How to participate

To onboard QuickBuy@SGov, businesses will need to have a commercial digital platform which can support online transactions (i.e. allow buyers to browse listing of products and make purchases of products from the same site).

In addition, businesses must be able to meet the technical interfacing requirements, for example to include a feature for buyers to add corporate billing. Finally, businesses will need to agree to the standard terms of use for the ‘middleware’.

Terms of Use for API

1.              AGREEMENT TO TERMS OF USE

1.1.        The API has been developed by the Government for the purposes of QuickBuy@SGov.

1.2.        The definitions of terms used in these Terms of Use can be found in Clause 18. By using the API, you unconditionally accept to be legally bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, please do not use the API.

1.3.        We may amend these Terms of Use, at our sole discretion, from time to time. The most current version of these Terms of Use can be accessed at https://www.quickbuy.gov.sg/how-to-participate/ or such other website as may be specified by us from time to time. Every time you wish to use the API, please check these Terms of Use to ensure that you understand the applicable terms at the time of your use of the API. Your use of the API after any amendments have been made to these Terms of Use shall constitute your agreement to be bound by the amended Terms of Use that apply at the time of your use of the API.

2.              APPLICATION

2.1.        To apply to use the API, you may be required to provide information (including but not limited to your identification information and contact details) to MOF. Any information you provide to MOF must be accurate, current and complete. You shall inform MOF promptly of any update or change to any information provided to MOF.

3.              CONDITIONS OF USE

3.1.        Subject to these Terms of Use, MOF grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable and non-transferrable right to use the API for purposes in connection with the Transactions. You must obtain MOF’s prior written consent if you intend to use the API for any other purpose.

3.2.        Subject to these Terms of Use, you may use the API by:

(a)      accessing, calling, commanding, querying, deleting or requesting for the API; or

(b)      creating an API Client for the purpose of utilising the API, on the condition that the API Client is free of any Unauthorised Code.

3.3.        You shall not, and shall not permit any person to:

(a)    make any claim that suggests MOF is associated with or endorses you or any API Client created by you;

(b)    misrepresent or make false or misleading claims regarding QuickBuy@SGov;

(c)     infringe any intellectual property rights in the API, any Content accessible through the API or in any Content on the Site;

(d)    use the API, any Content accessible through the API or any Content on the Site for any unauthorised purpose or in a way that is contrary to any law, is inconsistent with these Terms of Use, is, damages the Government’s or MOF’s reputation, or infringes or violates the rights of any person;

(e)      create any API Client that functions in substantially the same way as the API and offer that API Client for any third party’s use;

(f)        exploit any vulnerability of the API or servers, inject any unauthorised or malicious scripts, codes, commands, queries or requests, or introduce any Unauthorised Code through the API;

(g)      use any information obtained through the API to defame, abuse, harass, stalk, or threaten others;

(h)      do anything that may damage, disrupt, disable, overburden, impair, interfere with the API or any computer, server or network involved in providing the API; and

(i)        whether in whole or in part, modify, reverse engineer, decompile, adapt, publish, redistribute, sublicense or attempt to extract the source code or object code from the API or any related software.

3.4.        You agree to use the API in accordance with all specifications required by MOF, including all security requirements, data requirements, procedures and interfacing requirements, that may be published on the Site and/or notified to you by MOF, as the case may be.

3.5.        You agree to comply with the requirements for Transactions set out in Appendix 1 to these Terms of Use.

3.6.        MOF has the sole discretion to limit or impose any condition on your use of the API. You shall not circumvent any limit or condition imposed by MOF on your use of the API.

3.7.        MOF may monitor your use of the API and your API Client(s) to improve the API, to ensure your compliance with these Terms of Use, or for security purposes.

3.8.        You shall promptly inform MOF of any change or enhancement to your platform, system, commercial digital platform or API Client(s) that will affect integration with the API.

3.9.        Nothing in these Terms of Use grants you any right over any personal data which you may obtain, whether inadvertently or otherwise, through your use of the API.

3.10.    MOF shall have the right to modify or upgrade the API or method of use of the API at any time. Upgrades include bug fixes, updates, enhancements, and new releases or versions of the API.

3.11.    You must immediately notify MOF if you are aware of or have any reason to suspect any unauthorised use of your Client Secret Key and/or Digital Signature Keys. Despite the foregoing, or anything to the contrary, you are fully responsible for all activities resulting from any use, including by any third party (whether authorised or otherwise), of your Client Secret Key or Digital Signature Keys.

4.              DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITY

4.1.        The API is made available for your use on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, MOF makes no representation or warranty of any kind whatsoever in relation to: (i) the API, (ii) any Content accessible through the API, or (iii) any Content on the Site, and disclaims all express, implied and statutory warranties of any kind to you or any third party, whether arising from usage or custom or by operation of law or otherwise, including any representation or warranty:

(a)      as to the accuracy, correctness, adequacy, completeness, reliability, continued availability, timeliness, non-infringement, interoperability, security, title, quality or fitness for any particular purpose of: (i) the API, (ii) any Content accessible through the API, or (iii) any Content on the Site; or

(b)      that the API, any Content accessible through the API or any Content on the Site is and will be free of Unauthorised Code.

4.2.        To the fullest extent permitted by law, MOF shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind, including any direct or indirect, special or consequential damage, loss of income, revenue or profit, lost or damaged data, or damage to any device or computer, software or any other property, whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence), restitution, breach of statutory duty or otherwise, even if foreseeable, arising directly or indirectly under or in connection with:

(a)      the use of, or inability to use, the API (including any delay, failure or interruption in the use of the API);

(b)      the use of or reliance on any Content accessible through the API or any Content on the Site;

(c)       the use of or reliance on any Third Party Services (as defined in Clause 5.1) or any Content made available or accessible through any Third Party Services; or

(d)      any Unauthorised Code in the API or any Content accessible through the API; or

(e)      any Transactions.

4.3.        Clause 4 of these Terms of Use shall be deemed to be incorporated into the relevant terms and conditions governing the Transactions. In the event of any inconsistency between Clause 4 of these Terms of Use and any term or condition governing the Transactions, Clause 4 of these Terms of Use shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

5.              THIRD PARTY TERMS

5.1.        The API may require, enable, provide, or facilitate access to or use of websites, software or services of a third party (“Third Party Services”). In such a case, there may be terms of use that govern your access to or use of such Third Party Services (“Third Party Terms”).

5.2.        You are responsible for checking and reading the most updated version of all applicable Third Party Terms. You agree to comply with and be legally bound by such Third Party Terms.

5.3.        Nothing in the API or these Terms of Use constitutes an endorsement by us of the Third Party Services or any Content made available or accessible through such Third Party Services. We do not make any representations or warranties of any kind in relation to the Third Party Services, or any Content made available or accessible through such Third Party Services. Your access to and use of the Third Party Services, and your reliance on the Content made available or accessible through such Third Party Services, are solely at your own risk.

6.              COSTS

6.1.        You shall bear all costs and expenses associated with your use of the API. 

7.              INDEMNITY

7.1.        You shall indemnify and hold MOF harmless in respect of all damages, losses, charges, costs (including legal costs), expenses and liabilities that MOF may sustain or incur, directly or indirectly, as a result of:

(a)           your use of the API, fraud, negligence, misconduct or breach of these Terms of Use;

(b)           any act or omission by any person (including any third party, whether authorised or otherwise) carried out with the use of your Client Secret Key or Digital Signature Keys;

(c)           any claim made by a third party in connection with any Transaction or your use of the API; and

(d)           any system downtime or failure, and/or any lost or damaged data or software, arising out of or in connection with your use of the API.

8.              CONTENT AND DATA

8.1.        You may be required to upload, share, submit, store or transmit Content in the course of your use of the API (“Your Content”). You shall retain full ownership and control over Your Content, and MOF does not claim any ownership over Your Content (or any part thereof).

8.2.        You shall grant MOF, the Government, and any relevant Third Party a non-exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free right to reproduce, disclose, use or otherwise handle and deal with Your Content for:

(a)      to allow MOF or any third party service provider engaged by MOF to facilitate, whether directly or indirectly, your use of the API;

(b)      to perform any function in connection with any Transactions;

(c)       to create or store backups of Your Content;

(d)      to respond to any queries, feedback or complaints by you , or otherwise respond to or deal with your interactions with MOF;

(e)      to monitor and track your use of the API, to assist MOF in understanding your interests, concerns and preferences, and in improving the API;

(f)        to create reports and produce statistics regarding your Transactions with us or any Statutory Board, or your use of the API, for security monitoring, audit, record-keeping or reporting purposes;

(g)      to carry out verification checks, due diligence or other screening activities (including background checks) as may be required by MOF or any Statutory Board; and

(h)      to prevent or investigate any fraudulent, illegal or unlawful activity, or to respond to any feedback or complaints about you.

9.              INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

9.1.        The API, including the format, directories, queries, algorithms, structure and organisation of the API, the source codes and the object codes, are protected by copyright and other forms of intellectual property rights.  All such copyrights and other forms of intellectual property rights are owned by or licensed to MOF.

9.2.        The Content accessible through the API and Content on the Site, including any information, source codes, object codes, pages, documents, and online graphics, audio and video, are protected by copyright, trademark, and other forms of intellectual property rights. All such copyright and other forms of intellectual property rights in the aforementioned Content are owned by or licensed to MOF.

9.3.        Nothing in these Terms of Use grants you any right over any intellectual property in the API, in any Content accessible through the API, and in any Content on the Site.

10.          CONFIDENTIALITY

10.1.    The API and MOF’s communications to you may contain Confidential Information.

10.2.    Confidential Information excludes information falling within any one or more of the following:

(a)    information that, at the time of disclosure to you by MOF, is in the public domain;

(b)    information that, after disclosure to you by MOF, becomes part of the public domain other than through breach of agreement or other legal obligation or through default or negligence by: (i) you; (ii) your staff, authorised personnel, servants, agents, professional advisors or consultants, or (iii) a Seller;

(c)     information that was already in your lawful possession on a non-confidential basis at the time of disclosure to you by MOF;

(d)    information that you independently acquired or developed without the use of any Confidential Information;

(e)    information that you received without any obligation of confidence from a third party that was not itself under or in any breach of any obligation of confidentiality; and

(f)      information the disclosure of which MOF has given prior written approval.

10.3.    You shall treat all information obtained from MOF and/or the API as Confidential Information and safeguard it accordingly. You shall not disclose, circulate, quote, reproduce, use or permit the use of Confidential Information by any other person without the prior written consent of MOF.

10.4.    You shall take all necessary measures and precautions to ensure that all Confidential Information obtained from MOF and/or the API in connection with your use of the API:

(a)    is given only to the Seller, your staff, authorised personnel, servants, agents, professional advisors and consultants engaged to perform and/or advise you in connection with your use of the API, strictly on a need-to-know basis; and

(b)    is protected whether in your premises or while being transmitted to and from MOF.

10.5.    Subject to Clause 10.6, upon the termination or expiry of your use of the API or the termination or expiry of these Terms of Use, you shall, at your own cost:

(a)      return to MOF all Confidential Information received from MOF without keeping any copy thereof; and

(b)      if so instructed by MOF, destroy and/or securely purge all retained documents containing such Confidential Information so provided by MOF and/or obtained by you under or in connection with your Use of the API (such that the Confidential Information are no longer reasonably retrievable) where you no longer require the use of such documents

10.6.    Despite Clause 10.5, you may retain any Confidential Information as may be required by any applicable law, regulations or directives of any relevant government, statutory or regulatory body, without prejudice to your confidentiality obligations in relation to such Confidential Information contained in this Clause 10. Before retaining any Confidential Information pursuant to this Clause 10.6, you shall provide MOF with a description of all Confidential Information retained and cite the specific applicable law, regulations or directives relied upon to retain the Confidential Information.

10.7.    This Clause 10 shall survive the termination or expiry of these Terms of Use and your use of the API.

11.          PUBLICITY

11.1.    You and your employees shall give MOF at least 3 working days’ prior written notice before the publication or release of any news item, article, publication, advertisement, prepared speech containing any information or material (“Media Release”) acquired in the course of your use of the API. The Media Release must not contain any Confidential Information or place the Government or MOF in disrepute.

