Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                Nucor Corporation

                              4.875% Notes due 2012

                   Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement

                                                                 October 1, 2002

Banc of America Securities LLC
Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.

c/o Wachovia Securities, Inc.
One Wachovia Center
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Nucor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein), for which Banc of America
Securities LLC and Wachovia Securities, Inc. are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as
defined herein) its 4.875% Notes due 2012, Series A. As an inducement to the
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a
condition to the obligations of the Purchasers thereunder, the Company agrees
with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders (as defined herein) from time to
time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:

1.   CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

     For purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

          "Base Interest" shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on
     the Securities (as defined herein) under the terms thereof and the
     Indenture (as defined herein), without giving effect to the provisions of
     this Agreement.

          The term "broker-dealer" shall mean any broker or dealer registered
     with the Commission under the Exchange Act (as defined herein).

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          "Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Securities (as defined
     herein) are initially issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

          "Commission" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
     Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
     Exchange Act or the Securities Act (as defined herein), whichever is the
     relevant statute for the particular purpose.

          "Effective Time," in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration (as
     defined herein), shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission
     declares the Exchange Registration Statement (as defined herein) effective
     or as of which the Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes
     effective and (ii) a Shelf Registration (as defined herein), shall mean the
     time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf Registration
     Statement (as defined herein) effective or as of which the Shelf
     Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.

          "Electing Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that
     has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire (as defined
     herein) to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii)
     hereof.

          "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended, or any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time
     to time.

          "Exchange Offer" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
     2(a) hereof.

          "Exchange Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 3(c) hereof.

          "Exchange Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned
     thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.

          "Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 2(a) hereof.

          The term "holder" shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons
     who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including successors
     or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable
     Securities.

          "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of January 12, 1999,
     between the Company and The Bank of New York, a national banking
     association, as trustee (together with any successor, the "Trustee"), as
     the same shall be amended or supplemented from time to time.

          "Notice and Questionnaire" means a Notice of Registration Statement
     and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of
     Exhibit A hereto.

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          The term "person" shall mean a corporation, association, partnership,
     limited liability company, organization, business, or similar entity or an
     individual, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental
     agency.

          "Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
     September 26, 2002, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the
     Securities.

          "Purchasers" shall mean the Purchasers named in Schedule I to the
     Purchase Agreement.

          "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
     that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the
     circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been
     exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in
     Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to
     the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use
     in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a
     Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until the earlier
     of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been
     completed or such time, with respect to such a broker-dealer, as such
     broker-dealer no longer is required to deliver a prospectus in connection
     with sales made by it); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by Section
     2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such Security under
     the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective and such Security
     has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof pursuant to
     and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf Registration
     Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144 under
     circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to
     restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or
     otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv)
     such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144;
     or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.

          "Registration Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 2(c) hereof.

          "Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 4 hereof.

          "Resale Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
     2(a) hereof.

          "Restricted Holder" shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of
     the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires
     Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder's business,
     (iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to
     participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange
     Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect
     to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an
     Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the
     broker-dealer directly from the Company.

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          "Rule 144," "Rule 405" and "Rule 415" shall mean, in each case, such
     rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as
     the same shall be amended from time to time.

          "Securities" shall mean the 4.875% Notes due 2012, Series A of the
     Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and securities issued in
     exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, respectively, pursuant to the
     Indenture.

          "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
     any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.

          "Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 2(b) hereof.

          "Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
     in Section 2(b) hereof.

          "Special Interest" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
     2(c) hereof.

          "Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or
     any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated
     thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.

          Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a
     "Section" or "clause" refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of
     this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words "herein,"
     "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this
     Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any
     particular Section or other subdivision.

2.   REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

          (a)  Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to
     file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than 90
     days after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an offer
     to exchange (such registration statement, the "Exchange Registration
     Statement," and such offer, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the
     Securities (other than the Exchange Securities) for a like aggregate
     principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company, which debt
     securities are substantially identical to the Securities (and are entitled
     to the benefits of a trust indenture which is substantially identical to
     the Indenture or is the Indenture and which has been qualified under the
     Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered pursuant to an
     effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not
     contain (i) provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section
     2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called "Exchange
     Securities"), or (ii) legends regarding transfer restrictions relating to
     the registration requirements under the Securities Act or an exemption
     therefrom (except in the case of a sale to a Restricted Holder). The
     Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange
     Registration Statement to

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     become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no
     later than 180 days after the Closing Date. The Exchange Offer will be
     registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply
     with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange
     Act. The Company further agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
     commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later than 45
     days after such registration statement has become effective, hold the
     Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days (or such longer period as may be
     required under applicable securities laws) and exchange Exchange Securities
     for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not
     withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange
     Offer will be deemed to have been "completed" only if the debt securities
     received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for
     Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder
     without need for further compliance with Section 5 of the Securities Act
     and with the Exchange Act (except for the requirement to deliver a
     prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement applicable to
     resales by a broker-dealer of Exchange Securities received by such
     broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable
     Securities other than those acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the
     Company) and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities
     laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States of
     America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been completed upon the
     earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the Exchange
     Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities (other than those
     held by Restricted Holders) pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the
     Company having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange
     Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered
     and not withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall
     be on a date that is at least 30 days following the commencement of the
     Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange
     Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of
     Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer, other than resales of Exchange
     Securities received by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in
     exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly
     from the Company, and (y) to keep such Exchange Registration Statement
     effective for a period (the "Resale Period") beginning when Exchange
     Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the
     earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has
     been completed or such time as each such broker-dealer no longer is
     required to deliver a prospectus in connection with a sale by it of
     Registrable Securities. With respect to such Exchange Registration
     Statement, each broker-dealer that holds Exchange Securities received in an
     Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities not acquired by it
     directly from the Company shall have the benefit of the rights of
     indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and
     (e) hereof.

          (b)  If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed
     existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the Exchange
     Securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the
     Exchange Offer for such Registrable Securities are not or would not be,
     upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without need for further
     compliance with Section 5 of the Securities Act (except for the requirement
     to deliver a prospectus included in the Exchange Registration Statement

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         applicable to resales by a broker-dealer of Exchange Securities
         received by such broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer in
         exchange for Registrable Securities other than those acquired by the
         broker-dealer directly from the Company), (ii) such Exchange Offer has
         not been completed within 225 days following the Closing Date, or (iii)
         a holder of the Registrable Securities notifies the Company that (A)
         the holder is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating
         in the Exchange Offer, (B) the holder may not resell the Exchange
         Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
         delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the Exchange
         Registration Statement is inappropriate or unavailable for such resales
         by the holder, or (C) the holder is a broker-dealer and holds
         Securities that are part of an unsold allotment from the initial sale
         of Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause
         (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by
         Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but
         no later than 30 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a
         "shelf" registration statement providing for the registration of, and
         the sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the
         Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that
         may be adopted by the Commission (such filing, the "Shelf Registration"
         and such registration statement, the "Shelf Registration Statement").
         The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts (x) to cause the
         Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no
         later than 120 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed
         and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective
         for a period ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the
         Effective Time or such time as all Registrable Securities registered
         under the Shelf Registration Statement are disposed of in accordance
         therewith, provided, however, that no holder shall be entitled to be
         named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement
         or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
         Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder, and
         (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement,
         promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that
         is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary
         to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for
         resales of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any
         action reasonably necessary to identify such holder as a selling
         securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however,
         that nothing in this clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the
         obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
         the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. During the
         period that the Company is required to keep the Shelf Registration
         Statement effective under this Section 2(b), the Company further agrees
         to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement,
         as and when required by the rules, regulations or instructions
         applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
         Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and
         regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees
         to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or
         amendment prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with
         the Commission.

                  (c) In the event that (i) the Company has not filed the
         Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement on or
         before the date on which such registration statement is required to be
         filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively,

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         or (ii) such Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration
         Statement has not become effective or been declared effective by the
         Commission on or before the date on which such registration statement
         is required to become or be declared effective pursuant to Section 2(a)
         or 2(b), respectively, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been
         completed within 45 days after the initial effective date of the
         Exchange Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer (if the
         Exchange Offer is then required to be made) or (iv) any Exchange
         Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by
         Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but shall
         thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject
         to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the
         Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration
         statement (except as specifically permitted herein) without being
         succeeded promptly by an additional registration statement filed and
         declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through
         (iv), a "Registration Default" and each period during which a
         Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a "Registration
         Default Period"), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration
         Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest
         ("Special Interest"), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue at
         a rate of 0.25% per annum thereafter, which will increase to a rate of
         0.50% per annum if the Registration Default is not cured within 90
         days, until the applicable Registration Default has been cured. In the
         event that the Company cures the Registration Default, Special Interest
         will no longer accrue and, therefore, the interest rate on the
         Securities shall revert to the Base Interest.

                  (d) The Company shall take all reasonable actions necessary or
         advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions
         contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated.

                  (e) Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any
         time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to
         be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference
         herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as
         of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or
         deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.

                  (f) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer
         pursuant to the terms of this Exchange and Registration Rights
         Agreement, each holder of Securities shall furnish, prior to the
         consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the
         Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal
         contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) that it is
         not a Restricted Holder. In addition, each holder participating in the
         Exchange Offer which is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
         Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were
         acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
         activities (other than Securities acquired directly from the Company)
         must acknowledge in writing (which may be contained in the letter of
         transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement)
         that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
         Securities Act in connection with a resale by it of the Exchange
         Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering such a
         prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is
         an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

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         Any holder who is a Restricted Holder with respect to Exchange
         Securities to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, including any
         broker-dealer who purchased Securities from the Company to resell
         pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available
         exemption under the Securities Act, must comply with the registration
         and prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act.

3.       REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

         If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply to all Securities
collectively:

                  (a)      At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer
         or the Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall
         qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

                  (b)      In the event that such qualification would require
         the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall
         appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
         of the Indenture.

                  (c)      In connection with the Company's obligations with
         respect to the registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by
         Section 2(a) (the "Exchange Registration"), if applicable, the Company
         shall, as soon as reasonably practicable (or as otherwise specified):

                           (i)  prepare and file with the Commission, no later
                  than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange Registration
                  Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and
                  which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange
                  Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be
                  effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its
                  reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Registration
                  Statement to become effective as soon as practicable
                  thereafter, but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date;

                           (ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the
                  Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange
                  Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as
                  may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of
                  such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and
                  purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be
                  required by the applicable rules and regulations of the
                  Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such
                  Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each
                  broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of
                  copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or
                  supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the
                  requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
                  and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as
                  such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the
                  expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with
                  resales of Exchange Securities;

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                           (iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has
                  requested or received copies of the prospectus included in
                  such registration statement, and confirm such advice in
                  writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or
                  supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and,
                  with respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any
                  post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective,
                  (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or
                  securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect
                  thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or
                  supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or
                  prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance
                  by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
                  effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or the
                  initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose,
                  (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the
                  Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct
                  in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of
                  any notification with respect to the suspension of the
                  qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any
                  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
                  proceeding for such purpose, or (F) at any time during the
                  Resale Period when a prospectus is required to be delivered
                  under the Securities Act that such Exchange Registration
                  Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or
                  post-effective amendment does not conform in all material
                  respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
                  and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of
                  the Commission thereunder or, with respect to a prospectus (or
                  amendment or supplement thereto), includes an untrue statement
                  of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
                  in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
                  circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
                  with respect to the registration statement (or amendment
                  thereto), contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein
                  or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

                           (iv)  in the event that the Company would be
                  required, pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, to notify
                  any broker-dealers holding Exchange Securities, as promptly as
                  practicable prepare and furnish to each such holder a
                  reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
                  amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such
                  Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus
                  shall conform in all material respects to the applicable
                  requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
                  and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and
                  shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                  statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made, not misleading. Each broker-dealer
                  holding Exchange Securities during the Resale Period agrees
                  that upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to
                  Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, such broker-dealer shall forthwith
                  discontinue disposition of Exchange Securities pursuant to the
                  Exchange Registration Statement applicable to such Exchange
                  Securities until such broker-

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                  dealer shall have received copies of such amended or
                  supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company,
                  such broker-dealer shall deliver to the Company (at the
                  Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file
                  copies, then in such broker-dealer's possession of the
                  prospectus covering such Exchange Securities at the time of
                  receipt of such notice;

                          (v)     use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
                  withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
                  Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective
                  amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;

                          (vi)    use its reasonable best efforts to (A)
                  register or qualify the Exchange Securities under the
                  securities laws or blue sky laws of such United States
                  jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a), if such
                  registration or qualification is required by such laws, no
                  later than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep
                  such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with
                  such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and
                  dealings therein in such jurisdictions until the expiration of
                  the Resale Period and (C) take any and all other actions as
                  may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each
                  broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the
                  disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however,
                  that the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to
                  (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction
                  wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
                  the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2) consent to
                  general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3)
                  make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or
                  by-laws or any agreement between it and its stockholders;

                          (vii)   use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
                  consent or approval of each United States governmental agency
                  or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be
                  required to effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange
                  Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities by
                  broker-dealers during the Resale Period;

                          (viii)  provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange
                   Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;

                          (ix)    comply with all applicable rules and
                  regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to
                  its securityholders as soon as practicable but no later than
                  eighteen months after the effective date of such Exchange
                  Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company
                  and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the
                  Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule
                  158 thereunder).

                  (d)     In connection with the Company's obligations with
         respect to the Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as
         soon as reasonably practicable (or as otherwise specified):

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                           (i)   prepare and file with the Commission, as soon
                  as reasonably practicable but in any case within the time
                  periods specified in Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration
                  Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and
                  which shall register all of the Registrable Securities for
                  resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method
                  or methods of disposition as may be specified by such of the
                  holders as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders and use
                  its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
                  Statement to become effective as soon as practicable but in
                  any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b);

                           (ii)  not less than 30 calendar days prior to the
                  Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the
                  Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable
                  Securities; no holder shall be entitled to be named as a
                  selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement as
                  of the Effective Time, and no holder shall be entitled to use
                  the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
                  Registrable Securities at any time, unless such holder has
                  returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to
                  the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein;
                  provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall
                  have at least 28 calendar days from the date on which the
                  Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to
                  return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the
                  Company;

                           (iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf
                  Registration Statement, (A) upon the request of any holder of
                  Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder,
                  promptly send a Notice and Questionnaire to such holder, and
                  (B) upon receipt by the Company of a completed and signed
                  Notice and Questionnaire from any holder of Registrable
                  Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, take action
                  reasonably necessary to cause such holder to be named as a
                  selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and
                  to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part
                  thereof for resales of Registrable Securities; provided that
                  the Company shall not be required to take any action to name
                  such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf
                  Registration Statement or to enable such holder to use the
                  prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable
                  Securities until such holder has returned a completed and
                  signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company;

                           (iv)  as soon as reasonably practicable prepare and
                  file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to
                  such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included
                  therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the
                  effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the
                  period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required
                  by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and
                  the instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf
                  Registration Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders
                  copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with
                  or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission;

                                       11

<PAGE>

                           (v)   comply with the provisions of the Securities
                  Act with respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable
                  Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in
                  accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the
                  Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration
                  Statement;

                           (vi)  provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the
                  underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Exchange and
                  Registration Rights Agreement, shall include a person deemed
                  to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of
                  the Securities Act), if any, thereof, (C) any sales or
                  placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for any such underwriter
                  or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the
                  Electing Holders the opportunity to participate in the
                  preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each
                  prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and
                  each amendment or supplement thereto;

                           (vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of
                  such Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period
                  specified in Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times
                  at the Company's principal place of business or such other
                  reasonable place for inspection by the persons referred to in
                  Section 3(d)(vi) who shall certify to the Company that they
                  have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities
                  pursuant to the Shelf Registration such financial and other
                  information and books and records of the Company, and cause
                  the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified
                  public accountants of the Company to respond to such
                  inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment
                  of the Company and its counsel, to conduct a reasonable
                  investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
                  Securities Act; provided, however, that, prior to such
                  inspection and inquiry, each such party shall be required to
                  agree in writing to maintain in confidence and not to disclose
                  to any other person any information or records reasonably
                  designated by the Company as being confidential, until such
                  time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public record
                  (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such registration
                  statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required
                  so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or
                  order of any court or other governmental agency or body having
                  jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of
                  such order, and only after such person shall have given the
                  Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement), or
                  (C) in the judgment of the Company and the Electing Holders,
                  such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf
                  Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or
                  in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an
                  amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such
                  Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or
                  supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable
                  requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules
                  and regulations of the Commission and, with respect to a
                  prospectus (or amendment or supplement thereto), does not
                  include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
                  state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                  statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made, not misleading, or with respect to the
                  registration statement (or amendment thereto), does not
                  contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
                  state a

                                       12

<PAGE>

                  material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
                  make the statements therein not misleading;

                           (viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders,
                  any sales or placement agent therefor and any underwriter
                  thereof (which notification may be made through any managing
                  underwriter that is a representative of such underwriter for
                  such purpose) and confirm such notification in writing, (A)
                  when such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus
                  included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or
                  post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to
                  such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective
                  amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any
                  comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities
                  commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or
                  any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to
                  such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or for
                  additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission
                  of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf
                  Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any
                  proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the
                  representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by
                  Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct
                  in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of
                  any notification with respect to the suspension of the
                  qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
                  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
                  proceeding for such purpose, or (F) if at any time when a
                  prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities
                  Act, that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus,
                  prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment
                  does not conform in all material respects to the applicable
                  requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act
                  and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or,
                  with respect to a prospectus (or amendment or supplement
                  thereto), includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                  statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made, not misleading, or with respect to the
                  registration statement (or amendment thereto), contains an
                  untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
                  material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
                  make the statements therein not misleading;

                           (ix)   use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
                  withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
                  registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                  at the earliest practicable date;

                           (x)    if requested by any managing underwriter or
                  underwriters, any placement or sales agent or any Electing
                  Holder, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
                  post-effective amendment such information as is required by
                  the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and as
                  such managing underwriter or underwriters, such agent or such
                  Electing Holder specifies should be included therein relating
                  to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities,
                  including information with respect to the principal amount

                                       13

<PAGE>

                  of Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder
                  or agent or to any underwriters, the name and description of
                  such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, the offering price
                  of such Registrable Securities and any discount, commission or
                  other compensation payable in respect thereof, the purchase
                  price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with
                  respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable
                  Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to
                  such underwriters; and make all required filings of such
                  prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly
                  after notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
                  prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

                           (xi)  furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement
                  or sales agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any,
                  thereof and the respective counsel referred to in Section
                  3(d)(vi) an executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing
                  Holder, a conformed copy) of such Shelf Registration
                  Statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each
                  case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an
                  Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and
                  documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number
                  of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding
                  exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference
                  therein unless specifically so requested by such Electing
                  Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case may be) and of the
                  prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement
                  (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary
                  prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the
                  applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
                  Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
                  thereunder, and such other documents, as such Electing Holder,
                  agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request
                  in order to facilitate the offering and disposition of the
                  Registrable Securities owned by such Electing Holder, offered
                  or sold by such agent or underwritten by such underwriter and
                  to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter to
                  satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
                  Act; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
                  prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus)
                  and any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing
                  Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each case in
                  the form most recently provided to such person by the Company,
                  in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
                  Securities covered by the prospectus (including such
                  preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement or
                  amendment thereto;

                           (xii) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register
                  or qualify, if such registration or qualification is required,
                  the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf
                  Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky
                  laws of such United States jurisdictions as any Electing
                  Holder and each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and
                  underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably request, (B)
                  keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply
                  with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers,
                  sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the
                  period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective
                  under Section 2(b) above and (C) take any and all other
                  actions as may

                                       14

<PAGE>

                  be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such
                  Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to
                  consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such
                  Registrable Securities during the period the Shelf
                  Registration is required to remain effective under Section
                  2(b) above; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
                  required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign
                  corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise
                  be required to qualify but for the requirements of this
                  Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process
                  in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its
                  certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement
                  between it and its stockholders;

                           (xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
                  consent or approval of each United States governmental agency
                  or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be
                  required to effect the Shelf Registration or the offering or
                  sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling holder
                  or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of,
                  their Registrable Securities;

                           (xiv)  unless any Registrable Securities shall be in
                  book-entry only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and
                  the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely
                  preparation and delivery of certificates representing
                  Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates, if so
                  required by any securities exchange upon which any Registrable
                  Securities are listed, shall be printed, lithographed or
                  engraved, or produced by any combination of such methods, on
                  steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear
                  any restrictive legends (except in the case of a sale to a
                  Restricted Holder); and, in the case of an underwritten
                  offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
                  denominations and registered in such names as the managing
                  underwriters may request at least two business days prior to
                  any sale of the Registrable Securities;

                           (xv)   provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable
                  Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;

                           (xvi)  enter into one or more underwriting
                  agreements, engagement letters, agency agreements, "best
                  efforts" underwriting agreements or similar agreements, as
                  appropriate, including customary provisions relating to
                  indemnification and contribution, and take such other actions
                  in connection therewith as any Electing Holders aggregating at
                  least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
                  Securities at the time participating in the offering shall
                  reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the
                  disposition of such Registrable Securities;

                           (xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type
                  referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and
                  whether or not any portion of the offering contemplated by the
                  Shelf Registration is an underwritten offering or is made
                  through a placement or sales agent or any other entity, (A)
                  make such representations and warranties to the Electing
                  Holders and the placement or sales

                                       15

<PAGE>

               agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in
               form, substance and scope as are customarily made in connection
               with an offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate
               agreement or to a registration statement filed on the form
               applicable to the Shelf Registration; (B) obtain (i) an opinion
               of counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such
               matters, of the type customarily covered by such an opinion, as
               the managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing Holders of
               at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
               Securities at the time participating in the offering may
               reasonably request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing
               Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and
               the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of
               such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration
               Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all
               of the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing
               under the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being
               agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
               include the valid existence as a corporation and good standing of
               the Company, with power and authority to own its properties and
               conduct its business as described in the Shelf Registration
               Statement, the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
               relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi)
               hereof; the due authorization of the Securities and that upon due
               execution, issuance and delivery, the Securities will be valid
               and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
               benefits provided by the Indenture; the absence to such counsel's
               knowledge of material legal or governmental proceedings involving
               the Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
               obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering
               and sale of the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and
               Registration Rights Agreement or any agreement of the type
               referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof, except such approvals as
               may be required under State securities or blue sky laws; the
               material compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration
               Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein
               with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and
               regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (ii) as of the date
               of the opinion and of the Shelf Registration Statement or most
               recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, a
               statement of counsel to the Company to the effect that no facts
               have come to such counsel's attention that lead it to believe
               that the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent
               post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, or the
               prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, or
               the documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Section
               13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and incorporated
               therein (other than the financial statements and notes and
               schedules thereto and the other financial and statistical data
               included in or derived or omitted therefrom) contained as of its
               date an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
               material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light
               of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
               (such counsel basing its determination of materiality as to
               matters of fact to a certain extent upon discussions with
               officers and other representatives of the Company), such opinion
               to be subject to customary qualifications and limitations; (C)
               obtain a "cold comfort" letter or letters from the independent
               certified public accountants of the

                                       16

<PAGE>

               Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement
               or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any,
               thereof, dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration
               Statement and (ii) the date of any prospectus supplement to the
               prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or
               post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement
               which includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a
               date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such
               statements included in such prospectus (and, if such Shelf
               Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering
               pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included
               in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment
               to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or
               audited financial statements as of a date or for a period
               subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such
               prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
               agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in
               customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily
               covered by letters of such type (it being agreed that the matters
               to be covered by such comfort letter shall include the matters
               covered in the comfort letter delivered pursuant to Section 7(c)
               of the Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date); (D) deliver such
               documents and certificates, including officers' certificates, as
               may be reasonably requested by any Electing Holders of at least
               25% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities
               at the time participating in the offering or the placement or
               sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if
               any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and
               warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those contained
               in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of
               any agreements or conditions contained in the underwriting
               agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company; and (E)
               undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement,
               indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6
               hereof;

                           (xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable
               Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any
               provision of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
               pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver
               effected pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain
               the text of the amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the
               case may be;

                           (xix)   in the event that any broker-dealer
               registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any
               Registrable Securities or participate as a member of an
               underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
               distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the
               "Conduct Rules") of the National Association of Securities
               Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") or any successor thereto, as amended from
               time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such Registrable
               Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a
               broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such
               broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Conduct
               Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so require,
               engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in
               such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of the
               Shelf Registration Statement relating to such

                                       17

<PAGE>

               Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of due
               diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering
               contemplated by such Shelf Registration Statement is an
               underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales
               agent, to recommend the yield of such Registrable Securities, (B)
               indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the
               extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section
               6 hereof (or to such other customary extent as may be requested
               by such underwriter), and (C) providing such information to such
               broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
               to comply with the requirements of the Conduct Rules; and

                      (xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations
               of the Commission, and make generally available to its
               securityholders as soon as practicable but in any event not later
               than eighteen months after the effective date of such Shelf
               Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company and
               its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities
               Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158
               thereunder).

               (e)    In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant
         to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the
         placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing
         underwriters, if any, thereof, the Company shall as promptly as
         practicable prepare and furnish to each of the Electing Holders, to
         each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such underwriter, if
         any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or
         amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable
         Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to
         the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust
         Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
         thereunder and shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon
         receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section
         3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue
         the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
         Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until
         such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such amended or
         supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such
         Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense)
         all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing
         Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable
         Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

               (f)    In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the
         information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its
         Notice Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to
         furnish to the Company such additional information regarding such
         Electing Holder and such Electing Holder's intended method of
         distribution of Registrable Securities as may be required in order to
         comply with the Securities Act or State securities or blue sky laws.
         Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as
         practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously
         furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the

                                       18

<PAGE>

      occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus
      relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue
      statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such
      Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable
      Securities or omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing
      Holder or such Electing Holder's intended method of disposition of such
      Registrable Securities necessary in order to make the statements made
      therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
      misleading, and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional
      information required to correct and update any previously furnished
      information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with
      respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable
      Securities, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
      material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
      light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
      Each Electing Holder further agrees that in the event the amount of
      Registrable Securities that are beneficially owned by such Electing Holder
      and are registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration is reduced due to a
      sale of such Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration, such
      Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company and the Trustee, at the time
      of such sale, a Notice of Transfer as set forth in Exhibit B.

                (g) Until the earlier of (i) the expiration of two years after
      the Closing Date, or (ii) such time as the Exchange Offer has been
      completed or the Shelf Registration Statement has become or been declared
      effective by the Commission, the Company will not, and will not permit any
      of its "affiliates" (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the
      Securities that have been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an
      effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or in the case
      of any such affiliate pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

      The Company shall furnish to each holder of the Securities the prospectus,
and any supplements thereto, forming a part of the Exchange Registration
Statement, and any amendments thereto, and all other exchange materials required
to consummate the Exchange Offer.

4.    REGISTRATION EXPENSES.

      The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all
expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any
NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in
connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses
in connection with any qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii)
hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may
reasonably designate, including any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Electing Holders (subject to the limitations of clause (i) below) or
underwriters in connection with any such qualification and determination, (c)
all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution and
reproduction of each registration

                                       19

<PAGE>

statement required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or
prepared for distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the
foregoing, the expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the
expenses of printing or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among
underwriters, selling agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and
all other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of
Securities to be disposed of (including certificates representing the
Securities), (d) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the
offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the preparation of documents
referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the
Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and any counsel for the Trustee and of any
collateral agent or custodian, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and
expenses of the Company's officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent
certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
opinions or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance
and compliance), (h) reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of any
"qualified independent underwriter" engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix)
hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing
Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration filed with respect to
Registrable Securities, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by
Electing Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company), (j) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the
Securities, and (k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons
retained by the Company in connection with such registration (collectively, the
"Registration Expenses"). To the extent that any Registration Expenses are
incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities or any
placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company shall
reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so
reasonably incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request
therefor (accompanied by receipts, invoices or other documentary evidence, as
appropriate). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable
Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and
underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of such
Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other
advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than
the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.

