Exhibit 10.1
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of January 17, 2007 (the "Effective Date"), by
and between Trimark Associates Inc. ("Company") a California corporation, and
Conectisys Corp., a California corporation with principal business offices in 89
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000. ("Conectisys") (Collectively the "Parties").
1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will become effective on the date
stated above, and will continue in effect until the Services provided for in
this Agreement have been fully performed or until this Agreement is terminated
as provided below (the "Term").
2. Services of Independent Contractor. Independent Contractor agrees to
provide, at its own expense, employees or subcontractors ("Consultants") to
perform the services described in individual Task Orders, which shall be
attached as Exhibits to this Agreement, as further defined by Company from time-
to-time during the Term of this Agreement (the "Services"). Independent
Contractor represents that it has Consultants with the qualifications and skills
necessary to perform the Services, and that all Services will be performed in a
competent, professional manner, in accordance with the standards of care, skill
and diligence observed by similar professionals performing such services.
Independent Contractor further agrees to assign Consultants that match the
requirements set by Company, and Independent Contractor will honor all
reasonable requests by Company to remove and replace any Consultant upon request
by the Company. Independent Contractor has discretion for the manner in which
the work under this Agreement will be performed, subject to Company's acceptance
of the work performed. Independent Contractor will determine the method,
details, and means of performing the Services, and will furnish all materials,
equipment and supervisory services necessary to perform the Services.
Independent Contractor represents and warrants that all Services will be
performed in accordance with all applicable laws. Independent Contractor will
work with Company to schedule Consultant's holidays and discretionary time off
at least four weeks in advance. If the Consultant becomes unavailable because of
death, ill health, or injury, Independent Contractor will replace the Consultant
within a reasonable time.
3. Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall pay
Independent Contractor for the Services performed pursuant to the terms set
forth in Task Orders to this Agreement. Company will reimburse Independent
Contractor for all Consultants' reasonable out-of-pocket expenses supported by
adequate documentation for costs of travel (airfare, cab fare, auto rental or
local mileage) and accommodations incurred as a result of, and in the course of,
performing Services for the Company ("Expenses"). Consultant shall request and
obtain prior written approval of the Company for any lodging Expense exceeding
$125 per night (rack rate, taxes excluded) and any air travel. Independent
Contractor shall invoice Company on a monthly basis and shall provide receipts
for any expenses above $25 for all Expenses to be reimbursed. Independent
Contractor agrees to submit such invoices and receipts within sixty (60) days
after the Services were performed and/or the Expenses were incurred. Independent
Contractor further agrees that the Company will not have any liability
whatsoever for any Services performed or Expenses incurred if Independent
Contractor fails to submit an invoice and/or receipt to the Company within the
sixty (60) day period. Company shall invoice the client for reimbursement of
such Expenses in its next monthly invoice. Company shall pay Independent
Contractor for such Expenses within ten (10) days after Company receives
reimbursement for such Expenses from the client.
4. Relationship of the Parties. Independent Contractor is entering into
this Agreement as, and shall continue to be, an independent contractor. Under no
circumstances shall Independent Contractor or any Consultant become an employee,
partner, agent or principal of the Company while this Agreement is in effect.
Subject to the terms and conditions of Sections 7 and 11 of this Agreement,
Independent Contractor and each Consultant may represent, perform services for,
and contract with as many additional clients, persons or companies as
Independent Contractor sees fit. Independent Contractor understands and agrees
that Consultants are not entitled to the rights or benefits afforded to the
Company's employees, including disability or unemployment insurance, worker's
compensation, medical insurance, sick leave, or any other employment benefit.
Independent Contractor is responsible for providing, at its own expense,
disability, worker's compensation, unemployment and other insurance, as well as
all licenses and permits usual or necessary for Independent Contractor and its
Consultants to perform the Services. Independent Contractor shall provide
orientation to its Consultants explaining the relationship of the parties as
agreed to herein.
5. Company's Cooperation. Company agrees to comply with all reasonable
requests for, and to provide access to, all documents and information reasonably
necessary to the performance of Independent Contractor's duties under this
Agreement.
6. Independent Contractor's Tax Obligations. Independent Contractor is
responsible for paying when due all income taxes, including estimated taxes,
incurred as a result of the compensation paid by Company to Independent
Contractor. On request, Independent Contractor will provide the Company with
written records demonstrating that Independent Contractor has fulfilled all of
its legal obligations, including timely payment of all taxes and estimated taxes
for each Consultant employed by Independent Contractor. Independent Contractor
agrees to indemnify the Company for any claims, costs, losses, fees, penalties,
interest, or damages suffered by the Company resulting from the Independent
Contractor's failure to comply with this provision and for all claims by any
Consultant against Company.
7. Confidentiality and Nondisclosure of Company Information.
(a) Confidential Information. As used in this Agreement, Confidential
Information means all information and materials of Company (or any information
or materials provided in confidence by a third party) disclosed, directly or
indirectly, either orally or in writing, to Independent Contractor or
Consultant, including all business and marketing plans, financial data,
compensation information, pricing and cost information, client and prospective
client lists and client and prospective client-related information, product and
software development information, systems integration and technical information,
know-how, programming, models, strategies, analyses, databases, methods,
techniques and processes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Confidential Information includes all computer software, source code, object
code, software specifications, user interfaces, graphic displays, operating
manuals, and databases; information and materials relating to computer software,
features or enhancements now existing or under development or consideration; and
confidential customer, financial and business information. Independent
Contractor acknowledges that information need not be labeled as "confidential"
to qualify as Confidential Information.
(b) Exclusion. Confidential Information does not include information that
Independent Contractor can demonstrate: (a) is now or hereafter becomes, through
no act or failure to act on the part of Independent Contractor or Consultant,
generally known to the public; (b) was known by Independent Contractor or
Consultant prior to receiving such information or materials from Company; or (c)
is independently developed by Independent Contractor or Consultant without
using, incorporating, referencing, recreating or relying upon any of the
Confidential Information.
(c) Nondisclosure and Nonuse. Independent Contractor acknowledges that,
while performing Services for the Company, Independent Contractor and Consultant
will have access to and be provided with Confidential Information. Independent
Contractor and Consultant will at all times during and after the term of this
Agreement hold in strict confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose or
use, or assist or facilitate any other person to disclose or use, any
Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Independent Contractor
understands that Independent Contractor and Consultant may use Confidential
Information only to the extent necessary to perform the Services set forth in
the Task Orders to this Agreement. If at any time Independent Contractor or
Consultant becomes aware of any possibility that Confidential Information is at
risk of being publicly disclosed, Independent Contractor will immediately give
written Notice to the Company so that reasonable efforts can be made to maintain
the secrecy of the Confidential Information. Independent Contractor will require
each Consultant to sign the Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit B prior to disclosing any Confidential Information to
Consultant.
8. Inventions and Original Works. Unless otherwise specified in a Task
Order, Independent Contractor and Company agrees that all right, title, and
interest in and to any and all software, original works of authorship,
developments, concepts, improvements, designs, discoveries, inventions, ideas,
trademarks or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under
copyright or similar laws (collectively referred to as "Inventions"), which
exist prior to this Agreement remain the property of the Independent Contractor.
Independent Contractor agrees that any Inventions which have originated by the
Independent Contractor for purposes of fulfilling this Agreement, which
Independent Contractor or Consultant may solely or jointly conceive or develop
or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to
practice, during the term of this Agreement shall be and are hereby mutually
assigned to the Company, or its designee, and Independent Contractor except for
any Inventions which: (1) Independent Contractor or Consultant developed
entirely on its own time without using the Company's equipment, supplies,
facilities, or Confidential Information; (2) are unrelated to the Company's
business; and (3) do not result from any work the Independent Contractor or
Consultant performed for the Company. Independent Contractor further agrees to
assist Company, at Company's expense, to execute all documents and take all
actions to vest title in Company and to effect the assignment upon request and
to obtain patents or copyrights for any Inventions, including but not limited
to: (1) providing, if requested, all data, plans, specifications, descriptions,
documentation, and other information; (2) requiring its Consultants to execute,
if requested, all applications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments and
papers which Company shall deem necessary; and (3) assisting Company in
completing any applications or registrations relating to such Inventions.
Independent Contractor acknowledges and agrees that the decision whether or not
to commercialize or market any Invention is within the Company's sole discretion
and that no royalty or other compensation of any kind will be due to Independent
Contractor or Consultant as a result of the Company's efforts to commercialize
or market any such Invention. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed to apply to Independent Contractor's Inventions that existed prior to
the Effective Date of this Agreement, and all such Inventions remain the
property of Independent Contractor. If Independent Contractor performs services
or delivers work product to Company that includes material not assigned to
Company pursuant to this Section, Independent Contractor grants Company a fully-
paid, perpetual, non-exclusive, unlimited license to modify, copy and use all
such material.
9. Returning Company Documents and Computer Files. Upon termination of this
Agreement, and upon request of Company, Independent Contractor agrees to deliver
to the Company (and not keep in Independent Contractor's or Consultant's
possession, recreate, copy or deliver to anyone else) any and all computer
files, software, e-mail messages, notes, memoranda, reports, records, data,
spreadsheets, presentations, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications,
drawings, blueprints, sketches, equipment, devices, and any other materials,
documents or property, including any reproductions of all such items, belonging
to, obtained by or prepared by Independent Contractor or its Consultants during
the term of this Agreement or otherwise belonging to the Company, its successors
or assigns.
10. Non-Solicitation of Company Employees. During the term of this Agreement
and for a period of one year after the termination of this Agreement for any
reason, Company and Independent Contractor agree that neither Company,
Independent Contractor nor any Consultant will solicit, induce, recruit or
encourage directly or indirectly (nor will Company, Independent Contractor or
Consultant direct, encourage or assist anyone else to solicit, induce, recruit
or encourage) any of the employees of the Company or Independent Contractor to
terminate their employment with Company or Independent Contractor or to work
elsewhere without prior written consent from the Company or the Independent
Contractor.
11. Non-Interference with Company's Prospective Business Relationships.
Independent Contractor and Consultant understand that performing Services
pursuant to this Agreement may require Independent Contractor or Consultant to
contact directly or otherwise establish business relationships with individuals
and entities that are customers, vendors, business partners or clients of the
Company, and that Independent Contractor or Consultant may become aware of the
identity of such persons and of the Company's Confidential Information related
to such persons. Independent Contractor and Consultant understand that the
Company has made efforts to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of such
Confidential Information, which includes among other things, proprietary and
confidential technical, marketing, sales and other business information about
the Company's customers, vendors, business partners and clients. Independent
Contractor and Consultant understand and agree that such Confidential
Information provides the Company with a competitive advantage in establishing
and maintaining existing and prospective business relationships and that
disclosure or use of such Confidential Information would unfairly impair or
interfere with the Company's ability to conduct its business profitably and
would result in irreparable harm to the Company. Independent Contractor and
Consultant agree that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one
year immediately following the termination of the Agreement for any reason,
neither Independent Contractor nor Consultant will directly or indirectly
solicit or divert, or attempt to solicit or divert, from the Company, any
customers, vendors, business partners or clients, nor will Independent
Contractor or Consultant directly or indirectly interfere with or assist any
other person in interfering with the existing or prospective contracts,
arrangements, or business relationships of the Company with its customers,
vendors, business partners and clients.
12. Insurance. Independent Contractor shall maintain the following minimum
insurance coverage during the term of this Agreement:
(a) Worker's Compensation. Independent Contractor agrees to provide worker's
compensation insurance for its employees, subcontractors and agents, and agrees
to hold harmless and indemnify the Company for any and all claims arising out of
any injury, disability, or death of any of Independent Contractor's employees,
subcontractors or agents.
(b) Liability Insurance. Independent Contractor agrees to maintain an
Employer's Liability Policy of insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000, a
Commercial General Liability Policy of $1,000,000 and an Automobile Liability
Policy of $1,000,000.
13. Indemnity. Independent Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold
Company free and harmless from all claims, demands, losses, costs, expenses,
obligations, liabilities, damages, recoveries, and deficiencies, including
interest, penalties, attorneys' fees, and costs, that Company may incur or
suffer as a result of or related to Independent Contractor or its Consultant's
willful misconduct, negligence, breach or failure to perform any of the
representations, warranties or obligations contained in this Agreement by
Independent Contractor or Consultant.
14. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any duties or obligations under
this Agreement may be assigned by Independent Contractor or Company without the
prior written consent of the other Party.
15. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Expiration of Agreement. Unless otherwise terminated as provided in this
Agreement, this Agreement will continue in effect until the Services described
in the Task Orders to this Agreement have been fully and completely performed
and shall then terminate unless renewed in writing by both parties.
(b) Termination on Notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time and for any
reason or for no reason by giving fifteen (15) days' written Notice to the other
Party.
16. General Provisions.
(a) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder ("Notices") must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been fully
given and received when delivered personally, when transmitted by facsimile, one
business day after being deposited for next-day delivery with a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service, or three days after being mailed by first
class mail, charges and postage prepaid, to the Party to receive such Notice at
such Party's address set forth below or any other address that such Party may
specify by Notice to the other Party.
