Buyer Terms & Conditions

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Cimple Platform Buyer Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 1st September, 2021

Last Updated: September, 2023


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These Terms and Conditions (“T&Cs”) apply to subscriber accounts created on the Cimple Platform (“Buyer Accounts”). These T&Cs form an agreement between Cimple Limited, an English company with registered number 11591373 (“Cimple”) and the organisation that creates a Buyer Account (“Buyer”). 

INTRODUCTION

Cimple operates an online platform (“Cimple Platform”) which provides Buyers and their Authorised Users (as defined below) with free of charge access to information about Suppliers’ (as defined below) goods and services offered by Suppliers (“Supplier Products or Services”) and for Buyers to advertise and offer opportunities to Suppliers to supply Supplier Products or Services to them (“Buyer Offer”) on the Cimple Platform. 

The Buyer wishes to create a Buyer Account on, and to access, the Cimple Platform to enable it to search for Supplier Products or Services and to advertise Buyer Offers to Suppliers on the Cimple Platform and Cimple wishes to grant the Buyer such access to the Cimple Platform, subject to the terms set out herein.

Authorised User means personnel of the Buyer’s Group who are authorised by the Buyer to access the Cimple Platform; 

Buyer Brand means the Buyer’s names and trade marks, any logos related to those names or stylised representations of those names and any other trading names, product names, logos and slogans adopted or used from time to time by the Buyer in connection with a Buyer Offer or otherwise in its business; 

Buyer Data means any personal or financial data, business information, contracting information and other data which Buyers or Authorised Users may provide either as part of the subscription process or when using the Cimple Platform or via any communications with Cimple; 

Cimple Brand means Cimple’s names and trade marks, any logos related to those names or stylised representations of those names and any other trading names, product names, logos and slogans adopted or used from time to time by Cimple in connection with the Cimple Platform or otherwise in its business; 

Contract means a contract between a Buyer and a Supplier for the procurement of Supplier Products or Services (including by way of response to a Buyer Offer) awarded or concluded via the Cimple Platform; 

Group means, in relation to any body corporate, a subsidiary or holding company or subsidiary of a holding company or subsidiary of a subsidiary and Group Company shall be interpreted accordingly. The terms subsidiary and holding company shall be as defined in the Companies Act 2006; 

Inappropriate Content means unlawful, defamatory, offensive, misleading, obscene, discriminatory or racist products, services or content, products, services or content which are otherwise contrary to generally acceptable ethical or moral standards in the United Kingdom or contrary to any applicable industry code or otherwise objectionable and any products, services or content that infringe third party rights (including any third party IPRs) or which are advertised or sold in breach of any duty (including confidentiality duties) to third parties, or which are otherwise likely to give rise to third party liability; 

IPRs means any and all intellectual and industrial property rights including patents, trade marks, designs, design rights, copyrights and neighbouring rights, database rights, rights in know-how, trade secrets and confidential information, trading names, internet domain names, email addresses, names of account and user names on digital services or social media services, and other signs and indications of origin, in each case whether registered or not and including pending applications and the right to apply for any of the foregoing and other industrial and intellectual property rights of the same or similar effect anywhere in the world; 

Malicious Code means viruses, Trojan, software lock, drop-dead device, malicious logic or trap door, worms, time bombs, corrupted files or other computer programming routines that are intended to delete, disable, deactivate, damage, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept, monitor or expropriate any systems, data, personal information or property of another; 

Platform-Generated Data means any data arising from or relating to the use of the Cimple Platform by Suppliers, the Buyer and its Authorised Users or any other subscriber or their authorised users which may be recorded or collated by Cimple including, without limitation, data obtained from the Buyer and its Authorised Users through Buyer Accounts, surveys, questionnaires, profile sheets, and other communications with Cimple, data relating to the frequency and mode of use of the Cimple Platform, the manner in which preferences are set and the Cimple Platform is personalised, the time spent on different elements of the Cimple Platform and other statistical information; 

Product Information means the details, description and other information relating to Supplier Products or Services supplied by Suppliers and displayed on the Cimple Platform; and 

Suppliers means prospective and actual merchants and suppliers of Supplier Products or Services which are advertised and/or offered for sale on the Cimple Platform.

