Rules that are exempt from notice and
comment under the APA or any other
law are also exempt from the RFA
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4446 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations requirements, including the requirement
to conduct a regulatory flexibility
analysis, when among other things the
agency for good cause finds that notice
and public procedure are impracticable,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest. Because this rule is exempt
from the notice and comment
requirements of the APA, Treasury is
not required to conduct a regulatory
flexibility analysis.
Rule Text
List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 35
Executive compensation, State and
Local Governments, Tribal
Governments, Public health emergency.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, the United States Department
of the Treasury amends 31 CFR part 35
as follows:
PART 35—PANDEMIC RELIEF
PROGRAMS
■1. Revise Subpart A to read as follows:
Subpart A—Coronavirus State and
Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
Sec.
35.1 Purpose.
35.2 Applicability.
35.3 Definitions.
35.4 Reservation of authority, reporting.
35.5 Use of funds.
35.6 Eligible uses.
35.7 Pensions.
35.8 Tax.
35.9. Compliance with applicable laws.
35.10. Recoupment.
35.11 Payments to States.
35.12. Distributions to nonentitlement units
of local government and units of general
local government.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 802(f); 42 U.S.C.
803(f).
§35.1 Purpose.
This part implements section 9901 of
the American Rescue Plan Act (Subtitle
M of Title IX of Pub. L. 117–2), which
amends Title VI of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) by adding
sections 602 and 603 to establish the
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund
and Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery
Fund.
§35.2 Applicability.
This part applies to states, territories,
Tribal governments, metropolitan cities,
nonentitlement units of local
government, counties, and units of
general local government that accept a
payment or transfer of funds made
under section 602 or 603 of the Social
Security Act.
§35.3 Definitions.
Baseline means tax revenue of the
recipient for its fiscal year ending in
2019, adjusted for inflation in each
reporting year using the Bureau of
Economic Analysis’s Implicit Price
Deflator for the gross domestic product
of the United States.
Capital expenditures has the same
meaning given in 2 CFR 200.1.
County means a county, parish, or
other equivalent county division (as
defined by the Census Bureau).
Covered benefits include, but are not
limited to, the costs of all types of leave
(vacation, family-related, sick, military,
bereavement, sabbatical, jury duty),
employee insurance (health, life, dental,
vision), retirement (pensions, 401(k)),
unemployment benefit plans (Federal
and State), workers’ compensation
insurance, and Federal Insurance
Contributions Act taxes (which includes
Social Security and Medicare taxes).
Covered change means a change in
law, regulation, or administrative
interpretation that reduces any tax (by
providing for a reduction in a rate, a
rebate, a deduction, a credit, or
otherwise) or delays the imposition of
any tax or tax increase. A change in law
includes any final legislative or
regulatory action, a new or changed
administrative interpretation, and the
phase-in or taking effect of any statute
or rule if the phase-in or taking effect
was not prescribed prior to the start of
the covered period.
Covered period means, with respect to
a state or territory, the period that:
(1) Begins on March 3, 2021; and
(2) Ends on the last day of the fiscal
year of such State or territory in which
all funds received by the State or
territory from a payment made under
section 602 or 603 of the Social Security
Act have been expended or returned to,
or recovered by, the Secretary.
COVID–19 means the Coronavirus
Disease 2019.
COVID–19 public health emergency
means the period beginning on January
27, 2020 and lasting until the
termination of the national emergency
concerning the COVID–19 outbreak
declared pursuant to the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.).
Deposit means an extraordinary
payment of an accrued, unfunded
liability. The term deposit does not refer
to routine contributions made by an
employer to pension funds as part of the
employer’s obligations related to
payroll, such as either a pension
contribution consisting of a normal cost
component related to current employees
or a component addressing the
amortization of unfunded liabilities
calculated by reference to the
employer’s payroll costs.
Eligible employer means an employer
of an eligible worker who performs
essential work.
Eligible workers means workers
needed to maintain continuity of
operations of essential critical
infrastructure sectors, including health
care; emergency response; sanitation,
disinfection, and cleaning work;
maintenance work; grocery stores,
restaurants, food production, and food
delivery; pharmacy; biomedical
research; behavioral health work;
medical testing and diagnostics; home-
and community-based health care or
assistance with activities of daily living;
family or childcare; social services
work; public health work; vital services
to Tribes; any work performed by an
employee of a State, local, or Tribal
government; educational work, school
nutrition work, and other work required
to operate a school facility; laundry
work; elections work; solid waste or
hazardous materials management,
response, and cleanup work; work
requiring physical interaction with
patients; dental care work;
transportation and warehousing; work at
hotel and commercial lodging facilities
that are used for COVID–19 mitigation
and containment; work in a mortuary;
and work in critical clinical research,
development, and testing necessary for
COVID–19 response.
(1) With respect to a recipient that is
a metropolitan city, nonentitlement unit
of local government, or county, workers
in any additional non-public sectors as
each chief executive officer of such
recipient may designate as critical to
protect the health and well-being of the
residents of their metropolitan city,
nonentitlement unit of local
government, or county; or
(2) With respect to a State, territory,
or Tribal government, workers in any
additional non-public sectors as each
Governor of a State or territory, or each
Tribal government, may designate as
critical to protect the health and well-
being of the residents of their State,
territory, or Tribal government.
Essential work means work that:
(1) Is not performed while
teleworking from a residence; and
(2) Involves:
(i) Regular in-person interactions with
patients, the public, or coworkers of the
individual that is performing the work;
or
(ii) Regular physical handling of items
that were handled by, or are to be
handled by patients, the public, or
coworkers of the individual that is
performing the work.
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4447 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations Funds means, with respect to a
recipient, amounts provided to the
recipient pursuant to a payment made
under section 602(b) or 603(b) of the
Social Security Act or transferred to the
recipient pursuant to section 603(c)(4)
of the Social Security Act.
General revenue means money that is
received from tax revenue, current
charges, and miscellaneous general
revenue, excluding refunds and other
correcting transactions and proceeds
from issuance of debt or the sale of
investments, agency or private trust
transactions, and intergovernmental
transfers from the Federal Government,
including transfers made pursuant to
section 9901 of the American Rescue
Plan Act. General revenue also includes
revenue from liquor stores that are
owned and operated by state and local
governments. General revenue does not
include revenues from utilities, except
recipients may choose to include
revenue from utilities that are part of
their own government as general
revenue provided the recipient does so
consistently over the remainder of the
period of performance. Revenue from
Tribal business enterprises must be
included in general revenue.
Intergovernmental transfers means
money received from other
governments, including grants and
shared taxes.
Low-income household means a
household with:
(1) Income at or below 185 percent of
the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the
size of its household based on the
poverty guidelines published most
recently by the Department of Health
and Human Services; or
(2) Income at or below 40 percent of
the Area Median Income for its county
and size of household based on data
published most recently by the
Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Micro-business means a small
business that has five or fewer
employees, one or more of whom owns
the small business.
Moderate-income household means a
household with:
(1) Income at or below 300 percent of
the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the
size of its household based on poverty
guidelines published most recently by
the Department of Health and Human
Services; or
(2) Income at or below 65 percent of
the Area Median Income for its county
and size of household based on data
published most recently by the
Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Metropolitan city has the meaning
given that term in section 102(a)(4) of
the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.
5302(a)(4)) and includes cities that
relinquish or defer their status as a
metropolitan city for purposes of
receiving allocations under section 106
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5306) for fiscal
year 2021.
Net reduction in total spending is
measured as the State or territory’s total
spending for a given reporting year
excluding its spending of funds,
subtracted from its total spending for its
fiscal year ending in 2019, adjusted for
inflation using the Bureau of Economic
Analysis’s Implicit Price Deflator for the
gross domestic product of the United
States for that reporting year.
Nonentitlement unit of local
government means a ‘‘city,’’ as that term
is defined in section 102(a)(5) of the
Housing and Community Development
Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(5)), that
is not a metropolitan city.
Nonprofit means a nonprofit
organization that is exempt from Federal
income taxation and that is described in
section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Obligation means an order placed for
property and services and entering into
contracts, subawards, and similar
transactions that require payment.
Pension fund means a defined benefit
plan and does not include a defined
contribution plan.
Period of performance means the time
period described in §35.5 during which
a recipient may obligate and expend
funds in accordance with sections
602(c)(1) and 603(c)(1) of the Social
Security Act and this subpart.
Premium pay means an amount of up
to $13 per hour that is paid to an
eligible worker, in addition to wages or
remuneration the eligible worker
otherwise receives, for all work
performed by the eligible worker during
the COVID–19 public health emergency.
Such amount may not exceed $25,000 in
total over the period of performance
with respect to any single eligible
worker. Premium pay may be awarded
to non-hourly and part-time eligible
workers performing essential work.
Premium pay will be considered to be
in addition to wages or remuneration
the eligible worker otherwise receives if,
as measured on an hourly rate, the
premium pay is:
(1) With regard to work that the
eligible worker previously performed,
pay and remuneration equal to the sum
of all wages and remuneration
previously received plus up to $13 per
hour with no reduction, substitution,
offset, or other diminishment of the
eligible worker’s previous, current, or
prospective wages or remuneration; or
(2) With regard to work that the
eligible worker continues to perform,
pay of up to $13 per hour that is in
addition to the eligible worker’s regular
rate of wages or remuneration, with no
reduction, substitution, offset, or other
diminishment of the worker’s current
and prospective wages or remuneration.
Qualified census tract has the same
meaning given in 26 U.S.C.
42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(I).
Recipient means a State, territory,
Tribal government, metropolitan city,
nonentitlement unit of local
government, county, or unit of general
local government that receives a
payment made under section 602(b) or
603(b) of the Social Security Act or
transfer pursuant to section 603(c)(4) of
the Social Security Act.
Reporting year means a single year or
partial year within the covered period,
aligned to the current fiscal year of the
State or territory during the covered
period.
Secretary means the Secretary of the
Treasury.
State means each of the 50 States and
the District of Columbia.
Small business means a business
concern or other organization that:
(1) Has no more than 500 employees
or, if applicable, the size standard in
number of employees established by the
Administrator of the Small Business
Administration for the industry in
which the business concern or
organization operates, and
(2) Is a small business concern as
defined in section 3 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
Tax revenue means revenue received
from a compulsory contribution that is
exacted by a government for public
purposes excluding refunds and
corrections and, for purposes of §35.8,
intergovernmental transfers. Tax
revenue does not include payments for
a special privilege granted or service
rendered, employee or employer
assessments and contributions to
finance retirement and social insurance
trust systems, or special assessments to
pay for capital improvements.
Territory means the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, or
American Samoa.
Title I eligible schools means schools
eligible to receive services under section
1113 of Title I, Part A of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended (20 U.S.C. 6313), including
schools served under section
1113(b)(1)(C) of that Act.
Tribal enterprise means a business
concern:
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4448 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations (1) That is wholly owned by one or
more Tribal governments, or by a
corporation that is wholly owned by one
or more Tribal governments; or
(2) That is owned in part by one or
more Tribal governments, or by a
corporation that is wholly owned by one
or more Tribal governments, if all other
owners are either United States citizens
or small business concerns, as these
terms are used and consistent with the
definitions in 15 U.S.C. 657a(b)(2)(D).
Tribal government means the
recognized governing body of any
Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band,
nation, pueblo, village, community,
component band, or component
reservation, individually identified
(including parenthetically) in the list
published on January 29, 2021, pursuant
to section 104 of the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of
1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
Unemployment rate means the U–3
unemployment rate provided by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics as part of the
Local Area Unemployment Statistics
program, measured as total
unemployment as a percentage of the
civilian labor force.
Unemployment trust fund means an
unemployment trust fund established
under section 904 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1104).
Unit of general local government has
the meaning given to that term in
section 102(a)(1) of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1)).
§35.4 Reservation of authority, reporting.
(a) Reservation of authority. Nothing
in this part shall limit the authority of
the Secretary to take action to enforce
conditions or violations of law,
including actions necessary to prevent
evasions of this subpart.
(b) Extensions or accelerations of
timing. The Secretary may extend or
accelerate any deadline or compliance
date of this part, including reporting
requirements that implement this
subpart, if the Secretary determines that
such extension or acceleration is
appropriate. In determining whether an
extension or acceleration is appropriate,
the Secretary will consider the period of
time that would be extended or
accelerated and how the modified
timeline would facilitate compliance
with this subpart.
(c) Reporting and requests for other
information. During the period of
performance, recipients shall provide to
the Secretary periodic reports providing
detailed accounting of the uses of funds,
modifications to a State or Territory’s
tax revenue sources, and such other
information as the Secretary may
require for the administration of this
section. In addition to regular reporting
requirements, the Secretary may request
other additional information as may be
necessary or appropriate, including as
may be necessary to prevent evasions of
the requirements of this subpart. False
statements or claims made to the
Secretary may result in criminal, civil,
or administrative sanctions, including
fines, imprisonment, civil damages and
penalties, debarment from participating
in Federal awards or contracts, and/or
any other remedy available by law.
§35.5 Use of funds.
(a) In general. A recipient may only
use funds to cover costs incurred during
the period beginning March 3, 2021, and
ending December 31, 2024, for one or
more of the purposes enumerated in
sections 602(c)(1) and 603(c)(1) of the
Social Security Act, as applicable,
including those enumerated in §35.6,
subject to the restrictions set forth in
sections 602(c)(2) and 603(c)(2) of the
Social Security Act, as applicable.
(b) Costs incurred. A cost shall be
considered to have been incurred for
purposes of paragraph (a) of this section
if the recipient has incurred an
obligation with respect to such cost by
December 31, 2024.
(c) Return of funds. A recipient must
return any funds not obligated by
December 31, 2024. A recipient must
also return funds obligated by December
31, 2024 but not expended by December
31, 2026.
§35.6 Eligible uses.
(a) In general. Subject to §§35.7 and
35.8, a recipient may use funds for one
or more of the purposes described in
paragraphs (b) through (f) of this
section.
(b) Responding to the public health
emergency or its negative economic
impacts. A recipient may use funds to
respond to the public health emergency
or its negative economic impacts if the
use meets the criteria provided in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section or is
enumerated in paragraph (b)(3) of this
section; provided that, in the case of a
use of funds for a capital expenditure
under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(3) of this
section, the use of funds must also meet
the criteria provided in paragraph (b)(4)
of this section. Treasury may also
articulate additional eligible programs,
services, or capital expenditures from
time to time that satisfy the eligibility
criteria of this paragraph (b), which
shall be eligible under this paragraph
(b).
(1) Identifying eligible responses to
the public health emergency or its
negative economic impacts. (i) A
program, service, or capital expenditure
is eligible under this paragraph (b)(1) if
a recipient identifies a harm or impact
to a beneficiary or class of beneficiaries
caused or exacerbated by the public
health emergency or its negative
economic impacts and the program,
service, or capital expenditure responds
to such harm.
(ii) A program, service, or capital
expenditure responds to a harm or
impact experienced by an identified
beneficiary or class of beneficiaries if it
is reasonably designed to benefit the
beneficiary or class of beneficiaries that
experienced the harm or impact and is
related and reasonably proportional to
the extent and type of harm or impact
experienced.
(2) Identified harms: Presumptions of
impacted and disproportionately
impacted beneficiaries. A recipient may
rely on the following presumptions to
identify beneficiaries presumptively
impacted or disproportionately
impacted by the public health
emergency or its negative economic
impacts for the purpose of providing a
response under paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(3)
of this section:
(i) Households or populations that
experienced unemployment;
experienced increased food or housing
insecurity; qualify for the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (42 U.S.C.
1397aa et seq.), Childcare Subsidies
through the Child Care and
Development Fund Program (42 U.S.C.
9857 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. 618), or
Medicaid (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); if
funds are to be used for affordable
housing programs, qualify for the
National Housing Trust Fund (12 U.S.C.
4568) or the Home Investment
Partnerships Program (42 U.S.C. 12721
et seq.); if funds are to be used to
address impacts of lost instructional
time for students in kindergarten
through twelfth grade, any student who
did not have access to in-person
instruction for a significant period of
time; and low- and moderate-income
households and populations are
presumed to be impacted by the public
health emergency or its negative
economic impacts;
(ii) The general public is presumed to
be impacted by the public health
emergency for the purposes of providing
the uses set forth in subparagraphs
(b)(3)(i)(A) and (b)(3)(i)(C); and
(iii) The following households,
communities, small businesses, and
nonprofit organizations are presumed to
be disproportionately impacted by the
public health emergency or its negative
economic impacts:
(A) Households and populations
residing in a qualified census tract;
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4449 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations households and populations receiving
services provided by Tribal
governments; households and
populations residing in the territories;
households and populations receiving
services provided by territorial
governments; low-income households
and populations; households that
qualify for Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.),
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), Free
and Reduced Price School Lunch and/
or Breakfast programs (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq. and 42 U.S.C. 1773), Medicare Part
D Low-income Subsidies (42 U.S.C.
1395w–114), Supplemental Security
Income (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), Head
Start (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), Early Head
Start (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), the
Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (42 U.S.C. 1786), Section 8
Vouchers (42 U.S.C. 1437f), the Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), Pell
Grants (20 U.S.C. 1070a), and, if SLFRF
funds are to be used for services to
address educational disparities, Title I
eligible schools;
(B) Small businesses operating in a
qualified census tract, operated by
Tribal governments or on Tribal lands,
or operating in the territories; and
(C) Nonprofit organizations operating
in a qualified census tract, operated by
Tribal governments or on Tribal lands,
or operating in the territories.
(3) Enumerated eligible uses:
Responses presumed reasonably
proportional. A recipient may use funds
to respond to the public health
emergency or its negative economic
impacts on a beneficiary or class of
beneficiaries for one or more of the
following purposes unless such use is
grossly disproportionate to the harm
caused or exacerbated by the public
health emergency or its negative
economic impacts:
(i) Responding to the public health
impacts of the public health emergency
for purposes including:
(A) COVID–19 mitigation and
prevention in a manner that is
consistent with recommendations and
guidance from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, including
vaccination programs and incentives;
testing programs; contact tracing;
isolation and quarantine; mitigation and
prevention practices in congregate
settings; acquisition and distribution of
medical equipment for prevention and
treatment of COVID–19, including
personal protective equipment; COVID–
19 prevention and treatment expenses
for public hospitals or health care
facilities, including temporary medical
facilities; establishing or enhancing
public health data systems; installation
and improvement of ventilation systems
in congregate settings, health facilities,
or other public facilities; and assistance
to small businesses, nonprofits, or
impacted industries to implement
mitigation measures;
(B) Medical expenses related to
testing and treating COVID–19 that are
provided in a manner consistent with
recommendations and guidance from
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, including emergency
medical response expenses, treatment of
long-term symptoms or effects of
COVID–19, and costs to medical
providers or to individuals for testing or
treating COVID–19;
(C) Behavioral health care, including
prevention, treatment, emergency or
first-responder programs, harm
reduction, supports for long-term
recovery, and behavioral health
facilities and equipment; and
(D) Preventing and responding to
increased violence resulting from the
public health emergency, including
community violence intervention
programs, or responding to increased
gun violence resulting from the public
health emergency, including payroll and
covered benefits associated with
community policing strategies;
enforcement efforts to reduce gun
violence; and investing in technology
and equipment;
(ii) Responding to the negative
economic impacts of the public health
emergency for purposes including:
(A) Assistance to households and
individuals, including:
(1) Assistance for food; emergency
housing needs; burials, home repairs, or
weatherization; internet access or digital
literacy; cash assistance; and assistance
accessing public benefits;
(2) Paid sick, medical, or family leave
programs, or assistance to expand access
to health insurance;
(3) Childcare, early learning services,
home visiting, or assistance for child
welfare-involved families or foster
youth;
(4) Programs to address the impacts of
lost instructional time for students in
kindergarten through twelfth grade;
(5) Development, repair, and
operation of affordable housing and
services or programs to increase long-
term housing security;
(6) Financial services that facilitate
the delivery of Federal, State, or local
benefits for unbanked and underbanked
individuals;
(7) Benefits for the surviving family
members of individuals who have died
from COVID–19, including cash
assistance to surviving spouses or
dependents of individuals who died of
COVID–19;
(8) Assistance for individuals who
want and are available for work,
including those who are unemployed,
have looked for work sometime in the
past 12 months, who are employed part
time but who want and are available for
full-time work, or who are employed but
seeking a position with greater
opportunities for economic
advancement;
(9) Facilities and equipment related to
the provision of services to households
provided in subparagraphs
(b)(3)(ii)(A)(1)–(8);
(10) The following expenses related to
Unemployment Trust Funds:
(i) Contributions to a recipient
Unemployment Trust Fund and
repayment of principal amounts due on
advances received under Title XII of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1321) up
to an amount equal to the difference
between the balance in the recipient’s
Unemployment Trust Fund as of
January 27, 2020 and the balance of
such account as of May 17, 2021 plus
the principal amount outstanding as of
May 17, 2021 on any advances received
under Title XII of the Social Security
Act between January 27, 2020 and May
17, 2021; provided that if a recipient
repays principal on Title XII advances
or makes a contribution to an
Unemployment Trust Fund after April
1, 2022, such recipient shall not reduce
average weekly benefit amounts or
maximum benefit entitlements prior to
December 31, 2024; and
(ii) Any interest due on such advances
received under Title XII of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1321); and
(11) A program, service, capital
expenditure, or other assistance that is
provided to a disproportionately
impacted household, population, or
community, including:
(i) Services to address health
disparities of the disproportionately
impacted household, population, or
community;
(ii) Housing vouchers and relocation
assistance;
(iii) Investments in communities to
promote improved health outcomes and
public safety such as parks, recreation
facilities, and programs that increase
access to healthy foods;
(iv) Capital expenditures and other
services to address vacant or abandoned
properties;
(v) Services to address educational
disparities; and
(vi) Facilities and equipment related
to the provision of these services to the
disproportionately impacted household,
population, or community.
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4450 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations (B) Assistance to small businesses,
including:
(1) Programs, services, or capital
expenditures that respond to the
negative economic impacts of the
COVID–19 public health emergency,
including loans or grants to mitigate
financial hardship such as declines in
revenues or impacts of periods of
business closure, or providing technical
assistance; and
(2) A program, service, capital
expenditure, or other assistance that
responds to disproportionately
impacted small businesses, including
rehabilitation of commercial properties;
storefront and fac¸ade improvements;
technical assistance, business
incubators, and grants for start-ups or
expansion costs for small businesses;
and programs or services to support
micro-businesses;
(C) Assistance to nonprofit
organizations including programs,
services, or capital expenditures,
including loans or grants to mitigate
financial hardship such as declines in
revenues or increased costs, or technical
assistance;
(D) Assistance to tourism, travel,
hospitality, and other impacted
industries for programs, services, or
capital expenditures, including support
for payroll costs and covered benefits
for employees, compensating returning
employees, support for operations and
maintenance of existing equipment and
facilities, and technical assistance; and
(E) Expenses to support public sector
capacity and workforce, including:
(1) Payroll and covered benefit
expenses for public safety, public
health, health care, human services, and
similar employees to the extent that the
employee’s time is spent mitigating or
responding to the COVID–19 public
health emergency;
(2) Payroll, covered benefit, and other
costs associated with programs or
services to support the public sector
workforce and with the recipient:
(i) Hiring or rehiring staff to fill
budgeted full-time equivalent positions
that existed on January 27, 2020 but that
were unfilled or eliminated as of March
3, 2021; or
(ii) Increasing the number of its
budgeted full-time equivalent
employees by up to the difference
between the number of its budgeted full-
time equivalent employees on January
27, 2020, multiplied by 1.075, and the
number of its budgeted full-time
equivalent employees on March 3, 2021,
provided that funds shall only be used
for additional budgeted full-time
equivalent employees above the
recipient’s number of budgeted full-time
equivalent employees as of March 3,
2021;
(3) Costs to improve the design and
execution of programs responding to the
COVID–19 pandemic and to administer
or improve the efficacy of programs
addressing the public health emergency
or its negative economic impacts; and
(4) Costs associated with addressing
administrative needs of recipient
governments that were caused or
exacerbated by the pandemic.
(4) Capital expenditures. A recipient,
other than a Tribal government, must
prepare a written justification for certain
capital expenditures according to Table
1 to paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
Such written justification must include
the following elements:
(i) Describe the harm or need to be
addressed;
(ii) Explain why a capital expenditure
is appropriate; and
(iii) Compare the proposed capital
expenditure to at least two alternative
capital expenditures and demonstrate
why the proposed capital expenditure is
superior.
TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(4)
If a project has total expected
capital expenditures of and the use is enumerated in (b)(3), then and the use is not enumerated in (b)(3), then Less than $1 million ........................ No Written Justification required ............................... No Written Justification required.
Greater than or equal to $1 million,
but less than $10 million.
Written Justification required but recipients are not
required to submit as part of regular reporting to
Treasury.
Written Justification required and recipients must
submit as part of regular reporting to Treasury.
$10 million or more ......................... Written Justification required and recipients must submit as part of regular reporting to Treasury.
(c) Providing premium pay to eligible
workers. A recipient may use funds to
provide premium pay to eligible
workers of the recipient who perform
essential work or to provide grants to
eligible employers that have eligible
workers who perform essential work,
provided that any premium pay or
grants provided under this paragraph (c)
must respond to eligible workers
performing essential work during the
COVID–19 public health emergency. A
recipient uses premium pay or grants
provided under this paragraph (c) to
respond to eligible workers performing
essential work during the COVID–19
public health emergency if:
(1) The eligible worker’s total wages
and remuneration, including the
premium pay, is less than or equal to
150 percent of the greater of such
eligible worker’s residing State’s or
county’s average annual wage for all
occupations as defined by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics’ Occupational
Employment and Wage Statistics;
(2) The eligible worker is not exempt
from the Fair Labor Standards Act
overtime provisions (29 U.S.C. 207); or
(3) The recipient has submitted to the
Secretary a written justification that
explains how providing premium pay to
the eligible worker is responsive to the
eligible worker performing essential
work during the COVID–19 public
health emergency (such as a description
of the eligible workers’ duties, health, or
financial risks faced due to COVID–19,
and why the recipient determined that
the premium pay was responsive
despite the worker’s higher income).
(d) Providing government services. A
recipient may use funds for the
provision of government services to the
extent of the reduction in the recipient’s
general revenue due to the public health
emergency, calculated according to this
paragraph (d). A recipient must make a
one-time election to calculate the
amount of the reduction in the
recipient’s general revenue due to the
public health emergency according to
either paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this
section:
(1) Standard allowance. The
reduction in the recipient’s general
revenue due to the public health
emergency over the period of
performance will be deemed to be ten
million dollars; or
(2) Formula. The reduction in the
recipient’s general revenue due to the
public health emergency over the period
of performance equals the sum of the
reduction in revenue, calculated as of
each date identified in paragraph
(d)(2)(i) of this section and according to
the formula in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of
this section:
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4451 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations (i) A recipient must make a one-time
election to calculate the reduction in its
general revenue using information as of
either:
(A) December 31, 2020, December 31,
2021, December 31, 2022, and December
31, 2023; or
(B) The last day of each of the
recipient’s fiscal years ending in 2020,
2021, 2022, and 2023.
(ii) A reduction in a recipient’s
general revenue for each date identified
in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section
equals:
Max {[Base Year Revenue * (1 + Growth
Adjustment)∧(nt/12)]¥Actual
General Revenue; 0}
Where:
(A) Base Year Revenue is the
recipient’s general revenue for the most
recent full fiscal year prior to the
COVID–19 public health emergency;
(B) Growth Adjustment is equal to the
greater of 5.2 percent (or 0.052) and the
recipient’s average annual revenue
growth over the three full fiscal years
prior to the COVID–19 public health
emergency;
(C) n equals the number of months
elapsed from the end of the base year to
the calculation date;
(D) Subscript t denotes the specific
calculation date; and
(E) Actual General Revenue is a
recipient’s actual general revenue
collected during the 12-month period
ending on each calculation date
identified in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this
section, except:
(1) For purposes of all calculation
dates on or after April 1, 2022, in the
case of any change made after January
6, 2022 to any law, regulation, or
administrative interpretation that
reduces any tax (by providing for a
reduction in a rate, a rebate, a
deduction, a credit, or otherwise) or
delays the imposition of any tax or tax
increase and that the recipient assesses
has had the effect of decreasing the
amount of tax revenue collected during
the 12-month period ending on the
calculation date relative to the amount
of tax revenue that would have been
collected in the absence of such change,
the recipient must add to actual general
revenue the amount of such decrease in
tax revenue;
(2) For purposes of any calculation
date on or after April 1, 2022, in the
case of any change made after January
6, 2022 to any law, regulation, or
administrative interpretation that
increases any tax (by providing for an
increase in a rate, the reduction of a
rebate, a deduction, or a credit, or
otherwise) or accelerates the imposition
of any tax or tax increase and that the
recipient assesses has had the effect of
increasing the amount of tax revenue
collected during the 12-month period
ending on the calculation date relative
to the amount of tax revenue that would
have been collected in the absence of
such change, the recipient must subtract
from actual general revenue the amount
of such increase in tax revenue;
(3) If the recipient makes a one-time
election to adjust general revenue to
reflect tax changes made during the
period beginning on January 27, 2020
and ending on January 6, 2022, for
purposes of each calculation date
identified in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this
section:
(i) In the case of any change made
during such prior period to any law,
regulation, or administrative
interpretation that reduces any tax (by
providing for a reduction in a rate, a
rebate, a deduction, a credit, or
otherwise) or delays the imposition of
any tax or tax increase and that the
recipient assesses has had the effect of
decreasing the amount of tax revenue
collected during the 12-month period
ending on the calculation date relative
to the amount of tax revenue that would
have been collected in the absence of
such change, the recipient must add to
actual general revenue the amount of
such decrease in tax revenue; and
(ii) In the case of any change made
during such prior period to any law,
regulation, or administrative
interpretation that increases any tax (by
providing for an increase in a rate, the
reduction of a rebate, a deduction, or a
credit, or otherwise) or accelerates the
imposition of any tax or tax increase
and that the recipient assesses has had
the effect of increasing the amount of
tax revenue collected during the 12-
month period ending on the calculation
date relative to the amount of tax
revenue that would have been collected
in the absence of such change, the
recipient must subtract from actual
general revenue the amount of such
increase in tax revenue; and
(4) With respect to any calculation
date during the period beginning on
January 6, 2022 and ending on March
31, 2022, if the recipient makes the
election in paragraph (d)(3) of this
section, the recipient must also make
the adjustments referenced in paragraph
(d)(3) of this section with respect to any
such changes in law, regulation, or
administrative interpretation during the
period beginning on January 6, 2022 and
ending on such calculation date.
(e) Making necessary investments in
water, sewer, and broadband
infrastructure. A recipient may use
funds to make the following
investments in water, sewer, and
broadband infrastructure.
(1) Water and sewer investments—(i)
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
projects. Projects or activities of the type
that meet the eligibility requirements of
section 603(c) of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1383(c));
(ii) Additional stormwater projects.
Projects to manage, reduce, treat, or
recapture stormwater or subsurface
drainage water regardless of whether
such projects would improve water
quality if such projects would otherwise
meet the eligibility requirements of
section 603(c)(5) of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1383(c)(5));
(iii) Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund projects. Projects or activities of
the type that meet the eligibility
requirements of section 1452 of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12)
as implemented by the regulations
adopted by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) under 40 CFR
35.3520, provided that:
(A) The recipient is not required to
comply with the limitation under 40
CFR 35.3520(c)(2) to acquisitions of
land from willing sellers or the
prohibition under 40 CFR 35.3520(e)(6)
on uses of funds for certain Tribal
projects; and
(B) In the case of lead service line
replacement projects, the recipient must
replace the full length of the service line
and may not replace only a partial
portion of the service line.
(iv) Additional lead remediation and
household water quality testing. Projects
or activities to address lead in drinking
water or provide household water
quality testing that are within the scope
of the programs the EPA is authorized
to establish under sections 1459A(b)(2),
1459B(b)(1), 1464(d)(2), and 1465 of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300j–19a(b)(2), 300j–19b(b)(1), 300j–
24(d)(2), and 300j–25), provided that:
(A) In the case of lead service line
replacement projects, the recipient must
replace the full length of the service line
and may not replace only a partial
portion of the service line; and
(B) In the case of projects within the
scope of the program the EPA is
authorized to establish under section
1459B(b)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water
Act, the recipient may determine the
income eligibility of homeowners
served by lead service line replacement
projects in its discretion.
(v) Drinking water projects to support
increased population. Projects of the
type that meet the eligibility
requirements of 40 CFR 35.3520 other
than the requirement of subparagraph
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4452 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations (b)(1) of such regulation to address
present or prevent future violations of
health-based drinking water standards,
if the following conditions are met:
(A) The project is needed to support
increased population, with need
assessed as of the time the project is
undertaken;
(B) The project is designed to support
no more than a reasonable level of
projected increased need, whether due
to population growth or otherwise;
(C) The project is a cost-effective
means for achieving the desired level of
service; and
(D) The project is projected to
continue to provide an adequate level of
drinking water over its estimated useful
life.
(vi) Dams and reservoirs.
Rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs if
the following conditions are met:
(A) The project meets the
requirements of 40 CFR 35.3520 other
than the following requirements:
(1) The prohibition on the
rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs in
40 CFR 35.3520(e)(1) and (3); and
(2) The requirement in 40 CFR
35.3520(b)(1) that the project is needed
to address present or prevent future
violations of health-based drinking
water standards, provided that if the
dam or reservoir project does not meet
this requirement, the project must be
needed to support increased population,
with need assessed as of the time the
project is undertaken, and the project
must be projected to continue to provide
an adequate level of drinking water over
its estimated useful life;
(B) The primary purpose of the dam
or reservoir is for drinking water supply;
(C) The project is needed for the
provision of drinking water supply,
with need assessed as of the time the
project is initiated;
(D) The project is designed to support
no more than a reasonable level of
projected increased need, whether due
to population growth or otherwise; and
(E) The project is a cost-effective
means for achieving the desired level of
service.
(vii) Private wells. Rehabilitation of
private wells, testing initiatives to
identify contaminants in private wells,
and treatment activities and remediation
projects that address contamination in
private wells, if the project meets the
requirements of 40 CFR 35.3520 other
than the limitation to certain eligible
systems under 40 CFR 35.3520(a).
(2) Broadband investments—(i)
General. Broadband infrastructure if the
following conditions are met:
(A) The broadband infrastructure is
designed to provide service to
households and businesses with an
identified need, as determined by the
recipient, for such infrastructure;
(B) The broadband infrastructure is
designed to, upon completion:
(1) Reliably meet or exceed
symmetrical 100 Mbps download speed
and upload speeds; or
(2) In cases where it is not practicable,
because of the excessive cost of the
project or geography or topography of
the area to be served by the project, to
provide service reliably meeting or
exceeding symmetrical 100 Mbps
download speed and upload speeds:
(i) Reliably meet or exceed 100 Mbps
download speed and between at least 20
Mbps and 100 Mbps upload speed; and
(ii) Be scalable to a minimum of 100
Mbps download speed and 100 Mbps
upload speed; and
(C) The service provider for a
completed broadband infrastructure
investment project that provides service
to households is required, for as long as
the SLFRF-funded broadband
infrastructure is in use, by the recipient
to:
(1) Participate in the Federal
Communications Commission’s
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
through the lifetime of the ACP; or
(2) Otherwise provide access to a
broad-based affordability program to
low-income consumers in the proposed
service area of the broadband
infrastructure that provides benefits to
households commensurate with those
provided under the ACP through the
lifetime of the ACP.
(ii) Cybersecurity infrastructure
investments. Cybersecurity
infrastructure investments that are
designed to improve the reliability and
resiliency of new and existing
broadband infrastructure. Such
investments may include the addition or
modernization of network security
hardware and software tools designed to
strengthen cybersecurity for the end-
users of these networks.
(f) Meeting the non-federal matching
requirements for Bureau of Reclamation
projects. A recipient may use funds to
meet the non-federal matching
requirements of any authorized Bureau
of Reclamation project.
§35.7 Pensions.
A recipient (other than a Tribal
government) may not use funds for
deposit into any pension fund.
§35.8 Tax.
(a) Restriction. A State or Territory
shall not use funds to either directly or
indirectly offset a reduction in the net
tax revenue of the State or Territory
resulting from a covered change during
the covered period.
(b) Violation. Treasury will consider a
State or Territory to have used funds to
offset a reduction in net tax revenue if,
during a reporting year:
(1) Covered change. The State or
Territory has made a covered change
that, either based on a reasonable
statistical methodology to isolate the
impact of the covered change in actual
revenue or based on projections that use
reasonable assumptions and do not
incorporate the effects of
macroeconomic growth to reduce or
increase the projected impact of the
covered change, the State or Territory
assesses has had or predicts to have the
effect of reducing tax revenue relative to
current law;
(2) Exceeds the de minimis threshold.
The aggregate amount of the measured
or predicted reductions in tax revenue
caused by covered changes identified
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, in
the aggregate, exceeds 1 percent of the
State’s or Territory’s baseline;
(3) Reduction in net tax revenue. The
State or Territory reports a reduction in
net tax revenue, measured as the
difference between actual tax revenue
and the State’s or Territory’s baseline,
each measured as of the end of the
reporting year; and
(4) Consideration of other changes.
The aggregate amount of measured or
predicted reductions in tax revenue
caused by covered changes is greater
than the sum of the following, in each
case, as calculated for the reporting
year:
(i) The aggregate amount of the
expected increases in tax revenue
caused by one or more covered changes
that, either based on a reasonable
statistical methodology to isolate the
impact of the covered change in actual
revenue or based on projections that use
reasonable assumptions and do not
incorporate the effects of
macroeconomic growth to reduce or
increase the projected impact of the
covered change, the State or Territory
assesses has had or predicts to have the
effect of increasing tax revenue; and
(ii) Reductions in spending, up to the
amount of the State’s or Territory’s net
reduction in total spending, that are in:
(A) Departments, agencies, or
authorities in which the State or
Territory is not using funds; and
(B) Departments, agencies, or
authorities in which the State or
Territory is using funds, in an amount
equal to the value of the spending cuts
in those departments, agencies, or
authorities, minus funds used.
(c) Amount and revenue reduction
cap. If a State or Territory is considered
to be in violation pursuant to paragraph
(b) of this section, the amount used in
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4453 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations violation of paragraph (a) of this section
is equal to the lesser of:
(1) The reduction in net tax revenue
of the State or Territory for the reporting
year, measured as the difference
between the State’s or Territory’s
baseline and its actual tax revenue, each
measured as of the end of the reporting
year; and,
(2) The aggregate amount of the
reductions in tax revenues caused by
covered changes identified in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section, minus the sum of
the amounts in identified in paragraphs
(b)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section.
§35.9 Compliance with applicable laws.
A recipient must comply with all
other applicable Federal statutes,
regulations, and executive orders, and a
recipient shall provide for compliance
with the American Rescue Plan Act, this
subpart, and any interpretive guidance
by other parties in any agreements it
enters into with other parties relating to
these funds.
§35.10 Recoupment.
(a) Identification of violations—(1) In
general. Any amount used in violation
of §35.5, 35.6, or 35.7 may be identified
at any time prior to December 31, 2026.
(2) Annual reporting of amounts of
violations. On an annual basis, a
recipient that is a State or territory must
calculate and report any amounts used
in violation of §35.8.
(b) Calculation of amounts subject to
recoupment—(1) In general. Except as
provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this
section, the Secretary will calculate any
amounts subject to recoupment
resulting from a violation of §35.5, 35.6
or 35.7 as the amounts used in violation
of such restrictions.
(2) Violations of §35.8. The Secretary
will calculate any amounts subject to
recoupment resulting from a violation of
§35.8, equal to the lesser of:
(i) The amount set forth in §35.8(c);
and,
(ii) The amount of funds received by
such recipient.
(c) Initial notice. If the Secretary
calculates an amount subject to
recoupment under paragraph (b) of this
section, Treasury will provide the
recipient an initial written notice of the
amount subject to recoupment along
with an explanation of such amounts.
(d) Request for reconsideration.
Unless the Secretary extends or
accelerates the time period, within 60
calendar days of receipt of an initial
notice of recoupment provided under
paragraph (c) of this section, a recipient
may submit a written request to the
Secretary requesting reconsideration of
any amounts subject to recoupment
under paragraph (b) of this section. To
request reconsideration of any amounts
subject to recoupment, a recipient must
submit to the Secretary a written request
that includes:
(1) An explanation of why the
recipient believes all or some of the
amount should not be subject to
recoupment; and
(2) A discussion of supporting
reasons, along with any additional
information.
(e) Final amount subject to
recoupment. Unless the Secretary
extends or accelerates the time period,
within 60 calendar days of receipt of the
recipient’s request for reconsideration
provided pursuant to paragraph (d) of
this section or the expiration of the
period for requesting reconsideration
provided under paragraph (d), the
recipient will be notified of the
Secretary’s decision to affirm, withdraw,
or modify the notice of recoupment.
Such notification will include an
explanation of the decision, including
responses to the recipient’s supporting
reasons and consideration of additional
information provided. A recipient must
invoke and exhaust the procedures
available under this subpart prior to
seeking judicial review of a decision
under §35.10.
(f) Repayment of funds. Unless the
Secretary extends or accelerates the time
period, a recipient shall repay to the
Secretary any amounts subject to
recoupment in accordance with
instructions provided by the Secretary:
(1) Within 120 calendar days of
receipt of the notice of recoupment
provided under paragraph (c) of this
section, in the case of a recipient that
does not submit a request for
reconsideration in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (d) of this
section; or
(2) Within 120 calendar days of
receipt of the Secretary’s decision under
paragraph (e) of this section, in the case
of a recipient that submits a request for
reconsideration in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (d) of this
section.
(g) Other remedial actions. Prior to
seeking recoupment or taking other
appropriate action pursuant to
paragraph (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this
section, the Secretary may notify the
recipient of potential violations and
provide the recipient an opportunity for
informal consultation and remediation.
§35.11 Payments to States.
(a) In general. With respect to any
State or Territory that has an
unemployment rate as of the date that
it submits an initial certification for
payment of funds pursuant to section
602(d)(1) of the Social Security Act that
is less than two percentage points above
its unemployment rate in February
2020, the Secretary will withhold 50
percent of the amount of funds allocated
under section 602(b) of the Social
Security Act to such State or territory
until at least May 10, 2022 and not more
than twelve months from the date such
initial certification is provided to the
Secretary.
(b) Payment of withheld amount. In
order to receive the amount withheld
under paragraph (a) of this section, the
State or Territory must submit to the
Secretary the following information:
(1) A certification, in the form
provided by the Secretary, that such
State or Territory requires the payment
to carry out the activities specified in
section 602(c) of the Social Security Act
and will use the payment in compliance
with section 602(c) of the Social
Security Act; and
(2) Any reports required to be filed by
that date pursuant to this part that have
not yet been filed.
§35.12 Distributions to nonentitlement
units of local government and units of
general local government.
(a) Nonentitlement units of local
government. Each State or Territory that
receives a payment from the Secretary
pursuant to section 603(b)(2)(B) of the
Social Security Act shall distribute the
amount of the payment to
nonentitlement units of local
government in such State or Territory in
accordance with the requirements set
forth in section 603(b)(2)(C) of the
Social Security Act and without
offsetting any debt owed by such
nonentitlement units of local
governments against such payments.
(b) Budget cap. A State or Territory
may not make a payment to a
nonentitlement unit of local government
pursuant to section 603(b)(2)(C) of the
Social Security Act and paragraph (a) of
this section in excess of the amount
equal to 75 percent of the most recent
budget for the nonentitlement unit of
local government as of January 27, 2020.
For purposes of this section 35.12, a
nonentitlement unit of local
government’s most recent budget shall
mean the nonentitlement unit of local
government’s total annual budget,
including both operating and capital
expenditure budgets, in effect as of
January 27, 2020. A State or Territory
shall permit a nonentitlement unit of
local government without a formal
budget as of January 27, 2020, to
provide a certification from an
authorized officer of the nonentitlement
unit of local government of its most
recent annual expenditures as of
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4454 Federal Register /Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations January 27, 2020, and a State or
Territory may rely on such certification
for purposes of complying with this
section 35.12.
(c) Units of general local government.
Each State or Territory that receives a
payment from the Secretary pursuant to
section 603(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the Social
Security Act, in the case of an amount
to be paid to a county that is not a unit
of general local government, shall
distribute the amount of the payment to
units of general local government within
such county in accordance with the
requirements set forth in section
603(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the Social Security
Act and without offsetting any debt
owed by such units of general local
government against such payments.
(d) Additional conditions. A State or
Territory may not place additional
conditions or requirements on
distributions to nonentitlement units of
local government or units of general
local government beyond those required
by section 603 of the Social Security Act
or this subpart.
Jacob Leibenluft,
Chief Recovery Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022–00292 Filed 1–26–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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12 Attachment C – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, Federal Provisions and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards -2 CFR Part 200 et seq
2 CFR Part 200 attached hereto
81 PART 200—UNIFORM ADMINISTRA-
TIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRIN-
CIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS
Subpart A—Acronyms and Definitions
ACRONYMS
Sec.
200.0 Acronyms.
200.1 Definitions.
200.2 Acquisition cost.
200.3 Advance payment.
200.4 Allocation.
200.5 Audit finding.
200.6 Auditee.
200.7 Auditor.
200.8 Budget.
200.9 Central service cost allocation plan.
200.10 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assist-
ance (CFDA) number.
200.11 CFDA program title.
200.12 Capital assets.
200.13 Capital expenditures.
200.14 Claim.
200.15 Class of Federal awards.
200.16 Closeout.
200.17 Cluster of programs.
200.18 Cognizant agency for audit.
200.19 Cognizant agency for indirect costs.
200.20 Computing devices.
200.21 Compliance supplement.
200.22 Contract.
200.23 Contractor.
200.24 Cooperative agreement.
200.25 Cooperative audit resolution.
200.26 Corrective action.
200.27 Cost allocation plan.
200.28 Cost objective.
200.29 Cost sharing or matching.
200.30 Cross-cutting audit finding.
200.31 [Reserved]
200.32 Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number.
200.33 Equipment.
200.34 Expenditures.
200.35 Federal agency.
200.36 Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC).
200.37 Federal awarding agency.
200.38 Federal award.
200.39 Federal award date.
200.40 Federal financial assistance.
200.41 Federal interest.
200.42 Federal program.
200.43 Federal share.
200.44 Final cost objective.
200.45 Fixed amount awards.
200.46 Foreign public entity.
200.47 Foreign organization.
200.48 General purpose equipment.
200.49 Generally Accepted Accounting Prin-
ciples (GAAP).
200.50 Generally Accepted Government Au-
diting Standards (GAGAS).
200.51 Grant agreement.
200.52 Hospital.
200.53 Improper payment.
200.54 Indian tribe (or ‘‘federally recognized
Indian tribe’’).
200.55 Institutions of Higher Education
(IHEs).
200.56 Indirect (facilities & administrative
(F&A)) costs.
200.57 Indirect cost rate proposal.
200.58 Information technology systems.
200.59 Intangible property.
200.60 Intermediate cost objective.
200.61 Internal controls.
200.62 Internal control over compliance re-
quirements for Federal awards.
200.63 Loan.
200.64 Local government.
200.65 Major program.
200.66 Management decision.
200.67 Micro-purchase.
200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC).
200.69 Non-Federal entity.
200.70 Nonprofit organization.
200.71 Obligations.
200.72 Office of Management and Budget
(OMB).
200.73 Oversight agency for audit.
200.74 Pass-through entity.
200.75 Participant support costs.
200.76 Performance goal.
200.77 Period of performance.
200.78 Personal property.
200.79 Personally Identifiable Information
(PII).
200.80 Program income.
200.81 Property.
200.82 Protected Personally Identifiable In-
formation (Protected PII).
200.83 Project cost.
200.84 Questioned cost.
200.85 Real property.
200.86 Recipient.
200.87 Research and Development (R&D).
200.88 Simplified acquisition threshold.
200.89 Special purpose equipment.
200.90 State.
200.91 Student Financial Aid (SFA).
200.92 Subaward.
200.93 Subrecipient.
200.94 Supplies.
200.95 Termination.
200.96 Third-party in-kind contributions.
200.97 Unliquidated obligations.
200.98 Unobligated balance.
200.99 Voluntary committed cost sharing.
Subpart B—General Provisions
200.100 Purpose.
200.101 Applicability.
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82 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) Pt. 200
200.102 Exceptions.
200.103 Authorities.
200.104 Supersession.
200.105 Effect on other issuances.
200.106 Agency implementation.
200.107 OMB responsibilities.
200.108 Inquiries.
200.109 Review date.
200.110 Effective/applicability date.
200.111 English language.
200.112 Conflict of interest.
200.113 Mandatory disclosures.
Subpart C—Pre-Federal Award Require-
ments and Contents of Federal Awards
200.200 Purpose.
200.201 Use of grant agreements (including
fixed amount awards), cooperative agree-
ments, and contracts.
200.202 Program planning and design.
200.203 Requirement to provide public no-
tice of Federal financial assistance pro-
grams.
200.204 Notices of funding opportunities.
200.205 Federal awarding agency review of
merit of proposals.
200.206 Federal awarding agency review of
risk posed by applicants.
200.207 Standard application requirements.
200.208 Specific conditions.
200.209 Certifications and representations.
200.210 Pre-award costs.
200.211 Information contained in a Federal
award.
200.212 Public access to Federal award infor-
mation.
200.213 Reporting a determination that a
non-Federal entity is not qualified for a
Federal award.
200.214 Suspension and debarment.
200.215 Never contract with the enemy.
200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommuni-
cations and video surveillance services or
equipment.
Subpart D—Post Federal Award
Requirements
200.300 Statutory and national policy re-
quirements.
200.301 Performance measurement.
200.302 Financial management.
200.303 Internal controls.
200.304 Bonds.
200.305 Federal payment.
200.306 Cost sharing or matching.
200.307 Program income.
200.308 Revision of budget and program
plans.
200.309 Modifications to period of perform-
ance.
PROPERTY STANDARDS
200.310 Insurance coverage.
200.311 Real property.
200.312 Federally-owned and exempt prop-
erty.
200.313 Equipment.
200.314 Supplies.
200.315 Intangible property.
200.316 Property trust relationship.
PROCUREMENT STANDARDS
200.317 Procurements by states.
200.318 General procurement standards.
200.319 Competition.
200.320 Methods of procurement to be fol-
lowed.
200.321 Contracting with small and minority
businesses, women’s business enterprises,
and labor surplus area firms.
200.322 Domestic preferences for procure-
ments.
200.323 Procurement of recovered materials.
200.324 Contract cost and price.
200.325 Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity review.
200.326 Bonding requirements.
200.327 Contract provisions.
PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL MONITORING
AND REPORTING
200.328 Financial reporting.
200.329 Monitoring and reporting program
performance.
200.330 Reporting on real property.
SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
200.331 Subrecipient and contractor deter-
minations.
200.332 Requirements for pass-through enti-
ties.
200.333 Fixed amount subawards.
RECORD RETENTION AND ACCESS
200.334 Retention requirements for records.
200.335 Requests for transfer of records.
200.336 Methods for collection, trans-
mission, and storage of information.
200.337 Access to records.
200.338 Restrictions on public access to
records.
REMEDIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
200.339 Remedies for noncompliance.
200.340 Termination.
200.341 Notification of termination require-
ment.
200.342 Opportunities to object, hearings,
and appeals.
200.343 Effects of suspension and termi-
nation.
CLOSEOUT
200.344 Closeout.
POST-CLOSEOUT ADJUSTMENTS AND
CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES
200.345 Post-closeout adjustments and con-
tinuing responsibilities.
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83 OMB Guidance Pt. 200
COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS DUE
200.346 Collection of amounts due.
Subpart E—Cost Principles
GENERAL PROVISIONS
200.400 Policy guide.
200.401 Application.
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
200.402 Composition of costs.
200.403 Factors affecting allowability of
costs.
200.404 Reasonable costs.
200.405 Allocable costs.
200.406 Applicable credits.
200.407 Prior written approval (prior ap-
proval).
200.408 Limitation on allowance of costs.
200.409 Special considerations.
200.410 Collection of unallowable costs.
200.411 Adjustment of previously negotiated
indirect (F&A) cost rates containing un-
allowable costs.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT (F&A) COSTS
200.412 Classification of costs.
200.413 Direct costs.
200.414 Indirect (F&A) costs.
200.415 Required certifications.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR STATES, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND INDIAN TRIBES
200.416 Cost allocation plans and indirect
cost proposals.
200.417 Interagency service.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
200.418 Costs incurred by states and local
governments.
200.419 Cost accounting standards and dis-
closure statement.
GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR SELECTED ITEMS OF
COST
200.420 Considerations for selected items of
cost.
200.421 Advertising and public relations.
200.422 Advisory councils.
200.423 Alcoholic beverages.
200.424 Alumni/ae activities.
200.425 Audit services.
200.426 Bad debts.
200.427 Bonding costs.
200.428 Collections of improper payments.
200.429 Commencement and convocation
costs.
200.430 Compensation—personal services.
200.431 Compensation—fringe benefits.
200.432 Conferences.
200.433 Contingency provisions.
200.434 Contributions and donations.
200.435 Defense and prosecution of criminal
and civil proceedings, claims, appeals
and patent infringements.
200.436 Depreciation.
200.437 Employee health and welfare costs.
200.438 Entertainment costs.
200.439 Equipment and other capital expend-
itures.
200.440 Exchange rates.
200.441 Fines, penalties, damages and other
settlements.
200.442 Fund raising and investment man-
agement costs.
200.443 Gains and losses on disposition of de-
preciable assets.
200.444 General costs of government.
200.445 Goods or services for personal use.
200.446 Idle facilities and idle capacity.
200.447 Insurance and indemnification.
200.448 Intellectual property.
200.449 Interest.
200.450 Lobbying.
200.451 Losses on other awards or contracts.
200.452 Maintenance and repair costs.
200.453 Materials and supplies costs, includ-
ing costs of computing devices.
200.454 Memberships, subscriptions, and pro-
fessional activity costs.
200.455 Organization costs.
200.456 Participant support costs.
200.457 Plant and security costs.
200.458 Pre-award costs.
200.459 Professional service costs.
200.460 Proposal costs.
200.461 Publication and printing costs.
200.462 Rearrangement and reconversion
costs.
200.463 Recruiting costs.
200.464 Relocation costs of employees.
200.465 Rental costs of real property and
equipment.
200.466 Scholarships and student aid costs.
200.467 Selling and marketing costs.
200.468 Specialized service facilities.
200.469 Student activity costs.
200.470 Taxes (including Value Added Tax).
200.471 Telecommunication costs and video
surveillance costs.
200.472 Termination costs.
200.473 Training and education costs.
200.474 Transportation costs.
200.475 Travel costs.
200.476 Trustees.
Subpart F—Audit Requirements
GENERAL
200.500 Purpose.
AUDITS
200.501 Audit requirements.
200.502 Basis for determining Federal
awards expended.
200.503 Relation to other audit require-
ments.
200.504 Frequency of audits.
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84 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.0
200.505 Sanctions.
200.506 Audit costs.
200.507 Program-specific audits.
AUDITEES
200.508 Auditee responsibilities.
200.509 Auditor selection.
200.510 Financial statements.
200.511 Audit findings follow-up.
200.512 Report submission.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
200.513 Responsibilities.
AUDITORS
200.514 Scope of audit.
200.515 Audit reporting.
200.516 Audit findings.
200.517 Audit documentation.
200.518 Major program determination.
200.519 Criteria for Federal program risk.
200.520 Criteria for a low-risk auditee.
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
200.521 Management decision.
APPENDIX I TO PART 200—FULL TEXT OF NO-
TICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
APPENDIX II TO PART 200—CONTRACT PROVI-
SIONS FOR NON-FEDERAL ENTITY CON-
TRACTS UNDER FEDERAL AWARDS
APPENDIX III TO PART 200—INDIRECT (F&A)
COSTS IDENTIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT,
AND RATE DETERMINATION FOR INSTITU-
TIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (IHES)
APPENDIX IV TO PART 200—INDIRECT (F&A)
COSTS IDENTIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT,
AND RATE DETERMINATION FOR NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS
APPENDIX V TO PART 200— STATE/LOCAL GOV-
ERNMENTWIDE CENTRAL SERVICE COST AL-
LOCATION PLANS
APPENDIX VI TO PART 200—PUBLIC ASSIST-
ANCE COST ALLOCATION PLANS
APPENDIX VII TO PART 220—STATES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND INDIAN TRIBE IN-
DIRECT COST PROPOSALS
APPENDIX VIII TO PART 200—NONPROFIT OR-
GANIZATIONS EXEMPTED FROM SUBPART E
OF PART 200
APPENDIX IX TO PART 200—HOSPITAL COST
PRINCIPLES
APPENDIX X TO PART 200—DATA COLLECTION
FORM (FORM SF–SAC)
APPENDIX XI TO PART 200—COMPLIANCE SUP-
PLEMENT
APPENDIX XII TO PART 200—AWARD TERM AND
CONDITION FOR RECIPIENT INTEGRITY AND
PERFORMANCE MATTERS
AUTHORITY: 31 U.S.C. 503
SOURCE: 78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, unless
otherwise noted.
Subpart A—Acronyms and
Definitions
ACRONYMS
§200.0 Acronyms.
ACRONYM TERM
CAS Cost Accounting Standards
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CMIA Cash Management Improve-
ment Act
COG Councils Of Governments
COSO Committee of Sponsoring Orga-
nizations of the Treadway Commis-
sion
EPA Environmental Protection Agen
cy
ERISA Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1301–
1461)
EUI Energy Usage Index
F&A Facilities and Administration
FAC Federal Audit Clearinghouse
FAIN Federal Award Identification
Number
FAPIIS Federal Awardee Perform-
ance and Integrity Information Sys-
tem
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FFATA Federal Funding Account-
ability and Transparency Act of 2006
or Transparency Act—Public Law
109–282, as amended by section 6202(a)
of Public Law 110–252 (31 U.S.C. 6101)
FICA Federal Insurance Contribu-
tions Act
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FR Federal Register
FTE Full-time equivalent
GAAP Generally Accepted Account-
ing Principles
GAGAS Generally Accepted Govern-
ment Auditing Standards
GAO Government Accountability Of-
fice
GOCO Government owned, contractor
operated
GSA General Services Administration
IBS Institutional Base Salary
IHE Institutions of Higher Education
IRC Internal Revenue Code
ISDEAA Indian Self-Determination
and Education and Assistance Act
MTC Modified Total Cost
MTDC Modified Total Direct Cost
NFE Non-Federal Entity
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85 OMB Guidance §200.1
OMB Office of Management and Budg-
et
PII Personally Identifiable Informa-
tion
PMS Payment Management System
PRHP Post-retirement Health Plans
PTE Pass-through Entity
REUI Relative Energy Usage Index
SAM System for Award Management
SFA Student Financial Aid
SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assist-
ance Program
SPOC Single Point of Contact
TANF Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families
TFM Treasury Financial Manual
U.S.C. United States Code
VAT Value Added Tax
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014; 80 FR 43308, July 22,
2015; 85 FR 49529, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.1 Definitions.
These are the definitions for terms
used in this part. Different definitions
may be found in Federal statutes or
regulations that apply more specifi-
cally to particular programs or activi-
ties. These definitions could be supple-
mented by additional instructional in-
formation provided in governmentwide
standard information collections. For
purposes of this part, the following
definitions apply:
Acquisition cost means the cost of the
asset including the cost to ready the
asset for its intended use. Acquisition
cost for equipment, for example, means
the net invoice price of the equipment,
including the cost of any modifica-
tions, attachments, accessories, or aux-
iliary apparatus necessary to make it
usable for the purpose for which it is
acquired. Acquisition costs for soft-
ware includes those development costs
capitalized in accordance with gen-
erally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP). Ancillary charges, such as
taxes, duty, protective in transit insur-
ance, freight, and installation may be
included in or excluded from the acqui-
sition cost in accordance with the non-
Federal entity’s regular accounting
practices.
Advance payment means a payment
that a Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity makes by any ap-
propriate payment mechanism, includ-
ing a predetermined payment schedule,
before the non-Federal entity disburses
the funds for program purposes.
Allocation means the process of as-
signing a cost, or a group of costs, to
one or more cost objective(s), in rea-
sonable proportion to the benefit pro-
vided or other equitable relationship.
The process may entail assigning a
cost(s) directly to a final cost objective
or through one or more intermediate
cost objectives.
Assistance listings refers to the pub-
licly available listing of Federal assist-
ance programs managed and adminis-
tered by the General Services Adminis-
tration, formerly known as the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA).
Assistance listing number means a
unique number assigned to identify a
Federal Assistance Listings, formerly
known as the CFDA Number.
Assistance listing program title means
the title that corresponds to the Fed-
eral Assistance Listings Number, for-
merly known as the CFDA program
title.
Audit finding means deficiencies
which the auditor is required by
§200.516(a) to report in the schedule of
findings and questioned costs.
Auditee means any non-Federal enti-
ty that expends Federal awards which
must be audited under subpart F of
this part.
Auditor means an auditor who is a
public accountant or a Federal, State,
local government, or Indian tribe audit
organization, which meets the general
standards specified for external audi-
tors in generally accepted government
auditing standards (GAGAS). The term
auditor does not include internal audi-
tors of nonprofit organizations.
Budget means the financial plan for
the Federal award that the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty approves during the Federal award
process or in subsequent amendments
to the Federal award. It may include
the Federal and non-Federal share or
only the Federal share, as determined
by the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity.
Budget period means the time inter-
val from the start date of a funded por-
tion of an award to the end date of that
funded portion during which recipients
are authorized to expend the funds
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86 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.1
awarded, including any funds carried
forward or other revisions pursuant to
§200.308.
Capital assets means:
(1) Tangible or intangible assets used
in operations having a useful life of
more than one year which are capital-
ized in accordance with GAAP. Capital
assets include:
(i) Land, buildings (facilities), equip-
ment, and intellectual property (in-
cluding software) whether acquired by
purchase, construction, manufacture,
exchange, or through a lease accounted
for as financed purchase under Govern-
ment Accounting Standards Board
(GASB) standards or a finance lease
under Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) standards; and
(ii) Additions, improvements, modi-
fications, replacements, rearrange-
ments, reinstallations, renovations or
alterations to capital assets that mate-
rially increase their value or useful life
(not ordinary repairs and mainte-
nance).
(2) For purpose of this part, capital
assets do not include intangible right-
to-use assets (per GASB) and right-to-
use operating lease assets (per FASB).
For example, assets capitalized that
recognize a lessee’s right to control the
use of property and/or equipment for a
period of time under a lease contract.
See also §200.465.
Capital expenditures means expendi-
tures to acquire capital assets or ex-
penditures to make additions, improve-
ments, modifications, replacements,
rearrangements, reinstallations, ren-
ovations, or alterations to capital as-
sets that materially increase their
value or useful life.
Central service cost allocation plan
means the documentation identifying,
accumulating, and allocating or devel-
oping billing rates based on the allow-
able costs of services provided by a
State or local government or Indian
tribe on a centralized basis to its de-
partments and agencies. The costs of
these services may be allocated or
billed to users.
Claim means, depending on the con-
text, either:
(1) A written demand or written as-
sertion by one of the parties to a Fed-
eral award seeking as a matter of
right:
(i) The payment of money in a sum
certain;
(ii) The adjustment or interpretation
of the terms and conditions of the Fed-
eral award; or
(iii) Other relief arising under or re-
lating to a Federal award.
(2) A request for payment that is not
in dispute when submitted.
Class of Federal awards means a group
of Federal awards either awarded under
a specific program or group of pro-
grams or to a specific type of non-Fed-
eral entity or group of non-Federal en-
tities to which specific provisions or
exceptions may apply.
Closeout means the process by which
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity determines that all ap-
plicable administrative actions and all
required work of the Federal award
have been completed and takes actions
as described in §200.344.
Cluster of programs means a grouping
of closely related programs that share
common compliance requirements. The
types of clusters of programs are re-
search and development (R&D), student
financial aid (SFA), and other clusters.
‘‘Other clusters’’ are as defined by OMB
in the compliance supplement or as
designated by a State for Federal
awards the State provides to its sub-
recipients that meet the definition of a
cluster of programs. When designating
an ‘‘other cluster,’’ a State must iden-
tify the Federal awards included in the
cluster and advise the subrecipients of
compliance requirements applicable to
the cluster, consistent with §200.332(a).
A cluster of programs must be consid-
ered as one program for determining
major programs, as described in
§200.518, and, with the exception of
R&D as described in §200.501(c), wheth-
er a program-specific audit may be
elected.
Cognizant agency for audit means the
Federal agency designated to carry out
the responsibilities described in
§200.513(a). The cognizant agency for
audit is not necessarily the same as the
cognizant agency for indirect costs. A
list of cognizant agencies for audit can
be found on the Federal Audit Clear-
inghouse (FAC) website.
Cognizant agency for indirect costs
means the Federal agency responsible
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87 OMB Guidance §200.1
for reviewing, negotiating, and approv-
ing cost allocation plans or indirect
cost proposals developed under this
part on behalf of all Federal agencies.
The cognizant agency for indirect cost
is not necessarily the same as the cog-
nizant agency for audit. For assign-
ments of cognizant agencies see the
following:
(1) For Institutions of Higher Edu-
cation (IHEs): Appendix III to this
part, paragraph C.11.
(2) For nonprofit organizations: Ap-
pendix IV to this part, paragraph C.2.a.
(3) For State and local governments:
Appendix V to this part, paragraph F.1.
(4) For Indian tribes: Appendix VII to
this part, paragraph D.1.
Compliance supplement means an an-
nually updated authoritative source for
auditors that serves to identify exist-
ing important compliance require-
ments that the Federal Government
expects to be considered as part of an
audit. Auditors use it to understand
the Federal program’s objectives, pro-
cedures, and compliance requirements,
as well as audit objectives and sug-
gested audit procedures for deter-
mining compliance with the relevant
Federal program.
Computing devices means machines
used to acquire, store, analyze, process,
and publish data and other information
electronically, including accessories
(or ‘‘peripherals’’) for printing, trans-
mitting and receiving, or storing elec-
tronic information. See also the defini-
tions of supplies and information tech-
nology systems in this section.
Contract means, for the purpose of
Federal financial assistance, a legal in-
strument by which a recipient or sub-
recipient purchases property or serv-
ices needed to carry out the project or
program under a Federal award. For
additional information on subrecipient
and contractor determinations, see
§200.331. See also the definition of
subaward in this section.
Contractor means an entity that re-
ceives a contract as defined in this sec-
tion.
Cooperative agreement means a legal
instrument of financial assistance be-
tween a Federal awarding agency and a
recipient or a pass-through entity and
a subrecipient that, consistent with 31
U.S.C. 6302–6305:
(1) Is used to enter into a relation-
ship the principal purpose of which is
to transfer anything of value to carry
out a public purpose authorized by a
law of the United States (see 31 U.S.C.
6101(3)); and not to acquire property or
services for the Federal Government or
pass-through entity’s direct benefit or
use;
(2) Is distinguished from a grant in
that it provides for substantial involve-
ment of the Federal awarding agency
in carrying out the activity con-
templated by the Federal award.
(3) The term does not include:
(i) A cooperative research and devel-
opment agreement as defined in 15
U.S.C. 3710a; or
(ii) An agreement that provides only:
(A) Direct United States Government
cash assistance to an individual;
(B) A subsidy;
(C) A loan;
(D) A loan guarantee; or
(E) Insurance.
Cooperative audit resolution means the
use of audit follow-up techniques which
promote prompt corrective action by
improving communication, fostering
collaboration, promoting trust, and de-
veloping an understanding between the
Federal agency and the non-Federal en-
tity. This approach is based upon:
(1) A strong commitment by Federal
agency and non-Federal entity leader-
ship to program integrity;
(2) Federal agencies strengthening
partnerships and working coopera-
tively with non-Federal entities and
their auditors; and non-Federal enti-
ties and their auditors working coop-
eratively with Federal agencies;
(3) A focus on current conditions and
corrective action going forward;
(4) Federal agencies offering appro-
priate relief for past noncompliance
when audits show prompt corrective
action has occurred; and
(5) Federal agency leadership sending
a clear message that continued failure
to correct conditions identified by au-
dits which are likely to cause improper
payments, fraud, waste, or abuse is un-
acceptable and will result in sanctions.
Corrective action means action taken
by the auditee that:
(1) Corrects identified deficiencies;
(2) Produces recommended improve-
ments; or
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88 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.1
(3) Demonstrates that audit findings
are either invalid or do not warrant
auditee action.
Cost allocation plan means central
service cost allocation plan or public
assistance cost allocation plan.
Cost objective means a program, func-
tion, activity, award, organizational
subdivision, contract, or work unit for
which cost data are desired and for
which provision is made to accumulate
and measure the cost of processes,
products, jobs, capital projects, etc. A
cost objective may be a major function
of the non-Federal entity, a particular
service or project, a Federal award, or
an indirect (Facilities & Administra-
tive (F&A)) cost activity, as described
in subpart E of this part. See also the
definitions of final cost objective and in-
termediate cost objective in this section.
Cost sharing or matching means the
portion of project costs not paid by
Federal funds or contributions (unless
otherwise authorized by Federal stat-
ute). See also §200.306.
Cross-cutting audit finding means an
audit finding where the same under-
lying condition or issue affects all Fed-
eral awards (including Federal awards
of more than one Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity).
Disallowed costs means those charges
to a Federal award that the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty determines to be unallowable, in ac-
cordance with the applicable Federal
statutes, regulations, or the terms and
conditions of the Federal award.
Discretionary award means an award
in which the Federal awarding agency,
in keeping with specific statutory au-
thority that enables the agency to ex-
ercise judgment (‘‘discretion’’), selects
the recipient and/or the amount of Fed-
eral funding awarded through a com-
petitive process or based on merit of
proposals. A discretionary award may
be selected on a non-competitive basis,
as appropriate.
Equipment means tangible personal
property (including information tech-
nology systems) having a useful life of
more than one year and a per-unit ac-
quisition cost which equals or exceeds
the lesser of the capitalization level es-
tablished by the non-Federal entity for
financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
See also the definitions of capital as-
sets, computing devices, general purpose
equipment, information technology sys-
tems, special purpose equipment, and sup-
plies in this section.
Expenditures means charges made by
a non-Federal entity to a project or
program for which a Federal award was
received.
(1) The charges may be reported on a
cash or accrual basis, as long as the
methodology is disclosed and is con-
sistently applied.
(2) For reports prepared on a cash
basis, expenditures are the sum of:
(i) Cash disbursements for direct
charges for property and services;
(ii) The amount of indirect expense
charged;
(iii) The value of third-party in-kind
contributions applied; and
(iv) The amount of cash advance pay-
ments and payments made to sub-
recipients.
(3) For reports prepared on an ac-
crual basis, expenditures are the sum
of:
(i) Cash disbursements for direct
charges for property and services;
(ii) The amount of indirect expense
incurred;
(iii) The value of third-party in-kind
contributions applied; and
(iv) The net increase or decrease in
the amounts owed by the non-Federal
entity for:
(A) Goods and other property re-
ceived;
(B) Services performed by employees,
contractors, subrecipients, and other
payees; and
(C) Programs for which no current
services or performance are required
such as annuities, insurance claims, or
other benefit payments.
Federal agency means an ‘‘agency’’ as
defined at 5 U.S.C. 551(1) and further
clarified by 5 U.S.C. 552(f).
Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC)
means the clearinghouse designated by
OMB as the repository of record where
non-Federal entities are required to
transmit the information required by
subpart F of this part.
Federal award has the meaning, de-
pending on the context, in either para-
graph (1) or (2) of this definition:
(1)(i) The Federal financial assistance
that a recipient receives directly from
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89 OMB Guidance §200.1
a Federal awarding agency or indi-
rectly from a pass-through entity, as
described in §200.101; or
(ii) The cost-reimbursement contract
under the Federal Acquisition Regula-
tions that a non-Federal entity re-
ceives directly from a Federal award-
ing agency or indirectly from a pass-
through entity, as described in §200.101.
(2) The instrument setting forth the
terms and conditions. The instrument
is the grant agreement, cooperative
agreement, other agreement for assist-
ance covered in paragraph (2) of the
definition of Federal financial assistance
in this section, or the cost-reimburse-
ment contract awarded under the Fed-
eral Acquisition Regulations.
(3) Federal award does not include
other contracts that a Federal agency
uses to buy goods or services from a
contractor or a contract to operate
Federal Government owned, contractor
operated facilities (GOCOs).
(4) See also definitions of Federal fi-
nancial assistance, grant agreement,
and cooperative agreement.
Federal award date means the date
when the Federal award is signed by
the authorized official of the Federal
awarding agency.
Federal financial assistance means
(1) Assistance that non-Federal enti-
ties receive or administer in the form
of:
(i) Grants;
(ii) Cooperative agreements;
(iii) Non-cash contributions or dona-
tions of property (including donated
surplus property);
(iv) Direct appropriations;
(v) Food commodities; and
(vi) Other financial assistance (ex-
cept assistance listed in paragraph (2)
of this definition).
(2) For §200.203 and subpart F of this
part, Federal financial assistance also in-
cludes assistance that non-Federal en-
tities receive or administer in the form
of:
(i) Loans;
(ii) Loan Guarantees;
(iii) Interest subsidies; and
(iv) Insurance.
(3) For §200.216, Federal financial as-
sistance includes assistance that non-
Federal entities receive or administer
in the form of:
(i) Grants;
(ii) Cooperative agreements;
(iii) Loans; and
(iv) Loan Guarantees.
(4) Federal financial assistance does
not include amounts received as reim-
bursement for services rendered to in-
dividuals as described in §200.502(h) and
(i).
Federal interest means, for purposes of
§200.330 or when used in connection
with the acquisition or improvement of
real property, equipment, or supplies
under a Federal award, the dollar
amount that is the product of the:
(1) The percentage of Federal partici-
pation in the total cost of the real
property, equipment, or supplies; and
(2) Current fair market value of the
property, improvements, or both, to
the extent the costs of acquiring or im-
proving the property were included as
project costs.
Federal program means:
(1) All Federal awards which are as-
signed a single Assistance Listings
Number.
(2) When no Assistance Listings
Number is assigned, all Federal awards
from the same agency made for the
same purpose must be combined and
considered one program.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)
and (2) of this definition, a cluster of
programs. The types of clusters of pro-
grams are:
(i) Research and development (R&D);
(ii) Student financial aid (SFA); and
(iii) ‘‘Other clusters,’’ as described in
the definition of cluster of programs in
this section.
Federal share means the portion of
the Federal award costs that are paid
using Federal funds.
Final cost objective means a cost ob-
jective which has allocated to it both
direct and indirect costs and, in the
non-Federal entity’s accumulation sys-
tem, is one of the final accumulation
points, such as a particular award, in-
ternal project, or other direct activity
of a non-Federal entity. See also the
definitions of cost objective and inter-
mediate cost objective in this section.
Financial obligations, when ref-
erencing a recipient’s or subrecipient’s
use of funds under a Federal award,
means orders placed for property and
services, contracts and subawards
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90 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.1
made, and similar transactions that re-
quire payment.
Fixed amount awards means a type of
grant or cooperative agreement under
which the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity provides a specific
level of support without regard to ac-
tual costs incurred under the Federal
award. This type of Federal award re-
duces some of the administrative bur-
den and record-keeping requirements
for both the non-Federal entity and
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity. Accountability is based
primarily on performance and results.
See §§200.102(c), 200.201(b), and 200.333.
Foreign organization means an entity
that is:
(1) A public or private organization
located in a country other than the
United States and its territories that is
subject to the laws of the country in
which it is located, irrespective of the
citizenship of project staff or place of
performance;
(2) A private nongovernmental orga-
nization located in a country other
than the United States that solicits
and receives cash contributions from
the general public;
(3) A charitable organization located
in a country other than the United
States that is nonprofit and tax ex-
empt under the laws of its country of
domicile and operation, and is not a
university, college, accredited degree-
granting institution of education, pri-
vate foundation, hospital, organization
engaged exclusively in research or sci-
entific activities, church, synagogue,
mosque or other similar entities orga-
nized primarily for religious purposes;
or
(4) An organization located in a coun-
try other than the United States not
recognized as a foreign public entity.
Foreign public entity means:
(1) A foreign government or foreign
governmental entity;
(2) A public international organiza-
tion, which is an organization entitled
to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and
immunities as an international organi-
zation under the International Organi-
zations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288–
288f);
(3) An entity owned (in whole or in
part) or controlled by a foreign govern-
ment; or
(4) Any other entity consisting whol-
ly or partially of one or more foreign
governments or foreign governmental
entities.
General purpose equipment means
equipment which is not limited to re-
search, medical, scientific or other
technical activities. Examples include
office equipment and furnishings, mod-
ular offices, telephone networks, infor-
mation technology equipment and sys-
tems, air conditioning equipment, re-
production and printing equipment,
and motor vehicles. See also the defini-
tions of equipment and special purpose
equipment in this section.
Generally accepted accounting prin-
ciples (GAAP) has the meaning specified
in accounting standards issued by the
GASB and the FASB.
Generally accepted government auditing
standards (GAGAS), also known as the
Yellow Book, means generally accepted
government auditing standards issued
by the Comptroller General of the
United States, which are applicable to
financial audits.
Grant agreement means a legal instru-
ment of financial assistance between a
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity and a non-Federal enti-
ty that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6302,
6304:
(1) Is used to enter into a relation-
ship the principal purpose of which is
to transfer anything of value to carry
out a public purpose authorized by a
law of the United States (see 31 U.S.C.
6101(3)); and not to acquire property or
services for the Federal awarding agen-
cy or pass-through entity’s direct ben-
efit or use;
(2) Is distinguished from a coopera-
tive agreement in that it does not pro-
vide for substantial involvement of the
Federal awarding agency in carrying
out the activity contemplated by the
Federal award.
(3) Does not include an agreement
that provides only:
(i) Direct United States Government
cash assistance to an individual;
(ii) A subsidy;
(iii) A loan;
(vi) A loan guarantee; or
(v) Insurance.
Highest level owner means the entity
that owns or controls an immediate
owner of the offeror, or that owns or
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91 OMB Guidance §200.1
controls one or more entities that con-
trol an immediate owner of the offeror.
No entity owns or exercises control of
the highest-level owner as defined in
the Federal Acquisition Regulations
(FAR) (48 CFR 52.204–17).
Hospital means a facility licensed as
a hospital under the law of any state or
a facility operated as a hospital by the
United States, a state, or a subdivision
of a state.
Improper payment means:
(1) Any payment that should not
have been made or that was made in an
incorrect amount under statutory, con-
tractual, administrative, or other le-
gally applicable requirements.
(i) Incorrect amounts are overpay-
ments or underpayments that are made
to eligible recipients (including inap-
propriate denials of payment or serv-
ice, any payment that does not account
for credit for applicable discounts, pay-
ments that are for an incorrect
amount, and duplicate payments). An
improper payment also includes any
payment that was made to an ineli-
gible recipient or for an ineligible good
or service, or payments for goods or
services not received (except for such
payments authorized by law).
Note 1 to paragraph (1)(i) of this defini-
tion. Applicable discounts are only
those discounts where it is both advan-
tageous and within the agency’s con-
trol to claim them.
(ii) When an agency’s review is un-
able to discern whether a payment was
proper as a result of insufficient or
lack of documentation, this payment
should also be considered an improper
payment. When establishing docu-
mentation requirements for payments,
agencies should ensure that all docu-
mentation requirements are necessary
and should refrain from imposing addi-
tional burdensome documentation re-
quirements.
(iii) Interest or other fees that may
result from an underpayment by an
agency are not considered an improper
payment if the interest was paid cor-
rectly. These payments are generally
separate transactions and may be nec-
essary under certain statutory, con-
tractual, administrative, or other le-
gally applicable requirements.
(iv) A ‘‘questioned cost’’ (as defined
in this section) should not be consid-
ered an improper payment until the
transaction has been completely re-
viewed and is confirmed to be im-
proper.
(v) The term ‘‘payment’’ in this defi-
nition means any disbursement or
transfer of Federal funds (including a
commitment for future payment, such
as cash, securities, loans, loan guaran-
tees, and insurance subsidies) to any
non-Federal person, non-Federal enti-
ty, or Federal employee, that is made
by a Federal agency, a Federal con-
tractor, a Federal grantee, or a govern-
mental or other organization admin-
istering a Federal program or activity.
(vi) The term ‘‘payment’’ includes
disbursements made pursuant to prime
contracts awarded under the Federal
Acquisition Regulation and Federal
awards subject to this part that are ex-
pended by recipients.
(2) See definition of improper pay-
ment in OMB Circular A–123 appendix
C, part I A (1) ‘‘What is an improper
payment?’’ Questioned costs, including
those identified in audits, are not an
improper payment until reviewed and
confirmed to be improper as defined in
OMB Circular A–123 appendix C.
Indian tribe means any Indian tribe,
band, nation, or other organized group
or community, including any Alaska
Native village or regional or village
corporation as defined in or established
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33),
which is recognized as eligible for the
special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians be-
cause of their status as Indians (25
U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published
Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian
Entities Recognized and Eligible to Re-
ceive Services.
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
is defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001.
Indirect (facilities & administrative
(F&A)) costs means those costs incurred
for a common or joint purpose benefit-
ting more than one cost objective, and
not readily assignable to the cost ob-
jectives specifically benefitted, with-
out effort disproportionate to the re-
sults achieved. To facilitate equitable
distribution of indirect expenses to the
cost objectives served, it may be nec-
essary to establish a number of pools of
indirect (F&A) costs. Indirect (F&A)
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92 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.1
cost pools must be distributed to bene-
fitted cost objectives on bases that will
produce an equitable result in consider-
ation of relative benefits derived.
Indirect cost rate proposal means the
documentation prepared by a non-Fed-
eral entity to substantiate its request
for the establishment of an indirect
cost rate as described in appendices III
through VII and appendix IX to this
part.
Information technology systems means
computing devices, ancillary equip-
ment, software, firmware, and similar
procedures, services (including support
services), and related resources. See
also the definitions of computing devices
and equipment in this section.
Intangible property means property
having no physical existence, such as
trademarks, copyrights, patents and
patent applications and property, such
as loans, notes and other debt instru-
ments, lease agreements, stock and
other instruments of property owner-
ship (whether the property is tangible
or intangible).
Intermediate cost objective means a
cost objective that is used to accumu-
late indirect costs or service center
costs that are subsequently allocated
to one or more indirect cost pools or
final cost objectives. See also the defi-
nitions of cost objective and final cost ob-
jective in this section.
Internal controls for non-Federal enti-
ties means:
(1) Processes designed and imple-
mented by non-Federal entities to pro-
vide reasonable assurance regarding
the achievement of objectives in the
following categories:
(i) Effectiveness and efficiency of op-
erations;
(ii) Reliability of reporting for inter-
nal and external use; and
(iii) Compliance with applicable laws
and regulations.
(2) Federal awarding agencies are re-
quired to follow internal control com-
pliance requirements in OMB Circular
No. A–123, Management’s Responsi-
bility for Enterprise Risk Management
and Internal Control.
Loan means a Federal loan or loan
guarantee received or administered by
a non-Federal entity, except as used in
the definition of program income in this
section.
(1) The term ‘‘direct loan’’ means a
disbursement of funds by the Federal
Government to a non-Federal borrower
under a contract that requires the re-
payment of such funds with or without
interest. The term includes the pur-
chase of, or participation in, a loan
made by another lender and financing
arrangements that defer payment for
more than 90 days, including the sale of
a Federal Government asset on credit
terms. The term does not include the
acquisition of a federally guaranteed
loan in satisfaction of default claims or
the price support loans of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation.
(2) The term ‘‘direct loan obligation’’
means a binding agreement by a Fed-
eral awarding agency to make a direct
loan when specified conditions are ful-
filled by the borrower.
(3) The term ‘‘loan guarantee’’ means
any Federal Government guarantee, in-
surance, or other pledge with respect
to the payment of all or a part of the
principal or interest on any debt obli-
gation of a non-Federal borrower to a
non-Federal lender, but does not in-
clude the insurance of deposits, shares,
or other withdrawable accounts in fi-
nancial institutions.
(4) The term ‘‘loan guarantee com-
mitment’’ means a binding agreement
by a Federal awarding agency to make
a loan guarantee when specified condi-
tions are fulfilled by the borrower, the
lender, or any other party to the guar-
antee agreement.
Local government means any unit of
government within a state, including a:
(1) County;
(2) Borough;
(3) Municipality;
(4) City;
(5) Town;
(6) Township;
(7) Parish;
(8) Local public authority, including
any public housing agency under the
United States Housing Act of 1937;
(9) Special district;
(10) School district;
(11) Intrastate district;
(12) Council of governments, whether
or not incorporated as a nonprofit cor-
poration under State law; and
(13) Any other agency or instrumen-
tality of a multi-, regional, or intra-
State or local government.
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93 OMB Guidance §200.1
Major program means a Federal pro-
gram determined by the auditor to be a
major program in accordance with
§200.518 or a program identified as a
major program by a Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity in ac-
cordance with §200.503(e).
Management decision means the Fed-
eral awarding agency’s or pass-through
entity’s written determination, pro-
vided to the auditee, of the adequacy of
the auditee’s proposed corrective ac-
tions to address the findings, based on
its evaluation of the audit findings and
proposed corrective actions.
Micro-purchase means a purchase of
supplies or services, the aggregate
amount of which does not exceed the
micro-purchase threshold. Micro-pur-
chases comprise a subset of a non-Fed-
eral entity’s small purchases as defined
in §200.320.
Micro-purchase threshold means the
dollar amount at or below which a non-
Federal entity may purchase property
or services using micro-purchase proce-
dures (see §200.320). Generally, the
micro-purchase threshold for procure-
ment activities administered under
Federal awards is not to exceed the
amount set by the FAR at 48 CFR part
2, subpart 2.1, unless a higher threshold
is requested by the non-Federal entity
and approved by the cognizant agency
for indirect costs.
Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)
means all direct salaries and wages, ap-
plicable fringe benefits, materials and
supplies, services, travel, and up to the
first $25,000 of each subaward (regard-
less of the period of performance of the
subawards under the award). MTDC ex-
cludes equipment, capital expendi-
tures, charges for patient care, rental
costs, tuition remission, scholarships
and fellowships, participant support
costs and the portion of each subaward
in excess of $25,000. Other items may
only be excluded when necessary to
avoid a serious inequity in the dis-
tribution of indirect costs, and with
the approval of the cognizant agency
for indirect costs.
Non-discretionary award means an
award made by the Federal awarding
agency to specific recipients in accord-
ance with statutory, eligibility and
compliance requirements, such that in
keeping with specific statutory author-
ity the agency has no ability to exer-
cise judgement (‘‘discretion’’). A non-
discretionary award amount could be
determined specifically or by formula.
Non-Federal entity (NFE) means a
State, local government, Indian tribe,
Institution of Higher Education (IHE),
or nonprofit organization that carries
out a Federal award as a recipient or
subrecipient.
Nonprofit organization means any cor-
poration, trust, association, coopera-
tive, or other organization, not includ-
ing IHEs, that:
(1) Is operated primarily for sci-
entific, educational, service, chari-
table, or similar purposes in the public
interest;
(2) Is not organized primarily for
profit; and
(3) Uses net proceeds to maintain,
improve, or expand the operations of
the organization.
Notice of funding opportunity means a
formal announcement of the avail-
ability of Federal funding through a fi-
nancial assistance program from a Fed-
eral awarding agency. The notice of
funding opportunity provides informa-
tion on the award, who is eligible to
apply, the evaluation criteria for selec-
tion of an awardee, required compo-
nents of an application, and how to
submit the application. The notice of
funding opportunity is any paper or
electronic issuance that an agency uses
to announce a funding opportunity,
whether it is called a ‘‘program an-
nouncement,’’ ‘‘notice of funding avail-
ability,’’ ‘‘broad agency announce-
ment,’’ ‘‘research announcement,’’
‘‘solicitation,’’ or some other term.
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) means the Executive Office of
the President, Office of Management
and Budget.
Oversight agency for audit means the
Federal awarding agency that provides
the predominant amount of funding di-
rectly (direct funding) (as listed on the
schedule of expenditures of Federal
awards, see §200.510(b)) to a non-Fed-
eral entity unless OMB designates a
specific cognizant agency for audit.
When the direct funding represents less
than 25 percent of the total Federal ex-
penditures (as direct and sub-awards)
by the non-Federal entity, then the
Federal agency with the predominant
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94 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.1
amount of total funding is the des-
ignated cognizant agency for audit.
When there is no direct funding, the
Federal awarding agency which is the
predominant source of pass-through
funding must assume the oversight re-
sponsibilities. The duties of the over-
sight agency for audit and the process
for any reassignments are described in
§200.513(b).
Participant support costs means direct
costs for items such as stipends or sub-
sistence allowances, travel allowances,
and registration fees paid to or on be-
half of participants or trainees (but not
employees) in connection with con-
ferences, or training projects.
Pass-through entity (PTE) means a
non-Federal entity that provides a
subaward to a subrecipient to carry out
part of a Federal program.
Performance goal means a target level
of performance expressed as a tangible,
measurable objective, against which
actual achievement can be compared,
including a goal expressed as a quan-
titative standard, value, or rate. In
some instances (e.g., discretionary re-
search awards), this may be limited to
the requirement to submit technical
performance reports (to be evaluated in
accordance with agency policy).
Period of performance means the total
estimated time interval between the
start of an initial Federal award and
the planned end date, which may in-
clude one or more funded portions, or
budget periods. Identification of the
period of performance in the Federal
award per §200.211(b)(5) does not com-
mit the awarding agency to fund the
award beyond the currently approved
budget period.
Personal property means property
other than real property. It may be
tangible, having physical existence, or
intangible.
Personally Identifiable Information
(PII) means information that can be
used to distinguish or trace an individ-
ual’s identity, either alone or when
combined with other personal or iden-
tifying information that is linked or
linkable to a specific individual. Some
information that is considered to be
PII is available in public sources such
as telephone books, public websites,
and university listings. This type of in-
formation is considered to be Public
PII and includes, for example, first and
last name, address, work telephone
number, email address, home telephone
number, and general educational cre-
dentials. The definition of PII is not
anchored to any single category of in-
formation or technology. Rather, it re-
quires a case-by-case assessment of the
specific risk that an individual can be
identified. Non-PII can become PII
whenever additional information is
made publicly available, in any me-
dium and from any source, that, when
combined with other available infor-
mation, could be used to identify an in-
dividual.
Program income means gross income
earned by the non-Federal entity that
is directly generated by a supported ac-
tivity or earned as a result of the Fed-
eral award during the period of per-
formance except as provided in
§200.307(f). (See the definition of period
of performance in this section.) Program
income includes but is not limited to
income from fees for services per-
formed, the use or rental or real or per-
sonal property acquired under Federal
awards, the sale of commodities or
items fabricated under a Federal
award, license fees and royalties on
patents and copyrights, and principal
and interest on loans made with Fed-
eral award funds. Interest earned on
advances of Federal funds is not pro-
gram income. Except as otherwise pro-
vided in Federal statutes, regulations,
or the terms and conditions of the Fed-
eral award, program income does not
include rebates, credits, discounts, and
interest earned on any of them. See
also §200.407. See also 35 U.S.C. 200–212
‘‘Disposition of Rights in Educational
Awards’’ applies to inventions made
under Federal awards.
Project cost means total allowable
costs incurred under a Federal award
and all required cost sharing and vol-
untary committed cost sharing, includ-
ing third-party contributions.
Property means real property or per-
sonal property. See also the definitions
of real property and personal property in
this section.
Protected Personally Identifiable Infor-
mation (Protected PII) means an individ-
ual’s first name or first initial and last
name in combination with any one or
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95 OMB Guidance §200.1
more of types of information, includ-
ing, but not limited to, social security
number, passport number, credit card
numbers, clearances, bank numbers,
biometrics, date and place of birth,
mother’s maiden name, criminal, med-
ical and financial records, educational
transcripts. This does not include PII
that is required by law to be disclosed.
See also the definition of Personally
Identifiable Information (PII) in this sec-
tion.
Questioned cost means a cost that is
questioned by the auditor because of an
audit finding:
(1) Which resulted from a violation or
possible violation of a statute, regula-
tion, or the terms and conditions of a
Federal award, including for funds used
to match Federal funds;
(2) Where the costs, at the time of
the audit, are not supported by ade-
quate documentation; or
(3) Where the costs incurred appear
unreasonable and do not reflect the ac-
tions a prudent person would take in
the circumstances.
(4) Questioned costs are not an im-
proper payment until reviewed and
confirmed to be improper as defined in
OMB Circular A–123 appendix C. (See
also the definition of Improper payment
in this section).
Real property means land, including
land improvements, structures and ap-
purtenances thereto, but excludes
moveable machinery and equipment.
Recipient means an entity, usually
but not limited to non-Federal entities
that receives a Federal award directly
from a Federal awarding agency. The
term recipient does not include sub-
recipients or individuals that are bene-
ficiaries of the award.
Renewal award means an award made
subsequent to an expiring Federal
award for which the start date is con-
tiguous with, or closely follows, the
end of the expiring Federal award. A
renewal award’s start date will begin a
distinct period of performance.
Research and Development (R&D)
means all research activities, both
basic and applied, and all development
activities that are performed by non-
Federal entities. 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. ‘‘Research’’ is de-
fined as a systematic study directed to-
ward fuller scientific knowledge or un-
derstanding of the subject studied.
‘‘Development’’ is the systematic use
of knowledge and understanding gained
from research directed toward the pro-
duction of useful materials, devices,
systems, or methods, including design
and development of prototypes and
processes.
Simplified acquisition threshold means
the dollar amount below which a non-
Federal entity may purchase property
or services using small purchase meth-
ods (see §200.320). Non-Federal entities
adopt small purchase procedures in
order to expedite the purchase of items
at or below the simplified acquisition
threshold. The simplified acquisition
threshold for procurement activities
administered under Federal awards is
set by the FAR at 48 CFR part 2, sub-
part 2.1. The non-Federal entity is re-
sponsible for determining an appro-
priate simplified acquisition threshold
based on internal controls, an evalua-
tion of risk, and its documented pro-
curement procedures. However, in no
circumstances can this threshold ex-
ceed the dollar value established in the
FAR (48 CFR part 2, subpart 2.1) for the
simplified acquisition threshold. Re-
cipients should determine if local gov-
ernment laws on purchasing apply.
Special purpose equipment means
equipment which is used only for re-
search, medical, scientific, or other
technical activities. Examples of spe-
cial purpose equipment include micro-
scopes, x-ray machines, surgical instru-
ments, and spectrometers. See also the
definitions of equipment and general
purpose equipment in this section.
State means any state of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and any
agency or instrumentality thereof ex-
clusive of local governments.
Student Financial Aid (SFA) means
Federal awards under those programs
of general student assistance, such as
those authorized by Title IV of the
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96 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.2
Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended, (20 U.S.C. 1070–1099d), which
are administered by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Education, and similar pro-
grams provided by other Federal agen-
cies. It does not include Federal awards
under programs that provide fellow-
ships or similar Federal awards to stu-
dents on a competitive basis, or for
specified studies or research.
Subaward means an award provided
by a pass-through entity to a sub-
recipient for the subrecipient to carry
out part of a Federal award received by
the pass-through entity. It does not in-
clude payments to a contractor or pay-
ments to an individual that is a bene-
ficiary of a Federal program. A
subaward may be provided through any
form of legal agreement, including an
agreement that the pass-through enti-
ty considers a contract.
Subrecipient means an entity, usually
but not limited to non-Federal entities,
that receives a subaward from a pass-
through entity to carry out part of a
Federal award; but does not include an
individual that is a beneficiary of such
award. A subrecipient may also be a re-
cipient of other Federal awards di-
rectly from a Federal awarding agency.
Subsidiary means an entity in which
more than 50 percent of the entity is
owned or controlled directly by a par-
ent corporation or through another
subsidiary of a parent corporation.
Supplies means all tangible personal
property other than those described in
the definition of equipment in this sec-
tion. A computing device is a supply if
the acquisition cost is less than the
lesser of the capitalization level estab-
lished by the non-Federal entity for fi-
nancial statement purposes or $5,000,
regardless of the length of its useful
life. See also the definitions of com-
puting devices and equipment in this sec-
tion.
Telecommunications cost means the
cost of using communication and te-
lephony technologies such as mobile
phones, land lines, and internet.
Termination means the ending of a
Federal award, in whole or in part at
any time prior to the planned end of
period of performance. A lack of avail-
able funds is not a termination.
Third-party in-kind contributions
means the value of non-cash contribu-
tions (i.e., property or services) that—
(1) Benefit a federally-assisted
project or program; and
(2) Are contributed by non-Federal
third parties, without charge, to a non-
Federal entity under a Federal award.
Unliquidated financial obligations
means, for financial reports prepared
on a cash basis, financial obligations
incurred by the non-Federal entity
that have not been paid (liquidated).
For reports prepared on an accrual ex-
penditure basis, these are financial ob-
ligations incurred by the non-Federal
entity for which an expenditure has
not been recorded.
Unobligated balance means the
amount of funds under a Federal award
that the non-Federal entity has not ob-
ligated. The amount is computed by
subtracting the cumulative amount of
the non-Federal entity’s unliquidated
financial obligations and expenditures
of funds under the Federal award from
the cumulative amount of the funds
that the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity authorized the
non-Federal entity to obligate.
Voluntary committed cost sharing
means cost sharing specifically pledged
on a voluntary basis in the proposal’s
budget on the part of the non-Federal
entity and that becomes a binding re-
quirement of Federal award. See also
§200.306.
[85 FR 49529, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.2 Acquisition cost.
Acquisition cost means the cost of the
asset including the cost to ready the
asset for its intended use. Acquisition
cost for equipment, for example, means
the net invoice price of the equipment,
including the cost of any modifica-
tions, attachments, accessories, or aux-
iliary apparatus necessary to make it
usable for the purpose for which it is
acquired. Acquisition costs for soft-
ware includes those development costs
capitalized in accordance with gen-
erally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP). Ancillary charges, such as
taxes, duty, protective in transit insur-
ance, freight, and installation may be
included in or excluded from the acqui-
sition cost in accordance with the non-
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97 OMB Guidance §200.13
Federal entity’s regular accounting
practices.
§200.3 Advance payment.
Advance payment means a payment
that a Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity makes by any ap-
propriate payment mechanism, includ-
ing a predetermined payment schedule,
before the non-Federal entity disburses
the funds for program purposes.
§200.4 Allocation.
Allocation means the process of as-
signing a cost, or a group of costs, to
one or more cost objective(s), in rea-
sonable proportion to the benefit pro-
vided or other equitable relationship.
The process may entail assigning a
cost(s) directly to a final cost objective
or through one or more intermediate
cost objectives.
§200.5 Audit finding.
Audit finding means deficiencies
which the auditor is required by
§200.516 Audit findings, paragraph (a)
to report in the schedule of findings
and questioned costs.
§200.6 Auditee.
Auditee means any non-Federal enti-
ty that expends Federal awards which
must be audited under Subpart F—
Audit Requirements of this part.
§200.7 Auditor.
Auditor means an auditor who is a
public accountant or a Federal, state,
local government, or Indian tribe audit
organization, which meets the general
standards specified for external audi-
tors in generally accepted government
auditing standards (GAGAS). The term
auditor does not include internal audi-
tors of nonprofit organizations.
[79 FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.8 Budget.
Budget means the financial plan for
the project or program that the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity approves during the Federal
award process or in subsequent amend-
ments to the Federal award. It may in-
clude the Federal and non-Federal
share or only the Federal share, as de-
termined by the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity.
§200.9 Central service cost allocation
plan.
Central service cost allocation plan
means the documentation identifying,
accumulating, and allocating or devel-
oping billing rates based on the allow-
able costs of services provided by a
state, local government, or Indian tribe
on a centralized basis to its depart-
ments and agencies. The costs of these
services may be allocated or billed to
users.
§200.10 Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number.
CFDA number means the number as-
signed to a Federal program in the
CFDA.
§200.11 CFDA program title.
CFDA program title means the title of
the program under which the Federal
award was funded in the CFDA.
§200.12 Capital assets.
Capital assets means tangible or in-
tangible assets used in operations hav-
ing a useful life of more than one year
which are capitalized in accordance
with GAAP. Capital assets include:
(a) Land, buildings (facilities), equip-
ment, and intellectual property (in-
cluding software) whether acquired by
purchase, construction, manufacture,
lease-purchase, exchange, or through
capital leases; and
(b) Additions, improvements, modi-
fications, replacements, rearrange-
ments, reinstallations, renovations or
alterations to capital assets that mate-
rially increase their value or useful life
(not ordinary repairs and mainte-
nance).
§200.13 Capital expenditures.
Capital expenditures means expendi-
tures to acquire capital assets or ex-
penditures to make additions, improve-
ments, modifications, replacements,
rearrangements, reinstallations, ren-
ovations, or alterations to capital as-
sets that materially increase their
value or useful life.
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98 2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.14
§200.14 Claim.
Claim means, depending on the con-
text, either:
(a) A written demand or written as-
sertion by one of the parties to a Fed-
eral award seeking as a matter of
right:
(1) The payment of money in a sum
certain;
(2) The adjustment or interpretation
of the terms and conditions of the Fed-
eral award; or
(3) Other relief arising under or relat-
ing to a Federal award.
(b) A request for payment that is not
in dispute when submitted.
§200.15 Class of Federal awards.
Class of Federal awards means a group
of Federal awards either awarded under
a specific program or group of pro-
grams or to a specific type of non-Fed-
eral entity or group of non-Federal en-
tities to which specific provisions or
exceptions may apply.
§200.16 Closeout.
Closeout means the process by which
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity determines that all ap-
plicable administrative actions and all
required work of the Federal award
have been completed and takes actions
as described in §200.343 Closeout.
§200.17 Cluster of programs.
Cluster of programs means a grouping
of closely related programs that share
common compliance requirements. The
types of clusters of programs are re-
search and development (R&D), student
financial aid (SFA), and other clusters.
‘‘Other clusters’’ are as defined by OMB
in the compliance supplement or as
designated by a state for Federal
awards the state provides to its sub-
recipients that meet the definition of a
cluster of programs. When designating
an ‘‘other cluster,’’ a state must iden-
tify the Federal awards included in the
cluster and advise the subrecipients of
compliance requirements applicable to
the cluster, consistent with §200.331
Requirements for pass-through enti-
ties, paragraph (a). A cluster of pro-
grams must be considered as one pro-
gram for determining major programs,
as described in §200.518 Major program
determination, and, with the exception
of R&D as described in §200.501 Audit
requirements, paragraph (c), whether a
program-specific audit may be elected.
§200.18 Cognizant agency for audit.
Cognizant agency for audit means the
Federal agency designated to carry out
the responsibilities described in
§200.513 Responsibilities, paragraph (a).
The cognizant agency for audit is not
necessarily the same as the cognizant
agency for indirect costs. A list of cog-
nizant agencies for audit may be found
at the FAC Web site.
§200.19 Cognizant agency for indirect
costs.
Cognizant agency for indirect costs
means the Federal agency responsible
for reviewing, negotiating, and approv-
ing cost allocation plans or indirect
cost proposals developed under this
part on behalf of all Federal agencies.
The cognizant agency for indirect cost
is not necessarily the same as the cog-
nizant agency for audit. For assign-
ments of cognizant agencies see the
following:
(a) For IHEs: Appendix III to Part
200—Indirect (F&A) Costs Identifica-
tion and Assignment, and Rate Deter-
mination for Institutions of Higher
Education (IHEs), paragraph C.11.
(b) For nonprofit organizations: Ap-
pendix IV to Part 200—Indirect (F&A)
Costs Identification and Assignment,
and Rate Determination for Nonprofit
Organizations, paragraph C.2.a.
(c) For state and local governments:
Appendix V to Part 200—State/Local
Governmentwide Central Service Cost
Allocation Plans, paragraph F.1.
(d) For Indian tribes: Appendix VII to
Part 200—States and Local Govern-
ment and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost
Proposal, paragraph D.1.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014; 80 FR 54407, Sept. 10,
2015]
§200.20 Computing devices.
Computing devices means machines
used to acquire, store, analyze, process,
and publish data and other information
electronically, including accessories
(or ‘‘peripherals’’) for printing, trans-
mitting and receiving, or storing elec-
tronic information. See also §§200.94
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99 OMB Guidance §200.28
Supplies and 200.58 Information tech-
nology systems.
§200.21 Compliance supplement.
Compliance supplement means Appen-
dix XI to Part 200—Compliance Supple-
ment (previously known as the Cir-
cular A–133 Compliance Supplement).
§200.22 Contract.
Contract means a legal instrument by
which a non-Federal entity purchases
property or services needed to carry
out the project or program under a
Federal award. The term as used in
this part does not include a legal in-
strument, even if the non-Federal enti-
ty considers it a contract, when the
substance of the transaction meets the
definition of a Federal award or
subaward (see §200.92 Subaward).
§200.23 Contractor.
Contractor means an entity that re-
ceives a contract as defined in §200.22
Contract.
§200.24 Cooperative agreement.
Cooperative agreement means a legal
instrument of financial assistance be-
tween a Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity and a non-Federal
entity that, consistent with 31 U.S.C.
6302–6305:
(a) Is used to enter into a relation-
ship the principal purpose of which is
to transfer anything of value from the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity to the non-Federal enti-
ty to carry out a public purpose au-
thorized by a law of the United States
(see 31 U.S.C. 6101(3)); and not to ac-
quire property or services for the Fed-
eral Government or pass-through enti-
ty’s direct benefit or use;
(b) Is distinguished from a grant in
that it provides for substantial involve-
ment between the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity and the
non-Federal entity in carrying out the
activity contemplated by the Federal
award.
(c) The term does not include:
(1) A cooperative research and devel-
opment agreement as defined in 15
U.S.C. 3710a; or
(2) An agreement that provides only:
(i) Direct United States Government
cash assistance to an individual;
(ii) A subsidy;
(iii) A loan;
(iv) A loan guarantee; or
(v) Insurance.
§200.25 Cooperative audit resolution.
Cooperative audit resolution means the
use of audit follow-up techniques which
promote prompt corrective action by
improving communication, fostering
collaboration, promoting trust, and de-
veloping an understanding between the
Federal agency and the non-Federal en-
tity. This approach is based upon:
(a) A strong commitment by Federal
agency and non-Federal entity leader-
ship to program integrity;
(b) Federal agencies strengthening
partnerships and working coopera-
tively with non-Federal entities and
their auditors; and non-Federal enti-
ties and their auditors working coop-
eratively with Federal agencies;
(c) A focus on current conditions and
corrective action going forward;
(d) Federal agencies offering appro-
priate relief for past noncompliance
when audits show prompt corrective
action has occurred; and
(e) Federal agency leadership sending
a clear message that continued failure
to correct conditions identified by au-
dits which are likely to cause improper
payments, fraud, waste, or abuse is un-
acceptable and will result in sanctions.
§200.26 Corrective action.
Corrective action means action taken
by the auditee that:
(a) Corrects identified deficiencies;
(b) Produces recommended improve-
ments; or
(c) Demonstrates that audit findings
are either invalid or do not warrant
auditee action.
§200.27 Cost allocation plan.
Cost allocation plan means central
service cost allocation plan or public
assistance cost allocation plan.
§200.28 Cost objective.
Cost objective means a program, func-
tion, activity, award, organizational
subdivision, contract, or work unit for
which cost data are desired and for
which provision is made to accumulate
and measure the cost of processes,
products, jobs, capital projects, etc. A
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100
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.29
cost objective may be a major function
of the non-Federal entity, a particular
service or project, a Federal award, or
an indirect (Facilities & Administra-
tive (F&A)) cost activity, as described
in Subpart E—Cost Principles of this
Part. See also §§200.44 Final cost objec-
tive and 200.60 Intermediate cost objec-
tive.
§200.29 Cost sharing or matching.
Cost sharing or matching means the
portion of project costs not paid by
Federal funds (unless otherwise author-
ized by Federal statute). See also
§200.306 Cost sharing or matching.
§200.30 Cross-cutting audit finding.
Cross-cutting audit finding means an
audit finding where the same under-
lying condition or issue affects Federal
awards of more than one Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty.
§200.31 Disallowed costs.
Disallowed costs means those charges
to a Federal award that the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty determines to be unallowable, in ac-
cordance with the applicable Federal
statutes, regulations, or the terms and
conditions of the Federal award.
§200.32 [Reserved]
§200.33 Equipment.
Equipment means tangible personal
property (including information tech-
nology systems) having a useful life of
more than one year and a per-unit ac-
quisition cost which equals or exceeds
the lesser of the capitalization level es-
tablished by the non-Federal entity for
financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
See also §§200.12 Capital assets, 200.20
Computing devices, 200.48 General pur-
pose equipment, 200.58 Information
technology systems, 200.89 Special pur-
pose equipment, and 200.94 Supplies.
§200.34 Expenditures.
Expenditures means charges made by
a non-Federal entity to a project or
program for which a Federal award was
received.
(a) The charges may be reported on a
cash or accrual basis, as long as the
methodology is disclosed and is con-
sistently applied.
(b) For reports prepared on a cash
basis, expenditures are the sum of:
(1) Cash disbursements for direct
charges for property and services;
(2) The amount of indirect expense
charged;
(3) The value of third-party in-kind
contributions applied; and
(4) The amount of cash advance pay-
ments and payments made to sub-
recipients.
