HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 59491CSC No. 59491
NON -DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
This NON -DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT is made and entered by and between the City of Fort
Worth, a home rule municipality organized under the laws of the State of Texas ("City"), and BDO USA,
LLP, a limited liability partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Discloser").
In connection with the consideration, evaluation and/or implementation of a proposed real estate
transaction or economic development incentive ("Transaction") between the parties to this Agreement
relating to Discloser's client's consideration of developing real property or expanding a current business
operation in the City ("Property"), Discloser wishes to disclose to City information relating to the
Transaction which may consist of confidential and proprietary information.
1. Definition of Confidential Information. "Confidential Information" shall mean any of the
following information notwithstanding its form (tangible, visual, oral, electronic, etc.): (a) documents,
files, studies, pricing, reports, test results, brochures, offering materials, computer output and other
materials and information relating to the Property and all analyses, compilations, forecasts, projections and
other documents prepared based upon such materials and information and all proposals made in connections
with either the purchase or sale of the Property; (b) trade secrets; (c) discoveries, ideas, concepts, techniques
and know-how; (d) performance or process data; (e) costing and financial information; (f) strategic,
marketing and business plans; (g) any information identified or designated as "confidential," "private," or
"proprietary" (or similar terms); (h) any information which by its nature can be reasonably construed as
requiring confidential treatment; (i) contracts and contractual relationships; and 0) any of the foregoing
relating to Discloser's customers or clients, including the identity of such customers and clients. City agrees
that title to and ownership of the Confidential Information shall remain with Discloser or the third party
which owns it, and City does not acquire any rights in the Confidential Information disclosed to it under this
Agreement, except the limited right to use the Confidential Information as set forth in this Agreement
2. Confidentiality Obligations. City shall (a) protect the Confidential Information with the same
degree of care City employs for the protection of its own confidential and proprietary information of a
similar nature, but not less than reasonable care; (b) limit its use of Confidential Information for the purpose
of the Transaction, and not otherwise use it for its own benefit or the benefit of others, and shall not reverse
engineer any Confidential Information; (c) limit access to Confidential Information to only those of its
employees, consultants, agents or representatives (and not to competitors of Discloser) who (i) have a need
to know such information to accomplish the purpose of the Transaction, and (ii) have been advised by
instruction, agreement or otherwise of the confidential nature of, and the duties toward, the Confidential
Information; provided that, the City shall be responsible for any breach of the obligations hereunder by any
such person; (d) not duplicate or reproduce Confidential Information other than for purposes of the
Transaction unless authorized to do so in writing (all such reproductions shall be considered Confidential
Information); (e) not remove, overprint or deface any notice of copyright, trademark, logo or other
proprietary notices or notices of confidentiality from any originals or copies of the Confidential
Information; and (f) upon termination or expiration of this Agreement return all Confidential Information
to Discloser promptly upon written request or, at Discloser's option, provide written certification of the
destruction thereof (with the understanding that any destruction of documents will be subject to applicable
laws and regulations governing the City's records retention policy); provided, however, that City may retain
one (1) archival copy of the Confidential Information, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, for the
sole purpose of monitoring compliance with this Agreement. Any such Confidential Information retained
shall remain subject to the obligations set forth herein.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Company understands and agrees that the
City of* Fort Worth is subject to the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas Local
Non -Disclosure Agreement OFFICIAL RECORD
Between BDO USA, LLP on behalf of its client and City of Fort Worth - 1 - CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
Government Code (the "Act'). In the event that the City of Fort Worth receives a request under
the Act to release any or all Confidential Information disclosed to it by Company, the City of*
Fort Worth will notify Company as soon as practicable, in which case Company will have the
right to assert to the Texas Attorney General that such Information is confidential and that the
City should not be ordered to release such Information under the Act. In the event that the City
is required to release any Confidential Information pursuant to the Act in the reasonable
opinion of*the City's legal counsel, the City may release such Confidentiallnformation without
liability to Discloser.
3. Exceptions to Confidentiality Obligations. The obligations under this Agreement shall not apply
to any information that: (a) is in the public domain at the time of disclosure or subsequently enters the
public domain without breach of this Agreement; (b) is already known to City at the time of disclosure, as
shown by its written records; (c) becomes known to City from a source other than Discloser without breach
of this Agreement or any other valid confidentiality obligations; (d) is independently developed by City
without use of the Confidential Information, as shown by its written records; or (e) is required to be
disclosed to comply with applicable laws or regulations, or with a court or administrative order, provided
that Discloser receives sufficient prior written notice of such intended disclosure such that it may seek
reasonable legal remedies to obtain confidential treatment for such Confidential Information.
