Business Contracts

START HERE: If you haven't yet, please start by visiting the Contracting at Berkeley webpage and review the UC Berkeley Guide to Contracting to learn about important Berkeley contracting requirements and information. Then go to the Contracting Office Decision Tree to find out which office to contact for your specific contracting needs.

Business Contracts and Brand Protection (BCBP) reviews, drafts, negotiates, and executes certain business contracts for UC Berkeley on behalf of The Regents of the University of California (UC Regents).

Agreements processed by BCBP include:

  • Revenue producing contracts, including licensing of University business intellectual property, such as copyrights and trademarks
  • Agreements to support continuing and professional education
  • Agreements for the outside management of campus venues
  • Agreements for student internships with hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, and school districts
  • Agreements for outside use of the University's unique facilities 

BCBP does not process contracts related to:

  • Supply Chain activities
  • Research activities for federal, state, and non-profit
  • Real Estate activities
  • Research activities for industry, and material transfers

To find out which contracting office to contact for your specific contracting needs, start by visiting the Contracting at Berkeley webpage.

Important: Individual faculty members, staff and students must contact their department business officer for authorization to begin the business contracts process.

Do Not Begin Performance Until the Contract isFully Executed.

Why it's important to have a contract

There are several key reasons that having a written agreement (in addition to a purchase order, for example) often makes sense.

  • To prevent disputes
  • To create a cost management tool 
  • To comply with legal requirements and for use in litigation
  • To establish the nature of the relationship for tax and other purposes

Unrelated business income tax

Activities with a potential for generating unrelated business income may be subject to the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).  In order to determine if your activity is subject to this tax, complete this questionnaire.  Once completed, you can submit the questionnaire to the General Accounting Office at gao@berkeley.edu