The SA-CESU is structured as a working collaboration among federal agencies and private sector partners.

If you represent a federal agency, click here.

Read on if you represent a university, state agency, tribe, research institute, NGO, museum, or any type of non-federal entity.

What is the benefit in joining the Southern Appalachian CESU?

Private sector organizations or institutes that become partners in the SA-CESU benefit in several ways.

• Collaboration with a federal agency increases the opportunities for other potential research projects. Long term relationships often develop since federal land management agencies have a high interest in researchers with specialized skills or knowledge that are not found within the agency. Multi-agency projects expose the researcher to several agencies and multiple inroads for potential research projects.
  
  
• Graduate students benefit from participating in the development of real life research, and the introduction to federal land management agencies as potential sources of employment or federal resource management issues.
  
  
• Federal scientists are available that can facilitate, direct or cooperate on research projects; serve on graduate student committees; contribute to scholarly activities; and teach in their areas of expertise.
  
  
• Private sector research programs benefit from consistent and comprehensive agreements that maximize opportunities for research, create broadened scope of contacts with federal agencies and offer a voice in establishing research agendas within the SA-CESU. In addition, the skills and expertise within the private sector organization are easily accessible by federal resource managers throughout the country.
  
  

What is a private sector partner expected to provide to the SA-CESU?

The private sector partner is expected to provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, environmental and research agencies.

Each federal agency in the SA-CESU has committed to conduct an active program of research, technical assistance and education with the private sector partner institutions. This includes providing appropriate funds to support some projects and joint funding between the federal agency and a partner(s) for other projects. In addition, the federal agencies have agreed to provide opportunities for research on federal lands or using federal facilities when and where practical.

The private sector partner will sign a single cooperative agreement or cooperative venture that includes all the federal agencies in the Southern Appalachian CESU. The federal agencies will use the cooperative agreement to transfer the necessary funding needed to conduct the research, technical assistance and/or education.

An important side note is that the SA-CESU is linked to all other 16 CESUs across the nation through a national agreement. This means that federal agencies in other CESUs may request the services of any partner institution within the Southern Appalachian CESU.

Joining the SA-CESU: the Terms and Conditions

So just what terms and conditions are entailed in being a partner of the SA-CESU?

Each partner institution is joined to the SA-CESU through a cooperative agreement that addresses overhead (indirect costs), cost-sharing and other elements of cooperative ventures. This agreement allows projects between federal agencies and partner institutions to be efficiently conducted. The following are key elements in the agreement (please reference a copy of the agreement for other elements):

• There are no fees or dues required for a private sector entity to join the SA-CESU.
  
  
• This is a five year agreement that terminates in 2009. It will then be renewed for another five years.
  
  
• This is classified as a cooperative agreement (as opposed to a formal services contract) which allows tremendous flexibility between the partners and the federal agency in developing a project.
  
  
• The partner institution allows the faculty, graduate students, and facilities to be available to support the federal agencies.
  
  
• The partner can offer educational and training opportunities to participating federal agency employees, as appropriate.
  
  
• The partner can actively participate in the SA-CESU Advisory Committee in refining the role and mission statement of the CESU.
  
  
• A maximum 17.5% indirect cost rate will be paid on work covered by the agreement (except for the USDA Forest Service which is mandated no indirect cost at land grant universities).
  
  
• The host university (UT) cannot charge an indirect cost for funds transferred directly from a participating federal agency to a partner institution for a SA-CESU project.
  
  
• The person identified as the official SA-CESU contact within the private sector partner also has some specific obligations. These include marketing SA-CESU opportunities within the partner institute, responding to inquiries on SA-CESU administrative issues (e.g., voting on potential new members), making sure the partner is represented at, or presenting to, annual SA-CESU workshops, and providing information for a directory of skill and capabilities.
  
  

• Inventorying, monitoring, and indicators of ecological and habitat health
• Cave, karst, and cliff face ecosystems
• Invasive species
• Restoration of ecosystems, habitats, and species
• Urban-wildland interface

Who to Contact to Join the SA-CESU?

