SPA facilitates various contractual arrangements between Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. These arrangements support partnerships between NIU and the laboratories that strengthen the university’s research and external funding programs.
Common Types of Contractual Arrangements
Research Contracts
Most research contracts between the laboratories and NIU begin with the lab issuing a Request for Proposal or Request for Quote. NIU holds a master research agreement with Argonne National Laboratory and most research contracts are issued as task orders under this master agreement.
Guest Researcher Agreements
NIU faculty and staff may need to collaborate with Argonne scientists or engineers and access the lab’s facilities at no cost. These arrangements require a guest researcher agreement be signed between NIU and Argonne.
Learn more about guest faculty at Argonne National Laboratory
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)
A CRADA provides a way for a national laboratory to engage in collaborative research and development agreements with the university for the mutual benefit of both parties. The laboratory and university may share in the costs to facilitate the collaboration, or the university may provide all the costs.
To initiate an agreement with one of the labs, please complete the Proposal Intake Form. A member of our team will be in touch to help you with your submission.
Joint Appointments
NIU faculty and researchers may hold joint appointments with the laboratories while NIU may also extend university appointments with NIU to laboratory scientists.
NIU researchers with funded joint appointments may not receive funded effort under other Argonne research contracts.
Argonne appointees planning to submit proposals through NIU should contact their NIU department and college prior to initiating the proposal through SPA.
Learn more about the Joint Appointment Program at Argonne National Laboratory.
To initiate or modify a joint appointment, contact Dara Little, associate vice president for research/executive director sponsored programs at dlittle@niu.edu