Authorization for Government-operated Federal laboratories to enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) was initially provided by the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, which was amended by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of the Navy (DoN) have each issued specific guidelines governing technology transfer. This guidebook was prepared for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Dahlgren, Virginia, and provides guidelines concerning responsibilities, requirements, options, types, format, and contents of CRADAs.

"This paper reviews the history of CRADA and some different projects funded through this process to determine if it adds value to America. Is the CRADA process just a social welfare program for the federal laboratories and the industrial base?"--Page ii

The term 'Cooperative Research and Development Agreement' means any agreement between one or more Federal laboratories and one or more non-Federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, services, facilities, equipment, or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-Federal parties) and the non-Federal parties provide funds, personnel, services, facilities, equipment, or other resources toward the conduct of specified research or development efforts which are consistent with the missions of the laboratory; except that such term does not include a procurement contract or cooperative agreement as those terms are used in Sections 6303, 6304, and 6305 of Title 31, U.S. Code.

"This paper reviews the history of CRADA and some different projects funded through this process to determine if it adds value to America. Is the CRADA process just a social welfare program for the federal laboratories and the industrial base?"--Page ii.