Forming Partnerships 

With Wildlife Services

Wildlife Services

Protecting People 

Protecting Agriculture 

Protecting Wildlife
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Wildlife Services (WS)

APHIS’ WS program often partners with privatesector industries to develop new tools and 

techniques for resolving human-wildlife conflicts 

related to agriculture, human health and safety, 

property, invasive species, and threatened 

and endangered species. The research arm 

of WS—the National Wildlife Research Center 

(NWRC)—is based in Fort Collins, CO, and at 

several field stations around the United States. It 

employs more than 160 scientists, technicians, 

and support staff with expertise in a variety of 

disciplines, including animal behavior, chemical 

registration, chemistry, ecology, economics, 

epidemiology, immunology, information transfer, 

public health, reproductive physiology, toxicology, 

The NWRC 

headquarters 

campus is located 

in Fort Collins, 

Colorado. The 

43-acre campus 

houses several 

outdoor animal 

research 

facilities.

2
veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, wildlife 

disease, and wildlife genetics.

WS promotes the adoption of research outcomes 

by end users. Methods of technology transfer 

are varied and include publishing research 

findings, producing technical notes and 

factsheets, presenting at scientific meetings, 

hosting demonstrations and workshops, and 

protecting and licensing inventions for developing 

commercial products. The Federal Technology 

Transfer Act of 1986 changed how Federal 

Government research and development agencies 

do business, allowing Federal laboratories and 

industry to form commercial partnerships that 

enhance the development of new technologies 

and move them to marketplace. WS strives to 

transfer and market new technologies related 

to wildlife damage management from its 

research. It has formed numerous partnerships 

using Cooperative Research and Development 

Agreements. The USDA’s Office of Technology 

Transfer (OTT), housed in the Agricultural 

Research Service (ARS), facilitates and 

coordinates these partnerships.

3
Cooperative Research and 

Development Agreements

A Cooperative Research and Development 

Agreement (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. These agreements 

provide the cooperator the right to negotiate an 

exclusive license to inventions made under the 

agreement, and also provide confidentiality for 

up to 5 years for information generated under the 

agreement. 

The cooperator provides the resources needed 

to develop and commercialize a new product, 

process, or service. The firm may provide funds 

to WS for work done under the agreement, or may 

contribute personnel, equipment, or materials. 

WS provides research staff, laboratory facilities, 

materials, equipment, supplies, technical 

and intellectual knowledge and advice, and 

other in-kind contributions. Both parties bring 

their expertise to the partnership, and both 

conduct some portion of the work. As with its 

other agreements, WS enters into this type of 

agreement only when the objective relates to its 

mission.

Fluorescent 

colored dyes 

are used to 

mark large 

flocks of 

birds 

temporarily.

4
Benefits of CRADAs to 

Commercial Firms

• The right to negotiate exclusive licenses 

on patented inventions 

• Direct access to WS scientific expertise

• Potential to commercialize new WS 

technologies

Benefits of CRADAs to WS

• Wider opportunities for developing and 

transferring technologies

• Feedback from industry on research 

needs

• Increased familiarity with problems

related to commercializing products or 

processes

Benefits of CRADAs to American 

Public

• Transfer of tools and information resulting

from government-supported research for 

public use

NWRC scientists learn 

more about beaver 

biology and behavior.

5
Steps for Initiating a CRADA

1. Search WS National Wildlife Research Center’s 

Web page (www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_ 

damage/nwrc) for information about NWRC’s 

research programs 

2. Contact WS scientists responsible for research 

projects of interest 

3. Develop a brief proposal with the WS scientist 

and the OTT technology transfer coordinator 

4. Obtain appropriate preliminary review and 

clearance for the proposal from your firm 

5. Work with the WS scientist and the technology 

transfer coordinator to develop a Statement of 

Work for the agreement

6. Obtain approval from your firm for the CRADA 

and its proposed research plan 

Other Types of Agreements

In addition to CRADAs, WS enters into other 

strategic partnerships with Federal, State, 

and private organizations to help deliver new 

technologies to the public. These partnerships 

include Cooperative Service Agreements (i.e., Trust 

Fund and Reimbursable), Grants, Cooperative 

Agreements, Interagency Agreements, Memoranda 

Night vision cameras 

are often used to 

monitor animal 

behaviors.

Double-crested 

cormorant with 

satellite transmitter.

6
of Understanding, Material Transfer Agreements, 

and Confidentiality Agreements. 

