FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 35: Research and Development Contracting
FAR 35.015 Contracts for research with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
This section sets rules for research and development contracts with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations when the work is not precisely defined and only a period of performance is stated. It requires the contract to name a principal investigator, make the contractor primarily responsible for the research, and give the contracting officer approval rights over key changes. It also addresses when basic agreements should be used and reviewed.
Applies to: Research contracts with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations
What it requires
- State that the contractor bears primary responsibility for the research
- Give the name of the principal investigator (or project leader), if the decision to contract is based on that individual's research effort and management capabilities, and the contractor's estimate of the time that individual will devote to the work
- Provide that the named individual shall be closely involved and continuously responsible for the conduct of the work
- Obtain the contracting officer's approval to change the principal investigator (or project leader), the phenomenon under study, the stated objectives of the research, or the methodology
Key terms: principal investigator · project leader · basic agreement · educational institutions · nonprofit organizations
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) General. (1) When the R&D work is not defined precisely and the contract states only a period during which work is conducted (that is, a specific time for achievement of results is not required), research contracts with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations shall—
(i) State that the contractor bears primary responsibility for the research;
(ii) Give (A) the name of the principal investigator (or project leader), if the decision to contract is based on that particular individual's research effort and management capabilities, and (B) the contractor's estimate of the amount of time that individual will devote to the work;
(iii) Provide that the named individual shall be closely involved and continuously responsible for the conduct of the work;
(iv) Provide that the contractor must obtain the contracting officer's approval to change the principal investigator (or project leader);
(v) Require that the contractor advise the contracting officer if the principal investigator (or project leader) will, or plans to, devote substantially less effort to the work than anticipated; and
(vi) Require that the contractor obtain the contracting officer's approval to change the phenomenon under study, the stated objectives of the research, or the methodology.
(2) If a research contract does provide precise objectives or a specific date for achievement of results, the contracting officer may include in the contract the requirements set forth in subparagraph (1) above, if it is necessary for the Government to exercise oversight and approval over the avenues of approach, methods, or schedule of work.
(b) Basic agreements. (1) A basic agreement should be negotiated if the number of contracts warrants such an agreement (see 16.702). Basic agreements should be reviewed and updated at least annually.
(2) To promote uniformity and consistency in dealing with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, agencies are encouraged to use basic agreements of other agencies.
← 35.014 Government property and title. · 35.016 Broad agency announcement. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 35
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.