2015 GENERAL GRANT TERMS AND CONDITONS

Effective January 1, 2015

These Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) Grant Terms and 

Conditions are binding on the recipient. By accepting funds under this award, the recipient 

agrees to comply with, and include in all awards and subawards, these Grant Terms and 

Conditions, the program-specific grant terms and conditions, all applicable federal statutes, 

regulations and guidelines, and any amendments thereto. The recipient agrees to operate the 

funded program in accordance with the approved grant application and budget, supporting 

documents, and other representations made in support of the approved grant application. The 

term recipient is used to connote either recipient or subrecipient, as appropriate, throughout these 

Terms and Conditions. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. Legislative and Regulatory Authority...............................................................................2

II. Other Applicable Terms and Conditions ..........................................................................2

III. General Terms and Conditions .........................................................................................2

A. Responsibilities under Grant Administration...........................................................2

B. Financial Management Standards............................................................................3

C. The Office of Inspector General ..............................................................................3

D. Reporting of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse....................................................................4

E. Whistleblower Protection.........................................................................................4

F. Liability and Safety Issues.......................................................................................5

G. Site Visits.................................................................................................................5

H. Non-Discrimination Public Notice and Records Compliance .................................5

I. Grants Products.........................................................................................................6

J. Suspension or Termination of Award ......................................................................7

K. Trafficking in Persons .............................................................................................7

L. Central Contractor Registration and Universal Identifier Requirements ................8

M. Transparency Act Award Term (greater than or equal to $25,000) ..................9

IV. Criminal History Checks.................................................................................................12

V. Conflict of Interest ..........................................................................................................12

VI. Attachment

Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy........................................... 14
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I. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

This award is authorized by and subject to The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 

amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) (NCSA) and/or the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 

as amended, (42 USC 4950 et seq.) (DVSA) and CNCS’s implementing regulations in 45 CFR 

Chapter XII and/or XXV. Recipients must comply with the requirements of the NCSA and/or 

DVSA, as applicable, and CNCS’s implementing regulations.

II. OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This award is subject to the Uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit 

requirements for Federal awards located at 2 CFR Part 200 and CNCS’s implementing 

regulations at 2 CFR Part 2205. 

The recipient must comply with all other applicable statutes, executive orders, regulations, and 

policies governing the award, including, but not limited to, those cited in these Grant Terms and 

Conditions, the Grant Assurances and Certifications, and 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205.

Any inconsistency in the Grant Agreement shall be resolved by giving precedence in the 

following order (a) applicable Federal statutes, (b) applicable Federal regulations, (c) CNCS 

Specific Grant Terms and Conditions, (d) CNCS General Grant Terms and Conditions, (e) the 

Notice of Funding Opportunity, and (f) the approved Grant Application including all assurances, 

certifications, and attachments.

III. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A. RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER AWARD ADMINISTRATION

1. Accountability of the Recipient. The recipient has full fiscal and programmatic 

responsibility for managing all aspects of the award and award-supported activities, 

subject to the oversight of CNCS. The recipient is accountable to CNCS for its operation 

of the program and the use of CNCS award funds. The recipient must expend award 

funds in a judicious and reasonable manner, and it must record accurately the service 

activities and outcomes achieved under the award. Although recipients are encouraged to 

seek the advice and opinion of CNCS on special problems that may arise, such advice 

does not diminish the recipient’s responsibility for making sound judgments and does not 

shift the responsibility for operating decisions to CNCS.

2. Subawards. If authorized by CNCS, a recipient may make subawards in accordance 

with the requirements set forth in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. The recipient must have 

and implement a plan for oversight and monitoring to ensure that each sub recipient

and/or service site has agreed to comply, and is complying, with award requirements. 

3. Notice to CNCS. The recipient will notify the appropriate CNCS Program or Grants 

Officer immediately of any developments or delays that have a significant impact on 

funded activities, any significant problems relating to the administrative or financial 

aspects of the award, or any suspected misconduct or malfeasance related to the award or 

recipient. The recipient will inform the CNCS official about the corrective action taken 

or contemplated by the recipient and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.
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B. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

1. General. The recipient must maintain financial management systems that include 

standard accounting practices, sufficient internal controls consistent with 2 CFR Parts

200 and 2205, a clear audit trail, and written cost allocation procedures, as necessary. 

Financial management systems must be capable of distinguishing expenditures 

attributable to this award from expenditures not attributable to this award. The systems 

must be able to identify costs by program year and by budget category, and to 

differentiate between direct and indirect costs. For further details about the recipient’s 

financial management responsibilities, refer to 2 CFR Chapters I, II, and XXII.