12.          PERSONAL DATA

12.1.    In the course of your use of the API and/or access to the Site, MOF may handle, collect, use, disclose or otherwise process Personal Data belonging to you or any other person. MOF will handle, collect, use, disclose or otherwise process such Personal Data in accordance with our privacy statement, as may be amended by us from time to time (accessible at https://mof.gov.sg/privacy-statement/ or such other website as may be specified by us from time to time) (“MOF’s Privacy Statement”).

12.2.    Please refer to MOF’s Privacy Statement for more details. By using the API, you acknowledge that you have read and understood MOF’s Privacy Statement and agree to comply with and be legally bound by MOF’s Privacy Statement. You must not use the API if you do not accept any term in MOF’s Privacy Statement. MOF’s Privacy Statement forms part of these Terms of Use.

13.          SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF USE OF API

13.1.    MOF may, immediately terminate these Terms of Use, your use of the API, and/or suspend your use of the API by written notice if:

(a)    you use the API, any Content accessible through the API or any Content on the Site for any unauthorised purpose or in a way that is illegal or unlawful, or in a way that damages the Government’s or MOF’s reputation;

(b)    you breach any term of these Terms of Use;

(c)     you cease to exist as a distinct legal entity or cease to be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore; or 

(d)    you undergo an amalgamation or merger with another entity.

13.2.    Either Party may terminate these Terms of Use  and your use of the API at any time by providing the other party with 7 working days prior written notice before the desired termination date.

13.3.    Upon termination or suspension pursuant to Clause 13.1, you shall immediately stop your use of the API.

13.4.    Clauses 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and any other term in these Terms of Use which is reasonably necessary to give effect to the termination of your use of the API or the consequences of such termination, shall survive the termination of your use of the API.

13.5.    Despite Clauses 13.2 and 13.3, you may continue to use the API to the extent necessary to complete any lawful and ongoing Transactions.  You shall immediately cease your use of the API upon the completion of, payment for or refund for any such Transactions, whichever is the later.

14.          GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

14.1.    These Terms of Use shall be deemed to be made in Singapore and shall be subject to, governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Singapore.

14.2.    Each Party irrevocably agrees that the courts of Singapore shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any Dispute. Each Party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts

14.3.    Prior reference of the Dispute to mediation under Clause 15 is not a condition precedent to the reference of the Dispute to litigation by either Party. Further, any such escalation or reference shall not affect either Party’s right to refer the Dispute to litigation forthwith.

15.          MEDIATION

15.1.    In the event of any dispute, claim, question or disagreement arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use or its subject matter or formation (“Dispute”), the Parties must make reasonable efforts to resolve the same through mediation in accordance with the mediation procedure of the Singapore Mediation Centre and this Clause 15.

15.2.    The Parties shall be deemed to have made reasonable efforts in accordance with this Clause 15.1 if they have gone through at least one mediation session at the Singapore Mediation Centre.

15.3.    A Party who receives a written notice for mediation from the other Party must consent and participate in the mediation process in accordance with this Clause 15.

15.4.    The mediation session is to commence no later than ninety (90) days after the date of the written notice of mediation.

15.5.    This Clause 15 shall not apply to a Dispute referred to the Small Claims Tribunals, provided that:

(a)    the Parties attend a consultation session before a Registrar (where the Parties will be given an opportunity to resolve the Dispute amicably) after a claim is filed with the Small Claims Tribunals; and

(b)    the proceedings relating to such Dispute are not (i) discontinued by the Registrar pursuant to Section 17(3) of the Small Claims Tribunals Act 1984; or (ii) transferred out of the Small Claims Tribunals before or pursuant to such consultation session.

15.6.    Any failure to comply with Clause 15.1 or Clause 15.3 shall constitute a breach of these Terms of Use.

16.          RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES

16.1.    Save for the Statutory Boards, a person who is not a party to these Terms of Use shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 2001 to enforce any term in these Terms of Use.

