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Performance Services Subcontract

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Performance Services Subcontract

Parties

This Performance Services Subcontract (the "Subcontract") is entered into as of by and between:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Prime Contractor engages in the production and delivery of live or recorded performance services and requires certain performance services for an identified engagement; and

WHEREAS, Subcontractor represents that it has the expertise, personnel, equipment and licenses necessary to perform the services set forth in this Subcontract; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Subcontractor shall provide the performance services detailed below in a professional manner consistent with industry standards. Services shall include, at minimum, the following description and deliverables:

Payment Terms

As full compensation for the services rendered under this Subcontract, Prime Contractor shall pay Subcontractor the amounts and on the schedule below.

Deposit: Subcontractor shall receive a deposit of upon execution of this Subcontract. Final balance shall be due days after completion or as otherwise set forth above.

Late Payment: Any undisputed past due amount shall accrue interest at the rate of percent per month (or the maximum permitted by law, whichever is less), and Prime Contractor shall reimburse Subcontractor for reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees incurred in enforcing payment.

Term and Termination

Term: This Subcontract commences on and, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Subcontract, terminates on .

Termination for Cause: Either party may terminate this Subcontract for material breach by the other party if the breaching party fails to cure such breach within days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Termination for Convenience: Prime Contractor may terminate this Subcontract for convenience upon providing days' prior written notice to Subcontractor, in which case Prime Contractor shall pay Subcontractor for all properly performed services and unrecoverable costs incurred through the effective date of termination, subject to offset for any damages or expenses caused by Subcontractor.

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that in connection with this Subcontract it may receive Confidential Information of the other party. "Confidential Information" means non-public information designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential. Each party shall (i) use Confidential Information only to perform its obligations under this Subcontract; (ii) restrict disclosure to employees or agents with a need to know; and (iii) protect the Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information of like importance, but no less than reasonable care. Confidential Information shall not include information that is publicly available, independently developed without use of the other party's Confidential Information, or required to be disclosed by law; provided that the disclosing party gives prompt notice and assistance in any compelled disclosure.

Insurance and Indemnification

Insurance: Subcontractor shall maintain, at its expense, commercial general liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and such other insurance as Prime Contractor may reasonably require. Subcontractor shall provide certificates of insurance upon request.

Indemnification: Subcontractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Prime Contractor and its officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or resulting from Subcontractor's negligence, willful misconduct, breach of this Subcontract, or infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, except to the extent caused by Prime Contractor's negligence or willful misconduct.

Performance Standards and Warranties

Subcontractor warrants that all services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards and the specifications set forth in the Scope of Work. Subcontractor shall, at its expense, promptly correct any material deficiencies in performance reported by Prime Contractor within a commercially reasonable time after notice.

Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations (other than payment obligations) under this Subcontract to the extent such delay or failure is caused by events beyond the reasonable control of the affected party, including acts of God, government action, strikes, pandemics, civil unrest, severe weather or supplier failures. The affected party shall provide prompt notice to the other party and shall use reasonable efforts to resume performance.

Governing Law; Dispute Resolution

This Subcontract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiation. If unresolved within thirty (30) days, disputes shall be submitted to non-binding mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful, either party may seek binding arbitration or pursue available legal remedies in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the governing state.

Assignment and Subcontracting

Subcontractor shall not assign or delegate its rights or obligations under this Subcontract without Prime Contractor's prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, except that Subcontractor may utilize qualified subcontractors with prior notice to Prime Contractor provided Subcontractor remains fully responsible for performance.

Notices

All notices under this Subcontract shall be in writing and delivered to the contact information below by hand, overnight courier, or certified mail (return receipt requested), or by email with confirmation of receipt:

Entire Agreement; Amendment

This Subcontract, including all exhibits and attachments, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings and representations. Any amendment or modification of this Subcontract must be in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of both parties.

Severability

If any provision of this Subcontract is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace the invalid provision with a valid provision that accomplishes the original intent to the greatest extent permitted by law.

