TITLE 47: HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
PART 1 STANDARD GRANT ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 1.APPENDIX B OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR A-110


 

Section 1.APPENDIX B  Office of Management and Budget Circular A-110

 

Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospital, and Other Nonprofit Organization

 

Uniform Administrative Requirements

(July 20, 1976)

 

Attachment A:  Cash Depositories

 

1.         This attachment sets forth standards governing the use of banks and other institutions as depositories of funds advanced under grants and other agreements.

 

2.         Except for situations described in paragraphs 3, 4, and 5, no Federal sponsoring agency shall:  

 

a.         Require physical segregation of cash depositories for funds which are provided to a recipient.

 

b.         Establish any eligibility requirements for cash depositories for funds which are provided to a recipient.

 

3.         A separate bank account shall be required when applicable letter-of-credit agreements provide that drawdowns will be made when the recipient's checks are presented to the bank for payment.

 

4.         Any moneys advanced to a recipient which are subject to the control or regulation of the United States or any of its officers, agents or employees (public moneys as defined in Treasury Circular No. 176 (31 CFR 202 (1984)), as amended) must be deposited in a bank with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance coverage and the balance exceeding the FDIC coverage must be collaterally secured.

 

5.         Consistent with the national goal of expanding the opportunities for minority business enterprises, recipients and subrecipients shall be encouraged to use minority banks (a bank which is owned at least 50 percent by minority group members).

 

Attachment B:  Bonding and Insurance

 

1.         This attachment sets forth bonding and insurance requirements for grants and other agreements with recipients.  No other bonding and insurance requirements shall be imposed other than those normally required by the recipient.

 

2.         Except as otherwise required by law, a grant or other agreement that requires the contracting (or subcontracting) for construction or facility improvements shall provide for the recipient to follow its own requirements relating to bid guarantees, performance bonds, and payment bond unless the construction contract or subcontract exceeds $100,000.  For those contracts or subcontracts exceeding $100,000, the Federal agency may accept the bonding policy and requirements of the grantee provided the Federal agency has made a determination that the Government's interest is adequately protected.  If such a determination has not been made, the minimum requirements shall be as follows:  

 

a.         A bid guarantee from each bidder equivalent to five percent of the bid price. - The "bid guarantee" shall consist of a firm commitment such as a bid bond, certified check, or other negotiable instrument accompanying a bid as assurance that the bidder will, upon acceptance of his bid, execute such contractual documents as may be required within the time specified.

 

b.         A performance bond on the part of the contractor for 100 percent of the contract price. - A "performance bond" is one executed in connection with a contract to secure fulfillment of all the contractor's obligations under such contract.

 

c.         A payment bond on the part of the contractor for 100 percent of the contract price. - A "payment bond" is one executed in connection with a contract to assure payment as required by law of all persons supplying labor and material in the execution of the work provided for in the contract.

 

3.         Where the Federal Government guarantees or insures the repayment of money agency, at its discretion, may require adequate bonding and insurance if the bonding and insurance requirements of the recipient are not deemed adequate to protect the interest of the Federal Government. (See 47 Ill. Adm. Code 1.50(c), Cash Management)

 

4.         The Federal sponsoring agency may require adequate fidelity bond coverage where the recipient has no coverage and the bond is needed to protect the Government's interest.

 

5.         Where bonds are required in the situations described above, the bonds shall be obtained from companies holding certificates of authority as acceptable sureties (31 CFR 223).

 

Attachment C:  Retention and Custodial Requirement for Records

 

1.         This attachment sets forth record retention requirements for grants and other agreements with recipients.  Federal sponsoring agencies shall not impose any record retention requirements upon recipients other than those described below.

 

2.         Except for paragraph 1, this attachment also applies to subrecipients as referred to in paragraph 5 of the basic circular.

 

3.         Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an agreement shall be retained for a period of three years, with the following qualifications:  

 

a.         If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until all litigations, claims, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved.

 

b.         Records for nonexpendable property acquired with Federal funds shall be retained for 3 years after its final disposition.

 

c.         When records are transferred to or maintained by the Federal sponsoring agency, the 3-year retention requirements is not applicable to the recipient.

 

4.         The retention period starts from the date of the submission of the final expenditure report or, for grants and other agreements that are renewed annually, from the date of the submission of the annual financial status report.

 

5.         Recipient organizations should be authorized by the Federal sponsoring agency, if they so desire, to substitute microfilm copies in lieu of original records.  (The Department will forward all requests to microfilm records to the Local Records Commission, which will render a decision based on the Local Records Commission Regulations (44 Ill. Adm. Code 4000) of the Local Records Commission and Local Records Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 116, pars. 43.102 et seq.).)

 

6.         The Federal sponsoring agency shall request transfer of certain records to its custody from recipient organizations when it determines that the records possess long-term retention value.  However, in order to avoid duplication record-keeping, a Federal sponsoring agency may make arrangements with recipient organizations to retain any records that are continuously needed for joint use.  (The Department will take possession of grant records only when the Grantee no longer exists.)