(c) For reports prepared on an ac-
crual basis, expenditures are the sum
of:
(1) Cash disbursements for direct
charges for property and services;
(2) The amount of indirect expense
incurred;
(3) The value of third-party in-kind
contributions applied; and
(4) The net increase or decrease in
the amounts owed by the non-Federal
entity for:
(i) Goods and other property re-
ceived;
(ii) Services performed by employees,
contractors, subrecipients, and other
payees; and
(iii) Programs for which no current
services or performance are required
such as annuities, insurance claims, or
other benefit payments.
§200.35 Federal agency.
Federal agency means an ‘‘agency’’ as
defined at 5 U.S.C. 551(1) and further
clarified by 5 U.S.C. 552(f).
§200.36 Federal Audit Clearinghouse
(FAC).
FAC means the clearinghouse des-
ignated by OMB as the repository of
record where non-Federal entities are
required to transmit the reporting
packages required by Subpart F—Audit
Requirements of this part. The mailing
address of the FAC is Federal Audit
Clearinghouse, Bureau of the Census,
1201 E. 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN
47132 and the web address is: http://har-
vester.census.gov/sac/. Any future up-
dates to the location of the FAC may
be found at the OMB Web site.
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101
OMB Guidance §200.42
§200.37 Federal awarding agency.
Federal awarding agency means the
Federal agency that provides a Federal
award directly to a non-Federal entity.
§200.38 Federal award.
Federal award has the meaning, de-
pending on the context, in either para-
graph (a) or (b) of this section:
(a)(1) The Federal financial assist-
ance that a non-Federal entity receives
directly from a Federal awarding agen-
cy or indirectly from a pass-through
entity, as described in §200.101 Applica-
bility; or
(2) The cost-reimbursement contract
under the Federal Acquisition Regula-
tions that a non-Federal entity re-
ceives directly from a Federal award-
ing agency or indirectly from a pass-
through entity, as described in §200.101
Applicability.
(b) The instrument setting forth the
terms and conditions. The instrument
is the grant agreement, cooperative
agreement, other agreement for assist-
ance covered in paragraph (b) of §200.40
Federal financial assistance, or the
cost-reimbursement contract awarded
under the Federal Acquisition Regula-
tions.
(c) Federal award does not include
other contracts that a Federal agency
uses to buy goods or services from a
contractor or a contract to operate
Federal Government owned, contractor
operated facilities (GOCOs).
(d) See also definitions of Federal fi-
nancial assistance, grant agreement,
and cooperative agreement.
§200.39 Federal award date.
Federal award date means the date
when the Federal award is signed by
the authorized official of the Federal
awarding agency.
§200.40 Federal financial assistance.
(a) Federal financial assistance means
assistance that non-Federal entities re-
ceive or administer in the form of:
(1) Grants;
(2) Cooperative agreements;
(3) Non-cash contributions or dona-
tions of property (including donated
surplus property);
(4) Direct appropriations;
(5) Food commodities; and
(6) Other financial assistance (except
assistance listed in paragraph (b) of
this section).
(b) For §200.202 Requirement to pro-
vide public notice of Federal financial
assistance programs and Subpart F—
Audit Requirements of this part, Fed-
eral financial assistance also includes as-
sistance that non-Federal entities re-
ceive or administer in the form of:
(1) Loans;
(2) Loan Guarantees;
(3) Interest subsidies; and
(4) Insurance.
(c) Federal financial assistance does
not include amounts received as reim-
bursement for services rendered to in-
dividuals as described in §200.502 Basis
for determining Federal awards ex-
pended, paragraph (h) and (i) of this
part.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 80
FR 54407, Sept. 10, 2015]
§200.41 Federal interest.
Federal interest means, for purposes of
§200.329 Reporting on real property or
when used in connection with the ac-
quisition or improvement of real prop-
erty, equipment, or supplies under a
Federal award, the dollar amount that
is the product of the:
(a) Federal share of total project
costs; and
(b) Current fair market value of the
property, improvements, or both, to
the extent the costs of acquiring or im-
proving the property were included as
project costs.
§200.42 Federal program.
Federal program means:
(a) All Federal awards which are as-
signed a single number in the CFDA.
(b) When no CFDA number is as-
signed, all Federal awards to non-Fed-
eral entities from the same agency
made for the same purpose must be
combined and considered one program.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this definition, a cluster of
programs. The types of clusters of pro-
grams are:
(1) Research and development (R&D);
(2) Student financial aid (SFA); and
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102
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.43
(3) ‘‘Other clusters,’’ as described in
the definition of Cluster of Programs.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.43 Federal share.
Federal share means the portion of
the total project costs that are paid by
Federal funds.
§200.44 Final cost objective.
Final cost objective means a cost ob-
jective which has allocated to it both
direct and indirect costs and, in the
non-Federal entity’s accumulation sys-
tem, is one of the final accumulation
points, such as a particular award, in-
ternal project, or other direct activity
of a non-Federal entity. See also
§§200.28 Cost objective and 200.60 Inter-
mediate cost objective.
§200.45 Fixed amount awards.
Fixed amount awards means a type of
grant agreement under which the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity provides a specific level of sup-
port without regard to actual costs in-
curred under the Federal award. This
type of Federal award reduces some of
the administrative burden and record-
keeping requirements for both the non-
Federal entity and Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity. Ac-
countability is based primarily on per-
formance and results. See §§200.201 Use
of grant agreements (including fixed
amount awards), cooperative agree-
ments, and contracts, paragraph (b)
and 200.332 Fixed amount subawards.
§200.46 Foreign public entity.
Foreign public entity means:
(a) A foreign government or foreign
governmental entity;
(b) A public international organiza-
tion, which is an organization entitled
to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and
immunities as an international organi-
zation under the International Organi-
zations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288–
288f);
(c) An entity owned (in whole or in
part) or controlled by a foreign govern-
ment; or
(d) Any other entity consisting whol-
ly or partially of one or more foreign
governments or foreign governmental
entities.
§200.47 Foreign organization.
Foreign organization means an entity
that is:
(a) A public or private organization
located in a country other than the
United States and its territories that is
subject to the laws of the country in
which it is located, irrespective of the
citizenship of project staff or place of
performance;
(b) A private nongovernmental orga-
nization located in a country other
than the United States that solicits
and receives cash contributions from
the general public;
(c) A charitable organization located
in a country other than the United
States that is nonprofit and tax ex-
empt under the laws of its country of
domicile and operation, and is not a
university, college, accredited degree-
granting institution of education, pri-
vate foundation, hospital, organization
engaged exclusively in research or sci-
entific activities, church, synagogue,
mosque or other similar entities orga-
nized primarily for religious purposes;
or
(d) An organization located in a
country other than the United States
not recognized as a Foreign Public En-
tity.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.48 General purpose equipment.
General purpose equipment means
equipment which is not limited to re-
search, medical, scientific or other
technical activities. Examples include
office equipment and furnishings, mod-
ular offices, telephone networks, infor-
mation technology equipment and sys-
tems, air conditioning equipment, re-
production and printing equipment,
and motor vehicles. See also Equip-
ment and Special Purpose Equipment.
§200.49 Generally Accepted Account-
ing Principles (GAAP).
GAAP has the meaning specified in
accounting standards issued by the
Government Accounting Standards
Board (GASB) and the Financial Ac-
counting Standards Board (FASB).
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103
OMB Guidance §200.56
§200.50 Generally Accepted Govern-
ment Auditing Standards (GAGAS).
GAGAS, also known as the Yellow
Book, means generally accepted gov-
ernment auditing standards issued by
the Comptroller General of the United
States, which are applicable to finan-
cial audits.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.51 Grant agreement.
Grant agreement means a legal instru-
ment of financial assistance between a
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity and a non-Federal enti-
ty that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6302,
6304:
(a) Is used to enter into a relation-
ship the principal purpose of which is
to transfer anything of value from the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity to the non-Federal enti-
ty to carry out a public purpose au-
thorized by a law of the United States
(see 31 U.S.C. 6101(3)); and not to ac-
quire property or services for the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity’s direct benefit or use;
(b) Is distinguished from a coopera-
tive agreement in that it does not pro-
vide for substantial involvement be-
tween the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity and the non-Fed-
eral entity in carrying out the activity
contemplated by the Federal award.
(c) Does not include an agreement
that provides only:
(1) Direct United States Government
cash assistance to an individual;
(2) A subsidy;
(3) A loan;
(4) A loan guarantee; or
(5) Insurance.
§200.52 Hospital.
Hospital means a facility licensed as
a hospital under the law of any state or
a facility operated as a hospital by the
United States, a state, or a subdivision
of a state.
§200.53 Improper payment.
(a) Improper payment means any pay-
ment that should not have been made
or that was made in an incorrect
amount (including overpayments and
underpayments) under statutory, con-
tractual, administrative, or other le-
gally applicable requirements; and
(b) Improper payment includes any
payment to an ineligible party, any
payment for an ineligible good or serv-
ice, any duplicate payment, any pay-
ment for a good or service not received
(except for such payments where au-
thorized by law), any payment that
does not account for credit for applica-
ble discounts, and any payment where
insufficient or lack of documentation
prevents a reviewer from discerning
whether a payment was proper.
§200.54 Indian tribe (or ‘‘federally rec-
ognized Indian tribe’’).
Indian tribe means any Indian tribe,
band, nation, or other organized group
or community, including any Alaska
Native village or regional or village
corporation as defined in or established
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33),
which is recognized as eligible for the
special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians be-
cause of their status as Indians (25
U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published
Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian
Entities Recognized and Eligible to Re-
ceive Services.
§200.55 Institutions of Higher Edu-
cation (IHEs).
IHE is defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001.
§200.56 Indirect (facilities & adminis-
trative (F&A)) costs.
Indirect (F&A) costs means those costs
incurred for a common or joint purpose
benefitting more than one cost objec-
tive, and not readily assignable to the
cost objectives specifically benefitted,
without effort disproportionate to the
results achieved. To facilitate equi-
table distribution of indirect expenses
to the cost objectives served, it may be
necessary to establish a number of
pools of indirect (F&A) costs. Indirect
(F&A) cost pools must be distributed to
benefitted cost objectives on bases that
will produce an equitable result in con-
sideration of relative benefits derived.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
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104
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.57
§200.57 Indirect cost rate proposal.
Indirect cost rate proposal means the
documentation prepared by a non-Fed-
eral entity to substantiate its request
for the establishment of an indirect
cost rate as described in Appendix III
to Part 200—Indirect (F&A) Costs Iden-
tification and Assignment, and Rate
Determination for Institutions of High-
er Education (IHEs) through Appendix
VII to Part 200—States and Local Gov-
ernment and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost
Proposals of this part, and Appendix IX
to Part 200—Hospital Cost Principles.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.58 Information technology sys-
tems.
Information technology systems means
computing devices, ancillary equip-
ment, software, firmware, and similar
procedures, services (including support
services), and related resources. See
also §§200.20 Computing devices and
200.33 Equipment.
§200.59 Intangible property.
Intangible property means property
having no physical existence, such as
trademarks, copyrights, patents and
patent applications and property, such
as loans, notes and other debt instru-
ments, lease agreements, stock and
other instruments of property owner-
ship (whether the property is tangible
or intangible).
§200.60 Intermediate cost objective.
Intermediate cost objective means a
cost objective that is used to accumu-
late indirect costs or service center
costs that are subsequently allocated
to one or more indirect cost pools or
final cost objectives. See also §200.28
Cost objective and §200.44 Final cost
objective.
§200.61 Internal controls.
Internal controls means a process, im-
plemented by a non-Federal entity, de-
signed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the achievement of objec-
tives in the following categories:
(a) Effectiveness and efficiency of op-
erations;
(b) Reliability of reporting for inter-
nal and external use; and
(c) Compliance with applicable laws
and regulations.
§200.62 Internal control over compli-
ance requirements for Federal
awards.
Internal control over compliance re-
quirements for Federal awards means a
process implemented by a non-Federal
entity designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the achievement
of the following objectives for Federal
awards:
(a) Transactions are properly re-
corded and accounted for, in order to:
(1) Permit the preparation of reliable
financial statements and Federal re-
ports;
(2) Maintain accountability over as-
sets; and
(3) Demonstrate compliance with
Federal statutes, regulations, and the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award;
(b) Transactions are executed in com-
pliance with:
(1) Federal statutes, regulations, and
the terms and conditions of the Federal
award that could have a direct and ma-
terial effect on a Federal program; and
(2) Any other Federal statutes and
regulations that are identified in the
Compliance Supplement; and
(c) Funds, property, and other assets
are safeguarded against loss from un-
authorized use or disposition.
§200.63 Loan.
Loan means a Federal loan or loan
guarantee received or administered by
a non-Federal entity, except as used in
the definition of §200.80 Program in-
come.
(a) The term ‘‘direct loan’’ means a
disbursement of funds by the Federal
Government to a non-Federal borrower
under a contract that requires the re-
payment of such funds with or without
interest. The term includes the pur-
chase of, or participation in, a loan
made by another lender and financing
arrangements that defer payment for
more than 90 days, including the sale of
a Federal Government asset on credit
terms. The term does not include the
acquisition of a federally guaranteed
loan in satisfaction of default claims or
the price support loans of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation.
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105
OMB Guidance §200.69
(b) The term ‘‘direct loan obligation’’
means a binding agreement by a Fed-
eral awarding agency to make a direct
loan when specified conditions are ful-
filled by the borrower.
(c) The term ‘‘loan guarantee’’ means
any Federal Government guarantee, in-
surance, or other pledge with respect
to the payment of all or a part of the
principal or interest on any debt obli-
gation of a non-Federal borrower to a
non-Federal lender, but does not in-
clude the insurance of deposits, shares,
or other withdrawable accounts in fi-
nancial institutions.
(d) The term ‘‘loan guarantee com-
mitment’’ means a binding agreement
by a Federal awarding agency to make
a loan guarantee when specified condi-
tions are fulfilled by the borrower, the
lender, or any other party to the guar-
antee agreement.
§200.64 Local government.
Local government means any unit of
government within a state, including a:
(a) County;
(b) Borough;
(c) Municipality;
(d) City;
(e) Town;
(f) Township;
(g) Parish;
(h) Local public authority, including
any public housing agency under the
United States Housing Act of 1937;
(i) Special district;
(j) School district;
(k) Intrastate district;
(l) Council of governments, whether
or not incorporated as a nonprofit cor-
poration under state law; and
(m) Any other agency or instrumen-
tality of a multi-, regional, or intra-
state or local government.
§200.65 Major program.
Major program means a Federal pro-
gram determined by the auditor to be a
major program in accordance with
§200.518 Major program determination
or a program identified as a major pro-
gram by a Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity in accordance with
§200.503 Relation to other audit re-
quirements, paragraph (e).
§200.66 Management decision.
Management decision means the eval-
uation by the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity of the audit
findings and corrective action plan and
the issuance of a written decision to
the auditee as to what corrective ac-
tion is necessary.
§200.67 Micro-purchase.
Micro-purchase means a purchase of
supplies or services using simplified ac-
quisition procedures, the aggregate
amount of which does not exceed the
micro-purchase threshold. Micro-pur-
chase procedures comprise a subset of a
non-Federal entity’s small purchase
procedures. The non-Federal entity
uses such procedures in order to expe-
dite the completion of its lowest-dollar
small purchase transactions and mini-
mize the associated administrative
burden and cost. The micro-purchase
threshold is set by the Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulation at 48 CFR Subpart 2.1
(Definitions). It is $3,000 except as oth-
erwise discussed in Subpart 2.1 of that
regulation, but this threshold is peri-
odically adjusted for inflation.
§200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost
(MTDC).
MTDC means all direct salaries and
wages, applicable fringe benefits, mate-
rials and supplies, services, travel, and
up to the first $25,000 of each subaward
(regardless of the period of perform-
ance of the subawards under the
award). MTDC excludes equipment,
capital expenditures, charges for pa-
tient care, rental costs, tuition remis-
sion, scholarships and fellowships, par-
ticipant support costs and the portion
of each subaward in excess of $25,000.
Other items may only be excluded
when necessary to avoid a serious in-
equity in the distribution of indirect
costs, and with the approval of the cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs.
[79 FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.69 Non-Federal entity.
Non-Federal entity means a state,
local government, Indian tribe, institu-
tion of higher education (IHE), or non-
profit organization that carries out a
Federal award as a recipient or sub-
recipient.
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106
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.70
§200.70 Nonprofit organization.
Nonprofit organization means any cor-
poration, trust, association, coopera-
tive, or other organization, not includ-
ing IHEs, that:
(a) Is operated primarily for sci-
entific, educational, service, chari-
table, or similar purposes in the public
interest;
(b) Is not organized primarily for
profit; and
(c) Uses net proceeds to maintain,
improve, or expand the operations of
the organization.
§200.71 Obligations.
When used in connection with a non-
Federal entity’s utilization of funds
under a Federal award, obligations
means orders placed for property and
services, contracts and subawards
made, and similar transactions during
a given period that require payment by
the non-Federal entity during the same
or a future period.
§200.72 Office of Management and
Budget (OMB).
OMB means the Executive Office of
the President, Office of Management
and Budget.
§200.73 Oversight agency for audit.
Oversight agency for audit means the
Federal awarding agency that provides
the predominant amount of funding di-
rectly to a non-Federal entity not as-
signed a cognizant agency for audit.
When there is no direct funding, the
Federal awarding agency which is the
predominant source of pass-through
funding must assume the oversight re-
sponsibilities. The duties of the over-
sight agency for audit and the process
for any reassignments are described in
§200.513 Responsibilities, paragraph (b).
§200.74 Pass-through entity.
Pass-through entity means a non-Fed-
eral entity that provides a subaward to
a subrecipient to carry out part of a
Federal program.
§200.75 Participant support costs.
Participant support costs means direct
costs for items such as stipends or sub-
sistence allowances, travel allowances,
and registration fees paid to or on be-
half of participants or trainees (but not
employees) in connection with con-
ferences, or training projects.
§200.76 Performance goal.
Performance goal means a target level
of performance expressed as a tangible,
measurable objective, against which
actual achievement can be compared,
including a goal expressed as a quan-
titative standard, value, or rate. In
some instances (e.g., discretionary re-
search awards), this may be limited to
the requirement to submit technical
performance reports (to be evaluated in
accordance with agency policy).
§200.77 Period of performance.
Period of performance means the time
during which the non-Federal entity
may incur new obligations to carry out
the work authorized under the Federal
award. The Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity must include start
and end dates of the period of perform-
ance in the Federal award (see §§200.210
Information contained in a Federal
award paragraph (a)(5) and 200.331 Re-
quirements for pass-through entities,
paragraph (a)(1)(iv)).
§200.78 Personal property.
Personal property means property
other than real property. It may be
tangible, having physical existence, or
intangible.
§200.79 Personally Identifiable Infor-
mation (PII).
PII means information that can be
used to distinguish or trace an individ-
ual’s identity, either alone or when
combined with other personal or iden-
tifying information that is linked or
linkable to a specific individual. Some
information that is considered to be
PII is available in public sources such
as telephone books, public Web sites,
and university listings. This type of in-
formation is considered to be Public
PII and includes, for example, first and
last name, address, work telephone
number, email address, home telephone
number, and general educational cre-
dentials. The definition of PII is not
anchored to any single category of in-
formation or technology. Rather, it re-
quires a case-by-case assessment of the
specific risk that an individual can be
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107
OMB Guidance §200.87
identified. Non-PII can become PII
whenever additional information is
made publicly available, in any me-
dium and from any source, that, when
combined with other available infor-
mation, could be used to identify an in-
dividual.
§200.80 Program income.
Program income means gross income
earned by the non-Federal entity that
is directly generated by a supported ac-
tivity or earned as a result of the Fed-
eral award during the period of per-
formance except as provided in §200.307
paragraph (f). (See §200.77 Period of
performance.) Program income in-
cludes but is not limited to income
from fees for services performed, the
use or rental or real or personal prop-
erty acquired under Federal awards,
the sale of commodities or items fab-
ricated under a Federal award, license
fees and royalties on patents and copy-
rights, and principal and interest on
loans made with Federal award funds.
Interest earned on advances of Federal
funds is not program income. Except as
otherwise provided in Federal statutes,
regulations, or the terms and condi-
tions of the Federal award, program in-
come does not include rebates, credits,
discounts, and interest earned on any
of them. See also §200.407 Prior written
approval (prior approval). See also 35
U.S.C. 200–212 ‘‘Disposition of Rights in
Educational Awards’’ applies to inven-
tions made under Federal awards.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.81 Property.
Property means real property or per-
sonal property.
§200.82 Protected Personally Identifi-
able Information (Protected PII).
Protected PII means an individual’s
first name or first initial and last name
in combination with any one or more
of types of information, including, but
not limited to, social security number,
passport number, credit card numbers,
clearances, bank numbers, biometrics,
date and place of birth, mother’s maid-
en name, criminal, medical and finan-
cial records, educational transcripts.
This does not include PII that is re-
quired by law to be disclosed. (See also
§200.79 Personally Identifiable Informa-
tion (PII)).
§200.83 Project cost.
Project cost means total allowable
costs incurred under a Federal award
and all required cost sharing and vol-
untary committed cost sharing, includ-
ing third-party contributions.
§200.84 Questioned cost.
Questioned cost means a cost that is
questioned by the auditor because of an
audit finding:
(a) Which resulted from a violation
or possible violation of a statute, regu-
lation, or the terms and conditions of a
Federal award, including for funds used
to match Federal funds;
(b) Where the costs, at the time of
the audit, are not supported by ade-
quate documentation; or
(c) Where the costs incurred appear
unreasonable and do not reflect the ac-
tions a prudent person would take in
the circumstances.
§200.85 Real property.
Real property means land, including
land improvements, structures and ap-
purtenances thereto, but excludes
moveable machinery and equipment.
§200.86 Recipient.
Recipient means a non-Federal entity
that receives a Federal award directly
from a Federal awarding agency to
carry out an activity under a Federal
program. The term recipient does not
include subrecipients. See also §200.69
Non-Federal entity.
§200.87 Research and Development
(R&D).
R&D means all research activities,
both basic and applied, and all develop-
ment activities that are performed by
non-Federal entities. The term re-
search also includes activities involv-
ing the training of individuals in re-
search techniques where such activities
utilize the same facilities as other re-
search and development activities and
where such activities are not included
in the instruction function.
‘‘Research’’ is defined as a system-
atic study directed toward fuller sci-
entific knowledge or understanding of
the subject studied. ‘‘Development’’ is
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108
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.88
the systematic use of knowledge and
understanding gained from research di-
rected toward the production of useful
materials, devices, systems, or meth-
ods, including design and development
of prototypes and processes.
§200.88 Simplified acquisition thresh-
old.
Simplified acquisition threshold means
the dollar amount below which a non-
Federal entity may purchase property
or services using small purchase meth-
ods. Non-Federal entities adopt small
purchase procedures in order to expe-
dite the purchase of items costing less
than the simplified acquisition thresh-
old. The simplified acquisition thresh-
old is set by the Federal Acquisition
Regulation at 48 CFR Subpart 2.1 (Defi-
nitions) and in accordance with 41
U.S.C. 1908. As of the publication of
this part, the simplified acquisition
threshold is $150,000, but this threshold
is periodically adjusted for inflation.
(Also see definition of §200.67 Micro-
purchase.)
§200.89 Special purpose equipment.
Special purpose equipment means
equipment which is used only for re-
search, medical, scientific, or other
technical activities. Examples of spe-
cial purpose equipment include micro-
scopes, x-ray machines, surgical instru-
ments, and spectrometers. See also
§§200.33 Equipment and 200.48 General
purpose equipment.
§200.90 State.
State means any state of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and any
agency or instrumentality thereof ex-
clusive of local governments.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75880, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.91 Student Financial Aid (SFA).
SFA means Federal awards under
those programs of general student as-
sistance, such as those authorized by
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended, (20 U.S.C. 1070–1099d),
which are administered by the U.S. De-
partment of Education, and similar
programs provided by other Federal
agencies. It does not include Federal
awards under programs that provide
fellowships or similar Federal awards
to students on a competitive basis, or
for specified studies or research.
§200.92 Subaward.
Subaward means an award provided
by a pass-through entity to a sub-
recipient for the subrecipient to carry
out part of a Federal award received by
the pass-through entity. It does not in-
clude payments to a contractor or pay-
ments to an individual that is a bene-
ficiary of a Federal program. A
subaward may be provided through any
form of legal agreement, including an
agreement that the pass-through enti-
ty considers a contract.
§200.93 Subrecipient.
Subrecipient means a non-Federal en-
tity that receives a subaward from a
pass-through entity to carry out part
of a Federal program; but does not in-
clude an individual that is a bene-
ficiary of such program. A subrecipient
may also be a recipient of other Fed-
eral awards directly from a Federal
awarding agency.
§200.94 Supplies.
Supplies means all tangible personal
property other than those described in
§200.33 Equipment. A computing device
is a supply if the acquisition cost is
less than the lesser of the capitaliza-
tion level established by the non-Fed-
eral entity for financial statement pur-
poses or $5,000, regardless of the length
of its useful life. See also §§200.20 Com-
puting devices and 200.33 Equipment.
§200.95 Termination.
Termination means the ending of a
Federal award, in whole or in part at
any time prior to the planned end of
period of performance.
§200.96 Third-party in-kind contribu-
tions.
Third-party in-kind contributions
means the value of non-cash contribu-
tions (i.e., property or services) that—
(a) Benefit a federally assisted
project or program; and
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109
OMB Guidance §200.100
(b) Are contributed by non-Federal
third parties, without charge, to a non-
Federal entity under a Federal award.
§200.97 Unliquidated obligations.
Unliquidated obligations means, for fi-
nancial reports prepared on a cash
basis, obligations incurred by the non-
Federal entity that have not been paid
(liquidated). For reports prepared on an
accrual expenditure basis, these are ob-
ligations incurred by the non-Federal
entity for which an expenditure has
not been recorded.
§200.98 Unobligated balance.
Unobligated balance means the
amount of funds under a Federal award
that the non-Federal entity has not ob-
ligated. The amount is computed by
subtracting the cumulative amount of
the non-Federal entity’s unliquidated
obligations and expenditures of funds
under the Federal award from the cu-
mulative amount of the funds that the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity authorized the non-Fed-
eral entity to obligate.
§200.99 Voluntary committed cost
sharing.
Voluntary committed cost sharing
means cost sharing specifically pledged
on a voluntary basis in the proposal’s
budget or the Federal award on the
part of the non-Federal entity and that
becomes a binding requirement of Fed-
eral award.
Subpart B—General Provisions
§200.100 Purpose.
(a) Purpose. (1) This part establishes
uniform administrative requirements,
cost principles, and audit requirements
for Federal awards to non-Federal enti-
ties, as described in §200.101. Federal
awarding agencies must not impose ad-
ditional or inconsistent requirements,
except as provided in §§200.102 and
200.211, or unless specifically required
by Federal statute, regulation, or Ex-
ecutive order.
(2) This part provides the basis for a
systematic and periodic collection and
uniform submission by Federal agen-
cies of information on all Federal fi-
nancial assistance programs to the Of-
fice of Management and Budget (OMB).
It also establishes Federal policies re-
lated to the delivery of this informa-
tion to the public, including through
the use of electronic media. It pre-
scribes the manner in which General
Services Administration (GSA), OMB,
and Federal agencies that administer
Federal financial assistance programs
are to carry out their statutory respon-
sibilities under the Federal Program
Information Act (31 U.S.C. 6101–6106).
(b) Administrative requirements. Sub-
parts B through D of this part set forth
the uniform administrative require-
ments for grant and cooperative agree-
ments, including the requirements for
Federal awarding agency management
of Federal grant programs before the
Federal award has been made, and the
requirements Federal awarding agen-
cies may impose on non-Federal enti-
ties in the Federal award.
(c) Cost principles. Subpart E of this
part establishes principles for deter-
mining the allowable costs incurred by
non-Federal entities under Federal
awards. The principles are for the pur-
pose of cost determination and are not
intended to identify the circumstances
or dictate the extent of Federal Gov-
ernment participation in the financing
of a particular program or project. The
principles are designed to provide that
Federal awards bear their fair share of
cost recognized under these principles
except where restricted or prohibited
by statute.
(d) Single Audit Requirements and
Audit Follow-up. Subpart F of this part
is issued pursuant to the Single Audit
Act Amendments of 1996, (31 U.S.C.
7501–7507). It sets forth standards for
obtaining consistency and uniformity
among Federal agencies for the audit
of non-Federal entities expending Fed-
eral awards. These provisions also pro-
vide the policies and procedures for
Federal awarding agencies and pass-
through entities when using the results
of these audits.
(e) Guidance on challenges and prizes.
For OMB guidance to Federal awarding
agencies on challenges and prizes,
please see memo M–10–11 Guidance on
the Use of Challenges and Prizes to
Promote Open Government, issued
March 8, 2010, or its successor.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49536, Aug. 13, 2020]
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110
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.101
§200.101 Applicability.
(a) General applicability to Federal
agencies. (1) The requirements estab-
lished in this part apply to Federal
agencies that make Federal awards to
non-Federal entities. These require-
ments are applicable to all costs re-
lated to Federal awards.
(2) Federal awarding agencies may
apply subparts A through E of this part
to Federal agencies, for-profit entities,
foreign public entities, or foreign orga-
nizations, except where the Federal
awarding agency determines that the
application of these subparts would be
inconsistent with the international re-
sponsibilities of the United States or
the statutes or regulations of a foreign
government.
(b) Applicability to different types of
Federal awards. (1) Throughout this
part when the word ‘‘must’’ is used it
indicates a requirement. Whereas, use
of the word ‘‘should’’ or ‘‘may’’ indi-
cates a best practice or recommended
approach rather than a requirement
and permits discretion.
(2) The following table describes what
portions of this part apply to which
types of Federal awards. The terms and
conditions of Federal awards (including
this part) flow down to subawards to
subrecipients unless a particular sec-
tion of this part or the terms and con-
ditions of the Federal award specifi-
cally indicate otherwise. This means
that non-Federal entities must comply
with requirements in this part regard-
less of whether the non-Federal entity
is a recipient or subrecipient of a Fed-
eral award. Pass-through entities must
comply with the requirements de-
scribed in subpart D of this part,
§§200.331 through 200.333, but not any
requirements in this part directed to-
wards Federal awarding agencies un-
less the requirements of this part or
the terms and conditions of the Federal
award indicate otherwise.
TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)
The following portions of this Part
Are applicable to the following types of
Federal Awards and Fixed-Price Con-
tracts and Subcontracts (except as
noted in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this
section):
Are NOT applicable to the following
types of Federal Awards and Fixed-Price
Contracts and Subcontracts:
Subpart A—Acronyms and Definitions ...... —All.
Subpart B—General Provisions, except
for §§200.111 English Language,
200.112 Conflict of Interest, 200.113
Mandatory Disclosures.
—All.
§§200.111 English Language, 200.112
Conflict of Interest, 200.113 Mandatory
Disclosures.
—Grant Agreements and cooperative
agreements.
—Agreements for loans, loan guaran-
tees, interest subsidies and insurance.
—Procurement contracts awarded by
Federal Agencies under the Federal
Acquisition Regulation and sub-
contracts under those contracts.
Subparts C–D, except for §§200.203 Re-
quirement to provide public notice of
Federal financial assistance programs,
200.303 Internal controls, 200.331–333
Subrecipient Monitoring and Manage-
ment.
—Grant Agreements and cooperative
agreements.
—Agreements for loans, loan guaran-
tees, interest subsidies and insurance.
—Procurement contracts awarded by
Federal Agencies under the Federal
Acquisition Regulation and sub-
contracts under those contracts.
§200.203 Requirement to provide public
notice of Federal financial assistance
programs.
—Grant Agreements and cooperative
agreements.
—Agreements for loans, loan guaran-
tees, interest subsidies and insurance.
—Procurement contracts awarded by
Federal Agencies under the Federal
Acquisition Regulation and sub-
contracts under those contracts.
§§200.303 Internal controls, 200.331–333
Subrecipient Monitoring and Manage-
ment.
—All.
Subpart E—Cost Principles ....................... —Grant Agreements and cooperative agreements, except those providing
food commodities.
—All procurement contracts under the
Federal Acquisition Regulations ex-
cept those that are not negotiated.
—Grant agreements and cooperative
agreements providing foods commod-
ities.
—Fixed amount awards.
—Agreements for loans, loans guaran-
tees, interest subsidies and insurance.
—Federal awards to hospitals (see Ap-
pendix IX Hospital Cost Principles).
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111
OMB Guidance §200.101
TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)—Continued
The following portions of this Part
Are applicable to the following types of
Federal Awards and Fixed-Price Con-
tracts and Subcontracts (except as
noted in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this
section):
Are NOT applicable to the following
types of Federal Awards and Fixed-Price
Contracts and Subcontracts:
Subpart F—Audit Requirements ............... —Grant Agreements and cooperative agreements.
—Contracts and subcontracts, except for
fixed price contacts and subcontracts,
awarded under the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
—Agreements for loans, loans guaran-
tees, interest subsidies and insurance
and other forms of Federal Financial
Assistance as defined by the Single
Audit Act Amendment of 1996.
—Fixed-price contracts and subcontracts
awarded under the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
(c) Federal award of cost-reimbursement
contract under the FAR to a non-Federal
entity. When a non-Federal entity is
awarded a cost-reimbursement con-
tract, only subpart D, §§200.331 through
200.333, and subparts E and F of this
part are incorporated by reference into
the contract, but the requirements of
subparts D, E, and F are supplementary
to the FAR and the contract. When the
Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) are
applicable to the contract, they take
precedence over the requirements of
this part, including subpart F of this
part, which are supplementary to the
CAS requirements. In addition, costs
that are made unallowable under 10
U.S.C. 2324(e) and 41 U.S.C. 4304(a) as
described in the FAR 48 CFR part 31,
subpart 31.2, and 48 CFR 31.603 are al-
ways unallowable. For requirements
other than those covered in subpart D,
§§200.331 through 200.333, and subparts
E and F of this part, the terms of the
contract and the FAR apply. Note that
when a non-Federal entity is awarded a
FAR contract, the FAR applies, and
the terms and conditions of the con-
tract shall prevail over the require-
ments of this part.
(d) Governing provisions. With the ex-
ception of subpart F of this part, which
is required by the Single Audit Act, in
any circumstances where the provi-
sions of Federal statutes or regulations
differ from the provisions of this part,
the provision of the Federal statutes or
regulations govern. This includes, for
agreements with Indian tribes, the pro-
visions of the Indian Self-Determina-
tion and Education and Assistance Act
(ISDEAA), as amended, 25 U.S.C 450–
458ddd–2.
(e) Program applicability. Except for
§§200.203 and 200.331 through 200.333, the
requirements in subparts C, D, and E of
this part do not apply to the following
programs:
(1) The block grant awards author-
ized by the Omnibus Budget Reconcili-
ation Act of 1981 (including Community
Services), except to the extent that
subpart E of this part apply to sub-
recipients of Community Services
Block Grant funds pursuant to 42
U.S.C. 9916(a)(1)(B);
(2) Federal awards to local education
agencies under 20 U.S.C. 7702–7703b,
(portions of the Impact Aid program);
(3) Payments under the Department
of Veterans Affairs’ State Home Per
Diem Program (38 U.S.C. 1741); and
(4) Federal awards authorized under
the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990, as amended:
(i) Child Care and Development Block
Grant (42 U.S.C. 9858).
(ii) Child Care Mandatory and Match-
ing Funds of the Child Care and Devel-
opment Fund (42 U.S.C. 9858).
(f) Additional program applicability.
Except for §200.203, the guidance in
subpart C of this part does not apply to
the following programs:
(1) Entitlement Federal awards to
carry out the following programs of the
Social Security Act:
(i) Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (title IV–A of the Social Secu-
rity Act, 42 U.S.C. 601–619);
(ii) Child Support Enforcement and
Establishment of Paternity (title IV–D
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112
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.102
of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.
651–669b);
(iii) Foster Care and Adoption Assist-
ance (title IV–E of the Act, 42 U.S.C.
670–679c);
(iv) Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Dis-
abled (titles I, X, XIV, and XVI–AABD
of the Act, as amended);
(v) Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
(title XIX of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396–
1396w–5) not including the State Med-
icaid Fraud Control program author-
ized by section 1903(a)(6)(B) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396b(a)(6)(B)); and
(vi) Children’s Health Insurance Pro-
gram (title XXI of the Act, 42 U.S.C.
1397aa–1397mm).
(2) A Federal award for an experi-
mental, pilot, or demonstration project
that is also supported by a Federal
award listed in paragraph (f)(1) of this
section.
(3) Federal awards under subsection
412(e) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act and subsection 501(a) of the
Refugee Education Assistance Act of
1980 (Pub. L. 96–422, 94 Stat. 1809), for
cash assistance, medical assistance,
and supplemental security income ben-
efits to refugees and entrants and the
administrative costs of providing the
assistance and benefits (8 U.S.C.
1522(e)).
(4) Entitlement awards under the fol-
lowing programs of The National
School Lunch Act:
(i) National School Lunch Program
(section 4 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1753);
(ii) Commodity Assistance (section 6
of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1755);
(iii) Special Meal Assistance (section
11 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1759a);
(iv) Summer Food Service Program
for Children (section 13 of the Act, 42
U.S.C. 1761); and
(v) Child and Adult Care Food Pro-
gram (section 17 of the Act, 42 U.S.C.
1766).
(5) Entitlement awards under the fol-
lowing programs of The Child Nutri-
tion Act of 1966:
(i) Special Milk Program (section 3 of
the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1772);
(ii) School Breakfast Program (sec-
tion 4 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1773); and
(iii) State Administrative Expenses
(section 7 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 1776).
(6) Entitlement awards for State Ad-
ministrative Expenses under The Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (section 16 of
the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2025).
(7) Non-discretionary Federal awards
under the following non-entitlement
programs:
(i) Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Chil-
dren (section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966) 42 U.S.C. 1786;
(ii) The Emergency Food Assistance
Programs (Emergency Food Assistance
Act of 1983) 7 U.S.C. 7501 note; and
(iii) Commodity Supplemental Food
Program (section 5 of the Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973) 7
U.S.C. 612c note.
[85 FR 49536, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.102 Exceptions.
(a) With the exception of subpart F of
this part, OMB may allow exceptions
for classes of Federal awards or non-
Federal entities subject to the require-
ments of this part when exceptions are
not prohibited by statute. In the inter-
est of maximum uniformity, exceptions
from the requirements of this part will
be permitted as described in this sec-
tion.
(b) Exceptions on a case-by-case basis
for individual non-Federal entities may
be authorized by the Federal awarding
agency or cognizant agency for indirect
costs, except where otherwise required
by law or where OMB or other approval
is expressly required by this part.
(c) The Federal awarding agency may
apply adjust requirements to a class of
Federal awards or non-Federal entities
when approved by OMB, or when re-
quired by Federal statutes or regula-
tions, except for the requirements in
subpart F of this part. A Federal
awarding agency may apply less re-
strictive requirements when making
fixed amount awards as defined in sub-
part A of this part, except for those re-
quirements imposed by statute or in
subpart F of this part.
(d) Federal awarding agencies may
request exceptions in support of inno-
vative program designs that apply a
risk-based, data-driven framework to
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113
OMB Guidance §200.106
alleviate select compliance require-
ments and hold recipients accountable
for good performance. See also §200.206.
[85 FR 49538, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.103 Authorities.
This part is issued under the fol-
lowing authorities.
(a) Subparts B through D of this part
are authorized under 31 U.S.C. 503 (the
Chief Financial Officers Act, Functions
of the Deputy Director for Manage-
ment), 41 U.S.C. 1101–1131 (the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy Act), Re-
organization Plan No. 2 of 1970, and Ex-
ecutive Order 11541 (‘‘Prescribing the
Duties of the Office of Management
and Budget and the Domestic Policy
Council in the Executive Office of the
President’’), the Single Audit Act
Amendments of 1996, (31 U.S.C. 7501–
7507), as well as The Federal Program
Information Act (Pub. L. 95–220 and
Pub. L. 98–169, as amended, codified at
31 U.S.C. 6101–6106).
(b) Subpart E of this part is author-
ized under the Budget and Accounting
Act of 1921, as amended; the Budget
and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950,
as amended (31 U.S.C. 1101–1125); the
Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (31
U.S.C. 503–504); Reorganization Plan
No. 2 of 1970; and Executive Order 11541,
‘‘Prescribing the Duties of the Office of
Management and Budget and the Do-
mestic Policy Council in the Executive
Office of the President.’’
(c) Subpart F of this part is author-
ized under the Single Audit Act
Amendments of 1996, (31 U.S.C. 7501–
7507).
[85 FR 49538, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.104 Supersession.
As described in §200.110, this part su-
persedes the following OMB guidance
documents and regulations under title
2 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
(a) A–21, ‘‘Cost Principles for Edu-
cational Institutions’’ (2 CFR part 220);
(b) A–87, ‘‘Cost Principles for State,
Local and Indian Tribal Governments’’
(2 CFR part 225) and also FEDERAL REG-
ISTER notice 51 FR 552 (January 6, 1986);
(c) A–89, ‘‘Federal Domestic Assist-
ance Program Information’’;
(d) A–102, ‘‘Grant Awards and Cooper-
ative Agreements with State and Local
Governments’’;
(e) A–110, ‘‘Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Awards and Other
Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-
profit Organizations’’ (codified at 2
CFR 215);
(f) A–122, ‘‘Cost Principles for Non-
Profit Organizations’’ (2 CFR part 230);
(g) A–133, ‘‘Audits of States, Local
Governments and Non-Profit Organiza-
tions’’; and
(h) Those sections of A–50 related to
audits performed under subpart F of
this part.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75882, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49538, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.105 Effect on other issuances.
(a) Superseding inconsistent require-
ments. For Federal awards subject to
this part, all administrative require-
ments, program manuals, handbooks
and other non-regulatory materials
that are inconsistent with the require-
ments of this part must be superseded
upon implementation of this part by
the Federal agency, except to the ex-
tent they are required by statute or au-
thorized in accordance with the provi-
sions in §200.102.
(b) Imposition of requirements on recipi-
ents. Agencies may impose legally
binding requirements on recipients
only through the notice and public
comment process through an approved
agency process, including as authorized
by this part, other statutes or regula-
tions, or as incorporated into the terms
of a Federal award.
[85 FR 49538, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.106 Agency implementation.
The specific requirements and re-
sponsibilities of Federal agencies and
non-Federal entities are set forth in
this part. Federal agencies making
Federal awards to non-Federal entities
must implement the language in sub-
parts C through F of this part in codi-
fied regulations unless different provi-
sions are required by Federal statute
or are approved by OMB.
[85 FR 49538, Aug. 13, 2020]
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114
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.107
§200.107 OMB responsibilities.
OMB will review Federal agency reg-
ulations and implementation of this
part, and will provide interpretations
of policy requirements and assistance
to ensure effective and efficient imple-
mentation. Any exceptions will be sub-
ject to approval by OMB. Exceptions
will only be made in particular cases
where adequate justification is pre-
sented.
§200.108 Inquiries.
Inquiries concerning this part may be
directed to the Office of Federal Finan-
cial Management Office of Manage-
ment and Budget, in Washington, DC.
Non-Federal entities’ inquiries should
be addressed to the Federal awarding
agency, cognizant agency for indirect
costs, cognizant or oversight agency
for audit, or pass-through entity as ap-
propriate.
§200.109 Review date.
OMB will review this part at least
every five years after December 26,
2013.
§200.110 Effective/applicability date.
(a) The standards set forth in this
part that affect the administration of
Federal awards issued by Federal
awarding agencies become effective
once implemented by Federal awarding
agencies or when any future amend-
ment to this part becomes final.
(b) Existing negotiated indirect cost
rates (as of the publication date of the
revisions to the guidance) will remain
in place until they expire. The effective
date of changes to indirect cost rates
must be based upon the date that a
newly re-negotiated rate goes into ef-
fect for a specific non-Federal entity’s
fiscal year. Therefore, for indirect cost
rates and cost allocation plans, the re-
vised Uniform Guidance (as of the pub-
lication date for revisions to the guid-
ance) become effective in generating
proposals and negotiating a new rate
(when the rate is re-negotiated).
[85 FR 49538, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.111 English language.
(a) All Federal financial assistance
announcements and Federal award in-
formation must be in the English lan-
guage. Applications must be submitted
in the English language and must be in
the terms of U.S. dollars. If the Federal
awarding agency receives applications
in another currency, the Federal
awarding agency will evaluate the ap-
plication by converting the foreign cur-
rency to United States currency using
the date specified for receipt of the ap-
plication.
(b) Non-Federal entities may trans-
late the Federal award and other docu-
ments into another language. In the
event of inconsistency between any
terms and conditions of the Federal
award and any translation into another
language, the English language mean-
ing will control. Where a significant
portion of the non-Federal entity’s em-
ployees who are working on the Fed-
eral award are not fluent in English,
the non-Federal entity must provide
the Federal award in English and the
language(s) with which employees are
more familiar.
§200.112 Conflict of interest.
The Federal awarding agency must
establish conflict of interest policies
for Federal awards. The non-Federal
entity must disclose in writing any po-
tential conflict of interest to the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity in accordance with applicable
Federal awarding agency policy.
§200.113 Mandatory disclosures.
The non-Federal entity or applicant
for a Federal award must disclose, in a
timely manner, in writing to the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity all violations of Federal crimi-
nal law involving fraud, bribery, or
gratuity violations potentially affect-
ing the Federal award. Non-Federal en-
tities that have received a Federal
award including the term and condi-
tion outlined in appendix XII to this
part are required to report certain
civil, criminal, or administrative pro-
ceedings to SAM (currently FAPIIS).
Failure to make required disclosures
can result in any of the remedies de-
scribed in §200.339. (See also 2 CFR part
180, 31 U.S.C. 3321, and 41 U.S.C. 2313.)
[85 FR 49539, Aug. 13, 2020]
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115
OMB Guidance §200.202
Subpart C—Pre-Federal Award
Requirements and Contents of
Federal Awards
SOURCE: 85 FR 49539, Aug. 13, 2020, unless
otherwise noted.
§200.200 Purpose.
Sections 200.201 through 200.216 pre-
scribe instructions and other pre-award
matters to be used by Federal awarding
agencies in the program planning, an-
nouncement, application and award
processes.
§200.201 Use of grant agreements (in-
cluding fixed amount awards), co-
operative agreements, and con-
tracts.
(a) Federal award instrument. The Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity must decide on the appropriate
instrument for the Federal award (i.e.,
grant agreement, cooperative agree-
ment, or contract) in accordance with
the Federal Grant and Cooperative
Agreement Act (31 U.S.C. 6301–08).
(b) Fixed amount awards. In addition
to the options described in paragraph
(a) of this section, Federal awarding
agencies, or pass-through entities as
permitted in §200.333, may use fixed
amount awards (see Fixed amount
awards in §200.1) to which the following
conditions apply:
(1) The Federal award amount is ne-
gotiated using the cost principles (or
other pricing information) as a guide.
The Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity may use fixed amount
awards if the project scope has measur-
able goals and objectives and if ade-
quate cost, historical, or unit pricing
data is available to establish a fixed
amount award based on a reasonable
estimate of actual cost. Payments are
based on meeting specific requirements
of the Federal award. Accountability is
based on performance and results. Ex-
cept in the case of termination before
completion of the Federal award, there
is no governmental review of the ac-
tual costs incurred by the non-Federal
entity in performance of the award.
Some of the ways in which the Federal
award may be paid include, but are not
limited to:
(i) In several partial payments, the
amount of each agreed upon in ad-
vance, and the ‘‘milestone’’ or event
triggering the payment also agreed
upon in advance, and set forth in the
Federal award;
(ii) On a unit price basis, for a de-
fined unit or units, at a defined price or
prices, agreed to in advance of perform-
ance of the Federal award and set forth
in the Federal award; or,
(iii) In one payment at Federal award
completion.
(2) A fixed amount award cannot be
used in programs which require manda-
tory cost sharing or match.
(3) The non-Federal entity must cer-
tify in writing to the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity at the
end of the Federal award that the
project or activity was completed or
the level of effort was expended. If the
required level of activity or effort was
not carried out, the amount of the Fed-
eral award must be adjusted.
(4) Periodic reports may be estab-
lished for each Federal award.
(5) Changes in principal investigator,
project leader, project partner, or scope
of effort must receive the prior written
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy or pass-through entity.
§200.202 Program planning and de-
sign.
The Federal awarding agency must
design a program and create an Assist-
ance Listing before announcing the No-
tice of Funding Opportunity. The pro-
gram must be designed with clear goals
and objectives that facilitate the deliv-
ery of meaningful results consistent
with the Federal authorizing legisla-
tion of the program. Program perform-
ance shall be measured based on the
goals and objectives developed during
program planning and design. See
§200.301 for more information on per-
formance measurement. Performance
measures may differ depending on the
type of program. The program must
align with the strategic goals and ob-
jectives within the Federal awarding
agency’s performance plan and should
support the Federal awarding agency’s
performance measurement, manage-
ment, and reporting as required by
Part 6 of OMB Circular A–11 (Prepara-
tion, Submission, and Execution of the
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116
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.203
Budget). The program must also be de-
signed to align with the Program Man-
agement Improvement Accountability
Act (Pub. L. 114–264).
§200.203 Requirement to provide pub-
lic notice of Federal financial as-
sistance programs.
(a) The Federal awarding agency
must notify the public of Federal pro-
grams in the Federal Assistance List-
ings maintained by the General Serv-
ices Administration (GSA).
(1) The Federal Assistance Listings is
the single, authoritative, government-
wide comprehensive source of Federal
financial assistance program informa-
tion produced by the executive branch
of the Federal Government.
(2) The information that the Federal
awarding agency must submit to GSA
for approval by OMB is listed in para-
graph (b) of this section. GSA must
prescribe the format for the submission
in coordination with OMB.
(3) The Federal awarding agency may
not award Federal financial assistance
without assigning it to a program that
has been included in the Federal As-
sistance Listings as required in this
section unless there are exigent cir-
cumstances requiring otherwise, such
as timing requirements imposed by
statute.
(b) For each program that awards
discretionary Federal awards, non-dis-
cretionary Federal awards, loans, in-
surance, or any other type of Federal
financial assistance, the Federal
awarding agency must, to the extent
practicable, create, update, and man-
age Assistance Listings entries based
on the authorizing statute for the pro-
gram and comply with additional guid-
ance provided by GSA in consultation
with OMB to ensure consistent, accu-
rate information is available to pro-
spective applicants. Accordingly, Fed-
eral awarding agencies must submit
the following information to GSA:
(1) Program Description, Purpose,
Goals, and Measurement. A brief sum-
mary of the statutory or regulatory re-
quirements of the program and its in-
tended outcome. Where appropriate,
the Program Description, Purpose,
Goals, and Measurement should align
with the strategic goals and objectives
within the Federal awarding agency’s
performance plan and should support
the Federal awarding agency’s per-
formance measurement, management,
and reporting as required by Part 6 of
OMB Circular A–11;
(2) Identification. Identification of
whether the program makes Federal
awards on a discretionary basis or the
Federal awards are prescribed by Fed-
eral statute, such as in the case of for-
mula grants.
(3) Projected total amount of funds
available for the program. Estimates
based on previous year funding are ac-
ceptable if current appropriations are
not available at the time of the sub-
mission;
(4) Anticipated source of available
funds. The statutory authority for
funding the program and, to the extent
possible, agency, sub-agency, or, if
known, the specific program unit that
will issue the Federal awards, and asso-
ciated funding identifier (e.g., Treasury
Account Symbol(s));
(5) General eligibility requirements. The
statutory, regulatory or other eligi-
bility factors or considerations that de-
termine the applicant’s qualification
for Federal awards under the program
(e.g., type of non-Federal entity); and
(6) Applicability of Single Audit Re-
quirements. Applicability of Single
Audit Requirements as required by
subpart F of this part.
§200.204 Notices of funding opportuni-
ties.
For discretionary grants and cooper-
ative agreements that are competed,
the Federal awarding agency must an-
nounce specific funding opportunities
by providing the following information
in a public notice:
(a) Summary information in notices of
funding opportunities. The Federal
awarding agency must display the fol-
lowing information posted on the OMB-
designated governmentwide website for
funding and applying for Federal finan-
cial assistance, in a location preceding
the full text of the announcement:
(1) Federal Awarding Agency Name;
(2) Funding Opportunity Title;
(3) Announcement Type (whether the
funding opportunity is the initial an-
nouncement of this funding oppor-
tunity or a modification of a pre-
viously announced opportunity);
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117
OMB Guidance §200.206
(4) Funding Opportunity Number (re-
quired, if applicable). If the Federal
awarding agency has assigned or will
assign a number to the funding oppor-
tunity announcement, this number
must be provided;
(5) Assistance Listings Number(s);
(6) Key Dates. Key dates include due
dates for applications or Executive
Order 12372 submissions, as well as for
any letters of intent or pre-applica-
tions. For any announcement issued
before a program’s application mate-
rials are available, key dates also in-
clude the date on which those mate-
rials will be released; and any other ad-
ditional information, as deemed appli-
cable by the relevant Federal awarding
agency.
(b) Availability period. The Federal
awarding agency must generally make
all funding opportunities available for
application for at least 60 calendar
days. The Federal awarding agency
may make a determination to have a
less than 60 calendar day availability
period but no funding opportunity
should be available for less than 30 cal-
endar days unless exigent cir-
cumstances require as determined by
the Federal awarding agency head or
delegate.
(c) Full text of funding opportunities.
The Federal awarding agency must in-
clude the following information in the
full text of each funding opportunity.
For specific instructions on the con-
tent required in this section, refer to
appendix I to this part.
(1) Full programmatic description of
the funding opportunity.
(2) Federal award information, in-
cluding sufficient information to help
an applicant make an informed deci-
sion about whether to submit an appli-
cation. (See also §200.414(c)(4)).
(3) Specific eligibility information,
including any factors or priorities that
affect an applicant’s or its applica-
tion’s eligibility for selection.
(4) Application Preparation and Sub-
mission Information, including the ap-
plicable submission dates and time.
(5) Application Review Information
including the criteria and process to be
used to evaluate applications. See also
§§200.205 and 200.206.
(6) Federal Award Administration In-
formation. See also §200.211.
(7) Applicable terms and conditions
for resulting awards, including any ex-
ceptions from these standard terms.
§200.205 Federal awarding agency re-
view of merit of proposals.
For discretionary Federal awards,
unless prohibited by Federal statute,
the Federal awarding agency must de-
sign and execute a merit review process
for applications, with the objective of
selecting recipients most likely to be
successful in delivering results based
on the program objectives outlined in
section §200.202. A merit review is an
objective process of evaluating Federal
award applications in accordance with
written standards set forth by the Fed-
eral awarding agency. This process
must be described or incorporated by
reference in the applicable funding op-
portunity (see appendix I to this part.).
See also §200.204. The Federal awarding
agency must also periodically review
its merit review process.
§200.206 Federal awarding agency re-
view of risk posed by applicants.
(a) Review of OMB-designated reposi-
tories of governmentwide data. (1) Prior
to making a Federal award, the Fed-
eral awarding agency is required by the
Improper Payments Elimination and
Recovery Improvement Act of 2012, 31
U.S.C. 3321 note, and 41 U.S.C. 2313 to
review information available through
any OMB-designated repositories of
governmentwide eligibility qualifica-
tion or financial integrity information
as appropriate. See also suspension and
debarment requirements at 2 CFR part
180 as well as individual Federal agency
suspension and debarment regulations
in title 2 of the Code of Federal Regula-
tions.
(2) In accordance 41 U.S.C. 2313, the
Federal awarding agency is required to
review the non-public segment of the
OMB-designated integrity and perform-
ance system accessible through SAM
(currently the Federal Awardee Per-
formance and Integrity Information
System (FAPIIS)) prior to making a
Federal award where the Federal share
is expected to exceed the simplified ac-
quisition threshold, defined in 41 U.S.C.
134, over the period of performance. As
required by Public Law 112–239, Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for
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118
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.207
Fiscal Year 2013, prior to making a
Federal award, the Federal awarding
agency must consider all of the infor-
mation available through FAPIIS with
regard to the applicant and any imme-
diate highest level owner, predecessor
(i.e.; a non-Federal entity that is re-
placed by a successor), or subsidiary,
identified for that applicant in FAPIIS,
if applicable. At a minimum, the infor-
mation in the system for a prior Fed-
eral award recipient must demonstrate
a satisfactory record of executing pro-
grams or activities under Federal
grants, cooperative agreements, or pro-
curement awards; and integrity and
business ethics. The Federal awarding
agency may make a Federal award to a
recipient who does not fully meet these
standards, if it is determined that the
information is not relevant to the cur-
rent Federal award under consideration
or there are specific conditions that
can appropriately mitigate the effects
of the non-Federal entity’s risk in ac-
cordance with §200.208.
(b) Risk evaluation. (1) The Federal
awarding agency must have in place a
framework for evaluating the risks
posed by applicants before they receive
Federal awards. This evaluation may
incorporate results of the evaluation of
the applicant’s eligibility or the qual-
ity of its application. If the Federal
awarding agency determines that a
Federal award will be made, special
conditions that correspond to the de-
gree of risk assessed may be applied to
the Federal award. Criteria to be evalu-
ated must be described in the an-
nouncement of funding opportunity de-
scribed in §200.204.
(2) In evaluating risks posed by appli-
cants, the Federal awarding agency
may use a risk-based approach and
may consider any items such as the fol-
lowing:
(i) Financial stability. Financial sta-
bility;
(ii) Management systems and stand-
ards. Quality of management systems
and ability to meet the management
standards prescribed in this part;
(iii) History of performance. The appli-
cant’s record in managing Federal
awards, if it is a prior recipient of Fed-
eral awards, including timeliness of
compliance with applicable reporting
requirements, conformance to the
terms and conditions of previous Fed-
eral awards, and if applicable, the ex-
tent to which any previously awarded
amounts will be expended prior to fu-
ture awards;
(iv) Audit reports and findings. Re-
ports and findings from audits per-
formed under subpart F of this part or
the reports and findings of any other
available audits; and
(v) Ability to effectively implement re-
quirements. The applicant’s ability to
effectively implement statutory, regu-
latory, or other requirements imposed
on non-Federal entities.
(c) Risk-based requirements adjustment.
The Federal awarding agency may ad-
just requirements when a risk-evalua-
tion indicates that it may be merited
either pre-award or post-award.
(d) Suspension and debarment compli-
ance. (1) The Federal awarding agency
must comply with the guidelines on
governmentwide suspension and debar-
ment in 2 CFR part 180, and must re-
quire non-Federal entities to comply
with these provisions. These provisions
restrict Federal awards, subawards and
contracts with certain parties that are
debarred, suspended or otherwise ex-
cluded from or ineligible for participa-
tion in Federal programs or activities.
§200.207 Standard application re-
quirements.
(a) Paperwork clearances. The Federal
awarding agency may only use applica-
tion information collections approved
by OMB under the Paperwork Reduc-
tion Act of 1995 and OMB’s imple-
menting regulations in 5 CFR part 1320
and in alignment with OMB-approved,
governmentwide data elements avail-
able from the OMB-designated stand-
ards lead. Consistent with these re-
quirements, OMB will authorize addi-
tional information collections only on
a limited basis.
(b) Information collection. If applica-
ble, the Federal awarding agency may
inform applicants and recipients that
they do not need to provide certain in-
formation otherwise required by the
relevant information collection.
§200.208 Specific conditions.
(a) Federal awarding agencies are re-
sponsible for ensuring that specific
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119
OMB Guidance §200.211
Federal award conditions are con-
sistent with the program design re-
flected in §200.202 and include clear
performance expectations of recipients
as required in §200.301.
(b) The Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity may adjust spe-
cific Federal award conditions as need-
ed, in accordance with this section,
based on an analysis of the following
factors:
(1) Based on the criteria set forth in
§200.206;
(2) The applicant or recipient’s his-
tory of compliance with the general or
specific terms and conditions of a Fed-
eral award;
(3) The applicant or recipient’s abil-
ity to meet expected performance goals
as described in §200.211; or
(4) A responsibility determination of
an applicant or recipient.
(c) Additional Federal award condi-
tions may include items such as the
following:
(1) Requiring payments as reimburse-
ments rather than advance payments;
(2) Withholding authority to proceed
to the next phase until receipt of evi-
dence of acceptable performance within
a given performance period;
(3) Requiring additional, more de-
tailed financial reports;
(4) Requiring additional project mon-
itoring;
(5) Requiring the non-Federal entity
to obtain technical or management as-
sistance; or
(6) Establishing additional prior ap-
provals.
(d) If the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity is imposing addi-
tional requirements, they must notify
the applicant or non-Federal entity as
to:
(1) The nature of the additional re-
quirements;
(2) The reason why the additional re-
quirements are being imposed;
(3) The nature of the action needed to
remove the additional requirement, if
applicable;
(4) The time allowed for completing
the actions if applicable; and
(5) The method for requesting recon-
sideration of the additional require-
ments imposed.
(e) Any additional requirements must
be promptly removed once the condi-
tions that prompted them have been
satisfied.
§200.209 Certifications and represen-
tations.
Unless prohibited by the U.S. Con-
stitution, Federal statutes or regula-
tions, each Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity is authorized to re-
quire the non-Federal entity to submit
certifications and representations re-
quired by Federal statutes, or regula-
tions on an annual basis. Submission
may be required more frequently if the
non-Federal entity fails to meet a re-
quirement of a Federal award.
§200.210 Pre-award costs.
For requirements on costs incurred
by the applicant prior to the start date
of the period of performance of the
Federal award, see §200.458.
§200.211 Information contained in a
Federal award.
A Federal award must include the
following information:
(a) Federal award performance goals.
Performance goals, indicators, targets,
and baseline data must be included in
the Federal award, where applicable.
The Federal awarding agency must
also specify how performance will be
assessed in the terms and conditions of
the Federal award, including the tim-
ing and scope of expected performance.
See §§200.202 and 200.301 for more infor-
mation on Federal award performance
goals.
(b) General Federal award information.
The Federal awarding agency must in-
clude the following general Federal
award information in each Federal
award:
(1) Recipient name (which must
match the name associated with its
unique entity identifier as defined at 2
CFR 25.315);
(2) Recipient’s unique entity identi-
fier;
(3) Unique Federal Award Identifica-
tion Number (FAIN);
(4) Federal Award Date (see Federal
award date in §200.201);
(5) Period of Performance Start and
End Date;
(6) Budget Period Start and End
Date;
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.212
(7) Amount of Federal Funds Obli-
gated by this action;
(8) Total Amount of Federal Funds
Obligated;
(9) Total Approved Cost Sharing or
Matching, where applicable;
(10) Total Amount of the Federal
Award including approved Cost Sharing
or Matching;
(11) Budget Approved by the Federal
Awarding Agency;
(11) Federal award description, (to
comply with statutory requirements
(e.g., FFATA));
(12) Name of Federal awarding agen-
cy and contact information for award-
ing official,
(13) Assistance Listings Number and
Title;
(14) Identification of whether the
award is R&D; and
(15) Indirect cost rate for the Federal
award (including if the de minimis rate
is charged per §200.414).
(c) General terms and conditions. (1)
Federal awarding agencies must incor-
porate the following general terms and
conditions either in the Federal award
or by reference, as applicable:
(i) Administrative requirements. Admin-
istrative requirements implemented by
the Federal awarding agency as speci-
fied in this part.
(ii) National policy requirements. These
include statutory, executive order,
other Presidential directive, or regu-
latory requirements that apply by spe-
cific reference and are not program-
specific. See §200.300 Statutory and na-
tional policy requirements.
(iii) Recipient integrity and perform-
ance matters. If the total Federal share
of the Federal award may include more
than $500,000 over the period of per-
formance, the Federal awarding agency
must include the term and condition
available in appendix XII of this part.
See also §200.113.
(iv) Future budget periods. If it is an-
ticipated that the period of perform-
ance will include multiple budget peri-
ods, the Federal awarding agency must
indicate that subsequent budget peri-
ods are subject to the availability of
funds, program authority, satisfactory
performance, and compliance with the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award.
(v) Termination provisions. Federal
awarding agencies must make recipi-
ents aware, in a clear and unambiguous
manner, of the termination provisions
in §200.340, including the applicable
termination provisions in the Federal
awarding agency’s regulations or in
each Federal award.
(2) The Federal award must incor-
porate, by reference, all general terms
and conditions of the award, which
must be maintained on the agency’s
website.
(3) If a non-Federal entity requests a
copy of the full text of the general
terms and conditions, the Federal
awarding agency must provide it.
(4) Wherever the general terms and
conditions are publicly available, the
Federal awarding agency must main-
tain an archive of previous versions of
the general terms and conditions, with
effective dates, for use by the non-Fed-
eral entity, auditors, or others.
(d) Federal awarding agency, program,
or Federal award specific terms and con-
ditions. The Federal awarding agency
must include with each Federal award
any terms and conditions necessary to
communicate requirements that are in
addition to the requirements outlined
in the Federal awarding agency’s gen-
eral terms and conditions. See also
§200.208. Whenever practicable, these
specific terms and conditions also
should be shared on the agency’s
website and in notices of funding op-
portunities (as outlined in §200.204) in
addition to being included in a Federal
award. See also §200.207.
(e) Federal awarding agency require-
ments. Any other information required
by the Federal awarding agency.
§200.212 Public access to Federal
award information.
(a) In accordance with statutory re-
quirements for Federal spending trans-
parency (e.g., FFATA), except as noted
in this section, for applicable Federal
awards the Federal awarding agency
must announce all Federal awards pub-
licly and publish the required informa-
tion on a publicly available OMB-des-
ignated governmentwide website.
(b) All information posted in the des-
ignated integrity and performance sys-
tem accessible through SAM (currently
FAPIIS) on or after April 15, 2011 will
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121
OMB Guidance §200.213
be publicly available after a waiting
period of 14 calendar days, except for:
(1) Past performance reviews required
by Federal Government contractors in
accordance with the Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulation (FAR) 48 CFR part 42,
subpart 42.15;
(2) Information that was entered
prior to April 15, 2011; or
(3) Information that is withdrawn
during the 14-calendar day waiting pe-
riod by the Federal Government offi-
cial.
(c) Nothing in this section may be
construed as requiring the publication
of information otherwise exempt under
the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C 552), or controlled unclassified
information pursuant to Executive
Order 13556.
§200.213 Reporting a determination
that a non-Federal entity is not
qualified for a Federal award.
(a) If a Federal awarding agency does
not make a Federal award to a non-
Federal entity because the official de-
termines that the non-Federal entity
does not meet either or both of the
minimum qualification standards as
described in §200.206(a)(2), the Federal
awarding agency must report that de-
termination to the designated integ-
rity and performance system accessible
through SAM (currently FAPIIS), only
if all of the following apply:
(1) The only basis for the determina-
tion described in this paragraph (a) is
the non-Federal entity’s prior record of
executing programs or activities under
Federal awards or its record of integ-
rity and business ethics, as described in
§200.206(a)(2) (i.e., the entity was deter-
mined to be qualified based on all fac-
tors other than those two standards);
and
(2) The total Federal share of the
Federal award that otherwise would be
made to the non-Federal entity is ex-
pected to exceed the simplified acquisi-
tion threshold over the period of per-
formance.
(b) The Federal awarding agency is
not required to report a determination
that a non-Federal entity is not quali-
fied for a Federal award if they make
the Federal award to the non-Federal
entity and include specific award terms
and conditions, as described in §200.208.
(c) If a Federal awarding agency re-
ports a determination that a non-Fed-
eral entity is not qualified for a Fed-
eral award, as described in paragraph
(a) of this section, the Federal award-
ing agency also must notify the non-
Federal entity that—
(1) The determination was made and
reported to the designated integrity
and performance system accessible
through SAM, and include with the no-
tification an explanation of the basis
for the determination;
(2) The information will be kept in
the system for a period of five years
from the date of the determination, as
required by section 872 of Public Law
110–417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313),
then archived;
(3) Each Federal awarding agency
that considers making a Federal award
to the non-Federal entity during that
five year period must consider that in-
formation in judging whether the non-
Federal entity is qualified to receive
the Federal award when the total Fed-
eral share of the Federal award is ex-
pected to include an amount of Federal
funding in excess of the simplified ac-
quisition threshold over the period of
performance;
(4) The non-Federal entity may go to
the awardee integrity and performance
portal accessible through SAM (cur-
rently the Contractor Performance As-
sessment Reporting System (CPARS))
and comment on any information the
system contains about the non-Federal
entity itself; and
(5) Federal awarding agencies will
consider that non-Federal entity’s
comments in determining whether the
non-Federal entity is qualified for a fu-
ture Federal award.
(d) If a Federal awarding agency en-
ters information into the designated
integrity and performance system ac-
cessible through SAM about a deter-
mination that a non-Federal entity is
not qualified for a Federal award and
subsequently:
(1) Learns that any of that informa-
tion is erroneous, the Federal awarding
agency must correct the information in
the system within three business days;
and
(2) Obtains an update to that infor-
mation that could be helpful to other
Federal awarding agencies, the Federal
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122
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.214
awarding agency is strongly encour-
aged to amend the information in the
system to incorporate the update in a
timely way.
(e) Federal awarding agencies must
not post any information that will be
made publicly available in the non-
public segment of designated integrity
and performance system that is cov-
ered by a disclosure exemption under
the Freedom of Information Act. If the
recipient asserts within seven calendar
days to the Federal awarding agency
that posted the information that some
or all of the information made publicly
available is covered by a disclosure ex-
emption under the Freedom of Infor-
mation Act, the Federal awarding
agency that posted the information
must remove the posting within seven
calendar days of receiving the asser-
tion. Prior to reposting the releasable
information, the Federal awarding
agency must resolve the issue in ac-
cordance with the agency’s Freedom of
Information Act procedures.
§200.214 Suspension and debarment.
Non-Federal entities are subject to
the non-procurement debarment and
suspension regulations implementing
Executive Orders 12549 and 12689, 2 CFR
part 180. The regulations in 2 CFR part
180 restrict awards, subawards, and
contracts with certain parties that are
debarred, suspended, or otherwise ex-
cluded from or ineligible for participa-
tion in Federal assistance programs or
activities.
§200.215 Never contract with the
enemy.
Federal awarding agencies and re-
cipients are subject to the regulations
implementing Never Contract with the
Enemy in 2 CFR part 183. The regula-
tions in 2 CFR part 183 affect covered
contracts, grants and cooperative
agreements that are expected to exceed
$50,000 within the period of perform-
ance, are performed outside the United
States and its territories, and are in
support of a contingency operation in
which members of the Armed Forces
are actively engaged in hostilities.
§200.216 Prohibition on certain tele-
communications and video surveil-
lance services or equipment.
(a) Recipients and subrecipients are
prohibited from obligating or expend-
ing loan or grant funds to:
(1) Procure or obtain;
(2) Extend or renew a contract to pro-
cure or obtain; or
(3) Enter into a contract (or extend
or renew a contract) to procure or ob-
tain equipment, services, or systems
that uses covered telecommunications
equipment or services as a substantial
or essential component of any system,
or as critical technology as part of any
system. As described in Public Law
115–232, section 889, covered tele-
communications equipment is tele-
communications equipment produced
by Huawei Technologies Company or
ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or
affiliate of such entities).
(i) For the purpose of public safety,
security of government facilities, phys-
ical security surveillance of critical in-
frastructure, and other national secu-
rity purposes, video surveillance and
telecommunications equipment pro-
duced by Hytera Communications Cor-
poration, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital
Technology Company, or Dahua Tech-
nology Company (or any subsidiary or
affiliate of such entities).
(ii) Telecommunications or video sur-
veillance services provided by such en-
tities or using such equipment.
(iii) Telecommunications or video
surveillance equipment or services pro-
duced or provided by an entity that the
Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Director of the National Intel-
ligence or the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, reasonably be-
lieves to be an entity owned or con-
trolled by, or otherwise connected to,
the government of a covered foreign
country.
(b) In implementing the prohibition
under Public Law 115–232, section 889,
subsection (f), paragraph (1), heads of
executive agencies administering loan,
grant, or subsidy programs shall
prioritize available funding and tech-
nical support to assist affected busi-
nesses, institutions and organizations
as is reasonably necessary for those af-
fected entities to transition from cov-
ered communications equipment and
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123
OMB Guidance §200.301
services, to procure replacement equip-
ment and services, and to ensure that
communications service to users and
customers is sustained.
(c) See Public Law 115–232, section 889
for additional information.
(d) See also §200.471.
Subpart D—Post Federal Award
Requirements
SOURCE: 85 FR 49543, Aug. 13, 2020, unless
otherwise noted.
§200.300 Statutory and national policy
requirements.
(a) The Federal awarding agency
must manage and administer the Fed-
eral award in a manner so as to ensure
that Federal funding is expended and
associated programs are implemented
in full accordance with the U.S. Con-
stitution, Federal Law, and public pol-
icy requirements: Including, but not
limited to, those protecting free
speech, religious liberty, public wel-
fare, the environment, and prohibiting
discrimination. The Federal awarding
agency must communicate to the non-
Federal entity all relevant public pol-
icy requirements, including those in
general appropriations provisions, and
incorporate them either directly or by
reference in the terms and conditions
of the Federal award.
(b) The non-Federal entity is respon-
sible for complying with all require-
ments of the Federal award. For all
Federal awards, this includes the provi-
sions of FFATA, which includes re-
quirements on executive compensation,
and also requirements implementing
the Act for the non-Federal entity at 2
CFR parts 25 and 170. See also statu-
tory requirements for whistleblower
protections at 10 U.S.C. 2409, 41 U.S.C.
4712, and 10 U.S.C. 2324, 41 U.S.C. 4304
and 4310.
§200.301 Performance measurement.
(a) The Federal awarding agency
must measure the recipient’s perform-
ance to show achievement of program
goals and objectives, share lessons
learned, improve program outcomes,
and foster adoption of promising prac-
tices. Program goals and objectives
should be derived from program plan-
ning and design. See §200.202 for more
information. Where appropriate, the
Federal award may include specific
program goals, indicators, targets,
baseline data, data collection, or ex-
pected outcomes (such as outputs, or
services performance or public impacts
of any of these) with an expected
timeline for accomplishment. Where
applicable, this should also include any
performance measures or independent
sources of data that may be used to
measure progress. The Federal award-
ing agency will determine how per-
formance progress is measured, which
may differ by program. Performance
measurement progress must be both
measured and reported. See §200.329 for
more information on monitoring pro-
gram performance. The Federal award-
ing agency may include program-spe-
cific requirements, as applicable. These
requirements must be aligned, to the
extent permitted by law, with the Fed-
eral awarding agency strategic goals,
strategic objectives or performance
goals that are relevant to the program.
See also OMB Circular A–11, Prepara-
tion, Submission, and Execution of the
Budget Part 6.
(b) The Federal awarding agency
should provide recipients with clear
performance goals, indicators, targets,
and baseline data as described in
§200.211. Performance reporting fre-
quency and content should be estab-
lished to not only allow the Federal
awarding agency to understand the re-
cipient progress but also to facilitate
identification of promising practices
among recipients and build the evi-
dence upon which the Federal awarding
agency’s program and performance de-
cisions are made. See §200.328 for more
information on reporting program per-
formance.
(c) This provision is designed to oper-
ate in tandem with evidence-related
statutes (e.g.; The Foundations for Evi-
dence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018,
which emphasizes collaboration and co-
ordination to advance data and evi-
dence-building functions in the Federal
government). The Federal awarding
agency should also specify any require-
ments of award recipients’ participa-
tion in a federally funded evaluation,
and any evaluation activities required
to be conducted by the Federal award.
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.302
§200.302 Financial management.
(a) Each state must expend and ac-
count for the Federal award in accord-
ance with state laws and procedures for
expending and accounting for the
state’s own funds. In addition, the
state’s and the other non-Federal enti-
ty’s financial management systems, in-
cluding records documenting compli-
ance with Federal statutes, regula-
tions, and the terms and conditions of
the Federal award, must be sufficient
to permit the preparation of reports re-
quired by general and program-specific
terms and conditions; and the tracing
of funds to a level of expenditures ade-
quate to establish that such funds have
been used according to the Federal
statutes, regulations, and the terms
and conditions of the Federal award.
See also §200.450.
(b) The financial management sys-
tem of each non-Federal entity must
provide for the following (see also
§§200.334, 200.335, 200.336, and 200.337):
(1) Identification, in its accounts, of
all Federal awards received and ex-
pended and the Federal programs under
which they were received. Federal pro-
gram and Federal award identification
must include, as applicable, the Assist-
ance Listings title and number, Fed-
eral award identification number and
year, name of the Federal agency, and
name of the pass-through entity, if
any.
(2) Accurate, current, and complete
disclosure of the financial results of
each Federal award or program in ac-
cordance with the reporting require-
ments set forth in §§200.328 and 200.329.
If a Federal awarding agency requires
reporting on an accrual basis from a re-
cipient that maintains its records on
other than an accrual basis, the recipi-
ent must not be required to establish
an accrual accounting system. This re-
cipient may develop accrual data for
its reports on the basis of an analysis
of the documentation on hand. Simi-
larly, a pass-through entity must not
require a subrecipient to establish an
accrual accounting system and must
allow the subrecipient to develop ac-
crual data for its reports on the basis
of an analysis of the documentation on
hand.
(3) Records that identify adequately
the source and application of funds for
federally-funded activities. These
records must contain information per-
taining to Federal awards, authoriza-
tions, financial obligations, unobli-
gated balances, assets, expenditures,
income and interest and be supported
by source documentation.
(4) Effective control over, and ac-
countability for, all funds, property,
and other assets. The non-Federal enti-
ty must adequately safeguard all assets
and assure that they are used solely for
authorized purposes. See §200.303.
(5) Comparison of expenditures with
budget amounts for each Federal
award.
(6) Written procedures to implement
the requirements of §200.305.
(7) Written procedures for deter-
mining the allowability of costs in ac-
cordance with subpart E of this part
and the terms and conditions of the
Federal award.
§200.303 Internal controls.
The non-Federal entity must:
(a) Establish and maintain effective
internal control over the Federal
award that provides reasonable assur-
ance that the non-Federal entity is
managing the Federal award in compli-
ance with Federal statutes, regula-
tions, and the terms and conditions of
the Federal award. These internal con-
trols should be in compliance with
guidance in ‘‘Standards for Internal
Control in the Federal Government’’
issued by the Comptroller General of
the United States or the ‘‘Internal Con-
trol Integrated Framework’’, issued by
the Committee of Sponsoring Organiza-
tions of the Treadway Commission
(COSO).
(b) Comply with the U.S. Constitu-
tion, Federal statutes, regulations, and
the terms and conditions of the Federal
awards.
(c) Evaluate and monitor the non-
Federal entity’s compliance with stat-
utes, regulations and the terms and
conditions of Federal awards.
(d) Take prompt action when in-
stances of noncompliance are identified
including noncompliance identified in
audit findings.
(e) Take reasonable measures to safe-
guard protected personally identifiable
information and other information the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
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125
OMB Guidance §200.305
through entity designates as sensitive
or the non-Federal entity considers
sensitive consistent with applicable
Federal, State, local, and tribal laws
regarding privacy and responsibility
over confidentiality.
§200.304 Bonds.
The Federal awarding agency may in-
clude a provision on bonding, insur-
ance, or both in the following cir-
cumstances:
(a) Where the Federal Government
guarantees or insures the repayment of
money borrowed by the recipient, the
Federal awarding agency, at its discre-
tion, may require adequate bonding
and insurance if the bonding and insur-
ance requirements of the non-Federal
entity are not deemed adequate to pro-
tect the interest of the Federal Govern-
ment.
(b) The Federal awarding agency may
require adequate fidelity bond coverage
where the non-Federal entity lacks suf-
ficient coverage to protect the Federal
Government’s interest.
(c) Where bonds are required in the
situations described above, the bonds
must be obtained from companies hold-
ing certificates of authority as accept-
able sureties, as prescribed in 31 CFR
part 223.
§200.305 Federal payment.
(a) For states, payments are gov-
erned by Treasury-State Cash Manage-
ment Improvement Act (CMIA) agree-
ments and default procedures codified
at 31 CFR part 205 and Treasury Finan-
cial Manual (TFM) 4A–2000, ‘‘Overall
Disbursing Rules for All Federal Agen-
cies’’.
(b) For non-Federal entities other
than states, payments methods must
minimize the time elapsing between
the transfer of funds from the United
States Treasury or the pass-through
entity and the disbursement by the
non-Federal entity whether the pay-
ment is made by electronic funds
transfer, or issuance or redemption of
checks, warrants, or payment by other
means. See also §200.302(b)(6). Except
as noted elsewhere in this part, Federal
agencies must require recipients to use
only OMB-approved, governmentwide
information collection requests to re-
quest payment.
(1) The non-Federal entity must be
paid in advance, provided it maintains
or demonstrates the willingness to
maintain both written procedures that
minimize the time elapsing between
the transfer of funds and disbursement
by the non-Federal entity, and finan-
cial management systems that meet
the standards for fund control and ac-
countability as established in this part.
Advance payments to a non-Federal en-
tity must be limited to the minimum
amounts needed and be timed to be in
accordance with the actual, immediate
cash requirements of the non-Federal
entity in carrying out the purpose of
the approved program or project. The
timing and amount of advance pay-
ments must be as close as is adminis-
tratively feasible to the actual dis-
bursements by the non-Federal entity
for direct program or project costs and
the proportionate share of any allow-
able indirect costs. The non-Federal
entity must make timely payment to
contractors in accordance with the
contract provisions.
(2) Whenever possible, advance pay-
ments must be consolidated to cover
anticipated cash needs for all Federal
awards made by the Federal awarding
agency to the recipient.
(i) Advance payment mechanisms in-
clude, but are not limited to, Treasury
check and electronic funds transfer and
must comply with applicable guidance
in 31 CFR part 208.
(ii) Non-Federal entities must be au-
thorized to submit requests for advance
payments and reimbursements at least
monthly when electronic fund transfers
are not used, and as often as they like
when electronic transfers are used, in
accordance with the provisions of the
Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15
U.S.C. 1693–1693r).
(3) Reimbursement is the preferred
method when the requirements in this
paragraph (b) cannot be met, when the
Federal awarding agency sets a specific
condition per §200.208, or when the non-
Federal entity requests payment by re-
imbursement. This method may be
used on any Federal award for con-
struction, or if the major portion of the
construction project is accomplished
through private market financing or
Federal loans, and the Federal award
constitutes a minor portion of the
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126
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.305
project. When the reimbursement
method is used, the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity must
make payment within 30 calendar days
after receipt of the billing, unless the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity reasonably believes the
request to be improper.
(4) If the non-Federal entity cannot
meet the criteria for advance payments
and the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity has determined
that reimbursement is not feasible be-
cause the non-Federal entity lacks suf-
ficient working capital, the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty may provide cash on a working cap-
ital advance basis. Under this proce-
dure, the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity must advance cash
payments to the non-Federal entity to
cover its estimated disbursement needs
for an initial period generally geared
to the non-Federal entity’s disbursing
cycle. Thereafter, the Federal award-
ing agency or pass-through entity must
reimburse the non-Federal entity for
its actual cash disbursements. Use of
the working capital advance method of
payment requires that the pass-
through entity provide timely advance
payments to any subrecipients in order
to meet the subrecipient’s actual cash
disbursements. The working capital ad-
vance method of payment must not be
used by the pass-through entity if the
reason for using this method is the un-
willingness or inability of the pass-
through entity to provide timely ad-
vance payments to the subrecipient to
meet the subrecipient’s actual cash dis-
bursements.
(5) To the extent available, the non-
Federal entity must disburse funds
available from program income (in-
cluding repayments to a revolving
fund), rebates, refunds, contract settle-
ments, audit recoveries, and interest
earned on such funds before requesting
additional cash payments.
(6) Unless otherwise required by Fed-
eral statutes, payments for allowable
costs by non-Federal entities must not
be withheld at any time during the pe-
riod of performance unless the condi-
tions of §200.208, subpart D of this part,
including §200.339, or one or more of
the following applies:
(i) The non-Federal entity has failed
to comply with the project objectives,
Federal statutes, regulations, or the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award.
(ii) The non-Federal entity is delin-
quent in a debt to the United States as
defined in OMB Circular A–129, ‘‘Poli-
cies for Federal Credit Programs and
Non-Tax Receivables.’’ Under such con-
ditions, the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity may, upon rea-
sonable notice, inform the non-Federal
entity that payments must not be
made for financial obligations incurred
after a specified date until the condi-
tions are corrected or the indebtedness
to the Federal Government is liq-
uidated.
(iii) A payment withheld for failure
to comply with Federal award condi-
tions, but without suspension of the
Federal award, must be released to the
non-Federal entity upon subsequent
compliance. When a Federal award is
suspended, payment adjustments will
be made in accordance with §200.343.
(iv) A payment must not be made to
a non-Federal entity for amounts that
are withheld by the non-Federal entity
from payment to contractors to assure
satisfactory completion of work. A
payment must be made when the non-
Federal entity actually disburses the
withheld funds to the contractors or to
escrow accounts established to assure
satisfactory completion of work.
(7) Standards governing the use of
banks and other institutions as deposi-
tories of advance payments under Fed-
eral awards are as follows.
(i) The Federal awarding agency and
pass-through entity must not require
separate depository accounts for funds
provided to a non-Federal entity or es-
tablish any eligibility requirements for
depositories for funds provided to the
non-Federal entity. However, the non-
Federal entity must be able to account
for funds received, obligated, and ex-
pended.
(ii) Advance payments of Federal
funds must be deposited and main-
tained in insured accounts whenever
possible.
(8) The non-Federal entity must
maintain advance payments of Federal
awards in interest-bearing accounts,
unless the following apply:
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127
OMB Guidance §200.305
(i) The non-Federal entity receives
less than $250,000 in Federal awards per
year.
(ii) The best reasonably available in-
terest-bearing account would not be ex-
pected to earn interest in excess of $500
per year on Federal cash balances.
(iii) 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.
(iv) A foreign government or banking
system prohibits or precludes interest-
bearing accounts.
(9) Interest earned amounts up to $500
per year may be retained by the non-
Federal entity for administrative ex-
pense. Any additional interest earned
on Federal advance payments deposited
in interest-bearing accounts must be
remitted annually to the Department
of Health and Human Services Pay-
ment Management System (PMS)
through an electronic medium using ei-
ther Automated Clearing House (ACH)
network or a Fedwire Funds Service
payment.
(i) For returning interest on Federal
awards paid through PMS, the refund
should:
(A) Provide an explanation stating
that the refund is for interest;
(B) List the PMS Payee Account
Number(s) (PANs);
(C) List the Federal award number(s)
for which the interest was earned; and
(D) Make returns payable to: Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services.
(ii) For returning interest on Federal
awards not paid through PMS, the re-
fund should:
(A) Provide an explanation stating
that the refund is for interest;
(B) Include the name of the awarding
agency;
(C) List the Federal award number(s)
for which the interest was earned; and
(D) Make returns payable to: Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services.
(10) Funds, principal, and excess cash
returns must be directed to the origi-
nal Federal agency payment system.
The non-Federal entity should review
instructions from the original Federal
agency payment system. Returns
should include the following informa-
tion:
(i) Payee Account Number (PAN), if
the payment originated from PMS, or
Agency information to indicate whom
to credit the funding if the payment
originated from ASAP, NSF, or an-
other Federal agency payment system.
(ii) PMS document number and sub-
account(s), if the payment originated
from PMS, or relevant account num-
bers if the payment originated from an-
other Federal agency payment system.
(iii) The reason for the return (e.g.,
excess cash, funds not spent, interest,
part interest part other, etc.)
(11) When returning funds or interest
to PMS you must include the following
as applicable:
(i) For ACH Returns:
Routing Number: 051036706
Account number: 303000
Bank Name and Location: Credit Gate-
way—ACH Receiver St. Paul, MN
(ii) For Fedwire Returns 1:
Routing Number: 021030004
Account number: 75010501
Bank Name and Location: Federal Re-
serve Bank Treas NYC/Funds Trans-
fer Division New York, NY
1 Please note that the organization
initiating payment is likely to incur a
charge from their Financial Institution
for this type of payment.
(iii) For International ACH Returns:
Beneficiary Account: Federal Reserve
Bank of New York/ITS (FRBNY/ITS)
Bank: Citibank N.A. (New York)
Swift Code: CITIUS33
Account Number: 36838868
Bank Address: 388 Greenwich Street,
New York, NY 10013 USA
Payment Details (Line 70): Agency Lo-
cator Code (ALC): 75010501
Name (abbreviated when possible) and
ALC Agency POC
(iv) For recipients that do not have
electronic remittance capability,
please make check 2 payable to: ‘‘The
Department of Health and Human
Services.’’
Mail Check to Treasury approved
lockbox:
HHS Program Support Center, P.O.
Box 530231, Atlanta, GA 30353–0231
2 Please allow 4–6 weeks for proc-
essing of a payment by check to be ap-
plied to the appropriate PMS account.
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128
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.306
(v) Questions can be directed to PMS
at 877–614–5533 or
[email protected].
§200.306 Cost sharing or matching.
(a) Under Federal research proposals,
voluntary committed cost sharing is
not expected. It cannot be used as a
factor during the merit review of appli-
cations or proposals, but may be con-
sidered if it is both in accordance with
Federal awarding agency regulations
and specified in a notice of funding op-
portunity. Criteria for considering vol-
untary committed cost sharing and
any other program policy factors that
may be used to determine who may re-
ceive a Federal award must be explic-
itly described in the notice of funding
opportunity. See also §§200.414 and
200.204 and appendix I to this part.
(b) For all Federal awards, any
shared costs or matching funds and all
contributions, including cash and
third-party in-kind contributions,
must be accepted as part of the non-
Federal entity’s cost sharing or match-
ing when such contributions meet all
of the following criteria:
(1) Are verifiable from the non-Fed-
eral entity’s records;
(2) Are not included as contributions
for any other Federal award;
(3) Are necessary and reasonable for
accomplishment of project or program
objectives;
(4) Are allowable under subpart E of
this part;
(5) Are not paid by the Federal Gov-
ernment under another Federal award,
except where the Federal statute au-
thorizing a program specifically pro-
vides that Federal funds made avail-
able for such program can be applied to
matching or cost sharing requirements
of other Federal programs;
(6) Are provided for in the approved
budget when required by the Federal
awarding agency; and
(7) Conform to other provisions of
this part, as applicable.
(c) Unrecovered indirect costs, in-
cluding indirect costs on cost sharing
or matching may be included as part of
cost sharing or matching only with the
prior approval of the Federal awarding
agency. Unrecovered indirect cost
means the difference between the
amount charged to the Federal award
and the amount which could have been
charged to the Federal award under the
non-Federal entity’s approved nego-
tiated indirect cost rate.
(d) Values for non-Federal entity
contributions of services and property
must be established in accordance with
the cost principles in subpart E of this
part. If a Federal awarding agency au-
thorizes the non-Federal entity to do-
nate buildings or land for construction/
facilities acquisition projects or long-
term use, the value of the donated
property for cost sharing or matching
must be the lesser of paragraph (d)(1)
or (2) of this section.
(1) The value of the remaining life of
the property recorded in the non-Fed-
eral entity’s accounting records at the
time of donation.
(2) The current fair market value.
However, when there is sufficient jus-
tification, the Federal awarding agen-
cy may approve the use of the current
fair market value of the donated prop-
erty, even if it exceeds the value de-
scribed in paragraph (d)(1) of this sec-
tion at the time of donation.
(e) Volunteer services furnished by
third-party 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 third-party volunteer serv-
ices must be consistent with those paid
for similar work by the non-Federal en-
tity. In those instances in which the
required skills are not found in the
non-Federal entity, rates must be con-
sistent with those paid for similar
work in the labor market in which the
non-Federal entity competes for the
kind of services involved. In either
case, paid fringe benefits that are rea-
sonable, necessary, allocable, and oth-
erwise allowable may be included in
the valuation.
(f) When a third-party organization
furnishes the services of an employee,
these services must be valued at the
employee’s regular rate of pay plus an
amount of fringe benefits that is rea-
sonable, necessary, allocable, and oth-
erwise allowable, and indirect costs at
either the third-party organization’s
approved federally-negotiated indirect
cost rate or, a rate in accordance with
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129
OMB Guidance §200.307
§200.414(d) provided these services em-
ploy the same skill(s) for which the
employee is normally paid. Where do-
nated services are treated as indirect
costs, indirect cost rates will separate
the value of the donated services so
that reimbursement for the donated
services will not be made.
(g) Donated property from third par-
ties may include such items as equip-
ment, office supplies, laboratory sup-
plies, or workshop and classroom sup-
plies. Value assessed to donated prop-
erty included in the cost sharing or
matching share must not exceed the
fair market value of the property at
the time of the donation.
(h) The method used for determining
cost sharing or matching for third-
party-donated equipment, buildings
and land for which title passes to the
non-Federal entity may differ accord-
ing to the purpose of the Federal
award, if paragraph (h)(1) or (2) of this
section applies.
(1) If the purpose of the Federal
award is to assist the non-Federal enti-
ty in the acquisition of equipment,
buildings or land, the aggregate value
of the donated property may be
claimed as cost sharing or matching.
(2) If the purpose of the Federal
award is to support activities that re-
quire the use of equipment, buildings
or land, normally only depreciation
charges for equipment and buildings
may be made. However, the fair market
value of equipment or other capital as-
sets and fair rental charges for land
may be allowed, provided that the Fed-
eral awarding agency has approved the
charges. See also §200.420.
(i) The value of donated property
must be determined in accordance with
the usual accounting policies of the
non-Federal entity, with the following
qualifications:
(1) The value of donated land and
buildings must not exceed its fair mar-
ket value at the time of donation to
the non-Federal entity as established
by an independent appraiser (e.g., cer-
tified real property appraiser or Gen-
eral Services Administration rep-
resentative) and certified by a respon-
sible official of the non-Federal entity
as required by the Uniform Relocation
Assistance and Real Property Acquisi-
tion Policies Act of 1970, as amended,
(42 U.S.C. 4601–4655) (Uniform Act) ex-
cept as provided in the implementing
regulations at 49 CFR part 24, ‘‘Uni-
form Relocation Assistance And Real
Property Acquisition For Federal And
Federally-Assisted Programs’’.
(2) The value of donated equipment
must not exceed the fair market value
of equipment of the same age and con-
dition at the time of donation.
(3) The value of donated space must
not exceed the fair rental value of com-
parable space as established by an inde-
pendent appraisal of comparable space
and facilities in a privately-owned
building in the same locality.
(4) The value of loaned equipment
must not exceed its fair rental value.
(j) For third-party in-kind contribu-
tions, the fair market value of goods
and services must be documented and
to the extent feasible supported by the
same methods used internally by the
non-Federal entity.
(k) For IHEs, see also OMB memo-
randum M–01–06, dated January 5, 2001,
Clarification of OMB A–21 Treatment
of Voluntary Uncommitted Cost Shar-
ing and Tuition Remission Costs.
§200.307 Program income.
(a) General. Non-Federal entities are
encouraged to earn income to defray
program costs where appropriate.
(b) Cost of generating program income.
If authorized by Federal regulations or
the Federal award, costs incidental to
the generation of program income may
be deducted from gross income to de-
termine program income, provided
these costs have not been charged to
the Federal award.
(c) Governmental revenues. Taxes, spe-
cial assessments, levies, fines, and
other such revenues raised by a non-
Federal entity are not program income
unless the revenues are specifically
identified in the Federal award or Fed-
eral awarding agency regulations as
program income.
(d) Property. Proceeds from the sale
of real property, equipment, or supplies
are not program income; such proceeds
will be handled in accordance with the
requirements of the Property Stand-
ards §§200.311, 200.313, and 200.314, or as
specifically identified in Federal stat-
utes, regulations, or the terms and con-
ditions of the Federal award.
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130
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.308
(e) Use of program income. If the Fed-
eral awarding agency does not specify
in its regulations or the terms and con-
ditions of the Federal award, or give
prior approval for how program income
is to be used, paragraph (e)(1) of this
section must apply. For Federal awards
made to IHEs and nonprofit research
institutions, if the Federal awarding
agency does not specify in its regula-
tions or the terms and conditions of
the Federal award how program income
is to be used, paragraph (e)(2) of this
section must apply. In specifying alter-
natives to paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of
this section, the Federal awarding
agency may distinguish between in-
come earned by the recipient and in-
come earned by subrecipients and be-
tween the sources, kinds, or amounts
of income. When the Federal awarding
agency authorizes the approaches in
paragraphs (e)(2) and (3) of this section,
program income in excess of any
amounts specified must also be de-
ducted from expenditures.
(1) Deduction. Ordinarily program in-
come must be deducted from total al-
lowable costs to determine the net al-
lowable costs. Program income must be
used for current costs unless the Fed-
eral awarding agency authorizes other-
wise. Program income that the non-
Federal entity did not anticipate at the
time of the Federal award must be used
to reduce the Federal award and non-
Federal entity contributions rather
than to increase the funds committed
to the project.
(2) Addition. With prior approval of
the Federal awarding agency (except
for IHEs and nonprofit research insti-
tutions, as described in this paragraph
(e)) program income may be added to
the Federal award by the Federal agen-
cy and the non-Federal entity. The pro-
gram income must be used for the pur-
poses and under the conditions of the
Federal award.
(3) Cost sharing or matching. With
prior approval of the Federal awarding
agency, program income may be used
to meet the cost sharing or matching
requirement of the Federal award. The
amount of the Federal award remains
the same.
(f) Income after the period of perform-
ance. There are no Federal require-
ments governing the disposition of in-
come earned after the end of the period
of performance for the Federal award,
unless the Federal awarding agency
regulations or the terms and condi-
tions of the Federal award provide oth-
erwise. The Federal awarding agency
may negotiate agreements with recipi-
ents regarding appropriate uses of in-
come earned after the period of per-
formance as part of the grant closeout
process. See also §200.344.
(g) License fees and royalties. Unless
the Federal statute, regulations, or
terms and conditions for the Federal
award provide otherwise, the non-Fed-
eral entity is not accountable to the
Federal awarding agency with respect
to program income earned from license
fees and royalties for copyrighted ma-
terial, patents, patent applications,
trademarks, and inventions made
under a Federal award to which 37 CFR
part 401 is applicable.
§200.308 Revision of budget and pro-
gram plans.
(a) The approved budget for the Fed-
eral award summarizes the financial
aspects of the project or program as ap-
proved during the Federal award proc-
ess. It may include either the Federal
and non-Federal share (see definition
for Federal share in §200.1) or only the
Federal share, depending upon Federal
awarding agency requirements. The
budget and program plans include con-
siderations for performance and pro-
gram evaluation purposes whenever re-
quired in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the award.
(b) Recipients are required to report
deviations from budget or project scope
or objective, and request prior approv-
als from Federal awarding agencies for
budget and program plan revisions, in
accordance with this section.
(c) For non-construction Federal
awards, recipients must request prior
approvals from Federal awarding agen-
cies for the following program or budg-
et-related reasons:
(1) Change in the scope or the objec-
tive of the project or program (even if
there is no associated budget revision
requiring prior written approval).
(2) Change in a key person specified
in the application or the Federal
award.
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131
OMB Guidance §200.308
(3) The disengagement from the
project for more than three months, or
a 25 percent reduction in time devoted
to the project, by the approved project
director or principal investigator.
(4) The inclusion, unless waived by
the Federal awarding agency, of costs
that require prior approval in accord-
ance with subpart E of this part as ap-
plicable.
(5) The transfer of funds budgeted for
participant support costs to other cat-
egories of expense.
(6) Unless described in the applica-
tion and funded in the approved Fed-
eral awards, the subawarding, transfer-
ring or contracting out of any work
under a Federal award, including fixed
amount subawards as described in
§200.333. This provision does not apply
to the acquisition of supplies, material,
equipment or general support services.
(7) Changes in the approved cost-
sharing or matching provided by the
non-Federal entity.
(8) The need arises for additional
Federal funds to complete the project.
(d) No other prior approval require-
ments for specific items may be im-
posed unless an exception has been ap-
proved by OMB. See also §§200.102 and
200.407.
(e) Except for requirements listed in
paragraphs (c)(1) through (8) of this
section, the Federal awarding agency is
authorized, at its option, to waive
other cost-related and administrative
prior written approvals contained in
subparts D and E of this part. Such
waivers may include authorizing re-
cipients to do any one or more of the
following:
(1) Incur project costs 90 calendar
days before the Federal awarding agen-
cy makes the Federal award. Expenses
more than 90 calendar days pre-award
require prior approval of the Federal
awarding agency. All costs incurred be-
fore the Federal awarding agency
makes the Federal award are at the re-
cipient’s risk (i.e., the Federal award-
ing agency is not required to reimburse
such costs if for any reason the recipi-
ent does not receive a Federal award or
if the Federal award is less than antici-
pated and inadequate to cover such
costs). See also §200.458.
(2) Initiate a one-time extension of
the period of performance by up to 12
months unless one or more of the con-
ditions outlined in paragraphs (e)(2)(i)
through (iii) of this section apply. For
one-time extensions, the recipient
must notify the Federal awarding
agency in writing with the supporting
reasons and revised period of perform-
ance at least 10 calendar days before
the end of the period of performance
specified in the Federal award. This
one-time extension must not be exer-
cised merely for the purpose of using
unobligated balances. Extensions re-
quire explicit prior Federal awarding
agency approval when:
(i) The terms and conditions of the
Federal award prohibit the extension.
(ii) The extension requires additional
Federal funds.
(iii) The extension involves any
change in the approved objectives or
scope of the project.
(3) Carry forward unobligated bal-
ances to subsequent budget periods.
(4) For Federal awards that support
research, unless the Federal awarding
agency provides otherwise in the Fed-
eral award or in the Federal awarding
agency’s regulations, the prior ap-
proval requirements described in this
paragraph (e) are automatically waived
(i.e., recipients need not obtain such
prior approvals) unless one of the con-
ditions included in paragraph (e)(2) of
this section applies.
(f) The Federal awarding agency
may, at its option, restrict the transfer
of funds among direct cost categories
or programs, functions and activities
for Federal awards in which the Fed-
eral share of the project exceeds the
simplified acquisition threshold and
the cumulative amount of such trans-
fers exceeds or is expected to exceed 10
percent of the total budget as last ap-
proved by the Federal awarding agen-
cy. The Federal awarding agency can-
not permit a transfer that would cause
any Federal appropriation to be used
for purposes other than those con-
sistent with the appropriation.
(g) All other changes to non-con-
struction budgets, except for the
changes described in paragraph (c) of
this section, do not require prior ap-
proval (see also §200.407).
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132
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.309
(h) For construction Federal awards,
the recipient must request prior writ-
ten approval promptly from the Fed-
eral awarding agency for budget revi-
sions whenever paragraph (h)(1), (2), or
(3) of this section applies:
(1) The revision results from changes
in the scope or the objective of the
project or program.
(2) The need arises for additional
Federal funds to complete the project.
(3) A revision is desired which in-
volves specific costs for which prior
written approval requirements may be
imposed consistent with applicable
OMB cost principles listed in subpart
E.
(4) No other prior approval require-
ments for budget revisions may be im-
posed unless an exception has been ap-
proved by OMB.
(5) When a Federal awarding agency
makes a Federal award that provides
support for construction and non-con-
struction work, the Federal awarding
agency may require the recipient to ob-
tain prior approval from the Federal
awarding agency before making any
fund or budget transfers between the
two types of work supported.
(i) When requesting approval for
budget revisions, the recipient must
use the same format for budget infor-
mation that was used in the applica-
tion, unless the Federal awarding agen-
cy indicates a letter of request suffices.
(j) Within 30 calendar days from the
date of receipt of the request for budg-
et revisions, the Federal awarding
agency must review the request and
notify the recipient whether the budget
revisions have been approved. If the re-
vision is still under consideration at
the end of 30 calendar days, the Federal
awarding agency must inform the re-
cipient in writing of the date when the
recipient may expect the decision.
§200.309 Modifications to Period of
Performance.
If a Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity approves an extension,
or if a recipient extends under
§200.308(e)(2), the Period of Perform-
ance will be amended to end at the
completion of the extension. If a termi-
nation occurs, the Period of Perform-
ance will be amended to end upon the
effective date of termination. If a re-
newal award is issued, a distinct Period
of Performance will begin.
PROPERTY STANDARDS
§200.310 Insurance coverage.
The non-Federal entity must, at a
minimum, provide the equivalent in-
surance coverage for real property and
equipment acquired or improved with
Federal funds as provided to property
owned by the non-Federal entity. Fed-
erally-owned property need not be in-
sured unless required by the terms and
conditions of the Federal award.
§200.311 Real property.
(a) Title. Subject to the requirements
and conditions set forth in this section,
title to real property acquired or im-
proved under a Federal award will vest
upon acquisition in the non-Federal en-
tity.
(b) Use. Except as otherwise provided
by Federal statutes or by the Federal
awarding agency, real property will be
used for the originally authorized pur-
pose as long as needed for that purpose,
during which time the non-Federal en-
tity must not dispose of or encumber
its title or other interests.
(c) Disposition. When real property is
no longer needed for the originally au-
thorized purpose, the non-Federal enti-
ty must obtain disposition instructions
from the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity. The instructions
must provide for one of the following
alternatives:
(1) Retain title after compensating
the Federal awarding agency. The
amount paid to the Federal awarding
agency will be computed by applying
the Federal awarding agency’s percent-
age of participation in the cost of the
original purchase (and costs of any im-
provements) to the fair market value
of the property. However, in those situ-
ations where the non-Federal entity is
disposing of real property acquired or
improved with a Federal award and ac-
quiring replacement real property
under the same Federal award, the net
proceeds from the disposition may be
used as an offset to the cost of the re-
placement property.
(2) Sell the property and compensate
the Federal awarding agency. The
amount due to the Federal awarding
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133
OMB Guidance §200.313
agency will be calculated by applying
the Federal awarding agency’s percent-
age of participation in the cost of the
original purchase (and cost of any im-
provements) to the proceeds of the sale
after deduction of any actual and rea-
sonable selling and fixing-up expenses.
If the Federal award has not been
closed out, the net proceeds from sale
may be offset against the original cost
of the property. When the non-Federal
entity is directed to sell property, sales
procedures must be followed that pro-
vide for competition to the extent
practicable and result in the highest
possible return.
(3) Transfer title to the Federal
awarding agency or to a third party
designated/approved by the Federal
awarding agency. The non-Federal en-
tity is entitled to be paid an amount
calculated by applying the non-Federal
entity’s percentage of participation in
the purchase of the real property (and
cost of any improvements) to the cur-
rent fair market value of the property.
§200.312 Federally-owned and exempt
property.
(a) Title to federally-owned property
remains vested in the Federal Govern-
ment. The non-Federal entity must
submit annually an inventory listing of
federally-owned property in its custody
to the Federal awarding agency. Upon
completion of the Federal award or
when the property is no longer needed,
the non-Federal entity must report the
property to the Federal awarding agen-
cy for further Federal agency utiliza-
tion.
(b) If the Federal awarding agency
has no further need for the property, it
must declare the property excess and
report it for disposal to the appropriate
Federal disposal authority, unless the
Federal awarding agency has statutory
authority to dispose of the property by
alternative methods (e.g., the author-
ity provided by the Federal Technology
Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 3710 (i)) to do-
nate research equipment to edu-
cational and nonprofit organizations in
accordance with Executive Order 12999,
‘‘Educational Technology: Ensuring
Opportunity for All Children in the
Next Century.’’). The Federal awarding
agency must issue appropriate instruc-
tions to the non-Federal entity.
(c) Exempt property means property
acquired under a Federal award where
the Federal awarding agency has cho-
sen to vest title to the property to the
non-Federal entity without further re-
sponsibility to the Federal Govern-
ment, based upon the explicit terms
and conditions of the Federal award.
The Federal awarding agency may ex-
ercise this option when statutory au-
thority exists. Absent statutory au-
thority and specific terms and condi-
tions of the Federal award, title to ex-
empt property acquired under the Fed-
eral award remains with the Federal
Government.
§200.313 Equipment.
See also §200.439.
(a) Title. Subject to the requirements
and conditions set forth in this section,
title to equipment acquired under a
Federal award will vest upon acquisi-
tion in the non-Federal entity. Unless
a statute specifically authorizes the
Federal agency to vest title in the non-
Federal entity without further respon-
sibility to the Federal Government,
and the Federal agency elects to do so,
the title must be a conditional title.
Title must vest in the non-Federal en-
tity subject to the following condi-
tions:
(1) Use the equipment for the author-
ized purposes of the project during the
period of performance, or until the
property is no longer needed for the
purposes of the project.
(2) Not encumber the property with-
out approval of the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity.
(3) Use and dispose of the property in
accordance with paragraphs (b), (c),
and (e) of this section.
(b) General. A state must use, manage
and dispose of equipment acquired
under a Federal award by the state in
accordance with state laws and proce-
dures. Other non-Federal entities must
follow paragraphs (c) through (e) of
this section.
(c) Use. (1) Equipment must be used
by the non-Federal entity in the pro-
gram or project for which it was ac-
quired as long as needed, whether or
not the project or program continues
to be supported by the Federal award,
and the non-Federal entity must not
encumber the property without prior
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134
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.313
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy. The Federal awarding agency may
require the submission of the applica-
ble common form for equipment. When
no longer needed for the original pro-
gram or project, the equipment may be
used in other activities supported by
the Federal awarding agency, in the
following order of priority:
(i) Activities under a Federal award
from the Federal awarding agency
which funded the original program or
project, then
(ii) Activities under Federal awards
from other Federal awarding agencies.
This includes consolidated equipment
for information technology systems.
(2) During the time that equipment is
used on the project or program for
which it was acquired, the non-Federal
entity must also make equipment
available for use on other projects or
programs currently or previously sup-
ported by the Federal Government,
provided that such use will not inter-
fere with the work on the projects or
program for which it was originally ac-
quired. First preference for other use
must be given to other programs or
projects supported by Federal awarding
agency that financed the equipment
and second preference must be given to
programs or projects under Federal
awards from other Federal awarding
agencies. Use for non-federally-funded
programs or projects is also permis-
sible. User fees should be considered if
appropriate.
(3) Notwithstanding the encourage-
ment in §200.307 to earn program in-
come, the non-Federal entity must not
use equipment acquired with the Fed-
eral award to provide services for a fee
that is less than private companies
charge for equivalent services unless
specifically authorized by Federal stat-
ute for as long as the Federal Govern-
ment retains an interest in the equip-
ment.
(4) When acquiring replacement
equipment, the non-Federal entity may
use the equipment to be replaced as a
trade-in or sell the property and use
the proceeds to offset the cost of the
replacement property.
(d) Management requirements. Proce-
dures for managing equipment (includ-
ing replacement equipment), whether
acquired in whole or in part under a
Federal award, until disposition takes
place will, as a minimum, meet the fol-
lowing requirements:
(1) Property records must be main-
tained that include a description of the
property, a serial number or other
identification number, the source of
funding for the property (including the
FAIN), who holds title, the acquisition
date, and cost of the property, percent-
age of Federal participation in the
project costs for the Federal award
under which the property was acquired,
the location, use and condition of the
property, and any ultimate disposition
data including the date of disposal and
sale price of the property.
(2) A physical inventory of the prop-
erty must be taken and the results rec-
onciled with the property records at
least once every two years.
(3) A control system must be devel-
oped to ensure adequate safeguards to
prevent loss, damage, or theft of the
property. Any loss, damage, or theft
must be investigated.
(4) Adequate maintenance procedures
must be developed to keep the property
in good condition.
(5) If the non-Federal entity is au-
thorized or required to sell the prop-
erty, proper sales procedures must be
established to ensure the highest pos-
sible return.
(e) Disposition. When original or re-
placement equipment acquired under a
Federal award is no longer needed for
the original project or program or for
other activities currently or previously
supported by a Federal awarding agen-
cy, except as otherwise provided in
Federal statutes, regulations, or Fed-
eral awarding agency disposition in-
structions, the non-Federal entity
must request disposition instructions
from the Federal awarding agency if
required by the terms and conditions of
the Federal award. Disposition of the
equipment will be made as follows, in
accordance with Federal awarding
agency disposition instructions:
(1) Items of equipment with a current
per unit fair market value of $5,000 or
less may be retained, sold or otherwise
disposed of with no further responsi-
bility to the Federal awarding agency.
(2) Except as provided in §200.312(b),
or if the Federal awarding agency fails
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135
OMB Guidance §200.315
to provide requested disposition in-
structions within 120 days, items of
equipment with a current per-unit fair
market value in excess of $5,000 may be
retained by the non-Federal entity or
sold. The Federal awarding agency is
entitled to an amount calculated by
multiplying the current market value
or proceeds from sale by the Federal
awarding agency’s percentage of par-
ticipation in the cost of the original
purchase. If the equipment is sold, the
Federal awarding agency may permit
the non-Federal entity to deduct and
retain from the Federal share $500 or
ten percent of the proceeds, whichever
is less, for its selling and handling ex-
penses.
(3) The non-Federal entity may
transfer title to the property to the
Federal Government or to an eligible
third party provided that, in such
cases, the non-Federal entity must be
entitled to compensation for its attrib-
utable percentage of the current fair
market value of the property.
(4) In cases where a non-Federal enti-
ty fails to take appropriate disposition
actions, the Federal awarding agency
may direct the non-Federal entity to
take disposition actions.
§200.314 Supplies.
See also §200.453.
(a) Title to supplies will vest in the
non-Federal entity upon acquisition. If
there is a residual inventory of unused
supplies exceeding $5,000 in total aggre-
gate value upon termination or com-
pletion of the project or program and
the supplies are not needed for any
other Federal award, the non-Federal
entity must retain the supplies for use
on other activities or sell them, but
must, in either case, compensate the
Federal Government for its share. The
amount of compensation must be com-
puted in the same manner as for equip-
ment. See §200.313 (e)(2) for the calcula-
tion methodology.
(b) As long as the Federal Govern-
ment retains an interest in the sup-
plies, the non-Federal entity must not
use supplies acquired under a Federal
award to provide services to other or-
ganizations for a fee that is less than
private companies charge for equiva-
lent services, unless specifically au-
thorized by Federal statute.
§200.315 Intangible property.
(a) Title to intangible property (see
definition for Intangible property in
§200.1) acquired under a Federal award
vests upon acquisition in the non-Fed-
eral entity. The non-Federal entity
must use that property for the origi-
nally-authorized purpose, and must not
encumber the property without ap-
proval of the Federal awarding agency.
When no longer needed for the origi-
nally authorized purpose, disposition of
the intangible property must occur in
accordance with the provisions in
§200.313(e).
(b) The non-Federal entity may copy-
right any work that is subject to copy-
right and was developed, or for which
ownership was acquired, under a Fed-
eral award. The Federal awarding agen-
cy reserves a royalty-free, nonexclu-
sive and irrevocable right to reproduce,
publish, or otherwise use the work for
Federal purposes, and to authorize oth-
ers to do so.
(c) The non-Federal entity is subject
to applicable regulations governing
patents and inventions, including gov-
ernmentwide 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
Awards, Contracts and Cooperative
Agreements.’’
(d) The Federal Government has the
right to:
(1) Obtain, reproduce, publish, or oth-
erwise use the data produced under a
Federal award; and
(2) Authorize others to receive, repro-
duce, publish, or otherwise use such
data for Federal purposes.
(e)(1) In response to a Freedom of In-
formation Act (FOIA) request for re-
search data relating to published re-
search findings produced under a Fed-
eral award that were used by the Fed-
eral Government in developing an
agency action that has the force and
effect of law, the Federal awarding
agency must request, and the non-Fed-
eral entity must provide, within a rea-
sonable time, the research data so that
they can be made available to the pub-
lic through the procedures established
under the FOIA. If the Federal award-
ing agency obtains the research data
solely in response to a FOIA request,
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.316
the Federal awarding agency may
charge the requester a reasonable fee
equaling the full incremental cost of
obtaining the research data. This fee
should reflect costs incurred by the
Federal agency and the non-Federal en-
tity. This fee is in addition to any fees
the Federal awarding agency may as-
sess under the FOIA (5 U.S.C.
552(a)(4)(A)).
(2) Published research findings means
when:
(i) Research findings are published in
a peer-reviewed scientific or technical
journal; or
(ii) A Federal agency publicly and of-
ficially cites the research findings in
support of an agency action that has
the force and effect of law. ‘‘Used by
the Federal Government in developing
an agency action that has the force and
effect of law’’ is defined as when an
agency publicly and officially cites the
research findings in support of an agen-
cy action that has the force and effect
of law.
(3) Research data means the recorded
factual material commonly accepted in
the scientific community as necessary
to validate research findings, but not
any of the following: Preliminary anal-
yses, drafts of scientific papers, plans
for future research, peer reviews, or
communications with colleagues. This
‘‘recorded’’ material excludes physical
objects (e.g., laboratory samples). Re-
search data also do not include:
(i) Trade secrets, commercial infor-
mation, materials necessary to be held
confidential by a researcher until they
are published, or similar information
which is protected under law; and
(ii) Personnel and medical informa-
tion and similar information the dis-
closure of which would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of per-
sonal privacy, such as information that
could be used to identify a particular
person in a research study.
§200.316 Property trust relationship.
Real property, equipment, and intan-
gible property, that are acquired or im-
proved with a Federal award must be
held in trust by the non-Federal entity
as trustee for the beneficiaries of the
project or program under which the
property was acquired or improved.
The Federal awarding agency may re-
quire the non-Federal entity to record
liens or other appropriate notices of
record to indicate that personal or real
property has been acquired or improved
with a Federal award and that use and
disposition conditions apply to the
property.
Procurement Standards
§200.317 Procurements by states.
When procuring property and serv-
ices under a Federal award, a State
must follow the same policies and pro-
cedures it uses for procurements from
its non-Federal funds. The State will
comply with §§200.321, 200.322, and
200.323 and ensure that every purchase
order or other contract includes any
clauses required by §200.327. All other
non-Federal entities, including sub-
recipients of a State, must follow the
procurement standards in §§200.318
through 200.327.
§200.318 General procurement stand-
ards.
(a) The non-Federal entity must have
and use documented procurement pro-
cedures, consistent with State, local,
and tribal laws and regulations and the
standards of this section, for the acqui-
sition of property or services required
under a Federal award or subaward.
The non-Federal entity’s documented
procurement procedures must conform
to the procurement standards identi-
fied in §§200.317 through 200.327.
(b) Non-Federal entities must main-
tain oversight to ensure that contrac-
tors perform in accordance with the
terms, conditions, and specifications of
their contracts or purchase orders.
(c)(1) The non-Federal entity must
maintain written standards of conduct
covering conflicts of interest and gov-
erning the actions of its employees en-
gaged in the selection, award and ad-
ministration of contracts. No em-
ployee, officer, or agent may partici-
pate in the selection, award, or admin-
istration of a 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
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OMB Guidance §200.318
member of his or her immediate fam-
ily, his or her partner, or an organiza-
tion which employs or is about to em-
ploy any of the parties indicated here-
in, has a financial or other interest in
or a tangible personal benefit from a
firm considered for a contract. The of-
ficers, employees, and agents of the
non-Federal entity may neither solicit
nor accept gratuities, favors, or any-
thing of monetary value from contrac-
tors or parties to subcontracts. How-
ever, non-Federal entities may set
standards for situations in which the
financial interest is not substantial or
the gift is an unsolicited item of nomi-
nal value. The standards of conduct
must provide for disciplinary actions
to be applied for violations of such
standards by officers, employees, or
agents of the non-Federal entity.
(2) If the non-Federal entity has a
parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organi-
zation that is not a State, local govern-
ment, or Indian tribe, the non-Federal
entity must also maintain written
standards of conduct covering organi-
zational conflicts of interest. Organiza-
tional conflicts of interest means that
because of relationships with a parent
company, affiliate, or subsidiary orga-
nization, the non-Federal entity is un-
able or appears to be unable to be im-
partial in conducting a procurement
action involving a related organiza-
tion.
(d) The non-Federal entity’s proce-
dures must avoid acquisition of unnec-
essary or duplicative items. Consider-
ation should be given to consolidating
or breaking out procurements to ob-
tain a more economical purchase.
Where appropriate, an analysis will be
made of lease versus purchase alter-
natives, and any other appropriate
analysis to determine the most eco-
nomical approach.
(e) To foster greater economy and ef-
ficiency, and in accordance with efforts
to promote cost-effective use of shared
services across the Federal Govern-
ment, the non-Federal entity is encour-
aged to enter into state and local inter-
governmental agreements or inter-en-
tity agreements where appropriate for
procurement or use of common or
shared goods and services. Competition
requirements will be met with applied
to documented procurement actions
using strategic sourcing, shared serv-
ices, and other similar procurement ar-
rangements.
(f) The non-Federal entity is encour-
aged to use Federal excess and surplus
property in lieu of purchasing new
equipment and property whenever such
use is feasible and reduces project
costs.
(g) The non-Federal entity is encour-
aged to use value engineering clauses
in contracts for construction projects
of sufficient size to offer reasonable op-
portunities for cost reductions. Value
engineering is a systematic and cre-
ative analysis of each contract item or
task to ensure that its essential func-
tion is provided at the overall lower
cost.
(h) The non-Federal entity must
award contracts only to responsible
contractors possessing the ability to
perform successfully under the terms
and conditions of a proposed procure-
ment. Consideration will be given to
such matters as contractor integrity,
compliance with public policy, record
of past performance, and financial and
technical resources. See also §200.214.
(i) The non-Federal entity must
maintain records sufficient to detail
the history of procurement. These
records will include, but are not nec-
essarily limited to, the following: Ra-
tionale for the method of procurement,
selection of contract type, contractor
selection or rejection, and the basis for
the contract price.
(j)(1) The non-Federal entity may use
a time-and-materials type contract
only after a determination that no
other contract is suitable and if the
contract includes a ceiling price that
the contractor exceeds at its own risk.
Time-and-materials type contract
means a contract whose cost to a non-
Federal entity is the sum of:
(i) The actual cost of materials; and
(ii) Direct labor hours charged at
fixed hourly rates that reflect wages,
general and administrative expenses,
and profit.
(2) Since this formula generates an
open-ended contract price, a time-and-
materials contract provides no positive
profit incentive to the contractor for
cost control or labor efficiency. There-
fore, each contract must set a ceiling
price that the contractor exceeds at its
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138
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.319
own risk. Further, the non-Federal en-
tity awarding such a contract must as-
sert a high degree of oversight in order
to obtain reasonable assurance that
the contractor is using efficient meth-
ods and effective cost controls.
(k) The non-Federal entity alone
must be responsible, in accordance
with good administrative practice and
sound business judgment, for the set-
tlement of all contractual and adminis-
trative issues arising out of procure-
ments. These issues include, but are
not limited to, source evaluation, pro-
tests, disputes, and claims. These
standards do not relieve the non-Fed-
eral entity of any contractual respon-
sibilities under its contracts. The Fed-
eral awarding agency will not sub-
stitute its judgment for that of the
non-Federal entity unless the matter is
primarily a Federal concern. Viola-
tions of law will be referred to the
local, state, or Federal authority hav-
ing proper jurisdiction.
§200.319 Competition.
(a) All procurement transactions for
the acquisition of property or services
required under a Federal award must
be conducted in a manner providing
full and open competition consistent
with the standards of this section and
§200.320.
(b) In order to ensure objective con-
tractor performance and eliminate un-
fair competitive advantage, contrac-
tors that develop or draft specifica-
tions, requirements, statements of
work, or invitations for bids or re-
quests for proposals must be excluded
from competing for such procurements.
Some of the situations considered to be
restrictive of competition include but
are not limited to:
(1) Placing unreasonable require-
ments on firms in order for them to
qualify to do business;
(2) Requiring unnecessary experience
and excessive bonding;
(3) Noncompetitive pricing practices
between firms or between affiliated
companies;
(4) Noncompetitive contracts to con-
sultants that are on retainer contracts;
(5) Organizational conflicts of inter-
est;
(6) Specifying only a ‘‘brand name’’
product instead of allowing ‘‘an equal’’
product to be offered and describing
the performance or other relevant re-
quirements of the procurement; and
(7) Any arbitrary action in the pro-
curement process.
(c) The non-Federal entity must con-
duct procurements in a manner that
prohibits the use of statutorily or ad-
ministratively imposed state, local, or
tribal geographical preferences in the
evaluation of bids or proposals, except
in those cases where applicable Federal
statutes expressly mandate or encour-
age geographic preference. Nothing in
this section preempts state licensing
laws. When contracting for architec-
tural and engineering (A/E) services,
geographic location may be a selection
criterion provided its application
leaves an appropriate number of quali-
fied firms, given the nature and size of
the project, to compete for the con-
tract.
(d) The non-Federal entity must have
written procedures for procurement
transactions. These procedures must
ensure that all solicitations:
(1) Incorporate a clear and accurate
description of the technical require-
ments for the material, product, or
service to be procured. Such descrip-
tion must not, in competitive procure-
ments, contain features which unduly
restrict competition. The description
may include a statement of the quali-
tative nature of the material, product
or service to be procured and, when
necessary, must set forth those min-
imum essential characteristics and
standards to which it must conform if
it is to satisfy its intended use. De-
tailed product specifications should be
avoided if at all possible. When it is
impractical or uneconomical to make a
clear and accurate description of the
technical requirements, a ‘‘brand name
or equivalent’’ description may be used
as a means to define the performance
or other salient requirements of pro-
curement. The specific features of the
named brand which must be met by of-
fers must be clearly stated; and
(2) Identify all requirements which
the offerors must fulfill and all other
factors to be used in evaluating bids or
proposals.
(e) The non-Federal entity must en-
sure that all prequalified lists of per-
sons, firms, or products which are used
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OMB Guidance §200.320
in acquiring goods and services are cur-
rent and include enough qualified
sources to ensure maximum open and
free competition. Also, the non-Federal
entity must not preclude potential bid-
ders from qualifying during the solici-
tation period.
(f) Noncompetitive procurements can
only be awarded in accordance with
§200.320(c).
§200.320 Methods of procurement to
be followed.
The non-Federal entity must have
and use documented procurement pro-
cedures, consistent with the standards
of this section and §§200.317, 200.318,
and 200.319 for any of the following
methods of procurement used for the
acquisition of property or services re-
quired under a Federal award or sub-
award.
(a) Informal procurement methods.
When the value of the procurement for
property or services under a Federal
award does not exceed the simplified ac-
quisition threshold (SAT), as defined in
§200.1, or a lower threshold established
by a non-Federal entity, formal pro-
curement methods are not required.
The non-Federal entity may use infor-
mal procurement methods to expedite
the completion of its transactions and
minimize the associated administra-
tive burden and cost. The informal
methods used for procurement of prop-
erty or services at or below the SAT in-
clude:
(1) Micro-purchases—(i) Distribution.
The acquisition of supplies or services,
the aggregate dollar amount of which
does not exceed the micro-purchase
threshold (See the definition of micro-
purchase in §200.1). To the maximum
extent practicable, the non-Federal en-
tity should distribute micro-purchases
equitably among qualified suppliers.
(ii) Micro-purchase awards. Micro-pur-
chases may be awarded without solic-
iting competitive price or rate
quotations if the non-Federal entity
considers the price to be reasonable
based on research, experience, purchase
history or other information and docu-
ments it files accordingly. Purchase
cards can be used for micro-purchases
if procedures are documented and ap-
proved by the non-Federal entity.
(iii) Micro-purchase thresholds. The
non-Federal entity is responsible for
determining and documenting an ap-
propriate micro-purchase threshold
based on internal controls, an evalua-
tion of risk, and its documented pro-
curement procedures. The micro-pur-
chase threshold used by the non-Fed-
eral entity must be authorized or not
prohibited under State, local, or tribal
laws or regulations. Non-Federal enti-
ties may establish a threshold higher
than the Federal threshold established
in the Federal Acquisition Regulations
(FAR) in accordance with paragraphs
(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of this section.
(iv) Non-Federal entity increase to the
micro-purchase threshold up to $50,000.
Non-Federal entities may establish a
threshold higher than the micro-pur-
chase threshold identified in the FAR
in accordance with the requirements of
this section. The non-Federal entity
may self-certify a threshold up to
$50,000 on an annual basis and must
maintain documentation to be made
available to the Federal awarding
agency and auditors in accordance with
§200.334. The self-certification must in-
clude a justification, clear identifica-
tion of the threshold, and supporting
documentation of any of the following:
(A) A qualification as a low-risk
auditee, in accordance with the criteria
in §200.520 for the most recent audit;
(B) An annual internal institutional
risk assessment to identify, mitigate,
and manage financial risks; or,
(C) For public institutions, a higher
threshold consistent with State law.
(v) Non-Federal entity increase to the
micro-purchase threshold over $50,000.
Micro-purchase thresholds higher than
$50,000 must be approved by the cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs. The
non-federal entity must submit a re-
quest with the requirements included
in paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of this section.
The increased threshold is valid until
there is a change in status in which the
justification was approved.
(2) Small purchases—(i) Small purchase
procedures. The acquisition of property
or services, the aggregate dollar
amount of which is higher than the
micro-purchase threshold but does not
exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold. If small purchase procedures
are used, price or rate quotations must
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.320
be obtained from an adequate number
of qualified sources as determined ap-
propriate by the non-Federal entity.
(ii) Simplified acquisition thresholds.
The non-Federal entity is responsible
for determining an appropriate sim-
plified acquisition threshold based on
internal controls, an evaluation of risk
and its documented procurement proce-
dures which must not exceed the
threshold established in the FAR.
When applicable, a lower simplified ac-
quisition threshold used by the non-
Federal entity must be authorized or
not prohibited under State, local, or
tribal laws or regulations.
(b) Formal procurement methods. When
the value of the procurement for prop-
erty or services under a Federal finan-
cial assistance award exceeds the SAT,
or a lower threshold established by a
non-Federal entity, formal procure-
ment methods are required. Formal
procurement methods require following
documented procedures. Formal pro-
curement methods also require public
advertising unless a non-competitive
procurement can be used in accordance
with §200.319 or paragraph (c) of this
section. The following formal methods
of procurement are used for procure-
ment of property or services above the
simplified acquisition threshold or a
value below the simplified acquisition
threshold the non-Federal entity deter-
mines to be appropriate:
(1) Sealed bids. A procurement method
in which bids are publicly solicited and
a firm fixed-price contract (lump sum
or unit price) is awarded to the respon-
sible bidder whose bid, conforming with
all the material terms and conditions
of the invitation for bids, is the lowest
in price. The sealed bids method is the
preferred method for procuring con-
struction, if the conditions.
(i) In order for sealed bidding to be
feasible, the following conditions
should be present:
(A) A complete, adequate, and real-
istic specification or purchase descrip-
tion is available;
(B) Two or more responsible bidders
are willing and able to compete effec-
tively for the business; and
(C) The procurement lends itself to a
firm fixed price contract and the selec-
tion of the successful bidder can be
made principally on the basis of price.
(ii) If sealed bids are used, the fol-
lowing requirements apply:
(A) Bids must be solicited from an
adequate number of qualified sources,
providing them sufficient response
time prior to the date set for opening
the bids, for local, and tribal govern-
ments, the invitation for bids must be
publicly advertised;
(B) The invitation for bids, which
will include any specifications and per-
tinent attachments, must define the
items or services in order for the bidder
to properly respond;
(C) All bids will be opened at the
time and place prescribed in the invita-
tion for bids, and for local and tribal
governments, the bids must be opened
publicly;
(D) A firm fixed price contract award
will be made in writing to the lowest
responsive and responsible bidder.
Where specified in bidding documents,
factors such as discounts, transpor-
tation cost, and life cycle costs must
be considered in determining which bid
is lowest. Payment discounts will only
be used to determine the low bid when
prior experience indicates that such
discounts are usually taken advantage
of; and
(E) Any or all bids may be rejected if
there is a sound documented reason.
(2) Proposals. A procurement method
in which either a fixed price or cost-re-
imbursement type contract is awarded.
Proposals are generally used when con-
ditions are not appropriate for the use
of sealed bids. They are awarded in ac-
cordance with the following require-
ments:
(i) Requests for proposals must be
publicized and identify all evaluation
factors and their relative importance.
Proposals must be solicited from an
adequate number of qualified offerors.
Any response to publicized requests for
proposals must be considered to the
maximum extent practical;
(ii) The non-Federal entity must
have a written method for conducting
technical evaluations of the proposals
received and making selections;
(iii) Contracts must be awarded to
the responsible offeror whose proposal
is most advantageous to the non-Fed-
eral entity, with price and other fac-
tors considered; and
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OMB Guidance §200.323
(iv) The non-Federal entity may use
competitive proposal procedures for
qualifications-based procurement of ar-
chitectural/engineering (A/E) profes-
sional services whereby offeror’s quali-
fications are evaluated and the most
qualified offeror is selected, subject to
negotiation of fair and reasonable com-
pensation. The method, where price is
not used as a selection factor, can only
be used in procurement of A/E profes-
sional services. It cannot be used to
purchase other types of services though
A/E firms that are a potential source to
perform the proposed effort.
(c) Noncompetitive procurement. There
are specific circumstances in which
noncompetitive procurement can be
used. Noncompetitive procurement can
only be awarded if one or more of the
following circumstances apply:
(1) The acquisition of property or
services, the aggregate dollar amount
of which does not exceed the micro-
purchase threshold (see paragraph
(a)(1) of this section);
(2) The item is available only from a
single source;
(3) The public exigency or emergency
for the requirement will not permit a
delay resulting from publicizing a com-
petitive solicitation;
(4) The Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity expressly author-
izes a noncompetitive procurement in
response to a written request from the
non-Federal entity; or
(5) After solicitation of a number of
sources, competition is determined in-
adequate.
§200.321 Contracting with small and
minority businesses, women’s busi-
ness enterprises, and labor surplus
area firms.
(a) The non-Federal entity must take
all necessary affirmative steps to as-
sure that minority businesses, women’s
business enterprises, and labor surplus
area firms are used when possible.
(b) Affirmative steps must include:
(1) Placing qualified small and mi-
nority businesses and women’s business
enterprises on solicitation lists;
(2) Assuring that small and minority
businesses, and women’s business en-
terprises are solicited whenever they
are potential sources;
(3) Dividing total requirements, when
economically feasible, into smaller
tasks or quantities to permit max-
imum participation by small and mi-
nority businesses, and women’s busi-
ness enterprises;
(4) Establishing delivery schedules,
where the requirement permits, which
encourage participation by small and
minority businesses, and women’s busi-
ness enterprises;
(5) Using the services and assistance,
as appropriate, of such organizations as
the Small Business Administration and
the Minority Business Development
Agency of the Department of Com-
merce; and
(6) Requiring the prime contractor, if
subcontracts are to be let, to take the
affirmative steps listed in paragraphs
(b)(1) through (5) of this section.
§200.322 Domestic preferences for pro-
curements.
(a) As appropriate and to the extent
consistent with law, the non-Federal
entity should, to the greatest extent
practicable under a Federal award, pro-
vide a preference for the purchase, ac-
quisition, or use of goods, products, or
materials produced in the United
States (including but not limited to
iron, aluminum, steel, cement, and
other manufactured products). The re-
quirements of this section must be in-
cluded in all subawards including all
contracts and purchase orders for work
or products under this award.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) ‘‘Produced in the United States’’
means, for iron and steel products, that
all manufacturing processes, from the
initial melting stage through the appli-
cation of coatings, occurred in the
United States.
(2) ‘‘Manufactured products’’ means
items and construction materials com-
posed in whole or in part of non-ferrous
metals such as aluminum; plastics and
polymer-based products such as poly-
vinyl chloride pipe; aggregates such as
concrete; glass, including optical fiber;
and lumber.
§200.323 Procurement of recovered
materials.
A non-Federal entity that is a state
agency or agency of a political subdivi-
sion of a state and its contractors must
comply with section 6002 of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.324
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act. The requirements of Section 6002
include procuring only items des-
ignated in guidelines of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) at 40
CFR part 247 that contain the highest
percentage of recovered materials prac-
ticable, consistent with maintaining a
satisfactory level of competition,
where the purchase price of the item
exceeds $10,000 or the value of the
quantity acquired during the preceding
fiscal year exceeded $10,000; procuring
solid waste management services in a
manner that maximizes energy and re-
source recovery; and establishing an af-
firmative procurement program for
procurement of recovered materials
identified in the EPA guidelines.
§200.324 Contract cost and price.
(a) The non-Federal entity must per-
form a cost or price analysis in connec-
tion with every procurement action in
excess of the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold including contract modifica-
tions. The method and degree of anal-
ysis is dependent on the facts sur-
rounding the particular procurement
situation, but as a starting point, the
non-Federal entity must make inde-
pendent estimates before receiving bids
or proposals.
(b) The non-Federal entity must ne-
gotiate profit as a separate element of
the price for each contract in which
there is no price competition and in all
cases where cost analysis is performed.
To establish a fair and reasonable prof-
it, consideration must be given to the
complexity of the work to be per-
formed, the risk borne by the con-
tractor, the contractor’s investment,
the amount of subcontracting, the
quality of its record of past perform-
ance, and industry profit rates in the
surrounding geographical area for
similar work.
(c) Costs or prices based on estimated
costs for contracts under the Federal
award are allowable only to the extent
that costs incurred or cost estimates
included in negotiated prices would be
allowable for the non-Federal entity
under subpart E of this part. The non-
Federal entity may reference its own
cost principles that comply with the
Federal cost principles.
(d) The cost plus a percentage of cost
and percentage of construction cost
methods of contracting must not be
used.
§200.325 Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity review.
(a) The non-Federal entity must
make available, upon request of the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity, technical specifica-
tions on proposed procurements where
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity believes such review is
needed to ensure that the item or serv-
ice specified is the one being proposed
for acquisition. This review generally
will take place prior to the time the
specification is incorporated into a so-
licitation document. However, if the
non-Federal entity desires to have the
review accomplished after a solicita-
tion has been developed, the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty may still review the specifications,
with such review usually limited to the
technical aspects of the proposed pur-
chase.
(b) The non-Federal entity must
make available upon request, for the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity pre-procurement re-
view, procurement documents, such as
requests for proposals or invitations
for bids, or independent cost estimates,
when:
(1) The non-Federal entity’s procure-
ment procedures or operation fails to
comply with the procurement stand-
ards in this part;
(2) The procurement is expected to
exceed the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold and is to be awarded without
competition or only one bid or offer is
received in response to a solicitation;
(3) The procurement, which is ex-
pected to exceed the Simplified Acqui-
sition Threshold, specifies a ‘‘brand
name’’ product;
(4) The proposed contract is more
than the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold and is to be awarded to
other than the apparent low bidder
under a sealed bid procurement; or
(5) A proposed contract modification
changes the scope of a contract or in-
creases the contract amount by more
than the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold.
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OMB Guidance §200.329
(c) The non-Federal entity is exempt
from the pre-procurement review in
paragraph (b) of this section if the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity determines that its procurement
systems comply with the standards of
this part.
(1) The non-Federal entity may re-
quest that its procurement system be
reviewed by the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity to deter-
mine whether its system meets these
standards in order for its system to be
certified. Generally, these reviews
must occur where there is continuous
high-dollar funding, and third-party
contracts are awarded on a regular
basis;
(2) The non-Federal entity may self-
certify its procurement system. Such
self-certification must not limit the
Federal awarding agency’s right to sur-
vey the system. Under a self-certifi-
cation procedure, the Federal awarding
agency may rely on written assurances
from the non-Federal entity that it is
complying with these standards. The
non-Federal entity must cite specific
policies, procedures, regulations, or
standards as being in compliance with
these requirements and have its system
available for review.
§200.326 Bonding requirements.
For construction or facility improve-
ment contracts or subcontracts exceed-
ing the Simplified Acquisition Thresh-
old, the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity may accept the
bonding policy and requirements of the
non-Federal entity provided that the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity has made a determina-
tion that the Federal interest is ade-
quately protected. If such a determina-
tion has not been made, the minimum
requirements must be as follows:
(a) A bid guarantee from each bidder
equivalent to five percent of the bid
price. The ‘‘bid guarantee’’ must con-
sist of a firm commitment such as a
bid bond, certified check, or other ne-
gotiable instrument accompanying a
bid as assurance that the bidder will,
upon acceptance of the bid, execute
such contractual documents as may be
required within the time specified.
(b) A performance bond on the part of
the contractor for 100 percent of the
contract price. A ‘‘performance bond’’
is one executed in connection with a
contract to secure fulfillment of all the
contractor’s requirements under such
contract.
(c) A payment bond on the part of the
contractor for 100 percent of the con-
tract price. A ‘‘payment bond’’ is one
executed in connection with a contract
to assure payment as required by law
of all persons supplying labor and ma-
terial in the execution of the work pro-
vided for in the contract.
§200.327 Contract provisions.
The non-Federal entity’s contracts
must contain the applicable provisions
described in appendix II to this part.
PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL
MONITORING AND REPORTING
§200.328 Financial reporting.
Unless otherwise approved by OMB,
the Federal awarding agency must so-
licit only the OMB-approved govern-
mentwide data elements for collection
of financial information (at time of
publication the Federal Financial Re-
port or such future, OMB-approved,
governmentwide data elements avail-
able from the OMB-designated stand-
ards lead. This information must be
collected with the frequency required
by the terms and conditions of the Fed-
eral award, but no less frequently than
annually nor more frequently than
quarterly except in unusual cir-
cumstances, for example where more
frequent reporting is necessary for the
effective monitoring of the Federal
award or could significantly affect pro-
gram outcomes, and preferably in co-
ordination with performance reporting.
The Federal awarding agency must use
OMB-approved common information
collections, as applicable, when pro-
viding financial and performance re-
porting information.
§200.329 Monitoring and reporting
program performance.
(a) Monitoring by the non-Federal enti-
ty. The non-Federal entity is respon-
sible for oversight of the operations of
the Federal award supported activities.
The non-Federal entity must monitor
its activities under Federal awards to
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.329
assure compliance with applicable Fed-
eral requirements and performance ex-
pectations are being achieved. Moni-
toring by the non-Federal entity must
cover each program, function or activ-
ity. See also §200.332.
(b) Reporting program performance.
The Federal awarding agency must use
OMB-approved common information
collections, as applicable, when pro-
viding financial and performance re-
porting information. As appropriate
and in accordance with above men-
tioned information collections, the
Federal awarding agency must require
the recipient to relate financial data
and accomplishments to performance
goals and objectives of the Federal
award. Also, in accordance with above
mentioned common information collec-
tions, and when required by the terms
and conditions of the Federal award,
recipients must provide cost informa-
tion to demonstrate cost effective
practices (e.g., through unit cost data).
In some instances (e.g., discretionary
research awards), this will be limited
to the requirement to submit technical
performance reports (to be evaluated in
accordance with Federal awarding
agency policy). Reporting require-
ments must be clearly articulated such
that, where appropriate, performance
during the execution of the Federal
award has a standard against which
non-Federal entity performance can be
measured.
(c) Non-construction performance re-
ports. The Federal awarding agency
must use standard, governmentwide
OMB-approved data elements for col-
lection of performance information in-
cluding performance progress reports,
Research Performance Progress Re-
ports.
(1) The non-Federal entity must sub-
mit performance reports at the inter-
val required by the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity to best
inform improvements in program out-
comes and productivity. Intervals must
be no less frequent than annually nor
more frequent than quarterly except in
unusual circumstances, for example
where more frequent reporting is nec-
essary for the effective monitoring of
the Federal award or could signifi-
cantly affect program outcomes. Re-
ports submitted annually by the non-
Federal entity and/or pass-through en-
tity must be due no later than 90 cal-
endar days after the reporting period.
Reports submitted quarterly or semi-
annually must be due no later than 30
calendar days after the reporting pe-
riod. Alternatively, the Federal award-
ing agency or pass-through entity may
require annual reports before the anni-
versary dates of multiple year Federal
awards. The final performance report
submitted by the non-Federal entity
and/or pass-through entity must be due
no later than 120 calendar days after
the period of performance end date. A
subrecipient must submit to the pass-
through entity, no later than 90 cal-
endar days after the period of perform-
ance end date, all final performance re-
ports as required by the terms and con-
ditions of the Federal award. See also
§200.344. If a justified request is sub-
mitted by a non-Federal entity, the
Federal agency may extend the due
date for any performance report.
(2) As appropriate in accordance with
above mentioned performance report-
ing, these reports will contain, for each
Federal award, brief information on
the following unless other data ele-
ments are approved by OMB in the
agency information collection request:
(i) A comparison of actual accom-
plishments to the objectives of the
Federal award established for the pe-
riod. Where the accomplishments of
the Federal award can be quantified, a
computation of the cost (for example,
related to units of accomplishment)
may be required if that information
will be useful. Where performance
trend data and analysis would be in-
formative to the Federal awarding
agency program, the Federal awarding
agency should include this as a per-
formance reporting requirement.
(ii) The reasons why established
goals were not met, if appropriate.
(iii) Additional pertinent information
including, when appropriate, analysis
and explanation of cost overruns or
high unit costs.
(d) Construction performance reports.
For the most part, onsite technical in-
spections and certified percentage of
completion data are relied on heavily
by Federal awarding agencies and pass-
through entities to monitor progress
under Federal awards and subawards
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OMB Guidance §200.331
for construction. The Federal awarding
agency may require additional per-
formance reports only when considered
necessary.
(e) Significant developments. Events
may occur between the scheduled per-
formance reporting dates that have sig-
nificant impact upon the supported ac-
tivity. In such cases, the non-Federal
entity must inform the Federal award-
ing agency or pass-through entity as
soon as the following types of condi-
tions become known:
(1) Problems, delays, or adverse con-
ditions which will materially impair
the ability to meet the objective of the
Federal award. This disclosure must in-
clude a statement of the action taken,
or contemplated, and any assistance
needed to resolve the situation.
(2) Favorable developments which en-
able meeting time schedules and objec-
tives sooner or at less cost than antici-
pated or producing more or different
beneficial results than originally
planned.
(f) Site visits. The Federal awarding
agency may make site visits as war-
ranted by program needs.
(g) Performance report requirement
waiver. The Federal awarding agency
may waive any performance report re-
quired by this part if not needed.
§200.330 Reporting on real property.
The Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must require a non-Fed-
eral entity to submit reports at least
annually on the status of real property
in which the Federal Government re-
tains an interest, unless the Federal in-
terest in the real property extends 15
years or longer. In those instances
where the Federal interest attached is
for a period of 15 years or more, the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity, at its option, may re-
quire the non-Federal entity to report
at various multi-year frequencies (e.g.,
every two years or every three years,
not to exceed a five-year reporting pe-
riod; or a Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity may require an-
nual reporting for the first three years
of a Federal award and thereafter re-
quire reporting every five years).
SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING AND
MANAGEMENT
§200.331 Subrecipient and contractor
determinations.
The non-Federal entity may concur-
rently receive Federal awards as a re-
cipient, a subrecipient, and a con-
tractor, depending on the substance of
its agreements with Federal awarding
agencies and pass-through entities.
Therefore, a pass-through entity must
make case-by-case determinations
whether each agreement it makes for
the disbursement of Federal program
funds casts the party receiving the
funds in the role of a subrecipient or a
contractor. The Federal awarding
agency may supply and require recipi-
ents to comply with additional guid-
ance to support these determinations
provided such guidance does not con-
flict with this section.
(a) Subrecipients. A subaward is for
the purpose of carrying out a portion of
a Federal award and creates a Federal
assistance relationship with the sub-
recipient. See definition for Subaward
in §200.1 of this part. Characteristics
which support the classification of the
non-Federal entity as a subrecipient
include when the non-Federal entity:
(1) Determines who is eligible to re-
ceive what Federal assistance;
(2) Has its performance measured in
relation to whether objectives of a Fed-
eral program were met;
(3) Has responsibility for pro-
grammatic decision-making;
(4) Is responsible for adherence to ap-
plicable Federal program requirements
specified in the Federal award; and
(5) In accordance with its agreement,
uses the Federal funds to carry out a
program for a public purpose specified
in authorizing statute, as opposed to
providing goods or services for the ben-
efit of the pass-through entity.
(b) Contractors. A contract is for the
purpose of obtaining goods and services
for the non-Federal entity’s own use
and creates a procurement relationship
with the contractor. See the definition
of contract in §200.1 of this part. Char-
acteristics indicative of a procurement
relationship between the non-Federal
entity and a contractor are when the
contractor:
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.332
(1) Provides the goods and services
within normal business operations;
(2) Provides similar goods or services
to many different purchasers;
(3) Normally operates in a competi-
tive environment;
(4) Provides goods or services that
are ancillary to the operation of the
Federal program; and
(5) Is not subject to compliance re-
quirements of the Federal program as a
result of the agreement, though similar
requirements may apply for other rea-
sons.
(c) Use of judgment in making deter-
mination. In determining whether an
agreement between a pass-through en-
tity and another non-Federal entity
casts the latter as a subrecipient or a
contractor, the substance of the rela-
tionship is more important than the
form of the agreement. All of the char-
acteristics listed above may not be
present in all cases, and the pass-
through entity must use judgment in
classifying each agreement as a
subaward or a procurement contract.
§200.332 Requirements for pass-
through entities.
All pass-through entities must:
(a) Ensure that every subaward is
clearly identified to the subrecipient as
a subaward and includes the following
information at the time of the
subaward and if any of these data ele-
ments change, include the changes in
subsequent subaward modification.
When some of this information is not
available, the pass-through entity
must provide the best information
available to describe the Federal award
and subaward. Required information
includes:
(1) Federal award identification.
(i) Subrecipient name (which must
match the name associated with its
unique entity identifier);
(ii) Subrecipient’s unique entity
identifier;
(iii) Federal Award Identification
Number (FAIN);
(iv) Federal Award Date (see the defi-
nition of Federal award date in §200.1 of
this part) of award to the recipient by
the Federal agency;
(v) Subaward Period of Performance
Start and End Date;
(vi) Subaward Budget Period Start
and End Date;
(vii) Amount of Federal Funds Obli-
gated by this action by the pass-
through entity to the subrecipient;
(viii) Total Amount of Federal Funds
Obligated to the subrecipient by the
pass-through entity including the cur-
rent financial obligation;
(ix) Total Amount of the Federal
Award committed to the subrecipient
by the pass-through entity;
(x) Federal award project description,
as required to be responsive to the Fed-
eral Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act (FFATA);
(xi) Name of Federal awarding agen-
cy, pass-through entity, and contact
information for awarding official of the
Pass-through entity;
(xii) Assistance Listings number and
Title; the pass-through entity must
identify the dollar amount made avail-
able under each Federal award and the
Assistance Listings Number at time of
disbursement;
(xiii) Identification of whether the
award is R&D; and
(xiv) Indirect cost rate for the Fed-
eral award (including if the de minimis
rate is charged) per §200.414.
(2) All requirements imposed by the
pass-through entity on the sub-
recipient so that the Federal award is
used in accordance with Federal stat-
utes, regulations and the terms and
conditions of the Federal award;
(3) Any additional requirements that
the pass-through entity imposes on the
subrecipient in order for the pass-
through entity to meet its own respon-
sibility to the Federal awarding agency
including identification of any required
financial and performance reports;
(4)(i) An approved federally recog-
nized indirect cost rate negotiated be-
tween the subrecipient and the Federal
Government. If no approved rate exists,
the pass-through entity must deter-
mine the appropriate rate in collabora-
tion with the subrecipient, which is ei-
ther:
(A) The negotiated indirect cost rate
between the pass-through entity and
the subrecipient; which can be based on
a prior negotiated rate between a dif-
ferent PTE and the same subrecipient.
If basing the rate on a previously nego-
tiated rate, the pass-through entity is
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147
OMB Guidance §200.332
not required to collect information jus-
tifying this rate, but may elect to do
so;
(B) The de minimis indirect cost
rate.
(ii) The pass-through entity must not
require use of a de minimis indirect
cost rate if the subrecipient has a Fed-
erally approved rate. Subrecipients can
elect to use the cost allocation method
to account for indirect costs in accord-
ance with §200.405(d).
(5) A requirement that the sub-
recipient permit the pass-through enti-
ty and auditors to have access to the
subrecipient’s records and financial
statements as necessary for the pass-
through entity to meet the require-
ments of this part; and
(6) Appropriate terms and conditions
concerning closeout of the subaward.
(b) Evaluate each subrecipient’s risk
of noncompliance with Federal stat-
utes, regulations, and the terms and
conditions of the subaward for purposes
of determining the appropriate sub-
recipient monitoring described in para-
graphs (d) and (e) of this section, which
may include consideration of such fac-
tors as:
(1) The subrecipient’s prior experi-
ence with the same or similar sub-
awards;
(2) The results of previous audits in-
cluding whether or not the sub-
recipient receives a Single Audit in ac-
cordance with Subpart F of this part,
and the extent to which the same or
similar subaward has been audited as a
major program;
(3) Whether the subrecipient has new
personnel or new or substantially
changed systems; and
(4) The extent and results of Federal
awarding agency monitoring (e.g., if
the subrecipient also receives Federal
awards directly from a Federal award-
ing agency).
(c) Consider imposing specific
subaward conditions upon a sub-
recipient if appropriate as described in
§200.208.
(d) Monitor the activities of the sub-
recipient as necessary to ensure that
the subaward is used for authorized
purposes, in compliance with Federal
statutes, regulations, and the terms
and conditions of the subaward; and
that subaward performance goals are
achieved. Pass-through entity moni-
toring of the subrecipient must in-
clude:
(1) Reviewing financial and perform-
ance reports required by the pass-
through entity.
(2) Following-up and ensuring that
the subrecipient takes timely and ap-
propriate action on all deficiencies per-
taining to the Federal award provided
to the subrecipient from the pass-
through entity detected through au-
dits, on-site reviews, and written con-
firmation from the subrecipient, high-
lighting the status of actions planned
or taken to address Single Audit find-
ings related to the particular
subaward.
(3) Issuing a management decision for
applicable audit findings pertaining
only to the Federal award provided to
the subrecipient from the pass-through
entity as required by §200.521.
(4) The pass-through entity is respon-
sible for resolving audit findings spe-
cifically related to the subaward and
not responsible for resolving cross-cut-
ting findings. If a subrecipient has a
current Single Audit report posted in
the Federal Audit Clearinghouse and
has not otherwise been excluded from
receipt of Federal funding (e.g., has
been debarred or suspended), the pass-
through entity may rely on the sub-
recipient’s cognizant audit agency or
cognizant oversight agency to perform
audit follow-up and make management
decisions related to cross-cutting find-
ings in accordance with section
§300.513(a)(3)(vii). Such reliance does
not eliminate the responsibility of the
pass-through entity to issue subawards
that conform to agency and award-spe-
cific requirements, to manage risk
through ongoing subaward monitoring,
and to monitor the status of the find-
ings that are specifically related to the
subaward.
(e) Depending upon the pass-through
entity’s assessment of risk posed by
the subrecipient (as described in para-
graph (b) of this section), the following
monitoring tools may be useful for the
pass-through entity to ensure proper
accountability and compliance with
program requirements and achieve-
ment of performance goals:
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.333
(1) Providing subrecipients with
training and technical assistance on
program-related matters; and
(2) Performing on-site reviews of the
subrecipient’s program operations;
(3) Arranging for agreed-upon-proce-
dures engagements as described in
§200.425.
(f) Verify that every subrecipient is
audited as required by Subpart F of
this part when it is expected that the
subrecipient’s Federal awards expended
during the respective fiscal year
equaled or exceeded the threshold set
forth in §200.501.
(g) Consider whether the results of
the subrecipient’s audits, on-site re-
views, or other monitoring indicate
conditions that necessitate adjust-
ments to the pass-through entity’s own
records.
(h) Consider taking enforcement ac-
tion against noncompliant subrecipi-
ents as described in §200.339 of this part
and in program regulations.
§200.333 Fixed amount subawards.
With prior written approval from the
Federal awarding agency, a pass-
through entity may provide subawards
based on fixed amounts up to the Sim-
plified Acquisition Threshold, provided
that the subawards meet the require-
ments for fixed amount awards in
§200.201.
RECORD RETENTION AND ACCESS
§200.334 Retention requirements for
records.
Financial records, supporting docu-
ments, statistical records, and all
other non-Federal entity records perti-
nent to a Federal award must be re-
tained for a period of three years from
the date of submission of the final ex-
penditure report or, for Federal awards
that are renewed quarterly or annu-
ally, from the date of the submission of
the quarterly or annual financial re-
port, respectively, as reported to the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity in the case of a sub-
recipient. Federal awarding agencies
and pass-through entities must not im-
pose any other record retention re-
quirements upon non-Federal entities.
The only exceptions are the following:
(a) If any litigation, claim, or audit
is started before the expiration of the
3-year period, the records must be re-
tained until all litigation, claims, or
audit findings involving the records
have been resolved and final action
taken.
(b) When the non-Federal entity is
notified in writing by the Federal
awarding agency, cognizant agency for
audit, oversight agency for audit, cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs, or
pass-through entity to extend the re-
tention period.
(c) Records for real property and
equipment acquired with Federal funds
must be retained for 3 years after final
disposition.
(d) When records are transferred to or
maintained by the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity, the 3-
year retention requirement is not ap-
plicable to the non-Federal entity.
(e) Records for program income
transactions after the period of per-
formance. In some cases recipients
must report program income after the
period of performance. Where there is
such a requirement, the retention pe-
riod for the records pertaining to the
earning of the program income starts
from the end of the non-Federal enti-
ty’s fiscal year in which the program
income is earned.
(f) Indirect cost rate proposals and
cost allocations plans. This paragraph
applies to the following types of docu-
ments and their supporting records: In-
direct cost rate computations or pro-
posals, 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).
(1) If submitted for negotiation. If the
proposal, plan, or other computation is
required to be submitted to the Federal
Government (or to the pass-through
entity) to form the basis for negotia-
tion of the rate, then the 3-year reten-
tion period for its supporting records
starts from the date of such submis-
sion.
(2) If not submitted for negotiation. If
the proposal, plan, or other computa-
tion is not required to be submitted to
the Federal Government (or to the
pass-through entity) for negotiation
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149
OMB Guidance §200.338
purposes, then the 3-year retention pe-
riod for the proposal, plan, or computa-
tion and its supporting records starts
from the end of the fiscal year (or
other accounting period) covered by
the proposal, plan, or other computa-
tion.
§200.335 Requests for transfer of
records.
The Federal awarding agency must
request transfer of certain records to
its custody from the non-Federal enti-
ty when it determines that the records
possess long-term retention value.
However, in order to avoid duplicate
recordkeeping, the Federal awarding
agency may make arrangements for
the non-Federal entity to retain any
records that are continuously needed
for joint use.
§200.336 Methods for collection, trans-
mission, and storage of information.
The Federal awarding agency and the
non-Federal entity should, whenever
practicable, collect, transmit, and
store Federal award-related informa-
tion in open and machine-readable for-
mats rather than in closed formats or
on paper in accordance with applicable
legislative requirements. A machine-
readable format is a format in a stand-
ard computer language (not English
text) that can be read automatically by
a web browser or computer system. The
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must always provide or
accept paper versions of Federal award-
related information to and from the
non-Federal entity upon request. If
paper copies are submitted, the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty must not require more than an
original and two copies. When original
records are electronic and cannot be al-
tered, there is no need to create and re-
tain paper copies. When original
records are paper, electronic versions
may be substituted through the use of
duplication or other forms of elec-
tronic media provided that they are
subject to periodic quality control re-
views, provide reasonable safeguards
against alteration, and remain read-
able.
§200.337 Access to records.
(a) Records of non-Federal entities. The
Federal awarding agency, Inspectors
General, the Comptroller General of
the United States, and the pass-
through entity, or any of their author-
ized representatives, must have the
right of access to any documents, pa-
pers, or other records of the non-Fed-
eral entity which are pertinent to the
Federal award, in order to make au-
dits, examinations, excerpts, and tran-
scripts. The right also includes timely
and reasonable access to the non-Fed-
eral entity’s personnel for the purpose
of interview and discussion related to
such documents.
(b) Extraordinary and rare cir-
cumstances. Only under extraordinary
and rare circumstances would such ac-
cess include review of the true name of
victims of a crime. Routine monitoring
cannot be considered extraordinary and
rare circumstances that would neces-
sitate access to this information. When
access to the true name of victims of a
crime is necessary, appropriate steps to
protect this sensitive information must
be taken by both the non-Federal enti-
ty and the Federal awarding agency.
Any such access, other than under a
court order or subpoena pursuant to a
bona fide confidential investigation,
must be approved by the head of the
Federal awarding agency or delegate.
(c) Expiration of right of access. The
rights of access in this section are not
limited to the required retention pe-
riod but last as long as the records are
retained. Federal awarding agencies
and pass-through entities must not im-
pose any other access requirements
upon non-Federal entities.
§200.338 Restrictions on public access
to records.
No Federal awarding agency may
place restrictions on the non-Federal
entity that limit public access to the
records of the non-Federal entity perti-
nent to a Federal award, except for
protected personally identifiable infor-
mation (PII) or when the Federal
awarding agency can demonstrate that
such records will be kept confidential
and would have been exempted from
disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of
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150
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.339
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) or con-
trolled unclassified information pursu-
ant to Executive Order 13556 if the
records had belonged to the Federal
awarding agency. The Freedom of In-
formation Act (5 U.S.C. 552) (FOIA)
does not apply to those records that re-
main under a non-Federal entity’s con-
trol except as required under §200.315.
Unless required by Federal, state,
local, and tribal statute, non-Federal
entities are not required to permit pub-
lic access to their records. The non-
Federal entity’s records provided to a
Federal agency generally will be sub-
ject to FOIA and applicable exemp-
tions.
REMEDIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
§200.339 Remedies for noncompliance.
If a non-Federal entity fails to com-
ply with the U.S. Constitution, Federal
statutes, regulations or the terms and
conditions of a Federal award, the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity may impose additional condi-
tions, as described in §200.208. If the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity determines that non-
compliance cannot be remedied by im-
posing additional conditions, the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity may take one or more of the fol-
lowing actions, as appropriate in the
circumstances:
(a) Temporarily withhold cash pay-
ments pending correction of the defi-
ciency by the non-Federal entity or
more severe enforcement action by the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity.
(b) Disallow (that is, deny both use of
funds and any applicable matching
credit for) all or part of the cost of the
activity or action not in compliance.
(c) Wholly or partly suspend or ter-
minate the Federal award.
(d) Initiate suspension or debarment
proceedings as authorized under 2 CFR
part 180 and Federal awarding agency
regulations (or in the case of a pass-
through entity, recommend such a pro-
ceeding be initiated by a Federal
awarding agency).
(e) Withhold further Federal awards
for the project or program.
(f) Take other remedies that may be
legally available.
§200.340 Termination.
(a) The Federal award may be termi-
nated in whole or in part as follows:
(1) By the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity, if a non-Fed-
eral entity fails to comply with the
terms and conditions of a Federal
award;
(2) By the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity, to the greatest
extent authorized by law, if an award
no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities;
(3) By the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity with the con-
sent of the non-Federal entity, in
which case the two parties must agree
upon the termination conditions, in-
cluding the effective date and, in the
case of partial termination, the portion
to be terminated;
(4) By the non-Federal entity upon
sending to the Federal awarding agen-
cy or pass-through entity written noti-
fication 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 Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity determines in the case
of partial termination that the reduced
or modified portion of the Federal
award or subaward will not accomplish
the purposes for which the Federal
award was made, the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity may ter-
minate the Federal award in its en-
tirety; or
(5) By the Federal awarding agency
or pass-through entity pursuant to ter-
mination provisions included in the
Federal award.
(b) A Federal awarding agency should
clearly and unambiguously specify ter-
mination provisions applicable to each
Federal award, in applicable regula-
tions or in the award, consistent with
this section.
(c) When a Federal awarding agency
terminates a Federal award prior to
the end of the period of performance
due to the non-Federal entity’s mate-
rial failure to comply with the Federal
award terms and conditions, the Fed-
eral awarding agency must report the
termination to the OMB-designated in-
tegrity and performance system acces-
sible through SAM (currently FAPIIS).
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151
OMB Guidance §200.341
(1) The information required under
paragraph (c) of this section is not to
be reported to designated integrity and
performance system until the non-Fed-
eral entity either—
(i) Has exhausted its opportunities to
object or challenge the decision, see
§200.342; or
(ii) Has not, within 30 calendar days
after being notified of the termination,
informed the Federal awarding agency
that it intends to appeal the Federal
awarding agency’s decision to termi-
nate.
