FY 2023 GENERAL GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By accepting funds under this award from AmeriCorps (AmeriCorps is the operating
name for the Corporation for National Service), the recipient agrees to comply with,
and include in all awards and subawards, these General Terms and Conditions, the
program-specific terms and conditions, all applicable Federal statutes, regulations and
guidelines, and any amendments thereto. The recipient agrees to operate the funded
program in accordance with the approved application and budget, supporting
documents, and other representations made in support of the approved application.
The term recipient is used to connote either recipient or subrecipient, as appropriate,
throughout these General Terms and Conditions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
Changes from the 2022 General Terms and Conditions
2
II. Governing Authorities 3
II.A.
Legislative and Regulatory Authority
3
II.B. Other Applicable Terms and Conditions 3
II.C.
Order of Precedence
4
III. General Terms and Conditions 4
III.A.
Responsibilities Under Award Administration Legislative and
Regulatory Authority
4
III.B.
Financial Management Standards
5
III.C. Changes in Budget or Key Personnel 6
III.D.
Bankruptcy
6
III.E. Prohibited Program Activities 6
III.F.
National Service Criminal History Check Requirements
7
III.G.
The Office of Inspector General
7
III.H. Recognition of AmeriCorps Support 8
III.I. Reporting of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse 10
2
III.J.
Whistleblower Protection
11
III.K.
Liability and Safety Issues
12
III.L.
Award Monitoring
12
III.M.
Non-Discrimination Public Notice and Records Compliance
12
III.N.
Identification of Funding
14
III.O.
Award Products
14
III.P.
Suspension or Termination of Award
14
III.Q. Trafficking in Persons 15
III.R. System of Award Management (SAM) and Universal Identifier
Requirements (Required Provision Under 2 CFR § 25.220)
17
III.S.
Transparency Act Requirements (For Grants and Cooperative
Agreements of $30,000 or more)
18
III.T. Conflict of Interest 21
III.U. Award Terms and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and
Performance Matters (Required Provision under 2 CFR §
200.210(b)(iii) for Grants and Cooperative Agreements of
$500,000 or more)
22
III.V. Breaches of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) 24
IV.
Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy
24
I. CHANGES FROM THE 2022 GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A. Section III.F.: Updated to reflect National Service Criminal History Check Requirements
enacted in 2021.
B. Section III.H.: Updated Recognition of AmeriCorps Support to reflect current requirements.
C. Section III.I.: Updated to include the Office of Inspector General’s new web-
based portal to report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.
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II. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
A. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY
This award is authorized by and subject to The National and Community Service Act
of 1990, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) (NCSA) and/or the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) (DVSA), the
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (FGCAA), 31 U.S.C. §§6301-6308,
and AmeriCorps’ implementing regulations in 45 CFR Chapter XII and/or XXV.
Recipients must comply with the requirements of the NCSA and/or DVSA and
AmeriCorps’ implementing regulations, as applicable.
B. OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This award is subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles,
and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards located at 2 CFR Part 200 and the
agency’s implementing regulation at 2 CFR Part 2205 (hereinafter, the Uniform
Guidance). Award recipients must read, understand, and implement these federal
regulations. 2 CFR Part 200, and the August 2020 amendments thereto are
incorporated into these terms and conditions by reference.
The recipient must comply with all other applicable statutes, executive orders,
regulations, and policies governing the award, including, but not limited to, those
included in 2 CFR Chapter I, as well as those cited in these General Terms and
Conditions and Program-Specific Terms and Conditions, and the Assurances and
Certifications. Some of these requirements are discussed in these General Terms and
Conditions to provide emphasis or additional explanations to recipients. Other
provisions are included in these AmeriCorps’ General Terms and Conditions because
they are required by specific laws or regulations.
In addition to the applicable statutes and regulations referred to above, the recipient
must comply with and perform its award consistent with the requirements stated in:
1. The Notice of Grant Award and Signature Page;
2. These General Terms and Conditions;
3. The Program-Specific Terms and Conditions;
4. The Notice of Funding Availability;
5. The recipient’s approved application (including the final approved budget,
attachments, and pre-award negotiations); and
6. Grant Certification and Assurances.
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C. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
Any inconsistency in the authorities governing the Award shall be resolved by giving
precedence in the following order: (a) applicable Federal statutes, (b) applicable
Federal regulations, (c) Notice of Grant Award and Signature Page; (d) AmeriCorps
Program Specific Terms and Conditions, (e) AmeriCorps General Terms and
Conditions, (f) the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and (g) the approved Award
Application including all assurances, certifications, attachments, and pre-award
negotiations.
III. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A. RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER AWARD ADMINISTRATION
1. Accountability of the Recipient. The recipient has full fiscal and programmatic
responsibility for managing all aspects of the award and award-supported
activities, subject to the oversight of AmeriCorps. The recipient is accountable to
AmeriCorps for its operation of the program and the use of AmeriCorps award
funds. The recipient must expend award funds in a manner consistent with the
cost principles in 2 CFR and in a reasonable manner, and it must record accurately
the service activities and outcomes achieved under the award. Although
recipients are encouraged to seek the advice and opinion of AmeriCorps on
special problems that may arise, such advice does not diminish the recipient’s
responsibility for making sound judgments and does not shift the responsibility
for operating decisions to AmeriCorps.
2. Subawards. If authorized by law and permitted by AmeriCorps, a recipient may
make subawards in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Uniform
Guidance. The recipient must have and implement a plan for oversight and
monitoring that complies with the requirements applicable to pass through
entities identified at 2 CFR § 200.332 to ensure that each subrecipient has agreed
to comply, and is complying, with award requirements.
A recipient of a Federal award that is a pass-through entity has certain obligations
to its subrecipients. Those requirements are located at 2 CFR §200.208,
§ 200.332, § 200.339, and 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F.
3. Notice to AmeriCorps. The recipient will notify the appropriate AmeriCorps
Portfolio Manager immediately of any developments or delays that have a
significant impact on funded activities, any significant problems relating to the
administrative or financial aspects of the award, or any suspected misconduct or
malfeasance related to the award or recipient. The recipient will inform the
AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager about the corrective action taken or contemplated
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by the recipient and any assistance needed to resolve the situation. Recipients
must also ensure that they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements for
suspected criminal activity or fraud, waste or abuse as specified in section III. I.
B. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
1. General. The recipient must maintain financial management systems that comply
with 2 CFR § 200.302(b). The recipient’s financial management systems must be
capable of distinguishing expenditures attributable to this award from
expenditures not attributable to this award. The systems must be able to identify
costs by program year and by budget category, and to differentiate between
direct and indirect costs. For all recipient’s financial management requirements
and responsibilities, refer to Subparts D and E of 2 CFR Part 200.
2. Allowability of Costs. To be allowable under an award, costs must meet the
criteria of 2 CFR § 200.403, which provides that costs must be necessary and
reasonable for the performance of the award, must conform to limitations in the
award or 2 CFR Part 200 as to types or amounts of cost items, must be consistent
with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both Federally financed and
other activities of the recipient, must be adequately documented, and must not
be included as a cost or used to meet cost share or matching requirements of
any other Federally financed program. Furthermore, the costs must be accorded
consistent treatment in like circumstances as either direct or indirect costs in
order to avoid the double charging of Federal awards (see 2 CFR § 200.403(d)
and § 200.412).
3. Cost Reporting. Recipients will be reporting their Federal cash disbursements
quarterly through the Payment Management System (PMS) at the Department of
Health and Human Services and their Federal share of grant program
expenditures (including indirect costs) semi- annually through AmeriCorps’
eGrants system. Recipient’s financial management systems must be able to
routinely produce reports which support and reconcile to the amounts reported
to PMS and eGrants. As part of closing out individual awards, recipients must
submit a quarterly report to PMS and ensure it reconciles to the drawn amount
and FFR in eGrants as applicable within 120 days of the end of the project
period. Recipients must also ensure that the financial management systems of
any subrecipients can routinely produce the same reports. As part of its ongoing
fiscal oversight of recipients, AmeriCorps may randomly select recipients to
provide reports supporting their Federal cash disbursements reported to PMS
(including supporting information for cash disbursements made by
subrecipients). AmeriCorps expects recipients’ and subrecipients’ financial
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management systems to be able to produce those supporting reports on a
routine basis.
4. Audits. Recipient organizations that expend $750,000 or more in total Federal
awards in a fiscal year shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for
that year in accordance with the Single Audit Act, as amended, 31 U.S.C. 7501, et
seq., and 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F. If the recipient expends Federal awards
under only one Federal program, it may elect to have a program specific audit, if
it is otherwise eligible. A recipient that does not expend $750,000 in Federal
awards is exempt from the audit requirements for that year. However, it must
continue to conduct financial management reviews of its subrecipients, and its
records and its subrecipients’ records must be available for review and audit in
accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.334-200.338 and §200.332(a)(5). Additionally, a
recipient acting as a pass-through entity must issue management decisions for
audit findings pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient as
required by 2 CFR § 200.521 and ensure follow-up on audit findings in a timely
manner to ensure that the subrecipient corrects any deficiencies identified in the
audit.
C. CHANGES IN BUDGET OR KEY PERSONNEL
All budget and programmatic changes must comply with 2 CFR § 200.308 – Revision
of budget and program plans. 2 CFR § 200.407 Prior written approval (prior
approval) – provides an exhaustive list of those other items requiring AmeriCorps’
advance approval.
D. BANKRUPTCY
The recipient must notify AmeriCorps if, during the term of its award, the recipient or
one of its subrecipients becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts as they
mature, or files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or is the subject of an involuntary
petition that is neither stayed nor dismissed within 60 days after the petition is filed.
