FLC Federal Technology Transfer Mechanisms

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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Bureau of Reclamation (BR):15 U.S.C. 3710a, the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as amended by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (FTTA).
USGS: 43 U.S.C. 36c, Acceptance of contributions from public and private sources, and 15 U.S.C. 3710a

USGS: A CRADA is an agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more nonfederal parties under which the government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources with or without reimbursement.

BR: A CRADA is an agreement between federal and non-federal organizations (e.g. private sector industrial organizations, state and local agencies, universities, non-profit organizations et al) to collaborate on research that is complimentary to their individual capabilities and mutually beneficial to their individual missions.

USGS: Through a CRADA, all parties may agree to keep research results emerging from the CRADA activity confidential to the extent permitted by the law (up to 5 years) or until they are published in scientific literature or presented at a public forum.Nonfederal parties provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources toward the research efforts.

BR: A CRADA may anticipate co-development of new intellectual property. Projects should have mission value to the federal laboratory and may have commercial potential for the partner.

USGS: No funds are provided to nonfederal parties. The partners can agree to share patent and intellectual property rights in any manner agreeable to both parties. The CRADA vehicle also enables the government to protect the partner's trade secrets and proprietary data. The government is entitled to a royalty-free right to use all inventions made under a CRADA for government use.

BR: The federal and non-federal parties can exchange services, equipment, or other resources. It may include funds in to the federal laboratory but not funds out to the CRADA partner.