2. Consistency of Treatment. To be allowable under an award, costs must be consistent 

with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other 

activities of the organization. Furthermore, the costs must be accorded consistent 

treatment in both federally financed and other activities, as well as between activities, 

supported by different sources of federal funds.

3. Audits. Recipient organizations that expend $750,000 or more in total federal awards in 

a fiscal year shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in 

accordance with the Single Audit Act, as amended, 31 U.S.C. 7501, et seq., and 2 CFR 

Part 200. If the recipient expends federal awards under only one federal program, it may 

elect to have a program specific audit, if it is otherwise eligible. A recipient that does not 

expend $750,000 in Federal awards is exempt from the single audit requirements of 2 

CFR Chapters I and II for that year. However, it must continue to conduct financial 

management reviews of its sub recipients, and records must be available for review and 

audit.

A recipient of a Federal award that is a pass-through entity has certain obligations to its 

sub recipients. Those requirements are located at 2 CFR § 200.331.

4. Indirect Cost Rates. Indirect cost rate requirements are located at 2 CFR § 200.414 and 

2 CFR Part 2205.

Reimbursement for indirect costs, general and administrative costs, overhead, or any 

similar cost rate type agreement, will be at the rate(s) and on the base(s) specified in the 

approved award budget.

5. Payments under the Grant Agreement. Payments under this grant agreement are 

subject to 2 CFR § 200.305.

C. THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

CNCS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent and objective 

audits, evaluations, and investigations of CNCS’s programs and operations. Based on the results 

of these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG recommends policies to promote economy 

and efficiency and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in CNCS’s programs and 

operations.
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The OIG conducts and supervises audits of CNCS recipients, as well as legislatively mandated 

audits and reviews. The legislatively mandated audits include the annual financial statement 

audit, and fulfilling the requirements of the Government Information Security Reform Act and its 

successor, the Federal Information Security Management Act. A risk-based approach, along 

with input received from CNCS management, is used to select recipients and awards for audit. 

The OIG hires audit firms to conduct some of its audits. The OIG audit staff is available to 

discuss its audit function, and can be reached at (202) 606-9390.

The OIG is available to offer assistance to CNCS recipients that become aware of suspected criminal 

activity or fraud, waste, and abuse in connection with the CNCS-funded program. The OIG 

investigative staff is available to provide guidance and ensure that the appropriate law enforcement 

agency is notified, if required. The OIG may be reached by email at hotline@cncsig.gov or by 

telephone at (800) 452-8210. Upon request, OIG will take appropriate measures to protect the 

identity of any individual who reports misconduct, as authorized by the Inspector General Act of 

1978, as amended. Reports to OIG may also be made anonymously.

Recipients must cooperate fully with OIG inquiries by disclosing complete and accurate 

information pertaining to matters under investigation or review, and by not concealing 

information or obstructing audits, inspections, investigations, or other official inquiries.

D. REPORTING OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE

Recipients must immediately contact the OIG and their program officer when they first suspect 

that:

1. A criminal violation has occurred (see 18 U.S.C. Part I for more information on criminal 

conduct. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title18/html/USCODE-2012-

title18-partI.htm), such as:

a. Criminal fraud.

b. Theft or embezzlement.

c. Forgery.

d. Corruption, bribery, kickbacks, or acceptance of illegal gratuities or extortion.

2. Actual or suspected fraud, waste, or abuse has occurred.

a. Fraud involves obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation. 

b. Waste involves the taxpayers not receiving reasonable value for money in 

connection with any government funded activities due to an inappropriate act or 

omission by players with control over or access to government resources. 

c. Abuse involves behavior that is deficient or improper when compared with 

behavior that a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary business 

practice given the facts and circumstances. Abuse also includes misuse of 

authority or position for personal financial interests or those of an immediate or 

close family member or business associate. 

E. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION

1. This award and employees working on this award will be subject to the whistleblower 

rights and remedies in the pilot program on Contractor employee whistleblower 
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protections established at 41 U.S.C. 4712 by section 828 of the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub. L. 112-239).

2. Under this pilot program, an employee of a recipient may not be discharged, demoted, or 

otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for disclosing information that the employee 

reasonably believes is evidence of gross mismanagement of a Federal contract or award, 

a gross waste of Federal funds, an abuse of authority (an arbitrary and capricious exercise 

of authority that is inconsistent with the mission of CNCS or the successful performance 

of a contract or award of CNCS) relating to a Federal contract or award, a substantial and 

specific danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related 

to a Federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or award.

