Transition: Arecibo Operations and Maintenance

Sri International, Menlo Park CA

Investigators

Abstract

SRI and its partners, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and the Universidad Metropolitana (UMET), collectively the Arecibo Managing Partners (AMP), will provide on-site staff at Arecibo during the transition period and will cooperate fully with the present Cornell University management team to ensure a graceful transition, including: continuity of the scientific observation program; seamless operation of the Education and Public Outreach (EPO) program; clear, fair, and timely transition of employee compensation and benefits; stewardship of maintenance, safety, and environmental duties; efficient initiation of new business systems; and, importantly, resolving uncertainties of the incumbent staff, user communities, and other stakeholders. The Transition Plan is divided into two overlapping phases to ensure that all necessary functions are completed in a timely manner and with minimal impact on AO operations. The first phase covers the formal four-month transfer period while the second is an ongoing process of integration and adjustment, which will continue throughout the first year of the new Cooperative Agreement. An important feature of the transition process is the immediate appointment and relocation of the Director-designate/PI as the on- site transition manager to provide clear responsibility and accountability for transition implementation, and collaborative alignment with the incumbent, NSF, NASA, and the staff.