What do I need to do to get a business agreement?   You complete a Business Agreement Request and Data Sheet (BARDS) located on the Business Contracts web site. It's a fill-in-the-blanks form that walks you through who/what/where/when/why and for how much process. The final agreement will only be as accurate as the information provided by you, so error on the side of too much rather than too little. Remember that the University's Regulation 4 prohibits engaging in purely commercial activities, so if an income agreement, it must document how the work relates to the University's mission of teaching, research, public service and patient care to prevent later claims of unfair competition from private industry. At the bottom of the form are sections for the required approvals; at a minimum you need the signatures of your Department Head or Director.   If it’s above their delegation then you will need the approval of the  Department Chair or Dean or Vice Chancellor.

Upon receipt of the completed and signed BARDS, Business Contracts will take it from there. Depending upon workload, a basic business agreement takes a minimum of three days to three weeks to complete, and other more complex transactions may take upwards of six weeks to three months. Basically Business Contracts will:

• Set up an agreement file with individual tracking number
• Collect any missing information
• Coordinate additional reviews as may be required or appropriate
• Review/edit other party's agreement or purchase order (if provided), or write our own agreement.
• Get agreement reviewed and approved by everyone involved
• Get agreement signed by appropriate signatories
• Send copies of fully executed agreement to everyone who requires one, including requesting department and accounting and
• Set up a payment vehicle in DaFIS (Non Purchasing Agreement - NPA) for you to pay the invoices against.

Once this process is complete Business Contracts will keep in touch with the "Department Contact" listed on the BARDS via a Status Check form periodically to ascertain the process is working, if the agreement needs changes, or if the work is complete. If something changes, though, don't wait for the status check - send a written memo (email is fine referencing the agreement number) to the analyst who is handling the agreement so the needed changes can be made.

Finally, please READ YOUR COPY of the agreement when it comes back to you.  Make sure it is correct, as this may be your last chance to get something clarified. Be sure you understand what you need to do, like receiving invoices, making payments, submitting reports, or notifying us when something is wrong.