Auction Agreement for The Best Coffee From The Land Of A Thousand Hills
Best of Rwanda Bidder Agreement Bidding, Payment and Shipping Requirements for Best of Rwanda 2024 Internet Auction
The 2024 Best of Rwanda Internet Auction is sponsored by The National Agricultural
Export Development Board (NAEB) and its partners. If assistance is required
immediately following the auction, please contact:
- jeandedieu.kamurase@naeb.gov.rw
- aimable.mucyo@naeb.gov.rw
- joseph@ceparwanda.org
- sonoda.cup2@gmail.com
- jessica.teta@naeb.gov.rw
- BestofRwanda2024@gmail.com
Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
By accessing the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to
be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you are prohibited from
using the Site and must discontinue use immediately.
Your participation in this auction indicates your review and agreement to the following
terms. You represent and warrant that you are 18 years or older and have the capacity
to enter into a binding contract. If you are bidding on behalf of a legal entity or other
person, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to legally bind such entity or person. Should you purchase any Best of Rwanda coffee at this auction, you agree to
the terms and conditions of purchase and shipping included in this agreement. Any
buyer of any Best of Rwanda coffee through the auction or through a secondary
channel agrees to the use and restrictions of the Best of Rwanda® mark. Any misuse of this mark may be cause for legal proceedings.
Auction Opening Date and Times
September 12th (Thu) 11:00 Kigali.
The Auction will open for bidding on 12/09/2024 and at the following times:
Your opening time may vary – please check based on 5:00 AM EDT (New York).
The Auction will open for bidding at:
- 02:00 (Los Angeles)
- 05:00 (New York)
- 10:00 (London)
- 11:00 (UTC Oslo/Amsterdam)
- 12:00 (Moscow)
- 13:00 (Dubai)
- 17:00 (Hong Kong)
- 18:00 (Tokyo/Seoul)
- 19:00 (Melbourne/Sydney)
Access and Bidding
The Auction Transaction process is as follows:
1. Each potential Buyer signs in to the Auction Platform.
2. The potential Buyer requests access to the Auction and accepts the specific
Auction Transaction rules.
3. Seller approval grants access to selected potential Buyers.
4. Successful Buyers receive payment instructions via email at the Auction
Transaction conclusion.
Bidding, Opening, and Closing
All lots will open together with the same minimum price. The bidding page will indicate "OPEN" until all lots have at least one bid after which a 3-minute countdown clock willbegin. A bidder may place multiple or single bids on any or all lots during the openauction or during the 3-minute countdown clock. Each bid on any lot resets the clock to 3 minutes. A clock on the bidding page will indicate the time remaining for the auction. Once there are no more bids on any lot during the 3-minute time window, the auction and all lots will close for bidding. A PENDING notification does not end the auction even though bidding may cease. No bid is final until the ENDED notification appears. Once the auction software indicates ENDED, the highest bid wins the lot, and all lots are closed for any additional bidding. At the conclusion of the auction, the buyer for the lot and the person responsible for payment and for shipping coordination will be the bidder placing the highest bid or auto bid for that lot. Should there be two identical auto bids, the first auto bid placed wins the lot.
Coffee Lots
The 19 coffee lots being offered for sale through this internet auction were designated
“Best of Rwanda 2024” (BOR) winners at the 2024 Rwanda competition and in the
awards ceremony held in Kigali Convention Center on 6th July 2024. No other coffee
can be sold using this designation. Online bidding for any Best of Rwanda lots is only
available through this website. Each lot is separate and distinct. The 90+ scoring lots
have been separated into two distinct lots labelled A and B. The winning lot samples
have been made available. It is the responsibility of the bidder to determine quality and appropriate value.
Auction Format
All lots will undergo an initial bidding period of 1 hour. Following this, a 3-minute
countdown clock initiates. Bidding continues on all lots, resetting the clock to 3 minutes after each bid. The auction concludes when no bids are received on any coffee within the countdown period.
Auction Pricing
Pricing for the lots is denominated in USD dollars and cents per pound. Presidential lots (cupping score 90 and above) open with a minimum price of 6.00 USD and the rest opens with a minimum price of 5.50 USD per pound as set by NAEB to represent the winning farmers. The opening bids must be the set minimum price or higher, with
incremental bids required to be $0.10 (ten cents) per pound or greater.
Bids and Auto Bids
Bidders can place bids manually or opt for an auto-bid specifying a budget and
minimum increment. The Auction Platform will automatically bid on behalf of the bidder by incrementing the current highest bid. Once accepted, auto-bids are binding; however, bidders can adjust or cancel auto-bid settings at any time.
Posting the Results
Thirty minutes or earlier after the end of the auction, successful bidders will be identified by their company names. The auction results will be posted on the BoR and NAEB websites. Buying group members and their company identification is the responsibility of the actual bidder. Buyers can also be added later.
Communication During and After Auction
Each bidder will log in using his/her confidential password. All bids will be identified
during the auction with a bidding number, not a company name. During the auction, the software will communicate any outbids, any auction issues, notifications, or final
successful bids using the email address registered for that bidder. It is the bidder’s
responsibility to ensure that the registered email is correct. Contact NAEB/BoR Team for verification if uncertain.