3. The recipient shall inform its employees in writing, in the predominant language of the 

workforce or organization, of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 

U.S.C. 4712, as described above and at http://www.cncsoig.gov/contractorwhistleblower-protection-0#node-1001.

F. LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES

The recipient must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the safety of 

members and volunteers. Members and volunteers may not participate in projects that pose 

undue safety risks.

G. SITE VISITS

CNCS reserves the right to make site visits to review and evaluate recipient records, 

accomplishments, organizational procedures and financial control systems, to conduct 

interviews, and to provide technical assistance as necessary. 

H. NON-DISCRIMINATION PUBLIC NOTICE AND RECORDS COMPLIANCE

1. Public Notice of Non-discrimination. The recipient must notify members, community 

beneficiaries, applicants, program staff, and the public, including those with impaired 

vision or hearing, that it operates its program or activity subject to the non-discrimination 

requirements of the applicable statutes. The notice must summarize the requirements, 

note the availability of compliance information from the recipient and CNCS, and briefly 

explain procedures for filing discrimination complaints with CNCS. 

Sample language is:

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, 

age, sex, political affiliation, or, in most instances, religion. It is also unlawful to retaliate 

against any person who, or organization that, files a complaint about such 

discrimination. In addition to filing a complaint with local and state agencies that are 

responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a complaint to the 

attention of the Corporation for National and Community Service. If you believe that you 

or others have been discriminated against, or if you want more information, contact:

(Name, address, phone number – both voice and TTY, and preferably toll 

free – FAX number and email address of the recipient) or
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Office of Civil Right and Inclusiveness

Corporation for National and Community Service

1201 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20525

(800) 833-3722 (TTY and reasonable accommodation line)

(202) 565-3465 (FAX); eo@cns.gov (email)

The recipient must include information on civil rights requirements, complaint 

procedures and the rights of beneficiaries in member or volunteer service agreements, 

handbooks, manuals, pamphlets, and post in prominent locations, as appropriate. The 

recipient must also notify the public in recruitment material and application forms that it 

operates its program or activity subject to the nondiscrimination requirements. Sample 

language, in bold print, is: This program is available to all, without regard to race, 

color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, or, in most instances, 

religion. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs 

services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take 

reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public 

in appropriate languages.

2. Records and Compliance Information. The recipient must keep records and make 

available to CNCS timely, complete and accurate compliance information to allow CNCS

to determine if the recipient is complying with the civil rights statutes and implementing 

regulations. Where a recipient extends federal financial assistance to subrecipients, the 

subrecipients must make available compliance information to the recipient so it can carry 

out its civil rights obligations. 

3. Obligation to Cooperate. The recipient must cooperate with CNCS so that CNCS can 

ensure compliance with the civil rights statutes and implementing regulations. The 

recipient shall permit access by CNCS during normal business hours to its books, 

records, accounts, staff, members or volunteers, facilities, and other sources of 

information as may be needed to determine compliance.

I. GRANT PRODUCTS

1. Sharing Grant Products. To the extent practicable, the recipient agrees to make 

products produced under the award available at the cost of reproduction to others in the 

field.

2. Acknowledgment of Support. Publications created by members, volunteers or awardfunded staff must be consistent with the purposes of the award. The appropriate program 

CNCS logo shall be included on such documents. The recipient is responsible for 

assuring that the following acknowledgment and disclaimer appears in any external 

report or publication of material based upon work supported by this award: 

“This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and 

Community Service (CNCS) under Grant No. ____. Opinions or points of view 

expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the 

official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, CNCS or the CNCS Program.”
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J. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF AWARD

CNCS may suspend or terminate this award in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.338 and 200.339 

and applicable CNCS regulations and statutes. In addition, a recipient may suspend or terminate 

assistance to one of its subrecipients, provided that such action complies with 2 CFR § 200.341 –

Opportunities to object, hearings and appeals.

K. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

This award is subject to requirements of Section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection 

Act of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7104). 

1. Provisions applicable to a recipient that is a private entity. 

a. You as the recipient and your employees may not: 

i. Engage in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period of time that the 

award is in effect; 

ii. Procure a commercial sex act during the period of time that the award is in effect; 

or

iii. Use forced labor in the performance of the award. 

b. We as the federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without 

penalty, if it, 

i. Is determined you have violated a prohibition in paragraph (a.) of this award term; 

or

ii. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate 

the award to have violated a prohibition in paragraph (a.) of this award term 

through conduct that is either: 

(a.) Associated with performance under this award; or

(b.) Imputed to you using the standards and due process for imputing the 

conduct of an individual to an organization that are provided in 2 CFR 

Part 180, “OMB guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide Debarment 

and Suspension (Non-procurement),” as implemented by our agency at 2 

CFR Part 2200.

