- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- HHS CFR Title 45, Part 74
- Uniform Administration Requirements
Requirements for Awards & Subawards to Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, Other NonProfit Organizations, and
Commercial Organizations; and Certain Grants and Agreements with
States, Local Government and Indian Tribal Governments
Subpart A: General
Sect. 74.1 -- Purpose and applicability.
Sect. 74.2 -- Definitions.
Sect. 74.3 -- Effect on other issuances.
Sect. 74.4 -- Deviations.
Sect. 74.5 -- Subawards.
Subpart B: Pre-Award
Sect. 74.10 -- Purpose.
Sect. 74.11 -- Pre-award Policies.
Sect. 74.12 -- Forms for Applying for HHS Financial Assistance.
Sect. 74.13 -- Debarment and Suspension.
Sect. 74.14 -- Special Award Conditions.
Sect. 74.15 -- Metric System of Measurement.
Sect. 74.16 -- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA,
Section 6002 of P.L. 94-580 (Codified at 42 U.S.C. 6962))
Sect. 74.17 -- Certifications and Representations.
Subpart C: Post-Award Requirements
Financial and Program Management
Sect. 74.20 -- Purpose of financial and program management.
-- Standards for financial management systems.
Sect. 74.22 -- Payment.
Sect. 74.23 -- Cost sharing or matching.
Sect. 74.24 -- Program income.
Sect. 74.25 -- Revision of budget and program plans.
Sect. 74.26 -- Non-Federal audits.
Sect. 74.27 -- Allowable costs.
Sect. 74.28 -- Period of availability of funds.
Property Standards
Sect. 74.30 -- Purpose of property standards.
Sect. 74.31 -- Insurance coverage.
Sect. 74.32 -- Real property.
Sect. 74.33 -- Federally-owned and exempt property.
Sect. 74.34 -- Equipment.
Sect. 74.35 -- Supplies.
Sect. 74.36 -- Intangible property.
Sect. 74.37 -- Property trust relationship.
Procurement Standards
Sect. 74.40 -- Purpose of procurement standards.
Sect. 74.41 -- Recipient responsibilities.
Sect. 74.42 -- Codes of conduct.
Sect. 74.43 -- Competition.
Sect. 74.44 -- Procurement procedures.
Sect. 74.45 -- Cost and price analysis.
Sect. 74.46 -- Procurement records.
Sect. 74.47 -- Contract administration.
Sect. 74.48 -- Contract provisions.
Reports and Records
Sect. 74.50 -- Purpose of reports and records.
Sect. 74.51 -- Monitoring and reporting program performance.
Sect. 74.52 -- Financial reporting.
Sect. 74.53 -- Retention and access requirements for records.
Termination and Enforcement
Sect. 74.60 -- Purpose of termination and enforcement.
Sect. 74.61 -- Termination.
Sect. 74.62 -- Enforcement.
Subpart D: After the Award
Sect. 74.70 -- Purpose.
Sect. 74.71 -- Closeout procedures.
Sect. 74.72 -- Subsequent adjustments and continuing responsibilities.
Sect. 74.73 -- Collection of amounts due.
Subpart E: Special Provisions for Awards to Commercial Organizations
Sect. 74.80 -- Scope of the subpart.
Sect. 74-81 -- Prohibition against profit
Sect. 74-82 -- Program Income
Subpart F: Disputes
Sect. 74.90 -- Final decisions in disputes.
Sect. 74.91 -- Alternative dispute resolution.
Appendix A: Contract Provisions
Appendix B-D: [Reserved]
Appendix E: Hospital Cost Principles for R&D
Appendix F-H: [Reserved]
Source:
59 FR 43760, Aug. 25, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
Sect. 74.1 -- Purpose and applicability.
- Unless inconsistent with statutory requirements, this part
establishes uniform administrative requirements governing:
- Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) grants and
agreements awarded to institutions of higher education, hospitals,
other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations;
- Subgrants or other subawards awarded by recipients of HHS
grants and agreements to institutions of higher education, hospitals,
other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, including
subgrants or other subawards awarded under HHS grants and agreements
administered by State, local and Indian Tribal governments; and
- HHS grants and agreements, and any subawards under such grants
and agreements, awarded to carry out the entitlement programs
identified at 45 CFR part 92, 92.4(a)(3), (a)(7), and (a)(8),
except that 74.12 and 74.25 of this Part shall not apply.
- Nonprofit organizations that implement HHS programs for the
States are also subject to state requirements.
- HHS shall not impose additional or inconsistent requirements except as provided in section 74.4 and 74.14, or unless specifically required by Federal statute or executive order.
Sect. 74.2 -- Definitions.
Accrued expenditures mean 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.
Accrued income means 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.
Acquisition cost of equipment means the net invoice price of the
equipment, 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.
Advance means a payment made by Treasury check or other appropriate
payment mechanism to a recipient upon its request either before
outlays are made by the recipient or through the use of predetermined
payment schedules.
Award means financial assistance that provides support or stimulation
to accomplish a public purpose. Awards include grants and other
agreements in the form of money or property in lieu of money,
by the Federal Government to an eligible recipient. The term does
not include: technical assistance, which provides services instead
of money; other assistance in the form of loans, loan guarantees,
interest subsidies, or insurance; direct payments of any kind
to individuals; and, contracts which are required to be entered
into and administered under Federal procurement laws and regulations.
Cash contributions mean the recipient's cash outlay, including
the outlay of money contributed to the recipient by third parties.
Closeout means the process by which the HHS awarding agency determines
that all applicable administrative actions and all required work
of the award have been completed by the recipient and HHS.
Contract means a procurement contract under an award or subaward,
and a procurement subcontract under a recipient's or subrecipient's
contract.
Cost sharing or matching means that portion of project or program
costs not borne by the Federal Government.
Current accounting period means, with respect to 74.27(b), the
period of time the recipient chooses for purposes of financial
statements and audits.
Date of completion means the date on which all work under an award
is completed or the date on the award document, or any supplement
or amendment thereto, on which HHS awarding agency sponsorship
ends.
Departmental Appeals Board means the independent office established
in the Office of the Secretary with delegated authority from the
Secretary to review and decide certain disputes between recipients
of HHS funds and HHS awarding agencies under 45 CFR part 16 and
to perform other review, adjudication and mediation services as
assigned.
Disallowed costs mean those charges to an award that the HHS awarding
agency determines to be unallowable, in accordance with the applicable
Federal cost principles or other terms and conditions contained
in the award.
Discretionary award means an award made by an HHS awarding agency
in keeping with specific statutory authority which enables the
agency to exercise judgment ("discretion") in selecting
the applicant/recipient organization through a competitive award
process.
Equipment means tangible nonexpendable personal property, including
exempt property, charged directly to the award having a useful
life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5000 or
more per unit. However, consistent with recipient policy, lower
limits may be established.
Excess property means property under the control of any HHS awarding
agency that, as determined by the head of the awarding agency
or his/her delegate, is no longer required for the agency's needs
or the discharge of its responsibilities.
Exempt property means tangible personal property acquired in whole
or in part with Federal funds, where the HHS awarding agency has
statutory authority to vest title in the recipient without further
obligation to the Federal Government. An example of exempt property
authority is contained in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement
Act, 31 U.S.C. 6306, for property acquired under an award to conduct
basic or applied research by a nonprofit institution of higher
education or nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is
conducting scientific research.
Federal funds authorized mean the total amount of Federal funds
obligated by the HHS awarding agency for use by the recipient.
This amount may include any authorized carryover of unobligated
funds from prior funding periods when permitted by the HHS awarding
agency's implementing instructions or authorized by the terms
and conditions of the award.
Federal share of real property, equipment, or supplies means that
percentage of the property's or supplies' acquisition costs and
any improvement expenditures paid with Federal funds. This will
be the same percentage as the Federal share of the total costs
under the award for the funding period in which the property was
acquired (excluding the value of third party in-kind contributions).
Federally recognized Indian Tribal government means the governing
body of any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group
or community (including any Native village as defined in section
3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act certified by the
Secretary of the Interior as eligible for the special programs
and services provided by him through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Funding period means the period of time when Federal funding is
available for obligation by the recipient.
Government means a State or local government or a federally recognized
Indian tribal government.
HHS means the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS awarding agency means any organization component of HHS that
is authorized to make and administer awards.
Intangible property and debt instruments mean, but are not limited
to, trademarks, copyrights, patents and patent applications and
such property as loans, notes and other debt instruments, lease
agreements, stock and other instruments of property ownership,
whether considered tangible or intangible.
Local government means a local unit of government, including specifically
a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority,
school district, special district, intra-state district, council
of governments (whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation
under State law), any other regional or interstate entity, or
any agency or instrumentality of local government.
Obligations mean the amounts of orders placed, contracts and grants
awarded, services received and similar transactions during a given
period that require payment by the recipient during the same or
a future period.
OGAM means the Office of Grants and Acquisition Management, which
is an organizational component within the Office of the Secretary,
HHS, and reports to the Assistant Secretary for Management and
Budget.
OMB means the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Outlays or expenditures mean 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 cash disbursements for
direct charges for goods and services, the amount of indirect
expense charged, the value of third party 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 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.
Personal property means property of any kind except real property.
It may be tangible, having physical existence, or intangible,
having no physical existence, such as copyrights, patents, or
securities.
Prior approval means written approval by an authorized HHS official
evidencing prior consent.
Program income means gross income earned by the recipient that
is directly generated by a supported activity or earned as a result
of the award (see exclusions in 74.24 (e) and (h)). Program income
includes, but is not limited to, income from fees for services
performed, the use or rental of real or personal property acquired
under federally-funded projects, the sale of commodities or items
fabricated under an award, license fees and royalties on patents
and copyrights, and interest on loans made with award funds. Interest
earned on advances of Federal funds is not program income. Except
as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award,
program income does not include the receipt of principal on loans,
rebates, credits, discounts, etc., or interest earned on any of
them. Furthermore, program income does not include taxes, special assessments, levies, and fines raised by governmental recipients.
Project costs means all allowable costs, as set forth in the applicable
Federal cost principles (see 74.27), incurred by a recipient and
the value of the contributions made by third parties in accomplishing
the objectives of the award during the project period.
Project period means the period established in the award document
during which HHS awarding agency sponsorship begins and ends.
Property means, unless otherwise stated, real property, equipment,
intangible property and debt instruments.
