20 THE NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL. 



Forest Service on the work proposed will exceed $100. Cooperative 

 agreements should state clearly the w r ork to be done and the terms for 

 doing it agreed upon by the Service and the cooperator. They will 

 bear the same title and number as the projects in connection with 

 which the cooperation is entered into. The form and general terms 

 of cooperative agreements, with a discussion of their use, are given on 

 pages 36 to 39 of the Appendix. 



Preparation of agreements. 



The preparation of a cooperative agreement will be authorized in 

 each instance by the executive officer in charge of the unit of the 

 Branch in question. In no case will any subordinate member of the 

 organization obligate the Service to undertake cooperation without 

 the specific approval in advance of the executive officer to whom he is 

 responsible. 



Approval of agreements. 



Cooperative agreements with individuals, companies or corpora- 

 tions involving the expenditure of not more than $500 annually in 

 the time and expenses of members of the Service, whether from 

 Service funds or from funds to be deposited by the cooperator, will 

 be approved by the executive officer in charge of the unit of the 

 Branch concerned. Agreements with individuals or companies in- 

 volving an annual expenditure of more than $500 and agreements with 

 other bureaus of the Federal Government will be approved by the 

 Forester. Agreements with States and with other departments of 

 the Federal Government will be approved by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture. 



Summary of procedure. 



The procedure in cooperative agreements is as follows : 



(1) Agreement authorized by executive officer in charge of the 

 unit. 



(2) Agreement prepared by member of the Service conducting the 

 project and executed by the cooperator. 



(3) Agreement approved by executive officer in charge of the unit, 

 if within his authority; otherwise initialed by him and submitted to 

 the Assistant Forester, who will initial the agreement if it meets with 

 his approval and submit it to the Forester. 



(4) Copies of approved agreement filed: (a) With cooperator; 

 (b) at the office in charge of the project; (c) at the Washington 

 office in the case of agreements approved by the Forester or Secretary. 



POLICY. 



The following discussion of questions of policy are for the guid- 

 ance of members of the Branch of Products in dealing with specific 

 cases : 



INVESTIGATION OF PATENTED OB PROPRIETARY ARTICLES. 



Undertaken only when of general value. 



Investigations of patented or proprietary articles, materials or 

 processes will be undertaken only when the data sought are needed 

 by the Service or will be of general public benefit. Such investiga- 

 tions will not be undertaken solely for the information or benefit of 



