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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.A.1. Surplus Bicycles and Propertyroom.com Inc. CITY OF SHAKOPEE S. ". J. POLICE DEPARTMENT COf~SEr~T Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: CSO Megan Michalek SUBJECT: Surplus Bicycles and Propertyroom.com, Inc. DATE: 10/15/2008 INTRODUCTION: In the past, the police department has been using the local auction site to auction our surplus bicycles. It has come to our attention that the auction site no longer accepts bicycles. Staff has found that many area departments are using an online auction service called Propertyroom.com, Inc. to auction their surplus/abandoned property. Staff would like the city to enter into an agreement with Propertyroom.com, Inc. for the purpose of auctioning surplus bicycles. Staff will still keep bikes on hand for use for our community "Wheelies" event that is held every year. Staff recommends the use of Property room. com, Inc. to auction the overwhelming amount of bicycles that we receive on a monthly basis. BACKGROUND: - Propertyroom.com, Inc. is the leading web-based auction site specializing in the auctioning of lost, stolen, seized and surplus items and vehicles for law enforcement. Founded in 1999 by former law enforcement professionals, Propertyroom.com, Inc. combines expertise in law enforcement procedure, inventory tracking, warehouse logistics, marketing and customer service to provide a more effective property auction system. They currently work with over 800 such agencies throughout the United States. Propertyroom.com, Inc. provides many benefits. Propertyroom.com, Inc. is available to pickup the surplus bikes once a month. This will reduce the crowding in our bike storage room. Because the pick up service is available on a monthly basis, the service also reduces any potential for need for a bigger storage facility. Propertyroom.com, Inc. provides a secure and comprehensive online auditing process 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This auditing service will allow the city to view all transactions made through Propertyroom.com, Inc. Propertyroom.com, Inc. adds value to the property by: cleaning the property before auction, testing items for functionality and evaluates the condition of the property, provides reasonable repairs, takes multiple digital photos and provides full descriptions and conditions of items for the online auction. By utilizing Propertyroom.com, Inc., the city can significantly increase the exposure of our available property, therefore giving the property a better chance to sell. The initial term of agreement will be for one year following the launch date and thereafter will automatically renew for consecutive one year terms unless written notice of non-renewal is provided by either party to the other at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the then current term. BUDGET IMPACT: There is no impact on current or future budgets. The company does not charge pick-up fees. Instead, a fuel surcharge applies per portable item manifest when diesel prices rise above a specific level. If fuel surcharges do apply, they will be deducted from the monthly owner's net proceeds. Once every month, Propertyroom.com, Inc. will pay the owner of the account the amount of the owner's net proceeds payable for completed sales during the preceding month. Some cities have seen an increase in their revenue by using Propertyroom.com, Inc. This is because Prompertyroom.com adds value to the property they receive. The added value they invest into the property allows them to auction it off at a higher price. Propertyroom.com, Inc. will split the proceeds between them and the city. For any item sold under $1,000 they will split the winning bid 50/50. For any item sold over $1,000 the city would receive 75% for the winning bid. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the city enter into an agreement with Propertyroorn.com, Inc. to auction the surplus bicycles. ACTION REQUESTED: If Council concurs, they should by motion authorize the appropriate city officials enter into an agreement with Propertyroom.com, Inc. for the disposal of surplus bikes. PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT PropertyRoom.