Execution

The persons signing below represent and warrant that they are authorized to bind the respective party to this Subcontract.

Prime Contractor:

By:

Date:

Subcontractor:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Performance Services Subcontract Is and when it’s used

A Performance Services Subcontract is a written agreement between a primary contractor and a subcontractor that assigns specific performance obligations for services on a larger contract. It defines scope of work, deliverables, schedule, payment terms, insurance and indemnity, performance standards, change-order procedures, and dispute resolution. This document is commonly used where the prime contractor remains contractually responsible to the client while delegating part of the work to a third party. Properly drafted, it protects project schedules, clarifies responsibility, and reduces the risk of double payment or coverage gaps.

Why a formal Performance Services Subcontract matters

A clear subcontract reduces ambiguity about who performs which tasks, allocates risk, and sets measurable performance standards; it helps manage warranties, insurance coverage, and downstream liability while preserving the prime contractor’s ability to meet client obligations.

Why a formal Performance Services Subcontract matters

Which parties typically prepare or sign this subcontract

Use this subcontract when you must document scope, timing, payment, and obligations so both prime and subcontractor can rely on enforceable, written terms.

  • Prime contractors managing client-facing obligations who delegate discrete services to subcontractors.
  • Subcontracting firms and independent service providers accepting project-specific performance duties.
  • Project managers, procurement teams, and contract administrators responsible for compliance and oversight.

Primary signer roles

Prime Contractor — CEO/CFO

An authorized officer or delegated contract manager of the prime contractor signs to confirm assignment of work and continuing obligations to the client. The signer must have authority to obligate the company and confirm insurance and indemnity commitments.

Subcontractor — Authorized Rep

A corporate officer, partner, or person with signatory authority for the subcontractor must sign to accept scope, schedule, payment terms, and risk allocation. Name and title should match the corporate records to avoid enforceability questions.

Essential elements to include in a professional Subcontract

A comprehensive Performance Services Subcontract organizes operational and legal obligations so both parties understand deliverables, performance metrics, payment flow, and remedies for nonperformance.

Scope of Work

Detailed description of services, deliverables, milestones, acceptance criteria, and any deliverable format or reporting requirements connected to the prime contract.

Term & Schedule

Start and completion dates, milestone deadlines, liquidated damages if applicable, and provisions for extensions due to excusable delays.

Payment Terms

Rates, invoicing schedule, retainage (if any), expense reimbursement, and conditions for withholding or setoff against the prime contract.

Insurance & Indemnity

Required insurance types and limits, certificate requirements, and mutual indemnification clauses covering third-party claims and regulatory compliance.

Changes & Substitution

Change-order procedures, approval authority, pricing adjustments, and restrictions on further subcontracting without written consent.

Termination & Remedies

Cause and convenience termination rights, cure periods, transition obligations, and dispute resolution mechanism (mediation, arbitration, or court).

Step-by-step: completing the Performance Services Subcontract

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, review, and finalize the subcontract with clarity and legal consistency.

  • 01
    Prepare draft: Populate party names, scope, and dates from the prime contract.
  • 02
    Attach SOW: Include detailed work exhibits and acceptance criteria.
  • 03
    Review risk terms: Confirm insurance, indemnity, and liability caps with legal counsel.
  • 04
    Sign and distribute: Obtain authorized signatures and circulate fully executed copies to stakeholders.

Typical routing and approval flow for the Subcontract

A standard flow ensures responsible review, approval, and record distribution so obligations and payments track the primary contract.

  • Drafting: Contract administrator or procurement team prepares the initial draft.
  • Legal review: Legal counsel verifies indemnity, insurance, and compliance clauses.
  • Operational signoff: Project manager confirms scope and schedule alignment.
  • Execution: Authorized officers sign and copies are archived for both parties.

Configuring a digital workflow for this Subcontract

Set clear field types, authentication, and routing when completing digitally to preserve auditability and legal integrity.

Field Configuration
Signature Required; signer name and date fields tied to signature event
Initials Optional; place at clause changes or initials-required pages
Attachments Enable upload for COIs, exhibits, or SOW attachments
Authentication Use email + SMS OTP or stronger methods for high-risk agreements

Technical considerations for electronic execution

Choose a platform that preserves records, supports optional notarization (RON) when needed, and meets any industry-specific compliance such as HIPAA with a BAA.

  • Authentication: Email link plus optional SMS or knowledge-based authentication
  • Audit Trail: Tamper-evident audit log with IP, timestamp, and action history
  • Integrations: Should connect with systems like Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace

Key timing and deadline considerations

Understand these time-sensitive items to avoid default, delayed payment, or breach of prime contract obligations.

Effective Date Entry:

Use MM/DD/YYYY; governs start of obligations and statute of limitations timing

Milestone Dates:

Set acceptance windows for deliverables to trigger payment

Invoice Deadline:

State invoicing cutoff to avoid late payment claims

Insurance Certificate:

Provide COI before work begins or as contract conditions require

Retention Release:

Specify retainage release conditions and timeframe after acceptance

Key milestones in subcontract processing

Track these sequential milestones from award through closeout so responsibilities are visible and auditable.

01

Award & Issuance

Prime issues subcontract and attaches SOW; start date may be conditional

02

Kickoff & Mobilization

Subcontractor begins work after COI and initial deliverable commitments

03

Mid-term Review

Project manager reviews performance and approves interim invoices

04

Final Acceptance

Deliverables accepted, retainage processed, and final invoice closed

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a Subcontract

  • Vague scope language that leaves deliverable acceptance open to differing interpretations.
  • Missing alignment with the prime contract’s insurance and indemnity requirements.
  • Incorrect signatory names or titles that undermine enforceability.
  • Failure to attach or reference the controlling SOW and pricing exhibits.

Risks and potential consequences of an incomplete or incorrect Subcontract

Breach Exposure: Liability for missed deliverables and potential damages to the prime contract
Payment Delay: Withheld invoices or setoff for nonconforming work
Insurance Gaps: Claims denied due to insufficient coverage or incorrect certificate wording
Indemnity Claims: Third-party claims passed up to prime contractor
Contract Termination: Early termination for cause or convenience with financial consequences
Regulatory Noncompliance: Statutory fines if subcontractor lacks required licenses or certifications

Required information and core fields to include

Parties: Full legal names
Scope: Clear task list
Schedule: Milestones and dates
Payment: Rates and terms
Insurance: Coverage limits
Signatures: Authorized signers

eSignature vendor comparison for managing Subcontract execution

Compare basic vendor pricing and common capabilities relevant to Subcontract signing and audit requirements; signNow appears first per platform comparisons.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Trial available Trial available
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Practical examples showing typical Subcontract uses

These concise examples illustrate how different organizations use a Performance Services Subcontract in practice.

Real Estate Renovation

A property manager delegates HVAC installation to a subcontractor under a defined SOW

  • Subcontract ties payment milestones to inspection approvals
  • The arrangement protects the manager from contractor default by requiring COIs and naming the owner as additional insured while preserving warranty obligations.

IT Services Delivery

A prime contractor assigns a module implementation to a specialist subcontractor

  • The subcontract includes IP assignment and acceptance tests
  • This ensures the prime can meet client deliverable timelines while retaining rights to the delivered code and clarifying support responsibilities.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Adopt consistent procedures to reduce errors and speed approvals when issuing and executing subcontracts.

Use standardized templates
Maintain approved template language for common clauses and a checklist for variable fields to reduce negotiation time and legal review cycles.
Confirm signatory authority
Verify signer authority and corporate resolution where applicable to avoid later challenges to validity.
Attach exhibits
Always append the SOW, price schedule, and insurance certificates referenced in the contract to prevent interpretive disputes.
Preserve audit trail
Capture timestamps, signer identity, and delivery records for electronic signing to support enforceability under ESIGN and UETA.

Frequently asked questions about Performance Services Subcontracts

Answers to common legal and practical questions encountered when preparing and executing a subcontract.


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