TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 13-220.1 

________________________________________________________________________ 

SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION 

Earth Sciences 

 Memorandum of Understanding 

Between the UNITED STATES OF 

AMERICA and COLOMBIA 

Signed at Reston and Bogota 

January 10 and February 20, 2013 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
 COLOMBIA 

Scientific Cooperation: Earth Sciences 

 Memorandum of understanding signed at 

 Reston and Bogota January 10 and 

 February 20, 2013; 

 Entered into force February 20, 2013. 

 
CO-07.0000

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN

THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AND THE

INSTITUTO GEOGRAFICO AGUSTIN CODAllI

OF THE

REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

CONCERNING

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION

IN THE EARTH SCIENCES

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ARTICLE I. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 

1. The Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are the U.S. Geological

Survey of the Department of the Interior of the United States of America (hereinafter "USGS")

and the Institute Geografico Agustin Codazzi of the Republic of Colombia (hereinafter "IGAC").

The USGS and the IGAC (hereinafter "Party" or "Parties") hereby agree to pursue scientific and

technical cooperation in the Earth sciences.

2. This MOU shall be subject to and governed by the Supplemental Agreement between the

Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Colombia

Regarding the Strengthening of Technical and Related Assistance for Scientific, Technical, and

Technological Cooperation and Innovation, signed at Bogota, Columbia, June 9, 2010

(hereinafter "S&T Agreement").

ARTICLE II. COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES 

1. Forms of cooperation under this MOU may consist of exchanges of technical

information, visits, training, and cooperative research consistent with ongoing programs of the

Parties. Specific areas of cooperation may include, but are not limited to, such areas of mutual

interest as:

A. Earth Observation activities and remote sensing applications that may include the

areas of monitoring natural disasters, climate change, and land use activities;

B. Research into and application of geographic information systems, including spatial

data infrastructure;
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C. Research into new geographic and cartographic technologies, including the use and

application of LIDAR, radar, and multispectral satellite images.

2. Activities under this MOU shall be undertaken in accordance with the laws, regulations,

and procedures of each Party.

3. The Parties shall encourage and facilitate, where appropriate, the development of direct

contacts and cooperation among government agencies, universities, research centers, institutions,

private sector companies, and other entities of the two countries.

4. Each Party may, with the consent of the other Party and to the extent permitted by the

laws and policies of each Party's Government, invite other government entities or agencies

of the United States and Colombia, and other entities, including scientists, technical experts,

governmental agencies, and institutions of third countries or international organizations, to

participate in activities undertaken pursuant to this MOU, subject to such terms and conditions as

the Parties may specify.

ARTICLE III. AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES 

Cooperative activities under this MOU shall be subject to the availability of personnel,

resources, and appropriated funds. This MOU shall not be construed to obligate any particular

expenditure or commitment of resources or personnel. In accordance with Article VIII below,

the Parties shall agree in writing upon specific Project Annexes before the commencement of any

activity pursuant to this MOU.

ARTICLE IV. FEE AND TAX EXEMPTION

In accordance with its laws and regulations, each Party shall work toward obtaining, on

behalf of the other Party, relief from taxes, fees, customs, duties, and other charges (excluding

fees for specific services rendered) levied with respect to:

A. All transfer, ownership, construction, renovation or maintenance of facilities or

property by or on behalf of the other Party to implement this MOU;

B. The import, purchase, ownership, use or disposition (including export) of goods and

services by or on behalf of the other Party in support of activities under this MOU;

and

C. Personal property of personnel of the other Party or entities of that Party

implementing provisions of this MOU.

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ARTICLE V. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND SECURITY OBLIGATIONS

Provisions for the protection of classified information and unclassified export-controlled

information and equipment shall be governed by Annex I of the S&T Agreement. Provisions

for the protection and distribution of intellectual property created or furnished in the course of

cooperative activities under this MOU shall be governed by Annex II of the S&T Agreement.

ARTICLE VI. DISCLAIMER

Information transmitted by one Party to the other Party under this MOU shall be accurate to

the best knowledge and belief of the transmitting Party, but the transmitting Party does not

warrant the suitability of the information transmitted for any particular use or application by the

receiving Party or by any third Party.

ARTICLE VII. PLANNING AND REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 

Each Party shall designate a principal representative who, at such times as are mutually

agreed upon by the Parties, shall meet to review the activities under this MOU and develop

proposals for future activities, as appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII. PROJECT ANNEXES

Any activity carried out under this MOU shall be agreed upon in advance by the Parties in

writing. Whenever more than the exchange of technical information or visits of individuals are

contemplated, such activity shall be described in an agreed Project Annex (PA) to this MOU,

which shall set forth in terms appropriate to the activity: a work plan, staffing requirements, cost

estimates, funding sources, and other undertakings, obligations, or conditions not included in this

MOU. In case of any inconsistency between the terms of this MOU and the terms of a PA, the

terms of this MOU shall control.

ARTICLE IX. ENTRY INTO FORCE, TERMINATION, AND AMENDMENT

1. This MOU shall enter into force upon signature and shall remain in force for ten (10)

years and shall be automatically extended thereafter for successive periods of five (5) years

unless either Party notifies the other in writing of its intention to terminate this MOU at least

ninety (90) days before it is due to expire.

2. Either .Party may terminate this MOU by providing ninety (90) days' prior written notice

to the other Party. Unless otherwise agreed, the termination of this MOU shall not affect the

validity or duration of projects under this MOU that have been initiated prior to such termination.

This MOU shall continue to apply to such projects until they are discontinued.

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FOR THE INSTITUTO

GEOGRAFICO AGUSTIN

CODAllI OF THE

BLIC • OLOMB

4.■■••■••.'")

Signature

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3. This MOU may be amended by mutual written agreement of the Parties.

Done at Reston, Virginia, and Bogota, Colombia, in duplicate, in the English and Spanish

languages, both texts being equally authentic.

FOR THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL

SURVEY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE

INTERIOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA :

VA C VAC 

Signature

Marcia McNutt

Name

Director

Title

JAN i 0 7013

Date

Julian Serna Giraldo

Name

Acting Director General

Title

2 0 FEB 201 .!

Date

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