Cooperative Service Agreements are similar to 

CRADAs, but lack the provision for negotiating 

an exclusive license and complete assurances of 

confidentiality. The cooperator provides funds to 

WS under this type of agreement. Cooperative 

Service Agreements may be established on a 

one-time or continuing basis and provide for 

cost recovery in advance (trust fund) or on a 

reimbursable basis. Confidentiality provisions 

apply to the cooperator’s proprietary material, but 

information developed by WS while either type of 

agreement is in place can be withheld from public 

disclosure for only a reasonable period of time to 

protect intellectual property rights until a patent 

application is filed. 

Grants are entered into when WS anticipates 

no substantial involvement with a partner. The 

principal purpose of a grant is to accomplish 

public support or stimulation rather than to acquire 

services for the direct benefit or use of WS. 

WS enters into Cooperative Agreements when 

it anticipates substantial involvement with a 

partner while the contemplated activity is being 

NWRC expertise 

includes chemistry, 

veterinary medicine, 

epidemiology, 

genetics, physiology 

and wildlife biology.

7
performed. Agency collaboration, participation, or 

intervention constitutes substantial involvement. 

The principal purpose of the relationship is the 

transfer of money, property, services, or anything 

of value from the WS to the cooperating partner to 

accomplish public support or stimulation. Unless 

mandated by legislation or program regulations, 

there is no mandatory requirement for cost-sharing 

or matched funding by the partner under Grants 

and/or Cooperative Agreements. The principal 

purpose of a Cooperative Agreement is to create 

public support or stimulation rather than acquire 

services for the direct benefit or use of WS.

An Interagency Agreement is an acquisition 

arrangement developed between at least two 

Federal agencies in order 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 in order to conduct activities needed to 

carry out its mission, goals, and objectives. WS will 

comply with applicable provisions of the Economy 

Act of 1932 (31 U.S.C. 1535-1537).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is 

a written plan between two or more parties 

cooperating to carry out a project of mutual 

interest. Each party to the MOU handles its own 

activities and uses its own resources, including its 

own funds. There is no transfer of funds between 

NWRC facilities 

include a biosafety 

level 3 (BSL-3) suite 

for studying various 

wildlife disease 

agents.

8
or among the parties. WS policy is to use a MOU 

as the instrument to define and formally document 

the nature, terms, and conditions of an agreement 

with other Federal agencies or non-Federal 

entities.

WS scientists use Material Transfer Agreements, 

or MTAs, when they want to provide material to 

someone outside WS, but also want to maintain 

control over the material and avoid public 

disclosure. These agreements can also be used 

to bring materials into WS from outside parties for 

research purposes from the technology licensing 

coordinator (see page 15). Generally, material 

transfer agreements specify what the material 

is and what it can be used for, restricts giving 

it to a third party without permission, prohibits 

commercial use, and specifies its disposition.

WS scientists enter into a Confidentiality Agreement

with cooperators outside the agency when they 

want to discuss confidential information or data 

that may have patent potential. The agreement 

preserves patent options. Confidentiality 

agreements are also used when a company 

needs to discuss confidential information with WS 

scientists.

Patent License Program

Many important WS discoveries are transferred 

directly to the public without intellectual property 

White-tailed deer 

used in wildlife 

contraceptive study.

9
protection. Some WS inventions require significant 

financial investments and resources from the 

private sector before the public can benefit from 

a new, improved product or service. To provide 

an incentive for such investments, WS may patent 

new inventions and transfer technologies to the 

public through patent licenses.

ARS-OTT administers the USDA’s technology 

licensing program. The technology licensing 

program grants licenses to qualified businesses 

and individuals who wish to commercialize 

WS technologies. Licenses may be exclusive, 

nonexclusive, or partially exclusive, and in some 

cases foreign patent rights are available.

How To Apply for a Patent License

Licensing federally owned inventions is done in 

accordance with Federal regulations (37 CFR 

404). A copy of these regulations can be obtained 

from the technology licensing program coordinator.

Businesses or individuals who want to 

commercialize a WS invention must submit a 

patent license application. Information provided 

with the application is used to determine whether 

the applicant has a sufficient plan for developing 

and marketing the invention. All business plans 

are kept confidential. Patent license application 

forms are available by mail or may be downloaded 

from the USDA-ARS Partnering Web site (www.

Tetracycline is 

used as a marker 

to determine the 

effectiveness of 

wildlife vaccines.

10
ars.usda.gov/Business/Business.htm). All patent 

license applications should be mailed to the 

technology licensing program coordinator.

License Provisions

USDA patent licenses are royalty-bearing and 

include provisions for license execution fees, 

annual license maintenance fees, and patent 

cost reimbursements. License fees and royalty 

rates are negotiable. Information submitted by the 

applicant—including estimates

of potential market size, market share, and 

profitability—is used to help determine fair 

and reasonable terms. Other factors are also 

considered, such as scope of the licensed patent, 

scope of rights granted, and financial and resource 

investments required for commercialization.

