Heather Gallant, Coordinator, Business Development, Contracts, Technology Transfer

1
Contracts, Contracts, Everywhere!

• Some pointers on what to expect in a research
  contract.

2
Whats up with Contracts?

• Contract vs Grant
• Anatomy of a Contract
• Who does what? Contracts at ORS
• Where to get information
• How to find/build a contract opportunity
• Variations

3
CONTRACT vs GRANT

• Both agreements for sponsored research
• Contract
• more rigid scope of work DELIVERABLE
• sometimes collaborative
• usually not the result of competitive process
• can result from personal/professional contacts
• more extensive obligations to sponsor

4
Anatomy of a Contract

• Defined parties
• funding agency/company vs. university
• University acts on PIs behalf (liability issue)
• PI acknowledges the terms
• Effective Date // Project Term
• Define Project Scope (attached appendix)
• Budget Details (attached appendix)

5
Anatomy II

• Payment Schedule
• Reporting Schedule
• Interim and final reporting
• Deliverables
• Confidentiality
• Publication/publicity
• Research Results
• Inventor/University Ownership of
• Results, Data, Intellectual Property
• License of research results to sponsor
• Non-exclusive, noncommercial license (free)
• Option to commercial (royalty bearing)

6
Anatomy III

• Indemnification, Force Majeur
• Warranty
• Dispute resolution
• Termination
• Legal minutia
• Governing law, non-assignability, future
  relationship/independent parties whole agreement,
  survival clauses, etc

7
Problematic Contract Clauses

• Restriction of academic freedom
• read PUBLICATION RIGHTS
• Assertion of excessive ownership rights by
  sponsor
• Sponsor demands inappropriate indemnification or
  warranty

8
Who does what? Contracts at ORS

• Susan Haggis Grants/Contracts Officer
• Physical and Life Sciences
• Alex Karabanow Grants/Contracts Officer, Ethics
• Social Sci Humanities
• Heather Gallant Coordinator
• BD, Contracts, Tech Transfer
• Bob Dirstein Director, ORS
• Rose Jackson Coordinator
• Project Administration
• Denise, Rob, Anton Financial Analysts

9
Where to get information

• Contract procedures
• Grant/Contract Officer (Susan or Alex)
• or Heather or Bob
• Financial management/cost centre issues
• Financial Analyst or Rose
• Grant/Contract Authorization form
• http//www.ryerson.ca/ORS/

10
How to find a contract opportunity

• Approach your industry contacts
• Funding agencies may have leads
• OCE
• Government sources
• Check out RFPs
• Often posted on-line
• Conferences, trade shows
• Peers/networks

11
Build the Contract

• Develop Contract Proposal in response to a RFA or
  RFP
• Outline how you will undertake specific and
  narrowly defined tasks controlled by funder
• RFA/P must go through ORS before submission (like
  a grant)
• ltltORgtgt
• Discuss opportunity with (potential) partner
• Ask sponsor how they handle university research
  contracts
• Contact ORS // forward their contact info
• Decide on Scope of Work/Budget together
• Anticipate significance of research results
  (manage IP expectations)
• Communicate with ORS
• ORS negotiates contract terms in consultation
  with you

12
variations

• Joint development
• Each party works on part of the project
• Collaborative research
• Parties work together on project
• Leveraged funding opportunities
• Match industry with granting agency
• These are complex relationships.
• Please inform ORS of your plans EARLY.