 

7.         The head of the Federal sponsoring agency and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representative, shall have access to any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient organization, and their subrecipients, to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts.

 

8.         Unless otherwise required by law, no Federal sponsoring agency shall place restrictions on recipient organizations that will limit public access to the records of recipient organizations that are pertinent to a grant or agreement except when the agency can demonstrate that such records must be kept confidential and would have been excepted from disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) if the records had belonged to the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

Attachment D:  Program Income

 

1.         Federal sponsoring agencies shall apply the standards set forth in this attachment in requiring recipient organizations to account for program income related to projects financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.  Program income represents gross income earned by the recipient from the federally supported activities.  Such earnings exclude interest earned on advances and may include, but will not be limited to, income from service fees, sale of commodities, usage or rental fees, and royalties on patents and copyrights.

 

2.         Interest earned on advances of Federal funds shall be remitted to the Federal agency except for interest earned on advances to States or instrumentalities of a State as provided by the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-577).

 

3.         Proceeds from the sale of real and personal property either provided by the Federal Government or purchased in whole or in part with Federal funds, shall be handled in accordance with Attachment N to this circular pertaining to property management.

 

4.         Unless the agreement provides otherwise, recipients shall have no obligation to the Federal Government with respect to royalties received as a result of copyrights or patents produced under the grant or other agreement (see paragraph 8, Attachment N).

 

5.         All other program income earned during the project period shall be retained by the recipient and, in accordance with the grant or other agreement, shall be:  

 

a.         Added to funds committed to the project by the Federal sponsoring agency and recipient organization and be used to further eligible program objectives;

 

b.         used to finance the non-federal share of the project when approved by the Federal sponsoring agency; or

 

c.         Deducted from the total project costs in determining the net costs on which the Federal share of costs will be based.

 

Attachment E:  Cost Sharing and Matching

 

1.         This attachment sets forth criteria and procedures for the allow- ability of cash and in-kind contributions made by recipients or subrecipients (as referred to in paragraph 5 of the basic circular), or third parties in satisfying cost sharing and matching requirements of Federal sponsoring agencies.  This attachment also establishes criteria for the evaluation of in-kind contributions made by third parties.

 

2.         The following definitions apply for the purpose of this attachment:  

 

a.         Project costs. - Project costs (as set forth in the applicable Federal cost principles) incurred by a recipient and the value of the in-kind contributions made by the recipient or third parties in accomplishing the objectives of the grant or other agreement during the project or program period.

 

b.         Cost sharing and matching. - In general cost sharing and matching represent that portion of project or program costs not borne by the Federal Government.

 

c.         Cash contributions. - Cash contributions represent the recipients cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the recipient by non-Federal third parties.

 

d.         In-kind contributions. - In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the recipients and non-Federal third parties.  Only when authorized by Federal legislation, may property purchased with Federal funds be considered as the recipient's in-kind contributions.  In-kind contributions may be in the form of charges for real property and non-expendable personal property, and the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program.

 

3.         General guidelines for computing cost sharing or matching are as follows:  

 

a.         Cost sharing or matching may consist of:  

 

(1)        Charges incurred by the recipient as project costs.  (Not all charges require cash outlays by the recipient during the project period:  examples are depreciation and use charges for building and equipment.)

 

(2)        Project costs financed with cash contribution or donated to the recipient by other non-Federal public agencies and institutions, and private organizations and individuals, and

 

(3)        Project costs represented by services and real and personal property, or used thereof, donated by other non-Federal publics agencies and institutions, and private organizations and individuals.

 

b.         All contributions both cash and in-kind, shall be accepted as part of the recipient's cost sharing and matching when such contributions meet all of the following criteria:  

(1)        Are verifiable from the recipient's records;

 

(2)        Are not included as contributions for any other federally- assisted program;

 

(3)        Are necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of project objectives;

 

(4)        Are types of charges that would be allowable under the applicable cost principles;

 

(5)        Are not paid by the Federal Government under another assistance agreement (unless the agreement is authorized by Federal law to be used for cost sharing or matching);

 

(6)        Are provided for in the approved budget when required by the Federal agency; and

 

(7)        Conform to other provisions of this attachment

 

4.         Specific procedures for the recipients in establishing the value of in-kind contribution from non-Federal third parties are set forth below:  

 

a.         Valuation of volunteer services. - Volunteer services may be furnished by professional and technical personnel, consultants, and other skilled and unskilled labor.  Volunteer services may be counted as cost sharing or matching if the service is an integral and necessary part of an approved program.  ("Integral and necessary" is defined as an allowable cost for the program if purchased.)

 

(1)        Rates for volunteer services. - Rates for volunteers should be consistent with those paid for similar work in the recipient's organization. In those instances in which the required skills are not found in the recipient organization, rates should be consistent with those paid for similar work in the labor market in which recipient competes for the kind of services involved.  (Rates shall be based on the Department of Employment Security's Occupational Employment Statistics Survey.)

