25 C.F.R. Subpart E—General and Uniform Grant Administration Provisions and Requirements
Title 25 - Indians
The general and uniform grant administration provisions and requirements specified at 25 CFR part 276 and under this subpart are applicable to all grants awarded to tribal governments and off-reservation Indian organizations under this part, except to the extent inconsistent with an applicable Federal statute, regulation or OMB circular. (a) Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance may be requested by an Indian tribe or off-reservation Indian organization from the appropriate agency or area office to which the tribe or organization will be submitting an application for funds under subparts C and D of this part. A request for pre-award technical assistance by an off-reservation Indian organization must be received by the Area Director designated at §23.11 for the state in which the applicant is located no later than 10 days prior to the application deadline to assure sufficient time for area response. (b) Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance may be provided by the appropriate BIA agency or area office for purposes of program planning and design, assistance in establishing internal program monitoring and evaluation criteria for ongoing grant administration and management, and for other appropriate assistance requested. (c) The area social services staff shall provide technical assistance to grantees upon receipt of an authorized request from the grantee or when review of the grantee's quarterly performance reports shows that: (1) An ICWA program is yielding results that are or will be detrimental to the welfare of the intended Indian beneficiaries of the program; (2) A program has substantially failed to implement its goals and objectives; (3) There are serious irregularities in the fiscal management of the grant; or (4) The grantee is otherwise deficient in its program performance. (5) Upon receiving an authorized request from the grantee, the area social services staff and/or grants officer shall provide the necessary technical assistance to arrive at mutually determined corrective action measures and their actual implementation, if necessary, and the timeframes within which said corrective actions will be implemented. (a) Tribal government programs. The appropriate Agency Superintendent or Area Director may approve a grant application and its subsequent execution under subpart C when the intent, purpose and scope of the application pertains solely to reservations located within the service area jurisdiction of the agency or area office. (b) Off-reservation programs. The appropriate Area Director may approve a grant application and its subsequent execution under subpart D when the intent, purpose and scope of the grant proposal pertains to off-reservation Indian service populations or programs. All grantees under this part shall be responsible for managing day-to-day program operations to ensure that program performance goals are being achieved and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the grant award document and other applicable Federal requirements. Unless delegated to the Agency Superintendent, appropriate area office personnel designated by the Area Director shall be responsible for all grant program and fiscal monitoring responsibilities. A tribal government grantee may make a subgrant under subpart C of this part, provided that such subgrants are for the purpose for which the grant was made and that the grantee retains administrative and financial responsibility over the activity and the funds. Grantee financial management systems shall comply with the following standards for accurate, current and complete disclosure of financial activities. (a) OMB Circular A–87 (Cost principles for state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribal governments). (b) OMB Circular A–102 (Common rule 43 CFR part 12). (c) OMB Circular A–128 (Single Audit Act). (d) OMB Circular A–110 or 122 (Cost principles for non-profit organizations and tribal organizations, where applicable). (e) Internal control. Effective control and accountability must be maintained for all grants. Grantees must adequately safeguard any property and must ensure that it is used solely for authorized purposes. (f) Budget control. Actual expenditures must be compared with budgeted amounts for the grant. Financial information must be related to program performance requirements. (g) Source documentation. Accounting records must be supported by such source documentation as cancelled checks, paid bills, payrolls, time and attendance records, grant documents, or other information required by the grantee's financial management system. The Secretary or his/her designee may review the adequacy of the financial management system of an Indian tribe(s) or off-reservation Indian organization applying for a grant under this part. (h) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 641, whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his or her use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his or her use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined, or converted shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed the sum of $100, he or she shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. (a) Any tribal government or off-reservation Indian organization receiving a grant under this part shall make general programmatic