United States Department of Agriculture

Technology Transfer: 

Partnering With Wildlife Services

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Wildlife Services (WS), part of the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, often partners with universities, 

private companies, and others to develop new 

products that help prevent or reduce wildlife 

damage. Today’s wildlife-related challenges need 

innovative solutions. With our partners, we find 

answers that are biologically sound, practical, and 

effective—and best protect the health and value of 

U.S. agriculture and natural resources.

We offer many different ways to form these types 

of partnerships. In all, we strive to put WS research 

into real-world use and move new technologies to 

the marketplace. 

The NWRC 

headquarters office 

is located in Fort 

Collins, CO. The 43-

acre campus includes 

several outdoor 

animal research 

facilities. 

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About Our Research

The research arm of WS—the National Wildlife 

Research Center (NWRC)—is based in Fort 

Collins, CO, and at several field stations throughout 

the United States. We employ more than 160 

scientists, technicians, and support staff with 

expertise in a wide range of fields: animal 

behavior, chemical registration, chemistry, ecology, 

economics, epidemiology, immunology, information 

transfer, public health, reproductive physiology, 

toxicology, veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, 

wildlife disease, and wildlife genetics. Here, we 

study ways to resolve human-wildlife conflicts 

related to agriculture, human health and safety, 

property, invasive species, and threatened and 

endangered species.

Partnerships are vital to the Center’s work. NWRC 

shares information on new technologies in many 

traditional ways—publishing research findings, 

producing technical notes and factsheets, 

presenting at scientific meetings, and hosting 

demonstrations and workshops. In addition, 

intellectual property partnerships are how we 

transfer developed technologies to private 

businesses and end-users. 

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How We Work

The Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA), 

in place since 1986, changed the way Federal 

laboratories do business. The FTTA allows labs 

and industry to more freely exchange business 

information and practices, form partnerships, and 

encourage patenting technologies. Today, new 

legal vehicles such as the Cooperative Research 

and Development Agreement (CRADA) and 

expanded patenting and licensing opportunities 

give us even more options for technology transfer 

and innovation. 

WS forms partnerships through a variety of legal 

agreements and by protecting, patenting, and 

licensing inventions. We also cooperate with 

USDA’s Forest Service (USFS), Office of Knowledge 

Management and Communications to facilitate and 

coordinate this work. With all of these agreements, 

we enter into partnerships only when the objective 

relates to the WS mission.

A WS biologist and NWRC 

researcher attach a radio 

transmitter to a snowy 

owl in order to learn 

more about the bird’s 

movement and habitat 

use around airports.

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Intellectual Property and Technology 

Transfer Agreements

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement

The CRADA is a joint research effort—both parties 

bring their expertise to the partnership, and both 

conduct some portion of the work. It includes 

at least one non-Federal partner that has some 

degree of research capacity and commits funds 

and/or in-kind resources to a collaborative effort 

with a Federal entity (for example, a WS scientist). 

A CRADA partner may be an individual company, 

a group of companies, an association, a university, 

or any combination of these. It may also include 

another Federal agency, but only if there is an 

additional non-Federal partner. 

A CRADA is appropriate for a commercial firm 

seeking to further develop and commercialize a 

WS invention, merge WS technology with its own, 

or jointly discover and develop new technologies. 

This may include a new product, process, or 

service. The cooperator may give funds to WS 

for work done under the agreement or may 

contribute personnel, equipment, or materials. 

WS offers research staff, laboratory facilities, 

materials, equipment, supplies, technical and 

intellectual knowledge and advice, and other 

in-kind contributions. 

NWRC’s animal 

holding facilities allow 

researchers to test 

the effectiveness of 

repellents for use on 

agricultural crops.

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Benefits

CRADAs offer many benefits:

• assurance of confidentiality

• access to Federal laboratory resources and 

expertise

• rights to intellectual property and help with 

patenting

• the right to negotiate exclusive licenses on 

patented inventions

How To Initiate a CRADA

• Search the NWRC Web page at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlifedamage/nwrc

for information about our research programs. 

• Contact WS scientists responsible for 

research projects of interest. 

• Develop a brief proposal with the WS scientist 

and technology transfer program manager. 

• Obtain proper review and clearance for the 

proposal from your firm. 

• Work with the WS scientist and technology 

transfer program manager to develop a 

Statement of Work for the agreement.

• Obtain signed approval from your firm for 

the CRADA and its proposed research plan.

