"General Conditions" for OJP Awards in FY 2018

June 2018

OJP expects that all (or virtually all) awards made in FY 2018 will include all of the award conditions set out below.

Individual awards typically also will include additional award conditions. Those additional conditions may relate to the particular statute, program, or solicitation under which the award is made; to the substance of the funded application; to the recipient's performance under other federal awards; to the recipient's legal status (e.g., as a for-profit entity); or to other pertinent considerations.

• Requirements of the award; remedies for non-compliance or for materially false statements
• Applicability of Part 200 Uniform Requirements
• Compliance with DOJ Grants Financial Guide
• Reclassification of various statutory provisions to a new Title 34 of the United States Code
• Required training for Point of Contact and all Financial Points of Contact
• Requirements related to "de minimis" indirect cost rate
• Requirement to report potentially duplicative funding
• Requirements related to System for Award Management and Universal Identifier Requirements
• Requirement to report actual or imminent breach of personally identifiable information (PII)
• All subawards ("subgrants") must have specific federal authorization
• Specific post-award approval required to use a noncompetitive approach in any procurement contract that would exceed $150,000
• Requirements pertaining to prohibited conduct related to trafficking in persons (including reporting requirements and OJP authority to terminate award)
• Compliance with applicable rules regarding approval, planning, and reporting of conferences, meetings, trainings, and other events
• Requirement for data on performance and effectiveness under the award
• OJP Training Guiding Principles
• Effect of failure to address audit issues
• Potential imposition of additional requirements
• Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 42
• Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 54
• Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 38
• Restrictions on "lobbying"
• Compliance with general appropriations-law restrictions on the use of federal funds (FY 2018)
• Reporting potential fraud, waste, and abuse, and similar misconduct
• Restrictions and certifications regarding non-disclosure agreements and related matters
• Compliance with 41 U.S.C. 4712 (including prohibitions on reprisal; notice to employees)
• Encouragement of policies to ban text messaging while driving
• Requirement to disclose whether recipient is designated "high risk" by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ

Requirements of the award; remedies for non-compliance or for materially false statements

The conditions of this award are material requirements of the award. Compliance with any certifications or assurances submitted by or on behalf of the recipient that relate to conduct during the period of performance also is a material requirement of this award.

Failure to comply with any one or more of these award requirements -- whether a condition set out in full below, a condition incorporated by reference below, or a certification or assurance related to conduct during the award period -- may result in the Office of Justice Programs ("OJP") taking appropriate action with respect to the recipient and the award. Among other things, the OJP may withhold award funds, disallow costs, or suspend or terminate the award. The Department of Justice ("DOJ"), including OJP, also may take other legal action as appropriate.

Any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement to the federal government related to this award (or concealment or omission of a material fact) may be the subject of criminal prosecution (including under 18 U.S.C. 1001 and/or 1621, and/or 34 U.S.C. 10271-10273), and also may lead to imposition of civil penalties and administrative remedies for false claims or otherwise (including under 31 U.S.C. 3729-3730 and 3801-3812).

Should any provision of a requirement of this award be held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms, that provision shall first be applied with a limited construction so as to give it the maximum effect permitted by law. Should it be held, instead, that the provision is utterly invalid or -unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable from this award.

Applicability of Part 200 Uniform Requirements

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, as adopted and supplemented by DOJ in 2 C.F.R. Part 2800 (together, the "Part 200 Uniform Requirements") apply to this FY 2018 award from OJP.

The Part 200 Uniform Requirements were first adopted by DOJ on December 26, 2014. If this FY 2018 award supplements funds previously awarded by OJP under the same award number (e.g., funds awarded during or before December 2014), the Part 200 Uniform Requirements apply with respect to all funds under that award number (regardless of the award date, and regardless of whether derived from the initial award or a supplemental award) that are obligated on or after the acceptance date of this FY 2018 award.

For more information and resources on the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as they relate to OJP awards and subawards ("subgrants"), see the OJP website at https://ojp.gov/funding/Part200UniformRequirements.htm.

Record retention and access: Records pertinent to the award that the recipient (and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier) must retain -- typically for a period of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report (SF 425), unless a different retention period applies -- and to which the recipient (and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier) must provide access, include performance measurement information, in addition to the financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other pertinent records indicated at 2 C.F.R. 200.333.

In the event that an award-related question arises from documents or other materials prepared or distributed by OJP that may appear to conflict with, or differ in some way from, the provisions of the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, the recipient is to contact OJP promptly for clarification.

Compliance with DOJ Grants Financial Guide

References to the DOJ Grants Financial Guide are to the DOJ Grants Financial Guide as posted on the OJP website (currently, the "DOJ Grants Financial Guide" available at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm), including any updated version that may be posted during the period of performance. The recipient agrees to comply with the DOJ Grants Financial Guide.

Reclassification of various statutory provisions to a new Title 34 of the United States Code

On September 1, 2017, various statutory provisions previously codified elsewhere in the U.S. Code were editorially reclassified to a new Title 34, entitled "Crime Control and Law Enforcement." The reclassification encompassed a number of statutory provisions pertinent to OJP awards (that is, OJP grants and cooperative agreements), including many provisions previously codified in Title 42 of the U.S. Code.

Effective as of September 1, 2017, any reference in this award document to a statutory provision that has been reclassified to the new Title 34 of the U.S. Code is to be read as a reference to that statutory provision as reclassified to Title 34. This rule of construction specifically includes references set out in award conditions, references set out in material incorporated by reference through award conditions, and references set out in other award requirements.

Required training for Point of Contact and all Financial Points of Contact

Both the Point of Contact (POC) and all Financial Points of Contact (FPOCs) for this award must have successfully completed an "OJP financial management and grant administration training" by 120 days after the date of the recipient's acceptance of the award. Successful completion of such a training on or after January 1, 2016, will satisfy this condition.

In the event that either the POC or an FPOC for this award changes during the period of performance, the new POC or FPOC must have successfully completed an "OJP financial management and grant administration training" by 120 calendar days after -- (1) the date of OJP's approval of the "Change Grantee Contact" GAN (in the case of a new POC), or (2) the date the POC enters information on the new FPOC in GMS (in the case of a new FPOC). Successful completion of such a training on or after January 1, 2016, will satisfy this condition.

A list of OJP trainings that OJP will consider "OJP financial management and grant administration training" for purposes of this condition is available at https://ojp.gov/training/fmts.htm. All trainings that satisfy this condition include a session on grant fraud prevention and detection.

The recipient should anticipate that OJP will immediately withhold ("freeze") award funds if the recipient fails to comply with this condition. The recipient's failure to comply also may lead OJP to impose additional appropriate conditions on this award.

Requirements related to "de minimis" indirect cost rate

A recipient that is eligible under the Part 200 Uniform Requirements and other applicable law to use the "de minimis" indirect cost rate described in 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f), and that elects to use the "de minimis" indirect cost rate, must advise OJP in writing of both its eligibility and its election, and must comply with all associated requirements in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements. The "de minimis" rate may be applied only to modified total direct costs (MTDC) as defined by the Part 200 Uniform Requirements.

Requirement to report potentially duplicative funding

If the recipient currently has other active awards of federal funds, or if the recipient receives any other award of federal funds during the period of performance for this award, the recipient promptly must determine whether funds from any of those other federal awards have been, are being, or are to be used (in whole or in part) for one or more of the identical cost items for which funds are provided under this award. If so, the recipient must promptly notify the DOJ awarding agency (OJP or OVW, as appropriate) in writing of the potential duplication, and, if so requested by DOJ awarding agency, must seek a budget-modification or change-of-project-scope grant adjustment notice (GAN) to eliminate any inappropriate duplication of funding.

Requirements related to System for Award Management and Universal Identifier Requirements

The recipient must comply with applicable requirements regarding the System for Award Management (SAM), currently accessible at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. This includes applicable requirements regarding registration with SAM, as well as maintaining the currency of information in SAM.

The recipient also must comply with applicable restrictions on subawards ("subgrants") to first-tier subrecipients (first-tier "subgrantees"), including restrictions on subawards to entities that do not acquire and provide (to the recipient) the unique entity identifier required for SAM registration.