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("PropertyRoom" or "PRC"), enters into this agreement (the "Agreement"), with the client identified below (the "Owner") for the auction and disposition of personal property (the "Disposition Services"), in accordance with the Terms and Conditions and Addenda, if any, attached hereto and listed below. Beginning October 218\ 2008 (the "Start Date"), Owner engages the Services ofPRC. . Owner Information Schedu.les, Supplements & Other Attachments City of Shakopee/ Shakopee Police Department Mark included attachments: Owner Name 129 S Holmes St Terms and Conditions Yes Address Shakopee, MN 55379 Addendums: City, State Zip Code 952-233-9300 Phone Email This Agreement, including all of the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions as well as all other attachments indicated in the box above, comprises the entire Agreement between the Parties. This Agreement cannot be modified except in writing by the duly authorized representatives of both parties. CITY OF SHAKOPEE PropertyRoom.com By: John Schmitt Signor Name Its: Mayor By: Signor Title Mark McNeill Its: City Administrator Signature By: Judith S. Cox Stgnature Date Its: City Clerk PropertyRoom.co!!!, Inc. 26421 Crown Valley Parkway, Ste 200 Mission Viejo, California 92691 +1 (949) 282-0121 Federal Tax ID 86-0962102 1 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT ADDITIONAL OWNER SIGNORS Owner Owner Signor Name Signor Name Signor Title Signor Title Signature Signature Signature Date Signature Date Owner Owner Signor Name Signor Name Signor Title Signor Title Signature Signature Signature Date. Signature Date Owner Owner Signor Name Signor Name Signor Title Signor Title Signature Signature Signature Date Signature Date 2 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Property to be Sold. From time to time, Owner will designate items of personal property (the "Property") that it desires to provide to PRC for Disposition Services. PRe retains the right to accept or reject certain items in its sole discretion. 2. Title. Owner shall retain legal title to the Property until it is purchased by auction or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this Agreement at which time Owner will be deemed to have transferred title to the purchaser or other acquirerofthe item of Property (the "Buyer"). Owner appoints PRC as its attorney-in-fact to sign any and all documents necessary to assign to Buyers all of Owners right, title and interest in and to Property sold or disposed. Cash receipts, accounts receivable, contract rights, notes, general intangibles, and other rights to payment of every kind, arising out of the sales and dispositions of Property (collectively the "Proceeds") belong to Owner, subject to PRC's right to PRC's Net Proceeds and funds attributable to credit card processing costs and other transaction costs. Owner's Property shall, at all times before sale or disposition, be subject to the direction and control of Owner. 3. Method of Selling Property. a. Portable Property Items. PRe will, on Owners behalf, pick-up, store and list Property for sale by auction to the public on the internet on one or more domain names selected by PRC. To the extent that any Property is not sold by auction, PRC may, in any commercially reasonable manner selected by PRC, dispose of Property. PRC will determine all aspects, terms and conditions of auctions of Property and dispositions of Property not purchased at auction, subject to the ultimate control of Owner. PRC will be responsible for all phases of submitting the Property for auction, including, but not limited to, determining when Property will be auctioned, setting the opening and reserve prices of Property, ifany; determining the selling price, setting the length of time Property will be auctioned; creating text and graphics to describe and depict Property submitted for auction; collecting Buyer information (such as name, billing address, shipping address, and credit card information); approving Buyer credit card purchase transactions; and collecting auction proceeds for completed sales from Buyers. PRC shall use reasonable corrunercial efforts in auctioning and selling the Property on the Internet and disposing of Property that does not sell at auction. PRC shall sell and dispose of all Property "as is" without any liability to the Owner. PRC is solely responsible for identifying and resolving sales and use tax collection issues arising from Property sales, including the necessity of charging and collecting such taxes. b. Large Property Items. PRC will, at Owner's request and on Owner's behalf, list physically large Property ("Large-Items") for sale by auction, including but not limited to cars, trucks, boats, planes and bulk lots of bicycles. For Large-Items, PRC offers Owner different selling options ("Silver," "Gold," "Gold-Plus" and "Platinum"), each with different service components and associated pricing. (1) In-Place Options. For Silver, Gold and Gold-Plus ("Gold+"), PRC will auction Large-Items in-place, and in this context, "in-place" means that PRC will not pick-up and store these specific Items but rather Owner will maintain physical control until transfer ofItems to Buyers. (2) Haul-away Option. For Platinum, PRCwill, in conjunction with a partner and to the extent practical, pick-up and haul-away Large-items, selling via online auction and transferring title and physical possession to Buyers as described in Portable Property Items. (3) Large-Item Service Summary. The Large-Item Auction Services Option Table below depicts service components associated with each option. 3 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT Method of SelIin~ Property: Larj!;e-Item Auction Services Option Table Itesponsible Party (if applicable) Service Component Silver Gold Gold+ Platinum 1. List Large-Item for In-Place online auction PRC PRC PRC 2. Checklist review and coordination PRC PRC PRC PRC 3. Listing write-up and marketing PRC PRC PRC PRC 4. Auction and auction technology management PRC PRC PRC PRC 5. Customer Support to Bidders Owner PRC PRC PRC 6. Coordinate Buyer payment and Large-Item pick-up Owner PRC PRC PRC 7. Transaction (payment) processing Owner PRC PRC PRC 8. Photographing, vehicle review, equipment description Owner Owner PRe PRC 9. Provide or procure asset title, as applicable Owner Owner Owner Owner* 10. Pick-up and haul-away for off-premises online auction PRC * At Owner request, PRC will acquire title through its partner and pass-through title acquisition cost. 4. Term and Termination. a. This Agreement will become effective as of the Start Date and will continue for an initial term of one (1) year (the "Initial Term") following the "Launch Date" (as defined herein) and thereafter will automatically renew for consecutive one (1) year terms unless written notice of non-renewal is provided by either party to the other at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the then current term. b. As used herein, "Launch Date" shall mean the date on which PRC completes the first auction of Owner Property . c. This Agreement may be terminated if there is a breach by either party of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other party unless the breach is cured within the thirty (30) day period, provided, however, if the breach is not capable of being cured within thirty (30) days, the breaching party will have a reasonable amount of time to cure the breach if it begins to cure during the thirty (30) day period and proceeds diligently thereafter. The written notice will specify the precise nature of the breach. d. The rights of the parties to terminate this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity, and such rights will be cumulative. The exercise of any such right or remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other rights and remedies. e. Notwithstanding any termination by either party of this Agreement, PRC will continue to remit amounts due to Owner under this Agreement in connection with any sales made before the effective date of the termination. At the time of termination, any unsold inventory shall continue to be auctioned by PRC or returned to Owner, at Owner's election and cost. 5. Allocation of Sales Proceeds. a. Portable Property Items (1) Sales Price. The total amount paid by Buyer shall be called the" Sales Price." The Sales Price shall include the winning bid amount (the "Winning Bid") and all costs, shipping and handling charges, taxes, and insurance costs associated with the transaction and paid by Buyer. (2) The Split. For each item of Property, Owner will be credited with 50% of the first $1,000 of the Winning Bid and 75% of the Winning Bid portion, if any, that exceeds $1,000. From this amount, the Owner's pro rata share of transaction fees (the "Processing Costs"), if any, will be deducted. (3) Processing Costs. Credit card processing costs ("Credit Card Cost") and affiliate processing fees (the "Affiliate Fees," which include commissions and processing costs paid to third parties IF they sent the winning bidder to the website), will be borne by Owner and PRC in proportion to the percentage of the revenue credited to the parties for each underlying transaction. (4) Net Proceeds. Amounts received by the Owner will be called "Owner's Net Proceeds". Portable Item Example. The following example illustrates allocation of proceeds from a Portable Property Item sale. Assume an item of Property sells at auction for a $100 Winning Bid; the Buyer pays shipping and handling of $10, insurance of $2, and sales tax of $6. The Buyer pays the Sales Price of $118.00 ($100 + $10 + $2 + $6) by credit card, and the Credit Card Cost is 3% of the Sales Price or $3.54 (0.03 x $118) and the Affiliate Fee is 4.8% or $4.80 (0.048 x $100). The Owner and PRC each share 50% of the 40f8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT underlying Winning Bid, therefore Credit Card Costs and Affiliate Fees are also shared equally, $1.77 each ($3.54 -i- 2) for Credit Cost and $2.40 each ($4.80 -i- 2) for Affiliate Fees. The Owner's Net Proceeds are $45.83 ($50.00 