Teaming Agreement: Pros and Cons
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What is a Teaming Agreement?
A teaming agreement is a legal contract entered into by a government contractor and another party. These agreements are very common in government related contracting and are used by contractors who want to find work with partners, pool resources, share risks, and enhance competitiveness in government contracting that can ultimately increase the effectiveness of their job(s). The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides guidance on government contracts, which includes subcontracting.
Read this material if you are interested in learning more about teaming agreements.
Pros and Cons of Teaming Agreements
Teaming agreements can be extremely beneficial for some contractors but can also have negative elements depending on the situation. Below are some pros and cons of teaming agreements:
Pros of a Teaming Agreement
- Allows a contractor to build a team by partnering with an individual or firm that can contribute their resources, skills, and knowledge in a particular area.
- Teaming agreement parties are pretty much obligated to perform the work they agree upon with one another without worrying about any other employee being brought into the picture for the same job.
- The parties to the agreement can add as many means for termination sections to the contract as they feel are appropriate.
- Individuals or companies are able to bring their diversity and differing mindsets to the table to get a job done without having to work for the same entity right off the bat.
- The contractors are asked to provide an estimate for what the costs will end up being upfront so that risks are minimized.
- As long as subcontracting laws are followed the teaming agreement parties will not be viewed as affiliates so small business rules will not be of concern for the temporary workers.
Cons of a Teaming Agreement
- The sections need to be very carefully written or they otherwise may not have legal standing in the event one of the teammates wants to dispute a matter in court. There have been prior incidents where this happened and the court found that certain parts of the agreement were not enforceable.
- The agreements typically only apply to one project or group of tasks making it necessary to renegotiate every time a new job is proposed unless you structure the agreement to cover multiple projects or cover a long-term partnership between the parties. If not, this may mean that each time a new agreement is put into place a new teaming agreement will need to be discussed and put into writing.
- A subcontractor who was hired by the main (prime) contractor may not come to agreeable terms which can make the process difficult, which is a risk any time you are working with subcontractors and contractors.
- If a contractor other than the main one becomes part of the team to complete certain work and does not do too great of a job the blame will fall on the prime contractor since this individual is the only person contracted with the government.
To get a better idea of the positive and negative sides of a teaming agreement you can view this article.
Key Terms in a Teaming Agreement - Checklist
The checklist below is a guide for what key topics you should include in a teaming agreement for completeness and effectiveness:
- Purpose: a clearly explained goal with the reason for establishing a partnership to accomplish it.
- Duration: state how long the job will last and what the anticipated start and finish dates are.
- Scope of work: describe in detail what each party will be expected to do and what milestones exist for completion of selected tasks.
- Pay schedule: state what payments will be made to who and when.
- Exclusive relationship: add a part in the agreement that leaves no room for confusion about whether the same contract is allowed to be worked on elsewhere with someone different.
- Proposal fees and charges: mention how the proposal costs will be paid and who will pay for what.
- Privacy: add notes stating if anything will not be considered confidential information and can be shared or vice versa.
- Legal components: identify and make known all the laws, regulations, and compliance aspects that apply to the teaming agreement members and share how or where they will be used if a reason arises.
- Insurance: include a section that specifies who will be responsible for work related insurance as well as all details surrounding it such as the total cost and types of coverage.
- Liability limitations: if there will be limits as to the liability that can be placed on one or more team members then this section should be attached to the agreement with specifics on the extent and type of limitations.
- Tax costs: note the amount of taxes and which ones each party will pay and state what penalties one will face if they do not pay as required.
- Assignments: this section should be visible in the agreement so that no one is left wondering whether duties set out can be assigned out.
Visit this webpage to learn more about what to include in a teaming agreement.
Teaming Agreement Template
Teaming Agreements vs. Joint Ventures
A joint venture differs from a teaming agreement because it involves two or more companies who create a totally separate legal business to assume position as a prime contractor. Members of the joint venture have similar levels of control, liability, and profits.
On the other hand, a teaming agreement consists of only one prime contractor who maintains control over a subcontractor who does not share the same level of responsibility for performance, profit, direction, or liability.
Read this article for a detailed description of teaming agreements compared to joint venture agreements.
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Teaming Agreement vs. Subcontract
A teaming agreement is a legally binding agreement between a prime contractor who coordinates directly with a government contact opposed to a subcontractor who is actually monitored and taken on by the prime contractor. A subcontractor does not have any connection to the government partner like the prime contractor does. Primary differences of the two contracting types are displayed below:
Teaming Agreements
- A GSA schedule must exist and the business or individual must be registered with the federal system known as SAM.
- Responsibilities are determined based on what is in the agreement.
- The government can be directly contacted for work being performed.
- Payments are made based on the rate listed in the agreement, an order, or the GSA schedule.
- Work can be completed in full due to the team efforts of all parties connected to the teaming agreement.
Subcontracts
- No GSA or SAM registration is required.
- Responsibilities are agreed upon but the subcontractor is not held accountable for insufficient work.
- The subcontractor cannot interact directly with the government and any questions or concerns must go through the prime contractor.
- Payments are made in line with the GSA schedule after any relevant subtractions are made.
- Supplies and services may be limited based on relying on only the prime contractor and not having a larger enterprise.
Examples of When to Use a Teaming Agreement
You should use a teaming agreement under the following circumstances:
- You as a prime government contractor are seeking a subcontractor to perform a specific task under your direction that is aligned with an active federal contract.
- You and other contractors involved want to bring your skillsets together to find a total solution and have numerous resources at your fingertips.
- You want to boost your competition and reputation as a contractor by working with others who are highly regarded.
- You want to possibly become part of a master teaming agreement that will allow you to broaden the duration and scope of your federal contract.
Get Help with a Teaming Agreement
If you believe a teaming agreement is right for you then you should reach out to a knowledgeable government contracts lawyer who specializes in reviewing and writing them. Post a project in ContractsCounsel’s marketplace to get free bids from vetted lawyers to draft or review a teaming agreement.
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ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Meet some of our Teaming Agreement Lawyers
Jeremiah C.
Jeremiah C.
Creative, results driven business & technology executive with 27 years of experience (17+ as a business/corporate lawyer). A problem solver with a passion for business, technology, and law. I bring a thorough understanding of the intersection of the law and business needs to any endeavor, having founded multiple startups myself with successful exits. I provide professional business and legal consulting. Throughout my career I've represented a number large corporations (including some of the top Fortune 500 companies) but the vast majority of my clients these days are startups and small businesses. Having represented hundreds of successful crowdfunded startups, I'm one of the most well known attorneys for startups seeking CF funds. I hold a Juris Doctor degree with a focus on Business/Corporate Law, a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, A Master of Education degree and dual Bachelor of Science degrees. I look forward to working with any parties that have a need for my skill sets.
"Jeremiah was pleasant to speak to and provided high quality work. I appreciate that he took the time to call me personally instead of a paralegal. Work delivered early and high quality! Highly recommend"
Daehoon P.
Daehoon P.
