While the terms “master agreement” and “contract” are sometimes used interchangeably, there are subtle distinctions between the two. A master agreement is a broader agreement that sets the framework for future transactions or engagements between parties.
At its most basic, an MSA is a contract between two or more parties that establishes what terms and conditions will govern all current and future activities and responsibilities. MSAs are useful because they allow the parties to plan for the future while also speeding the ratification of future agreements.
Contracts address the specific details of a particular project, transaction, or engagement. Think of the master agreement as the foundation or umbrella under which contracts operate. It sets the general terms, while contracts focus on the specific details and scope of each individual project.
Sometimes, a contract covers a one-time action between parties, but what happens when the relationships or circumstances are ongoing? When signing parties know they will continue to work together in the future, a Master Service Agreement (MSA) can simplify those future agreements and speed up the negotiation process.
A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a contract reached as a result of negotiations between representatives of a union and the employer. For this CBA, it was the intention of the negotiating parties to meet the interests of both sides.