The USGS seeks to combine its production resources with those of business partners to prepare standard geospatial data products. Although several of the more conventional types of partnership arrangements are described below, the USGS will work with each partner to define responsibilities that are mutually beneficial.

Cost Share

A partnership where the USGS prepares standard USGS National Mapping Program (NMP) products, and the cooperating Federal agency(s) share the cost.

Joint Funding

A partnership where the USGS prepares standard NMP products, and the cooperating State or local government agency(s) share the cost.

Full Repay

A partnership where USGS provides map products or services to its partners and is fully reimbursed for its expenses. The full repay partnership usually involves production of special or nonstandard products.

Supplementary Funding

A partnership where another Federal agency(s) produces a product to a point short of final USGS standards, but adequate to be brought to standards for an additional cost, which is less than the USGS' normal production costs. The USGS would provide the additional funding to upgrade the products to NMP standards. In most cases, supplementary funding agreements apply to the production of standard NMP products.

Work Share

A partnership with Federal agencies or State or local governments where a portion of the work required to prepare standard NMP products is performed by each participant. No funds are transferred between the partner agencies

Data Exchange

A partnership with Federal agencies or State or local governments where each agency produces equal amounts of standard products. These products are then exchanged between the partners (no funds transferred).