1. N. Atlantic Coast and Ches. Watershed CESUs
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
N. Atlantic Coast and Ches. Watershed CESUs
Bill Thompson, North Atlantic Coast CESU
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Dan Filer, Chesapeake Watershed CESU
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg, MD
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

2. What is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network?
A nationwide consortium of federal agencies, universities, conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support agency missions and resource stewardship.
National CESU website:

3. Current Participation
 17 CESUs
 13 Federal Agencies
 over 240 universities (including more than 40 minority serving institutions), state, tribal and non-governmental partners
 Since 1999, approximately 5,000 projects involving over $100M
 Some agencies have duty-stationed employees at CESU host universities

4. CESU Network: Organizational Framework
National CESU Council (federal partners) – forum for coordination and implementation of CESU Network
Individual CESUs
5-yr, multi-party agreement (roles/responsibilities, overhead rate, etc.)
Host university CESU Director
Federal partner reps (e.g., NPS Research Coordinator)
Non-federal partner reps (research, administration)
Federal partners use CESU agreements to fund non-federal partners

5. 26 non-federal partners, host university = University of RI
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
US Fish and Wildlife Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Park Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Geological Survey

6. CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED CESU
Partner list can be found by visiting this website

7. Benefits of the CESU Network
Direct access to partners offering a wide range of expertise within many disciplines
>400 partners in 17 CESUs nationwide
Increased opportunities for training/prof. development
Streamlined agreements process (varies by agency)
Overhead rate of 17.5%
National average for universities is ~ 48.5%
Result: more funds spent on performing the work and supporting agency missions (~ $33M for DoD projects during )

8. Cooperative Agreement vs. Contract
Public purpose (not direct benefit to the government)
Substantial involvement by the government
Contract/Procurement
Acquisition of product or services
Direct benefit to the government

9. CESU Competition Requirements
Process varies by federal agency and within agencies (bureaus)
DoD: three scenarios
DoD representative develops scope of objectives (SOO) => Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) posted on Host CESU website(s)
Unsolicited proposal submitted to DoD by CESU partner (RSOI unnecessary)
Funding already competitively awarded (e.g., DoD’s Legacy Program)

10. Tips for Getting Started
Identify the need
Review the DoD guidance documents (
Search for expertise to address the need
CESU websites
Experts database: Ches. Watershed, Great Basin, S. Appalachian Mtn.
List of expertise: Great Rivers [Excel], N. Atlantic Coast, Rocky Mtn
List of projects (all but one CESU)
DoD CESU contacts, colleagues
CESU Director, NPS Research Coordinator

11. CHWA CESU – Experts Database
Goals:
Make it easier for federal partners to find non-federal researchers to complete their work
Database will collect information from researchers, including searchable CVs and past research
The database will launch in the Fall of 2018
Additional information can be found here
Database was unveiled at the 2018 CHWA CESU Annual Meeting in June; you can watch the presentation along with reaction from the partners by visiting this link.

12. CHWA CESU – DoD Example Projects (3)
MCBQ – Integrated Resource Management Plan – Virginia Tech
PRWI and MCBQ:
Answering—Hibernate or Migrate? Detecting WNS Presence in the NCR Parks – Dr. Mark Ford and Virginia Tech
Naval Air Station Oceana (NASO) Dam Neck Annex Dune Restoration - DoD– Naval Air Base (NAB) Little Creek and Joint Base Langley; Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana; Naval Air Station (NAS) Dam Neck Annex – Charmaine Dahlenburg – National Aquarium
NASO - Coastal Sand Dune Restoration; Planting Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV); Invasive Species Removal; Combat effects of climate change on the coast of naval/air stations in the MD,DC,VA regions
INRMP – being designed and implemented

13. DoD CESU Contacts
DoD National CESU Program Manager: Alison Dalsimer
DoD CESU Representatives:
Californian: Dawn Lawson
Chesapeake Watershed: Kevin Du Bois
Colorado Plateau: Robert Knight
Desert Southwest: Vacant
Great Basin: Robert Knight
Great Lakes – Northern Forest: Ray Rainbolt
Great Plains: Alan Anderson
Great Rivers: Alan Anderson
Gulf Coast: James Parker
Hawaii-Pacific Islands: Kapua Kawelo
North and West Alaska: Gary Larsen
North Atlantic Coast: Ray Rainbolt
Pacific Northwest: Jeffrey Foster
Piedmont – South Atlantic Coast: William Hunt
Rocky Mountain: Alan Anderson
South Florida – Caribbean: Michael Andrejko
Southern Appalachian Mountains: Alan Anderson

14. Visit our CESU websites
Questions?
us!
Visit our CESU websites
CHWA: chwacesu.al.umces.edu/
NAC: