Cost Reimbursable Agreements - Administrative General Terms and Conditions

Provision Title

Administrative GT&C - Mandatory

CR Instructions

1. Order of Precedence

In the event of any inconsistency between provisions of the cost-reimbursable agreement, the inconsistency will be resolved by giving precedence in the following order:

• Applicable laws and statutes of the United States, including any specific legislative provisions mandated in the statutory authority for the award.
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
• Standard terms and conditions of the cost-reimbursable agreement
• Application documents

2. Accounting System Requirements

Prior to FAS’ initial payment to the Cooperator, the Cooperator shall provide sufficient evidence to the FAS Grants Management Officer that its accounting system is in accord with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Applies to all CRs.

3. Acknowledgement of Federal Funding from USDA

All Cooperators must acknowledge their use of federal funding when issuing statements, press releases, and requests for proposals, bid invitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.

4. Activities Conducted Abroad

All Cooperators and subcooperators must ensure that project activities carried on outside the United States are coordinated as necessary with appropriate government authorities, and that appropriate licenses, permits, or approvals are obtained.

5. Accounting, Audit, and Records

• Cooperators and subcooperators are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the audit requirements of 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. For the purposes of this section, the term “Federal awards” when used in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F, will include Federal awards, as defined at 2 CFR 200.38, cost-reimbursable agreements, and subagreements. The term “non-Federal entity” as used in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F, will include a non-Federal entity, as defined in 2 CFR part 200.69, a cooperator, or a subcooperator.

In addition, Cooperators and subcooperators are subject to the audit requirements found in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507).

• The Cooperator or subcooperator shall maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records and all other records pertinent to the Agreement in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles formally prescribed by the United States to sufficiently substantiate charges to this Agreement. Accounting records that are supported by documentation shall at a minimum be adequate to show all costs incurred under the cost-reimbursable agreement, receipt, and use of goods and services acquired under the cost-reimbursable agreement, the costs of the program supplied from other sources, and the overall progress of the program. Unless otherwise notified, the cooperator’s or subcooperator’s records which pertain to this cost-reimbursable agreement shall be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, except when a longer retention period is required by law and may be audited by FAS and/or its representatives.

• FAS shall retain the right to conduct a financial review, require an audit, or otherwise ensure adequate accountability of organizations expending FAS funds regardless of the audit requirement.

(d) Organizations that provide FAS resources to other organizations to carry out FAS program and activities shall be responsible for monitoring their subcontractors or subcooperators. The cost of agreed-upon procedures to monitor subcooperators who are exempted from the requirements of the Single Audit Act and 2 CFR 200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements are allowable, subject to the conditions listed in 2 CFR 200.422 (c) (1)-(3).
(e) In cases of continued inability or unwillingness to have an audit performed in accordance with this part, FAS shall consider appropriate sanctions which may include, inter alia, suspension of all or a percentage of disbursements until the audit is satisfactorily completed.

Applies to all CRs.

6. Allowable Costs

(a) Allowable costs shall be determined in accordance with the cost-principles as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200.400 through 200.475 applicable to the Cooperator and subcooperator incurring the costs.
(b) The Cooperator or subcooperator shall be reimbursed for costs incurred in carrying out the purposes of this cost-reimbursable agreement which are determined by the Grants Management Officer to be reasonable, allocable, and allowable in accordance with the terms of this cost-reimbursable agreement and the applicable cost principles in effect on the date of this cost-reimbursable agreement. The Cooperator or subcooperator may obtain a copy of the applicable cost principles from the Grants Management Officer. Brief definitions of what may be considered as reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs are provided below; however, it is the cooperator's or subcooperator’s responsibility to ensure that costs incurred are in accordance to the relevant federal Cost Principles.
(c) Prior to incurring a questionable or unique cost, the Cooperator or subcooperator shall obtain the Grants Management Officer's written determination on whether the cost will be allowable.
(d) No funds provided under this cost-reimbursable agreement shall be earned or kept as profit or fee by the Cooperator or any subcooperator under this cost-reimbursable agreement. However, funds may be used to pay subcontractors profit or fees under this cost-reimbursable agreement.
(e) Failure to comply with indirect cost rate requirements may lead to substantial overpayments or underpayments.
(f) The Cooperator or subcooperator must inform FAS, through the Grants Management Officer, of all applicable indirect cost rate adjustments.

Applies to all CRs.

7. Applicability of Administrative and Cost Principle Requirements

The Cooperator or subcooperator of the cost-reimbursable agreement agrees to comply with the following regulations, as applicable. The full text of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) references may be found at: eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations.

• 2 CFR Part 25, “Universal Identifier and Central Contractor Registration”;

• 2 CFR Part 175, “Award Term for Trafficking in Persons”;

• 2 CFR part 180, “OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)”;

• 2 CFR Part 182, “Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)”;

• 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards”;

• 2 CFR Part 400, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards”;

• 2 CFR Part 415, “General Program Administrative Regulations”;

• 2 CFR Part 416, “General Program Administrative Regulations for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments”;

• 2 CFR Part 417, “Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension”;

• 2 CFR Part 418, “New Restrictions on Lobbying”;

• 2 CFR Part 421, “Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)”;

• 37 CFR part 401.14, ‘‘Standard Patent Rights Clause’’;

• Executive Order 13224, as amended, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism”;

• Executive Order 13513, “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving”;

• 41 U.S.C. §§ 351 – 358, “the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965”

• 15 U.S.C. 205a et seq., ‘‘The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act’’;

• 42 U.S.C. 6962, ‘‘Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)’’;

• 49 U.S.C. 40118 et seq., “Fly America Act”;

• 8 USC 1324a, “Immigration and Nationality Act”;

• 5 U.S.C. 552, “Freedom of Information Act”;

• 41 U.S.C. 22, “Interest of Members of Congress”;

• 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148, “the Davis–Bacon Act”;

• P.L. 109-282, “Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006” and P.L. 113-101, “Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014”; and

• Other laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and other applicable requirements, which are hereby incorporated into this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement.

Applies to all CRs.

8. Disputes

Whenever disputes, disagreements, or misunderstanding arise regarding issues under this cost-reimbursable agreement, the Cooperator and FAS shall attempt to resolve the issues by discussion and mutual agreement as soon as practicable. If the parties are unable to mutually resolve the dispute, the Cooperator may submit, in writing, a disputed claim or issue to the FAS Deputy Administrator for the Division administering the cost-reimbursable agreement, or their designee, for a decision. No hearing will be provided, unless another hearing, appeal, or other administrative proceeding is available to the Cooperator under any statute or regulations applicable to the action involved. The Cooperator’s submission must specify the nature and basis of the claim and the relief requested and include all data to support such claim. A copy of the submission shall be concurrently furnished to the Grants Management Officer. The Grants Management Officer shall furnish the Cooperator a written copy of the Deputy Administrator’s decision. Decisions of the Deputy Administrator shall be final unless, within 30 days of receipt of the decision, the Cooperator appeals the decision to the FAS Administrator. Any appeal made shall be in writing and addressed to the FAS Administrator. No hearing will be provided.

Applies to all CRs.

9. Duplication of Benefits

Any cost allocable to a particular cost-reimbursable agreement may not be charged to other Federal awards or cost-reimbursable agreements to overcome fund deficiencies, to avoid restrictions imposed by Federal statues, regulations, or terms and conditions of the Federal awards or cost-reimbursable agreements, or for other reasons. However, this prohibition would not preclude a Cooperator from shifting costs that are allowable under two or more Federal awards or cost-reimbursable agreements in accordance with existing Federal statues, regulation or the terms and conditions of the Federal award and/or cost-reimbursable agreement.

10. Endorsement

Any of the Cooperator’s or subcooperator’s contributions made under this cost-reimbursable agreements do not by direct reference or implication convey FAS endorsement of the Cooperator’s or subcooperator’s products or activities.

11. Enforcement

Remedies for noncompliance. The Cooperator must, in addition to the assurances made as part of the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement, comply with all applicable terms and conditions during the project period. Failure to comply may result in actions as outlined in 2 CFR 200, Remedies for Noncompliance—200.338 through 200.342.

12. Federal Debt Status

All Cooperators and subcooperators on a cost-reimbursable agreement are required to be non-delinquent in their repayment of any Federal debt. Examples of relevant debt include delinquent payroll and other taxes, audit disallowances, and benefit overpayments. (See OMB Circular A-129)

13. Indirect Costs

In accordance with 7 U.S.C. 3319a, the Cooperator shall not be reimbursed for indirect costs exceeding 10 percent of the total direct costs.

Applies to all CRs.

14. Modifications

Modifications to this cost-reimbursable agreement shall be made by mutual consent of the parties, by the issuance of a written modification signed and dated by properly authorized, signatory officials, prior to any changes being performed. Requests for modification should be made at least 30 days prior to implementation of the requested change. FAS is not obligated to fund any changes not properly approved in advance.

Applies to all CRs.

15. Non-Liability

FAS does not assume liability for any third-party claims for damages arising out of this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement. Subcooperators, subawardees, and contractors have no privity of contract with FAS under the terms of this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement.

Applies to all CRs.

16. Non-supplanting Requirement

All Cooperators or subcooperators who receive cost-reimbursable agreements made under programs that prohibit supplanting by law must ensure that Federal funds do not replace (supplant) funds that have budgeted for the same purpose through non-Federal sources.

17. Notice of Funding Opportunity Requirements

All of the instructions, guidance, limitations, and other conditions set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program are incorporated here by reference in the terms and conditions of your cost-reimbursable agreement. All Cooperators and subcooperators must comply with any requirements set forth in the program NOFO.

18. Notices

Any notice given by FAS or the Cooperator will be sufficient only if in writing and delivered in person, or transmitted electronically by e-mail or fax (not by postal mail), as follows:
To FAS: FAS Program Manager and FAS Grants Manager Officer, at the address specified in this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement.
To the Cooperator: The Cooperator's address specified in this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement. Notices will be effective when delivered in accordance with this provision, or on the effective date of the notice, whichever is later.

Applies to all CRs. May incorporate actually addresses here along with specific names.

19. Overpayment

(a) Any funds paid to the Cooperator or subcooperator in excess of the amount to which the Cooperator or subcooperator is finally determined to be entitled under the terms and conditions of the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement constitute a debt to the Federal Government. If not paid within a reasonable period after the demand for payment, FAS may in accordance with 7 CFR part 3, reduce the debt by—
(1) Making an administrative offset against other requests for reimbursements, or
(2) Taking other action permitted by statute. (31 U.S.C. 3716 and 7 CFR, part 3, Subpart B).
(b) The following must also be considered as a debt or debts owed by the Cooperator or subcooperator to FAS:
(1) Any royalties or other special classes of program income which, under the provisions of the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement, are required to be returned.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by law, FAS shall charge interest on an overdue debt in accordance with 31 CFR part 900, ‘‘Federal Claims Collection Standards.’’

Applies to all CRs.

20. Participation in Similar Activities

This Cost-Reimbursable Agreement in no way restricts FAS, the Cooperator, and subcooperator from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Applies to all CRs.

21. Press Releases

Press releases or other forms of public notification will be submitted to FAS for review prior to release to the public. FAS will be given the opportunity to review, in advance, all written press releases and any other written information to be released to the public by the Cooperator or subcooperator, and require changes as deemed necessary, if the material mentions by name FAS or the USDA, or any USDA employee or research unit or location.

Applies to all CRs.

22. Revision of Budget and/or Program

(a) The approved cost-reimbursable agreement budget in Attachment C is the financial expression of the Cooperator's and subcooperator’s program as approved by FAS, pending approval of any subsequent budget.
(b) The Cooperator and subcooperator are required to report deviations from budget or project scope or objective, and request prior approval from the FAS Program Manager for any of the following reasons:
(1) To change the scope or the objectives of the program (even if there is no associated budget revision requiring written approval) and/or revise the funding allocated among program objectives.
(2) To change a key person where specified in the agreement document. Key person is defined as an individual, who is named in the cost-reimbursable agreement, who contributes to the development or execution of the project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they receive salaries or compensation under the cost-reimbursable agreement.
(3) For cost-reimbursable agreements over $100,000 to move funds between direct cost budget line items or direct cost categories of an amount over 10 percent of the total agreement budget or more.
If the total amount of a cost-reimbursable agreement is under $100,000 or the amount of funds being moved between direct cost budget line items or direct cost categories is less than 10 percent of the total agreement budget or more, prior approval is not required.
(4) The disengagement from the project for more than three months or to allow a 25% reduction in time devoted to the project, by the approved project director or principal investigator.
(5) Additional Federal funding is needed.
(6) Where indirect costs have been authorized, the Cooperator or subcooperator plans to transfer funds budgeted for indirect costs to absorb increases in direct costs or vice versa.
(7) The inclusion, unless waived by FAS, of costs that require prior approval in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles, as applicable.
(8) The transfer of funds budgeted for participant support costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.75, Participant support costs to other categories of expense.
(9) Unless described in the application and funded in the approved Cost-Reimbursable Agreement, the subawarding, transferring or contracting out of any work under the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement. This provision does not apply to the acquisition of supplies, material, equipment or general support services.
(10) Changes in the amount of approved cost-sharing or matching provided by the Cooperator or subcooperator.
(c) FAS is under no obligation to reimburse the Cooperator or subcooperator for costs incurred in excess of the total amount obligated under the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement. If the total obligated amount under the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement has been increased, FAS will notify the Cooperator or subcooperator in writing of the increase and specify the new total obligated amount.
(d) When requesting approval for budget revisions, the Cooperator or subcooperator must use the same format for budget information that was used in the application.

Applies to all CRs.

23. Rules of the Workplace

Cooperator and subcooperator employees, while engaged in work at FAS’ facilities, will abide by FAS’ standard operating procedures regarding the maintenance of laboratory notebooks, dissemination of information, equipment operation standards, hours of work, conduct, HSPD-12 requirements (access to buildings and computer systems), and other incidental matters stated in the rules and regulations of FAS.

24. Subcooperator Notification

The Cooperator shall require subrcooperators under this Agreement to comply with the terms and conditions and the cost principle and audit requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E—Cost Principles, as applicable.

Applies to all CRs .

25. Tangible Personal Property

The Cooperator and subcooperator are required to provide annual, agreement closeout, and disposition request reports related to their inventories of FAS furnished tangible personal property or those tangible personal property items acquired with funds under this Cost-Reimbursable Agreement using the SF-428 cover sheet and either: Annual Report, SF428-A; Final (Award Closeout) Report, SF-428-B; and a Disposition Request/Report, SF-428-C. A Supplemental Sheet, SF-428S, may be used to provide detailed individual item information.

Tangible personal property means property of any kind, except real property, that has physical existence. It includes equipment and supplies. It does not include copyrights, patents or securities.

26. Termination

The Cost-Reimbursable Agreement may be terminated, in whole or part, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.339.

Applies to all CRs.

27. Program Income

a. Treatment of Program income. The Cooperator and subcooperator shall apply the standards set forth in this Provision to account for program income earned under a Cost-Reimbursable Agreement.
b. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the Cooperator will retain any program income earned during the period of performance, add it to funds committed to the project by FAS, and use it to further eligible program or project objectives.
c. Unless the terms and conditions of the Cost-Reimbursable Agreement provide otherwise, Cooperators shall have no obligation to the U.S. Government regarding program income earned after the end of the project period.
d. Costs incidental to the generation of program income may be deducted from gross income to determine program income, provided these costs have not been charged to the cost-reimbursable agreement and they comply with the applicable Cost Principles.
e. Proceeds from the sale of personal property are not program income and will be handled in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D—Post Federal Award Requirements, Property Standards.
f. Unless the terms and conditions of the award/agreement provide otherwise, Cooperators shall have no obligation to the U.S. Government with respect to program income earned from license fees and royalties for copyrighted material, patents, patent applications, trademarks, and inventions produced under a cost-reimbursable agreement to which 37 CFR part 401, “Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and Small Business Firms Under Government Awards, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements” is applicable.

Applies to all CRs when program income is anticipated.

28. Publications and Acknowledgment of Support

(a) Publications. FAS and the Federal Government shall enjoy a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use, any materials developed in conjunction with a cost-reimbursable agreement or contract under such an agreement.
(1) Cooperators must acknowledge FAS support, whether cash or in-kind, in any publications written or published with Federal support and, if feasible, on any publication reporting the results of, or describing, a Federally supported activity as follows: ‘‘This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service under Agreement No. (Cooperator should enter the applicable agreement number here).’’
(2) All such material must also contain the following disclaimer unless the publication is formally cleared by FAS: ‘‘Any opinions, findings, conclusion, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.’’
(3) Any public or technical information related to work carried out under a cost-reimbursable agreement shall be submitted by the developing party to the other for advice and comment. Information released to the public shall describe the contributions of both parties to the work effort. In the event of a dispute, a separate publication may be made with effective statements of acknowledgment and disclaimer.
(4) The cooperator, or its designees, is not authorized to develop and publish documents that could be sold and distributed for profit.
(b) Media. Cooperators shall acknowledge FAS support, as indicated in (a)(1) above, in any form of media (print, DVD, audio production, web, etc.) produced with Federal support that has a direct production cost to the cooperator of over $5,000. Unless the terms of the cost-reimbursable agreement provide otherwise, this requirement does not apply to media produced as research instruments or for documenting experimentation or findings and intended for presentation or distribution to a USDA/FAS audience.
(c) Audiovisual. FAS must determine ownership of the audiovisual production based on the parties’ contributions to the production. Where FAS and/or other Federal agencies contribute at least 50 percent of the total costs, including in-kind contributions, to develop an audiovisual production, it is owned by the FAS.
(1) If FAS determines that it has ownership, then FAS must obtain the audiovisual using the Office of Management and Budget Government-wide audiovisual contracting procedures.
(2) If FAS determines that the cooperator has ownership, then the cooperator is not subject to USDA approvals and the Government-wide audiovisual contracting procedures.
(3) FAS must obtain a copy of the cooperator's audiovisual production and retain the right to duplicate the video for Government purposes. FAS must use Government procurement procedures to duplicate the video for FAS purposes.
(d) Printing. Title 7, United States Code, section 3319a does not preclude the applicability of Government Printing Office regulations when Federal dollars are used for printing, regardless of whether the printing is accomplished by the Cooperator or by contract.
(e) Miscellaneous.
(1) Publication and Media Releases Requirement. The cooperator must provide the GMO and Project Manager with one copy of all published works developed under the cost-reimbursable agreement and with lists of other written work produced under the cost-reimbursable agreement.
(2) Nondiscrimination Statement – Printed, Electronic, or Audiovisual Material Requirement. The cooperator shall include the following statement, in full, in any printed, audiovisual material, or electronic media for public distribution developed or printed with any Federal funding: “In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”) If the material is too small to permit the full statement to be included, the material must, at minimum, include the following statement, in print size no smaller than the text: "This institution is an equal opportunity provider."

29. Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act

Additionally, federal wage provisions (Davis-Bacon or Service Contract Act) are applicable to any contract developed and awarded under this cost-reimbursable agreement where all or part of the funding is provided with FAS funds. Davis-Bacon wage rates apply on all public works contracts in excess of $2,000 and Service Contract Act wage provisions apply to service contracts in excess of $2,500.

30. Funding Equipment and Supplies

Federal funding under this cost-reimbursable agreement is available for reimbursement of the Cooperator’s purchase of equipment and supplies. Equipment is defined as tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the Cooperator for financial statement purposes, or $5,000. Supplies are all tangible personal property that is not equipment. A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than the lesser of the capitalization level established by the Cooperator for financial statement purposes or $5,000, regardless of the length of its useful life.

31. Copyrighting

(a) Allocation of rights of copyrights must be in accordance with 2 CFR 200.315 and 2 CFR 200.448.
(b) The Cooperator or a subcooperator may not copyright text, photographs, or materials created by FAS or other USG employees on Government time and/or composed on Government equipment.

32. Patent Rights

(a) Allocation of rights of patents must be in accordance with 2 CFR 200.315 and 2 CFR 200.448. Unless otherwise provided by law, Cooperators are also subject to the Bayh-Dole Act, Pub. L. No. 96-517, as amended, and codified in 35 U.S.C. § 200 et seq. All Cooperators are subject to the specific requirements governing the development, reporting, and disposition of rights to inventions and patents resulting from financial assistance located at 37 C.F.R. Part 401 and the standard patent rights clause located at 37 C.F.R. § 401.14.
(b) Each agreement awarded by the Cooperator to a small business firm, non-profit organization, or university which is to be performed in the United States, its possessions, or Puerto Rico and has as a purpose the performance of experimental, development, or research work, must contain the Patents Rights Provision.

33. Reporting of Matters Related to Cooperator Integrity and Performance

If the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreement and procurement contracts from all Federal Assistance office exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of this cost-reimbursable agreement, you must comply with the requirements set forth in the government-wide Award Term and Condition of Recipient Integrity and Performance matters located at 2 C.F.R. part 200, Appendix XII, the full text of which is incorporated here by reference in the terms and conditions of your cost-reimbursable agreement

34. Research Misconduct

(a) The Cooperator bears the primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct and for the inquiry, investigation and adjudication of research misconduct alleged to have occurred in association with their own institution.
(b) The Cooperator and its employees shall comply with the Code of Scientific Ethics of USDA. See http://www.ethics.usda.gov/science/info/ethicscode.htm

(c) The Cooperator shall:
(1) Maintain procedures for responding to allegations or instances of research misconduct that has the following components:
(i) Objectivity;
(ii) Due process;
(iii) Whistle blower protection;
(iv) Confidentiality;
(v) Timely resolution;
(2) Promptly conduct an inquiry into any allegation of research misconduct;
(3) Conduct an investigation if an inquiry determines that the allegation or apparent instance of research misconduct has substance;
(4) Provide appropriate separation of responsibilities between those responsible for inquiry and investigation, and those responsible for adjudication;
(5) Advise FAS of outcome at end of inquiries and investigations into allegations or instances of research misconduct; and
(6) Upon request, provide FAS hard copy (or website address) of their policies and procedures related to research misconduct.
(d) Research misconduct or allegations of research misconduct shall be reported to the USDA Research Integrity Officer (RIO) and/or to the USDA, Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline.
(1) The USDA RIO can be reached at: USDA Research Integrity Officer, 214–W Whitten Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: 202–720–5923, Email: researchintegrity@usda.gov.

(2) The USDA OIG Hotline can be reached on: 1–800–424–9121.

35. USDA Guidelines for Quality of Information

This Cost-Reimbursable Agreement is subject to the “Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies; Republication” and the “USDA Guidelines for Quality of Information” which are found at http://www.fs.fed.us/qoi/.

36. Security Issues

(a) The Cooperator is encouraged to obtain the latest Department of State Travel Advisory Notices before traveling. These Notices are available to the general public and may be obtained directly from the State Department, or via Internet. Where security is a concern in a specific region, Cooperators may choose to notify the US Embassy of their presence when they have entered the country. This may be especially important for long-term posting.
(b) If security issues are affecting the Cooperator’s ability to meet time lines and/or to substantially accomplish the goals and objectives established under this cost-reimbursable agreement, then the Cooperator must contact FAS immediately.