Contractual sponsored agreements with Oakland University are initiated and negotiated through the Office of Research Administration.  The agreements below are presented as a general reference in outlining fundamental terms of negotiation.  All contractual agreements are subject to review by Oakland University Legal Affairs and are not binding upon the university unless executed by an authorized contractual signatory.  The Vice Provost for Research, Provost and President are authorized contractual signatories for agreements between external sponsors and Oakland University.  If you have questions regarding contractual issues or terms within the boilerplate language, contact Bonnie Kwit, Grants and Contracts Officer in the Office of Research Administration, at kwit@oakland.edu or the Office of Legal Affairs.  Refer to the Oakland University Policy on Contracting and Employment Appointment Authority for additional information.

Oakland University, as an academic institution, has a primary organizational mission to broadly and openly share the results of fundamental research.  Contractual agreements with the university will reflect this commitment to the organizational mission.

CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT CATEGORIES:

Non-Disclosure Agreement - An agreement to maintain confidentiality.  Typically used as a pre-cursor to discussions involving proprietary technology or processes where an industrial partner will work with an Oakland University researcher.  This agreement is executed by the Vice Provost for Research.  The responsible faculty member must sign an acknowledgement agreeing to abide by the terms of the non-disclosure agreement.  All non-disclosure agreements are subject to review of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Subawards Agreement from Oakland University to Other Parties - An agreement issued by Oakland University to other parties.  As an alternative, under federal agreements between collaborating universities, the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) template may be used.  All contractual agreements are subject to review of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Sponsored Agreement (Contract) - An agreement between Oakland University originated by an external sponsor for performance of research or other activity.  The agreement here is a template that aids in outlining the terms negotiable and required by Oakland University.  An approved agreement would be executed by the organizational official with signatory authority within the dollar-value threshold for the contract.  Principal Investigators are not authorized to sign contractual agreements binding the university.  All contractual agreements are subject to review of the Office of Legal Affairs. 

Consulting Agreement - An agreement between Oakland University and a consultant/independent contractor.  The Oakland University standard consulting agreement presented here may be initiated by a Principal Investigator and executed by Oakland University Purchasing.  Consulting agreements are not initiated, negotiated, or managed by the Office of Research Administration unless involving international partners or issues of intellectual property/technology transfer.

Material Transfer Agreements - An agreement between Oakland University and a provider of proprietary or potentially hazardous material or proprietary process.  This agreement is presented by the provider, reviewed and executed by the Vice Provost for Research and countersigned by the responsible faculty member.  All material transfer agreements are subject to review of the Office of Legal Affairs.