The standard terms and conditions apply to all RFP, RFQ and purchase orders issued through the University of Iowa.

Effective July 1, 2026: The State of Iowa enacted House File 2500, codified at Iowa Code §§ 8A.311C through 8A.311E, which prohibits certain provisions in contracts entered into by state agencies. The law voids any contractual provision that violates the statutory prohibitions and requires the contract to be interpreted as though the voided provision was not included.

Pursuant to House File 2500, University of Iowa may not agree to provisions that would:

  • Impose contractor terms that are unknown at the time of contracting or that can be unilaterally changed by the contractor
  • Permit the contractor to unilaterally alter the University’s contract terms or impose new terms
  • Deem the pricing or payment terms in the contract, or the contract in its entirety, confidential
  • Obligate the University to accept the risk of loss before its receipt of items
  • Waive the University’s right to a jury trial, limit the time in which the University may bring a claim, or impose binding arbitration
  • Require the University to pay attorney fees, courts costs, or other litigation expenses in the event of a contract dispute
  • Obligate the University to pay taxes, cancellation charges, or impermissible late fees
  • Require the University to carry commercial insurance
  • Impose a prior notice obligation on the University as a condition for non-renewal of a software license
  • Require the University to grant the contractor ownership of intellectual property developed with federal funds
  • Require the University to indemnify another person or assume liability of another person in violation of the Iowa Constitution
  • Disallow the University to participate in its own defense through representation by the attorney general
  • Grant a person other than the attorney general the authority to consent to a settlement that imposes liability on the State of Iowa

The law also states that all state agency vendor contracts are deemed to be governed by the laws of the State of Iowa and that any litigation commenced in connection with the contract must be brought in an appropriate court in the State of Iowa. The law voids any provisions that specify the governing law is other than the State of Iowa or require the venue for litigation to be other than the courts in the State of Iowa. 

Vendors are encouraged to read the law and to consult with their attorneys regarding the impact of this law.