FAQ

The Internet2 NET+ Docusign service offering has been in existence since March 2015 and had an initial term of three years. Several months of collaboration between Internet2, the NET+ Docusign Advisory Board, and Docusign resulted in a mutual agreement to continue the partnership for 5 (five) years. The pricing model was changed effective May 1, 2019, and a new set of terms and conditions was finalized.

A new agreement went into effect on November 15, 2019, and it removes Internet2 from the purchasing and transaction flow and updates pricing and product offerings. The existing contract is similar to the structure used with Docusign’s other public-sector businesses, including the use of channel partner(s), to provide additional ease and flexibility to member institutions when procuring.

Carahsoft is the sole reseller for NET+ Docusign. Carahsoft specializes in contracting cloud technology. By introducing Carahsoft as the fulfillment partner, we are able to more efficiently facilitate quoting, contracting, and billing. Additionally, Carahsoft holds many competitively awarded cooperative contracts at the state and federal levels, allowing institutions to subscribe to Docusign under the Internet2 NET+ pricing program while fulfilling state-mandated purchasing regulations. Adding Carahsoft makes it possible for campuses to request responses to RFPs. Carahsoft intends to respond directly to campuses that require an RFP.

Effective November 15, 2019, new customer contracts or renewal of existing contracts will be signed with Carahsoft, acting as a reseller for Docusign, on terms negotiated with Docusign. It is similar to the structure used with Docusign’s other public-sector businesses to provide additional ease and flexibility to member institutions when procuring.
The contracting process for campuses with Carahsoft will require a campus to enter into two separate documents: a Master Services Agreement (MSA) and a Reseller Service Order between the campus and Carahsoft. For any questions about your campus’ renewal, please work with your Docusign account representative or contact the Carahsoft team directly at docusign@carahsoft.com

The following is a list of contractual provisions in the Docusign MSA that were negotiated on behalf of the community:
Pricing, discounts, and billing: While the pricing has increased significantly since the now expired contract between Internet2 and Docusign in 2015, the pricing being offered to the NET+ community is significantly more advantageous than outside of the program.

Product Offering: At the core of the Program is Docusign’s cloud subscription services, which are offered on a full deployment basis or by envelope package. Unlimited envelopes included in the enterprise license are a unique benefit of the program. In addition, under the Program, customers can order optional services, such as CFR Part 11, Docusign for Salesforce, Retrieve, and CLM, as well as professional services, which may include integration and deployment consulting. All of the packages offered include a base level of customer service.

Accessibility: language requiring compliance with current standards and expressing Docusign’s commitment to work towards the higher ed community’s standards and any new federal or state standards during the term;

Data Notification / Remediation Costs: In the event of a data breach, Docusign will provide coverage of certain data notification costs regardless of whether an insurance or indemnification claim is ripe.

Customer data: FERPA covenant, including agreement by Docusign to be bound as a “school official;”
GDPR covenant, will at a minimum maintain a certain level of compliance, notwithstanding a future modification or amendment to the Docusign privacy policy; standard for when BAA is required, and that BAA will, at a minimum, contain compliance with laws covenant and an insurance covenant; provisions addressing Docusign’s obligations to retain customer data in compliance with the campus’s state law obligations and Docusign’s obligations to assist in the transfer of data following the expiration or termination of a term; and

Confidentiality: specific exclusions to Docusign’s standard confidentiality provision that allows campuses flexibility to respond to FOIA and similar requests;

State law, governing law, forum: for all customers, the law of the state in which the main campus is located will govern, and that state’s courts have jurisdiction; this standard applies notwithstanding any other statement in any other policy or service schedule for specific services.

Representations and Warranties: multiple representations and warranties were added to the Docusign form, including regarding compliance with laws and specific higher ed requirements.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability: the terms offer mutual limitations on liability and indemnification rights between Customer and Docusign and the Reseller Service Order provides for mutual limitations on liability and indemnification rights between Customer and the applicable reseller.

Your Docusign Account Executive can assist with the type of services available and pricing, and Carahsoft will prepare the necessary add-on form. Certain services may have a negotiated discount under the NET+ program. For the most recent discount levels please contact the Internet2 NET+ program team at netplus@internet2.edu. 

Internet2 and Docusign have developed a custom offering and will not respond to RFPs. However, the existing agreement structure supports the use of Carahsoft as a channel partner who may choose to respond to an RFP.

Docusign has a template BAA and will work with your institution to execute a BAA.

Healthcare use cases that fall into the research and education space are covered, however medical center/healthcare provider-originated use cases for patient-related care are not. If you have specific use cases, please contact your Docusign Account Executive or Internet2 at netplus@internet2.edu.

Your renewal date is listed on your NET+ Docusign Reseller Service Order executed with Carahsoft. If you have questions about the renewal date, please email the Carahsoft team at docusign@carahsoft.com, the Internet2 team at netplus@internet2.edu, or contact your Docusign Account Representative.

Members of the NET+ Docusign Executive Advisory Board (EAB) have participated in the negotiation, review, and validation for the campuses. The EAB is comprised of representatives from The Ohio State University, University of Washington, University of California–San Francisco, Oregon State University, University of Nevada–Reno, and University of Maryland–Baltimore County.