, or notice thereof, to the
Owner, stating that a claim is being made under this Bond and enclosing a copy of the
previous written notice furnished to the Contractor.
5. If a notice required by Paragraph 4 is given by the Owner to the Contractor or to the
Surety that is sufficient compliance.
6. When the Claimant has satisfied the conditions of Paragraph 4, the Surety shall promptly
and at the Surety’s expense take the following actions:
6.1 Send an answer to the Claimant, with a copy to the Owner, within 45 days after receipt of
the claim, stating the amounts that are undisputed and the basis for challenging any amounts that
are disputed.
6.2 Pay or arrange for payment of any undisputed amounts.
7. The Surety’s total obligation shall not exceed the amount of this Bond, and the amount of
this Bond shall be credited for any payments made in good faith by the Surety.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
I-2
8. Amounts owed by the Owner to the Contractor under the Construction Contract shall be used
for the performance of the Construction Contract and to satisfy claims, if any, under any
Construction Performance Bond. By the Contractor furnishing and the Owner accepting this Bond,
they agree that all funds earned by the Contractor in the performance of the Construction Contract
are dedicated to satisfy obligations of the Contractor and the Surety under this Bond, subject to
the Owner’s priority to use the funds for the completion of the work.
9. The Surety shall not be liable to the Owner, Claimants or others for obligations of the
Contractor that are unrelated to the Construction Contract. The Owner shall not be liable for
payment of any costs or expenses of any Claimant under this Bond, and shall have under this Bond no
obligation to make payments to, give notices on behalf of, or otherwise have obligations to
Claimants under this Bond.
10. The Surety hereby waives notice of any change, including changes of time, to the
Construction Contract or to related subcontracts, purchase orders and other obligations.
11. No suit or action shall be commenced by a Claimant under this Bond other than in a court
of competent jurisdiction in the location in which the work or part of the work is located or after
the expiration of one year from the date (1) on which the Claimant gave the notice required by
Subparagraph 4.1 or Clause 4.2.3, or (2) on which the last labor or service was performed by anyone
or the last materials or equipment were furnished by anyone under the Construction Contract,
whichever of (1) or (2) first occurs. If the provisions of this Paragraph are void or prohibited by
law, the minimum period of limitation available to sureties as a defense in the jurisdiction of the
suit shall be applicable.
12. Notice to the Surety, the Owner or the Contractor shall be mailed or delivered to the
address shown on the signature page. Actual receipt of notice by Surety, the Owner or the
Contractor, however accomplished, shall be sufficient compliance as of the date received at the
address shown on the signature page.
13. When this Bond has been furnished to comply with a statutory or other legal requirement in
the location where the construction was to be performed, any provision in this Bond conflicting
with said statutory or legal requirement shall be deemed deleted herefrom and provisions conforming
to such statutory or other legal requirement shall be deemed incorporated herein. The intent is
that this Bond shall be construed as a statutory bond and not as a common law bond.
14. Upon request by any person or entity appearing to be a potential beneficiary of this Bond,
the Contractor shall promptly furnish a copy of this Bond or shall permit a copy to be made.
15. DEFINITIONS
15.1 Claimant: An individual or entity having a direct contract with the Contractor or with a
subcontractor of the Contractor to furnish labor, materials or equipment for use in the performance
of the Contract. The intent of this Bond shall be to include without limitation in the terms
“labor, materials or equipment” that part of water, gas, power, light, heat, oil, gasoline,
telephone service or rental equipment used in the Construction Contract,
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
I-3
architectural and engineering services required for performance of the work of the Contractor
and the Contractor’s subcontractors, and all other items for which a mechanic’s lien may be
asserted in the jurisdiction where the labor, materials or equipment were furnished.
15.2 Construction Contract: The agreement between the Owner and the Contractor identified on
the signature page, including all Contract Documents and changes thereto.
15.3 Owner Default: Failure of the Owner, which has neither been remedied nor waived, to pay
the Contractor as required by the Construction Contract or to perform and complete or comply with
the other terms thereof.
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS BOND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
This bond is subject to the attached Dual Obligee Rider dated [ ].