Real property means land, including land improvements, structures
and appurtenances thereto, but excludes movable machinery and
equipment.
Recipient means an organization receiving financial assistance
directly from an HHS awarding agency to carry out a project or
program. The term includes public and private institutions of
higher education, public and private hospitals, commercial organizations,
and other quasi-public and private nonprofit organizations such
as, but not limited to, community action agencies, research institutes,
educational associations, and health centers. The term may include
foreign or international organizations (such as agencies of the
United Nations) which are recipients, subrecipients, or contractors
or subcontractors of recipients or subrecipients at the discretion
of the HHS awarding agency. The term does not include government-owned
contractor-operated facilities or research centers providing continued
support for mission-oriented, large-scale programs that are government-owned
or controlled, or are designated as federally-funded research
and development centers. For entitlement programs listed at 45
CFR 92.4(a)(3), (a)(7), and (a)(8) "recipient" means
the government to which an HHS awarding agency awards funds and
which is accountable for the use of the funds provided. The recipient
in this case is the entire legal entity even if only a particular
component of the entity is designated in the award document.
Research and development means all research activities, both basic
and applied, and all development activities that are supported
at universities, colleges, hospitals, other nonprofit institutions,
and commercial organizations. "Research" is defined
as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge
or understanding of the subject studied. "Development"
is the systematic use of knowledge and understanding gained from
research directed toward the production of useful materials, devices,
systems, or methods, including design and development of prototypes
and processes. The term research also includes activities involving
the training of individuals in research techniques where such
activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development
activities and where such activities are not included in the instruction
function.
Small awards means a grant or cooperative agreement not exceeding
the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C.403(11)(currently $100,000).
State means any of the several States of the United States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory
or possession of the United States, or any agency or instrumentality
of a State exclusive of local governments.
Subaward means an award of financial assistance in the form of
money, or property in lieu of money, made under an award by a
recipient to an eligible subrecipient or by a subrecipient to
a lower tier subrecipient. The term includes financial assistance
when provided by any legal agreement, even if the agreement is
called a contract, but does not include procurement of goods and
services nor does it include any form of assistance which is excluded
from the definition of "award" in this section.
Subrecipient means the legal entity to which a subaward is made
and which is accountable to the recipient for the use of the funds
provided. The term may include foreign or international organizations
(such as agencies of the United Nations) at the discretion of
the HHS awarding agency.
Supplies means all personal property excluding equipment, intangible
property, and debt instruments as defined in this section, and
inventions of a contractor conceived or first actually reduced
to practice in the performance of work under a funding agreement
("subject inventions"), as defined in 37 CFR part 401,
"Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and
Business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative
Agreements."
Suspension means an action by the HHS awarding agency that temporarily
withdraws the agency's financial assistance sponsorship under
an award, pending corrective action by the recipient or pending
a decision to terminate the award.
Suspension of an award is a separate action from suspension under
HHS regulations (45 CFR part 76) implementing E.O.s 12549 and
12689, "Debarment and Suspension."
Termination means the cancellation of HHS awarding agency sponsorship,
in whole or in part, under an agreement at any time prior to the
date of completion. For the entitlement programs listed at 45
CFR 92.4 (a)(3), (a)(7), and (a)(8), "termination" shall
have that meaning assigned at 45 CFR 92.3.
Third party in-kind contributions means the value of non-cash
contributions provided by non-Federal third parties. Third party
in-kind contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment,
supplies and other expendable property, and the value of goods
and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable
to the project or program.
Unliquidated obligations, for financial reports prepared on a
cash basis, mean 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.
Unobligated balance means the portion of the funds authorized
by the HHS awarding agency that has not been obligated by the
recipient and is determined by deducting the cumulative obligations
from the cumulative funds authorized.
Unrecovered indirect cost means the difference between the amount
awarded and the amount which could have been awarded under the
recipient's approved negotiated indirect cost rate.
Working capital advance means a procedure whereby funds are advanced
to the recipient to cover its estimated disbursement needs for
a given initial period.
Sect. 74.3 -- Effect on other issuances.
This part supersedes all administrative requirements of codified
program regulations, program manuals, handbooks and other nonregulatory
materials which are inconsistent with the requirements of this
part, except to the extent they are required by Federal statute, or authorized
in accordance with the deviations provision in 74.4.
Sect. 74.4 -- Deviations.
- After consultation with OMB, the HHS OGAM may grant exceptions
to HHS awarding agencies for classes of awards or recipients subject
to the requirements of this part when exceptions are not prohibited
by statute. However, in the interest of maximum uniformity, exceptions
from the requirements of this part shall be permitted only in
unusual circumstances. HHS awarding agencies may apply more restrictive
requirements to a class of awards or recipients when approved
by the OGAM, after consultation with the OMB. HHS awarding agencies
may apply less restrictive requirements without approval by the
OGAM when making small awards except for those requirements which
are statutory. Exceptions on a case-by-case basis may also be
made by HHS awarding agencies without seeking prior approval from
the OGAM. OGAM will maintain a record of all requests for exceptions
from the provisions of this part that have been approved for classes
of awards or recipients.
- As a matter of Departmental policy, requests for individual case deviations will be considered favorably by HHS and its awarding agencies whenever the deviation will facilitate comprehensive or integrated service delivery, or multiple-source consolidated awards unless the deviation would impair the integrity of the program.
Sect. 74.5 -- Subawards.
- Unless inconsistent with statutory requirements, this part (except for sect. 74.12 and the forms persribed in sect.74.22)
shall apply to --
- Except for subawards under block grants (45 CFR part 96),all subawards received by institutions of higher education,
hospitals, other non-profit organizations, and commercial organizations
from any recipient of an HHS award, including any subawards received
from States, and local Indian Tribal governments; and
- All subawards received from States by any entity, including
a government entity, under the entitlement programs identified
at 45 CFR part 92, 92.4 (a), (a)(7), and (a)(8), except that 74.12
and 74.25 of this part shall not apply.
- Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, when
State, local, and Indian Tribal government recipients of HHS awards
make subawards to a government entity, they shall apply the regulations
at 45 CFR part 92, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,"
or State rules, whichever apply, to such awards.
Sect. 74.10 -- Purpose.
Sections 74.11 through 74.17 prescribe forms and instructions
and other pre-award matters to be used in applying for HHS awards.
Sect. 74.11 -- Pre-Award Policies
- Use of Grants and Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts. The
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, 31 U.S.C. 6301 -
08, governs the use of grants, cooperative agreements and contracts.
A grant of cooperative agreement shall be used only when the principal
purpose of a transaction is to accomplish a public purpose of
support or stimulation authorized by Federal statue. The statutory
criterion for choosing between grants and cooperative agreements
is that for the latter, ;substantial involvement is expected
between the executive agency and the State, local government,
or other recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated
in the agreement. Contracts shall be used when the principal
purpose is acquisition of property or service for the direct benefit
or use of the HHS awarding agency.
- HHS awarding agencies shall notify the public of funding priorities
for discretionary grant programs, unless funding priorities are
established by Federal statute.
Sect. 74.12 -- Forms for Applying for HHS Financial Assistance.
- HHS awarding agencies shall comply with the applicable report
clearance requirements of 5 CFR part 1320, Controlling Paperwork
Burdens on the Public with regard to all forms used in place of
or as a supplement to the Standard Form 424 (SF - 424) series.
However, HHS awarding agencies should use the SF - 424 series
and its program narrative whenever possible.
- Applicants shall use the SF - 424 series or those forms and
instructions prescribed by the HHS awarding agency. Applicants
shall submit the oroginal and two copies of any applications unless
additional copies are required pursuant to 5 CFR part 1320.
- For Federal programs covered by E.O. 12372, as amended by
E.O. 12416, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
the applicant shall complete the appropriate sections of the SF
- 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) indicating whether
the application was subject to review by the State Single Point
of Contact (SPOC). The name and address of a particular
State can be obtained from the HHS awarding agency or the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance. the SPOC shall advise the applicant
whether the program for which application is made has been selected
by that State for review. (See also 45 CFR part 100.)
- HHS awarding agencies that do not use the SF - 424 form will
indicate on the application form they prescribe whether the application
is subject to review by the State under E.O. 12372.
- This section does not apply to applications for subawards.
Sect. 74.13 -- Debarment and Suspension
Recipients are subject to the nonprocurement debarment and suspension
common rule implementing E.O.'s 12549 and 12689, Debarment
and Suspension 45 CFR part 76. This common rule restricts
subawards and contracts with certain parties that are debarred,
suspended or otherwise excluded fro mor ineligible for participation
in Federal assistance programs or activities.
Sect. 74.14 -- Special Award Conditions
- The HHS awarding agency may impose additional requirements
as needed, without regard to 74.4, above, if an applicant or recipient:
- Has a history of poor performance;
- Is not financially stable;
- Has a management system that does not meet the standards prescribed
in this part;
- Has not conformed to the terms and conditions of a previous
award; or
- Is not otherwise responsible.
- When it imposes any additional requirements, the HHS awarding
agency must notify the recipient in writing as to the following:
- The nature of the additional requirements;
- The reason why the additional requirements are being imposed;
- The nature of the corrective actions needed;
- The time allowed for completing the corrective actions;
- The method for requesting reconsideration of the additional
requirements imposed.
Sect. 74.15 -- Metric system of measurement
The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act, 15 U.S.C. 205, declares that the metric system
is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and commerce.
The Act requires each Federal agency to establish a date or dates
in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, when the metric
system of measurement will be used in the agency's procurements,
grants, and other business-related activities. Metric implementation
may take longer where the use of the system is initially impractical
or likely to cause significant inefficiencies in the accomplishment
of federally-funded activities. HHS awarding agencies will follow
the provisions of E.O. 12770, ;Metric Usage in Federal Government
Programs.;
Sect. 74.16 -- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Section
6002 of Public Law 94 - 580 (codified at 42 U.S.C. 6962).
Under the Act, any State agency or agency of a political subdivision
of a State which is using appropriated Federal funds must comply
with section 6002 of the RCRA. This section requires that preference
be given in procurement programs to the purchase of specific products
containing recycled materials identified in guidelines developed
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR parts 247
- 254). Accordingly, State and local institutions of higher education,
hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations that receive direct
HHS awards or other Federal funds shall give preference in their
procurement programs funded with Federal funds to the purchase
of recycled products pursuant to the EPA guidelines.
