2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) 

Program 

Award Owner’s Manual

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

https://cops.usdoj.gov
 

 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

2023 COPS Office AHTF Program Award Owner’s Manual 

This manual was created to assist COPS Office award recipients with the administrative and financial matters 

associated with their award. 

For more information about your award, please contact your COPS Office Grant Manager or the COPS Office 

Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or 800-421-6770. 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

145 N Street NE 

Washington, DC 20530 

Visit the COPS Office online: https://cops.usdoj.gov/ 

Published September 2023 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Contents 

Getting Started ..............................................................................................................................................................

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1 

I. Award Acceptance, Terms, and Conditions 2 

Award package 2 

Accepting the award 3 

Who should sign the award document for our agency? 3 

By when must the award document be signed? 4 

What are the specific rules regarding termination of award funding? 4 

Award terms and conditions 4 

II. Accessing Award Funds............................................................................................................................................

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44 

Payment method 44 

Setting Up Your Account 44 

When should Federal Financial Reports be filed? 45 

Additional payment questions 45 

III. Financial Record Maintenance 47 

Accounting systems and records 47 

IV. Procurement Process 49 

2023 SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants (SAFECOM Guidance) 49 

V. Federal Audit Requirements 50 

Single Audit Act (SAA) requirements 50 

Office of Inspector General (OIG) recipient audits 51 

Typical audit findings...............................................................................................................................................

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52 

VI. Reporting Requirements 54 

Federal Financial Reports 54 

Performance Reports 56 

How do we file a final performance report? 57 

Contact points to obtain technical assistance and report violations 58 

VII. When the Award Period Has Ended 59 

Final Federal Financial Report (SF -425) 59 

Final Performance (Closeout) Report 59 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

VIII. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................

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61 

Appendices 62 

Appendix A. List of source documents 62 

Appendix B. U.S. Department of Justice Certified Standard Assurances 63 

Appendix C. U.S. Department of Justice Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 65 

Appendix D. Community policing defined 69 

Appendix E. Enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain information (41 U.S.C. 

4712) 76 

Appendix F. 2 CFR Appendix II to Part 200: Contract provisions for nonfederal entity contracts under federal 

awards 80 

Appendix G. Remittance of Interest Earned Amounts 82 

Appendix H. Additional resources for grant recipients 83 

COPS Office Resources 84 

Websites 84 

Publications 84 

Glossary of Terms 85 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Getting Started 

Congratulations on receiving an award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing 

Services (COPS Office). 

The COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program is designed to advance public safety by providing funds to 

state law enforcement agencies with high rates of primary treatment admissions for heroin and other opioids. This 

AHTF funding must be used for investigative purposes to locate or investigate, through statewide collaboration, 

illicit activities, including activities related to the distribution of heroin or unlawful distribution of prescription 

opioids and unlawful diversion and distribution of prescription opioids. 

The allowable uses of your agency’s award are specified in the Award Package, and further details are available in 

the “Allowable Costs” section of this manual. 

Compliance with this Award Owner’s Manual is a condition of your award, and this manual is binding guidance. 

This Award Owner’s Manual will assist your agency with the administrative and financial matters associated with 

your award. It was developed by the COPS Office to ensure that all recipients clearly understand and meet the 

requirements of their award. Please review this manual carefully, because a failure to follow award requirements 

can have serious ramifications. Please do not hesitate to contact your COPS Office grant manager or the COPS 

Office Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or 800-421-6770 if you need assistance with the 

implementation of your award. 

Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to work in partnership with your community. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

I. Award Acceptance, Terms, and Conditions 

Your entity must successfully set up their JustGrants account and enroll in the Automated Standard Application for 

Payments (ASAP) to accept and manage their award. Accepting or declining an award can only be done through 

the Justice Grants System (JustGrants). In JustGrants, you may print the PDF of the award for reference. 

Prior to accepting an award, the entity administrator must assign a financial manager, a grant administrator, and 

two authorized representatives for each award in JustGrants. COPS Office recipients will have two Authorized 

Representatives assigned to each award; both are required to accept the award. When the Authorized 

Representative logs into their JustGrants account, they can view accepted awards and awards that need to be 

accepted. An email notification will also be sent to the Application Submitter, the Authorized Representatives and 

the Entity Administrator to sign and accept their award. 

To officially accept your award, you must carefully review and electronically sign the Award Package (which 

includes your Award Information, Financial Information, Award Conditions, and Other Award Documents) within 

45 days from the date shown on the award letter. Please see the JustGrants training: Grant Award Acceptance 

for detailed information on accepting your award. 

Your organization will not be able to draw down award funds until the COPS Office receives your signed award 

package and you have completed all steps in the ASAP system. For more information on drawing down award 

funds, please see the section titled “Accessing Award Funds” in this manual. 

Award package 

The award package indicates your official award funding amount, the award number, the award terms and 

conditions, and the award start and end dates. 

Be sure to familiarize yourself with all terms, conditions, and requirements of your award before accepting the 

award. Print and retain a copy of all pages of the award document, award terms and conditions, award financial 

information, and award attachments for your records. 

The Project Period start date on the award document means that your agency may be reimbursed for any 

allowable costs incurred on or after this date. The Project Period end date shows the last date that allowable costs 

may be incurred. 

Your award number is in the following format 15JCOPS-23-GG-00000-XXXX as shown in figure 1 on page 3. The 

COPS Office tracks award information based upon this number. Therefore, it is important to have your agency’s 

award number or your organization’s System for Award management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number 

readily available when corresponding with the COPS Office. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Figure 1. Award number example 

Accepting the award 

After you have reviewed the conditions of your award and your agency agrees with these conditions, you are ready 

to accept the award. The Director of the COPS Office has signed the award document indicating approval of your 

award, an obligation of federal funds to your organization, and our commitment to the award. As stated at the 

beginning of this section, to officially begin your award and draw down your funds, the authorized representatives 

of your agency must access the JustGrants website to log in, review, and electronically sign the award document 

and, if applicable, the special award conditions or high risk conditions in the award package within 45 days of the 

date shown on the award letter. 

Refer to the Job Aid Reference Guide titled Grantee Acceptance at 

https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh296/files/media/document/jarg-grantee-accept.pdf, which 

will walk you through the steps necessary to accept an Award Package. 

Who should sign the award document for our agency? 

The authorized representatives are the authorized officials who have ultimate and final responsibility for all 

programmatic and financial decisions regarding this award as representatives of the legal recipient and those 

possessing the ultimate signatory authority to sign contracts on behalf of your organization. Typically, these are 

the same executives who signed the forms in your COPS Office application. 

For law enforcement agencies, COPS Office awards require that both the top law enforcement executive (e.g., 

chief of police, sheriff, or equivalent) and the top government executive (e.g., mayor, board chairman, or 

equivalent) sign the award document. For non-law enforcement agencies (universities, etc.), the authorized 

officials are the programmatic and financial officials who have the ultimate signatory authority to sign contracts on 

behalf of your organization. If you have any questions as to who should sign the award, please contact your 

jurisdiction’s local legal advisor. 

If the Authorized Representatives change between the time of application submission and award receipt, the 

Entity Administrator (EA) will need to update the Authorized Representative in JustGrants. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

By when must the award document be signed? 

Please electronically sign the award document within 45 days of date on the award letter. Award funds will not be 

released until we have received your agency’s signed award document, your budget has received final clearance, 

and any other relevant award conditions particular to your agency have been satisfied. Failure to electronically sign 

your award document within the 45-day award acceptance period may result in your award being withdrawn and 

the funds deobligated without additional notification. If your agency requires an extension for accepting the award 

beyond the 45-day acceptance timeframe, please contact your COPS Office grant manager. Be sure to explain the 

circumstances that prevent your agency from signing the award document within the 45 -day period, and identify 

the date by which the award document will be electronically signed. The COPS Office will review such requests on 

a case-by-case basis. The COPS Office reserves the right to deny requests to extend the 45-day award acceptance 

period. If you have any questions, please contact your COPS Office grant manager at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

What are the specific rules regarding termination of award funding? 

The COPS Office may suspend, in whole or in part, or terminate funding or impose other sanctions on a recipient 

for the following reasons: 

• Failure to substantially comply with the requirements or objectives of the Public Safety Partnership and 

Community Policing Act of 1994, program guidelines, or other provisions of federal law 

• Failure to make satisfactory progress toward the goals or strategies set forth in the recipient’s application 

• Failure to adhere to award agreement requirements or special conditions 

• Proposing substantial plan changes to the extent that, if originally submitted, would have resulted in the 

application not being selected for funding 

• Failure to submit required or requested reports 

• Filing a false statement or certification in this application or other report or document 

• Other good cause shown 

Prior to imposing sanctions, the COPS Office will provide reasonable notice to the recipient of its intent to impose 

sanctions and will attempt to resolve the problem informally. Appeal procedures will follow those in the U.S. 

Department of Justice regulations in 28 C.F.R. Part 18. 

Awards terminated due to noncompliance with the federal statutes, regulations, or award terms and conditions 

will be reported to the integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS). 

False statements or claims made in connection with COPS Office awards may result in fines, imprisonment, 

debarment from participating in federal awards or contracts, and any other remedy available by law. 

Please be advised that recipients may not use COPS Office funding for the same item or service also funded by 

another U.S. Department of Justice award. 

Award terms and conditions 

The award terms and conditions are included in the award package. By accepting this award, you are obtaining 

federal funds from the COPS Office. As part of that agreement, your agency acknowledges that it will comply with 

these conditions (and, if applicable, additional special or high risk conditions specific to your agency). The section 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

that follows describes, in detail, the award conditions, their rationales, and their implications. It also addresses 

many frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions concerning any of these award conditions, 

please contact your COPS Office grant manager. 

In limited circumstances, your award may be subject to special or high risk conditions that prevent your agency 

from drawing down or accessing award funds until the special conditions are satisfied, as determined by the COPS 

Office. Any special or high risk conditions will be included with your award package. If you have questions about 

the special conditions, please contact your COPS Office grant manager or the COPS Office Response Center at 

AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

Reasons for award conditions 

The requirements of your award are established within 

• the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994, as applicable, which established the COPS 

Office; 

• the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018 (34 U.S.C. § 10551, et seq.) 

as applicable; 

• applicable rules, regulations, and policies issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the United States Treasury; 

• the specific programmatic requirements established by the COPS Office. 

A list of source documents for this manual is provided in the appendices. You may request copies of any source 

reference document from: 

Office of Administration, Publication Unit 

New Executive Office Building 

725 17th Street NW, Room G 236 

Washington, DC 20503 

COPS Office–specific documents may be requested directly from the COPS Office. 

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Review of award conditions 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

By signing the award document to accept this award, your agency agrees to abide by the following award 

conditions: 

1. Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees to comply with the following requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 170, Appendix A to Part 170 – 

Award Term: 

I. Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation 

a. Reporting of first-tier subawards. 

Applicability. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph d. of this award term, you must report each action 

that equals or exceeds $30,000 in Federal funds for a subaward to a non-Federal entity or Federal agency (see 

definitions in paragraph e. of this award term). 

2. Where and when to report. 

i. The non-Federal entity or Federal agency must report each obligating action described in paragraph a.1. 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.) 

3. What to report. You must report the information about each obligating action that the submission instructions 

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

b. Reporting total compensation of recipient executives for non-Federal entities. 

1. 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 Federal award equals or exceeds $30,000 as defined in 2 

CFR 170.320; 

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, 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

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.) 

2. Where and when to report. You must report executive total compensation described in paragraph b.1. of this 

award term: 

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

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

c. Reporting of Total Compensation of Subrecipient Executives. 

1. Applicability and what to report. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph d. of this award term, for each 

first-tier non-Federal entity 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 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.) 

2. Where and when to report. You must report subrecipient executive total compensation described in paragraph 

c.1. 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. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

d. 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: 

i. Subawards, and 

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

e. Definitions. For purposes of this award term: 

1. Federal Agency means a Federal agency as defined at 5 U.S.C. 551(1) and further clarified by 5 U.S.C. 552(f). 

2. Non-Federal 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; and, 

iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization 

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

4. 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 2 CFR 200.331). 

iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement, including an agreement that you or a subrecipient 

considers a contract. 

5. Subrecipient means a non-Federal entity or Federal agency 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. 

6. 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)). 

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Why this condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

To further federal spending transparency, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 

(FFATA) requires, among other things, that information on federal awards (federal financial assistance and 

expenditures) be made available to the public via a single, searchable website, which is 

https://www.usaspending.gov/. Recipients are responsible for reporting their applicable executive compensation 

and subaward information and the award term provides guidance to report the related information, as required by 

FFATA. 

What you should do: 

At the time of award application, your agency was asked to ensure that it has the necessary processes and systems 

in place to comply with the applicable subaward and executive compensation reporting requirements should it 

receive funding. If your agency received awards of $30,000 or more, you are required to report award information 

on any first-tier subawards totaling $30,000 or more and, in certain cases, to report information on the names and 

total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier subrecipients. 

The FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS), accessible via the Internet at https://www.fsrs.gov/, is the 

reporting tool that your agency will use to capture and report subaward information and any executive 

compensation data required by FFATA. The subaward information entered in FSRS will then be displayed on 

https://www.usaspending.gov/ associated with your agency’s award to further federal spending transparency. 

For additional information regarding the executive compensation and subaward reporting requirements, please 

see Vol. 75, No. 177 (September 14, 2010) of the Federal Register, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-09-

14/pdf/2010-22705.pdf. 

2. Restriction on Internal Confidentiality Agreements 

Condition: 

No recipient or subrecipient under this award, or entity that receives a contract or subcontract with any funds 

under this award, may require any employee or contractor to sign an internal confidentiality agreement or 

statement that prohibits or otherwise restricts the lawful reporting of waste, fraud, or abuse to an investigative or 

law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, Division E, Title VII, Section 742. 

Why this condition: 

Under the Appropriations Act neither the recipient, subrecipient, nor any entity that receives a contract or 

subcontract with any funds under this or any other Act may require its employees or contractors to sign an internal 

confidentiality agreement or statement prohibiting or otherwise restricting their lawful reporting of waste, fraud, 

or abuse to an investigative or law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency. This provision 

protects the public interest and ensures the proper management and use of federal funds. This limitation is not 

intended, and shall not be understood by the agency making this award, to contravene requirements applicable to 

Standard Form 312 (which relates to classified information), Form 4414 (which relates to sensitive compartmented 

information), or any other form issued by a federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified 

information. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

In accepting this award, the recipient 

• represents that it neither requires nor has required internal confidentiality agreements or statements from 

employees or contractors that currently prohibit or otherwise restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) 

employees or contractors from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse as described above; 

• represents that, if it learns or is notified that it is or has been requiring its employees or contractors to execute 

agreements or statements that prohibit or otherwise restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) reporting of 

waste, fraud, or abuse as described above, it will immediately stop any further obligations of award funds, will 

provide prompt written notification to the agency making this award, and will resume such obligations only if 

expressly authorized to do so by that agency. 

If the recipient does or is authorized to make subawards or contracts under this award, in accepting, the recipient 

• represents that it has or will determine that no other entity that the recipient proposes may or will receive 

award funds (whether through a subaward, contract, or subcontract) either requires or has required internal 

confidentiality agreements or statements from employees or contractors that currently prohibit or otherwise 

restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) employees or contractors from reporting waste, fraud, or abuse as 

described above; 

• represents that it has or will make appropriate inquiry, or otherwise has an adequate factual basis, to support 

this representation; 

• represents that, if it learns or is notified that any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor entity that 

receives funds under this award is or has been requiring its employees or contractors to execute agreements 

or statements that prohibit or otherwise restrict (or purport to prohibit or restrict) reporting of waste, fraud, 

or abuse as described above, it will immediately stop any further obligations of award funds to or by that 

entity, will provide prompt written notification to the agency making this award, and will resume (or permit 

resumption of) such obligations only if expressly authorized to do so by that agency. 

3. Prohibited Conduct by Recipients and Subrecipients Related to Trafficking in Persons (Including Reporting Requirements and COPS Office Authority to Terminate Award) 

Condition: 

The recipient and subrecipient agree to comply with the requirements in 2 C.F.R. § 175.15(b) – Award Term: 

I. Trafficking in persons. 

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

1. You as the recipient, your employees, subrecipients under this award, and subrecipients' 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 or subawards under the award. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

2. We as the Federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without penalty, if you or a 

subrecipient that is a private entity — 

i. Is determined to have violated a prohibition in paragraph a.1 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.1 of this award term through conduct that is either— 

A. Associated with performance under this award; or 

B. Imputed to you or the subrecipient using the standards and due process for imputing the conduct of an individual 

to an organization that are provided in 2CFR part 180, “OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide 

Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement),” as implemented by DOJ at 2 C.F.R. Part 2867. 

b. Provision applicable to a recipient other than a private entity. We as the Federal awarding agency may 

unilaterally terminate this award, without penalty, if a subrecipient that is a private entity— 

1. Is determined to have violated an applicable prohibition in paragraph a.1 of this award term; or 

2. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate the award to have violated an 

applicable prohibition in paragraph a.1 of this award term through conduct that is either— 

i. Associated with performance under this award; or 

ii. Imputed to the subrecipient 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 Governmentwide Debarment 

and Suspension (Nonprocurement),” as implemented by DOJ at 2 C.F.R. Part 2867. 

c. Provisions applicable to any recipient. 

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

prohibition in paragraph a.1 of this award term. 

2. Our right to terminate unilaterally that is described in paragraph a.2 or b 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. 

3. You must include the requirements of paragraph a.1 of this award term in any subaward you make to a private 

entity. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

d. Definitions. For purposes of this award term: 

1. “Employee” means either: 

i. An individual employed by you or a subrecipient 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 services are contributed by a third party as an inkind contribution toward cost sharing or matching requirements. 

2. “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. 

3. “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 nonprofit 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. 

4. “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). 

Why this condition: 

The purpose of this government-wide award term is to implement the requirement in paragraph (g) of section 106 

of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended, (22 U.S.C. § 7104(g)). The award term 

authorizes the COPS Office to terminate an award to a private entity, without penalty, if the recipient or a 

subrecipient: 

(a) Engages in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period of time that the award is in effect; 

(b) Procures a commercial sex act during the period of time that the award is in effect; or 

(c) Uses forced labor in the performance of the award or subawards under the award. 

2 C.F.R. § 175.10. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

During the time that the award is in effect, recipients, subrecipients at any tier, and their employees must not 

engage in severe forms of trafficking in persons, procure commercial sex acts, or use forced labor in the 

performance of the award. The recipient must include the above award term in any subaward to a private entity. 

The recipient must also promptly notify the COPS Office of any information received from any source alleging a 

violation of prohibited conduct described in the award term. 

4. Duplicative Funding 

Condition: 

The recipient understands and agrees to notify the COPS Office if it receives, from any other source, funding for the 

same item or service also funded under this award. 

Why this condition: 

This award was made to your organization for approved project costs that are not funded with other funds, 

including federal, state, local, tribal, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funds. Consequently, your organization may 

not use this funding for items or services that you already have funding for from other sources. 

What you should do: 

If your organization receives funding from another source for the same item(s) or services(s) also funded under 

this award, please contact your COPS Office grant manager. If necessary, the COPS Office will work with your 

organization to reprogram funding for items or services that are allowable under this award program. 

5. Termination

Condition: 

Recipient understands and agrees that the COPS Office may terminate funding, in whole or in part, for the following 

reasons: 

(1) When the recipient fails to comply with the terms and conditions of a Federal award. 

(2) When an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities, to the extent such termination is 

authorized by law. 

(3) When the recipient agrees to the termination and termination conditions. 

(4) When the recipient provides the COPS Office written notification requesting termination including the reasons, 

effective date, and the portion of the award to be terminated. The COPS Office may terminate the entire award if 

the remaining portion will not accomplish the purposes of the award. 

(5) Pursuant to any other termination provisions included in the award. 

2. C.F.R. § 200.340. 

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Why this condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

This condition sets forth the circumstances under which your federal award may be terminated. 

What you should do: 

Carefully review the reasons for termination in this condition to ensure that your agency is aware of when award 

funding may be terminated. If you have any questions regarding the provisions, please contact your COPS Office 

grant manager at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

6. Award Owner’s Manual 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees to comply with the terms and conditions in the applicable 2023 COPS Office Program Award 

Owner's Manual; DOJ Grants Financial Guide; COPS Office statute (34 U.S.C. § 10381, et seq.) as applicable; 

Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018 (34 U.S.C. § 10551, et seq.) as 

applicable; the requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards) as adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2 C.F.R. § 2800.101; 48 C.F.R. 

Part 31 (FAR Part 31) as applicable (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures); the Cooperative Agreement as 

applicable; representations made in the application; and all other applicable program requirements, laws, orders, 

regulations, or circulars. 

Failure to comply with one or more award requirements may result in remedial action including, but not limited to, 

withholding award funds, disallowing costs, suspending, or terminating the award, or other legal action as 

appropriate. 

Should any provision of an award condition be deemed invalid or unenforceable by its terms, that provision will be 

applied to give it the maximum effect permitted by law. Should the provision be deemed invalid or unenforceable 

in its entirety, such provision will be severed from this award. 

Why this condition: 

This manual has been designed to inform you of the requirements, laws, regulations, and policies that apply to 

your award. Your agency will be responsible for the information and rules contained in this manual and for 

implementing your award in compliance with the applicable terms, conditions, and regulations. More detailed 

guidance regarding any particular award requirement or your agency’s specific circumstances can be requested 

through your COPS Office grant manager. 

What you should do: 

Please read the entire Award Owner’s Manual carefully prior to signing the award document. If you have any 

questions, please contact your COPS Office grant manager. When accepting your award, you should ensure that 

the proper reporting and financial systems are in place to satisfy the award requirements. 

14 
7. Authorized Representative Responsibility 

Condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

The recipient understands that, in accepting this award, the Authorized Representatives declare and certify, among 

other things, that they possess the requisite legal authority to accept the award on behalf of the recipient entity 

and, in so doing, accept (or adopt) all material requirements throughout the period of performance under this 

award. The recipient further understands, and agrees, that it will not assign anyone to the role of Authorized 

Representative during the period of performance under the award without first ensuring that the individual has the 

requisite legal authority. 

Why this condition: 

The Authorized Representatives are responsible for reviewing and accepting a recipient’s COPS Office award and 

must possess the legal authority to accept awards. This action binds the recipient to the award requirements. 

What you should do: 

The recipient must ensure it assigns two officials as the required Authorized Representatives for its COPS Office 

award who have ultimate and final responsibility for all programmatic and financial decisions for the agency, as the 

legal recipient. For guidance on who should be assigned as your agency’s two Authorized Representatives, please 

see the Award Acceptance, Terms, and Conditions section of the Award Owner’s Manual. 

8. Award Monitoring Activities 

Condition: 

Federal law requires that recipients receiving federal funding from the COPS Office must be monitored to ensure 

compliance with their award conditions and other applicable statutes and regulations. The COPS Office is also 

interested in tracking the progress of our programs and the advancement of community policing. Both aspects of 

award implementation—compliance and programmatic benefits—are part of the monitoring process coordinated 

by the U.S. Department of Justice. Award monitoring activities conducted by the COPS Office include site visits, 

enhanced office-based grant reviews, alleged noncompliance reviews, financial and programmatic reporting, and 

audit resolution. As a COPS Office award recipient, you agree to cooperate with and respond to any requests for 

information pertaining to your award. This includes all financial records, such as general accounting ledgers and all 

supporting documents. All information pertinent to the implementation of the award is subject to agency review 

throughout the life of the award, during the close-out process and for three-years after the submission of the final 

expenditure report. 34 U.S.C. § 10385(a) and 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.334 and 200.337. 

Why this condition: 

The Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 states that each award program must contain a 

monitoring component. The COPS Office actively monitors how recipients are complying with COPS Office award 

requirements. In addition, the monitoring component provides customer service and technical assistance to help 

ensure recipients understand how to remain in compliance while implementing their awards. 

15 
What you should do: 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Your agency may be required to accommodate routine and non-routine efforts by the COPS Office, or an entity 

designated by the COPS Office, to examine your agency’s use of federal funds both programmatically and 

financially. The four primary means of ensuring recipients’ compliance with the terms and conditions of their 

awards are as follows: 

1. Site Visits. The COPS Office strategically selects award recipients based on a variety of risk factors to 

conduct site visits to ensure compliance with award terms and conditions. The purpose of site visits is 

three-fold: 

i. To review for compliance with the terms and conditions of the award 

ii. To review the recipient’s community policing strategies 

iii. To provide customer service and technical assistance 

If selected, recipients will be notified in writing in advance with detailed instructions for how to prepare 

for the review of their COPS Office awards. This review is generally performed over a period of one or 

more days depending on the number of awards that require review. Recipients will have an opportunity 

to resolve any identified noncompliance issues while on-site or, if necessary, following the site visit. In 

addition, recipients will have an opportunity to seek customer service and/or technical assistance on the 

implementation of their award. 

2. Enhanced Office-Based Grant Reviews (EOBGR). In lieu of a site visit, awards may be selected for an 

EOBGR conducted at the COPS Office via teleconference or video conference. EOBGRs serve as an 

alternative for conducting award monitoring reviews in support of the COPS Office’s overall award 

monitoring strategy. The purpose of the EOBGR is three-fold: 

i. To review for compliance with the terms and conditions of the award 

ii. To review the recipient’s community policing strategies 

iii. To provide customer service and technical assistance 

If selected, the recipient will be notified in writing in advance of any EOBGR of its COPS Office awards. This 

review is generally performed over a one-two day period depending on the number of awards that 

require a review. Recipients will have an opportunity to resolve any identified noncompliance issues if 

necessary following the EOBGR interview. In addition, award recipients will have an opportunity to seek 

customer service and/or technical assistance on the implementation of their award. 

3. Alleged Noncompliance Referral (ANCR). An ANCR is an allegation of suspected noncompliance that 

originates from an internal source within the COPS Office or an external referral from one of many 

sources. Internal ANCRs generally originate from the COPS Office Grants Administration Division, the 

COPS Office Finance Division, or the COPS Office, Office of the General Counsel, although any COPS Office 

component may refer a noncompliance issue to the ANCR. External noncompliance referrals may be 

received from anonymous complainants, media, citizens, law enforcement agencies, other federal 

agencies, or other outside sources. On a case-by-case basis, COPS Office ANCR staff members determine 

the appropriate course of action to take to investigate complaints of alleged noncompliance. This may 

include phone or letter contact or a site visit or an EOBGRby COPS Office staff or the Office of the 

Inspector General (OIG). Each ANCR referral is resolved as a violation or nonviolation based upon 

supporting documentation and/or other factors used to make a determination for compliance or 

noncompliance. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

4. Audit Liaison. The OIG may conduct a random audit for any recipient of a COPS Office award. In the event 

your agency has undergone an OIG audit and there are audit recommendations (findings) resulting from 

noncompliance and/or poor accountability practices, the COPS Office Audit Liaison will work with your 

agency to resolve and close these recommendations. Remedies to close recommendations may include 

repayment of award funds and/or providing adequate documentation to demonstrate compliance and/or 

providing proof of policies or procedures that were created or revised to directly address the causes for 

the noncompliance as a proactive preventative measure to avoid future noncompliance. 

Recipients are responsible for remedying any award noncompliance that is identified during site visits, 

EOBGRs, and/or ANCRs. In addition, recipients are responsible for remedying noncompliance stemming 

from audit recommendations identified in audits of COPS Office awards conducted by the OIG and the 

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). Remedies for noncompliance may include but are not limited 

to repayment of award funds for unallowable or unsupported costs, providing adequate documentation 

to demonstrate compliance, suspending active award funding, voluntary withdrawal from or involuntary 

termination of remaining award funds, or a restriction from receiving future COPS Office awards for a 

period of time. Under certain conditions, additional actions may include referral and placement on the 

U.S. Department of Justice’s High Risk List, which will include mandatory completion of the Office of 

Justice Programs Financial Management Training and being subject to increased monitoring of current 

and future awards while on the list. In the event of criminal misuse of award funds, recipients may also be 

subject to fines and imprisonment. To avoid findings of noncompliance, recipients are strongly 

encouraged to become familiar with the Award Owner’s Manual for the year in which the award is 

funded. Recipients should also contact the COPS Office or their grant manager at any time during the life 

of a COPS Office award with questions concerning award conditions, terms, or requirements to seek 

guidance to avoid noncompliance. It is necessary for recipients to maintain all relevant documentation 

(administrative, financial, and programmatic) used to develop the application and implement the award 

that may be necessary or required to demonstrate award compliance. For more information, please 

contact the COPS Office Response Center at AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov. 

9. Contract Provision 

Condition: 

All contracts made by the award recipients under the federal award must contain the provisions required under 2 

C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix II to Part 200—Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal 

Awards. Please see appendices in the Award Owner’s Manual for a full text of the contract provisions. 

Why this condition: 

Federal regulations require recipients and subrecipients to comply with the necessary contract provisions in order 

to standardize and strengthen oversight of all contracts made under federal awards. This provision protects the 

public interest and ensures the proper management and use of federal funds as it relates to contracts entered into 

by the recipient. 

What you should do: 

The recipient should review all contracts made under the federal award to ensure that they contain the provisions 

required under 2 C.F.R. Part 200, (Appendix II to Part 200—Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts 

Under Federal Awards) in the appendices of the Award Owner’s Manual. 

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10. Assurances and Certifications 

Condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

The recipient acknowledges its agreement to comply with the Assurances and Certifications forms that were signed 

as part of its application. 

Why this condition: 

Although the COPS Office has made every effort to simplify the process of applying for and receiving awards, 

several provisions of federal law require us to obtain the recipient’s signed Assurances and Certifications regarding 

certain matters. Most of the Assurances and Certifications apply to all federal award programs. 

What you should do: 

Applicants to COPS Office award programs are required to sign the Assurances and Certifications forms at the time 

of application and application update. Signing these documents assures the COPS Office that you have read, 

understood, and accepted the award terms and conditions outlined in the Assurances and Certifications. Please 

read these documents carefully, because signatures on these documents are treated as a material representation 

of fact upon which reliance was placed when the U.S. Department of Justice determined whether to fund the 

covered award. Additional copies of the Assurances and Certifications forms are contained in the appendices of 

this manual. If you have any questions about them, please contact your COPS Office grant manager at 

AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

11. Conflict of Interest 

Condition: 

Recipients and subrecipients must disclose in writing to the COPS Office or pass-through entity, as applicable, any 

potential conflict of interest affecting the awarded federal funding in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.112. 

Why this condition: 

Recipients and subrecipients are required to use federal funding in the best interest of their award program. Any 

decisions related to these funds must be free of hidden personal or organizational conflicts of interest, both in fact 

and in appearance. 

This means that recipients and subrecipients should not participate in any award-related decisions or 

recommendations that involve any of the following people or groups: 

• a partner 

• an immediate family member 

• an organization in which they are serving as an officer, director, partner, or employee 

• any person or organization with whom they are negotiating or who has an arrangement concerning 

prospective employment, has a financial interest, or for other reasons can have less than an unbiased 

transaction with the recipient or subrecipients 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

This also means that recipients and subrecipients should avoid any action which might result in or create the 

appearance of 

• giving special treatment to any person; 

• losing complete independence or objectivity; 

• making an official decision outside official channels; 

• negatively affecting the confidence of the public in the integrity of the Federal Government or the program; or 

• using your official position for private gain. 

What you should do: 

Ensure that you report in writing to the COPS Office or pass-through entity, as applicable, any potential conflict of 

interest that may affect your federal award. 

12. Debarment and Suspension 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees not to award federal funds under this program to any party which is debarred or suspended 

from participation in federal assistance programs. 2 C.F.R. Part 180 (Government-wide Nonprocurement 

Debarment and Suspension) and 2 C.F.R. Part 2867 (DOJ Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension). 

Why this condition: 

Under federal regulations, recipients are required to ensure that federal funds are not given to parties that are 

debarred or suspended from participation in federal assistance programs. This is to protect the public interest and 

to ensure proper management and integrity in federal activities by conducting business only with responsible 

parties. For details regarding the debarment and suspension requirements, please see 2 C.F.R. Part 180 

(Government-wide Debarment and Suspension), and 2 C.F.R. Part 2867 (DOJ-specific requirements.) 

What you should do: 

If, under a COPS Office award, you enter into a contract for goods or services for $25,000 or more or any 

subaward, you must verify that the vendor or subrecipient and their respective principals (e.g., owners, top 

managers) with whom you intend to do business are not excluded or disqualified from participation in federal 

assistance programs. In addition, you must include a term or condition in the contract or subaward requiring the 

vendor or subrecipient to comply with subpart C of the OMB guidance in 2 C.F.R. Part 180 (Government-wide 

Debarment and Suspension) and subpart C of 2 C.F.R. Part 2867 (DOJ-specific requirements). 

13. Employment Eligibility 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees to complete and keep on file, as appropriate, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). This form is to be used 

by recipients of federal funds to verify that persons are eligible to work in the United States. Immigration Reform 

and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), Public Law 99-603. 

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Why this condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Under federal immigration law, all employers are required to take certain steps to ensure that persons that are 

hired are legally permitted to work in the United States. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services 

Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) outlines the types of documents that an employer should review to 

confirm that a new hire is eligible for employment. 

What you should do: 

You do not need to submit any documentation to the COPS Office to satisfy this condition. Rather, you should 

complete and maintain the I-9 forms for all new employees under the guidelines set forth by the Bureau of 

Citizenship and Immigration Services. For further information about this requirement, you may contact the 

Bureau’s Office of Business Liaison at 800-357-2099 or the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283. 

14. Enhancement of Contractor Protection from Reprisal for Disclosure of Certain Information 

Condition: 

Rrecipients and subrecipients agree not to discharge, demote, or otherwise discriminate against an employee as 

reprisal for the employee disclosing information that he or she reasonably believes is evidence of gross 

mismanagement of a federal contract or award, a gross waste of federal funds, an abuse of authority 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. The 

recipient also agrees to provide to their employees in writing (in the predominant native language of the workforce) 

of the rights and remedies provided in 41 U.S.C. § 4712. Please see the appendices in the Award Owner’s Manual 

for a full text of the statute. 

Why this condition: 

Under the “Enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain information” (41 U.S.C. § 

4712), recipients are prohibited from taking reprisal actions against employees for certain whistleblowing activities 

in connection with federal awards and contracts. The law protects the public interest and ensures the proper 

management and use of federal funds. 

What you should do: 

The recipient must not take reprisal actions against an employee for disclosing misconduct under federal contracts 

and awards to certain persons and entities. 

The recipient is prohibited from discharging, demoting, or otherwise discriminating against an employee as reprisal 

for disclosing information that he or she reasonably believes is evidence of 

• a gross waste of federal funds; 

• a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; 

• a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation 

of a contract) or award; 

• an abuse of authority relating to a federal contract or award; or 

• gross mismanagement of a federal contract or award. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

In addition, the disclosure must also have been made to 

• a court or grand jury; 

• a federal employee responsible for contract or award oversight or management at the relevant agency; 

• a management official or other employee of the contractor, subcontractor, or recipient who has the 

responsibility to investigate, discover, or address misconduct; 

• a member of Congress or a representative of a committee of Congress; 

• an authorized official of the U.S. Department of Justice or other law enforcement agency; 

• an inspector general; or 

• the Government Accountability Office. 

An employee is deemed to have made a protected disclosure if he or she initiates or provides evidence of 

misconduct in any judicial or administrative proceeding relating to waste, fraud, or abuse on a federal contract or 

award. 

The recipient must inform its employees in writing, in the predominant language of the workforce, of employee 

whistleblower rights, protections, and remedies under 41 U.S.C. § 4712. Recipients and subrecipients who wish to 

use the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General whistleblower information brochure to inform their 

employees of their rights, may obtain a copy at https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/NDAAbrochure.pdf. 

Please see the appendices in this manual addressing Whistleblower Protection for a full text of the “Enhancement 

of contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain information” (41 U.S.C. § 4712). 

15. Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) 

Condition: 

All recipients of funding from the COPS Office must comply with the federal regulations pertaining to the 

development and implementation of an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan. 28 C.F.R. Part 42 subpart E. 

Why this condition: 

It is the experience of the U.S. Department of Justice in implementing its responsibilities under the Omnibus Crime 

Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Safe Streets Act), the statute that established the COPS Office, that “the full 

and equal participation of women and minority individuals in employment opportunities in the criminal justice 

system is a necessary component to the Safe Streets Act’s program to reduce crime and delinquency in the United 

States” 28 C.F.R. § 42.301. The Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) does not impose quotas or hiring 

requirements on recipients of federal funds. 

What you should do: 

The obligations to comply with the EEOP requirement differ depending on your organization’s legal status, the 

number of its employees, and the amount of the award. If your organization is a government agency or private 

business and has received a single award for $25,000 or more and has fifty or more employees (counting both fulland part-time employees but excluding political appointees), then it has to prepare a Utilization Report and submit 

21 
 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

it to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within 120 days from the date of the award. Although the OCR has discretion 

to review all submitted Utilization Reports, it will review the Utilization Reports from recipients that receive an 

award of $500,000 or more. 

To begin developing a Utilization Report, please consult the OCR's website at 

https://ojp.gov/about/ocr/eeop.htm and click EEOP Reporting Tool Login. Additional assistance can be found 

online at the bottom of the same webpage by clicking the EEO Reporting Tool Job Aid and Frequently Asked 

Questions. 

If your organization has fewer than 50 employees or receives an award of less than $25,000 or is a nonprofit 

organization, a medical institution, an educational institution, or an Indian tribe, then it is exempt from the EEOP 

requirement. To claim the exemption, however, your organization must certify that it is exempt by logging into the 

EEO Reporting Tool on the OCR website at https://ojp.gov/about/ocr/eeop.htm, providing the contact and 

organizational profile information, and then submitting a Certificate of Exemption. 

If you have further questions regarding the EEOP requirements, you may contact an EEOP specialist at the OCR by 

telephone at 202-307-0690, by TTY at 202-0307-2027, or by email at EEOPforms@usdoj.gov. 

16. False Statements 

Condition: 

False statements or claims made in connection with COPS Office awards may result in fines, imprisonment, 

debarment from participating in federal awards or contracts, and/or any other remedy available by law. 31 U.S.C. § 

3729-3733. 

Why this condition: 

This condition advises recipients of the consequences of submitting false claims or statements on applications, 

financial and programmatic reports, or other award documents. 

What you should do: 

Ensure that all documentation related to your agency’s receipt and use of award funding (award applications, 

progress reports, Federal Financial Reports, etc.) is true and accurate. 

17. Federal Civil Rights 

Condition: 

The Applicant understands that the federal statutes and regulations applicable to the award (if any) made by the 

Department based on the application specifically include statutes and regulations pertaining to civil rights and 

nondiscrimination, and, in addition— 

1. the Applicant understands that the applicable statutes pertaining to civil rights will include section 601 of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d); section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794); 

section 901 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681); and section 303 of the Age 

Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. § 6102); 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

2. the Applicant understands that the applicable statutes pertaining to nondiscrimination may include section 

809(c) of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10228(c)); section 

1407(e) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. § 20110(e)); section 299A(b) of the Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 (34 U.S.C. § 11182(b)); and that the grant condition set out at section 

40002(b)(13) of the Violence Against Women Act (34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(13)), which will apply to all awards 

made by the Office on Violence Against Women, also may apply to an award made otherwise; 

3. the Applicant understands that it must require any subrecipient to comply with all such applicable statutes 

(and associated regulations); and 

4. on behalf of the Applicant, I make the specific assurances set out in 28 C.F.R. §§ 42.105 and 42.204. 

The Applicant also understands that (in addition to any applicable program-specific regulations and to applicable 

federal regulations that pertain to civil rights and nondiscrimination) the federal regulations applicable to the 

award (if any) made by the Department based on the application may include, but are not limited to, 2 C.F.R. Part 

2800 (the DOJ "Part 200 Uniform Requirements") and 28 C.F.R. Parts 22 (confidentiality - research and statistical 

information), 23 (criminal intelligence systems), 38 (regarding faith-based or religious organizations participating in 

federal financial assistance programs), and 46 (human subjects protection). 

Why this condition: 

In establishing financial assistance programs, Congress linked the receipt of federal funding to compliance with 

federal civil rights and nondiscrimination laws. As a result, recipients are required to comply with the civil rights 

and nondiscrimination laws referenced above. A hold may be placed on your award if it is deemed that your 

agency is not in compliance with federal civil rights laws or is not cooperating with an ongoing federal civil rights 

investigation. If a hold is placed on your award, you will not be able to obligate or draw down federal funds under 

your agency’s COPS Office award until you comply with federal civil rights laws or cooperate with any ongoing 

federal civil rights investigation. 

What you should do: 

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice has been delegated the 

responsibility for ensuring that recipients of federal financial assistance from the COPS Office are not engaged in 

discrimination prohibited by law. Included with your award package is a memorandum from the OCR, which 

addresses the federal civil rights statutes and regulations applicable to your award. You should review this 

memorandum to understand your agency’s civil rights responsibilities. For an overview of the civil rights laws and 

nondiscrimination requirements in connection with your award, please see https://www.ojp.gov/program/civilrights/overview. 

As a recipient of federal financial assistance from the COPS Office, you are required to comply with the applicable 

federal civil rights and nondiscrimination laws to collect data and information sufficient to permit effective 

enforcement of such laws, and to cooperate with any federal civil rights investigation, which includes providing 

access to records, accounts, documents, information, facilities, and staff. 

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18. Mandatory Disclosure 

Condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Recipients and subrecipients must timely disclose in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity, 

as applicable, all federal criminal law violations involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity that may potentially affect the 

awarded federal funding. Recipients that receive an award over $500,000 must also report certain civil, criminal, or 

administrative proceedings in SAM and are required to comply with the Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity 

and Performance Matters as set out in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix XII to Part 200. Failure to make required 

disclosures can result in any of the remedies, including suspension and debarment, described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.339. 

2 C.F.R. § 200.113. 

Why this condition: 

Federal regulations require recipients and subrecipients to report all federal violations involving fraud, bribery, or 

gratuity that may affect the awarded federal funds. This condition advises your agency of the requirement and the 

consequences of failing to report such violations to the COPS Office or pass-through entity.Allowable Costs 

What you should do: 

Ensure that you timely report in writing to the COPS Office or pass-through entity all federal violations involving 

fraud, bribery, or gratuity that may affect your federal award. 

19. Reports/Performance Goals 

Condition: 

To assist the COPS Office in monitoring and tracking the performance of your award, your agency will be 

responsible for submitting semi-annual programmatic progress reports that describe project activities during the 

reporting period and quarterly Federal Financial Reports using Standard Form 425 (SF-425). 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.328 -

200.329. The progress report is used to track your agency’s progress toward implementing community policing 

strategies and to collect data to gauge the effectiveness of increasing your agency’s community policing capacity 

through COPS Office funding. The Federal Financial Report is used to track the expenditures of the recipient’s award 

funds on a cumulative basis throughout the life of the award. 

Why this condition: 

The Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 and other federal regulations and policies 

require that financial assistance provided by the Federal Government must be monitored carefully to ensure the 

proper use of federal funds. In addition, the COPS Office seeks to document, on a continuing basis, the progress of 

our programs and recipients. 

What you should do: 

This award condition is designed to make your agency aware of reporting requirements associated with COPS 

Office awards. Semi-annual programmatic progress reports and a final programmatic closeout report must be 

submitted directly to the COPS Office through the “Performance Management” section of the Award in JustGrants. 

Your agency is also required to submit quarterly Federal Financial Reports using Standard Form 425 (SF-425) within 

30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A final SF-425 will be due within 120 days after the end of the 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

award period. This report reflects the actual cumulative federal expenditures incurred during the funding period 

and the remaining unobligated balance of federal funds. Under federal regulations, your agency is not permitted to 

draw down federal funding for costs incurred after the official award end date; however, you will have a 120 day 

grace period after the award end date during which you can draw down funds for eligible expenditures incurred 

before the award end date. Agencies with more than one delinquent programmatic or financial report submission 

per fiscal year may be subject to delays in receiving reimbursement for allowable expenses, and may be required 

to receive technical assistance to improve compliance with reporting. These reports are discussed in greater detail 

in the section “Reports” in this manual. All reports should be submitted within the deadlines given to avoid 

suspension or possible termination of award funds or other remedial actions; failure to submit required reports 

may also impact future funding opportunities. 

20. Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters 

Condition: 

For awards over $500,000, the recipient agrees to comply with the following requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 200, 

Appendix XII to Part 200 – Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters: 

A. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance 

1. General Reporting Requirement 

If the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all 

Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of this 

Federal award, then you as the recipient during that period of time must maintain the currency of information 

reported to the System for Award Management (SAM) that is made available in the designated integrity and 

performance system (currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)) about 

civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of this award term and condition. This is a 

statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by 

section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on 

or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be 

publicly available. 

2. Proceedings About Which You Must Report 

Submit the information required about each proceeding that: 

a. Is in connection with the award or performance of a grant, cooperative agreement, or procurement contract 

from the Federal Government; 

b. Reached its final disposition during the most recent five-year period; and 

c. Is one of the following: 

(1) A criminal proceeding that resulted in a conviction, as defined in paragraph 5 of this award term and condition; 

(2) A civil proceeding that resulted in a finding of fault and liability and payment of a monetary fine, penalty, 

reimbursement, restitution, or damages of $5,000 or more; 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

(3) An administrative proceeding, as defined in paragraph 5. of this award term and condition, that resulted in a 

finding of fault and liability and your payment of either a monetary fine or penalty of $5,000 or more or 

reimbursement, restitution, or damages in excess of $100,000; or 

(4) Any other criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding if: 

(i) It could have led to an outcome described in paragraph 2.c.(1), (2), or (3) of this award term and condition; 

(ii) It had a different disposition arrived at by consent or compromise with an acknowledgment of fault on your 

part; and 

(iii) The requirement in this award term and condition to disclose information about the proceeding does not 

conflict with applicable laws and regulations. 

3. Reporting Procedures 

Enter in the SAM Entity Management area the information that SAM requires about each proceeding described in 

paragraph 2 of this award term and condition. You do not need to submit the information a second time under 

assistance awards that you received if you already provided the information through SAM because you were 

required to do so under Federal procurement contracts that you were awarded. 

4. Reporting Frequency 

During any period of time when you are subject to the requirement in paragraph 1 of this award term and 

condition, you must report proceedings information through SAM for the most recent five year period, either to 

report new information about any proceeding(s) that you have not reported previously or affirm that there is no 

new information to report. Recipients that have Federal contract, grant, and cooperative agreement awards with a 

cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 must disclose semiannually any information about the criminal, 

civil, and administrative proceedings. 

5. Definitions 

For purposes of this award term and condition: 

a. Administrative proceeding means a non-judicial process that is adjudicatory in nature in order to make a 

determination of fault or liability (e.g., Securities and Exchange Commission Administrative proceedings, Civilian 

Board of Contract Appeals proceedings, and Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals proceedings). This includes 

proceedings at the Federal and State level but only in connection with performance of a Federal contract or grant. 

It does not include audits, site visits, corrective plans, or inspection of deliverables. 

b. Conviction, for purposes of this award term and condition, means a judgment or conviction of a criminal offense 

by any court of competent jurisdiction, whether entered upon a verdict or a plea, and includes a conviction entered 

upon a plea of nolo contendere. 

c. Total value of currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts includes— 

(1) Only the Federal share of the funding under any Federal award with a recipient cost share or match; and 

(2) The value of all expected funding increments under a Federal award and options, even if not yet exercised. 

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Why this condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Under 2 CFR § 200.210 (b) (1) (iii), recipients of awards in excess of $500,000 are required to report certain civil, 

criminal, and administrative proceedings if they have active federal awards, cooperative agreements, or contracts 

(or any combination of these) that total more than $10,000,000 during the COPS Office award period. The purpose 

is to protect the public interest and to ensure proper management in federal activities by conducting business with 

responsible parties. 

What you should do: 

If the total value of your active awards, cooperative agreements, and contracts from all federal awarding agencies 

exceeds $10,000,000 during the COPS Office award period, then you must ensure that the proceedings described 

in paragraph 2 of this award term that are reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) are current. The 

information about the reported proceedings is made available in SAM via the designated integrity and 

performance system (currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)). 

During the award period, you must either report for the most recent five-year period new information about any 

proceeding(s) that you have not reported previously or affirm that there is no new information to report. You must 

also disclose semiannually any information about criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings. 

21. System for Award Management (SAM) and Universal Identifier Requirements 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees to comply with the following requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 25, Appendix A to Part 25 – Award 

Term: 

I. System for Award Management and Universal Identifier Requirements 

A. Requirement for System for Award Management 

Unless you are exempted from this requirement under 2 CFR 25.110, you as the recipient must maintain current 

information in the SAM. This includes information on your immediate and highest level owner and subsidiaries, as 

well as on all of your predecessors that have been awarded a Federal contract or Federal financial assistance within 

the last three years, if applicable, until you submit the final financial report required under this Federal 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 

Federal award term. 

B. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier 

If you are authorized to make subawards under this Federal award, you: 

1. Must notify potential subrecipients that no entity (see definition in paragraph C of this award term) may receive 

a subaward from you until the entity has provided its Unique Entity Identifier to you. 

2. May not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its Unique Entity Identifier to you. 

Subrecipients are not required to obtain an active SAM registration, but must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

C. Definitions 

For purposes of this term: 

1. System for Award Management (SAM) means the Federal repository into which a recipient must provide 

information required for the conduct of business as a recipient. Additional information about registration 

procedures may be found at the SAM internet site (currently at https://www.sam.gov). 

2. Unique Entity Identifier means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify business entities. 

3. Entity includes non-Federal entities as defined at 2 CFR 200.1 and also includes all of the following, for purposes 

of this part: 

a. A foreign organization; 

b. A foreign public entity; 

c. A domestic for-profit organization; and 

d. A Federal agency. 

4. Subaward has the meaning given in 2 CFR 200.1. 

5. Subrecipient has the meaning given in 2 CFR 200.1. 

Why this condition: 

The purpose of this standard award term is to ensure government-wide uniformity in establishing a universal 

unique entity identifier for federal financial assistance applicants, as well as recipients and their direct 

subrecipients (if applicable), and to establish the SAM as the repository for standard information about applicants 

and recipients. 

What you should do: 

At the time of award application, your agency was required to provide its SAM unique entity identifier and be 

registered in the SAM database. 

Your agency should continue to use the same unique entity identifier provided in your award application and 

update, as needed, the information associated with that unique entity identifier. If your agency is authorized to 

make subawards under its award, your agency may make subawards only to entities that have unique entity 

identifiers. 

Your agency must maintain active registration and current information in the SAM until you submit the final 

financial report or receive the final payment under your award, whichever is later. Your agency must review and 

update its SAM information at least once per year to maintain an active registration status. For more 

information about SAM registration, please visit https://www.sam.gov/. 

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22. Additional High-Risk Recipient Requirements 

Condition: 

 

     

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

The recipient agrees to comply with any additional requirements that may be imposed during the award 

performance period if the awarding agency determines that the recipient is a high-risk recipient. 2 C.F.R. § 200.208. 

Why this condition: 

In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.208, the DOJ may impose additional requirements specific to your award, as 

needed, when it determines that there is unsatisfactory performance, financial or administrative instability, 

noncompliance with award terms and conditions, or other lack of responsibility risk factors. In such cases, the DOJ 

may impose special conditions or restrictions that may include requiring the production of documentation, 

financial award administration training, on-site monitoring, prior approval for expenditure of funds, quarterly 

progress reports, separate bank accounts, or other requirements. 

What you should do: 

In order to obtain a COPS Office award, recipients must agree to comply with any additional requirements that 

may be imposed during the award performance period if the awarding agency determines that the recipient is a 

high-risk recipient. 

23. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment 

Condition: 

Recipient agrees that it, and its subrecipients, will not use award funds to extend, renew, or enter into any contract 

to procure or obtain any covered telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment as described in 2 

CFR §200.216. Covered services and equipment include telecommunications or video surveillance services or 

equipment produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or 

affiliate of such entities); Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or 

Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities); or an entity that the Secretary of 

Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the 

government of China. The use of award funds on covered telecommunications or video surveillance services or 

equipment are unallowable. 

2. C.F.R. § § 200.216 & 471. See also Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal 

Year 2019, Public Law 115-232. 

Why this condition: 

Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2019, Public Law 115-232, as 

implemented by 2 C.F.R. §200.216, prohibits the use of award funds to extend, renew, or enter into any contract 

to procure or obtain any covered telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment as explained in 

the condition. 

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What you should do: 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Ensure that your agency does not use award funds to extend, renew, or enter into any contract to procure or 

obtain any covered telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment. 

24. Travel Costs 

Condition: 

Travel costs for transportation, lodging and subsistence, and related items are allowable with prior approval from 

the COPS Office. Payment for allowable travel costs will be in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.475. 

Why this condition: 

AHTF will fund award-related travel costs for the recipient agency or other (nonrecipient) individuals to attend 

training and technical assistance conferences, seminars, or classes or to visit a site specified in the original 

application. Allowable expenses for award-related lodging, meals, and incidental expenses that were included in 

the application were approved by the COPS Office as part of your agency’s AHTF award and final budget. For more 

information, please refer to award condition “Allowable Costs.” 

What you should do: 

Your agency should refer to your award financial information for a list of approved travel costs and use AHTF funds 

only for those approved travel costs incurred during the award period. In addition, your agency should keep timely 

and accurate records of all travel expenses. If at any time these costs change, you should immediately contact your 

COPS Office Grant Program Specialist. 

25. Computer Network Requirement 

Condition: 

The recipient understands and agrees that no award funds may be used to maintain or establish a computer 

network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. Nothing in this 

requirement limits the use of funds necessary for any federal, state, tribal, or local law enforcement agency or any 

other entity carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities Consolidated Appropriations 

Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, Division B, Title V, Section 527.. 

Why this condition: 

The Appropriations Act prohibits the use of federal funds to maintain or establish a computer network that does 

not block the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. This provision protects the public interest in 

the proper management and use of federal funds. 

What you should do: 

The recipient must not use award funds to maintain or establish a computer network unless the network blocks 

pornography. This does not limit the use of funds for criminal investigations, prosecution or adjudication activities. 

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26. Paperwork Reduction Act Clearance and Privacy Act Review 

Condition: 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Recipient agrees, if required, to submit all surveys, interview protocols, and other information collections to the 

COPS Office for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act (PRA). Before submission to OMB, all information collections that request personally identifiable 

information must be reviewed by the COPS Office to ensure compliance with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act 

compliance review and the PRA clearance process may take several months to complete. 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3520 

and 5 U.S.C. § 552a. 

Why this condition: 

The purpose of the Paperwork Reduction Act is to reduce, minimize, and control paperwork burdens on the public 

while maximizing the practical utility and public benefit of information created, collected, disclosed, maintained, 

used, shared, and disseminated by or for the Federal Government. See 5 C.F.R. § 1320.1. In addition, the Privacy 

Act establishes a “code of fair information practices” that regulates the collection, maintenance, use, and 

disclosure of personally identifiable records. 5 U.S.C. § 552a. A collection of information undertaken by a recipient 

is considered to be conducted or sponsored by a federal agency only if (1) the recipient is conducting the collection 

of information at the specific request of the agency, or (2) the terms and conditions of the award require specific 

approval by the agency of the collection of information or the collection procedures. See 5 C.F.R. § 1320.3(d). 

What you should do: 

When you undertake surveys, interviews, and other methods of information collection in furtherance of the 

objectives of the award, you should contact your COPS Office Program Manager. The COPS Office Program 

Manager will inform you whether Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection 

method is required and of the procedures necessary to obtain this approval. As part of the OMB approval process, 

a privacy assessment will be completed to determine if an information collection requires a privacy-related notice. 

OMB approval may take several months to receive, so recipients are advised to allow ample time for the 

processing of this request. 

