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Establish CESU Project: Guidelines for federal manager

1. If you do not know who you would like to work with as experts for your research, education, or technical assistance project, there are several routes identifying appropriate partners:
   - Search the - Contact the RM-CESU representative at the institution you are interested in working with.
   - Contact the RM-CESU Executive Director at the host, 91ÊÓƵ.
   - If you are NPS, contact Dave Pettebone, NPS CESU Research Coordinator and Science Advisor.
2. Verify that your project is appropriate for the RM-CESU agreement. View the or the Executive Committee Member for your agency can give final approval (see agency contacts).
3. Contact your agency's procurement or contracting officer for necessary paperwork, specifying that you will be using the RM-CESU agreement:

Establish CESU Project - Guidelines for PI:

1. Verify that your project is appropriate for the RM-CESU agreement. View the or the Executive Committee Member at your institution can give final approval. (see University/Organization contacts)
2. Contact your institution's grants/research personnel for necessary internal paperwork, specifying that you will be using the RM-CESU agreement.
3. Complete necessary agency paperwork.
4. For additional questions, contact your university representative or the RM-CESU Executive Director.

Nonfederal Membership in the RM-CESU

Criteria for RM-CESU Membership:

1. Building RM-CESU capacity.
2. Applicability of knowledge and skill set to the RM-CESU.
3. Compatible with RM-CESU mission.
4. Regional perspective and/or involvement, or potential for regional involvement, including spatial scale.
   More details: RM-CESU Partnership Criteria for Non-Federal Applicants

Application Deadline: February 28 annually (submitted electronically)

If your organization is interested in pursuing an application to join, please contact RM-CESU Executive Director, before beginning to put together your application. 

Membership requires a formal letter of interest and application (e.g., no more than 20 pages) that addresses the questions below. Applicant will be invited to present at the RM-CESU spring business meeting. Current members will vote on accepting new members into the network (majority rule is the determinant). Tribal, state, and local governments, academic institutions, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other nonfederal organizations are eligible to apply for enrollment in the the RM-CESU.

• Your application should include a formal letter of interest addressed to the RM-CESU Executive Director, Lisa Gerloff.
• Confirmation that the institution/organization has read the RM-CESU agreement and agrees to
  support the RM-CESU mission and goals and fulfill the roles and responsibilities of a nonfederal
  partner, as described in the RM-CESU agreement.
• Description of the institution/organization, its mission, and the primary focus of collaborative
  activities to be supported through the RM-CESU in the context of the RM-CESU mission.
• Description or list of the primary programs, departments, or other institutional divisions of
  relevance to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies that will likely be
  engaged in RM-CESU activities. Include website addresses for further information, as appropriate.
• A list of and brief description of the staff or faculty with expertise in disciplines and subject areas
  of relevance to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies (do not submit
  CVs).
• For academic institutions, include a description of student demographics and the institution’s
  status as a minority-serving institution (e.g., as defined by the U.S. Department of Education).
• Description or list of facilities, equipment, centers, or institutes that would provide support to the
  research, technical assistance, or educational activities of relevance to federal land management,
  environmental, and research agencies that will be engaged in RM-CESU activities.
• Description or list of past research, technical assistance ,and educational services supported
  through federal financial assistance awards that are of relevance to federal land management,
  environmental, and research agencies that will be engaged in RM-CESU activities.
• Description or list of current formal agreements and informal relationships with federal agencies
  that are of relevance to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies that will
  be engaged in CRM-CESU activities.
• Confirmation of the institution’s/organization’s willingness to accept a limited overhead rate of
  17.5% and cost items to which the rate is applicable for activities conducted through the RM-CESU,
  including research, technical assistance, and educational services (this overhead rate applies to
  the entire institution/organization for RM-CESU activities).
• Designation of a technical representative (with full contact information – name, title, full address,
  phone, fax, email) to serve on the RM-CESU steering committee, participate in RM-CESU annual/semiannual partner meetings, and facilitate internal and external communication, promotion, and response to RM-CESU correspondence and administrative actions (e.g., announcements, new
  member applications, processing agreements/amendments, five-year reviews).
• Agreement to relay agency-specific research, technical assistance, and educational needs and
  associated funding opportunities to other institutional/organizational members (e.g., faculty,
  students).
• Signature (or endorsement) from an appropriate official, with authority to commit institutional
  resources in a binding multi-year federal cooperative and joint venture agreement (e.g.,
  president, executive director, chief financial officer, vice president for research, director of
  sponsored programs).
• Letter(s) of support from one or more RM-CESU federal agency partners sponsoring the new
  partner’s application, including a description of successful past collaborative work supported
  through federal financial assistance awards.

What is the process for new member approval?

Once existing partners have reviewed the new member application, the RM-CESU Executive Director solicits a vote in favor/not in favor of selection of the applicant for membership. Voting requires a minimum of a quorum of 50 percent of partners. Approval is determined by a super majority (i.e., two thirds or greater) of returned votes in favor of selection for membership. The RM-CESU Executive Director informs the applicant of the outcome of the review and approval process and works with the National CESU Coordinator to prepare an appropriate amendment to the list of the new member in the RM-CESU Agreement