SAMPLE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
Pathfinder Search and Rescue
AND
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is hereby made and entered into this XX day of, XXXXXX, XXXX, by and between the Pathfinder Search and Rescue, hereinafter referred to as PSAR, and the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, hereinafter referred to as XXX.  
 WHEREAS, PSAR and XXX both provide Search and Rescue services within the jurisdiction; and 
WHEREAS, PSAR and XXX have found it to be of mutual benefit to provide for the most efficient utilization of PSAR and XXX resources in the application to Search and Rescue efforts within the jurisdiction; and
 WHEREAS, the respective agencies are committed to complete cooperation and coordination in providing the highest level of Search and Rescue services to the public, guided by the principle that performing cooperatively is in the best interest of victims and patients; and
 WHEREAS, both agencies agree that each incident may require the services of both agencies, and further agree to utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) in Unified Command, or as Liaison Officers/Agency Representatives, at a single Incident Command Post (ICP), as prescribed by the State Of Oklahoma; and 
 WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into a mutual response pact, wherein both parties will respond to and provide Search and Rescue at incidents occurring within the jurisdiction for missing or lost persons; and
 WHEREAS, PSAR recognizes the XXX as the XXXXXX agency with XXXXX authority to provide Search and Rescue; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows: 




1.      Any changes to the MOU, which constitute a change in policy, shall be approved by the appropriate Governing Body of the PSAR Agency and the appropriate Governing Body of the XXX Agency. 
2.      For purposes of liaison and administration of this MOU, the PSAR Operations Officer and the XXX ________ shall be designated as the representatives of the respective parties to this MOU, and they shall be jointly responsible for the administration of this MOU, and shall be jointly responsible to develop and implement an Operating Plan. 
3.      Specific details of the services to be provided under this MOU and the general operating policies, including, but are not limited to, response areas, types of equipment, operational command, dispatch and communications, training, response maps, preplans, incident reports, and evaluation of effectiveness shall be approved by the PSAR Operations Officer and the XXX ____________ in the Operating Plan, attached as EXHIBIT A. 
4.      Annually, or more frequently as requested by either party, a joint review of the Operating Plan shall occur to identify changes in operating procedures, response information, and other subjects identified in this MOU, and that the Operating Plan may be amended by written mutual agreement of both the PSAR Operations Officer and the XXX _________ . 
5.      The PSAR Team Leader and the XXX _________, or their designated representative, shall determine and agree upon the capabilities of each party to respond to incidents requiring “Mutual Assistance” and/or specialized resources. 
6.      The parties understand and agree that the responding party’s response to a request for “Mutual Assistance” shall depend upon existing emergency conditions within its jurisdiction and the availability of its resources. 
7.      This MOU shall become operational and effective upon execution by both parties.  The MOU shall remain in effect in perpetuity.  It is further agreed that either party may terminate the MOU at any time by giving written notice to the party at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of termination. 
8.      The parties shall agree that the provisions of this MOU are not intended to directly benefit, and shall not be enforceable by any person or entity not a party to this MOU.  By entering into the MOU, neither party waives any of the immunities provided under state or federal law. 
9.      Notwithstanding the provisions of Government Code, each party shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the other party and its officers, agents, employees and representatives from any and all losses, liability, damages, claims, suits, actions an administrative proceedings, and demands and all expenditures and cost relating to acts or omissions of the indemnitor, its officers agents or employees arising out of or incidental to the performance of any of the provisions of this MOU.  Neither party assumes liability for the acts or omissions of persons other than each party’s respective officers, agents or employees. 
10.  By entering this MOU, neither party waives any of the immunities provided by the Government Code or other applicable provisions of law.  This MOU is not intended to confer any legal rights or benefits on any person or entity other than the parties of this MOU. 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this MOU on the date as written below.
  
Pathfinder Search and Rescue Board of Directors 
Name                          Signature                                             Date 
XXXXXX                       __________________                        ___________ 
XXXXXX                       __________________                        ___________ 
XXXXXX                       _________________                          ___________ 
XXXXXXXXXX Board of Directors 
Name                          Signature                                             Date 
XXXXXXXXXX  __________________                        ___________ 
XXXXXXXXXX  __________________                        ___________ 
XXXXXXXXXX  _________________                          ___________
  
















 EXHIBIT A
 Operations Plan
Between
Pathfinder Search and Rescue
And
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX  
NOTE: It is up to each agency to determine which of the below items need to be in their MOU's operational plan.  
This is not an all inclusive list!!
1. Training Procedures: TBD 
2. Equipment Procedures: TBD 
3. Response area Procedures: TBD 
4. Mutual aid Procedures: TBD 
5. Chain of Command Procedures: TBD 
6. Call out Procedures: TBD 
7. Resource Procedures: TBD 
8. Public Information procedures: TBD 
9. Mission Procedures: TBD 
10. Communication Procedures: TBD 
11. Live find Procedures: TBD 
12. Cadaver find Procedures: TBD 
13. Mission stand down Procedures: TBD 
14. Mission report Procedures: TBD 
15. Evaluation Procedures: TBD