Sect. 74.17 -- Certifications and Representations.
Unless prohibited by statute or codified regulation, each HHS
awarding agency is authorized and encouraged to allow recipients
to submit certifications and representations required by stature,
executive order, or regulation on an annual basis, if the recipients
have ongoing and continuing relationships with the HHS awarding
agency. Annual certifications and representations shall be signed
by the responsible official(s) with the authority to ensure
recipients' compliance with the pertinent requirements.
Financial and Program Management
Sect. 74.20 -- Purpose of financial and program management.
Sections 74.21 through 74.28 prescribe standards for financial
management systems, methods for making payments, and rules for
satisfying cost sharing and matching requirements, accounting
for program income, budget revision approvals, making audits,
determining allowability of cost, and establishing fund availability.
Sect. 74.21 -- Standards for financial management systems.
- Recipients shall relate financial data to performance data
and develop unit cost information whenever practical. For awards
that support research, unit cost information is usually not appropriate.
- Recipients' financial management systems shall provide for
the following:
- Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial
results of each HHS-sponsored project or program in accordance
with the reporting requirements set forth in 74.52. If the HHS
awarding agency requires reporting on an accrual basis from a
recipient that maintains its records on other than an accrual
basis, the recipient shall not be required to establish an accrual
accounting system. These recipients may develop such accrual data
for their reports on the basis of an analysis of the documentation
on hand.
- Records that identify adequately the source and application
of funds for HHS-sponsored activities. These records shall contain
information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, obligations,
unobligated balances, assets, outlays, income and interest.
- Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property
and other assets. Recipients shall adequately safeguard all such
assets and assure they are used solely for authorized purposes.
- Comparison of outlays with budget amounts for each award.
Whenever appropriate, financial information should be related
to performance and unit cost data. (Unit cost data are usually
not appropriate for awards that support research.)
- Written procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the
transfer of funds to the recipient from the U.S. Treasury and
the issuance or redemption of checks, warrants or payments by
other means for program purposes by the recipient. To the extent
that the provisions of the Cash Management Improvement Act (CMIA)
(Pub. L. 101 - 453) and its implementing regulations, "Rules
and Procedures for Funds Transfers," (31 CFR part 205) apply,
payment methods of State agencies, instrumentalities, and fiscal
agents shall be consistent with CMIA Treasury-State Agreements,
or the CMIA default procedures codified at 31 CFR 205.9(f).
- Written procedures for determining the reasonableness, allocability
and allowability of costs in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable Federal cost principles and the terms and conditions
of the award.
- Accounting records, including cost accounting records, that
are supported by source documentation.
- Where the Federal Government guarantees or insures the repayment
of money borrowed by the recipient, the HHS awarding 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.
- The HHS awarding agency may require adequate fidelity bond
coverage where the recipient lacks sufficient coverage to protect
the Federal Government's interest.
- Where bonds are required in the situations described in 74.21
(c) and (d), the bonds shall be obtained from companies holding
certificates of authority as acceptable sureties, as prescribed
in 31 CFR part 223, "Surety Companies Doing Business with
the United States."
Sect. 74.22 -- Payment.
- Unless inconsistent with statutory program purposes, payment
methods shall minimize the time elapsing between the transfer
of funds from the U.S. Treasury and the issuance or redemption
of checks, warrants, or payment by other means by the recipients.
Payment methods of State agencies or instrumentalities shall be
consistent with Treasury-State CMIA agreements, or the CMIA default
procedures codified at 31 CFR 205.9, to the extent that either
applies.
- Recipients will be paid in advance, provided they maintain
or demonstrate the willingness to maintain:
- Written procedures that minimize the time elapsing between
the transfer of funds and disbursement by the recipient; and
- Financial management systems that meet the standards for fund
control and accountability as established in 74.21.
- Unless inconsistent with statutory program purposes, cash
advances to a recipient organization shall be limited to the minimum
amounts needed and be timed to be in accordance with the actual,
immediate cash requirements of the recipient organization in carrying
out the purpose of the approved program or project. The timing
and amount of cash advances shall be as close as is administratively
feasible to the actual disbursements by the recipient organization
for direct program or project costs and the proportionate share
of any allowable indirect costs.
- Whenever possible, advances will be consolidated to cover
anticipated cash needs for all awards made by all HHS awarding
agencies to the recipient.
- Advance payment mechanisms include electronic funds transfer,
with Treasury checks available on an exception basis.
- Advance payment mechanisms are subject to 31 CFR part 205.
- Recipients may submit requests for advances and reimbursements
at least monthly when electronic fund transfers are not used.
- Requests for Treasury check advance payment shall be submitted
on PMS - 270, "Request for Advance or Reimbursement,"
or other forms as may be authorized by HHS. This form is not to
be used when Treasury check advance payments are made to the recipient
automatically through the use of a predetermined payment schedule
or if precluded by special HHS-wide instructions for electronic
funds transfer.
- Reimbursement is the preferred method when the requirements
in paragraph (b) of this section cannot be met. The HHS awarding
agency may also use this method on any construction agreement,
or if the major portion of the construction project is accomplished
through private market financing or Federal loans, and the HHS
assistance constitutes a minor portion of the project.
- When the reimbursement method is used, HHS will make payment
within 30 days after receipt of the billing, unless the billing
is improper.
- Recipients may submit a request for reimbursement at least
monthly when electronic funds transfers are not used.
- If a recipient cannot meet the criteria for advance payments
and the HHS awarding agency has determined that reimbursement
is not feasible because the recipient lacks sufficient working
capital, HHS may provide cash on a working capital advance basis.
Under this procedure, HHS advances cash to the recipient to cover
its estimated disbursement needs for an initial period generally
geared to the recipient's disbursing cycle. Thereafter, HHS reimburses
the recipient for its actual cash disbursements. The working capital
advance method of payment will not be used for recipients unwilling
or unable to provide timely advances to their subrecipient to
meet the subrecipient's actual cash disbursements.
- Unless inconsistent with statutory program purposes, to the
extent available, recipients shall disburse funds available from
repayments to and interest earned on a revolving fund, program
income, rebates, refunds, contract settlements, audit recoveries
and interest earned on such funds before requesting additional
cash payments.
- Unless otherwise required by statute, the HHS awarding agency
will not withhold payments for proper charges made by recipients
at any time during the project period unless paragraph (h) (1)
or (2) of this section applies:
- A recipient has failed to comply with the project objectives,
the terms and conditions of the award, or HHS awarding agency
reporting requirements.
- The recipient or subrecipient is delinquent in a debt to the
United States. Under such conditions, the HHS awarding agency
may, upon reasonable notice, inform the recipient that payments
shall not be made for obligations incurred after a specified date
until the conditions are corrected or the indebtedness to the
Federal Government is liquidated. (See 45 CFR part 30).
- Standards governing the use of banks and other institutions
as depositories of funds advanced under awards are as follows.
- Except for situations described in paragraph (i)(2) of this
section, HHS will not require separate depository accounts for
funds provided to a recipient or establish any eligibility requirements
for depositories for funds provided to a recipient. However, recipients
must be able to account for the receipt, obligation and expenditure
of funds.
- Advances of Federal funds shall be deposited and maintained
in insured accounts whenever possible.
- Consistent with the national goal of expanding the opportunities
for women-owned and minority-owned business enterprises, recipients
are encouraged to use women-owned and minority-owned banks (a
bank which is owned at least 50 percent by women or minority group
members).
- Recipients shall maintain advances of Federal funds in interest
bearing accounts, unless one of the following conditions apply:
- The recipient receives less than $120,000 in Federal awards
per year.
- The best reasonably available interest bearing account would
not be expected to earn interest in excess of $250 per year on
Federal cash balances.
- The depository would require an average or minimum balance
so high that it would not be feasible within the expected Federal
and non-Federal cash resources.
- For those entities where CMIA and its implementing regulations
do not apply (see 31 CFR part 205), interest earned on Federal
advances deposited in interest bearing accounts shall be remitted
annually to the Department of Health and Human Services, Payment
Management System, P.O. Box 6021, Rockville, MD 20852. Recipients
with Electronic Funds Transfer capability should use an electronic
medium such as the FEDWIRE Deposit System. Interest amounts up
to $250 per year may be retained by the recipient for administrative
expense. State universities and hospitals shall comply with CMIA,
as it pertains to interest. If an entity subject to CMIA uses
its own funds to pay pre-award costs for discretionary awards
without prior written approval from the HHS awarding agency, it
waives its right to recover the interest under CMIA. (See 74.25(d)).
- PMS - 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement. Recipients
shall use the PMS - 270 to request advances or reimbursement for
all programs when electronic funds transfer or predetermined advance
methods are not used.
- HHS shall not require recipients to submit more than an original and two copies.
- Recipients and subrecipients are not required to use forms PMS-270 and 272 in connection with subaward payments.
Sect. 74.23 -- Cost sharing or matching.
- To be accepted, all cost sharing or matching contributions,
including cash and third party in-kind, shall meet all of the
following criteria:
- Are verifiable from the recipient's records;
- Are not included as contributions for any other federally-assisted
project or program;
- Are necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment
of project or program objectives;
- Are allowable under the applicable cost principles;
- Are
not paid by the Federal Government under another award, except
where authorized by Federal statute to be used for cost sharing
or matching;
- Are provided for in the approved budget; and
- Conform to other provisions of this part, as applicable.
- Unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of cost
sharing or matching.
- Values for recipient contributions of services and property
shall be established in accordance with the applicable cost principles.
If the HHS awarding agency authorizes recipients to donate buildings
or land for construction/facilities acquisition projects or long-term
use, the value of the donated property for cost sharing or matching
shall be the lesser of:
- The certified value of the remaining life of the property
recorded in the recipient's accounting records at the time of
donation; or
- The current fair market value. However, when there is sufficient
justification, the HHS awarding agency may approve the use of
the current fair market value of the donated property, even if
it exceeds the certified value at the time of donation to the
project.
- Volunteer services furnished by professional and technical
personnel, consultants, and other skilled and unskilled labor
may be counted as cost sharing or matching if the service is an
integral and necessary part of an approved project or program.
Rates for volunteer services shall 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's
organization, rates shall be consistent with those paid for similar
work in the labor market in which the recipient competes for the
kind of services involved. In either case, fringe benefits consistent with those paid
that are reasonable, allowable, and allocable may be included
in the valuation.