16.2.    Any Statutory Board may enforce and rely on these Terms of Use to the same extent as if it was a Party.

16.3.    MOF may amend these Terms of Use without the consent of any Statutory Board.

16.4.    The Government shall not be liable for any act or omission of any Statutory Board.

17.          ADDITIONAL TERMS

17.1.    You may not assign or sub-contract these Terms of Use without our prior written consent.

17.2.    If any provision in these Terms of Use is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such provision or part thereof shall, to the extent it is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, be deemed not to form part of these Terms of Use, and the legality, validity and enforceability of the remainder of these Terms of Use shall not be affected.

17.3.    No waiver or delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right under these Terms of Use, or at law or in equity, shall operate as a release or waiver thereof.

17.4.    No waiver of any breach of these Terms of Use shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or any subsequent breach.

17.5.    Any waiver granted under these Terms of Use must be in writing and may be given subject to conditions. Such waiver shall be effective only in the instance and for the purpose for which it is given.

17.6.    Any notice that we intend to give to you may be carried out by posting such notice to your registered address or by sending such notice to you to any contact information you may have provided us (including business address and email address). You are deemed to have received notice of the same upon us posting and/or sending such notice to you.

17.7.    Neither Party shall have the authority to make any statement, representation or commitment of any kind, or to take any action which shall be binding or intended to be binding on the other Party.

18.           DEFINITIONS

18.1.    In these Terms:

(a)      “API” means the intermediary application programming interface made available by MOF for use for the purposes of approving, updating (such as in cases of cancellations and refunds), and facilitating the invoicing or payment of the Transactions;

(b)      “API Client” means any software, application, website or system that utilises the API, and includes any part thereof;

(c)       “Client Secret Key” means the key generated by a Party and shared with the other Party, for the other Party to verify the identity of the Party when communicating through the API;

(d)      “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, any Client Secret Key, any Digital Signature Keys, and any information disclosed, made accessible or provided at any time, whether in writing, orally, visually or electronically or otherwise by MOF to you, in connection with your use of the API;

(e)      “Content” includes data, text, images, documents, sounds, codes, computer programs, software and databases;

(f)        “Digital Signature Keys” means a pair of cryptographic keys comprising:

(i)      a private key for a Party to digitally sign and encrypt files or records, including payload requests communicated through the API to the other Party; and

(ii)    a public key for the other Party to verify the digital signature created by the private key and/or to decrypt the files or records encrypted by the private key;

(g)      “Government” means the Government of the Republic of Singapore as a whole, including all its ministries, government departments and organs of state;

(h)      “MOF”, “we”, “our” or “us” means the Government as represented by the Ministry of Finance;

(i)        “Officer” means any Government officer;

(j)        “Parties” means you and us, and “Party” means either you or us;

(k)       “Personal Data” has the meaning set out in the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and any subsidiary legislation made under it, as amended or revised from time to time;

(l)        “Seller” means a seller or vendor with whom any Transactions are made on your commercial digital platform;

(m)    “Site” means https://www.quickbuy.gov.sg, or such other website as MOF may specify from time to time;

(n)      “Statutory Board" means a corporate body established by or under written law to perform or discharge any public function under the supervisory charge of a Government Ministry or organ of state;

(o)      “Transactions” means the purchases of goods or services by an Officer on your commercial digital platform; and

(p)      “Unauthorised Code” means any malicious or invalid code, virus, Trojan horse, worm, logic bomb, software routine or hardware components designed to permit unauthorised access, to disable, erase, or otherwise harm software, hardware or data, or to perform any such actions.

Appendix 1 – Transactions Requirements

1.              You shall submit invoices for the Transactions (“Invoices”) via the API to MOF, in compliance with such information, requirements and procedures as may be notified to you by MOF from time to time. Invoices shall be submitted via the API to MOF only after all the goods and/or services listed in the Invoices have been delivered to the relevant Officers.

2.              You will be notified via the API if the Invoices are approved.

3.              Invoices shall be due and payable within 14 days from the date of successful reconciliation.

4.              MOF reserves the right to suspend or terminate the use of the API in respect of any Transaction that does not comply with any term in this Appendix 1.

5.              Paragraph 3 of this Appendix 1 shall be deemed to be incorporated into the terms and conditions governing the Transactions. In the event of any inconsistency between paragraph 3 of this Appendix 1 and any term or condition governing the Transactions, paragraph 3 of this Appendix 1 shall prevail to the extent of any such inconsistency.