 

(2)        Volunteers employed by other organizations. - When an employer other than the recipient furnishes the services of an employee, these services shall be valued at the employee's regular rate of pay (exclusive of fringe benefits and overhead cost) provided these services are in the same skill for which the employee is normally paid.

 

b.         Valuation of donated, expendable personal property. - Donated expendable personal property includes such items as expendable equipment, office supplies, laboratory supplies or workshop and classroom supplies. Value assessed to expendable personal property included in the cost or matching share should be reasonable and should not exceed the market value of the property at the time of the donation.

 

c.         Valuation of donated, nonexpendable personal property, buildings, and land or use thereof.

 

(1)        The method used for charging cost sharing or matching for donated nonexpendable personal property, buildings and land may differ according to the purpose of the grant or other agreement as follows:  

 

(a)        If the purpose of grant or other agreement is to assist the recipient in the acquisition of equipment, buildings or land, the total value of the donated property may be claimed as cost sharing or matching.

 

(b)        If the purpose of the agreement is to support activities that require the use of equipment, buildings or land, depreciation or use charges for equipment and buildings may be made.  The full value of equipment or other capital assets and fair rental charges for land may be allowed provided that the Federal agency has approved the charges.

 

(2)        The value of donated property will be determined in accordance with the usual accounting policies of the recipient with the following qualifications.

 

(a)        Land and buildings. - The value of donated land and buildings may not exceed its fair market value, at the time of donation to the recipient as established by an independent appraiser (e.g., certified real property appraiser or GSA representatives) and certified by a responsible official of the recipient.

 

(b)        Nonexpendable personal property. - The value of donated nonexpendable personal property shall not exceed the fair market value of equipment and property of the same age and condition at the time of donation.

 

(c)        Use of space. - The value of donated space shall not exceed the fair rental value of comparable space as established by an independent appraisal of comparable space and facilities in a privately-owned building in the same locality.

 

(d)       Loaned equipment. - The value of loaned equipment shall not exceed its fair rental value.

 

5.         The following requirements pertain to the recipient's supporting records for in-kind contributions from non-Federal third parties.

 

a.         Volunteer services must be documented and, to the extent feasible, support by the same methods used by the recipient for its employees.

 

b.         The basis for determining the valuation for personal services, material, equipment, buildings and land must be documented.

 

Attachment F:  Standards for Financial Management Systems

 

1.         This attachment prescribes standards for financial management systems of recipients.  Federal sponsoring agencies shall not impose additional standards on recipients unless specifically provided for in the applicable statutes (e.g., the Joint Funding Simplification Act, P.L. 93-510) or other attachments to this circular.  However, Federal sponsoring agencies are encouraged to make suggestions and assist recipients in establishing or improving financial management systems when such assistance is needed or requested.

 

2.         Recipients' financial management systems shall provide for:  

 

a.         Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federally sponsored project or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in Attachment G to this circular. When a Federal sponsoring agency requires reporting on an accrual basis, the recipient shall not be required to establish an accrual accounting system but shall develop such accrual data for its reports on the basis of an analysis of the documentation on hand.

 

b.         Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally sponsored activities.  These records shall contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, obligations, unobligated balances, assets, outlays, and income.

 

c.         Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property and other assets.  Recipients shall adequately safeguard all such assets and shall assure that they are used solely for authorized purposes.  (See 47 Ill. Adm. Code 1.90, Financial Management Standards.)

 

d.         Comparison of actual outlays with budget amounts for each grant or other agreement.  Whenever appropriate or required by the Federal sponsoring agency, financial information should be related to performance and unit cost data.

 

e.         Procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the U.S. Treasury and the disbursement by the recipient, whenever funds are advanced by the Federal Government.  When advances are made by a letter-of-credit method, the recipient shall make drawdowns as close as possible to the time of making disbursements.

 

f.          Procedures for determining the reasonableness, allowability and allocability of costs in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Federal cost principles and the terms of the grant or other agreement.

 

g.         Accounting records that are supported by source documentation.

 

h.         Examinations in the form of audits or internal audits.  Such audits shall be made by qualified individuals who are sufficiently independent of those who authorize the expenditure of Federal funds, to produce unbiased opinions, conclusions or judgments.  These examinations are intended to ascertain the effectiveness of the financial management systems and internal procedures that have been established to meet the terms and conditions of the agreements.  It is intended that each agreement awarded to the recipient be examined.  Generally, examinations should be conducted on an organization wide basis to test the fiscal integrity of financial transactions, as well as compliance with the terms and conditions of the Federal grants and other agreements.  Such tests would include an appropriate sampling of Federal agreements. Examinations will be conducted with reasonable frequency, on a continuing basis or at scheduled intervals, usually annually, but not less frequently than every two years.  The frequency of these examinations shall depend upon the nature, size and the complexity of the activity.  These examinations do not relieve Federal agencies of their audit responsibilities, but may affect the frequency and scope of such audits.

 

i.          A systematic method to assure timely and appropriate resolution of audit findings and recommendations.

 

3.         Primary recipients shall require subrecipients (as defined in paragraph 5 of the basic circular) to adopt the standards in paragraph 2, above except for the requirement in subparagraph 2e, regarding the use of the letter-of-credit method and that part of subparagraph 2a, regarding reporting forms and frequencies prescribed in Attachment G to this circular.

 

Attachment G:  Financial Reporting Requirements

 

1.         This attachment prescribes uniform reporting procedures for recipients to: summarize expenditures made and Federal funds unexpended for each award, report the status of Federal cash advanced, request advances and reimbursement when the letter-of-credit method is not used; and promulgates standard forms incident thereto.

 

2.         The following definitions apply for purposes of this attachment:  

 

a.         Accrued expenditures. - Accrued expenditures are the charges incurred by the recipient during a given period requiring the provision of funds for (1) goods and other tangible property received; (2) services performed by employees, contractors, subrecipients, and other payees, and (3) other amounts becoming owed under programs for which no current services or performance is required.

 

b.         Accrued income. - Accrued income is the sum of (1) earnings during a given period from (i) services performed by the recipient; and (ii) goods and other tangible property delivered to purchasers; and (2) amounts becoming owed to the recipient for which no current services or performance is required by the recipient.

 

c.         Federal funds authorized. - Federal funds authorized are the total amount of Federal funds obligated by the Federal Government for use by the recipient.  This amount may include any authorized carry-over of unobligated funds from prior fiscal years when permitted by law or agency regulation.

 

d.         In-kind contributions. - In-kind contributions are defined in Attachment E to this circular.

 

e.         Obligations. - Obligations are the amounts of orders placed, contracts and grants awarded, services received, and similar transactions during a given period that will require payment by the recipient during the same or a future period.

 

f.          Outlays. - Outlays or expenditures represent charges made to the project or program.  They may be reported on a cash or accrual basis. For reports prepared on a cash basis, outlays are the sum of actual cash disbursements for direct charges for goods and services, the amount of indirect expense charged, the value of in-kind contributions applied, and the amount of cash advances and payments made to subrecipients. For reports prepared on an accrual basis, outlays are the sum of actual cash disbursements for direct charges for goods and services, the amount of indirect expense incurred, the value of in-kind contributions applied, and the net increase (or decrease) in the amounts owed by the recipient for goods and other property received, for services performed by employees, contractors, subrecipients and other payees and other amounts becoming owed under programs for which no current services or performance are required.

 

g.         Program income. - Program income is defined in Attachment D of this circular.  It may be reported on a cash or accrual basis, whichever is used for reporting outlays.

 

h.         Unobligated balance. - The unobligated balance is the portion of the funds authorized by the Federal sponsoring agency that has not been obligated by the recipient and is determined by deducting the cumulative obligations from the cumulative funds authorized.

 

i.          Unliquidated obligations. - For reports prepared on a cash basis, unliquidated obligations represent the amount of obligations incurred by the recipient that has not been paid.  For reports prepared on an accrued expenditure basis, they represent the amount of obligations incurred by the recipient for which an outlay has not been recorded.

 

Attachment H:  Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance

 

1.         This attachment sets forth the procedures for monitoring and reporting program performance of recipients.

 

2.         Recipients shall monitor the performance under grants and other agreements and, where appropriate, ensure that time schedules are being met, projected work units by time periods are being accomplished, and other performance goals are being achieved.  This review shall be made for each program, function, or activity of each agreement as set forth in the approved application or award document.

 

3.         Recipients shall submit a performance report (technical report) for each agreement that briefly presents the following information for each program, function, or activity involved as prescribed by the Federal sponsoring agency:  

 

a.         A comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals established for the period, the findings of the investigator, or both.  If the output of programs or projects can be readily quantified, such quantitative data should be related to cost data for computation of units costs.

 

b.         Reasons why established goals were not met.

 

c.         Other pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.

 

4.         Between the required performance reporting dates, events may occur that have significant impact upon the project or program.  In such instances, the recipient shall inform the Federal sponsoring agency as soon as the following types of conditions become known:  

 

a.         Problems, delays, or adverse conditions that will materially affect the ability to attain program objectives, prevent the meeting of time schedules and goals, or preclude the attainment of project work units by established time periods.  This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any Federal assistant needed to resolve the situation.

 

b.         Favorable developments or events that enable time schedules to be met sooner than anticipated or more work units to be produced than originally projected.

 

5.         If any performance review conducted by the recipient discloses the need for change in the budget estimates, the recipient shall submit a request for budget revision.

 

6.         The Federal sponsoring agency shall make site visits as frequently as practicable to:  

 

a.         Review program accomplishments and management control systems, and

 

b.         Provide such technical assistance as may be required.

 

Attachment N:  Property Management Standards

 

1.         This attachment prescribes uniform standards governing management of property furnished by the Federal Government or whose cost was charged to a project supported by a Federal grant or other agreement.  Federal sponsoring agencies shall require recipients to observe these standards under grants and other agreements and shall not impose additional requirements unless specifically required by Federal law.  The recipient may use its own property management standards and procedures provided it observes the provisions of this attachment.  This attachment also applies to subrecipients as referred to in paragraph 5 of the basic circular.