The details of the recipient's obligations related to SAM and to unique entity identifiers are posted on the OJP web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SAM.htm (Award condition: System for Award Management (SAM) and Universal Identifier Requirements), and are incorporated by reference here.

This condition does not apply to an award to an individual who received the award as a natural person (i.e., unrelated to any business or non-profit organization that he or she may own or operate in his or her name).

Requirement to report actual or imminent breach of personally identifiable information (PII)

The recipient (and any "subrecipient" at any tier) must have written procedures in place to respond in the event of an actual or imminent "breach" (OMB M-17-12) if it (or a subrecipient)-- 1) creates, collects, uses, processes, stores, maintains, disseminates, discloses, or disposes of "personally identifiable information (PII)" (2 CFR 200.79) within the scope of an OJP grant-funded program or activity, or 2) uses or operates a "Federal information system" (OMB Circular A-130). The recipient’s breach procedures must include a requirement to report actual or imminent breach of PII to an OJP Program Manager no later than 24 hours after an occurrence of an actual breach, or the detection of an imminent breach.

All subawards ("subgrants") must have specific federal authorization

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements for authorization of any subaward. This condition applies to agreements that -- for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements -- OJP considers a "subaward" (and therefore does not consider a procurement "contract").

The details of the requirement for authorization of any subaward are posted on the OJP web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SubawardAuthorization.htm (Award condition: All subawards ("subgrants") must have specific federal authorization), and are incorporated by reference here.

Specific post-award approval required to use a noncompetitive approach in any procurement contract that would exceed $150,000

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements to obtain specific advance approval to use a noncompetitive approach in any procurement contract that would exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (currently, $150,000). This condition applies to agreements that -- for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements -- OJP considers a procurement "contract" (and therefore does not consider a subaward).

The details of the requirement for advance approval to use a noncompetitive approach in a procurement contract under an OJP award are posted on the OJP web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/NoncompetitiveProcurement.htm (Award condition: Specific post-award approval required to use a noncompetitive approach in a procurement contract (if contract would exceed $150,000)), and are incorporated by reference here.

Requirements pertaining to prohibited conduct related to trafficking in persons (including reporting requirements and OJP authority to terminate award)

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements (including requirements to report allegations) pertaining to prohibited conduct related to the trafficking of persons, whether on the part of recipients, subrecipients ("subgrantees"), or individuals defined (for purposes of this condition) as "employees" of the recipient or of any subrecipient.

The details of the recipient's obligations related to prohibited conduct related to trafficking in persons are posted on the OJP web site at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/ProhibitedConduct-Trafficking.htm (Award condition: Prohibited conduct by recipients and subrecipients related to trafficking in persons (including reporting requirements and OJP authority to terminate award)), and are incorporated by reference here.

Compliance with applicable rules regarding approval, planning, and reporting of conferences, meetings, trainings, and other events

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and official DOJ guidance (including specific cost limits, prior approval and reporting requirements, where applicable) governing the use of federal funds for expenses related to conferences (as that term is defined by DOJ), including the provision of food and/or beverages at such conferences, and costs of attendance at such conferences.

Information on the pertinent DOJ definition of conferences and the rules applicable to this award appears in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide (currently, as section 3.10 of "Postaward Requirements" in the "DOJ Grants Financial Guide").

Requirement for data on performance and effectiveness under the award

The recipient must collect and maintain data that measure the performance and effectiveness of work under this award. The data must be provided to OJP in the manner (including within the timeframes) specified by OJP in the program solicitation or other applicable written guidance. Data collection supports compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, and other applicable laws.

OJP Training Guiding Principles

Any training or training materials that the recipient -- or any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier -- develops or delivers with OJP award funds must adhere to the OJP Training Guiding Principles for Grantees and Subgrantees, available at https://ojp.gov/funding/Implement/TrainingPrinciplesForGrantees-Subgrantees.htm.

