Forceworks Development Blocks Agreement

Welcome! This agreement explains how our Development Blocks work - they're prepaid hours for consulting, development code work, and rush jobs that can be used standalone or alongside your Works subscription.

Effective Date: The day we receive your payment

Between: Forceworks, LLC and You (the Client)

Availability: You can purchase and use Development Blocks as a standalone service or in combination with an active Works subscription.

What Are Development Blocks?

Development Blocks are prepaid hours for specialized consulting, rush work, and custom development. If you use them alongside a Works subscription, your Customer Success Manager may recommend Development Blocks when a request falls outside the standard subscription scope. If you use them standalone, we'll scope the request with you directly. We'll create a “bank” of hours just for you.

These hours are specifically for:

1. Development Code Work

Any task requiring actual programming code, including:

  • Work outside Microsoft Power Platform boundaries
  • Plugin development
  • Actions development
  • Writing advanced expressions or formulas
  • JavaScript, CSS, HTML, PHP, or XAML coding
  • Creating variables and controls
  • Using command line interfaces
  • Working with Visual Studio or similar development tools
  • Direct API integration work
  • Logic Apps development
  • Any other custom coding tasks

2. Accelerated/Rush Tasks

When you need something done faster than our normal service timeline, Development Blocks can be used to prioritize your request.

Important: If you have a Works subscription, many standard support, consulting, training, UI customization, and normal-pace requests may already be covered there. Standalone clients can use Development Blocks directly for approved consulting, rush, or development work.

How It Works

Our Team Guides the Process

  1. We'll Tell You: During support, consulting, or scoping, our team will alert you when a request requires Development Blocks
  2. Your Choice: If you decide to proceed, you can purchase Development Blocks
  3. Track Everything: Visit our portal anytime to see how your development hours are being used

The Development Process

When Code is Required:

  1. Your Forceworks contact identifies that your request needs custom development
  2. We'll explain what's needed and provide an estimate of hours (when possible)
  3. You decide whether to purchase Development Blocks and proceed
  4. Once you have blocks, our developers complete the work
  5. We provide full documentation for any custom code created

For Rush Jobs:

  1. Let your Forceworks contact know about urgent deadlines
  2. They'll confirm if Development Blocks can expedite your request
  3. If you proceed, your work gets priority scheduling

Tracking Your Investment

  • Real-Time Updates: Check the portal to see hours used on each task
  • Detailed Breakdown: View what development work was completed
  • Remaining Balance: Always know how many hours you have left

Pricing & Payment

How Billing Works

  • Prepaid Only: Buy development hours upfront
  • Time Tracking: We bill in 15-minute increments (1/4 hour)
  • Development Time Includes: Coding, testing, documentation, and deployment

Pricing Tiers

Development Blocks Rates:

[See our Development Blocks pricing page for current rates]

Special Note: If our principals (Steve Mordue or Vlad Sarov) do the development work, those hours count at the Principal's Multiplier rate.

Important Things to Know

Your Development Hours Bank

  • Guided Usage: Your Forceworks contact will tell you when these hours are needed
  • No Refunds: Once purchased, the hours are yours
  • Use Them or Lose Them: Any unused hours are forfeited when the applicable service term ends or the hours expire
  • Low Balance Alert: We'll notify you when hours are running low
  • Keep the Same Rate: Refill before hitting zero to maintain your current rates
  • Portal Tracking: Visit our portal anytime to see how your hours are being used

What's NOT Covered by Development Blocks

If you have a Works subscription, it may already include:

  • UI-based customizations (no code required)
  • Standard support and troubleshooting
  • Training and consulting
  • Report building
  • Automation through Power Automate
  • Normal-pace project work

Only use Development Blocks when you specifically need custom code or faster delivery!

What You Need to Provide

  • Administrator access to development environments
  • Clear technical specifications
  • Testing environments (if applicable)
  • Approval workflows for code deployment

Technical Requirements

Development Standards

We follow Microsoft best practices for all development work:

  • Proper code documentation
  • Solution-aware components
  • Version control where applicable
  • Testing before deployment

Software Supported

Development work for all Microsoft Business Applications:

  • Dynamics 365
  • Power Apps (Model-driven and Canvas)
  • Power Automate (when code is required)
  • Power BI (custom visuals, advanced DAX)
  • Related Azure services

Legal Protections

Code Ownership

  • All custom code developed becomes your property
  • We retain the right to reuse general techniques and knowledge
  • We'll provide source code and documentation

Keeping Your Information Safe

We promise to:

  • Keep all your code and business logic confidential
  • Only share with team members working on your project
  • Maintain security best practices

Don't Hire Our People

For one year after this agreement ends, please don't try to hire any of our developers or contractors. This helps us maintain a skilled team for your future needs.

Getting Started

How Development Blocks Work:

  1. Start with Your Request: Submit your request through your Works subscription or directly to Forceworks for standalone Development Blocks
  2. We'll Guide You: Your Forceworks contact will let you know if Development Blocks are appropriate
  3. Your Decision: If you want to proceed with custom development, purchase Development Blocks
  4. We Handle the Rest: Our development team takes over and completes the work

Managing Your Hours:

  • Monitor Usage: Visit the portal anytime to track your development hours
  • Transparent Tracking: See exactly what work was done and time spent
  • Plan Ahead: Your Forceworks contact can help estimate hours for upcoming projects

By purchasing Development Blocks, you agree to these terms.

Remember: Your Forceworks contact will tell you when Development Blocks are appropriate. If you also have a Works subscription, many standard business needs may be handled through that subscription without custom development.