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Definitions. a) “Agreement” means these Terms and Conditions of Sale.
b) “Affiliates” means in relation to VWR any firm, person or entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by Avantor Funding, Inc. and in relation to Customer means any firm, person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Customer company. “Control” means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting equity, by contract or otherwise, including, but not limited to, ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting equity of such entity.
c) “Confidential Information” means all non-public proprietary and/or confidential information including, but not limited to, manufacturing sources of products (including the manufacturer name, manufacturer site, origin information, and other source information (including as disclosed through survey requests); facility, equipment, or service suppliers; design, procurement, security, qualification, maintenance, and supply chain information; findings from audits of VWR’s suppliers; Product or Services specifications, drawings, or prototypes; standard operating policies, procedures, and training; pricing; computer network and software systems or other technology information; business and or marketing plans; financial data; customer contact information (and other customer material or data); non-public intellectual property; and organization or personnel information.
d) “Customer” means any person or entity purchasing Products or Services from VWR, either directly or through its employees or other individuals.
e) “Products” means the goods that VWR provides to Customer and is comprised of Manufactured Products and Sourced Products:
i) “Manufactured Products” means:
(1) “Custom Products” means those products that are assembled (i.e., with respect to clinical laboratory or science education materials kits) or manufactured by VWR to the written specifications (e.g., relating to the components, raw materials, stability, manufacture, testing, storage, handling, labeling, packaging, and/or shipping of the product) provided by Customer and agreed upon by VWR; and
(2) “Self-Manufactured Products” means those products manufactured by certain of VWR International, LLC’s subsidiaries and affiliated entities, excluding Custom Products.
ii) “Sourced Products” means:
(3) “Core Products” means those products from third-party suppliers with whom VWR has an established supply chain agreement generally covering delivery terms, warranty, pricing, and stocking. (4) “Non Core Products” means those products supplied by VWR to the customer, but which are not part of VWR’s Core Portfolio, and as such are not covered by a distribution agreement with the manufacturer. Their terms and conditions may differ from the previous categories, therefore please confirm with your VWR representative the applicable conditions.
e) “Services” means work performed by employees or subcontractors of VWR for Customer in accordance with a Scope of Work or similar order instrument that details the work and fees associated with a services engagement (each, an “SOW”). VWR’s Services offerings may include but are not limited to: equipment and instrument services, scientific services, laboratory and production support, procurement, vendor managed inventory, kit assembly and ancillary supply site distribution services, and supply chain management.
f) “Taxes” means any and all applicable taxes, duties, fees, levies, or other assessments imposed or collected by any governmental entity worldwide or any political subdivision thereof, however designated or levied, on sales of Products or Services, or sales, use, transfer, goods, and services or value added tax or any other duties or fees related to any Customer payment made to VWR for VWR’s provision of Products and/or Services to Customer under or pursuant to this Agreement; exclusive, however, of any taxes imposed upon the net income or capital of VWR, any taxes in lieu of such net income taxes, and any other taxes that are to be borne by VWR under applicable law.
g) “VWR” means VWR Singapore Pte Ltd, part of Avantor, Inc., and its divisions, subsidiaries, and Affiliate entities utilizing these Terms and Conditions of Sale on their websites, quotation forms, Sales orders, and/or invoices |
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Agreement Terms; Acceptance by Customer. VWR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY ORDER, TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT, OR TO CHANGE THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE, WITHOUT NOTICE TO CUSTOMER, AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON, AND RECEIPT BY CUSTOMER OF A VWR QUOTATION, PRICE LIST, OR CATALOG DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL. ALL SALES BY VWR ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON CUSTOMER'S ASSENT THERETO. CUSTOMER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE ACCEPTED THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BY ISSUING A PURCHASE ORDER OR BY ANY OTHER STATEMENT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, VIA E-MAIL), ACT, COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, OR PERFORMANCE CONSTITUTING ACCEPTANCE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, FAILURE TO OBJECT IN WRITING TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OR BY ACCEPTANCE OF AND/OR PAYMENT FOR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. ALL PURCHASE ORDERS OR SIMILAR ORDER INSTRUMENTS ISSUED BY CUSTOMER WILL BE GOVERNED ONLY BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY ADDITIONAL AND/OR INCONSISTENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN ANY ACKNOWLEDGMENT, PURCHASE ORDER, OR ACCEPTANCE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED FROM AND/OR PROVIDED BY CUSTOMER ARE EXPRESSLY REJECTED. NEITHER VWR’S DELIVERY OF THE PRODUCTS NOR PROVISION OF THE SERVICES NOR ANY OTHER ACTION, CONDUCT, OR PERFORMANCE SHALL CONSTITUTE ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OR CONDITIONS DIFFERENT FROM THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. |
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Delivery, Domestic delivery of all Products will be CFR Origin Dock (Incoterms 2020), and title and risk of loss in all Products will transfer to Customer upon VWR's delivery of such Products to the carrier or agent at VWR’s or VWR’s supplier’s facility, as applicable, regardless of the freight term specified for transportation purposes. Unless otherwise agreed to by VWR in writing, VWR reserves the right to choose the carrier, forwarding company, and means of transport. Where and to the extent permitted by applicable law, shipping and handling fees, special packaging materials, carrier surcharges (including, without limitation, fuel surcharges), shipping palettes, environment-controlled shipping, and/or hazardous material fees imposed by government regulation will be added separately to the invoice. Customer acknowledges that VWR may refer to shipping and other fees on VWR’s invoices as “freight costs,” “handling fees,” “expense recovery,” or similar terms. The shipping and other fees that VWR charges may not be limited to VWR’s actual transportation costs and may include other shipping and handling costs.
Shipping and/or delivery dates set forth in a VWR quotation or order acknowledgement are based on estimates at the time of the quotation or order acknowledgement. VWR shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ship the Products in accordance with the shipping and/or delivery dates, provided that the foregoing will not constitute a guaranty of compliance with the quoted shipping and/or delivery dates, and VWR will not be liable for any direct or indirect costs or damages incurred by Customer or any third party, including, without limitation, incidental or consequential damages, resulting from late deliveries. |
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Damaged Shipments; Inspection. Customer shall immediately inspect all deliveries for shipping damage upon receipt. If any external damage is noticed, Customer shall accept the shipment only after the driver has noted the damage on both carrier’s and Customer’s copies of the delivery receipt and Customer has requested an inspection by the carrier. Customer shall keep all containers and packing material for inspection. Customer shall promptly inspect all shipments for concealed shipping damage, defects, or shortages, notify VWR of any such damage, defect, or shortage, and cooperate with VWR in arranging an inspection by the carrier and the filing of a freight claim as applicable; provided that on all sales where Customer arranges transportation, in the event of loss or damage in transit, Customer should file its own claim with the carrier. With respect to shipping damage, Customer must contact VWR to request inspection within twenty-four (24) hours of delivery or unconditionally waive any right to make any claim relating to the damaged Products, including, without limitation, under the warranty set forth herein. With respect to other claims, Customer’s failure to notify VWR within thirty (30) days of delivery (or Customer’s non-receipt the Products in the case of non-delivery) of defects or shortages reasonably discoverable upon proper inspection will be deemed an unconditional waiver of any right to make any claim relating to the defective or missing Products, including, without limitation, under the warranty set forth herein. |
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Export Shipment Terms. Unless otherwise agreed to by VWR in writing, delivery of orders by VWR exports will be EXW Origin Dock (Incoterms 2020). Customer will have fifteen (15) days to pick up the order after being notified by VWR of freight availability at VWR’s designated Named Place, after which VWR reserves the right to assess and bill Customer for storage fees, including but not limited to demurrage. For routed exports, where Customer’s nominated freight forwarder is used, all claims for damage will be the responsibility of Customer. |
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Prices.
a) Products. Unless explicitly specified in a written quotation, all prices and product specifications are subject to change without prior notice to Customer. VWR quotations are valid for the period specified on the quotation; provided, however, that quoted pricing is subject to adjustment based on shipment arrangements or other terms and conditions which were not part of VWR’s original quotation. If VWR has not provided a quotation, pricing will be determined based on the Product price published on VWR’s website at the time of the order. For orders for Manufactured Products placed prior to any annual price change with shipment occurring after such annual price change, VWR reserves the right to change its price to Customer to the current Product price as of the date of shipment. In case of changes in shipment terms from the ones agreed in Sales Order or Purchase order, for example from sea shipment to air shipment with Customers’ approval the shipment charges will change and Customer agrees to pay the additional charges.
b) Fixed-Price Services. The price to Customer for fixed-price Services will be as set forth in the respective Statement Of Work (SOW). Unless otherwise expressly stated in each applicable SOW: (i) all Service fees are quoted on a monthly basis, and Customer shall pay such Service fees regardless of temporary planned or unplanned Customer site closures; (ii) all prices stated in the SOW will be subject to an annual review and increase, effective January 1 of each calendar year for the duration of the Services engagement; and (iii) overtime that is approved by Customer will be billed to Customer at the hourly overtime rate set forth in the applicable SOW. All monthly Services fees are due in full regardless of whether VWR on-site employees or subcontractors were present at Customer’s site(s) each day (or each hour of each day) for the applicable month that is being invoiced, provided that the Services in any applicable SOW have otherwise been materially performed. Additional Services or change in scope in any applicable SOW(s) may require additional resources to meet the appropriate service level. In the event that additional resources are needed, the parties will review the applicable SOW and negotiate the scope of the Services performed and/or any Services cost increase. The fees and charges for any follow-on or additional work not described in the applicable SOW will be performed at VWR's then-current rates for such work.
c) Other Services. Prices for Services not covered under a fixed-price SOW will be those prices in effect at the time the Services are provided or quoted, and may be adjusted to include any necessary surcharge(s). Unless otherwise agreed by VWR in writing, VWR prices do not include the cost of any related inspections, inspection fees, or permits. Prices for billable parts will be VWR’s standard rates in effect at the time of installation. Subject to the limited warranties specified herein, the sale of billable parts will be considered final. If equipment requires major repair outside the scope of any contract with Customer, VWR will provide Customer with an itemized estimate of the cost to perform said repair. Installation terms for purchase orders for the installation of scientific laboratory equipment or furniture will be as set forth on VWR’s quotation form.