E. PROHIBITED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
The recipient must comply with, and require all subrecipients to comply with, the
prohibitions on use of AmeriCorps funds applicable to their program as identified in
sections 132A and 174 of the NCSA (42 U.S.C. §§ 12584a and 12634) and section
403 of the DVSA (42 U.S.C. § 5043), and provisions by Congress in annual
appropriations acts. More specific guidance on these prohibitions will be provided in
AmeriCorps’ Program Specific Terms and Conditions and in other guidance.
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F. NATIONAL SERVICE CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK REQUIREMENTS
The National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) is a screening procedure
established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. On February 24,
2021, AmeriCorps published a new NSCHC regulation that went into effect May 1,
2021. See45 CFR §§ 2540.200-2540.207 and National Service Criminal History
Checks for complete information and FAQs. The regulation requires recipients to
conduct and document NSCHCs on specific individuals. Refer to
45 CFR §§ 2540.200-2540.201 for the list of entities and individuals required to
comply with NSCHC. The NSCHC must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility
determination made by the grant recipient based on the results of the NSCHC no
later than the day before a person begins to work or serve on an NSCHC-required
grant. An individual is ineligible to work or serve in a position specified in 45 CFR §
2540.201(a) if the individual is registered, or required to be registered, as a sex
offender or has been convicted of murder. The cost of conducting NSCHCs is an
allowable expense under the award.
Unless AmeriCorps has provided a recipient with a written waiver, recipients must
perform the following checks for each individual in a position specified in
45 CFR § 2540.201(a):
1. A nationwide name-based search of the National Sex Offender Public Website
(NSOPW); and
2. A name- or fingerprint-based check of the state criminal history record repository
or agency-designated alternative for the person’s state of residence and state
where the person will serve/work; and
3. A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check through the state criminal history
record repository or agency-approved vendor.
One way for grant recipients or subrecipients to obtain and document the required
components of the NSCHC is through the use of agency-approved vendors.
Recipients and subrecipients must retain adequate documentation that they
completed all required components of the NSCHC specified in 45 CFR §§ 2540.200-
2540.207. Inability to demonstrate that you conducted a required criminal history
check component, to include the NSOPW, as specified in the regulations, may result
in sanctions which may include disallowance of costs.
G. THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
AmeriCorps’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent
audits, evaluations, and investigations of AmeriCorps’ programs and operations.
Based on the results of these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG
8
recommends disallowing costs and also recommends amending or adding policies
to promote economy and efficiency and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and
abuse in AmeriCorps’ programs and operations.
The OIG conducts and supervises audits of AmeriCorps recipients, as well as legally
required audits and reviews. The legally required audits include evaluating
AmeriCorps’ compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, which
may result in grantees being requested to produce responsive documentation. The
OIG uses a risk-based approach, along with input received from AmeriCorps
management, to select recipients and awards for audit. The OIG hires independent
audit firms to conduct some of its audits. The OIG audit staff is available to discuss
any audit and can be reached at (202) 606-9390.
Recipients must cooperate fully with AmeriCorps requests for documentation and
OIG inquiries by timely disclosing complete and accurate information pertaining to
matters under investigation, audit or review, and by not concealing information or
obstructing audits, inspections, investigations, or other official inquiries.
H. RECOGNITION OF AMERICORPS SUPPORT
1. General Statement. Recipients and subrecipients of federal agency AmeriCorps
assistance or resources shall identify their programs, projects or initiatives as
AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors programs or projects accordingly. All
agreements with subrecipients, operating sites, or service locations, related to
AmeriCorps programs and initiatives must explicitly state that the program is an
AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors program.
Similarly, recipients and subrecipients shall identify all national service members
or volunteers serving at their programs, projects or initiatives as either
AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, Day of Service
volunteers or where appropriate for Volunteer Generation Fund simply
“volunteers.”
2. Visual Representations and Prominent Display. Recipients shall identify their
programs, projects, or initiatives, and their members or volunteers, through the
use of visual representations, including: logos; insignias; written
acknowledgements, publications and other written materials; websites and
social media platforms; and service gear such as clothing. All visual
representations must follow current AmeriCorps branding guidelines, which
include proper logo use and cobranding requirements. To provide recipients
technical assistance in ensuring compliance with proper logo use and
cobranding requirements, AmeriCorps provides brand guidelines, to which
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recipients and subrecipients should refer and follow. The brand guidelines are
available at Communication resources | AmeriCorps.
All recipient and subrecipient websites and social media communications shall
clearly state, as appropriate, that they are an AmeriCorps recipient or funded by
a grant from AmeriCorps and shall prominently display the AmeriCorps or
AmeriCorps Seniors logo. Logo graphics should be embedded with a link back
to the AmeriCorps.gov home page (referral link) or to an AmeriCorps program-
specific web page at AmeriCorps.gov. Recipients and subrecipients shall
prominently display the AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, or appropriate
AmeriCorps Day of Service name and logo on all service gear and public
materials, in accordance with AmeriCorps’ requirements. Public materials are
defined in the branding toolkit.
3. Acknowledgement and Disclaimer on Published Materials. The appropriate
AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors logo shall be included on publications
related to an award of AmeriCorps assistance or resources. An
acknowledgement and disclaimer shall be displayed on all reports and other
published materials based upon work supported by the award. The
acknowledgement and disclaimer may contain language the same as or similar
to:
This material is based upon work supported by AmeriCorps under Grant No(s) [].
Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is
endorsed by, AmeriCorps.”
4. Brand Identification through Publicity. Recipients shall provide information or
training to their AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, Day of
Service volunteers, or Volunteer Generation Fund volunteers about how their
programs, projects or initiatives are part of AmeriCorps. Recipients are strongly
encouraged to place signs that include the AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors
name and logo, or the appropriate AmeriCorps version of the Day of Service
logo at all their service sites and may use the slogan “AmeriCorps Serving Here”
or “AmeriCorps Seniors Serving Here,” as appropriate.
When AmeriCorps members and programs or AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers
and programs are publicized including but not limited to public speaking
opportunities, press releases, news stories, blog posts, websites, social media
posts, online videos, public service announcements, paid advertising, brochures
and other communications channels individuals must be identified as
AmeriCorps members or AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, while programs should
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be identified as AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors programs or projects and,
where possible, appropriate logos must be displayed.
5. Alteration of Brand Identities Prohibited Without AmeriCorps Written
Permission. Recipients may not alter the AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors
logos or other AmeriCorps branding and must obtain written permission from
AmeriCorps before using the AmeriCorps name or logo, or the AmeriCorps
Seniors name or logo on materials that will be sold. Recipients must also obtain
written permission from AmeriCorps before permitting donors to use the
AmeriCorps name or logo, or the AmeriCorps Seniors name or logo in
promotional materials.
6. Prohibited Use or Display of Names and Logos for Certain Activities. The
recipient or subrecipient may not use or display the AmeriCorps name or logo,
or the AmeriCorps Seniors name or logo in connection with any activity
prohibited by statute or regulation, including any political activities.
I. REPORTING OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE
Recipients must contact the OIG and their Portfolio Manager without delay when
they first suspect:
1. Any criminal activity or violations of law has occurred, such as:
Fraud, theft, conversion, misappropriation, embezzlement, or misuse of
funds or property by any person, including AmeriCorps personnel,
grantees, or contractors—even if no federal funds or property was
involved;
Submission of a false claim or a false statement by any person in
connection with any AmeriCorps program, activity, grant or operations;
Concealment, forgery, falsification, or unauthorized destruction of
government or program records;
Corruption, bribery, kickbacks, acceptance of illegal gratuities,
extortion, or conflicts of interest in connection with operations,
programs, activities, contracts, or grants;
Other misconduct in connection with operations, programs, activities,
contracts, or grants; or
Mismanagement, abuse of authority, or other misconduct by
AmeriCorps personnel.
2. Fraud, waste, or abuse.
Fraud occurs when someone is intentionally dishonest or uses
intentional misrepresentation or misleading omission to receive
11
something of value or to deprive someone, including the government,
of something of value.
Waste occurs when taxpayers do not receive reasonable value for their
money in connection with a government-funded activity due to an
inappropriate act or omission by people with control over or access to
government resources.
Abuse is behavior that is deficient, objectively unreasonable, or
improper under the circumstances. Abuse also includes the misuse of
authority or position for personal financial gain or the gain of an
immediate or close family member or business associate.
The OIG maintains a hotline to receive this information, which can be reached via a
web-based hotline portal or by telephone at (800) 452-8210. Upon request, OIG will
take appropriate measures to protect the identity of any individual who reports
misconduct, as authorized by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.
Reports to OIG may also be made anonymously.
The recipient should take no further steps to investigate suspected misconduct,
except as directed by the OIG or to prevent the destruction of evidence or
information.
J. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
1. This award and employees working on this award will be subject to the
whistleblower rights and remedies in the pilot program on Contractor employee
whistleblower protections established at 41 U.S.C. 4712 by section 828 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub. L. 112-239).
2. An employee of a recipient may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise
discriminated against as a reprisal for disclosing information that the employee
reasonably believes is evidence of gross mismanagement of a Federal contract
or award, a gross waste of Federal funds, an abuse of authority (an arbitrary and
capricious exercise of authority that is inconsistent with the mission of
AmeriCorps or the successful performance of a contract or award of
AmeriCorps) relating to a Federal contract or award, a substantial and specific
danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related
to a Federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract)
or award.
3. The recipient shall inform its employees and contractors in writing, in the
predominant language of the workforce or organization, of employee
whistleblower rights and protections under 41 U.S.C. 4712, as described above
and at Whistleblower Rights and Protections | AmeriCorps (americorpsoig.gov).
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K. LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES
The recipient must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the
safety of members and volunteers. Members and volunteers may not participate in
projects that pose undue safety risks. Any insurance costs under the award must
comply with 2 CFR § 200.447, which outlines what insurance costs are allowable.
