MTA-CDA Guidelines
USF Patents & Licensing (DPL) Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) and Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) Guidelines
Since two of the major objectives of research are to improve existing information or create novel results, it is important to contact DPL before disclosing or transferring information related to your research to other parties. To fully protect your research, it is important that you contact us before any public disclosure (publication or presentation) takes place.
When a USF employee believes that they have discovered/invented a new and useful item, compound or method (any art or process, machine, manufacture, design, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof), the discovery must be disclosed as soon as possible to the Division of Patents & Licensing for evaluation and filing of appropriate documents. To obtain the best protection for an invention, appropriate documentation must be prepared PRIOR to public disclosure, i.e. public presentations (oral or poster), publications (abstracts or full manuscripts).
Most agreements between academic institutions can be processed quickly by using the following standardized forms and providing all requested information.
These conditions contrary to USF policy can cause delays
To Expedite Processing
- Direct the outside party to this web site: (http://www.research.usf.edu/pl/MTA_CDA_Guidelines_new.html)
- Suggest that they download the appropriate MTA or CDA
- Follow the instructions for completing the agreement
If a corporation wants to provide its own MTA or CDA, please ask them to send the agreement directly to DPL.
Please keep in mind that by not using USF pre-approved agreements, the time it takes to process a MTA or CDA is greatly lengthened by the need to negotiate unique terms of the proposed agreement.
Step 1: Download the appropriate agreement
Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)- To transfer USF material to non-profit institutions:
- The MTA Expediting Form is to be completed by the USF researcher and will accompany the Agreement.
- The USF researcher should then generate two copies of the appropriate Material Transfer Agreement for Non-Profit Recipient (MTA)
- The Implementing Letter may be used in the recipient is a signatory to the UBMTA
- The USF pre-approved MTA is to be used for all other non-profit entities
- To transfer USF material to an investigator at a for-profit entity:
- Please contact DPL to obtain the appropriate agreement.
Transfer of Confidential Information (CDA)
- The USF Confidential Disclosure Agreement may be used when only the USF faculty member will be disclosing information.
- The Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement may be used when both parties will be disclosing information.
Step 2: Complete the required information
- MTAs
- Provide all of the information requested by the MTA Expediting Form.
- Provide all of the missing information of either the Implementing Letter or USF pre-approved MTA.
- CDAs
- Provide all of the missing information of either the USF Confidential Disclosure or Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement.
These agreements also require a brief description of the confidential information and a rationale for the disclosure. In situations where the confidential information involves a technology that has been disclosed to DPL, please include USF's Technology Reference number, "USF-##_###". If you are not aware of this reference number, please contact DPL.
STEP 3: Obtain all of the necessary signatures
- The USF researcher must sign and date the agreement under the "Agreed & Acknowledged" section.
- Obtain the authorized USF signature by forwarding both originals directly to DPL
- DPL will send the agreement to the recipient investigator for his/her signature and request that an authorized representative of the recipient investigator's institution sign the agreement.
Note: MTAs or CDAs that are not signed by an authorized representative of the recipient investigator's institution will not be accepted by USF.
STEP 4: Return the agreement to DPL for the USF authorized signature
Agreements may be returned to DPL via mail, overnight delivery, or facsimile. DPL will keep a fully executed original in its files, will send the second original to the other party, and will forward a photocopy to the USF researcher. The material or confidential information, as applicable, should not be sent until a signed copy of the agreement has been received from DPL by the researcher.
DPL will gladly answer any questions regarding MTAs or CDAs. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding these agreements.