27. Extensions 

Condition: 

Your agency may request an extension of the award period to receive additional time to implement your award 

program. Such extensions do not provide additional funding. Awards may be extended a maximum of 24 months 

beyond the initial award expiration date. Any request for an extension beyond 24 months will be evaluated on a 

case-by-case basis. Only those recipients that can provide a reasonable justification for delays will be granted nocost extensions. Reasonable justifications may include technology implementation delays, training delays, or other 

circumstances that interrupt the 36 month award funding period. An extension allows your agency to compensate 

for such delays by providing additional time to complete the full 36 months of funding. 2 C.F.R. § 200.308(e)(2) and 

2 C.F.R. § 200.309 . Extension requests must be received prior to the end date of the award. 

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Why this condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Under federal regulations, requests to extend the award period require prior written approval from the COPS 

Office. Without an approved extension, your agency is not permitted to draw down federal funding for costs 

incurred beyond the official award end date. However, if justified, the COPS Office seeks to accommodate 

reasonable requests for no-cost time extensions in order to fully implement the COPS Office award. 

What you should do: 

Requests to extend the award period must be submitted online and received by the COPS Office before the official 

award end date. Extension requests received after the expiration date will only be considered when the recipient 

provides justification of extraordinary circumstances; an example of this would be an instance where an 

unforeseen natural disaster prevented a recipient from requesting an extension. Failure to submit a request for a 

no-cost time extension by the end date may result in the immediate deobligation of any remaining award funds. 

If your agency has excess funds remaining at the end of the award due to salary and fringe benefits costs that were 

lower than anticipated, your agency cannot extend the 36-month funding period for the purpose of expending 

those excess funds. Recipients are entitled to a maximum of 36 months of federal funding based on the approved 

salary and fringe benefits costs in the award financial information. The COPS Office will deobligate any remaining 

award funds during the closeout process. If you have any additional questions regarding a no-cost time extension, 

please contact your COPS Office Grant Program Specialist. 

28. Domestic preferences for procurements 

Condition: 

Recipient agrees that it, and its subrecipients, to the greatest extent practicable, will provide a preference for the 

purchase, acquisition, or use of goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered in, the United 

States. 2. C.F.R. § 200.322 and Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of 

America’s Workers, January 25, 2021. 

Why this condition: 

It is the policy of the United States Government to use federal funds to buy American whenever possible. This 

condition promotes domestic preferences in procurements under federal awards. 

What you should do: 

Ensure that your agency provides a preference for American goods and services funded under your award to the 

greatest extent practicable and consistent with applicable law. 

29. Supplementing, not Supplanting 

Condition: 

State, local, and tribal government recipients must use award funds to supplement, and not supplant, state, local, 

or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funds that are already committed or otherwise would have been committed for 

award purposes (hiring, training, purchases, and/or activities) during the award period. In other words, state, local, 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

and tribal government recipients may not use COPS Office funds to supplant (replace) state, local, or BIA funds that 

would have been dedicated to the COPS Office-funded item(s) in the absence of the COPS Office award. 34 U.S.C. § 

10384(a). 

Why this condition: 

The COPS Office statutory nonsupplanting requirement mandates that award funds not be used to replace state or 

local funds (or, for tribal recipients, BIA funds) that would, in the absence of federal aid, be made available for the 

award purposes. 

What you should do: 

AHTF funds may not be used to pay for any item or cost funded under the award (equipment, personnel, training, 

etc.) if that item or cost was otherwise budgeted with state, local, or BIA funds. In addition, recipients may not 

reallocate state, local, or BIA funds from one area within the law enforcement budget to another as a result of 

receiving AHTF award funds. If you have questions concerning this award term and how it pertains to your project 

budget please contact your COPS Office Grant Program Specialist. 

Personnel 

To meet this award condition, you must ensure the following: 

• Each individual employed under the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program award is newly hired on or 

after the award start date, unless an exception is authorized in writing by the COPS Office. If current personnel 

are redeployed into this program, they must be paid with local funds. The COPS Office award funds may be 

used to backfill the resulting vacancy with newly hired personnel for an equivalent amount of time. 

• Any officer(s) or civilian(s) that you are hiring bring(s) your force not only to a number over and above the 

number of funded positions that you had on the date of your COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program 

application (including funded but vacant positions) but also over and above the number of locally funded 

positions during the award period. 

• During the life of your award, you must continue to hire as many new, locally funded officers or civilians as 

you would have if you had not received your award. You may not cancel or postpone spending money in your 

budget that is committed to hiring other new officers or civilians. 

• You must take expeditious and timely steps to fill any vacancies that were created on or after the date of your 

award application by retirement, resignation, or other reasons with new officers or civilians other than your 

COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program positions. 

Example: If you are redeploying a current employee who would otherwise be paid $75,000 in salary and 

benefits during the life of the award project, your agency must continue to pay this employee with local funds. 

The COPS Office award funds may be used to backfill the resulting vacancy with a new hire, even though the 

COPS Office-funded position will not be working directly on the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Equipment and technology 

To meet this award condition, you must ensure the following: 

• Equipment and technology must be purchased on or after the award start date (unless an exception is 

authorized in writing by the COPS Office) and must be in addition to purchases that the recipient is obligated 

or funded to make in the current budget. Funds currently allocated to purchase equipment or technology may 

not be reallocated to other purposes or reimbursed upon the award of a COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force 

program award. For example, a recipient who has budgeted local funds to pay for a new computer system 

may not reallocate those funds to pay for any other law enforcement cost as a result of receiving AHTF funds 

for the same computer system. 

Overtime 

To meet this award condition, you must ensure the following: 

• Sworn officer overtime exceeds expenditures that you are obligated or funded to pay in the current budget. 

Funds currently allocated to pay for overtime may not be reallocated to other purposes or reimbursed upon 

the award of a COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program award. Additionally, by the conditions of this 

award, you are required to track all overtime funded through the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program. 

Training 

To meet this award condition, you must ensure the following: 

• Any training provided by the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program is in addition to the number of hours 

of training already provided by your agency. Funds currently allocated for training may not be reallocated to 

other purposes. 

Note: This award condition applies to all state or locally funded agencies working in partnership with your agency 

under this award. Your agency is responsible for ensuring that any state or locally funded partnership agencies use 

COPS Office funds only to supplement, not supplant, their state or local funding as described in this condition. 

30. Sole Source Justification 

Condition: 

Recipients who have been awarded funding for the procurement of an item (or group of items) or service in excess 

of $250,000 and who plan to seek approval for use of a noncompetitive procurement process must provide a 

written sole source justification to the COPS Office for approval prior to obligating, expending, or drawing down 

award funds for that item or service. 2 C.F.R. § 200.325(b)(2). 

Why this condition: 

In general, recipients are required to procure funded items through open and free competition. However, in some 

instances, recipients may have already determined that competition is not feasible. 

What you should do: 

If you have received an award for an item (or group of items) or service in excess of $250,000 and have already 

determined that the award of a contract through a competitive process is unfeasible, you must provide a written 

justification that explains why it is necessary to contract noncompetitively. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

The initial determination that competition is not feasible can be made if one of the following circumstances exists: 

• Competition is determined inadequate after solicitation of a number of sources. 

• The COPS Office authorizes noncompetitive proposals in response to a written request from the recipient. 

• The item/service is available only from one source. 

• The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from competitive 

solicitation. 

The COPS Office will review your request and the supporting information that you provide and will make a 

determination as to whether or not an exception can be made to the general rule regarding competition. If 

submitting a sole source justification request to the COPS Office, please use the format described in the “Sole 

Source Justification fact sheet” in appendices of this manual. 

31. Evaluations 

Condition: 

The COPS Office may conduct monitoring or sponsor national evaluations of its award programs. The recipient 

agrees to cooperate with the monitors and evaluators. 34 U.S.C. § 10385(b). 

Why this condition: 

The Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 states that evaluations of the program may be 

carried out or commissioned by the Attorney General for the furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The COPS 

Office conducts evaluations to determine what programs are working, how programs may be improved, and why 

certain programs are more successful than others. Specifically, the COPS Office may assess the way in which your 

agency implements its AHTF award. In some jurisdictions, COPS Office staff or evaluators may study the 

effectiveness of funded programs, projects, and activities. Evaluators may collect information about the programs’ 

effect on crime, victims of crime, and the quality of life in communities. In addition, they may ask questions about 

the challenges encountered during project implementation, how residents feel about community policing, and 

how police feel about their work. This information will be useful to other communities and police agencies across 

the country. 

What you should do: 

When evaluations are undertaken, you may be contacted in writing with specific requests for information. In 

general, evaluators may need to speak with individuals in your department, observe activities, and obtain written 

reports about and from your department. You will be asked to facilitate any site visits and information-gathering 

activities. In addition, you will be asked to provide accurate and timely information about your award activities. 

You should fully comply with any requests made regarding these evaluations. 

32. State Information Technology Point of Contact 

Condition: 

The recipient agrees to ensure that the appropriate State Information Technology Point of Contact receives written 

notification regarding any technology or information-sharing project funded by this award during the obligation 

and expenditure period. This is to facilitate communication among local and state governmental entities regarding 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

various information technology projects being conducted with these award funds. In addition, the recipient agrees 

to maintain an administrative file documenting the meeting of this requirement. For a list of State Information 

Technology Points of Contact, go to https://it.ojp.gov/technology-contacts. 

Why this condition: 

The COPS Office is committed to promoting communication between state and local law enforcement. 

What you should do: 

If applicable, upon receiving the award, your agency should contact your state information technology point of 

contact for further guidance. Please visit the Justice Information Sharing homepage at 

https://it.ojp.gov/technology-contacts and identify your appropriate contact. The COPS Office is committed to 

avoiding duplication of existing law enforcement information-sharing networks or IT systems that involve 

interagency connectivity between jurisdictions. Therefore, such COPS Office–funded systems should employ, to 

the extent possible, existing systems such as Law Enforcement Online (LEO), Regional Information Sharing Systems 

(RISS), Joint Regional Information Exchange System (JRIES), etc., to achieve interstate connectivity. 

33. Allowable Costs 

Condition: 

The funding under this project is for the payment of approved costs for activities related to the establishment and 

enhancement of a variety of problem-solving strategies to investigate illicit activities related to heroin, fentanyl, 

carfentanil, or other opioids in your jurisdiction. The allowable costs approved for your agency's award are limited 

to those listed in your agency’s award package. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.400(g), the recipient must forgo 

any profit or management fee. Your agency may not use award funds for any costs not identified as allowable in 

the award package. 

Only actual allowable costs incurred during the award period will be eligible for reimbursement and drawdown. If 

your agency experiences any cost savings over the course of the award (for example, your award application 

overestimated the total entry-level officer salary and fringe benefits package), your agency may not use that excess 

funding to extend the length of the award beyond 36 months. Any funds remaining after your agency has drawn 

down for the costs approved during the 36-month funding period will be deobligated during the closeout process, 

and should not be spent by your agency." 

Why this condition: 

Funding under this project may only be used for the purchase of items and services approved by the COPS Office as 

reflected in the award package. The COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program funds the hiring of personnel and 

purchase of equipment, services, and other items that will allow recipients the opportunity to establish and 

enhance a variety of projects to encourage the continuation and enhancement of community policing efforts while 

investigating heroin and other opioid problems in your jurisdiction. 

To be eligible for payment under this award, the purchase or hire of approved items/personnel must be made on 

or after the award start date and comply with the guidelines described in the “Accessing Award Funds” section of 

this manual. The section “Financial Record Maintenance” outlines the types of records you must keep to document 

that you followed this award condition. Purchases and salary/benefit expenditures must also reflect the costs that 

were approved as shown in the award package. 

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What you should do: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

All recipients should keep and maintain the most recent, approved version of their 2023 AHTF application, which 

will contain the approved costs for this award. 

Refer to your award financial information for the list of approved allowable costs. Listed below are the budget 

categories that may appear on your award financial information. As long as funds are spent during the award 

period on the equipment and technology, supplies, travel, contracts/consultants, salary and benefits, and other 

costs that were documented in your application’s budget summary and were approved through the issuance of the 

award financial information, this award condition will be satisfied. The award number should be indicated on all 

budgetary documentation including purchase orders, receipts, and other documentation. 

Equipment 

To be eligible for payment under this award, the purchase of equipment and technology must occur on or after the 

award start date, the items must be those specifically applied for and approved by the COPS Office, and they must 

meet the guidelines described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. Equipment or technology purchased 

on or after the award start date must be in addition to purchases that the recipient is obligated or funded to make 

in its current budget. Funds currently allocated to purchase equipment or technology may not be reallocated to 

other purposes or reimbursed upon the award of an AHTF award. 

Sworn officer positions (salaries and benefits) 

Sworn officer salary and fringe benefits apply to new, full-time, sworn career law enforcement officers not already 

funded in the applicant’s local budget. A career law enforcement officer is a person hired on a permanent basis 

who is authorized by law, or by a state, local, or tribal agency, to engage in or oversee the prevention, detection, 

and/or investigation of violations of criminal laws. Officers must be hired on or after the award start date and 

positions must directly relate to the AHTF project. Officers previously employed by your agency may be rehired 

using AHTF award funds. Rehired officers are officers who meet one of the following conditions: 

• The officer had been laid off by your jurisdiction prior to the original date of the award application as a result 

of state, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget cuts. 

• At the time of the award application, the officer was scheduled to be laid off by your jurisdiction on a specific 

future date as a result of state, local, or BIA budget cuts. 

If current personnel are redeployed into this program, they must be paid with local funds. AHTF award funds may 

be used to backfill the resulting vacancy with newly hired personnel for an equivalent amount of time. (Please 

note: Overtime for sworn officers engaging in AHTF-related activities is an allowable cost; however, any overtime 

expenses requested for sworn officer positions must be listed in the “Other Costs” section of your application’s 

budget. Overtime expenses must exceed the expenditures that your agency is obligated or funded to pay in its 

current budget.) 

Civilian/nonsworn personnel (salaries and benefits) 

Civilian salary and fringe benefits apply to new personnel not already funded in the applicant’s local budget. Staff 

must be hired on or after the award start date, and positions must directly relate to the AHTF project. Examples of 

allowable personnel and fringe benefits costs include those for civilian AHTF project coordinators or antiheroin/drug problem analysts. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Fringe benefits may be paid if they are part of a reasonable compensation package offered to your employees. 

Particular items of fringe benefits must fall within the categories authorized by the COPS Office. Authorized fringe 

benefits include FICA, Social Security, health insurance, life insurance, vacation, sick leave, retirement, worker’s 

compensation, and unemployment insurance. 

Supplies 

All supplies must be used solely for the project identified in your project proposal. Reimbursement for office 

supplies that are consumed by routine administrative purposes instead of project-related activities is prohibited. 

Items must meet the guidelines described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. 

Travel/training 

Travel costs for transportation, lodging, subsistence, temporary dependent care, and related items are allowable 

under the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program with prior approval from the COPS Office. 

In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.474, travel costs for official business directly related to the award will be 

reimbursed based upon the recipient’s written travel reimbursement policies if the costs are reasonable and 

allocable under the project. In the absence of an acceptable written policy regarding travel costs, allowable rates 

and amounts established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for the relevant geographic area will 

apply. The current GSA travel policy and per diem rates can be found at www.gsa.gov. Allowable airfare costs will 

be reimbursed based upon least expensive unrestricted accommodations class offered by commercial airfare, the 

Federal Government contract airfare (if authorized and available), or standard coach airfare, unless otherwise 

authorized in advance by the COPS Office. 

Temporary dependent care costs above and beyond regular dependent care that directly results from conference 

travels are allowable as long as the costs incurred (1) are a direct result of the individual’s travel for the federal 

award; (2) are consistent with the recipient’s documented travel policy for all entity travel; and (3) are only 

temporary during the travel period. 

The COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force program will fund award-related travel costs for the recipient agency or 

other (nonrecipient) individuals to attend training and technical assistance conferences, seminars, or classes or to 

visit a site specified in the application. Allowable award-related travel costs that were included in the application 

have been approved by the COPS Office as part of the AHTF award and final budget. Your agency should keep 

timely and accurate records of all travel expenses. If at any time these costs change, you should immediately 

contact your COPS Office Grant Program Specialist.Contracts/consultants 

Contractors/consultants 

Compensation for individual consultant services procured under a COPS Office award must be reasonable and 

allocable in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E—Cost Principles, and consistent with that paid for similar 

services in the marketplace. Unless otherwise approved by the COPS Office, consultant rates will be based on the 

salary a consultant receives from his or her primary employer, as applicable, up to $650 per day. For consultant or 

contractor rates which exceed $650 per day, the COPS Office requires written justification if the consultants or 

contractors are hired through a noncompetitive bidding process and recipients must receive COPS Office approval 

of those rates before drawing down award funds. Determinations of approval will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Other costs 

Project-related expenditures that do not conform to any of the category descriptions specified above (i.e. sworn 

officer overtime) were included in this section of your award financial information. In addition, items that have a 

direct correlation to the overall success of a recipient’s project objectives and are necessary for the project to 

reach full implementation will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the COPS Office. 

Requests may be made only for items or positions that are not otherwise budgeted with state, local, or BIA funds, 

and would not be funded in the absence of the AHTF award. 

If at any time you are unsure if an item is considered allowable or unallowable, please contact your COPS Office 

Grant Program Specialist for further assistance. 

Please be advised that recipients may not use COPS Office funding for the same item or service also funded by 

another U.S. Department of Justice award. See also award condition “Duplicative Funding.” 

34. Criminal Intelligence Systems 

Condition: 

Recipients using award funds to operate an interjurisdictional criminal intelligence system must comply with the 

operating principles of 28 C.F.R. Part 23. At the time of application, the recipient assured the COPS Office that it will 

comply with the requirements of 28 C.F.R. Part 23. 

Why this condition: 

If your agency receives funding for equipment or technology that will be used to operate an interjurisdictional 

criminal intelligence system, you must comply with the operating principles found in 28 C.F.R. Part 23. An 

interjurisdictional criminal intelligence system is generally defined as a system that receives, stores, analyzes, and 

exchanges or disseminates data regarding ongoing pre-arrest criminal activities (examples of such activities 

include, but are not limited to, loan sharking, drug or stolen property trafficking, gambling, extortion, smuggling, 

bribery, and public corruption) and shares this data with other law enforcement jurisdictions. 28 C.F.R. Part 23 

contains operating principles for these interjurisdictional criminal intelligence systems which protect individual 

privacy and constitutional rights. 

If your agency will use AHTF program funds simply to operate a single agency database (or other unrelated forms 

of technology) and will not share criminal intelligence data with other jurisdictions, 28 C.F.R. Part 23 does not 

apply to this award. 

What you should do: 

All AHTF recipients were required to agree to the Certification of Review of Criminal Intelligence Systems/28 C.F.R. 

Part 23 as part of their application proposal so the COPS Office can track which agencies intend to use their award 

funds to operate interjurisdictional criminal intelligence systems. If your agency intends to use award funds to 

operate an interjurisdictional criminal intelligence system, you should have indicated this in your application and 

certified your agency’s agreement to comply with the operating principles found at 28 C.F.R. Part 23. Your agency 

now must comply with 28 C.F.R. Part 23 in operating the inter-jurisdictional criminal intelligence system funded 

through your AHTF award. 

39 
35. Law Enforcement Information Sharing 

Condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Recipients agree to share relevant law enforcement information collected as a result of AHTF funding with the U.S. 

Department of Justice Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Fusion Center. 

Why this condition: 

The AHTF award is intended to assist states in tackling their heroin and opioid challenges. To coordinate rapid and 

targeted responses to overdose events and to support investigative efforts, AHTF award recipients must share 

information with federal, state, local, and tribal public safety partners. Sharing public safety data on drug 

investigations, diversion reports, and changing local illicit drug supply can help inform public health preparedness 

and response efforts. 

What you should do: 

AHTF award recipients must share all relevant law enforcement information with the OCDETF Fusion Center. 

36. Contracts and/or MOUs with other Jurisdictions 

Condition: 

Equipment, technology, training, vehicles, sworn law enforcement officer positions and civilian positions, awarded 

must only be used for law enforcement activities or services that benefit your agency/taskforce and the population 

that it serves. The items funded under an AHTF award cannot be utilized by other agencies/taskforces unless the 

items benefit the population that your agency/taskforce serves." 

Why this condition: 

The AHTF award is intended to benefit the communities within the recipient’s primary law enforcement 

jurisdiction. Therefore, the recipient must use the AHTF award funding to benefit its own service population. 

What you should do: 

Officers funded under the AHTF award cannot provide contract law enforcement services to other agencies unless 

they will directly benefit the recipient’s jurisdiction. For example, a sheriff’s department cannot use an AHTFfunded officer to provide contract law enforcement services to a neighboring county but can use the AHTF-funded 

officer to provide direct law enforcement services to towns within its own county. 

37. Career Law Enforcement Officer 

Condition: 

Officer hiring funds may only be used to pay salaries and fringe benefits for full-time “career law enforcement 

officers”. The COPS Office’s statute defines a “career law enforcement officer” as “a person hired on a permanent 

basis who is authorized by law or by a State or local public agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, 

detection, or investigation of violations of criminal laws.” 34 U.S.C. §10389(1). A recipient agency may use officer 

hiring funds to pay the salary and benefits of recruits while in academy training to become “career law 

enforcement officers” if it is the standard practice of the agency to do so with locally-funded recruits. The State of 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Alaska, and any Indian tribe or tribal organization in that State, may also use officer hiring funds for a “village 

public safety officer” defined as “an individual employed as a village public safety officer under the program 

established by the State pursuant to Alaska Statute 18.65.670.” Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-211, 

title II, § 247 (a)(2). 

Why this condition: 

Pursuant to the related statutory authorities, COPS Office funding is for the hiring and rehiring of “career law 

enforcement officers” (34 U.S.C. § 10381(b)(1) – (2)) and “village public safety officers” (Tribal Law and Order Act 

of 2010, Pub. L. 111-211, title II, § 247(b)). 

What you should do: 

You must use COPS Office funding awarded for officer hiring to pay for the salary and benefits of “career law 

enforcement officers” and/or “village public safety officers.” A recipient may use COPS Office funding to pay the 

salary and benefits of recruits while in academy training to become “career law enforcement officers” if it is the 

standard practice of your agency to pay those same costs for locally funded recruits. 

38. Background Investigations 

Condition: 

Recipient agrees to ensure that each officer(s) hired with AHTF funding will be subject to a background 

investigation, notify the COPS Office upon completion of the background investigation for each officer hired under 

the AHTF award, and cooperate with the COPS Office and provide updates on the status of background 

investigations upon request. 2 C.F.R. § 200.208. If the COPS Office determines that AHTF funds are being used to 

pay the salary and fringe benefits of an officer who has not undergone a background investigation, the COPS Office 

may temporarily suspend grant funds in accordance with 2 C.F.R. §200.339 until the agency can demonstrate the 

background investigation has been completed. 

Why this condition: 

The officer background investigation requirement reduces the risk of hiring officers with past convictions of 

domestic violence, sexual assault, and other serious crimes. 

What you should do: 

You must complete a background investigation for each officer before hiring the officer to fill a COPS-funded 

officer position. Background investigations can include, but are not limited to, criminal history checks, credit 

checks, resume validation, work history verification, and personal and professional references. Background 

investigations may be conducted by the provider of your choosing. 

In addition, you should notify the COPS Office via your grant program specialist upon completion of the 

background investigation for each officer hired under a COPS Office award, cooperate with the COPS Office and 

provide updates on the status of background investigations upon request. 

41 
39. Modifications 

Condition: 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Occasionally, a change in an agency’s fiscal or law enforcement situation necessitates a change in its COPS Office 

AHTF award. Award modifications under AHTF are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 

200.308(f). For federal awards in excess of $250,000, any modification request involving the reallocation of funding 

between budget categories that exceed or are expected to exceed 10 percent (10%) of the total approved budget 

requires prior written approval by the COPS Office. Regardless of the federal award amount or budget modification 

percentage, any reallocation of funding is limited to approved budget categories. In addition, any budget 

modification that changes the scope of the project requires prior written approval by the COPS Office. In addition, 

please be aware that the COPS Office will not approve any modification request that results in an increase of 

federal funds. 

Why this condition: 

The COPS Office realizes that agencies may need to reprogram award funds. Under federal regulations, you are 

required to expend award funds only as approved in the award financial information. Requests to change or alter 

awards require written approval from the COPS Office prior to their implementation. Without prior written 

approval, you must continue to implement your award as it was originally awarded and accepted by your agency. 

Reprogrammed funds must be allocated for items covered within the original scope of the award. Please be 

advised that reprogramming requests for unallowable costs will not be approved (construction, indirect costs, 

etc.).Your agency may reprogram its budget up to an aggregate (over the course of your project) of 10 percent of 

the total project cost without prior written approval from the COPS Office. However, you should notify your COPS 

Office Grant Program Specialist of any reprogramming that falls below the 10 percent threshold as well. For 

awards in excess of $250,000, any reprogramming of funds that totals an aggregate of 10 percent or more of the 

approved budget requires prior written approval from the COPS Office. 

What you should do: 

You are required to notify your COPS Office Grant Program Specialist if you determine that your agency will need 

to reprogram award funds. If your modification exceeds an aggregated (over the course of your project) 10 percent 

of your overall award, your agency must access the award through the JustGrants website [link]. 

Please contact your COPS Office Grant Program Specialist for further direction on any additional requirements that 

may apply to your modification request. The COPS Office will then evaluate your request and notify your agency of 

our decision in writing. Implementation of the modified award budget may begin following written approval from 

the COPS Office. Please note that modification approvals for active awards will be accompanied by modified award 

financial information reflecting the approved changes. 

40. Information Data Breach 

Condition: 

Requirement to report actual or imminent breach of personally identifiable information (PII). 

The recipient (and any subrecipient at any tier) must have written procedures in place to respond in the event of an 

actual or imminent breach (as defined in OMB M-17-12) if it (or a subrecipient)-- 1) creates, collects, uses, 

processes, stores, maintains, disseminates, discloses, or disposes of personally identifiable information (PII) (as 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

defined in 2 C.F.R. 200.1) within the scope of a COPS Office grant-funded program or activity, or 2) uses or operates 

a Federal information system (as defined in OMB Circular A-130). The recipient's breach procedures must include a 

requirement to report actual or imminent breach of PII to the recipient’s COPS Office Program Manager no later 

than 24 hours after an occurrence of an actual breach, or the detection of an imminent breach. OMB 

Memorandum M-17-12, Preparing for and Responding to a Breach of Personally Identifiable Information. 

Why this condition: 

OMB requires recipients and subrecipients to establish written procedures to respond to an actual breach, or the 

detection of an imminent breach involving personally identifiable information (PII), if within the scope of their 

award, they will create, collect, use, process, store, maintain, disseminate, disclose, or dispose of PII or will use or 

operate a Federal information system. Recipient breach procedures must include a requirement to notify the 

Federal awarding agency in the event of such a breach. 

What you should do: 

If any part of your COPS Office award involves your agency creating, collecting, using, processing, storing, 

maintaining, disseminating, disclosing, or disposing of PII, or the use or operation of a Federal information system, 

your agency must have written procedures in place to respond to an actual breach, or the detection of an 

imminent breach involving personally identifiable information (PII), including notification to your COPS Office 

Program Manager no later than 24 hours following such breach. 

Written procedures should promote cooperation and the free exchange of information with the COPS Office, as 

needed, to properly escalate, refer, and respond to a breach. 

41. Law Enforcement Coordination 

Condition: 

Recipients must coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to maximize the impact 

and effectiveness of the award. The recipient must coordinate and work with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in its state; 

coordinate and work with the local and tribal (as applicable) law enforcement agencies in any area impacted by the 

work of the COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program; and coordinate, as appropriate, with other federal law 

enforcement partners, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 

to assist tribal law enforcement agencies . 

Why this condition: 

The AHTF award is intended to assist states in tackling their heroin and opioid challenges. To ensure maximum 

impact and effectiveness of the award, AHTF award recipients must coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 

its state, and work with local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. 

What you should do: 

AHTF award recipients must coordinate with their U.S. Attorney’s Office and work with local and tribal law 

enforcement agencies. 

43 
II. Accessing Award Funds 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

This section provides answers to payment-related questions, including all the information needed to set up your 

payments. For assistance with financial management and award administration, please contact the COPS Office 

Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or visit our website at https://cops.usdoj.gov. 

Payment method 

What method of payment is used? 

There is currently one payment system available for accessing federal award funds --the Automatic Standard 

Application for Payments (ASAP) which is the shared services payment system used by the Department of the 

Treasury . Through this platform, recipients of DOJ grant awards and other forms of federal assistance will be able 

to request and receive payments for grants managed through JustGrants. 

Setting Up Your Account 

The Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service – ISIM PP will send two emails to the entity’s System 

for Award Management (SAM) Electronic Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC)—one containing a username and 

one containing a temporary password and a link to create a new password. Fiscal Service is requiring that all users 

register with ID.me, enable multi-factor authentication(MFA) and validate their identity no later than September 

15, 2023. 

After receiving both emails, the POC must complete the following steps: 

1. Use the username and temporary password provided to log in to the ISIM system to change your 

password and complete your security questions. 

2. Log in to ASAP using your username and your new password. 

3. Accept the ASAP terms. 

4. Select “1 notification awaiting review.” 

5. Select “Unread” from the Notification Status drop-down menu, then select “Continue.” 

6. Select the magnifying glass on the right side of the screen to view the Enrollment Notifications. 

To learn more about the ASAP registration process, please see the ASAP Registration Checklist. 

If you have questions or need help using ASAP, you can contact the ASAP help desk at: 

Email: ASAPHelpDesk@fiscal.treasury.gov 

Phone: 855-868-0151 (select option 2; then select option 3) 

Fax: 816-414-2120 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

When should Federal Financial Reports be filed? 

After your agency accepts the award, under current regulations, you are required to submit quarterly Federal 

Financial Reports (FFRs) using a Standard Form 425 (SF-425). This report reflects the actual monies spent and 

unliquidated obligations incurred by your agency. You will not be able to make drawdowns from you ASAP account 

if the SF-425 for the most recent reporting quarter has not been submitted in JustGrants by the deadline date. 

Recipients are required to submit their SF-425 reports in the Just-Grants portal: https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/ 

For more information on how to complete and where to submit your quarterly SF-425, see the section of this 

manual, titled “Reporting Requirements”. 

Filing the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) identifies your federal and local expenditures made during that calendar 

quarter. However, to receive actual payment, you must request it through ASAP. 

The FFR is submitted in JustGrants, and can only be submitted by someone with the role of “Financial Manager”. 

FFRs may be submitted 10 calendar days or less from a reporting period end date until the due date. Once the due 

date passes, a delinquent report can still be submitted by a Financial Manager. A Financial Manager also has 

privileges to edit and resubmit FFRs. The most recent Quarterly FFR can be reopened and resubmitted if the due 

date has not passed. Similarly, a Final FFR can be reopened and resubmitted up to 120 days after the project 

period end date. You must contact your awarding office to reopen and resubmit a final FFR anytime beyond 120 

days after the award end date. Funds are frozen/suspended one day after the due date if the report is not 

submitted. Funds are released once the delinquent FFR is submitted. 

Additional payment questions 

Can we receive advances? 

Yes. If you receive funds through electronic transfer, the period allowed is 10 days in advance. In general, the 

concept of “minimum cash on hand” applies to COPS Office awards. This concept requires that your agency 

request funds based upon immediate cash disbursement needs. You should time your request for payment to 

ensure that federal cash on hand is the minimum that you need. 

There should be no excess federal award funds on hand, except for advances not exceeding 10 days, as noted 

earlier. 

The Federal Government has four basic rules regarding advances. Advances can be terminated if the recipient 

1. is unwilling or unable to attain project goals; 

2. maintains excess cash on hand; 

3. does not adhere to the terms and conditions of the grant; and/or 

4. fails to submit reliable or timely reports. 

How often can we request reimbursement of costs? 

There are no limitations on how often your agency may request reimbursements; however, your reimbursement 

requests should cover a specific time frame and include only costs that were approved in the award financial 

information. As a general guideline, most agencies request reimbursement on a monthly or quarterly basis. Also, 

please note that a date range for a reimbursement request can only be used once. 

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Can we earn interest on our award funds? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

For states, payments are governed by Treasury-State CMIA agreements and default procedures codified at 31 

C.F.R. Part 205 ‘‘Rules and Procedures for Efficient Federal-State Funds Transfers’’ and TFM 4A–2000 Overall 

Disbursing Rules for All Federal Agencies. 

For nonfederal entities other than states, payment methods must minimize the time between your drawdown of 

federal funds and your payment of award costs to avoid earning excess interest on your award funds. You must 

account for interest earned on advances of federal funds as follows: 

• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) uniform guidance at 2 C.F.R. § 200.305(b)(9) states that interest 

earned on federal advance payments deposited in interest-bearing accounts up to $500 per year may be 

retained by the nonfederal entity for administrative expenses. 

• Any interest earned on federal advance payments deposited in interest-bearing accounts that is in excess of 

$500 per year must be remitted annually to the Department of Health and Human Services Payment 

Management System (PMS) through an electronic medium using either Automated Clearing House (ACH) 

network or a Fedwire Funds Service payment. For detailed information on remittance please see the 

appendices of the Award Owner’s Manual for a full text of the electronic medium remittance options. 

• If you do not have access to an electronic medium option, then please make a check payable to “The 

Department of Health and Human Services” and mail the check to Treasury-approved lockbox: HHS Program 

Support Center, P.O. Box 530231, Atlanta, GA 30353-0231. (Please allow 4–6 weeks for processing of a 

payment by check to be applied to the appropriate Payment Management System (PMS) account). 

• Please notify your COPS Office Staff Accountant in the COPS Office Finance Business Unit when any interest 

that is earned is remitted to the Department of Health and Human Services, Payment Management System. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

III. Financial Record Maintenance 

Your agency is required to establish and maintain accounting systems and financial records to accurately account 

for funds awarded and disbursed. These records must include both federal funds and any local funds contributed 

to this project. 

Accounting systems and records 

What accounting systems are required? 

As required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 (Internal control over compliance requirements for federal awards), your 

accounting system should be designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the 

following objectives for federal awards: 

• Funds, property, and other assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition. 

• Transactions are executed in compliance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, and the award terms 

and conditions. 

• Transactions are properly recorded and accounted for in order to prepare reliable financial statements and 

federal reports and to maintain accountability over assets. 

What records must be kept? 

Your agency’s fiscal control and accounting systems should enable you to make accurate, current, and complete 

disclosure of the financial activity under your COPS Office award. Your accounting records should contain 

information showing expenditures under the award and must be supported by items such as payroll records, time 

and attendance records, cancelled checks, or similar documents. 

Your agency must adequately safeguard award funds and make sure that they are used for authorized purposes 

only. Your agency will be responsible for refunding any unallowable expenses. 

How long must records be kept? 

All financial records and supporting documents associated with your award (including payroll, time and attendance 

records, canceled checks, and purchase orders) must be retained for a period of three years from the date of 

submission of the final expenditure report as stated in 2 CFR §200.334 (Retention requirements for records). 

Your agency should maintain records so that you can identify them by award year or by fiscal year, whichever you 

find more convenient. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving these records has been 

started before the end of the three-year period, the records should be kept until completion of the action. These 

records should be easily located and should be properly protected against fire or other damage. Failure to 

maintain adequate records to document award expenditures may result in a requirement to repay all federal funds 

that cannot be supported with appropriate records. 

47 
What if we have more than one award? 

 

 

2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

If your agency has more than one COPS Office award or an award from another federal agency, funds received 

under one project may not be used to support another project without specific written authorization from the 

COPS Office, or in the case of an award from another agency, from both awarding agencies. Your accounting 

systems and financial records must reflect expenditures for each project separately. 

Who may access our records? 

Authorized federal representatives, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Comptroller 

General of the United States, the COPS Office, and any entity designated by the COPS Office may access these 

records for the purposes of conducting audits, site visits, or other examinations. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

IV. Procurement Process 

If your award allows purchase of goods or services, see below. 

In general, recipients are required to procure funded items through open and free competition when feasible. For 

the purchase of equipment, technology, or services under a COPS Office award, recipients must follow their own 

policies and procedures on procurement as long as those requirements conform to the federal procurement 

requirements set forth in the uniform administrative requirements (2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317 – 200.326). Consistent with 

the uniform administrative requirements that prohibit procurement practices that restrict competition, recipients 

and subrecipients may not discriminate against any person or entity on the basis of a person or entity’s status as 

an “associate of the Federal Government” (or on the basis of a person or entity’s status as a parent, affiliate, or 

subsidiary of an associate of the Federal Government). The term “associate of the Federal Government” means 

any person or entity engaged or employed (in the past or at present) by or on behalf of the Federal Government as 

an employee, contractor, subcontractor, award recipient, subrecipient, agent, or otherwise. 

As described in the award condition titled “Sole Source Justification”, recipients are required to submit a sole 

source justification (SSJ) request to the COPS Office for noncompetitive procurements in excess of $250,000 prior 

to purchasing equipment, technology, or services; obligating funding for a contract; or entering into a contract 

with award funds. If submitting a sole source justification request to the COPS Office, please follow the steps 

described in the Sole Source Justification fact sheet . 

If you have any questions regarding the federal requirements that guide procurement procedures, please email 

the COPS Office Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or visit the COPS Office online at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov. 

2023 SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants 

(SAFECOM Guidance) 

To promote consistency in emergency communications policy across the Federal Government, your agency is 

invited to review the annual SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants. This document is updated 

annually to provide current information on emergency communications policies, eligible costs, best practices, and 

technical standards for state, local, tribal, and territorial grant recipients investing federal funds in emergency 

communications projects. 

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V. Federal Audit Requirements 

In addition to oversight by the COPS Office, your award may be subject to an audit by independent examiners. The 

two primary types of audit are Single Audit Act (SAA) audits and U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector 

General (OIG) audits. 

Single Audit Act (SAA) requirements 

What are the regulations governing SAA requirements? 

The Single Audit Act (SAA) of 1984 established uniform guidelines and standardized audit requirements for States, 

local governments, and Indian tribal governments receiving federal financial assistance.The 1984 Act was amended 

in July 1996, by extending these requirements to all non profit recipients of federal financial assistance. On 

December 26, 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)6614 issued final guidance for 2 CFR Part 200— 

Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform 

Guidance). This guidance applies to all federal awards or funding increments awarded on or after December 26, 

2014 and provides additional guidelines regarding the implementation of SAA requirements. 2 C.F.R. Part 200, 

Subpart F – Audit Requirements, available at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part200/subpart-F, establishes the requirements for organizational audits that apply to COPS Office award recipients. 

Recipients must arrange for the required organization-wide (not award-by-award) audit in accordance with the 

requirements of Subpart F. 

Who must have an SAA audit? 

A recipient that expends $750,000 or more during the recipient's fiscal year in federal awards must have a single 

audit conducted in accordance with 2 CFR §200.514 (Scope of audit) except when it elects to have a programspecific audit conducted in accordance with 2 CFR §200.501(c). An auditee may be a recipient, a subrecipient, or a 

vendor. 

SAA audits are conducted annually unless a state or local government is required by constitution or statute in 

effect on January 1, 1987 to undergo audits less frequently than annually. The primary objective of an SAA audit is 

to express opinions on the recipient’s financial statements, internal controls, major and non-major award 

programs, and compliance with government laws and regulations. Single Audits may also address specific 

compliance issues with respect to COPS Office award requirements. 

In cases of continued inability or unwillingness to have an audit conducted in accordance with this part, federal 

agencies and pass-through entities must take appropriate action as provided in 2 C.F.R. §200.339 (Remedies for 

noncompliance). See 2 C.F.R. §200.505. 

These sanctions under §200.339 could include the following: 

• Disallowing (that is, denying both use of funds and any applicable matching credit for) all or part of the cost of 

the activity or action not in compliance 

• Initiating suspension or debarment proceedings as authorized under 2 CFR part 180 and federal awarding 

agency regulations (or in the case of a pass-through entity, recommend such a proceeding be initiated by a 

federal awarding agency) 

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• Temporarily withholding cash payments pending correction of the deficiency by the nonfederal entity or more 

severe enforcement action by the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity 

• Wholly or partly suspending or terminating the federal award 

• Withholding further federal awards for the project or program 

• Taking other remedies that may be legally available 

Your SAA reports should not be sent to the COPS Office. 

If the U.S. Department of Justice is your cognizant federal agency (see the Glossary of Terms in the appendices), 

consult the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on where the audit should be uploaded. 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) serves as the liaison between recipients and 

auditors in the conduct of resolving and closing SAA audits. Questions and comments regarding SAA audits may be 

directed to the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770. 

Office of Inspector General (OIG) recipient audits 

What is the role of the OIG for award audits? 

The OIG is a separate component of the U.S. Department of Justice and is independent of the COPS Office. The 

primary objective of OIG recipient audits is to assess compliance with award terms and conditions. OIG audits are 

designed to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of federal funds. The OIG audit process promotes efficiency and 

effectiveness in the administration and implementation of awards by evaluating compliance with the terms and 

conditions of awards. 

How are COPS Office awards selected for an OIG audit? 

The OIG randomly selects awards to be audited or may conduct a COPS Office recipient audit in response to a 

referral that the OIG believes warrants further evaluation. The OIG also surveys DOJ award-making agencies on an 

annual basis to solicit input on suggested audit areas for the upcoming fiscal year. In most instances, however, the 

OIG generally selects awards to be audited based on a number of factors, including the geographical distribution of 

awards funded, award amount, population served, award status (active and expired), and type of award (hiring 

and non-hiring). As such, the fact that a recipient has been selected for an OIG audit is not necessarily indicative of 

a suspected concern or problem area. 

What are the steps in an OIG audit? 

The COPS Office Grant Monitoring Division’s Audit Liaison Section serves as the liaison between recipients and the 

OIG’s Audit Division, which conducts the audit. The OIG steps in the audit process will determine the interactions 

between the OIG, the recipient, and the COPS Audit Liaison Section. 

• Call for award data. The OIG requests award documentation from the COPS Office. 

• Entrance conference. The OIG schedules to meet with the recipient to gather documentation and conduct 

audit. 

• Draft audit report. The OIG reviews documentation and presents initial findings to the recipient and copies 

the COPS Office. The COPS Office interacts with the recipient to coordinate any repayments and/or policy or 

procedure documents to be submitted to the OIG before release of Final Audit Report. 

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• Final audit report. The OIG has completed its direct interaction with the recipient. The COPS Office directs the 

recipient to formulate a Corrective Action Plan to address recommendations (findings). As each 

recommendation is successfully addressed by the recipient, the COPS Office requests closure on the 

recommendation. 

• Closing the audit. When all recommendations have been closed, the COPS Office requests closure on the audit 

from the OIG and notifies the recipient that the audit is closed. 

If you have any questions regarding an OIG audit, please contact the COPS Office Grant Monitoring Division’s Audit 

Liaison Section, via the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770. Questions and comments regarding the 

administration of your COPS Office award, not specifically related to an audit, should be referred to your COPS 

Office grant manager. 

Typical audit findings 

The OIG has typically reported the following audit findings pertaining to awards as a result of lack of proper 

documentation, poor business practices, or inadequate accounting and record keeping systems: 

• Unallowable costs. Recipient incurred costs that were not approved in the original budget or a budget 

modification, were in excess of the approved budget, or were charged to the award after the expiration date 

and an award extension was not obtained. 

• Unsupported costs. Specific award expenditures and reimbursements could not be supported by adequate 

documentation (including but not limited to receipts or purchase orders), that may have been allowable under 

the program, but for which no prior written approval was obtained from the COPS Office, or award 

expenditures were in excess of actual approved award costs. 

• Lack of complete/timely programmatic and financial reporting. Recipient failed to submit required 

programmatic and financial reports in a timely manner and/or had inadequate record keeping systems. 

• Failure to retain. Recipient lacked documentation to support retention planning efforts during the award 

period and/or failed to demonstrate an increase in the baseline of locally funded sworn officer positions at the 

conclusion of federal funding, over and above what the recipient would have funded in absence of the award. 

• Supplanting. Recipient could not document efforts to backfill vacant local sworn officer positions, or recipient 

could not explain reductions in local law enforcement budget or in sworn officer positions during the award 

period. 

• Lack of adequate community policing. Recipient had difficulty demonstrating community policing activities. 

• Funds to better use. Funds could be used more efficiently based on management actions such as reductions in 

outlays; deobligation of funds; withdrawal; costs not incurred by implementing recommended improvements; 

and other identified savings. 

• Questioned costs. Costs that are questioned by the auditor because of an audit finding which resulted from a 

violation or possible violation of a provision of law, regulation, award terms and conditions, or other 

document governing the use of federal funds; or because costs incurred appear unreasonable and do not 

reflect the actions a prudent person would take under the same circumstances; or because costs at the time of 

the audit are not supported by adequate documentation. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

• Policy and procedure. Weaknesses are identified in a recipient’s accounting practices, fiscal stewardship, 

accuracy of data used in the development of the award applications, and/or inventory controls that led to the 

recommendation cited in the audit. The recipient is required to develop or revise policies and/or procedures 

consistent with their existing practices and submit to the COPS Office to forward to the OIG to close the 

recommendation. 

After the final OIG audit report has been issued, the COPS Office Grant Monitoring Division will continue working 

as the liaison between your agency and the OIG to obtain closure on any audit findings. The COPS Office will issue 

a closure letter once all audit recommendations have been closed by the OIG. You must keep all documentation 

related to the audit for a period of three years following the audit’s closure. 

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VI. Reporting Requirements 

As a COPS Office award recipient, youragency will be required to submit quarterly Federal Financial Reports (FFR) 

as well as semi-annual performance reports. Awarded agencies should be prepared to track and report award 

funding separately from other funding sources (including other COPS Office and federal awards) to ensure accurate 

financial and programmatic reporting on a timely basis. Your agency should ensure that you have financial internal 

controls in place to monitor the use of award funding and ensure that its use is consistent with the award terms 

and conditions. Good stewardship in this area includes written accounting practices and use of an accounting 

system that tracks all award drawdowns and expenditures and has the ability to track when COPS Office awardfunded positions are filled or vacant or when approved purchases are made. Failure to submit complete reports, or 

submit them in a timely manner, may result in the suspension and possible termination of your agency’s COPS 

Office award funding or other remedial actions. 

Federal Financial Reports 

As a reminder, the only role within JustGrants that can submit the federal financial report (FFR) is the Financial 

Manager. Individuals with that role in JustGrants should review JustGrants resources online for guidance on how to 

complete and submit FFRs in the JustGrants system. 

Your agency is required to submit quarterly Federal Financial Reports using Standard Form 425 (SF-425) within 30 

days after the end of each calendar quarter. A final SF-425 will be due within 120 days after the end of the award 

period. This report reflects the actual cumulative federal expenditures incurred during the funding period and the 

remaining unobligated balance of federal funds. Under federal regulations, your agency is not permitted to draw 

down federal funding for costs incurred after the official award end date; however, you will have a 120-day period 

after the award end date during which you can drawdown funds for eligible expenditures incurred before the 

award end date. 

How do we file Federal Financial Reports ? 

All COPS award recipients are strongly encouraged to submit the required quarterly SF-425 online. 

To submit an FFR, follow these steps: 

• Navigate to the JustGrants Home link on the left-hand side. 

• Go to your Task List. 

• Open the FFR you want to edit/submit. 

Once the FFR opens, the Recipient Information appears, select Continue to move to the next screen. Note: The 

data on this page is prepopulated from the award document and the entity profile. 

The Report Information screen contains several required fields. 

(a) Enter the Recipient Account Number. 

(b) Select the Report Type. 

(c) Select the Basis of Accounting. Scroll down to the Transactions section. 

The following fields are not editable because they are not required for DOJ: 

10a. Cash Receipts 

10b. Cash Disbursements 

10c. Cash on Hand (line a minus b) 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

• Enter information in the following fields as appropriate: 

10d. Total Federal funds authorized 

10g. Total Federal share (sum lines e & f) 

10e. Federal share of expenditures 

10f. Federal Share of unliquidated obligations 

10h. Unobligated balance of Federal funds (line d minus g) 

10j. Recipient share of expenditures 

Cumulative expenditures must be entered in line 10e, 10j, 10f, 10j, 10m, and 10n. Cumulative expenditures 

are defined as: The amount from the awards inception to the end of the reporting period. 

• Enter information in the following fields as appropriate: 

10k. Remaining recipient share to be provided (line i minus j) 

10l. Total Federal program income earned (Please note, program income needs to be approved by COPS 

Office program manager.) 

10m. Program Income expended in accordance with the deduction alternative 

10n. Program Income expended in accordance with the addition alternative 

10o. Unexpended program income 

• Select Continue 

In the Remarks and Certification screen, enter text in box 12. Additional Information. 

• Note: If the figures in line 10e or 10j are less than the previous reporting period, you are required to add 

additional narrative in Box 12 “Remarks” explaining this discrepancy. Failure to do so will result in a validation 

error. 

• Select Upload Supporting Documents to attach a document 

• Review the certification information. Select the Submit button. 

The FFR status will be changed to “Resolved-Completed” once the FFR data is transferred to the Unified Financial 

Management System (UFMS). 

When are Federal Financial Reports due?

An SF-425 report must be submitted for each COPS office award at the end of every calender quarter and no later 

than 30 days after the last day of each reporting period, as detailed in table 1. 

Table 1. Due dates of SF-425 by quarter 

Reporting quarter SF-425 due date 

January 1–March 31 April 30 

April 1–June 30 July 30 

July 1–September 30 October 30 

October 1–December 31 January 30 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

For your initial SF-425 submission, determine when the most recent SF-425 reporting quarter ended and complete 

an SF-425 to cover the period from the award start date to the end of that period. You are required to submit an 

SF-425 even if you have not spent any money or incurred any costs during a reporting period. The due dates for 

online filing of SF-425s are the same as for the submission of paper copies. 

Example: 

If your award start date is 09-01-23 and the current date is 11-15-23, then your first SF-425 would be due no later 

than 10-30-23 and would cover the period 09-01-23 (award start date) through 09-30-23 (end of the initial 

reporting quarter for this award). This SF-425 must be on file with the COPS Office before the submission deadline 

so that you can avoid being delinquent and successfully complete a drawdown of funds through ASAP (submit 

report as soon as you accept the award and have access JustGrants and ASAP). 

Award recipients who do not submit SF-425s by the due date each quarter will be unable to draw down award 

funds until the report has been successfully submitted. The payment system contains a function which checks for 

SF-425 delinquency and will reject a drawdown attempt if the SF-425 is not up to date. Subsequent outreach 

through e-mail or hard copy reminders may be sent to the recipient if the SF-425 is delinquent. 

For general information concerning online filing of SF-425 reports, go to https://cops.usdoj.gov/ or contact the 

COPS Office Response Center by e-mail at AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov. 

How will awards funds be monitored? 

The COPS Office and designated representatives from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Justice 

Programs monitor the financial aspects of your agency’s award through financial reports, on-site visits, officebased grant reviews, meetings, telephone contacts, reports, audits, reviews of grant change requests, and special 

request submissions. 

Performance Reports 

Semiannual Performance Reports and a Final Performance (Closeout) Report are required to be submitted directly 

to the COPS Office via JustGrants. Agencies must submit a separate performance report for each award. 

How do we file a Performance Report? 

Only the Grants Award Administrator for your organization will be able to view and submit a performance report. 

For information on assigning a Grant Award Administrator to your award, see the Entity Management Job Aid 

Reference Guide on the JustGrants website. 

To submit your performance report, please log in to JustGrants and check your worklist or the “Funded Award 

Performance Management” tab for performance reports. The Grant Award Administrator can locate the current 

report question set in JustGrants in two locations: My Worklist or on the Performance Management tab of the 

funded award. Information on JustGrants Performance Reporting is found here. 

If you experience issues with submitting your performance report, please contact JustGrants Support at 

JustGrants.support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175, Monday through Friday between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 

p.m. ET; and Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. 

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How do we file a final performance report? 

You should complete a final performance report within 120 days of the period of performance end date. To submit 

a final report, the Grants Award Administrator should locate the report question set in My Worklist or on the 

Performance Management tab. The report cover page will ask whether the report is interim progress report or a 

final report – please select “final” to view final report questions. 

When are Performance Reports due? 

Semiannual performance reports are due in March and August, as shown in table 2. 

Table 2. Due dates of Performance Reports by semi-annual dates. 

Reporting Period Program Progress Report due date 

August 1 – January 31 March 2 

February 1 – July 31 August 30 

What kind of information will these reports require? 

These reports will request information about the status of your award in terms of hiring personnel, purchasing 

equipment, delivering service, and progress in meeting milestones identified in the award document. as well as 

general information about your agency. 

What if we make a mistake or need to modify the report after it is submitted? 

You may contact your grant manager at 800-421-8770 for any assistance including if you need to correct a mistake 

or make any other changes. 

Will the data that we submit be publicly available? 

Performance Reports submitted to the COPS Office may be reported publicly in response to a Freedom of 

Information Act (FOIA) request. 

If your agency has any questions regarding the submission of these required reports, please contact the COPS 

Office. 

Entity Management 

If you do not have the ability to submit your federal financial report or performance report, this may indicate that 

the Entity Administrator for your organization has not made the correct work assignment to your grant. To confirm 

the work assignment has been properly made, the Entity Administrator should follow the steps below to confirm: 

1. Log in to JustGrants. 2. Click “Awards” from the left menu. 3. Click “Show/Hide Roles.” 4. Click the “Financial 

Manager” and “Grant Award Administrator” check boxes. 5. Click “Confirm.” If the Financial Manager and Grant 

Award Administrator’s names appear under the respective columns, then the work assignment has been properly 

made and those users should be able to complete and submit the reports. 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

If the names do not appear in the respective columns, the Entity Administrator should take the following steps: 1. 

Click the check box next to the award ID. 2. Choose a role (e.g., Financial Manager, Grant Award Administrator) 

from the “Choose Role” dropdown menu (bottom of the screen). 3. Choose the individual’s name from the “Assign 

to” drop-down menu. 4. Click “Assign.” Once the Entity Administrator has completed these steps, the assigned 

Financial Manager and Grant Award Administrator should be able to access and submit the respective reports. 

Contact points to obtain technical assistance and report violations 

Any alleged violations, serious irregularities, or acts that may result in the use of public funds in a manner 

inconsistent with the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994 or the purposes of this award, 

may be reported to the U.S. Department of Justice. Furthermore, the COPS Office welcomes the opportunity to 

provide assistance regarding the implementation of award provisions to help ensure that federal award funds are 

spent responsibly. As such, the following contacts are provided to address noncompliance and technical assistance 

issues: 

• If you suspect violations of a criminal nature, please contact the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the 

Inspector General (OIG) at https://oig.justice.gov/hotline, OIG.hotline@usdoj.gov, or 800-869-4499. 

• If you suspect award violations (not criminal in nature) related to the award conditions listed in this manual, 

please contact the COPS Office Grant Monitoring Division at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

• If you have any questions or need assistance regarding your award, please contact your COPS Office grant 

manager via the COPS Office Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

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VII. When the Award Period Has Ended 

At the end of your agency’s award period, the COPS Office is responsible for the closeout of your award. As part of 

this process, the COPS Office requires documentation demonstrating that your agency has met all of the financial 

and programmatic requirements of the award. 

After the end of the award period, your agency is required to submit a final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and 

any applicable final performance reports. 

Final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) 

The final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) for your award is due to the COPS Office no later than 120 days after 

the end of the award period. The final report should reflect the total amount of allowable federal expenditures 

that were incurred during the life of the award, as well as the amount of unobligated funds remaining, if any. The 

federal funds expended should reflect only the actual allowable costs incurred during the period of performance of 

the award. In addition, once you have completed your final drawdown, this report should reconcile with the total 

amount of federal funds drawn down by your agency. The final SF-425 should also include the required minimum 

total amount of local (recipient) cash match contributed, if applicable. 

When should all of the award monies be spent? 

Award funds reflecting allowable project costs must be obligated before the end of the award period. Obligated 

funds cover monies spent, and expenses incurred but not yet paid, for any approved items listed in the award 

package. Your organization has up to 120 days after the end of the award period to pay for eligible expenses 

previously incurred, and to request reimbursement for any remaining eligible balance. You may not list an accrual 

on your final SF-425. Request an extension if you will not be able to pay for any obligations within the time frames 

listed above. 

Please be advised that 2 C.F.R. § 200.344(a) requires recipients to submit final SF-425s and 2 C.F.R. § 200.344(b) 

requires recipients to draw down the final reimbursement for expended funds within 120 days after the expiration 

of the award. In addition, be advised that failure to complete the drawdown of funds within the 120-day period 

following award expiration will result in the forfeiture of the remaining eligible balance. 

