Standard Cooperating Association Agreement and Intellectual Property Attachment

The Cooperating Association Agreement establishes the foundational framework to guide and foster a collaborative relationship with a cooperating association. An association is defined as a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation established under State law, with which the NPS has a signed standard Cooperating Association Agreement. Cooperating associations are official education partners of the National Park Service (NPS). The strength of the partnership is derived from its primary purpose, the support of the educational, scientific, historical and interpretive activities of the NPS, mainly through the retail sales of educational products to national park visitors. The standard Cooperating Association Agreement establishes the roles and responsibilities of the association and recognizes the important part that cooperating associations play in advancing the Service's interpretation and education mission.

The Agreement complies with the policies set forth in Director's Order's 32, Reference Manual 32 and other policies of the NPS that allow the cooperating association to operate within the national parks and in collaboration with the NPS. The standard agreement was last updated in 2010. The changes from the 2010 version to the proposed version include:

-Consistent language regarding the purpose statement.

-Updated legislative authorities to enter into these agreements.

-An added statement on the relationship between the NPS and Association with regard to personnel decisions.

-An explanation of annual Aid to NPS plans.

-Clarification of aid in terms of funding NPS salaries.

-Explanation of the separate legal instrument to authorize formal interpretation.

-Removal of a standard level of liability insurance.

-Management of risk is tailored to each Association's exposure to risk

-Adds a noncomprehensive list of potential attachments that could be included with the agreement.

NPS is especially interested in feedback on the removal of the standard level of liability insurance and the length of the term of the agreement.

Exhibit B to the Cooperating Association Agreement between the National Park Service and Cooperating Associations Regarding Use and Creation of Intellectual Property

Historically, there has not been an Intellectual Property Attachment to the Cooperating Association Agreement. The purpose for the addition of Exhibit B to the Cooperating Association Agreement is to grant cooperating associations a royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use NPS Marks related to the Park(s) in which the Cooperating Association operates, for use in carrying out the sales, interpretive, and research and other activities described in their Agreement in a manner that promotes NPS goals and values.

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