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Material Transfer Agreements

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract that governs the transfer of one or more materials from the owner or authorized licensee to an institution for research purposes. Entities providing incoming materials to a Texas A&M University recipient should forward the MTA, through the standard routing process, to the Vice President for Research or a designee (OSP) for signature (signature by recipient is not valid).

Conversely, Texas A&M may provide an outside entity (recipient) material development at Texas A&M University (outgoing material). In this case, the OSP will forward the recipient an agreement to sign before sending the material. There is a standard MTA agreement available.

Additionally, Texas A&M has signed an agreement with NIH called the Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA), which is a multi-institutional agreement (mostly universities and non-profit institutions), which standardizes the terms and conditions of material transfer agreement between these institutions. To receive material from institutions who are signatories to this agreement, the recipient institution simply signs a simple letter agreement and forwards it to the institution providing the material. More information, as well as institutions who have signed the UBMTA can be found on the Association of University Technology Managers Web site.

Examples of Materials

Cell lines
DNA libraries
Monoclonal antibodies
Organisms
Reagents
Growth factors
Drugs
Clones/Cloning tools
Animal models
Computer Software
Devices/equipment
Chemicals

Types of MTAs

Incoming (Texas A&M University recipient requesting material from outside of university.)
Outgoing (Outside recipient requesting material from university provider.)
Outgoing with Fee (Outside recipient requesting material from university provider where university charges a fee)

MTA Questionnaire

This is a series of questions about the material transfer grant. These questions help both the provider and the administrative office to primarily determine issues regarding intellectual development, ownership, and potential commercialization, as well as other issues.

Incoming
Outgoing

The review process for approving Incoming/Outgoing MTAs

Handled the same as any proposal/contract
Complete MTA Questionnaire ( Incoming/ Outgoing)
Attach internal routing sheet

Do not complete sections on budget and cost sharing

Attach compliance approval
Routing sheet signed by PI or recipient scientiest, Department Head, and Dean
Reviewed by Vice President for Finance
Signed by OSP
Copies to A&M System Office of Technology Commercialization

The review process for approving outgoing MTAs with fee

Handled the same as a license agreement
Initiated by A&M System Office of Technology Commercialization
Approved by department head, dean, Office of Sponsored Projects, and Vice President of Finance
Signed by A&M System Office of Technology Commercialization