§101702 Cooperative Agreements

Summary

Lets the Secretary make cooperative agreements and move Service funds to states, local or tribal governments, public entities, schools, or private nonprofits to carry out Service programs. Such transfers count as cooperative agreements under section 6305 of title 31. The Secretary may set up research and training partnerships with schools and government bodies and can provide or accept staff, money for agreed research, supplies, equipment, facilities, and administrative help. That does not remove federal procurement rules that still apply to some research projects. The Secretary may also sell products and services from living exhibits and demonstrations at fair market value, without following chapters 1–11 of title 40 and much of division C of subtitle I of title 41 (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711), may contract for those exhibits, and must credit the sales to the appropriation that paid for the exhibits. The Secretary may make cooperative agreements with states, local or tribal governments, other federal agencies, public entities, schools, nonprofits, or private landowners to protect natural resources inside and near System units. These agreements must clearly benefit the unit’s natural resources and focus on things like preserving and restoring coastal and riparian areas, watersheds, wetlands, native habitat and ecosystems, and preventing or removing invasive species. Agreements must explain their purpose, show how they improve science-based stewardship and help the partners, list needed staff and technical help, name materials and other contributions, describe any financial support, confirm Secretary spending supports resource stewardship, and include any other agreed terms. Funds from these agreements cannot be used to buy land, for regulatory actions, or to build, maintain, or run infrastructure, except for small support facilities needed to finish the agreed projects.