NASA makes use of the time period “partnership” to explain all kinds of relationships with numerous exterior entities (e.g., contractors, academia, the general public, different stakeholders). For the aim of those FAQs, a “partnership” is a definite sort of non-procurement enterprise relationship that doesn’t contain the acquisition of products and providers for the direct good thing about the Company.
- Partnership agreements are usually used to:
- (1) help the wants of the exterior associate the place the associate reimburses authorities bills (reimbursable partnership) or
- (2) obtain a mutual aim when working collaboratively on a no-exchange-of-funds foundation (nonreimbursable partnership).
- Procurement contracts, that are topic to the Federal Acquisition Laws (FAR) and procurement statutes, are required when the principal goal of the transaction is to amass property or providers for the direct profit or use of the Federal Authorities.
- Each procurements and partnerships are vital instruments utilized by NASA in assembly its missions.
The most typical authorized instrument used to formulate partnerships at NASA is known as the House Act Settlement (SAA). NASA is allowed by Congress to enter into these sorts of settlement per its “Different Transactions Authority (OTA)” beneath the Nationwide Aeronautics and House Act (51 U.S.C. § 20113(e)). These agreements are much like Cooperative Analysis and Growth Agreements (CRADAs) that another Federal companies use when partnering with trade. SAAs might be nonreimbursable, reimbursable, funded, or unfunded.
- Nonreimbursable agreements are agreements during which the associate and NASA are concerned in a mutually useful exercise that furthers the Company’s goals, whereby every get together bears the price of its participation on a no-exchange-of-funds foundation.
- Reimbursable agreements are agreements that primarily profit the associate and NASA’s prices related to the exercise are reimbursed by the settlement associate in accordance with Company monetary coverage. NASA undertakes reimbursable agreements when it has items, providers, services, or tools not fairly obtainable from the U.S. industrial sector, that may be made obtainable to others on a noninterference foundation, in step with the Company’s mission goals.
- Funded agreements are agreements during which NASA transfers appropriated funds to a home associate to perform an Company goal the place there isn’t any direct profit to NASA. Funded agreements could also be used when the Company can’t accomplish its goals by means of the usage of a procurement contract, grant, or cooperative settlement, and solely after full and open competitors.
- Unfunded agreements are agreements during which the Company gives items, providers, services, or tools on a no-exchange-of-funds foundation to a home associate to perform an Company goal the place there isn’t any direct profit to NASA. NASA will enter into Unfunded agreements solely after full and open competitors.
NASA companions with all kinds of entities, together with:
- U.S. Business (massive and small)
- Different Federal companies
- Analysis establishments
- Public outreach organizations (e.g., museums)
- State and native governments
- Schools and universities
- Overseas entities (companies, academia, analysis establishments, governments)
- Skilled associations and non-profits