- 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 (plus an amount of fringe benefits that are
reasonable, allowable, and allocable, but exclusive of overhead
costs), provided these services are in the same skill for which
the employee is normally paid.
- Donated supplies may include such items as expendable property,
office supplies, laboratory supplies or workshop and classroom
supplies. Value assessed to donated supplies included in the cost
sharing or matching share shall be reasonable and shall not exceed
the fair market value of the property at the time of the donation.
- The method used for determining cost sharing or matching for
donated equipment, buildings and land for which title passes to
the recipient may differ according to the purpose of the award,
if paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of this section applies:
- If the purpose of the award 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.
- If the purpose of the award is to support activities that
require the use of equipment, buildings or land, normally only
depreciation or use charges for equipment and buildings may be
made. However, the full value of equipment or other capital assets
and fair rental charges for land may be allowed, provided that
the HHS awarding agency has approved the charges.
- The value of donated property shall be determined in accordance
with the usual accounting policies of the recipient, with the
following qualifications.
- The value of donated land and buildings shall 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 General Services Administration representative)
and certified by a responsible official of the recipient.
- The value of donated equipment shall not exceed the fair market
value of equipment of the same age and condition at the time of
donation.
- 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.
- The value of loaned equipment shall not exceed its fair rental
value.
- The following requirements pertain to the recipient's supporting
records for in-kind contributions from third parties.
- Volunteer services shall be documented and, to the extent
feasible, supported by the same methods used by the recipient
for its own employees, including time records.
- The basis for determining the valuation for personal service,
material, equipment, buildings and land shall be documented.
Sect. 74.24 -- Program income.
- standards set forth in this section shall be used to account
for program income related to projects financed in whole or in
part with Federal funds.
- Except as provided below in paragraph (h) of this section,
program income earned during the project period shall be retained
by the recipient and, in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the award, shall be used in one or more of the following ways:
- Added to funds committed to the project or program, and used
to further eligible project or program objectives;
- Used to finance the non-Federal share of the project or program;
or
- Deducted from the total project or program allowable cost
in determining the net allowable costs on which the Federal share
of costs is based.
- When the HHS awarding agency authorizes the disposition of
program income as described in paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this
section, program income in excess of any limits stipulated shall
be used in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
- In the event that the HHS awarding agency does not specify
in the terms and conditions of the award how program income is
to be used, paragraph (b)(3) of this section shall apply automatically
to all projects or programs except research. For awards that support
performance of research work, paragraph (b)(1) of this section
shall apply automatically unless:
- The HHS awarding agency indicates in the terms and conditions
of the award another alternative; or
- The recipient is subject to special award conditions under
74.14; or
- The recipient is a commercial organization (see 74.82).
- Unless the terms and conditions of the award provide otherwise,
recipients shall have no obligation to the Federal Government
regarding program income earned after the end of the project period.
- Costs incident to the generation of program income may be
deducted from gross income to determine program income, provided
these costs have not been charged to the award.
- Proceeds from the sale of property shall be handled in accordance
with the requirements of the Property Standards. (See 74.30 through
74.37, below).
- The Patent and Trademark Laws Amendments, 35 U.S.C. section
200 - 212, apply to inventions made under an award for performance
of experimental, developmental, or research work. Unless the terms
and conditions for the award provide otherwise, recipients shall
have no obligation to HHS with respect to program income earned
from license fees and royalties for copyrighted material, patents,
patent applications, trademarks, and inventions made under an
award. However, no scholarship, fellowship, training grant, or
other funding agreement made primarily to a recipient for educational
purposes will contain any provision giving the Federal agency
rights to inventions made by the recipient.
Sect. 74.25 -- Revision of budget and program plans.
- The budget plan is the financial expression of the project
or program as approved during the award process. It may include
either the sum of the Federal and non-Federal shares, or only
the Federal share, depending upon HHS awarding agency requirements.
It shall be related to performance for program evaluation purposes
whenever appropriate.
- Recipients are required to report deviations from budget and
program plans, and request prior approvals for budget and program
plan revisions, in accordance with this section. Except as provided
at 74.4, 74.14, and this section, HHS awarding agencies may not
impose other prior approval requirements for specific items.
- For nonconstruction awards, recipients shall obtain prior
approvals from the HHS awarding agency for one or more of the
following program or budget related reasons.
- No other prior approval requirements for specific items may be imposed unless a class deviation has been approved by OMB.
- Change in the project director or principal investigator or
other key persons specified in the application or award document.
- The absence for more than three months, or a 25 percent reduction
in time devoted to the project, by the approved project director
or principal investigator.
- The need for additional Federal funding.
- The inclusion, unless waived by the HHS awarding agency, of
costs that require prior approval in accordance with OMB Circular
A - 21, "Cost Principles for Educational Institutions;"
OMB Circular A - 122, "Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations;"
or appendix E of this part, "Principles for Determining Costs
Applicable to Research and Development under Grants and Contracts
with Hospitals," or 48 CFR part 31, "Contract Cost Principles
and Procedures," as applicable.
- The transfer of funds allotted for training allowances (direct
payment to trainees) to other categories of expense.
- Unless described in the application and funded in the approved
award, the subaward, transfer or contracting out of any work under
an award. This provision does not apply to the purchase of supplies,
material, equipment or general support services.
- The inclusion of research patient care costs in research awards
made for the performance of research work.
- Except for requirements listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(4)
of this section, the HHS awarding agency is authorized, at its
option, to waive cost-related and administrative prior written
approvals required by this part and its appendixes. Additional
waivers may be granted authorizing recipients to do any one or
more of the following:
- Incur pre-award costs up to 90 calendar days prior to award,
or more than 90 calendar days with the prior approval of the HHS
awarding agency. However, all pre-award costs are incurred at
the recipient's risk: the HHS awarding agency is under no obligation
to reimburse such costs if for any reason the applicant does not
receive an award or if the award to the recipient is less than
anticipated and inadequate to cover such costs.
- Initiate a one-time extension of the expiration date of the
award of up to 12 months unless one or more of the conditions
identified at paragraphs (d)(2)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section
apply. For one-time extensions, the recipient must notify the
HHS awarding agency in writing, with the supporting reasons and
revised expiration date, at least 10 days before the date specified
in the award. This one-time extension may not be exercised either
by recipients or HHS awarding agencies merely for the purpose
of using unobligated balances. Such extensions are not permitted
where:
- The terms and conditions of award prohibit the extension;
or
- The extension requires additional Federal funds; or
- The extension involves any change in the approved objectives
or scope of the project.
- Carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent funding periods.
- For awards that support performance of research work, unless
the HHS awarding agency provides otherwise in the award, or the
award is subject to 74.14 or subpart E of this Part, the prior
approval requirements described in paragraphs (d) (1) - (3) of
this section are automatically waived (i.e., recipients need not
obtain such prior approvals). However, extension of award expiration
dates must be approved by the HHS awarding agency if one of the
conditions in paragraph (d)(2) of this section applies.
- The HHS awarding agencies may not permit any budget changes
in a recipient's award that would cause any Federal appropriation
to be used for purposes other then those consistent with the original
purpose of the authorization and appropriation under which the
award was funded.
- For construction awards, recipients shall obtain prior written
approval promptly from the HHS awarding agency for budget revisions
whenever:
- The revision results from changes in the scope or the objective
of the project or program;
- The need arises for additional Federal funds to complete the
project; or
- A revision is desired which involves specific costs for which
prior written approval requirements apply in keeping with the
applicable cost principles listed in 74.27.
- When an HHS awarding agency makes an award that provides support
for both construction and nonconstruction work, it may require
the recipient to obtain prior approval before making any fund
or budget transfers between the two types of work supported.
- For both construction and nonconstruction awards, recipients
shall notify the HHS awarding agency in writing promptly whenever
the amount of Federal authorized funds is expected to exceed the
needs of the recipient for the project period by more than $5000
or five percent of the Federal award, whichever is greater. This
notification shall not be required if an application for additional
funding is submitted for a continuation award.
- Within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the request
for budget revisions, HHS awarding agencies shall notify the recipient
whether its requested budget revisions have been approved. If
the requested revision is still under consideration at the end
of 30 calendar days, the HHS awarding agency must inform the recipient
in writing of the date when the recipient may expect a decision.
- When requesting approval for budget changes, recipients shall
make their requests in writing.
- All approvals granted in keeping with the provisions of this
section shall not be valid unless they are in writing, and signed
by at least one of the following HHS officials:
- The Head of the HHS Operating or Staff Division that made
the award or subordinate official with proper delegated authority
from the Head, including the Head of the Regional Office of the
HHS Operating or Staff Division that made the award; or
- The responsible Grants Officer of the HHS Operating or Staff
Division that made the award or an individual duly authorized
by the Grants Officer.
Sect. 74.26 -- Non-Federal audits.
- Recipients and subrecipients that are institutions of higher
education or other non-profit organizations (including hospitals) shall
be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act
Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-
133, ``Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations.''
- State and local governments shall be subject to the audit
requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31
U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of States,
Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.''
- For-profit hospitals not covered by the audit provisions of
revised OMB Circular A-133 shall be subject to the audit requirements
of the Federal awarding agencies.
-
- Recipients and subrecipients that are commercial
organizations (including for-profit hospitals) have two options
regarding audits:
- A financial related audit (as defined in the Government
Auditing Standards, GPO Stock #020-000-00-265-4) of a particular award
in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, in those cases where
the recipient receives awards under only one HHS program; or, if awards
are received under multiple HHS programs, a financial related audit of
all HHS awards in accordance with Government Auditing Standards; or
- An audit that meets the requirements contained in OMB Circular
A-133.
- Commercial organizations that receive annual HHS awards
totaling less than OMB Circular A-133's audit requirement threshold are
exempt from requirements for a non-Federal audit for that year, but records must be available for review by appropriate
officials of Federal agencies.
Sect. 74.27 -- Allowable costs.
