Master Services Agreement

This Master Services Agreement (“MSA”) governs your use of our services.

By executing a Services Agreement with Summit IT that references this MSA, Client (sometimes referred to as “You” or “Your”) agrees to the terms of this MSA. If You are entering into this Agreement on behalf of a company or other legal entity, You represent that You have the authority to bind such entity and its affiliates to these terms and conditions, in which case the terms “You” or “Your” refer to such entity and its affiliates. If You do not have such authority, or if You do not agree with these terms and conditions, You must not accept this Agreement.

Summit IT and Client agree as follows:

1. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Client desires to retain Summit IT to provide services, and Summit IT is willing to perform such services under the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement.

This MSA is accepted in conjunction with one or more Services Agreements together to comprise the Agreement. This MSA remains in effect as long as Client has at least one Services Agreement in effect with Summit IT.

2. EXCLUDED SERVICES

This Agreement only applies to the services as defined in the Services Agreement and does not include additional unstated services that may be requested by Client. Additional services can be provided by Summit IT to Client at a mutually agreed upon rate and will be billed separately. Addition services are not covered by this Agreement unless they are specifically described in an executed Services Agreement.

3. TERM & TERMINATION

If not otherwise specified in the Services Agreement, a Managed Services Agreement automatically renews for a subsequent one (1) year term beginning on the day immediately following the end of the Initial Term, unless either party gives the other (30) days prior written notice of its intent not to renew this Agreement.

This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon (30) days written notice if the other party:
Fails to fulfill in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement and does not cure such failure within thirty (30) days of receipt of such written notice.
Breaches any material term or condition of this Agreement and fails to remedy such breach within (30) days of receipt of such written notice.
Terminates or suspends its business operations, unless it is succeeded by a permitted assignee under this Agreement.
If either party terminates this Agreement, Summit IT will assist Client in the orderly termination of services. Client agrees to pay Summit IT for services associated with rendering such assistance. The cost to Client for these services will not exceed 15% of the final months’ total monthly investment as defined in the Fee and Payment Schedule in the Services Agreement.

Either party may, upon giving thirty (30) days written notice identifying specifically the basis for such notice, terminate this agreement for breach of a material term or condition of this agreement, provided the breaching party has not cured such breach within the thirty (30) day period. In the event of such termination, Client shall pay Summit IT for all services rendered and expenses incurred prior to the date of termination.

4. SERVICE LEVELS

4.1 RESPONSE TIMES. For a Managed Services contract, the following table defines the targets of response times for each priority level.

Issue	Priority	Response Time During Business Hours
Business critical functions unavailable	1 – Emergency	Within 2 hours
Individual critical functions unavailable	2 – Urgent	Within 4 hours
Limited degradation of service or standard administrative services	3 – Normal	Within 24 hours
Small service degradation or minor administrative Services	4 – Low	Within 48 hours

4.2 SUPPORT LEVELS. For a Managed Services contract, the following table defines Summit IT’s support levels:

Support Level	Description
Level 1 Support	All support requests begin in Level 1, where the initial ticket is created and the issue is defined and clearly documented. Basic hardware/software troubleshooting is initiated when required.
Level 2 Support	All support requests that are not be resolved with Level 1 Support are escalated to Level 2, where more complex support on hardware/software issues is provided
Level 3 Support	Support requests that are not resolved by Level 2 Support are escalated to Level 3, where Summit IT collaborates with third Party (Vendor) Support Engineers to resolve the most complex issues.

4.3 SERVICE COVERAGE. For a Managed Services contract, the following applies:

Remote helpdesk and vendor management of Client’s IT network will be provided to the Client by Summit IT through remote means during its hours of operation which are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST Monday through Friday, excluding holidays which are listed on Summit IT’s website www.summititsolutions.com. Network monitoring services will be provided 24x7x365. All services qualifying under these conditions, as well as services that fall outside this scope will fall under the provisions of the Services Agreement.
Summit IT will respond to Client’s service requests under the provisions of the Services Agreement. Service requests must be opened by Client’s designated I.T. contact person(s) via the Client access portal, by sending an email support request to support@summititsolutions.com, or by phone to the help desk. Each service request will be assigned a number for tracking.
Emergency services performed outside of the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST Monday through Friday and holidays which are listed on Summit IT’s website www.summititsolutions.com, will be subject to provisions of the Services Agreement.
This Agreement does not include professional services related to network or hardware upgrades. Summit IT will provide Client with a cost estimate for the required hardware and professional services for these projects. These professional services fall outside the scope of a Managed Services Agreement and are considered Project Services work.
Summit IT will provide support for the hardware and systems specified in the Services Agreement, provided that the hardware is covered under a currently active vendor support contract or replaceable parts are readily available, and all software be genuine, currently licensed and vendor supported. Should any hardware or systems fail to meet these provisions, they will be excluded from this Agreement. Should third party vendor support charges be required in order to resolve any issues, these charges will be passed on to Client after first receiving Client’s written authorization to incur them.
Summit IT will provide ongoing monitoring and security services of the critical devices as indicated in the Services Agreement. Summit IT will provide reporting upon request as well as document critical alerts, scans and event resolutions to Client. Should a problem be discovered during monitoring, Summit IT will make every attempt to rectify the condition in a timely manner through remote means.

