Award Agreement

Please review the Sample Award Agreement.

The application form includes a check box that you have read the agreement and are able to abide by the rules and are authorized to enter into an agreement. The form has an option to list exceptions that are critical for your organization to consider at the time of application to enable funding. Requested exceptions may be considered by IFT for discussion to arrive at agreeable adjusted terms on an exception bases but are not guaranteed.

Allowable Direct and Indirect Expenses

The Award Funds may be used for direct expenses such as personnel, cost for using existing hardware, existing pilot plant or existing laboratory infrastructure, necessary travel (coach class), supplies, new equipment if specified in the plan of work, contracted services, sub-grants, and consultants. The Award Funds may be used to pay any indirect costs so long as the aggregate amount of indirect costs does not exceed 6% of the total Award Funds. Indirect costs are defined as (1) overhead expenses incurred as a result of the Project, but that are not easily identifiable with the Project and (2) administrative expenses that are related to overall general operations and are shared among projects and/or functions. Examples of indirect costs include, but are not limited to, rent, insurance, gas, and electricity.

Lobbying and Political Activity

Grant funds cannot be used for lobbying activities, as described in sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Intellectual Property

Awardee will maintain ownership of any and all Background Technology and Funded Developments; provided, however, Award Funds may not be used to limit third party access to Funded Developments or any innovations created with the use of Award Funds. Award Funds may not be used to file any patents.

“Funded Developments” means the products, services, processes, technologies, materials, software, data, other innovations, and intellectual property resulting from the Project (including modifications, improvements, and further developments to Background Technology). “Background Technology” means any and all products, services, processes, technologies, materials, software, data, or other innovations, and intellectual property created by Awardee or a third party prior to or outside of the Project used as part of the Project.

Sub-Contracts

Awardee has the exclusive right to select subcontractors to assist with the Project. Awardee acknowledges that IFT has not and will not earmark the use of any Award Funds for a specific subcontractor.

Privacy Notice

To help IFT and the Selection Committee in their evaluation and analysis of proposals, all documents, communications, and associated materials submitted to IFT (collectively, “Submission Materials”) will be subject to external review by independent subject matter experts in addition to analysis by IFT employees, contingent workers, and/or consultants. Please consider carefully the information included in the Submission Materials. If you have any doubt about whether to disclose confidential or proprietary information, IFT recommends you consult with your legal counsel. You may wish to consider whether such information is critical for evaluating the submission, and whether more general, non-confidential information may be adequate as an alternative for these purposes. We respect confidential information we receive as long as it is clearly and explicitly stated in the proposal what portion of it constitutes confidential information. Nonetheless, notwithstanding your characterization of any information as being confidential, IFT may disclose all information contained in Submission Materials to the selection committee members to the extent it determines is necessary to evaluate them and the manner and scope of potential funding, as may be required by law, and as otherwise described in these Competition Rules. IFT may also share all Submission Materials with the Seeding the Future Foundation.

IFT’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service govern the Competition, and by providing any Submission Materials, the sender represents that the applicant(s) agree to be bound by IFT’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.  The full privacy policy and terms of service are located on IFT’s website at the following links: Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Insurance Requirements
Each applicant agrees to maintain insurance coverage sufficient to cover the activities, risks, and potential omissions of the project in accordance with generally accepted industry standards and as required by law. Each applicant will ensure its sub-grantees and subcontractors maintain insurance coverage consistent with this section.

Non-Discrimination Policy

IFT is committed to honoring the diversity in our community and providing equal opportunity to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, marital status, order of protection status, genetic information, sexual orientation, transgender status, and any other category protected by law.

No Suitably Qualified Applicant

IFT reserves the right to not award one or more grants if it determines, in its sole discretion, that no suitably qualified applicant exists. Similarly, IFT reserves the right to split an award in the event that there is a tie for a single award.

Miscellaneous

1. IFT and the Selection Committee reserve the right to request proof for critical information furnished by the applicants with reference to their business.
2. Any misrepresentation of facts may lead to disqualification from the contest.
3. All determinations by IFT will be final.
4. All prizes are subject to any applicable withholdings or taxes, including withholding on U.S. source income.  Winners will be required to provide IFT with any required information or executed forms before prizes may be paid.
5. This contest is void where prohibited.  IFT may be prohibited from accepting entries or awarding prizes from residents of certain foreign countries under regulations of the United States Treasury or the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control.  Prizes will only be awarded in compliance with applicable United States laws.  IFT reserves the right to reject applications, withdraw prizes or terminate the contest when in the best interests of IFT.
6. Rules can be changed without prior notice.

By submitting a proposal, the sender represents to the Institute of Food Technologists that he/she (i) has the authority to bind the named Applicant to the terms set forth above, without amendment, (ii) agrees to be bound by such terms; and (iii) has the right to provide the information submitted.