diff --git a/dags/veda_data_pipeline/utils/collection_generation.py b/dags/veda_data_pipeline/utils/collection_generation.py
index 02b3a659..e04e1356 100644
--- a/dags/veda_data_pipeline/utils/collection_generation.py
+++ b/dags/veda_data_pipeline/utils/collection_generation.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class GenerateCollection:
         "is_periodic",
         "time_density",
         "type",
+        "transfer"
     ]
 
     def get_template(self, dataset: Dict[str, Any]) -> dict:
diff --git a/dags/veda_data_pipeline/veda_dataset_pipeline.py b/dags/veda_data_pipeline/veda_dataset_pipeline.py
index c7356976..c4a7d418 100644
--- a/dags/veda_data_pipeline/veda_dataset_pipeline.py
+++ b/dags/veda_data_pipeline/veda_dataset_pipeline.py
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ def mutate_payload(**kwargs):
             payload["assets"] = assets
     return payload
 
+@task(max_active_tis_per_dag=3)
+def transfer_assets_to_production_bucket(payload):
+    # TODO
+    return payload
+
 
 template_dag_run_conf = {
     "collection": "<collection-id>",
@@ -95,7 +100,8 @@ def mutate_payload(**kwargs):
     "is_periodic": "<true|false>",
     "license": "<collection-LICENSE>",
     "time_density": "<time-density>",
-    "title": "<collection-title>"
+    "title": "<collection-title>",
+    "transfer": "<true|false> # transfer assets to production bucket if true (false by default)", 
 }
 
 with DAG("veda_dataset_pipeline", params=template_dag_run_conf, **dag_args) as dag:
@@ -108,9 +114,17 @@ def mutate_payload(**kwargs):
     mutate_payload_task = mutate_payload()
     discover = discover_from_s3_task.partial(alt_payload=mutate_payload_task).expand(event=extract_discovery_items())
     discover.set_upstream(collection_grp)  # do not discover until collection exists
-    get_files = get_dataset_files_to_process(payload=discover)
 
-    build_stac = build_stac_task.expand(payload=get_files)
+    get_files = get_dataset_files_to_process(payload=discover) # untangle mapped data format to get iterable payloads from discover step
+
+    # asset transfer to production bucket
+    transfer_flag = dag.params.get("transfer", False)
+    if transfer_flag:
+        transfer_task = transfer_assets_to_production_bucket(payload=get_files)
+        build_stac = build_stac_task.expand(payload=transfer_task)
+    else:
+        build_stac = build_stac_task.expand(payload=get_files)
+    build_stac.set_upstream(get_files)
     # .output is needed coming from a non-taskflow operator
     submit_stac = submit_to_stac_ingestor_task.expand(built_stac=build_stac)
 
diff --git a/sm2a/Makefile b/sm2a/Makefile
index 57a4e020..2366a737 100644
--- a/sm2a/Makefile
+++ b/sm2a/Makefile
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ info_message = \
 
 count_down = \
 	@echo "Spinning up the system please wait..."; \
-	secs=40 ;\
-	while [ $$secs -gt 0 ]; do \
-		printf "%d\033[0K\r" $$secs; \
+	secs=40; \
+	while [ $secs -gt 0 ]; do \
+		printf "%d\033[0K\r" $secs; \
 		sleep 1; \
-		: $$((secs--)); \
+		((secs--)); \
 	done;
 
 .PHONY: