[This proposal was agreed to by the ARL on 23 September 2008.]

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is seeking help planning and managing the activities of it’s E-Science Working Group chaired by Wendy Lougee. I have been asked to be a Consultant to the E-Science task for and this document outlines ways I can be helpful and the cost of this service to the ARL.

Planning and follow-up for ARL meetings in October

An ARL/CNI forum is being planned for October 16-17 in Arlington, VA. That forum is more or less ready to go, though as a consultant I will be expected to assist in any way possible during the remaining preparation time. As a consultant I will participate in planning the next ARL E-Science Working Group meeting on October 15, both in person with Wendy Lougee and via teleconference with other planners around the country. I will assist Wendy in the preparation of the agenda, oversight of work being done by a graduate assistant in Washington, assembly of handouts for participants, and preparation of an informal presentation for the meeting. After the meetings conclude, I will prepare a summary of decisions reached and participate in a limited amount of direct follow-up and debriefing.

These services will cost $2,600.

Attending ARL meetings in October

As a consultant I will be expected to attend the ARL E-Science Working Group meeting on October 15 and the forum on October 16-17. It is understood that prior commitments will require my departure from the forum on Friday afternoon. I will assist with some presentations at the working group meeting. My role at the forum will be as an observer and gatherer of input for future working group planning. I will also assist ARL staff with the logistics of the meeting, assisting speakers, and keeping track of time.

This will cost $4,000 plus travel expenses for the three days.

Planning for next stages of working group work

Although the nature of the continuing work of the ARL E-Science Working Group is unclear at the moment. We expect that some future direction will be set at the October meeting and that this direction will require ongoing consulting support and supervision of graduate assistant efforts. A separate agreement will be negotiated for that ongoing support, once it is clear what is required.

If the ARL wishes to have me attend the CNI task force meeting in December as a representative of the working group, that would cost $2,600 plus travel expenses. Such a trip should be confirmed before the end of October to facilitate travel planning.

If the ARL wishes for me to create a blog or wiki site and begin authoring and editing items on that site for the benefit of the working group and members of the ARL, that could be accomplished in December as well. Though the details of such development await decisions by the working group about the nature of communication they would like to see via this sort of vehicle, setting up the simplest option, a blog, would cost $3,000 with another $2,000 required for the ongoing editorial task during that first month.

Summary

As a consultant, I do not charge by the hour. The costs above will be charged as a flat rate.

I will submit an invoice for $6,600 after the ARL meetings of mid-October along with a separate request for travel expense reimbursement (covering travel, lodging, and meals during the meetings). If the ARL would like to pursue the “next stage” work in December, I should be alerted to that before the end of October. In that case I would pursue that work in December and submit a second invoice for $7,600 at the end of that month.

It should be noted that I will be out of the country during the month of November. Email contact should continue to reach me, but my responses may be slower than usual.