 

2.         The following definitions apply for the purpose of this attachment:  

 

a.         Real property. - Real property means land, including land improvements, structures and appurtenances thereto, but excluding movable machinery and equipment.

 

b.         Personal property. - Personal property of any kind except real property.  It may be tangible-having physical existence, or intangible-having no physical existence, such as patents, inventions and copyrights.

 

c.         Nonexpendable personal property. - Nonexpendable personal property means tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $300 or more per unit.  A recipient may use its own definition of nonexpendable personal property provided that the definition would at least include all tangible personal property as defined above.

 

d.         Expendable personal property. - Expendable personal property refers to all tangible personal property other than nonexpendable property.

 

e.         Excess property. - Excess property means property under the control of any Federal agency that, as determined by the head thereof, is no longer required for its needs or the discharge of its responsibilities.

 

f.          Acquisition cost of purchased nonexpendable personal property. - Acquisition cost of an item of purchased nonexpendable personal property means the net invoice unit price of the property including the cost of modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make the property usable for the purpose for which it was acquired.  Other charges such as the cost of installation, transportation, taxes, duty or protective in-transit insurance, shall be included or excluded from the unit acquisition cost in accordance with the recipient's regular accounting practices.

 

g.         Exempt property. - Exempt property means tangible personal property acquired in whole or in part with Federal funds, and title to which is vested in the recipient without further obligation to the Federal Government except as provided in subparagraph 6a below.  Such unconditional vesting of title will be pursuant to any Federal legislation that provides the Federal sponsoring agency with adequate authority.

 

3.         Real property. - Each Federal sponsoring agency shall prescribe requirements for recipients concerning the use and disposition of real property acquired partly or wholly under grants or other agreements. Unless otherwise provided by statute, such requirements, as a minimum, shall contain the following:  

 

a.         Title to real property shall vest in the recipient subject to the condition that the recipient shall use the real property for the authorized purpose of the project, as long as it is needed.

 

b.         The recipient shall obtain approval by the Federal sponsoring agency for the use of real property in other projects when the recipient determines that the property is no longer needed for the purpose of the original project.  Use in other projects shall be limited to those under other federally sponsored projects (i.e., grants or other agreements) or programs that have purposes consistent with those authorized for support by the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

c.         When the real property is no longer needed as provided in a and b above, the recipient shall request disposition instructions from the Federal sponsoring agency or its successor Federal sponsoring agency. The Federal sponsoring agency shall observe the following rules in the disposition instructions:  

(1)        The recipient may be permitted to retain title after it compensates the Federal Government in an amount computed by applying the Federal percentage of participation in the cost of the original project to the fair market value of the property.

 

(2)        The recipient may be directed to sell the property under guidelines provided by the Federal sponsoring agency and pay the Federal Government an amount computed by applying the Federal percentage of participation in the cost of the original project to the proceeds from sale (after deducting actual and reasonable selling and fix-up expenses, if any, from the sales proceeds).  When the recipient is authorized or required to sell the property, proper sales procedures shall be established that provide for competition to the extent practicable and result in the highest possible return.

 

(3)        The recipient may be directed to transfer title to the property to the Federal Government provided that in such cases the recipient shall be entitled to compensation computed by applying the recipient's percentage of participation in the cost of the program or project to the current fair market value of the property.

 

4.         Federally-owned nonexpendable personal property. - Title to federally-owned property remains vested in the Federal Government.  Recipients shall submit annually an inventory listing of federally-owned property in their custody to the Federal sponsoring agency.  Upon completion of the agreement or when the property is no longer needed, the recipient shall report the property to the Federal sponsoring agency for further agency utilization.

 

            If the Federal sponsoring agency has no further need for the property, it shall be declared excess and reported to the General Services Administration.  Appropriate disposition instructions will be issued to the recipient after completion of the Federal agency review.

 

5.         Exempt property. - When statutory authority exists, (e.g., P.L. 85-934, 42 U.S.C. 1982) title to nonexpendable personal property acquired with project funds, shall be vested in the recipient upon acquisition unless it is determined that to do so is not in furtherance of the objectives of the Federal sponsoring agency.  When title is vest in the recipient, the recipient shall have no other obligation or accountability to the Federal Government for its use or disposition except as provided in 6a below.

 

6.         Other nonexpendable property. - When other nonexpendable tangible personal property is acquired by a recipient with project funds, title shall not be taken by the Federal Government but shall vest in the recipient subject to the following conditions:  

 

a.         Right to transfer title. - For items of nonexpendable personal property having a unit acquisition cost of $1,000 or more, the Federal sponsoring agency may reserve the right to transfer the title to the Federal Government or to a third party named by the Federal Government when such third party is otherwise eligible under existing statutes. Such reservation shall be subject to the following standards.

 

(1)        The property shall be appropriately identified in the grant or other agreement or otherwise made known to the recipient in writing.