5.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

      The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser
and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:

               (a)   Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities
      at the time it is declared effective and each prospectus (including any
      preliminary or summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant
      to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d) hereof, as of the date of the prospectus,
      and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration
      statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the
      Commission or as of its date, as the case may be, and, in the case of an
      underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, at the time of the
      closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto, will conform in
      all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
      and the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable rules

                                       20

<PAGE>

         and regulations of the Commission thereunder and, with respect to a
         prospectus (or amendment or supplement thereto), will not include an
         untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or with
         respect to the registration statement (or amendment thereto), will not
         contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the
         Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered
         under the Securities Act, other than from (i) such time as a notice has
         been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
         3(c)(iii)(F) or Section 3(d)(viii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as
         the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to
         Section 3(c)(iv) or Section 3(e) hereof, each such registration
         statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus)
         contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 3(d)
         hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all material
         respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
         Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
         thereunder and will not contain, with respect to a prospectus (or
         amendment or supplement thereto),an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading, or with respect to the registration
         statement (or amendment thereto), will not contain an untrue statement
         of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty
         shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon
         and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
         by or on behalf of a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use
         therein.

                 (b)  Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus
         referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they are or were filed with
         the Commission, will conform or conformed in all material respects to
         the requirements of the Exchange Act and, when read together with the
         other information in the applicable prospectus, none of such documents
         will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
         will omit or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to
         make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading.

                 (c)  The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions
         of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation
         of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or
         result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute
         a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement
         or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary
         of the Company is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary of
         the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
         Company or any subsidiary of the Company is subject, except for any
         such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on any
         of the consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results
         of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a
         "Material Adverse Effect"), nor will such action result in any
         violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as

                                       21

<PAGE>

       amended, or the by-laws of the Company or any law, statute, or any order
       known to the Company, or rule or regulation of any United States court or
       governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any
       subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties other than
       violations which would not individually or in the aggregate have a
       Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
       registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental
       agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the
       transactions contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights
       Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the
       Securities, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act
       and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
       qualifications, if any, as have already been or will have been prior to
       the closing on the Closing Date obtained under the Securities Act and the
       Trust Indenture Act or as may be required under State securities or blue
       sky laws in connection with the offering and distribution of the
       Securities.

              (d)  This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
       authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

6.     INDEMNIFICATION.

              (a)  Indemnification by the Company. In the event of a
       registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) or
       2(b) hereof, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each of the
       holders of Registrable Securities included in an Exchange Registration
       Statement, each of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities
       included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each person who
       participates as a placement or sales agent or as an underwriter in any
       offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses,
       claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder,
       Electing Holder, agent or underwriter may become subject under the
       Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
       liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
       upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
       contained in any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration
       Statement, as the case may be, under which such Registrable Securities
       were registered under the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or
       summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any
       such holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or
       supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
       alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
       therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
       will reimburse such holder, such Electing Holder, such agent and such
       underwriter for any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably
       incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such
       action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that
       the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
       such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an
       untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
       omission made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or
       summary prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon
       and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or
       on behalf of any holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter expressly
       for use therein, and that the foregoing indemnity with respect to

                                       22

<PAGE>

       any preliminary or summary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of
       any holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter (or to the benefit of
       any officer, director or partner of such holder, Electing Holder, agent
       or underwriter or each person controlling any such holder, Electing
       Holder, agent or underwriter) from whom the person asserting any such
       losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Registrable Securities
       if such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
       omission made in such preliminary or summary prospectus is eliminated or
       remedied in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
       Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) and
       if a copy of the final prospectus (as so amended or supplemented, but
       excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein), shall not
       have been furnished to such person at or prior to the sale of such
       Registrable Securities to such person.

                (b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and
       Underwriters. The Company may require, as a condition to including any
       Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to
       Section 2(b) hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with
       respect thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking
       reasonably satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of such
       Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named in any such
       underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and
       hold harmless the Company and all other holders of Registrable Securities
       against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company
       or such other holders of Registrable Securities may become subject, under
       the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
       or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
       upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
       contained in such registration statement, or any preliminary, final or
       summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any
       such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or
       supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
       alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
       therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
       each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
       statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
       made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
       furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Electing Holder or
       underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company for
       any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company
       in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as
       such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing
       Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person under this
       Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the
       proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such
       Electing Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.

                (c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an
       indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the
       commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in
       respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under such
       subsection, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
       of such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party

                                       23

<PAGE>

       shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may
       have to any indemnified party otherwise under such subsection. In case
       any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it
       shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such
       indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the
       extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
       similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
       reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except
       with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying
       party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
       party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying
       party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal
       expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case
       subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
       defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
       Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the indemnified party has determined,
       in its reasonable judgment, that there may be one or more defenses
       available to the indemnified party which may be different from or
       additional to those available to the indemnifying party and that the
       existence of such different or additional defenses creates, in the
       reasonable judgment of such indemnified party, a conflict in connection
       with the joint representation of the indemnified party and the
       indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to
       employ separate counsel and in that event the reasonable fees and
       expenses of such separate counsel for the indemnified party shall be paid
       by the indemnifying party; provided, however, that the indemnifying party
       shall only be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of a
       single law firm (and any reasonably necessary local counsel) employed by
       all of the indemnified parties unless any indemnified party has
       determined, in its reasonable judgment, that there may be one or more
       defenses available to it which may be different from or additional to
       those available to another indemnified party and that the existence of
       such different or additional defense creates, in its reasonable judgment,
       a conflict in connection with the joint representation of the indemnified
       parties, in which case the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay
       the reasonable fees and expenses of a separate single law firm (and any
       reasonably necessary local counsel) employed by each such indemnified
       party to which such conflict relates. No indemnifying party shall,
       without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the
       settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with
       respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which
       indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not
       the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or
       claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
       unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising
       out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
       or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf
       of any indemnified party.

                (d)   Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification
       provisions provided for in this Section 6 are unavailable to or
       insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a)
       or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
       actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying
       party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
       party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
       actions in respect thereof) in such

                                       24

<PAGE>

       proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
       indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the
       statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
       liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other
       relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
       indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference
       to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of
       a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
       required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
       statements therein not misleading relates to information supplied by such
       indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties'
       relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
       correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree
       that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
       Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders
       or any agents or underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity
       for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
       take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this
       Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
       result of the losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in
       respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 6(d) shall be deemed
       to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
       indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
       action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no
       holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
       by which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from
       the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees,
       discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any
       damages which such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
       such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission,
       and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
       of the amount by which the total offering price at which the Registrable
       Securities underwritten and resold by it exceeds the amount of any
       damages which such underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by
       reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
       omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
       meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
       contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
       misrepresentation. The holders' and any underwriters' obligations in this
       Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to the
       principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as
       the case may be, by them and not joint.

                (e)   The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall
       be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and
       shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer,
       director and partner of each holder and each person, if any, who controls
       any holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of
       the Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any Electing
       Holders, agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be
       in addition to any liability which the respective holder, Electing
       Holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend, upon
       the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the
       Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
       meaning of the Securities Act.

                                       25

<PAGE>

7.    UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS.

      For an underwritten offering of Securities, the following provisions shall
apply to all Securities collectively:

              (a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable
      Securities covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an
      underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof
      shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in
      aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in
      such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or
      underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.

              (b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable
      Securities hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder
      may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder
      (i) agrees to sell such holder's Registrable Securities on the basis
      provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled
      hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
      questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements
      and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
      underwriting arrangements.

8.    RULE 144.

      The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to the
extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company shall
timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the Commission
under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by the
Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in
connection with that holder's sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall
deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements. The Company shall not be required to comply with this Section
8 if the Exchange Offer has been completed.

9.    MISCELLANEOUS.

              (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants,
      covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant,
      registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other
      securities which would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this
      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

                                       26

<PAGE>

              (b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that
      there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform
      any of its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders
      from time to time of the Registrable Securities may be irreparably harmed
      by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such
      holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at
      law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the
      obligations of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights
      Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and
      Registration Rights Agreement.

              (c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and
      other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
      have been duly given when (i) delivered by hand, if delivered personally
      or by courier, (ii) transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication
      upon receipt of a signal confirming receipt, or (iii) three days after
      being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail, postage
      prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to Nucor
      Corporation, 2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211,
      Attention: Chief Financial Officer, and if to a holder, to the address of
      such holder set forth in the security register or other records of the
      Company, or to such other address as the Company or any such holder may
      have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that
      notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

              (d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this
      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall
      inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and
      the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the
      respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders.
      In the event that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities
      shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift,
      bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall,
      without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary
      hereof for all purposes and such Registrable Securities shall be held
      subject to all of the terms of this Exchange and Registration Rights
      Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such
      transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be
      conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable
      terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.
      If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee
      shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities
      subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.

              (e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements,
      representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this
      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall
      remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or
      statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of
      Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder,
      any agent or underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or
      any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery
      of and payment for the Registrable Securities

                                       27

<PAGE>

      pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration of
      Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an Exchange
      Offer.

              (f) Governing Law. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement
      shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
      State of New York without giving effect to principles of conflicts of
      laws.

              (g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and
      paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted
      for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and
      Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
      or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

              (h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration
      Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the
      Indenture and the form of Securities) or delivered pursuant hereto which
      form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with
      respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights
      Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
      parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration
      Rights Agreement may be amended, and the observance of any term of this
      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally
      or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively),
      only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders
      of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
      Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable
      Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any
      amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not
      any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears
      on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.

              (i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration
      Rights Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights
      Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the
      holders of Registrable Securities shall be made available for inspection
      and copying on any business day by any holder of Registrable Securities
      for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose related to the
      rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the Securities, the
      Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address
      thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the Trustee
      under the Indenture.

              (j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the parties in
      counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
      such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
      instrument.

                                       28

<PAGE>

       If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us six counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you,
on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof
shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers and the
Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each
of the Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement
among Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for
examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority
of the signers thereof.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     Nucor Corporation

                                                     By: _______________________
                                                         Name:
                                                         Title:

Accepted as of the date hereof:
Banc of America Securities LLC
Wachovia Securities, Inc.
As Representatives on behalf of each of the Purchasers

Banc of America Securities LLC

By: _________________________
    Name:
    Title:

Wachovia Securities, Inc.

By: _________________________
    Name:
    Title:

                                       29

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A

                                Nucor Corporation

                         INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS

                               -------------------

                                (Date of Mailing)

                     URGENT - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED

                              --------------------

                         DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE]*
                              --------------------

         The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") has identified you as a DTC
Participant through which beneficial interests in the Nucor Corporation (the
"Company") 4.875% Notes due 2012 (the "Securities") are held.

         The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for resale by the beneficial owners thereof.
In order to have their Securities included in the registration statement,
beneficial owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration
Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.

         It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy
of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the
Securities included in the registration statement as of the date and time such
registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission depend upon their returning the Notice and Questionnaire by
[Deadline For Response]. Please forward a copy of the enclosed documents to each
beneficial owner that holds interests in the Securities through you. If you
require more copies of the enclosed materials or have any questions pertaining
to this matter, please contact Nucor Corporation, Attention: Terry S. Lisenby,
2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 (Telephone number: (704)
366-7000).

--------------------------
*Not less than 28 calendar days from date of mailing.

                                      A-1

<PAGE>

                                Nucor Corporation

                        Notice of Registration Statement
                                       and
                      Selling Securityholder Questionnaire

                      ------------------------------------
                                    (Date)

         Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement") between Nucor
Corporation (the "Company") and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form [__] (the "Shelf Registration Statement") for the
registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), of the Company's 4.875% Notes due 2012 (the
"Securities"). A copy of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is
attached hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

         Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is
entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in
the Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities
included in the Shelf Registration Statement as of its Effective Time, this
Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
("Notice and Questionnaire") must be completed, executed and delivered to the
Company's counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE
[Deadline for Response]. Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not
complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will
not be named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and
(ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of
Registrable Securities.

         Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus.

         The term "Registrable Securities" is defined in the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement.

                                      A-2

<PAGE>

                                    ELECTION

The undersigned holder (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable Securities
hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The
undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to
be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions
of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were
an original party thereto.

Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company
and Trustee the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and
as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and
complete:

                                      A-3

<PAGE>

                                  QUESTIONNAIRE

(1)(a)  Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:

        _______________________

(b)     Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above)
        of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:

(c)     Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as
        (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below
        are Held:

        _______________________

(2)     Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:

        _______________________
        _______________________
        _______________________

        Telephone:
                   ______________________
        Fax:
                   ______________________
        Contact Person:
                   ______________________

(3)     Beneficial Ownership of Securities:

        Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not
        beneficially own any Securities.

(a)     Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned: _______

        CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:   _______________________

(b)     Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities
        beneficially owned:

        ____________________________________
        CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:     ___________________________

(c)     Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes
        to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement: __________________

        CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
        Registration Statement:     __________________________________________

                                      A-4

<PAGE>

(4)   Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:

      Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling
      Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other
      securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in
      Item (3).

      State any exceptions here:

(5)   Relationships with the Company:

      Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any
      of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5%
      or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material
      relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
      during the past three years.

      State any exceptions here:

(6)   Plan of Distribution:

      Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends
      to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as
      follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to
      time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively,
      through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. Such Registrable
      Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at
      prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined
      at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected
      in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on
      any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
      Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in
      the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
      exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through
      the writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable
      Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging
      transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales
      of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they
      assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities
      short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short
      positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that
      in turn may sell such securities.

      State any exceptions here:

      By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it
      understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with
      the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
      thereunder, particularly Regulation M.

                                      A-5

<PAGE>

         In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any
         portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after
         the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the
         Selling Securityholder agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time
         of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and
         Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

         By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure
         of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through
         (6) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf
         Registration Statement and related Prospectus. The Selling
         Securityholder understands that such information will be relied upon by
         the Company in connection with the preparation of the Shelf
         Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

         In accordance with the Selling Securityholder's obligation under
         Section 3(d) of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to
         provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the
         Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to
         promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the
         information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the date
         hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in
         effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and
         Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by
         hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight
         delivery as follows:

                  (i)    To the Company:

                                           Nucor Corporation
                                           2100 Rexford Road
                                           Charlotte, North Carolina 28211
                                           Attn: Terry S. Lisenby

                  (ii)   With a copy to:
                                           Moore & Van Allen PLLC
                                           100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700
                                           Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
                                           Attn:  B. Andrew Pickens, Jr.

         Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling
         Securityholder and received by the Company's counsel, the terms of this
         Notice and Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties
         contained herein, shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of
         and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal
         representatives, and assigns of the Company and the Selling
         Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially
         owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This
         Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of
         New York without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.

                                      A-6

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.

Dated: __________________________________

                  ______________________________________________________________
                  Selling Securityholder
                  (Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable
                  Securities)

                  By:  _________________________________________________________
                  Name:
                  Title:

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON
OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY'S COUNSEL AT:

                                           Moore & Van Allen PLLC
                                           100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700
                                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                           Attn: B. Andrew Pickens, Jr.

                                   A-7

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

              NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

The Bank of New York
Nucor Corporation
c/o The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286

Attention:  Corporate Trust Trustee Administration

         Re:    Nucor Corporation (the "Company")
                4.875% Notes due 2012

Dear Sirs:

Please be advised that ________________ has transferred $____________________
aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an
effective Registration Statement on Form [      ] (File No. 333-         ) filed
______________________by the Company.

We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named
beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a "Selling Holder" in the Prospectus
dated ___________ or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite
such owner's name.

Dated:

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     ___________________________
                                                     (Name)

                                                     By:
                                                     ___________________________
                                                     (Authorized Signature)

                                      B-1<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

================================================================================

        THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OUTSOURCING AND OPERATING AGREEMENT *

                         dated as of September 30, 2002

                                      among

                                 NOVATION, LLC,

                                    VHA INC.,

                      UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM CONSORTIUM,

               HEALTHCARE PURCHASING PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, LLC,

                                       and

                                 NEOFORMA, INC.

================================================================================

_________________

*    Confidential treatment requested: Certain portions of this agreement have
     been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and, where
     applicable, have been marked with an asterisk to denote where omissions
     have been made. The confidential material has been filed separately with
     the Securities and Exchange Commission.

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
1.    DEFINITIONS ......................................................     2

2.    NOVATION OBLIGATIONS .............................................     9

      2.1      Agency Relationship .....................................     9
      2.2      Novation Duties .........................................     9
      2.3      Certain Contracts .......................................    10

3.    NEOFORMA OBLIGATIONS .............................................    11

      3.1      Service .................................................    11
      3.2      Service Levels ..........................................    11
      3.3      Cooperation with Novation ...............................    11
      3.4      Employee Incentives .....................................    11
      3.5      Quality Assurance Program ...............................    12
      3.6      Notice of Materially Adverse Facts ......................    12
      3.7      Case Studies ............................................    12
      3.8      Supplier Sign-Up and Integration ........................    12

4.    THE MARKETPLACE ..................................................    13

      4.1      Maintenance of Marketplace ..............................    13
      4.2      Consultation ............................................    13
      4.3      Provision of Non-Contract Product Information ...........    13
      4.4      Provision of Contract Product Information ...............    13
      4.5      Independent Users .......................................    13
      4.6      Multiple Memberships ....................................    14
      4.7      User Registration .......................................    14
      4.8      Delivery and Order Fulfillment ..........................    14
      4.9      Removal of Products from the Marketplace ................    14
      4.10     Customized Marketplaces .................................    14
      4.11     Links ...................................................    15
      4.12     Reasonable Assistance ...................................    15

5.    NOVATION MARKETPLACE AND HPPI MARKETPLACE ........................    15

      5.1      Development .............................................    15
      5.2      Hosting .................................................    15
      5.3      Delivery and Order Fulfillment ..........................    15
      5.4      Display of Material .....................................    15
      5.5      Reports and Meetings ....................................    15
      5.6      Retained Contracts ......................................    16
      5.7      Marketing. ..............................................    16
      5.8      Neoforma Auction ........................................    16

6.    EXCLUSIVITY AND RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER .............................    17

      6.1      Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI Exclusivity .................    17
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
      6.2      Neoforma Exclusivity ....................................    17
      6.3      Right of First Offer for Novation and Neoforma ..........    18
      6.4      First Offer for Non-Exclusive Services ..................    18

7.    LICENSES AND OWNERSHIP ...........................................    19

      7.1      Ownership of Marks ......................................    19
      7.2      Novation Marks ..........................................    19
      7.3      Neoforma Marks ..........................................    19
      7.4      VHA, UHC and HPPI Marks .................................    20
      7.5      Ownership of Neoforma Materials and Novation Materials ..    20
      7.6      Neoforma Materials ......................................    20
      7.7      Novation Materials ......................................    20
      7.8      Development of Tools ....................................    20
      7.9      Access License ..........................................    21

8.    FEES AND TAXES ...................................................    21

      8.1      Contract Product Transaction Fees .......................    21
      8.2      Revenue Sharing .........................................    22
      8.3.     Establishment of * ......................................    23
      8.4      Reporting and Payment of Novation Marketplace Transaction
               Fees and Revenue Sharing ................................    23
      8.5      * .......................................................    24
      8.6      Taxes ...................................................    25
      8.7      New Markets .............................................    25
      8.8      Product Returns .........................................    25
      8.9      Neoforma Auction and other non-GPO marketplaces .........    25
      8.10     Distribution or Licensing of Software and other
               Technology Solutions ....................................    25
      8.11     Other Expenses ..........................................    26

9.    TERM AND TERMINATION .............................................    26

      9.1      Initial Term ............................................    26
      9.2      Renewal and Extension of Term ...........................    27
      9.3      Termination for Cause ...................................    27
      9.4      Termination for Insolvency Events .......................    27
      9.5      Termination for Rejection in Bankruptcy .................    27
      9.6      Termination Upon Neoforma Change of Control .............    28
      9.7      Return of Materials .....................................    28
      9.8      Survival ................................................    28
      9.9      Termination Assistance Services .........................    28
      9.10     Third Party Products ....................................    30

10.   USER DATA ........................................................    31

      10.1     Registration ............................................    31
</TABLE>

_______________

  * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       ii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
      10.2     Transaction Database ....................................    31
      10.3     Member Data .............................................    31
      10.4     Aggregated Member Data ..................................    32
      10.5     Transaction Database ....................................    32
      10.6     License Grant of Information to Novation ................    32
      10.7     No Other Licenses or Use ................................    32
      10.8     Other Data ..............................................    33
      10.9     Neoforma Information ....................................    33

11.   SAFEGUARDING OF DATA; CONFIDENTIALITY ............................    33

      11.1     Novation Data ...........................................    33
      11.2     Confidentiality .........................................    34

12.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ...................................    35

      12.1     Representations by Neoforma .............................    35
      12.2     Representations by Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI ..........    36
      12.3     Warranty Disclaimer .....................................    38

13.   USE OF SUBCONTRACTORS ............................................    38

      13.1     Generally ...............................................    38
      13.2     Novation's Right to Revoke Approval .....................    38
      13.3     Continuing Responsibility ...............................    38
      13.4     Confidential Information ................................    38

14.   INSURANCE ........................................................    38

      14.1     Insurance ...............................................    38
      14.2     Proof of Insurance ......................................    39

15.   INDEMNITY ........................................................    39

      15.1     Neoforma Indemnity ......................................    39
      15.2     Novation Indemnity ......................................    40
      15.3     Infringement Claims .....................................    40
      15.4     Indemnity Procedures ....................................    41

16.   LIMITATION OF LIABILITY ..........................................    41

      16.1     Limitations .............................................    41
      16.2     Exceptions ..............................................    42
      16.3     Liquidated Damages ......................................    42

17.   AUDIT RIGHTS .....................................................    43

      17.1     General .................................................    43
      17.2     Frequency of Audits .....................................    44
      17.3     Auditors ................................................    44
      17.4     Record Retention ........................................    44
      17.5     Cooperation .............................................    44
      17.6     Overcharges .............................................    44

18.   DISPUTE RESOLUTION ...............................................    44
</TABLE>

                                       iii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
      18.1     Resolution of Disputes ..................................    44
      18.2     Negotiations and Escalation .............................    45
      18.3     Appointment of Arbitral Body ............................    45
      18.4     Qualifications of Arbitrator ............................    45
      18.5     Initiation of Arbitration and Procedures ................    45
      18.6     Procedures ..............................................    46
      18.7     Governing Law; Jurisdiction .............................    46
      18.8     Arbitration Award .......................................    46
      18.9     Cooperation of the Parties ..............................    47
      18.10    Costs ...................................................    47
      18.11    Judgment on the Award; Enforcement ......................    47
      18.12    Preservation of Equitable Relief; Third-Party
               Litigation ..............................................    47
      18.13    Continued Performance ...................................    48

19.   GUARANTY OF PERFORMANCE ..........................................    48

      19.1     VHA and UHC Guarantees ..................................    48
      19.2     VHA and UHC Waivers .....................................    48
      19.3     Scope of Liability ......................................    49
      19.4     Continued Performance by Neoforma .......................    50

20.   GENERAL PROVISIONS ...............................................    50

      20.1     No Waiver ...............................................    50
      20.2     Entire Agreement ........................................    51
      20.3     Publicity ...............................................    51
      20.4     Covenant of Good Faith ..................................    51
      20.5     Compliance with Laws and Regulations ....................    51
      20.6     Assignment; Successors and Assigns ......................    51
      20.7     Governing Law ...........................................    51
      20.8     Notices .................................................    52
      20.9     No Agency ...............................................    52
      20.10    Force Majeure ...........................................    53
      20.11    Interest ................................................    53
      20.12    Program Management ......................................    54
      20.13    Severability ............................................    54
      20.14    Counterparts ............................................    54
      20.15    Headings.................................................    54
      20.16    Section 365(n) Matters ..................................    54
</TABLE>

                                       iv

<PAGE>

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A         Marks +
Exhibit B         Current Marks Usage Guidelines for Novation +
Exhibit C         Current Marks Usage Guidelines for Neoforma +
Exhibit D         Current Marks Usage Guidelines for VHA, UHC and HPPI +
Exhibit E         Reports and Other Information Requirements +
Exhibit F         Program Management +
Exhibit G         Minimum Fees
Exhibit H         *
Exhibit I         Target Fee Levels
Exhibit J         2002 Monthly * Schedule
Exhibit K         Current Functionality Roadmap
Exhibit L         Collaborative Marketing Agreement
Exhibit M         Collaborative Development Process
Exhibit N         Service Level Specifications

_______________

   + Exhibit filed previously and not included here
   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                        v

<PAGE>

                           THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
                       OUTSOURCING AND OPERATING AGREEMENT

     This Third Amended and Restated Outsourcing and Operating Agreement
("Agreement") effective as of September 30, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), by and
among Neoforma, Inc., (formerly named Neoforma.com, Inc.) a Delaware corporation
with offices at 3061 Zanker Road, San Jose, California 95134 ("Neoforma"),
Novation, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with offices at 125 East
John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, Texas 75062 ("Novation"), Healthcare Purchasing
Partners International, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with offices
at 125 East John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, Texas 75062 ("HPPI"), VHA Inc., a
Delaware corporation with offices at 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving,
Texas 75039-5500 ("VHA"), and University Health System Consortium, an Illinois
corporation with offices at 2001 Spring Road, Suite 700, Oak Brook, Illinois
60523 ("UHC").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Neoforma is a provider of Internet (as defined in Section 1)
e-commerce services to the healthcare industry facilitating the sale, rental or
lease of new and used equipment, products, supplies, services information and
other content, and provides information regarding various healthcare facilities
and equipment through its online offerings and programs;

     WHEREAS, VHA and UHC are organizations whose patrons are hospitals and
healthcare providers, who view e-commerce as an essential part of their
cooperative purchasing programs on behalf of their patrons for the future and
who desire to more fully develop the services they render to their patrons
through this Agreement;

     WHEREAS, VHA and UHC together own all the ownership interests in Novation
and HPPI;

     WHEREAS, Novation is a contracting agent that develops and delivers supply
chain management agreements, programs and services on behalf of VHA and UHC and
their patrons;

     WHEREAS, HPPI is a GPO that serves healthcare organizations that are not
members of VHA and UHC and other GPOs and which develops and delivers
supply-chain management programs and services to such healthcare organizations;

     WHEREAS, the parties wish to establish a long-term, global relationship to
enable the parties to achieve increased efficiency and cost savings through
Internet-based technology and pursuant to which (i) Neoforma will develop and
manage the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace (as defined in Section 1),
e-commerce web sites for the benefit of the members of VHA and UHC, the
associated healthcare organizations of HPPI and for the benefit of other users
unaffiliated with VHA, UHC or HPPI, (ii) Novation will serve as the contracting
agent for Neoforma by recruiting, contracting with and managing relationships
with healthcare equipment manufacturers and service suppliers on Neoforma's
behalf and (iii) VHA and UHC will provide marketing support for the Novation
Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace, guarantee Novation's

                                       1

<PAGE>

obligations to the extent provided under this Agreement and enter into the
exclusivity provisions hereunder;

     WHEREAS, the Parties have previously entered into an Outsourcing and
Operating Agreement (the "Original Outsourcing and Operating Agreement"), dated
as of March 30, 2000 (the "Original Effective Date"), and have also previously
entered into an amended and restated Outsourcing and Operating Agreement, dated
as of May 24, 2000 (the "First Amended and Restated Outsourcing and Operating
Agreement"), a second amended and restated Outsourcing and Operating Agreement,
dated as of January 1, 2001 (the "Second Amended and Restated Outsourcing
Agreement"), and a first amendment to the Second Amended and Restated
Outsourcing Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2001 (the "First Amendment"), and
each Party desires to amend and restate the Second Amended and Restated
Outsourcing and Operating Agreement and the First Amendment as set forth herein;
and

     WHEREAS, in consideration for the services initially agreed to be provided
by VHA and UHC pursuant to the Original Outsourcing and Operating Agreement and
the First Amended and Restated Outsourcing and Operating Agreement, Neoforma
issued to VHA and UHC shares of, and warrants to purchase, common stock of
Neoforma.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as
follows:

1.   DEFINITIONS

     As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective
meanings set forth below. Other capitalized terms shall have the meanings set
forth elsewhere in this Agreement.

     "Adjusted Gross Transaction Value(s)" means, with regard to a confirmed
purchase, rental or lease on the Novation Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace, the *
which are related to the Product purchased, rented or leased.

     "Affiliate(s)" means, with respect to a specified person, any other person
that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with such specified person. Neoforma,
on the one hand, and Novation, VHA and/or UHC, on the other hand, shall not be
Affiliates.

     "Aggregated Member Data" means all or any of an aggregate of the
Information relating to any two or more Members.

     "API(s)" means language and messaging formats, in human and computer
readable form, that define how programs interact with an operating system, a
database, with functions in other programs, with communication systems, or with
hardware drivers.

__________________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       2

<PAGE>

     "Blinded Aggregated Data" means aggregated data which does not contain
information sufficient to identify any individual Supplier, Member or User or
any Member Data, that is derived from transactions of Users of a Customized
Marketplace, at least * of which shall come from non-Member Users.

