25.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter:
A. Distinguishes between the effective date of a grant period and the grant approval date, and
B. Provides guidance for determining these dates for grants under the:
(1) Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs,
(2) The State Wildlife Grants Program, and
(3) The Landowner Incentive Program.
25.2 To whom does this chapter apply? This chapter applies to all Service personnel who administer grants funded through the programs listed in section 25.1B.
25.3 What are the authorities for this chapter?
A. Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777).
B. Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669).
C. Administrative Requirements, Federal Aid in Fish and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Acts, Submission of Proposals and Allowable Costs (50 CFR 80.11 and 80.15(c)).
D. Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, Program Income (43 CFR 12.65(b)).
E. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts for FY 2001 - Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement (P.L. 106-291).
F. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts for FY 2002-2005 - State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (P.L. 107-63, P.L. 108-7, P.L. 108-108, and P.L. 108-447).
25.4 At what point does the Service consider a grant approved? We consider a grant approved when the appropriate Regional official signs it.
25.5 What is the grant effective date? The effective date of a grant is the starting date of the grant period.
25.6 How does the Service establish the effective date of a grant? We establish the effective date at the time we approve the grant.
A. If we approve a grant prior to the starting date the State requests, the effective date will be the requested starting date.
B. If we are unable to approve a grant until after the starting date the State requests, the effective date will be either the date we received the complete grant package or the starting date the State requested, whichever is later.
25.7 Can the State begin work on a grant prior to Service approval and designation of the effective date? The State can begin work whenever it chooses; however, the Service cannot obligate any funds for a grant until we approve the grant. If the State chooses to incur costs related to a grant prior to the date of approval, the State is acting with no assurance that any of its expenditures will be eligible for reimbursement. If we do not approve the grant, no expenditures are eligible for reimbursement.
25.8 How does the Service document the effective date? We are responsible for clearly identifying the effective date on the grant and communicating that date to the State. We:
A. Must put the date on the original and each copy of the approved grant agreement.
B. Should also specifically mention the date in the transmittal correspondence to the State, and
C. Must enter the date into the Federal Assistance Information Management System.