L. AWARD MONITORING
1. Monitoring Activities. AmeriCorps may conduct on-site or remote monitoring
activities to review and evaluate recipient records, accomplishments,
organizational procedures and financial control systems; to make verifications of
recipient compliance with the terms of the award; to conduct interviews; to
identify any practice or procedure that may require further scrutiny; and to
provide technical assistance.
2. Responding to information requests. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.337, AmeriCorps
may request documentation from recipients in order to monitor the award or to
comply with other legal requirements, such as the Payment Integrity Information
Act of 2019. Failure to make timely responses to such requests may result in
award funds being placed on temporary manual hold, reimbursement only,
or other remedies as appropriate.
M. NON-DISCRIMINATION PUBLIC NOTICE AND RECORDS COMPLIANCE
1. Public Notice of Non-discrimination. The recipient must notify members,
community beneficiaries, applicants, program staff, and the public, including
those with impaired vision or hearing, that it operates its program or activity
subject to the non-discrimination requirements applicable to their program found
at §§ 175 and 176(f) of the NCSA or § 417 of the DVSA, and relevant program
regulations found at 45 CFR Parts 2540 (AmeriCorps State and National), 2551
(Senior Companion Program), 2552 (Foster Grandparent Program), 2553 (RSVP),
and 2556 (AmeriCorps VISTA). The notice must summarize the requirements,
note the availability of compliance information from the recipient and
AmeriCorps, and briefly explain procedures for filing discrimination complaints
with AmeriCorps.
Recipients and subrecipients must also prominently post and make program
participants aware of AmeriCorps’ Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment
Policy which is reissued annually and available at AmeriCorps.gov.
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The recipient must include information on civil rights requirements, complaint
procedures and the rights of beneficiaries in member or volunteer service
agreements, handbooks, manuals, pamphlets, and post in prominent locations, as
appropriate. The recipient must also notify the public in recruitment material and
application forms that it operates its program or activity subject to the
nondiscrimination requirements. Sample language, in bold print, is: This
program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin,
gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or
expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic
information and military service. Where a significant portion of the population
eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than
English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the
type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.
2. Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited
English Proficient (LEP) Persons. Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13166 –
Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,
recipients are required to provide meaningful access to their programs and
activities by LEP persons. For more information, please see the policy guidance
at 67 FR 64604.
3. Records and Compliance Information. The recipient must keep records and
make available to AmeriCorps timely, complete, and accurate compliance
information to allow AmeriCorps to determine if the recipient is complying with
the civil rights statutes and implementing regulations. Where a recipient extends
Federal financial assistance to subrecipients, the subrecipients must make
available compliance information to the recipient so it can carry out its civil rights
obligations in accordance with the records requirements at
2 CFR §§ 200.334200.338 and § 200.331(a)(5).
4. Obligation to Cooperate. The recipient must cooperate with AmeriCorps so
that AmeriCorps can ensure compliance with the civil rights statutes and
implementing regulations. The recipient shall permit access by AmeriCorps
during normal business hours to its books, records, accounts, staff, members or
volunteers, facilities, and other sources of information as may be needed to
determine compliance. The recipient and subrecipients must cooperate when
contacted regarding investigations into allegations of discrimination including,
but not limited, to providing requested documentation and making relevant
officials available to provide information and/or statements.
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N. IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING
When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and
other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with
Federal money, all grantees receiving AmeriCorps funds included, shall clearly state
(1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed
with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or
program; and (3) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project
or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
O. AWARD PRODUCTS
1. Sharing Award Products. To the extent practicable, the recipient agrees to
make products produced under the award available at the cost of reproduction
to others in the field.
2. Acknowledgment of Support. Publications created by members, volunteers or
award-funded staff must be consistent with the purposes of the award. The
appropriate AmeriCorps logo shall be included on such documents. The
recipient is responsible for assuring that the following acknowledgment and
disclaimer appears in any external report or publication of material based upon
work supported by this award:
“This material is based upon work supported by AmeriCorps, the operating name
of the Corporation for National and Community Service, under Grant No(s).[].
Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed
by, AmeriCorps or [the relevant AmeriCorps program].”
P. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF AWARD
AmeriCorps may suspend or terminate this award in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.
200.339 and 200.340 (85 FR 49506, 49559-60) such as applicable AmeriCorps
regulations and statutes. In addition, a recipient may suspend or terminate assistance
to one of its subrecipients in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.339 and 200.340,
provided that such action complies with 2 CFR § 200.341. 2 CFR § 200.340(a)(2)
prohibits arbitrary termination of grant awards by AmeriCorps. As before the
clarifications to 2 CFR Part 200, AmeriCorps may initiate termination for cause, or
when (based on new evidence) there is a significant question about the feasibility or
effectiveness of the intended objective of the award.
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Q. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
This award is subject to requirements of Section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7104).