4.4 SUPPORT REQUESTS & HOURS OF OPERATION. Support requests will be handled and invoiced as outlined in the applicable Services Agreement. Summit IT’s typical business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Summit IT offices are typically closed for the following holiday schedule, subject to change.

New Year’s Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

New Year’s Eve

If a holiday falls on a weekend, Summit IT may be closed on the Friday before or the Monday after. Exact dates for holiday closures are listed at summititsolutions.com. The Client should confirm Summit IT’s schedule in advance if a service need is anticipated around a holiday.

5. MINUMUM STANDARDS AND COOPERATION REQUIRED FOR SERVICES

In order for Client to qualify for Managed Services from Summit IT, Client’s environment must meet certain minimum standards, including but not limited to operating systems, updates installed, licensed software, and security measures in effect. Summit IT will determine what minimum standards must be met for any given project before services can begin. If Client’s computer systems do not meet the minimum standards required by Summit IT, services cannot be provided.

Client will provide in a timely and professional manner, and at no cost to Summit IT, assistance, cooperation, complete and accurate information and data, such equipment as is agreed to be the responsibility of Client, access to applicable computer and telecommunications facilities and related resources (including, without limitation, networks, firewalls, servers, programs, files, documentation and any passwords required for the provision of the Services), a suitable work environment, and such other resources as are reasonably requested by Summit IT to enable it to perform services contracted for. In addition, Client may be required to conduct preliminary diagnostic steps or to provide additional information related to a support request, prior to a technician being dispatched to Client’s facility. Summit IT will not be liable for any deficiency in performing services if such deficiency results from Client’s failure to provide assistance as reasonably required. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, designating a project manager or contact person to interface with Summit IT during the course of the performance of services.

6. PAYMENT TERMS

6.1 PAYMENTS DUE. Beginning on the Effective Date of this Agreement, Client will be billed according to the Fee and Payment Schedule in the Services Agreement.

Unless stated differently in the Services Agreement, services will be billed monthly with payment due within 15 days.

Summit IT may suspend services to Client if payment is not received within 10 days following the due date on the invoice. Summit IT will not have any responsibility or liability for any interruption of business or other claims, damages or costs of any kind in connection with a suspension of services based on Client’s non-payment of fees.

Client agrees that any and all services requested by Client that fall outside the terms of this Agreement will be considered project work and will be quoted and billed as separate, individual services.

Fees payable under this Agreement do not include the cost of new or replacement hardware, software, cabling or other equipment that may be required to perform services under this Agreement. Client will be quoted a price for new or replacement equipment prior to installation and will approve an estimate and will be billed separately for said equipment.

Client agrees to pay for additional expenses such as airfare, hotel, meals, and related travel expenses for any necessary and agreed upon service-related travel.

6.2 DISPUTED AMOUNTS. Monthly service overage charges and hardware/software costs, if any, will be billed separately. Any amount due to Summit IT under this Agreement is payable in full within 15 days of receipt of an invoice therefore, without withholding, deduction or offset of any amounts for any purpose. For any amount not paid within 30 days of the due date of each invoice, Summit IT reserves the right to charge interest on the past due amount equal to the lesser of 1.5% monthly or the maximum interest charge permissible under applicable law, payable on demand. Any charges not disputed by Client in writing within 15 days of the receipt of an invoice will be deemed approved and accepted by Client.

When a monthly bill due to Summit IT contains both a disputed amount and an undisputed amount, the undisputed amount remains due as specified, while the amount in dispute is investigated.

6.3 TAXES. Client agrees that any Federal, State, or Local Taxes applicable will be added to each invoice for services or materials rendered under this Agreement. Client will pay any such taxes unless a valid exemption certificate is furnished to Summit IT for the state of use.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

In connection with this Agreement, each party will have access to confidential and privileged information made available by the other. Each party shall protect such confidential and privileged information with at least the same standard of care it uses to protect its own confidential information of like kind, but in no case using less than a reasonable degree of care.

Each party and its employees, agents, and representatives shall protect any and all information that is proprietary to the other party and treat it as strictly confidential and privileged. Neither party will at any time or in any manner, either directly or indirectly, use this information for its benefit. Neither party will divulge, disclose, or communicate in any manner any information that is proprietary to the other party to any third party. However, confidential information does not include:

Information that at the time of disclosure is, without fault of the recipient, available to the public;
Information that the recipient can show was independently in its possession at the time of disclosure;

iii. Information received from a third party who had the right to disclose the information without violation of any confidentiality agreement with the other party; or

Information required to be disclosed pursuant to court order or by law, provided that the disclosing party is, to the extent possible, provided with advance notice of any such disclosure, and that any disclosure is limited to the minimum amount of information required.

Subject to each party’s obligations of confidentiality, Summit IT will be free to use the concepts, techniques and know-how used and developed from any services provided under this Agreement and remains free to perform similar services for other clients using its general knowledge, skills and experience.

8. LIABILITY

Summit IT may exclude and will not be held responsible for failures to provide services if any of the following conditions exist:

There is a defect or malfunction in any hardware or software which adversely affects Summit IT’s ability to perform the services
Problems caused by Client’s resources not covered by the services provided under this agreement
Changes made to Client’s network by Client or other outside party that Client failed to timely communicate to Summit IT
Service failures that result from actions or inactions of Client contrary to Summit IT’s recommendations
Delays or downtime due to any factor outside of Summit IT’s reasonable control
Loss of internet connectivity