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What requirements must be met for USGS authored or coauthored cooperator publications to comply with FSP? [179]

By Office of Science Quality and Integrity

To comply with FSP, the requirements for release of the publication, and any associated data release, must be specified in a signed agreement between USGS and the cooperator, the publication must be reviewed and approved through the USGS Information Product Data System (IPDS), and be made available on a publicly accessible website by the cooperator. [Read more]

Requirements for FSP compliance related cooperator publications include:

  • All requirements for release of a cooperator publication are specified in a written and signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) or other agreement between USGS and the cooperating agency or organization (refer to SM 500.26 and SM 205.13). The agreement specifies where the publication and any associated data release will be published on a publicly accessible website.  Supervisors and Center Directors of USGS authors affiliation with cooperator publications review and sign these agreements before work is initiated.
  • Cooperator publications that contain new interpretive information are entered into the internal USGS Information Product Data System (IPDS) with reconciliation of a minimum of two USGS-initiated peer reviews (refer to SM 502.3). These information products receive Bureau approval from a Bureau Approving Official (BAO) in the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI).
  • Cooperator publications that contain previously published or noninterpretive information are also entered into IPDS with reconciliation of a minimum of two USGS-initiated peer reviews. These information products receive Bureau approval from the USGS author’s Center Director (or designee) as stated in SM 205.18.
  • FSP requirements for cooperator publications that are multi-chaptered apply only to chapters or sections with USGS authorship (refer to SM 502.10 and Authorship FAQs). Authorship for each chapter or section of the publication should be clearly specified to identify for readers who is responsible for the content and to ensure that BAOs can identify chapters or sections requiring their approval. When USGS is a coauthor of the entire publication, all text must be reviewed and approved by the BAO. 
  • Cooperator publications must adhere to USGS requirements for simultaneous release of information products to the public as a whole and may not be made available preferentially as a private communication only to the cooperator (refer to SM 502.5).