less $4.17). Note: less than lout of 10 transactions include Affiliate Fees. (5) Fuel Surcharge. The Company does NOT charge pick-up fees. Instead, a fuel surcharge applies per Portable Item manifest when diesel prices rise above a specific level as shown in the Fuel Surcharge Schedule below. The Company benchmarks average diesel retail prices as published online by the Energy Information Administration of the US Department of Energy and resets its fuel surcharge quarterly based on pricing from the prior quarter. Fuel surcharges, if any, deduct from monthly Owner's Net Proceeds. Fuel Surchar~e Schedule Retail..])iesel{per~al) FueISurchar~e* Less than $2.50 $ 0.00 $ 2.50 to $ 2.99 $ 12.40 $ 3.00 to $ 3.49 $ 24.80 $ 3.50 to $ 3.99 $ 37.20 $ 4.00 to $ 4.49 $ 49.60 $ 4.50 to $ 4.99 $ 62.00 $ 5.00 to $ 5.49** $ 74.40 * Divides across locations and/or sub-accounts picked-up same day ** Table continues upward at same rate (6) To the extent that Property is not sold by Auction and PRC disposes of Property in a commercially reasonable manner (see "Method of Selling Property" section), including, but not limited to, sending to a charity, recycling center, landfill, or scrap metal processor, Owner understands and agrees to the following. (a) When Property is not sold by Auction, PRC disposition activities create additional PRC processing costs (the "Disposal Costs") and potentially a disposition Sales Price (the "Disposition Proceeds"). (b) Disposal Costs include, but are not limited to, labor cost of reloading Property onto a truck, labor and vehicle costs associated with transporting Property for disposition, and third-party fees, such as landfill, recycling, and hazardous material disposal fees. (c) Disposition Proceeds include, but are not limited to, a Sales Price obtained for scrap metal. (d) PRC will bear the burden of Disposal Costs. (e) PRC will retain Disposition Proceeds, if any, as an offset to Disposal Costs, except if Disposition Proceeds for an item of Owner Property exceed $250, in which case PRC will credit Owner a portion of Disposition Proceeds per "The Split" and "Example" above. b. Large- Items. (l) Sales Price, Processing Costs and Net Proceeds. Calculated in a manner directly analogous to Portable Items. (2) The Split. For each Large-Item of Property, Owner will be credited with a percent of the Winning Bid which varies according to the Large-Item service option employed. (a) Silver. Owner will be credited with 100% of the Winning Bid and PRC will charge Buyer a 15% Buyer's Premium. (b) Gold. Owner will be credited with 95% of the Winning Bid and from this amount, the Owner's pro rata share of the Processing Costs, if any, will be deducted. PRC will charge Buyer a 15% Buyer's Premium. (c) Gold-Plus. Owner will be credited with 90% of the Winning Bid and from this amount, the Owner's pro rata share ofthe Processing Costs, if any, will be deducted. PRC will charge Buyer a 15% Buyer's Premium. (d) Platinum. Owner will be credited with 70% of the Winning Bid less any title pass-through fees from PRC partner. Large-Item Example. Assume a Large-Item sells at auction for a Winning Bid of$l,OOO.OO, and with no shipping or handling charges yields a $1,000.00 Sales Price. For the Silver, Gold and Gold-Plus options, 5 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT PRC collects and retains a 15% Buyer's Premium, $150.00 (0.15 x $1,000), from Buyer. With regard to collecting the Sales Price and sharing proceeds, the approach differs by option: Silver. Owner completes the sale by collecting the $1,000.00 Sales Price from Buyer, retaining 100% as Owner's Net Proceeds. Gold. PRC completes the sale by collecting the $1,000.00 Sales Price from Buyer. The underlying Winning Bid is shared 95% by Owner, $950 (0.95 x $1,000) and 5% by PRC, therefore a 3% ($30.00) Credit Card Cost is split 95% by Owner, $28.50 (0.95 x $30) and 5% by PRC, $1.50 (0.05 x $30). The Owner's Net Proceeds are $921.50 ($950.00 less $28.50). Gold-Plus. PRC completes the sale as described in Gold, but with a 90-10 Split. Platinum. PRC complete the sale as described in Gold, but with a 70-30 Split and with a deduction of any title acquisition pass-through fees. 6. Payment Terms. Once every month, PRC will pay to Owner the amount of Owner's Net Proceeds payable for completed sales during the preceding month. Sales are deemed completed when all items comprising a line item on the original manifest or other list of Property are sold. With each payment of Owner's Net Proceeds, PRC will make available to Owner a detailed report setting forth the following information for the immediately preceding month: a. The completed sales during the prior month, including the total amount of related proceeds collected, Owner and PRC share of Processing Costs, and the Owners Net Proceeds; b. Other dispositions of Property during the month; and c. The Property, if any, inventoried by PRC at the end of the month. 