A Contractor (or Vendor) relationship (including that of an individual acting as a vendor of consulting
services) is appropriate when:
The entity is providing specified services in support of the research program.
The entity has not significantly participated in the design of the research itself, but is implementing the
research plan of the Tennessee Tech investigator.
The entity is not directly responsible to the sponsor for the research or for determining research results.
The entity markets its services to a range of customers, including those in non-academic fields.
Little or no independent decision-making is involved in the design and conduct of the research work
being completed.
The agreement only specifies the type of goods/services provided and the associated costs.
The entity commits to deliverable goods or services, which if not satisfactorily completed, will result in
nonpayment or requirement to redo deliverables.
The entity does not expect to have its employees or executives credited as co-authors on papers that
emerge from the research.
The expectation is that the work will not result in patentable or copyrightable technology or products that
would be owned by the entity.
In the case of an individual vendor of consulting services, the person has no employment relationship
with Tennessee Tech, either academic or administrative in nature.
Based on the answers to the questions stated above and upon my knowledge of this proposed project, it is my
determination that the individual providing the services should be classified as a:
_____ Subrecipient
_____ Contractor
____________________________________ Signature of PI Date:
____________________________________ Printed Name
