THE IAEA RESEARCH CONTRACT PROGRAMME

I. GENERAL PROGRAMME INFORMATION

Statutory provisions

The International Atomic Energy Agency is authorized under its Statute: "to encourage and assist research on, and the development and practical application of, atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world". The Agency's programme and budget for 2003 accordingly provides for the placing of research contracts and agreements with universities, colleges, research centres, and laboratories, and other institutions in Member States on subjects directly related to the Agency's work.

Financial support

The financial support of a project by the Agency is normally provided by means of a lump-sum cost-sharing contract. The Contractor is usually expected to bear part of the cost of the project and, in any case, to continue to make normal contributions in the form of overhead and other expenses. The Agency therefore contributes an appropriate percentage to the total estimated costs. Due to the limited resources available, the amounts awarded are rarely large - the present average being approximately US $5,000 per annum per contract. Larger awards may, however, be considered. In addition to the contract award, contractors participating in Agency Co-ordinated Research Projects (CRPs) are invited to attend periodic research co-ordination meetings at the Agency's expense.

Agreements may be awarded to institutes, normally in developed countries, for participation in an Agency CRP. Under such agreements, no financial award is made to the agreement holder other than the provision to attend research co-ordination meetings at the Agency's expense.

Selection of Institute

Institutions to which research contracts and agreements will be awarded are selected by the Agency. When a specific proposal for research is made by an institution in a Member State, the decision to award a research contract or agreement is made after careful consideration of several factors; namely the technical merits of the proposal, the compatibility of the project with the Agency's own functions and approved programmes, the availability of appropriate facilities and personnel in the institution and previous research work related to the project.

In providing research support from the limited funds available to the programme, priority is normally given to proposals received from institutions in developing countries.

Formal submission of proposals

Based either on a proposal made by the Agency, or a proposal developed at a research institute, a formal submission of a project proposal must be made by the institute concerned to the Research Contracts Administration Section. Such proposals should reach the Agency prior to the end of May 2003.

If the proposed project is approved a contract or agreement will be sent to the head of the institution for approval and signature, and the Government of the Member State will be duly notified through the appropriate channels of the conclusion of the contract or agreement. For all research contract proposals IAEA form number N-17/Rev.6, "Research Contract Proposal", must be used. Proposals for research agreements should be made on IAEA form number N-20/Rev.2, "Proposal for Research Agreement". Copies of these forms are available on the Agency's Internet site: http://www.iaea.org/programmes/ri/uc.html or may be obtained by writing to the Agency at the following address:

For Attention:
Mr. James Reed
Acting Head, Research Contracts Administration Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
Wagramer Strasse 5
P.O. Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

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