(2) If a Federal awarding agency,
after entering information into the
designated integrity and performance
system about a termination, subse-
quently:
(i) Learns that any of that informa-
tion is erroneous, the Federal awarding
agency must correct the information in
the system within three business days;
(ii) Obtains an update to that infor-
mation that could be helpful to other
Federal awarding agencies, the Federal
awarding agency is strongly encour-
aged to amend the information in the
system to incorporate the update in a
timely way.
(3) Federal awarding agencies, must
not post any information that will be
made publicly available in the non-
public segment of designated integrity
and performance system that is cov-
ered by a disclosure exemption under
the Freedom of Information Act. If the
non-Federal entity asserts within
seven calendar days to the Federal
awarding agency who posted the infor-
mation, that some of the information
made publicly available is covered by a
disclosure exemption under the Free-
dom of Information Act, the Federal
awarding agency who posted the infor-
mation must remove the posting with-
in seven calendar days of receiving the
assertion. Prior to reposting the releas-
able information, the Federal agency
must resolve the issue in accordance
with the agency’s Freedom of Informa-
tion Act procedures.
(d) When a Federal award is termi-
nated or partially terminated, both the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity and the non-Federal en-
tity remain responsible for compliance
with the requirements in §§200.344 and
200.345.
§200.341 Notification of termination
requirement.
(a) The Federal agency or pass-
through entity must provide to the
non-Federal entity a notice of termi-
nation.
(b) If the Federal award is terminated
for the non-Federal entity’s material
failure to comply with the U.S. Con-
stitution, Federal statutes, regula-
tions, or terms and conditions of the
Federal award, the notification must
state that—
(1) The termination decision will be
reported to the OMB-designated integ-
rity and performance system accessible
through SAM (currently FAPIIS);
(2) The information will be available
in the OMB-designated integrity and
performance system for a period of five
years from the date of the termination,
then archived;
(3) Federal awarding agencies that
consider making a Federal award to
the non-Federal entity during that five
year period must consider that infor-
mation in judging whether the non-
Federal entity is qualified to receive
the Federal award, when the Federal
share of the Federal award is expected
to exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold over the period of perform-
ance;
(4) The non-Federal entity may com-
ment on any information the OMB-des-
ignated integrity and performance sys-
tem contains about the non-Federal en-
tity for future consideration by Fed-
eral awarding agencies. The non-Fed-
eral entity may submit comments to
the awardee integrity and performance
portal accessible through SAM (cur-
rently (CPARS).
(5) Federal awarding agencies will
consider non-Federal entity comments
when determining whether the non-
Federal entity is qualified for a future
Federal award.
(c) Upon termination of a Federal
award, the Federal awarding agency
must provide the information required
under FFATA to the Federal website
established to fulfill the requirements
of FFATA, and update or notify any
other relevant governmentwide sys-
tems or entities of any indications of
poor performance as required by 41
U.S.C. 417b and 31 U.S.C. 3321 and im-
plementing guidance at 2 CFR part 77
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152
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.342
(forthcoming at time of publication).
See also the requirements for Suspen-
sion and Debarment at 2 CFR part 180.
§200.342 Opportunities to object, hear-
ings, and appeals.
Upon taking any remedy for non-
compliance, the Federal awarding
agency must provide the non-Federal
entity an opportunity to object and
provide information and documenta-
tion challenging the suspension or ter-
mination action, in accordance with
written processes and procedures pub-
lished by the Federal awarding agency.
The Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must comply with any
requirements for hearings, appeals or
other administrative proceedings to
which the non-Federal entity is enti-
tled under any statute or regulation
applicable to the action involved.
§200.343 Effects of suspension and ter-
mination.
Costs to the non-Federal entity re-
sulting from financial obligations in-
curred by the non-Federal entity dur-
ing a suspension or after termination
of a Federal award or subaward are not
allowable unless the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity ex-
pressly authorizes them in the notice
of suspension or termination or subse-
quently. However, costs during suspen-
sion or after termination are allowable
if:
(a) The costs result from financial
obligations which were properly in-
curred by the non-Federal entity before
the effective date of suspension or ter-
mination, are not in anticipation of it;
and
(b) The costs would be allowable if
the Federal award was not suspended
or expired normally at the end of the
period of performance in which the ter-
mination takes effect.
CLOSEOUT
§200.344 Closeout.
The Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity will close out the Fed-
eral award when it determines that all
applicable administrative actions and
all required work of the Federal award
have been completed by the non-Fed-
eral entity. If the non-Federal entity
fails to complete the requirements, the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity will proceed to close
out the Federal award with the infor-
mation available. This section specifies
the actions the non-Federal entity and
Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must take to complete
this process at the end of the period of
performance.
(a) The recipient must submit, no
later than 120 calendar days after the
end date of the period of performance,
all financial, performance, and other
reports as required by the terms and
conditions of the Federal award. A sub-
recipient must submit to the pass-
through entity, no later than 90 cal-
endar days (or an earlier date as agreed
upon by the pass-through entity and
subrecipient) after the end date of the
period of performance, all financial,
performance, and other reports as re-
quired by the terms and conditions of
the Federal award. The Federal award-
ing agency or pass-through entity may
approve extensions when requested and
justified by the non-Federal entity, as
applicable.
(b) Unless the Federal awarding agen-
cy or pass-through entity authorizes an
extension, a non-Federal entity must
liquidate all financial obligations in-
curred under the Federal award no
later than 120 calendar days after the
end date of the period of performance
as specified in the terms and conditions
of the Federal award.
(c) The Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity must make prompt
payments to the non-Federal entity for
costs meeting the requirements in Sub-
part E of this part under the Federal
award being closed out.
(d) The non-Federal entity must
promptly refund any balances of unob-
ligated cash that the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity paid in
advance or paid and that are not au-
thorized to be retained by the non-Fed-
eral entity for use in other projects.
See OMB Circular A–129 and see
§200.346, for requirements regarding
unreturned amounts that become de-
linquent debts.
(e) Consistent with the terms and
conditions of the Federal award, the
Federal awarding agency or pass-
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153
OMB Guidance §200.346
through entity must make a settle-
ment for any upward or downward ad-
justments to the Federal share of costs
after closeout reports are received.
(f) The non-Federal entity must ac-
count for any real and personal prop-
erty acquired with Federal funds or re-
ceived from the Federal Government in
accordance with §§200.310 through
200.316 and 200.330.
(g) When a recipient or subrecipient
completes all closeout requirements,
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must promptly com-
plete all closeout actions for Federal
awards. The Federal awarding agency
must make every effort to complete
closeout actions no later than one year
after the end of the period of perform-
ance unless otherwise directed by au-
thorizing statutes. Closeout actions in-
clude Federal awarding agency actions
in the grants management and pay-
ment systems.
(h) If the non-Federal entity does not
submit all reports in accordance with
this section and the terms and condi-
tions of the Federal Award, the Federal
awarding agency must proceed to close
out with the information available
within one year of the period of per-
formance end date.
(i) If the non-Federal entity does not
submit all reports in accordance with
this section within one year of the pe-
riod of performance end date, the Fed-
eral awarding agency must report the
non-Federal entity’s material failure
to comply with the terms and condi-
tions of the award with the OMB-des-
ignated integrity and performance sys-
tem (currently FAPIIS). Federal
awarding agencies may also pursue
other enforcement actions per §200.339.
POST-CLOSEOUT ADJUSTMENTS AND
CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES
§200.345 Post-closeout adjustments
and continuing responsibilities.
(a) The closeout of a Federal award
does not affect any of the following:
(1) The right of the Federal awarding
agency or pass-through entity to dis-
allow costs and recover funds on the
basis of a later audit or other review.
The Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity must make any cost
disallowance determination and notify
the non-Federal entity within the
record retention period.
(2) The requirement for the non-Fed-
eral entity to return any funds due as
a result of later refunds, corrections, or
other transactions including final indi-
rect cost rate adjustments.
(3) The ability of the Federal award-
ing agency to make financial adjust-
ments to a previously closed award
such as resolving indirect cost pay-
ments and making final payments.
(4) Audit requirements in subpart F
of this part.
(5) Property management and dis-
position requirements in §§200.310
through 200.316 of this subpart.
(6) Records retention as required in
§§200.334 through 200.337 of this sub-
part.
(b) After closeout of the Federal
award, a relationship created under the
Federal award may be modified or
ended in whole or in part with the con-
sent of the Federal awarding agency or
pass-through entity and the non-Fed-
eral entity, provided the responsibil-
ities of the non-Federal entity referred
to in paragraph (a) of this section, in-
cluding those for property management
as applicable, are considered and provi-
sions made for continuing responsibil-
ities of the non-Federal entity, as ap-
propriate.
COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS DUE
§200.346 Collection of amounts due.
(a) Any funds paid to the non-Federal
entity in excess of the amount to
which the non-Federal entity is finally
determined to be entitled under the
terms of the Federal award constitute
a debt to the Federal Government. If
not paid within 90 calendar days after
demand, the Federal awarding agency
may reduce the debt by:
(1) Making an administrative offset
against other requests for reimburse-
ments;
(2) Withholding advance payments
otherwise due to the non-Federal enti-
ty; or
(3) Other action permitted by Federal
statute.
(b) Except where otherwise provided
by statutes or regulations, the Federal
awarding agency will charge interest
on an overdue debt in accordance with
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154
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.400
the Federal Claims Collection Stand-
ards (31 CFR parts 900 through 999). The
date from which interest is computed
is not extended by litigation or the fil-
ing of any form of appeal.
Subpart E—Cost Principles
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§200.400 Policy guide.
The application of these cost prin-
ciples is based on the fundamental
premises that:
(a) The non-Federal entity is respon-
sible for the efficient and effective ad-
ministration of the Federal award
through the application of sound man-
agement practices.
(b) The non-Federal entity assumes
responsibility for administering Fed-
eral funds in a manner consistent with
underlying agreements, program objec-
tives, and the terms and conditions of
the Federal award.
(c) The non-Federal entity, in rec-
ognition of its own unique combination
of staff, facilities, and experience, has
the primary responsibility for employ-
ing whatever form of sound organiza-
tion and management techniques may
be necessary in order to assure proper
and efficient administration of the
Federal award.
(d) The application of these cost prin-
ciples should require no significant
changes in the internal accounting
policies and practices of the non-Fed-
eral entity. However, the accounting
practices of the non-Federal entity
must be consistent with these cost
principles and support the accumula-
tion of costs as required by the prin-
ciples, and must provide for adequate
documentation to support costs
charged to the Federal award.
(e) In reviewing, negotiating and ap-
proving cost allocation plans or indi-
rect cost proposals, the cognizant agen-
cy for indirect costs should generally
assure that the non-Federal entity is
applying these cost accounting prin-
ciples on a consistent basis during
their review and negotiation of indirect
cost proposals. Where wide variations
exist in the treatment of a given cost
item by the non-Federal entity, the
reasonableness and equity of such
treatments should be fully considered.
See the definition of indirect (facilities &
administrative (F&A)) costs in §200.1 of
this part.
(f) For non-Federal entities that edu-
cate and engage students in research,
the dual role of students as both train-
ees and employees (including pre- and
post-doctoral staff) contributing to the
completion of Federal awards for re-
search must be recognized in the appli-
cation of these principles.
(g) The non-Federal entity may not
earn or keep any profit resulting from
Federal financial assistance, unless ex-
plicitly authorized by the terms and
conditions of the Federal award. See
also §200.307.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49561, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.401 Application.
(a) General. These principles must be
used in determining the allowable costs
of work performed by the non-Federal
entity under Federal awards. These
principles also must be used by the
non-Federal entity as a guide in the
pricing of fixed-price contracts and
subcontracts where costs are used in
determining the appropriate price. The
principles do not apply to:
(1) Arrangements under which Fed-
eral financing is in the form of loans,
scholarships, fellowships, traineeships,
or other fixed amounts based on such
items as education allowance or pub-
lished tuition rates and fees.
(2) For IHEs, capitation awards,
which are awards based on case counts
or number of beneficiaries according to
the terms and conditions of the Federal
award.
(3) Fixed amount awards. See also
§200.1 Definitions and 200.201.
(4) Federal awards to hospitals (see
appendix IX to this part).
(5) Other awards under which the
non-Federal entity is not required to
account to the Federal Government for
actual costs incurred.
(b) Federal contract. Where a Federal
contract awarded to a non-Federal en-
tity is subject to the Cost Accounting
Standards (CAS), it incorporates the
applicable CAS clauses, Standards, and
CAS administration requirements per
the 48 CFR Chapter 99 and 48 CFR part
30 (FAR Part 30). CAS applies directly
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155
OMB Guidance §200.404
to the CAS-covered contract and the
Cost Accounting Standards at 48 CFR
parts 9904 or 9905 takes precedence over
the cost principles in this subpart E
with respect to the allocation of costs.
When a contract with a non-Federal
entity is subject to full CAS coverage,
the allowability of certain costs under
the cost principles will be affected by
the allocation provisions of the Cost
Accounting Standards (e.g., CAS 414—
48 CFR 9904.414, Cost of Money as an
Element of the Cost of Facilities Cap-
ital, and CAS 417—48 CFR 9904.417, Cost
of Money as an Element of the Cost of
Capital Assets Under Construction),
apply rather the allowability provi-
sions of §200.449. In complying with
those requirements, the non-Federal
entity’s application of cost accounting
practices for estimating, accumu-
lating, and reporting costs for other
Federal awards and other cost objec-
tives under the CAS-covered contract
still must be consistent with its cost
accounting practices for the CAS-cov-
ered contracts. In all cases, only one
set of accounting records needs to be
maintained for the allocation of costs
by the non-Federal entity.
(c) Exemptions. Some nonprofit orga-
nizations, because of their size and na-
ture of operations, can be considered to
be similar to for-profit entities for pur-
pose of applicability of cost principles.
Such nonprofit organizations must op-
erate under Federal cost principles ap-
plicable to for-profit entities located at
48 CFR 31.2. A listing of these organiza-
tions is contained in appendix VIII to
this part. Other organizations, as ap-
proved by the cognizant agency for in-
direct costs, may be added from time
to time.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49562, Aug. 13, 2020]
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
§200.402 Composition of costs.
Total cost. The total cost of a Federal
award is the sum of the allowable di-
rect and allocable indirect costs less
any applicable credits.
§200.403 Factors affecting allowability
of costs.
Except where otherwise authorized
by statute, costs must meet the fol-
lowing general criteria in order to be
allowable under Federal awards:
(a) Be necessary and reasonable for
the performance of the Federal award
and be allocable thereto under these
principles.
(b) Conform to any limitations or ex-
clusions set forth in these principles or
in the Federal award as to types or
amount of cost items.
(c) Be consistent with policies and
procedures that apply uniformly to
both federally-financed and other ac-
tivities of the non-Federal entity.
(d) Be accorded consistent treatment.
A cost may not be assigned to a Fed-
eral award as a direct cost if any other
cost incurred for the same purpose in
like circumstances has been allocated
to the Federal award as an indirect
cost.
(e) Be determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting prin-
ciples (GAAP), except, for state and
local governments and Indian tribes
only, as otherwise provided for in this
part.
(f) Not be included as a cost or used
to meet cost sharing or matching re-
quirements of any other federally-fi-
nanced program in either the current
or a prior period. See also §200.306(b).
(g) Be adequately documented. See
also §§200.300 through 200.309 of this
part.
(h) Cost must be incurred during the
approved budget period. The Federal
awarding agency is authorized, at its
discretion, to waive prior written ap-
provals to carry forward unobligated
balances to subsequent budget periods
pursuant to §200.308(e)(3).
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49562, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.404 Reasonable costs.
A cost is reasonable if, in its nature
and amount, it does not exceed that
which would be incurred by a prudent
person under the circumstances pre-
vailing at the time the decision was
made to incur the cost. The question of
reasonableness is particularly impor-
tant when the non-Federal entity is
predominantly federally-funded. In de-
termining reasonableness of a given
cost, consideration must be given to:
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156
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.405
(a) Whether the cost is of a type gen-
erally recognized as ordinary and nec-
essary for the operation of the non-
Federal entity or the proper and effi-
cient performance of the Federal
award.
(b) The restraints or requirements
imposed by such factors as: sound busi-
ness practices; arm’s-length bar-
gaining; Federal, state, local, tribal,
and other laws and regulations; and
terms and conditions of the Federal
award.
(c) Market prices for comparable
goods or services for the geographic
area.
(d) Whether the individuals con-
cerned acted with prudence in the cir-
cumstances considering their respon-
sibilities to the non-Federal entity, its
employees, where applicable its stu-
dents or membership, the public at
large, and the Federal Government.
(e) Whether the non-Federal entity
significantly deviates from its estab-
lished practices and policies regarding
the incurrence of costs, which may
unjustifiably increase the Federal
award’s cost.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.405 Allocable costs.
(a) A cost is allocable to a particular
Federal award or other cost objective if
the goods or services involved are
chargeable or assignable to that Fed-
eral award or cost objective in accord-
ance with relative benefits received.
This standard is met if the cost:
(1) Is incurred specifically for the
Federal award;
(2) Benefits both the Federal award
and other work of the non-Federal en-
tity and can be distributed in propor-
tions that may be approximated using
reasonable methods; and
(3) Is necessary to the overall oper-
ation of the non-Federal entity and is
assignable in part to the Federal award
in accordance with the principles in
this subpart.
(b) All activities which benefit from
the non-Federal entity’s indirect (F&A)
cost, including unallowable activities
and donated services by the non-Fed-
eral entity or third parties, will receive
an appropriate allocation of indirect
costs.
(c) Any cost allocable to a particular
Federal award under the principles pro-
vided for in this part may not be
charged to other Federal awards to
overcome fund deficiencies, to avoid re-
strictions imposed by Federal statutes,
regulations, or terms and conditions of
the Federal awards, or for other rea-
sons. However, this prohibition would
not preclude the non-Federal entity
from shifting costs that are allowable
under two or more Federal awards in
accordance with existing Federal stat-
utes, regulations, or the terms and con-
ditions of the Federal awards.
(d) Direct cost allocation principles:
If a cost benefits two or more projects
or activities in proportions that can be
determined without undue effort or
cost, the cost must be allocated to the
projects based on the proportional ben-
efit. If a cost benefits two or more
projects or activities in proportions
that cannot be determined because of
the interrelationship of the work in-
volved, then, notwithstanding para-
graph (c) of this section, the costs may
be allocated or transferred to bene-
fitted projects on any reasonable docu-
mented basis. Where the purchase of
equipment or other capital asset is spe-
cifically authorized under a Federal
award, the costs are assignable to the
Federal award regardless of the use
that may be made of the equipment or
other capital asset involved when no
longer needed for the purpose for which
it was originally required. See also
§§200.310 through 200.316 and 200.439.
(e) If the contract is subject to CAS,
costs must be allocated to the contract
pursuant to the Cost Accounting
Standards. To the extent that CAS is
applicable, the allocation of costs in
accordance with CAS takes precedence
over the allocation provisions in this
part.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49562, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.406 Applicable credits.
(a) Applicable credits refer to those
receipts or reduction-of-expenditure-
type transactions that offset or reduce
expense items allocable to the Federal
award as direct or indirect (F&A) costs.
Examples of such transactions are: pur-
chase discounts, rebates or allowances,
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157
OMB Guidance §200.409
recoveries or indemnities on losses, in-
surance refunds or rebates, and adjust-
ments of overpayments or erroneous
charges. To the extent that such cred-
its accruing to or received by the non-
Federal entity relate to allowable
costs, they must be credited to the
Federal award either as a cost reduc-
tion or cash refund, as appropriate.
(b) In some instances, the amounts
received from the Federal Government
to finance activities or service oper-
ations of the non-Federal entity should
be treated as applicable credits. Spe-
cifically, the concept of netting such
credit items (including any amounts
used to meet cost sharing or matching
requirements) must be recognized in
determining the rates or amounts to be
charged to the Federal award. (See
§§200.436 and 200.468, for areas of poten-
tial application in the matter of Fed-
eral financing of activities.)
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49562, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.407 Prior written approval (prior
approval).
Under any given Federal award, the
reasonableness and allocability of cer-
tain items of costs may be difficult to
determine. In order to avoid subse-
quent disallowance or dispute based on
unreasonableness or nonallocability,
the non-Federal entity may seek the
prior written approval of the cognizant
agency for indirect costs or the Federal
awarding agency in advance of the in-
currence of special or unusual costs.
Prior written approval should include
the timeframe or scope of the agree-
ment. The absence of prior written ap-
proval on any element of cost will not,
in itself, affect the reasonableness or
allocability of that element, unless
prior approval is specifically required
for allowability as described under cer-
tain circumstances in the following
sections of this part:
(a) §200.201 Use of grant agreements
(including fixed amount awards), coop-
erative agreements, and contracts,
paragraph (b)(5);
(b) §200.306 Cost sharing or matching;
(c) §200.307 Program income;
(d) §200.308 Revision of budget and
program plans;
(e) §200.311 Real property;
(f) §200.313 Equipment;
(g) §200.333 Fixed amount subawards;
(h) §200.413 Direct costs, paragraph
(c);
(i) §200.430 Compensation—personal
services, paragraph (h);
(j) §200.431 Compensation—fringe ben-
efits;
(k) §200.438 Entertainment costs;
(l) §200.439 Equipment and other cap-
ital expenditures;
(m) §200.440 Exchange rates;
(n) §200.441 Fines, penalties, damages
and other settlements;
(o) §200.442 Fund raising and invest-
ment management costs;
(p) §200.445 Goods or services for per-
sonal use;
(q) §200.447 Insurance and indem-
nification;
(r) §200.454 Memberships, subscrip-
tions, and professional activity costs,
paragraph (c);
(s) §200.455 Organization costs;
(t) §200.456 Participant support costs;
(u) §200.458 Pre-award costs;
(v) §200.462 Rearrangement and re-
conversion costs;
(w) §200.467 Selling and marketing
costs;
(x) §200.470 Taxes (including Value
Added Tax); and
(y) §200.475 Travel costs.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49562, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.408 Limitation on allowance of
costs.
The Federal award may be subject to
statutory requirements that limit the
allowability of costs. When the max-
imum amount allowable under a limi-
tation is less than the total amount de-
termined in accordance with the prin-
ciples in this part, the amount not re-
coverable under the Federal award may
not be charged to the Federal award.
§200.409 Special considerations.
In addition to the basic consider-
ations regarding the allowability of
costs highlighted in this subtitle, other
subtitles in this part describe special
considerations and requirements appli-
cable to states, local governments, In-
dian tribes, and IHEs. In addition, cer-
tain provisions among the items of cost
in this subpart are only applicable to
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158
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.410
certain types of non-Federal entities,
as specified in the following sections:
(a) Direct and Indirect (F&A) Costs
(§§200.412–200.415) of this subpart;
(b) Special Considerations for States,
Local Governments and Indian Tribes
(§§200.416 and 200.417) of this subpart;
and
(c) Special Considerations for Insti-
tutions of Higher Education (§§200.418
and 200.419) of this subpart.
[85 FR 49562, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.410 Collection of unallowable
costs.
Payments made for costs determined
to be unallowable by either the Federal
awarding agency, cognizant agency for
indirect costs, or pass-through entity,
either as direct or indirect costs, must
be refunded (including interest) to the
Federal Government in accordance
with instructions from the Federal
agency that determined the costs are
unallowable unless Federal statute or
regulation directs otherwise. See also
§§200.300 through 200.309 in subpart D of
this part.
[85 FR 49562, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.411 Adjustment of previously ne-
gotiated indirect (F&A) cost rates
containing unallowable costs.
(a) Negotiated indirect (F&A) cost
rates based on a proposal later found to
have included costs that:
(1) Are unallowable as specified by
Federal statutes, regulations or the
terms and conditions of a Federal
award; or
(2) Are unallowable because they are
not allocable to the Federal award(s),
must be adjusted, or a refund must be
made, in accordance with the require-
ments of this section. These adjust-
ments or refunds are designed to cor-
rect the proposals used to establish the
rates and do not constitute a reopening
of the rate negotiation. The adjust-
ments or refunds will be made regard-
less of the type of rate negotiated (pre-
determined, final, fixed, or provi-
sional).
(b) For rates covering a future fiscal
year of the non-Federal entity, the un-
allowable costs will be removed from
the indirect (F&A) cost pools and the
rates appropriately adjusted.
(c) For rates covering a past period,
the Federal share of the unallowable
costs will be computed for each year
involved and a cash refund (including
interest chargeable in accordance with
applicable regulations) will be made to
the Federal Government. If cash re-
funds are made for past periods covered
by provisional or fixed rates, appro-
priate adjustments will be made when
the rates are finalized to avoid dupli-
cate recovery of the unallowable costs
by the Federal Government.
(d) For rates covering the current pe-
riod, either a rate adjustment or a re-
fund, as described in paragraphs (b) and
(c) of this section, must be required by
the cognizant agency for indirect costs.
The choice of method must be at the
discretion of the cognizant agency for
indirect costs, based on its judgment as
to which method would be most prac-
tical.
(e) The amount or proportion of unal-
lowable costs included in each year’s
rate will be assumed to be the same as
the amount or proportion of unallow-
able costs included in the base year
proposal used to establish the rate.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT (F&A) COSTS
§200.412 Classification of costs.
There is no universal rule for
classifying certain costs as either di-
rect or indirect (F&A) under every ac-
counting system. A cost may be direct
with respect to some specific service or
function, but indirect with respect to
the Federal award or other final cost
objective. Therefore, it is essential
that each item of cost incurred for the
same purpose be treated consistently
in like circumstances either as a direct
or an indirect (F&A) cost in order to
avoid possible double-charging of Fed-
eral awards. Guidelines for determining
direct and indirect (F&A) costs charged
to Federal awards are provided in this
subpart.
§200.413 Direct costs.
(a) General. Direct costs are those
costs that can be identified specifically
with a particular final cost objective,
such as a Federal award, or other inter-
nally or externally funded activity, or
that can be directly assigned to such
activities relatively easily with a high
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159
OMB Guidance §200.414
degree of accuracy. Costs incurred for
the same purpose in like circumstances
must be treated consistently as either
direct or indirect (F&A) costs. See also
§200.405.
(b) Application to Federal awards.
Identification with the Federal award
rather than the nature of the goods and
services involved is the determining
factor in distinguishing direct from in-
direct (F&A) costs of Federal awards.
Typical costs charged directly to a
Federal award are the compensation of
employees who work on that award,
their related fringe benefit costs, the
costs of materials and other items of
expense incurred for the Federal award.
If directly related to a specific award,
certain costs that otherwise would be
treated as indirect costs may also be
considered direct costs. Examples in-
clude extraordinary utility consump-
tion, the cost of materials supplied
from stock or services rendered by spe-
cialized facilities, program evaluation
costs, or other institutional service op-
erations.
(c) The salaries of administrative and
clerical staff should normally be treat-
ed as indirect (F&A) costs. Direct
charging of these costs may be appro-
priate only if all of the following condi-
tions are met:
(1) Administrative or clerical serv-
ices are integral to a project or activ-
ity;
(2) Individuals involved can be spe-
cifically identified with the project or
activity;
(3) Such costs are explicitly included
in the budget or have the prior written
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy; and
(4) The costs are not also recovered
as indirect costs.
(d) Minor items. Any direct cost of
minor amount may be treated as an in-
direct (F&A) cost for reasons of practi-
cality where such accounting treat-
ment for that item of cost is consist-
ently applied to all Federal and non-
Federal cost objectives.
(e) The costs of certain activities are
not allowable as charges to Federal
awards. However, even though these
costs are unallowable for purposes of
computing charges to Federal awards,
they nonetheless must be treated as di-
rect costs for purposes of determining
indirect (F&A) cost rates and be allo-
cated their equitable share of the non-
Federal entity’s indirect costs if they
represent activities which:
(1) Include the salaries of personnel,
(2) Occupy space, and
(3) Benefit from the non-Federal enti-
ty’s indirect (F&A) costs.
(f) For nonprofit organizations, the
costs of activities performed by the
non-Federal entity primarily as a serv-
ice to members, clients, or the general
public when significant and necessary
to the non-Federal entity’s mission
must be treated as direct costs whether
or not allowable, and be allocated an
equitable share of indirect (F&A) costs.
Some examples of these types of activi-
ties include:
(1) Maintenance of membership rolls,
subscriptions, publications, and related
functions. See also §200.454.
(2) Providing services and informa-
tion to members, legislative or admin-
istrative bodies, or the public. See also
§§200.454 and 200.450.
(3) Promotion, lobbying, and other
forms of public relations. See also
§§200.421 and 200.450.
(4) Conferences except those held to
conduct the general administration of
the non-Federal entity. See also
§200.432.
(5) Maintenance, protection, and in-
vestment of special funds not used in
operation of the non-Federal entity.
See also §200.442.
(6) Administration of group benefits
on behalf of members or clients, in-
cluding life and hospital insurance, an-
nuity or retirement plans, and finan-
cial aid. See also §200.431.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75885, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49562, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.414 Indirect (F&A) costs.
(a) Facilities and administration classi-
fication. For major Institutions of
Higher Education (IHE) and major non-
profit organizations, indirect (F&A)
costs must be classified within two
broad categories: ‘‘Facilities’’ and
‘‘Administration.’’ ‘‘Facilities’’ is de-
fined as depreciation on buildings,
equipment and capital improvement,
interest on debt associated with cer-
tain buildings, equipment and capital
improvements, and operations and
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160
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.414
maintenance expenses. ‘‘Administra-
tion’’ is defined as general administra-
tion and general expenses such as the
director’s office, accounting, personnel
and all other types of expenditures not
listed specifically under one of the sub-
categories of ‘‘Facilities’’ (including
cross allocations from other pools,
where applicable). For nonprofit orga-
nizations, library expenses are included
in the ‘‘Administration’’ category; for
IHEs, they are included in the ‘‘Facili-
ties’’ category. Major IHEs are defined
as those required to use the Standard
Format for Submission as noted in ap-
pendix III to this part, and Rate Deter-
mination for Institutions of Higher
Education paragraph C. 11. Major non-
profit organizations are those which re-
ceive more than $10 million dollars in
direct Federal funding.
(b) Diversity of nonprofit organizations.
Because of the diverse characteristics
and accounting practices of nonprofit
organizations, it is not possible to
specify the types of cost which may be
classified as indirect (F&A) cost in all
situations. Identification with a Fed-
eral award rather than the nature of
the goods and services involved is the
determining factor in distinguishing
direct from indirect (F&A) costs of
Federal awards. However, typical ex-
amples of indirect (F&A) cost for many
nonprofit organizations may include
depreciation on buildings and equip-
ment, the costs of operating and main-
taining facilities, and general adminis-
tration and general expenses, such as
the salaries and expenses of executive
officers, personnel administration, and
accounting.
(c) Federal Agency Acceptance of Nego-
tiated Indirect Cost Rates. (See also
§200.306.)
(1) The negotiated rates must be ac-
cepted by all Federal awarding agen-
cies. A Federal awarding agency may
use a rate different from the negotiated
rate for a class of Federal awards or a
single Federal award only when re-
quired by Federal statute or regula-
tion, or when approved by a Federal
awarding agency head or delegate
based on documented justification as
described in paragraph (c)(3) of this
section.
(2) The Federal awarding agency head
or delegate must notify OMB of any ap-
proved deviations.
(3) The Federal awarding agency
must implement, and make publicly
available, the policies, procedures and
general decision-making criteria that
their programs will follow to seek and
justify deviations from negotiated
rates.
(4) As required under §200.204, the
Federal awarding agency must include
in the notice of funding opportunity
the policies relating to indirect cost
rate reimbursement, matching, or cost
share as approved under paragraph
(e)(1) of this section. As appropriate,
the Federal agency should incorporate
discussion of these policies into Fed-
eral awarding agency outreach activi-
ties with non-Federal entities prior to
the posting of a notice of funding op-
portunity.
(d) Pass-through entities are subject
to the requirements in §200.332(a)(4).
(e) Requirements for development
and submission of indirect (F&A) cost
rate proposals and cost allocation
plans are contained in Appendices III–
VII and Appendix IX as follows:
(1) Appendix III to Part 200—Indirect
(F&A) Costs Identification and Assign-
ment, and Rate Determination for In-
stitutions of Higher Education (IHEs);
(2) Appendix IV to Part 200—Indirect
(F&A) Costs Identification and Assign-
ment, and Rate Determination for Non-
profit Organizations;
(3) Appendix V to Part 200—State/
Local Governmentwide Central Service
Cost Allocation Plans;
(4) Appendix VI to Part 200—Public
Assistance Cost Allocation Plans;
(5) Appendix VII to Part 200—States
and Local Government and Indian
Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals; and
(6) Appendix IX to Part 200—Hospital
Cost Principles.
(f) In addition to the procedures out-
lined in the appendices in paragraph (e)
of this section, any non-Federal entity
that does not have a current nego-
tiated (including provisional) rate, ex-
cept for those non-Federal entities de-
scribed in appendix VII to this part,
paragraph D.1.b, may elect to charge a
de minimis rate of 10% of modified
total direct costs (MTDC) which may
be used indefinitely. No documentation
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161
OMB Guidance §200.415
is required to justify the 10% de mini-
mis indirect cost rate. As described in
§200.403, costs must be consistently
charged as either indirect or direct
costs, but may not be double charged
or inconsistently charged as both. If
chosen, this methodology once elected
must be used consistently for all Fed-
eral awards until such time as a non-
Federal entity chooses to negotiate for
a rate, which the non-Federal entity
may apply to do at any time.
(g) Any non-Federal entity that has a
current federally-negotiated indirect
cost rate may apply for a one-time ex-
tension of the rates in that agreement
for a period of up to four years. This
extension will be subject to the review
and approval of the cognizant agency
for indirect costs. If an extension is
granted the non-Federal entity may
not request a rate review until the ex-
tension period ends. At the end of the
4-year extension, the non-Federal enti-
ty must re-apply to negotiate a rate.
Subsequent one-time extensions (up to
four years) are permitted if a renegoti-
ation is completed between each exten-
sion request.
(h) The federally negotiated indirect
rate, distribution base, and rate type
for a non-Federal entity (except for the
Indian tribes or tribal organizations, as
defined in the Indian Self Determina-
tion, Education and Assistance Act, 25
U.S.C. 450b(1)) must be available pub-
licly on an OMB-designated Federal
website.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49563, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.415 Required certifications.
Required certifications include:
(a) To assure that expenditures are
proper and in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award and approved project budgets,
the annual and final fiscal reports or
vouchers requesting payment under the
agreements must include a certifi-
cation, signed by an official who is au-
thorized to legally bind the non-Fed-
eral entity, which reads as follows: ‘‘By
signing this report, I certify to the best
of my knowledge and belief that the re-
port is true, complete, and accurate,
and the expenditures, disbursements
and cash receipts are for the purposes
and objectives set forth in the terms
and conditions of the Federal award. I
am aware that any false, fictitious, or
fraudulent information, or the omis-
sion of any material fact, may subject
me to criminal, civil or administrative
penalties for fraud, false statements,
false claims or otherwise. (U.S. Code
Title 18, Section 1001 and Title 31, Sec-
tions 3729–3730 and 3801–3812).’’
(b) Certification of cost allocation
plan or indirect (F&A) cost rate pro-
posal. Each cost allocation plan or in-
direct (F&A) cost rate proposal must
comply with the following:
(1) A proposal to establish a cost allo-
cation plan or an indirect (F&A) cost
rate, whether submitted to a Federal
cognizant agency for indirect costs or
maintained on file by the non-Federal
entity, must be certified by the non-
Federal entity using the Certificate of
Cost Allocation Plan or Certificate of
Indirect Costs as set forth in appen-
dices III through VII, and IX of this
part. The certificate must be signed on
behalf of the non-Federal entity by an
individual at a level no lower than vice
president or chief financial officer of
the non-Federal entity that submits
the proposal.
(2) Unless the non-Federal entity has
elected the option under §200.414(f), the
Federal Government may either dis-
allow all indirect (F&A) costs or uni-
laterally establish such a plan or rate
when the non-Federal entity fails to
submit a certified proposal for estab-
lishing such a plan or rate in accord-
ance with the requirements. Such a
plan or rate may be based upon audited
historical data or such other data that
have been furnished to the cognizant
agency for indirect costs and for which
it can be demonstrated that all unal-
lowable costs have been excluded.
When a cost allocation plan or indirect
cost rate is unilaterally established by
the Federal Government because the
non-Federal entity failed to submit a
certified proposal, the plan or rate es-
tablished will be set to ensure that po-
tentially unallowable costs will not be
reimbursed.
(c) Certifications by nonprofit orga-
nizations as appropriate that they did
not meet the definition of a major non-
profit organization as defined in
§200.414(a).
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162
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.416
(d) See also §200.450 for another re-
quired certification.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49563, Aug. 13,
2020]
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR STATES,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND INDIAN
TRIBES
§200.416 Cost allocation plans and in-
direct cost proposals.
(a) For states, local governments and
Indian tribes, certain services, such as
motor pools, computer centers, pur-
chasing, accounting, etc., are provided
to operating agencies on a centralized
basis. Since Federal awards are per-
formed within the individual operating
agencies, there needs to be a process
whereby these central service costs can
be identified and assigned to benefitted
activities on a reasonable and con-
sistent basis. The central service cost
allocation plan provides that process.
(b) Individual operating agencies
(governmental department or agency),
normally charge Federal awards for in-
direct costs through an indirect cost
rate. A separate indirect cost rate(s)
proposal for each operating agency is
usually necessary to claim indirect
costs under Federal awards. Indirect
costs include:
(1) The indirect costs originating in
each department or agency of the gov-
ernmental unit carrying out Federal
awards and
(2) The costs of central governmental
services distributed through the cen-
tral service cost allocation plan and
not otherwise treated as direct costs.
(c) The requirements for development
and submission of cost allocation plans
(for central service costs and public as-
sistance programs) and indirect cost
rate proposals are contained in appen-
dices IV, V and VI to this part.
§200.417 Interagency service.
The cost of services provided by one
agency to another within the govern-
mental unit may include allowable di-
rect costs of the service plus a pro-
rated share of indirect costs. A stand-
ard indirect cost allowance equal to
ten percent of the direct salary and
wage cost of providing the service (ex-
cluding overtime, shift premiums, and
fringe benefits) may be used in lieu of
determining the actual indirect costs
of the service. These services do not in-
clude centralized services included in
central service cost allocation plans as
described in Appendix V to Part 200.
[85 FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
§200.418 Costs incurred by states and
local governments.
Costs incurred or paid by a state or
local government on behalf of its IHEs
for fringe benefit programs, such as
pension costs and FICA and any other
costs specifically incurred on behalf of,
and in direct benefit to, the IHEs, are
allowable costs of such IHEs whether
or not these costs are recorded in the
accounting records of the institutions,
subject to the following:
(a) The costs meet the requirements
of §200.402–411 of this subpart;
(b) The costs are properly supported
by approved cost allocation plans in ac-
cordance with applicable Federal cost
accounting principles in this part; and
(c) The costs are not otherwise borne
directly or indirectly by the Federal
Government.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.419 Cost accounting standards
and disclosure statement.
(a) An IHE that receive an aggregate
total $50 million or more in Federal
awards and instruments subject to this
subpart (as specified in §200.101) in its
most recently completed fiscal year
must comply with the Cost Accounting
Standards Board’s cost accounting
standards located at 48 CFR 9905.501,
9905.502, 9905.505, and 9905.506. CAS-cov-
ered contracts and subcontracts award-
ed to the IHEs are subject to the broad-
er range of CAS requirements at 48
CFR 9900 through 9999 and 48 CFR part
30 (FAR Part 30).
(b) Disclosure statement. An IHE that
receives an aggregate total $50 million
or more in Federal awards and instru-
ments subject to this subpart (as speci-
fied in §200.101) during its most re-
cently completed fiscal year must dis-
close their cost accounting practices
by filing a Disclosure Statement (DS–
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163
OMB Guidance §200.419
2), which is reproduced in Appendix III
to Part 200. With the approval of the
cognizant agency for indirect costs, an
IHE may meet the DS–2 submission by
submitting the DS–2 for each business
unit that received $50 million or more
in Federal awards and instruments.
(1) The DS–2 must be submitted to
the cognizant agency for indirect costs
with a copy to the IHE’s cognizant
agency for audit. The initial DS–2 and
revisions to the DS–2 must be sub-
mitted in coordination with the IHE’s
indirect (F&A) rate proposal, unless an
earlier submission is requested by the
cognizant agency for indirect costs.
IHEs with CAS-covered contracts or
subcontracts meeting the dollar
threshold in 48 CFR 9903.202–1(f) must
submit their initial DS–2 or revisions
no later than prior to the award of a
CAS-covered contract or subcontract.
(2) An IHE must maintain an accu-
rate DS–2 and comply with disclosed
cost accounting practices. An IHE
must file amendments to the DS–2 to
the cognizant agency for indirect costs
in advance of a disclosed practice being
changed to comply with a new or modi-
fied standard, or when a practice is
changed for other reasons. An IHE may
proceed with implementing the change
after it has notified the Federal cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs. If the
change represents a variation from 2
CFR part 200, the change may require
approval by the Federal cognizant
agency for indirect costs, in accordance
with §200.102(b). Amendments of a DS–
2 may be submitted at any time. Re-
submission of a complete, updated DS–
2 is discouraged except when there are
extensive changes to disclosed prac-
tices.
(3) Cost and funding adjustments. Cost
adjustments must be made by the cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs if an
IHE fails to comply with the cost poli-
cies in this part or fails to consistently
follow its established or disclosed cost
accounting practices when estimating,
accumulating or reporting the costs of
Federal awards, and the aggregate cost
impact on Federal awards is material.
The cost adjustment must normally be
made on an aggregate basis for all af-
fected Federal awards through an ad-
justment of the IHE’s future F&A costs
rates or other means considered appro-
priate by the cognizant agency for indi-
rect costs. Under the terms of CAS cov-
ered contracts, adjustments in the
amount of funding provided may also
be required when the estimated pro-
posal costs were not determined in ac-
cordance with established cost ac-
counting practices.
(4) Overpayments. Excess amounts
paid in the aggregate by the Federal
Government under Federal awards due
to a noncompliant cost accounting
practice used to estimate, accumulate,
or report costs must be credited or re-
funded, as deemed appropriate by the
cognizant agency for indirect costs. In-
terest applicable to the excess amounts
paid in the aggregate during the period
of noncompliance must also be deter-
mined and collected in accordance with
applicable Federal agency regulations.
(5) Compliant cost accounting practice
changes. Changes from one compliant
cost accounting practice to another
compliant practice that are approved
by the cognizant agency for indirect
costs may require cost adjustments if
the change has a material effect on
Federal awards and the changes are
deemed appropriate by the cognizant
agency for indirect costs.
(6) Responsibilities. The cognizant
agency for indirect cost must:
(i) Determine cost adjustments for
all Federal awards in the aggregate on
behalf of the Federal Government. Ac-
tions of the cognizant agency for indi-
rect cost in making cost adjustment
determinations must be coordinated
with all affected Federal awarding
agencies to the extent necessary.
(ii) Prescribe guidelines and establish
internal procedures to promptly deter-
mine on behalf of the Federal Govern-
ment that a DS–2 adequately discloses
the IHE’s cost accounting practices
and that the disclosed practices are
compliant with applicable CAS and the
requirements of this part.
(iii) Distribute to all affected Federal
awarding agencies any DS–2 determina-
tion of adequacy or noncompliance.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49564, Aug. 13,
2020]
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164
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.420
GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR SELECTED
ITEMS OF COST
§200.420 Considerations for selected
items of cost.
This section provides principles to be
applied in establishing the allowability
of certain items involved in deter-
mining cost, in addition to the require-
ments of Subtitle II of this subpart.
These principles apply whether or not a
particular item of cost is properly
treated as direct cost or indirect (F&A)
cost. Failure to mention a particular
item of cost is not intended to imply
that it is either allowable or unallow-
able; rather, determination as to allow-
ability in each case should be based on
the treatment provided for similar or
related items of cost, and based on the
principles described in §§200.402
through 200.411. In case of a discrep-
ancy between the provisions of a spe-
cific Federal award and the provisions
below, the Federal award governs. Cri-
teria outlined in §200.403 must be ap-
plied in determining allowability. See
also §200.102.
[85 FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.421 Advertising and public rela-
tions.
(a) The term advertising costs means
the costs of advertising media and cor-
ollary administrative costs. Adver-
tising media include magazines, news-
papers, radio and television, direct
mail, exhibits, electronic or computer
transmittals, and the like.
(b) The only allowable advertising
costs are those which are solely for:
(1) The recruitment of personnel re-
quired by the non-Federal entity for
performance of a Federal award (See
also §200.463);
(2) The procurement of goods and
services for the performance of a Fed-
eral award;
(3) The disposal of scrap or surplus
materials acquired in the performance
of a Federal award except when non-
Federal entities are reimbursed for dis-
posal costs at a predetermined amount;
or
(4) Program outreach and other spe-
cific purposes necessary to meet the re-
quirements of the Federal award.
(c) The term ‘‘public relations’’ in-
cludes community relations and means
those activities dedicated to maintain-
ing the image of the non-Federal entity
or maintaining or promoting under-
standing and favorable relations with
the community or public at large or
any segment of the public.
(d) The only allowable public rela-
tions costs are:
(1) Costs specifically required by the
Federal award;
(2) Costs of communicating with the
public and press pertaining to specific
activities or accomplishments which
result from performance of the Federal
award (these costs are considered nec-
essary as part of the outreach effort for
the Federal award); or
(3) Costs of conducting general liai-
son with news media and government
public relations officers, to the extent
that such activities are limited to com-
munication and liaison necessary to
keep the public informed on matters of
public concern, such as notices of fund-
ing opportunities, financial matters,
etc.
(e) Unallowable advertising and pub-
lic relations costs include the fol-
lowing:
(1) All advertising and public rela-
tions costs other than as specified in
paragraphs (b) and (d) of this section;
(2) Costs of meetings, conventions,
convocations, or other events related
to other activities of the entity (see
also §200.432), including:
(i) Costs of displays, demonstrations,
and exhibits;
(ii) Costs of meeting rooms, hospi-
tality suites, and other special facili-
ties used in conjunction with shows
and other special events; and
(iii) Salaries and wages of employees
engaged in setting up and displaying
exhibits, making demonstrations, and
providing briefings;
(3) Costs of promotional items and
memorabilia, including models, gifts,
and souvenirs;
(4) Costs of advertising and public re-
lations designed solely to promote the
non-Federal entity.
[78 FR 76808, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.422 Advisory councils.
Costs incurred by advisory councils
or committees are unallowable unless
authorized by statute, the Federal
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165
OMB Guidance §200.428
awarding agency or as an indirect cost
where allocable to Federal awards. See
§200.444, applicable to States, local gov-
ernments, and Indian tribes.
[85 FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.423 Alcoholic beverages.
Costs of alcoholic beverages are unal-
lowable.
§200.424 Alumni/ae activities.
Costs incurred by IHEs for, or in sup-
port of, alumni/ae activities are unal-
lowable.
§200.425 Audit services.
(a) A reasonably proportionate share
of the costs of audits required by, and
performed in accordance with, the Sin-
gle Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31
U.S.C. 7501–7507), as implemented by re-
quirements of this part, are allowable.
However, the following audit costs are
unallowable:
(1) Any costs when audits required by
the Single Audit Act and subpart F of
this part have not been conducted or
have been conducted but not in accord-
ance therewith; and
(2) Any costs of auditing a non-Fed-
eral entity that is exempted from hav-
ing an audit conducted under the Sin-
gle Audit Act and subpart F of this
part because its expenditures under
Federal awards are less than $750,000
during the non-Federal entity’s fiscal
year.
(b) The costs of a financial statement
audit of a non-Federal entity that does
not currently have a Federal award
may be included in the indirect cost
pool for a cost allocation plan or indi-
rect cost proposal.
(c) Pass-through entities may charge
Federal awards for the cost of agreed-
upon-procedures engagements to mon-
itor subrecipients (in accordance with
subpart D, §§200.331–333) who are ex-
empted from the requirements of the
Single Audit Act and subpart F of this
part. This cost is allowable only if the
agreed-upon-procedures engagements
are:
(1) Conducted in accordance with
GAGAS attestation standards;
(2) Paid for and arranged by the pass-
through entity; and
(3) Limited in scope to one or more of
the following types of compliance re-
quirements: activities allowed or
unallowed; allowable costs/cost prin-
ciples; eligibility; and reporting.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49564, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.426 Bad debts.
Bad debts (debts which have been de-
termined to be uncollectable), includ-
ing losses (whether actual or esti-
mated) arising from uncollectable ac-
counts and other claims, are unallow-
able. Related collection costs, and re-
lated legal costs, arising from such
debts after they have been determined
to be uncollectable are also unallow-
able. See also §200.428.
[85 FR 49565, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.427 Bonding costs.
(a) Bonding costs arise when the Fed-
eral awarding agency requires assur-
ance against financial loss to itself or
others by reason of the act or default
of the non-Federal entity. They arise
also in instances where the non-Fed-
eral entity requires similar assurance,
including: bonds as bid, performance,
payment, advance payment, infringe-
ment, and fidelity bonds for employees
and officials.
(b) Costs of bonding required pursu-
ant to the terms and conditions of the
Federal award are allowable.
(c) Costs of bonding required by the
non-Federal entity in the general con-
duct of its operations are allowable as
an indirect cost to the extent that such
bonding is in accordance with sound
business practice and the rates and pre-
miums are reasonable under the cir-
cumstances.
§200.428 Collections of improper pay-
ments.
The costs incurred by a non-Federal
entity to recover improper payments
are allowable as either direct or indi-
rect costs, as appropriate. Amounts
collected may be used by the non-Fed-
eral entity in accordance with cash
management standards set forth in
§200.305.
[85 FR 49565, Aug. 13, 2020]
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166
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.429
§200.429 Commencement and convoca-
tion costs.
For IHEs, costs incurred for com-
mencements and convocations are un-
allowable, except as provided for in
(B)(9) Student Administration and
Services, in appendix III to this part,
as activity costs.
[85 FR 49565, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.430 Compensation—personal
services.
(a) General. Compensation for per-
sonal services includes all remunera-
tion, paid currently or accrued, for
services of employees rendered during
the period of performance under the
Federal award, including but not nec-
essarily limited to wages and salaries.
Compensation for personal services
may also include fringe benefits which
are addressed in §200.431. Costs of com-
pensation are allowable to the extent
that they satisfy the specific require-
ments of this part, and that the total
compensation for individual employ-
ees:
(1) Is reasonable for the services ren-
dered and conforms to the established
written policy of the non-Federal enti-
ty consistently applied to both Federal
and non-Federal activities;
(2) Follows an appointment made in
accordance with a non-Federal entity’s
laws and/or rules or written policies
and meets the requirements of Federal
statute, where applicable; and
(3) Is determined and supported as
provided in paragraph (i) of this sec-
tion, when applicable.
(b) Reasonableness. Compensation for
employees engaged in work on Federal
awards will be considered reasonable to
the extent that it is consistent with
that paid for similar work in other ac-
tivities of the non-Federal entity. In
cases where the kinds of employees re-
quired for Federal awards are not found
in the other activities of the non-Fed-
eral entity, compensation will be con-
sidered reasonable to the extent that it
is comparable to that paid for similar
work in the labor market in which the
non-Federal entity competes for the
kind of employees involved.
(c) Professional activities outside the
non-Federal entity. Unless an arrange-
ment is specifically authorized by a
Federal awarding agency, a non-Fed-
eral entity must follow its written non-
Federal entity-wide policies and prac-
tices concerning the permissible extent
of professional services that can be pro-
vided outside the non-Federal entity
for non-organizational compensation.
Where such non-Federal entity-wide
written policies do not exist or do not
adequately define the permissible ex-
tent of consulting or other non-organi-
zational activities undertaken for
extra outside pay, the Federal Govern-
ment may require that the effort of
professional staff working on Federal
awards be allocated between:
(1) Non-Federal entity activities, and
(2) Non-organizational professional
activities. If the Federal awarding
agency considers the extent of non-or-
ganizational professional effort exces-
sive or inconsistent with the conflicts-
of-interest terms and conditions of the
Federal award, appropriate arrange-
ments governing compensation will be
negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
(d) Unallowable costs. (1) Costs which
are unallowable under other sections of
these principles must not be allowable
under this section solely on the basis
that they constitute personnel com-
pensation.
(2) The allowable compensation for
certain employees is subject to a ceil-
ing in accordance with statute. For the
amount of the ceiling for cost-reim-
bursement contracts, the covered com-
pensation subject to the ceiling, the
covered employees, and other relevant
provisions, see 10 U.S.C. 2324(e)(1)(P),
and 41 U.S.C. 1127 and 4304(a)(16). For
other types of Federal awards, other
statutory ceilings may apply.
(e) Special considerations. Special con-
siderations in determining allowability
of compensation will be given to any
change in a non-Federal entity’s com-
pensation policy resulting in a substan-
tial increase in its employees’ level of
compensation (particularly when the
change was concurrent with an in-
crease in the ratio of Federal awards to
other activities) or any change in the
treatment of allowability of specific
types of compensation due to changes
in Federal policy.
(f) Incentive compensation. Incentive
compensation to employees based on
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167
OMB Guidance §200.430
cost reduction, or efficient perform-
ance, suggestion awards, safety awards,
etc., is allowable to the extent that the
overall compensation is determined to
be reasonable and such costs are paid
or accrued pursuant to an agreement
entered into in good faith between the
non-Federal entity and the employees
before the services were rendered, or
pursuant to an established plan fol-
lowed by the non-Federal entity so
consistently as to imply, in effect, an
agreement to make such payment.
(g) Nonprofit organizations. For com-
pensation to members of nonprofit or-
ganizations, trustees, directors, associ-
ates, officers, or the immediate fami-
lies thereof, determination must be
made that such compensation is rea-
sonable for the actual personal services
rendered rather than a distribution of
earnings in excess of costs. This may
include director’s and executive com-
mittee member’s fees, incentive
awards, allowances for off-site pay, in-
centive pay, location allowances, hard-
ship pay, and cost-of-living differen-
tials.
(h) Institutions of Higher Education
(IHEs). (1) Certain conditions require
special consideration and possible limi-
tations in determining allowable per-
sonnel compensation costs under Fed-
eral awards. Among such conditions
are the following:
(i) Allowable activities. Charges to
Federal awards may include reasonable
amounts for activities contributing
and directly related to work under an
agreement, such as delivering special
lectures about specific aspects of the
ongoing activity, writing reports and
articles, developing and maintaining
protocols (human, animals, etc.), man-
aging substances/chemicals, managing
and securing project-specific data, co-
ordinating research subjects, partici-
pating in appropriate seminars, con-
sulting with colleagues and graduate
students, and attending meetings and
conferences.
