Partnerships: Policy & Procedures

Partnerships - Policy & Procedures

Engineer Pamphlets

EP 1130-2-500, dated 27 December 1996 revised 1 June 2006
Project Operations - Partners and Support (Work Management Guidance and Procedures)
EP 1130-2-550, dated 15 November 1996 revised 15 August 2002
Projection Operations - Recreation Operations and Maintenance Guidance and Procedures

Engineer Regulations

ER 1130-2-500, dated 27 December 1996 revised 1 June 2006
Project Operations - Partners and Support (Work Management Policies)
ER 1130-2-550, dated 15 November 1996 revised 15 August 2002
Project Operations - Recreation Operations and Maintenance Policies
ER 1140-1-211, dated 10 Sep 2020
Support for Others - Non-DoD Reimbursable Services
ER 37-1-30, dated 12/12/19
Financial Administration - Accounting and Reporting
- Chapter 5, Reimbursements
ER 405-1-12, dated 20 November 1985 revised 15 May 2000
Real Estate Handbook
ER 700-1-1, dated 04/30/15
Logistics - USACE Supply Policies and Procedures

Policy Letter

Policy Letter, dated 3/30/18
Implementation Guidance for Section 1155 of WRDA 2016
04-01, dated 27 October 2004
Volunteer Value of Service Hourly Rate
Implementation Guidance, dated 12 August 2016, dated 11/2/11
Volunteer Background Investigation Policy Update, dated March 2020
- Webinar on Procedures Update - 19 March 2020 Guidance for Section 1047(d) Services of Volunteers, of the Water Resources and Development Act of 2013, Public Law 113-121" for volunteer background investigations. The guidance is provided to meet the most current security standards for processing background investigations and to provide consistency in procedures across all MSCs. These procedural updates are effective immediately and will be incorporated in the appropriate ER/EP when they are revised.
Volunteer Bonding Policy Letter, dated 07 September 2016