     "Contract Product(s)" means any Product that is part of the Novation
Contract Portfolio and available on the Novation Marketplace or the HPPI
Marketplace.

     "Customized Marketplace(s)" means a Marketplace specifically for and
accessible only to members of a particular GPO or its members, and includes, but
is not limited to, the Novation Marketplace and the HPPI Marketplace.

     "EDI Standards" means, the standard format for Electronic Data Interchange
(EDI) generally accepted and used in North America, as may change from time to
time.

     "Expected Transaction Fees" means all amounts of Novation Marketplace
Transaction Fees expected to be paid by a Supplier during the period commencing
on the applicable * or *, as the case may be, up to and including * of such
Supplier. Such Expected Transaction Fees shall be calculated with respect to
each Supplier by multiplying (i) the * sales, rentals and leases of * (as
evidenced by the most recent *) and * (as evidenced by reasonable supporting
documentation provided to Neoforma by Novation) by * that were * prior to the
applicable * or *, as the case may be, and that processed transactions with the
applicable * through the Novation Marketplace during the preceding *, by (ii)
the applicable * for sales, rentals and leases of * and * as defined in the
agreement between Neoforma and such Supplier. In order to calculate the *
Expected Transaction Fees, the resulting number is then multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is * for the first * days subsequent to the *,
* for the second * days, * for the third * days, and * thereafter, and the
denominator of which is *. By way of example, if (A) as of a certain *,
healthcare organizations (as described above) representing * in annual purchases
of * and * from the applicable Supplier in the preceding * were processing
transactions through the Novation Marketplace, and (B) such Supplier was
obligated to pay a Novation Marketplace Transaction Fee of * with respect to
such transactions through the Novation Marketplace, then in the first * days
following such *, * would be multiplied by *, and the resultant number of *
would be multiplied by the quotient of * and *, or *, to calculate a * Expected
Transaction Fee of *.

     "Functionality Roadmap" means each proposed plan for development and
implementation of new and updated functionality specifications for the Novation
Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace, as may be agreed and amended from time to time
by and between Novation and Neoforma in signed writings in accordance with
Section 5.1.

     "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect at the time of the application thereof.

__________________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       3

<PAGE>

     "GPO(s)" means any entity in the United States that meets the definition of
a "Group Purchasing Organization" as set forth in 42 CFR Section 1001.952(j),
and any entity outside the United States performing a similar function.

     "Gross Revenue" means, with respect to Novation's responsibility to pay
Neoforma any * pursuant to Section 8.1, the aggregate of (i) the
marketing fees and other revenue recognized by VHA and the administrative fees
and other revenue recognized by UHC pursuant to Novation-related agreements with
suppliers and distributors and (ii) revenue recognized by Novation pursuant to
Sections 8.2, 8.9 and 8.10, less any revenues recognized from HPPI and amounts
related to purchases made through VHA's Care Continuum Program and any
substantially similar program operated by UHC.

     "High-Volume Supplier" means a Supplier whose sales of Products from the
Novation Contract Portfolio (whether purchased through the Novation Marketplace
or otherwise) are at least * annually as evidenced by the * during the preceding
12-month period.

     "HPPI Marketplace" means a Customized Marketplace accessible only to HPPI
Members.

     "HPPI Member(s)" means, at any date, those organizations acting as
purchasers, renters or lessees in their respective markets that are associates
of HPPI and to which HPPI provides procurement related services, cost management
programs and other services.

     "Information" means the information and data maintained by Neoforma in the
Transaction Database, which shall include, at minimum, (i) any and all
information and data collected, developed and/or stored by Neoforma relating to
Members and (ii) any and all information and data relating to use of or
transactions on the Novation Marketplace by Members.

     "Intellectual Property Rights" means all copyrights, patents, trade names
and trademarks (in each of the preceding cases, whether registered or not) and
trade secrets and other intellectual property rights of a person.

     "Integration" means the integration of the current system of a Supplier or
Member, as applicable, with the Novation Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace such
that such Supplier or Member, as the case may be, may (i) conduct transactions
through the Marketplace or send or receive Supply Chain Data regarding such
transactions, (ii) solely in the case of a Supplier that conducts transactions
through a distributor integrated with the Marketplace whose data Neoforma is
contractually permitted to share with other Users, access information regarding
transactions, or (iii) solely in the case of a Supplier that conducts
transactions through a distributor which is not integrated with the Novation or
HPPI Marketplace, publish Supplier's product catalog data on the Novation or
HPPI Marketplace.

__________________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       4

<PAGE>

     "Internet" means the public, global network of computer networks and
individual computers constantly connected using standardized communications
protocols, specifically TCP/IP or any successor protocol thereof.

     "Marketplace" means the Novation Marketplace, HPPI Marketplace, all
Customized Marketplaces and all other Neoforma web sites.

     "Material(s)" means information on equipment, products, supplies or
services, including, without limitation, product availability and pricing
information, provided to Neoforma for display to Users of the Novation
Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace.

     "Member(s)" means, at any date, those organizations that are (i) patrons or
members of VHA or UHC, or are associated therewith, or (ii) HPPI Members, and in
each case, that are listed in an electronic file supplied to Neoforma and
updated periodically by Novation.

     "Member Data" means any and all Transaction Database information relating
to a specific Member.

     "Neoforma Auction" means Neoforma's auction services offered on the
Marketplace.

     "Neoforma Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

     (a)  the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
          (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of
          related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties
          and assets of Neoforma and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any
          "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
          Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
          other than Novation or any of its Affiliates;

     (b)  the adoption by the Board of Directors of Neoforma of a plan relating
          to the liquidation or dissolution of Neoforma;

     (c)  the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions
          (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the
          result of which is that any "person" or "group" (as defined above),
          other than Novation or any of its Affiliates, becomes the "beneficial
          owner" (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
          Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the capital
          stock of Neoforma, measured by voting power or economic interest
          rather than number of shares;

     (d)  the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions
          (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the
          result of which is that the beneficial owners (as defined above) of
          the capital stock of Neoforma immediately prior to such transaction or
          transactions cease to be the beneficial owners of at least 50.1% of
          the capital stock, measured by voting power or

                                       5

<PAGE>

          economic interest rather than number of shares, of the surviving or
          resulting entity of such transaction or transactions; or

     (e)  during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
          beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of
          Neoforma (together with any new directors whose election by the Board
          of Directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of
          Neoforma was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then
          still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such
          period or whose election or nomination for election was previously
          approved) cease to constitute a majority of the directors then in
          office.

     "Neoforma Information" means Information received from non-Members.

     "Neoforma Materials" means Materials provided by Neoforma and displayed on
and available to Users of a Marketplace but shall not include the Novation
Materials.

     "Non-Contract Product" means any Product available through a Customized
Marketplace that is not part of the Novation Contract Portfolio or any other
GPO-specific contract portfolio.

     "Novation Contract Portfolio" means a catalog of all Products and Novation
Materials that will appear on the Novation Marketplace or the HPPI Marketplace,
for which Novation has contracted, for the benefit of the Members.

     "Novation Competitor" means any person that, at the time of determination,
would reasonably be considered to be (i) a competitor of Novation or (ii) a
competitor of any Member.

     "Novation Marketplace" means a Customized Marketplace accessible only to
members of VHA, UHC or HPPI, which may include Contract and Non-Contract
Products.

     "Novation Marketplace Transaction Fee(s)" means fees to be paid by
Suppliers to Neoforma in respect of (i) transactions occurring "on the Novation
Marketplace" or (ii) processing Supply Chain Data; excluding fees associated
with Neoforma Auction. For the purposes of this definition "on the Novation
Marketplace" means the initiation or confirmation of a transaction is captured
through the Novation Marketplace.

     "Novation Materials" means Materials provided by Novation or by Novation
Suppliers to Neoforma for display to Users of a Customized Marketplace,
including to Members on the Novation Marketplace.

     "Novation Suppliers" means suppliers, manufacturers or distributors that
provide equipment, products, supplies, services, information and other content
for sale, rental or lease through the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace
under the Novation Contract Portfolio.

     "Party" means each of Neoforma, Novation, HPPI, VHA and UHC and any other
person who becomes a signatory to this Agreement, unless the context requires
otherwise.

                                       6

<PAGE>

     "Patron(s)" means a person who is entitled to receive a patronage refund
from VHA or UHC.

     "Person" means a natural person, corporation, partnership (limited or
general), limited liability company, business trust or other entity.

     "Product(s)" means equipment, products, supplies, services, information and
other content provided by Suppliers and available for purchase, rental or lease
by Users through a Marketplace.

     "Remote Order Entry" means the ability of Users, including, without
limitation, persons outside of central purchasing/materials management
departments to create requisitions and to have such requisitions turned into
valid orders in accordance with the protocol agreed to by the Novation
Marketplace and the User.

     "Retained Contract(s)" means those product or service contracts of VHA or
UHC that have not been transferred to Novation and which the Members may have
access to because they are Members in VHA or UHC.

     "Service(s)" means the services to be provided hereunder by Neoforma.

     "Service Level(s)" means the objective criteria establishing the level of
Neoforma's required performance of the Services under this Agreement.

     " * " has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.2

     "Sign-up" (also "Signs-up" and "Signed-up") means for a party to enter into
a contractual relationship with a Supplier to enable all or any portion of that
Supplier's equipment, products, supplies, services, information and other
content to be displayed on a Customized Marketplace.

     "Supplier(s)" means suppliers, manufacturers or distributors that provide
Products and Materials for display, sale, rental or lease, including, without
limitation, High-Volume Suppliers pursuant to an agreement allowing
participation on the a Customized Marketplace.

     "Supplier Integration Deadline" means the later of: (i) * days following
the date on which a Supplier is Signed-up; or (ii) the * specified in the
contract between the Supplier and Neoforma, as either may be adjusted pursuant
to Section 3.8.2.

     "Supply Chain Data" means information for use by Members and Suppliers
regarding the purchase, rental or lease of a Product by a Member who has signed
a Member participation
___________________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                        7

<PAGE>

agreement with Neoforma to participate in the Novation Marketplace or HPPI
Marketplace, whether the * is conducted * or *. For the purposes of this
definition * means the *, and * means *.

     "Supply Chain Data Transaction Value(s)" means the * , relating to each
purchase, rental or lease of a Product *, but for which Neoforma processes
Supply Chain Data. For the purposes of this definition * means the *.

     "Supply Chain Management Services" means (i) with respect to Novation, VHA
and HPPI, operations and activities related to the evaluation, bidding,
negotiation, contracting, administering, marketing, distribution, sale,
acquisition or disposal of equipment, products, supplies, services, information
and other content by healthcare organizations from third parties and (ii) with
respect to UHC only, operations and activities related to the evaluation,
bidding, negotiation, contracting, administering, marketing, distribution, sale,
acquisition or disposal of equipment, products, supplies and services by
healthcare organizations from third parties, and in the case of each of clause
(i) and (ii), including operations and activities directly related to Neoforma
Auction. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, and with respect to
UHC only, Supply Chain Management Services do not include outsourcing,
consulting, information technology products and services (unless related to
equipment or supplies), financial products and services, insurance products and
services, education and networking and communication products and services.

     "Target Fee Levels" has the meaning specified in Section 8.2.1 of this
Agreement.

     "Tool(s)" means a program, utility or user interface that helps the user of
the program, utility or user interface analyze or search for data.

     "Transaction Data" means the data maintained by Neoforma on the Transaction
Database.

     "Transaction Database" means any and all means used to store Information.

     "Transaction Fee(s)" means fees to be paid by each Supplier pursuant to its
agreement with Neoforma for participation on the Novation Marketplace or the
HPPI Marketplace.

     "User(s)" means all Members and other users of a Customized Marketplace,
including, without limitation, participating healthcare organizations, GPOs or
other registered users that do not act as Suppliers.

_____________

* Confidential treatment requested

                                       8

<PAGE>

2.   NOVATION OBLIGATIONS

     2.1   Agency Relationship. Neoforma hereby appoints Novation to act as
           Neoforma's agent to Sign-up Suppliers for the Novation Marketplace
           and HPPI Marketplace, and Novation accepts such appointment, for the
           principal purpose of facilitating e-commerce purchases by the patrons
           of VHA and UHC and by others.

     2.2   Novation Duties. In connection with Novation's appointment as agent
           under Section 2.1, Novation will perform the following obligations:

           2.2.1   Neoforma and Novation shall meet to discuss and mutually
                   agree upon certain commercially reasonable negotiating
                   parameters within which Novation may negotiate with Suppliers
                   without seeking Neoforma's approval. While within such
                   parameters, Novation may negotiate with and Sign-up any
                   Supplier and obtain any terms and conditions that in
                   Novation's reasonable discretion are consistent with its
                   obligations under this Agreement. Novation agrees that if it
                   wishes to conclude any agreement upon terms and conditions
                   outside of the agreed upon negotiating parameters, or at
                   Transaction Fee levels that are lower than the levels agreed
                   upon by Neoforma and Novation under Section 2.5, it will seek
                   Neoforma's prior consent, which consent shall not be
                   unreasonably withheld or delayed. Novation shall use its
                   diligent efforts to obtain favorable terms from each Supplier
                   with whom it negotiates on behalf of Neoforma. Neoforma
                   agrees, however, that Novation shall have no obligation to
                   obtain the best terms and conditions available from any
                   Supplier.

           2.2.2   Neoforma and Novation shall meet no less frequently than on a
                   quarterly basis (or at any time that either Neoforma or
                   Novation reasonably requests such a meeting) to review the
                   then-current negotiating parameters. At such meetings,
                   Neoforma and Novation shall in good faith review whether the
                   negotiating parameters then in effect are market competitive
                   and, if not, shall adjust so that they are market
                   competitive. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree
                   that "market competitive" shall mean that (i) Suppliers are
                   reasonably likely to sign such agreement (after negotiation)
                   or (ii) the negotiating parameters are commercially
                   reasonable.

           2.2.3   Novation will provide to Neoforma promptly after the Sign-up
                   of each Supplier agreement that Novation enters into on
                   Neoforma's behalf, all information concerning such agreement
                   that is necessary for Neoforma to fulfill its obligations
                   thereunder.

           2.2.4   Novation will manage the Supplier relationships in respect of
                   each Supplier that Novation Signs-up on Neoforma's behalf,
                   and will use diligent efforts to facilitate favorable
                   commercial relationships between Neoforma and such Suppliers.

                                       9

<PAGE>

           2.2.5   Novation shall make available a number of employees as will
                   be necessary to perform Novation's agency obligations
                   hereunder. No such employees will be required to devote their
                   full time to providing such services hereunder.

           2.2.6   Novation and Neoforma shall cooperate to increase the number
                   of Suppliers on the Novation Marketplace and HPPI
                   Marketplace.

           2.2.7   Novation will reasonably cooperate with Neoforma to resolve
                   performance problems with respect to any Supplier that it has
                   Signed-up on Neoforma's behalf and who has become the subject
                   of numerous User complaints. In the resolution of such
                   issues, Novation will act solely as Neoforma's agent with
                   respect to Suppliers, and Novation shall not be required to
                   contact any Users.

           2.2.8   Subject to its obligations under Section 11.2, Novation will
                   bring to Neoforma's attention, reasonably promptly after
                   learning thereof, any fact that would reasonably be likely to
                   materially adversely affect the Novation Marketplace or HPPI
                   Marketplace, Neoforma or Users, including, without
                   limitation, the institution of litigation against Novation or
                   any Supplier.

           2.2.9   In connection with the negotiation of Supplier agreements,
                   Novation will provide Suppliers with technical information
                   and specifications provided by Neoforma to enable such
                   Suppliers to effectively connect to and interface with the
                   Novation Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace. Novation shall not
                   independently negotiate or modify any aspects of Neoforma's
                   technical specifications regarding a Marketplace without
                   Neoforma's prior written consent.

           2.2.10  During or after development by Neoforma of any Customized
                   Marketplace other than the Novation Marketplace or HPPI
                   Marketplace, Neoforma and Novation shall discuss the
                   feasibility and desirability for each party of Neoforma
                   appointing Novation as its agent to Sign-up Suppliers for
                   that Customized Marketplace. Should Novation wish to act as
                   such agent, it shall obtain Neoforma's consent, which consent
                   shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The
                   reasonableness of Neoforma's consent shall take into account,
                   among other factors, the terms for such appointment, and the
                   willingness of the Customized Marketplace to use Novation as
                   its Agent.

           2.2.11  In performing its duties under this Section 2, Novation shall
                   not be required to initiate or carry on litigation.

     2.3   Certain Contracts. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that
           the contracts constituting the Novation Contract Portfolio or the
           Retained Contracts, as now or hereafter constituted, shall remain
           obligations of Novation, UHC or VHA, as the

                                       10

<PAGE>

            case may be, and shall not be transferred to, or assumed by,
            Neoforma in connection with this Agreement.

     2.4    Employee Incentives. No later than February 15, 2003 and by February
            15 every year thereafter for the term of this Agreement, Novation
            shall develop and implement Novation employee compensation plans
            that will provide Novation employees with incentives to meet
            Functionality Roadmap delivery dates.

     2.5    Adjustment of Transaction Fees. Novation shall meet with Neoforma no
            less frequently than on a quarterly basis (or at any time that
            either Neoforma or Novation reasonably requests such a meeting) to
            review the Transaction Fees then in effect. At such meetings,
            Neoforma and Novation shall in good faith review whether the
            Transaction Fees then in effect are market competitive and, if not,
            shall adjust such Transaction Fees so that they are market
            competitive. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that
            "market competitive" shall mean that (i) Suppliers are reasonably
            likely to agree to pay such fees at such time or (ii) such fees are
            competitive with similar Transaction Fees paid by suppliers in
            similar e-commerce or related industries. Until Neoforma and
            Novation have agreed upon a change to the Transaction Fees, as the
            case may be, the then-existing fees shall remain in effect.

3.   NEOFORMA OBLIGATIONS

     3.1    Service. Neoforma shall provide Services mutually agreed between
            Neoforma and Novation in the Functionality Roadmap. Neoforma and
            Novation anticipate that the Services will evolve and be modified or
            be enhanced over time to keep pace with technological advancements
            and improvements in e-commerce as specified in each Functionality
            Roadmap as agreed upon in accordance with the Collaborative
            Development Process set forth in Exhibit M. Once agreed upon, all
            modification to each Functionality Roadmap must be in writing and
            agreed to by the parties in writing.

     3.2    Service Levels. Neoforma shall provide such professional and
            technical personnel and other resources (including, without
            limitation, hardware, software, facilities, equipment and other
            assets) as shall be required to perform the Services in accordance
            with service levels set forth in Exhibit N and as shall otherwise be
            mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto and referred to as the
            "Service Level Specifications." Once agreed upon, all modifications
            to the Service Level Specifications must be in writing and agreed to
            by the parties in writing.

     3.3    Cooperation with Novation. Neoforma shall cooperate with Novation in
            the performance of Novation's agency obligations under Section 2.

     3.4    Employee Incentives. No later than February 15, 2003 and by February
            15 every year thereafter for the term of this Agreement, Neoforma
            shall develop and

                                       11

<PAGE>

          implement employee compensation plans that will provide Neoforma
          employees with incentives to meet Functionality Roadmap delivery
          dates.

     3.5  Quality Assurance Program. Neoforma will administer a quality
          assurance program that has been mutually agreed to by Neoforma and
          Novation, among other things, to monitor Supplier performance and
          order confirmation for Products ordered by Users.

     3.6  Notice of Materially Adverse Facts. Subject to its obligations under
          Section 11.2, Neoforma will bring to the attention of each of
          Novation, VHA and UHC, reasonably promptly after learning thereof, any
          fact that would reasonably be likely to materially adversely affect
          the Novation Marketplace, the HPPI Marketplace or the Members, VHA,
          UHC or HPPI, including, without limitation, the institution of
          litigation against Neoforma or any Supplier.

     3.7  Case Studies. During each of the * through *, Neoforma shall on *
          basis (but in no event later than *) undertake to prepare * or more
          User case studies documenting the economic value that the Novation
          Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace has for each of Suppliers and
          Members. After calendar year *, such case studies shall be prepared by
          Neoforma from time to time as mutually agreed by Novation and
          Neoforma. In addition, during the Term, Neoforma shall measure *
          provided to Members and Suppliers by the Novation Marketplace and HPPI
          Marketplace. Each case study prepared by Neoforma will be sent to each
          of Novation, VHA, and UHC for the purpose of marketing the Novation
          Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace to other Suppliers and Members.

     3.8  Supplier Sign-Up and Integration.

          3.8.1  Neoforma and Novation shall meet within 30 days after the
                 execution of this Agreement, and at each Cross-Functional
                 Management Team Meeting thereafter, to establish a plan (i) to
                 Sign-up additional Suppliers, (ii) to Integrate and make
                 operational such Suppliers for receiving and confirming orders,
                 and (iii) to eliminate the back-log of Suppliers, if any, that
                 have been previously Signed-up but not yet Integrated.

          3.8.2  Neoforma shall complete the Integration and make operational
                 for receiving and confirming orders, or delivering or receiving
                 Supply Chain Data, for each Supplier that is Signed-up by the
                 Supplier Integration Deadline. In the event that a *, then
                 Neoforma shall *. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i)
                 Neoforma does not *, as the case may be, (ii) such * is a
                 result of that *, and (iii) prior to the 30th day before the
                 applicable *, Neoforma (A) notifies Novation in writing of such
                 * and the likelihood

________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                 that such * by the applicable * and (B) reasonably demonstrates
                 to Novation's reasonable satisfaction *, then *, as the case
                 may be, will be * as the * day following the date of such *.

4.   THE MARKETPLACES

     4.1  Maintenance of Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace. Neoforma
          shall use its best efforts to maintain the Novation Marketplace and
          HPPI Marketplace as a leading provider of e-commerce services to the
          healthcare industry.

     4.2  Consultation. Neoforma, Novation, VHA and UHC will consult regularly
          (but no less frequently than on a quarterly basis) to discuss the
          strategic direction of the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace,
          including the features and functions that would provide additional
          value to patrons and others.

     4.3  Provision of Non-Contract Product Information. The Suppliers will be
          responsible for providing Neoforma with Materials to be located on the
          Marketplaces in respect of all Non-Contract Products. Novation will
          review such Materials relating to the Non-Contract Products, subject
          to Neoforma providing Novation a methodology for previewing such
          Materials.

     4.4  Provision of Contract Product Information. Novation shall be
          responsible for providing Neoforma with pricing for Contract Products
          and any unique facts and summary sheets relating to such Contract
          Products that are prepared by Novation. The Suppliers will be
          responsible for providing Neoforma with all other information
          regarding such Contract Products. Subject to Neoforma providing to
          Novation a methodology for allowing Novation to preview Materials
          relating to Contract Products,Novation will review such information
          and determine that such information is reasonably accurate, prior to
          being loaded on the Novation Marketplace (e.g., correct pricing,
          product numbers, description, etc.).

     4.5  Independent Users. Prior to the date on which Neoforma concludes an
          agreement with a GPO (other than HPPI) having its own Supplier
          contracts (an "Independent GPO") who, as a condition to using a
          Marketplace, contractually requires Neoforma to act in a neutral
          manner, Neoforma shall refer any User who requests access to a
          Customized Marketplace (other than a Member entitled to use the
          Novation Marketplace) to the HPPI Marketplace. After the date on which
          an Independent GPO is on the Marketplace, if a User (other than a
          Member entitled to use the Novation Marketplace) approaches Neoforma
          requesting access to a Customized Marketplace, Neoforma shall act in a
          neutral manner with regard to such User and shall not be required to
          recommend or otherwise refer such User to any specific part of the
          Marketplace, including the HPPI Marketplace or the Novation
          Marketplace. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Neoforma will

__________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

           at all times feature the HPPI Marketplace at least as prominently on
           the Marketplace as any other Customized Marketplace.

     4.6   Multiple Memberships. If a Member is also a member of any other GPO
           that has a Customized Marketplace on the Marketplace, that Member
           will have access to all of the Marketplace, including the Novation
           Marketplace or HPPI Marketplace, as the case may be, and the
           applicable Customized Marketplace. Members who are also Users of
           Customized Marketplaces will have access rights to the Novation
           Marketplace or the HPPI Marketplace equal to those of Members that do
           not belong to Customized Marketplaces. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
           Neoforma shall provide favorable view and framing in respect of the
           Novation Contract Portfolio to any Member accessing the Marketplace.

     4.7   User Registration. Upon implementation of the Novation Marketplace,
           Neoforma, with Novation's assistance, will develop a Tool to register
           Members on the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace. Neoforma
           will require Members to create and use passwords as a necessary
           condition to accessing the Novation and HPPI Marketplace. Neoforma
           shall be responsible for keeping the Novation Marketplace registry
           and the HPPI Marketplace registry current and for not allowing access
           to such Marketplaces by unauthorized Users.

     4.8   Delivery and Order Fulfillment. Neoforma will notify Suppliers and
           provide Suppliers access to the Transaction Database for sales,
           rentals and leases of Products by such Suppliers, in a form and
           format mutually agreed upon by Neoforma and Suppliers and to the
           extent set forth in the Functionality Roadmap.

     4.9   Removal of Products from the Novation Marketplace and HPPI
           Marketplace. With regard to Non-Contract Products, Neoforma shall
           remove Product listings from the Novation Marketplace and HPPI
           Marketplace promptly after determining that the appearance of such
           Products will, or is reasonably likely to, result in liability to
           Neoforma, Novation, HPPI, VHA, UHC or any Users. Upon such removal,
           Neoforma will promptly notify Novation of such action and the reasons
           therefore. With regard to Contract Products, Neoforma shall notify
           Novation promptly after becoming aware of any problems with a
           Contract Product or that any such Contract Product will, or is
           reasonably likely to, result in liability to Neoforma, Novation,
           HPPI, VHA, UHC or any Users. In addition and at the same time,
           Neoforma shall provide to Novation all information of which it is
           aware regarding the problems with such Contract Product. Neoforma
           will obtain Novation's prior written consent, prior to taking any
           action to remove such Contract Product listing from the Novation
           Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace.

     4.10  Customized Marketplaces. In accordance with the Functionality Roadmap
           to be agreed upon, Neoforma may create Customized Marketplaces and
           other customized sites for the use and benefit of Users on the
           Customized Marketplace. Neoforma will not intentionally create
           Customized Marketplaces for the purpose of evading fees owed to
           Novation under Section 8 of this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

     4.11  Links. The parties will establish and maintain hypertext links from
           the Novation web site, HPPI web site, VHA web site and UHC web site
           to the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace. Each of Novation,
           HPPI and Neoforma will use reasonable efforts to ensure that the
           respective links that each party maintains linking Novation, HPPI and
           Members to the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace function
           correctly.

     4.12  Reasonable Assistance. Each party will provide the other parties with
           on-going reasonable assistance with regard to technical,
           administrative and service-oriented issues relating to the
           Marketplaces.

5.   NOVATION MARKETPLACE AND HPPI MARKETPLACE

     5.1   Development. The parties shall meet from time to time to agree to the
           "look and feel" and organization of the Novation Marketplace and the
           HPPI Marketplace, and to jointly develop and agree upon a
           Functionality Roadmap, which shall include an implementation plan and
           schedule for development of the Novation Marketplace and the HPPI
           Marketplace. The current Functionality Roadmap is approved by the
           Parties as of the date hereof and attached hereto as Exhibit K. . The
           Collaborative Development Process is the process by which future
           Functionality Roadmaps will be developed and is attached hereto as
           Exhibit M.

     5.2   Hosting. Neoforma will create, host and implement the Novation
           Marketplace and the HPPI Marketplace according to the agreed plan and
           display the Novation Contract Portfolio in a manner similar to the
           way in which products currently appear on the Marketplace.

     5.3   Delivery and Order Fulfillment. Neoforma will notify the Suppliers of
           purchases, rentals and leases made by Members in a form and format
           according to the terms of Neoforma's agreements with Suppliers.

     5.4   Display of Material. In order to facilitate efficient presentation of
           Product information, Neoforma will categorize, organize and display
           all Products on the Novation Marketplace and the HPPI Marketplace in
           a manner consistent with that in which it organizes similar
           information on other Customized Marketplaces.

     5.5   Reports and Meetings.

           5.5.1 Subject to obtaining the consent of the Members' in accordance
                 with Section 10, Neoforma will provide each of Novation, VHA,
                 UHC and HPPI with real-time, on-line reports of its Members
                 usage statistics and reports on other reasonable matters. Such
                 reports shall be made available in the form of Excel(TM) files
                 transferred via electronic transmission to Novation, VHA, UHC
                 or HPPI, or in such other format as the parties agree. The
                 parties will mutually agree as to the scope, format and

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<PAGE>

                 substance of the standardized reporting system that Neoforma
                 will develop (at no extra charge) and that will be available
                 to Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI via the Internet.