 

(2)        The Federal sponsoring agency shall issue disposition instructions within 120 calendar days after the end of the Federal support of the project for which it was acquired. If the Federal sponsoring agency fails to issue disposition instructions within the 120 calendar day period, the recipient shall apply the standards of subparagraphs 6b and 6c as appropriate.

 

(3)        When the Federal sponsoring agency exercises its right to take title, the personal property shall be subject to the provisions for federally-owned nonexpendable property discussed in paragraph 4, above.

 

(4)        When title is transferred either to the Federal Government or to a third party the provisions of subparagraph 6c(2)(b) should be followed.

 

b.         Use of other tangible nonexpendable property for which the recipient has title.

 

(1)        The recipient shall use the property in the project or program for which it was acquired as long as needed, whether or not the project or program continues to be supported by Federal funds.  When no longer needed for the original project or program, the recipient shall use the property in connection with its other federally sponsored activities, in the following order of priority:  

 

(a)        Activities, in the following order of priority;

 

(b)        Activities sponsored by other Federal agencies.

 

(2)        Shared use. - During the time that nonexempt nonexpendable personal property is held for use on the project or program for which it was acquired, the recipient shall make it available for use on other projects or programs if such other use will not interfere with the work on the project or program for which the property was originally acquired. First preference for such other use shall be given to other projects or programs sponsored by the Federal agency that financed the property; second preference shall be given to projects or programs sponsored by other Federal agencies.  If the property is owned by the Federal Government, use on other activities not sponsored by the Federal Government shall be permissible if authorized by the Federal agency.  User charges should be considered if appropriate.

 

c.         Disposition of other nonexpendable property. - When the recipient no longer needs the property as provided in 6b above, the property may be used for other activities in accordance with the following standards:  

(1)        Nonexpendable property with a unit acquisition cost of less than $1,000. - The recipient may use the property for other activities without reimbursement to the Federal Government or sell the property and retain the proceeds.

 

(2)        Nonexpendable personal property with a unit acquisition cost of $1,000 or more. - The recipient may retain the property for other uses provided that compensation is made to the original Federal sponsoring agency or its successor.  The amount of compensation shall be computed by applying the percentage of Federal participation in the cost of the original project or program to the current fair market value of property.  If the recipient has no need for the property and the property has further use value, the recipient shall request disposition instructions from the original sponsoring agency.  The Federal sponsoring agency shall determine whether the property can be used to meet the agency's requirements.  If no requirement exists within that agency, the availability of the property shall be reported to the General Services Administration by the Federal agency to determine whether a requirement for the property exists in other Federal agencies.  The Federal sponsoring agency shall issue instructions to the recipient no later than 120 days after the recipient's request and the following procedures shall govern:  

 

(a)        If so instructed or if disposition instructions are not issued within 120 calendar days after the recipient's request, the recipient shall sell the property and reimburse the Federal sponsoring agency an amount computed by applying to the sales proceeds the percentage of Federal participation in the cost of the original project or program. However, the recipient shall be permitted to deduct and retain from the Federal share $100 or ten percent of the proceeds, whichever is greater, for the recipient's selling and handling expenses.

 

(b)        If the recipient is instructed to ship the property elsewhere, the recipient shall be reimbursed by the benefiting Federal agency with an amount which is computed by applying the percentage of the recipient's participation in the cost of the original grant project or program to the current fair market value of the property, plus any reasonable shipping or interim storage costs incurred.

 

(c)        If the recipient is instructed to otherwise dispose of the property, the recipient shall be reimbursed by the Federal sponsoring agency for such costs incurred in its disposition.

 

(d)       Property management standards for nonexpendable property. - The recipient's property management standards for nonexpendable personal property shall include the following procedural requirements:  

 

(1)        Property records shall be maintained accurately and shall include:  

 

(a)        A description of the property.

 

(b)        Manufacturer's serial number, model number, Federal stock number, national stock number, or other identification number.

 

(c)        Source of the property, including grant or other agreement number.

 

(d)       Whether title vests in the recipient or the Federal Government.

 

(e)        Acquisition date (or date received, if the property was furnished by the Federal Government) and cost.

 

(f)        Percentage (at the end of the budget year) of the project or program for which the property was acquired.  (Not applicable to property furnished by the Federal Government.)

 

(g)        Location, use the and condition of the property and the date the information was reported.

 

(h)        Unit acquisition cost.

 

(i)         Ultimate disposition data, including date of disposal and sales price or the method used to determine current fair market value where a recipient compensates the Federal sponsoring agency for its share.

 

(2)        Property owned by the Federal Government must be marked to indicate Federal ownership.

 

(3)        A physical inventory of property shall be taken and the results reconciled with the property records at least once every two years. Any differences between quantities determined by the physical inspection and those shown in the account records shall be investigated to determine the causes of the difference.  The recipient shall, in connection with the inventory, verify the existence, current utilization, and continued need for the property.

 

(4)        A control system shall be in effect to insure adequate safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property.  Any loss, damage, or theft of nonexpendable property shall be investigated and fully documented; if the property was owned by the Federal Government, the recipient shall promptly notify the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

(5)        Adequately maintenance procedures shall be implemented to keep the property in good condition.

