(a) A consortium that is not formally incorporated must provide a collaboration agreement, commonly referred to as the articles of collaboration, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of each consortium member. This agreement binds the individual consortium members together and should discuss, among other things, the consortium's

(1) Management structure;

(2) Method of making payments to consortium members;

(3) Means of ensuring and overseeing members' efforts on the project;

(4) Provisions for members' cost sharing contributions; and

(5) Provisions for ownership and rights in intellectual property developed previously or under the agreement.

(b) If the prospective recipient of a TIA is a consortium that is not formally incorporated, the contracting officer must, in consultation with legal counsel, review the management plan in the consortium's collaboration agreement to ensure that the management plan is sound and that it adequately addresses the elements necessary for an effective working relationship among the consortium members. An effective working relationship is essential to increase the project's chances of success.