When the NSF Midwest Center for Mass Spectrometry was in operation, they =
actively sought out private business (with NSF's blessing). In my case, =
our legal types were consulted a few years ago and they indicated that =
we are fine as long as we aren't undercutting (dollar-wise) any private =
business who realistically _could_ provide similar service. Most (if =
not all) of my outside users have no other option. Some of my private =
sector users (companies) actually have their own NMR facilities on one =
coast or the other, and they simply cannot go that far away. Like Tom, =
I would be happy if a private, service NMR company were close enough to =
provide the service; thereby taking the burden from me. =20
I don't know the ultimate answer to this issue, but I would be happy to =
have current information about services and price-lists from any and all =
private NMR service companies. I would forward this to all who called =
me for NMR help, and would strongly suggest that they take their =
business elsewhere. I tell external (not-academic) "customers" that =
they get lowest priority and I will charge them through the nose. If =
that still doesn't put them off, and _if_ I have time available, then I =
will do NMR for them. Even if all of my outside business (combined) =
went to a private company, the total $$$ wouldn't add up to cryogens for =
a small supercon.=20
I'm afraid that my little server might soon be smokin' with this issue, =
and I doubt that there will ever be a clear answer to the question
Rich Shoemaker
----
Richard Shoemaker, Ph.D. Phone--(402) 472-6255
Instrumentation Director, Chemistry FAX---- -6964
Research Associate Professor, Chemistry
University of Nebraska-Lincoln =20
URL: http://www.chem.unl.edu/nmrlab.html =20
-----Original Message-----
From: T. Pratum [SMTP:pratum@u.washington.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 1998 1:17 PM
To: ammrl@wwitch.unl.edu
Subject: rates for outside users
Since this has come up, I would be interested to know what others think
the definition of "competing with the private sector" is. I don't think
any academic facility purposely goes after outside users by undercutting
the "competition". We just provide a service that is demanded in =
situations
where there are no private service facilities within a reasonable =
distance
and/or that can provide the services needed. I am more than happy to =
raise
my rates well beyond those of for-profit facilities (I don't really=20
like outside users).....if only there were some around here for people =
to
use...
=20
Tom Pratum
Dept of Chemistry
Box 351700
Univ of Washington
pratum@u.washington.edu
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~pratum