 

(6)        Where the recipient is authorized or required to sell the property, proper sales procedures shall be established which would provide for competition to the extent practicable and result in the highest possible return.

 

 7.        Expendable personal property. - Title to expendable personal property shall vest in the recipient upon acquisition.  If there is a residual inventory of such property exceeding $1,000 in total aggregate fair market value, upon termination or completion of the grant or other agreement, and the property is not needed for any other federally sponsored project or program, the recipient shall retain the property for use on nonfederally sponsored activities, or sell it, but must in either case, compensate the Federal Government for its share.  The amount of compensation shall be computed in the same manner as nonexpendable personal property.

 

8.         Intangible property

 

a.         Inventions and patents. - If any program produces patentable items, patent rights, processes, or inventions, in the course of work sponsored by the Federal Government, such fact shall be promptly and fully reported to the Federal sponsoring agency.  Unless there is a prior agreement between the recipient and the Federal sponsoring agency on disposition of such items, the Federal sponsoring agency shall determine whether protection on the invention or discovery shall be sought.  The Federal sponsoring agency will also determine how the rights in the invention or discovery - including rights under any patent issued there on - shall be allocated and administered in order to protect the public interest consistent with "Government Patent Policy" (President's Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, August 23, 1971, and statement of Government Patent Policy as printed in 36 F.R. 16889).

 

b.         Copyrights. - Except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the agreement, the author or the recipient organization is free to copyright any books, publications, or other copyrightable materials developed in the course of or under a Federal agreement, but the Federal sponsoring agency shall reserve a royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use, the work for Government purposes.

 

Attachment O:  Procurement Standards

 

1.         This attachment provides standards for use by recipients in establishing procedures for the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction and other services with Federal funds.  These standards are furnished to ensure that such materials and services are obtained in an effective manner and in compliance with the provisions of applicable Federal law and executive orders.  No additional procurement standards or requirements shall be imposed by the Federal sponsoring agencies upon recipients unless specifically required by Federal statute or executive orders.

 

2.         The standards contained in this attachment do not relieve the recipient of the contractual responsibilities arising under its contracts.  The recipients is the responsible authority, without recourse to the Federal sponsoring agency regarding the settlement and satisfaction of all contractual and administrative issues arising out of procurements entered into, in support of a grant or other agreement.  This includes disputes, claims, protests of award, source evaluation or other matters of a contractual nature.  Matters concerning violation of law are to be referred to such local, State or Federal authority as may have proper jurisdiction.

 

3.         Recipients may use their own procurement policies and procedures. However, all recipients shall adhere to the standards set forth in paragraphs 3 and 4.

 

a.         The recipient shall maintain a code or standards of conduct that shall govern the performance of its officers, employees or agents engaged in the awarding and administration of contracts using Federal funds. No employee, officer or agent shall participate in the selection, award or administration of a contract in which Federal funds are used, where, to his knowledge, he or his immediate family, partners, or organization in which he or his immediate family or partner has a financial interest or with whom he is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment.  The recipients' officers, employees or agents shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favor or anything of monetary value from contractors or potential contractors.  Such standards shall provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by the recipients' officers, employees or agents.

 

b.         All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. The recipient should be alert to organizational conflicts of interest or noncompetitive practices among contractors that may restrict or eliminate competition or otherwise restrain trade.  In order to ensure objective contractor performance and eliminate unfair competitive advantage, contractors that develop or draft specifications, requirements, statements of work, invitations for bids and/or requests for proposals should be excluded from competing for such procurements.  Awards shall be made to the bidder/offeror whose bid/offer is responsive to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the recipient, price and other factors considered.  Solicitations shall clearly set forth all requirements that the bidder/offeror must fulfill in order for his bid/offer to be evaluated by the recipient.  Any and all bids/offers may be rejected when it is in the recipient's interest to do so.

 

c.         All recipients shall establish procurement procedures that provide for, at a minimum, the following procedural requirements.

 

(1)        Proposed procurement actions shall follow a procedure to assure the avoidance of purchasing unnecessary or duplicative items.  Where appropriate, an analysis shall be made of lease and purchase, alternatives to determine which would be the most economical, practice procurement.

 

(2)        Solicitations for goods and services shall be based upon a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements for the materials, product or service to be procured.  Such a description shall not, in competitive procurements, contain features which unduly restrict competition.  "Brand name or equal" descriptions may be used as a means to define the performance or other salient requirements of a procurement, and when so used the specific features of the named brand which must be met by bidders/offerors shall be clearly specified.

 

(3)        Positive efforts shall be made by the recipients to utilize small business and minority-owned business sources of supplies and services. Such efforts should allow these sources the maximum feasible opportunity to compete for contracts utilizing Federal funds.

 

(4)        The type of procuring instruments used, e.g., fixed price contracts, cost reimbursable contracts, purchase orders, incentive contracts, shall be determined by the recipient but must be appropriate for the particular procurement and for promoting the best interest of the program involved.  The "cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost" method of contracting shall not be used.