2. Duration

3. Access to the Cimple Platform

4. Use of the Cimple Platform

5. Supplier Products or Services

6. Buyer Offer

7. Product Information

8. Complaints and Support

9. Supplier Support

10. Charges for the Use of the Cimple Platform 

11. Intellectual Property Rights

12. Availability of the Cimple Platform

13. Warranties

14. Cimple's Liability

15. Confidential Information

16. Suspension or Termination of the Buyer Accounts

17. Force Majeure 

18. Assignment

19. Publicity

20. Notices

Any notice required to be made under or in connection with these T&Cs (“Notice”) shall be in writing. Cimple may provide any Notice to the Buyer through the Buyer’s contact details, email address and postal address as set out in the Buyer Account or as provided to Cimple by the Buyer from time to time. Notices to Cimple should be sent to hello@cimple.uk

21. General

Data Processing Annex

1. DEFINED TERMS 

1.1 In this Data Processing Annex, the following words and expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning given to them below: 

Applicable Law” means the Data Protection Legislation and any other laws in force where the Controller’s Data may be processed under these T&Cs or to which Cimple or Buyer may be subject. 

Controller’s Data” means Personal Data collected by Cimple from Data Subjects on behalf of Buyer or obtained from Buyer relating to Data Subjects who sign up for the Platform through their account with Buyer. 

Data Protection Legislation” means the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 and any other applicable law or regulation relating to the processing, privacy and/or use of Personal Data, and any laws or regulations which implement, supplement, replace, extend, re-enact, consolidate or amend any of the foregoing . 

Data Subjects” means the Authorised Users and other users of the Platform. 

Permitted Purposes” means the delivery of the Platform to Buyer and Authorised Users as further set out in the Data Processing Details. 

Personal Data” has the meaning given to such term in the Data Protection Legislation. 

Sub-processor” means any person who processes the Controller’s Data on behalf of Cimple. 

UK GDPR” has the meaning given to it in the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. DATA PROCESSING 

2.1 The parties agree that as between them, for the purpose of the Data Protection Legislation, Buyer shall be deemed the controller and Cimple shall be deemed the processor in relation to any Controller’s Data processed by Cimple (or its Sub-processors) under this DP Annex or for the purpose of these T&Cs and it shall be the responsibility of Buyer to ensure compliance with the obligations imposed by the Data Protection Legislation on the controller of the Controller’s Data. 

2.2 Cimple shall process the Controller’s Data in accordance with this DP Annex (including the Data Processing Details) and Applicable Laws and solely for the Permitted Purposes. 

2.3 Cimple shall process the Controller’s Data on behalf of Buyer and in accordance with the written instructions of Buyer unless required otherwise by law or upon the requirement of a governmental authority under Applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, Buyer hereby authorises Cimple to process the Controller’s Data as set out in the Data Processing Details and as required to fulfil Cimple’s obligations under these T&Cs.

2.4 In the event that Cimple is required by law in upon the requirement of a governmental authority under Applicable Law to carry out any processing of the Controller’s Data not in accordance with the written instructions of Buyer, Cimple shall inform Buyer of that legal requirement before carrying out the processing, unless that law prohibits such information on important grounds of public interest. 

2.5 Cimple shall treat the Controller’s Data processed under this DP Annex as Buyer Confidential Information in accordance with clause 16 of the T&Cs and shall ensure that its employees, consultants, Sub-processors, affiliates and other persons authorised by Cimple to process the Controller’s Data are bound by confidentiality obligations (whether contractual or imposed under Applicable Law) in respect of the processing of such data. 

2.6 Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, in respect of any Personal Data received from Buyer, Cimple will rely on Buyer and that it is Buyer’s sole responsibility to ensure that the Controller’s Data is and will remain accurate, up-to-date, relevant and suitable for the purpose of processing and that it is processed for lawful purposes in accordance with Applicable Laws.

3. CO-OPERATION 

3.1 Each party, at the other party’s reasonable request, shall, so far as reasonably possible given the purpose of the processing, provide reasonable assistance to the requesting party in ensuring compliance with the requesting party’s obligations under the Data Protection Legislation, in particular in relation to its obligations concerning: (a) Data Subject requests for information and requests for erasure, rectification or limitation of processing of the Controller’s Data or the exercise of other Data Subject rights in relation to the Controller’s Data; (b) maintaining the security of the Controller’s Data processed under this DP Annex; (c) notifications to regulatory authorities and communications to affected Data Subjects required in relation to events resulting in accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to the Controller’s Data (“Data Breach”); and (d) the preparation of data protection impact assessments and prior consultation with the regulatory authorities, where applicable. 

3.2 In the event Cimple becomes aware of a Data Subject request as referred to in paragraph 3.1(a) above or of any Data Breach affecting the Controller’s Data, it shall notify Buyer without undue delay. 

