Contract Services
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) Contract Services at Florida Atlantic University is committed to working together with Florida Atlantic faculty, internal stakeholders, and external sponsors by processing and executing research agreements, both financial and non-financial, in support of sponsored research activities. These agreements are legally binding documents between the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees (Florida Atlantic BOT) and one or more parties that describe the obligations, terms and commitments of the parties. In respect to financial research agreements, the parties agree to deliver research data and/or a research product or service in exchange for funding.
Research agreements negotiated by Contract Services may come in many forms including Grant Agreements, Cooperative Agreements, Sponsored Research Agreements, Contracts, Purchase Orders, Subcontracts, Master Agreements, Nondisclosure Agreements (CDA/NDA’s), outgoing Subawards, and modifications and amendments to such agreements. Funding for sponsored research awarded through a grant or cooperative agreement is typically the least restrictive financial agreement and often does not require negotiation unless there are unusual terms and conditions. Government contracts are typically more complex and restrictive and often require significant negotiation before the award agreement can be executed.
Please see the Contract Services Workflow Chart below for an understanding of the process an award agreement undergoes:
| STAGE 1: | Log and conduct preliminary review within 48 hours of receipt of award agreement |
| STAGE 2A: | Conduct a full review and redline mark-up of award agreement within 5-10 business days |
| STAGE 2B: | Send award agreement to applicable offices for review/approval (General Counsel, Export Control, Office of Tech Development, etc.) |
| STAGE 3A: | Any edits or requested revisions are sent to the Sponsor for their review |
| STAGE 3B: | Sponsor revisions and comments are reviewed and award agreement may return to Stage 2B, if applicable |
| STAGE 4A: | Once the terms and conditions are finalized, the PI may be contacted to provide assurances and approvals as applicable |
| STAGE 4B: | Award agreement is routed to both parties’ authorized officials for signature |
| STAGE 5: | Award agreement is fully executed and sent for post-award |
Research agreements requiring a review of terms and conditions are submitted to Contract Services by the respective Proposal and Contract Administrator (PCA) within OSP. During the full review of an award agreement, a Contract Services administrator will determine if the terms and conditions meet Florida Atlantic policy, as well as any state and federal laws and regulations. The contract services administrator, in consultation with the Principal Investigator (PI), will also ensure the agreement accurately reflects project details such as the period of performance, deliverables, timeline, budget amount, payment schedule, and entity information. When revisions are deemed necessary but are minimal, the Contract Services administrator will promptly contact the Sponsor for the requested changes. However, due to unfavorable terms or a high level of perceived risk, additional review may be required by the Florida Atlantic Office of the General Counsel or other internal offices such as Export Control, Office of Technology Development, Office of Information Technology, Risk Management, Human Resources, Purchasing, and/or Research Accounting, before the requested changes can be sent back to the Sponsor for consideration. Contract Services is the liaison between Florida Atlantic BOT and the Sponsor in the negotiations of terms and conditions. Please see the Detailed Contract Services Workflow Chart below for a comprehensive understanding of the contract negotiation process:
Click to view the Contract Services Workflow ChartOnce Contract Services has completed the review and/or negotiation process, the agreement will be formally accepted and routed for signatures. Only the Florida Atlantic Vice President for Research (VPR) or the VPR designees are authorized to approve and execute research agreements. Florida Atlantic Policy 11.1 Signature Authority establishes those guidelines. Signature authority has been delegated to several members in OSP to sign research agreements. A Principal Investigator (PI) is not authorized to bind Florida Atlantic under a contract, nor are department chairs or deans. In certain circumstances, the PI may be asked to acknowledge and sign an agreement in addition to the Florida Atlantic Authorized Official.
If you are interested in learning more about what Contract Services does, or have a question regarding a contract, agreement, or subaward, please visit our FAQs.
If you have additional questions or have an inquiry regarding a specific contract, agreement, or subaward, please contact Contract Services at ospcontracts@fau.edu.
Florida Atlantic has standard language that is considered acceptable for various research agreements. This language is reflected in the agreement templates that are available on the OSP website. When sponsors agree to accept this standard language, the negotiation process is typically expedited.
Sponsors and Florida Atlantic typically have different missions, priorities, and objectives, and there are often terms and conditions imposed on sponsored research agreements that conflict with Florida Atlantic policies and procedures. Common terms that tend to require negotiation, and therefore may delay award execution, are as follows:
The parties in an agreement may need to disclose information deemed confidential during the course of the project. Confidentiality clauses in an agreement prescribe how sensitive and/or proprietary information will be handled. When these clauses are included in an agreement, Florida Atlantic needs to ensure they do not restrict public disclosure of research results and that any confidential information provided to Florida Atlantic is marked so it is not inadvertently disclosed. If applicable, Contract Services will work together with the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of Technology Development to negotiate the agreement language to protect both Principal Investigator (PI) and Florida Atlantic.
Export-controlled information or material is any information or material that cannot be released to foreign nationals or representatives of a foreign entity, without first obtaining an approval or license from the Department of State for items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or the Department of Commerce for items controlled by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Export-controlled information must be controlled as sensitive information and marked accordingly. Projects that include foreign travel, foreign students, collaboration with foreign entities, and/or potentially export-controlled information or material must be approved by Florida Atlantic’s Export Control Officer.
