Collaboration and Sample MOUs

Collaboration between federal, state, tribal, and local agencies involves navigating the goals and directives of each agency to accomplish a mutual objective.  Without proper planning, efforts can diminish as a project continues.  With the right communication, however, even the most seemingly insurmoutable goals can be achieved.  A Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, describes the responsibilities of each party involved in a joint effort.  Outlining the scope of a project and the responsibilities of those involved, the MOU enables cooperative projects and serves as an invaluable tool in the administration of large collaborative projects. Sample MOUs, such as those found below, are often used as a starting point for defining the governance process and can be customized to meet the needs or specific interests of the parties.