I think there is a lot of difference between commercial vendors and academic collaborators.  As I recall when A-110 was revised in 1993 the purpose of this particular paragraph was to diminish the practice of the potential vendor writing the specs.  So, yes, my position would be that it applies to for profit companies only.
Jane

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Charlie Hathaway
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 11:50 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] conflict of interest?

OK...just curious.
Do these regs ONLY apply because the company is FOR PROFIT?
Certainly, there are many situations in which potential ACADEMIC COLLABORATORS might "encourage" a PI to include their involvement in a project (e.g. sub award to pay for use of laboratory EQUIPMENT and reagents to run an analysis) AND ALSO offer assistance with the preparation of the proposal.  In each case the sub-contractor/vendor stands to benefit from the success of the proposal.  Isn't the important question whether the proposed research could be compromised by the influence?  To what degree can objectivity be assured when everyone involved in a research project stands to gain personally?

CH

> Check out A-110, part ___.43, Competition, which expressly forbids
> this type of practice.  "In order to ensure objective contractor
> performance and eliminate unfair competitive advantage, contractors
> that develop or draft specifications, requirements, statements of
> work, invitations for bids and/or requests for proposals shall be
> excluded from competing for such procurements."  Clearly, you couldn't
> purchase equipment from them if they helped.
> Jane
>
> Jane A. Youngers
> Assistant Vice President for Research
> Office of Sponsored Programs
> The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
> 7703 Floyd Curl Drive
> San Antonio, TX  78229-3900
> 210.567.2333
> fax 210.567.2344
> xxxxxx@uthscsa.edu
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On
> Behalf Of Gina Betcher
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 11:08 AM
> To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] conflict of interest?
>
> Seems unintentionally unethical but it is most definitely. However
> purchase of a kind of equipment is allowed, priced, in a budget.
> Source of sale is not.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Nadler, Elsa" <xxxxxx@UTNET.UTOLEDO.EDU>
> To:  <xxxxxx@hrinet.org>
>
> Sent: 3/12/2010 11:54:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] conflict of interest?
>
> If you are truly under no obligation, it is probably OK, although
> somewhat shady. If there is any kind of prior agreement, or even a
> suggestion of one, I would consider it highly unethical, not just a
> conflict of interest.
>
> Elsa Nadler
> 419.383.6967
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On
> Behalf Of Maldve Regina
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 11:41 AM
> To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
> Subject: [RESADM-L] conflict of interest?
>
>
> Oh Wise Ones,
>
> Our college was approached by a for-profit organization in regards to
> a HRSA program announcement: ARRA-Equipment to enhance training for
> health professionals-health careers opportunity program.  The company
> is a provider of video conferencing systems and we have purchased
> products from them in the past.  This company reached out to our
> learning resources center staff and offered to provide grant writing
> assistance if they were interested in submitting a proposal for this application.
> Conveniently, they would benefit from this collaboration, given that
> we could purchase the equipment from them.  My question, is this a
> conflict of interest for a for-profit entity to solicit grant awards
> from universities, offer grant writing services (presumably at no
> cost) provided they are the supplier of equipment.  Obviously, we
> would be
>
> under no obligation to purchase their product; wink, wink. nudge, nudge.
>
> Thanks for your insight.
>
> Reg
>
> Regina Maldve, Ph.D., CRA
> Sr. Grants and Contracts Specialist
> Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies The
> University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
> (512) 232-7511
>
> Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It
> takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the
> opposite direction.
> ~Albert Einstein
>
>
>
>
>
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 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including  subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available  via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================

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 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
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