d) Sales Tax. Taxes, where applicable, will be added as a separate line item to the invoice price. Customer shall pay to VWR the amount of any Taxes. If any claim is made against VWR for any such Taxes, VWR shall promptly notify Customer of the amount of such Taxes and Customer shall promptly pay such amount to VWR or its designated payee. If Customer possesses or otherwise enjoys tax-exempt status, Customer shall provide a duly authorized certificate of tax exemption to VWR prior to or at the time of order placement or as otherwise requested by VWR from time to time, and shall notify VWR upon change in Customer’s tax-exempt status. |
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Payment Terms. Customer shall pay individual invoices net thirty (30) days from date of invoice, unless other credit terms are agreed to in writing by VWR; summary invoices, if any, will be due as agreed. Payments are to be made in the currency invoiced by VWR, including applicable taxes, and other charges such as government-imposed surcharges which VWR may be required to pay or collect with respect to the sale or transportation of the Products, or the provision of Services. Customer shall provide VWR, concurrent with each payment, with remittance information in sufficient detail (to the invoice level or line level, as applicable) to allow VWR to properly apply payments or credit memos to outstanding receivable(s) on VWR's accounts receivable sub-ledger for Customer. Customer shall also include its account number with any remittance. Failure to supply VWR with such remittance detail will result in additional processing delays and may affect the credit status of pending or future Customer purchase orders. When Customer wishes to apply one or more credit memos towards a payment amount owed VWR, Customer agrees to provide VWR, on a timely basis, the specific credit memo number(s) and amount(s) to be applied, in addition to the remittance information requirements above. If Customer does not provide such information on a timely basis, VWR shall apply any such credit memos to outstanding receivables, beginning with the most-aged receivables first. Payments will be credited to Customer's account the day after the deposit appears on VWR’s bank account. For payment in the form of a check, no post-dated check will be accepted. Delinquent accounts will be subject to a service charge on past due amounts of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month, or the maximum amount permitted by law, plus Taxes, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and other collections costs, if any, incurred by VWR. VWR recommends payments be made by wire transfer to ensure timely receipt by VWR. VWR reserves the right to: (i) require C.O.D. (subject to a handling fee) or impose more stringent payment requirements (including, without limitation, payment in advance) on Customer if Customer’s account is overdue or if Customer has an unsatisfactory credit or payment record, as determined by VWR in its sole discretion, and to refuse to sell to Customer or otherwise perform hereunder until all overdue amounts are paid in full; (ii) charge a convenience fee on any post-sale credit card payments by Customer; (iii) charge a fee for any checks rejected due to insufficient funds; (iv) charge a service fee for any re-invoicing requested by Customer; and (v) furnish payment history data and related information to third party companies for fraud protection and credit risk reduction. |
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Credit control. Customer agrees to complete, sign and submit a standard VWR credit application to VWR Credit Control Department. Customer will provide, or make available to VWR upon request, a certified true copy of its latest audited financial statements (or unaudited financial statements, if audits are not performed). VWR agrees to keep such information confidential and to use it exclusively to evaluate and apply a credit score or rating to Customer for extension of credit purposes or pending transactions. Furthermore, Customer agrees to inform VWR of any material adverse change in its business that would reasonably be expected (by an independent 3rd party) to negatively impact its outstanding or future payment obligations and the terms or conditions contained herein. A change shall include, but not be limited to, any change in Customer's credit rating as determined by any single major rating agency, including Standard & Poor's, Moody's, Fitch or Dominion Bond Rating Service. |
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Cancellation and Product Return Policy. Only for Products that do not meet the limited Product warranty set forth herein, Customer may either cancel or return Products in accordance with the following:
a) Customer may not cancel or modify an order without the prior written consent of VWR, which may be withheld for any reason or no reason at all, and any changes may be subject to price adjustment and/or cancellation fees. Custom Products and Services are not cancellable. In the event VWR consents to the cancellation of Custom Products, Customer shall reimburse VWR for any and all goods or services that were procured by VWR for the Custom Products, any works-in-progress for Custom Products, and any charges incurred by VWR for the receipt or return of goods used to build Custom Product(s). If any Services hereunder are canceled or terminated, Customer will pay to VWR the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by VWR prior to receipt of notice of such cancellation, plus VWR’s usual rate of profit for similar work. The minimum cancellation charge for Services is twenty five percent (25%) of the total Services price.