- For each kind of recipient, there is a particular set of Federal
principles that applies in determining allowable costs. Allowability
of costs shall be determined in accordance with the cost principles
applicable to the entity incurring the costs. Thus, allowability
of costs incurred by State, local or federally-recognized Indian
tribal governments is determined in accordance with the provisions
of OMB Circular A - 87, "Cost Principles for State and Local
Governments." The allowability of costs incurred by nonprofit
organizations (except for those listed in Attachment C of Circular
A - 122) is determined in accordance with the provisions of OMB
Circular A - 122, "Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations"
and paragraph (b) of this section. The allowability of costs incurred
by institutions of higher education is determined in accordance
with the provisions of OMB Circular A - 21, "Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions." The allowability of costs
incurred by hospitals is determined in accordance with the provisions
of appendix E of this part, "Principles for Determining Costs
Applicable to Research and Development Under Grants and Contracts
with Hospitals." The allowability of costs incurred by commercial
organizations and those nonprofit organizations listed in Attachment
C to Circular A - 122 is determined in accordance with the provisions
of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR part 31,
except that independent research and development costs are unallowable.
- OMB Circular A - 122 does not cover the treatment of bid and
proposal costs or independent research and development costs.
The following rules apply to these costs for nonprofit organizations
subject to that Circular.
- Bid and proposal costs. Bid and proposal costs are the immediate
costs of preparing bids, proposals, and applications for Federal
and non-Federal awards, contracts, and other agreements, including
the development of scientific, cost, and other data needed to
support the bids, proposals, and applications. Bid and proposal
costs of the current accounting period are allowable as indirect
costs. Bid and proposal costs of past accounting periods are unallowable
in the current period. However, if the recipient's established
practice is to treat these costs by some other method, they may
be accepted if they are found to be reasonable and equitable.
Bid and proposal costs do not include independent research and
development costs covered by paragraph (b)(2) of this section,
or pre-award costs covered by OMB Circular A - 122, Attachment
B, paragraph 33 and 74.25(d)(1).
- Independent Research and Development costs. Independent research
and development is research and development which is conducted
by an organization, and which is not sponsored by Federal or non-Federal
awards, contracts, or other agreements. Independent research and
development shall be allocated its proportionate share of indirect
costs on the same basis as the allocation of indirect costs to
sponsored research and development. The cost of independent research
and development, including their proportionate share of indirect
costs, are unallowable.
Sect. 74.28 -- Period of availability of funds.
Where a funding period is specified, a recipient may charge to
the award only allowable costs resulting from obligations incurred
during the funding period and any pre-award costs authorized by
the HHS awarding agency pursuant to 74.25(d)(1).
Property Standards
Sect. 74.30 -- Purpose of property standards.
Sections 74.31 through 74.37 set forth uniform standards governing
management and disposition of property furnished by HHS or whose
cost was charged directly to a project supported by an HHS award.
The HHS awarding agency may not impose additional requirements,
unless specifically required to do so by Federal statute. The
recipient may use its own property management standards and procedures
provided they meet the provisions of 74.31 through 74.37.
Sect. 74.31 -- Insurance coverage.
Recipients shall, at a minimum, provide the equivalent insurance
coverage for real property and equipment acquired with HHS funds
as provided to other property owned by the recipient.
Sect. 74.32 -- Real property.
- 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
and shall not encumber the property without approval of the HHS
awarding agency.
- The recipient shall obtain written approval from the HHS awarding
agency for the use of real property in other federaally-sponsored
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 federally-sponsored
projects (i.e., awards) or programs that have purposes consistent
with those authorized for support by the HHS awarding agency.
- When the real property is no longer needed as provided in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the recipient shall request
disposition instructions from the HHS awarding agency or its successor.
The HHS awarding agency must provide one or more of the following
disposition instructions:
- The recipient may be permitted to retain title without further
obligation to the Federal Government after it compensates the
Federal Government for that percentage of the current fair market
value of the property attributable to the Federal share in the
project.
- The recipient may be directed to sell the property under guidelines
provided by the HHS awarding agency and pay the Federal Government
for that percentage of the current fair market value of the property
attributable to the Federal share in the project (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.
- The recipient may be directed to transfer title to the property
to the Federal Government or to an eligible third party provided
that, in such cases, the recipient shall be entitled to compensation
for its attributable percentage of the current fair market value
of the property.
Sect. 74.33 -- Federally-owned and exempt property.
- Title of 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 HHS awarding
agency. Upon completion of the award or when the property is no
longer needed, the recipient shall report the property to the
HHS awarding agency for further agency utilization.
- For research awards to certain types of recipients, 31 U.S.C. 6306 authorizes HHS to vest title to property acquired with Federal funds in the recipient without further obligation to the Federal government and under conditions that HHS considers appropriate. Such property is "exempt property". If the HHS awarding agency has no further need for the property,
it shall be declared excess and reported to the General Services
Administration, unless the HHS awarding agency has statutory authority
to dispose of the property by alternative methods (e.g., the authority
provided by the Federal Technology Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. 3710(I),
to donate research equipment to educational and nonprofit organizations
in accordance with E.O. 12821, "Improving Mathematics and
Science Education in Support of the National Education Goals").
Appropriate instructions shall be issued to the recipient by the
HHS awarding agency.
- Exempt property shall not be subject to the requirements of
74.34, except that it shall be subject to paragraphs (h)(1), (2),
and (4) of that section concerning the HHS awarding agency's right
to require transfer.
Sect. 74.34 - Equipment.
- Title to equipment acquired by a recipient with HHS funds
shall vest in the recipient, subject to the conditions of this
section.
- The recipient shall not use equipment acquired with HHS funds
to provide services to non-Federal organizations for a fee that
is less than private companies charge for equivalent services,
unless specifically authorized by Federal statute, for so long
as the Federal Government retains an interest in the equipment.
- If the equipment is owned by the Federal Government, use on
other activities not sponsored by the Federal Government shall
be permissible if authorized by the HHS awarding agency.
- User charges shall be treated as program income, in keeping
with the provisions of 74.24.
- The recipient shall use the equipment 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
and shall not encumber the property without approval of the HHS
awarding agency. When no longer needed for the original project
or program, the recipient shall use the equipment in connection
with its other federally-sponsored activities, if any, in the
following order of priority:
- Programs, projects, or activities sponsored by the HHS awarding
agency;
- Programs, projects, or activities sponsored by other HHS awarding
agencies; then
- Programs, project, or activities sponsored by other Federal
agencies.
- During the time that equipment is used on the program, project,
or activity 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 program, project,
or activity for which the equipment was originally acquired. First
preference for such other use shall be given to other programs,
projects, or activities sponsored by the HHS awarding agency.
Second preference shall be given to programs, projects, or activities
sponsored by other HHS awarding agencies. Third preference shall
be given to programs, projects, or activities sponsored by other
Federal agencies.
- When acquiring replacement equipment, the recipient may use
the equipment to be replaced as trade-in or sell the equipment
and use the proceeds to offset the costs of the replacement equipment
subject to the approval of the HHS awarding agency.
- The recipient's property management standards for equipment
acquired with Federal funds and federally-owned equipment shall
include all of the following:
- Equipment records shall be maintained accurately and shall
include the following information:
- A description of the equipment;
- Manufacturer's serial number, model number, Federal stock
number, national stock number, or other identification number;
- Source of the equipment, including the award number;
- Whether title vests in the recipient or the Federal Government;
- Acquisition date (or date received, if the equipment was furnished
by the Federal Government) and cost;
- Information from which one can calculate the percentage of
HHS's share in the cost of the equipment (not applicable to equipment
furnished by the Federal Government);
- Location and condition of the equipment and the date the information
was reported;
- Unit acquisition cost; and
- 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 HHS awarding agency for
its share.
- Equipment owned by the Federal Government shall be identified
to indicate Federal ownership.
- The recipient shall take a physical inventory of equipment
and the results reconciled with the equipment records at least
once every two years. Any differences between quantities determined
by the physical inspection and those shown in the accounting 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
equipment.
- recipient shall maintain a control system to insure adequate
safeguards to prevent loss, damage, or theft of the equipment.
Any loss, damage, or theft of equipment shall be investigated
and fully documented; if the equipment was owned by the Federal
Government, the recipient shall promptly notify the HHS awarding
agency.
- The recipient shall implement adequate maintenance procedures
to keep the equipment in good condition.
- Where the recipient is authorized or required to sell the
equipment, proper sales procedures shall be established which
provide for competition to the extent practicable and result in
the highest possible return.
- When the recipient no longer needs the equipment, it may use
the equipment for other activities in accordance with the following
standards. For equipment with a current per unit fair market value
of $5000 or more, the recipient may retain the equipment for other
uses provided that compensation is made to the original HHS awarding
agency or its successor. The amount of compensation shall be computed
by applying the percentage of HHS's share in the cost of the original
project or program to the current fair market value of the equipment.
If the recipient has no need for the equipment, the recipient
shall request disposition instructions from the HHS awarding agency;
such instructions must be issued to the recipient no later than
120 calendar days after the recipient's request and the following
procedures shall govern:
- If so instructed or if disposition instructions are not issued
within 120 calendar days after the recipient's request, the recipient
shall sell the equipment and reimburse the HHS awarding agency
an amount computed by applying to the sales proceeds the percentage
of HHS share in the cost of the original project or program. However,
the recipient shall be permitted to deduct and retain from the
HHS share $500 or ten percent of the proceeds, whichever is less,
for the recipient's selling and handling expenses.
- If the recipient is instructed to ship the equipment elsewhere,
the recipient shall be reimbursed by the HHS awarding agency by
an amount which is computed by applying the percentage of the
recipient's share in the cost of the original project or program
to the current fair market value of the equipment, plus any reasonable
shipping or interim storage costs incurred.
- If the recipient is instructed to otherwise dispose of the
equipment, the recipient will be reimbursed by the HHS awarding
agency for such costs incurred in its disposition.
- The HHS awarding agency reserves the right to order the transfer
of title to the Federal Government or to a third party named by
the awarding agency when such third party is otherwise eligible
under existing statutes. Such transfer shall be subject to the
following standards:
- The equipment shall be appropriately identified in the award
or otherwise made known to the recipient in writing.
- The HHS awarding agency may require submission of a final
inventory that lists all equipment acquired with HHS funds and
federally-owned equipment.
- If the HHS awarding agency fails to issue disposition instructions
within 120 calendar days after receipt of the inventory, the recipient
shall apply the standards of paragraph (g)(1) of this section
as appropriate.
- When the HHS awarding agency exercises its right to order
the transfer of title to the Federal Government, the equipment
shall be subject to the rules for federally-owned equipment. (See
74.34(g)).