NWRC and its 

partners in Australia 

are leading the 

way to develop and 

register a toxicant 

bait for feral swine. 

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Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

An NDA, sometimes referred to as a Confidentiality 

Agreement, performs several functions. It permits 

parties to exchange confidential information and 

data in order to determine whether they would like 

to enter into a research collaboration or license 

agreement. The signatories of an NDA agree not 

to disclose technical information received from the 

other party for a specified period of time. 

Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)

An MTA governs the transfer of materials between 

two organizations. This agreement does not 

transfer ownership. The materials are only 

lent to the receiving scientist, and the MTA 

sets forth the conditions of the loan—it defines 

the rights of the provider and recipient for the 

materials and any derivatives, as well as how 

the materials may be used. An MTA includes 

conditions of confidentiality.

NWRC expertise 

includes chemistry, 

veterinary medicine, 

epidemiology, 

genetics, physiology, 

and wildlife biology.

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Material Transfer Research Agreement (MTRA)

MTRAs allow for the transfer of materials and the 

engagement in joint research between the provider 

and the recipient of the materials. An MTRA does 

not convey rights to negotiate exclusive licenses to 

any intellectual property arising from the research. 

Rather, it is intended as an early-stage opportunity 

for proof of concept that may lead to more 

extensive research, which would be conducted 

under a CRADA.

Other Types of Collaborative 

Agreements

Under a Cooperative Service Agreement, the 

cooperator provides funds to WS for research 

or other product development projects. The 

agreement may be on a one-time or continuing 

basis; it can allow for cost recovery in advance 

(trust fund) or be reimbursable. Confidentiality 

provisions apply to the cooperator’s proprietary 

material. Information developed by WS can only be 

withheld from public disclosure for a reasonable 

period of time to protect intellectual property rights 

until a patent application is filed. 

NWRC facilities 

include a biosafety 

level 3 (BSL-3) 

suite for studying 

various wildlife 

disease agents.

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Cooperative Agreements are for more general 

purposes. WS enters into these agreements when 

we see the need for substantial involvement 

with a partner on an activity. The main purpose 

is to create public support or awareness rather 

than acquire services for WS’ direct benefit or 

use. Under this type of agreement, WS provides 

money, property, services, or anything of value 

to the cooperating partner to achieve the stated 

goal. Unless mandated by legislation or program 

regulations, these agreements do not require the 

partner to share costs or match funding. 

An Interagency Agreement is an acquisition 

arrangement between at least two Federal 

agencies. The purpose is for one agency (the 

requesting agency) to obtain needed goods and 

services from another agency (the performing 

agency). WS uses interagency agreements to 

transfer funds between APHIS and other Federal 

agencies when needed to support specific 

work related to its mission. The Economy Act of 

1932 (31 U.S.C. 1535–1537) applies to these 

agreements.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a 

written plan between two or more parties to 

carry out a project of mutual interest. Each 

party to the MOU handles its own activities and 

Overabundant wild horses 

damage natural areas. 

GonaCon-Equine is an 

immunocontraceptive 

vaccine NWRC researchers 

developed to help reduce 

fertility in wild horses.

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uses its own resources, including its own funds. 

There is no transfer of funds between or among 

the parties. WS uses MOUs to define and formally 

document the nature, terms, and conditions of an 

agreement with other Federal agencies or nonFederal entities.

Patent Program

WS shares many of its discoveries with the public 

right away via publications or community outreach. 

Yet, some WS inventions need major financial 

investments and resources from the private sector 

before the public can benefit from a new, improved 

product or service. To offer an incentive for such 

investments, WS may patent new inventions and 

transfer technologies to the public through patent 

licenses. Inventions can be solely or jointly owned. 

If the Government owns part or all of the invention, 

WS will prepare and prosecute the patent 

application.

Patent Licenses

USDA patented technologies are available for 

licensing with the intent to commercialize.

WS partners with USFS to oversee the licensing 

process for federally owned inventions, in line with 

Federal law (37 CFR 404). Licenses to market 

Tetracycline (green in 

photo) is used as a 

marker to determine 

the effectiveness of 

wildlife vaccines.

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in the United States are available to qualified 

businesses and individuals on an exclusive, 

partially exclusive, or non-exclusive basis. In some 

cases, foreign patent rights are available. Licenses 

are royalty-bearing and include provisions for 

license execution and annual maintenance fees 

and patent cost reimbursements. 