b) All Product returns must be authorized by VWR, and VWR reserves the right to reject any returns requested more than thirty (30) days after the delivery date. VWR must receive all authorized returns within thirty (30) days of the return authorization. Custom Products are not returnable. VWR reserves the right to reject any return shipment of Product that has not been authorized by VWR or to return such shipment to Customer at Customer’s expense. If any Product is erroneously shipped to or returned to a VWR facility, Customer will be responsible for removing the Product from VWR’s facility immediately in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. c) All returns are subject to a minimum fifteen percent (15%) restocking charge for Sourced Products and a minimum twenty-five percent (25%) restocking charge for Manufactured Products. Those restocking charges are waived in the event the return is linked to a quality issue, wrong product or quantity shipped, or any other reason attributable to VWR only. In the event VWR authorizes a return of Manufactured Products, Customer will be responsible for all disposal fees in addition to any restocking charges. Customer is responsible for all transportation fees related to returned Product unless otherwise authorized in advance by VWR. To ensure proper credit, each Product return must include the following information:
i) Customer Name and Address, ii) Purchase Order Number, iii) VWR Shipping Order Number, iv) Date of Invoice and Invoice Number, v) Item Number and Quantity of Returned Product(s), vi) VWR Return Authorization Number, vii) Reason for Return
c) Products not authorized for return include:
i) Products that have been provided under terms indicating that they are non-returnable
ii) Products not in completely resalable condition (including, without limitation, open Products, sampled Products, or Products with damaged, missing, or defaced labeling or packaging)
iii) Products in less than full-case quantities that were sold in full-case quantities
iv) Chemicals, reagents, diagnostics, cultivation media, flammable material, sterile Products, or controlled Products
v) Laboratory apparatus or instruments that have been used or are without the original packaging, labeling, and manuals
vi) Refrigerated Products, temperature-controlled Products, live specimens, or other perishables
vii) Products which are not inventoried by VWR (“non-stocked Products”) and are not able to be returned to the manufacturer viii) Products purchased on a special-order basis (including, without limitation, non-standard furniture Products)
ix) Products not purchased by Customer from VWR
x) Products with an expired shelf life or an expiration date too short for resale
xi) Discontinued Products
xii) Custom Products
d) Where the return of hazardous material is authorized by VWR, Customer shall pack and label each return shipment of hazardous materials in accordance with applicable laws and regulations applying to transportation of hazardous materials and provide shipping documents that comply with applicable laws and regulations. When necessary, Customer shall include with each return shipment of equipment a certification from an authorized representative of Customer that the equipment was properly decontaminated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and recommended guidelines. Customer shall ship the Product to the service center indicated by VWR with the transportation charges prepaid. To ensure prompt handling, Customer shall place the return authorization number on the outside of the package and utilize any return authorization provided by VWR as a packing slip with the returned Products. All returned Products are subject to VWR’s inspection and acceptance. Title and risk of loss in the returned Products will transfer to VWR only upon VWR’s acceptance of the Products.
e) In the event a VWR entity establishes a return and/or cancellation policy that differs from the terms set forth in this Section 10, the stricter VWR requirement shall prevail in the event of a conflict. |
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Weights and Containers.
a) VWR’s weights and counts shall govern unless proved to be in manifest error.
b) Unless covered by separate contract, returnable containers (each, a “Container”) are the property of VWR and are leased to Customer. Payment of a deposit or rental fee, when required by VWR, does not convey title to such Containers. Customer shall return each Container empty, as defined pursuant to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulation 40 CFR 261.7, within sixty (60) days from date of shipment, freight charges collect and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to those of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Upon receipt of the Container within sixty (60) days, in good condition, any deposit will be returned or credited
c) Customer is responsible for any damage, destruction, or misuse of the Containers caused by Customer, normal wear and tear excepted. Customer shall not use or permit the use of the Containers in a manner that will permit the introduction of any contamination or of any liquid, solid, or gas, except inert gas for propellant purposes (not including oxygen or compressed air), into the Containers. VWR reserves the right to charge for loss of use of a Container as a result of Customer loss, damage, contamination, improper handling, or other action that prevents VWR from using the Container in the normal course of business, including, without limitation, any Container repair and/or Container cleaning fees for any Containers that are damaged or contaminated but serviceable or that have opened tamper-evident seals, if applicable. Customer also agrees to pay to replace any Container which is lost or damaged beyond repair by Customer. Additional terms and conditions or policies, as posted on VWR’s website or otherwise communicated to Customer from time-to-time, may apply to VWR’s provision of Containers. |
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Product and Services Warranties; Limitation of Liability.
a) Limited Product Warranty for Sourced Products. VWR warrants to the original Customer only that all Core Products sold hereunder will conform to the manufacturer’s specifications and release tolerances for a term equal to the warranty period stated in the Product manufacturer’s literature. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Core Products that are software and any software incorporated in or necessary to use the Core Products (“Software Products”) are warranted solely by the applicable manufacturer or licensor, and VWR shall pass through, to the extent permitted, the manufacturer’s and/or licensor’s warranties. Customer’s use of any Software Product is subject to the terms and conditions of the manufacturer’s and/or licensor’s license terms, including any end user license agreement, in whatever form (e.g., terms packaged with the Software Products or “click-through” terms), in addition to this Agreement. For all Non-Core Products, VWR shall use reasonable efforts to assist Customer in obtaining sellers’ and manufacturers’ warranties applicable to the Products sold to Customer hereunder, consistent with the warranties obtained from such sellers and manufacturers by VWR.
b) Limited Product Warranty for Manufactured Products. VWR warrants to the original Customer only that Self-Manufactured Products will materially conform to VWR’s standard specifications in effect on the date of shipment for the shorter of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery or the shelf-life of the Self-Manufactured Product. For a period of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery, VWR warrants to the original Customer only that Custom Products will be assembled or manufactured, as applicable, to the specifications provided by Customer and agreed upon by VWR. The foregoing warranties are limited to Manufactured Products, as applicable, bearing VWR’s label in VWR’s original packaging. VWR does not warrant as to the safety, efficacy, or performance of any such Custom Products or as to the quality of such Custom Products to the extent attributable to the specifications. With respect to Custom Products that are kits, the limited warranty for component Products is as set forth in Section 11(a). Custom Products are subject to a plus or minus (+/-) ten percent (10%) yield policy with regard to volume produced.
c) Services Warranty. VWR warrants that Services provided hereunder will be of the kind and quality designated and will be performed by qualified personnel. VWR shall use reasonable efforts, based on the information supplied by Customer, to have all Services performed in a workmanlike and professional manner by employees or subcontractors of VWR having a level of skill commensurate with the requirements of this Agreement. VWR's performance of the Services called for by this Agreement do not and will not violate any applicable law, rule, or regulation; any contracts with third parties; or any third-party rights in any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or similar right. The following warranty periods will apply to the Services: (i) thirty (30) days after the work is completed for Services performed under an existing Services engagement; (ii) forty-eight (48) hours for any Services not performed under an existing Services engagement (a “call service”); or (iii) one (1) year from the installation date on installation Services for laboratory casework. All parts provided by VWR in performing the Services will meet the manufacturer's specifications up to a term equal to the warranty period stated in the part manufacturer's literature.
d) Exclusions. Customer must notify VWR of defective or non-conforming Products within the warranty periods specified in the limited Product warranty set forth herein or within thirty (30) days after Customer learns of the facts giving rise to the claim, whichever first occurs, and Customer’s failure to give notice of any claim within the applicable time period shall be deemed an absolute and unconditional waiver of such claim. The liability of VWR under the limited Product warranty set forth herein will not extend to any Products that are abused, altered, improperly stored, or misused by Customer or any other persons or entities or that become defective or non-conforming through the actions or inaction of Customer or any other persons or entities, including through the combination with other chemicals or products.
Customer will have the obligation of substantiating the chain of custody of the Products following delivery of the Products to Customer. VWR is not responsible for the impact of factors including, without limitation, machine cycles, sanitation, humidity, and operator practices (including, without limitation, misuse, abuse, and/or negligent operation, or unauthorized modifications, adjustments, and/or repairs) on serviced equipment and will not be required to perform Services or provide the warranty set forth herein on equipment subjected to such factors. Any Services performed by VWR on equipment subjected to such factors will be on a time and materials basis only. All formulae, drawings, illustrations, descriptive matter, and particulars contained in VWR’s catalogs, website, and marketing materials, and any technical advice or other statements given by VWR or its representatives with respect to the use of the Products or any results that may be obtained therefrom, are indicative only and do not form a part of this Agreement and are not representations and warranties of any kind.
e) Disclaimer. VWR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, OR GUARANTEES WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER STATUTORY, WRITTEN, ORAL, EXPRESS,
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY (i) WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, SUITABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (ii) WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE; AND (iii) ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS.
f) Product Remedy. At VWR’s request, Customer shall promptly forward to VWR any allegedly defective or non-conforming Product or a representative sample thereof, as specified by VWR. If any Product warranted hereunder proves defective or nonconforming, as determined by VWR in its sole reasonable discretion, VWR's sole and exclusive obligation and Customer's sole and exclusive remedy hereunder will be for VWR, at VWR's option, to: (i) replace at no cost to Customer, any such defective or nonconforming Product with a non-defective or conforming Product; (ii) in the event a return is authorized, credit Customer's account for all amounts paid with respect to the defective or non-conforming Product upon VWR's receipt of, and opportunity to evaluate, the defective or non-conforming Product; or (iii) repair or have repaired (including, through re-working or re-processing, as applicable) a defective or non-conforming Product. In the event of replacement, the replacement Product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period. For purposes of this Agreement, a defective or non-conforming Product is defined only as a Product that does not meet the limited product warranty set forth herein, and excludes Products that fail to meet any fitness of use by Customer or any unique Customer operating conditions or applications.
g) Services Remedy. With respect to the labor, if any Services warranted hereunder prove defective or non-conforming, VWR's sole liability and Customer's sole remedy hereunder will be for VWR, at VWR’s option to: (i) re-perform the Services, at no cost to Customer; or (ii) credit Customer's account for all amounts paid with respect to the defective or non-conforming Services. With respect to any parts provided by VWR in performing the Services, if any such parts prove defective or non-conforming during the first thirty (30) days after installation, VWR’s sole liability and Customer’s sole remedy hereunder will be for VWR, at VWR’s option, to: (i) refund the purchase price; or (ii) modify, repair, or supply a replacement part, including labor and travel, free of charge to Customer. For the remainder of the warranty period, VWR’s sole liability and Customer’s sole remedy hereunder will be for VWR, at VWR’s option, to: (i) refund the purchase price; or (ii) modify, repair, or supply a replacement part, provided Customer agrees to pay reasonable labor, travel time, and expenses to and from a service location authorized by VWR. VWR, at its option, may require Customer to return the part to VWR, F.O.B. origin, or may modify, repair, or supply a replacement part at the point of installation. VWR will accept no responsibility if such part has been improperly operated or maintained, or if Customer has permitted any unauthorized or third-party modifications, adjustments, and/or repairs to the part.
h) Waiver. Customer acknowledges that VWR is not the manufacturer of any of the Sourced Products sold hereunder. Customer hereby waives any and all actions, claims, suits, and demands of any type whatsoever (including, without limitation, claims based on strict liability, products liability, tort, or contract) against VWR, its subcontractors, or its agents, or any of its or their respective employees, for personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage arising out of or in any way connected with the Services or Customer’s receipt, handling, storage, possession, transportation, disposal, purchase, resale, or use of the Products (whether used singly or in combination with other products), except to the extent caused by the gross negligence of VWR, its subcontractors, or its agents, or any of its or their respective employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, VWR disclaims, and Customer releases VWR from, any and all liability for claims based upon the death or bodily injury to any person or for the loss of, damage to, or destruction of any property so long as VWR, its subcontractors, or its agents were acting in compliance with Customer policies, procedures, and specifications of which VWR had been given notice.
i) Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT WILL VWR HAVE ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, BUSINESS, USE, DATA, PRODUCTIVITY, OR GOODWILL OR COST OF CAPITAL, RECALL, OR COVER) WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTY), TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY OR FORM OF ACTION, EVEN IF VWR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF VWR (INCLUDING ITS SUBCONTRACTORS AND AGENTS), IF ANY, FOR DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE WILL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PRICE OR FEES PAID FOR THE PARTICULAR PRODUCT(S) OR SERVICES IN RESPECT TO WHICH SUCH DAMAGES ARISE. HOWEVER, THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT LIMIT OUR LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED BY LAW.
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Indemnity. Customer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless each of VWR, its subsidiaries, affiliated entities, and divisions, and its or their respective successors, assigns, officers, directors, shareholders, subcontractors, agents, employees, and representatives (each, a “Customer-Indemnified Party”) from and against, and in respect of, any and all actions, claims, suits, judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, settlement payments, penalties, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) of every kind whatsoever (collectively, “Damages”) arising out of, from, or in connection with any: (i) patent, copyright, or trademark infringement, or violation of any other proprietary right, arising out of the use of any Product or any specifications furnished by Customer; (ii) breach by Customer of any term or provision of this Agreement; (iii) Damages arising out of or relating to Customer’s receipt, handling, storage, possession, transportation, disposal, purchase, resale, or use of any Product (whether used singly or in combination with other products); and (iv) wrongful or negligent act or omission by any of Customer or its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, servants, employees, and representatives; provided, that this section will not obligate Customer to indemnify any Customer-Indemnified Party for any portion of Damages directly attributable to, and directly caused by, the negligence of a Customer-Indemnified Party. Customer may not settle any such claim against a Customer-Indemnified Party without the prior written consent of such Customer-Indemnified Party. If Customer elects not to assume such defense, the Customer-Indemnified Party may elect to do so and Customer shall pay all costs and expenses of counsel selected by such Customer-Indemnified Party in connection with such defense. Any legal counsel appointed by Customer to defend such a claim must be experienced in the type of litigation involved and must be reasonably satisfactory to the Customer-Indemnified Party. Customer and each Customer-Indemnified Party shall cooperate fully in connection with all matters related to the defense of any such claim. |
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Customer’s Obligations, Products. Customer represents and warrants that it is familiar with the characteristics, qualities and uses of the Products that it is purchasing from VWR and acknowledges that there may be hazards associated with the possession and use of the Products. Customer is responsible for instructing and warning its employees and all other persons who may come into contact with the Products regarding such hazards. Unless otherwise expressly stated on the Products or in the documentation accompanying the Products, the Products are intended for research only and are not to be used for any other purpose, including, without limitation, unauthorized commercial uses, in vitro diagnostic uses, ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic uses, or any type of consumption by or application to humans or animals, and VWR does not assume any warranty or liability for such uses unless stated on the Product or in the Product documentation. Customer is solely responsible for conducting all necessary testing and verification, including for fitness for the intended purpose, prior to the use of Product(s) purchased from VWR. |
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Customer’s Obligations, Services. With respect to the Services, Customer shall at its expense: (i) make available to VWR space and facilities, including, but not limited to, functional telephone and internet connectivity, reasonably satisfactory to VWR and appropriate for the safe and efficient performance of the Services; (ii) for ongoing Services engagements, give VWR sixty (60) days’ notice prior to any production down time that will last longer than seven (7) days; (iii) provide adequate access to all necessary customer systems, facilities, and facility-related training for VWR on-site employees and subcontractors identified as providers of the Services; and (iv) ensure proper and adequate back-up and storage procedures for Customer’s data and records. |