Sect. 74.35 -- Supplies.
- Title to supplies shall vest in the recipient upon acquisition.
If there is a residual inventory of unused supplies exceeding
$5000 in total aggregate value upon termination or completion
of the project or program and the supplies are not needed for
any other federally-sponsored project or program, the recipient
shall retain the supplies for use on non-federally sponsored activities
or sell them, but shall, in either case, compensate the Federal
Government for its share. The amount of compensation shall be
computed in the same manner as for equipment. (See 74.34(g)).
- The recipient shall not use supplies acquired with Federal
funds to provide services to non-Federal organizations for a fee
that is less than private companies charge for equivalent services,
unless specifically authorized by Federal statute as long as the
Federal Government retains an interest in the supplies.
- If the supplies are owned by the Federal Government, use on other
activities not sponsored by the Federal Government shall be permissible
if authorized by the HHS awarding agency.
- User charges shall be treated as program income, in keeping
with the provisions of 74.24.
Sect. 74.36 -- Intangible property.
- The recipient may copyright any work that is subject to copyright
and was developed, or for which ownership was purchased, under
an award. The HHS awarding agency reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive
and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use
the work for Federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so.
- Recipients are subject to applicable regulations governing
patents and inventions, including government-wide regulations
issued by the Department of Commerce at 37 CFR part 401, "Rights
to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and Small Business
Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts and Cooperative Agreements."
- The Federal Government has the right to:
- Obtain, reproduce, publish or otherwise use the data first
produced under an award; and
- Authorize others to receive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise
use such data for Federal purposes.
- Title to intangible property and debt instruments purchased
or otherwise acquired under an award or subaward vests upon acquisition
in the recipient. The recipient shall use that property for the
originally -- authorized purpose, and the recipient shall not
encumber the property without approval of the HHS awarding agency.
When no longer needed for the originally authorized purpose, disposition
of the intangible property shall occur in accordance with the
provisions of 74.34 (g) and (h).
Sect. 74.37 -- Property trust relationship.
Real property, equipment, intangible property and debt instruments
that are acquired or improved with Federal funds shall be held
in trust by the recipients as trustee for the beneficiaries of
the project or program under which the property was acquired or
improved, and shall not be encumbered without the approval of
the HHS awarding agency. Recipients shall record liens or other
appropriate notices of record to indicate that real property has
been acquired or constructed or, where applicable, improved with
Federal funds, and that use and disposition conditions apply to
the property.
Procurement Standards
Sect. 74.40 -- Purpose of procurement standards.
Sections 74.41 through 74.48 set forth standards for use by recipients
in establishing procedures for the procurement of supplies and
other expendable property, equipment, real property and other
services with Federal funds. These standards are established to
ensure that such materials and services are obtained in an effective
manner and in compliance with the provisions of applicable Federal
statutes and executive orders. The standards apply where the cost
of the procurement is treated as a direct cost of an award.
Sect. 74.41 -- Recipient responsibilities.
The standards contained in this section do not relieve the recipients
of the contractual responsibilities arising under its contract(s).
The recipient is the responsible authority, without recourse to
the HHS awarding agency, regarding the settlement and satisfaction
of all contractual and administrative issues arising out of procurements
entered into in support of an award or other agreement. This includes
disputes, claims, protests of award, source evaluation or other
matters of a contractual nature. Matters concerning violation
of statute are to be referred to such Federal, State or local
authority as may have proper jurisdiction.
Sect. 74.42 -- Codes of conduct.
The recipient shall maintain written standards of conduct governing
the performance of its employees engaged in the award and administration
of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent shall participate
in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported
by Federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest would
be involved. Such a conflict would arise when the employee, officer,
or agent, or any member of his or her immediate family, his or
her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ
any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other
interest in the firm selected for an award. The officers, employees,
and agents of the recipient shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities,
favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, or parties
to subagreements. However, recipients may set standards for situations
in which the financial interest is not substantial or the gift
is an unsolicited item of nominal value. The standards of conduct
shall provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations
of such standards by officers, employers, or agents of the recipients.
Sect. 74.43 -- Competition.
All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a manner to
provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition.
The recipient shall be alert to organizational conflicts of interest
as well as 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
grant applications, or contract specifications, requirements,
statements of work, invitations for bids and/or requests for proposals
shall be excluded from competing for such procurements. Awards
shall be made to the bidder or offeror whose bid or offer is responsive
to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the recipient,
price, quality and other factors considered. Solicitations shall
clearly set forth all requirements that the bidder or offeror
shall fulfill in order for the bid or offer to be evaluated by
the recipient. Any and all bids or offers may be rejected when
it is in the recipient's interest to do so.
Sect. 74.44 -- Procurement procedures.
- All recipients shall establish written procurement procedures.
These procedures shall provide for, at a minimum, that:
- Recipients avoid purchasing unnecessary items;
- Where appropriate, an analysis is made of lease and purchase
alternatives to determine which would be the most economical and
practical procurement for the recipient and the Federal Government; and
- Solicitations for goods and services provide for all of the
following:
- A clear and accurate description of the technical requirements
for the material, product or service to be procured. In competitive
procurements, such a description shall not contain features which
unduly restrict competition.
- Requirements which the bidder/offeror must fulfill and all
other factors to be used in evaluating bids or proposals.
- A description, whenever practicable, of technical requirements
in terms of functions to be performed or performance required,
including the range of acceptable characteristics or minimum acceptable
standards.
- The specific features of ``brand name or equal" descriptions
that bidders are required to meet when such items are included
in the solicitation.
- The acceptance, to the extent practicable and economically
feasible, of products and services dimensioned in the metric system
of measurement.
- Preference, to the extent practicable and economically feasible,
for products and services that conserve natural resources and
protect the environment and are energy efficient.
- Positive efforts shall be made by recipients to utilize small
businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises,
whenever possible. Recipients of HHS awards shall take all of
the following steps to further this goal.
- Ensure that small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's
business enterprises are used to the fullest extent practicable.
- Make information on forthcoming opportunities available and
arrange time frames for purchases and contracts to encourage and
facilitate participation by small businesses, minority-owned firms,
and women's business enterprises.
- Consider in the contract process whether firms competing for
larger contracts intend to subcontract with small businesses,
minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises.
- Encourage contracting with consortiums of small businesses,
minority-owned firms and women's business enterprises when a contract
is too large for one of these firms to handle individually.
- Use the services and assistance, as appropriate, of such organizations
as the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce's
Minority Business Development Agency in the solicitation and utilization
of small businesses, minority-owned firms and women's business
enterprises.
- The type of procuring instruments used (e.g., fixed price
contracts, cost reimbursable contracts, purchase orders, and incentive
contracts) shall be determined by the recipient but shall be appropriate
for the particular procurement and for promoting the best interest
of the program or project involved. The ``cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost"
or ''percentage of construction cost" methods of contracting
shall not be used.
- Contracts shall be made only with responsible contractors
who possess the potential ability to perform successfully under
the terms and conditions of the 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. In certain circumstances, contracts
with certain parties are restricted by agencies' implementation
of E.O.s 12549 and 12689, ``Debarment and Suspension." (See
45 CFR part 76.)
- Recipients shall, on request, make available for the HHS awarding
agency, pre-award review and procurement documents, such as requests
for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates,
etc., when any of the following conditions apply.
- A recipient's procurement procedures or operation fails to
comply with the procurement standards in this Part.
- The procurement is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11)(currently $100,000) and is to be awarded
without competition or only one bid or offer is received in response
to a solicitation.
- The procurement, which is expected to exceed the small purchase
threshold, specifies a ``brand name" product.
- The proposed award over the simplified acquisition threshold is to
be awarded to other than the apparent low bidder under a sealed
bid procurement.
- A proposed contract modification changes the scope of a contract
or increases the contract amount by more than the amount of the
simplified acquisition threshold.
Sect. 74.45 -- Cost and price analysis.
Some form of cost or price analysis shall be made and documented
in the procurement files 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.
Sect. 74.46 -- Procurement records.
Procurement records and files for purchases in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold shall include the following at a minimum:
- Basis for contractor selection
- Justification for lack of competition when competitive bids
or offers are not obtained
- basis for award cost or price.
Sect. 74.47 -- Contract administration.
A system for contract administration shall be maintained to ensure
contractor conformance with the terms, conditions and specifications
of the contract and to ensure adequate and timely follow up of
all purchases. Recipients shall evaluate contractor performance
and document, as appropriate, whether contractors have met the
terms, conditions and specifications of the contract.
Sect. 74.48 -- Contract provisions.
The recipient shall include, in addition to provisions to define
a sound and complete agreement, the following provisions in all
contracts. The following provisions shall also be applied to subcontracts:
- Contracts in excess of the small purchase threshold shall
contain contractual provisions or conditions that allow for administrative,
contractual, or legal remedies in instances in which a contractor
violates or breaches the contract terms, and provide for such
remedial actions as may be appropriate.
- Contracts in excess of the simplified aquisition threshold (currently $100,000)shall
contain suitable provisions for termination by the recipient,
including the manner by which termination shall 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 beyond the control of the contractor.
- Except as otherwise required by statute, an award 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 bonds unless the construction contract or subcontract
exceeds $100,000. For those contracts or subcontracts exceeding
$100,000, the HHS awarding agency may accept the bonding policy
and requirements of the recipient, provided the HHS awarding agency
has made a determination that the Federal Government's interest
is adequately protected. If such a determination has not been
made, the minimum requirements shall be as follows:
- 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 shall, upon acceptance of his bid, execute such contractual
documents as may be required within the time specified.
- 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.
- 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
statute of all persons supplying labor and material in the execution
of the work provided for in the contract.
- Where bonds are required in the situations described herein,
the bonds shall be obtained from companies holding certificates
of authority as acceptable sureties pursuant to 31 CFR part 223,
``Surety Companies Doing Business with the United States."
- All negotiated contracts (except those for less than the small
purchase threshold) awarded by recipients shall include a provision
to the effect that the recipient, the HHS awarding agency, the
U.S. Comptroller General, 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.
- All contracts, including small purchases, awarded by recipients
and their contractors shall contain the procurement provisions
of appendix A to this part, as applicable.
Reports and Records
Sect. 74.50 -- Purpose of reports and records.