Public Law Regulation

33 USC 2339, WRDA 2000, Sec 213, Assistance Programs
Authorizes the use of cooperative agreements to transfer funds to non-federal or nonprofit entities for services relating to natural resources conservation or recreation management both on and off Corps lands that involve programs fulfilling educational or training purposes.
Implementation Guidance Memo for WRRDA 2014 1047e, August 31, 2015
33 USC 2328, WRDA 1992, Challenge Cost-Sharing Program for the Management of Recreational Facilities, Section 225, October 31, 1992
Section 225 of this law authorized the Secretary of the Army to enter into cooperative agreements with non-Federal public and private entities to provide for operation and/or management and development of recreation facilities and natural resources at water resource development projects where such facilities are being maintained at full Federal expense.
This also authorized the Secretary of the Army to accept contributions of funds, materials, and services from non-Federal public and private entities. If your cooperating association wants to contribute funds to the Corps, refer to the Contributions Program section of the Gateway.
WRRDA 2014, Sec 1031(b), Cooperative Agreements with Indian Tribes
Authorizes the use of cooperative agreements to transfer funds to Indian Tribes or a designated representative of an Indian tribe to carry out authorized activities of the Corps of Engineers to protect fish, wildlife, water quality, and cultural resources.
Implementation Guidance Memo for WRRDA 2014 1031(b), August 3, 2016
31 USC 1535, Economy Act
41 USC 501, 95-224, Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977
This act set forth requirements to use cooperative agreements and grants to transfer funds to non-Federal entities, but did not provide authority by itself to enter into an agreement.
7 USC 2814, Federal Noxious Weed Act- Management of Undesirable Plants on Federal Lands
Authorizes Federal agencies to complete and implement cooperative agreements with State agencies regarding the management of undesirable plant species on Federal lands under the agency's jurisdiction.
16 USC 661, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Authorizes the Department of Interior to provide assistance to and cooperate with Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife and their habitat, in controlling losses from disease or other causes, in minimizing damages from overabundant species, in providing public shooting and fishing areas, including easements across public lands for access, and in carrying out other measures necessary. Also authorizes Interior to make surveys and investigations of wildlife of the public domain, including lands and waters controlled by any agency of the United States.
WRDA 2016, Section 1155, Management of Recreation Facilities
Authorizes the use of challenge cost-sharing cooperative management agreements with non- Federal public entities to collect and retain user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by that entity or the Department of the Army, and reinvest collected fees at the site at which the fees are collected. Section 1155 further authorized participating public entities to use any visitor reservation service that the Secretary of the Army has provided for by contract or interagency agreement
16 USC 594, Protection of Timber Owned by the US from Fire, Disease, or Insect Ravage
Authorizes the Department of Interior to protect and preserve timber owned by the United States upon public lands, national parks, national monuments, Indian reservation, or other lands under the jurisdiction of the DOI from fire, disease, beetles, or other insects. This can be done directly or in cooperation with other Federal Government departments, States, or other owners of timber.
10 USC 2358, Research and Development Projects
Authorized the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department to engage in basic research, applied research, advanced research, and development projects.
WRDA 2022, Section 8124, Reserve Component Training at Water Resources Development Projects
Authorizes USACE to accept services and supplies in support of a water resources development project or program, without reimbursement, from units or members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces carrying out military training activities or otherwise fulfilling military training requirements.
33 USC 569c, Public Law 98-63, Chapter IV of Title, Services of Volunteers
33 USC 569c, further amended by WRRDA 2014 authorized: The United States Army Chief of Engineers may accept the services of volunteers and provide for their incidental expenses, including expenses relating to uniforms, transportation, lodging, and the subsistence of those volunteers, to carry out any activity of the Army Corps of Engineers except policy-making or law or regulatory enforcement. Such volunteers shall not be employees of the United States Government except for the purposes of (1) chapter 171 of title 28, relating to tort claims, and (2) chapter 81 of title 5, relating to compensation for work injuries.
31 USC 6301-08, Using Procurement Contracts and Grant and Cooperative Agreements
Amended the FGCAA of 1977
33 USC 2325, WRDA 1992, Sec 203, Voluntary Contributions for Environmental and Recreation Projects, October 31, 1992
Voluntary Contributions for Environmental and Recreation Projects.
(a) Acceptance.--In connection with carrying out a water resources project for environmental protection and restoration or a water resources project for recreation, the Secretary is authorized to accept contributions of cash, funds, materials, and services from persons, including governmental entities but excluding the project sponsor.

Executive Orders

E.O. 13352, Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation

Policy Memos

Memos

09/18/23 National Public Lands Day, 23 September 2023
USACE will be participating in this year’s National Public Lands Day on Saturday, 23 Sept.
The news release is posted on the HQ website and will soon be seen on HQ social media posts.

