General terms and conditions

Keep in mind: this was my business - I'm retired since quite a while

If no special conditions ere negotiated between D+DD and the customer, the following was assumed. Please note that the information provided here is not legal matter.

• Accountable time
• Expenses not included
• Reduced rates for large projects
• Sporadic work
• Reasons to interrupt the contract
• Working under subcontract
• Price base

Accountable time

Included activities

• Project administration
• Searching information (including library and Web research).
• Meetings, phone calls, travel and 'business lunches'.
• Installing software and hardware related to the specific project.
• Handling problems with customer-specific software¹ and hardware.
• Supervising subcontractors (e.g. photographer, print shop).

Excluded activities

• Handling problems in the standard documentation software and hardware.
• Refreshment breaks > 15 min.
• Lunch (and other meal) pauses.
• Travel time which can be dedicated to other tasks (e.g. reading at train).

Expenses not included in flat rate

The following expenses are not included in the projects flat rate and will be accounted separately:

• Third party services (proof reading, translation, copying, printing etc..).
• Special software and hardware needed to perform the project (e.g. old releases).
• Copyright and license fees (fonts, photos etc.).
• Travel lump sum for car (CHF/km) or travel cost for other carriers.

Reduced rates for larger projects

Large projects cause less overhead – if they utilise the work force accordingly.

Utilisation is negotiated between D+DD and the customer. Utilisation can not be higher than the Maximum Accountable Time at D+DD (currently 120h/month).

Reduced utilisation by the customer (for example, software to be documented is not ready) reduces the level of rebate in the pertinent accounting period (month). Only the final invoice (not the à conto invoices) account for this situation.

Sporadic work

Sporadic work causes administrative overhead. After 3 months of idle time within a project or between the projects of a client the initial project fee is due. Closing date is the date of the last invoice.

Example: 14 weeks after the work on a manual has been closed the client requests an update of the manual. The idle time was larger than 3 months, hence the initial project fee is due again.

Reasons to interrupt the contract

The following situations interrupt the project contract:

• Customer fails to provide necessary input for longer than one month.
• Customer does not accept replacement of D+DD work force (for example, in case the primary work force falls ill for longer time and D+DD subcontracts the project further).

In these cases negotiations with the customer are initiated to find a solution for both parties (e.g. hand over the project to another service provider).

Working under subcontract

For working under subcontract (D+DD being a mandate) special conditions apply.

Base of rates

Rates of D+DD are based on the guidelines of the Swiss Associciation of Engineers and Architects (SIA Honorarordnung 102) 2001. They allow for +/- 15% variation accounting for regional differeces, duration of contract, responsibility etc. The medium rate in this table is CHF 150.-/h.

Notes

1. D+DD regularly warns its customers not to use MS Word for technical documentation. If the customer insists in using this tool, D+DD reserves the right to terminate the contract.