 

 2. Provisions applicable to a recipient other than a private entity. We as the federal awarding 

agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without penalty, if it –

a. Is determined to have violated an applicable prohibition of paragraph (1.)(a.) of this 

award term; or

b. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate the 

award to have violated an applicable prohibition in paragraph (1)(a.)(i.) of this award

term through conduct that is –

i. Associated with performance under this award; or

ii. Imputed to you using the standards and due process for imputing conduct of an 

individual to an organization that are provided in 2 CFR Part 180, “OMB 

Guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide Debarment and Suspension 

(Nonprocurement),” as implemented by our agency at 2 CFR Part 2200.
8

 3. Provisions applicable to any recipient. 

a. You must inform us immediately of any information you receive from any source 

alleging a violation of a prohibition in paragraph (1.)(a.) of this award term. 

b. Our right to terminate unilaterally that is described in paragraph (1.) and (2.) of this 

section: 

i. Implements section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 

(TVPA), as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)), and

ii. Is in addition to all other remedies for noncompliance that are available to us 

under this award. 

c. You must include the requirements of paragraph (1.)(a.) of this award term in any 

subaward you make to a private entity. 

 4. Definitions. For purposes of this award term: 

a. “Employee” means either: 

i. An individual employed by you or a sub recipient who is engaged in the 

performance of the project or program under this award; or

ii. Another person engaged in the performance of the project or program under this 

award and not compensated by you including, but not limited to, a volunteer or

individual whose service are contributed by a third part as an in-kind contribution 

toward cost sharing or matching requirements. 

b. “Forced labor” means labor obtained by any of the following methods: the 

recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or 

services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to 

involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 

c. “Private entity”: 

i. Means any entity other than a State, local government, Indian tribe, or foreign 

public entity, as those terms are defined in 2 CFR § 175.25. 

ii. Includes: 

(a.) A nonprofit organization, including any non-profit institution of higher 

education, hospital, or tribal organization other than one included in the 

definition of Indian tribe at 2 CFR § 175.25(b). 

(b.) A for-profit organization. 

d. “Severe forms of trafficking in persons,” “commercial sex act,” and “coercion” have 

the meanings given at section 103 of the TVPA, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7102). 

L. CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR) and UNIVERSAL 

IDENTIFIER REQUIREMENTS

1. Requirement for Central Contractor Registration (CCR): Unless you are exempted from 

this requirement under 2 CFR § 25.110, you as the recipient must maintain the currency 

of your information in the CCR until you submit the final financial report required under 

this award or receive the final payment, whichever is later. This requires that you review 

and update the information at least annually after the initial registration, and more 

frequently if required by changes in your information or another award term.

2. Requirement for Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Numbers. If you are 

authorized to make subawards under this award, you:
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a. Must notify potential sub recipients that no entity (see definition in paragraph 3. of 

this award term) may receive a subaward from you unless the entity has provided its 

DUNS number to you.

 b. May not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its DUNS 

number to you.

3. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:

a. Central Contractor Registration (CCR) means the Federal repository into which an 

entity must provide information required for the conduct of business as a recipient. 

Additional information about registration procedures may be found at the CCR 

Internet site (currently at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/).

 b. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number means the nine-digit number 

established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to uniquely identify 

business entities. A DUNS number may be obtained from D&B by telephone 

(currently 866-705-5711) or the Internet (currently at 

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform).

 c. Entity, as it is used in this award term, means all of the following, as defined at 2 

CFR part 25, subpart C:

 i. A Governmental organization, which is a State, local government, or Indian 

Tribe;

ii. A foreign public entity;

iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit organization;

iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization; and

v. A Federal agency, but only as a subrecipient under an award or subaward to a 

non-Federal entity.

 d. Subaward:

 i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the performance of any 

portion of the substantive project or program for which you received this award 

and that you as the recipient award to an eligible subrecipient.

 ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and services needed to 

carry out the project or program (for further explanation, see Sec. ----.210 of the 

attachment to OMB Circular A-133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and 

Non-Profit Organizations'').

iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement, including an 

agreement that you consider a contract.

e. Subrecipient means an entity that:

 i. Receives a subaward from you under this award; and

 ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by the subaward.