Federal grants are generally issued under the Uniform Guidance, which is a set of rules and regulations from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Federal contracts are generally issued under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which establishes uniform policies and procedures that govern the procurement process of Federal agencies. The FAR is codified in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The FAR has the full force and effect of law. Most federal agencies have issued supplements to the FAR, which contain agency-specific regulations governing the implementation of the FAR for purposes of that agency's contracts and agreements. Examples include the Department of Defense Federal Agency Regulation Supplement (DFARS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Supplement (NFS), and the Department of Energy Acquisition Guide (DEAR).
Within the FAR, there are specific clauses that describe the rules for contracting with the government in specific situations. For example, certain FAR clauses are prescribed for cost-reimbursement contracts, others with fixed-fee agreements. Some FAR clauses are specific to fundamental research, others to controlled information, and so forth. Contract Services must carefully review all FAR and FAR supplement clauses to ensure they are applicable to Florida Atlantic and to the specific project, and that Florida Atlantic is compliant or working toward compliance. FAR clauses can be incorporated by full text or by reference and often comprise multiple pages of an agreement and take a considerable time to review. Additionally, the FAR and FAR supplement clauses must frequently be negotiated with the Sponsor to eliminate those that are not applicable and to substitute alternate clauses as needed.
For more information on the FAR, please visit: https://www.acquisition.gov/content/part-2-definitions-words-and-terms
The governing law provision in an agreement indicates what law will govern the research project and where any arbitration or litigation may take place should there be a court dispute. Agreements often specify not only governing law, but the forum or venue for any court proceedings. Venue is often in the state and county of the Sponsor’s primary place of business. As an agency of the State of Florida, Florida Atlantic is protected by sovereign immunity and therefore is prohibited from agreeing to the law or courts of another state, as this could be a waiver of that immunity. Consequently, Florida Atlantic will negotiate for governing law to be Florida, and venue to be Palm Beach County.
Indemnification and/or liability clauses determine the extent that Florida Atlantic and the Sponsor will be legally responsible should something go wrong during the project and/or under what circumstances one party will defend the other. Hold harmless and indemnification clauses usually have language whereby the State agrees to assume the risk of liability which might otherwise fall on another party. These clauses are void as both an unauthorized attempt to abrogate Florida’s sovereign immunity and an unauthorized attempt to lend the State’s credit. Contract Services will negotiate to remove all clauses that would require Florida Atlantic to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless other parties.
Sponsors may include terms and conditions that specify an amount of insurance that exceeds the limits of Florida Atlantic policies or requires Florida Atlantic to name the Sponsor as additionally insured. Florida Atlantic cannot agree to either of these requirements, and Contract Services will negotiate the terms for compliance.
Some agreements, especially industry-funded agreements, contain clauses that allow the Sponsor to use or to own any intellectual property (data, patents, inventions, software) arising out of the project and created by Florida Atlantic. Often, when the Sponsor includes these terms and conditions, it considers the project to be a “work for hire.” Contract Services will negotiate the Intellectual Property clauses to clarify that Florida Atlantic retains all rights to patents and inventions created solely by Florida Atlantic employees. If intellectual property is created jointly between the Sponsor and Florida Atlantic in the project, ownership should be 50/50 with the Sponsor having an option to license Florida Atlantic’s 50% ownership. If applicable, Contract Services will work together with the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of Technology Development in order to negotiate the agreement language to protect both the PI and Florida Atlantic.
Florida Atlantic has established certain alternate IP options for agreements with industry. For more information, go to Office of Technology Development
Publishing is at the core of Florida Atlantic’s mission, and relinquishing publishing rights jeopardizes that mission and the Florida Atlantic’s fundamental research exemption for Export Control. In addition, graduate students involved in a research project generally must publish as part of their studies.
Some agreements may fully restrict publication rights, limit publication rights, or not expressly grant publication rights to Florida Atlantic. Limitation may come in the form of the Sponsor requiring a right of review, but publication restrictions from any source can lead to conflicts for the PI and the loss of the fundamental research exemption for Export Control purposes. Limited rights that may be granted to the Sponsor include the ability to preview any publication for confidential information or patentable inventions, request a 30-90 day delay in publication to file for patent protection, or require Florida Atlantic to delete any confidential information in the publication that was received from the Sponsor. Florida Atlantic will reject any greater limitations on publication and if applicable, Contract Services will work together with the Office of the General Counsel to negotiate the agreement language to protect both the PI and Florida Atlantic.
Projects that include graduate students are carefully negotiated to ensure that their right to publish is protected, as most graduate students must publish to earn their degree.
A warranty or a guarantee is an assurance by one party of an agreement upon which the other party may rely. Although both terms tend to mean the same thing in normal usage, in a legal contract, a warranty is the absolute undertaking of liability on the part of the entity making the warrant, and the contract is void unless the warranty is strictly performed. A guarantee is a commitment as well, but does not impose primary liability on the guarantor, however, a guarantee does bind the guarantor to be answerable for the failure or default of another. Warranty and guarantee clauses appear in many industry-funded agreements with the expectancy that all deliverables are to be met and guaranteed. Florida Atlantic will negotiate to remove warranty or guarantee clauses in research agreements to protect the PI and Florida Atlantic from financial and legal risk.
Note: Warranty and guarantee clauses are likely to appear in the fine print of purchase orders, or in referenced online terms and conditions.