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Export Controls. Products purchased or received under this Agreement, which may include technology and software, are subject to the customs and export control laws, restrictions, regulations, and orders of the United States of America (“U.S.”) and may also be subject to the customs and export laws and regulations of the country in which the Products are manufactured and/or received. Customer agrees to comply with all applicable export laws, rules, restrictions, and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the Export Administration Act of 1979 and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, and represents and warrants that it shall not: (i) export, or transfer for the purpose of re-export, any Product to any prohibited or embargoed country or to any denied, blocked, or designated person or entity in violation of applicable law; or (ii) transfer, by electronic transmission or otherwise, any software or technology to a foreign national or a foreign destination in violation of applicable law. Customer represents and warrants that it is not on the Denied Persons, Specially Designated Nationals, or Debarred Persons List, or any equivalent list maintained by a foreign regulatory authority, and is not otherwise prohibited by law from purchasing the Products or Services hereunder. Customer shall obtain any license to export, re-export or import as may be required. |
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Anti-corruption. Customer represents and warrants that: (i) it is familiar with and understands the terms of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“U.S. FCPA”), and that it shall comply with the U.S. FCPA and all other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws or regulations of any other country or jurisdiction that are applicable to the parties’ business activities hereunder; (ii) no principal, partner, officer, director, or employee of Customer is or will become an official of any governmental body of any country or jurisdiction (other than the U.S.) that is applicable to the parties’ business activities hereunder; and (iii) it has not and shall not offer, pay, give, or promise to pay or give, directly or indirectly (including through a third party or intermediary) any payment or gift of any money or thing of value to any government official, government employee (or employee of any company owned in part by a government), political party, political party official, or candidate for any government or political office (each, a “Government Official”) to influence any acts or decisions of such Government Official or to induce such official to use his or her influence with the local government to effect or influence the decision of such government in order to assist either VWR or Customer in its performance of their obligations under this Agreement or to benefit VWR. Failure by Customer to comply with this section will be deemed a material breach of a material provision of this Agreement and VWR will have the right to immediately terminate this Agreement and its performance without any liability to Customer. |
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Confidential Information. Customer shall maintain in confidence, not disclose to any third party, and not use, except for the specific purpose of performing under this Agreement, all Confidential Information furnished to it by VWR in connection with this Agreement, as a result of discussions, negotiations, or other communications with VWR in relation to the Products or Services, or derived from VWR in performance of this Agreement, and shall return to VWR, upon request, all copies then in Customer’s possession of VWR’s Confidential Information. Customer shall inform its employees, agents, and representatives of these obligations and shall require them to assume equivalent obligations, and is liable for the acts and omissions of its employees, agents, and representatives with respect to VWR’s Confidential Information. Customer acknowledges that VWR would not have any adequate remedy at law for the breach by Customer of any one or more of its obligations contained in this section, and agrees that in the event of any such actual or potential breach, VWR may, in addition to the other remedies that may be available, file a suit in equity to enjoin Customer therefrom. |
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Ownership Rights. Except as expressly set forth herein, no right, title or interest in or to VWR’s intellectual property or proprietary rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) is granted by VWR to Customer whether by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, and the sale of Products and Services to Customer hereunder shall have no effect on VWR’s Intellectual Property Rights with respect to the Products and Services, including, without limitation, any and all patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark, trade dress, and service mark rights relating to the Manufactured Products. Without limiting the foregoing, VWR is and will remain the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to its standard operating procedures, specifications, drawings, and designs, and, if applicable, its proprietary software licensed to Customer hereunder, including any improvements or other inventions relating thereto. Customer agrees to respect all such rights, and to take or permit to be taken no actions which would infringe upon such rights. Customer shall not derive or attempt to derive by reverse engineering, disassembling, or otherwise any portion of the proprietary software. As between Customer and VWR, all Intellectual Property Rights in and to the Services or any materials, processes, ideas, concepts, techniques, inventions, discoveries, or improvements produced by VWR or provided by VWR under this Agreement will be the property of VWR. Effective upon completion of the Services and payment by Customer of the fees and expenses invoiced by VWR with respect thereto, Customer will have a nonexclusive license to use the materials and processes developed and provided by VWR under this Agreement for Customer throughout Customer's organization. Customer's interest in and obligations with respect to any programming, materials, or data to be obtained from third-party vendors, whether or not obtained with the assistance of VWR, will be determined in accordance with the agreements and policies of such vendors. |
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Miscellaneous. a) Force Majeure. VWR will not be liable in the event it is prevented in whole or in material part from performing its obligations under this Agreement by circumstances beyond its reasonable control (including, without limitation, any war, riot, insurrection, terrorist act, civil commotion, labor strike, lockout, slowdown, or other civil disorder; fire, flood, storm, earthquake, natural disaster, pandemic, epidemic, or other act of God; shortages or inability to obtain necessary labor, power, fuel, energy, materials, supplies, equipment, machinery, or manufacturing facilities at reasonable prices from regular sources; machinery breakage; failure of a communications or Internet provider; transportation delays; or any then prevailing applicable law, rule, or regulation, including export or import controls, or other act or order of any court, government or governmental agency).
b) Nature of Relationship. Neither party nor its employees, permitted subcontractors, or agents will, under any circumstances, be considered to be an agent, partner, joint venturer, or representative of the other party, or anything other than an independent contractor for all purposes of this Agreement, and except as may be authorized specifically in writing, neither party has express or implied authority to bind the other in any manner whatsoever by virtue of this Agreement.
c) Assignment. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and designees; provided, however, neither party will have the right to transfer, assign or delegate its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any portion thereof without the prior written consent of the other party (except that VWR may assign this Agreement to a parent, subsidiary, or successor corporation without such consent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, VWR will have the right, without the prior approval of Customer, to appoint subcontractor(s) or agent(s) to perform certain services hereunder.
d) Mutual Representations. Each party represents and warrants that it: (i) is authorized to enter into this Agreement and that in so doing it is not in violation of the terms or conditions of any contract or other agreement to which it may be a party; and (ii) has or shall obtain all appropriate consents or permissions to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to disclose any information to the other Party. Customer further represents and warrants that it: (i) shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations (including, without limitation, permitting and licensing requirements) related to its performance hereunder and in the receipt, handling, storage, possession, transport, disposal, purchase, resale, or use of any Product; and (ii) owns all right, title, and interest in and to, or has full and sufficient right and authority to use in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, any programming, materials, specifications or data furnished by Customer to VWR in connection with VWR's performance of the Services. The Products and Services provided by VWR are intended for purchase and use by persons or entities acting in a professional, business, or trade capacity (each, a “Commercial Customer”), and are not intended for purchase or use by consumers for personal, family, or household purposes. By ordering Products or Services, Customer represents and warrants that it is a Commercial Customer engaging in a commercial transaction.
e) Applicable Law and jurisdiction. This Agreement is made pursuant to, and will be construed and enforced exclusively in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (and U.S. federal law, to the extent applicable) or the principal place of business of the particular VWR affiliated company transacting business with Customer, without giving effect to otherwise applicable principles of conflicts of law. Any lawsuit arising from or related to this Agreement must be brought exclusively before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania or any Commonwealth court sitting in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, or the applicable courts of the principal place of business of the VWR affiliated company transacting business with Customer, and each party hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any such court. The parties hereby expressly exclude the application of The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods to this Agreement, including, without limitation, Article 35(2) thereof. CUSTOMER EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY HAVE NOW OR LATER TO THE VENUE OR JURISDICTION OF ANY ACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BASED UPON LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION, IMPROPER VENUE, FORUM NON CONVENIENS, OR SIMILAR GROUNDS.
f) Merger, Modification, Waiver; Construction and Interpretation; Survival. This Agreement comprises the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, there being no prior or contemporaneous written or oral promises or representations not incorporated herein. No amendment, modification or waiver of the terms of this Agreement will be binding on either party unless reduced to writing and signed by an authorized officer of the party to be bound, and in the case of a waiver, will be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given, and will not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. The failure of either party to enforce at any time or for any period of time any of the provisions of this Agreement will not be construed as a waiver of such provisions or of the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. The captions in this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of, and will not be considered in construing, this Agreement. If any portion of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, the remainder of this Agreement will not be deemed invalid but will remain in full force and effect. No course of dealing, usage of trade, or course of performance will supplement, explain, or amend any term, condition, or instruction of this Agreement or any shipment of Products or provision of Services hereunder. Stenographical, clerical, or computer errors on the face of any VWR quotation, invoice, or other form will be subject to correction by VWR. Sections 2, 7-9, 11-13, and 15-19 will survive termination of this Agreement or termination or cancellation of any purchase order.
g) No Third-Party Beneficiary Rights. This Agreement is not intended to and will not be construed to give any third party any interest or rights (including, without limitation, any third-party beneficiary rights) with respect to or in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
h) Authority to Enter Into Agreement – Each party represents and warrants that it is authorized to enter into this Agreement and that in so doing it is not in violation of the terms or conditions of any contract or other agreement to which it may be a party.
i) Clearance Sale Terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the following terms and conditions apply to all clearance sale or clearance priced Products:
(i) Products are available in limited quantities on a first come, first serve basis, and pricing is not applicable to substituted items; (ii) additional discounts cannot be combined with clearance sale pricing; (iii) all sales are final, and VWR will not accept returns for any reason; and (iv) VWR reserves the right to modify or terminate the promotion at any time. ALL PRODUCTS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS, WHERE IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS, AND VWR MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS, WHETHER STATUTORY, WRITTEN, ORAL, EXPRESS, OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SUITABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
j) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either party for convenience at any time upon reasonable written notice delivered to the other party. Any termination or expiration of this Agreement, Customer shall be billed immediately for Products shipped through the effective date of such termination or expiration and all custom Products purchased for Customer in VWR's inventories at such date, and Customer shall pay the invoiced amount immediately upon receipt of such invoice.
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