For VA R&D Offices and NPCs
VA Research and Development (R&D) offices located in VA medical centers throughout the country and the VA-affiliated nonprofit research corporations (NPCs) - authorized under 38 USC 7361-7368 - can work together on behalf of VA investigators to execute Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). CRADAs are used by the government to establish the terms (including handling of intellectual property, statement of work (SOW), and budget) of sponsored research collaborations, primarily with industry.
Where there is an NPC, it is common for NPC personnel (209 KB, Word) to take the lead in working with the principal investigator (PI) in negotiating terms of the CRADA. NPCs work with the R&D office - usually the R&D Administrative Officer (AO/R) or the R&D Coordinator - to advance the CRADA through the VA approval process, and upon execution the NPC administers the research project including the funds. Where there is no NPC, the PI and the R&D office manage all phases of the CRADA and the research project.
Research administered by the R&D office and/or an NPC is VA research and is subject to VA statutes, regulations and policies. Compliance activities are conducted in accordance with VA requirements.
Information and links to resources of particular interest to R&D Offices and NPCs are provided on this page, but please browse other CRADA pages on this web site, particularly the page containing CRADA Resources.
Selected VA CRADA Requirements
Registry of In Process and Executed VA CRADAs. The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS/R) is responsible for ensuring that all VA CRADAs are entered into the Registry of In Process (78 KB, MS Excel) and Executed VA CRADAs (70 KB, MS Excel) upon initiation of negotiations and then adding additional details after execution of the CRADA. It is extremely important to keep the registry current to avoid duplication of effort. Responsibility for entering CRADAs into the registry may be delegated to the AO/R, or NPC.
CRADA Hard Copy Submission. The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS/R) is responsible for ensuring that all VA CRADAs are submitted to the Technology Transfer Program (TTP) office. Within 15 working days of signing by the Medical Center Director, use a verifiable mail service to send a signed hard copy of the entire CRADA (body, appendices, statement of work, budget, etc.) to the Technology Transfer Program office. If an electronic copy is available (in lieu of a hard copy) please email to vhacottc@va.gov. Only one copy via email or veriable mail service needs to be submitted.
Director
Technology Transfer Program
Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Research & Development (10P9TT)
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Responsibility for sending a hard copy (or email) of each CRADA to the TTP may be delegated to the AO/R or the NPC.
CRADA Revenue Report. The CRADA statute requires each agency to report annually to Congress the number of CRADAs on which it is a signatory regardless of whether the agency or another organization administers the funds.
To provide VA with the necessary data, the ACOS/R submits by December 1 each year to the TTP the amount of total revenues received by the VA or the affiliated NPC for each CRADA during the prior federal fiscal year (October 1 through September 30). "Total revenues" is defined as all amounts received from collaborators.