1. Provisions applicable to a recipient that is a private entity.
a. You as the recipient, your employees, subrecipients under this award, and
subrecipients' employees may not:
i. Engage in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period
of time that the award is in effect;
ii. Procure a commercial sex act during the period of time that the
award is in effect; or
iii. Use forced labor in the performance of the award or subawards
under the award.
b. We as the Federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this award,
without
penalty, if you or a subrecipient that is a private entity
i. Violates a prohibition in paragraph (a.) of this award term; or
ii. Has an employee who violates a prohibition in paragraph (a.) of
this award term through conduct that is either:
(A.) Associated with performance under this award; or
(B.) Imputed to you or the subrecipient using the standards and
due process for imputing the conduct of an individual to an
organization that are provided in 2 CFR Part 180, “OMB
guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide Debarment and
Suspension (Non-procurement),” as implemented by our
agency at 2 CFR Part 2200.
2. Provisions applicable to a recipient other than a private entity. We as the
Federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without
penalty, if a subrecipient that is not a private entity
a. Is determined to have violated an applicable prohibition of paragraph
(1)(a.) of this award term; or
b. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to
terminate the award to have violated an applicable prohibition in
paragraph (1)(a)(i) of this award term through conduct that is
i. Associated with performance under this award; or
ii. Imputed to you using the standards and due process for imputing
conduct of an individual to an organization that are provided in
2 CFR Part 180, “OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Government-
wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement),” as
implemented by our agency at 2 CFR Part 2200.
16
3. Provisions applicable to any recipient.
a. You must inform us immediately of any information you receive from any
source alleging a violation of a prohibition in paragraph (1)(a) of this award
term.
b. Our right to terminate unilaterally that is described in paragraph (1) and (2)
of this section:
i. Implements section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000 (TVPA), as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)), and
ii. Is in addition to all other remedies for noncompliance that are
available to us under this award.
c. You must include the requirements of paragraph (1)(a) of this award term
in any subaward you make to a private entity.
4. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:
a. “Employee” means either:
i. An individual employed by you or a subrecipient who is engaged
in the performance of the project or program under this award; or
ii. Another person engaged in the performance of the project or
program under this award and not compensated by you including,
but not limited to, a volunteer or individual whose service are
contributed by a third party as an in-kind contribution toward cost
sharing or matching requirements.
b. “Forced labor” means labor obtained by any of the following methods: the
recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person
for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the
purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage,
or slavery.
c. “Private entity”:
i. Means any entity other than a State, local government, Indian tribe,
or foreign public entity, as those terms are defined in
2 CFR §175.25.
ii. Includes:
(a.) A nonprofit organization, including any non-profit institution
of higher education, hospital, or tribal organization other
than one included in the definition of Indian tribe at
2 CFR § 175.25(b).
(b.) A for-profit organization.
d. “Severe forms of trafficking in persons,” “commercial sex act,” and
“coercion” have the meanings given at section 103 of the TVPA, as
amended (22 U.S.C. § 7102).
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R. SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) and UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER
REQUIREMENTS (Required provision under 2 CFR § 25.220)
1. Requirement for System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: Unless you
are exempted from this requirement under 2 CFR § 25.110, you as the recipient
must maintain the currency of your SAM registration information until you submit
the final financial report required under this award or receive the final payment,
whichever is later. This requires that you review and update the information at
least annually after the initial registration, and more frequently if required by
changes in your information or another award term. Additionally, recipients’
legal applicant name and physical address in eGrants must align exactly to the
information in their SAM registration.
2. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier: If you are authorized to make
subawards under this award, you:
a. Must have a Unique Entity Identifier
b. Must notify potential subrecipients that no entity (see definition in
paragraph c of this award term) may receive a subaward from you unless
the entity has provided its unique entity identifier to you.
c. May not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its
unique entity identifier to you.
3. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:
System for Award Management (SAM) means the Federal repository for standard
information about applicants and recipients. Additional information about registration
procedures may be found at the SAM Internet site (currently at
https://www.sam.gov/content/Home).
a. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is the universal identifier for Federal financial
assistance applicants, as well as recipients and their direct subrecipients. It
is generated by SAM.
b. Subaward:
i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the
performance of any portion of the substantive project or program for
which you received this award and that you as the recipient award to
an eligible subrecipient.
ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and
services needed to carry out the project or program (for further
explanation, see 2 CFR § 200.330.
iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement,
including an agreement that you consider a contract.
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b. Subrecipient means an entity that:
i. Receives a subaward from you under this award; and
ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by
the subaward.
