**OMB Control Number 2040-0272 Approval Expires 06/30/2013**  

# Partnership Agreement: 

# Professional Certifying Organizations

**Section I: EPA WaterSense ®**  

## Program Goals EPA’s WaterSense program aims to use water resources more efficiently to preserve them for future generations and to reduce water and wastewater infrastructure costs by reducing unnecessary water consumption. Through this program, EPA provides reliable information on high-performing, water-efficient products and practices, raises awareness about theimportance of water efficiency, ensures water-efficient product performance, helps consumers identify products and services that use less water, promotes innovation in product development, and supports state and local water efficiency efforts. 

## Section II: Partnership Pledge As a WaterSense program partner, _________________________________ (name of organization) shares EPA’s goals as outlined above and is proud to commit to the following activities to further these goals: 1. Maintain at least one WaterSense labeled professional certification program in the United States. 2. Promote the value of water efficiency and WaterSense. Inform certification candidates about WaterSense as an easy and desirable option for customers to reduce water use and save money. 3. Assist EPA in verifying certification status for individuals who have obtained WaterSense partnership. 4. Make Wat erSense partner materials available to those professionals who earn or renew a certification through a Wat erS ense labeled pr og ram. 5. M ake available to EPA annual data on WaterSense labeled professional certification programs including the number of individuals who obtain these c er tifications. 6. Update EPA annually on the availability of professional certification programs and inform EPA in a timely manner iflabeled certification programs are discontinued and/or no longer meet applicable criteria, so that EPA can maintain an up-to-date list of labeled programs on the website and in other materials. 7. Adhere to all policies and procedures contained in the Program Guidelines. 8. Adher e to the Wat erS ense program mark guidelines and ensure that authorized representatives, such as advertising agencies , distributors , and subc ontractors , also comply. Help EPA maintain program integrity by alerting EPA to possible misuse(s) of the WaterSense program marks. 9. Grant EPA’s WaterSense program permission to include the partner organization’s name on a list of participatingpartners on the WaterSense website, program materials, and announcements. The partner organization understands that from time to time, EPA will be interested in profiling partner accomplishments in case studies and articles. If selected for such promotion, the partner organization will have the opportunity to provide input and review the final print or Web document before EPA releases it to the public. Further, the partner organizationunderstands that EPA might refer media contacts interested in publicizing water efficiency to the partner organization for information about certification programs and accomplishments. 

## Section III: EP **A WaterSen**  **se Program’s Commitments to Partners** 1. Develop national specifications for water-efficient products and programs through an open, public process. 2. Increase awareness of EPA’s WaterSense brand by distributing key messages on the benefits of labeled products and programs, as well as the importance of water efficiency. 3. P rovide current WaterSense program news, information, and reference documents (via the program website, Helpline , email , or other means), including a listing of labeled products and programs on the website. 4. Provide WaterSense partners with public recognition for their involvement in the program and role in protecting the environment through an online listing of partners, special awards, and other efforts. This recognition includes, but is not limited to listing partners and WaterSense labeled products and programs on EPA’s WaterSense website. EPA Form Number 6100-085. Respond swiftly to partner requests for information or clarification on EPA’s WaterSense program policies. 6. Review pre-press promotional items, draft websites, or other materials that use the WaterSense program marks, upon request. 

## Section IV: General Terms and Disclaimers 1. The partner will not construe, claim, or imply that its participation in the EPA WaterSense program constitutes federal government (EPA) approval, acceptance, or endorsement of anything other than the partner’s commitment to the program. 2. Nothing in this agreement, in and of itself, obligates the EPA to expend appropriations or to enter into any contract, assistance agreement, interagency agreement, or incur other financial obligations that would be inconsistent with Agency budget priorities. The partner agrees not to submit a claim for compensation for services rendered to EPA or any federal agency in connection with any activities it carries out in furtherance of this agreement. 3. The partner and the EPA WaterSense program will assume good faith as a general principle for resolving conflict and will seek to resolve all matters informally, so as to preserve maximum public confidence in the program. 4. Failure to comply with any of the terms of this partnership agreement can result in its termination and cessation of access to the benefits of the program, including use of the program marks. 5. The EPA WaterSense program will actively pursue resolution of noncompliance related to the use of the program marks. 6. B oth parties concur that this agreement is wholly voluntary and may be terminated by either party at any time, and for an y r eason, with no penalty. Termination will begin effective immediately upon written notice to or from the W aterSense program. Upon termination of this agreement, partners agree to remove program marks in a timely manner , c onsistent with the WaterSense program mark guidelines.

To be completed by partner Authorized Partner Representative 1 (printed name):______________________________________________________ T itle: __________________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Signature:____________________________________________________________ Date:__________________________ Organiza tion Name:_________________________________________________ Number of emplo yees: ______________ I ndustry/SIC/NAICS code: ________________________________ Website: ____________________________________ Number of current certified professionals: ________________________________________________________________ Primary Contact: Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms. ______________________________________________________________________ Title:_____________________________________________ Dept.: ________________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________City/State/ZIP: __________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________ Alternate Telephone:__________________________________________ How did you find out about this program? ❑ Website ❑ Referral, Name: ______________________________________ ❑ Periodical: __________________________ ❑ Workshop, Sponsor: ________________________________________ � Mailing: __________________________ � EPA Region: ________________ � Other:________________________

T o b e c omplet ed by EPA Sheila E. Frace Authorized EPA Representative (printed name): __________________________________________________________ Director, Municipal Support Division watersense@epa.gov Title: __________________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________

1 The authorized partner representative should be a person in the organization with signing authority (e.g., vice president). EPA Form Number 6100-08

## Submit the Partnership Agreement (rewriteable PDF) to WaterSense via:

Fax: (703) 841-1440 Mail: WaterSense, c/o ERG, 2300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22201 Electronically: If you have Adobe Acrobat, you can complete the form electronically and email it to: watersense@epa.gov. Please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-S E NS (987-7367) if you have any questions about eligibility, partnership, or for general program inquiries. After signing, EPA will send partners an executed copy of this agreement.

The public reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency's need f or this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automat ed collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed Partnership Agreement to this address.

EPA Form Number 6100-08