While each partnership is different, the purpose of these partnerships remains the same, to provide enhanced access to U.S. Government information. Therefore, the following points are important considerations when thinking about entering into a partnership.

• Access: The purpose of the partnership is to provide the public with unrestricted, no-fee access to specific Government electronic information products or services.
• Fail Safe Mechanism: GPO will agree to receive custody of data and software in the event that the partner is no longer able to support permanent public access.
• No Restrictions on Reuse: It is critical that the partner(s) impose no restrictions on re-dissemination, which impedes the public's ability to use the information.
• Locators and Bibliographic Control: Through GPO Access and the Catalog of United States Government Publications, GPO will provide pointers and bibliographic access to products and services held by the partner.
• Ownership: The partner(s) must recognize that the content of the U.S. Government information products covered by the partnership is in the public domain, and that a copy of any software developed as an integral part of the product must accompany the content if the product is transferred back to GPO. It is recognized, however, that the partner retains the intellectual property rights associated with any value-added software the partner develops for the project.
• Performance Measures: The partnership should specify performance measures for the number of simultaneous users, the percentage of time that the service must be available, or other performance measures that are appropriate and mutually agreed upon.
• Security: Some partnerships may require that system security issues, such as providing adequate back-up procedures and firewalls, be addressed.
• Consultation: It is critical in any partnership to keep the lines of communication open. The agreement should provide for regular consultation among the partners on a number of issues such as utilization rates, operational details, or any significant alterations in the way in which the collection is organized or accessed.
• Publicizing the Partnership: Both GPO and the partner(s) will promote the partnership.

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