S. TRANSPARENCY ACT REQUIREMENTS (for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements of $30,000 or More)
Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation:
1. Reporting of first-tier subawards.
a. Applicability. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4, of this
award term (below), you must report each action that obligates $30,000 or
more in Federal funds that does not include Recovery funds (as defined in
section 1512(a)(2) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
Pub. L. 111-5) for a subaward to an entity (see definitions in paragraph 5. of
this award term).
b. Where and when to report.
i. You must report each obligating action described in paragraph 1.a.
of this award term to http://www.fsrs.gov.
ii. For subaward information, report no later than the end of the month
following the month in which the obligation was made. (For
example, if the obligation was made on November 7
th
in a given
year, the obligation must be reported by no later than the end of
December.)
c. What to report.
i. You must report the information about each obligating action that
the submission instructions posted at http://www.fsrs.gov specify.
2. Reporting Total Compensation of Recipient Executives.
a. Applicability and what to report. You must report total compensation for each
of your five most highly compensated executives for the preceding
completed fiscal year, if--
i. The total Federal funding authorized to date under this award is
$30,000 or more;
ii. In the preceding fiscal year, you received--
(a.) 80 percent or more of your annual gross revenues from
Federal procurement contracts (and subcontracts) and
Federal financial assistance subject to the Transparency Act,
as defined at 2 CFR § 170.320 (and subawards); and
(b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal
procurement contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal
19
financial assistance subject to the Transparency Act, as
defined at 2 CFR § 170.320 (and subawards); and
iii. The public does not have access to information about the
compensation of the executives through periodic reports filed
under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to
the compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange
Commission total compensation filings at
http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)
b. Where and when to report. You must report executive total compensation
described in paragraph (2.)(a.) of this award term:
i. As part of your registration profile
https://www.sam.gov/content/Home by the end of the month
following the month in which this award is made, and annually
thereafter.
3. Reporting of Total Compensation of Subrecipient Executives.
a. Applicability and what to report. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4.
of this award term, for each first-tier subrecipient under this award, you
shall report the names and total compensation of each of the
subrecipient's five most highly compensated executives for the
subrecipient's preceding completed fiscal year, if--
i. In the subrecipient's preceding fiscal year, the subrecipient received--
(a.) 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues from Federal
procurement contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial
assistance subject to the Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR
§170.320 (and subawards); and
(b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal
procurement contracts (and subcontracts), and Federal
financial assistance subject to the Transparency Act, as defined
at 2 CFR §170.320 (and subawards); and
ii. The public does not have access to information about the
compensation of the executives through periodic reports filed
under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to
the compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange
Commission total compensation filings at
http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)
b. Where and when to report. You must report subrecipient
executive total compensation described in paragraph 3.a. of
this award term:
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i. To the recipient.
ii. By the end of the month following the month during which you
make the subaward. For example, if a subaward is obligated on any
date during the month of October of a given year (i.e., between
October 1 and 31), you must report any required compensation
information of the subrecipient by November 30 of that year.
4. Exemptions. If, in the previous tax year, you had gross income, from all sources,
under $300,000, you are exempt from the requirements to report:
a. Subawards, and
b. The total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of
any subrecipient.
5. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:
a. Entity means all of the following, as defined in 2 CFR Part 25:
i. A Governmental organization, which is a State, local government,
or Indian tribe;
ii. A foreign public entity;
iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit organization;
iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization;
v. A Federal agency, but only as a subrecipient under an award or
subaward to a non- Federal entity.
b. Executive means officers, managing partners, or any other employees in
management positions.
c. Subaward:
i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the
performance of any portion of the substantive project or program
for which you received this award and that you as the recipient
award to an eligible subrecipient.
ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and
services needed to carry out the project or program (for further
explanation, see 2 CFR § 200.331).
iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement,
including an agreement that you or a subrecipient considers a
contract.
d. Subrecipient means an entity that:
i. Receives a subaward from you (the recipient) under this award;
and
ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by
the subaward.
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e. Total compensation means the cash and noncash dollar value earned by
the executive during the recipient's or subrecipient's preceding fiscal year and
includes the following (for more information see 17 CFR §229.402(c)(2)):
i. Salary and bonus.
ii. Awards of stock, stock options, and stock appreciation rights. Use
the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting
purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with the
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised
2004) (FAS 123R), Shared Based Payments.
iii. Earnings for services under non-equity incentive plans. This does
not include group life, health, hospitalization or medical
reimbursement plans that do not discriminate in favor of
executives, and are available generally to all salaried employees.
iv. Change in pension value. This is the change in present value of
defined benefit and actuarial pension plans.
v. Above-market earnings on deferred compensation which is not
tax-qualified.
vi. Other compensation, if the aggregate value of all such other
compensation (e.g. severance, termination payments, value of life
insurance paid on behalf of the employee, perquisites or
property) for the executive exceeds $10,000.
T. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
You must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to your AmeriCorps
Portfolio Manager, or to the pass-through entity if you are a subrecipient or
contractor. This disclosure must take place immediately. The AmeriCorps conflict of
interest policies apply to subawards as well as contracts, and are as follows:
1. As a non-Federal entity, you must maintain written standards of conduct covering
conflicts of interest and governing the performance of your employees engaged
in the selection, award, and administration of subawards and contracts.