3.3 Clause 3.1 of this DP Annex shall not be construed as requiring a party to modify its automated processes, computer systems or databases or to develop new processes, computer systems or databases for the purpose of providing the requisite assistance but a party shall not unreasonably refuse to make minor changes to its systems where it would be proportionate and reasonable to do so. Where a party agrees to make such modifications or developments in response to the other party’s request, the requesting party shall bear the costs of doing so. 

3.4 Save as provided in clauses 3.3 and 3.4 of this DP Annex, any assistance provided by a party under clause 3.1 of this DP Annex shall be provided at that party’s cost.

4. SUB-PROCESSORS 

4.1 Cimple shall not engage a Sub-processor in relation to the processing of the Controller’s Data without prior written consent of Buyer. 

4.2 Buyer hereby authorises Cimple to appoint the Sub-processors listed in the Data Processing Details to process the Controller’s Data for the purposes indicated in the Data Processing Details. 

4.3 Cimple shall inform Buyer of any intended changes concerning the addition or replacement of Sub-processors. Unless an objection to such change or appointment is notified to Cimple within seven days of the receipt of such notification, Buyer shall be deemed to have consented to and authorised the change or appointment. 

4.4 In the event that Cimple engages a Sub-processor with Buyer consent, Cimple shall enter into a written data processing agreement with the Sub-processor containing requirements equivalent to those set forth in clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this DP Annex and clause 16 of the T&Cs. 

4.5 Notwithstanding the appointment of Sub-processors, Cimple will remain fully responsible and liable to Buyer for any breach of its obligations under this DP Annex in relation to the processing of the Controller’s Data.

5. DATA SECURITY 

Taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the likelihood and severity of any risk, Cimple shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure an appropriate level of security for the Controller’s Data processed under this DP Annex particularly against the risks of accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to Personal Data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed, including (as appropriate): (a) the pseudonymisation and encryption of Personal Data; (b) the ability to ensure the ongoing confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of processing systems and services; (c) the ability to restore the availability and access to Personal Data in a timely manner in the event of a physical or technical incident; and (d) a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing.

6. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS 

Cimple shall not transfer the Controller’s Data to a country outside the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area, unless Buyer has expressly authorised such transfer in writing and then only subject to putting in place adequate safeguards as required under the Data Protection Legislation. Buyer hereby authorises Cimple to transfer the Controller’s Data to Cimple’s affiliates and authorised Sub-processors for processing in the countries outside the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area as specified in the Data Processing Details. 

7. INFORMATION AND AUDIT RIGHTS 

Cimple shall make available to Buyer information so far as reasonably necessary to demonstrate its compliance with Cimple’s requirements under this DP Annex and shall allow for and contribute to audits, including inspections, conducted by Buyer or an auditor mandated by Buyer. Where an audit requires Cimple to allocate more than minimal resources, it shall be entitled to charge Buyer for the time spent by its staff and any resources allocated for the audit and the provision of clause 3.4 of this DP Annex shall apply mutatis mutandis. 

8. WARRANTIES 

8.1 Cimple warrants, covenants and represents to Buyer that: (a) it has the required skills and resources to ensure processing of the Controller’s Data in accordance with this DP Annex and in compliance with its obligations under the Data Protection Legislation; and (b) it shall use reasonable skill and care in performing its obligations under this DP Annex. 

8.2 Except as expressly provided in this DP Annex or in the T&Cs, Cimple makes no warranties, covenants or representations, express or implied, relating to the processing of Personal Data under this DP Annex and specifically disclaims any that may be implied by this DP Annex, the T&Cs, by custom or by law or otherwise.

8.3 Buyer warrants, covenants and represents to Cimple that: (a) it shall comply with the requirements of this DP Annex (including the Data Processing Details), the Data Protection Legislation and any Applicable Laws in connection with its own processing of the Controller’s Data including in connection with any instructions provided to Cimple and the provision of any Personal Data to Cimple; (b) the processing by Cimple of the Controller’s Data on Buyer instructions in accordance with this DP Annex shall be for lawful purposes which have been properly disclosed to Data Subjects in accordance with the Data Protection Legislation and, insofar as required, the Data Subjects’ consents have been obtained for such processing and records of such consents are and will be retained by Buyer; (c) it shall ensure that the Controller’s Data processed by Cimple are kept accurate and up-to-date and that it shall only be processed through the services of Cimple for as long as it is required for the lawful purposes for which it is so held and Buyer shall provide Cimple with instructions and updates to ensure the foregoing; and (d) insofar as any Controller’s Data is processed by Buyer as a processor on behalf of a third party Buyer (or third party processor), the processing of the data by Cimple in accordance with this DP Annex has been authorised by the relevant third party Buyer.  