(b) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision, word,
phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section hereof shall in no way affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision, word, phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or section hereof, and any such invalid or unenforceable
provision that is overbroad in scope, duration or coverage, shall be deemed
narrowed to the broadest term permitted by applicable law and shall be enforced
as narrowed. If one or more of the provisions in this Agreement is deemed
invalid or unenforceable, then the remaining provisions will continue in full
force and effect.
(c) Governing Law and Forum Selection. This Agreement shall be construed and
interpreted according to the laws of the State of California not including,
however, rules relating to choice or conflicts of law. Any dispute arising out
of or relating in any way to the subject matter of this Agreement shall solely
be venued in Sacramento, California, and the parties hereby irrevocably submit
to the jurisdiction and venue of a court in Sacramento, California having
subject matter jurisdiction.
(d) Attorneys' Fees. If any dispute between or among either of the Parties
hereto or any of their respective affiliates should result in litigation, the
prevailing Party or Parties in such dispute shall be entitled to recover from
the other Party or Parties all reasonable fees, costs and expenses of enforcing
any right of the prevailing Party or Parties, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, all of which shall be deemed to have
accrued on the commencement of such action and shall be paid whether or not such
action is prosecuted to judgment. Any judgment or order entered in such action
shall contain specific provision for the recovery of attorneys' fees and costs
incurred in enforcing such judgment and an award of prejudgment interest from
the date of the breach at the maximum rate allowed by law. For the purposes of
this Section 16, (a) attorneys' fees shall include, without limitation, fees
incurred in post-award or post-judgment motions, contempt proceedings,
garnishment, levy, and debtor and third Party examinations, discovery, and
bankruptcy litigation, and (b) prevailing Party shall mean the Party that is
determined in the proceeding to have prevailed or who prevails by dismissal,
default or otherwise.
(e) Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and bind the
Company and the Independent Contractor, and their respective successors,
assigns, legatees, devisees and personal representatives.
(f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
Company and the Independent Contractor with respect to the subject matter
contained herein and supersedes all prior negotiations, correspondence,
understandings and agreements between them with respect to the subject matter
hereof, including any other Confidentiality Agreements, Independent Contractor
Agreements or similar agreements that may have previously been executed by the
parties.
(g) Survival. All agreements, representations, warranties and
acknowledgments contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 shall survive
any termination of this Agreement.
(h) Written Modifications. This Agreement may only be amended with the
written consent of the parties, and no oral waiver or amendment shall be
effective under any circumstances whatsoever.
THE DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT
THEY HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE FOREGOING AND HAVE EXECUTED
THIS AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE AS OF THE DATE FIRST WRITTEN ABOVE.
Trimark Associates Inc. CONECTISYS CORPORATION
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx #000 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx #00
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
By: /S/ XXXX XXXXXXX By: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Print: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Print: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President Title: CEO
EXHIBIT A
FIRST TASK ORDER
1. Description of Services.
Project Feasibility and Evaluation: Complete a project feasibility assessment
including the location of all electric meters, base stations and necessary
repeaters to form a network of meters available to be directly interrogated from
the meter reading systems at Trimark's office in Folsom. Identify the particular
physical and electrical configurations at each meter location including voltage
levels, form factor and existing communications strategy (if any). Also included
as a product of the assessment shall be a detailed project plan, deployment
schedule and total cost estimates.
Project Management: Provide Project Management for Trimark related to the
Westlands Water District Wireless Electric Meter Reading Project (WEMR).
Services to include, but not necessarily limited to; (1) at the direction of
Trimark management, provide oversight and project management of the WEMR
project, (2) briefing and reporting WEMR project status to Company, (3) maintain
cost reporting and control during the WEMR Project, (4) report to company the
design and engineering requirements of the equipment and software necessary to
accomplish the Project objectives and (5) (In a subsequent task order) organize
and supervise the installation of the equipment and associated software at each
meter, base station and repeater location.
2. Contractor's Qualifications. Independent Contractor will assign
Consultants to perform the Services, and Independent Contractor represents and
warrants that Consultants have the following required qualifications:
o Experience in project management and developing wireless communications
networks and related computer systems and software applications
o Developing business processes and procedures
o Managing vendor and client relations
o Engineering expertise related to electricity metering systems and meter
data acquisition systems
3. Rates. For the services performed by Conectisys for on this project,
Company shall pay:
Project Manager: $ 135 / Hour
Senior Electrical Technician: $ 95 / Hour
Design Engineer: $ 90 / Hour
Software Engineer: $ 90 / Hour
