Overview of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network
How were CESUs selected?
The CESU Council, consisting of a representative from each federal agency, developed criteria for selection of the CESUs and initiated a competitive selection process. For each biogeographic region, the CESU Council issued a widely distributed Request for Proposals. Research I universities interested in serving as the host university for a particular region submitted detailed proposals to be reviewed by the National Council. The first four CESUs were established in 1999, including the North Atlantic Coast CESU. The selection process continued through 2003 when the seventeenth CESU was established. There are no plans to add more CESUs to the National Network. The selection process is detailed on the National CESU website.
Why is the CESU Network necessary?
Many of the elements of a CESU and the CESU Network currently exist in other organizations. However, there is no other multi-agency, multi-partner, broadly interdisciplinary, and ecosystem-oriented system that provides scientific research, technical assistance, and education to federal resource managers. The CESU Network complements existing federal research programs and is an innovation in the delivery of federal science and assistance to support the broad and complex problems associated with resource management in the 21st century.
Is there a lead Federal Agency of the National CESU Network?
No. The National CESU Network is coordinated and administered by the CESU Council. The Council includes representatives of the participating federal agencies operating under a Memorandum of Understanding for the CESU Network. A CESU Council Coordinator is elected by the members.
How are non-federal partner institutions associated with each CESU selected?
With submission and approval of the proposal to become a CESU host university, non-federal partner institutions are identified and become affiliated with the respective regional CESU. Additional partners can join individual regional CESUs by submitting an application package to the host university; the materials are reviewed and approved for membership, if appropriate, by the federal and non-federal partners. The North Atlantic CESU host university proposal contained just one non-federal partner (the Historically Black College and University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore), and has since grown to include dozens of non-federal partners. Tribes and tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, state and local government units, nongovernmental organizations, and other non-federal entities may join one or more CESUs. If interested in becoming a new NAC-CESU non-federal partner, please see Becoming a Partner.
Can federal and non-federal partners become members in more than one CESU?
Yes. However, a federal agency must designate technical and administrative representatives and pay a one-time “entrance fee” of $10,000 to each CESU it joins. Additionally, the agency is required to provide an annual fee of $2,500 to support the administrative operations of the CESU’s host university, and $2,500 to support the national CESU program. The advantage for federal agencies in joining multiple CESUs is gaining access to a broader network of non-federal partners and their expertise, which helps implement projects that support agency missions. Non-federal partners can join one or more CESUs without any cost, and must provide the names and contact information of their technical and administrative representatives. For non-federal partners, the benefit of joining multiple CESUs lies in increased access to federal partners and potential funding opportunities, as not all federal partners are members of every CESU.
The CESU Cooperative and Joint Venture Agreement
What are the basic terms of a cooperative and joint venture agreement?
Each regional CESU is established by a cooperative and joint venture agreement. This serves to formalize the relationship among the participating federal agencies, host university, and non-federal partners. Among other items, the cooperative and joint venture agreement provides the following: states the objectives of the CESU; identifies the authorities of each federal agency to enter into cooperative agreements; highlights the roles and responsibilities of the participating federal agencies, host university, and non-federal partners; identifies the term of the agreement (five years, with provision for renewal); identifies the process for amending the agreement and transferring funds by cooperative agreement, task agreement or modification from the federal agencies to the host university and non-federal partners; and identifies the allowable indirect or Facilities and Administrative costs rate. See the NAC CESU page on the national CESU web site for current and past cooperative and joint venture agreements.
What is the indirect cost rate on CESU projects?
The indirect cost rate, established by the CESU National Council, is currently 17.5% for all of the participating federal agencies in the North Atlantic Coast CESU, except that the Natural Resources Conservation Service has a 10% rate that was established by legislation for all cooperative agreements. The National CESU website provides a fact sheet about the indirect cost rate.
What is the term or duration of the CESU cooperative and joint venture agreement?
Each regional CESU cooperative and joint venture agreement is in effect for five years. The process for renewing the agreement for another five-year term is designed to ensure that the CESU is effectively meeting the needs of the participating federal agencies and non-federal partners. There are multiple rigorous steps to the renewal process, including documentation of the CESU activities and accomplishments, review and evaluation by the participating federal agencies, external peer review, and final review by the CESU National Council and decision to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the renewal. The National CESU website provides guidance for the renewal process.
Financial Assistance: Cooperative Agreements
What is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism to transfer funds from a federal agency to a non-federal entity where the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support authorized by federal statute. It can be a stand-alone cooperative agreement applied to the project level, or a master cooperative agreement composed of funded task agreements applied at the partner or project level. Processes and policies for awarding cooperative agreements vary by agency, so please consult your agency financial assistance representative for details.
How does a cooperative agreement differ from a procurement contract with a federal agency?
CESU projects are designed to serve a public purpose, such as promoting education, career training, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources. Information from these projects is shared to increase public awareness and support for preserving national heritage. Projects benefiting the government directly require procurement contracts. Unlike contracts, cooperative agreements involve “substantial involvement” from federal employees, including technical guidance, data collection, analysis, and outreach. The collaboration between agency and non-federal participants enhances project success. Financial assistance policies may vary by agency, so consult your agency representatives for details.
Non-federal Partners: Funding Opportunities and Proposal Preparation
How do I learn about funding opportunities?
Funding opportunities (requests for statements of interest and qualifications, or pre-proposals) are displayed on the North Atlantic CESU home page and are emailed by the North Atlantic Coast CESU Director to the technical contact(s) of each North Atlantic Coast CESU partner. An important role for the non-federal partner technical contacts is to promptly and widely distribute these funding opportunities throughout their respective institutions. Based on the agency review of requests for statements of interest, a lead principal investigator will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Are there more informal ways to learn about agency funding initiatives?
Non-federal scientists are encouraged to contact the federal agency CESU technical representatives (see PARTNERS) or visit the federal units and meet with the federal scientists and managers to learn about resource issues and needs. This communication also allows the non-federal partner to inform the agency personnel of their particular expertise. Non-federal scientists are welcome to offer research questions to address specific management issues and suggest appropriate methods and study designs. These discussions among federal and non-federal partners may lead to future funding opportunities.
If invited to submit a full proposal, where can I find information on the agency’s proposal guidelines, forms required, etc.?
Each federal agency has different processes for preparing and submitting a full proposal. Ask your agency contact for specific requirements.
Federal Partners: Using a CESU Cooperative Agreement
How do federal partners learn of non-federal partner expertise?
The NAC CESU provides an experts database that can be searched by expertise, non-federal partner, geographical area, etc. Federal partners also use the Projects and Products page to locate principal investigators working on projects with similar emphases.
How do federal partners announce a funding opportunity?
Agencies often prepare a “request for statements of interest” and submit it to the NAC-CESU Director for distribution. Current and past requests for statements of interest are posted on the NAC CESU home page. Note that the format of these announcements differs by federal agency. Some federal agencies only post announcements on Grants.Gov. NAC CESU staff regularly check for relevant CESU announcements and then post and circulate them.
How do federal partners execute projects?
Contact your agency’s CESU research coordinator and financial assistance staff. NPS staff should visit the CESU Agreements SharePoint site for details specific to the NPS.