A legal instrument (award) of financial assistance between a sponsor and a recipient. The purpose is to transfer something of value to carry out a public purpose and not to acquire property or services.
Cooperative agreements will be legally binding agreements in document form. (4) Other requirements specified in the application.
The purpose of a grant is to provide assistance; there is generally little involvement by the sponsor, and the award instrument refers to general terms and conditions. Cooperative agreements also provide assistance, but with substantial sponsor involvement, typically described in a set of specific terms.
A cooperative agreement is another form of financial aid. The granting agency and the grantee work together to carry out the purpose of the award. Contracts are financial transactions. Federal agencies buy property or services for their direct benefit or use from a service provider.