M. TRANSPARENCY ACT REQUIREMENTS (for Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

of $25,000 or More)

Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation:

 1. Reporting of first-tier subawards.

a. Applicability. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4, below, you must 

report each action that obligates $25,000 or more in Federal funds for a subaward to 

an entity (see definitions in paragraph 5. of this award term).
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 b. Where and when to report.

 i. You must report each obligating action described in paragraph 1.a. of this award 

term to http://www.fsrs.gov.

ii. For subaward information, report no later than the end of the month following the 

month in which the obligation was made. (For example, if the obligation was 

made on November 7, 2010, the obligation must be reported by no later than 

December 31, 2010.)

a. What to report. You must report the information about each obligating action that the 

submission instructions posted at http://www.fsrs.gov specify.

 2. Reporting Total Compensation of Recipient Executives.

 a. Applicability and what to report. You must report total compensation for each of your 

five most highly compensated executives for the preceding completed fiscal year, if--

i. the total Federal funding authorized to date under this award is $25,000 or more;

 ii. in the preceding fiscal year, you received--

(a.) 80 percent or more of your annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR §170.320 (and subawards); and

(b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR §170.320 (and subawards); and

iii. The public does not have access to information about the compensation of the 

executives through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to 

the compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission 

total compensation filings at http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)

 b. Where and when to report. You must report executive total compensation described 

in paragraph (2.)(a.) of this award term:

 i. As part of your registration profile at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

 ii. By the end of the month following the month in which this award is made, and 

annually thereafter.

 

3. Reporting of Total Compensation of Subrecipient Executives.

 a. Applicability and what to report. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4. 

of this award term, for each first-tier subrecipient under this award, you shall report 

the names and total compensation of each of the subrecipient's five most highly 

compensated executives for the subrecipient's preceding completed fiscal year, if--

 i. in the subrecipient's preceding fiscal year, the subrecipient received--

 (a.) 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR § 170.320 (and subawards); and

 (b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts), and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act (and subawards; and

ii. The public does not have access to information about the compensation of the 

executives through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 
11

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to 

the compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission 

total compensation filings at http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)

b. Where and when to report. You must report subrecipient executive total 

compensation described in paragraph 3.a. of this award term:

 i. To the recipient.

 ii. By the end of the month following the month during which you make the 

subaward. For example, if a subaward is obligated on any date during the month 

of October of a given year (i.e., between October 1 and 31), you must report any 

required compensation information of the subrecipient by November 30 of that 

year.

 4. Exemptions. If, in the previous tax year, you had gross income, from all sources, under 

$300,000, you are exempt from the requirements to report:

 a. Subawards, and

 b. The total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of any 

subrecipient.

 5. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:

a. Entity means all of the following, as defined in 2 CFR Part 25:

 i. A Governmental organization, which is a State, local government, or Indian tribe;

 ii. A foreign public entity;

 iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit organization;

 iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization;

 v. A Federal agency, but only as a subrecipient under an award or subaward to a 

non-Federal entity.

 b. Executive means officers, managing partners, or any other employees in management 

positions.

c. Subaward:

 i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the performance of any 

portion of the substantive project or program for which you received this award 

and that you as the recipient award to an eligible subrecipient.

ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and services needed to 

carry out the project or program (for further explanation, see Sec. ---- .210 of the 

attachment to OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of States, Local Governments, and 

Non-Profit Organizations'').

iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement, including an 

agreement that you or a subrecipient considers a contract.

 d. Subrecipient means an entity that:

 i. Receives a subaward from you (the recipient) under this award; and

 ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by the subaward.

 e. Total compensation means the cash and noncash dollar value earned by the executive 

during the recipient's or subrecipient's preceding fiscal year and includes the 

following (for more information see 17 CFR § 229.402(c)(2)):

 i. Salary and bonus.

 ii. Awards of stock, stock options, and stock appreciation rights. Use the dollar 

amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the 

fiscal year in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 

No. 123 (Revised 2004) (FAS 123R), Shared Based Payments.
12

 iii. Earnings for services under non-equity incentive plans. This does not include 

group life, health, hospitalization or medical reimbursement plans that do not 

discriminate in favor of executives, and are available generally to all salaried 

employees.

 iv. Change in pension value. This is the change in present value of defined benefit 

and actuarial pension plans.

 v. Above-market earnings on deferred compensation which is not tax-qualified.

 vi. Other compensation, if the aggregate value of all such other 

compensation (e.g. severance, termination payments, value of life insurance paid 

on behalf of the employee, perquisites or property) for the executive exceeds 

$10,000.

