A-2) Cooperative Agreement

Review date
Responsible office
Office of Sponsored Research

Definition

A legal instrument of financial assistance between a Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity and a non-Federal entity that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6302–6305:

  1. Is used to enter into a relationship to transfer anything of value from the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity to the non-Federal entity to carry out a public purpose authorized by U.S. law (see 31 U.S.C. 6101(3)), and not to acquire property or services for the Federal government or pass-through entity's direct benefit or use.
  2. Is distinguished from a grant in that it provides for substantial involvement between the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity and the non-Federal entity in carrying out the activity contemplated by the Federal award.
  3. The term does not include: (i) A development agreement as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3710a; or (ii) An agreement that provides only: (A) Direct United States Government cash assistance to an individual; (B) A subsidy; (C) A loan; (D) A loan guarantee; or (E) Insurance.
Examples

A NIH U01 Cooperative Agreement (U Series)

Overhead Consideration

Federally Sponsored:

  • Facilities & Administrative (F&A) rates for various types of projects (e.g., research, instruction, other sponsored activities, etc.) and by site (e.g., on/off-campus) are negotiated with the federal cognizant agency (HHS) and must be accepted by all federal agencies.

Non-Federally Sponsored:

  • Federally negotiated F&A rates apply (as above). If a sponsor has a published F&A rate policy, an exception from the Federal F&A rate may be approved by the campus.
Policy
Review Department/Signature Authority

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