Thousands of volunteers are expected to support the more than 60 USACE projects participating in this year’s National Public Lands Day, the largest annual volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind.
09/13/23 CWBI-OPS NRM Annual Update
I am asking for your full support of our annual NRM update that provides leadership and reviewing agencies such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with data for performance and strategic metrics. Portions of this data are presented at annual budget time to the Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) and to OMB. Other data is directly used to help rank budget work packages or provide input to the Civil Works Strategic Plan. I cannot understate the importance of having quality data and encourage extra focus on data quality for this entry period. The field POCs have been notified earlier of this entry period, but I wanted to bring the effort to your attention. I do understand we have pressing work to do each day, but I can assure you this data is used to direct funds, prioritize work, and most importantly tell the NRM program story to those outside the NRM and Operations community. Please review the following bullets which outline the highlights for this year.
1. As the Civil Works Business Intelligence (CWBI) Hub team continues to migrate OMBIL data entry forms into the CWBI-OPS modules, for FY23, the NRM community (Recreation and Environmental Stewardship Business Lines) will utilize both the NRM-Assessment Tool (https://corpslakes. erdc.dren.mil/employees/nrmassessment/tool.cfm) and CWBI-OPS (cwbi.usace.army.mil) to collect annual NRM data.
2. CWBI-OPS (Natural Resources Management Modules) will become the primary database of record for all O&M business line data. CWBI-OPS data is used for many different purposes, including decisions concerning facility development, budget development and defense, tracking performance measures, preparation of briefings and fact sheets, asset management, etc. It is used to populate information on the Gateway and numerous other internal and external web sites. CWBI-OPS will continue to serve as a source for many other systems including CWIFD and EDW. Inaccurate and/or incomplete data not only reflects poorly on the Corps and renders a disservice to the public but could also jeopardize the viability of our O&M missions and budget defense.
3. Training through web meetings will be provided to the field on the system and data entry process as needed and will be announced through the CWBI-OPS District POCs. The schedule for entering data by modules is as follows.
4. I'm requesting your continued leadership support to reinforce the importance of data and to provide "quality assurance" on accurateness and completeness of the data.
Thank you for all your efforts and if you have any questions, please contact me. My POC on this effort is Dena Williams who can be reach at dena.k.williams@usace.army.mil
Jeff
Jeffrey F. Krause
Chief, Natural Resources Management
09/07/23 2023 Excellence in Partnerships Award and Volunteer of the Year Nominations
On behalf of Mr. Thomas P. Smith, Chief of Operations and Regulatory, I'm pleased to request your nominations for an outstanding partner within your area of responsibility for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Excellence in Partnerships Award and outstanding volunteer(s) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Volunteer of the Year Award. These awards will be presented in 2024 at the award recipients' locations in ceremonies that recognize their outstanding partnerships and service to the Corps.
The Excellence in Partnerships Award began in 2001 and is now in its twenty- second year recognizing exceptional contributions by a partner providing substantial support to the Corps Recreation and/or Environmental Stewardship programs. Each year, the award recipient is selected based on accomplishment of management objectives, creativity, improvements in public awareness and education, serving diverse audiences, and involvement of other partners. See Nomination Criteria
The National Volunteer Award began in 2014, and was created to nationally recognize the extraordinary service provided by volunteers, draw attention to their vast skills and contributions, and encourage an attitude of stewardship and responsibility in caring for Corps lands, facilities, and resources. The intent of the award is to distinguish those individuals, couples/family units who give their skills, talents, and time beyond the normal call of duty and whose creditable service to the Corps has resulted in the significant enhancement to one or more of the Corps business lines.
Nominations must be routed through each District to the MSC. Each MSC recreation/stewardship business line manager will electronically forward nomination packages assembled in accordance with the enclosed criteria and instructions to Francis Ferrell, CESAW-OP-LRJ, no later than 01 December 2023. A selection committee will review the nominations and provide me with recommendations for final selection.
Two informational webinars will be provided to explain the application process and answer any questions. Webinar invitations will be sent out one week in advance.

Sep 20 from 1:00 – 2:00 Eastern

Nov 1 from 11:00 – 12:00 Eastern

More information about these awards can be found on the NRM Gateway at https://corpslakes.er dc.dren.mil/partners/awards.cfm
The POC for this activity is Heather Burke, who can be reached via e-mail at heather.d.burke@usace.army.mil
Please encourage your staff to nominate worthy partnership and volunteers. Their service is so very valuable to our NRM mission! Thank you,
Jeff
Jeffrey F. Krause
Chief, Natural Resources Management
02/08/23 2022 Excellence in Partnerships Award Recipients
I am pleased to share the attached memos, signed by Thomas P. Smith, Chief of Operations, announcing the selection of the awardees for the 2022 Excellence in Partnership Award and the National Volunteer Award, co-sponsored by the Corps Foundation. These awards will be presented to each of the recipients later this year.
Excellence in Partnerships Award: The New River Alliance of Climbers (NRAC) at Summersville Lake in the Huntington District have been selected as award recipients for their commitment to protecting natural resources and their dedication to ensuring recreational experiences for all individuals. The NRAC has provided both direct funding and volunteer services to build new rock-climbing access points, stabilize stretches of eroding shoreline, improve public safety, and educate the public in sustainable use practices. Their efforts have grown into a larger partnership between local and national non-profits, federal and state entities, as well as the local community; all in the name of environmental stewardship through education and public outreach.
I want to extend my sincere appreciation for the incredible service that all of our partners and volunteers continue to provide USACE and this Nation each and every day!
Jeff
Jeffrey F. Krause
Chief, Natural Resources Management
Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers