Federal agency equipment can be purchased, furnished, or loaned. This type of equipment can also be titled to the University of Washington, to the Federal Government or other agency funding a grant or contract, or to a private company providing the equipment. These assets have different requirements, rules, and regulations from those governing state-funded equipment. This section will provide guidance on most issues regarding federal and agency equipment.
Determining Ownership
- Informs who has the legal or rightful title to the property.
- Provides the information necessary for the owner, in most cases the UW, to make decisions regarding the property.
- Is especially important during the acquisition and disposition phases as well as the beginning and end of the lifecycle of an asset.
- Is established based on the funding source and, if sponsor funded, the grant or contract language.
Types of Ownership
Federal
Equipment acquired with federal funds, or otherwise furnished by, the Federal Government for use under a federal grant and/or contract and where the federal agency retains title to the property.
- Equipment is purchased and/or furnished by the government for its intended use, usually research.
- University is accountable to the federal agency for the item.
- At the end of the research project, the University may be required to return the item or the federal agency may grant title to the University for continued use, e.g., research.
- See the Post Award Fiscal Compliance page, 'Title to Equipment Purchased on Federal Awards' for more information.
Agency
Equipment purchased with funds provided by private donors through a grant or contract where the private agency retains title to the property.
- Equipment is purchased and/or furnished by the private agency for its intended research.
- University is accountable to the private agency for the item.
- At the end of the research project, the University may be required to return the item or the private agency may donate it to the University for continued research.
State
Equipment purchased, gifted, or transferred-in on a state or gift budget is University titled, and falls under State property regulations along with any federal or private grant/contract equipment where title is not retained by the agency.
Please note: Equipment purchased on grants or contracts does not belong to the Principle Investigator (unless specifically stated in the award). Ownership lies with the University or the funding agency.
See 'Title to Equipment Purchased on Federal Awards' for more detail.