(ii) Incidental activities. Incidental
activities for which supplemental com-
pensation is allowable under written
institutional policy (at a rate not to
exceed institutional base salary) need
not be included in the records described
in paragraph (i) of this section to di-
rectly charge payments of incidental
activities, such activities must either
be specifically provided for in the Fed-
eral award budget or receive prior writ-
ten approval by the Federal awarding
agency.
(2) Salary basis. Charges for work per-
formed on Federal awards by faculty
members during the academic year are
allowable at the IBS rate. Except as
noted in paragraph (h)(1)(ii) of this sec-
tion, in no event will charges to Fed-
eral awards, irrespective of the basis of
computation, exceed the proportionate
share of the IBS for that period. This
principle applies to all members of fac-
ulty at an institution. IBS is defined as
the annual compensation paid by an
IHE for an individual’s appointment,
whether that individual’s time is spent
on research, instruction, administra-
tion, or other activities. IBS excludes
any income that an individual earns
outside of duties performed for the
IHE. Unless there is prior approval by
the Federal awarding agency, charges
of a faculty member’s salary to a Fed-
eral award must not exceed the propor-
tionate share of the IBS for the period
during which the faculty member
worked on the award.
(3) Intra-Institution of Higher Edu-
cation (IHE) consulting. Intra-IHE con-
sulting by faculty should be under-
taken as an IHE responsibility requir-
ing no compensation in addition to
IBS. However, in unusual cases where
consultation is across departmental
lines or involves a separate or remote
operation, and the work performed by
the faculty member is in addition to
his or her regular responsibilities, any
charges for such work representing ad-
ditional compensation above IBS are
allowable provided that such con-
sulting arrangements are specifically
provided for in the Federal award or
approved in writing by the Federal
awarding agency.
(4) Extra Service Pay normally rep-
resents overload compensation, subject
to institutional compensation policies
for services above and beyond IBS.
Where extra service pay is a result of
Intra-IHE consulting, it is subject to
the same requirements of paragraph (b)
above. It is allowable if all of the fol-
lowing conditions are met:
(i) The non-Federal entity estab-
lishes consistent written policies which
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168
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.430
apply uniformly to all faculty mem-
bers, not just those working on Federal
awards.
(ii) The non-Federal entity estab-
lishes a consistent written definition of
work covered by IBS which is specific
enough to determine conclusively when
work beyond that level has occurred.
This may be described in appointment
letters or other documentations.
(iii) The supplementation amount
paid is commensurate with the IBS
rate of pay and the amount of addi-
tional work performed. See paragraph
(h)(2) of this section.
(iv) The salaries, as supplemented,
fall within the salary structure and
pay ranges established by and docu-
mented in writing or otherwise applica-
ble to the non-Federal entity.
(v) The total salaries charged to Fed-
eral awards including extra service pay
are subject to the Standards of Docu-
mentation as described in paragraph (i)
of this section.
(5) Periods outside the academic year.
(i) Except as specified for teaching ac-
tivity in paragraph (h)(5)(ii) of this sec-
tion, charges for work performed by
faculty members on Federal awards
during periods not included in the base
salary period will be at a rate not in
excess of the IBS.
(ii) Charges for teaching activities
performed by faculty members on Fed-
eral awards during periods not included
in IBS period will be based on the nor-
mal written policy of the IHE gov-
erning compensation to faculty mem-
bers for teaching assignments during
such periods.
(6) Part-time faculty. Charges for work
performed on Federal awards by fac-
ulty members having only part-time
appointments will be determined at a
rate not in excess of that regularly
paid for part-time assignments.
(7) Sabbatical leave costs. Rules for
sabbatical leave are as follow:
(i) Costs of leaves of absence by em-
ployees for performance of graduate
work or sabbatical study, travel, or re-
search are allowable provided the IHE
has a uniform written policy on sab-
batical leave for persons engaged in in-
struction and persons engaged in re-
search. Such costs will be allocated on
an equitable basis among all related
activities of the IHE.
(ii) Where sabbatical leave is in-
cluded in fringe benefits for which a
cost is determined for assessment as a
direct charge, the aggregate amount of
such assessments applicable to all
work of the institution during the base
period must be reasonable in relation
to the IHE’s actual experience under
its sabbatical leave policy.
(8) Salary rates for non-faculty mem-
bers. Non-faculty full-time professional
personnel may also earn ‘‘extra service
pay’’ in accordance with the non-Fed-
eral entity’s written policy and con-
sistent with paragraph (h)(1)(i) of this
section.
(i) Standards for Documentation of Per-
sonnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal
awards for salaries and wages must be
based on records that accurately re-
flect the work performed. These
records must:
(i) Be supported by a system of inter-
nal control which provides reasonable
assurance that the charges are accu-
rate, allowable, and properly allocated;
(ii) Be incorporated into the official
records of the non-Federal entity;
(iii) Reasonably reflect the total ac-
tivity for which the employee is com-
pensated by the non-Federal entity,
not exceeding 100% of compensated ac-
tivities (for IHE, this per the IHE’s def-
inition of IBS);
(iv) Encompass federally-assisted and
all other activities compensated by the
non-Federal entity on an integrated
basis, but may include the use of sub-
sidiary records as defined in the non-
Federal entity’s written policy;
(v) Comply with the established ac-
counting policies and practices of the
non-Federal entity (See paragraph
(h)(1)(ii) above for treatment of inci-
dental work for IHEs.); and
(vi) [Reserved]
(vii) Support the distribution of the
employee’s salary or wages among spe-
cific activities or cost objectives if the
employee works on more than one Fed-
eral award; a Federal award and non-
Federal award; an indirect cost activ-
ity and a direct cost activity; two or
more indirect activities which are allo-
cated using different allocation bases;
or an unallowable activity and a direct
or indirect cost activity.
(viii) Budget estimates (i.e., esti-
mates determined before the services
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169
OMB Guidance §200.430
are performed) alone do not qualify as
support for charges to Federal awards,
but may be used for interim accounting
purposes, provided that:
(A) The system for establishing the
estimates produces reasonable approxi-
mations of the activity actually per-
formed;
(B) Significant changes in the cor-
responding work activity (as defined by
the non-Federal entity’s written poli-
cies) are identified and entered into the
records in a timely manner. Short term
(such as one or two months) fluctua-
tion between workload categories need
not be considered as long as the dis-
tribution of salaries and wages is rea-
sonable over the longer term; and
(C) The non-Federal entity’s system
of internal controls includes processes
to review after-the-fact interim
charges made to a Federal award based
on budget estimates. All necessary ad-
justment must be made such that the
final amount charged to the Federal
award is accurate, allowable, and prop-
erly allocated.
(ix) Because practices vary as to the
activity constituting a full workload
(for IHEs, IBS), records may reflect
categories of activities expressed as a
percentage distribution of total activi-
ties.
(x) It is recognized that teaching, re-
search, service, and administration are
often inextricably intermingled in an
academic setting. When recording sala-
ries and wages charged to Federal
awards for IHEs, a precise assessment
of factors that contribute to costs is
therefore not always feasible, nor is it
expected.
(2) For records which meet the stand-
ards required in paragraph (i)(1) of this
section, the non-Federal entity will not
be required to provide additional sup-
port or documentation for the work
performed, other than that referenced
in paragraph (i)(3) of this section.
(3) In accordance with Department of
Labor regulations implementing the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (29
CFR part 516), charges for the salaries
and wages of nonexempt employees, in
addition to the supporting documenta-
tion described in this section, must
also be supported by records indicating
the total number of hours worked each
day.
(4) Salaries and wages of employees
used in meeting cost sharing or match-
ing requirements on Federal awards
must be supported in the same manner
as salaries and wages claimed for reim-
bursement from Federal awards.
(5) For states, local governments and
Indian tribes, substitute processes or
systems for allocating salaries and
wages to Federal awards may be used
in place of or in addition to the records
described in paragraph (1) if approved
by the cognizant agency for indirect
cost. Such systems may include, but
are not limited to, random moment
sampling, ‘‘rolling’’ time studies, case
counts, or other quantifiable measures
of work performed.
(i) Substitute systems which use
sampling methods (primarily for Tem-
porary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid,
and other public assistance programs)
must meet acceptable statistical sam-
pling standards including:
(A) The sampling universe must in-
clude all of the employees whose sala-
ries and wages are to be allocated
based on sample results except as pro-
vided in paragraph (i)(5)(iii) of this sec-
tion;
(B) The entire time period involved
must be covered by the sample; and
(C) The results must be statistically
valid and applied to the period being
sampled.
(ii) Allocating charges for the sam-
pled employees’ supervisors, clerical
and support staffs, based on the results
of the sampled employees, will be ac-
ceptable.
(iii) Less than full compliance with
the statistical sampling standards
noted in subsection (5)(i) may be ac-
cepted by the cognizant agency for in-
direct costs if it concludes that the
amounts to be allocated to Federal
awards will be minimal, or if it con-
cludes that the system proposed by the
non-Federal entity will result in lower
costs to Federal awards than a system
which complies with the standards.
(6) Cognizant agencies for indirect
costs are encouraged to approve alter-
native proposals based on outcomes
and milestones for program perform-
ance where these are clearly docu-
mented. Where approved by the Federal
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2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.431
cognizant agency for indirect costs,
these plans are acceptable as an alter-
native to the requirements of para-
graph (i)(1) of this section.
(7) For Federal awards of similar pur-
pose activity or instances of approved
blended funding, a non-Federal entity
may submit performance plans that in-
corporate funds from multiple Federal
awards and account for their combined
use based on performance-oriented
metrics, provided that such plans are
approved in advance by all involved
Federal awarding agencies. In these in-
stances, the non-Federal entity must
submit a request for waiver of the re-
quirements based on documentation
that describes the method of charging
costs, relates the charging of costs to
the specific activity that is applicable
to all fund sources, and is based on
quantifiable measures of the activity
in relation to time charged.
(8) For a non-Federal entity where
the records do not meet the standards
described in this section, the Federal
Government may require personnel ac-
tivity reports, including prescribed cer-
tifications, or equivalent documenta-
tion that support the records as re-
quired in this section.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49565, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.431 Compensation—fringe bene-
fits.
(a) General. Fringe benefits are allow-
ances and services provided by employ-
ers to their employees as compensation
in addition to regular salaries and
wages. Fringe benefits include, but are
not limited to, the costs of leave (vaca-
tion, family-related, sick or military),
employee insurance, pensions, and un-
employment benefit plans. Except as
provided elsewhere in these principles,
the costs of fringe benefits are allow-
able provided that the benefits are rea-
sonable and are required by law, non-
Federal entity-employee agreement, or
an established policy of the non-Fed-
eral entity.
(b) Leave. The cost of fringe benefits
in the form of regular compensation
paid to employees during periods of au-
thorized absences from the job, such as
for annual leave, family-related leave,
sick leave, holidays, court leave, mili-
tary leave, administrative leave, and
other similar benefits, are allowable if
all of the following criteria are met:
(1) They are provided under estab-
lished written leave policies;
(2) The costs are equitably allocated
to all related activities, including Fed-
eral awards; and,
(3) The accounting basis (cash or ac-
crual) selected for costing each type of
leave is consistently followed by the
non-Federal entity or specified group-
ing of employees.
(i) When a non-Federal entity uses
the cash basis of accounting, the cost
of leave is recognized in the period that
the leave is taken and paid for. Pay-
ments for unused leave when an em-
ployee retires or terminates employ-
ment are allowable in the year of pay-
ment.
(ii) The accrual basis may be only
used for those types of leave for which
a liability as defined by GAAP exists
when the leave is earned. When a non-
Federal entity uses the accrual basis of
accounting, allowable leave costs are
the lesser of the amount accrued or
funded.
(c) Fringe benefits. The cost of fringe
benefits in the form of employer con-
tributions or expenses for social secu-
rity; employee life, health, unemploy-
ment, and worker’s compensation in-
surance (except as indicated in
§200.447); pension plan costs (see para-
graph (i) of this section); and other
similar benefits are allowable, provided
such benefits are granted under estab-
lished written policies. Such benefits,
must be allocated to Federal awards
and all other activities in a manner
consistent with the pattern of benefits
attributable to the individuals or
group(s) of employees whose salaries
and wages are chargeable to such Fed-
eral awards and other activities, and
charged as direct or indirect costs in
accordance with the non-Federal enti-
ty’s accounting practices.
(d) Cost objectives. Fringe benefits
may be assigned to cost objectives by
identifying specific benefits to specific
individual employees or by allocating
on the basis of entity-wide salaries and
wages of the employees receiving the
benefits. When the allocation method
is used, separate allocations must be
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171
OMB Guidance §200.431
made to selective groupings of employ-
ees, unless the non-Federal entity dem-
onstrates that costs in relationship to
salaries and wages do not differ signifi-
cantly for different groups of employ-
ees.
(e) Insurance. See also §200.447(d)(1)
and (2).
(1) Provisions for a reserve under a
self-insurance program for unemploy-
ment compensation or workers’ com-
pensation are allowable to the extent
that the provisions represent reason-
able estimates of the liabilities for
such compensation, and the types of
coverage, extent of coverage, and rates
and premiums would have been allow-
able had insurance been purchased to
cover the risks. However, provisions for
self-insured liabilities which do not be-
come payable for more than one year
after the provision is made must not
exceed the present value of the liabil-
ity.
(2) Costs of insurance on the lives of
trustees, officers, or other employees
holding positions of similar responsi-
bility are allowable only to the extent
that the insurance represents addi-
tional compensation. The costs of such
insurance when the non-Federal entity
is named as beneficiary are unallow-
able.
(3) Actual claims paid to or on behalf
of employees or former employees for
workers’ compensation, unemployment
compensation, severance pay, and simi-
lar employee benefits (e.g., post-retire-
ment health benefits), are allowable in
the year of payment provided that the
non-Federal entity follows a consistent
costing policy.
(f) Automobiles. That portion of auto-
mobile costs furnished by the non-Fed-
eral entity that relates to personal use
by employees (including transportation
to and from work) is unallowable as
fringe benefit or indirect (F&A) costs
regardless of whether the cost is re-
ported as taxable income to the em-
ployees.
(g) Pension plan costs. Pension plan
costs which are incurred in accordance
with the established policies of the
non-Federal entity are allowable, pro-
vided that:
(1) Such policies meet the test of rea-
sonableness.
(2) The methods of cost allocation are
not discriminatory.
(3) Except for State and Local Gov-
ernments, the cost assigned to each fis-
cal year should be determined in ac-
cordance with GAAP.
(4) The costs assigned to a given fis-
cal year are funded for all plan partici-
pants within six months after the end
of that year. However, increases to nor-
mal and past service pension costs
caused by a delay in funding the actu-
arial liability beyond 30 calendar days
after each quarter of the year to which
such costs are assignable are unallow-
able. Non-Federal entity may elect to
follow the ‘‘Cost Accounting Standard
for Composition and Measurement of
Pension Costs’’ (48 CFR 9904.412).
(5) Pension plan termination insur-
ance premiums paid pursuant to the
Employee Retirement Income Security
Act (ERISA) of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1301–1461)
are allowable. Late payment charges
on such premiums are unallowable. Ex-
cise taxes on accumulated funding defi-
ciencies and other penalties imposed
under ERISA are unallowable.
(6) Pension plan costs may be com-
puted using a pay-as-you-go method or
an acceptable actuarial cost method in
accordance with established written
policies of the non-Federal entity.
(i) For pension plans financed on a
pay-as-you-go method, allowable costs
will be limited to those representing
actual payments to retirees or their
beneficiaries.
(ii) Pension costs calculated using an
actuarial cost-based method recognized
by GAAP are allowable for a given fis-
cal year if they are funded for that
year within six months after the end of
that year. Costs funded after the six-
month period (or a later period agreed
to by the cognizant agency for indirect
costs) are allowable in the year funded.
The cognizant agency for indirect costs
may agree to an extension of the six-
month period if an appropriate adjust-
ment is made to compensate for the
timing of the charges to the Federal
Government and related Federal reim-
bursement and the non-Federal enti-
ty’s contribution to the pension fund.
Adjustments may be made by cash re-
fund or other equitable procedures to
compensate the Federal Government
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172
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.431
for the time value of Federal reim-
bursements in excess of contributions
to the pension fund.
(iii) Amounts funded by the non-Fed-
eral entity in excess of the actuarially
determined amount for a fiscal year
may be used as the non-Federal enti-
ty’s contribution in future periods.
(iv) When a non-Federal entity con-
verts to an acceptable actuarial cost
method, as defined by GAAP, and funds
pension costs in accordance with this
method, the unfunded liability at the
time of conversion is allowable if am-
ortized over a period of years in accord-
ance with GAAP.
(v) The Federal Government must re-
ceive an equitable share of any pre-
viously allowed pension costs (includ-
ing earnings thereon) which revert or
inure to the non-Federal entity in the
form of a refund, withdrawal, or other
credit.
(h) Post-retirement health. Post-retire-
ment health plans (PRHP) refers to
costs of health insurance or health
services not included in a pension plan
covered by paragraph (g) of this section
for retirees and their spouses, depend-
ents, and survivors. PRHP costs may
be computed using a pay-as-you-go
method or an acceptable actuarial cost
method in accordance with established
written policies of the non-Federal en-
tity.
(1) For PRHP financed on a pay-as-
you-go method, allowable costs will be
limited to those representing actual
payments to retirees or their bene-
ficiaries.
(2) PRHP costs calculated using an
actuarial cost method recognized by
GAAP are allowable if they are funded
for that year within six months after
the end of that year. Costs funded after
the six-month period (or a later period
agreed to by the cognizant agency) are
allowable in the year funded. The Fed-
eral cognizant agency for indirect costs
may agree to an extension of the six-
month period if an appropriate adjust-
ment is made to compensate for the
timing of the charges to the Federal
Government and related Federal reim-
bursements and the non-Federal enti-
ty’s contributions to the PRHP fund.
Adjustments may be made by cash re-
fund, reduction in current year’s PRHP
costs, or other equitable procedures to
compensate the Federal Government
for the time value of Federal reim-
bursements in excess of contributions
to the PRHP fund.
(3) Amounts funded in excess of the
actuarially determined amount for a
fiscal year may be used as the non-Fed-
eral entity contribution in a future pe-
riod.
(4) When a non-Federal entity con-
verts to an acceptable actuarial cost
method and funds PRHP costs in ac-
cordance with this method, the initial
unfunded liability attributable to prior
years is allowable if amortized over a
period of years in accordance with
GAAP, or, if no such GAAP period ex-
ists, over a period negotiated with the
cognizant agency for indirect costs.
(5) To be allowable in the current
year, the PRHP costs must be paid ei-
ther to:
(i) An insurer or other benefit pro-
vider as current year costs or pre-
miums, or
(ii) An insurer or trustee to maintain
a trust fund or reserve for the sole pur-
pose of providing post-retirement bene-
fits to retirees and other beneficiaries.
(6) The Federal Government must re-
ceive an equitable share of any
amounts of previously allowed post-re-
tirement benefit costs (including earn-
ings thereon) which revert or inure to
the non-Federal entity in the form of a
refund, withdrawal, or other credit.
(i) Severance pay. (1) Severance pay,
also commonly referred to as dismissal
wages, is a payment in addition to reg-
ular salaries and wages, by non-Federal
entities to workers whose employment
is being terminated. Costs of severance
pay are allowable only to the extent
that in each case, it is required by
(i) Law;
(ii) Employer-employee agreement;
(iii) Established policy that con-
stitutes, in effect, an implied agree-
ment on the non-Federal entity’s part;
or
(iv) Circumstances of the particular
employment.
(2) Costs of severance payments are
divided into two categories as follows:
(i) Actual normal turnover severance
payments must be allocated to all ac-
tivities; or, where the non-Federal en-
tity provides for a reserve for normal
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173
OMB Guidance §200.432
severances, such method will be ac-
ceptable if the charge to current oper-
ations is reasonable in light of pay-
ments actually made for normal
severances over a representative past
period, and if amounts charged are al-
located to all activities of the non-Fed-
eral entity.
(ii) Measurement of costs of abnor-
mal or mass severance pay by means of
an accrual will not achieve equity to
both parties. Thus, accruals for this
purpose are not allowable. However,
the Federal Government recognizes its
responsibility to participate, to the ex-
tent of its fair share, in any specific
payment. Prior approval by the Fed-
eral awarding agency or cognizant
agency for indirect cost, as appro-
priate, is required.
(3) Costs incurred in certain sever-
ance pay packages which are in an
amount in excess of the normal sever-
ance pay paid by the non-Federal enti-
ty to an employee upon termination of
employment and are paid to the em-
ployee contingent upon a change in
management control over, or owner-
ship of, the non-Federal entity’s assets,
are unallowable.
(4) Severance payments to foreign na-
tionals employed by the non-Federal
entity outside the United States, to
the extent that the amount exceeds the
customary or prevailing practices for
the non-Federal entity in the United
States, are unallowable, unless they
are necessary for the performance of
Federal programs and approved by the
Federal awarding agency.
(5) Severance payments to foreign na-
tionals employed by the non-Federal
entity outside the United States due to
the termination of the foreign national
as a result of the closing of, or curtail-
ment of activities by, the non-Federal
entity in that country, are unallow-
able, unless they are necessary for the
performance of Federal programs and
approved by the Federal awarding
agency.
(j) For IHEs only. (1) Fringe benefits
in the form of undergraduate and grad-
uate tuition or remission of tuition for
individual employees are allowable,
provided such benefits are granted in
accordance with established non-Fed-
eral entity policies, and are distributed
to all non-Federal entity activities on
an equitable basis. Tuition benefits for
family members other than the em-
ployee are unallowable.
(2) Fringe benefits in the form of tui-
tion or remission of tuition for indi-
vidual employees not employed by
IHEs are limited to the tax-free
amount allowed per section 127 of the
Internal Revenue Code as amended.
(3) IHEs may offer employees tuition
waivers or tuition reductions, provided
that the benefit does not discriminate
in favor of highly compensated employ-
ees. Employees can exercise these ben-
efits at other institutions according to
institutional policy. See §200.466, for
treatment of tuition remission pro-
vided to students.
(k) Fringe benefit programs and other
benefit costs. For IHEs whose costs are
paid by state or local governments,
fringe benefit programs (such as pen-
sion costs and FICA) and any other
benefits costs specifically incurred on
behalf of, and in direct benefit to, the
non-Federal entity, are allowable costs
of such non-Federal entities whether or
not these costs are recorded in the ac-
counting records of the non-Federal en-
tities, subject to the following:
(1) The costs meet the requirements
of Basic Considerations in §§200.402
through 200.411;
(2) The costs are properly supported
by approved cost allocation plans in ac-
cordance with applicable Federal cost
accounting principles; and
(3) The costs are not otherwise borne
directly or indirectly by the Federal
Government.
[85 FR 49565, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.432 Conferences.
A conference is defined as a meeting,
retreat, seminar, symposium, work-
shop or event whose primary purpose is
the dissemination of technical infor-
mation beyond the non-Federal entity
and is necessary and reasonable for
successful performance under the Fed-
eral award. Allowable conference costs
paid by the non-Federal entity as a
sponsor or host of the conference may
include rental of facilities, speakers’
fees, costs of meals and refreshments,
local transportation, and other items
incidental to such conferences unless
further restricted by the terms and
conditions of the Federal award. As
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174
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.433
needed, the costs of identifying, but
not providing, locally available depend-
ent-care resources are allowable. Con-
ference hosts/sponsors must exercise
discretion and judgment in ensuring
that conference costs are appropriate,
necessary and managed in a manner
that minimizes costs to the Federal
award. The Federal awarding agency
may authorize exceptions where appro-
priate for programs including Indian
tribes, children, and the elderly. See
also §§200.438, 200.456, and 200.475.
[85 FR 49567, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.433 Contingency provisions.
(a) Contingency is that part of a
budget estimate of future costs (typi-
cally of large construction projects, IT
systems, or other items as approved by
the Federal awarding agency) which is
associated with possible events or con-
ditions arising from causes the precise
outcome of which is indeterminable at
the time of estimate, and that experi-
ence shows will likely result, in aggre-
gate, in additional costs for the ap-
proved activity or project. Amounts for
major project scope changes, unfore-
seen risks, or extraordinary events
may not be included.
(b) It is permissible for contingency
amounts other than those excluded in
paragraph (a) of this section to be ex-
plicitly included in budget estimates,
to the extent they are necessary to im-
prove the precision of those estimates.
Amounts must be estimated using
broadly-accepted cost estimating
methodologies, specified in the budget
documentation of the Federal award,
and accepted by the Federal awarding
agency. As such, contingency amounts
are to be included in the Federal
award. In order for actual costs in-
curred to be allowable, they must com-
ply with the cost principles and other
requirements in this part (see also
§§200.300 and 200.403 of this part); be
necessary and reasonable for proper
and efficient accomplishment of
project or program objectives, and be
verifiable from the non-Federal enti-
ty’s records.
(c) Payments made by the Federal
awarding agency to the non-Federal
entity’s ‘‘contingency reserve’’ or any
similar payment made for events the
occurrence of which cannot be foretold
with certainty as to the time or inten-
sity, or with an assurance of their hap-
pening, are unallowable, except as
noted in §§200.431 and 200.447.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49567, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.434 Contributions and donations.
(a) Costs of contributions and dona-
tions, including cash, property, and
services, from the non-Federal entity
to other entities, are unallowable.
(b) It is permissible for contingency
amounts other than those excluded in
paragraph (a) of this section to be ex-
plicitly included in budget estimates,
to the extent they are necessary to im-
prove the precision of those estimates.
Amounts must be estimated using
broadly-accepted cost estimating
methodologies, specified in the budget
documentation of the Federal award,
and accepted by the Federal awarding
agency. As such, contingency amounts
are to be included in the Federal
award. In order for actual costs in-
curred to be allowable, they must com-
ply with the cost principles and other
requirements in this part (see also
§§200.300 and 200.403 of this part); be
necessary and reasonable for proper
and efficient accomplishment of
project or program objectives, and be
verifiable from the non-Federal enti-
ty’s records.
(c) Payments made by the Federal
awarding agency to the non-Federal
entity’s ‘‘contingency reserve’’ or any
similar payment made for events the
occurrence of which cannot be foretold
with certainty as to the time or inten-
sity, or with an assurance of their hap-
pening, are unallowable, except as
noted in §§200.431 and 200.447.
(d) To the extent feasible, services
donated to the non-Federal entity will
be supported by the same methods used
to support the allocability of regular
personnel services.
(e) The following provisions apply to
nonprofit organizations. The value of
services donated to the nonprofit orga-
nization utilized in the performance of
a direct cost activity must be consid-
ered in the determination of the non-
Federal entity’s indirect cost rate(s)
and, accordingly, must be allocated a
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175
OMB Guidance §200.435
proportionate share of applicable indi-
rect costs when the following cir-
cumstances exist:
(1) The aggregate value of the serv-
ices is material;
(2) The services are supported by a
significant amount of the indirect
costs incurred by the non-Federal enti-
ty;
(i) In those instances where there is
no basis for determining the fair mar-
ket value of the services rendered, the
non-Federal entity and the cognizant
agency for indirect costs must nego-
tiate an appropriate allocation of indi-
rect cost to the services.
(ii) Where donated services directly
benefit a project supported by the Fed-
eral award, the indirect costs allocated
to the services will be considered as a
part of the total costs of the project.
Such indirect costs may be reimbursed
under the Federal award or used to
meet cost sharing or matching require-
ments.
(f) Fair market value of donated
services must be computed as described
in §200.306.
(g) Personal Property and Use of
Space.
(1) Donated personal property and
use of space may be furnished to a non-
Federal entity. The value of the per-
sonal property and space may not be
charged to the Federal award either as
a direct or indirect cost.
(2) The value of the donations may be
used to meet cost sharing or matching
share requirements under the condi-
tions described in §200.300 of this part.
The value of the donations must be de-
termined in accordance with §200.300.
Where donations are treated as indirect
costs, indirect cost rates will separate
the value of the donations so that re-
imbursement will not be made.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49567, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.435 Defense and prosecution of
criminal and civil proceedings,
claims, appeals and patent infringe-
ments.
(a) Definitions for the purposes of this
section. (1) Conviction means a judgment
or conviction of a criminal offense by
any court of competent jurisdiction,
whether entered upon verdict or a plea,
including a conviction due to a plea of
nolo contendere.
(2) Costs include the services of in-
house or private counsel, accountants,
consultants, or others engaged to as-
sist the non-Federal entity before, dur-
ing, and after commencement of a judi-
cial or administrative proceeding, that
bear a direct relationship to the pro-
ceeding.
(3) Fraud means:
(i) Acts of fraud or corruption or at-
tempts to defraud the Federal Govern-
ment or to corrupt its agents,
(ii) Acts that constitute a cause for
debarment or suspension (as specified
in agency regulations), and
(iii) Acts which violate the False
Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729–3732) or the
Anti-kickback Act (41 U.S.C. 1320a–
7b(b)).
(4) Penalty does not include restitu-
tion, reimbursement, or compensatory
damages.
(5) Proceeding includes an investiga-
tion.
(b) Costs. (1) Except as otherwise de-
scribed herein, costs incurred in con-
nection with any criminal, civil or ad-
ministrative proceeding (including fil-
ing of a false certification) commenced
by the Federal Government, a state,
local government, or foreign govern-
ment, or joined by the Federal Govern-
ment (including a proceeding under the
False Claims Act), against the non-
Federal entity, (or commenced by third
parties or a current or former em-
ployee of the non-Federal entity who
submits a whistleblower complaint of
reprisal in accordance with 10 U.S.C.
2409 or 41 U.S.C. 4712), are not allowable
if the proceeding:
(i) Relates to a violation of, or failure
to comply with, a Federal, state, local
or foreign statute, regulation or the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award, by the non-Federal entity (in-
cluding its agents and employees); and
(ii) Results in any of the following
dispositions:
(A) In a criminal proceeding, a con-
viction.
(B) In a civil or administrative pro-
ceeding involving an allegation of
fraud or similar misconduct, a deter-
mination of non-Federal entity liabil-
ity.
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176
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.435
(C) In the case of any civil or admin-
istrative proceeding, the disallowance
of costs or the imposition of a mone-
tary penalty, or an order issued by the
Federal awarding agency head or dele-
gate to the non-Federal entity to take
corrective action under 10 U.S.C. 2409
or 41 U.S.C. 4712.
(D) A final decision by an appropriate
Federal official to debar or suspend the
non-Federal entity, to rescind or void a
Federal award, or to terminate a Fed-
eral award by reason of a violation or
failure to comply with a statute, regu-
lation, or the terms and conditions of
the Federal award.
(E) A disposition by consent or com-
promise, if the action could have re-
sulted in any of the dispositions de-
scribed in paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A)
through (D) of this section.
(2) If more than one proceeding in-
volves the same alleged misconduct,
the costs of all such proceedings are
unallowable if any results in one of the
dispositions shown in paragraph (b) of
this section.
(c) If a proceeding referred to in para-
graph (b) of this section is commenced
by the Federal Government and is re-
solved by consent or compromise pur-
suant to an agreement by the non-Fed-
eral entity and the Federal Govern-
ment, then the costs incurred may be
allowed to the extent specifically pro-
vided in such agreement.
(d) If a proceeding referred to in para-
graph (b) of this section is commenced
by a state, local or foreign government,
the authorized Federal official may
allow the costs incurred if such author-
ized official determines that the costs
were incurred as a result of:
(1) A specific term or condition of the
Federal award, or
(2) Specific written direction of an
authorized official of the Federal
awarding agency.
(e) Costs incurred in connection with
proceedings described in paragraph (b)
of this section, which are not made un-
allowable by that subsection, may be
allowed but only to the extent that:
(1) The costs are reasonable and nec-
essary in relation to the administra-
tion of the Federal award and activi-
ties required to deal with the pro-
ceeding and the underlying cause of ac-
tion;
(2) Payment of the reasonable, nec-
essary, allocable and otherwise allow-
able costs incurred is not prohibited by
any other provision(s) of the Federal
award;
(3) The costs are not recovered from
the Federal Government or a third
party, either directly as a result of the
proceeding or otherwise; and,
(4) An authorized Federal official
must determine the percentage of costs
allowed considering the complexity of
litigation, generally accepted prin-
ciples governing the award of legal fees
in civil actions involving the United
States, and such other factors as may
be appropriate. Such percentage must
not exceed 80 percent. However, if an
agreement reached under paragraph (c)
of this section has explicitly consid-
ered this 80 percent limitation and per-
mitted a higher percentage, then the
full amount of costs resulting from
that agreement are allowable.
(f) Costs incurred by the non-Federal
entity in connection with the defense
of suits brought by its employees or ex-
employees under section 2 of the Major
Fraud Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. 1031), in-
cluding the cost of all relief necessary
to make such employee whole, where
the non-Federal entity was found liable
or settled, are unallowable.
(g) Costs of prosecution of claims
against the Federal Government, in-
cluding appeals of final Federal agency
decisions, are unallowable.
(h) Costs of legal, accounting, and
consultant services, and related costs,
incurred in connection with patent in-
fringement litigation, are unallowable
unless otherwise provided for in the
Federal award.
(i) Costs which may be unallowable
under this section, including directly
associated costs, must be segregated
and accounted for separately. During
the pendency of any proceeding covered
by paragraphs (b) and (f) of this sec-
tion, the Federal Government must
generally withhold payment of such
costs. However, if in its best interests,
the Federal Government may provide
for conditional payment upon provision
of adequate security, or other adequate
assurance, and agreement to repay all
unallowable costs, plus interest, if the
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OMB Guidance §200.436
costs are subsequently determined to
be unallowable.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.436 Depreciation.
(a) Depreciation is the method for al-
locating the cost of fixed assets to peri-
ods benefitting from asset use. The
non-Federal entity may be com-
pensated for the use of its buildings,
capital improvements, equipment, and
software projects capitalized in accord-
ance with GAAP, provided that they
are used, needed in the non-Federal en-
tity’s activities, and properly allocated
to Federal awards. Such compensation
must be made by computing deprecia-
tion.
(b) The allocation for depreciation
must be made in accordance with Ap-
pendices III through IX.
(c) Depreciation is computed apply-
ing the following rules. The computa-
tion of depreciation must be based on
the acquisition cost of the assets in-
volved. For an asset donated to the
non-Federal entity by a third party, its
fair market value at the time of the do-
nation must be considered as the acqui-
sition cost. Such assets may be depre-
ciated or claimed as matching but not
both. For the computation of deprecia-
tion, the acquisition cost will exclude:
(1) The cost of land;
(2) Any portion of the cost of build-
ings and equipment borne by or do-
nated by the Federal Government, irre-
spective of where title was originally
vested or where it is presently located;
(3) Any portion of the cost of build-
ings and equipment contributed by or
for the non-Federal entity that are al-
ready claimed as matching or where
law or agreement prohibits recovery;
(4) Any asset acquired solely for the
performance of a non-Federal award;
and
(d) When computing depreciation
charges, the following must be ob-
served:
(1) The period of useful service or
useful life established in each case for
usable capital assets must take into
consideration such factors as type of
construction, nature of the equipment,
technological developments in the par-
ticular area, historical data, and the
renewal and replacement policies fol-
lowed for the individual items or class-
es of assets involved.
(2) The depreciation method used to
charge the cost of an asset (or group of
assets) to accounting periods must re-
flect the pattern of consumption of the
asset during its useful life. In the ab-
sence of clear evidence indicating that
the expected consumption of the asset
will be significantly greater in the
early portions than in the later por-
tions of its useful life, the straight-line
method must be presumed to be the ap-
propriate method. Depreciation meth-
ods once used may not be changed un-
less approved in advance by the cog-
nizant agency. The depreciation meth-
ods used to calculate the depreciation
amounts for indirect (F&A) rate pur-
poses must be the same methods used
by the non-Federal entity for its finan-
cial statements.
(3) The entire building, including the
shell and all components, may be treat-
ed as a single asset and depreciated
over a single useful life. A building
may also be divided into multiple com-
ponents. Each component item may
then be depreciated over its estimated
useful life. The building components
must be grouped into three general
components of a building: building
shell (including construction and de-
sign costs), building services systems
(e.g., elevators, HVAC, plumbing sys-
tem and heating and air-conditioning
system) and fixed equipment (e.g.,
sterilizers, casework, fume hoods, cold
rooms and glassware/washers). In ex-
ceptional cases, a cognizant agency
may authorize a non-Federal entity to
use more than these three groupings.
When a non-Federal entity elects to de-
preciate its buildings by its compo-
nents, the same depreciation methods
must be used for indirect (F&A) pur-
poses and financial statements pur-
poses, as described in paragraphs (d)(1)
and (2) of this section.
(4) No depreciation may be allowed
on any assets that have outlived their
depreciable lives.
(5) Where the depreciation method is
introduced to replace the use allow-
ance method, depreciation must be
computed as if the asset had been de-
preciated over its entire life (i.e., from
the date the asset was acquired and
ready for use to the date of disposal or
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178
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.437
withdrawal from service). The total
amount of use allowance and deprecia-
tion for an asset (including imputed de-
preciation applicable to periods prior
to the conversion from the use allow-
ance method as well as depreciation
after the conversion) may not exceed
the total acquisition cost of the asset.
(e) Charges for depreciation must be
supported by adequate property
records, and physical inventories must
be taken at least once every two years
to ensure that the assets exist and are
usable, used, and needed. Statistical
sampling techniques may be used in
taking these inventories. In addition,
adequate depreciation records showing
the amount of depreciation must be
maintained.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49568, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.437 Employee health and welfare
costs.
(a) Costs incurred in accordance with
the non-Federal entity’s documented
policies for the improvement of work-
ing conditions, employer-employee re-
lations, employee health, and employee
performance are allowable.
(b) Such costs will be equitably ap-
portioned to all activities of the non-
Federal entity. Income generated from
any of these activities will be credited
to the cost thereof unless such income
has been irrevocably sent to employee
welfare organizations.
(c) Losses resulting from operating
food services are allowable only if the
non-Federal entity’s objective is to op-
erate such services on a break-even
basis. Losses sustained because of oper-
ating objectives other than the above
are allowable only:
(1) Where the non-Federal entity can
demonstrate unusual circumstances;
and
(2) With the approval of the cog-
nizant agency for indirect costs.
§200.438 Entertainment costs.
Costs of entertainment, including
amusement, diversion, and social ac-
tivities and any associated costs are
unallowable, except where specific
costs that might otherwise be consid-
ered entertainment have a pro-
grammatic purpose and are authorized
either in the approved budget for the
Federal award or with prior written ap-
proval of the Federal awarding agency.
§200.439 Equipment and other capital
expenditures.
(a) See §200.1 for the definitions of
capital expenditures, equipment, special
purpose equipment, general purpose
equipment, acquisition cost, and capital
assets.
(b) The following rules of allow-
ability must apply to equipment and
other capital expenditures:
(1) Capital expenditures for general
purpose equipment, buildings, and land
are unallowable as direct charges, ex-
cept with the prior written approval of
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity.
(2) Capital expenditures for special
purpose equipment are allowable as di-
rect costs, provided that items with a
unit cost of $5,000 or more have the
prior written approval of the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty.
(3) Capital expenditures for improve-
ments to land, buildings, or equipment
which materially increase their value
or useful life are unallowable as a di-
rect cost except with the prior written
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy, or pass-through entity. See §200.436,
for rules on the allowability of depre-
ciation on buildings, capital improve-
ments, and equipment. See also
§200.465.
(4) When approved as a direct charge
pursuant to paragraphs (b)(1) through
(3) of this section, capital expenditures
will be charged in the period in which
the expenditure is incurred, or as oth-
erwise determined appropriate and ne-
gotiated with the Federal awarding
agency.
(5) The unamortized portion of any
equipment written off as a result of a
change in capitalization levels may be
recovered by continuing to claim the
otherwise allowable depreciation on
the equipment, or by amortizing the
amount to be written off over a period
of years negotiated with the Federal
cognizant agency for indirect cost.
(6) Cost of equipment disposal. If the
non-Federal entity is instructed by the
Federal awarding agency to otherwise
dispose of or transfer the equipment
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179
OMB Guidance §200.443
the costs of such disposal or transfer
are allowable.
(7) Equipment and other capital ex-
penditures are unallowable as indirect
costs. See §200.436.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49568, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.440 Exchange rates.
(a) Cost increases for fluctuations in
exchange rates are allowable costs sub-
ject to the availability of funding.
Prior approval of exchange rate fluc-
tuations is required only when the
change results in the need for addi-
tional Federal funding, or the in-
creased costs result in the need to sig-
nificantly reduce the scope of the
project. The Federal awarding agency
must however ensure that adequate
funds are available to cover currency
fluctuations in order to avoid a viola-
tion of the Anti-Deficiency Act.
(b) The non-Federal entity is re-
quired to make reviews of local cur-
rency gains to determine the need for
additional federal funding before the
expiration date of the Federal award.
Subsequent adjustments for currency
increases may be allowable only when
the non-Federal entity provides the
Federal awarding agency with ade-
quate source documentation from a
commonly used source in effect at the
time the expense was made, and to the
extent that sufficient Federal funds are
available.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.441 Fines, penalties, damages
and other settlements.
Costs resulting from non-Federal en-
tity violations of, alleged violations of,
or failure to comply with, Federal,
state, tribal, local or foreign laws and
regulations are unallowable, except
when incurred as a result of compli-
ance with specific provisions of the
Federal award, or with prior written
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy. See also §200.435.
[85 FR 49568, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.442 Fund raising and investment
management costs.
(a) Costs of organized fund raising,
including financial campaigns, endow-
ment drives, solicitation of gifts and
bequests, and similar expenses incurred
to raise capital or obtain contributions
are unallowable. Fund raising costs for
the purposes of meeting the Federal
program objectives are allowable with
prior written approval from the Fed-
eral awarding agency. Proposal costs
are covered in §200.460.
(b) Costs of investment counsel and
staff and similar expenses incurred to
enhance income from investments are
unallowable except when associated
with investments covering pension,
self-insurance, or other funds which in-
clude Federal participation allowed by
this part.
(c) Costs related to the physical cus-
tody and control of monies and securi-
ties are allowable.
(d) Both allowable and unallowable
fund-raising and investment activities
must be allocated as an appropriate
share of indirect costs under the condi-
tions described in §200.413.
[85 FR 49568, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.443 Gains and losses on disposi-
tion of depreciable assets.
(a) Gains and losses on the sale, re-
tirement, or other disposition of depre-
ciable property must be included in the
year in which they occur as credits or
charges to the asset cost grouping(s) in
which the property was included. The
amount of the gain or loss to be in-
cluded as a credit or charge to the ap-
propriate asset cost grouping(s) is the
difference between the amount realized
on the property and the undepreciated
basis of the property.
(b) Gains and losses from the disposi-
tion of depreciable property must not
be recognized as a separate credit or
charge under the following conditions:
(1) The gain or loss is processed
through a depreciation account and is
reflected in the depreciation allowable
under §§200.436 and 200.439.
(2) The property is given in exchange
as part of the purchase price of a simi-
lar item and the gain or loss is taken
into account in determining the depre-
ciation cost basis of the new item.
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180
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.444
(3) A loss results from the failure to
maintain permissible insurance, except
as otherwise provided in §200.447.
(4) Compensation for the use of the
property was provided through use al-
lowances in lieu of depreciation.
(5) Gains and losses arising from
mass or extraordinary sales, retire-
ments, or other dispositions must be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
(c) Gains or losses of any nature aris-
ing from the sale or exchange of prop-
erty other than the property covered in
paragraph (a) of this section, e.g., land,
must be excluded in computing Federal
award costs.
(d) When assets acquired with Fed-
eral funds, in part or wholly, are dis-
posed of, the distribution of the pro-
ceeds must be made in accordance with
§§200.310 through 200.316 of this part.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49568, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.444 General costs of government.
(a) For states, local governments,
and Indian Tribes, the general costs of
government are unallowable (except as
provided in §200.475). Unallowable costs
include:
(1) Salaries and expenses of the Office
of the Governor of a state or the chief
executive of a local government or the
chief executive of an Indian tribe;
(2) Salaries and other expenses of a
state legislature, tribal council, or
similar local governmental body, such
as a county supervisor, city council,
school board, etc., whether incurred for
purposes of legislation or executive di-
rection;
(3) Costs of the judicial branch of a
government;
(4) Costs of prosecutorial activities
unless treated as a direct cost to a spe-
cific program if authorized by statute
or regulation (however, this does not
preclude the allowability of other legal
activities of the Attorney General as
described in §200.435); and
(5) Costs of other general types of
government services normally provided
to the general public, such as fire and
police, unless provided for as a direct
cost under a program statute or regula-
tion.
(b) For Indian tribes and Councils of
Governments (COGs) (see definition for
Local government in §200.1 of this part),
up to 50% of salaries and expenses di-
rectly attributable to managing and
operating Federal programs by the
chief executive and his or her staff can
be included in the indirect cost cal-
culation without documentation.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49568, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.445 Goods or services for per-
sonal use.
(a) Costs of goods or services for per-
sonal use of the non-Federal entity’s
employees are unallowable regardless
of whether the cost is reported as tax-
able income to the employees.
(b) Costs of housing (e.g., deprecia-
tion, maintenance, utilities, fur-
nishings, rent), housing allowances and
personal living expenses are only al-
lowable as direct costs regardless of
whether reported as taxable income to
the employees. In addition, to be allow-
able direct costs must be approved in
advance by a Federal awarding agency.
§200.446 Idle facilities and idle capac-
ity.
(a) As used in this section the fol-
lowing terms have the meanings set
forth in this section:
(1) Facilities means land and build-
ings or any portion thereof, equipment
individually or collectively, or any
other tangible capital asset, wherever
located, and whether owned or leased
by the non-Federal entity.
(2) Idle facilities means completely
unused facilities that are excess to the
non-Federal entity’s current needs.
(3) Idle capacity means the unused
capacity of partially used facilities. It
is the difference between:
(i) That which a facility could
achieve under 100 percent operating
time on a one-shift basis less operating
interruptions resulting from time lost
for repairs, setups, unsatisfactory ma-
terials, and other normal delays and;
(ii) The extent to which the facility
was actually used to meet demands
during the accounting period. A multi-
shift basis should be used if it can be
shown that this amount of usage would
normally be expected for the type of fa-
cility involved.
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181
OMB Guidance §200.447
(4) Cost of idle facilities or idle ca-
pacity means costs such as mainte-
nance, repair, housing, rent, and other
related costs, e.g., insurance, interest,
and depreciation. These costs could in-
clude the costs of idle public safety
emergency facilities, telecommuni-
cations, or information technology sys-
tem capacity that is built to withstand
major fluctuations in load, e.g., con-
solidated data centers.
(b) The costs of idle facilities are un-
allowable except to the extent that:
(1) They are necessary to meet work-
load requirements which may fluctuate
and are allocated appropriately to all
benefiting programs; or
(2) Although not necessary to meet
fluctuations in workload, they were
necessary when acquired and are now
idle because of changes in program re-
quirements, efforts to achieve more ec-
onomical operations, reorganization,
termination, or other causes which
could not have been reasonably fore-
seen. Under the exception stated in
this subsection, costs of idle facilities
are allowable for a reasonable period of
time, ordinarily not to exceed one
year, depending on the initiative taken
to use, lease, or dispose of such facili-
ties.
(c) The costs of idle capacity are nor-
mal costs of doing business and are a
factor in the normal fluctuations of
usage or indirect cost rates from period
to period. Such costs are allowable,
provided that the capacity is reason-
ably anticipated to be necessary to
carry out the purpose of the Federal
award or was originally reasonable and
is not subject to reduction or elimi-
nation by use on other Federal awards,
subletting, renting, or sale, in accord-
ance with sound business, economic, or
security practices. Widespread idle ca-
pacity throughout an entire facility or
among a group of assets having sub-
stantially the same function may be
considered idle facilities.
§200.447 Insurance and indemnifica-
tion.
(a) Costs of insurance required or ap-
proved and maintained, pursuant to
the Federal award, are allowable.
(b) Costs of other insurance in con-
nection with the general conduct of ac-
tivities are allowable subject to the
following limitations:
(1) Types and extent and cost of cov-
erage are in accordance with the non-
Federal entity’s policy and sound busi-
ness practice.
(2) Costs of insurance or of contribu-
tions to any reserve covering the risk
of loss of, or damage to, Federal Gov-
ernment property are unallowable ex-
cept to the extent that the Federal
awarding agency has specifically re-
quired or approved such costs.
(3) Costs allowed for business inter-
ruption or other similar insurance
must exclude coverage of management
fees.
(4) Costs of insurance on the lives of
trustees, officers, or other employees
holding positions of similar respon-
sibilities are allowable only to the ex-
tent that the insurance represents ad-
ditional compensation (see §200.431).
The cost of such insurance when the
non-Federal entity is identified as the
beneficiary is unallowable.
(5) Insurance against defects. Costs of
insurance with respect to any costs in-
curred to correct defects in the non-
Federal entity’s materials or work-
manship are unallowable.
(6) Medical liability (malpractice) in-
surance. Medical liability insurance is
an allowable cost of Federal research
programs only to the extent that the
Federal research programs involve
human subjects or training of partici-
pants in research techniques. Medical
liability insurance costs must be treat-
ed as a direct cost and must be as-
signed to individual projects based on
the manner in which the insurer allo-
cates the risk to the population cov-
ered by the insurance.
(c) Actual losses which could have
been covered by permissible insurance
(through a self-insurance program or
otherwise) are unallowable, unless ex-
pressly provided for in the Federal
award. However, costs incurred because
of losses not covered under nominal de-
ductible insurance coverage provided
in keeping with sound management
practice, and minor losses not covered
by insurance, such as spoilage, break-
age, and disappearance of small hand
tools, which occur in the ordinary
course of operations, are allowable.
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182
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.448
(d) Contributions to a reserve for cer-
tain self-insurance programs including
workers’ compensation, unemployment
compensation, and severance pay are
allowable subject to the following pro-
visions:
(1) The type of coverage and the ex-
tent of coverage and the rates and pre-
miums would have been allowed had in-
surance (including reinsurance) been
purchased to cover the risks. However,
provision for known or reasonably esti-
mated self-insured liabilities, which do
not become payable for more than one
year after the provision is made, must
not exceed the discounted present
value of the liability. The rate used for
discounting the liability must be deter-
mined by giving consideration to such
factors as the non-Federal entity’s set-
tlement rate for those liabilities and
its investment rate of return.
(2) Earnings or investment income on
reserves must be credited to those re-
serves.
(3)(i) Contributions to reserves must
be based on sound actuarial principles
using historical experience and reason-
able assumptions. Reserve levels must
be analyzed and updated at least bien-
nially for each major risk being in-
sured and take into account any rein-
surance, coinsurance, etc. Reserve lev-
els related to employee-related cov-
erages will normally be limited to the
value of claims:
(A) Submitted and adjudicated but
not paid;
(B) Submitted but not adjudicated;
and
(C) Incurred but not submitted.
(ii) Reserve levels in excess of the
amounts based on the above must be
identified and justified in the cost allo-
cation plan or indirect cost rate pro-
posal.
(4) Accounting records, actuarial
studies, and cost allocations (or bil-
lings) must recognize any significant
differences due to types of insured risk
and losses generated by the various in-
sured activities or agencies of the non-
Federal entity. If individual depart-
ments or agencies of the non-Federal
entity experience significantly dif-
ferent levels of claims for a particular
risk, those differences are to be recog-
nized by the use of separate allocations
or other techniques resulting in an eq-
uitable allocation.
(5) Whenever funds are transferred
from a self-insurance reserve to other
accounts (e.g., general fund or unre-
stricted account), refunds must be
made to the Federal Government for
its share of funds transferred, including
earned or imputed interest from the
date of transfer and debt interest, if ap-
plicable, chargeable in accordance with
applicable Federal cognizant agency
for indirect cost, claims collection reg-
ulations.
(e) Insurance refunds must be cred-
ited against insurance costs in the year
the refund is received.
(f) Indemnification includes securing
the non-Federal entity against liabil-
ities to third persons and other losses
not compensated by insurance or oth-
erwise. The Federal Government is ob-
ligated to indemnify the non-Federal
entity only to the extent expressly pro-
vided for in the Federal award, except
as provided in paragraph (c) of this sec-
tion.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49568, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.448 Intellectual property.
(a) Patent costs. (1) The following
costs related to securing patents and
copyrights are allowable:
(i) Costs of preparing disclosures, re-
ports, and other documents required by
the Federal award, and of searching the
art to the extent necessary to make
such disclosures;
(ii) Costs of preparing documents and
any other patent costs in connection
with the filing and prosecution of a
United States patent application where
title or royalty-free license is required
by the Federal Government to be con-
veyed to the Federal Government; and
(iii) General counseling services re-
lating to patent and copyright matters,
such as advice on patent and copyright
laws, regulations, clauses, and em-
ployee intellectual property agree-
ments (See also §200.459).
(2) The following costs related to se-
curing patents and copyrights are unal-
lowable:
(i) Costs of preparing disclosures, re-
ports, and other documents, and of
searching the art to make disclosures
not required by the Federal award;
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183
OMB Guidance §200.449
(ii) Costs in connection with filing
and prosecuting any foreign patent ap-
plication, or any United States patent
application, where the Federal award
does not require conveying title or a
royalty-free license to the Federal
Government.
(b) Royalties and other costs for use of
patents and copyrights. (1) Royalties on
a patent or copyright or amortization
of the cost of acquiring by purchase a
copyright, patent, or rights thereto,
necessary for the proper performance
of the Federal award are allowable un-
less:
(i) The Federal Government already
has a license or the right to free use of
the patent or copyright.
(ii) The patent or copyright has been
adjudicated to be invalid, or has been
administratively determined to be in-
valid.
(iii) The patent or copyright is con-
sidered to be unenforceable.
(iv) The patent or copyright is ex-
pired.
(2) Special care should be exercised in
determining reasonableness where the
royalties may have been arrived at as a
result of less-than-arm’s-length bar-
gaining, such as:
(i) Royalties paid to persons, includ-
ing corporations, affiliated with the
non-Federal entity.
(ii) Royalties paid to unaffiliated
parties, including corporations, under
an agreement entered into in con-
templation that a Federal award would
be made.
(iii) Royalties paid under an agree-
ment entered into after a Federal
award is made to a non-Federal entity.
(3) In any case involving a patent or
copyright formerly owned by the non-
Federal entity, the amount of royalty
allowed must not exceed the cost which
would have been allowed had the non-
Federal entity retained title thereto.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75886, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49569, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.449 Interest.
(a) General. Costs incurred for inter-
est on borrowed capital, temporary use
of endowment funds, or the use of the
non-Federal entity’s own funds, how-
ever represented, are unallowable. Fi-
nancing costs (including interest) to
acquire, construct, or replace capital
assets are allowable, subject to the
conditions in this section.
(b) Capital assets. (1) Capital assets is
defined as noted in §200.1 of this part.
An asset cost includes (as applicable)
acquisition costs, construction costs,
and other costs capitalized in accord-
ance with GAAP.
(2) For non-Federal entity fiscal
years beginning on or after January 1,
2016, intangible assets include patents
and computer software. For software
development projects, only interest at-
tributable to the portion of the project
costs capitalized in accordance with
GAAP is allowable.
(c) Conditions for all non-Federal enti-
ties. (1) The non-Federal entity uses the
capital assets in support of Federal
awards;
(2) The allowable asset costs to ac-
quire facilities and equipment are lim-
ited to a fair market value available to
the non-Federal entity from an unre-
lated (arm’s length) third party.
(3) The non-Federal entity obtains
the financing via an arm’s-length
transaction (that is, a transaction with
an unrelated third party); or claims re-
imbursement of actual interest cost at
a rate available via such a transaction.
(4) The non-Federal entity limits
claims for Federal reimbursement of
interest costs to the least expensive al-
ternative. For example, a lease con-
tract that transfers ownership by the
end of the contract may be determined
less costly than purchasing through
other types of debt financing, in which
case reimbursement must be limited to
the amount of interest determined if
leasing had been used.
(5) The non-Federal entity expenses
or capitalizes allowable interest cost in
accordance with GAAP.
(6) Earnings generated by the invest-
ment of borrowed funds pending their
disbursement for the asset costs are
used to offset the current period’s al-
lowable interest cost, whether that
cost is expensed or capitalized. Earn-
ings subject to being reported to the
Federal Internal Revenue Service
under arbitrage requirements are ex-
cludable.
(7) The following conditions must
apply to debt arrangements over $1
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184
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.450
million to purchase or construct facili-
ties, unless the non-Federal entity
makes an initial equity contribution to
the purchase of 25 percent or more. For
this purpose, ‘‘initial equity contribu-
tion’’ means the amount or value of
contributions made by the non-Federal
entity for the acquisition of facilities
prior to occupancy.
(i) The non-Federal entity must re-
duce claims for reimbursement of in-
terest cost by an amount equal to im-
puted interest earnings on excess cash
flow attributable to the portion of the
facility used for Federal awards.
(ii) The non-Federal entity must im-
pute interest on excess cash flow as fol-
lows:
(A) Annually, the non-Federal entity
must prepare a cumulative (from the
inception of the project) report of
monthly cash inflows and outflows, re-
gardless of the funding source. For this
purpose, inflows consist of Federal re-
imbursement for depreciation, amorti-
zation of capitalized construction in-
terest, and annual interest cost. Out-
flows consist of initial equity contribu-
tions, debt principal payments (less the
pro-rata share attributable to the cost
of land), and interest payments.
(B) To compute monthly cash inflows
and outflows, the non-Federal entity
must divide the annual amounts deter-
mined in step (i) by the number of
months in the year (usually 12) that
the building is in service.
(C) For any month in which cumu-
lative cash inflows exceed cumulative
outflows, interest must be calculated
on the excess inflows for that month
and be treated as a reduction to allow-
able interest cost. The rate of interest
to be used must be the three-month
Treasury bill closing rate as of the last
business day of that month.
(8) Interest attributable to a fully de-
preciated asset is unallowable.
(d) Additional conditions for states,
local governments and Indian tribes.
For costs to be allowable, the non-Fed-
eral entity must have incurred the in-
terest costs for buildings after October
1, 1980, or for land and equipment after
September 1, 1995.
(1) The requirement to offset interest
earned on borrowed funds against cur-
rent allowable interest cost (paragraph
(c)(5), above) also applies to earnings
on debt service reserve funds.
(2) The non-Federal entity will nego-
tiate the amount of allowable interest
cost related to the acquisition of facili-
ties with asset costs of $1 million or
more, as outlined in paragraph (c)(7) of
this section. For this purpose, a non-
Federal entity must consider only cash
inflows and outflows attributable to
that portion of the real property used
for Federal awards.
(e) Additional conditions for IHEs.
For costs to be allowable, the IHE
must have incurred the interest costs
after July 1, 1982, in connection with
acquisitions of capital assets that oc-
curred after that date.
(f) Additional condition for nonprofit
organizations. For costs to be allow-
able, the nonprofit organization in-
curred the interest costs after Sep-
tember 29, 1995, in connection with ac-
quisitions of capital assets that oc-
curred after that date.
(g) The interest allowability provi-
sions of this section do not apply to a
nonprofit organization subject to ‘‘full
coverage’’ under the Cost Accounting
Standards (CAS), as defined at 48 CFR
9903.201–2(a). The non-Federal entity’s
Federal awards are instead subject to
CAS 414 (48 CFR 9904.414), ‘‘Cost of
Money as an Element of the Cost of Fa-
cilities Capital’’, and CAS 417 (48 CFR
9904.417), ‘‘Cost of Money as an Element
of the Cost of Capital Assets Under
Construction’’.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 80
FR 54409, Sept. 10, 2015; 85 FR 49569, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.450 Lobbying.
(a) The cost of certain influencing ac-
tivities associated with obtaining
grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments, or loans is an unallowable cost.
Lobbying with respect to certain
grants, contracts, cooperative agree-
ments, and loans is governed by rel-
evant statutes, including among oth-
ers, the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, as
well as the common rule, ‘‘New Re-
strictions on Lobbying’’ published on
February 26, 1990, including definitions,
and the Office of Management and
Budget ‘‘Governmentwide Guidance for
New Restrictions on Lobbying’’ and no-
tices published on December 20, 1989,
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185
OMB Guidance §200.450
June 15, 1990, January 15, 1992, and Jan-
uary 19, 1996.
(b) Executive lobbying costs. Costs in-
curred in attempting to improperly in-
fluence either directly or indirectly, an
employee or officer of the executive
branch of the Federal Government to
give consideration or to act regarding a
Federal award or a regulatory matter
are unallowable. Improper influence
means any influence that induces or
tends to induce a Federal employee or
officer to give consideration or to act
regarding a Federal award or regu-
latory matter on any basis other than
the merits of the matter.
(c) In addition to the above, the fol-
lowing restrictions are applicable to
nonprofit organizations and IHEs:
(1) Costs associated with the fol-
lowing activities are unallowable:
(i) Attempts to influence the out-
comes of any Federal, state, or local
election, referendum, initiative, or
similar procedure, through in-kind or
cash contributions, endorsements, pub-
licity, or similar activity;
(ii) Establishing, administering, con-
tributing to, or paying the expenses of
a political party, campaign, political
action committee, or other organiza-
tion established for the purpose of in-
fluencing the outcomes of elections in
the United States;
(iii) Any attempt to influence:
(A) The introduction of Federal or
state legislation;
(B) The enactment or modification of
any pending Federal or state legisla-
tion through communication with any
member or employee of the Congress or
state legislature (including efforts to
influence state or local officials to en-
gage in similar lobbying activity);
(C) The enactment or modification of
any pending Federal or state legisla-
tion by preparing, distributing, or
using publicity or propaganda, or by
urging members of the general public,
or any segment thereof, to contribute
to or participate in any mass dem-
onstration, march, rally, fund raising
drive, lobbying campaign or letter
writing or telephone campaign; or
(D) Any government official or em-
ployee in connection with a decision to
sign or veto enrolled legislation;
(iv) Legislative liaison activities, in-
cluding attendance at legislative ses-
sions or committee hearings, gathering
information regarding legislation, and
analyzing the effect of legislation,
when such activities are carried on in
support of or in knowing preparation
for an effort to engage in unallowable
lobbying.
(2) The following activities are ex-
cepted from the coverage of paragraph
(c)(1) of this section:
(i) Technical and factual presen-
tations on topics directly related to
the performance of a grant, contract,
or other agreement (through hearing
testimony, statements, or letters to
the Congress or a state legislature, or
subdivision, member, or cognizant staff
member thereof), in response to a docu-
mented request (including a Congres-
sional Record notice requesting testi-
mony or statements for the record at a
regularly scheduled hearing) made by
the non-Federal entity’s member of
congress, legislative body or a subdivi-
sion, or a cognizant staff member
thereof, provided such information is
readily obtainable and can be readily
put in deliverable form, and further
provided that costs under this section
for travel, lodging or meals are unal-
lowable unless incurred to offer testi-
mony at a regularly scheduled Congres-
sional hearing pursuant to a written
request for such presentation made by
the Chairman or Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee or Sub-
committee conducting such hearings;
(ii) Any lobbying made unallowable
by paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section
to influence state legislation in order
to directly reduce the cost, or to avoid
material impairment of the non-Fed-
eral entity’s authority to perform the
grant, contract, or other agreement; or
(iii) Any activity specifically author-
ized by statute to be undertaken with
funds from the Federal award.
(iv) Any activity excepted from the
definitions of ‘‘lobbying’’ or ‘‘influ-
encing legislation’’ by the Internal
Revenue Code provisions that require
nonprofit organizations to limit their
participation in direct and ‘‘grass
roots’’ lobbying activities in order to
retain their charitable deduction sta-
tus and avoid punitive excise taxes,
I.R.C. §§501(c)(3), 501(h), 4911(a), includ-
ing:
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186
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.451
(A) Nonpartisan analysis, study, or
research reports;
(B) Examinations and discussions of
broad social, economic, and similar
problems; and
(C) Information provided upon re-
quest by a legislator for technical ad-
vice and assistance, as defined by I.R.C.
§4911(d)(2) and 26 CFR 56.4911–2(c)(1)–
(c)(3).
(v) When a non-Federal entity seeks
reimbursement for indirect (F&A)
costs, total lobbying costs must be sep-
arately identified in the indirect (F&A)
cost rate proposal, and thereafter
treated as other unallowable activity
costs in accordance with the proce-
dures of §200.413.
(vi) The non-Federal entity must sub-
mit as part of its annual indirect
(F&A) cost rate proposal a certification
that the requirements and standards of
this section have been complied with.
(See also §200.415.)
(vii)(A) Time logs, calendars, or simi-
lar records are not required to be cre-
ated for purposes of complying with
the record keeping requirements in
§200.302 with respect to lobbying costs
during any particular calendar month
when:
(1) The employee engages in lobbying
(as defined in paragraphs (c)(1) and
(c)(2) of this section) 25 percent or less
of the employee’s compensated hours of
employment during that calendar
month; and
(2) Within the preceding five-year pe-
riod, the non-Federal entity has not
materially misstated allowable or un-
allowable costs of any nature, includ-
ing legislative lobbying costs.
(B) When conditions in paragraph
(c)(2)(vii)(A)(1) and (2) of this section
are met, non-Federal entities are not
required to establish records to support
the allowability of claimed costs in ad-
dition to records already required or
maintained. Also, when conditions in
paragraphs (c)(2)(vii)(A)(1) and (2) of
this section are met, the absence of
time logs, calendars, or similar records
will not serve as a basis for disallowing
costs by contesting estimates of lob-
bying time spent by employees during
a calendar month.
(viii) The Federal awarding agency
must establish procedures for resolving
in advance, in consultation with OMB,
any significant questions or disagree-
ments concerning the interpretation or
application of this section. Any such
advance resolutions must be binding in
any subsequent settlements, audits, or
investigations with respect to that
grant or contract for purposes of inter-
pretation of this part, provided, how-
ever, that this must not be construed
to prevent a contractor or non-Federal
entity from contesting the lawfulness
of such a determination.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.451 Losses on other awards or
contracts.
Any excess of costs over income
under any other award or contract of
any nature is unallowable. This in-
cludes, but is not limited to, the non-
Federal entity’s contributed portion by
reason of cost-sharing agreements or
any under-recoveries through negotia-
tion of flat amounts for indirect (F&A)
costs. Also, any excess of costs over au-
thorized funding levels transferred
from any award or contract to another
award or contract is unallowable. All
losses are not allowable indirect (F&A)
costs and are required to be included in
the appropriate indirect cost rate base
for allocation of indirect costs.
§200.452 Maintenance and repair
costs.
Costs incurred for utilities, insur-
ance, security, necessary maintenance,
janitorial services, repair, or upkeep of
buildings and equipment (including
Federal property unless otherwise pro-
vided for) which neither add to the per-
manent value of the property nor ap-
preciably prolong its intended life, but
keep it in an efficient operating condi-
tion, are allowable. Costs incurred for
improvements which add to the perma-
nent value of the buildings and equip-
ment or appreciably prolong their in-
tended life must be treated as capital
expenditures (see §200.439). These costs
are only allowable to the extent not
paid through rental or other agree-
ments.
[85 FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
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187
OMB Guidance §200.458
§200.453 Materials and supplies costs,
including costs of computing de-
vices.
(a) Costs incurred for materials, sup-
plies, and fabricated parts necessary to
carry out a Federal award are allow-
able.
(b) Purchased materials and supplies
must be charged at their actual prices,
net of applicable credits. Withdrawals
from general stores or stockrooms
must be charged at their actual net
cost under any recognized method of
pricing inventory withdrawals, consist-
ently applied. Incoming transportation
charges are a proper part of materials
and supplies costs.
(c) Materials and supplies used for
the performance of a Federal award
may be charged as direct costs. In the
specific case of computing devices,
charging as direct costs is allowable for
devices that are essential and allo-
cable, but not solely dedicated, to the
performance of a Federal award.
(d) Where federally-donated or fur-
nished materials are used in per-
forming the Federal award, such mate-
rials will be used without charge.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.454 Memberships, subscriptions,
and professional activity costs.
(a) Costs of the non-Federal entity’s
membership in business, technical, and
professional organizations are allow-
able.
(b) Costs of the non-Federal entity’s
subscriptions to business, professional,
and technical periodicals are allowable.
(c) Costs of membership in any civic
or community organization are allow-
able with prior approval by the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty.
(d) Costs of membership in any coun-
try club or social or dining club or or-
ganization are unallowable.
(e) Costs of membership in organiza-
tions whose primary purpose is lob-
bying are unallowable. See also
§200.450.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.455 Organization costs.
Costs such as incorporation fees, bro-
kers’ fees, fees to promoters, organizers
or management consultants, attorneys,
accountants, or investment counselor,
whether or not employees of the non-
Federal entity in connection with es-
tablishment or reorganization of an or-
ganization, are unallowable except
with prior approval of the Federal
awarding agency.
§200.456 Participant support costs.
Participant support costs as defined
in §200.1 are allowable with the prior
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy.
[85 FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.457 Plant and security costs.
Necessary and reasonable expenses
incurred for protection and security of
facilities, personnel, and work products
are allowable. Such costs include, but
are not limited to, wages and uniforms
of personnel engaged in security activi-
ties; equipment; barriers; protective
(non-military) gear, devices, and equip-
ment; contractual security services;
and consultants. Capital expenditures
for plant security purposes are subject
to §200.439.
[85 FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.458 Pre-award costs.
Pre-award costs are those incurred
prior to the effective date of the Fed-
eral award or subaward directly pursu-
ant to the negotiation and in anticipa-
tion of the Federal award where such
costs are necessary for efficient and
timely performance of the scope of
work. Such costs are allowable only to
the extent that they would have been
allowable if incurred after the date of
the Federal award and only with the
written approval of the Federal award-
ing agency. If charged to the award,
these costs must be charged to the ini-
tial budget period of the award, unless
otherwise specified by the Federal
awarding agency or pass-through enti-
ty.
[85 FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
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188
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.459
§200.459 Professional service costs.
(a) Costs of professional and consult-
ant services rendered by persons who
are members of a particular profession
or possess a special skill, and who are
not officers or employees of the non-
Federal entity, are allowable, subject
to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section
when reasonable in relation to the
services rendered and when not contin-
gent upon recovery of the costs from
the Federal Government. In addition,
legal and related services are limited
under §200.435.
(b) In determining the allowability of
costs in a particular case, no single fac-
tor or any special combination of fac-
tors is necessarily determinative. How-
ever, the following factors are relevant:
(1) The nature and scope of the serv-
ice rendered in relation to the service
required.
(2) The necessity of contracting for
the service, considering the non-Fed-
eral entity’s capability in the par-
ticular area.
(3) The past pattern of such costs,
particularly in the years prior to Fed-
eral awards.
(4) The impact of Federal awards on
the non-Federal entity’s business (i.e.,
what new problems have arisen).
(5) Whether the proportion of Federal
work to the non-Federal entity’s total
business is such as to influence the
non-Federal entity in favor of incur-
ring the cost, particularly where the
services rendered are not of a con-
tinuing nature and have little relation-
ship to work under Federal awards.
(6) Whether the service can be per-
formed more economically by direct
employment rather than contracting.
(7) The qualifications of the indi-
vidual or concern rendering the service
and the customary fees charged, espe-
cially on non-federally funded activi-
ties.
(8) Adequacy of the contractual
agreement for the service (e.g., descrip-
tion of the service, estimate of time re-
quired, rate of compensation, and ter-
mination provisions).
(c) In addition to the factors in para-
graph (b) of this section, to be allow-
able, retainer fees must be supported
by evidence of bona fide services avail-
able or rendered.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.460 Proposal costs.
Proposal costs are the costs of pre-
paring bids, proposals, or applications
on potential Federal and non-Federal
awards or projects, including the devel-
opment of data necessary to support
the non-Federal entity’s bids or pro-
posals. Proposal costs of the current
accounting period of both successful
and unsuccessful bids and proposals
normally should be treated as indirect
(F&A) costs and allocated currently to
all activities of the non-Federal entity.
No proposal costs of past accounting
periods will be allocable to the current
period.
§200.461 Publication and printing
costs.
(a) Publication costs for electronic
and print media, including distribu-
tion, promotion, and general handling
are allowable. If these costs are not
identifiable with a particular cost ob-
jective, they should be allocated as in-
direct costs to all benefiting activities
of the non-Federal entity.
(b) Page charges for professional
journal publications are allowable
where:
(1) The publications report work sup-
ported by the Federal Government; and
(2) The charges are levied impartially
on all items published by the journal,
whether or not under a Federal award.
(3) The non-Federal entity may
charge the Federal award during close-
out for the costs of publication or shar-
ing of research results if the costs are
not incurred during the period of per-
formance of the Federal award. If
charged to the award, these costs must
be charged to the final budget period of
the award, unless otherwise specified
by the Federal awarding agency.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.462 Rearrangement and recon-
version costs.
(a) Costs incurred for ordinary and
normal rearrangement and alteration
of facilities are allowable as indirect
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189
OMB Guidance §200.464
costs. Special arrangements and alter-
ations costs incurred specifically for a
Federal award are allowable as a direct
cost with the prior approval of the Fed-
eral awarding agency or pass-through
entity.
(b) Costs incurred in the restoration
or rehabilitation of the non-Federal en-
tity’s facilities to approximately the
same condition existing immediately
prior to commencement of Federal
awards, less costs related to normal
wear and tear, are allowable.
§200.463 Recruiting costs.
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c)
of this section, and provided that the
size of the staff recruited and main-
tained is in keeping with workload re-
quirements, costs of ‘‘help wanted’’ ad-
vertising, operating costs of an em-
ployment office necessary to secure
and maintain an adequate staff, costs
of operating an aptitude and edu-
cational testing program, travel costs
of employees while engaged in recruit-
ing personnel, travel costs of appli-
cants for interviews for prospective
employment, and relocation costs in-
curred incident to recruitment of new
employees, are allowable to the extent
that such costs are incurred pursuant
to the non-Federal entity’s standard
recruitment program. Where the non-
Federal entity uses employment agen-
cies, costs not in excess of standard
commercial rates for such services are
allowable.
(b) Special emoluments, fringe bene-
fits, and salary allowances incurred to
attract professional personnel that do
not meet the test of reasonableness or
do not conform with the established
practices of the non-Federal entity, are
unallowable.
(c) Where relocation costs incurred
incident to recruitment of a new em-
ployee have been funded in whole or in
part to a Federal award, and the newly
hired employee resigns for reasons
within the employee’s control within 12
months after hire, the non-Federal en-
tity will be required to refund or credit
the Federal share of such relocation
costs to the Federal Government. See
also §200.464.
(d) Short-term, travel visa costs (as
opposed to longer-term, immigration
visas) are generally allowable expenses
that may be proposed as a direct cost.
Since short-term visas are issued for a
specific period and purpose, they can be
clearly identified as directly connected
to work performed on a Federal award.
For these costs to be directly charged
to a Federal award, they must:
(1) Be critical and necessary for the
conduct of the project;
(2) Be allowable under the applicable
cost principles;
(3) Be consistent with the non-Fed-
eral entity’s cost accounting practices
and non-Federal entity policy; and
(4) Meet the definition of ‘‘direct
cost’’ as described in the applicable
cost principles.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49569, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.464 Relocation costs of employ-
ees.
(a) Relocation costs are costs inci-
dent to the permanent change of duty
assignment (for an indefinite period or
for a stated period of not less than 12
months) of an existing employee or
upon recruitment of a new employee.
Relocation costs are allowable, subject
to the limitations described in para-
graphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section,
provided that:
(1) The move is for the benefit of the
employer.
(2) Reimbursement to the employee
is in accordance with an established
written policy consistently followed by
the employer.
(3) The reimbursement does not ex-
ceed the employee’s actual (or reason-
ably estimated) expenses.
(b) Allowable relocation costs for
current employees are limited to the
following:
(1) The costs of transportation of the
employee, members of his or her imme-
diate family and his household, and
personal effects to the new location.
(2) The costs of finding a new home,
such as advance trips by employees and
spouses to locate living quarters and
temporary lodging during the transi-
tion period, up to maximum period of
30 calendar days.
(3) Closing costs, such as brokerage,
legal, and appraisal fees, incident to
the disposition of the employee’s
former home. These costs, together
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190
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.465
with those described in (4), are limited
to 8 per cent of the sales price of the
employee’s former home.
(4) The continuing costs of ownership
(for up to six months) of the vacant
former home after the settlement or
lease date of the employee’s new per-
manent home, such as maintenance of
buildings and grounds (exclusive of fix-
ing-up expenses), utilities, taxes, and
property insurance.
(5) Other necessary and reasonable
expenses normally incident to reloca-
tion, such as the costs of canceling an
unexpired lease, transportation of per-
sonal property, and purchasing insur-
ance against loss of or damages to per-
sonal property. The cost of canceling
an unexpired lease is limited to three
times the monthly rental.
(c) Allowable relocation costs for new
employees are limited to those de-
scribed in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of
this section. When relocation costs in-
curred incident to the recruitment of
new employees have been charged to a
Federal award and the employee re-
signs for reasons within the employee’s
control within 12 months after hire,
the non-Federal entity must refund or
credit the Federal Government for its
share of the cost. If dependents are not
permitted at the location for any rea-
son and the costs do not include costs
of transporting household goods, the
costs of travel to an overseas location
must be considered travel costs in ac-
cordance with §200.474 Travel costs,
and not this relocations costs of em-
ployees (See also §200.464).
(d) The following costs related to re-
location are unallowable:
(1) Fees and other costs associated
with acquiring a new home.
(2) A loss on the sale of a former
home.
(3) Continuing mortgage principal
and interest payments on a home being
sold.
(4) Income taxes paid by an employee
related to reimbursed relocation costs.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49570, Aug. 13,
2020]
§200.465 Rental costs of real property
and equipment.
(a) Subject to the limitations de-
scribed in paragraphs (b) through (d) of
this section, rental costs are allowable
to the extent that the rates are reason-
able in light of such factors as: rental
costs of comparable property, if any;
market conditions in the area; alter-
natives available; and the type, life ex-
pectancy, condition, and value of the
property leased. Rental arrangements
should be reviewed periodically to de-
termine if circumstances have changed
and other options are available.
(b) Rental costs under ‘‘sale and lease
back’’ arrangements are allowable only
up to the amount that would be al-
lowed had the non-Federal entity con-
tinued to own the property. This
amount would include expenses such as
depreciation, maintenance, taxes, and
insurance.
(c) Rental costs under ‘‘less-than-
arm’s-length’’ leases are allowable only
up to the amount (as explained in para-
graph (b) of this section). For this pur-
pose, a less-than-arm’s-length lease is
one under which one party to the lease
agreement is able to control or sub-
stantially influence the actions of the
other. Such leases include, but are not
limited to those between:
(1) Divisions of the non-Federal enti-
ty;
(2) The non-Federal entity under
common control through common offi-
cers, directors, or members; and
(3) The non-Federal entity and a di-
rector, trustee, officer, or key em-
ployee of the non-Federal entity or an
immediate family member, either di-
rectly or through corporations, trusts,
or similar arrangements in which they
hold a controlling interest. For exam-
ple, the non-Federal entity may estab-
lish a separate corporation for the sole
purpose of owning property and leasing
it back to the non-Federal entity.
(4) Family members include one
party with any of the following rela-
tionships to another party:
(i) Spouse, and parents thereof;
(ii) Children, and spouses thereof;
(iii) Parents, and spouses thereof;
(iv) Siblings, and spouses thereof;
(v) Grandparents and grandchildren,
and spouses thereof;
(vi) Domestic partner and parents
thereof, including domestic partners of
any individual in 2 through 5 of this
definition; and
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191
OMB Guidance §200.466
(vii) Any individual related by blood
or affinity whose close association with
the employee is the equivalent of a
family relationship.
(5) Rental costs under leases which
are required to be treated as capital
leases under GAAP are allowable only
up to the amount (as explained in para-
graph (b) of this section) that would be
allowed had the non-Federal entity
purchased the property on the date the
lease agreement was executed. The pro-
visions of GAAP must be used to deter-
mine whether a lease is a capital lease.
Interest costs related to capital leases
are allowable to the extent they meet
the criteria in §200.449 Interest. Unal-
lowable costs include amounts paid for
profit, management fees, and taxes
that would not have been incurred had
the non-Federal entity purchased the
property.
(6) The rental of any property owned
by any individuals or entities affiliated
with the non-Federal entity, to include
commercial or residential real estate,
for purposes such as the home office
workspace is unallowable.
(d) Rental costs under leases which
are required to be accounted for as a fi-
nanced purchase under GASB stand-
ards or a finance lease under FASB
standards under GAAP are allowable
only up to the amount (as explained in
paragraph (b) of this section) that
would be allowed had the non-Federal
entity purchased the property on the
date the lease agreement was executed.
Interest costs related to these leases
are allowable to the extent they meet
the criteria in §200.449. Unallowable
costs include amounts paid for profit,
management fees, and taxes that would
not have been incurred had the non-
Federal entity purchased the property.
(e) Rental or lease payments are al-
lowable under lease contracts where
the non-Federal entity is required to
recognize an intangible right-to-use
lease asset (per GASB) or right of use
operating lease asset (per FASB) for
purposes of financial reporting in ac-
cordance with GAAP.
(f) The rental of any property owned
by any individuals or entities affiliated
with the non-Federal entity, to include
commercial or residential real estate,
for purposes such as the home office
workspace is unallowable.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.466 Scholarships and student aid
costs.
(a) Costs of scholarships, fellowships,
and other programs of student aid at
IHEs are allowable only when the pur-
pose of the Federal award is to provide
training to selected participants and
the charge is approved by the Federal
awarding agency. However, tuition re-
mission and other forms of compensa-
tion paid as, or in lieu of, wages to stu-
dents performing necessary work are
allowable provided that:
(1) The individual is conducting ac-
tivities necessary to the Federal
award;
(2) Tuition remission and other sup-
port are provided in accordance with
established policy of the IHE and con-
sistently provided in a like manner to
students in return for similar activities
conducted under Federal awards as
well as other activities; and
(3) During the academic period, the
student is enrolled in an advanced de-
gree program at a non-Federal entity
or affiliated institution and the activi-
ties of the student in relation to the
Federal award are related to the degree
program;
(4) The tuition or other payments are
reasonable compensation for the work
performed and are conditioned explic-
itly upon the performance of necessary
work; and
(5) It is the IHE’s practice to simi-
larly compensate students under Fed-
eral awards as well as other activities.
(b) Charges for tuition remission and
other forms of compensation paid to
students as, or in lieu of, salaries and
wages must be subject to the reporting
requirements in §200.430, and must be
treated as direct or indirect cost in ac-
cordance with the actual work being
performed. Tuition remission may be
charged on an average rate basis. See
also §200.431.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
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192
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.467
§200.467 Selling and marketing costs.
Costs of selling and marketing any
products or services of the non-Federal
entity (unless allowed under §200.421)
are unallowable, except as direct costs,
with prior approval by the Federal
awarding agency when necessary for
the performance of the Federal award.
[85 FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.468 Specialized service facilities.
(a) The costs of services provided by
highly complex or specialized facilities
operated by the non-Federal entity,
such as computing facilities, wind tun-
nels, and reactors are allowable, pro-
vided the charges for the services meet
the conditions of either paragraph (b)
or (c) of this section, and, in addition,
take into account any items of income
or Federal financing that qualify as ap-
plicable credits under §200.406.
(b) The costs of such services, when
material, must be charged directly to
applicable awards based on actual
usage of the services on the basis of a
schedule of rates or established meth-
odology that:
(1) Does not discriminate between ac-
tivities under Federal awards and other
activities of the non-Federal entity, in-
cluding usage by the non-Federal enti-
ty for internal purposes, and
(2) Is designed to recover only the ag-
gregate costs of the services. The costs
of each service must consist normally
of both its direct costs and its allocable
share of all indirect (F&A) costs. Rates
must be adjusted at least biennially,
and must take into consideration over/
under-applied costs of the previous pe-
riod(s).
(c) Where the costs incurred for a
service are not material, they may be
allocated as indirect (F&A) costs.
(d) Under some extraordinary cir-
cumstances, where it is in the best in-
terest of the Federal Government and
the non-Federal entity to establish al-
ternative costing arrangements, such
arrangements may be worked out with
the Federal cognizant agency for indi-
rect costs.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49569, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.469 Student activity costs.
Costs incurred for intramural activi-
ties, student publications, student
clubs, and other student activities, are
unallowable, unless specifically pro-
vided for in the Federal award.
§200.470 Taxes (including Value
Added Tax).
(a) For states, local governments and
Indian tribes:
(1) Taxes that a governmental unit is
legally required to pay are allowable,
except for self-assessed taxes that dis-
proportionately affect Federal pro-
grams or changes in tax policies that
disproportionately affect Federal pro-
grams.
(2) Gasoline taxes, motor vehicle
fees, and other taxes that are in effect
user fees for benefits provided to the
Federal Government are allowable.
(3) This provision does not restrict
the authority of the Federal awarding
agency to identify taxes where Federal
participation is inappropriate. Where
the identification of the amount of un-
allowable taxes would require an inor-
dinate amount of effort, the cognizant
agency for indirect costs may accept a
reasonable approximation thereof.
(b) For nonprofit organizations and
IHEs:
(1) In general, taxes which the non-
Federal entity is required to pay and
which are paid or accrued in accord-
ance with GAAP, and payments made
to local governments in lieu of taxes
which are commensurate with the local
government services received are al-
lowable, except for:
(i) Taxes from which exemptions are
available to the non-Federal entity di-
rectly or which are available to the
non-Federal entity based on an exemp-
tion afforded the Federal Government
and, in the latter case, when the Fed-
eral awarding agency makes available
the necessary exemption certificates,
(ii) Special assessments on land
which represent capital improvements,
and
(iii) Federal income taxes.
(2) Any refund of taxes, and any pay-
ment to the non-Federal entity of in-
terest thereon, which were allowed as
Federal award costs, will be credited
either as a cost reduction or cash re-
fund, as appropriate, to the Federal
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193
OMB Guidance §200.472
Government. However, any interest ac-
tually paid or credited to an non-Fed-
eral entity incident to a refund of tax,
interest, and penalty will be paid or
credited to the Federal Government
only to the extent that such interest
accrued over the period during which
the non-Federal entity has been reim-
bursed by the Federal Government for
the taxes, interest, and penalties.
(c) Value Added Tax (VAT) Foreign
taxes charged for the purchase of goods
or services that a non-Federal entity is
legally required to pay in country is an
allowable expense under Federal
awards. Foreign tax refunds or applica-
ble credits under Federal awards refer
to receipts, or reduction of expendi-
tures, which operate to offset or reduce
expense items that are allocable to
Federal awards as direct or indirect
costs. To the extent that such credits
accrued or received by the non-Federal
entity relate to allowable cost, these
costs must be credited to the Federal
awarding agency either as costs or cash
refunds. If the costs are credited back
to the Federal award, the non-Federal
entity may reduce the Federal share of
costs by the amount of the foreign tax
reimbursement, or where Federal
award has not expired, use the foreign
government tax refund for approved ac-
tivities under the Federal award with
prior approval of the Federal awarding
agency.
§200.471 Telecommunication costs and
video surveillance costs.
(a) Costs incurred for telecommuni-
cations and video surveillance services
or equipment such as phones, internet,
video surveillance, cloud servers are al-
lowable except for the following cir-
cumstances:
(b) Obligating or expending covered
telecommunications and video surveil-
lance services or equipment or services
as described in §200.216 to:
(1) Procure or obtain, extend or
renew a contract to procure or obtain;
(2) Enter into a contract (or extend
or renew a contract) to procure; or
(3) Obtain the equipment, services, or
systems.
[85 FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.472 Termination costs.
Termination of a Federal award gen-
erally gives rise to the incurrence of
costs, or the need for special treatment
of costs, which would not have arisen
had the Federal award not been termi-
nated. Cost principles covering these
items are set forth in this section.
They are to be used in conjunction
with the other provisions of this part
in termination situations.
(a) The cost of items reasonably usa-
ble on the non-Federal entity’s other
work must not be allowable unless the
non-Federal entity submits evidence
that it would not retain such items at
cost without sustaining a loss. In de-
ciding whether such items are reason-
ably usable on other work of the non-
Federal entity, the Federal awarding
agency should consider the non-Federal
entity’s plans and orders for current
and scheduled activity. Contempora-
neous purchases of common items by
the non-Federal entity must be re-
garded as evidence that such items are
reasonably usable on the non-Federal
entity’s other work. Any acceptance of
common items as allocable to the ter-
minated portion of the Federal award
must be limited to the extent that the
quantities of such items on hand, in
transit, and on order are in excess of
the reasonable quantitative require-
ments of other work.
(b) If in a particular case, despite all
reasonable efforts by the non-Federal
entity, certain costs cannot be discon-
tinued immediately after the effective
date of termination, such costs are
generally allowable within the limita-
tions set forth in this part, except that
any such costs continuing after termi-
nation due to the negligent or willful
failure of the non-Federal entity to dis-
continue such costs must be unallow-
able.
(c) Loss of useful value of special
tooling, machinery, and equipment is
generally allowable if:
(1) Such special tooling, special ma-
chinery, or equipment is not reason-
ably capable of use in the other work of
the non-Federal entity,
(2) The interest of the Federal Gov-
ernment is protected by transfer of
title or by other means deemed appro-
priate by the Federal awarding agency
(see also §200.313 (d)), and
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194
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.473
(3) The loss of useful value for any
one terminated Federal award is lim-
ited to that portion of the acquisition
cost which bears the same ratio to the
total acquisition cost as the termi-
nated portion of the Federal award
bears to the entire terminated Federal
award and other Federal awards for
which the special tooling, machinery,
or equipment was acquired.
(d) Rental costs under unexpired
leases are generally allowable where
clearly shown to have been reasonably
necessary for the performance of the
terminated Federal award less the re-
sidual value of such leases, if:
(1) The amount of such rental
claimed does not exceed the reasonable
use value of the property leased for the
period of the Federal award and such
further period as may be reasonable,
and
(2) The non-Federal entity makes all
reasonable efforts to terminate, assign,
settle, or otherwise reduce the cost of
such lease. There also may be included
the cost of alterations of such leased
property, provided such alterations
were necessary for the performance of
the Federal award, and of reasonable
restoration required by the provisions
of the lease.
(e) Settlement expenses including the
following are generally allowable:
(1) Accounting, legal, clerical, and
similar costs reasonably necessary for:
(i) The preparation and presentation
to the Federal awarding agency of set-
tlement claims and supporting data
with respect to the terminated portion
of the Federal award, unless the termi-
nation is for cause (see subpart D, in-
cluding §§200.339–200.343); and
(ii) The termination and settlement
of subawards.
(2) Reasonable costs for the storage,
transportation, protection, and disposi-
tion of property provided by the Fed-
eral Government or acquired or pro-
duced for the Federal award.
(f) Claims under subawards, including
the allocable portion of claims which
are common to the Federal award and
to other work of the non-Federal enti-
ty, are generally allowable. An appro-
priate share of the non-Federal entity’s
indirect costs may be allocated to the
amount of settlements with contrac-
tors and/or subrecipients, provided that
the amount allocated is otherwise con-
sistent with the basic guidelines con-
tained in §200.414. The indirect costs so
allocated must exclude the same and
similar costs claimed directly or indi-
rectly as settlement expenses.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013. Redesignated and
amended at 85 FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.473 Training and education costs.
The cost of training and education
provided for employee development is
allowable.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013. Redesignated at 85
FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.474 Transportation costs.
Costs incurred for freight, express,
cartage, postage, and other transpor-
tation services relating either to goods
purchased, in process, or delivered, are
allowable. When such costs can readily
be identified with the items involved,
they may be charged directly as trans-
portation costs or added to the cost of
such items. Where identification with
the materials received cannot readily
be made, inbound transportation cost
may be charged to the appropriate in-
direct (F&A) cost accounts if the non-
Federal entity follows a consistent, eq-
uitable procedure in this respect. Out-
bound freight, if reimbursable under
the terms and conditions of the Federal
award, should be treated as a direct
cost.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013. Redesignated at 85
FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.475 Travel costs.
(a) General. Travel costs are the ex-
penses for transportation, lodging, sub-
sistence, and related items incurred by
employees who are in travel status on
official business of the non-Federal en-
tity. Such costs may be charged on an
actual cost basis, on a per diem or
mileage basis in lieu of actual costs in-
curred, or on a combination of the two,
provided the method used is applied to
an entire trip and not to selected days
of the trip, and results in charges con-
sistent with those normally allowed in
like circumstances in the non-Federal
entity’s non-federally-funded activities
and in accordance with non-Federal en-
tity’s written travel reimbursement
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195
OMB Guidance §200.500
policies. Notwithstanding the provi-
sions of §200.444, travel costs of offi-
cials covered by that section are allow-
able with the prior written approval of
the Federal awarding agency or pass-
through entity when they are specifi-
cally related to the Federal award.
(b) Lodging and subsistence. Costs in-
curred by employees and officers for
travel, including costs of lodging, other
subsistence, and incidental expenses,
must be considered reasonable and oth-
erwise allowable only to the extent
such costs do not exceed charges nor-
mally allowed by the non-Federal enti-
ty in its regular operations as the re-
sult of the non-Federal entity’s written
travel policy. In addition, if these costs
are charged directly to the Federal
award documentation must justify
that:
(1) Participation of the individual is
necessary to the Federal award; and
(2) The costs are reasonable and con-
sistent with non-Federal entity’s es-
tablished travel policy.
(c)(1) Temporary dependent care
costs (as dependent is defined in 26
U.S.C. 152) above and beyond regular
dependent care that directly results
from travel to conferences is allowable
provided that:
(i) The costs are a direct result of the
individual’s travel for the Federal
award;
(ii) The costs are consistent with the
non-Federal entity’s documented trav-
el policy for all entity travel; and
(iii) Are only temporary during the
travel period.
(2) Travel costs for dependents are
unallowable, except for travel of dura-
tion of six months or more with prior
approval of the Federal awarding agen-
cy. See also §200.432.
(d) In the absence of an acceptable,
written non-Federal entity policy re-
garding travel costs, the rates and
amounts established under 5 U.S.C.
5701–11, (‘‘Travel and Subsistence Ex-
penses; Mileage Allowances’’), or by
the Administrator of General Services,
or by the President (or his or her des-
ignee) pursuant to any provisions of
such subchapter must apply to travel
under Federal awards (48 CFR 31.205–
46(a)).
(e) Commercial air travel. (1) Airfare
costs in excess of the basic least expen-
sive unrestricted accommodations
class offered by commercial airlines
are unallowable except when such ac-
commodations would:
(i) Require circuitous routing;
(ii) Require travel during unreason-
able hours;
(iii) Excessively prolong travel;
(iv) Result in additional costs that
would offset the transportation sav-
ings; or
(v) Offer accommodations not reason-
ably adequate for the traveler’s med-
ical needs. The non-Federal entity
must justify and document these condi-
tions on a case-by-case basis in order
for the use of first-class or business-
class airfare to be allowable in such
cases.
(2) Unless a pattern of avoidance is
detected, the Federal Government will
generally not question a non-Federal
entity’s determinations that cus-
tomary standard airfare or other dis-
count airfare is unavailable for specific
trips if the non-Federal entity can
demonstrate that such airfare was not
available in the specific case.
(f) Air travel by other than commercial
carrier. Costs of travel by non-Federal
entity-owned, -leased, or -chartered
aircraft include the cost of lease, char-
ter, operation (including personnel
costs), maintenance, depreciation, in-
surance, and other related costs. The
portion of such costs that exceeds the
cost of airfare as provided for in para-
graph (d) of this section, is unallow-
able.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014. Redesignated and
amended at 85 FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.476 Trustees.
Travel and subsistence costs of trust-
ees (or directors) at IHEs and nonprofit
organizations are allowable. See also
§200.475.
[85 FR 49571, Aug. 13, 2020]
Subpart F—Audit Requirements
GENERAL
§200.500 Purpose.
This part sets forth standards for ob-
taining consistency and uniformity
among Federal agencies for the audit
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196
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.501
of non-Federal entities expending Fed-
eral awards.
AUDITS
§200.501 Audit requirements.
(a) Audit required. A non-Federal enti-
ty that expends $750,000 or more during
the non-Federal entity’s fiscal year in
Federal awards must have a single or
program-specific audit conducted for
that year in accordance with the provi-
sions of this part.
(b) Single audit. A non-Federal entity
that expends $750,000 or more during
the non-Federal entity’s fiscal year in
Federal awards must have a single
audit conducted in accordance with
§200.514 except when it elects to have a
program-specific audit conducted in ac-
cordance with paragraph (c) of this sec-
tion.
(c) Program-specific audit election.
When an auditee expends Federal
awards under only one Federal pro-
gram (excluding R&D) and the Federal
program’s statutes, regulations, or the
terms and conditions of the Federal
award do not require a financial state-
ment audit of the auditee, the auditee
may elect to have a program-specific
audit conducted in accordance with
§200.507. A program-specific audit may
not be elected for R&D unless all of the
Federal awards expended were received
from the same Federal agency, or the
same Federal agency and the same
pass-through entity, and that Federal
agency, or pass-through entity in the
case of a subrecipient, approves in ad-
vance a program-specific audit.
(d) Exemption when Federal awards ex-
pended are less than $750,000. A non-Fed-
eral entity that expends less than
$750,000 during the non-Federal entity’s
fiscal year in Federal awards is exempt
from Federal audit requirements for
that year, except as noted in §200.503,
but records must be available for re-
view or audit by appropriate officials
of the Federal agency, pass-through en-
tity, and Government Accountability
Office (GAO).
(e) Federally Funded Research and De-
velopment Centers (FFRDC). Manage-
ment of an auditee that owns or oper-
ates a FFRDC may elect to treat the
FFRDC as a separate entity for pur-
poses of this part.
(f) Subrecipients and contractors. An
auditee may simultaneously be a re-
cipient, a subrecipient, and a con-
tractor. Federal awards expended as a
recipient or a subrecipient are subject
to audit under this part. The payments
received for goods or services provided
as a contractor are not Federal awards.
Section §200.331 sets forth the consider-
ations in determining whether pay-
ments constitute a Federal award or a
payment for goods or services provided
as a contractor.
(g) Compliance responsibility for con-
tractors. In most cases, the auditee’s
compliance responsibility for contrac-
tors is only to ensure that the procure-
ment, receipt, and payment for goods
and services comply with Federal stat-
utes, regulations, and the terms and
conditions of Federal awards. Federal
award compliance requirements nor-
mally do not pass through to contrac-
tors. However, the auditee is respon-
sible for ensuring compliance for pro-
curement transactions which are struc-
tured such that the contractor is re-
sponsible for program compliance or
the contractor’s records must be re-
viewed to determine program compli-
ance. Also, when these procurement
transactions relate to a major pro-
gram, the scope of the audit must in-
clude determining whether these trans-
actions are in compliance with Federal
statutes, regulations, and the terms
and conditions of Federal awards.
(h) For-profit subrecipient. Since this
part does not apply to for-profit sub-
recipients, the pass-through entity is
responsible for establishing require-
ments, as necessary, to ensure compli-
ance by for-profit subrecipients. The
agreement with the for-profit sub-
recipient must describe applicable
compliance requirements and the for-
profit subrecipient’s compliance re-
sponsibility. Methods to ensure compli-
ance for Federal awards made to for-
profit subrecipients may include pre-
award audits, monitoring during the
agreement, and post-award audits. See
also §200.332.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014; 85 FR 49571, Aug. 13,
2020]
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197
OMB Guidance §200.503
§200.502 Basis for determining Fed-
eral awards expended.
(a) Determining Federal awards ex-
pended. The determination of when a
Federal award is expended must be
based on when the activity related to
the Federal award occurs. Generally,
the activity pertains to events that re-
quire the non-Federal entity to comply
with Federal statutes, regulations, and
the terms and conditions of Federal
awards, such as: expenditure/expense
transactions associated with awards in-
cluding grants, cost-reimbursement
contracts under the FAR, compacts
with Indian Tribes, cooperative agree-
ments, and direct appropriations; the
disbursement of funds to subrecipients;
the use of loan proceeds under loan and
loan guarantee programs; the receipt of
property; the receipt of surplus prop-
erty; the receipt or use of program in-
come; the distribution or use of food
commodities; the disbursement of
amounts entitling the non-Federal en-
tity to an interest subsidy; and the pe-
riod when insurance is in force.
(b) Loan and loan guarantees (loans).
Since the Federal Government is at
risk for loans until the debt is repaid,
the following guidelines must be used
to calculate the value of Federal
awards expended under loan programs,
except as noted in paragraphs (c) and
(d) of this section:
(1) Value of new loans made or re-
ceived during the audit period; plus
(2) Beginning of the audit period bal-
ance of loans from previous years for
which the Federal Government imposes
continuing compliance requirements;
plus
(3) Any interest subsidy, cash, or ad-
ministrative cost allowance received.
(c) Loan and loan guarantees (loans) at
IHEs. When loans are made to students
of an IHE but the IHE does not make
the loans, then only the value of loans
made during the audit period must be
considered Federal awards expended in
that audit period. The balance of loans
for previous audit periods is not in-
cluded as Federal awards expended be-
cause the lender accounts for the prior
balances.
(d) Prior loan and loan guarantees
(loans). Loans, the proceeds of which
were received and expended in prior
years, are not considered Federal
awards expended under this part when
the Federal statutes, regulations, and
the terms and conditions of Federal
awards pertaining to such loans impose
no continuing compliance require-
ments other than to repay the loans.
(e) Endowment funds. The cumulative
balance of Federal awards for endow-
ment funds that are federally re-
stricted are considered Federal awards
expended in each audit period in which
the funds are still restricted.
(f) Free rent. Free rent received by
itself is not considered a Federal award
expended under this part. However, free
rent received as part of a Federal
award to carry out a Federal program
must be included in determining Fed-
eral awards expended and subject to
audit under this part.
(g) Valuing non-cash assistance. Fed-
eral non-cash assistance, such as free
rent, food commodities, donated prop-
erty, or donated surplus property, must
be valued at fair market value at the
time of receipt or the assessed value
provided by the Federal agency.
(h) Medicare. Medicare payments to a
non-Federal entity for providing pa-
tient care services to Medicare-eligible
individuals are not considered Federal
awards expended under this part.
(i) Medicaid. Medicaid payments to a
subrecipient for providing patient care
services to Medicaid-eligible individ-
uals are not considered Federal awards
expended under this part unless a state
requires the funds to be treated as Fed-
eral awards expended because reim-
bursement is on a cost-reimbursement
basis.
(j) Certain loans provided by the Na-
tional Credit Union Administration. For
purposes of this part, loans made from
the National Credit Union Share Insur-
ance Fund and the Central Liquidity
Facility that are funded by contribu-
tions from insured non-Federal entities
are not considered Federal awards ex-
pended.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 79
FR 75887, Dec. 19, 2014]
§200.503 Relation to other audit re-
quirements.
(a) An audit conducted in accordance
with this part must be in lieu of any fi-
nancial audit of Federal awards which
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198
2 CFR Ch. II (1–1–21 Edition) §200.504
a non-Federal entity is required to un-
dergo under any other Federal statute
or regulation. To the extent that such
audit provides a Federal agency with
the information it requires to carry
out its responsibilities under Federal
statute or regulation, a Federal agency
must rely upon and use that informa-
tion.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a
Federal agency, Inspectors General, or
GAO may conduct or arrange for addi-
tional audits which are necessary to
carry out its responsibilities under
Federal statute or regulation. The pro-
visions of this part do not authorize
any non-Federal entity to constrain, in
any manner, such Federal agency from
carrying out or arranging for such ad-
ditional audits, except that the Federal
agency must plan such audits to not be
duplicative of other audits of Federal
awards. Prior to commencing such an
audit, the Federal agency or pass-
through entity must review the FAC
for recent audits submitted by the non-
Federal entity, and to the extent such
audits meet a Federal agency or pass-
through entity’s needs, the Federal
agency or pass-through entity must
rely upon and use such audits. Any ad-
ditional audits must be planned and
performed in such a way as to build
upon work performed, including the
audit documentation, sampling, and
testing already performed, by other
auditors.
(c) The provisions of this part do not
limit the authority of Federal agencies
to conduct, or arrange for the conduct
of, audits and evaluations of Federal
awards, nor limit the authority of any
Federal agency Inspector General or
other Federal official. For example, re-
quirements that may be applicable
under the FAR or CAS and the terms
and conditions of a cost-reimbursement
contract may include additional appli-
cable audits to be conducted or ar-
ranged for by Federal agencies.
(d) Federal agency to pay for additional
audits. A Federal agency that conducts
or arranges for additional audits must,
consistent with other applicable Fed-
eral statutes and regulations, arrange
for funding the full cost of such addi-
tional audits.
(e) Request for a program to be audited
as a major program. A Federal awarding
agency may request that an auditee
have a particular Federal program au-
dited as a major program in lieu of the
Federal awarding agency conducting or
arranging for the additional audits. To
allow for planning, such requests
should be made at least 180 calendar
days prior to the end of the fiscal year
to be audited. The auditee, after con-
sultation with its auditor, should
promptly respond to such a request by
informing the Federal awarding agency
whether the program would otherwise
be audited as a major program using
the risk-based audit approach de-
scribed in §200.518 and, if not, the esti-
mated incremental cost. The Federal
awarding agency must then promptly
confirm to the auditee whether it
wants the program audited as a major
program. If the program is to be au-
dited as a major program based upon
this Federal awarding agency request,
and the Federal awarding agency
agrees to pay the full incremental
costs, then the auditee must have the
program audited as a major program. A
pass-through entity may use the provi-
sions of this paragraph for a sub-
recipient.
[78 FR 78608, Dec. 26, 2013, as amended at 85
FR 49570, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.504 Frequency of audits.
Except for the provisions for biennial
audits provided in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this section, audits required by
this part must be performed annually.
Any biennial audit must cover both
years within the biennial period.
(a) A state, local government, or In-
dian tribe that is required by constitu-
tion or statute, in effect on January 1,
1987, to undergo its audits less fre-
quently than annually, is permitted to
undergo its audits pursuant to this
part biennially. This requirement must
still be in effect for the biennial period.
(b) Any nonprofit organization that
had biennial audits for all biennial pe-
riods ending between July 1, 1992, and
January 1, 1995, is permitted to under-
go its audits pursuant to this part bi-
ennially.
§200.505 Sanctions.
In cases of continued inability or un-
willingness to have an audit conducted
in accordance with this part, Federal
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199
OMB Guidance §200.507
agencies and pass-through entities
must take appropriate action as pro-
vided in §200.339.
[85 FR 49571, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.506 Audit costs.
See §200.425.
[85 FR 49571, Aug. 13, 2020]
§200.507 Program-specific audits.
(a) Program-specific audit guide avail-
able. In some cases, a program-specific
audit guide will be available to provide
specific guidance to the auditor with
respect to internal controls, compli-
ance requirements, suggested audit
procedures, and audit reporting re-
quirements. A listing of current pro-
gram-specific audit guides can be found
in the compliance supplement, Part 8,
Appendix VI, Program-Specific Audit
Guides, which includes a website where
a copy of the guide can be obtained.
When a current program-specific audit
guide is available, the auditor must
follow GAGAS and the guide when per-
forming a program-specific audit.
(b) Program-specific audit guide not
available. (1) When a current program-
specific audit guide is not available,
the auditee and auditor must have ba-
sically the same responsibilities for the
Federal program as they would have
for an audit of a major program in a
single audit.
(2) The auditee must prepare the fi-
nancial statement(s) for the Federal
program that includes, at a minimum,
a schedule of expenditures of Federal
awards for the program and notes that
describe the significant accounting
policies used in preparing the schedule,
a summary schedule of prior audit find-
ings consistent with the requirements
of §200.511(b), and a corrective action
plan consistent with the requirements
of §200.511(c).
(3) The auditor must:
(i) Perform an audit of the financial
statement(s) for the Federal program
in accordance with GAGAS;
(ii) Obtain an understanding of inter-
nal controls and perform tests of inter-
nal controls over the Federal program
consistent with the requirements of
§200.514(c) for a major program;
(iii) Perform procedures to determine
whether the auditee has complied with
Federal statutes, regulations, and the
terms and conditions of Federal awards
that could have a direct and material
effect on the Federal program con-
sistent with the requirements of
§200.514(d) for a major program;
(iv) Follow up on prior audit findings,
perform procedures to assess the rea-
sonableness of the summary schedule
of prior audit findings prepared by the
auditee in accordance with the require-
ments of §200.511, and report, as a cur-
rent year audit finding, when the audi-
tor concludes that the summary sched-
ule of prior audit findings materially
misrepresents the status of any prior
audit finding; and
(v) Report any audit findings con-
sistent with the requirements of
§200.516.
(4) The auditor’s report(s) may be in
the form of either combined or sepa-
rate reports and may be organized dif-
ferently from the manner presented in
this section. The auditor’s report(s)
must state that the audit was con-
ducted in accordance with this part
and include the following:
(i) An opinion (or disclaimer of opin-
ion) as to whether the financial state-
ment(s) of the Federal program is pre-
sented fairly in all material respects in
accordance with the stated accounting
policies;
(ii) A report on internal control re-
lated to the Federal program, which
must describe the scope of testing of
internal control and the results of the
tests;
(iii) A report on compliance which in-
cludes an opinion (or disclaimer of
opinion) as to whether the auditee
complied with laws, regulations, and
the terms and conditions of Federal
awards which could have a direct and
material effect on the Federal pro-
gram; and
(iv) A schedule of findings and ques-
tioned costs for the Federal program
that includes a summary of the audi-
tor’s results relative to the Federal
program in a format consistent with
§200.515(d)(1) and findings and ques-
tioned costs consistent with the re-
quirements of §200.515(d)(3).
(c) Report submission for program-spe-
cific audits. (1) The audit must be com-
pleted and the reporting required by
paragraph (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this section
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