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Research Responsibilities and Compliance

Export Control Terms and Definitions

T5 Country

These are sanctioned countries in which any interaction of any type is highly controlled and scrutinized by the U.S. federal government. The countries currently includeCuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, & Syria..

Closure

Once the export controlled items or technology/technical data are no longer on campus, our office works with the research staff to close the Technology Control Plan.

Controlled Exports

These are specific types of exports regulated by the federal government (e.g., commodity, biologics, equipment, software, encryption, technology, or technical information) sent from the U.S. to a foreign person or destination.

Controlled Item

All physical items are subject to export control regulations at one level or another.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Controlled Unclassified Information is any information that law, regulation, or government wide policy requires to have safeguarding or disseminating controls, excluding information that is classified under Executive Order 13526, Classified National Security Information, December 29, 2009, or any predecessor or successor order, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

Deemed export

The release or transmission of controlled exports to any foreign person in the U.S. Such a release of information is considered to be an export to the foreign national’s home country or country of current citizenship

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR)

A well-known example of an agency supplement of the FAR, Federal Acquisition Regulations. DFARs are used by the Department of Defense.

Dual Use

Technology or items that are designed or suitable for both civilian and military purposes are considered dual use and fall within the Export Administration Regulations.

Export (noun)

An export is goods or services transferred across national borders for the purpose of selling or realizing foreign exchange.

Export (verb)

This is the act of transferring controlled exports (see definition above), transferring funds, contracting, and/or providing services to foreign persons or entities. Examples include the shipment of goods as well as the transfer of written documents or information via email, phone, fax, internet, and verbal conversation.

Export Administration Regulations (EAR)

The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) is a set of United States government regulations on the export and import of most commercial items and dual-use items and technologies. The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for implementing and enforcing EAR.

Export Classifications

OSR will review the USML and CCL to determine whether items and/or technology/technical data are found on those lists. Support of Ohio State faculty may be needed during this process due to their expertise in their technical areas.

Export Eligibility

Based on where items and technology/technical data fall on the USML and CCL and the proposed export destination, an export license may need to be acquired prior to an export occurring. OSR will review the regulations to make those determinations.

Export License

An export license is a written authorization provided by the appropriate regulatory authority detailing the specific terms and conditions allowing the export or re-export of controlled exports.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The FAR System governs the acquisition process by which executive agencies of the United States federal government acquire (i.e., purchase or lease) goods and services by contract with appropriated funds.

Foreign National

Anyone who is not a citizen of the host country in which they are residing is considered a foreign national.

Foreign Person or Entity

Anyone who is not a U.S. person (see definition below) is considered a foreign person. Any foreign corporation, business association, partnership, trust, society, or any other foreign entity or group as well as international organizations and foreign governments are considered foreign entities.

Fundamental Research Exclusion (FRE)

Any “basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which are ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community...” is not subject to export control regulations under the Fundamental Research exclusion. See National Security Decision Directive 189 (NSDD 189). Research that contains publication restrictions or that contains access or dissemination restrictions does not qualify as Fundamental Research. See 15 CFR §734.8 “Information Resulting from Fundamental Research,” 22 CFR §120.10 “Technical Data,” and 22 CFR §120.11 “Public Domain.”

Fundamental Research Determinations

OSR works with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), the Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED), the Office of International Affairs (OIA), colleges, centers and others throughout Ohio State to ensure that agreements meet the legal definition of Fundamental Research whenever possible.

Implementation

In the event that controlled items or technology/technical data are handled by the university, OSR will work with the research staff to implement a Technology Control Plan.

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)

An organization within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence responsible for leading research to overcome difficult challenges relevant to the United States Intelligence Community. IARPA funds academic and industry research across a broad range of technical areas. IARPA transfers successful research results and technologies to other government agencies.

Intelligence Agency

A governmental unit responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, and foreign policy objectives. There are 17 intelligence agencies. Any awards from these entities are likely to have export control red flags.

  • Office of the Director of National Intelligence

  • Central Intelligence Agency

  • National Security Agency

  • Defense Intelligence Agency

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation

  • Department of State – Bureau of Intelligence and Research

  • Department of Homeland Security – Office of Intelligence and Analysis

  • Drug Enforcement Administration – Office of National Security Intelligence

  • Department of the Treasury – Office of Intelligence and Analysis

  • Department of Energy – Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence

  • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

  • National Reconnaissance Office

  • Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

  • Army Military Intelligence

  • Office of Naval Intelligence

  • Marine Corps Intelligence

  • Coast Guard Intelligence

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is a set of United States Government regulations on the export and import of defense related articles and services. The U.S. Department of State is responsible for implementing and enforcing ITAR.