Effect of failure to address audit issues

The recipient understands and agrees that the DOJ awarding agency (OJP or OVW, as appropriate) may withhold award funds, or may impose other related requirements, if (as determined by the DOJ awarding agency) the recipient does not satisfactorily and promptly address outstanding issues from audits required by the Part 200 Uniform Requirements (or by the terms of this award), or other outstanding issues that arise in connection with audits, investigations, or reviews of DOJ awards.

Potential imposition of additional requirements

The recipient agrees to comply with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the DOJ awarding agency (OJP or OVW, as appropriate) during the period of performance for this award, if the recipient is designated as "high-risk" for purposes of the DOJ high-risk grantee list.

Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 42

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements of 28 C.F.R. Part 42, specifically including any applicable requirements in Subpart E of 28 C.F.R. Part 42 that relate to an equal employment opportunity program.

Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 54

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements of 28 C.F.R. Part 54, which relates to nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in certain "education programs."

Compliance with DOJ regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination - 28 C.F.R. Part 38

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable requirements of 28 C.F.R. Part 38, specifically including any applicable requirements regarding written notice to program beneficiaries and prospective program beneficiaries.

Among other things, 28 C.F.R. Part 38 includes rules that prohibit specific forms of discrimination on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice. Part 38 also sets out rules and requirements that pertain to recipient and subrecipient ("subgrantee") organizations that engage in or conduct explicitly religious activities, as well as rules and requirements that pertain to recipients and subrecipients that are faith-based or religious organizations.

The text of the regulation, now entitled "Partnerships with Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations," is available via the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (currently accessible at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/ECFR?page=browse), by browsing to Title 28-Judicial Administration, Chapter 1, Part 38, under e-CFR "current" data.

Restrictions on "lobbying"

In general, as a matter of federal law, federal funds awarded by OJP may not be used by the recipient, or any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, either directly or indirectly, to support or oppose the enactment, repeal, modification, or adoption of any law, regulation, or policy, at any level of government. See 18 U.S.C. 1913. (There may be exceptions if an applicable federal statute specifically authorizes certain activities that otherwise would be barred by law.)

Another federal law generally prohibits federal funds awarded by OJP from being used by the recipient, or any subrecipient at any tier, to pay any person to influence (or attempt to influence) a federal agency, a Member of Congress, or Congress (or an official or employee of any of them) with respect to the awarding of a federal grant or cooperative agreement, subgrant, contract, subcontract, or loan, or with respect to actions such as renewing, extending, or modifying any such award. See 31 U.S.C. 1352. Certain exceptions to this law apply, including an exception that applies to Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Should any question arise as to whether a particular use of federal funds by a recipient (or subrecipient) would or might fall within the scope of these prohibitions, the recipient is to contact OJP for guidance, and may not proceed without the express prior written approval of OJP.

Compliance with general appropriations-law restrictions on the use of federal funds (FY 2018)

The recipient, and any subrecipient ("subgrantee") at any tier, must comply with all applicable restrictions on the use of federal funds set out in federal appropriations statutes. Pertinent restrictions, including from various "general provisions" in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, are set out at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/FY18AppropriationsRestrictions.htm, and are incorporated by reference here.

Should a question arise as to whether a particular use of federal funds by a recipient (or a subrecipient) would or might fall within the scope of an appropriations-law restriction, the recipient is to contact OJP for guidance, and may not proceed without the express prior written approval of OJP.

Reporting potential fraud, waste, and abuse, and similar misconduct

The recipient, and any subrecipients ("subgrantees") at any tier, must promptly refer to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) any credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, subrecipient, contractor, subcontractor, or other person has, in connection with funds under this award-- (1) submitted a claim that violates the False Claims Act; or (2) committed a criminal or civil violation of laws pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct.

Potential fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct involving or relating to funds under this award should be reported to the OIG by-- (1) mail directed to: Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, Investigations Division, 1425 New York Avenue, N.W. Suite 7100, Washington, DC 20530; and/or (2) the DOJ OIG hotline: (contact information in English and Spanish) at (800) 869-4499 (phone) or (202) 616-9881 (fax).

