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Service Center Agreements

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Stanford is home to a large number of service centers. Stanford's academic service centers are specialized facilities that provide services and products principally to users within the University, but occasionally to outside entities.

Service Center Agreements are standard approved form agreements that govern both the provision of services to outside entities and the authorization of external users to work with service center equipment. These agreements are found at Exhibits E: External Users Guidelines, Forms, and Information and generally are non-negotiable.

In cases where standard agreements must be slightly tailored for a specific project, ICO assists service centers in negotiating appropriate terms. To submit an agreement for review, please fill out ICO’s Intake Form. For questions about service center agreements, contact ICO.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the difference between a Service Center Agreement and a “Service Agreement”?

Stanford’s academic Service Centers are specialized facilities that provide services and products principally to users within the University and occasionally to outside entities. Standard approved form Service Center Agreements govern both a Service Center’s provision of services to outside entities and the authorization of external users to work with Service Center equipment. ICO assists Stanford Service Centers in reviewing and negotiating Service Center Agreements if the form agreement needs to be tailored for a specific project.

In contrast with Service Center Agreements, Service Agreements cover services provided by Stanford faculty who perform or oversee fee-for-service projects in which Stanford personnel, facilities or equipment services are procured by outside entities. Service Agreements are prohibited in certain circumstances and faculty must adhere to specific requirements. ICO does not have the authority to assist faculty with Service Agreements and inquiries regarding Service Agreement approval should be directed to the faculty member’s Dean’s Office representative.

2. Does ICO need to review all Service Center Agreements?

If the outside entity accepts the terms of the standard Service Center Agreement, ICO does not need to review the Service Center Agreement.

If additional terms are required to meet the needs of a specific project, ICO will assist the Service Center in reviewing and negotiating the modified Service Center Agreement. Please submit all Service Center requests for ICO assistance via ICO’s Intake Form.

3. Does ICO needs to sign Service Center Agreements?

If no substantive changes have been made to the standard Service Center Agreement, ICO does not need to sign the agreement and the Service Center Director’s signature is sufficient.

If ICO negotiates and/or substantively modifies the standard Service Center Agreement, ICO must sign the revised agreement in its capacity as an authorized institutional official.