Service First is a way to build partnerships across agency boundaries to deal with the country in an integrated manner and provide quality service to our citizens. Service Objectives First:Improved Customer ServiceAccess Operational Efficiency and Better Administration of the Country. For more information, see the FS resources page on Service First. If the estimated cost of Service First agencies is generally the same for one or more projects, co-locations or long-term positions, agencies may enter into an agreement (not a formal inter-institutional agreement) to offset the cost of goods or services exchanged between agencies. Once the agreement is signed, a refundable account will be created by the agency that receives the funds to be debited as part of the execution of the terms of the contract. Forest Service manuals contain the Agency`s policies, practices and procedures. Manuals and manuals provide guidance at the national, regional and forest levels. A new or revised continuous approach shall be adopted by amendment; the short-term direction is issued by an interim directive; and an instruction supplementing instructions issued by an external level or higher is awarded by assignment. Contracts can provide unique opportunities to build the capacity and capacity of local organizations and tribes while doing important conservation work on the ground. They also help to improve the Forest Service`s participation in the local economy and local communities.
Contracts are used to purchase goods and services and are not legally defined as partnerships. There are two main methods for transferring money between branches to meet the terms of the Service First agreement: refundable accounts and direct transfers. You receive financial assistance from the Forest Service through grants and cooperation agreements, in particular through research and development as well as public and private forestry units. You can find detailed information in our acquisition management program. Does the Federal Advisory Council Act (BVG) apply to my partnerships? AI Agreement Process Graph – Basic (352 KB PDF)AI Agreement Process Graph – Detailed (1.93 MB PDF) Once you have completed this form, follow the guidelines of both agencies for processing agreements. In general, you should have your agreement reviewed by a contract specialist before a manager signs it. Some agencies have automated databases, such as the Forest Service`s I-WEB database, while others do not. You should discuss the process and steps with your grants and agreements specialists.
What are the ethical considerations for forming a partnership? Information collected through the USDA Forest Service website. Click here for more information. This MOU allows the four Service First agencies to share resources, redeploy powers, duties and responsibilities, and streamline the reimbursement process. The Inter-Agency Memorandum of Understanding defines the mechanism for intra-governmental orders (IGOs) and inter-agency work orders. The OIG or TO must include a tender statement describing the project and the mutual agreement between the agencies concerned. Organizations do not need a separate Memorandum of Understanding to implement a service-oriented project. The 2003 Office of Agreements Guide for NCCR Program Managers. This 200-page document is intended for trainers and contains detailed (although outdated) information, case studies and sample documents.
The BLM and Forest Service have manual instruction to assist field service units in implementing Service First projects. The National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife do not have agency-specific guidance; See the examples below or contact your agency agreement coordinator for assistance. The Forest Service uses many types of grants and agreements to document work with others. Each of these tools is made available to the Forest Service under a congressional legal authority, and each has its own requirements. The appropriate instrument depends mainly on what the partnership will achieve, who will benefit from it and who will provide the funding. Cooperation Agreement: A legal instrument used to document support when meaningful participation between the Forest Service and the beneficiary is expected. .