Project planning
The Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit provides funding and technical assistance for research and education on natural and cultural resources on the Colorado Plateau. It does so by approving “Task Agreements” that describe the act of funding a new project proposal.
For a list of CPCESU Documents, including Cooperative and Joint Venture Agreements and Amendments, please see our Documents Page.
General information
A Task Agreement is always between these three entities:
- Federal Agency (one or more)
- A Non-federal researcher and/or institutional “Partner”
- The CPCESU
Admin_Guidance_ADC: Allowable Costs Under CPCESU Agreements
Experts at CPCESU partner institutions
Each CESU provides many choices of experts in all fields of study and education. The link below will take you to a listing of each of our partners and their faculty or staff directories. You may look up individuals or consult department directories.
View a list of experts at partner institutions.
General steps to be completed for all projects
The following three federal assistance forms must be completed by all non-federal partners for each project (all documents include instructions).
- SF 424 – Application for Federal Assistance
- SF 424a – Budget Information – Nonconstruction Programs
- SF 424b – Assurances – Nonconstruction Programs
Additional Federal Agency steps to be completed
Bureau of Land Management Accordion Closed
This form must be completed for each project:
BLM Project Summary Form
Bureau of Reclamation Accordion Closed
These forms may assist in the project planning process:
BOR Award Instrument Determination Form Example
BOR Single Source Determination Form Example
BOR Framing Document Example
Department of Defense Accordion Closed
To apply for a competitive grant see the following:
DOD CESU Competition Guidelines Memo
National Park Service Accordion Closed
Current forms and guidance documents:
- Administrative Steps to Initiate and Modify CESU Agreements in NPS Intermountain Region (google doc only accessible to NPS employees)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cmHi0JN_AxPwsJfW4V-TUZ_vT7ocTKpaNly5q7Owv7s/edit?usp=sharing - Task_Agreement_Template_Current-20190619_CPCESU
- Budget_Worksheet_20150529 Optional
- IMR_DOI_Review_Questionnaire_for_ATRs-2.4.19
- Justification-For-Use-Of-FA-UPDATED-07-31-17_CPCESU
- Modification_Template-Current-as-of-3.6.2019_CPCESU
Please first carefully review #1 for a summary of the steps required to initiate a new Task Agreement or Modify an existing one between NPS units and our nonfederal partners.
Please contact Dr. Todd Chaudhry, CPCESU Research Coordinator, at todd_chaudhry@nps.gov or 928-523-6638 as soon as possible with your interest in initiating a new Task Agreement or for guidance and assistance on any ongoing NPS CPCESU projects.
FY19 NPS Financial Assistance Deadlines:
Department of Interior Review- ASAP
New Task Agreements- June 14, 2019
All Modifications- July 12, 2019
(Note: Your unit may impose earlier deadlines)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Accordion Closed
Information about the process can be viewed online.
Project Proposal Template
Sample Budget Narrative
Vendor Code Form
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Certification Regarding Lobbying
U.S. Geological Survey Accordion Closed
Please contact Charles Drost for information:
Charles_Drost@usgs.gov
928-556-7187
Other Federal Agencies
Contact the agency representative for more information.