Prior to entering into any agreement, it is important for both parties to understand each other's key interests and motivations. The following are considerations commonly encountered in industry sponsored research agreements:
The contracting party for the University is the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.
As a state agency, the University is prohibited from agreeing to arbitrate.
The University can agree to hold material provided by sponsor confidential for a reasonable period of time and to the extent allowed by law (Oklahoma Open Records Act). The confidential material must be identified in some form as “confidential”.
(must be included in all contracts) As applicable, the provisions of Executive Order 11246, as amended by Exec. Order No. 11375, Exec. Order No. 11141, Exec. Order No. 13665 and as supplemented in Department of Labor Regulations (41 CFR Part 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a) et. seq.), are incorporated into this Contract and must be included in any subcontracts awarded involving this Contract. The parties represent that they are in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and all services are provided without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, age (40 or older), disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of their respective policies, practices, or procedures; they do not maintain nor provide for their employees any segregated facilities, nor will the parties permit their employees to perform their services at any location where segregated facilities are maintained. In addition, the parties agree to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §701, and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, 38 U.S.C. §4212.
As a state agency, the University cannot agree to indemnify or hold harmless another entity (Oklahoma Attorney General Opinion 78-256).
As a state agency, the University is self-insured in accordance with the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act.
Intellectual Property developed by the University, regardless of the source of funding, is the property of the University. Options and assignments can be negotiated in the agreement.
(must be included in all contracts) The performance of such research is of mutual interest to Sponsor and University and is consistent with the organizational purpose and research objectives of the University.
(for other than legal notices) University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Office of Research Administration 865 Research Parkway, URP865-450 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Attn: Scott Davis, Director
All checks for services should be made payable to: Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Grants and Contracts Accounting P.O. Box 26901, RP865, Room 560 Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901
Publication of data and results is a major objective of the University, and University employees must be able to publish the results of their work. Reasonable delays can be negotiated to allow for review by sponsor or for sponsor to take action to protect any intellectual property.
As a state agency, the University is prohibited from entering into contracts that cross the state's fiscal year (June 30), unless there is a no-cause, penalty-free termination right. Another option is to have the term end June 30 and automatically renew until one party gives the other notice of intent not to renew (Oklahoma Attorney General Opinion 78-256).
As a state agency, the University cannot agree to warrant, certify, guarantee, or covenant. The words represent or agree can be substituted, instead. The only exception to this is in reference to federally required certifications (Oklahoma Attorney General Opinion 78-256).