 

(5)        Contracts shall be made only with responsible contractors who possess the potential ability to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of a proposed procurement.  Consideration shall be given to such matters as contractor integrity, record of past performance, financial and technical resources or accessibility to other necessary resources.

 

(6)        All proposed sole source contracts or where only one bid or proposal is received in which the aggregate expenditure is expected to exceed $5,000 shall be subject to prior approval at the discretion of the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

(7)        Some form of price or cost analysis should be made in connection with every procurement action.  Price analysis may be accomplished in various ways, including the comparison of price quotations submitted, market prices and similar indicia, together with discounts.  Cost analysis is the review and evaluation of each element of cost to determine reasonableness, allocability and allowability.

 

(8)        Procurement records and files for purchase in excess of $10,000 shall include the following:  

 

(a)        Basis for contractor selection;

 

(b)        Justification for lack of competition when competitive bids or offers are not obtained;

 

(c)        Basis for award cost or price.

 

(9)        A system for contract administration shall be maintained to ensure contractor conformance with terms, conditions and specifications of the contract, and to ensure adequate and timely followup of all purchases.

 

4.         The recipient shall include, in addition to provisions to define a sound and complete agreement, the following provisions in all contracts. These provisions shall also be applied to subcontractors.

 

a.         Contracts in excess of $10,000 shall contain contractual provisions or conditions that will allow for administrative, contractual or legal remedies in instances in which contractors violate or breach contract terms, and provide for such remedial actions as may be appropriate.

 

b.         All contracts in excess of $10,000 shall contain suitable provisions for termination by the recipient including the manner by which termination will be effected and the basis for settlement.  In addition, such contracts shall describe conditions under which the contract may be terminated for default as well as conditions where the contract may be terminated because of circumstances be beyond the control of the contractor.

 

c.         In all contracts for construction or facility improvement awarded for more than $100,000, recipients shall observe the bonding requirements provided in Attachment B to this circular.

 

d.         All contracts awarded by recipients and their contractors or subgrantees having a value of more than $10,000, shall contain a provision requiring compliance with Executive Order 11246, entitled "Equal Employment Opportunity," as amended by Executive Order 11375, and as supplemented in Department of Labor regulations (41 CFR, Part 60).

 

e.         All contracts and subgrants in excess of $2,000 for construction or repair awarded by recipients and subrecipients shall include a provision for compliance with the Copeland "Anti-Kick Back" Act (18 U.S.C. 874) as supplemented in Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR, Part 3). This Act provides that each contractor or subgrantee shall be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he is otherwise entitled.  The recipient shall report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

f.          When required by the Federal program legislation, all construction contracts awarded by the recipients and subrecipients of more than $2,000 shall include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a to a-7) and as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR, Part 5).  Under this Act contractors shall be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the minimum wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor.  In addition, contractors shall be required to pay wages not less than once a week.  The recipient shall place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation and the award of a contract shall be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination.  The recipient shall report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal sponsoring agency.

 

g.         Where applicable, all contracts awarded by recipients in excess of $2,000 for construction contracts and in excess of $2,500 for other contracts that involve the employment of mechanics or laborers, shall include a provision for compliance with sections 103 and 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 327-330) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR, Part 5). Under section 103 of the Act, each contractor shall be required to compute the wages of every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard work day of 8 hours and a standard work week of 40 hours.  Work in excess of the standard workday or workweek is permissible provided that the worker is compensated at a rate of not less than 1 1/2 times the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 8 hours in any calendar day or 40 hours in the workweek.  Section 107 of the Act is applicable to construction work and provides that no laborer or mechanic shall be required to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to his health and safety as determined under construction safety and health standards promulgated by the Secretary of Labor.  These requirements do not apply to the purchases of supplies or materials or articles ordinarily available on the open market, or contracts for transportation or transmission of intelligence.

 

h.         Contracts or agreements, the principal purpose of which is to create, develop or improve products, processes or methods, or for exploration into fields that directly concern public health, safety or welfare; or contracts in the field of science or technology in which there has been little significant experience outside of work funded by Federal assistance, shall contain a notice to the effect that matters regarding rights to inventions and materials generated under the contract or agreement are subject to the regulations issued by the Federal sponsoring agency and the recipient.  The contractor shall be advised as to the source of additional information regarding these matters.

 

i.          All negotiated contracts (except those of $10,000 or less) awarded by recipients shall include a provision to the effect that the recipient, the Federal sponsoring agency, the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access to any books, documents, papers and records of the contractor which are directly pertinent to a specific program for the purpose of making audits, examinations, excerpts and transcriptions.

 

j.          Contracts and subgrants of amounts in excess of $100,000 shall contain a provision that requires the recipient to agree to comply with all applicable standards, orders or regulations issued pursuant to the Clear Air Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 187 et seq.) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) as amended.  Violations shall be reported to the Federal sponsoring agency and the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

(Source:  Amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 3585, effective February 3, 1986)