Sections 74.51 through 74.53 set forth the procedures for monitoring
and reporting on the recipient's financial and program performance
and the necessary standard reporting forms. They also set forth
record retention requirements.
Sect. 74.51 -- Monitoring and reporting program performance.
- Recipients are responsible for managing and monitoring each
project, program, subaward, function or activity supported by
the award. Recipients shall monitor subawards to ensure that subrecipients
have met the audit requirements as set forth in 74.26.
- The HHS awarding agency will prescribe the frequency with
which the performance reports shall be submitted. Except as provided
in paragraph (f) of this section, performance reports will not
be required more frequently than quarterly or, less frequently
than annually. Annual reports shall be due 90 calendar days after
the award year; quarterly or semi-annual reports shall be due
30 days after the reporting period. The HHS awarding agency may
require annual reports before the anniversary dates of multiple
year awards in lieu of these requirements. The final performance
reports are due 90 calendar days after the expiration or termination
of the award.
- If inappropriate, a final technical or performance report
will not be required after completion of the project.
- Performance reports shall generally contain, for each award,
brief information on each of the following:
- A comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals and
objectives established for the period, the findings of the investigator,
or both. Whenever appropriate and the output of programs or projects
can be readily quantified, such quantitative data should be related
to cost data for computation of unit costs.
- Reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate.
- Other pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis
and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.
- Recipients shall submit the original and two copies of performance
reports.
- Recipients shall immediately notify the HHS awarding agency
of developments that have a significant impact on the award-supported
activities. Also, notification shall be given in the case of problems,
delays, or adverse conditions which materially impair the ability
to meet the objectives of the award. This notification shall include
a statement of the action taken or contemplated, and any assistance
needed to resolve the situation.
- HHS may make site visits, as needed.
- The HHS awarding agency complies with the applicable report
clearance requirements of 5 CFR part 1320, ``Controlling Paperwork
Burdens on the Public," when requesting performance data
from recipients.
Sect. 74.52 -- Financial reporting.
- The following forms are used for obtaining financial information
from recipients:
- SF - 269 or SF - 269A, Financial Status Report.
- The HHS awarding agency will require recipients to use either
the SF - 269 (long form) or SF - 269A to report the status of
funds for all nonconstruction projects or programs. The SF - 269
shall always be used if income has been earned. The awarding agency
may, however, waive the SF - 269 or SF - 269A requirement when
the PMS - 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement, or PMS -
272, Report of Federal Cash Transactions, will provide adequate
information to meet its needs, except that a final SF - 269 or
SF - 269A shall be required at the completion of the project when
the PMS - 270 is used only for advances.
- If the HHS awarding agency requires accrual information and
the recipient's accounting records are not normally kept on the
accrual basis, the recipient shall not be required to convert
its accounting system, but shall develop such accrual information
through best estimates based on an analysis of the documentation
on hand.
- The HHS awarding agency will determine the frequency of the
Financial Status Report for each project or program, considering
the size and complexity of the particular project or program.
However, the report will not be required more frequently than
quarterly or less frequently than annually except under 74.14.
A final report shall be required at the completion of the agreement.
- Recipients shall submit the SF - 269 and SF - 269A (an original
and two copies) no later than 30 days after the end of each specified
reporting period for quarterly and semi-annual reports, and 90
calendar days for annual and final reports. Extensions of reporting
due dates may be approved by the HHS awarding agency upon request
of the recipient.
- PMS - 272, Report of Federal Cash Transactions.
- When funds are advanced to recipients, the HHS awarding agency
requires each recipient to submit the PMS - 272 and, when necessary,
its continuation sheet, PMS - 272A through G. The HHS awarding
agency uses this report to monitor cash advanced to recipients
and to obtain disbursement information for each agreement with
the recipients.
- The HHS awarding agency may require forecasts of Federal cash
requirements in the ``Remarks" section of the report.
- Recipients shall submit the original and two copies of the
PMS - 272 15 calendar days following the end of each quarter.
The HHS awarding agency may require a monthly report from those
recipients receiving advances totaling $1 million or more per
year.
- The HHS awarding agency may waive the requirement for submission
of the PMS - 272 for any one of the following reasons: (A) When
monthly advances do not exceed $25,000 per recipient, provided
that such advances are monitored through other forms contained
in this section; (B) If, in HHS' opinion, the recipient's accounting
controls are adequate to minimize excessive Federal advances;
or, (C) When the electronic payment mechanisms provide adequate
data.
- When the HHS awarding agency needs additional information
or more frequent reports, the following shall be observed.
- When additional information is needed to comply with legislative
requirements, the HHS awarding agency will issue instructions
to require recipients to submit that information under the ``Remarks"
section of the reports.
- When HHS determines that a recipient's accounting system does
not meet the standards in 74.21, additional pertinent information
to further monitor awards may be obtained, without regard to 74.4,
upon written notice to the recipient until such time as the system
is brought up to standard. In obtaining this information, the
HHS awarding agencies comply with report clearance requirements
of 5 CFR part 1320, ``Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public."
- The HHS awarding agency may accept the identical information
from a recipient in machine readable format or computer printouts
or electronic outputs in lieu of prescribed formats.
- The HHS awarding agency may provide computer or electronic
outputs to recipients when such action expedites or contributes
to the accuracy of reporting.
Sect. 74.53 -- Retention and access requirements for records.
- This section sets forth requirements for record retention
and access to records for awards to recipients.
- Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records,
and all other records pertinent to an award shall be retained
for a period of three years from the date of submission of the
final expenditure report or, for awards that are renewed quarterly
or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly
or annual financial report. The only exceptions are the following:
- If any litigation, claim, financial management review, or
audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the
records shall be retained until all litigation, claims or audit
findings involving the records have been resolved and final action
taken.
- Records for real property and equipment acquired with Federal
funds shall be retained for 3 years after final disposition.
- When records are transferred to or maintained by the HHS awarding
agency, the 3-year retention requirement is not applicable to
the recipient.
- Indirect cost rate proposals, cost allocations plans, etc.,
as specified in 74.53(g).
- Copies of original records may be substituted for the original
records if authorized by the HHS awarding agency.
- The HHS awarding agency will request transfer of certain records
to its custody from recipients when it determines that the records
possess long term retention value. However, in order to avoid
duplicate recordkeeping, the HHS awarding agency may make arrangements
for recipients to retain any records that are continuously needed
for joint use.
- HHS awarding agencies, the HHS Inspector General, the U.S.
Comptroller General, or any of their duly authorized representatives,
have the right of timely and unrestricted access to any books,
documents, papers, or other records of recipients that are pertinent
to the awards, in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts,
transcripts and copies of such documents. This right also includes
timely and reasonable access to a recipient's personnel for the
purpose of interview and discussion related to such documents.
The rights of access in this paragraph are not limited to the
required retention period, but shall last as long as records are
retained.
- Unless required by statute, the HHS awarding agency will not
place restrictions on recipients that limit public access to the
records of recipients that are pertinent to an award, except when
the HHS awarding agency can demonstrate that such records shall
be kept confidential and would have been exempted from disclosure
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, if the
records had belonged to the HHS awarding agency.
- Paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this section apply to the
following types of documents, and their supporting records: Indirect
cost rate computations or proposals, cost allocation plans, and
any similar accounting computations of the rate at which a particular
group of costs is chargeable (such as computer usage chargeback
rates or composite fringe benefit rates).
- If the recipient submits to the Federal Government or the
subrecipient submits to the recipient the proposal, plan, or other
computation to form the basis for negotiation of the rate, then
the 3-year retention period for its supporting records starts
on the date of such submission.
- If the recipient is not required to submit to the Federal
Government or the subrecipient is not required to submit to the
recipient the proposal, plan, or other computation for negotiation
purposes, then the 3-year retention period for the proposal, plan,
or other computation and its supporting records starts at the
end of the fiscal year (or other accounting period) covered by
the proposal, plan, or other computation.
Termination and Enforcement
Sect. 74.60 -- Purpose of termination and enforcement.
Sections 74.61 and 74.62 set forth uniform suspension, termination
and enforcement procedures.
Sect. 74.61 -- Termination.
- Awards may be terminated in whole or in part only if paragraph
(a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section applies.
- By the HHS awarding agency, if a recipient materially fails
to comply with the terms and conditions of an award.
- By the HHS awarding agency with the consent of the recipient,
in which case the two parties shall agree upon the termination
conditions, including the effective date and, in the case of partial
termination, the portion to be terminated.
- By the recipient upon sending to the HHS awarding agency written
notification setting forth the reasons for such termination, the
effective date, and, in the case of partial termination, the portion
to be terminated. However, if the HHS awarding agency determines
in the case of partial termination that the reduced or modified
portion of the award will not accomplish the purposes for which
the award was made, it may terminate the award in its entirety.
- If costs are allowed under an award, the responsibilities
of the recipient referred to in 74.71(a), including those for
property management as applicable, shall be considered in the
termination of the award, and provision shall be made for continuing
responsibilities of the recipient after termination, as appropriate.
Sect. 74.62 -- Enforcement.
- If a recipient materially fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of an award, whether stated in a Federal statute or
regulation, an assurance, an application, or a notice of award,
the HHS awarding agency may, in addition to imposing any of the
special conditions outlined in 74.14, take one or more of the
following actions, as appropriate in the circumstances:
- Temporarily withhold cash payments pending correction of the
deficiency by the recipient or more severe enforcement action
by the HHS awarding agency.
- Disallow (that is, deny both use of funds and any applicablematching credit for) all or part of the cost of the activity or
action not in compliance.
- Wholly or partly suspend or terminate the current award.
- Withhold further awards for the project or program.
- Take any other remedies that may be legally available.
- In taking an enforcement action, the HHS awarding agency will
provide the recipient or subrecipient an opportunity for such
hearing, appeal, or other administrative proceeding to which the
recipient or subrecipient is entitled under any statute or regulation
applicable to the action. (See also 45 CFR parts 16 and 95.)
- Costs to a recipient resulting from obligations incurred by
the recipient during a suspension or after termination of an award
are not allowable unless the HHS awarding agency expressly authorizes
them in the notice of suspension or termination or subsequently.
Other recipient costs during suspension or after termination which
are necessary and not reasonably avoidable are allowable if:
- The costs result from obligations which were properly incurred
by the recipient before the effective date of suspension or termination,
are not in anticipation of it, and in the case of a termination,
are noncancellable; and
- The costs would be allowable if the award were not suspended
or expired normally at the end of the funding period in which
the termination takes effect.
