Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
A MOU is an agreement that outlines the terms and details of an agreement between parties, including each party’s expected activities and goals.
The PPP Program staff can help you think through issues involving MOUs.
MOU issues should be thoroughly vetted internally within the NIH Institute or Center (IC). Current policy requires that certain MOUs be cleared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the NIH Director of Financial Management.
NIH employees are encouraged to send all draft MOUs to the Office of the General Counsel and to the Public-Private Partnerships Program email at pppartnerships@od.nih.gov for suggestions and comments before seeking final IC approval. A copy of all MOUs with the FNIH is to be sent to the Office of Science Policy, whose Director serves as NIH Liaison to the FNIH. Additional guidance on MOUs is currently in development, so please check this site for future information.
This page last updated: March 6, 2008