This bond is subject to the attached Dual Obligee Rider dated [ ].
(Space is provided below for additional signatures of added parties other than those appearing on
the cover page.)
CONTRACTOR AS PRINCIPAL | SURETY | |||||||||||||
(Corporate Seal) | (Corporate Seal) | |||||||||||||
Company:
|
Company: | |||||||||||||
Address:
|
Address: | |||||||||||||
Name and Title:
|
Name and Title: | |||||||||||||
Signature:
|
Signature: | |||||||||||||
DUAL OBLIGEE RIDER
(TO BE ATTACHED TO BOND AT TIME OF ISSUANCE)
TO BE ATTACHED TO AND FORM PART OF Performance and Payment Bond NO. , dated concurrently
with the execution of this Rider, issued by the , a corporation, as
Surety, on behalf of Xxxxx, Inc., as Principal, and in favor of , as Obligee.
IT IS HEREBY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the above described bond(s) are hereby amended to include
the following paragraph:
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, there shall be no liability on the part
of the Principal or Surety under this bond to the Obligees, or either of them, unless the Obligees,
or either of them, shall make payments to the Principal or to the Surety in case it arranges for
completion of the Contract upon default of the Principal, strictly in accordance with the terms of
said Contract as to payments, and shall perform all the other obligations required to be performed
under said Contract at the time and in the manner therein set forth.
IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that nothing herein contained shall be held to change, alter or
vary the terms of the above described bond(s) except as hereinbefore set forth.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DATED this ___ day of , 200_.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
I-4
Xxxxx, Inc. | ||||||
(Contractor) | ||||||
By: | ||||||
[ ] | ||||||
(Surety) | ||||||
By: | ||||||
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
I-5
EXHIBIT J
Draw (Payment) Schedule
FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC
Camilla, GA
Monthly Draw Schedule — 18 Month Project (545 Days)
Camilla, GA
Monthly Draw Schedule — 18 Month Project (545 Days)
Previously | ||||||||||||||
Month # | This Month | Completed | Total | |||||||||||
1 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
2 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
3 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
4 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
5 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
6 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
7 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
8 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
9 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
10 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
11 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
12 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
13 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
14 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
15 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
16 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
17 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | ||||||||
18 | $ | [*] | $ | [*] | $ | 125,903,700 | ||||||||
$ | 125,903,700 |
*** | $8,000,000 Mobilization Fee included in 1st Billing | |
* | Portions omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
J-1
EXHIBIT K
Air Emissions Application or Permit
See attached Air Permit Application and comments.
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
K-1
EXHIBIT L
Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement
See attached Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services Agreement
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
L-1
EXHIBIT M
Form of Application for Payment
See attached Form of Application for Payment
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
M-1
EXHIBIT N
Form of Lien Waiver
GENERAL CONTRACTOR’S PARTIAL WAIVER OF MECHANIC’S LIEN
RIGHTS AND AFFIDAVIT OF DEBTS AND CLAIMS
CONDITIONAL LIEN WAIVER
RIGHTS AND AFFIDAVIT OF DEBTS AND CLAIMS
CONDITIONAL LIEN WAIVER
STATE: ( INSERT STATE ) | XXXXX, INC. | |
COUNTY: ( INSERT COUNTY ) |
The undersigned is the General Contractor (aka Design-Builder) regarding labor and materials
for construction and maintenance work performed for ( INSERT OWNER/PLANT NAME ), at the
Facility located at or near ( INSERT PLANT CITY & STATE ) under the terms of a
contract.
On condition of receiving full payment for xxxxxxxx up to date hereof under the terms
of the above mentioned contract, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby waive and release any and all liens, and any and
all claims and rights to lien on the Facility (including all buildings on the premises) under the
statutes of the State of ( INSERT STATE ) relating to mechanic’s liens on account of
labor and materials furnished by the undersigned up to the date hereof at the Facility, as located
on real estate legally described as follows:
TRACT 1: ( INSERT LEGAL DESCRIPTION )
TRACT 2: ( INSERT LEGAL DESCRIPTION )
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
N-1
The undersigned further certifies that all obligations of General Contractor entered into
between suppliers/subcontractors and General Contractor regarding this Facility are current as of
this date, including all obligations of General Contractor for all work, labor and services
performed; materials and equipment furnished; and all known indebtedness and claims against General
Contractor for damages arising in any manner in connection with General Contractor’s performance of
the contract mentioned above for which General Contractor or property of General Contractor might
in any way be held responsible.