- The enforcement remedies identified in this section, including
suspension and termination, do not preclude a recipient from being
subject to debarment and suspension under E.O.s 12549 and 12689
and the HHS implementing regulations at 74.13 of this part and
45 CFR part 76.
74.70 Purpose.
Sections 74.71 through 74.73 contain closeout procedures and other
procedures for subsequent disallowances and adjustments.
74.71 Closeout procedures.
- Recipients shall submit, within 90 calendar days after the
date of completion of the award, all financial, performance, and
other reports as required by the terms and conditions of the award.
The HHS awarding agency may approve extensions when requested
by the recipient.
- Unless the HHS awarding agency authorizes an extension, a
recipient shall liquidate all obligations incurred under the award
not later than 90 calendar days after the funding period or the
date of completion as specified in the terms and conditions of
the award or in agency implementing instructions.
- HHS will make prompt payments to a recipient for allowable
reimbursable costs under the award being closed out.
- The recipient shall promptly refund any balances of unobligated
cash that HHS has advanced or paid and that is not authorized
to be retained by the recipient for use in other projects. 45
CFR part 30 governs unreturned amounts that become delinquent
debts.
- When authorized by the terms and conditions of the award,
HHS will make a settlement for any upward or downward adjustments
to the Federal share of costs after closeout reports are received.
- The recipient shall account for any real and personal property
acquired with HHS funds or received from the Federal Government
in accordance with 74.31 through 74.37.
- In the event a final audit has not been performed prior to
the closeout of an award, HHS retains the right to recover an
appropriate amount after fully considering the recommendations
on disallowed costs resulting from the final audit.
74.72 Subsequent adjustments and continuing responsibilities.
- The closeout of an award does not affect any of the following:
- The right of the HHS awarding agency to disallow costs and
recover funds on the basis of a later audit or other review.
- The obligation of the recipient to return any funds due as
a result of later refunds, corrections, or other transactions.
- Audit requirements in 74.26.
- Property management requirements in 74.31 through 74.37.
- Records retention requirements in 74.53.
- After closeout of an award, a relationship created under an
award may be modified or ended in whole or in part with the consent
of the HHS awarding agency and the recipient, provided the responsibilities
of the recipient referred to in 74.72(a), including those for
property management as applicable, are considered and provisions
made for continuing responsibilities of the recipient, as appropriate.
74.73 Collection of amounts due.
- Any funds paid to a recipient in excess of the amount to which
the recipient is finally determined to be entitled under the terms
and conditions of the award constitute a debt to the Federal Government.
If not paid within a reasonable period after the demand for payment,
the HHS awarding agency may reduce the debt by paragraph (a) (1),
(2), or (3) of this section:
- Making an administrative offset against other requests for
reimbursements.
- Withholding advance payments otherwise due the recipient.
- Taking other action permitted by statute.
- Except as otherwise provided by law, HHS awarding agencies
will charge interest on an overdue debt in accordance with 4 CFR
ch. II, Federal Claims Collection Standards. (See
45 CFR part 30.)
74.80 Scope of subpart
This subpart contains provisions that apply to awards to commercial organizations. These provisions are in addition to other applicable provisions of htis part, or they make exeptions from other provisions of this part for awards to commercial organizations.
74.81 Prohibition against profit
Except for awards under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs (15 U.S.C. 638), no HHS funds may be paid as profit ro any recipient even if the recipient is a commercial organization. Profit is any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs.
74.82 Program Income
The additional costs alternative described in Sect. 74.24 (b)(1)may not be applied to program income earned by a commercial organization except in the SBIR and STTR programs.
Subpart F: Disputes
Sect. 74.90 -- Final decisions in disputes.
- HHS attempts to promptly issue final decisions in disputes
and in other matters affecting the interests of recipients. However,
final decisions adverse to the recipient are not issued until
it is clear that the matter cannot be resolved through further
exchange of information and views.
- Under various HHS statutes or regulations, recipients have
the right to appeal from, or to have a hearing on, certain final
decisions by HHS awarding agencies. (See, for example, subpart
D of 42 CFR part 50, and 45 CFR parts 16. Paragraphs (c)
and (d) of this section set forth the standards HHS expects its
member agencies to meet in issuing a final decision covered by
any of the statutes or regulations.
- The decision may be brief but must contain:
- A complete statement of the background and basis of the awarding
agency's decision, including reference to the pertinent statutes,
regulations, or other governing documents; and
- Enough information to enable the recipient to understand the
issues and the position of the HHS awarding agency.
- The following or similar language (consistent with the terminology
of the applicable statutes or regulations) should appear at the
end of the decision: "This is the final decision of the (title
of grants officer or other official responsible for the decision).
It shall be the final decision of the Department unless, within
30 days after receiving this decision, you deliver or mail (you
should use registered or certified mail to establish the date)
a written notice of appeal to (name and address of appropriate
contact, e.g., the office responsible for awarding agency preliminary appeal process or, the Departmental Appeals Board, Department of Health
and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201). You shall attach to
the notice a copy of this decision, note that you intend an appeal,
state the amount in dispute, and briefly state why you think that
this decision is wrong. You will be notified of further procedures."
Sect. 74.91 -- Alternative dispute resolution.
HHS encourages its awarding agencies and recipients to try to
resolve disputes by using alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
techniques. ADR often is effective in reducing the cost, delay
and contentiousness involved in appeals and other traditional
ways of handling disputes. ADR techniques include mediation, neutral
evaluation and other consensual methods. Information about ADR
is available from the HHS Dispute Resolution Specialist at the
Departmental Appeals Board, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Washington, DC 20201.
Title 45 - Part 74, Appendix A
All contracts awarded by a recipient, including small purchases,
shall contain the following provisions as applicable where the
cost of the contract is treated as a direct cost of an award:
- Equal Employment Opportunity -- All contracts shall contain
a provision requiring compliance with E.O. 11246, "Equal
Employment Opportunity," as amended by E.O. 11375, "Amending
Executive Order 11246 Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity,"
and as supplemented by regulations at 41 CFR part 60, "Office
of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity,
Department of Labor."
- Copeland "Anti-Kickback" Act (18 U.S.C. 874 and
40 U.S.C. 276c) -- All contracts and subgrants in excess of $2000
for construction or repair awarded by recipients and subrecipients
shall include a provision for compliance with the Copeland "Anti-Kickback"
Act, 18 U.S.C. 874, as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations,
29 CFR part 3, "Contractors and Subcontractors on Public
Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans
or Grants from the United States." The Act provides that
each contractor or subrecipient 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 awarding agency.
- Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a to a - 7) -- When
required by 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, "Labor Standards Provisions
Applicable to Contracts Governing Federally Financed and Assisted
Construction." 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 HHS awarding agency.
- Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 327
- 333) -- Where applicable, all contracts awarded by recipients
in excess of $100,000 for construction contracts and for other contracts that involve the employment of mechanics
or laborers shall include a provision for compliance with sections
102 and 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act,
40 U.S.C. 327 - 333, as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations,
29 CFR part 5. Under section 102 of the Act, each contractor shall
be required to compute the wages of every mechanic and laborer
on the basis of a standard work week of 40 hours. Work in excess
of the standard work week 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 40 hours in the
work week. 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. 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.
- Rights to Inventions Made Under a Contract or Agreement --
Contracts or agreements for the performance of experimental, developmental,
or research work shall provide for the rights of the Federal Government
and the recipient in any resulting invention in accordance with
37 CFR part 401, "Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit
Organizations and Small Business Firms Under Government Grants,
Contracts and Cooperative Agreements," and any further implementing
regulations issued by HHS.
- Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) and the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) -- 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 Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., and the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
Violations shall be reported to the HHS and the appropriate Regional
Office of the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352) -- Contractors
who apply or bid for an award of more than $100,000 shall file
the required certification. Each tier certifies to the tier above
that it will not and has not used Federal appropriated funds to
pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to
influence an officer or employee of any Federal agency, a member
of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of
a member of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal
contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 U.S.C. 1352.
Each tier shall also disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds
that takes place in connection with obtaining any Federal award.
Such disclosures are forwarded from tier to tier up to the recipient.
(See also 45 CFR part 93).
- Debarment and Suspension (E.O.s 12549 and 12689) -- Certain
contracts shall not be made to parties listed on the nonprocurement
portion of the General Services Administration's "Lists of
Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Nonprocurement Programs"
in accordance with E.O.s 12549 and 12689, "Debarment and
Suspension." (See 45 CFR part 76.) This list contains the
names of parties debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded by
agencies, and contractors declared ineligible under statutory
authority other than E.O. 12549. Contractors with awards that
exceed the small purchase threshold shall provide the required
certification regarding their exclusion status and that of their
principals prior to award.
[59 FR 43760, Aug. 25, 1994]
Appendix E: Hospital Cost Principles for R&D
I. Purpose and Scope
- Objectives. This appendix provides principles for determining
the costs applicable to research and development work performed
by hospitals under grants and contracts with the Department of
Health and Human Services. These principles are confined to the
subject of cost determination and make no attempt to identify
the circumstances or dictate the extent of hospital participation
in the financing of a particular research or development project.
The principles are designed to provide recognition of the full
allocated costs of such research work under generally accepted
accounting principles. These principles will be applicable to
both proprietary and non-profit hospitals. No provision for profit
or other increment above cost is provided for in these principles.
However, this is not to be interpreted as precluding a negotiated
fee between contracting parties when a fee is appropriate.
- Policy guides. The successful application of these principles
requires development of mutual understanding between representatives
of hospitals and of the Department of Health and Human Services
as to their scope, applicability and interpretation. It is recognized
that:
- The arrangements for hospital participation in the financing
of a research and development project are properly subject to
negotiation between the agency and the hospital concerned in accordance
with such Government-wide criteria as may be applicable.
- Each hospital, possessing its own unique combination of staff,
facilities and experience, should be encouraged to conduct research
in a manner consonant with its own institutional philosophies
and objectives.
- Each hospital in the fulfillment of its contractual obligations
should be expected to employ sound management practices.
- The application of the principles established herein shall
be in conformance with the generally accepted accounting practices
of hospitals.
- Hospitals receive reimbursements from the Federal Government
for differing types of services under various programs such as
support of Research and Development (including discrete clinical
centers) He