The host university, the University of Tennessee, oversees the administrative services of the Southern Appalachian CESU. The host also oversees the inclusion of new members.

The process for applying for membership begins with a contact to the host university.

Contact Dr. Keith Belli

Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
The University of Tennessee
425 Plant Biotech. Bldg
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865- 974-7989
Fax: 865-974-2085
kbelli@utk.edu

Any and all Federal Agencies are welcome to join the Southern Appalachian CESU provided the following two conditions are met:

1. The agency is already represented within the National CESU Council. To check whether your agency is on this council, click here.
   
   
2. The agency is willing to pay a one time membership fee of $10,000 to the SA-CESU.

What are the benefits of a federal agency joining the Southern Appalachian CESU?

Federal agencies that become partners in the SA-CESU benefit in several ways.

• Delivery of usable knowledge in a timely manner.
• Facilitation of long-term collaborative relationships to solve resource issues.
• Addition of depth and breath to federal units.
• Provision of the most efficient contracting bridge available.
• Staying alert to emerging science issues and concerns.
• Transcending the boundaries of federal agencies.
• Ability to focus on multi-disciplinary problem solving.
• Provision of a forum for exchange of information and delivery of new information.
• Opportunities for professional development of federal employees.
• Increase in efficiency for collaboration.
• Alignment of research interests of partners.

What is a federal agency expected to provide to the Southern Appalachian CESU?

Most federal agencies in the Southern Appalachian CESU are primarily information seekers, meaning that they seek answers to their research needs and information requests from the private sector partners within the CESU. The National Park Service is an example of an information seeker.

Some federal agencies are primarily information providers, meaning that they can assist in providing research, technical assistance and/or education through Interagency Agreements. The USGS is an example of an information provider.

Some federal agencies are both information seekers and providers. For example, the USDA Forest Service at times seeks information and at time provides information.

Each federal agency in the SA-CESU has committed to conduct an active program of research, technical assistance and education with the private sector partner institutions. This includes providing appropriate funds to support some projects and joint funding between the federal agency and a partner(s) for other projects. In addition, the federal agencies have agreed to provide opportunities for research on federal lands or using federal facilities when and where practical.

Joining the SA-CESU: the Terms and Conditions

So just what terms and conditions are entailed in being a federal partner of the SA-CESU?

• A one time entry fee of $10,000 is required at time of joining.
  
  
• Each federal agency is joined to the SA-CESU through a cooperative agreement that addresses overhead (indirect costs), cost-sharing and other elements of cooperative ventures. This agreement allows projects between federal agencies and partner institutions to be efficiently conducted. The following are key elements in the agreement (please reference a copy of the agreement for other elements):
  
  
• This is a five year agreement that terminates in 2009. It will then be renewed for another five years.
  
  
• This is classified as a cooperative agreement (as opposed to a formal procurement contract) which allows tremendous flexibility between the partners and the federal agency in developing a project;
  
  
• The federal agency is permitted to locate a representative at the host university.
  
  
• The partner institutions support the federal agencies by:
  - allowing the faculty, graduate students, and facilities to be available
  - offering educational and training opportunities to participating federal agency employees, as appropriate
  
  
• The federal agency can actively participate in the SA-CESU Advisory Committee in refining the role and mission statement of the CESU;
  
  
• A maximum 17.5% indirect cost rate will be paid on work covered by the agreement (except for the USDA Forest Service which is mandated no indirect cost at land grant universities);
  
  

Who to Contact to Join the SA-CESU?

The host university, the University of Tennessee, oversees the administrative services of the Southern Appalachian CESU. The host also oversees the inclusion of new members.

The process for applying for membership begins with a contact to the host university.

Contact Dr. Keith Belli

Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
The University of Tennessee
425 Plant Biotech. Bldg
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865- 974-7989
Fax: 865-974-2085
kbelli@utk.edu