Federal contracts differ from grants in that they are governed by a different set of federal regulations, known as the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Federal contracts are handled by the government as an acquisition or procurement of service, and are by nature more specific and less flexible than other funding mechanisms such as federal grants. They also require more preparation, supporting material, and are subject to more strict oversight than federal grants. Review of the FAR clauses if available in a sponsor’s RFP, or post award is performed by the Office of Sponsored Programs to determine areas for compliance, as well as, to preserve such principles as the right to publish project results and to maintain ownership of University Intellectual Property.
Direct links to the applicable FAR are listed below.