It is possible that your agency may have excess award funds remaining in your account following the award period 

due to an overestimate of item costs during the award period. Your agency should review its records carefully to 

ensure that it draws down and expends only the amount required for actual costs incurred during the award 

period. Any excess unobligated or unspent funds should remain in your account and will be deobligated during the 

closeout process. 

Final Performance (Closeout) Report 

After your award period has ended, your agency’s final progress report can also be accessed through the 

Performance Management section of the award in JustGrants. This report will serve as your agency’s final 

programmatic report on the award, and the information your agency provides in this report will be used to make a 

final assessment of your award progress. 

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If your award terms and conditions include a retention requirement, please review that condition carefully prior to 

the conclusion of the award. If you have any questions regarding the retention requirement, please contact your 

COPS Office Grant manager via e-mail at AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov. 

Equipment Disposition 

If your award allows purchase of equipment, please see disposition information below. 

Each recipient must use any equipment funded through a COPS Office award for approved award-related purposes 

and must retain the equipment for the life of the award. After the conclusion of the award period, property 

records must be maintained by the recipient. The records should include a description of the property; a serial 

number or other identification number; the source of the property; the name of the person or entity that holds the 

title; the acquisition date and cost of the property; the percentage of federal participation in the cost of the 

property; the location, use, and condition of the property; and any ultimate disposition data, including the date of 

disposal and sale price of the property. A control system must be developed to ensure adequate safeguards to 

prevent loss, damage, or theft of the property. 

When the award has expired and original or replacement equipment obtained under the award is no longer 

needed for the original project or for other activities currently or previously supported by a federal agency, 

disposition of the equipment shall be made as follows: 

• Items of equipment with a current per-unit fair market value of $5,000 or less may be retained, sold, or 

otherwise disposed of with no further obligation to the awarding agency. 

• Items of equipment with a current per-unit fair market value in excess of $5,000 may be retained or sold and 

the awarding agency is entitled to an amount calculated by multiplying the current market value or proceeds 

from sale by the awarding agency’s federal share in the cost of the original purchase. 

For more information, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.313. 

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VIII. Conclusion 

We hope that this manual has assisted you and your agency with your award questions. We welcome and 

encourage any comments you have regarding your COPS Office award the materials we have developed for its 

administration. If you have specific comments regarding this manual, please send them to: 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

Attn: Grants Administration Division 

145 N Street NE 

Washington, DC 20530 

If you have any questions about your award, please contact your COPS Office grant manager or the COPS Office 

Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. 

Pursuant to Executive Order 13513, “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving,” the COPS 

Office encourages recipients of U.S. Department of Justice funds to adopt and enforce policies that ban text 

messaging while driving and to establish workplace safety policies to decrease crashes caused by distracted 

drivers. 

In addition, pursuant to Executive Order 13043, “Increasing Seat Belt Use in the United States,” the COPS Office 

encourages recipients of U.S. Department of Justice funds to adopt and enforce on-the-job seat belt policies and 

programs for their employees when operating company-owned, rented, or personally owned vehicles. 

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Appendices 

Appendix A. List of source documents 

A. Primary sources 

Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 3796dd et seq. 

Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018 (34 U.S.C. § 10551, et seq.) 

B. Secondary sources 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)/Office of Management and Budget (OMB): 

2 C.F.R. Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 

Awards) as adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2 C.F.R. § 2800.101 

4 C.F.R. Parts 101-105, U.S. Department of Justice/Government Accountability Office, “Joint Federal Claims 

Collections Standards” 

5 C.F.R. Part 1320, “Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public” 

5 C.F.R. Part 151, “Political Activity of State and Local Officers or Employees” 

28 C.F.R. Part 23, “Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies” 

28 C.F.R. Part 61, “Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act” 

28 C.F.R. Part 83, “Government-Wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplaces (Grants)” 

28 C.F.R. Part 69, “New Restrictions on Lobbying” 

31 C.F.R. Part 205, “Rules and Procedures for Efficient Federal-State Funds Transfers” 

OMB Circular A-129, “Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax Receivables” 

48 C.F.R. Part 31 (Federal Acquisition Regulation), “Contract Cost Principles and Procedures” 

Executive orders: 

Executive Order 12291, “Regulations” 

Executive Order 12372, 28 C.F.R. Part 30, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs” 

Executive Order 12547, “Non-Procurement Debarments and Suspension” 

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

Executive Order 13043, “Increasing Seat Belt Use in the United States” 

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Appendix B. U.S. Department of Justice Certified Standard Assurances 

On behalf of the Applicant, and in support of this application for a grant or cooperative agreement, I certify under 

penalty of perjury to the U.S. Department of Justice ("Department"), that all of the following are true and correct: 

(1) I have the authority to make the following representations on behalf of myself and the Applicant. I understand 

that these representations will be relied upon as material in any Department decision to make an award to the 

Applicant based on its application. 

(2) I certify that the Applicant has the legal authority to apply for the federal assistance sought by the application, 

and that it has the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including funds sufficient to pay any required non-federal share of project costs) to plan, manage, and complete the project described in the application properly. 

(3) I assure that, throughout the period of performance for the award (if any) made by the Department based on 

the application--

a. the Applicant will comply with all award requirements and all federal statutes and regulations applicable 

to the award; 

b. the Applicant will require all subrecipients to comply with all applicable award requirements and all applicable federal statutes and regulations; and 

c. the Applicant will maintain safeguards to address and prevent any organizational conflict of interest, and 

also to prohibit employees from using their positions in any manner that poses, or appears to pose, a personal or financial conflict of interest. 

(4) The Applicant understands that the federal statutes and regulations applicable to the award (if any) made by 

the Department based on the application specifically include statutes and regulations pertaining to civil rights 

and nondiscrimination, and, in addition--

A. the Applicant understands that the applicable statutes pertaining to civil rights will include section 601 of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d); section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 

794); section 901 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681); and section 303 of the Age 

Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. § 6102); 

b. the Applicant understands that the applicable statutes pertaining to nondiscrimination may include sec-

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tion 809(c) of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10228(c)); sec

tion 1407(e) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (34 U.S.C. § 20110(e)); section 299A(b) of the Juvenile 

Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 (34 U.S.C. § 11182(b)); and that the grant condition set 

out at section 40002(b)(13) of the Violence Against Women Act (34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(13)), which will ap

ply to all awards made by the Office on Violence Against Women, also may apply to an award made other

wise; 

c. the Applicant understands that it must require any subrecipient to comply with all such applicable stat

utes (and associated regulations); and 

d. on behalf of the Applicant, I make the specific assurances set out in 28 C.F.R. §§ 42.105 and 42.204. 

(5) The Applicant also understands that (in addition to any applicable program-specific regulations and to applica

ble federal regulations that pertain to civil rights and nondiscrimination) the federal regulations applicable to 

the award (if any) made by the Department based on the application may include, but are not limited to, 2 

C.F.R. Part 2800 (the DOJ "Part 200 Uniform Requirements") and 28 C.F.R. Parts 22 (confidentiality - research 

and statistical information), 23 (criminal intelligence systems), 38 (regarding faith-based or religious organizations participating in federal financial assistance programs), and 46 (human subjects protection). 

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(6) I assure that the Applicant will assist the Department as necessary (and will require subrecipients and contrac-

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tors to assist as necessary) with the Department's compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preser

vation Act of 1966 (54 U.S.C. § 306108), the Archeological and Historical Preservation Act of 1974 (54 U.S.C. §§ 

312501-312508), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4335), and 28 C.F.R. 

Parts 61 (NEPA) and 63 (floodplains and wetlands). 

(7) I assure that the Applicant will give the Department and the Government Accountability Office, through any 

authorized representative, access to, and opportunity to examine, all paper or electronic records related to 

the award (if any) made by the Department based on the application. 

(8) I assure that, if the Applicant is a governmental entity, with respect to the award (if any) made by the Depart

ment based on the application--

E. it will comply with the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions 

Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. §§ 4601-4655), which govern the treatment of persons displaced as a result of fed-

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eral and federally-assisted programs; and 

A. it will comply with requirements of 5 U.S.C. §§ 1501-1508 and 7324-7328, which limit certain political ac

tivities of State or local government employees whose principal employment is in connection with an ac

tivity financed in whole or in part by federal assistance. 

(9) If the Applicant applies for and receives an award from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

(COPS Office), I assure that as required by 34 U.S.C. § 10382(c)(11), it will, to the extent practicable and con

sistent with applicable law—including, but not limited to, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assis

tance Act—seek, recruit, and hire qualified members of racial and ethnic minority groups and qualified women 

in order to further effective law enforcement by increasing their ranks within the sworn positions, as provided 

under 34 U.S.C. § 10382(c)(11). 

(10) If the Applicant applies for and receives a DOJ award under the STOP School Violence Act program, I assure as 

required by 34 U.S.C. § 10552(a)(3), that it will maintain and report such data, records, and information (pro

grammatic and financial) as DOJ may reasonably require. 

I acknowledge that a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement (or concealment or omission of a material 

fact) in this certification, or in the application that it supports, may be the subject of criminal prosecution 

(including under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and/or 1621, and/or 34 U.S.C. §§ 10271-10273), and also may subject me and 

the Applicant to civil penalties and administrative remedies for false claims or otherwise (including under 31 U.S.C. 

§§ 3729-3730 and 3801-3812). I also acknowledge that the Department’s awards, including certifications provided 

in connection with such awards, are subject to review by the Department, including by its Office of the Inspector 

General. 

Signature of Law Enforcement Executive/Agency Executive Date 

(For your electronic signature, please type in your name) 

Signature of Government Executive/Financial Official Date 

(For your electronic signature, please type in your name) 

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Appendix C. U.S. Department of Justice Certifications Regarding 

Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community 

Policing 

Applicants should refer to the regulations cited below to determine the certification to which they are required to 

attest. Applicants should also review the instructions for certification included in the regulations before completing 

this form. The certifications shall be treated as a material representation of fact upon which reliance will be placed 

when the U.S. Department of Justice (“Department”) determines to award the covered transaction, grant, or 

cooperative agreement. 

1. LOBBYING 

As required by 31 U.S.C. § 1352, as implemented by 28 C.F.R. Part 69, the Applicant certifies and assures (to 

the extent applicable) the following: 

i. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the Applicant, to any 

person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of 

Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connec-

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tion with the making of any Federal grant, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, or the ex

tension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal grant or cooperative 

agreement; 

ii. If the Applicant’s request for Federal funds is in excess of $100,000, and any funds other than Federal 

appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to in

fluence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Con

gress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with this Federal grant or cooperative 

agreement, the Applicant shall complete and submit Standard Form - LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities” in accordance with its (and any DOJ awarding agency’s) instructions; and 

iii. The Applicant shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents 

for all subgrants and procurement contracts (and their subcontracts) funded with Federal award 

funds and shall ensure that any certifications or lobbying disclosures required of recipients of such 

subgrants and procurement contracts (or their subcontractors) are made and filed in accordance with 

31 U.S.C. § 1352. 

2. DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS 

A. Pursuant to Department regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension implemented at 2 

C.F.R. Part 2867, and to other related requirements, the Applicant certifies, with respect to prospective 

participants in a primary tier “covered transaction,” as defined at 2 C.F.R. § 2867.20(a), that neither it nor 

any of its principals— 

i. is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, sentenced to a denial 

of Federal benefits by a State or Federal court, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by 

any Federal department or agency; 

has within a three-year period preceding this application been convicted of a felony criminal violation 

under any Federal law, or been convicted or had a civil judgment rendered against it for commission 

of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a 

public (Federal, State, tribal, or local) transaction or private agreement or transaction; violation of 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsifica-

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tion or destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion or receiving stolen property, 

making false claims, or obstruction of justice, or commission of any offense indicating a lack of busi

ness integrity or business honesty that seriously and directly affects its (or its principals’) present re

sponsibility; 

ii. is presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, 

State, tribal, or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (b) of this cer

tification; and/or 

iii. has within a three-year period preceding this application had one or more public transactions (Fed

eral, State, tribal, or local) terminated for cause or default. 

B. Where the Applicant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, it shall attach an ex

planation to this application. Where the Applicant or any of its principals was convicted, within a threeyear period preceding this application, of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law, the Applicant 

also must disclose such felony criminal conviction in writing to the Department (for OJP Applicants, to OJP 

at Ojpcompliancereporting@usdoj.gov; for OVW Applicants, to OVW at OVW.GFMD@usdoj.gov; or for 

COPS Applicants, to COPS at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov), unless such disclosure has already been made. 

3. FEDERAL TAXES 

A. If the Applicant is a corporation, it certifies either that (1) the corporation has no unpaid Federal tax liabil-

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ity that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed, that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible 

for collecting the tax liability, or (2) the corporation has provided written notice of such an unpaid tax lia

bility (or liabilities) to the Department (for OJP Applicants, to OJP at Ojpcompliancereporting@usdoj.gov; 

for OVW Applicants, to OVW at OVW.GFMD@usdoj.gov; or for COPS Applicants, to COPS at 

AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov). 

B. Where the Applicant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, it shall attach an ex

planation to this application. 

4. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (GRANTEES OTHER THAN INDIVIDUALS) 

As required by the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, as implemented at 28 C.F.R. Part 83, Subpart F, for grant

ees, as defined at 28 C.F.R. §§ 83.620 and 83.650: 

A. The Applicant certifies and assures that it will, or will continue to, provide a drug-free workplace by— 

i. Publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, 

possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in its workplace and specifying the actions 

that will be taken against employees for violation of such prohibition; 

ii. Establishing an on-going drug-free awareness program to inform employees about— 

a. The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace; 

b. The Applicant’s policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace; 

c. Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and 

d. The penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations occurring in the 

workplace; 

iii. Making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in the performance of the award be given 

a copy of the statement required by paragraph (a); 

iv. Notifying the employee in the statement required by paragraph (a) that, as a condition of employ

ment under the award, the employee will— 

a. Abide by the terms of the statement; and 

b. Notify the employer in writing of the employee’s conviction for a violation of a criminal drug stat

ute occurring in the workplace no later than five calendar days after such conviction; 

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v. Notifying the Department, in writing, within 10 calendar days after receiving notice under subparagraph (d)(2) from an employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction. Employers of 

convicted employees must provide notice, including position title of any such convicted employee to 

the Department, as follows: 

For COPS award recipients - COPS Office, 145 N Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20530; 

For OJP and OVW award recipients - U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

ATTN: Control Desk, 810 h Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20531. 

Notice shall include the identification number(s) of each affected award; 

vi. Taking one of the following actions, within 30 calendar days of receiving notice under subparagraph 

(d)(2), with respect to any employee who is so convicted: 

a. Taking appropriate personnel action against such an employee, up to and including termination, 

consistent with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or 

b. Requiring such employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation 

program approved for such purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or 

other appropriate agency; and 

vii. Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of 

paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f). 

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY CERTIFICATION REQUIRED UNDER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DISCRETIONARY 

GRANT PROGRAMS (“SAFE POLICING CERTIFICATION”) 

If this application is for a discretionary award pursuant to which award funds may be made available (whether 

by the award directly or by any subaward at any tier) to a State, local, college, or university law enforcement 

agency, the Applicant certifies that any such law enforcement agency to which funds will be made available 

has been certified by an approved independent credentialing body or has started the certification process. To 

become certified, a law enforcement agency must meet two mandatory conditions: (a) the agency’s use of 

force policies adhere to all applicable federal, State, and local laws; and (b) the agency’s use of force policies 

prohibit chokeholds except in situations where use of deadly force is allowed by law. 

For detailed information on this certification requirement, see https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO. The 

Applicant acknowledges that compliance with this safe policing certification requirement does not ensure 

compliance with federal, state, or local law, and that such certification shall not constitute a defense in any 

federal lawsuit. Nothing in the safe policing certification process or safe policing requirement is intended to be 

(or may be) used by third parties to create liability by or against the United States or any of its officials, offic-

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ers, agents or employees under any federal law. Neither the safe policing certification process nor the safe 

policing certification requirement is intended to (or does) confer any right on any third-person or entity seek

ing relief against the United States or any officer or employee thereof. No person or entity is intended to be 

(or is) a third-party beneficiary of the safe policing certification process, or, with respect to the safe policing 

certification requirement, such a beneficiary for purposes of any civil, criminal, or administrative action. 

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5. COORDINATION REQUIRED UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAMS 

As required by the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994, at 34 U.S.C. § 10382(c)(5), if 

this application is for a COPS award, the Applicant certifies that there has been appropriate coordination with 

all agencies that may be affected by its award. Affected agencies may include, among others, Offices of the 

United States Attorneys; State, local, or tribal prosecutors; or correctional agencies. 

I acknowledge that a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement (or concealment or omission of a material 

fact) in this certification, or in the application that it supports, may be the subject of criminal prosecution 

(including under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and/or 1621, and/or 34 U.S.C. §§ 10271-10273), and also may subject me and 

the Applicant to civil penalties and administrative remedies for false claims or otherwise (including under 31 U.S.C. 

§§ 3729-3730 and 3801-3812). I also acknowledge that the Department’s awards, including certifications provided 

in connection with such awards, are subject to review by the Department, including by its Office of the Inspector 

General. 

Signature of Law Enforcement Executive/Agency Executive Date 

(For your electronic signature, please type in your name) 

Signature of Government Executive/Financial Official Date 

(For your electronic signature, please type in your name) 

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Appendix D. Community policing defined 

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies and supports the systematic use of 

partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to 

public safety issues such as crime, fear of crime, and social disorder. 

Problem solving 

Problem solving is the process of engaging in the proactive and systematic examination of identified problems to 

develop effective responses that are evaluated rigorously. 

• Scanning: Identifying and prioritizing problems 

• Analysis: Analyzing problems 

• Response: Responding to problems 

• Assessment: Assessing problem-solving initiatives 

• Using the crime triangle to focus on immediate conditions (victim/offender/location) 

Community policing emphasizes proactive problem solving in a systematic and routine fashion. Rather than 

responding to crime only after it occurs, community policing encourages agencies to proactively develop solutions 

to the immediate underlying conditions contributing to public safety problems. Problem solving must be infused 

into all police operations and guide decision-making efforts. Agencies are encouraged to think innovatively about 

their responses and view making arrests as only one of a wide array of potential responses. A major conceptual 

vehicle for helping officers to think about problem solving in a structured and disciplined way is the SARA 

(Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment) problem-solving model. 

Scanning: Identifying and prioritizing problems 

The objectives of scanning are to identify a basic problem, determine the nature of that problem, determine the 

scope of severity, and establish baseline measures. An inclusive list of stakeholders for the selected problem is 

typically identified in this phase. A problem can be thought of as two or more incidents similar in one or more 

ways, and that is of concern to the police and the community. Problems can be a type of behavior, a place, a 

person or persons, a special event or time, or a combination of any of these. The police, with input from the 

community, should identify and prioritize concerns. 

Analysis: Analyzing 

Analysis is the heart of the problem-solving process. The objectives of analysis are to develop an understanding of 

the dynamics of the problem, develop an understanding of the limits of current responses, establish correlation, 

and develop an understanding of cause and effect. As part of the analysis phase, it is important to find out as much 

as possible about each aspect of the crime triangle by asking who? what? when? where? how? why? and why not? 

about the victim, offender, and crime location. 