2. None of your employees may participate in the selection, award, or
administration of a subaward or contract supported by a Federal award if he or
she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would
arise when the employee, officer, or agent, 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 or a
tangible personal benefit from an organization considered for a subaward or
contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity must
22
neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from
subrecipients or contractors or parties to subawards or contracts.
3. If you have a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a State, local
government, or Indian tribe, you must also maintain written standards of conduct
covering organizational conflicts of interest. Organizational conflicts of interest
mean that because of relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary
organization, you are unable or appear to be unable to be impartial in
conducting a subaward or procurement action involving a related organization.
U. AWARD TERM AND CONDITION FOR RECIPIENT INTEGRITY AND
PERFORMANCE MATTERS (Required provision under 2 CFR §
200.210(b)(iii) for grants and cooperative agreements of $500,000 or
more)
1. General Reporting Requirement
If the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and
procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for
any period of time during the period of performance of this Federal award, then you
as the recipient during that period of time must maintain the currency of information
reported to the System for Award Management (SAM) that is made available in the
designated integrity and performance system (currently the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)) about civil, criminal, or
administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of this award term and
condition. This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417,
as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all
information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after
April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement
contracts, will be publicly available.
2. Proceedings About Which You Must Report.
Submit the information required about each proceeding that:
a. Is in connection with the award or performance of a grant, cooperative
agreement, or procurement contract from the Federal Government;
b. Reached its final disposition during the most recent five-year period; and
c. Is one of the following:
(1) A criminal proceeding that resulted in a conviction, as defined in
paragraph 5 of this award term and condition;
(2) A civil proceeding that resulted in a finding of fault and liability and
payment of a monetary fine, penalty, reimbursement, restitution, or
damages of $5,000 or more;
23
(3) An administrative proceeding, as defined in paragraph 5 of this award
term and condition, that resulted in a finding of fault and liability and
your payment of either a monetary fine or penalty of $5,000 or more or
reimbursement, restitution, or damages in excess of $100,000; or
(4) Any other criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding if:
(i) It could have led to an outcome described in paragraph 2.c.(1), (2),
or (3) of this award term and condition;
(ii) It had a different disposition arrived at by consent or compromise
with an acknowledgment of fault on your part; and
(iii) The requirement in this award term and condition to disclose
information about the proceeding does not conflict with
applicable laws and regulations.
3. Reporting Procedures
Enter in the SAM Entity Management area the information that SAM requires about
each proceeding described in paragraph 2 of this award term and condition. You do
not need to submit the information a second time under assistance awards that you
received if you already provided the information through SAM because you were
required to do so under Federal procurement contracts that you were awarded.
4. Reporting Frequency
During any period of time when you are subject to the requirement in paragraph 1 of
this award term and condition, you must report proceedings information through
SAM for the most recent five-year period, either to report new information about any
proceeding(s) that you have not reported previously or affirm that there is no new
information to report. Recipients that have Federal contract, grant, and cooperative
agreement awards with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 must
disclose semiannually any information about the criminal, civil, and administrative
proceedings.
5. Definitions
For purposes of this award term and condition:
a. Administrative proceeding means a non-judicial process that is adjudicatory
in nature in order to make a determination of fault or liability (e.g., Securities
and Exchange Commission Administrative proceedings, Civilian Board of
Contract Appeals proceedings, and Armed Services Board of Contract
Appeals proceedings). This includes proceedings at the Federal and State
level but only in connection with performance of a Federal contract or grant.
24
It does not include audits, site visits, corrective plans, or inspection of
deliverables.
b. Conviction, for purposes of this award term and condition, means a
judgment or conviction of a criminal offense by any court of competent
jurisdiction, whether entered upon a verdict or a plea, and includes a
conviction entered upon a plea of nolo contendere.
c. Total value of currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and
procurement contracts includes—
(1) Only the Federal share of the funding under any Federal award with a
recipient cost share or match; and
(2) The value of all expected funding increments under a Federal award and
options, even if not yet exercised.
V. BREACHES OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)
All recipients and subrecipients need to be prepared for potential breaches of
Personally Identifiable Information (PII). OMB defines PII as any information about an
individual, including, but not limited to, education, financial transactions, medical
history, and criminal or employment history and information which can be used to
distinguish or trace an individual's identity, such as their name, social security
number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, etc.,
including any other personal information which is linked or linkable to an individual.
All recipients and subrecipients must ensure that they have procedures in place to
prepare for and respond to breaches of PII, and notify the Federal awarding agency
in the event of a breach.
If your AmeriCorps grant-funded program or project creates, collects, uses,
processes, stores, maintains, disseminates, discloses, or disposes of PII within the
scope of that Federal grant award, or uses or operates a Federal information system,
you must establish procedures to prepare for and respond to a potential breach of
PII, including notice of a breach of PII to AmeriCorps. Grantees experiencing a
breach should immediately notify AmeriCorps’ Office of Information Technology,
and the AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager.
IV. Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy.