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Export Controls in Research & Education at Georgia Tech. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry February 21, 2012. The Regs www.export.gatech.edu. State Department - International Traffic in Arms Regulations ( ITAR) covers military- and space- related technologies
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Export Controls in Research & Education at Georgia Tech School of Chemistry and Biochemistry February 21, 2012
The Regswww.export.gatech.edu • State Department - International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) • covers military- and space- related technologies • Commerce Department - Export Administration Act (EAR) • covers commercial technologies • covers “dual use” technologies • Treasury Department - Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) • administers sanctions that apply to certain nations • regulates transfer of assets or services to those countries • may prohibit travel/other activities with sanctioned countries & persons even when exclusions to EAR/ITAR apply
China Military Catch All • June 2007 EAR changed to add “China Rule” • When exported/re-exported for a military end use in China • If you know or have reason to know of military end use you may not rely on an exception • Note NO ITAR exports to China without license
Sanctioned/Embargoed Services Under OFAC • Creating new information materials at the behest of persons in a sanctioned country • Engaging the services of persons in a sanctioned country to develop new information materials • Restrictions vary by country • OFAC Maintains Specially Designated Nationals List
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act The FCPA makes it unlawful to bribe foreign government officials to obtain or retain business. The FCPA prohibits: • paying, offering, promising to pay money or anything of value to a foreign official, a foreign political party or party official, or any candidate for foreign political office. • payments made in order to assist the firm in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person. • corrupt payments through intermediaries.
OFAC Increasing restrictions Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Regulations ITAR License Required International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) Regulations EAR for 22 Countries EARfor Group B Countries Including India and Israel Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Fundamental Research Fundamental Research
What’s controlled and to where? Embargoed Countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria Increasing restrictions ITAR License Required EAR for 22 Countries EARfor Group B Countries Including India and Israel OK for Group B Countries Including India and Israel Embargoes/Sanctions subject to change, always check: http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/ No License Required OK for All but Embargoed Countries No License Required OK for All but Embargoed Countries
Why is THIS so important? Failure to comply with U.S. export control rules can result in severe penalties both for the individual and the entity • Criminal Penalties1 • Fines: $1,000,000 per violation and imprisonment of up to 10 years in prison. • Civil • Fines: $250,000 per violation or twice the monetary amount of the underlying transaction which ever is greater • (ITAR=$500,000 per violation) • Loss of Export Privileges • Negative publicity 1. ITAR, EAR and OFAC all impose criminal and civil penalties although the ranges of the penalties vary.
Most research and educational collaborations that involve controlled technology are subject to an exclusion or exemption from licensing.
The most common exclusions from controls/exemption for academic research institutions • Fundamental Research Information Exclusion (ITAR/EAR) • Public Domain/Publicly Available Information Exclusion (ITAR/EAR) • Educational Information Exclusion (ITAR/EAR) • Full-Time Bona Fide U.S. Higher Education Employee Information Exemption (ITAR) • These exemptions do NOT apply to encryption software or to mass market encryption software with symmetric key length exceeding 64-bits
Research: Fundamental Research Exclusion Fundamental Research Exclusion applies to information when the research is: • Basic or applied • At an institution of higher learning • In the U.S. and • No publication or access controls exist for the activity
Research Agreements Most research conducted in the academic units of most universities is conducted under the Fundamental Research Exclusion. Note: Research Proposals to Foreign Sponsors require export review.
