Letter of Commitment?

tpatt100

I talked to a tech firm that is bidding on a contract near me and they called me asking if I was interested. I have a few options available and looking for work but no definite offers just yet.

They approved the salary I asked for but they have to win the contract first. They sent me a letter of commitment which I read up on and its usually used for contractors trying to get a contract to show "look we already have a team ready to go".

It does not have a "not legally binding" on the commitment letter and I told them I did not want to sign it until they put the "not legally binding" on it because they do not have a definite start date on it.

Is this normal to get these statements? I have never seen one before and am really not up to signing stuff unless they want to pay me to sit around until the contract starts if they win it.

colemic

In my experience, yes - especially in GoCo. I have seen some of the bigger companies just use resumes (instead of commitment letters) to demonstrate that they have the personnel available to immediately staff a contract.

Personally, I don't think it's a big deal to sign... I don't think I have ever heard of someone having action taken against them because they ultimately declined an offer... especially even if it WAS legally binding, without a start date, they can't really hold you to it.

**note**
Not a lawyer but stayed at several Holiday Inns.