9. GENERAL 

9.1 The limitations on liability applicable as between the parties under the T&Cs shall apply to their liability under this DP Annex mutatis mutandis. 

9.2 This DP Annex shall commence upon the commencement of the processing of the Controller’s Data by Cimple for the purposes of the T&Cs and shall continue to have effect for so long as such processing continues. This DP Annex shall not be terminated unless the T&Cs are terminated. Clauses 1, 2.1, 2.5, and this clause 9 of the DP Annex shall survive termination of the T&Cs. 

9.3 In the event that it becomes a compulsory legal requirement under the Data Protection Legislation in the jurisdiction where Buyer has its place of business to put in place a data processing agreement between the parties on standard or statutory terms (“Standard clauses”), the parties agree to amend this DP Annex to incorporate such Standard clauses and insofar as the terms if this DP Annex are inconsistent with the Standard clauses, the Standard clauses shall prevail and such inconsistent provisions shall be deemed to have been superseded by the Standard clauses. 

IT Security Schedule (Data Processing Annex)

1. TECHNICAL SECURITY MEASURES 

2. ACCESS MANAGEMENT 

3. PHYSICAL SECURITY 

4. SYSTEM SECURITY 

5. TESTING & VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT 

6. ORGANISATIONAL CONTROLS

7. DATA MANAGEMENT, RETENTION & DESTRUCTION 

Data Processing Details

Buyer’s name, registered number and registered address:

Buyer’s commercial address: 

Buyer’s contact person and email/fax:

Buyer’s data protection officer’s name:

Cimple’s name: Cimple Limited

Cimple’s commercial address: Apartment 52, 3 Whitehall Court, London, SE1A2EL 

Cimple’s contact person and email/fax: Wyndham Plumptre – wyndham@cimple.uk 

Cimple’s data protection officer’s name: Wyndham Plumptre – wyndham@cimple.uk 

Name and date of service agreement in connection with which the Data Processing Agreement is entered: Terms and conditions for Cimple

Subject-matter of the processing activity: The subject matter of processing activity is to enable a user's experience on Cimple and the provision of the services of the Cimple platform. 

Nature and purpose of processing: The nature and purpose of processing Buyer User personal information is: - 

Duration of the processing of Personal Data: User personal data will be processed for the duration they are a user on Cimple and for 12months after they have deleted their profile on Cimple. The user can request for this to be shortened by contacting the Data Protection Officer referenced above. 

Personal data included in tender offers and in bids is processed for the duration of the tender process. 

Categories of Personal Data to be processed: The personal data that is held by Cimple is limited to: 

Categories of data subjects whose Personal data is to be processed: Registered users of the Cimple platform. 

Contact individuals nominated by Buyers and Suppliers in documents posted on the Cimple platform. 

Data sources: The data sources are through the onboarding process where a user is requested to set up an account. The user then has the ability to update their personal data on their user profile. Personal data included in tender offers and in bids is obtained from buyers and suppliers using the Cimple platform.

Personal data to be provided to a Buyer in anonymised/pseudonymised form: No personal data is to be provided to a Buyer in anonymised or pseudonymised form due to the nature of the information held. 

Personal data to be provided in raw form to a Buyer and anonymised/pseudonymised by Cimple: No personal data is to be provided to a Buyer in anonymised or pseudonymised form due to the nature of the information held. 

Other special IT security requirements: A description of the security measures employed by Cimple to protect personal data are set out in the schedule to the Data Processing Annex.

Third parties to which Personal Data is to be made available: Significa Lda. - Technical Support Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Hosting Services. 

As part of its legal requirement to perform the service it offers in the UK. Cimpe has to push ‘notices’ to the UK Government Platforms called Contracts Finder and Find A Tender service. As part of that service Cimple will provide Contracts Finder and Find A Tender Service information about an organisations user as required by the platforms. 

As part of its ongoing assurance of its operations Cimple may provide access to Third Party assurers, auditors and insurers e.g. to re-certify for ISO standards. This is unlikely, but could require the sharing of access to personal data.

Countries to which personal data may be transferred for processing (including a description of the processing activities to be undertaken in each country): Ireland (AWS cloud support) 

Portugal (access to data by employees of Significa Ltda in performing technology support services for Cimple)

Permitted Sub-processors (including a description of the purpose of the access to personal data given to each sub-processor): Significa Lda are permitted to be a sub-processor where they need to provide support in determining issues with specific user accounts. 

AWS – cloud services provider.