How to use a CRADA
Follow the criteria for establishing a CRADA:
Reclamation follows the guiding principles listed below when establishing a CRADA:
- The viability of a potential collaborator must be established.
- The work comes within Reclamation’s normal and legal authority and is closely aligned with its mission and goals.
- Reclamation has some unique or special competence or facility that will benefit the collaboration and that is not available elsewhere.
- The work is not something that can be done, or is being done, satisfactorily by privately-owned establishments, or more appropriately by another agency.
- The work will not defer, delay, duplicate, or preclude activities or programs authorized under appropriations made directly to Reclamation by the Congress.
- A fair and rational method will be used in selecting CRADA partners.
Develop and execute a CRADA:
Reclamation’s Technology Transfer Liaison is the focal point for CRADA initiation. Reclamation researchers and potential collaborators are encouraged to contact us for assistance. We can evaluate your opportunity and will work with you to develop the entire agreement. Please note that CRADAs are assigned tracking numbers by our office and, as mandated by legislation and Reclamation protocols, must be routed to our Director of Research for approval and signature.
If you wish to pursue a CRADA opportunity, contact us immediately and we will furnish you with a CRADA document template with assigned tracking number and some guidance on how to draft the agreement. Please be advised that some of the terms in the various articles can be negotiated with the collaborator(s) and we can assist you with that. By far the largest part of the effort of planning a CRADA is in the creation of the SOW. We have provided a very brief outline for the required SOW content below. Creating a well thought out, high quality SOW is very important. It sets the vision for the research collaboration and clearly defines the obligation of each party.
See CRADA and SOW Link to a PDF file (Sample Only) showing our standard CRADA here.
What if the CRADA needs to be modified or extended?
Reclamation and the cooperator may continue or negotiate changes in the original agreement by extending, modifying, or renewing the original CRADA.
- To extend a CRADA, all outdated clauses must be deleted and current clauses substituted. The extension should be negotiated and submitted for approval before the expiration date or as soon as possible thereafter.
- To modify a CRADA, both parties must agree in advance to changes to the CRADA. The CRADA and its Statement of Work must be revised to reflect these changes.
Restrictions on CRADAs
Reclamation cannot provide funds to collaborators. Funds can be provided by the collaborators to Reclamation, but Reclamation cannot provide any funds to the collaborators. Nothing in a CRADA, nor the CRADA itself, can permit or otherwise obligate the Bureau of Reclamation to procure services under contract from, or provide financial assistance by grant or cooperative agreement to any collaborators under 31 USC 6303-6305.