4. Term. This Agreement shall apply only to Confidential Information disclosed during the term of
this Agreement, which term shall be one (1) year following the Effective Date unless otherwise extended
by the mutual, written agreement of the parties. Either parry, however, may terminate this Agreement upon
ten (10) days' prior written notice. Upon any such termination or expiration of this Agreement, City shall
comply with the provisions of Section Z hereof concerning the disposition of Confidential Information.
City's obligations under this Agreement shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.
5. Publicity. Except as required by law, City shall not use the name of Discloser or reveal the
existence or substance of ongoing discussions, negotiations or evaluations related to the subject matter of
this Agreement or any subsequently executed agreement to any third party without the prior written consent
of Discloser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Discloser understands and agrees that under the Act, this
Agreement is a public document and that a copy of this Agreement (but not copies of Confidential
Information provided hereunder) will be available online to members of the public who undertake a search
for it utilizing the search tools for public information on the City's website.
6. Limited Purpose. This Agreement is limited in purpose to the protection of the Confidential
Information and shall not be construed otherwise as a teaming agreement, joint venture or any other
contractual relationship. No license under any intellectual property of any kind is granted or implied by
disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder. However, neither party shall be precluded hereby from
performing its own independent work. Nothing in the Agreement obligates either party to enter into any
transaction whatsoever; and each party shall bear all of its own costs and expenses
7. Representations and Warranties. Discloser represents and warrants that it has the unqualified
right to transmit and otherwise disclose the Confidential Information under this Agreement. City
acknowledges that discloser has not made any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness
of the confidential information, and that the confidential information is being provided on an "as is" basis.
Discloser shall have no liability to City resulting from the use of the Confidential Information except to the
extent subsequently set forth in any agreement that may hereafter be executed between the parties resulting
from the Transaction.
Non -Disclosure Agreement
Between BDO USA, LLP on behalf of its client and City of Fort Worth - 2 -
8. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement and its terms shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to principles of choice of law. Both
parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the State of Texas to resolve any disputes regarding the
interpretation, enforcement or subject matter of this Agreement. Venue for any action hereunder shall lie
in state courts located in Tarrant County, Texas.
9. Remedies for Breach. City agrees that a breach or violation of this Agreement may cause
Discloser irreparable harm. In the event of any breach or violation hereof by City, Discloser shall be entitled
to seek temporary and permanent injunctive relief and other equitable relief without the necessity of posting
a bond or making any undertaking in connection therewith. In no event shall the City be subject to or liable
for any consequential monetary damages hereunder.
10. Severability; Notices. In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, that provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement. If necessary, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify the Agreement to preserve (to
the extent possible) their original intent. All notices that either party is required or may desire to give the
other party under this Agreement shall be given by addressing the communication to the address set forth
above, and may be given by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid, or shall be sent by
facsimile or email transmission or overnight carrier (provided evidence of receipt can be verified). Such
notices shall be deemed given on the date of receipt (or refusal) of delivery of said notice. Either party may
designate a different address for receipt of notices upon written notice to the other party.
11. Entire Understanding; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire understanding between
the parties, superseding all prior or contemporaneous communications, agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to the exchange and protection of Confidential Information. No
modification, extension or waiver of any provision hereof or any release of any rights hereunder shall be
valid unless expressed in a writing signed by an authorized representative of each party. The provisions
and conditions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the City and Discloser and are not intended
to create any rights, contractual or otherwise, for the benefit of any other person or entity. This Agreement
may not be assigned by City without the prior written consent of Discloser. Failure to enforce any term of
this Agreement will not waive any rights hereunder. The parties may execute this Agreement in two or
more counterparts (which may be delivered by facsimile), each of which will be deemed an original and all
of which together shall constitute a single agreement.
12. Governmental Powers. By execution of this Agreement, the City does not waive or
surrender any of its governmental powers or immunities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly
authorized representatives.
CITY OF FORT WORTH
By: William Johnson N2t23, 202315:08 CDT)
William Johnson
Assistant City Manager
BDO USA, LLP
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Title: Partner/Practice Leader
Dated: May 22, 2023
Non -Disclosure Agreement
Between BDO USA, LLP on behalf of its client and City of Fort Worth - 3 -
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
By:
Tyler Wallach
Senior Assistant City Attorney
Attested:
By:
Jannette Goodall
City Secretary
Non -Disclosure Agreement
Between BDO USA, LLP on behalf of its client and City of Fort Worth - 4 -
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX