Common use of Accounting and Audits Clause in Contracts

Accounting and Audits. Criteria Architect must establish and maintain books, records, and systems of account, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, reflecting all business operations of Criteria Architect transacted under this Agreement. Criteria Architect shall retain these books, records, and systems of account during the Term of this Agreement and for three (3) years thereafter. Pursuant to Government Code Section 8546.7, this Agreement is subject to examination and audit of the State Auditor as specified in the code. Criteria Architect shall permit the Judicial Council, its agent, other representatives, or an independent auditor to audit, examine, and make excerpts, copies, and transcripts from all books and original records, and to make audit(s) of all billing statements, invoices, original records, and other data related to the Services covered by this Agreement. Audit(s) may be performed at any time, provided that the Judicial Council shall give reasonable prior Notice to Criteria Architect and will conduct audit(s) during Criteria Architect’s normal business hours, unless Criteria Architect otherwise consents. If an audit or Judicial Council internal review reveals that the Criteria Architect and/or its Subconsultant(s) have overcharged the Judicial Council, Criteria Architect will immediately pay to the Judicial Council the overcharged amount plus interest from the date of receipt of overpayment. The rate of interest will be equal to eighteen percent (18%) per year, or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is less. The audit or Judicial Council internal review will be conducted at the Judicial Council’s expense, unless the audit or review reveals that the Criteria Architect and/or its Subconsultant(s) has overcharged the Judicial Council by ten percent (10%) or more on any invoice, in which case the Criteria Architect will reimburse the Judicial Council for all costs and expenses incurred by the Judicial Council in connection with such audit or review, including direct and indirect costs associated with Judicial Council representatives. This remedy shall not be exclusive to any other remedies available to the Judicial Council including, without limitation, a claim against the Criteria Architect for a False Claim pursuant to the False Claims Act (Gov. Code § 12650, et seq.) IMS/Monetary Penalties. The Judicial Council shall be entitled to remedy any “False Claims,” as defined in California Government Code section 12650 et seq., made to the Judicial Council by the Criteria Architect or any Sub-Consultant under the standards set forth in Government Code section 12650 et seq. Any Criteria Architect or Sub-Consultant who submits a False Claim shall be liable to the Judicial Council for three (3) times the amount of damages that the Judicial Council sustains from the False Claim. If Criteria Architect and/or Sub-Consultant submits a False Claim, they shall also be liable to the Judicial Council for: (a) the costs, including attorney fees, of a civil action brought to recover any of those penalties or damages, and (b) a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each false claim. Accounting System Requirements. Criteria Architect shall maintain and shall ensure that its Sub-Consultant(s) maintain, an adequate system of accounting and internal controls that meets GAAP. The obligations of this Section shall survive the expiration of and any termination of this Agreement.