Standard Agreement Templates for Download
Find U-M standard agreement templates, including NDAs and other unfunded research agreements, for project teams to share with potential collaborators to help streamline ORSP review and negotiation.
ORSP negotiates non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and other agreements for research activity involving U-M. These Unfunded Agreement (UFA) Types are routed through the UFA form in the eResearch Proposal Management (eRPM) system. In an effort to reduce administrative steps associated with contract negotiations, ORSP provides U-M’s standard agreement templates and encourages project teams to download and share these approved template agreements with potential research collaborators.
Due to the fact that U-M research agreements are subject to revisions and updates, templates must be downloaded directly from the website prior to sharing. To avoid potential processing delays, ORSP strongly recommends that all research faculty and staff bookmark this page and return frequently to download new agreements or look for updates.
Quick reference guide to working with approved U-M templates
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- Download the agreement(s) from below.
- Insert information in the spaces provided throughout the body of the template agreement.
- Send to sponsor. Request sponsor’s authorized representative sign and return a copy of the unmodified template agreement.
- Upload the sponsor’s signed copy to a new UFA file and route through eRPM system.
- ORSP will return a fully-executed agreement to the sponsor and upload the fully executed agreement to the UFA file.
Why use the standard agreement templates?
External collaborators that opt to sign an unmodified copy of the university’s template available will experience significantly expedited processing times. ORSP will be able to process the agreement for U-M signature and return a fully executed agreement without delay, since there will be no need to review terms and conditions or negotiate changes with the sponsor.
While many research collaborators prefer to negotiate their own template agreements, some sponsors do not have template agreements and prefer to use the university’s standard agreements. Sponsors may also be willing to sign a university agreement if there is an urgent need to finalize an agreement prior to a scheduled meeting. The university’s template also includes language that ensures the sponsor’s confidential disclosures are protected under statutory safe harbor provisions to minimize risk of unintended disclosures compelled through Michigan Freedom of Information Act requests.
Agreement templates for download
Standard NDA
The university’s standard non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be used if a potential sponsor wishes to share its confidential or proprietary business information with the university in order to discuss a potential research relationship.
Clinical Trial NDA
The clinical trial NDA should be used if a potential investigator would like to engage in preliminary discussions or review a sponsor’s protocol in order to determine whether to participate in an industry-sponsored drug or device study.
Sponsors using their own templates
If a sponsor wishes to use its own template, the project team must request an editable version of the draft agreement and upload it to the UFA. Once the UFA has routed to ORSP, the assigned ORSP officer will review and send a revised version of the agreement to the sponsor’s representative, using the contact information provided by the project team.
Sponsors requesting research agreement templates
If a sponsor requests that U-M provide a draft research agreement, project teams should contact ORSP with this request and provide contact information for the sponsor. ORSP will provide its standard terms and conditions to the sponsor for review and negotiation.