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Draft
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Internet2 and the organizations serving as the founding members of the Northern
Tier Networking Consortium (NTNC) (attached) and through the Chair of its
Executive Committee agree to collaborate on a joint project known as "the
Northern Tier Networking Consortium" to support regional initiatives
in advanced Internet technology, connectivity, and other related services
in the northern tier region of the US.
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is intended to outline
the basic terms of the agreement between NTNC and Internet2 for support of
NTNC’s projects and initiatives. Internet2 will incubate the
Consortium for a period of one year, during which time NTNC’s ongoing
organizational model will be developed and further support from Internet2
determined.
PURPOSE and OBJECTIVES
The Northern Tier Networking Consortium seeks to develop and sustain advanced
networking capabilities in order to support the educational, research and
economic vitality of the Northern Tier region. NTNC is formed as a
sustaining collaboration to facilitate its members’ efforts to develop
regional cyberinfrastructure, by:
- Facilitating next generation networking in the Northern Tier to ensure
that educational and research institutions in the Northern Tier are fully
prepared to engage in national opportunities, and that the region can continue
to successfully compete
- Supporting and further catalyzing state networks in their efforts to
upgrade to next generation capabilities
- Developing and sustaining relationships with regional, national, and
international networking organizations.
- Leveraging intellectual, political and financial resources across the
region to create greater purchasing power and attract federal interest
- Taking advantage of international efforts to develop national and regional
advanced networking capabilities.
The foregoing and other interests of the NTNC will be pursued primarily
at the direction of an Executive Committee, the officers of which will be
selected by Consortium members. The Chair of the Executive Committee
will have primary responsibility for liaison with designated staff of Internet2
to ensure the proper selection, coordination, positioning, and public presentation
of activities to be conducted by NTNC.
PROJECT SUPPORT
Internet2 agrees to provide the following
services to NTNC as its principal contribution to the Consortium’s
activities.
- Financial services, including but not limited to preparation of invoices,
management of receivables and accounts payable, and other activities focused
on managing revenue and expenses associated with NTNC’s work
- Human resources services, including but not limited to employment by
Internet2 for any direct hires devoted to NTNC work and supported from
NTNC revenues or other sources of financial support, and assistance with
preparation of consulting agreements.
- Financial support for planning and working meetings of the NTNC Steering
and Executive Committees, including room rental and food and beverages
- General organizational assistance as needed, including assistance in
the preparation of vendor agreements and other contracts. The cost
of the contracted service will be borne by the project itself.
Additional funding for specific NTNC activities will be addressed on an
ongoing basis, but all parties agree that the responsibility for identifying
the source(s) of this funding rests with the Executive Committee.
These services will be provided by Internet2 to NTNC for a period of one
year. No later than October, 2004, the NTNC Executive Committee and
appropriate representatives of Internet2 will review this agreement and determine
whether to continue it, adjust it, or terminate it.
GOVERNANCE
The Northern Tier Networking Consortium will be governed by a Charter approved
by all NTNC participants, including appropriate representatives from Internet2. The
Charter will define the NTNC governance process, including Executive and
Steering Committees, and the process to become a NTNC member. All NTNC
membership decisions will remain the responsibility of the NTNC Steering
Committee or its designee.
COMMITMENTS ON BEHALF OF INTERNET2
Neither the NTNC Executive Committee, Executive Committee Chair, Steering
Committee, Steering Committee Chair, or any other project participant may
make any commitment, financial or otherwise, on behalf of Internet2 without
Internet2’s explicit written approval, given in advance.
TERM
AND DISSOLUTION
This agreement will be reviewed no later than October 2004 by Internet2
and the NTNC Executive Committee.
This agreement may be adjusted or terminated by either Internet2 or the
NTNC Executive Committee with a minimum advance notice of two months.
This project may be terminated i) immediately if required by law or ii)
at any time by the mutual agreement of Internet2 and the NTNC Executive Committee.
Any member of NTNC may withdraw from this Memorandum of Understanding at
any time. Previous financial commitments, if any, to NTNC or Internet2,
however, will remain the responsibility of the withdrawing party.
ASSIGNMENT
No party hereto may assign this Memorandum of Understanding or any of its
rights or obligations hereunder to any other party without the express written
consent and approval of all of the signatories hereto.
COUNTERPARTS
This Memorandum of Understanding may be executed simultaneously in one (1)
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on
the parties hereto.
Signed,
INTERNET2
Douglas Van Houweling, President and CEO
NTNC
Annie Stunden, CIO, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Chair, NTNC Executive
Committee
States defined to be in the Northern
Tier include Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
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