B2. Award & Contract

Core Principle

One award, one contract, one pool of capital set aside—then pay only when proof is delivered. In short: agree once, see everything, and let the system execute automatically.

Overview

You select winning bids, whether from a single supplier or multiple sources. EDMA constructs a single Master Purchase Agreement that incorporates your specifications, delivery plan, and the evidence checklist defined in B1. You fund the order once; EDMA mints EDSD at a 1:1 ratio and pre-assigns each supplier's payment tranches to specific delivery stages. The capital is visible but locked. When a stage is verified, that payment slice releases automatically.

No EMT, no funds.

The Award and Contract Process

1. Award Selection

On the award screen, you confirm which suppliers cover which portions of the order—for example, Supplier A handles 10 containers, Supplier B handles 25, and Supplier C handles 65. EDMA displays a comprehensive summary: product specifications, delivery dates, shipping lanes, unit pricing, and each supplier's committed proof plan.

You confirm or adjust your payout plan—the percentages that release when each stage is verified. A typical structure might allocate 10% at "Ready," 40% after inspection, 25% when on board and sealed, 15% at customs clearance, and 10% at DC receipt. Click Award to proceed.

2. Master Purchase Agreement

EDMA generates a single MPA that all winning suppliers sign. This comprehensive document includes:

• Product and Quantity: Detailed product specifications, brand requirements or neutral specs, total containers or pallets per supplier.

• Logistics: Origin points, destination port or distribution center, Incoterms, ready-to-ship windows, transit estimates.

• Quality and Compliance: Brand authorization for branded goods, carton and pallet mapping, barcode and GS1 standards, minimum shelf-life requirements, cold chain temperature ranges and data logger specifications.

• Evidence Checklist: Precise definitions of what constitutes "Ready," "PSI passed," "On board and sealed," "Customs cleared," and "DC receipt and QA."

• Payout Plan: The tranche table all parties agree represents "pay on proof."

• Fees and Caps: Transparent fee structure detailed below.

• Amendments and Exceptions: Protocols for handling date shifts, split shipments, short shipments, damage, temperature excursions, and holdbacks.

• Dispute Resolution: Evidence-first, expedited resolution process.

One contract governs the entire order. Each supplier receives a schedule. No additional paperwork is required later to debate definitions—this document is the definitive map.

3. Single Funding Event

After all parties countersign, the buyer funds the order. EDMA mints EDSD at a 1:1 ratio and pre-assigns capital to each supplier's stages exactly as agreed. All participants can view their allocated amounts and associated stages, but funds remain locked until proof is verified.

Suppliers ship against visible, reserved capital rather than promises. Buyers see precisely what is reserved, for whom, and when any additional top-up might be required.

4. Proof-Triggered Automatic Release

At each stage—"Ready," "PSI passed," "On board and sealed," "Customs cleared," "DC receipt and QA"—independent verification confirms the evidence specified in the MPA. When a stage passes verification, EDMA mints an Event Milestone Token (EMT) and the corresponding tranche pays automatically to the appropriate supplier.

If any discrepancy arises—incorrect seal, out-of-range temperature, insufficient shelf-life—the platform immediately stops the release and flags the issue. Once resolved, the process continues. If the issue cannot be resolved, remaining funds stay locked.

Simple rule: No EMT, no funds.

Visibility and User Experience

Buyer View: A unified timeline for the entire order, even when split across multiple suppliers. Every stage is labeled, every tranche is pre-assigned, every release is timestamped, with clear "what's next" indicators.

Supplier View: From day one, reserved capital is visible with exact stages that trigger payment for your shipments. When your stage passes verification, payment arrives the same day—not in 60 days.

Both Parties: One set of definitions and receipts. Fewer emails. Fewer disputes. Faster transaction closure.

Managing Changes and Exceptions

Revocation or Failure: If a required verification is withdrawn or fails, EDMA freezes that stage. If the issue resolves quickly, the flow resumes. If not, affected lots are delisted or rerouted; funds for that stage return to the buyer or reassign per the MPA.

Date Adjustments: Submit a change request with new dates while maintaining the same evidence requirements. The timeline updates for all parties automatically, eliminating ambiguity.

Split Shipments and Rollovers: The schedule accommodates split containers. Each sub-lot follows the same "proof then pay" rule.

Holdbacks: Optional holdback at arrival to cover potential damage or variance. Auto-releases when MPA conditions are satisfied.

Pending Funds: If the buyer misses a planned capital top-up before a future stage, that stage enters "Pending Funds" status until funded. Any penalties are defined in the MPA.

Fee Structure

Settlement Currency: EDSD, providing stable, on-platform settlement.

Protocol Fee: Charged only when a stage payment is released, not at award. For commodity and goods trade: 0.5% per paid stage, with caps per tranche:

• ≤$1M: $5,000 cap

• $1M–$5M: $25,000 cap

• >$5M: $50,000 cap

Payment Method: Fees are paid in EDM at the moment of release. 50% of each fee is permanently removed from token supply on-chain; the remainder supports attestors, network operations, builders, and ecosystem development.

Fee Allocation: As specified in the MPA. Common patterns include buyer pays, seller pays, or split responsibility. EDMA displays the fee calculation and net amount to supplier before confirmation.

Network fees are minimal and handled automatically in the background—no participant needs to hold ETH on EDMA.

Why This Model Works

This approach fundamentally restructures risk. The buyer commits capital once. The supplier ships against visible, reserved funds. Cash moves in small, predictable increments when proof is verified. Definitions are agreed upon before any party takes action, and the platform enforces them without bias.

This transforms months of waiting and disputes into days of progress and documented receipts.

In summary: agree once, fund once, and pay only on proof.

No proof. No token. No payment.