Dated this day of , 200___
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: | ||||||||||
XXXXX, INC. | ||||||||||
By (Print): | ||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||
(Signature): | ||||||||||
Witness (Print): | ||||||||||
(Signature): | ||||||||||
In the alternative (or if requested): | ||||||||||
Subscribed and sworn to before me this | ||||||||||
day of , 200 __. | ||||||||||
Notary Public | ||||||||||
My Commission Expires: |
||||||||||
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
N-2
EXHIBIT O
Form of Consent to Assignment
XXXXX CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT
THIS CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT (this “Consent”), dated as of November 16, 2006, is made
among XXXXX, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the “Obligor”), FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC, a
Georgia limited liability company (“Assignor”), and the financial institution party to this
Agreement, not in its individual capacity, but acting solely in the capacity of collateral agent on
behalf of the below defined Lenders (such financial institution in such capacity, or such other
financial institution acting in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).
The Assignor seeks to construct and operate a one hundred (100) million gallon per year
fuel-grade ethanol production plant in Camilla, Georgia (the “Project”). The Obligor and
the Assignor have entered into the Lump-Sum Design-Build Agreement dated as of November 16, 2006
(as amended, modified, supplemented and in effect from time to time, the “Assigned
Agreement”). The Assignor and certain other financial institutions (the “Lenders”)
intend to finance certain costs of the Assignor for the development, construction and operation of
the Project pursuant to various financing arrangements (the “Financing Arrangements”). The
Assignor and the Collateral Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) intend to enter into certain security
arrangements (the “Security Documents”), pursuant to which the Assignor will pledge and
assign to the Collateral Agent a lien on and a security interest in all of the Assignor’s right,
title and interest in, among other things, the Assigned Agreement.
SECTION 1. CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENTS; LIABILITY; CURE RIGHTS; ETC.
1.1 Acknowledgments and Consents. The Obligor (i) acknowledges that the Assigned Agreement is
in full force and effect and that there are no other amendments, modifications or supplements
thereto, either oral or written; (ii) represents and warrants that it has not assigned, transferred
or pledged the Assigned Agreement to any third party; (iii) represents and warrants that it has no
knowledge of any existing default by the Assignor in the performance of any provision of the
Assigned Agreement; (iv) acknowledges and consents to the Assignor’s pledge and assignment of the
Assigned Agreement to the Collateral Agent; (v) acknowledges the right of the Collateral Agent in
the exercise of its rights and remedies under the Security Documents to take all actions and
exercise all rights of the Assignor under the Assigned Agreement as if it were the Assignor; (vi)
acknowledges and agrees that this Consent satisfies Section 21.1 of the Assigned Agreement; and
(vii) acknowledges and agrees that the Collateral Agent is entitled to notices under the Assigned
Agreement pursuant to Section 21.7 thereof.
1.2 Limitation on Assumption of Obligations. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable
for the performance or observance of any of the obligations or duties of the Assignor under the
Assigned Agreement, nor shall the Security Documents give rise to any duties or obligations
whatsoever, except that, insofar as the Collateral Agent exercises any of Assignor’s rights under
the Assigned Agreement and/or makes
any claims with respect to any payments, deliveries or other obligations under the Assigned
Agreement, the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the Assigned Agreement applicable to
such exercise of rights or such claims shall be a condition precedent to the Obligor’s obligations
with respect thereto. Upon any transfer to a third party of
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
O-1
the rights of the Collateral Agent
under the Assigned Agreement pursuant to its exercise of its remedies under the Security Documents
as described in Section 1.4 below which transfer of the Assigned Agreement shall be subject
in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Assigned Agreement, including Section 21.1
thereof (i) the transferee shall succeed to all right, title and interest of the Assignor and the
Collateral Agent and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall have no further liabilities, duties or
obligations to the Assignor under the Assigned Agreement.
