March 27, 1974

VICE PRESIDENT JOHN A. PERKINS

Re: Routine Contracts and Grants Which Need Not Be Reviewed By Office of General Counsel

This memorandum updates and replaces that of February 7, 1966 from then General Counsel Cunningham to then President Kerr regarding legal review of routine contracts and grants. Extramural grants and contracts for research, scholarly or professional training, or for public service programs relating either to research or to scholarly or professional training which are routine as to legal form, and which are within the authority of the President to approve (hereafter "routine contracts and grants"), need not be submitted to the office of the General Counsel for legal review. Routine contracts and grants are those meeting both of the following conditions:

  1. with the Federal Government of the State of California other than those requiring Regents' approval; and

  2. which contain Special Provisions and General Provisions which are usual for comparable contracts and grants with the government agencies concerned.

The following contracts and grants should not be considered routine:

  1. those with entities other than the Federal Government or the State of California; or

  2. those which require Regents' approval under Standing Order 101.1(aa)* including such contracts with the Federal Government or State of California; or

  3. those which contain Special Provisions differing substantially from those found in comparable contracts and grants with the government agencies concerned; or

  4. those which contain material changes in the usual General Provisions.

To help insure the legal sufficiency of routine contracts and grants the points set forth in the attached "Check List for Contracts and Grants" should be checked. Also, particular attention should be given to patent clauses and publication provisions to ascertain that these clauses comply with University policy.

Routine contracts and grants may involve legal problems, especially those relating to unusual undertakings. Therefore, the official with the authority to approve contracts and grants should always feel free to seek legal advice from the office of General Counsel.

The procedure of General Counsel's office described above does not preclude legal review of routine contracts and grants. Rather, it is optional whether any such contracts will be submitted to the General Counsel for review .

If you have any questions or if I can be of any further assistance with respect to this matter, please let me know.

Donald L. Reidhaar
General Counsel

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cc: President Hitch
Secretary Woolman


* For current reference, see Standing Order 100.4(dd)