# Subcontractor Engagement ### Purpose Subcontractors are used where specialist capability, capacity, or delivery support is required. Subcontractor engagement must be controlled to protect customer delivery, company IP, security obligations, and commercial position. ### Subcontractor Principles * Use subcontractors only where there is a clear business need. * Flow down relevant customer obligations. * Do not expose customer or company information unnecessarily. * Ensure subcontractor deliverables are clearly defined. * Ensure IP ownership and licensing are clear. * Ensure security and confidentiality obligations are enforceable. * Maintain audit and oversight rights. * Track supplier performance throughout delivery. ### Required Controls Before a subcontractor starts work, the following should be in place: * signed subcontractor agreement * agreed scope or work order * NDA or confidentiality terms * security onboarding * access approval * conflict of interest check * insurance evidence where required * right-to-work or compliance checks where applicable * IP assignment or licence terms * delivery and reporting expectations ### Supplier Delivery Risk Supplier risks must be recorded in the project RAID log. Examples include: * dependency on specialist resource * late delivery * unclear acceptance criteria * security clearance delays * customer access constraints * IP contamination * quality issues * insolvency or capacity concerns --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://framework.aic.io/company-operating-manual/commercial-and-contracting-model/subcontractor-engagement.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.