          5.5.2  Neoforma and Novation shall establish a cross-functional
                 management team in order to review operations of the Novation
                 Marketplace. The cross-functional management team shall meet
                 (each a "Cross-Functional Management Team Meeting") no less
                 frequently than on a quarterly basis. The cross-functional
                 management team shall include the lead executive from each of
                 Neoforma and Novation responsible for overseeing this
                 Agreement, and shall also include management representatives
                 from each of Neoforma and Novation from each functional area,
                 including marketing, Member sales, Supplier relations,
                 implementation and development. Additionally, one or more
                 representatives from each of VHA and UHC shall be invited to
                 participate in each Cross-Functional Management Team Meeting.
                 In addition, Neoforma and Novation shall establish a strategic
                 planning team to discuss the direction and strategy of the
                 Novation Marketplace. The strategic planning team shall meet at
                 least twice in each calendar year.

     5.6  Retained Contracts. Either VHA or UHC may at any time elect to put
          their respective Retained Contracts on the Novation Marketplace. If
          the posting on the Novation Marketplace is merely informational and
          Members are not able to purchase, rent or lease Products covered by
          such Retained Contracts through the Marketplaces, no fees shall be
          paid for such posting. If during the Term, Novation Signs-up the
          Suppliers under such Retained Contracts, such contracts shall then
          become subject to Section 8.

     5.7  Marketing. Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI will use commercially
          reasonable efforts to drive traffic to the Novation Marketplace and
          the HPPI Marketplace, including, without limitation, making
          appropriate introductions for Neoforma, allowing Neoforma preferred
          space and visibility at Member forums, presenting satellite broadcasts
          or web casting targeted at the Members, and otherwise in accordance
          with the roles and responsibilities specified for each Party in any
          collaborative marketing agreement reached among the Parties. The
          current collaborative marketing agreement is attached hereto as
          Exhibit L. Novation, VHA and UHC will work with Neoforma to develop
          new initiatives targeted toward increasing Members' participation on
          the Marketplaces, including the Novation Marketplace and the HPPI
          Marketplace.

     5.8  Neoforma Auction.

          5.8.1  Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI will promote the use of Neoforma's
                 asset management and recovery services and related activities
                 of Neoforma Auction to patrons and others.

                                       16

<PAGE>

          5.8.2  Any Member wishing to utilize the Neoforma Auction and
                 Neoforma's asset management and recovery services shall enter
                 into an Asset Recovery Services Agreement with Neoforma.

          5.8.3  Neoforma may delegate the performance of the asset management
                 and recovery services to a third party appointed by Neoforma.

6.   EXCLUSIVITY AND RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER

     6.1  Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI Exclusivity. Except as provided in Section
          6.3, each of Novation, HPPI, VHA and UHC agrees that it will not
          directly or indirectly develop, promote, contract for the development
          of, assist others to develop, or enter into any agreement with any
          other person to provide to any of them, or promote to their Members,
          any Internet-based marketplace related to Supply Chain Management
          Services by acute or non-acute healthcare providers anywhere in the
          world other than the Marketplaces.

     6.2  Neoforma Exclusivity.

          6.2.1  Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, neither Neoforma
                 nor its Affiliates will develop, promote, contract for the
                 development of, assist others to develop, or enter into any
                 agreement with any other person to provide, any Internet-based
                 system related to the acquisition or disposal of equipment,
                 products, supplies, services, information and other content by
                 acute or non-acute healthcare providers anywhere in the world
                 other than the Marketplaces.

          6.2.2  Except as provided in Section 6.2.3, Novation will be
                 Neoforma's and Neoforma's Affiliates' exclusive agent to
                 Sign-up Suppliers to the Novation Marketplace. Neoforma will
                 not, and will cause any Affiliate of Neoforma not to: (i)
                 Sign-up any Supplier directly to the Novation Marketplace; or
                 (ii) contract with, or pay any financial incentives to, any
                 person to act as a contracting agent of Neoforma or Neoforma's
                 Affiliates to Sign-up any Supplier to the Novation Marketplace
                 on Neoforma's or Neoforma's Affiliates' behalf; provided,
                 however, that nothing herein shall be construed to impose upon
                 Neoforma any obligation to seek to terminate agreements with
                 Suppliers previously entered into by Neoforma and existing as
                 of the Original Effective Date.

          6.2.3  Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 6.2.2, Neoforma
                 may Sign-up any Supplier, if Neoforma refers a Supplier to
                 Novation for contracting, and notwithstanding such referral,
                 the Supplier specifically requests to Sign-up with Neoforma or
                 Novation informs Neoforma that Novation will not Sign-up that
                 Supplier.

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<PAGE>

     6.3  Right of First Offer for Novation and Neoforma.

          6.3.1  If either Novation or Neoforma elects to commence an
                 Internet-venture in any country other than the United States
                 or in any market that is not then served by a Customized
                 Marketplace (whether in the United States or otherwise), such
                 party (the "Offeror") shall offer to the other (the "Offeree")
                 the opportunity to participate in such venture in a manner
                 commensurate with the Offeree's role under this Agreement
                 (including the right of Novation to create other contract
                 portfolios similar to the Novation Contract Portfolio or to
                 recruit suppliers for such venture). The Offeror shall provide
                 full information to the Offeree regarding the venture, and
                 shall make its senior executives available to meet with the
                 Offeree to discuss the venture. The Offeror shall also notify
                 the Offeree of such venture a reasonable time prior to
                 commencement of the venture (but in no event less than 60 days
                 prior to the date on which the Offeree must decide to
                 participate). If after consideration the Offeree declines to
                 participate in such venture, then, notwithstanding Section 6.1
                 or 6.2, as the case may be, the Offeror may proceed with such
                 venture, but solely in that market or country, and on no less
                 favorable terms and conditions in the aggregate as had been
                 offered to the Offeree. In addition, the Offeree shall be
                 released from its obligations under Section 6.1 or 6.2, as the
                 case may be, but solely in respect of the market or country
                 that was the subject of such Offer. If the Offeror
                 subsequently does not consummate the venture, and the Offeror
                 wishes to commence another venture in the same market or
                 country, the Offeror must once again offer such opportunity to
                 the Offeree. The Offeror shall have no obligation to share any
                 fees earned in a venture in which the Offeree has not elected
                 to participate.

          6.3.2  Business development representatives of Neoforma and Novation
                 shall meet on a quarterly basis to review existing
                 opportunities in foreign markets and countries and to review
                 existing opportunities in markets not then served by a
                 Customized Marketplace. Such representatives shall prepare a
                 joint plan to identify and exploit such other opportunities in
                 foreign markets and in other healthcare markets. Any right of
                 an Offeror to proceed with a venture under Subsection 6.3.1
                 without the Offeree shall be conditioned on such Offeror's
                 compliance with this Subsection 6.3.2.

     6.4  First Offer for Non-Exclusive Services.

          6.4.1  The term "Non-Exclusive Service(s)" means Internet-related
                 services available primarily through Neoforma that are outside
                 the scope of Section 6.1, including, without limitation, the
                 products and services excluded from the definition of Supply
                 Chain Management Services as applied to UHC. For purposes of
                 clarification, Non-Exclusive Services will not include
                 Internet-related services the majority of which are provided
                 by an entity other than Neoforma. UHC shall give favorable
                 consideration to

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<PAGE>

                 Neoforma as a third-party provider to UHC of Non-Exclusive
                 Services as follows: if (i) UHC elects to provide for itself
                 or for the benefit of all or substantially all of UHC's
                 Members any new Non-Exclusive Service or (ii) UHC intends to
                 replace any agreement for the provision of a Non-Exclusive
                 Service then being provided to UHC by a third party, then UHC
                 shall first offer to Neoforma the opportunity to provide such
                 Non-Exclusive Service (the "Opportunity"). Promptly upon
                 becoming aware of an Opportunity, UHC shall send notice of the
                 Opportunity in electronic or paper writing to the Chief
                 Executive Officer of Neoforma, or his or her designate.
                 Promptly after receiving such notification, but in no less
                 than 15 days, Neoforma shall meet with UHC to discuss the
                 Opportunity and Neoforma's proposed role therein. Neoforma and
                 UHC shall continue to meet and discuss the Opportunity for the
                 30-day period commencing upon UHC's notification to Neoforma.
                 Neither UHC nor Neoforma will have any obligation to meet and
                 to discuss the Opportunity (i) if Neoforma does not meet with
                 UHC within the time required, or (ii) after the expiration of
                 the 30-day discussion period. The communication by UHC to
                 Neoforma of any Opportunity, including the ideas, concepts or
                 other intellectual property contained therein, will be
                 Confidential Information subject to Section 11.

          6.4.2  For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the
                 contrary in this Agreement, in no event will UHC be required to
                 obtain any Non-Exclusive Service from Neoforma.

7.   LICENSES AND OWNERSHIP

     7.1  Ownership of Marks. Each party will own and retain all right, title
          and interest in and to its intellectual property, including its
          trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos ("Marks") worldwide,
          as specified in Exhibit A.

     7.2  Novation Marks. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Novation
          grants to Neoforma, VHA, UHC and HPPI a worldwide, nontransferable,
          non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, transmit and display
          Novation's Marks in connection with the Marketplaces during the Term
          of this Agreement, provided that such use is in accordance with
          Novation's then-current trademark usage guidelines. A copy of
          Novation's current trademark usage guidelines is attached as Exhibit
          B. Upon any change in such guidelines, Novation will promptly provide
          to Neoforma a copy of such revised usage guidelines. Neoforma will not
          modify the Novation Marks or combine any of the Novation Marks with
          any other mark or term. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.9, upon
          termination or expiration of this Agreement, Neoforma will cease all
          use of the Novation Marks.

     7.3  Neoforma Marks. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Neoforma
          grants to Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI a worldwide, nontransferable,
          non-exclusive,

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<PAGE>

          royalty-free license to use, transmit and display Neoforma's Marks
          during the Term only in promotional materials used to encourage
          participation on the Marketplaces, provided that such use is in
          accordance with Neoforma's then-current trademark usage guidelines. A
          copy of Neoforma's current trademark usage guidelines is attached as
          Exhibit C. Upon any change in such guidelines, Neoforma will promptly
          provide to Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI a copy of such revised usage
          guidelines. Except as authorized under this Agreement, Novation, VHA,
          UHC and HPPI will not modify any of the Neoforma Marks or combine the
          Neoforma Marks with any other mark or term. Subject to the provisions
          of Section 9.9, upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement,
          Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI will cease all use of the Neoforma Marks.

     7.4  VHA, UHC and HPPI Marks. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each
          of VHA, UHC and HPPI grants to Novation and Neoforma a worldwide,
          nontransferable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, transmit
          and display its Marks solely to promote the Marketplaces to the
          Members during the Term, provided that such use is in accordance with
          the then-current trademark usage guidelines of VHA, UHC and HPPI, as
          the case may be. A copy of each of VHA's, UHC's and HPPI's current
          trademark usage guidelines are attached as Exhibit D. Except as
          authorized under this Agreement, Neoforma and Novation will not modify
          any of the Marks of VHA, UHC and HPPI or combine any of them with any
          other mark or term. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.9, upon the
          termination or expiration of this Agreement, Neoforma and Novation
          will cease all use of VHA's, UHC's and HPPI's Marks.

     7.5  Ownership of Neoforma Materials and Novation Materials. Neoforma and
          Novation will own and retain all worldwide right, title and interest
          in and to the Neoforma Materials and Novation Materials, respectively.
          Neither Neoforma nor Novation will alter or delete any copyright or
          other proprietary notice that may appear in the other party's
          Materials without prior written consent of such party.

     7.6  Neoforma Materials. Neoforma grants to Novation a worldwide,
          nontransferable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the
          Neoforma Materials only in promotional materials used to encourage
          participation on the Marketplaces.

     7.7  Novation Materials. Novation grants to Neoforma a worldwide,
          nontransferable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the
          Novation Materials on the Marketplaces during the Term solely to
          enable Neoforma to provide the Services contemplated under this
          Agreement.

     7.8  Development of Tools. From time to time during the Term, Novation may
          request Neoforma to design Tools for Members or Suppliers in addition
          to the Tools, functions and APIs, which will be mutually agreed upon
          and contained in the Functionality Roadmap. Within a reasonable time
          after such request, appropriate personnel from Novation and Neoforma
          will meet to discuss and draft technical specifications for the
          desired customized Tools, functions and APIs.

                                       20

<PAGE>

                  7.8.1    If the Tool, function or API requested by Novation
                           will be used by all Users of the Customized
                           Marketplaces, Neoforma will develop such Tool,
                           function or API promptly and at its own expense.
                           Neoforma will own and retain all right, title and
                           interest to all the intellectual property, including
                           the source code, object code and other Confidential
                           Information, in and to the Neoforma developed Tools,
                           functions and APIs.

                  7.8.2    If Neoforma does not otherwise agree to develop such
                           Tool, function or API for use by all Users of the
                           Customized Marketplaces, Novation may, in its sole
                           discretion, agree to pay for the development of such
                           Tool, function or API. If Novation agrees to pay
                           Neoforma for the development of such Tool, function
                           or API, Neoforma will promptly endeavor to develop
                           such requested Tool, function or API, and Novation
                           will own all right, title and interest to all the
                           intellectual property, including all source code,
                           object code and other Confidential Information, in
                           and to such Tools, functions and APIs. Any fees
                           charged to Novation for development of any Tool,
                           function or API shall be provided by Neoforma at the
                           most favorable fee Neoforma charges to any other
                           person for such development or integration services.

                  7.8.3    Nothing in this Section 7.8 shall limit Neoforma's
                           obligation to provide the Services as shall be set
                           forth in the Functionality Roadmap.

         7.9      Access License. Neoforma grants to Novation a non-exclusive,
                  worldwide, non-assignable license to members of Novation and
                  HPPI in order to access the Novation Marketplace and HPPI
                  Marketplace. Novation and HPPI grant to Neoforma a
                  non-exclusive, worldwide, non-assignable license to access the
                  Novation and HPPI web sites and computer systems solely to
                  enable Neoforma to provide the services contemplated under
                  this Agreement.

8.       FEES AND TAXES

         8.1      Fees.

                  8.1.1    Neoforma and Novation shall each use its reasonable
                           best efforts to collect all Transaction Fees required
                           to be paid by each Supplier.

                  8.1.2    Novation * to Neoforma aggregate minimum Novation
                           Marketplace Transaction Fees, which shall be
                           calculated as a percentage (the "Supplier Target
                           Percentage") of the * on a * basis as set forth in
                           Exhibit G (the "Minimum Fees"). Subject to Section
                           3.8 and Subsection 8.1.3, Novation shall pay to
                           Neoforma the *, if any, in any * the * calculated in
                           accordance with this Section 8.1.2 and the *
                           recognized by Neoforma in accordance with GAAP for
                           such * (each such payment, a " * ").

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                  8.1.3    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
                           contrary (except, with respect to clauses (ii)-(v)
                           below, any prior period * amounts or "*" payable
                           pursuant to Section 8.3 below), Novation shall not be
                           responsible for any *: (i) to the extent that any
                           part of the * results from the * by a * of its
                           agreement with Neoforma as a result of Neoforma's *
                           of such *, (ii) during the period commencing on * and
                           ending *, to the extent that the * in any * for that
                           * in Exhibit H; (iii) during the period commencing on
                           * and ending *, to the extent that the aggregate * in
                           that * exceed * of Novation's * for that *, (iv)
                           during the period commencing on * and ending *, to
                           the extent that the aggregate * in that * exceed *
                           of Novation's * for that *, or (v) for * periods
                           beginning on *, to the extent that the aggregate * in
                           any * exceed * of Novation's * for that *; provided,
                           however, that (A) the * in clauses (iii), (iv) and
                           (v) above may be adjusted from time to time pursuant
                           to Section 8.5; (B) any such * adjustment shall not
                           result in a *; and (C) the * of Novation's * amount
                           for such applicable * shall be further reduced by $*
                           in *, $* in *, $* in *, $* in * and $* in *.

                  8.1.4    In the event that Novation notifies Neoforma that its
                           obligations under Section 8.1.2 are limited by
                           Section 8.1.3(iii), Section 8.1.3(iv) or Section
                           8.1.3(v), Neoforma may request in writing Novation's
                           financial statements for the applicable *. Novation
                           shall provide to Neoforma relevant financial
                           statements in sufficient detail to verify Novation's
                           * for such * within a reasonable period of time
                           following such request from Neoforma.

         8.2      Revenue Sharing.

                  8.2.1    The parties have agreed to the Target Fee Levels (the
                           "Target Fee Levels"), set forth in Exhibit I.

                  8.2.2    Neoforma shall pay to Novation * of any Novation
                           Marketplace Transaction Fees recognized by Neoforma
                           in accordance with GAAP in excess of the Target Fee
                           Level for any given *, but only if Novation has
                           fulfilled its obligations under Subsection 8.1.2.

                  8.2.3    Subject to Section 8.2.2, Neoforma shall retain all
                           revenues it earns and collects, and Novation shall
                           pay to Neoforma within thirty (30) days after the end
                           of each *, all revenues earned by Neoforma but

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                           * (as the case may be) for the provision of the
                           Customized Marketplaces during that *, including all
                           * and *, and revenue that would otherwise be subject
                           to revenue sharing pursuant to Section *.

         8.3      Establishment of * and * Payment Thereof. Neoforma and
                  Novation shall meet and agree on or before * of * on the *
                  for the subsequent * pursuant to Sections 8.1.2 and 8.1.3 (the
                  "*"). On the * of each * month, Novation shall * to Neoforma
                  an amount equal to * of that * payable pursuant to Sections
                  8.1.2 and 8.1.3. The agreed * payment amounts and schedule for
                  such * for the remainder of * are set forth in Exhibit J.
                  Beginning in *, on or before * , Neoforma and Novation shall
                  meet and agree on the * of any "*" required to the * for the
                  preceding * pursuant to Sections 8.1.2 and 8.1.3 based on
                  Novation's * in such *. Neoforma and Novation shall apply any
                  such "*" to subsequent * as mutually agreed to by them.
                  Beginning in *, on or before *, Novation and Neoforma shall
                  meet and agree on the * for the subsequent * pursuant to
                  Sections 8.1.2 and 8.1.3.

         8.4      Reporting and Calculation of Fees and Revenue Sharing. To
                  fulfill the obligations of Novation and Neoforma under Section
                  8.3 to agree on estimated and actual *, before any meeting
                  conducted pursuant to Section 8.3: (a) Novation will provide
                  Neoforma with a written report of: (i) Novation's * or any
                  other adjustment amounts that may be applicable pursuant to
                  Section 8.1.3; and (ii) the revenues received by Novation for
                  the provision of the Customized Marketplace (including * and
                  *); and (b) Neoforma will provide each of Novation, VHA and
                  UHC, with a written report of: (i) aggregate Adjusted Gross
                  Transaction Values and Supply Chain Data Transaction Values
                  for all purchases, rentals and leases of Products through the
                  Novation Marketplace, (ii) the aggregate amount of any
                  Transaction Fees received by Neoforma, (iii) the aggregate
                  amount of any Novation Marketplace Transaction Fees received
                  by Neoforma; (iv) the information set forth in Exhibit E and
                  such other information as Novation may reasonably request; (v)
                  revenue received by Neoforma from distribution or licensing of
                  software and other technology solutions; and (vi) revenue
                  received by Neoforma associated with Section 8.9 below.
                  Neoforma and Novation shall then jointly calculate: (i) the
                  Minimum Fees, (ii) any revenue sharing amounts under Sections
                  8.2, 8.9, and 8.10, (iii) any *

____________________
 * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                  payable pursuant to Subsection 8.1.2, subject to Section
                  8.1.3, and (iv) any other fees to be paid by a party
                  hereunder.

         8.5      *.
                  -

                  8.5.1    Right to *. Beginning on * and from time to time
                           thereafter, either Novation or Neoforma may initiate
                           an * (the "* Process") in order to *.

                  8.5.2    * Process. In the case of a general * Process, (i)
                           either Novation or Neoforma may select and hire a *,
                           which * shall be reasonably acceptable to the other
                           party, and the party selecting such * shall pay all
                           costs associated with the * Process; or (ii) Novation
                           and Neoforma shall mutually agree upon an
                           independent, third party * and Novation and Neoforma
                           shall share all costs associated with such shared *.
                           In addition, in the case of a * Process with respect
                           to Supplier Target Percentages, or if Neoforma and
                           Novation otherwise agree with respect to a general *
                           Process, Neoforma and Novation may rely on publicly
                           available information in carrying out the * Process,
                           and to carry out the * Process without the use of a
                           third-party *. The Parties shall cooperate to
                           facilitate the * Process, including by providing
                           reasonable information as is necessary to conduct the
                           * Process.

                  8.5.3    General *. The * Process for general items shall *
                           (i) with respect to Neoforma, the * provided by
                           Neoforma to Novation, the * offered to Members, the *
                           offered to Suppliers, the * of the Services, and
                           Neoforma's * incurred in performing its obligations
                           under this Agreement and (ii) with respect to
                           Novation, the * by Novation of its agency obligations
                           pursuant to Section * and the * for any * as provided
                           in Subsection * and, in each case, shall be based
                           upon a *, including, without limitation, relative *.
                           If the * Results indicate that the * by Novation or
                           Neoforma, as the case may be, are not "*," Neoforma
                           and Novation shall promptly meet and enter into a
                           good faith negotiation to determine whether there
                           should be an *.

                  8.5.4    *. The * Process with respect to * shall be based
                           upon review of whether such * are "*". If the *
                           Results indicate that the * in place during the
                           period examined are not "*," then Neoforma and
                           Novation shall promptly meet and * such * so that
                           they are *. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties
                           agree that "*" shall mean that (i) * are reasonably
                           likely to agree to pay such fees at such time or (ii)
                           such *.

                  8.5.5    * Results. Within 30 days after the completion of any
                           * Process, the *, if any, shall deliver the results
                           of the * (the "* Results") in a written report,
                           including identification of the *, to Novation and
                           Neoforma. In the event

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                           that the * Process does not utilize a third-party *,
                           the party initiating the * Process shall be
                           responsible for writing and delivering such report of
                           the * Results to the other party.

                  8.5.6    * Review Period. For a period of 60 days following
                           delivery of the * Results from the * (the "* Review
                           Period"), Novation and Neoforma shall review the *
                           Results, and schedule one or more meetings to address
                           any issues either Party may have with the * Results.

                  8.5.7    * Dispute. In the event Novation and Neoforma in good
                           faith dispute the * Results or if Novation and
                           Neoforma have not reached agreement after the *
                           Review Period, Novation may dispute such outcome in
                           accordance with the provisions of Section 18 hereto.

         8.6      Taxes. Neoforma and Novation shall cooperate to minimize any
                  local, state, national and foreign taxes (including, without
                  limitation, sales, use and VAT taxes which may apply),
                  licenses, export/import fees and any other fees or similar
                  obligations relating to any sale, rental or lease of a
                  Contract Product through the Marketplaces or relating to the
                  Supply Chain Data. If in the future any such taxes or similar
                  obligations are required to be paid by Neoforma or Novation in
                  respect of Contract Products, such fees shall be shared by
                  Neoforma and Novation proportionately based on revenues each
                  derives from the Novation Marketplace and HPPI Marketplace. In
                  no event shall Novation be required to share any taxes under
                  this Section 8.6 for Products other than Products for which
                  Novation receives Novation Marketplace Transaction Fees.

         8.7      New Markets. If Neoforma and Novation agree pursuant to
                  Section 6.3 to enter any other healthcare market (other than
                  the United States acute care market) that is not then served
                  by a Customized Marketplace or that is in countries outside of
                  the United States, Neoforma and Novation shall negotiate in
                  good faith to set the Transaction Fees to be paid in respect
                  of such products to be purchased, rented and leased on such
                  Customized Marketplace.

         8.8      Product Returns. Neoforma and Novation will cooperate in good
                  faith to make any adjustments to the fees to be paid hereunder
                  to reflect Products that have been returned by Users.

         8.9      Neoforma * and * and *. Beginning *, Neoforma shall pay to
                  Novation on a * basis * by Neoforma * from (i) Neoforma *),
                  (ii) other * (excluding *, and *), and (iii) all * of * from
                  *.

         8.10     *. Neoforma will pay to Novation * by Neoforma *, whether to
                  buyers or suppliers, but not including * in any way related to
                  Neoforma *. For the

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                  avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that this Section 8.10
                  shall not limit the scope of Section 6.2.1.

         8.11     Other Expenses. Neither Neoforma nor Novation shall be
                  required to pay to the other party any amounts for the
                  performance of their respective obligations hereunder other
                  than those expressly set forth in this Agreement.

         8.12     VHA/UHC Allocation. VHA and UHC agree to allocate between
                  themselves (i) any obligation of Novation to pay Shortfall
                  Payments pursuant to Section 8.1.2 and (ii) any fees received
                  by Novation pursuant to Section 8.2.2, 8.9, 8.10, 10.6.3, or
                  16.3 as follows:

                  (i)      with respect to *, * to VHA and * to UHC;

                  (ii)     with respect to each succeeding *, VHA's allocation
                           shall be a fraction (A) the numerator of which is the
                           sum of the aggregate dollar amount of VHA's Members'
                           purchases through Novation, plus * of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of all purchases through HPPI, and (B)
                           the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of both VHA's and UHC's Members'
                           purchases through Novation, plus * of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of all purchases through HPPI, in each
                           case during the immediately preceding calendar year
                           and excluding purchases through VHA's Care Continuum
                           Program or any similar program operated by UHC; and

                  (iii)    with respect to each succeeding *, UHC's allocation
                           shall be a fraction (A) the numerator of which is the
                           sum of the aggregate dollar amount of UHC's Members'
                           purchases through Novation, plus * of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of all purchases through HPPI, and (B)
                           the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of both VHA's and UHC's Members'
                           purchases through Novation, plus * of the aggregate
                           dollar amount of all purchases through HPPI, in each
                           case during the immediately preceding calendar year
                           and excluding purchases through VHA's Care Continuum
                           Program or any similar program operated by UHC.

9.       TERM AND TERMINATION

         9.1      Initial Term. This Agreement commences on the Original
                  Effective Date and will remain in effect for an initial term
                  of 10 years (the "Initial Term"), unless terminated earlier in
                  accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       26

<PAGE>

         9.2      Renewal and Extension of Term. This Agreement will
                  automatically renew for successive one-year terms after the
                  completion of the Initial Term (each a "Renewal Term") unless
                  Neoforma or Novation provides written notice of its intention
                  to terminate this Agreement to the other at least 90 days
                  prior to the end of the Initial Term or any then-current
                  Renewal Term. The Initial Term and any and all renewals or
                  extensions thereof and any Termination Assistance Period are
                  referred to herein as the "Term".

         9.3      Termination for Cause. Each of Neoforma and Novation, after
                  complying with Section 18.2 hereunder, will have the right to
                  terminate this Agreement if the other party materially
                  breaches (i) its service obligations under this Agreement or
                  (ii) its exclusivity obligations under Section 6 of this
                  Agreement, unless the breaching party (x) cures such breach
                  within 30 days after receiving written notice or (y) if such
                  breach is not curable within 30 days, makes substantial
                  progress in curing such breach within 30 days and cures such
                  breach within 90 days. Any repeated or sustained failure of
                  Neoforma to meet its Service Level obligations hereunder shall
                  constitute a material breach of Neoforma's service obligations
                  under Subsection (i) hereunder.

         9.4      Termination for Insolvency Events. If either Neoforma or
                  Novation is unable to obtain credit from any creditors,
                  becomes insolvent, makes an assignment for the benefit of its
                  creditors, or becomes the subject of a proceeding under Title
                  11 of the United States Code, as amended, or becomes the
                  subject of similar state court proceedings, then in any such
                  case, the other party, or in the case of Neoforma, VHA, UHC or
                  HPPI, may, without prejudice to any other rights, immediately
                  terminate this Agreement or, if such termination is subject to
                  any statutory provision or judicial order staying such action,
                  seek leave to modify such stay so as to terminate this
                  Agreement. Each of Neoforma and Novation acknowledges and
                  agrees that its insolvency, the making of an assignment for
                  the benefit of its creditors, or its becoming the subject of a
                  proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, is
                  "cause" for the termination of any statutory or judicial stay
                  of the rights of the other party hereunder to terminate this
                  Agreement. Each of Neoforma and Novation acknowledges and
                  agrees that, in such event, it could not provide "adequate
                  protection" to the other party, or in the case of Neoforma, to
                  VHA, UHC or HPPI, that the continued imposition of a stay
                  would likely cause irreparable harm to the other party, and
                  the continued imposition of a stay would adversely affect the
                  health, safety and welfare of communities served by the
                  parties hereto.

         9.5      Termination for Rejection in Bankruptcy. Each of Neoforma and
                  Novation will have the right to immediately terminate this
                  Agreement if the other party becomes a debtor or an alleged
                  debtor in a case under Title 11 of the United States Code, as
                  amended, and in such proceeding this Agreement is rejected in
                  such case in accordance with Title 11 of the United States
                  Code.

                                       27

<PAGE>

         9.6      Termination Upon Neoforma Change of Control. Novation may
                  terminate this Agreement upon any Neoforma Change of Control.

         9.7      Return of Materials. Subject to Section 9.8, upon termination
                  or expiration of this Agreement for any reason, each of
                  Neoforma and Novation shall promptly return to the other
                  party, and shall not take, use or disclose, all Products of
                  any nature that belong to the other party and all records (in
                  any form, format or medium) containing or relating to Neoforma
                  Materials or Novation Materials or the Confidential
                  Information of the other party.

         9.8      Survival. The provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.5, 8.4, 9.7, 9.8,
                  9.9, 9.10, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 will survive
                  termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.

         9.9      Termination Assistance Services.

                  9.9.1    General. Upon any termination or expiration of this
                           Agreement, Neoforma shall provide termination
                           assistance and shall comply with the reasonable
                           directions of Novation, or, if applicable, VHA or
                           UHC, to allow the Services to continue without
                           interruption or adverse effect and to facilitate the
                           orderly transition and migration of all Services then
                           being performed by Neoforma, including any transition
                           and migration from Neoforma to Novation or, if
                           applicable, VHA and UHC, (or a third-party provider
                           undertaking, on behalf of Novation, VHA or UHC, to
                           provide the Services) (the "Termination Assistance
                           Services"), all in accordance with this Section 9.
                           Additionally, all of Novation's, or, if applicable,
                           VHA's and UHC's, rights under this Agreement
                           (including, without limitation, the right to license
                           software hereunder), as such rights exist immediately
                           prior to any expiration or termination, but excluding
                           any right to share Novation Marketplace Transaction
                           Fees with Neoforma pursuant to Section 8, shall
                           continue during any Termination Assistance Period (as
                           defined in Section 9.9.2). Novation or, if
                           applicable, VHA and UHC, shall cooperate in good
                           faith with Neoforma in connection with Neoforma's
                           obligations under this Section 9.

                  9.9.2    Termination Assistance Period. Neoforma shall
                           commence providing Termination Assistance Services
                           (i) with respect to the scheduled expiration of this
                           Agreement, 90 days prior to such scheduled expiration
                           or such earlier date as Novation may reasonably
                           request, and (ii) with respect to any termination of
                           this Agreement, upon the delivery of the notice of
                           termination. Neoforma shall continue providing
                           Termination Assistance Services through the effective
                           date of the expiration or termination of this
                           Agreement and for a period of not less than * days
                           thereafter (the "Termination Assistance Period").
                           Upon at least 30 days prior written notice to
                           Neoforma, Novation or, if applicable, each of VHA

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       28

<PAGE>

                           and UHC, may extend, from time to time, the
                           Termination Assistance Period for an additional
                           * period. During any Termination Assistance
                           Period, Neoforma shall provide, at Novation's
                           request, or, if applicable, VHA's or UHC's request,
                           as applicable, as part of the Termination Assistance
                           Services, any or all of the Services being provided
                           by Neoforma prior to the date of the expiration or
                           termination of this Agreement.

                  9.9.3    Termination Plan. Neoforma and Novation or, if
                           applicable, VHA and UHC, shall cooperate in good
                           faith to develop a termination plan setting forth the
                           respective tasks to be accomplished by each party in
                           connection with the termination and a schedule
                           pursuant to which such tasks are to be completed in
                           accordance with the Termination Assistance Services
                           (collectively, the "Termination Plan").

                  9.9.4    Certain Licenses. As of the Original Effective Date,
                           Neoforma shall grant the following to Novation:

                           (i)      a * license to all third-party software that
                                    is required to provide the Services, to the
                                    extent Neoforma is entitled to sublicense
                                    such software, and to the extent Neoforma is
                                    not entitled to sublicense such software,
                                    Neoforma shall provide a list of all
                                    third-party software licenses that are
                                    required to provide the Services and shall
                                    assist Novation in licensing a substantially
                                    similar software at a commercially
                                    reasonable price; and

                           (ii)     a * license, solely for Novation's internal
                                    use, to all Neoforma-owned software that is
                                    required to provide the Services. For the
                                    avoidance of doubt, "internal use" as used
                                    in this Section 9.9.4 shall include the
                                    right of other Internet marketplaces or
                                    providers to use the software solely on
                                    behalf of Novation for its Members. In
                                    addition, Neoforma shall provide to Novation
                                    consulting services, at no charge to
                                    Novation, as may be reasonably required in
                                    order to recreate the Marketplace
                                    environment for Novation.

                           (iii)    Additionally, if at any time after the
                                    Original Effective Date Neoforma begins
                                    using any software to provide the Services,
                                    then Neoforma shall be deemed to have
                                    granted, as of the first date on which such
                                    software is used to provide the Services and
                                    for so long as such software is either used
                                    or required to provide the Services, the
                                    following licenses to Novation: (x) with
                                    respect to third-party software, a * license
                                    to such software, to the extent Neoforma is
                                    entitled to sublicense such software, and
                                    (y) with respect to

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       29

<PAGE>

                                    Neoforma-owned software, a * license, solely
                                    for Novation's internal use, to such
                                    software.

                           (iv)     Notwithstanding the other provisions in this
                                    Section 9.9.4, Novation shall not use such
                                    licenses until the effective date of the
                                    termination of this Agreement in accordance
                                    with Section 9.3, 9.4, or 9.5.

                  9.9.5    Equitable Remedies. Neoforma acknowledges that, if it
                           breaches (or attempts or threatens to breach) its
                           obligation to provide Novation or, if applicable, VHA
                           and UHC, Termination Assistance Services in
                           accordance with this Section 9.9, Novation or, if
                           applicable, VHA and UHC, will be irreparably harmed.
                           In such circumstance, and notwithstanding the
                           provisions of Section 18, Novation or, if applicable,
                           each of VHA and UHC, may proceed directly to court.
                           If a court of competent jurisdiction should find that
                           Neoforma has breached (or attempted or threatened to
                           breach) any such obligations, Neoforma agrees that
                           even without any additional findings of irreparable
                           injury or other conditions to injunctive relief, it
                           shall not oppose the entry of an appropriate order
                           compelling performance by Neoforma restraining it
                           from further breaches (or attempted or threatened
                           breaches).

         9.10     Third Party Products. Notwithstanding anything in this
                  Agreement to the contrary, prior to entering any agreement
                  with a third party for the provision of software (other than
                  providers of off the shelf software) (the "Third Party
                  Products"), Neoforma shall use commercially reasonable and
                  good faith efforts to obtain the agreement of each provider of
                  a Third Party Product that such Third Party Product may be
                  assigned and/or sublicensed without additional charge to each
                  and any of Neoforma, VHA or UHC. If Neoforma is not able to
                  obtain such written agreement or, in the event that Neoforma
                  is informed that such provision will be made available on at
                  additional cost to Neoforma, Neoforma shall promptly provide
                  notice of such to each of Novation, VHA and UHC, setting forth
                  with particularity in such notice the nature of the proposed
                  Third Party Product, the nature of the assignment and/or
                  sublicense proposed, the agreement to be signed and, if
                  applicable, the additional cost for the required assignment
                  and/or sublicense provision. Each of Novation, VHA and UHC
                  shall have one business day after the receipt of such notice
                  from Neoforma to advise Neoforma as to whether Novation, VHA
                  or UHC, or any of them or any combination of them, agrees to
                  pay the additional cost involved for the proposed assignment
                  and/or sublicense provision. Failure of Novation, VHA or UHC
                  to advise Neoforma of its decision within one business day
                  after the receipt of notice from Neoforma shall be deemed an
                  affirmative refusal to pay additional amounts required to
                  obtain the proffered assignment and/or sublicense provision
                  and,

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       30

<PAGE>

          provided that the agreement is not materially modified in a manner
          that might cause the sublicense and/or assignment provision to be
          renegotiated in a manner more favorable to Novation, VHA or UHC,
          Neoforma may proceed to enter into the agreement for such Third Party
          Product without further obligation to Novation, VHA or Neoforma under
          this Section 9.10.

10.  USER DATA

     10.1 Registration. Users who are representatives of Members will be
          required to register as a representative of a Member prior to using
          the Novation Marketplace. To effect such registration, Neoforma will
          require that each Member or other User complete a registration form in
          form and substance reasonably acceptable to Novation, which form shall
          request, among other things, submission of contact information
          regarding the User, including, without limitation, the User's name,
          name of the Member organization, mailing address, and email address.
          Neoforma will verify such information against the on-line data base
          information made available by Novation and ensure that such
          registration is authorized in accordance with registration and
          password issuance and protection procedures acceptable to Neoforma and
          in accordance with the Functionality Roadmap to be mutually agreed
          upon. Neoforma will store data collected during registration as part
          of the Information in the Transaction Database.

     10.2 Transaction Database. Neoforma will create and maintain the
          Transaction Database relating to all activity occurring on the
          Novation Marketplace and relating to Supply Chain Data in accordance
          with the Functionality Roadmap to be mutually agreed upon. Novation
          and Neoforma shall only use Information in accordance with the
          provisions of this Section 10. Neoforma shall at all times make all
          Information available to Novation in any manner that it is, or can
          reasonably be, made available.

     10.3 Member Data. Members shall own their respective Member Data. Novation
          will use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire a nonexclusive,
          non-transferable license from Members (or sublicense from VHA, UHC or
          HPPI) to permit:

          (i)  Novation to access and use such Member Data for, among other
               things, (A) legal compliance purposes, (B) to track the
               performance of Suppliers, (C) to be able to track payments to
               VHA, UHC and HPPI and cooperative payments to the Members, (D) to
               consult with each of the Members and (E) to promote utilization
               and standardization among Members; and

          (ii) Neoforma to use such Member Data provided that such use is (A)
               solely related to the performance of Neoforma's obligations
               pursuant to this Agreement and (B) in accordance with the
               confidentiality provisions of Section 11.

                                       31

<PAGE>

     10.4 Aggregated Member Data. Subject to the receipt of a license or
          sublicense for use of the Member Data, Novation shall own the
          Aggregated Member Data.

     10.5 Transaction Database. Subject to the ownership rights of the Members
          in Member Data and of Novation in Aggregated Member Data, Neoforma
          shall own the derivative works created by using the Member Data and
          the Aggregated Member Data, provided that no such information may be
          used by Neoforma other than subject to the following conditions:

          (i)  in accordance with the license or sublicense to be obtained from
               Members in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 10.3
               (ii); or

          (ii) is provided as Blinded Aggregated Data.

     10.6 License Grant of Information to Novation.

          10.6.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Neoforma
                 hereby grants to Novation a nonexclusive, non-transferable
                 license during the Term to access and use the Information and
                 Blinded Aggregated Data; provided, however, that (i) such use
                 is solely for Novation's internal use and for the
                 sublicensing of the use of such data to VHA, UHC and HPPI for
                 their use in serving the needs of their Members (provided that
                 a party may not license, sell or otherwise make available the
                 Information), (ii) such use complies with the privacy policy in
                 existence on the Novation Marketplace at the time of such use
                 and (iii) Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI each treat such
                 Information as Confidential Information subject to Section 11
                 of this Agreement.

          10.6.2 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Neoforma
                 hereby grants to Novation a nonexclusive, non-transferable
                 license, as agent, to sublicense the Information described in
                 Section 10.5 to Suppliers.

          10.6.3 With respect to the Information sublicensed by Novation under
                 Subsection 10.6.2, Novation will keep * of the gross license
                 fees and the remaining * of such license fees shall be paid to
                 Neoforma.

     10.7 No Other Licenses or Use. Except as expressly set forth in this
          Section 10, none of the Members, Novation or Neoforma grants any
          license, express or implied, in the Member Data, Aggregated Member
          Data or Information. The failure to abide by the terms and conditions
          of this Section 10 shall constitute a material default of this
          Agreement.

___________________________

   *   Confidential treatment requested.

                                       32

<PAGE>

     10.8 Other Data. Neoforma and Novation acknowledge that all other data that
          a party gathers or develops independent of this Agreement shall not be
          covered by this Agreement, provided that Neoforma shall not solicit
          any information from a Member without fully disclosing to the Member
          all intended uses for which such information is being collected and
          will be used.

     10.9 Neoforma Information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
          Neoforma may use the Neoforma Information in any manner that it
          chooses, provided that such information does not include Member Data
          or Aggregated Member Data.

11.  SAFEGUARDING OF DATA; CONFIDENTIALITY

     11.1 Novation Data.

          11.1.1 Generally. As between Neoforma and its Affiliates, on the one
                 hand, and Novation and its Affiliates, on the other hand,
                 information relating to Novation, VHA or UHC or their
                 respective Affiliates, Members or customers, whether or not
                 marked "confidential" and whether disclosed in tangible or in
                 intangible (e.g., oral or visual) form, including, without
                 limitation, (i) information regarding the operations, affairs
                 and business of Novation, VHA or UHC, or their respective
                 Affiliates, Members or customers, (ii) Novation Materials and
                 (iii) all Transaction Data, except as provided in Section 10,
                 (collectively, the "Novation Data") is confidential and will be
                 subject to Section 11.2. Novation Data is the property of
                 Novation, VHA or UHC, or their respective Affiliates, Members
                 or customers. Neoforma shall have access to and may make use of
                 Novation Data to the extent reasonably necessary to perform
                 obligations under this Agreement. Neoforma shall not, its
                 however, use Novation Data for any purpose other than providing
                 Services, except as provided in Section 10. Upon termination or
                 expiration of this Agreement for any reason, or upon Novation's
                 request, Neoforma shall promptly return to Novation all of the
                 Novation Data in Neoforma's possession (including backup or
                 archival copies).

          11.1.2 Safeguarding of Data. Neoforma shall maintain appropriate
                 safeguards, consistent with prevailing industry standards,
                 against the destruction, inappropriate disclosure, wrongful
                 access or use, loss or alteration of the Novation Data in the
                 possession of Neoforma. In any event, Neoforma shall maintain
                 safeguards that are no less rigorous than those maintained by
                 Neoforma for its own information of a similar nature and, in no
                 event, less than a reasonable level of safeguards.

                                       33

<PAGE>

    11.2  Confidentiality.

          11.2.1 Confidential Information. "Confidential Information" means (i)
                 business or technical information of any party, including,
                 without limitation, information relating to a party's product
                 plans, designs, costs, product prices, finances, marketing
                 plans, business opportunities, personnel, research,
                 development, know-how or the pricing information available to
                 Members, (ii) any information communicated with respect to an
                 Opportunity, including the ideas, concepts or other
                 intellectual property contained therein, (iii) any
                 information designated "confidential" or "proprietary" or
                 which, under the circumstances, should reasonably have been
                 understood to be confidential, (iv) Novation Data and (v)
                 the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

          11.2.2 Confidentiality Obligations. Each party agrees that (i) it will
                 not use or disclose to any other party or third person
                 including its Affiliates any Confidential Information
                 disclosed to it by any other party except as contemplated by
                 this Agreement and (ii) it will take all reasonable measures to
                 maintain the confidentiality of all Confidential Information of
                 each other party in its possession or control, which will in no
                 event be less than the measures it uses to maintain the
                 confidentiality of its own information of similar importance.

          11.2.3 Exclusions. Subsection 11.2.2 will not prevent a party from
                 disclosing Information that (i) is owned by such party or its
                 Affiliates or is already known by the recipient party or its
                 Affiliates without an obligation of confidentiality other than
                 under this Agreement, (ii) is publicly known or becomes
                 publicly known through no unauthorized act of the recipient
                 party, (iii) is rightfully received from a third party,
                 provided that the source is not known to be bound by a
                 confidentiality agreement or (iv) is independently developed by
                 employees of a party or an Affiliate of a party without use of
                 the other party's Confidential Information. If Confidential
                 Information is required to be disclosed pursuant to a
                 requirement of a governmental authority, such Confidential
                 Information may be disclosed pursuant to such requirement so
                 long as the party required to disclose the Confidential
                 Information, to the extent possible, (i) provides the party
                 that owns the Confidential Information with timely prior notice
                 of such requirement and coordinates with such other party in an
                 effort to limit the nature and scope of such required
                 disclosure and (ii) uses commercially reasonable efforts to
                 ensure that, within applicable law, such Confidential
                 Information will not be further disclosed. If Confidential
                 Information is required to be disclosed in connection with the
                 conduct of any arbitration proceeding conducted pursuant
                 to Section 18, such Confidential Information may be disclosed
                 pursuant to and in accordance with the approval and at the
                 direction of the arbitrator conducting such proceeding. Upon
                 written request at the termination or expiration of this
                 Agreement

                                       34

<PAGE>

                  for any reason, all such Confidential Information in tangible
                  form (and all copies thereof) owned by the requesting party or
                  its Affiliates will be returned to the requesting party or
                  at the requesting party's option will be destroyed, with
                  written certification thereof being given to the requesting
                  party, and subject to any rights expressly granted to the
                  other party under this Agreement, the other party shall cease
                  all further use of any Confidential Information, whether
                  tangible or intangible.

          11.2.4  No License. Nothing contained in this Section 11.2 will be
                  construed as obligating a party to disclose its Confidential
                  Information to another party, or as granting to or conferring
                  on a party, expressly or implied, any patent, copyright,
                  trademark, trade name, trade secret or other Intellectual
                  Property Rights or any license to the Confidential
                  Information of the other party.

          11.2.5  Loss of Confidential Information. In the event of any breach
                  by the recipient party of this Section 11.2 that results in a
                  disclosure or loss of, or inability to account for, any
                  Confidential Information of the furnishing party, the
                  receiving party shall promptly, at its own expense, (i) notify
                  the furnishing party in writing, (ii) take such commercially
                  reasonable actions as may be necessary or reasonably
                  requested by the furnishing party to minimize the breach, and
                  (iii) cooperate in all reasonable respects with the furnishing
                  party to minimize the breach and any damage resulting
                  therefrom.

12.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     12.1 Representations by Neoforma. Neoforma represents and warrants to
          Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI that each of the following statements in
          this Section 12.1 are true and correct as of the Effective Date of
          this Agreement.

          12.1.1  Due Organization. Neoforma is a corporation duly organized,
                  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
                  State of Delaware.

          12.1.2  Authority; Non-Contravention.

                  (a)    Neoforma has all requisite corporate power and
                         authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform
                         its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery
                         of this Agreement and the consummation of the
                         transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
                         authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
                         part of Neoforma. This Agreement has been duly executed
                         and delivered by Neoforma, and it constitutes the valid
                         and binding obligation of Neoforma, enforceable against
                         Neoforma in accordance with its terms, except as
                         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and other
                         similar

                                       35

<PAGE>

                      laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and
                      general principles of equity.

                 (b)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Neoforma
                      does not, and the performance of this Agreement by
                      Neoforma will not, (i) conflict with or violate the
                      Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Neoforma, (ii)
                      conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation,
                      order, judgment or decree applicable to Neoforma or by
                      which Neoforma or any of its properties is bound or
                      affected or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute
                      a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time
                      or both would become a default) under, or impair
                      Neoforma's rights or alter the rights or obligations of
                      any third party under, or give to others any rights of
                      termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of,
                      or result in the creation of an encumbrance on any of
                      the properties or assets of Neoforma pursuant to, any
                      note, bond, mortgage, indenture, agreement, lease,
                      license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
                      obligation to which Neoforma is a party or by which
                      Neoforma or its assets is bound or affected, except, in
                      the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for such conflicts,
                      violations, breaches, defaults, impairments, or rights
                      which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have
                      a material adverse effect on Neoforma.

                 (c)  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
                      registration, declaration or filing with any governmental
                      entity is required to be obtained or made by Neoforma in
                      connection with the execution, delivery and performance of
                      this Agreement.

          12.1.3 Performance. All Services will be performed in a professional
                 and workmanlike manner, consistent with the high professional
                 standards and practices prevailing in the Internet e-commerce
                 services industry.

     12.2 Representations by Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI. Each of Novation, VHA,
          UHC and HPPI, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to
          Neoforma that the following statements made by it in this Section 12.2
          are true and correct as of the Effective Date of this Agreement.

          12.2.1 Due Organization. Novation is a limited liability company duly
                 organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
                 of the State of Delaware; UHC is a corporation duly organized,
                 validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
                 State of Illinois; VHA is a corporation duly organized, validly
                 existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
                 Delaware; HPPI is a limited liability company duly organized,
                 validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
                 State of Delaware.

                                       36

<PAGE>

          12.2.2 Authority; Non-Contravention.

                 (a) Each of Novation and HPPI has all requisite limited
                     liability company power and authority, and each of VHA and
                     UHC has all requisite corporate power and authority, to
                     enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations
                     hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
                     the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
                     have been duly authorized by all necessary limited
                     liability company action on the parts of Novation and HPPI
                     and all necessary corporate action on the parts of VHA and
                     UHC. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
                     Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI, and it constitutes the valid
                     and binding obligation of each of Novation, VHA, UHC and
                     HPPI, enforceable against each of Novation, VHA, UHC and
                     HPPI in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
                     may be limited by bankruptcy and other similar laws
                     affecting the rights of creditors generally and general
                     principles of equity.

                 (b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Novation,
                     VHA, UHC and HPPI does not, and the performance of this
                     Agreement by each of Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI will not,
                     (i) conflict with or violate the limited liability company
                     and corporate organizational documents, respectively, (ii)
                     conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation, order,
                     judgment or decree applicable to Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI
                     or by which Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI, or any of their
                     respective properties are bound or affected, or (iii)
                     result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an
                     event that with notice or lapse of time or both would
                     become a default) under, or impair Novation's, VHA's, UHC's
                     or HPPI's rights or alter the rights or obligations of any
                     third party under, or give to others any rights of
                     termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or
                     result in the creation of an encumbrance on any of the
                     properties or assets of Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI pursuant
                     to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, agreement, lease,
                     license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
                     obligation to which Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI is a party
                     or by which Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI, or any of their
                     assets, is bound or affected, except, in the case of
                     clauses (ii) and (iii), for such conflicts, violations,
                     breaches, defaults, impairments, or rights which,
                     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
                     adverse effect on Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI,
                     respectively.

                 (c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
                     registration, declaration or filing with any governmental
                     entity is required to be obtained or made by Novation, VHA,
                     UHC or HPPI in connection with the execution, delivery and
                     performance of this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

     12.3 Warranty Disclaimer. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT,
          EACH PARTY DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
          WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT,
          MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE.

13.  USE OF SUBCONTRACTORS

     13.1 Generally. Neoforma may subcontract its obligations under this
          Agreement subject to the limitations imposed by this Section 13.1.
          Neoforma shall not subcontract any of the following without the prior
          written consent of Novation, such consent not to be unreasonably
          withheld:

          (i)  any Services involving any contact or interface with Members,
               including, without limitation, sales efforts, implementation and
               integration and call center services; or

          (ii) any Services to a Novation Competitor.

     13.2 Novation's Right to Revoke Approval. Novation shall have the right
          during the Term to revoke its prior approval of a subcontractor and
          direct Neoforma to replace such subcontractor as soon as possible if
          the subcontractor's performance is materially deficient, good faith
          doubts exist concerning the subcontractor's ability to render future
          performance because of changes in the subcontractor's ownership,
          management, financial condition, or otherwise, or there have been
          material misrepresentations by or concerning the subcontractor.

     13.3 Continuing Responsibility. Neoforma shall remain responsible for
          obligations performed by subcontractors to the same extent as if such
          obligations were performed by Neoforma's employees. Neoforma shall be
          Novation's sole point of contact regarding the Services, including
          with respect to payment.

     13.4 Confidential Information. Neoforma shall not disclose Confidential
          Information of any of Novation, VHA, UHC or HPPI to a subcontractor
          unless and until such subcontractor has agreed in writing to protect
          the confidentiality of such Confidential Information as required of
          Neoforma under this Agreement.

14.  INSURANCE

     14.1 Insurance. Each of Neoforma and Novation shall determine the types and
          amounts of insurance coverage it requires in connection with this
          Agreement, including, without limitation, general public liability,
          property damage and workers compensation insurance. Neither Neoforma
          nor Novation is required to obtain insurance for the benefit of the
          other, including, without limitation, business interruption insurance.
          Each of Neoforma and Novation will pay all

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<PAGE>

          costs and receive all benefits under policies arranged by it, and each
          waives rights of subrogation it may otherwise have regarding the
          other's insurance policies.

     14.2 Proof of Insurance. When requested by Neoforma or Novation, an
          insurance certificate indicating the coverage described in Section
          14.1, issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the
          relevant state or states and signed by an authorized agent, shall be
          furnished by the insured party to the requesting party. Each of
          Neoforma and Novation shall provide the other with at least 30 days
          prior written notice of any cancellation or material modification of
          such insurance.

15.  INDEMNITY

     15.1 Neoforma Indemnity. Subject to Section 15.4, Neoforma shall indemnify,
          defend and hold harmless each of Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI and each
          of their Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, consultants and
          agents from and against any and all damages, liabilities, claims,
          actions, suits, proceedings, costs, charges and expenses, including
          reasonable attorneys' fees (collectively, "Losses"), incurred or
          sustained by any of such persons as a result of or from any
          third-party claim relating to (i) any claims based on Neoforma's
          confidentiality obligations contained in Section 11 or its warranties
          contained in Section 12; (ii) the failure of Neoforma to perform any
          of its obligations under any agreement between Neoforma and a third
          party (including, without limitation, any agreements between Neoforma
          and a Supplier); (iii) any claims arising out of Neoforma's breach of
          this Agreement; (iv) any claim arising out of the death of or bodily
          injury to any employee of any of Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI and each
          of their Affiliates (or their respective subcontractors) to the extent
          caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of Neoforma or its
          Affiliates; (v) the loss of or damage to the real or tangible personal
          property (whether owned or leased) of each of Novation, VHA, UHC and
          HPPI and each of their Affiliates, officers, directors, employees,
          consultants and agents to the extent caused by the negligence or
          willful misconduct of Neoforma or its Affiliates; (vi) any third-party
          claim that arises in connection with the use by any of Novation, VHA,
          UHC and HPPI and each of their Affiliates of any deliverables or
          services provided by Neoforma to any of Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI
          and each of their Affiliates under this Agreement, except to the
          extent covered by Novation's indemnities set forth in Section 15.2;
          (vii) Neoforma's failure to pay and discharge any taxes (including
          interest and penalties) for which Neoforma is responsible pursuant to
          the terms of this Agreement; (viii) any claim asserted against any of
          Novation, VHA, UHC and HPPI and each of their Affiliates by an
          employee of Neoforma to the extent such claim arises from decisions,
          acts, omissions or violations of statute by Neoforma with respect to
          such employee's employee/employer relationship with Neoforma.

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<PAGE>

     15.2 Novation Indemnity. Subject to Section 15.4, Novation shall indemnify,
          defend and hold harmless each of Neoforma and its Affiliates,
          officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents from and
          against any and all Losses awarded against or paid in settlement by
          Neoforma, incurred or sustained by any of such persons as a result of
          or from any third-party claim relating to (i) any claims based on
          Novation's confidentiality obligations contained in Section 11 or its
          warranties contained in Section 12; (ii) the failure of Novation to
          perform any of its obligations under any agreement between Novation
          and a third party; (iii) any claims arising out of Novation's breach
          of this Agreement; (iv) any claim arising out of the death of or
          bodily injury to any employee of Neoforma or its Affiliates (or their
          respective subcontractors) to the extent caused by the negligence or
          willful misconduct of Novation or its Affiliates; (v) the loss of or
          damage to the real or tangible personal property (whether owned or
          leased) of Neoforma and its Affiliates, officers, directors,
          employees, consultants and agents to the extent caused by the
          negligence or willful misconduct of Novation or its Affiliates; (vi)
          any third-party claim that arises in connection with the use by
          Neoforma and its Affiliates or any deliverables or services provided
          by Novation to any of Neoforma or its Affiliates under this Agreement,
          except to the extent covered by Neoforma's indemnities set forth in
          Section 15.1; (vii) Novation's failure to pay and discharge any taxes
          (including interest and penalties) for which Novation is responsible
          pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; or (viii) any claim asserted
          against Neoforma by an employee of Novation to the extent such claim
          arises from decisions, acts, omissions or violations of statute by
          Novation with respect to such employee's employee/employer
          relationship with Novation.

     15.3 Infringement Claims.

          15.3.1 Each of Neoforma and Novation, at their respective expense,
                 shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party and
                 its Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors,
                 employees, consultants, agents, successors and assigns, from
                 and against any and all Losses arising from any Services,
                 software, hardware or the indemnitor's Materials ("Item(s)")
                 provided or delivered by the indemnitor to the indemnitee
                 under this Agreement, when used in conformity with all
                 applicable written instructions and documentation, (i)
                 infringes any patent in any country that is a signatory to the
                 Patent Cooperation Treaty, (ii) infringes any copyright in any
                 country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention for the
                 Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, or (iii) constitutes
                 misappropriation of any trade secret in any country in which a
                 trade secret right exists such that it would be enforceable in
                 the United States (each such third-party claim, action, suit
                 or proceeding, an "Infringement Claim").

          15.3.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the indemnitor
                 shall have no obligation to defend or indemnify the indemnitee
                 for any Infringement Claim to the extent arising out of or
                 relating to modifications to any Item

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<PAGE>

                 made by or on behalf of the indemnitee where but for such
                 modifications there would have been no Infringement Claim.

          15.3.3 If the indemnitee's use of any Item is enjoined or otherwise
                 prohibited, or if the indemnitor reasonably believes that there
                 exists a threat of the same, the indemnitor shall have the
                 right, in its sole discretion and at its expense, in addition
                 to its indemnification obligations above, to (i) obtain for
                 the indemnitee the right to continue to use the affected Item,
                 (ii) replace the affected Item with a non-infringing product
                 or service that will not degrade the performance quality of
                 the affected component of the Services or (iii) modify the
                 affected Item so that it becomes non-infringing. If the
                 alternatives in (i), (ii) and (iii) are not feasible, the
                 indemnitor shall remove the Item from the Services and
                 equitably adjust the charges to reflect such removal.

          15.3.4 THIS SECTION SETS FORTH THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE
                 INDEMNITEES, AND THE ENTIRE OBLIGATION AND LIABILITY OF THE
                 INDEMNITOR, AS TO ANY INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS IN CONNECTION WITH
                 ANY ACTIVITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

     15.4 Indemnity Procedures. The party seeking indemnification under Section
          15.1 through 15.3, as the case may be (the "Indemnified Party"), shall
          give prompt written notice to the other party (the "Indemnifying
          Party"). In addition, the Indemnified Party shall allow the
          Indemnifying Party to direct the defense and settlement of any such
          claim, with counsel of the Indemnifying Party's choosing that is
          reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, and will provide the
          Indemnifying Party, at the Indemnifying Party's expense, with
          information and assistance that is reasonably necessary for the
          defense and settlement of the claim. The Indemnified Party reserves
          the right to retain counsel, at the Indemnified Party's sole expense,
          to participate in the defense of any such claim. The Indemnifying
          Party shall not settle any such claim or alleged claim without first
          obtaining the Indemnified Party's prior written consent, which consent
          shall not be unreasonably withheld, if the terms of such settlement
          would not adversely affect the Indemnified Party's rights under this
          Agreement.

16.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

     16.1 Limitations. IN NO EVENT WILL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY
          FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
          DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING
          NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED
          OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

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<PAGE>

     16.2  Exceptions. The limitation set forth in Section 16.1 above will not
           apply to (i) Neoforma's obligations under Section 11, Section 15.1,
           Section 15.3 or Section 16.3, (ii) Novation's obligations under
           Section 11, Section 15.2 or Section 15.3, (iii) Neoforma's willful
           misconduct or gross negligence in the provision of Services or (iv)
           Neoforma's wrongful termination or abandonment of this Agreement.

     16.3  Liquidated Damages.

           16.3.1  Neoforma acknowledges that proper achievement of each of the
                   functions and responsibilities as shall be agreed upon and
                   set forth in the Functionality Roadmap and the completion of
                   each functional deliverable (as shall be defined in the
                   Functionality Roadmap) within the time frames specified
                   pursuant to the process set forth therein (or as otherwise
                   agreed to by Neoforma and Novation) are critical to the
                   business operations of Novation. In connection therewith,
                   Neoforma agrees that if any of its functions and
                   responsibilities or any of the functions and responsibilities
                   with respect to any functional deliverable (as shall be
                   described in the Functionality Roadmap) are not properly
                   achieved by the applicable target date (a "Failure"), such
                   Failure shall be deemed to constitute a material breach of
                   Neoforma's service obligations under this Agreement. Upon
                   such Failure, Neoforma shall pay liquidated damages to
                   Novation for each day past the applicable target date in
                   which the objective is still not achieved in the amount of
                   (i) *; provided, however, that any Failure by Neoforma to
                   complete any of its functions and responsibilities under the
                   Functionality Roadmap or any functional deliverable within
                   the time frames to be agreed upon as described in the
                   Functionality Roadmap shall be excused if and to the extent
                   (A) such Failure by Neoforma resulted principally from a
                   material failure by Novation to perform its obligations in
                   respect of such Phase (as such obligations are set forth
                   pursuant to the Functionality Roadmap) and (B) Neoforma used
                   commercially reasonable efforts to perform notwithstanding
                   Novation's failure to perform; provided, further, that any
                   Failure by Neoforma pursuant to the preceding proviso shall
                   only be excused for a number of days equal to the number of
                   days Novation failed to perform its obligations in respect of
                   such function, responsibility or functional deliverable (as
                   such obligations are set forth pursuant to the Functionality
                   Roadmap). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Neoforma shall not
                   be required to pay any liquidated damages under this Section
                   16.3.1 until the * occurrence of Failures in any consecutive
                   * period. Upon the occurrence of the * such Failure, Neoforma
                   shall retroactively pay liquidated damages in respect of each
                   Failure in such period (including the * previous Failures) in
                   an amount equal to the amount that would have been paid by
                   Neoforma if each such prior Failure

________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

                   had not been subject to the exception in the penultimate
                   sentence of this Subsection 16.3.1.

           16.3.2  Neoforma acknowledges that proper achievement of the Service
                   Levels as shall be set forth in the Service Level
                   Specifications (including those Service Levels which will be
                   determined after the Effective Date) are critical to the
                   business operations of Novation. Accordingly, in connection
                   with any failure to meet Service Levels, Neoforma and
                   Novation shall agree on a methodology whereby Neoforma shall
                   pay to Novation liquidated damages up to * of the aggregate
                   of all Novation Marketplace Transaction Fees received by
                   Neoforma during the calendar month that such Service Levels
                   were not met by Neoforma. Such methodology shall be defined
                   in the Service Level Specifications.

           16.3.3  The parties agree that the damages provided in this Section
                   16 apply only with respect to the failures to perform
                   described in Subsections 16.3.1 and 16.3.2. Moreover, the
                   parties agree that the damages provided in this Section 16
                   are a reasonable estimate of the damages that would be
                   suffered by Novation as a consequence of the failures
                   described in Subsections 16.3.1 and 16.3.2 and do not
                   constitute a penalty (the parties hereby acknowledging the
                   inconvenience and difficulty of otherwise obtaining an
                   adequate remedy). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
                   this Agreement, the aggregate amount of liquidated damages
                   paid by Neoforma to Novation pursuant to this Section 16.3
                   (including all payments to be agreed upon and described in
                   the Functionality Roadmap and the Service Level
                   Specifications) shall not exceed *.

17.  AUDIT RIGHTS

     17.1  General. Upon 10 days prior notice from Novation, Neoforma shall
           provide to such auditors as Novation may designate in writing,
           subject to the limitation imposed by Section 17.3, access during
           normal business hours to Neoforma's applicable facilities and to
           appropriate Neoforma management personnel and subcontractors, and to
           the data and records maintained by Neoforma with respect to the
           Services for the purpose of (i) performing audits and inspections of
           Neoforma and its businesses, (ii) to verify the integrity of Novation
           Materials and Neoforma Materials, (iii) to examine the systems that
           process, store, support and transmit such Novation Materials, (iv) to
           verify user volume reports, (v) to verify the accuracy of Novation
           Marketplace Transaction Fees and (vi) to confirm Neoforma's
           compliance with this Agreement. To the extent applicable to the
           Services performed by Neoforma, the scope of such audits may include,
           without limitation, (i) Neoforma's practices and procedures, (ii) the
           adequacy of general controls and security practices and procedures
           and (iii) the adequacy of disaster

________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

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<PAGE>

           recovery and back-up procedures. Subject to Section 17.6, such audits
           shall be conducted at Novation's expense.

     17.2  Frequency of Audits. Operational audits, to examine the technological
           aspects of Neoforma's provision of Services, may not be conducted
           more than once in any 12-month period. Financial audits, which
           examine Neoforma's financial records, and other supporting records,
           may not be conducted more than once in any 12-month period. Novation
           may, at its election, conduct operational and financial audits
           concurrently.

     17.3  Auditors. For the purposes of conducting financial audits, Novation
           may designate any internal auditor who customarily audits contract
           compliance issues for Novation or any nationally recognized
           accounting firm. For the purposes of conducting operational audits,
           Novation may designate any party to act as its auditor, subject to
           Neoforma's consent, which shall not be unreasonably delayed or
           withheld.

     17.4  Record Retention. In order to document the Services and the Novation
           Marketplace Transaction Fees paid or payable by Novation under this
           Agreement, Neoforma shall retain its standard records and supporting
           documentation for at least seven years.

     17.5  Cooperation. Neoforma shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
           assist such auditors, inspectors, regulators and representatives in
           connection with such audits and inspections.

     17.6  Overcharges. If, as a result of any such audit, Novation determines
           that Neoforma has overcharged Novation, Novation shall notify
           Neoforma of the amount of such overcharge and Neoforma shall promptly
           pay to Novation the amount of the overcharge, plus interest at a rate
           of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is
           less, calculated from the date of receipt by Neoforma of the
           overcharged amount until the date of payment to Novation. If any such
           audit reveals an overcharge to Novation during any 12-month period
           exceeding 5% of all Novation Marketplace Transaction Fees in the
           aggregate paid by Novation during such period, Neoforma shall
           reimburse Novation for the out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
           for such audit.

18.  DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     18.1  Resolution of Disputes. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
           18, any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with the
           execution, interpretation, performance or nonperformance of this
           Agreement (each such dispute, a "Disputed Matter") will be resolved
           by the procedures established in this Section 18.

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     18.2  Negotiations and Escalation. Each party shall use commercially
           reasonable efforts expeditiously to resolve any Disputed Matter which
           arises from time to time between it and any of the other parties on a
           mutually acceptable negotiated basis. In connection therewith, any
           party involved in a Disputed Matter may deliver a notice to each of
           the other parties (an "Escalation Notice") demanding an in-person
           meeting of the senior level management representatives of the parties
           involved (and providing, as a courtesy, notice to the parties not
           involved). Any agenda, location or procedures for such discussions or
           negotiations may be established by the parties to the Disputed
           Matter, but such parties shall, in any event, meet within 10 days
           after the delivery of the Escalation Notice. The parties to a
           Disputed Matter may, if they mutually so desire, retain a mutually
           agreed upon mediator to assist in resolution of the Disputed Matter,
           but (i) all statements and opinions of such mediator shall be only
           advisory and shall be inadmissible in any subsequent proceedings
           between the parties concerning the Disputed Matter, (ii) the parties
           thereto shall bear the costs of any such mediation equally (but each
           party to the mediation shall be responsible for its own expenses) and
           (iii) mediation is not a prerequisite to arbitration. If the parties
           to the Disputed Matter are unable to resolve it by the earlier of (i)
           30 days after the delivery of the Escalation Notice or (ii) the
           conclusion of the meeting held pursuant to the applicable Escalation
           Notice, then any party thereto may institute arbitration, as provided
           below, concerning the Disputed Matter.

     18.3  Appointment of Arbitral Body. Except as provided in Section 18.11,
           any Disputed Matters not resolved pursuant to Section 18.2 or
           otherwise settled between the parties will be finally resolved solely
           by arbitration, by a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with
           the rules and procedures (the "Rules") of the American Arbitration
           Association, or if the American Arbitration Association is no longer
           conducting such arbitrations, a successor organization thereto or
           such other private arbitration service as the parties shall mutually
           agree (the actual authority involved, the "Arbitral Body"). Except as
           set forth below in Sections 18.10 and 18.11, the parties renounce all
           recourse to litigation to resolve Disputed Matters and agree that the
           Award of the arbitrator will be final and subject to no judicial
           review.

     18.4  Qualifications of Arbitrator. The arbitrator shall be selected
           pursuant to the rules and procedures of the Arbitral Body, but shall
           be (i) impartial and will not have been employed by or affiliated
           with any of the parties to this Agreement or any of their respective
           Affiliates, (ii) experienced in commercial dispute resolution and
           (iii) familiar with commercial business practices in the medical
           supplies procurement business or the business involved in the
           Disputed Matter. If the Arbitral Body is unable to provide an
           arbitrator with the qualifications set forth in this Section 18.4,
           the Arbitral Body will consult with the parties and consider their
           recommendations for the arbitrator.

     18.5  Initiation of Arbitration and Procedures. After the expiration of the
           30-day period referred to in Section 18.2, arbitration procedures may
           be initiated concerning a

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               Disputed Matter by any of the parties thereto by giving written
               notice to the other parties thereto and in compliance with any of
               the applicable Rules. If not specified by the Rules, such notice
               shall be given to the parties to the Disputed Matter in the
               manner provided generally for notices in this Agreement. Any
               notice will specify in reasonable detail the dispute being
               submitted to arbitration and comply with all other Rules
               concerning commencement of arbitration.

          18.6 Procedures. The arbitrator will conduct the proceedings,
               including arguments and briefs, in accordance with the Rules;
               provided that the provisions of this Section 18 will prevail in
               the event of any conflict between the Rules and its provisions.
               Within five days after his or her appointment, the arbitrator
               shall contact the parties to the Disputed Matter and arrange an
               initial conference with them, to be conducted within 30 days
               after his or her appointment, at which conference (the "Hearing
               Conference") the arbitrator and the parties will establish
               procedures (based on a brief written plan submitted in letter
               form by each party to the Disputed Matter in advance of such
               Hearing Conference concerning expected measures to prepare for
               hearing on the merits) and a schedule for the resolution of the
               Disputed Matter by hearing on the merits in a timely and
               efficient manner, giving due consideration to the nature and
               extent of the Disputed Matter, the apparent complexity of
               preparations for, and complexity of, hearing on its merits and
               other factors (such as third-party litigation pending against one
               of the parties on the same subject-matter as raised in the
               Disputed Matter). In the event of a dispute concerning such
               procedures at the Hearing Conference, the arbitrator shall have
               the power to impose the schedule upon the parties to the Disputed
               Matter, giving due consideration to resolution of the Disputed
               Matter by a full and fair hearing on the merits. The arbitrator
               shall include in procedures established at the Hearing Conference
               provisions which permit the parties to engage in reasonable,
               limited discovery in preparation for hearing on the merits and
               which protect and preserve privileges and shield confidential
               proprietary information from disclosure. The hearing on the
               merits will be held within 60 days after the Hearing Conference,
               and evidentiary matters at such hearing will be determined in
               accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence as applied at the
               place of arbitration.

          18.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The arbitrator will decide the
               issues submitted in accordance with the provisions and commercial
               purposes of this Agreement, provided that all substantive
               questions of law will be determined under the laws of the State
               of New York. The parties consent to venue in the State in which
               the principal place of business of the party initiating
               arbitration regarding a Disputed Matter is located.

          18.8 Arbitration Award. All decisions of the arbitrator will be in
               writing and submitted to the parties, and the decision after
               hearing on the merits which announces resolution of the Disputed
               Matter (the "Award") shall, in addition, set forth findings of
               fact and conclusions of law to support the arbitrator's
               resolution of the

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<PAGE>

                    merits of the Disputed Matter. The arbitrator will issue the
                    Award within 30 days after completion of the hearing on the
                    merits.

              18.9  Cooperation of the Parties. The parties to the Disputed
                    Matter will facilitate the arbitration by (i) making
                    availableto one another and to the arbitrator for
                    examination, inspection and extraction all documents, books,
                    records and personnel under their control if determined by
                    the arbitrator to be relevant to the dispute, (ii)
                    conducting arbitration hearings to the greatest extent
                    possible on successive days and (iii) observing strictly the
                    time periods and procedures established by the Rules or by
                    the arbitrator for submission of evidence or briefs, conduct
                    of the hearing on the merits and preparations therefor.

              18.10 Costs. All costs of the arbitration shall initially be
                    borne equally by the parties thereto as incurred, but upon
                    completion of the arbitration, the arbitrator shall award to
                    the prevailing party, as determined by the arbitrator in
                    accordance with principles of New York law for determining
                    prevailing parties in litigation, all reasonable costs, fees
                    and expenses related to the arbitration, including
                    reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and
                    other professionals or experts incurred by the prevailing
                    party.

              18.11 Judgment on the Award; Enforcement. Judgment on the Award
                    may be entered in any court having jurisdiction and
                    procedures therefor. Each party agrees that any Award of an
                    arbitrator against it and on which judgment is entered may
                    be executed against the assets of any party which is a
                    judgment debtor or otherwise enforced in any jurisdiction
                    pursuant to the procedures in and protections of such
                    jurisdiction which are generally applicable to enforcement
                    of judgments, including provision in such jurisdiction for
                    the enforcement of equitable remedies provided in the Award.

              18.12 Preservation of Equitable Relief; Third-Party Litigation.
                    Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 18 to the
                    contrary, any party will be entitled (i) to seek a temporary
                    restraining order or injunctive or other equitable relief in
                    any court of competent jurisdiction with respect to a breach
                    (or attempted or threatened breach) of this Agreement by any
                    party (including, without limitation, the matters referred
                    to in Subsection 9.9.5) or (ii) to institute litigation or
                    other formal proceedings to the extent necessary (A) to
                    enforce the award of the arbitrator, (B) to avoid the
                    expiration of any applicable limitations period or (C) to
                    preserve a superior position with respect to other
                    creditors. Nothing in this Section 18 shall prevent parties
                    to this Agreement who become involved in a Disputed Matter
                    and who have become parties to litigation instituted by a
                    third party concerning facts involved in such Disputed
                    Matter from resolving disputes between them arising in
                    connection with such Disputed Matter through such litigation
                    in lieu of arbitration under this Section 18.

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         18.13    Continued Performance. Each party agrees to continue
                  performing its obligations under this Agreement during the
                  pendency of any dispute resolution process conducted in
                  accordance with this Section 18.

19.      GUARANTY OF PERFORMANCE

         19.1     VHA and UHC Guarantees. Subject to Section 19.4, VHA and UHC
                  agree, severally but not jointly, that they will be
                  responsible for the obligations and liabilities of Novation
                  under this Agreement, as follows:

                  (i)    to the extent that any such obligation or liability
                         relates primarily to any action or omission by UHC or
                         an UHC Member, UHC shall be responsible;

                  (ii)   to the extent that any such obligation or liability
                         relates primarily to any action or omission by VHA or a
                         VHA Member, VHA shall be responsible; and

                  (iii)  to the extent that the allocations set forth in (i)
                         and (ii) are not applicable, VHA and UHC shall be
                         responsible in accordance with the allocation
                         provisions set forth in Section 8.12.

         19.2     VHA and UHC Waivers. Each of VHA and UHC hereby waives the
                  following with regard to its guaranty obligations under
                  this Section 19:

                  (i)    any right to require Neoforma to pursue any other
                         remedy in Neoforma's power whatsoever, other than
                         Neoforma proceeding exclusively against VHA or UHC with
                         respect to a liability described in Section 19.1 (iii)

                  (ii)   any defense resulting from the absence, impairment or
                         loss of any right of reimbursement, subrogation or
                         contribution of VHA or UHC against Neoforma, or against
                         one another;

                  (iii)  any defense of discharge, relief or stay of the
                         principal's obligations hereunder based upon a filing
                         of or against Novation under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code
                         or Novation's request for any relief of its obligations
                         under this Agreement based on laws for the relief of
                         debtors generally;

                  (iv)   any right to be informed by Neoforma of the financial
                         or other condition of Novation or of VHA or UHC or any
                         change therein or any other circumstances bearing upon
                         the risk of nonperformance by Novation; and

                  (v)    any defense of exoneration or release based on
                         amendment of this Agreement.

                                       48

<PAGE>

                  Each of VHA and UHC agrees that its guarantee, as set forth in
                  Section 19.1, constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and
                  not of collection.

         19.3     Scope of Liability. Neither VHA's nor UHC's obligations and
                  liabilities under this Agreement shall be subject to any
                  set-off, reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for
                  any reason, including, without limitation, compromise, and
                  shall not be subject to any defense or termination whatsoever
                  by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of
                  any of its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement;
                  excluding, however, any defenses based upon Neoforma's failure
                  to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement.

                                       49

<PAGE>

     19.4  Continued Performance by Neoforma.

           19.4.1  In the event that the Operating Agreement, dated October 21,
                   1997, as amended from time to time, between VHA and UHC is
                   terminated (and not replaced by any successor document) (the
                   "Novation Dissolution"), Neoforma agrees that it shall
                   continue to perform its obligations under this Agreement for
                   a period of no less than * following the date of such
                   termination (and any additional Termination Assistance Period
                   required by this Agreement). Additionally, during such *
                   period, Neoforma shall offer to enter into separate
                   agreements with each of VHA and UHC upon substantially
                   similar terms and conditions and pursuant to which Neoforma
                   will provide services substantially similar to the Services
                   provided hereunder at the time of such termination and create
                   separate proprietary marketplaces for each of VHA and UHC.
                   The price for the aggregate services to be rendered under the
                   new separate agreements shall be substantially similar to the
                   price paid by Novation hereunder at the time of such
                   termination; provided, however, that with respect to each of
                   the separate agreements, (i) VHA and UHC (in their separate
                   agreements) will provide services substantially similar to
                   those being provided by Novation hereunder (or, if either
                   VHA or UHC elects not to provide such services, Neoforma and
                   the party so electing will negotiate in good faith to adjust
                   the cost of the services to be provided by Neoforma to such
                   party), and (ii) Neoforma may charge VHA or UHC, as
                   applicable, incremental costs associated with the transition
                   of services provided by Neoforma from the Novation
                   Marketplace to the separate marketplaces, including, without
                   limitation, incremental costs relating to establishing a
                   separate "look and feel" to the proprietary marketplaces and
                   creating separate marketplaces.

           19.4.2  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither VHA nor UHC shall be
                   obligated to enter into an agreement with Neoforma as
                   described in Subsection 19.4.1. In the event that either VHA
                   or UHC elects not to enter into such an agreement with
                   Neoforma, then that party's obligations to Neoforma shall be
                   limited to its guarantee under Section 19.1 hereunder.

20.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

     20.1  No Waiver. The delay or omission by any party to exercise or enforce
           any right or power of any provision of this Agreement shall not be
           construed as a waiver or relinquishment to any extent of such party's
           right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or
           any other instance. A waiver by any party hereto of any of the
           covenants to be performed by any other or any breach thereof shall
           not

_______________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       50

<PAGE>

           be construed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach thereof or of
           any other covenant herein contained.

     20.2  Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits attached hereto, and
           all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement to be agreed upon
           by the parties hereto pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (the
           "Contemplated Agreements"), together constitute the complete and
           exclusive agreement between the parties hereto, and supersede any and
           all prior agreements of the parties with respect to the subject
           matter hereof. Except in the case of Section 8.12 (which may be
           amended with the approval of VHA and UHC only), this Agreement, the
           Exhibits attached hereto and the Contemplated Agreements may be
           amended or modified, or any rights under it waived, only by a written
           document executed by all parties. For the avoidance of doubt, the
           term "Agreement", as used throughout this document, shall include the
           Contemplated Agreements.

     20.3  Publicity. Except as required by law or provided in this Agreement,
           no party will make any public statement, press release or other
           announcement relating to the terms of or existence of this Agreement
           without the prior written approval of all other parties. The parties
           will cooperate prior to the filing of any public document which may
           require the filing of this Agreement as an exhibit or the filing of a
           description thereof in order to preserve the confidentiality and
           proprietary information contained herein.

     20.4  Covenant of Good Faith. Each party agrees that, in its respective
           dealings with all other parties under or in connection with this
           Agreement, it shall act in good faith.

     20.5  Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Each of Neoforma and Novation
           shall perform its respective obligations under this Agreement in a
           manner that complies with applicable law, including, without
           limitation, identifying and procuring required permits and approvals.

     20.6  Assignment; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding on
           the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
           assigns. No party may, or will have the power to, assign this
           Agreement without the prior written consent of all other parties. For
           the purposes of this Section 20.6, any assignment by operation of
           law, under an order of any court, or pursuant to any Neoforma Change
           of Control, plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, or
           liquidation or will be deemed an assignment for which prior consent
           is required, and any assignment made without such consent will be
           void and of no effect as between the parties. Notwithstanding the
           forgoing, no assignment made in respect of or as a result of any
           dissolution of Novation will be deemed an assignment for which prior
           consent is required, and such assignment will be valid.

     20.7  Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
           accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
           or application of conflicts of law rules or principles.

                                       51

<PAGE>

     20.8  Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be
           in writing and shall be deemed given if sent by prepaid registered or
           certified United States mail, return receipt requested, overnight
           mail with a nationally recognized overnight mail courier, or sent by
           facsimile or similar communication, and confirmed by such mail,
           postage prepaid, addressed to another party at the address shown
           below or at such other address for which such party gives notice
           hereunder. Notices will be deemed given five business days after
           deposit in the U.S. Mail, two business days after deposit with an
           overnight mail courier, or when confirmation of receipt is obtained
           if sent by facsimile or similar communication, or if by personal
           delivery, when received, as applicable:

If to Novation:                         With a copy to:

Novation, LLC                           Baker Botts L.L.P.
125 East John Carpenter Freeway         2001 Ross Avenue
Irving, Texas  75062                    Dallas, Texas  75201-2980
Facsimile: (972) 581-5778               Facsimile: (214) 953-6503
Attn:  General Counsel                  Attn: Sarah M. Rechter, Esq.

If to VHA:                              With a copy to:

VHA, Inc.                               Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
220 East Las Colinas Boulevard          1440 New York Avenue, N.W.
Irving, Texas 75039-5500                Washington, DC  20005
Facsimile: (972) 830-0391               Facsimile: (202) 393-3760
Attn:  Chief Financial Officer          Attn: C. Kevin Barnette, Esq.

If to UHC:                              With a copy to:

University Health System Consortium     McDermott, Will & Emery
2001 Spring Road, Suite 700             227 West Monroe Street
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523               Chicago, Illinois 60606
Facsimile: (630) 954-4730               Facsimile: (312) 984-7700
Attn:  Executive Vice President         Attn:  Virginia H. Holden, Esq.
       General Counsel

If to Neoforma:                         With a copy to:

Neoforma, Inc.                          Fenwick & West LLP
3061 Zanker Road                        Two Palo Alto Square
San Jose, California  95134             Palo Alto, California  94306
Facsimile:  (408) 468-4000              Facsimile: (650) 494-1417
Attn:  General Counsel                  Attn: Gordon K. Davidson, Esq.
                                              Ralph M. Pais, Esq.

     20.9  No Agency. The parties are independent contractors and will have no
           power or authority to assume or create any obligation or
           responsibility on behalf of each

                                       52

<PAGE>

            other, except as expressly provided herein. This Agreement will not
            be construed to create or imply any partnership, agency or joint
            venture.

     20.10  Force Majeure.

            20.10.1  Subject to 20.10.2, no party shall be liable for any
                     default or delay in the performance of its obligations
                     under this Agreement if and to the extent such default or
                     delay is caused, directly or indirectly, by: flood,
                     earthquake, elements of nature or acts of God, riots, civil
                     disorders, rebellions or revolutions in any country, or any
                     other cause beyond the reasonable control of such party,
                     provided that (i) the non-performing party is without fault
                     in failing to prevent or causing such default or delay and
                     (ii) such default or delay cannot reasonably be
                     circumvented by the non-performing party through the use of
                     alternate sources, workaround plans or other means
                     (including with respect to Neoforma, by Neoforma executing
                     its disaster recovery plans).

            20.10.2  In such event, the non-performing party shall be excused
                     from further performance or observance of the obligation(s)
                     so affected for as long as such circumstances prevail and
                     such party continues to use commercially reasonable efforts
                     to recommence performance or observance whenever and to
                     whatever extent possible without delay. With respect to
                     Neoforma's performance, such efforts shall be no less than
                     the efforts used for any other customer of Neoforma. Any
                     party so delayed in its performance shall immediately
                     notify the party to whom performance is due by telephone
                     (to be confirmed in writing within two days after the
                     inception of such delay) and describe at a reasonable level
                     of detail the circumstances causing such delay.

            20.10.3  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 20.10 to the
                     contrary, upon the occurrence of an event described in
                     Subsection 20.10.1 that substantially prevents, hinders or
                     delays performance of services necessary for the
                     performance of "critical functions" of such party for more
                     than *, such party to whom such affected or delayed
                     performance is due will have the right to immediately
                     terminate this Agreement. For the purposes of this
                     Subsection 20.10.3, "critical functions" means with respect
                     to a party, those business functions that are reasonably
                     and in good faith determined by that party to be essential
                     and critical to its business operations or the business
                     operations of its Members.

     20.11  Interest. Any payment under this Agreement which is not paid when
            due, shall accrue interest at the lower of a monthly rate of 1.5% or
            the highest amount allowed by law.

______________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       53

<PAGE>

     20.12  Program Management. Neoforma and Novation shall meet to develop a
            program management plan to manage the delivery of Services
            hereunder. Such plan shall have features similar to those
            illustrated in Exhibit F.

     20.13  Severability. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction
            finds any provision or portion of this Agreement to be
            unenforceable, that provision of the Agreement will be enforced to
            the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the
            parties, and the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full
            force and effect.

     20.14  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
            of which will be deemed an original, but all of which, together,
            will constitute one and the same instrument.

     20.15  Headings. Section headings are included for only convenient
            reference and do not describe the sections to which they relate.

     20.16  Section 365(n) Matters. Neoforma acknowledges that if Neoforma as a
            debtor-in-possession or a trustee in bankruptcy in a case under the
            U.S. Bankruptcy Code rejects this Agreement, the Contemplated
            Agreements, or any agreement supplementary hereto or thereto,
            Novation may elect to retain its rights under this Agreement, the
            Contemplated Agreements, or any agreement supplementary hereto or
            thereto, as and to the extent provided in Section 365(n) of the U.S.
            Bankruptcy Code. Upon the written request of Novation to Neoforma or
            the bankruptcy trustee, Neoforma or such bankruptcy trustee, as
            provided in Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (i) shall
            provide to Novation the intellectual property for the Services as
            described in this Agreement, including all third-party software and
            all Neoforma-owned software, and (ii) shall not interfere with the
            rights of Novation as provided in this Agreement or any agreement
            supplementary hereto, including each Functionality Roadmap, the
            Service Level Specifications, or any escrow agreement that may be
            entered, to obtain such intellectual property from the bankruptcy
            trustee.

                                       54

<PAGE>

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

NEOFORMA, INC.                               NOVATION, LLC

By:    /s/ Robert J. Zollars                 By:    /s/ Mark McKenna
   ----------------------------------------     --------------------------------

Name:  Robert J. Zollars                     Name:  Mark McKenna
     --------------------------------------       ------------------------------

Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  Title: President
      -------------------------------------        -----------------------------

Date:  September 30, 2002                    Date:  September 30, 2002
     --------------------------------------       ------------------------------

VHA, INC.                                    UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM CONSORTIUM

By:    /s/ Curt Nonomaque                    By:    /s/ Robert J. Baker
   ----------------------------------------     --------------------------------

Name:  Curt Nonomaque                        Name:  Robert J. Baker
     --------------------------------------       ------------------------------

Title: Chief Financial Officer               Title: President and Chief
      -------------------------------------        -----------------------------
                                                    Executive Officer
                                                   -----------------------------

Date:  September 30, 2002                    Date:  September 30, 2002
     --------------------------------------       ------------------------------

                                             * Subject to approval by UHC's
                                             Governing Committee on October 16,
                                             2002
HEALTHCARE PURCHASING
PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, LLC

By:    /s/ Mark McKenna
   ----------------------------------------

Name:  Mark McKenna
     --------------------------------------

Title: Chief Executive Officer
      -------------------------------------

Date:  September 30, 2002
     --------------------------------------

                  [Signature Page To Third Amended and Restated
                      Outsourcing and Operating Agreement]

                                       55

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT G

                                  MINIMUM FEES

     The Minimum Fees shall be determined by *; in any : *

     In determining the foregoing calculation, the *. By way of example *.

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       G-1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT H

*
_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       H-1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT I

                                TARGET FEE LEVELS

*
_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       I-1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT J

                                2002 ESTIMATED*

Date                                                          Payment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       J-1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT K

                          CURRENT FUNCTIONALITY ROADMAP

*

_______________________
 * Confidential Treatment Requested

                                       K-1

<PAGE>

FUNCTIONALITY ROADMAP SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

Attached is the Functionality Roadmap for Marketplace@Novation for *.

[_]  "Future" column represents functionality to be considered in future
     releases. It does not represent a time commitment.

[_]  "Deferred or Not Doing" functional deliverables that have been moved out of
     * and needs validation to determine whether it stays on the roadmap are
     also in the Future Column. Validation might include *.

This version of the Committed Functional Roadmap is hereby accepted and approved
by Novation:

Signature: ______________________________________

Name: ___________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________

To Signor: Initial each page of this Roadmap.

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

Neoforma and Novation Confidential               Novation Approver Initials
                                               Novation Approval Date: 9/30/2002

                                      K-2

<PAGE>

_______________________

   * Confidential treatment requested.

Neoforma and Novation Confidential               Novation Approver Initials
                                               Novation Approval Date: 9/30/02

                                      K-3

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT L

                        COLLABORATIVE MARKETING AGREEMENT

Novation and Neoforma Marketing Communications, Product Marketing and Public
Relations departments agree to work collaboratively on the development of an
annual Marketing communications plan and distribution of all marketing
materials, all press releases and all messaging concerning Marketplace@Novation.
Specifically, Novation and Neoforma agree that in circumstances where specific
approvals are required by either party or both, such approvals will not be
unreasonably withheld. Further the parties agree to these specific processes:

   1.   Novation and Neoforma will collaborate on the development of overall
        messages and positioning of Marketplace@Novation. The owner and final
        decision maker will be Novation marketing. These messages will be
        reviewed and agreed to on a quarterly basis.

   2.   Neoforma will obtain Novation input and approval for any communications
        directed to VHA, UHC, HPPI members and suppliers (including Novation
        contract suppliers as well as non-contract suppliers who may participate
        in M@N) concerning Neoforma and/or Marketplace@Novation (48 hour
        turnaround).

   3.   A consensus will be reached between Novation and Neoforma when
        developing communications around technology applications, such as
        roadmaps, functionality rollouts and implementation of new products,
        directed to VHA, UHC, HPPI members and suppliers.

   4.   Neoforma-issued press releases that include messaging or positioning of
        Marketplace@Novation will reflect and support the
        collaboratively-developed overall messages as described in #1 above and
        require the approval of Novation Public Relations.

   5.   Novation and Neoforma agree to collaborate on the selection of members
        or contract suppliers for Marketplace@Novation PR and or Marketing
        initiatives that involve testimonials or "best practice" promotional
        activities in order to ensure that they are members or suppliers in good
        standing.

   6.   All jointly-issued press releases that include messages or positioning
        of Marketplace@Novation will be approved by both Neoforma and Novation
        Public Relations.

                                       L-1

<PAGE>

   7.   All branded communications vehicles that include the
        Marketplace@Novation logo will also include the "powered by Neoforma"
        logo as specified in the Marketplace@Novation Branding Guidelines.

   8.   Neoforma and Novation will each obtain approval for the use of the
        other's logo(s).

   9.   The working teams should use the principles outlined above to come to
        consensus. If a situation arises where the working teams cannot reach
        agreement then issues should be escalated to the appropriate managers
        for resolution. It's anticipated that escalations will be rare.

                                       L-2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT M

                        COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

                         (WITH TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS)

Definitions

"Functionality Roadmap(s)" shall mean the document(s) setting forth the ideas
and deliverables that are proposed and approved by Novation and Neoforma for
implementation on the Novation Marketplace. Each such idea will be developed in
accordance with the collaborative development process and each will have a
Functionality Roadmap Completion Date (as defined below). The Functionality
Roadmaps will be monitored through the Functionality Roadmap (as defined
elsewhere in this Collaborative Development Process).

"Functionality Roadmap Completion Date", for Functionality Roadmaps is the date
that each Functionality Roadmap is (i) fully developed, ready for
implementation, and deployable for use in connection with the Novation
Marketplace and (ii) approved by Novation as complying in all material respects
with its vision, design and functionality specifications, which approval may not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed, by the applicable Functionality Roadmap
Completion Date.

"Member-User(s)" shall mean those Users that are registered participants within
the Member organizations. This term may also be used to include those Users that
are registered participants within Novation Marketplace Supplier organizations.

"Formulary" shall mean a listing of Products and other content, customized for a
Member or Member-User, that appears on the Novation Novation Marketplace or the
HPPI Novation Marketplace.

"Implementation Plan" shall mean a plan to implement the functionality
requirements, which shall consist of (A) a statement of work (such as a product
requirements document) describing the detailed functionalities to be provided by
Neoforma, (B) a "workplan," describing the respective responsibilities
(including deliverables) of Neoforma and Novation as well as the timetable for
fulfilling such responsibilities and (C) a "testing plan," describing the
process and timetable for the testing of functionalities before actual
implementation on the Novation Marketplace.

"Functionality Roadmap Change(s)" shall mean any approved functional deliverable
that will not or can not be delivered on time as committed to on the
Functionality Roadmap.

                                       M-1

<PAGE>

"Planning Roadmap" shall mean the document that summarizes the ideas for
features and functions that may someday be implemented on the Novation
Marketplace. The ideas on the Planning Roadmap are non-binding on the parties.

"Post Production Functionality Roadmap Change(s)" shall mean any programmatic
change made to an existing functional deliverable that is already implemented
and available for Member Users on the Novation Marketplace.

"Technical Management Team" This team consists of designated representatives
from Neoforma, Novation, VHA, and UHC. It meets periodically and is the primary
decision making body for (i) all Planning Roadmap related decisions, (ii) final
Functionality Roadmap prioritization, (iii) escalated issue resolution decisions
for the collaborative development process, and (iv) other activities where
technology is used for the Novation Marketplace.

Capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined in this Collaborative
Development Process will have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

                                       M-2

<PAGE>

Introduction

Upon the timely receipt of content, instruction and specifications from the
appropriate parties, Neoforma will provide the Tools and API's and create the
technology infrastructure for the Novation Marketplace. These activities are
collectively referred to as the "Services".

Neoforma and Novation agree that this Collaborative Development Process
represents their understanding of the scope of the Services including the
collaborative development and change control processes, as of the Effective
Date. Neoforma and Novation also agree that the Services to be provided
hereunder will evolve and be modified and enhanced over time to keep pace with
technological advancements, user requirements, and improvements and changes in
the e-commerce marketplace. Neoforma and Novation will work collaboratively on
all phases of Novation Marketplace development including, without limitation,
general design, establishing functional specifications, system testing,
acceptance testing, and beta testing. Novation will have the final approval at
each phase of system development, and Novation must approve the Novation
Marketplace prior to going live, no such approvals to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed. Neoforma and Novation hereby initially designate * and * as their
respective representatives with authority to make such approvals and other
decisions as are anticipated herein, unless such decision-making authority is
expressly granted to another person or entity either herein or by Neoforma or
Novation in writing.

Neoforma and Novation shall meet at least quarterly to examine the (i) state of
technology, (ii) Neoforma's role as a leading provider of e-commerce services to
the healthcare industry, (iii) User (including Member) needs and concerns and
(iv) other relevant factors. Based on such examination, Neoforma and Novation
will agree on a statement of work for Services to be performed by Neoforma.

Neoforma and Novation agree that the description of Services set forth herein is
not complete and that such parties are required to prepare a more detailed and
complete description as provided for in the "Relationship Management" section of
this Collaborative Development Process.

The Functions and Responsibilities section included in this document is a guide
to the minimal levels of Functionality that are to be included in the Novation
Marketplace. The Outsourcing Agreement and the text of this Collaborative
Development Process shall be construed consistently, but in the event of any
conflict, the terms of the Outsourcing Agreement shall supercede any
inconsistent terms of this Collaborative Development Process.

The Functionality Roadmap shall be the tracking report that (i) documents
features and functions that have been proposed for future development, (ii)
tracks the features and functions that have been approved for development and
that are being developed for

_______________________
 * Confidential Treatment Requested

                                       M-3

<PAGE>

implementation on the Novation Marketplace (as further described in the
applicable statement of work).

At the end of each development cycle, the completed functional deliverables will
be documented on the next version of the Functionality Roadmap and then tracked
thereafter by the Novation Marketplace Deliverable Tracking Report. The
deliverable tracking report will be maintained as an accurate record of all
delivered and existing Novation Marketplace functionality. It will also be the
record of functionality that is sun-setted over time due to evolving Member User
requirements. The Novation Marketplace Deliverable Tracking Report will be
maintained by Novation, and Neoforma will have visibility to and approval rights
over this report.

Neoforma acknowledges that proper operations of the Novation Marketplace are
critical to the business operations of Novation.

Relationship Management

Account Managers; Steering Committee

Neoforma and Novation shall designate account managers (each, an "Account
Manager"). The Account Managers shall have overall responsibility for day-to-day
management and administration of the Services provided under this Collaborative
Development Process.

Neoforma and Novation shall establish a steering committee (the "Steering
Committee") to monitor issues arising with respect to the Services and the
performance by Neoforma and Novation of their obligations hereunder. Through the
Steering Committee, Novation will have the opportunity to provide input
regarding the direction of implementation of new technology for the Novation
Marketplace and in connection with the Collaborative Development Process (as
defined below). The Steering Committee shall monitor overall Services
performance and review expanded Services and project requests. Neoforma and
Novation shall mutually determine the number of representatives they will assign
to the Steering Committee. Each of Neoforma and Novation may replace its members
of the Steering Committee after providing the other party with reasonable
advance written notice and after consultation with the other party. Each party
shall use reasonable efforts to minimize the turnover of individuals serving on
the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall meet as set forth below,
and each party's representatives on the Steering Committee shall have the
responsibility to notify that party's senior management of material issues
considered, and material actions taken, by the Steering Committee.

Reports and Meetings

Neoforma shall provide to Novation, commencing with the month after execution of
the Outsourcing Agreement, a comprehensive monthly performance report delivered
to Novation within five business days after the end of each month, in a form
mutually established by Neoforma and Novation, describing Neoforma's performance
of the

                                       M-4

<PAGE>

Services in the preceding month. Such report may be subdivided into separate
monthly reports as mutually agreed by Neoforma and Novation.

As soon as practicable after the execution of the Outsourcing Agreement,
Neoforma and Novation shall determine an appropriate set of meetings to be held
between representatives of Novation and Neoforma. Neoforma shall prepare and
circulate an agenda sufficiently in advance to give participants an opportunity
to prepare for each meeting and shall incorporate into such agenda items that
Novation desires to discuss. At Novation's request, Neoforma shall prepare and
circulate minutes promptly after a meeting. At a minimum, such meetings shall
include the following:

     (i)   a monthly meeting among operational personnel representing Novation
           and Neoforma to discuss daily performance and planned or anticipated
           activities and changes that might adversely affect performance;

     (ii)  a quarterly management meeting of the Steering Committee to review
           the monthly performance reports for the quarter, review Neoforma's
           overall performance of the Services, review progress on the
           resolution of issues, provide a strategic outlook for Novation
           Marketplace requirements, and discuss such other matters as
           appropriate; and

     (iii) an annual senior management meeting to review relevant performance
           issues.

                                       M-5

<PAGE>

Establishment of a Program Management Office

     Neoforma will maintain a Program Management Office (the "Program Management
Office" or "PMO"), which shall have representatives from Neoforma and a
designated representative from Novation. The Program Management Office will be
responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the tasks being
completed during the collaborative development process (as described below). In
addition, the Program Management Office will determine the appropriate parties
to make decisions regarding the collaborative development process, and to
coordinate timely responses. Additionally, the Program Management Office will
coordinate the maintenance of all documents related to the collaborative
development process for all Novation Marketplace functional deliverables,
including technical specifications.

With respect to this Collaborative Development Process, the PMO will

     .    Provide status as to the development activity for all functional
          deliverables on the Functionality Roadmap
     .    Be the central collection point for the status of all projects and
          their components
     .    Keep up to date and manage the information in a project plan status
          system that is available for a limited number of Novation managers to
          query and view.
     .    Summarize status, analyze and report all variances from the plan.
     .    Facilitate program development teams to determine critical path
          impacts, identify and analyze trends, and maintain an issues and error
          log, report these issues as appropriate to management.
     .    Facilitate all needed corrective action plans (e.g., plan adjustment,
          critical path re-configuration, issue log update, etc.)
     .    Report program status to program and senior management teams
     .    Manage change management and document control processes

                                       M-6

<PAGE>

Collaborative Development Process.

Overview

The collaborative development process defines how the Technical Staffs at
Neoforma and Novation will work together in building Novation Marketplace
functionality. It defines four key interaction areas. They are:

   .   Visioning. Novation owns this activity for Novation Marketplace. Novation
       will work collaboratively with Neoforma to develop the direction (the
       Vision) that Neoforma needs to take in building Novation Marketplace
       functionality. This process will be completed when Novation delivers a
       document to Neoforma that clearly communicates this direction. This
       document is to include: i) directional statements (the Vision); ii)
       business justification for the directional statements; iii) a clear
       definition of the problems being solved for the stakeholders; iv) use
       cases and user acceptance criteria for how the resulting system
       enhancements would fit into the day to day processes of the stakeholders;
       v) adoption plans and goals, vi) other information as needed to support
       the proposed Vision.

       Additionally, Neoforma and Novation are responsible for continually
       sharing and communicating marketing research, customer/supplier input,
       plans for other Neoforma Marketplaces, etc. to each other. This permits
       Novation to include these elements into Novation's Vision statements. It
       is also acknowledged that Neoforma will have plans for other
       marketplaces that it can not share with Novation.

   .   Planning. Neoforma owns this activity. During this process, Neoforma
       takes Novation's Vision documents and determines the functional
       deliverables needed to support Novation's Vision. These deliverables are
       then added to the Planning Roadmap (usually over multiple releases), and
       the Planning Roadmap is reviewed by the joint Technical Management team.
       Then, as approved by the Technical Management Team, Neoforma creates and
       delivers to Novation detailed and fully specified functional deliverable
       requirements documents and/or build plans (including, for example: screen
       wire frames, resource allocations, costs, timings, etc.) for the
       functional deliverables within one or more release. Each detailed
       functional deliverable document is reviewed and approved by Novation. The
       Functionality Roadmap is then updated and taken to the Technical
       Management Team for their final approval. Upon approval, the
       Functionality Roadmap Completion Dates are set on the Functionality
       Roadmap.

       It is understood that Neoforma is building a Marketplace of which
       Novation Marketplace is a significant part. In the Planning Phase
       Neoforma will include and take into consideration requirements developed
       from sources outside of the Novation Visioning process. Any issues
       pertaining to functionality priority, scope, and timing that cannot be
       resolved at the team level, will be resolved by

                                       M-7

<PAGE>

       the Technical Team. Should Neoforma and Novation not be able to agree on
       the deliverables, Novation has final approval over the Functionality
       Roadmap.

   .   Building and Testing. Neoforma and Novation jointly own this activity.
          .   Neoforma. Based upon Novation's approval of the Novation
              Marketplace Functionality Roadmap, Neoforma builds the Novation
              Marketplace functional deliverables as detailed in the functional
              deliverable requirements build plans that were created during the
              above Planning process. Neoforma then tests each functional
              deliverable based on its own quality assurance processes.

          .   Novation. Novation does the final user acceptance testing for all
              functional deliverables. The testing is completed based on jointly
              developed and approved user acceptance criteria and plans. Upon
              the successful completion of this testing, Novation approves the
              release of the functional deliverables. Novation has final
              approval over the release of all functional deliverables.

   .   Novation Marketplace Oversight. Management oversight of these processes
       is provided by 1) the Novation and Neoforma Account Managers, 2) the
       relationship managers from both organizations, and 3) by the Technical
       Management Team. Any issues pertaining to functionality priority, scope,
       and timing that cannot be resolved by parties 1 and 2, will be resolved
       by the Technical Management Team.

The Collaborative Development Process detailed herein has two parts.

       Part 1: The Collaborative Development Process Principles. These are
       included below and these principles summarize how the two teams will
       interact with each other on a daily basis.

       Part 2: Attached as an exhibit to this document, is a drawing labeled
       "The Collaborative Development Process Map." This is a more detailed
       overview of team interactions. This drawing may be modified from time to
       time as the interactions need to change and upon mutual agreement by both
       parties.

                                       M-8

<PAGE>

Part 1: Collaborative Development Process Principles

The collaborative development process ("CDP" or the "Collaborative Development
Process") is a process involving many interactions between employees at Neoforma
and Novation. In summary, these employees work together as they prepare the
Novation Marketplace Vision statements, plan and build the functional
deliverables, and approve these functional deliverables for release to Member
Users.

The complex nature of this process is graphically depicted in a Collaborative
Development Process Map.

In addition to the above Collaborative Development Process Overview, the
following principles are fundamental to how the two teams will work together
throughout the collaborative development process. These principles are not
expected to change during the life of this Collaborative Development Process.
They will remain in force unless changed in writing by mutual agreement.

   .   For the purpose of developing Novation Marketplace direction and vision,
       Novation is responsible for the aggregation of all member input. Neoforma
       will work in partnership with Novation's designated employees in
       providing the input that it collects.
   .   Neoforma will coordinate its information gathering processes with
       Novation when obtaining market research information from Novation's
       Member Users.
   .   Novation is responsible for leading all Novation Marketplace related task
       forces and councils. Neoforma will participate in and provide support for
       these activities as needed.
   .   Neoforma and Novation will communicate their goals, desires, plans, etc.
       for the Novation Marketplace to each other. This is done so that this
       input can be considered during the Visioning Process of the Collaborative
       Development Process. As appropriate, Novation will include these plans,
       goals, etc in their Novation Marketplace business requirement documents.
   .   Neoforma will not develop and maintain separate vision or directional
       statements for the Novation Marketplace that have not gone through the
       Novation Visioning process.
   .   The Novation and Neoforma teams will work collaboratively to review
       Neoforma's written functional requirement documents (e.g. Product
       Requirements Document - Prods) in ensuring that they align with
       Novation's Vision, as provided in the Novation Vision documents. Each
       functional requirement document from Neoforma is to provide detailed
       descriptions of specific features and functions, including functional
       descriptions, screen designs/layouts, programmatic logic, data
       dependencies, and other needed specifications so that Novation has a
       clear understanding of what is to be built during each development cycle.
   .   Neoforma will use Novation's business requirement documents as the basis
       for creating its functional requirement documents for Novation
       Marketplace during

                                       M-9

<PAGE>

       each Planning process. This closely aligns what Neoforma is building with
       what members and other stakeholders have requested during the Visioning
       process as lead by Novation. If new features are being proposed by
       Neoforma, the feature will be evaluated for inclusion in the Novation
       Marketplace.
   .   Novation must approve each functional requirement document (e.g. Product
       Requirements Document -PRD) before development work can begin. Exceptions
       to this will be approved in writing and sent to Neoforma. Novation must
       approve these documents within a jointly agreed upon timeframe,
       determined during the planning process.
   .   Neoforma will maintain and make available, detailed project plans for all
       Novation Marketplace functional deliverables. Each plan will include
       resources, tasks, milestones, estimated costs, and other information that
       will help Novation keep informed about where each functional deliverable
       is as it is being built or enhanced. Novation's PMO representative and a
       limited number of designated managers at Novation will have day to day
       visibility into the status of all planned, in process, and completed
       functional deliverables.

Part 2: The Collaborative Development Process Map

The Collaborative Development Process Map is attached hereto as Attachment 1.

Novation Marketplace Functionality Roadmap

Neoforma shall maintain the Functionality Roadmap, and through which Novation
and Neoforma will monitor the status of production and implementation of all
Functionality Roadmaps.

Establishment of Functionality Roadmap Completion Dates

During the Planning phase of the Collaborative Development Process, Neoforma and
Novation shall agree to production schedules, including completion dates (each a
"Functionality Roadmap Completion Date"), for all Functionality Roadmaps.

Document Control

The parties shall create a central repository of documents relating to the
Collaborative Development Process, including, without limitation; requirement
documents, technical specifications, data models, project plans, and test plans.
The repository shall be managed by the Program Management Office (PMO). These
documents will be kept current by the PMO.

                                      M-10

<PAGE>

Change Management at Neoforma and Novation

Neoforma

Neoforma shall perform certain change management functions to rigorously control
and manage changes in any and all aspects of the Novation Marketplace. Changes
can happen during the building of Functionality Roadmaps, or after a
Functionality Roadmap is moved to Production.

Changes during the Collaborative Development Process

At a minimum, Neoforma's Change Management Process is to include the following
principles as they relate to the Novation Marketplace.

   .   A Change Control Process will be jointly developed and approved by both
       parties.
   .   Neoforma will vigorously enforce and maintain the approved change control
       process for all Functionality Roadmap Changes.
   .   Changes in Neoforma's Change Control Process must be communicated to and
       approved by Novation.
   .   Once a functional deliverable document is approved by Novation during the
       Planning Phase of the Collaborative Development Process, Neoforma will
       vigorously enforce strict change control processes and notify Novation of
       all material changes to any functional deliverable within 24 hours of
       deciding that a functional deliverable change is needed. Upon receipt of
       this change notification, the Novation responsible person for the
       functional deliverable(s) will work collaboratively with the appropriate
       Neoforma Product Manager to understand why a Functionality Roadmap Change
       is needed.
   .   All material changes to any Functionality Roadmap must be approved by
       Novation. A material change is one that: 1) changes the user experience
       as specified in the functional requirements document that was approved by
       Novation, 2) adds or deletes agreed upon features and/or functionality
       from what was specified in the functional requirements document that was
       approved by Novation, 3) affects business processes for any Novation
       Marketplace stakeholder.
   .   Until receiving Novation's approval for any given Functionality Roadmap
       Change, which will not be unreasonably withheld, Neoforma may not
       redeploy resources or invoke other plans to change any functional
       deliverable already implemented on the Novation Marketplace. Both parties
       will mutually agree upon how quickly each approval must be considered and
       when an answer must be provided to Neoforma. This time limit will be
       based upon the nature and time sensitivity of each change decision.
   .   Novation, or Neoforma on Novation's behalf, may initiate a Functionality
       Roadmap Change. This will occur if Novation fails to deliver on one (or
       more) of its assigned tasks on a Neoforma project plan. If this occurs,
       Novation acknowledges that this may cause Neoforma to miss a
       Functionality Roadmap on

                                      M-11

<PAGE>

       the Functionality Roadmap, and that Neoforma will be considered to have
       met its commitments under the then current Functionality Roadmap.
   .   Neoforma's PMO will maintain a change control tracking system. Quarterly
       reports will be provided to Novation detailing all changes on a quarterly
       basis.

Changes Once a Functionality Roadmap is implemented on the Novation Marketplace

   .   A Change Control Process will be jointly developed and approved by both
       parties.
   .   Neoforma will vigorously enforce and maintain the approved change control
       process for all Post Production Functionality Roadmap Changes.
   .   Changes in Neoforma's Post Production Change Control Process must be
       communicated to and approved by Novation's management team.
   .   Once implemented on the Novation Marketplace, Neoforma will vigorously
       enforce strict change control processes and notify Novation of all Post
       Production Functionality Roadmap Changes within 24 hours of deciding that
       a change is needed. This notification will come from Neoforma to the
       appropriate Novation employee responsible for that functional
       deliverable(s), and to Novation's PMO representative. Upon receipt of
       this change notification, the Novation responsible person for the
       functional deliverable(s) will work collaboratively with the appropriate
       Neoforma Product Manager to understand why a Functionality Roadmap Change
       is needed.
   .   All material changes to any Post Production Functionality Roadmap(s) must
       be approved by Novation. A material change is one that: 1) changes the
       user experience as specified in the functional requirements document that
       was approved by Novation, 2) adds or deletes agreed upon features and/or
       functionality from what was specified in the functional requirements
       document that was approved by Novation, 3) affects business processes for
       any Novation Marketplace stakeholder.
   .   Until receiving Novation's approval for any given Post Production
       Functionality Roadmap Change, which will not be unreasonably withheld,
       Neoforma may not redeploy resources or invoke other plans to change any
       functional deliverable already implemented on the Novation Marketplace.
       Both parties will mutually agree upon how quickly each approval must be
       considered and when an answer must be provided to Neoforma. This time
       limit will be based upon the nature and time sensitivity of each change
       decision.
   .   Novation's approval for a Post Production Functionality Roadmap Change
       must be in writing.

Novation

Novation shall perform certain change management functions to rigorously control
and manage changes in any and all aspects of the information that it provides
to, or receives from Neoforma.