Licensees are required to submit periodic reports 

detailing the progress made to commercialize 

licensed patents. After the first sale of royaltybearing products, licensees are required to 

submit royalty reports, including information on 

the quantity of products made, used, and sold, 

and the royalties due USDA. This information is 

confidential and not publicly disclosed.

Special Considerations

Exclusive or partially exclusive patent licenses—

including licenses that are co-exclusive (limited 

number of licensees), exclusive territory (limited to 

WS has been 

instrumental in the 

development and 

testing of new oral 

rabies vaccines.

11
a specific country), and exclusive field (limited to 

a specific use)—may be granted for non-CRADA 

inventions, but only after public notice has been 

made.

Successful Commercial Partnerships

WS continues to foster relationships with many 

businesses throughout the United States and, 

in so doing, creates new jobs and economic 

opportunities. 

WS partnered with Innolytics, LLC, to develop and 

register an oral contraceptive bait—OvoControl® 

G for resident Canada geese and ducks and 

OvoControl® P for pigeons. The products reduce 

the hatchability of eggs and help decrease pest 

bird populations. Innolytics markets OvoControl 

products to private pest control operators, wildlife 

management agencies, and city governments 

that are seeking non-lethal, humane methods 

to manage geese, ducks, and pigeons in their 

communities. 

WS helped launch a new product line for private 

partner Martin Engineering—together, they 

designed and developed a new air cannon net 

system for capturing wild birds. The new design 

eliminates the need for explosives. Instead, it 

relies on compressed air to launch four 5-pound 

WS partnered 

with Innolytics, 

LLC, to develop 

a new oral 

contraceptive 

bait for use on 

resident Canada 

geese.

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projectiles attached to a 40-by-60 foot net. Martin 

Engineering is currently manufacturing and 

marketing the system under the name “Martin Net 

Blaster.”

WS and SEA Tech filed joint patents to develop 

the Avian Dissuader®, a handheld, low-power, 

long-wavelength laser used to disperse birds 

from roosts. WS conducted studies of birds 

both in captivity and in the wild to determine the 

effectiveness of the laser in dispersing problem 

roosts, as well as to verify that no physical harm 

occurred to the birds or their vision.

These are just a few examples of successful 

partnerships between WS and private industry. 

Through such partnerships, WS helps deliver 

innovative wildlife damage management tools and 

technologies to wildlife managers and others.

Additional Information

You can learn more about WS research and 

partnering opportunities from the resources listed 

below:

The WS National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) 

Web site (www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/

nwrc) is the electronic gateway to APHIS research 

related to wildlife damage management. NWRC 

OvoControl® bait. Air net cannon manufactured 

by Martin Engineering.

13
conducts research of national and international 

scope affecting the management of wild mammals, 

birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

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

describes APHIS’ national programs. APHIS 

is a multi-faceted agency with a broad mission 

area that includes protecting and promoting 

U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically 

engineered organisms, administering the Animal 

Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage 

management activities. These efforts support the 

overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and 

promote food, agriculture, natural resources, and 

related issues.

ARS-OTT (www.ars.usda.gov/partnering, e-mail: 

npa-spattc@npa.ars.usda.gov) can provide 

information about technologies available for 

licensing and partnering opportunities, as well as 

success stories and information on WS.

The Technology Transfer Information Center (www.

nal.usda.gov/ttic) is part of USDA’s National 

Agricultural Library. The Center assists users in 

finding information by searching national and 

international databases and other resources.

Contact Information

USDA-APHIS-WS

National Wildlife Research Center

4101 LaPorte Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80521

Phone: (970) 266-6000

Fax: (970) 266-6032

Web site: www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/

nwrc

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Technology Transfer Coordinator

Northern Plains Area and Southern Plains Area

USDA, ARS, OTT

2150 Centre Avenue, Building D

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Phone: (970) 492-7028

Fax: (970) 492-7023

E-mail: npa-spattc@npa.ars.usda.gov

Technology Licensing Program Coordinator

USDA, ARS, OTT

5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 4-1174

Beltsville, MD 20705-5131

Phone: (301) 504-5989

Fax: (301) 504-5060

E-mail: license@ars.usda.gov

APHIS Mission

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

natural, and other resources.

WS Mission

To provide Federal leadership in managing 

problems caused by wildlife.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 

discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, 

sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 

orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 

because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any 

public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of 

discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250–

9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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.

Photo credits: The images in this brochure were taken by 

USDA employees or are part of the APHIS image collection.

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Issued March 2009

Program Aid No. 1986