Methods Research and Development Program
Doing Business
The NWQL has different types of reimbursable agreements to meet the needs and interests of federal agencies, state governments and local governments, industry and other organizations. The following are brief descriptions of the types of the most commonly used agreements for technology transfer. In all cases, NWQL Administrative Services will work with your organization to put the appropriate agreement in place. Please contact Jeff W. McCoy for more information. The NWQL does not compete with private industry and will not accept work that can be performed by commercial sources.
Reimbursable Research and Development
“Work for Others” (WFO) is our term for R&D or technical services where costs are paid entirely by an organization, such as a federal agency or company, and the work is conducted at the NWQL. Under certain conditions, a company may take title to inventions created by the NWQL under the WFO Agreement. Research results are considered proprietary if so designated by the company. There is no standard format for a federal interagency agreement; each agency has its own requirements, format and form to complete. We use whatever is provided by the other federal agency (OFA). We use joint funding agreements (USGS Form 9-1366) for working with non-federal organizations.
Cost-Shared Research and Development
Cost-shared R&D is usually conducted under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA). Both the partnering organization and the NWQL contribute to the costs of the R&D and share the results. The partner may obtain exclusive rights (in a field of use) to inventions created by the NWQL under the CRADA. The results of the CRADA work can be protected from disclosure for a period of up to five years after completion of the work.
Technical Assistance
NWQL researchers provide technical assistance to companies with technical problems requiring expertise that is not available commercially. Technical assistance efforts may not involve research and development. The cost to the company is the full cost of the Laboratory’s effort.
Personnel Exchanges
Researchers from federal agencies, state or local governments and educational institutions can work on research of mutual interest at the NWQL, or vice versa. Each party pays for the cost of its own employees. The National Research Council administers a postdoctoral research associate program, with researchers being resident at the NWQL. Click here to read the requirements and conditions for an NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateship.
