FLC Federal Technology Transfer Mechanisms

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Agricultural Research Service (ARS): 18 U.S.C. 1905, Federal Trade Secrets Act

Forest Service (FS): 15 U.S.C. 3710a, Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986

ARS: Confidentiality Agreements are used by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to share confidential information with another party to determine whether there is enough interest to proceed with a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and/or a patent license.

A Confidentiality Agreement is used to ensure that a company will not disclose confidential information to anyone else or use the information for any other purpose.
FS: Nondisclosure Agreements, also known as Confidentiality Agreements, are used for the maintenance of confidential information.

The agreement can remain in effect for as long as two years, unless superseded by a patent license or cooperative research agreement.

ARS employees are bound by 18 U.S.C. 1905, known as the Federal Trade Secrets Act, not to disclose confidential and proprietary information disclosed to them in the conduct of their official duties.