Service Activity Determinations

Service Activities

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When Do I Need a Service Determination?

A formal contract is required when a department receives money in exchange for services to external customers (e.g., corporate, federal, non-profit, startup, etc.). OCG鈥檚 Service Contracts team (鈥淥CG Services鈥) is the authority for these contracts. OCG does not need to be involved for services exclusively offered to internal customers.

The first step is to conduct a 鈥渄etermination,鈥 which means we must verify that the activity is eligible to be contracted as a service. This helps us to 1) ensure legal and administrative allowability, and 2) identify protections needed for the University and researchers.听

For rate-based service activities (RBSAs), a determination only needs to be completed once for each service. For sponsored service projects (i.e., scope-based services), a new determination must be completed for every contract.

What Activities Are Eligible for Services?

If an activity furthers scientific investigation, and/or creates new IP to be used by CU, and/or requires publication, the activity is research.

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Potentially Eligible Activities
  • Testing
  • Analysis
  • Equipment use
  • Training / professional development
  • Evaluation
  • Fabrication
  • Consultation
Ineligible Activities
  • New scientific investigation / discovery
  • General auxiliaries and points of sale (e.g., ticket sales, t-shirt sales)
  • Large auxiliaries (e.g., Housing and Dining, Bookstore, UMC)
  • Conducted under
  • Requires cost share
  • Research collaborator on SBIR/STTR
  • Federal assistance on private grant program
  • Grant subawards
  • Using un-paid student labor (e.g., work for academic credit, class projects)

How Do I Request a Service Determination?

Click the button below and fill out our online Service Determination request form. Once you submit, a copy will be sent to OCG Services.

OCG Services will review the form and get back to you within 5 business days. We may ask follow-up questions, and coordination with other teams (e.g., Office of Export Control, IP Counsel, EH&S, etc.) may be required.

Once the determination is complete, OCG Services will email you the official determination and provide specific information on next steps.

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For Service Contracts Help or Questions

Email:

Office of Contracts and Grants, Service Contracts
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