Office of Risk Services

Department of Institutional Audit, Compliance and Risk Services

Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
122 Saint Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115

phone: 617.373.5997
fax: 617.373.8996

riskmanagement@neu.edu

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Outside Agency Certificate Requirements

Any time departments work with external entities there arises potential liability to the University. Whenever possible, the University wants to ensure those entities carry adequate insurance coverage. The University's standard certificate requirements are outlined below.

Minimum Insurance Coverages and Requirements

(Contractor) shall obtain and maintain the minimum insurance coverages set forth below. By requiring such minimum insurance, Northeastern University shall not be deemed or construed to have assessed the risk that may be applicable to (Contractor) under the Contract. Contractor shall assess its own risks and if it deems appropriate and/or prudent, maintain higher limits and/or broader coverages. The Contractor is not relieved of any liability or other obligations assumed or pursuant to the Contract by reason of its failure to obtain or maintain insurance in sufficient amounts, duration, or types. The insurance coverages stated below do not replace any surety (performance, payment or maintenance) bonds as required by contract.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INSURERS

Northeastern University requires that all insurers:

  1. Be licensed or approved to do business within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  2. Write required insurance on an occurrence basis. (Professional Liability and Pollution Liability are acceptable written on a claims-made basis.)
  3. Name Northeastern University and its Board of Trustees, officers and employees, agents and volunteers as “Additional Insureds” on general liability, umbrella/excess liability, environmental liability and other policies as specified by the contract.
  4. Possess a minimum A.M. Best’s Insurance Guide rating of A VII. A.M. Best rating is composed of two parts: the letter denotes the company’s level (see chart below) and the Roman numeral denotes financial size.

Level
Category
A++
Superior
A+
Superior
A
Excellent
A-
Excellent
B++
Very Good
B+
Good
B-
Good
C++
Fair
C+
Fair
C
Marginal
C-
Marginal
D
Below Minimum Standards

The level assigned to a company is an indicator of the company’s ability to meet obligations over a long period of time. Financial Size is measured by Roman numerals ranging from Class I (the smallest) to Class XV (the largest). Financial size provides an indication of the amount of reserves or policyholders’ surplus the company reported as liabilities. The amount of the policyholders’ surplus determines the amount of insurance the company may prudently underwrite.


COVERAGES

  1. Commercial General Liability – Coverage to include:
    • Premises and Operations

    • Explosion, Collapse and Underground Hazards

    • Personal/Advertising Injury
    • <
    • Products/Completed Operations
    • <
    • Liability assumed under an Insured Contract (including defense costs assumed under contract)
    • <
    • Broad Form Property Damage
    • <
    • Independent Contractors
    • <
    • Limited Pollution Liability Extension Endorsement with required modification to f.(1)(a), ISO CG 2415 (1998 Edition)
    • <
    • Pollution Exclusion Limitation Endorsement – Overspray
    • <
    • Designated Construction Project(s) General Aggregate Limit, ISO CG 2503 (1997 Edition)
  2. Automobile Liability including all:
    • Owned, Non-Owned & Hired Vehicles

    • Personal Injury Protection
  3. Workers Compensation
    • Statutory Benefits (Coverage A) for Massachusetts
    • Employers Liability (Coverage B) $500,000/$500,000/$500,000
  4. Professional Liability:
    (including Design Build Errors & Omissions)
    • Whenever the work under this contract includes Professional Liability, Contractor shall maintain professional liability covering wrongful acts, errors and/or omissions of (Contractor) for damage sustained by reason of or in the course of operations under this contract.
  5. Pollution Liability:
    • Northeastern University may require this coverage whenever work under this contract involves pollution risk to the environment. This coverage is to include sudden and gradual coverage for third-party liability including defense costs and completed operations. On the Automobile Liability Coverage endorsements CA9948 and MCS-90 are required.