information and reports concerning that grant available to the Indian people it serves or represents. Access to this information may be requested in writing and shall be made available within 10 days of receipt of the request. Except as required by title IV of Pub. L. 101–630, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, grantees shall hold confidential all information obtained from persons receiving services from the program, and shall not release such information without the individual's written consent. Information may be disclosed in a manner which does not identify or lead to the identification of particular individuals. (b) Grantees shall submit Standard Form 269 or 269A on a quarterly and an annual basis to report their status of funds by the dates specified in the grant award document. (c) Grantees shall furnish and submit the following written quarterly and annual program reports by the dates specified in the award document: (1) Quarterly and annual statistical and narrative program performance reports which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following; (i) A summary of actual accomplishments and significant activities as related to program objectives established for the grant period; (ii) The grantee's evaluation of program performance using the internal monitoring system submitted in their application; (iii) Reports on all significant ICWA direct service grant activities including but not limited to the following information: (A) Significant title II activities; (B) Data reflecting numbers of individuals referred for out-of-home placements, number of individuals benefiting from title II services and types of services provided, and (C) Information and referral activities. (iv) Child abuse and neglect statistical reports and related information as required by 25 U.S.C. 2434, Pub. L. 99–570, the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986; (v) A summary of problems encountered or reasons for not meeting established objectives; (vi) Any deliverable or product required in the grant; and (vii) Additional pertinent information when appropriate. (2) The BIA may negotiate for the provision of other grant-related reports not previously identified. (d) Events may occur between scheduled performance reporting dates which have significant impact on the grant-supported activity. In such cases, the grantee must inform the awarding agency as soon as problems, delays, adverse conditions, or serious incidents giving rise to liability become known and which will materially impair its ability to meet the objectives of the grant. (a) Grant funds provided to Indian tribes under subpart C of this part may be used as non-Federal matching shares in connection with funds provided under titles IV-B, IV-E and XX of the Social Security Act or such other Federal programs which contribute to and promote the purposes of the Act as specified in §§23.3 and 23.22 (25 U.S.C. 1931). (b) Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1933, in furtherance of the establishment, operation, and funding of programs funded under subparts C and D of this part, the Secretary may enter into agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The latter Secretary is authorized by the Act to use funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services for programs similar to those funded under subparts C and D of this part (25 U.S.C. 1931 and 1932), provided that authority to make payment pursuant to such agreements shall be effective only to the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriation Acts. (a) Grants awarded under this part shall include provisions assuring compliance with the Indian Civil Rights Act; prohibiting discriminatory distinctions among eligible Indian beneficiaries; and assuring the fair and uniform provision by the grantees of the services and assistance they provide to eligible Indian beneficiaries under such grants. Such procedures must include criteria by which eligible Indian beneficiaries will receive services, recordkeeping mechanisms adequate to verify the fairness and uniformity of services in cases of formal complaints, and an explanation of what rights will be afforded an individual pending the resolution of a complaint. (b) Indian beneficiaries of the services to be rendered under a grant shall be afforded access to administrative or judicial bodies empowered to adjudicate complaints, claims, or grievances brought by such Indian beneficiaries against the grantee arising out of the performance of the grant. (a) Tribal government Indian child and family service programs. Any person meeting the definition of Indian, Indian child, Indian custodian, or Indian parent of any unmarried person under the age of 18 as defined in §23.2 is eligible for services provided under 25 U.S.C. 1931 of the Act. Tribal membership status shall be determined by tribal law, ordinance, or custom. The tribe may, under subpart C, extend services to nontribal family members related by marriage to tribal members, provided such services promote the intent and purposes of the Act. A tribe may also, within available resources, extend services under this part to individuals who are members of, or are eligible for membership in other Indian tribes, and who reside within the tribe's designated service area. (b) Off-reservation Indian child and family service programs and agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1933. For purposes of eligibility for services provided under 25 U.S.C. 1932 and 1933 of the Act, any person meeting the definition of Indian, Indian child, Indian custodian, or Indian parent of any unmarried person under the age of 18 as defined in §23.2, or the definition of Indian as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1603(c), shall be eligible for services. Tribal membership status shall be determined by tribal law, ordinance, or custom. Unless restricted by appropriation, and contingent upon satisfactory program evaluations from the appropriate area or agency office for an existing program, grantees are authorized to carry over unliquidated grant funds which remain at the end of a budget period. Such funds may be carried over for a maximum period of two years beyond the initial grant funding period and must be utilized only for the intent, purpose and scope of the original grant. These carry-over grant funds shall not be reprogrammed into other appropriation activities or subactivities. Funds carried over into another fiscal year will be added to the grantee's new fiscal year funding amount. (a) When a grantee has materially failed to comply and remains out of compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant, the grants officer may, after reasonable notice to the grantee and the provision of requested technical assistance, suspend the grant. The notice preceding the suspension shall include the effective date of the suspension, the corrective measures necessary for reinstatement of the grant and, if there is no immediate threat to safety, a reasonable timeframe for corrective action prior to actual suspension. (b) No obligation incurred by the grantee during the period of suspension shall be allowable under the suspended grant, except that the grants officer may at his/her discretion allow necessary and proper costs which the grantee could not reasonably avoid during the period of suspension if such costs would otherwise be allowable under the applicable cost principles. (c) Appropriate adjustments to the payments under the suspended grant will be made either by withholding the payments or by not allowing the grantee credit for disbursements which the grantee may make in liquidation of unauthorized obligations the grantee incurs during the period of suspension. (d) Suspension shall remain in effect until the grantee has taken corrective action to the satisfaction of the grants officer, or given assurances satisfactory to the grants officer that corrective action will be taken, or until the grants officer cancels the grant. (a) The grants officer may cancel any grant, in whole or in part, at any time before the date of completion whenever it is determined that the grantee has: (1) Materially failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant; (2) Violated the rights as specified in §23.49 or endangered the health, safety, or welfare of any person; or (3) Been grossly negligent in, or has mismanaged the handling or use of funds provided under the grant. (b) When it appears that cancellation of the grant will become necessary, the grants officer shall promptly notify the grantee in writing of this possibility. This written notice shall advise the grantee of the reason for the possible cancellation and the corrective action necessary to avoid cancellation. The grants officer shall also offer, and shall provide, if requested by the grantee, any technical assistance which may be required to effect the corrective action. The grantee shall have 60 days in which to effect this corrective action before the grants officer provides notice of intent to cancel the grant as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Upon deciding to cancel for cause, the grants officer shall promptly notify the grantee in writing of that decision, the reason for the cancellation, and the effective date. The Area Director or his/her designated official shall also provide a hearing for the grantee before cancellation. However, the grants officer may immediately cancel the grant, upon notice to the grantee, if the grants officer determines that continuance of the grant poses an immediate threat to safety. In this event, the Area Director or his/her designated official shall provide a hearing for the grantee within 10 days of the cancellation. (d) The hearing referred to in paragraph (c) of this section shall be conducted as follows: (1) The grantee affected shall be notified, in writing, at least 10 days before the hearing. The notice should give the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearing. (2) A written record of the hearing shall be made. The record shall include written statements submitted at the hearing or within five days following the hearing.
Title 25: Indians
PART 23—INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
Subpart E—General and Uniform Grant Administration Provisions and Requirements
§ 23.41 Uniform grant administration provisions, requirements and applicability.
§ 23.42 Technical assistance.
§ 23.43 Authority for grant approval and execution.
§ 23.44 Grant administration and monitoring.
§ 23.45 Subgrants.
§ 23.46 Financial management, internal and external controls and other assurances.
§ 23.47 Reports and availability of information to Indians.
§ 23.48 Matching shares and agreements.
§ 23.49 Fair and uniform provision of services.
§ 23.50 Service eligibility.
§ 23.51 Grant carry-over authority.
§ 23.52 Grant suspension.
§ 23.53 Cancellation.