Additional information is available from the DOJ OIG website at https://oig.justice.gov/hotline.

Restrictions and certifications regarding non-disclosure agreements and related matters

No recipient or subrecipient ("subgrantee") under this award, or entity that receives a procurement contract or subcontract with any funds under this award, may require any employee or contractor to sign an internal confidentiality agreement or statement that prohibits or otherwise restricts, or purports to prohibit or restrict, the reporting (in accordance with law) of waste, fraud, or abuse to an investigative or law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

The foregoing is not intended, and shall not be understood by the agency making this award, to contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312 (which relates to classified information), Form 4414 (which relates to sensitive compartmented information), or any other form issued by a federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information.

1. In accepting this award, the recipient--
   1. represents that it neither requires nor has required internal confidentiality agreements or statements from employees or contractors that currently prohibit or otherwise currently restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) employees or contractors from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse as described above; and
   2. certifies that, if it learns or is notified that it is or has been requiring its employees or contractors to execute agreements or statements that prohibit or otherwise restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict), reporting of waste, fraud, or abuse as described above, it will immediately stop any further obligations of award funds, will provide prompt written notification to the federal agency making this award, and will resume (or permit resumption of) such obligations only if expressly authorized to do so by that agency.
2. If the recipient does or is authorized under this award to make subawards ("subgrants"), procurement contracts, or both--
   1. it represents that--
      • (1)  it has determined that no other entity that the recipient's application proposes may or will receive award funds (whether through a subaward ("subgrant"), procurement contract, or subcontract under a procurement contract) either requires or has required internal confidentiality agreements or statements from employees or contractors that currently prohibit or otherwise currently restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) employees or contractors from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse as described above; and
      • (2)  it has made appropriate inquiry, or otherwise has an adequate factual basis, to support this representation; and
   2. it certifies that, if it learns or is notified that any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor entity that receives funds under this award is or has been requiring its employees or contractors to execute agreements or statements that prohibit or otherwise restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict), reporting of waste, fraud, or abuse as described above, it will immediately stop any further obligations of award funds to or by that entity, will provide prompt written notification to the federal agency making this award, and will resume (or permit resumption of) such obligations only if expressly authorized to do so by that agency.

Compliance with 41 U.S.C. 4712 (including prohibitions on reprisal; notice to employees)

The recipient (and any subrecipient at any tier) must comply with, and is subject to, all applicable provisions of 41 U.S.C. 4712, including all applicable provisions that prohibit, under specified circumstances, discrimination against an employee as reprisal for the employee's disclosure of information related to gross mismanagement of a federal grant, a gross waste of federal funds, an abuse of authority relating to a federal grant, a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a federal grant.

The recipient also must inform its employees, in writing (and in the predominant native language of the workforce), of employee rights and remedies under 41 U.S.C. 4712.

Should a question arise as to the applicability of the provisions of 41 U.S.C. 4712 to this award, the recipient is to contact the DOJ awarding agency (OJP or OVW, as appropriate) for guidance.

Encouragement of policies to ban text messaging while driving

Pursuant to Executive Order 13513, "Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving," 74 Fed. Reg. 51225 (October 1, 2009), DOJ encourages recipients and subrecipients ("subgrantees") to adopt and enforce policies banning employees from text messaging while driving any vehicle during the course of performing work funded by this award, and to establish workplace safety policies and conduct education, awareness, and other outreach to decrease crashes caused by distracted drivers.

Requirement to disclose whether recipient is designated "high risk" by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ

If the recipient is designated "high risk" by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ, currently or at any time during the course of the period of performance under this award, the recipient must disclose that fact and certain related information to OJP by email at [email protected]. For purposes of this disclosure, high risk includes any status under which a federal awarding agency provides additional oversight due to the recipient's past performance, or other programmatic or financial concerns with the recipient. The recipient's disclosure must include the following: 1. The federal awarding agency that currently designates the recipient high risk, 2. The date the recipient was designated high risk, 3. The high-risk point of contact at that federal awarding agency (name, phone number, and email address), and 4. The reasons for the high-risk status, as set out by the federal awarding agency.

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