Requesting Beam Time
Proprietary Research
Proprietary research is work conducted under a Class Waiver for Proprietary
Users of Energy Research Designated User Facilities. Such research may be
conducted by private individuals, representatives from educational institutions,
nonprofit organizations, or industry.
Under the terms of the DOE Class Waiver, the user is obligated to pay the
full-cost recovery rate for NSLS usage. In return, the user has the option to
take title to any inventions made during the proprietary research program and to
treat as proprietary all technical data generated during the proprietary
research program.
Special procedures are in place for Proprietary Research and must be
adhered to prior to performing any proprietary experiment at the NSLS.
- Proprietary User's Agreement
The terms and conditions under which proprietary research
may be conducted at the NSLS are set forth in the NSLS
Proprietary User's Agreement (pdf), which must be in place before any experiment
can commence.
Such an Agreement is between the legal entity sponsoring the research
(i.e., the private individual, university, or corporation) and Brookhaven
Science Associates (BSA), operator of Brookhaven National Laboratory. A single
User's Agreement can cover numerous research proposals over an extended period
of time. The Agreement is prepared by the BNL's Office of Intellectual Property and Sponsored Research.
Requests for a prepared copy of the Agreement and any questions pertaining to
negotiating such an agreement should be directed to BNL's Patent Office, at
(631) 344-3035.
- Proprietary Research Performed During
Participating Research Team (PRT) Operations
Proprietary work is most often conducted by PRTs or by those collaborating
with PRTs. Proprietary research through this method requires
the submission
through the online Proposal, Allocation,
Safety and Scheduling (PASS) system.
Proprietary work is most often conducted by PRTs or by those collaborating
with PRTs. Proprietary research through this method does not require a
proposal and beam time is allocated and scheduled directly with the beamline
personnel.
If beam time is
not available through PRT membership or collaboration, then beam time for
proprietary work can be requested through the General User Program.
- Proprietary Research Performed under the General User Program
Proprietary research requested through the General User Program requires
the submission through the online Proposal, Allocation,
Safety and Scheduling (PASS) system. Principal investigators (PIs) must contact beamline
staff prior to submitting a proposal
to ensure the experiment may be performed on the beamlines requested.
Beamline capabilities, techniques and staff members are listed in the Beamline
Guide.
The same submission
deadlines apply for proposals for proprietary research and general user
research.
- Proposal Review and Allocation
Proprietary proposals are reviewed and approved by the NSLS Chairman.
The Beam
Time Allocation Committee (BTAC) is charged with allocating beam time to both new
Proposals and Beam Time Requests. The user will receive written notification of the beamline and beam time
allocated.
Proprietary proposals are submitted to the Proposal
Coordinator to be reviewed and approved by the NSLS Chairman.
Once the proposal is approved, the Principal Investigator (PI) will receive
email notifications indicating the assigned proposal number and information
pertaining to the allocation.
- Requesting Beam Time in subsequent cycles
A proposal does not automatically receive beam time for every cycle
during its lifetime. A Beam Time Request must be submitted online through
the PASS system on or before the
deadline for each scheduling cycle during which beam time is desired.
Beam
Time Requests are not rated again, but are routed directly to the Beam Time Allocation
Committee for beam time allocation.
After the allocation process is complete, the Principal Investigator (PI)
will receive an email notification of the beamline assigned and the number
of days allocated for the cycle.
Beam time is scheduled directly between the PI and the beamline.
- Proprietary Research Rates and Accounts
Any beam time used for proprietary research purposes must be charged the
full cost recovery rate (click on any file type >> scroll
down Column B to National Synchrotron Light Source >> the follow
row over to the "Total with FCR" column).
Users must set up a proprietary
research account prior to submitting a
Proprietary Research Proposal.
The PI will be directed to verify or adjust
the safety information submitted with the proposal and also to schedule beam
time through the PASS system.
Thereafter the PI will receive another email confirming the scheduled beam time.
A completed Safety Approval Form (SAF) must be submitted at least one week before the scheduled
beam time through the Proposal,
Allocation, Safety and Scheduling (PASS) system. Currently,
PIs performing proprietary research are instructed to complete "SAF
Only (Authorized Use Only)" under Type of Proposal.
Proposals become inactive after 1 year has elapsed.
- Reporting Proprietary Usage
On December 31, April 30, and August 31, all proprietary users are required
to report proprietary usage, or confirm non-usage, on the Proprietary
Usage/Non-Usage Certification (.doc) and the NSLS
Proprietary Reporting Form (.doc).
NSLS User Administration sends a letter and blank forms to the PI
approximately one
month in advance of the due date.
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