[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-281004-105":53,"doc-detail-281004-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","open-letter-to-suppliers-vendors-and-contractors-regarding-procurement-contracts-guidance-on-key-legal-considerations","Open Letter to Suppliers, Vendors and Contractors Regarding Procurement Contracts - Guidance on Key Legal Considerations","","Open letter sets out binding legal constraints that Valdosta State University (VSU) must follow when negotiating procurement contracts with suppliers, vendors, and contractors. It explains requirements for using VSU’s official legal name, prohibits indemnity/hold-harmless clauses that would obligate VSU to defend third-party claims, and clarifies insurance is governed by the Georgia Tort Claims Act through state risk management. It also addresses limits on multiyear commitments of taxpayer funds, including renewal structures and restrictions on future appropriations, plus issues related to late charges and interest.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/open-letter-to-suppliers-vendors-and-contractors-regarding-procurement-contracts-guidance-on-key-legal-considerations/281004/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/open-letter-to-suppliers-vendors-and-contractors-regarding-procurement-contracts-guidance-on-key-legal-considerations/281004.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Connor ","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":79},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Why must contracts include VSU’s official legal name?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"VSU’s official name is required to appear on all VSU contracts. Using shorthand such as “VSU,” “Valdosta State University,” or a college/department name is not appropriate because VSU is not a separate legal entity from the Board of Regents.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Can VSU agree to indemnity or hold harmless clauses?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"No. Public agencies cannot enter agreements indemnifying others against third-party claims, and VSU lacks contractual authority to obligate itself to defend a contractor. Attempts to rewrite clauses to remove the word “indemnity” do not change the effect.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What restrictions apply to multiyear procurement contracts?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"VSU cannot contractually commit future taxpayer funds appropriations because that authority belongs exclusively to the Georgia General Assembly. Multiyear contracts are generally handled by splitting into multiple contract terms (e.g., an initial term plus up to four one-year renewals) and may require prior written approval for longer durations.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},281004,1790244001,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":79,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":47,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":139,"read_time":73},687207022233,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","OPEN LETTER TO SUPPLIERS, VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS REGARDING PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS  \nDear Supplier/Vendor/Contractor:  \nThankyou foryour interest in doing business with Valdosta State University (hereinafter “VSU”). Asan instrumentality of the State of Georgia and a member institution of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, VSU is subject to a number of laws, rules and regulations that prohibit us from entering into certain kinds of contracts or agreeing to certain contract provisions. While these rules may occasionally make the process of negotiating a contract with VSU more challenging, these rules are not unique to VSU. They apply to all of the other public colleges and universities in Georgia and, indeed, to all State of Georgia agencies as well. There are several special legal considerationsto keep in mind when negotiating a contract. Some of the more common issues are as follows:  \n1. Legal name of VSU  \nThe official name of VSU is “The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia by andon behalf of Valdosta State University” and should appear on all of VSU’s contracts. VSU is part ofthe Board of Regents ofthe University System of Georgia, and while the Board of Regents has delegated to its individual member institutions the authority to sign contracts for their day-to-day operations, it should be noted that VSU is not an entity separate and apartfrom the Board of Regents. Using names such as “VSU” or “Valdosta State University” or the name of a college or department within the university is not appropriate.  \n2. Indemnity/hold harmless provisions  \nAn indemnity provision requires one party to defend the other party against any claims of third parties who might be injured or suffer damages as a result of something that happens during the performance of the contract. The Georgia Attorney General (who is the chief legalofficer of the State of Georgia) has determined that public agencies cannot enter into agreements indemnifying any person or entity against third party claims. This includes, among others, suppliers, vendors and contractors. 1980 Op. Atty Gen. Ga. 141.  \nOccasionally a contractor will attempt to deal with this restriction by rewriting an indemnity clause so as to eliminate the words “indemnity” or “indemnify”while leaving the intent of the clause intact – that is, to obligate VSU to defend the contractor against third party claims. Ifacontract clause has the effect of creating an indemnity on our part, VSU will not be able to agree to that clause, even if the word “indemnity” has been removed.  \nVSU does not enter into agreements that obligate it to indemnify a contractor “to the extent permitted by law”. As a result of the official opinion of the Attorney General, we know that the extent to which the law permits us to indemnify contractors is to no extent whatsoever. It would be disingenuous for VSU to imply in an agreement that there might be some set of circumstances under which it would defend a person against a third-party claim. VSU will not agree to something that it knows it cannot do. Also, the “extent” clause is simply an invitation to litigate the matter in the event a third-party claim arises, and VSU does not wish to enter into agreements that invite  \nlitigation. Because the VSU lacks the contractual authority to enter into an indemnity provision, any person who signs an agreement containing such a provision on VSU’s behalf does so without any authority. VSU will not ask its personnel to expose themselves to personal liability by signing contracts that they know cannot be enforced.  \n3. Insurance  \nMany contractors ask for clauses that define the manner in which VSU insures itself. As a state instrumentality, VSU is covered under the Georgia Tort Claims Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-20 et seq.) . The State of Georgia waives its sovereign immunity as to claims covered under The Georgia Tort Claims Act but retains it as to other claims. The Georgia Tort Claims Act works in muc","cbCaigLRGVomXjxX","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaigLRGVomXjxX","pdf",486539,"English","# OPEN LETTER TO SUPPLIERS, VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS REGARDING PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS\n## Legal name of VSU\n## Indemnity/hold harmless provisions\n## Insurance\n## Multiyear contracts\n## Unliquidated expenses; late fees; interest","[{\"question\":\"Why must contracts include VSU’s official legal name?\",\"answer\":\"VSU’s official name is required to appear on all VSU contracts. Using shorthand such as “VSU,” “Valdosta State University,” or a college/department name is not appropriate because VSU is not a separate legal entity from the Board of Regents.\"},{\"question\":\"Can VSU agree to indemnity or hold harmless clauses?\",\"answer\":\"No. Public agencies cannot enter agreements indemnifying others against third-party claims, and VSU lacks contractual authority to obligate itself to defend a contractor. Attempts to rewrite clauses to remove the word “indemnity” do not change the effect.\"},{\"question\":\"What restrictions apply to multiyear procurement contracts?\",\"answer\":\"VSU cannot contractually commit future taxpayer funds appropriations because that authority belongs exclusively to the Georgia General Assembly. Multiyear contracts are generally handled by splitting into multiple contract terms (e.g., an initial term plus up to four one-year renewals) and may require prior written approval for longer durations.\"}]","Open Letter to Suppliers, Vendors and Contractors Regarding Procurement Contracts - Guidance on Key Legal Considerations | PDF",1789563533]