Corporate, M&A & Securities Lawyer | Managing Attorney, DP Counsel PLLC Practice Areas: Business Formation | Commercial Contracts | Contract Drafting & Review | Mergers & Acquisitions | Venture Capital | Securities Offerings | Franchise Law | Employment & Equity Compensation | Intellectual Property | Cross-Border Transactions About/Bio: I represent companies, investors, and fund sponsors in corporate transactions, commercial contracting, and private securities matters, from entity formation and early-stage financings to acquisitions, exits, and ongoing strategic counsel. As Managing Attorney of DP Counsel PLLC, I help clients structure transactions clearly, allocate risk thoughtfully, and move deals forward with documentation that is practical, enforceable, and aligned with business objectives. My practice includes both day-to-day commercial matters and more complex transactional work, including venture financings, private offerings, M&A deals, fund-related documents, and cross-border structuring. What I Do: Corporate & Commercial • Entity formation and structuring for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships • Operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and governance documents • Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation • Vendor, distribution, manufacturing, SaaS, and licensing agreements • Employment, consulting, confidentiality, and equity compensation agreements • Outside general counsel support for growing companies Securities & Private Capital • Private offerings under Regulation D and Regulation S • Private placement memoranda, subscription agreements, and investor documents • SAFE, convertible note, and priced equity financings • Venture capital and private fund formation matters • Fund governing documents and offering document packages • Securities law analysis for private capital raising transactions Mergers & Acquisitions • Letters of intent and term sheets • Stock purchase, asset purchase, and merger agreements • Due diligence coordination and transaction support • Disclosure schedules, closing documents, and post-closing matters • Earnouts, rollover equity, indemnity structures, and related deal terms • HSR, CFIUS, and related regulatory issue spotting for qualifying transactions Digital Assets & Emerging Technologies • Federal-law digital asset and token securities analysis • Entity structuring for blockchain and Web3 ventures • Digital asset fund and operating structures • AML/KYC documentation support and regulatory issue spotting Franchising • Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) • Franchise agreements • Master franchise and area development agreements • Franchise structuring and registration coordination Real Estate Transactions • Commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions • Real estate joint ventures and syndications • Commercial lease drafting and negotiation • Real estate investment structures and related offering documents Cross-Border & International • U.S. market entry and entity structuring for international clients • Delaware and multi-entity holding structures • Cross-border transaction planning and documentation • Coordination with foreign counsel and tax advisors on cross-border matters Why Clients Hire Me: • Big-law-level drafting with boutique responsiveness • Practical, business-focused advice grounded in execution reality • Clear scoping and transparent fee arrangements • Experience across financings, acquisitions, fund formations, and cross-border transactions Typical Projects: • Contract drafting and negotiation • Entity formation and governance packages • Private offering document suites • Venture financing documentation • M&A transactions from LOI through closing • Fractional or outside general counsel support Industries Technology | SaaS | FinTech | Digital Assets | E-commerce | Healthcare | Real Estate | Food & Beverage | Professional Services
"Was very responsive and detailed in review of the legal document."
Michael M.
www.linkedin/in/michaelbmiller I am an experienced contracts professional having practiced nearly 3 decades in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, technology, start-up, intellectual property, real estate, employment law as well as informal dispute resolution. I enjoy providing a cost effective, high quality, timely solution with patience and empathy regarding client needs. I graduated from NYU Law School and attended Rutgers College and the London School of Economics as an undergraduate. I have worked at top Wall Street firms, top regional firms and have long term experience in my own practice. I would welcome the opportunity to be of service to you as a trusted fiduciary. In 2022 and 2023, I was the top ranked attorney on the Contract Counsel site based upon number of clients, quality of work and number of 5 Star reviews.
"Michael did a great job creating my "Subdealer Agreement" - & in a timely manner. Thanks again for all your help!"
Brad H.
Brad is a business attorney with experience helping startup and growing companies in a variety of industries. He has served as general counsel for innovative companies and has developed a broad knowledge base that allows for a complete understanding of business needs.
"Great job from Brad. I will definitely contact him again if I need help again."
George O.
George Oggero is a down-to-earth lawyer who understands that his clients are human beings. He is a lifelong Houston resident. He graduated from St. Thomas High School and then Texas A&M University. He obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 2007. He is experienced in real estate, criminal defense, civil/commercial matters, personal, injury, business matters, general counsel on-demand, and litigation.
"George simply and clearly helped me understand the requirements associated with my business which saves me time, money and unnecessary paperwork!"
Ramsey T.
My clients are often small and medium size technology companies, from the "idea" stage to clients who may have raised a round or three of capital and need to clean up a messy cap table. I help with all legal matters related to growth that keep founders up at night - hiring people, allocating equity, dealing with shareholders and investors, client negotiations and early litigation counseling (before you need a litigator). I've seen a lot, and because I run my own business, I understand the concerns that keep you up at night. I’ve been through, both on my own and through other clients, the “teething” pains that will inevitably arise as you scale-up – and I’m here to help you. I have over 20 years international experience devising and implementing robust corporate legal strategies and governance for large multinationals. I now focus on start-ups and early/medium stage technology companies to enable a sound legal foundation for your successful business operations. Many of my clients are international with US based holding companies or presences. My 17 years abroad helps me "translate" between different regimes and even enabling Civil and Common Law lawyers to come together. Regularly, I handle early stage financings including Convertible Notes, Seed and Series A/B financings; commercial and technology contracts; international transactions; tax; mergers and acquisitions.
"Great communication via multiple media; quick to respond once actual communication channel was open; did exactly what he said he would do (in this instance, quicker than he said that he would be able to); knowledgeable; personable"
Dani E.
Dani is a trusted legal professional with expertise in contracts and corporate legal operations. Dani supports customers in reviewing and negotiating both buy and sell side agreements, including but not limited to Master Services Agreements, Licensing Agreements, SaaS Agreements, Supply Agreements, Commercial Contracts, Healthcare Contracts, IT Contracts, Vendor Contracts and Non-Disclosure Agreements. She also assists with negotiation strategy, contract lifecycle, privacy issues, legal policy setting, process improvement, corporate governance, force majeure clauses and template harmonization and playbook development. Dani has proven success drafting, negotiating and advising executive leadership on contracts to drive outcomes in line with defined strategic objectives. Dani is based in Georgia and holds a law degree from Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School.
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Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Teaming Agreement Projects
Service contract drafting project
"Michael did a great job creating my "Subdealer Agreement" - & in a timely manner. Thanks again for all your help!"
Teaming Agreement
"Was very responsive and detailed in review of the legal document."
Business Contracts
Teaming Agreement
New York
Can a Teaming Agreement be enforced if one party fails to fulfill their obligations?
I am currently considering entering into a Teaming Agreement with another company for a joint business opportunity. However, I am concerned about the potential risks involved if one party fails to fulfill their obligations outlined in the agreement. I want to understand if a Teaming Agreement can be legally enforced and what options I have to protect my interests in case of non-compliance by the other party.
Damien B.
Hello. This is Damien Bosco, Esq. My law office is located in Long Island City. Teaming Agreements can be enforceable in New York, but their enforceability depends on how they are drafted and the specific obligations outlined within them. Courts in New York will assess whether the agreement is sufficiently detailed to constitute a binding contract or merely an agreement to agree in the future. The language in the agreement should reflect that both parties intend for it to be legally binding. If the agreement is enforceable, the non-breaching party can sue for damages or specific performance (if applicable). Keep records of all communications and actions related to the agreement. To maximize the enforceability of your Teaming Agreement and protect your interests, it’s advisable to have an attorney draft or review the agreement. This ensures it aligns with your goals and minimizes potential risks. Would you like assistance drafting or reviewing the agreement?
Business
Teaming Agreement
New York
Can you explain the key provisions that should be included in a Teaming Agreement for a joint venture in the construction industry?
I am currently in discussions with another construction company to form a joint venture for a large infrastructure project. We have decided to enter into a Teaming Agreement to outline the terms and conditions of our collaboration. However, I am unsure about the key provisions that should be included in this agreement to ensure a fair and mutually beneficial partnership. I want to make sure that the agreement covers important aspects such as the scope of work, responsibilities, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution, and termination clauses. Can you please explain the essential provisions that should be included in a Teaming Agreement for a joint venture in the construction industry?
Damien B.
Hello! This is Attorney Damien Bosco. My law office is in Forest Hills, Queens County, New York City. My practice covers the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island. I also handle matters throughout New York State. A Teaming Agreement for a joint venture in the construction industry should be comprehensive and detailed to ensure clarity and prevent disputes. Some key provisions that should be included are: 1. Purpose and Scope of the Agreement 2. Roles and Responsibilities 3. Management and Decision-Making 4. Financial Contributions and Profit Sharing 5. Intellectual Property Rights 6. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure 7. Compliance with Laws and Regulations 8. Dispute Resolution 9. Termination and Exit Strategy 10. Insurance and Liability 11. Amendments and Modifications 12. Miscellaneous Provisions I handle business law issues, contract reviews, and commercial matters. I have drafted and reviewed a multitude of agreements. If you want, we can discuss options moving forward.
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