License Applications

If an export license is required, OSR will work with the appropriate federal agency to submit the application on behalf of Ohio State. Licenses can be approved, approved with provisos, denied, returned without action or revoked at any time.

License Exemptions

Often times, the need to apply for an export license can be avoided if the university is eligible exemption. In order to take advantage of these, there are typically record keeping requirements. OSR will determine whether or not an exemption is available and manage the record keeping requirements on behalf of Ohio State.

License Management

When export licenses are approved, there are often a variety of record keeping and reporting requirements the university is required to meet. OSR will handle that on behalf of the university.

Management

As the needs of Ohio State researchers change throughout the course of a project, we will update the Technology Control Plan to accurately reflect how we are managing and protecting the controlled items or technology/technical data.

Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)

A contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two organizations, when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes. The MTA defines the rights of the provider and the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives.

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)

The nation’s primary source of geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Intelligence Community. As a DOD combat support agency and a member of the IC, NGA provides GEOINT, in support of U.S. national security and defense, as well as disaster relief.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

This non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce with a mission to promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. Relevant to restricted sponsored research, NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-171 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations is referenced in DFARs 252.204-7012.

National Security Agency (NSA)

A national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence. It is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes, specializing in a discipline known as signals intelligence (SIGINT). It is also tasked with the protection of U.S. communications networks and information systems.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement (CA), confidential disclosure agreement (CDA), proprietary information agreement (PIA) or secrecy agreement (SA), is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to or by third parties. It is a contract through which the parties agree not to disclose information to any party not covered by the agreement.

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

A department of the U.S. Department of Treasury that enforces economic and trade sanctions against countries and groups of individuals involved in terrorism, narcotics, and other disreputable activities.

Prohibited Party

An individual or entity who is on one of the lists published by the Departments of Commerce, State or the Treasury.

Sanctioned and/or Embargoed Entities

Certain individuals, entities, and countries with whom the U.S. government actively restricts U.S. persons or entities from conducting interactions for a variety of reasons.
The following departments all maintain and enforce separate blocked and sanctioned lists:

  • Department of Commerce, see Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR (B)(VII)(C) §746 “Embargoes and other

    Special Controls”;

  • Department of State, see International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 CFR (I)(M) §126.1;

  • Department of the Treasury, see Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions information.

Sanctioned Transaction(s)

Exporting 1) to or within a sanctioned or embargoed country, or 2) to entities or individuals from a sanctioned or embargoed country.

Sanctions Determinations

OSR reviews individual sanctions programs on behalf of Ohio State to determine whether certain services of value qualify for a General License already provided for by the federal government or not.

S3 Private Data

Private data is institutional data classified as private due to legal, regulatory, administrative, or contractual requirements; intellectual property or ethical considerations; strategic or proprietary value; and/or other special governance of such data. Access to and management of private data requires authorization and is only granted to those data users as permitted under applicable law, regulation, contract, rule, policy, and/or role. Examples of S3 Restricted Data are student education records, student directory information, trade secrets, and export controlled data that falls under the EAR99 classification.

S4 Restricted Data

Restricted data is institutional data that requires the highest level of protection due to legal, regulatory, administrative, contractual, rule, or policy requirements. Access to and management of restricted data is strictly limited as unauthorized use or disclosure could substantially or materially impact the university’s mission, operations, reputation, finances, or result in potential identity theft. Examples of S4 Restricted Data are Social Security Numbers in combination with names, credit cardholder data, Protected Health Information (PHI), passwords, and export controlled data (not including EAR99).

Technology Control Plan (TCP)

This is a document generated by the Office of Secure Research outlining the physical, information, and personnel security measures required to safeguard controlled exports.

United States Person or Entity

Anyone who is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or has refugee or asylum status in the U.S., wherever that person is located is considered a U.S. person. This also includes U.S. incorporated or organized firms and their foreign branches.

United States Munitions List (USML)

This appears in the ITAR outlining articles, services, and related technology designated as defense and space related by the U.S. Department of State.

Visual Compliance

A software used to screen people and entities against mandatory Restricted and Denied Parties lists maintained by the U.S. government and its allies, world organizations and law enforcement agencies.