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.
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