By participating in the auction, you authorize the exporting party and its affiliates to use any personal data you have provided to contact you during and after the auction and/or to use such date as otherwise necessary for the conclusion of a transaction.
Winning bidders will receive an automated email connecting them with the exporting
party. Contact details are provided below:
Country’s nominated exporter is:
1. Company name: National Agricultural export Development Board (NAEB)
2. Address: P.O Box 104 Kigali
3. Contact name: Jean de Dieu KAMURASE
4. Phone numbers: +250 788 549 783
5. Email Address: jeandedieu.kamurase@naeb.gov.rw
6. Copy to: aimable.mucyo@naeb.gov.rw; joseph@ceparwanda.org;
sonoda.cup2@gmail.com; jessica.teta@naeb.gov.rw; BestofRwanda2024@gmail.com
All buyers must contact the exporter, coordinators, within 7 days of the close of the
auction.
Packing Information
The Best of Rwanda coffees are vacuum-packed in cartons each containing 2 (two)
15kg bags. Successful bidders will not be charged any fee for vacuum packing in
addition to the auction price for each lot. Bidding calculations and vacuum packing fees are based on actual pounds after milling and packing the coffees. The number of 30kg boxes as well as the weight in pounds will be shown. A broken seal on any vacuum package does not automatically warrant a claim or indicate a quality change.
Financial Responsibility for Payment
The highest bidder at auction close is responsible for full payment to the exporter for the entire lot. Once accepted, bids cannot be revoked. If the producer or country partner declines a payment or shipping request, the winning bidder remains liable for full payment. The exporter may approve multiple payments and multiple shipping
instructions for a single lot but only if the successful bidder requests the approval and
submits all the shipping instructions within 7 days of the auction. If the exporter or the
country partner denies the request for any reason, the bidder will be held liable for the
entire payment regardless of group purchase. If a lot is split and sent to more than one
destination, the buyer will be responsible for any additional costs associated with that
export. For the avoidance of doubt, any applicable taxes, fees, or charges are the
responsibility of the winning bidder unless otherwise specified herein.
Payment Requirements
All sales are conducted under Free on Bord (FOB) terms from the origin port or airport.
Buyers assume responsibility for shipping costs beyond this point. Payment is due upon receipt of the producer's invoice. Full payment of the lot(s) and the packing fee(s) is required prior to shipment unless other requests are made in writing and approved in advance. Cash against documents must also be approved in advance of the auction. Prepayment of the lot is required if moved to another exporter to be shipped. Shipment, quality, and delivery responsibility will revert to the new exporter.
Full payment is due 30 (thirty) days after the close of the auction regardless of ship date or method. A minimum 2% monthly late fee may be charged for any lots not paid within 30 days up to a maximum period of 3 months. If the Buyer fails to make full payment within this period, the exporter reserves the right to cancel the winning bid and offer the lot to the next highest bidder or re-auction the lot.
Shipping and Payment Terms
Shipping instructions are to be sent to NAEB within 7 (seven) days of the close of the
auction by the successful bidder or the bidder’s designated importer. Bidders can
nominate any importer.
All sales are conducted under Free on Board (FOB) terms from the origin port or Airport. Buyers assume responsibility for shipping costs beyond this point. Payment is due upon receipt of the producer's invoice.
All Lots must be shipped within 30 days of the auction. No claim may be made to the
exporter, farmer, or NAEB on any BOR lot shipped after 30 days.
Best of Rwanda lots are shipped FOB net weight and applicable fees. Airfreight is
available at an extra cost and can be coordinated by the exporter. The buyer shall
provide the name of the transporter or Shipping forwarder company they wish to work
with for lot shipment. Lots will be shipped as per the instructions and at the cost of the
successful bidder. Any changes that result in extra fees will be paid by the buyer.
Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
Rwanda.
Modification of this Agreement
The Management of the Best of Rwanda program has the right to modify this
Agreement and any policies affecting the website. Any modification is effective
immediately upon posting to the website or distribution via electronic mail. Your
continued use of the auction or website following the notice of any modification shall be deemed your acceptance of the modification(s).
Indemnification Claims and Disclaimer
Use of this internet auction site and “Best of Rwanda” website
(https://bestofrwandacoffee.com/) is at the bidder’s own risk. Bidders agree to hold the
Best of Rwanda (including NAEB, its partners and affiliates), the provider of software,
internet services, or telecommunications companies free and harmless from and against any indirect, consequential, incidental, and/or liquidated damages, if any, arising out of or in connection with the auction or the bidder’s participation in the auction. All quality claims must be made within 15 days of delivery as per the Green Coffee Association of NYC ruling, but no claim can be made on any coffees shipped more than 30 days after the close of the auction. Should a claim arise, a neutral arbitration panel will be assembled to assess the claim. Bidding at this auction represents a contract to purchase the coffee. Should a buyer default on payment, legal remedies will be undertaken.