IV. CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS

The specific requirements of the National Service Criminal History Check, including the 

timing and recordkeeping requirements, are specified at 45 CFR §§ 2540.200 - .207. If 

you have a grant where individuals serve in covered positions under 45 CFR § 2540.201, 

you must retain a record of the NSOPW search and associated results either by printing 

the screen(s) or by some other method that retains paper or digital images of the NSOPW 

checks that shows the date the search was performed. Inability to demonstrate that you 

conducted a required criminal history check components, to include the NSOPW, as 

specified in the regulations, may result in sanctions, including disallowance of costs.

V. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

You must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to your CNCS Program 

Officer, or to the pass-through entity if you are a subrecipient or contractor. This 

disclosure must take place immediately. The CNCS conflict of interest policies apply to 

subawards as well as contracts, and are as follows:

1. As a non-Federal entity, you must maintain written standards of conduct covering 

conflicts of interest and governing the performance of your employees engaged in the 

selection, award, and administration of subawards and contracts.

2. None of your employees may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a 

subaward or contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent 

conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or 

agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization 

which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial 

or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from an organization considered for a 

subaward or contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity must 

neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from 

subrecipients or contractors or parties to subawards or contracts.
13

3. If you have a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a State, local 

government, or Indian tribe, you must also maintain written standards of conduct 

covering organizational conflicts of interest. Organizational conflicts of interest means 

that because of relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, 

you are unable or appear to be unable to be impartial in conducting a subaward or 

procurement action involving a related organization.
14

VI. ATTACHMENTS

Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has zero tolerance for the

harassment of any individual or group of individuals for any reason. CNCS is committed to

treating all persons with dignity and respect. CNCS prohibits all forms of discrimination based

upon race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity 

or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, or military service. All programs 

administered by, or receiving Federal financial assistance from CNCS, must be free from all

forms of harassment. Whether in CNCS offices or campuses, in other service-related settings such

as training sessions or service sites, or at service-related social events, such harassment is

unacceptable. Any such harassment, if found, will result in immediate corrective action, up to and 

including removal or termination of any CNCS employee or volunteer. Recipients of Federal

financial assistance, be they individuals, organizations, programs and/or projects are also subject

to this zero tolerance policy. Where a violation is found, and subject to regulatory procedures, 

appropriate corrective action will be taken, up to and including termination of Federal financial

assistance from all Federal sources.

Slurs and other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual’s gender, race, ethnicity,

religion, sexual orientation or any other basis constitute harassment when it has the purpose or effect

of interfering with service performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive service 

environment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: explicit or implicit demands for sexual 

favors; pressure for dates; deliberate touching, leaning over, or cornering; offensive teasing, 

jokes, remarks, or questions; letters, phone calls, or distribution or display of offensive materials;

offensive looks or gestures; gender, racial, ethnic, or religious baiting; physical assaults or other 

threatening behavior; or demeaning, debasing or abusive comments or actions that intimidate.

CNCS does not tolerate harassment by anyone including persons of the same or different races,

sexes, religions, or ethnic origins; or from a CNCS employee or supervisor; a project, or site

employee or supervisor; a non-employee (e.g., client); a co-worker or service member.

I expect supervisors and managers of CNCS programs and projects, when made aware of alleged 

harassment by employees, service participants, or other individuals, to immediately take swift and 

appropriate action. CNCS will not tolerate retaliation against a person who raises harassment 

concerns in good faith. Any CNCS employee who violates this policy will be subject to

discipline, up to and including termination, and any grantee that permits harassment in violation

of this policy will be subject to a finding of non-compliance and administrative procedures that 

may result in termination of Federal financial assistance from CNCS and all other Federal

agencies.

Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in violation of civil rights

laws, regulations, or this policy, or in retaliation for opposition to discrimination or participation 

in discrimination complaint proceedings (e.g., as a complainant or witness) in any CNCS program 

or project, may raise his or her concerns with our Office of Civil Rights and Inclusiveness

(OCRI). Discrimination claims not brought to the attention of OCRI within 45 days of their

occurrence may not be accepted in a formal complaint of discrimination. No one can be required to

use a program, project or sponsor dispute resolution procedure before contacting OCRI. If another 

procedure is used, it does not affect the 45-day time limit. OCRI may be reached at (202) 606-

7503 (voice), (202) 606-3472 (TTY), eo@cns.gov, or through www.nationalservice.gov.

5/1/2014

Date