Characteristics of Grants, Contracts, Cooperative Agreements
- BASIC PURPOSE
- Grant- Provide assistance with a few restrictions
- Cooperative Agreement- Provide assistance with substantial involvement between parties
- Contract- Procure tangible goods and services
- SOLICITATION METHOD
- Grant- Application kit or guidelines
- Cooperative Agreement- Request for Proposal
- Contract- Request for bid or quote
- AWARD INSTRUMENT
- Grant- Short, may refer to general conditions
- Cooperative Agreement- Describes involvement, party relationships
- Contract- Long, detailed specs, clauses, regulations and expected results
- AWARD ACCEPTANCE
- Grant- Usually not required
- Cooperative Agreement- Usually required
- Contract- Requires signature of authorized official
- INVOLVEMENT BY SPONSOR
- Grant- Generally none
- Cooperative Agreement- Substantial involvement
- Contract- May be extensive
- RE-BUDGETING
- Grant- Flexible
- Cooperative Agreement- Usually allowed
- Contract- Occasionally allowed with restrictions
- EQUIPMENT TITLE
- Grant- Grantee
- Cooperative Agreement- Varies based upon agreement
- Contract- Contractor
- PERFORMANCE PERIOD
- Grant- Flexible
- Cooperative Agreement- May be specified with flexible dates
- Contract- Specified in contract
- PATENT RIGHTS
- Grant- Generally liberal
- Cooperative Agreement- May be involved
- Contract- Provision in contract
- PUBLICATIONS
- Grant- Unrestricted
- Cooperative Agreement- May ask to be informed
- Contract- May require prior review and approval
- TECHNICAL REPORTS
- Grant- Annual summary
- Cooperative Agreement- More frequent (quarterly) reports
- Contract- Detailed reports, may be monthly
