CLAUSE H.50 – EPAct DATA PROTECTION (APR 2022)
(a) Rights to Protected Data
(1) In addition to the data rights set forth in 48 CFR § 970.5227-2 – Rights in data-technology transfer, for work authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) or the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992), the Contractor may, with the concurrence of DOE, claim and mark as EPAct Protected Data, any data first produced in the performance of such work that would have been treated as a trade secret if developed at private expense. Any such claimed “EPAct Protected Data” will be clearly marked with the following Protected Rights Notice, and will be treated in accordance with such Notice, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this clause.
Protected Rights Notice
These protected data were produced under [INSERT WORK IDENTIFIER] with the U.S. Department of Energy and may not be published, disseminated, or disclosed to others outside the Government until [INSERT PERIOD OF PROTECTION END] (Note: The period of protection of such data is fully negotiable, but cannot exceed the applicable statutorily authorized maximum), unless express written authorization is obtained from the Contractor. Upon expiration of the period of protection set forth in this Notice, the Government shall have unlimited rights in this data. This Notice shall be marked on any reproduction of this data, in whole or in part.
(End of notice)
(2) Any such marked Protected Data may be disclosed under obligations of confidentiality for the following purposes:
(i) For evaluation purposes under the restriction that the “Protected Data” be retained in confidence and not be further disclosed; or
(ii) To subcontractors or other team members performing work under the Government’s program in which this data was produced, for information or use in connection with the work performed under their activity, and under the restriction that the Protected Data be retained in confidence and not be further disclosed.
(3) The obligations of confidentiality and restrictions on publication and dissemination shall end for any Protected Data:
(i) At the end of the protected period;
(ii) If the data becomes publicly known or available from other sources without a breach of the obligation of confidentiality with respect to the Protected Data;
(iii) If the same data is independently developed by someone who did not have access to the Protected Data and such data is made available without obligations of confidentiality; or
(iv) If the Contractor disseminates or authorizes another to disseminate such data without obligations of confidentiality.
(4) However, the Contractor shall not claim or mark as EPACT Protected Data, any lists of data identified by the funding program to be provided with unlimited rights. The Contractor agrees that notwithstanding the lists of types of data, nothing precludes the Government from seeking delivery of additional data in accordance with the requirements of the Contractor’s contract, or from making publicly available unlimited rights data, nor does the lists of data constitute any admission by the Government that technical data not on the list is EPACT Protected Data.
(5) When a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is used with an EPAct Awardee, the CRADA Protected Information clause may be modified to incorporate the Protected Rights Notice of this clause. When a Strategic Partnership Project (SPP) is used with an EPAct Awardee, the Rights in Technical Data clause may be modified to incorporate the Protected Rights Notice of this clause.
(6) The Government’s sole obligation with respect to any EPACT Protected Data shall be as set forth in this clause.
(b) Unauthorized or Omitted Marking of Data
(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions concerning inspection or acceptance, if any data developed is authorized by EPAct 1992 or 2005 bears any restrictive or limiting markings not authorized by this clause, the Contracting Officer has the right to remove, cancel, correct, or ignore any markings not authorized by this clause on any data furnished hereunder if, in response to a written inquiry by DOE concerning the propriety of the markings, the Contractor fails to respond within 60 days or fails to substantiate the propriety of the markings. In either case, DOE will notify the Contractor of the action taken.
(2) The Government assumes no liability for the disclosure, use or reproduction of any data provided to the Government by the Contractor that lacks any protected rights notice or other restrictive or limiting markings authorized by the Contractor’s prime contract with DOE.
(End of Clause)