1. An Introduction to Contracts and the Interaction of the Contracts Team with Research Administration
Sam Bibby & Lisa Murphy

2. The Contracts Team Introduction Team Structure
Remit of the Contracts Team
Why are contracts necessary?
What constitutes an agreement/contract?
The core contract terms
University contractual process
Research Administrators’ role in the contractual process
Question and Answer session.
The Contracts Team is headed up by Lisa Murphy. Each Faculty has a dedicated point of contract, so that no matter what type of agreement you need you can come through to the one person in the first instance. I am your contact for Environment and Development. Another team member you may be helped by is Seamus Byers who progresses confidentiality agreements and amendments. We work closely with your School’s Research Business Managers, Marta Fole and Jill Lee Borrett.

3. SEE HANDOUT 1 FOR CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE CONTRACTS TEAM
Head of Contracts
Faculty of
EPS
Contracts
Officer
Contracts Assistant
Life Sciences
Humanities
Contracts Officer
MHS
SEE HANDOUT 1 FOR CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE CONTRACTS TEAM

4. What Agreements do the Contracts Team Negotiate?
Research
Collaboration
Subcontract
Clinical Trial
Studentship / CASE Studentship / EngD
Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA/NDA)
Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
Consultancy Agreement
Service Agreements
IT and Software Agreements
KTA and KTP
PLEASE SEE HANDOUT 2 FOR CONTRACTS TEAM / UMIP WORK SPLIT

5. What we DON’T do UMIP’s remit (see handout 2 for further information)
Procurement Contracts
Grants
Financial information / new vendor forms
Setting up new sponsors on Oracle
Academic’s personal agreements
EU funding agreements
Set up account codes for contracts
Office of the General Counsel’s remit
Estates contracts
HR Contracts and general employment queries
General non-contractual legal queries

6. The 3 main reasons for putting a contract in place
1. It defines the rights, obligations and performance required from each party to the contract.
2. It defines the share of technical, commercial and economic risks between the parties.
3. It prescribes the procedure for dealing with problems arising from the contract.
WHAT GOVERNS THE RELATIONSHIP IF THERE IS NOT A WRITTEN CONTRACT?

7. “A legally enforceable agreement”
WHAT IS A CONTRACT?
“A legally enforceable agreement”
There must be:
An offer
An acceptance
A consideration or contribution of value
An intention to create a legal relations

8. Main contractual terms and conditions
Details about the work to be performed
Financial arrangements
Publications
Intellectual Property Rights
Confidentiality
Liabilities
Termination
Governing law

9. UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER CONTRACTUAL PROCESS
Pre-contract aspects that are conducted at School level.
Drafting of University contracts based on template or bespoke; or
Review of sponsor’s terms and conditions
Negotiation
Signature
Indexing
Setting up account on Oracle at School level
SEE HANDOUT 1 FOR RESEARCH CONTRACT FLOWCHART

10. Complete checklist for administrators (see handout 3)
YOUR (THE ADMINISTRATOR’S) ROLE IN THE PROCESS AND HOW YOU CAN ASSIST
Details of any pre-contract discussions i.e. what has been discussed and agreed by academics in negotiation of project (IP, finance etc…)
Complete checklist for administrators (see handout 3)
Inform academics of the Contract’s Team remit

11. Q&A

12. Further Information
Contact your School’s Contracts Officer for any queries you may have in relation to this presentation
If in doubt always call and we’ll assist you appropriately
Poster created by Matt Valentine is enclosed in your session pack
If you haven’t printed your pack it is available at: