Designation of State Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Coordinators; DD: 05/01/2007
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
April 17, 2007
In Reply Refer To:
1702 (210) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 04/20/2007
Instruction Memorandum No. 2007-105
Expires: 09/30/2008
To: All State Directors and Center Directors
Attn: Science Coordinators and Agreement Procurement Specialists
From: Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning
Subject: Designation of State Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Coordinators DD: 05/01/2007
Program Area: Science Policy
Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) requests that State Offices having technical and administrative oversight responsibilities related to a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) officially designate one individual as a CESU Coordinator with responsibility for tracking, coordinating and reporting on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funded projects at the CESU for which the State Office is responsible. A list of CESUs and responsible BLM State Offices is provided in Attachment 1.
Once CESU Coordinators have been designated by each responsible State Office, the Washington Office Division of Planning and Science Policy will provide further guidance and information to the Coordinators regarding coordination and information required to meet information needs. Meanwhile, if you have questions please contact John Haugh at (202) 452-5071.
Policy/Action: The BLM will track, compile and maintain important project and budget information relating to our CESU partnerships.
Timeframe: Effective May 1, 2007
Budget Impact: Minimal
Background: To meet new requirements for cooperative agreement administration recently published in Department of the Interior (DOI) Manual Part 505, Chapter 2, and DOI Manual Part 507, Chapter 1, including required publication of grant and agreement opportunities to Grants.gov (www.grants.gov), it is necessary for the BLM to carefully track and report the extent of our agreements with CESUs.
The BLM has been a charter member of the CESU Network since its founding in 1999, and participates in the CESU Network through a Memorandum of Understanding with 12 other Federal agencies. The BLM participates in individual CESU partnerships through cooperative agreements with the Federal agencies and the non-Federal partners that comprise each of the 16 CESUs in which the BLM is a member. During the eight years the BLM has participated in the Network, BLM funding of projects through the CESUs has increased from a few thousand dollars in 1999 to approximately eight million dollars in Fiscal_Year 2006. For the BLM, the cost and administrative savings in obtaining science, technical assistance and educational information through the CESUs have been substantial. The non-Federal CESU partners, primarily universities and colleges, have also obtained substantial benefits for their students and faculty by participating with the BLM and other Federal agencies in the CESU partnerships.
With responsibilities for technical and administrative oversight residing in several different BLM State Offices, it has become increasingly important for the BLM to compile and maintain information and data (outputs) provided to the BLM by the CESUs. Such information will provide us with a better understanding of the contributions of the CESU program to successful planning and decision making in the BLM (outcomes).
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.
Coordination: BLM Regional Science Coordinators and Washington Office Science Policy Staff were contacted for input on this policy.
Contact: John Haugh, BLM Senior Scientist, Division of Planning and Science Policy (WO-210), at (202) 452-5071.
Signed by:
Authenticated by:
Robert T. Ratcliffe
Robert M. Williams
Acting, Deputy Assistant Director
Division of IRM Governance,WO-560 Renewable Resources and Planning
1 Attachment
1 – List of CESUs and Responsible State Offices (1 p)