Acquisition Regulations: Revision of Patent Regulations Relating to Department of Energy Management and Operating Contracts

The Department of Energy is adopting, with changes, as a final rule the interim final rule published on November 15, 2000, which amended the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to improve the patent coverage relating to the Department's management and operating contracts. The final rule generally reflects the contract clauses used by the Department in management and operating contracts over the last 5 years. The changes adapt patent-related clauses to subcontracting under management and operating contracts, restate the clauses in plain language, and provide a complete set of patent clauses for a variety of management and operating contracts.