Businesses or individuals who want to 

commercialize a WS invention must submit a 

patent license application. We use this information 

to decide whether the applicant has a development 

and marketing strategy that will lead to successful 

commercialization. The WS-USFS licensing office 

considers the applicant’s estimate of potential 

market size and share, profits, and financial and 

resource investments needed to commercialize 

the product. This information, combined with the 

scope of the licensed patent and license rights, 

also informs negotiations on license fees and 

royalty rates. All business information shared 

during licensing negotiations is kept confidential. 

WS has been 

instrumental in 

developing and 

testing new oral 

rabies vaccines.

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Successful Commercial Partnerships

Below are just a few examples of successful 

partnerships between WS and private industry. 

Through such partnerships, we help deliver 

innovative tools and technologies to wildlife 

managers and others.

GonaCon-Equine

WS licensed GonaCon-Equine—our 

immunocontraceptive vaccine for wild and feral 

horses—to Spay FIRST!, a public benefit company. 

This license allows the company to produce 

and sell the vaccine in the United States and 

internationally. Spay FIRST! is working to develop a 

line of wildlife contraceptive products. 

Live Snake Trap

WS helped launch a new product line for private 

partner Tomahawk Live Trap. This trap manufacturing 

company licensed a patented live snake trap from 

WS. The trap uses two trip pans to capture large, 

heavy snakes such as the invasive Burmese python 

in Florida. It is the first trap to require that two trip 

pans be depressed at the same time to close the trap 

door. The pans are spaced far apart to reduce the 

NWRC’s rodenticide 

research focuses 

on improving the 

efficacy of existing 

products and 

investigating new 

and safer alternative 

compounds. 

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chance that nontarget animals, such as smaller native 

snakes and raccoons, will trigger the trap. It is now 

available for purchase on the company’s Web site.

Bait Delivery System

WS and Applied Design Corporation received a 

joint patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark 

Office in 2017. This patent is for a mechanized 

system that produces and aerially delivers bait 

to control invasive brown treesnakes on Guam. 

The technology is easily adapted for delivery of 

other payloads and could help with rodent control 

and eradication efforts, oral vaccine delivery, and 

other uses.

Bird Repellent Strategy 

WS patented a strategy based on ultraviolet 

characteristics of natural compounds for reducing 

bird damage to agricultural crops. The patent was 

licensed to Arkion Life Sciences LLC. Arkion and 

WS are pursuing four other patent applications for 

use in the United States and abroad. Also, Arkion 

is developing a product line that will help protect 

crops, buildings, and other structures from birdcaused damage.

WS worked with a 

private engineering 

firm to develop an 

automated aerial bait 

delivery system to help 

control invasive brown 

treesnakes on Guam.

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More Information

You can learn more about WS research and 

partnering opportunities from the resources below.

The NWRC Web site (www.aphis.usda.gov/

wildlifedamage/nwrc) is the electronic gateway 

to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) research about wildlife damage 

management. NWRC studies issues of national 

and international scope that affect management of 

wild mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The APHIS Web site (www.aphis.usda.gov) 

describes APHIS’ national programs. APHIS is a 

multifaceted agency with a broad mission area 

that includes, among other things, protecting and 

promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating 

genetically engineered organisms, administering 

the Animal Welfare Act, and managing wildlife 

damage. These efforts support the overall USDA 

mission to protect and promote food, agriculture, 

natural resources, and related issues.

The WS Technology Transfer Program Manager 

(970-266-6000) can offer more information on 

intellectual property agreements, technologies 

available for licensing, partnering opportunities, 

and technology transfer success stories.

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Contact Us

USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services

National Wildlife Research Center

4101 LaPorte Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80521

(970) 266-6000

www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlifedamage/nwrc

APHIS Mission

To protect the health and value of U.S. agricultural, 

natural, and other resources

WS Mission

The Wildlife Services program provides Federal 

leadership in managing problems caused 

by wildlife.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, 

and lender.

Mention of trade names or commercial products 

in this report is solely for the purpose of providing 

specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture over others not mentioned.

Photo credits: Images of the air net cannon (on cover and 

page 13), Avian Dissuader (on cover), and OvoControl (on 

cover) were provided by Martin Engineering, FeatherLight 

Technologies, and Innolytics, LLC, respectively, and are used 

with permission. The photo on page 4 is by David Kenyon, 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The photo on page 

9 is by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 

Management. All other images in this brochure were taken by 

WS employees.

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Program Aid No. 2091

Revised August 2017

Wildlife Services