1.3 Cure Periods. The Obligor hereby confirms that it will provide to the Collateral
Agent the same notices as are to be provided to the Assignor pursuant to Sections 15.4.2,
15.5.1(d), and 15.5.2 of the Assigned Agreement.
1.4 Substitute Owner. The Obligor acknowledges that upon an event of default by the
Assignor under the Financing Arrangements and an exercise of remedies by the Collateral Agent under
the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) assume, or cause
any purchaser at any foreclosure sale or any assignee or transferee under any instrument of
assignment or transfer in lieu of foreclosure to assume, all of the interests, rights and
obligations of the Assignor thereafter arising under the Assigned Agreement. Each assuming party
shall agree in writing to be bound by, and to assume the terms and conditions of, the Assigned
Agreement pursuant to an assignment agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Obligor
pursuant to Section 21.1 of the Assigned Agreement, and the Obligor shall continue to perform its
obligations under the Assigned Agreement in favor of the assuming party as if such party had been
an original party to the Assigned Agreement; provided, that the assuming party shall cure
any defaults, whether monetary or otherwise, then existing under the Assigned Agreement in such
assuming party’s capacity as “Owner” under the Assigned Agreement (as defined in such agreement)
after giving effect to assignment of Assignor’s rights and obligations to such assuming party; but
provided, further, that the liability of the Collateral Agent (or any entity acting
on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any of the other Secured Parties) shall not exceed all of its
right, title and interest in and to the Project.
1.5 No Amendments. The Obligor acknowledges that under the terms of the Financing
Arrangements, the Assignor is required to obtain the consent of the Lenders for certain amendments
to the Assigned Agreement.
SECTION 2. NOTICES. The first paragraph of Section 21.7 of the Assigned Agreement is
hereby incorporated in this Consent, as if set forth herein in its entirety. For purposes of
Section 21.7 of the Assigned Agreement, the initial address for notice to the Collateral Agent
shall be as follows:
[BANK]
[ADDRESS]
Attn: [NAME/TITLE]
Fax: [FAX NUMBER]
[ADDRESS]
Attn: [NAME/TITLE]
Fax: [FAX NUMBER]
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
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The Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the delivery of the Collateral Agent’s notice
information in this Section 2 shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of the Owner in Section
21.7 of the Assigned Agreement to deliver such information to the Obligor.
SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS.
THIS CONSENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK AND SHALL BE BINDING UPON THE PARTIES HERETO AND THEIR PERMITTED SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
AND SHALL INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREE TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER ALL SUCH INSTRUMENTS AND TAKE ALL SUCH
ACTION AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE FULLY THE PURPOSES OF THIS CONSENT.
[THE NEXT PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Consent to be duly executed and
delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
XXXXX, INC., | ||||||||||
as Obligor | ||||||||||
By: | Consented and Agreed to: | |||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: | FIRST UNITED ETHANOL, LLC | |||||||||
as Assignor | ||||||||||
Address for Notices: | ||||||||||
Xxxxx, Inc. | By: | |||||||||
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000 | Name: | |||||||||
X.X. Xxx 000 | Title: | |||||||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||||||
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx | First United Ethanol LLC | |||||||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | 0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||||||
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||||||
With a copy to: | Attn: Xxxx Xxxxx | |||||||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||||||
Xxxxx, Inc. | ||||||||||
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000 | ||||||||||
P.O. Box 159 | ||||||||||
Granite Falls, MN 56241 | ||||||||||
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||||||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||||||
[BANK NAME] | ||||||||||
not in its individual capacity, but solely as Collateral Agent |
||||||||||
By: |
||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||
Address for Notices: | ||||||||||
[BANK] | ||||||||||
[ADDRESS] | ||||||||||
Attn: [NAME/TITLE] | ||||||||||
Fax: [FAX NUMBER] |
First United Ethanol, LLC | November 16, 2006 |
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