7. PropertyRoom's Obligations Concerning Property in Its Possession. With respect to Property in PRe's posseSSIOn: a. PRC will exercise due care in the handling and storage of any Property; b. PRC shall keep the Property free of liens, security interests, and encumbrances, and shall pay when due all fees and charges with respect to the Property; c. PRC shall sign and deliver to Owner any UCC-1 financing statements or other documents reasonably requested by Owner; and d. PRC shall obtain and maintain insurance in an amount (determined by PRC) not less than the replacement value of Property in its possession. The insurance will cover the Property against fire, theft, and extended coverage risks ordinarily included in similar policies. PRC shall give Owner a certificate. or a copy of each of the above upon Owner's request. 8. Owner Obligations. Owner will use its best efforts to provide to PRC such Property as becomes available for sale to the public. Owner will complete paperwork reasonably necessary to convey custodial possession of the item of Property to PRC, including a written manifest or list that describes the item of Property in sufficient detail for identification. Owner agrees that it will not provide Property that is illegal or hazardous, including but not limited to explosives, firearms, counterfeit or unauthorized copyrighted material ("knock-offs"), poisons or pharmaceuticals. In addition, to help comply with public notification statutes as well as to support internet traffic flow to the PRC auction website, Owner agrees to place a permanent clickable link (the "Link") to www.PropertvRoom.com on one or.more Owner websites. PRC will supply Link technical requirements, text and images to Owner. 9. Restrictions on Bidding. PRC and its employees and agents may not directly or indirectly bid for or purchase auctioned Property on the PRC web site. 10. Representations and Warranties of Owner. Owner hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows: a. Property delivered to PRC is available for sale to the general public without any restrictions or conditions whatever; and b. Owner has taken all required actions under applicable law that are conditions precedent to Owner's right to transfer title to the Property to Buyers (the "Conditions Precedent"). 11. Books and Records. PRC will keep complete and accurate books of account, records, and other documents with respect to this Agreement (the "Books and Records") for at least three (3) years following expiration or termination of this Agreement. Upon reasonable notice, the Books and Records will be available for inspection 6 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT by Owner, at Owner's expense, at the location where the Books and Records are regularly maintained, during normal business hours. 12. Indemnificatiou.Subject to the limitations specified in this Inderrmification section of this Agreement, each party will inderrmify, hold harmless and defend the other party and its agents and employees from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, whether joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines and other amounts paid in settlement, incurred or suffered by any such person or entity arising out of or in connection with a. the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made by the party hereunder, b. any breach of this Agreement by the party, or c. any negligent act or omission by the party or its employees or agents in connection with the performance by the party or its employees or agents of obligations hereunder, provided the negligent act or omission was not done or omitted at the direction of the other party. 13. Limitations on Liability. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (EVEN IF THAT PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), ARISING FROM BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT, THE SALE OF PROPERTY, OR ARISING FROM ANY OTHER PRCOVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PRCOFITS OR LOST BUSINESS (COLLECTIVELY, "DISCLAIMED DAMAGES"); PRCOVIDED THAT EACH PARTY WILL REMAIN LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY TO THE EXTENT ANY DISCLAIMED DAMAGES ARE CLAIMED BY A THIRD PARTY AND ARE SUBJECT TO INDEMNIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 12. LIABILITY ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO DIRECT, OBJECTIVELY MEASURABLE DAMAGES. THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS OWED TO THE OTHER PARTY HEREUNDER IN THE YEAR IN WHICH LIABILITY ACCRUES; PRCOVIDED THAT EACH PARTY WILL REMAIN LIABLE FOR THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ANY PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS OWED TO THE OTHER PARTY PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, OWNER'S LIABILITY IS NOT LIMITED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO LIABILITY ARISING FROM OWNERS FAILURE TO SATISFY TIMELY ALL CONDITIONS PRCECEDENT. 14. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned, in whole or in part, by either of the parties without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an assignment of this Agreement by either party to any subsidiary or affiliate or a third party acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of such party will not require the consent of the other party, so long as such subsidiary, affiliate or acquiring entity assumes all of such party's obligations under this Agreement. No delegation by PRC of any of its duties hereunder will be deemed an assignment of this Agreement, nor will any change in control nor any assignment by operation oflaw by either party. Subject to the restrictions contained in this section, the terms and conditions of this Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of each of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto. 15. Notices. Any notice or other communication given under this Agreement will be in writing and delivered by hand, sent by facsimile (provided acknowledgment of receipt thereof is delivered to the sender), sent by certified, registered mail or sent by any nationally recognized overnight courier service to the addresses provided on the signature page of the Agreement. The parties may, from time to time and at any time, change their respective addresses and each will have the right to specify as its address any other address by at least ten (10) days written notice to the other party. 16. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 7 of 8 PROPERTY DISPOSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT 17. Complete Agreement. This Agreement and any related documents delivered concurrently herewith, contain the complete agreement between the parties relating to the subject of this Agreement and supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral, which may be related to the subject matter hereof in any way. 18. Attorneys' Fees and Legal Expenses. If any proceeding or action is brought to recover any amount under this Agreement, or for or on account of any breach of, or to enforce or interpret any of the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover from the other party, as part of the prevailing party's costs, reasonable attomeys' fees, the amount of which will be fixed by the court, and will be made a part of any judgment rendered. 19. Further Assurances. PRC and Owner will each sign such other documents and take such actions as the other may reasonably request in order to effect the relationships, services and activities contemplated by this Agreement and to account for and document those activities. 20. Governing Law. The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the state in which the Owner is located will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement. The proper venue for any proceeding at law or in equity will be the state and county in which the Owner is located, and the parties waive any right to object to the venue. 21. Relationship of the Parties. The relationship created hereunder between Owner and PRC will be solely that of independent contractors entering into an agreement. No representations or assertions will be made or actions taken by either party that could imply or establish any agency, joint venture, partnership, employment or trust relationship between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither party will have any authority or power whatsoever to enter into any agreement, contract or commitment on behalf of the other, or to create any liability or obligation whatsoever on behalf of the other, to any person or entity. Whenever PRe is given discretion in this Agreement, PRC may exercise that discretion solely in any manner PRC deems appropriate. 22. Force Majeure. Neither party will be liable for any failure of or delay in the performance of this Agreement for . the period that such failure or delay is due to acts of God, public enemy, war, strikes or labor disputes, or any other cause beyond the parties' reasonable control (each a "Force Majeure"), it being understood that lack of financial resources will not to be deemed a cause beyond a party's control. Each party will notify the other party promptly of the occurrence of any Force Majeure and carry out this Agreement as promptly as practicable after such Force Majeure is terminated. The existence of any Force Majeure will not extend the term oftb.is Agreement. 23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts. 80f8