University research does not qualify as “fundamental research” if: • University accepts restrictions on publication of research results (temporary prepublication review allowed for proprietary purposes ~60 days) • University accepts specific access and dissemination controls in federally-funded research
Research Agreements Even when the FRE applies: • If there is a Non-Disclosure Agreement in place for access to technology or information used in the research, the exclusion may not apply to the proprietary information. • OFAC Sanctions Apply • It may only apply to activities conducted in the United States*
Does this proposal need an export review before it is submitted? Submit for denied party and denied entity screening and further processing. YES Further processing by Research Compliance and Office of Legal Affairs. Is the sponsor a foreign entity or person? NO Will the research be performed in the United States? NO • Does the solicitation or proposed contract include: • Publication restriction (including FAR 252.204.7000) • Foreign nationals restriction • Identification as ITAR controlled technology YES YES Is there a solicitation (BAA, RFP, Program Announcement, etc). NO YES NO NO Will the sponsor remove the clause or term? Is there a proposed contract? Is there a NDA in place between the parties that addresses this specific exchange? YES NO YES Will unpublished and/or proprietary information be transferred to or from Georgia Tech? NO YES FRE: Proposal may be submitted. NO Propose GT standard NDA; forward to Ask Legal. YES Is there an NDA in place with this sponsor, i.e. will proprietary information be transferred to or from Georgia Tech? YES Review export control language in NDA. Is there a restriction on access by foreign nationals? NO NO
Research Agreements The FRE does not apply: • If there is a restriction on publication or public access • If there is a restriction (contractual) on the participation by foreign nationals in the research • To the exchange of unpublished or proprietary information that is export controlled to foreign parties, collaborators outside the US • To the export of tangible goods, biological materials, source code, software…..
DoD Guidance, aka “John Young Memo” On May 24, 2010 the DOD Undersecretary for Acquisition issued a new memorandum on Fundamental Research. The memo reinforces an earlier (6/26/08) memorandum on Contracted Fundamental Research and provides additional clarifying guidance. The intention is to assure that DOD fundamental research awards are “fully compliant with National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 189.” III. POLICY It is the policy of this Administration that, to the maximum extent possible, the products of fundamental research remain unrestricted. It is also the policy of this Administration that, where the national security requires control, the mechanism for control of information generated during federally funded fundamental research in science, technology and engineering at colleges, universities and laboratories is classification……No restriction may be placed upon the conduct or reporting of federally funded fundament research that has not received national security classification, except as provided in applicable U.S. Statutes.
Do I need to be concerned about export controls in this contract? • Public domain, and • No equipment, encrypted software, listed-controlled chemicals, bio-agents or toxins, or other restricted technologies are involved, and • Information/software is already published, and • There is no contractual restriction on export, or • Fundamental Research • (note definitions and caveats associated with this exemption) • Equipment or encrypted software is involved, or • Technology is not in the public domain, and • Technology may be exposed to foreign nations (even on campus) or foreign travel is involved, and • The equipment, software or technology is on the Commerce Control List, or • Information or instruction is provided about software, technology, or equipment on the CCL, or • The foreign nationals are from or the travel is to an embargoed country • And the contract has terms e.g. a publication restriction that effect the Fundamental Research Exemption • Equipment, software, chemical, bio-agent, or technology is on the US Munitions List (ITAR), or • Equipment, software, chemical, bio-agent or technology is designed or modified for military use, use in outer space, or there is reason to know it will be used for or in weapons of mass destruction, or • Chemicals, bio-agents or toxins on the Commerce Control List are involved, or • The contract contains a restriction on export or access by foreign nationals NO Probably (further review is required) License May Be Required YES License Will Be Required
What do you do if you cannot document the FRE? Is it controlled (under ITAR or EAR) and, if so, to where? A technology control plan (TCP) may be required to prevent unauthorized export. A license may be required if an export is contemplated.
Common concerns when accepting a restricted project Foreign Nationals may not work on most projects with a TCP. Students (including US citizens) may not work on any project ineligible for the Fundamental Research Exclusion (FRE) for their thesis or dissertations. Violations & Penalties
Managing Deemed Exports Schools, laboratories and PIs are responsible for compliance with deemed export rules and TCPs. • NDA agreements • Software in-licenses that contain export restrictions, which is used in classroom teaching and/or research • Materials transfer agreements • Sponsored research • Technology transfer efforts
When should you seek an export license in order to prepare a proposal or accept an award?
Research Agreements • In some circumstances, an overseas activity will not come under a educational or research exception and will involve controlled technology. • An export license will be required prior to the start of the activity • A Technology Control Plan will be required
Information and Contactwww.export.gatech.edu export@gatech.edu Jilda Diehl Garton jilda@gatech.edu Mary Beran maryberan@gatech.edu