Assisting manufacturers during start-up

Manufacturers will vary a great deal in the amount of in-house expertise they have. Strong, established manufacturers often have a staff of industrial designers who, given the drawings and other project data, will carry the ball pretty much on their own. Some manufacturers "job out" the design function or the packaging function or both. Others are small businesses who are trying to develop capability in a new area and may lack an extensive background in the technology. (Keep in mind that the VA encourages the use of small businesses when they are appropriate to the task at hand.)

Here are some variations in transfer assistance provided to manufacturers.

• If you developed a cooperative agreement with a manufacturer during the conduct of the project, you probably indicated the nature and extent of assistance that is to be provided by the VA staff.
  
  
• If the manufacturer requires only occasional assistance and it can be handled quickly and easily (for example, clarification on a technical matter), you should provide this assistance without hesitation or charge in order to expedite transfer.
  
  
• If the manufacturer requires an ongoing relationship (for example, a consultancy), you will want to clear the arrangement with the Center Director, and possibly the Transfer Officer, and adjust your work schedule accordingly.
  
  
• If you plan to undertake the manufacture of the product alone or in a partnership, you must carefully separate that role from the role you have presently in the VA. You should be certain to clear with the Center Director, in advance, any questio n of conflict of interest.

Note that the new Federal law encourages cooperation between laboratories and private enterprise. However, it doesn't encourage the inappropriate use of your time and effort as a government employee nor does it condone unethical arrangements just to ach ieve transfer.

Investigator

Transfer Officer

Center Director