                                      M-12

<PAGE>

   .   A Change Control Process will be jointly developed and approved by both
       parties.
   .   Novation will vigorously enforce and maintain the approved change control
       process for data that it sends to, or receives from Neoforma.
   .   Changes in Novation's Change Control Process must be communicated to and
       approved by Neoforma.
   .   Once implemented on the Novation Marketplace, Novation will vigorously
       enforce strict change control processes and notify Neoforma of all needed
       changes within 24 hours of deciding that a change is needed. This
       notification will come from Novation to Neoforma, and if known to the
       Neoforma employee responsible for effected functional deliverable(s).
       Upon receipt of this change notification, the Neoforma responsible person
       will work collaboratively with the appropriate Novation employee to
       understand why a change is needed.
   .   Until receiving Neoforma's approval for a Functionality Roadmap Change or
       a Post Production Functionality Roadmap Change, Novation may not redeploy
       resources or invoke other plans to change any functional deliverable
       unless absolutely necessary in keeping the Novation Marketplace
       operational.
   .   Neoforma's approval for a Post Production Functionality Roadmap or
       Functionality Roadmap Change must be in writing.

Roadmap Process.

Novation and Neoforma will use the CDP as a standard for planning all functional
deliverables for the Novation Marketplace. All desired functionality will be
maintained in a Planning Roadmap, and Neoforma and Novation's agreed upon and
committed functionality will be tracked in the Functionality Roadmap.

The Planning Roadmap includes ideas and desired functionality for a rolling 12
month period (in quarterly increments), and the Functionality Roadmap will cover
committed development activities for a rolling 6 month period (in quarterly
increments).

Features and functions that are on the Planning Roadmap are simply proposed
directional statements, but items on the Functionality Roadmap must be sized,
scoped, resource planned, and have articulated plans for implementation before
they are added to the Functionality Roadmap.

An item on the Functionality Roadmap is considered to have been delivered by
Neoforma if the Functionality Roadmap Completion Date is met. This date will
always be considered to be the last day of the calendar month for the quarter as
specified on the Functionality Roadmap.

The joint Novation Marketplace technical management team reviews and approves
the Planning and Functionality Roadmaps. Additionally, this team assures that
the Collaborative Development Process is followed and they resolve issues should
there be competing priorities for all Novation Marketplace functional
deliverables.

                                      M-13

<PAGE>

Functions and Responsibilities

This section is a guide to the minimal level of Functionality that is to be
included in the Novation Marketplace.

If noted by the letters "CDP" after the listed functionality, it means that it
will be planned, defined and developed in accordance with the CDP but is not a
required functionality unless mutually agreed to by Novation and Neoforma. All
other functions and responsibilities are managed outside of the CDP.

*

Data Communications

..    Novation will provide to Neoforma from time to time, as agreed by Neoforma
     and Novation, information regarding membership organizations, Members,
     contract suppliers, contract product, pricing, and content. Additionally,
     Neoforma and Novation will develop a process for defining and transporting
     data from Novation and HealthVision systems to Neoforma. For all such
     communications, Neoforma and Novation will agree upon the specific data
     elements that are required, the format of the data, and the methodology for
     the communication. Neoforma and Novation also will agree to the frequency
     of full data refreshes in order to better facilitate the synchronization of
     information between Neoforma and Novation.

..    Novation shall establish change management functions to rigorously control
     and manage changes in any and all data stored in the system of record.
     Within 30 days after the date of the Outsourcing Agreement, Novation will
     develop with Neoforma a data Novation Marketplace management process, which
     shall include:

              (i)     Definition of data Novation Marketplace requirements.

              (ii)    Format of the data to be communicated.

              (iii)   Methodology by which data will be communicated between to
                      Neoforma, Novation, HealthVision, and other applicable
                      related companies.

__________________________

  * Confidential treatment requested

                                      M-14

<PAGE>

Implementation Reporting and Processes

Neoforma and Novation shall develop and mutually agree to an implementation
process (the "Implementation Process") for each type of implementation (i.e., a
different Implementation Process may be required for each of distributors,
manufacturers, Members, and other Users). Additionally, Neoforma and Novation
will work with representatives from manufacturers, distributors, Members and
Other Users in an effort to continuously improve their respective Implementation
Processes.

Neoforma is responsible for the following communications to Novation as it
implements manufacturers, distributors, Members, and Other Users on the Novation
Marketplace.

..   The service delivery group will provide a weekly report that summarizes all
    implementation activity.

..   Neoforma will maintain an accurate Implementation Process for each type of
    implementation (e.g., for distributors, manufacturers, Members, and other
    Users).

..   Neoforma will prepare individualized Implementation Process documents for
    each distributor, manufacturer, Member, and User implementation.

..   Neoforma will provide electronic copies of the individualized Implementation
    Process plans prior to the start of each implementation and Novation will be
    updated as changes occur in the individualized plans.

..   Neoforma will inform Novation of all changes to the overall Implementation
    Process. At least annually, or more frequently if appropriate, there will be
    joint meetings to fully review the Implementation Process.

..   Neoforma and Novation will provide a monthly implementation "report card"
    that can be shared with internal management and other parties, as
    appropriate. The contents of this report card will be jointly developed by
    Neoforma and Novation.

All such communications shall be provided to Novation at times and in a manner
mutually agreed to by Neoforma and Novation.

                                      M-15

<PAGE>

Technical and Software Issues

System Documentation

On a quarterly basis Neoforma will provide Novation with updated versions of
then-current system design specifications documentation so that Novation remains
appraised of all current features and functions of the system.

Source Code Escrow Agreement

Promptly after execution of the Source Code Escrow Agreement, Neoforma shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent specified therein both printed and electronic copies
of all source code (along with complete copies of all application design
specifications, user manuals, etc.) for any and all applications (i) developed
by Neoforma or (ii) developed by third-parties but in as to which Neoforma has
the right to access the source code, in each case, used by any member of VHA,
UHC or HPPI in connection with the Novation Marketplace. Neoforma will, on a
quarterly basis, update such copies of source code as changes to such Novation
Marketplace technology are made. All fees and expenses charged by the Escrow
Agent will be borne by Novation.

From time to time, Novation may, at its option and expense, request that the
completeness and accuracy of the source code be verified. Such verification
shall be performed in accordance with the terms of the Source Code Escrow
Agreement.

The source code will be released from escrow to Novation upon the occurrence of
one or more specified "release events," to be more fully described in the Source
Code Escrow Agreement which, at a minimum, shall include (i) the delivery by
Novation of any notice of termination under Sections 9.3 and 9.4 of the
Outsourcing Agreement and (ii) the material breach by Neoforma of its service
obligations under Section 9.9 of the Outsourcing Agreement after the delivery by
Novation of any notice of termination under Sections 9.5 and 9.6 of the
Outsourcing Agreement.

Software Support

Neoforma is administratively and financially responsible for obtaining and
maintaining support for all software, hardware, database and other technical
components of the Novation Marketplace. Neoforma and Novation will meet from
time to time to discuss support requirements that materially impact upon the
Services, and Neoforma will provide 90 days notice to Members if a current
version of a technical component is to be eliminated or replaced (if such a
change may have a material impact upon the Services).

Software Standards

Novation and Neoforma will from time to time meet to discuss all software
standards used in the development and support of the Novation Marketplace.

                                      M-16

<PAGE>

Systems Maintenance; Outages; Disaster Recovery

Scheduled System Maintenance Windows

Neoforma will schedule systems maintenance activities only within the following
maintenance windows:

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Outage Period                           Outage Window
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Friday Evening (Primary Window)         8PM to 2 AM Saturday morning (PST)
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Saturday Evening (Secondary Window)     8PM to 2 AM Sunday morning (PST)
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sunday Evening (Tertiary Window)        6PM to 12AM Monday morning (PST)
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whenever possible, maintenance will be scheduled within the Primary Window.
Alternate times outside of these windows must be negotiated with Novation at
least 48 hours in advance, and used only if critically important to the
continued operation of the Novation Marketplace.

Notification of System Maintenance

Neoforma is to provide Novation with at least 2 business days of advance notice
of all scheduled system outages.

Notification of Unscheduled Outages

If for any reason the Novation Marketplace becomes inoperative, or a critical
systems component of the Novation Marketplace is inoperative, outside of a
scheduled system maintenance period, Neoforma will notify Novation within 30
minutes after Neoforma discovers that the outage has occurred. Neoforma will
notify Novation within 30 minutes after systems restoration that such
restoration has occurred. Within one business day of systems restoration,
Neoforma is to notify Novation as to (i) the probable cause of the outage, (ii)
the number of Members and Member-Users that were affected and (ii) the number of
transactions either queued or rejected during the outage.

Using input from Novation, Suppliers, Members, and other Users, Neoforma will
develop and update from time to time as needed the notification procedures that
will be used to inform affected parties about significant service interruptions
and/or system outages, should they occur. These notification procedures will be
documented in a process and procedures section of the Neoforma disaster recovery
plan

Neoforma will review the notification processes and procedures in its disaster
recover plan with manufacturers, distributors, and member users during the
Implementation Process. Should a manufacturer, distributor, Member, or other
User request certain notification processes, Neoforma will use its best efforts
to honor such requests.

                                      M-17

<PAGE>

Order Queuing During Systems Maintenance or Outage

Neoforma is to execute its best efforts to queue all orders and other inbound
and outbound transactions in a safe holding area during all scheduled
maintenance and unscheduled systems outage periods. All queued transactions are
to be immediately processed as soon as safe to do so upon systems restoration.

Hot Site Backup Synchronization with the Primary Site

The hot site will be updated as needed to support functionality and services
that are added to the Novation Marketplace.

   1.  Novation agrees that Neoforma may accumulate its Hot Site upgrades over a
       calander quarter, and implement all of the enhancements at the end of
       each quarter.
   2.  Web Applications. Neoforma and Novation will identify the web based
       applications that must be supported by the Hot Site. This will be done as
       a standard part of the Collaborative Development Process. If required,
       updates will be made to the applications that operate at the Hot Site
       based upon the requirements detailed in the functional requirement vision
       and/or planning documents created during the Collaborative Development
       Process.
   3.  Hot site support for NeoConnect, the data warehouse, and other
       infrastructure components will be discussed quarterly.

A joint Neoforma and Novation team will be established to review all of the
upgrades needed for the Hot Site. This team will meet quarterly. This team will
discuss and mutually agree upon the services being supported by the hot site
backup facility, and the level of application synchronization between the
primary and hot backup sites.

Backup, Disaster Recovery and Storage

Neoforma shall provide backup, disaster recovery and storage capabilities so as
to maximize availability of the Services during an event that would otherwise
affect the delivery of the Services.

Neoforma will maintain a "hot site" disaster recovery site which is able to
support the processing and communication of EDI and/or XML transactions between
the Users and their Suppliers (a "hot site" being defined as a fully equipped
computer center which provides one or more computer models and the necessary
peripheral equipment to replicate the data processing from the primary computer
site, including backup power supplies, redundant environmental conditioning,
communications lines, fire protection and warning devices, intrusion-detection
devices, physical security, and adequate office space for personnel to conduct
normal Novation Marketplace operations). Should a disaster occur at the primary
site of the Novation Marketplace, the system should automatically sense the
outage and begin processing the EDI and XML transactions at the

                                      M-18

<PAGE>

hot site and continue until service is restored at the primary site. Neoforma
will continually keep Novation informed as to the location of the hot site.

Neoforma must use its best efforts to ensure that the automatic failover
software and hardware systems work properly between the primary and hot backup
sites. At a minimum, failover processes and manual procedures must be tested
monthly, unless otherwise approved in writing by Novation, and, should the hot
backup system not work properly, immediate action must be taken to resolve any
and all problems. Upon request, Neoforma will provide Novation with reasonable
documentation of the date of such tests, the results of each such test, and any
corrective actions taken in response to errors and any other issues discovered
through such tests.

Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

Neoforma shall adopt and maintain a Novation Marketplace Backup and Disaster
Recovery Plan which describes (i) the manner in which Neoforma shall perform
backup and disaster recover functions, and (ii) Novation's priorities for backup
and disaster recovery and methods for changing those priorities. Novation will
continually have access to the plan and may, from time to time, meet with
Neoforma to discuss the plan.

Other Disaster Recovery Duties

Neoforma shall also have responsibility to:

       (i)      Maintain an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), to both the
                primary site and "hot site" facilities, with fuel supply and
                auxiliary generator to ensure continuity in the event of an
                interruption in ordinary power supply, and perform routine
                maintenance to ensure reliability.

       (ii)     Maintain off site storage of the Novation Marketplace's data,
                software and disaster-recovery related documentation to
                support disaster recovery.

       (iii)    In the event of a disaster, assume responsibility for operating
                the hardware and providing the functions in accordance with the
                disaster recovery plan.

                                      M-19

<PAGE>

                                  Attachment 1
                      Collaborative Development Process Map

                                        *

__________________________

  * Confidential treatment requested.

                                      M-20

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT N

                          SERVICE LEVEL SPECIFICATIONS

1.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

     1.1. General

          Neoforma acknowledges and agrees that the critical importance of
          certain of Novation's business functions (e.g., those tied to
          Novation's present and future revenue streams and the strategies
          therefore) require that certain metrics focus on performance measures
          that are a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures (e.g.,
          a qualitative measure of Neoforma's overall responsiveness in meeting
          Novation's business needs and schedules). As further described in this
          Service Level Specifications, Neoforma shall be committed to a process
          to develop such metrics and to define Neoforma's responsibilities in
          that regard.

          The Service Levels set forth in this Service Level Specifications are
          intended to measure Neoforma's performance of the Services. Commencing
          with the initial provision of the Services, Neoforma shall perform the
          Services so as to meet or exceed the Type I Service Levels set forth
          in this Service Level Specifications. Neoforma shall perform the
          Services so as to meet or exceed the Type II Service Levels as they
          are established. The detailed definitions of Type I Service Levels are
          set forth in Article 2. Type II Service Levels shall be established in
          accordance with the Service Level establishment procedure set forth in
          Section 1.4.

          Neoforma and Novation agree that this Service Level Specifications
          represents their agreement as to the Service Levels as of the
          Effective Date. As the Services provided pursuant to the Outsourcing
          Agreement are changed, modified or enhanced (i) as a result of the
          development of Implementation Plans for each new release or (ii) from
          time to time through the provision of additional Services, Neoforma
          and Novation will review the Service Levels then in effect and will in
          good faith mutually determine whether such Service Levels should be
          adjusted and whether additional Service Levels should be implemented.

          Capitalized terms used in this Service Level Specifications shall have
          the respective meanings set forth herein. Other terms used in this
          Service Level Specifications are defined in Attachment 1 hereto, the
          Outsourcing Agreement or the Collaborative Development Process.

                                       N-1

<PAGE>

     1.2. Reporting

     (a)  On or before the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date, Neoforma
          and Novation shall establish an appropriate set of periodic reports to
          be delivered by Neoforma to Novation from time to time regarding the
          provision of the Services by Neoforma. These reports may include
          information of the following type: a monthly status report that (i)
          assesses, for each Service Level, the degree to which Neoforma has
          attained or failed to attain the pertinent Service Level including
          measurements with respect to the Service Levels, (ii) summarizes the
          status of problem resolution efforts and other initiatives and (iii)
          explains deviations from the Service Levels and includes plans, in
          reasonable detail, for corrective action.

     (b)  The monthly status reports shall include a set of hard and soft copy
          reports to verify Neoforma's performance and compliance with the
          Service Levels. If feasible, such reports shall also be made available
          to Novation on-line. The raw data and detailed supporting information
          shall be deemed Novation Data under the Outsourcing Agreement. Such
          reports shall be provided on or before the 20/th/ day of the month
          reflecting Neoforma's performance of the Services during the
          immediately preceding month.

     1.3. Service Level Types

          (a)  Certain Service Levels are established as of the Effective Date
          (each, a "Type I Service Level"), and are set forth in Article 2 and
          summarized in Attachment 3. Type I Service Levels shall be reviewed
          from time to time as described in Section 1.4.

          (b)  The remaining Service Levels are undefined as of the Effective
          Date (each, a "Type II Service Level"). Type II Service Levels shall
          be subject to the Service Level establishment procedure set forth in
          Section 1.4.

          (c)  All Service Levels are subject to continuous improvement
          described in Section 1.5.

     1.4. Establishment and Review of Service Levels

          (a)  This Section 1.4(a) identifies Neoforma's and Novation's
               obligations with regard to the establishment and review of
               Service Levels. On or before the two-month anniversary of the
               Effective Date, Neoforma and Novation shall develop Service Level
               metrics to be published and maintained by the Program Management
               Office. The PMO will be responsible for the following with
               regards to Service Level metrics:

                                       N-2

<PAGE>

               (i)   Defining the overall Service Level program between Neoforma
                     and Novation, including, without limitation, the Service
                     Level Credit payments and other consequences for Neoforma's
                     failure to meet any Service Level (including Type I and
                     Type II Service Levels). The definition of such Service
                     Level Credit payments and other consequences shall include,
                     without limitation, a methodology whereby Neoforma shall
                     provide to Novation a credit, calculated as a percentage
                     (up to * %) of the Monthly Fees. Such methodology shall (A)
                     include a mechanism whereby an accelerator or multiplier
                     factor shall apply to each of the different levels of
                     severity or periods of time associated with Neoforma's
                     failure to meet such Service Level and (B) be designed to
                     increase the amount of the Service Level Credit applicable
                     to Neoforma's failure to meet such Service Level as such
                     level of severity or the time period of Neoforma's
                     nonperformance increases. Any such Service Level Credit
                     methodology shall be subject to the provisions of Section
                     16.3 (including the limitations set forth therein).

               (ii)  Reviewing the Type I Service Levels (x) during the
                     preparation of the Implementation Plan for each new release
                     and (y) from time to time during the Term. In connection
                     with such review, the PMO shall examine the (i) Services to
                     be provided , (ii) state of technology, (ii) Neoforma's
                     role as a leading provider of e-commerce services to the
                     healthcare industry, (iii) User (including Member) needs
                     and concerns and (iv) other relevant factors.

               (iii) During the six-month period commencing on the Effective
                     Date and from time to time during the Term, jointly
                     proposing, defining, documenting and implementing Service
                     Level metrics for Type II Service Levels that shall include
                     additional Service Levels. The PMO shall adhere to the
                     provisions of this Service Level Specifications and the
                     establishment and review procedures described in Attachment
                     2.

          (b)  Except as expressly stated otherwise in this Service Level
               Specifications, the addition, deletion or modification of Service
               Levels shall be subject to the mutual agreement of Neoforma and
               Novation.

__________________________

  * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       N-3

<PAGE>

          (c)  Neoforma and Novation agree that if they are unable to agree upon
               any of the Service Levels that are to be established, such
               disagreement will be treated as a Disputed Matter subject to the
               dispute resolution and arbitration provisions set forth in
               Section 18 of the Outsourcing Agreement.

     1.5. Continuous Improvement

          (a)  Neoforma and Novation acknowledge that Service Levels will be
               subject to continuous improvement during the Term, and will be
               adjusted through the review process described in Section 1.5(b).

          (b)  From time to time and no less frequently than annually during the
               Term, Neoforma and Novation shall jointly review (i) the
               then-current Service Levels, (ii) the percentage difference
               between Neoforma's actual performance and the then-current
               Service Levels and (iii) information indicating industry-wide
               improvements of delivery of substantially similar services. The
               Service Levels shall be adjusted based on the review described in
               the preceding sentence.

     1.6. Failure to Meet Service Levels

          (a)  If Neoforma fails to meet any Service Level, then Neoforma shall
               (i) promptly perform a root-cause analysis to identify the cause
               of such failure, (ii) provide a report to Novation in accordance
               with Section 1.2, and (iii) take such action as may be necessary
               or appropriate to avoid such failure in the future and begin to
               meet the Service Level as promptly as practicable.

          (b)  If Neoforma fails to meet a Service Level, Neoforma shall credit
               the applicable Service Level Credit to Novation on the monthly
               invoice immediately following the report of such failure to
               Novation. In no event shall the total amount of Service Level
               Credits credited to Novation with respect to failures to meet any
               Service Levels occurring in a single month exceed, in the
               aggregate, * of Monthly Fees. If any Service Level Credit remains
               outstanding upon the expiration or termination of this
               Outsourcing Agreement and no Service charges remain payable,
               Neoforma shall pay Novation such remaining amount in cash within
               30 days after such expiration or termination.

__________________________

  * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       N-4

<PAGE>

          (c)  Neoforma shall notify Novation in writing if Novation becomes
               entitled to a Service Level Credit as part of the monthly status
               report referred to in Section 1.2. Such notice shall specify the
               performance failure and the amount of the Service Level Credit
               that Novation is entitled to receive.

    1.7.  Quality Assurance

          Neoforma shall provide and implement such quality assurance procedures
          as may be necessary or appropriate for the Services to be provided in
          accordance with the Service Levels. Such procedures will include
          checkpoint reviews, testing and other procedures that will enable
          Novation to monitor the quality of Neoforma's performance and upon
          Novation's request, will be provided to Novation.

    1.8   Measurement and Monitoring Tools

          Neoforma shall utilize such measurement and monitoring tools and
          procedures as may be necessary or appropriate to measure and report on
          Neoforma's performance of the Services against the applicable Service
          Levels. Such measurement and monitoring shall permit reporting at a
          level of detail sufficient to verify compliance with the Service
          Levels and shall be subject to audit by Novation in accordance with
          Section 17 of the Outsourcing Agreement. Neoforma shall provide
          Novation with information and access to such tools and procedures upon
          Novation's request.

    1.9   Customer Satisfaction

          No later than the 12-month anniversary of the Effective Date and on an
          annual basis thereafter during the Term, Neoforma shall conduct a
          satisfaction survey using a mutually agreed upon survey to capture
          Novation and Member perceptions in respect of the delivery of the
          Services. Neoforma shall provide the survey and proposed distribution
          list therefore to Novation for its review and approval. The
          individuals set forth in Neoforma's proposed distribution list shall
          be a representative sample of Novation end users of the Services and
          senior management of Novation. Neoforma shall provide Novation with
          the results of such survey. Promptly thereafter, the Parties shall
          jointly review such results and identify any areas of customer
          dissatisfaction. Neoforma shall prepare a remedial plan and take such
          action as may be necessary or appropriate to remedy the causes of any
          recurring or significant customer dissatisfaction. Alliance members
          may conduct their own surveys and share these with Neoforma. In order
          to coordinate communications, the alliances will share pending survey
          language and timing with Neoforma marketing prior to distribution.

                                       N-5

<PAGE>

2.   DETAILED DEFINITION OF SERVICE LEVELS

     2.1  Systems Up Time

          Neoforma is responsible for maintaining a system service level of at
          least *%. This means that excluding any scheduled system
          maintenance activities, the Novation Marketplace will be available for
          use by all Users at least *% of the time, 365 days a year, 24 hours
          a day. Systems Up Time shall be measured on a quarterly basis.

     2.2  Transaction Throughput Requirements

          For the purpose of this Service Level Specifications, (i) a
          "Transaction" is defined as any structured business document (EDI or
          XML) that is processed by the Novation Marketplace and (ii) "time
          within Novation Marketplace Operating Environment" is defined as the
          period of time during which the Novation Marketplace receives a
          Transaction, processes the Transaction and delivers it to an external
          organization (such as a Member-User, Supplier or other external
          entity) for further action. Neoforma is responsible for ensuring that
          the Novation Marketplace processes the various types of Transactions
          set forth below within the following time requirements:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Maximum Time Within
Type of Transaction                                  Novation Marketplace Operating Environment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>
Purchase Orders from User                            *
Change Purchase Orders                               *
Purchase Order Acknowledgments from Supplier         *
Ship Notices from Supplier                           *
Invoices from Supplier                               *
Price Files from Novation Marketplace to User        *
Price Files from Suppliers to Members                *
All Outbound Fax Transactions (CDP)                  *
All Other Non-Fax Transactions                       *
</TABLE>

     2.3  Novation Marketplace User Capacity

          Neoforma will ensure that the Novation Marketplace is capable of
          supporting a User capacity of (i) * total named Users with independent
          log-ins by *, with additional capability to scale to * named Users
          with independent log-ins afterwards if and when needed by Novation,
          and (ii) * Users accessing the Novation Marketplace simultaneously
          (with "simultaneously" being defined as within a one second time
          period). In

_____________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       N-6

<PAGE>

           connection with the development of the Implementation Plan, Neoforma
           and Novation shall develop a methodology to more accurately measure
           the Novation Marketplace's User Capacity.

     2.4   Novation Marketplace Content Capacity

           Neoforma will ensure that the Novation Marketplace is capable of
           supporting (i) *, (ii) * and (iii) *.

     2.5   Total Transaction Capacity

           Neoforma will ensure that the Novation Marketplace is capable of
           supporting the following number of total Transactions annually by the
           following dates:

Number of Annual Transactions Supported                       by December 31 of
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     *

     2.6   Peak Time Transactions Capacity

           Neoforma will ensure that the Novation Marketplace is capable of
           supporting the following number of "Peak Time Transactions" (defined
           as Transactions which utilize the Novation Marketplace in a
           high-traffic period measuring five minutes) by the following dates:

Number of Peak Time Transactions Supported                    by December 31 of
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     *

     2.7   Network Connection Speed

           Neoforma will ensure that the Novation Marketplace will provide (i)
           network connections at speeds of * or greater and (ii) backup
           internet connections at speeds of * or greater. Additionally, these
           data communication speeds will be reviewed, and the system will be
           upgraded to higher speeds as data communication technologies with
           desired specifications become cost effective.

_____________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       N-7

<PAGE>

     2.8   Development/Test/Production Environments

           Parties agree to develop a process that provides for versioning and
           revision control in the production environment. Parties also agree
           that a testing environment will be accessible to Novation across the
           Internet for the purpose of pre-production approvals.

                                       N-8

<PAGE>

                                  Attachment 1

                                   Definitions

"Monthly Fees" means the total of all Contract Transaction Fees and Non-Contract
     Transaction Fees collected by Neoforma during any calendar month.

"Service Level Credit" means the amount to be credited to Novation upon any
     failure to meet a particular Service Level, which, in the aggregate, shall
     be equal * of the Monthly Fees for the month in which Neoforma failed to
     meet such Service Level.

_____________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                       N-9

<PAGE>

                                  Attachment 2

                       Service Level Establishment Process

Set forth below is the process by which Neoforma and Novation will develop Type
II Service Levels during the Term.

1.   Establishment of Type II Service Levels

     1.1  Identification. The PMO shall meet regularly to carry out Neoforma's
          and Novation's responsibilities described in this Service Level
          Specifications. Within the applicable timeframes, the PMO shall
          deliver a report to Neoforma and Novation that contains (i) a detailed
          description of the proposed Type II Service Level and how it will be
          measured, (ii) the purpose of the proposed Service Level, and (iii) a
          recommendation of an appropriate measurement period to measure such
          Service Level. None of the foregoing items may contravene the
          provisions of this Service Level Specifications.

     1.2  Measurement. Within 30 days after mutual agreement of Neoforma and
          Novation to proceed to measure any of such proposed Service Levels,
          Neoforma shall commence the applicable measurement period relating to
          each proposed Service Level.

     1.3  Implementation. Upon completion of the applicable measurement period,
          Neoforma and Novation will meet to consider the reports provided, the
          materials prepared by the PMO and the data collection results
          presented by Neoforma or Novation. Within 30 days of such first
          consideration, Neoforma and Novation shall implement such proposed
          Service Level. Neoforma shall begin reporting on such Service Level
          during the next succeeding measurement window.

                                      N-10

<PAGE>

                                  Attachment 3

                          Type I Service Levels Summary

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         BASE LEVEL SERVICE
               MEASUREMENT                           DEFINITION                                TARGET
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                                   <C>
Systems Up Time                           Percent of time Novation              *%
                                          Marketplace is available to all       (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
                                          Users, excluding scheduled
                                          maintenance
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novation Marketplace User Capacity        Total number of named Users with      * (with capability to scale up to *
                                          independent log-ins which the         afterwards if and when needed by
                                          Novation Marketplace can              Novation)
                                          support

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simultaneous User Capacity                Number of Users accessing the         *
                                          Novation Marketplace
                                          simultaneously which the
                                          Novation Marketplace can support

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Content Capacity                          Amount of data which the              *
                                          Novation Marketplace can support

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Transaction Capacity                Number of Transactions which the      *
                                          Novation Marketplace can support
                                          annually
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peak Time Transactions Capacity           Number of Transactions which the      *
                                          Novation Marketplace can support
                                          in a high-traffic period measuring
                                          5 minutes

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transaction Throughput Requirements       Maximum time within the Novation      PO's from User    *
                                          Marketplace for various types of      Change PO's       *
                                          Transactions                          PO Acknow.                  *
                                                                                Ship Notices from Supp.     *
                                                                                Invoices from Supplier      *
                                                                                Price Files, Ex. to User       *
                                                                                Price Files, Supplier to User  *
                                                                                Outbound Fax Trans.            *
                                                                                Other Non-Fax Trans.           *

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Connection Speed                  Novation Marketplace connection       * for network connections;
                                          speed minimum requirements            * for backup internet connections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

_____________________________

 * Confidential treatment requested.

                                      N-11

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