Negotiating and Accepting an Award

Award Review and Negotiation

All awards are reviewed by RAS on behalf of MIT. PIs and DLCI personnel are not authorized to negotiate and sign agreements on behalf of MIT. If necessary, awards are negotiated by the appropriate Institute official to remove problematic terms and conditions. As needed, RAS consults with the PI, DLCI administrators, and other administrative offices providing specialized expertise. Depending on the complexity of the agreement, the negotiation process can range from a few days to several months.

For more information on industrial collaborations and agreements, see the Office of Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer (OSATT).

Unilateral vs. Bilateral Award Acceptance

Unilateral, or negative-confirmation, awards do not require formal acceptance of the award by MIT. A proposal is submitted; then the sponsor issues an award document including budget or other revisions. The Institute’s expenditure of funds demonstrates award acceptance and agreement to the terms and conditions. Many federal grants, such as those issued by NSF and NIH, are unilateral awards.

Bilateral, or positive-confirmation, awards require an MIT-authorized official sign to accept the award terms and conditions. Typically, federal contracts, foundation awards, and industry awards are bilateral.

Key Factors in Award Negotiation and Acceptance: