Common use of Parties to resolve Dispute Clause in Contracts

Parties to resolve Dispute. During the period of 10 days after notification of a Dispute is given under clause 17.2 (or longer period if the parties agree in writing) the Department Officer Representative and the Supplier Officer Representative shall attempt to resolve the Dispute by negotiation. If the parties cannot resolve the Dispute within that period, each party to the Dispute must use its reasonable efforts through a meeting of the Department Senior Representative and the Supplier Senior Representative, to resolve the Dispute. If the parties cannot resolve the Dispute within 10 days of expiry of the initial 10 day negotiation period, either party may submit the Dispute to arbitration by a sole independent arbitrator appointed jointly by the parties.