Business continuity plan description in contract

A client has provided a draft work order for a new contract. In the business continuity plan section, they have requested the following information:

Please provide a detailed overview of these measures specific to this work order. Details of back-up personnel, their profiles, their statements of willingness, their training on the back-up support required of them, their contact information and the arrangement in place for them to provide interim coverage during planned and unplanned absence.

As this is a contract with a limited scope of work and therefore the need for back up support is expected to be minimal, I feel that this request is a bit over the top. Any other contact been faced with a similar request?

Dear Member,

Please note that the response to your query represents the views and suggestions of the PIPA Committee Members and are intended as guidance. Please also refer to guidelines and your own company procedures.

From the information provided, this looks like a standard clause in a company Work Order (WO) to ensure all personnel involved in the safety activities for a client are aware of the arrangements in place and there is evidence available to demonstrate this. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have had to review all their business continuity plans, to ensure personnel are available to deliver the uninterrupted supply of medicinal products and maintain the safety of patients, especially when any unprecedented situations arise.

Whether the request is “over the top” and is open to change is, as with everything in contract discussions, a matter of negotiation.

Kind regards

PIPA

[Author]

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