§101702 Cooperative Agreements

Summary

The Secretary can make cooperative agreements that move Service money to States, tribes, local governments, public entities, schools, or nonprofit groups to carry out public work for the System. The Secretary may work with schools, States, and local governments to set up coordinated research and training. Under those agreements, the Secretary can provide staff, money for agreed research, supplies, equipment, facilities, and administrative help. Federal procurement rules that apply to some research projects still must be followed. The Secretary may sell, at fair market value, products and services from living exhibits and demonstrations in System units without following chapters 1–11 of title 40 and parts of subtitle I of title 41, except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711. The Secretary can also contract for living exhibits and credit the money earned to the appropriation that paid for the exhibits. The Secretary can also make cooperative agreements with governments, other agencies, schools, nonprofits, or private landowners to protect natural resources on land inside and outside System units. Those agreements must clearly help the unit’s natural resources and cover things like preserving and restoring coasts, riversides, watersheds, and wetlands; preventing or removing invasive nonnative species in or next to a unit; and restoring native wildlife habitat or ecosystems. Each agreement must state its purpose and show how it will improve science-based care and benefit the partners. It must list needed staff and technical help, say what materials or equipment each party will provide, describe any financial help, and include other agreed terms. Money from these agreements cannot be used to buy land, carry out regulatory work, or build or run infrastructure, except for small support facilities the Secretary finds necessary to finish the agreed projects.