The Research Contracts Office (RCO) supports ANU researchers and research support staff by managing the review, negotiation, drafting and execution of research contracts and agreements. We work closely with Research Management Hubs (RM Hubs), researchers and other stakeholders to ensure agreements meet ANU policy requirements, funding conditions and legal obligations while supporting the successful delivery of research projects.
The RCO manages contracts and agreements that support research and research-related activities, including:
- Research contracts with third parties
- Research-related MoUs
- Research subcontracts
- Multi-Institutional Agreements (MIAs)
- Research collaboration and partnership agreements
- Tender terms and conditions relating to research
- Contract variations and amendments
- Business and contractual risk assessments associated with research activities
- Research-supporting activities such as LIEF and NCRIS contributions
Activities Outside the RCO Remit
The following activities are generally managed by Schools, Colleges or other specialist University areas:
- Procurement contracts for equipment, consumables and services
- Teaching and education agreements
- IT contracts
- Facilities and Services contracts
- Commercialisation agreements, including patents and intellectual property licensing
- Consultancies and personal professional services undertaken under the 52-day rule
- Other non-research activities that do not meet the definition of research
Before Submitting a Research Contract Request
To help avoid delays, please engage your Research Management Hub (RM Hub) as early as possible and ensure the following requirements have been completed.
Approvals and Compliance
Please ensure:
- A Costing, Pricing and Approval (CPA) has been submitted and approved.
- Any required Foreign Interference and Collaboration Assessment (FICA/FIAC) processes have been completed.
- Any Conflicts of Interest (CoI) or Declarations of Interest (DoI) have been disclosed and reviewed.
- Procurement requirements have been considered, including any required procurement approvals or exemptions, particularly where external providers are being engaged as part of the project.
What Happens Next?
Once the required approvals and documentation have been completed, your RM Hub will review the request and submit it to the Research Contracts Office. The RCO will then review, negotiate and, where required, draft the agreement before coordinating institutional approvals and execution on behalf of ANU.
Tip: Engaging your RM Hub early in the application or project development process helps identify compliance, procurement and contractual requirements before deadlines become critical.
Special Delegation Requirements
Some funding applications require additional ANU endorsement beyond standard RM Hub approval. These may include:
- Certain international funding schemes
- Institutional certifications and assurances
- Indirect cost waivers
- Cross-subsidy requests
- US federal funding requirements
- Funding agreements requiring institutional review
Read more: Research Funding Endorsement
Key Principle
Engage early. Early involvement of the RM Hub and RCO helps identify risks, clarify funding requirements and avoid delays in contract execution. For standard requests, allow approximately 10 working days for contract review and processing, noting that complex agreements may require additional time.
Research Funding Endorsement Restricted, login required
A guidance on the situations in which delegate endorsement relating to externally-funded research is required beyond College level delegates