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The response phase of the SARA model involves developing and implementing strategies to address an identified 

problem by searching for strategic responses that are both broad and uninhibited. The response should follow 

logically from the knowledge learned during the analysis and should be tailored to the specific problem. The goals 

of the response can range from totally eliminating the problem through substantially reducing the problem to 

reducing the amount of harm caused by the problem or improving the quality of community cohesion. 

Assessment: Assessing problem-solving initiatives 

Assessment attempts to determine if the response strategies were successful by determining if the problem 

declined and if the response contributed to the decline. This information not only assists the current effort but also 

gathers data that builds knowledge for the future. Strategies and programs can be assessed for process, outcomes, 

or both. If the responses implemented are not effective, the information gathered during analysis should be 

reviewed. New information may have to be collected before new solutions can be developed and tested. The 

entire process should be viewed as circular rather than linear. 

Using the crime triangle to focus on immediate conditions (victim/offender/location) 

To understand a problem, many problem solvers have found it useful to visualize links among the victim, offender, 

and location (the crime triangle) and those aspects that could have an impact on them—for example, capable 

guardians for victims, handlers for offenders, and managers for locations. Rather than addressing root causes of a 

problem, the police focus on the factors that are within their reach, such as limiting criminal opportunities and 

access to victims, increasing guardianship, and associating risk with unwanted behavior. 

Community partnerships 

Community partnerships are collaborative partnerships between the law enforcement agency and the individuals 

and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police. 

• Other government agencies 

• Community members and groups 

• Nonprofits and service providers 

• Private businesses 

• Media 

Community policing, recognizing that police rarely can solve public safety problems alone, encourages interactive 

partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The range of potential partners is large, and these partnerships can be 

used to accomplish the two interrelated goals of developing solutions to problems through collaborative problem 

solving and improving public trust. The public should play a role in prioritizing public safety problems. 

Other government agencies 

Law enforcement organizations can partner with a number of other government agencies to identify community 

concerns and offer alternative solutions. Examples of agencies include legislative bodies, prosecutors, probation 

and parole departments, public works departments, neighboring law enforcement agencies, health and human 

services departments, child support, ordinance enforcement, and schools. 

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Individuals who live, work, or otherwise have an interest in the community—volunteers, activists, formal and 

informal community leaders, residents, visitors and tourists, and commuters—are a valuable resource for 

identifying community concerns. Partnerships with these factions of the community can engage the community in 

achieving specific goals at town hall meetings, neighborhood association meetings, decentralized 

offices/storefronts in the community, and team beat assignments. 

Nonprofits and service providers 

Advocacy and community-based organizations that provide services to the community and advocate on its behalf 

can be powerful partners. These groups often work with or are composed of individuals who share certain 

interests and can include such entities as victims groups, service clubs, support groups, issue groups, advocacy 

groups, and the faith community. 

Private businesses 

For-profit businesses also have a great stake in the health of the community and can be key partners because they 

often bring considerable resources to bear on problems of mutual concern. Businesses can help identify problems 

and provide resources for responses, often including their own security apparatus and community outreach. The 

local chamber of commerce can also assist in disseminating information about police and business partnerships 

and initiatives. 

Media 

The media represent a powerful mechanism by which to communicate with the community. It can assist with 

publicizing community concerns and available solutions, such as services from government or community agencies 

or new laws or codes that will be enforced. In addition, the media can have a significant impact on public 

perceptions of the police, crime problems, and fear of crime. 

Organizational transformation 

Organizational transformation is the alignment of organizational management, structure, personnel, and 

information systems to support community partnerships and proactive problem solving. 

Agency management 

• Climate and culture 

• Decision making 

• Despecialization 

• Geographic assignment of officers 

• Labor relations 

• Leadership 

• Organizational evaluations 

• Organizational structure 

• Policies 

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• Resources and finances 

• Strategic planning 

• Transparency 

Personnel 

• Recruitment, hiring, and selection 

• Personnel supervision/evaluations 

• Training 

Information systems (technology) 

• Communication / access to data 

• Quality and accuracy of data 

The community policing philosophy focuses on the way that departments are organized and managed and how the 

infrastructure can be changed to support the philosophical shift behind community policing. It encourages the 

application of modern management practices to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Community policing 

emphasizes changes in organizational structures to institutionalize its adoption and infuse it throughout the entire 

department, including the way the department is managed and organized, its personnel, and its technology. 

Agency management 

Under the community policing model, police management needs to infuse community policing ideals throughout 

the agency by making a number of critical changes in climate and culture, leadership, formal labor relations, 

decentralized decision-making and accountability, strategic planning, policing and procedures, organizational 

evaluations, and increased transparency. 

Climate and culture 

Changing the climate and culture means supporting a proactive orientation that values systematic problem solving 

and partnerships. Formal organizational changes should support the informal networks and communication that 

take place within agencies to support this orientation. 

Leadership 

Leaders serve as role models for taking risks and building collaborative relationships to implement community 

policing, and they use their position to influence and educate others about it. Leaders, therefore, must constantly 

emphasize and reinforce community policing’s vision, values, and mission within their organization and support 

and articulate a commitment to community policing as the dominant way of doing business. 

Labor relations 

If community policing is going to be effective, police unions and similar forms of organized labor need to be a part 

of the process and function as partners in the adoption of the community policing philosophy. Including labor 

groups in agency changes can ensure support for the changes that are imperative to community policing 

implementation. 

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Community policing calls for decentralization both in command structure and in decision-making. Decentralized 

decision-making allows front-line officers to take responsibility for their role in community policing. When an 

officer is able to create solutions to problems and take risks, he or she ultimately feels accountable for those 

solutions and assumes a greater responsibility for the well-being of the community. Decentralized decision-making 

involves flattening the hierarchy of the agency, increasing tolerance for risk taking in problem-solving efforts, and 

allowing officers discretion in handling calls. In addition, providing sufficient authority to coordinate various 

resources to attack a problem and allowing the officers the autonomy to establish relationships with the 

community will help define problems and develop possible solutions. 

Strategic planning 

The department should have a written statement reflecting a department-wide commitment to community 

policing and a plan that matches operational needs to available resources and expertise. If a strategic plan is to 

have value, the members of the organization should be well-versed in it and be able to give examples of their 

efforts that support the plan. Components such as the organization’s mission and value statement should be 

simple and communicated widely. Everything should connect back to this plan. 

Policies 

Community policing affects the nature and development of department policies and procedures to ensure that 

community policing principles and practices have an effect on activities on the street. Problem solving and 

partnerships, therefore, should become institutionalized in policies, along with corresponding sets of procedures 

where appropriate. 

Organizational evaluations 

In addition to the typical measures of police performance (arrests, response times, tickets issued, and crime rates), 

community policing calls for a broadening of police outcome measures to include increased community 

satisfaction, less fear of crime, the alleviation of problems, and improvement in quality of life. Community policing 

calls for a more sophisticated approach to evaluation—one that looks not only at measured outcomes but also at 

how feedback information is used. 

Transparency 

Community policing involves decision-making processes that are more open than traditional policing. If the 

community is to be a full partner, the department needs mechanisms for readily sharing relevant information on 

crime and social disorder problems, as well as police operations with the community. 

Organizational structure 

It is important that the organizational structure of the agency ensures that local patrol officers have decisionmaking authority and are accountable for their actions. This can be achieved through long-term assignments, the 

development of officers who are generalists, and using special units appropriately. 

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Geographic assignment of officers 

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With community policing, there is a shift to the long-term assignment of officers in specific neighborhoods or 

areas. Geographic deployment plans can help enhance customer service and facilitate more contact between 

police and citizens, thus establishing strong relationships and mutual accountability. Beat boundaries should 

correspond to neighborhood boundaries, and other government services should recognize these boundaries when 

coordinating government public-service activities. 

Despecialization 

To achieve community policing goals, officers must be able to handle multiple responsibilities and take a team 

approach to collaborative problem solving and partnering with the community. Community policing encourages its 

adoption agency-wide, not just in special units, although there may be a need for specialist units that are tasked 

with identifying and solving particularly complex problems or managing complex partnerships. 

Resources and finances 

Agencies must devote the necessary human and financial resources to support community policing to ensure that 

problem-solving efforts are robust and that partnerships are sustainable and effective. 

Personnel 

The principles of community policing need to be infused throughout the entire personnel system of an agency, 

including recruitment, hiring, selection, and retention of all law enforcement agency staff including sworn officers, 

nonsworn officers, civilians, and volunteers, as well as personnel evaluations, supervision, and training. 

Recruitment, hiring, and selection 

Agencies need a systematic means of incorporating community policing elements into their recruitment, selection, 

and hiring processes. Job descriptions should recognize community policing and problem-solving responsibilities 

and encourage the recruitment of officers who have a spirit of service, not just a spirit of adventure. A community 

policing agency must also thoughtfully examine where it looks for recruits, whom it is recruiting and hiring, and 

what is being tested. Some community policing agencies also look for the involvement of the community in this 

process through the identification of competencies and participation in review boards. 

Personnel supervision/evaluations 

Tie performance evaluations to community policing principles and activities that are incorporated into job 

descriptions. Performance, reward, and promotional structures should support sound problem-solving activities, 

proactive policing and community collaboration, and citizen satisfaction with police services. 

Training 

Training at all levels—academy, field, and in-service—must support community policing principles and tactics. It 

also needs to encourage creative thinking, a proactive orientation, communication and analytical skills, and 

techniques for dealing with quality-of-life concerns and maintaining order. Officers can be trained to (a) identify 

and correct conditions that could lead to crime, (b) raise public awareness, and (c) engage the community in 

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finding solutions to problems. Field training officers and supervisors can encourage problem solving and help 

officers learn from other problem-solving initiatives. Until community policing is institutionalized within the 

organization, training in its fundamental principles will need to take place regularly. 

Information systems (technology) 

Community policing is information-intensive and technology plays a central role in providing ready access to 

quality information. Accurate and timely information makes problem-solving efforts more effective and ensures 

that officers are informed about the crime and community conditions of their beat. In addition, technological 

enhancements can greatly assist with improving two-way communication with citizens and developing agency 

accountability systems and performance outcome measures. 

Communication /access to data 

Technology provides agencies with the ability to communicate externally with the public and internally with their 

own staff. To communicate with the public, community policing encourages agencies to develop two-way 

communication systems through the Internet to provide online reports, reverse 911 and e-mail alerts, discussion 

forums, and feedback on interactive applications (surveys, maps), thereby creating ongoing dialogs and increasing 

transparency. 

Technology also encourages effective internal communication through memos, reports, newsletters, e-mail and 

enhanced incident reporting, dispatch functions, and communications interoperability with other entities for more 

efficient operations. Community policing advocates the use of technology to develop accountability and 

performance measurement systems that are timely and contain accurate metrics and a broad array of measures 

and information. 

Community policing also promotes the use of technology to provide officers with ready access to timely 

information on crime and community characteristics within their beats, either through laptop computers in their 

patrol cars or through personal data devices. In addition, technology can support crime/problem analysis functions 

by enabling agencies to gather information on greater aspects of events including more detailed information on 

offenders, victims, crime locations, and quality-of-life concerns, and to further enhance analysis. 

Quality and accuracy of data 

Information is only as good as its source; therefore it is not useful if it is not high quality and accurate. Community 

policing encourages agencies to put safeguards in place to ensure that information from various sources is 

collected in a systematic fashion and entered into central systems that are linked to one another and checked for 

accuracy so that the information can be used effectively for strategic planning, problem solving, and performance 

measurement. 

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Appendix E. Enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for 

disclosure of certain information (41 U.S.C. 4712) 

(a) Prohibition of reprisals.--

(1) In general.--An employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee or personal services 

contractor may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for dis-

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closing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the employee reasonably be

lieves is evidence of gross mismanagement of a Federal contract or grant, a gross waste of Federal 

funds, an abuse of authority relating to a Federal contract or grant, a substantial and specific danger 

to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a Federal contract (in

cluding the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or grant. 

(2) Persons and bodies covered.--The persons and bodies described in this paragraph are the persons 

and bodies as follows: 

(A) A Member of Congress or a representative of a committee of Congress. 

(B) An Inspector General. 

(C) The Government Accountability Office. 

(D) A Federal employee responsible for contract or grant oversight or management at the relevant 

agency. 

(E) An authorized official of the Department of Justice or other law enforcement agency. 

(F) A court or grand jury. 

(G) A management official or other employee of the contractor, subcontractor, or grantee who has 

the responsibility to investigate, discover, or address misconduct. 

(3) Rules of construction.--For the purposes of paragraph (1)--

(A) an employee who initiates or provides evidence of contractor, subcontractor, or grantee misconduct in any judicial or administrative proceeding relating to waste, fraud, or abuse on a Federal 

contract or grant shall be deemed to have made a disclosure covered by such paragraph; and 

(B) a reprisal described in paragraph (1) is prohibited even if it is undertaken at the request of an 

executive branch official, unless the request takes the form of a non-discretionary directive and is 

within the authority of the executive branch official making the request. 

(b) Investigation of complaints.--

(1) Submission of complaint.--A person who believes that the person has been subjected to a reprisal 

prohibited by subsection (a) may submit a complaint to the Inspector General of the executive agency 

involved. Unless the Inspector General determines that the complaint is frivolous, fails to allege a violation of the prohibition in subsection (a), or has previously been addressed in another Federal or 

State judicial or administrative proceeding initiated by the complainant, the Inspector General shall 

investigate the complaint and, upon completion of such investigation, submit a report of the findings 

of the investigation to the person, the contractor or grantee concerned, and the head of the agency. 

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(2) Inspector General action.--

(A) Determination or submission of report on findings.--Except as provided under subparagraph (B), 

the Inspector General shall make a determination that a complaint is frivolous, fails to allege a 

violation of the prohibition in subsection (a), or has previously been addressed in another Federal 

or State judicial or administrative proceeding initiated by the complainant or submit a report un-

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der paragraph (1) within 180 days after receiving the complaint. 

(B) Extension of time.--If the Inspector General is unable to complete an investigation in time to sub

mit a report within the 180-day period specified in subparagraph (A) and the person submitting 

the complaint agrees to an extension of time, the Inspector General shall submit a report under 

paragraph (1) within such additional period of time, up to 180 days, as shall be agreed upon be

tween the Inspector General and the person submitting the complaint. 

(3) Prohibition on disclosure.--The Inspector General may not respond to any inquiry or disclose any in

formation from or about any person alleging the reprisal, except to the extent that such response or 

disclosure is--

(A) made with the consent of the person alleging the reprisal; 

(B) made in accordance with the provisions of section 552a of title 5 or as required by any other applicable Federal law; or 

(C) necessary to conduct an investigation of the alleged reprisal. 

(4) Time limitation.--A complaint may not be brought under this subsection more than three years after 

the date on which the alleged reprisal took place. 

(c) Remedy and enforcement authority.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after receiving an Inspector General report pursuant to subsection 

(b), the head of the executive agency concerned shall determine whether there is sufficient basis to 

conclude that the contractor or grantee concerned has subjected the complainant to a reprisal pro-

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hibited by subsection (a) and shall either issue an order denying relief or shall take one or more of the 

following actions: 

(A) Order the contractor or grantee to take affirmative action to abate the reprisal. 

(B) Order the contractor or grantee to reinstate the person to the position that the person held be

fore the reprisal, together with compensatory damages (including back pay), employment bene

fits, and other terms and conditions of employment that would apply to the person in that posi

tion if the reprisal had not been taken. 

(C) Order the contractor or grantee to pay the complainant an amount equal to the aggregate 

amount of all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and expert witnesses' fees) that were 

reasonably incurred by the complainant for, or in connection with, bringing the complaint re

garding the reprisal, as determined by the head of the executive agency. 

(2) Exhaustion of remedies.--If the head of an executive agency issues an order denying relief under par

agraph (1) or has not issued an order within 210 days after the submission of a complaint under sub

section (b), or in the case of an extension of time under paragraph (b)(2)(B), not later than 30 days 

after the expiration of the extension of time, and there is no showing that such delay is due to the 

bad faith of the complainant, the complainant shall be deemed to have exhausted all administrative 

remedies with respect to the complaint, and the complainant may bring a de novo action at law or 

equity against the contractor or grantee to seek compensatory damages and other relief available 

under this section in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction 

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over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy. Such an action shall, at the request 

of either party to the action, be tried by the court with a jury. An action under this paragraph may not 

be brought more than two years after the date on which remedies are deemed to have been ex-

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hausted. 

(3) Admissibility of evidence.--An Inspector General determination and an agency head order denying 

relief under paragraph (2) shall be admissible in evidence in any de novo action at law or equity 

brought pursuant to this subsection. 

(4) Enforcement of orders.--Whenever a person fails to comply with an order issued under paragraph 

(1), the head of the executive agency concerned shall file an action for enforcement of such order in 

the United States district court for a district in which the reprisal was found to have occurred. In any 

action brought under this paragraph, the court may grant appropriate relief, including injunctive re-

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lief, compensatory and exemplary damages, and attorney fees and costs. The person upon whose 

behalf an order was issued may also file such an action or join in an action filed by the head of the 

executive agency. 

(5) Judicial review.--Any person adversely affected or aggrieved by an order issued under paragraph (1) 

may obtain review of the order's conformance with this subsection, and any regulations issued to 

carry out this section, in the United States court of appeals for a circuit in which the reprisal is alleged 

in the order to have occurred. No petition seeking such review may be filed more than 60 days after 

issuance of the order by the head of the executive agency. Review shall conform to chapter 7 of title 

5. Filing such an appeal shall not act to stay the enforcement of the order of the head of an executive 

agency, unless a stay is specifically entered by the court. 

(6) Burdens of proof.--The legal burdens of proof specified in section 1221(e) of title 5 shall be control

ling for the purposes of any investigation conducted by an Inspector General, decision by the head of 

an executive agency, or judicial or administrative proceeding to determine whether discrimination 

prohibited under this section has occurred. 

(7) Rights and remedies not waivable.--The rights and remedies provided for in this section may not be 

waived by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment. 

(d) Notification of employees.--The head of each executive agency shall ensure that contractors, subcontrac

tors, and grantees of the agency inform their employees in writing of the rights and remedies provided 

under this section, in the predominant native language of the workforce. 

(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the discharge of, demotion of, or 

discrimination against an employee for a disclosure other than a disclosure protected by subsection (a) or 

to modify or derogate from a right or remedy otherwise available to the employee. 

(f) Exceptions. 

(1) This section shall not apply to any element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) 

of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4)). 

(2) This section shall not apply to any disclosure made by an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, or 

grantee of an element of the intelligence community if such disclosure--

(A) relates to an activity of an element of the intelligence community; or 

(B) was discovered during contract, subcontract, or grantee services provided to an element of the 

intelligence community. 

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(g) Definitions.--In this section: 

(1) The term “abuse of authority” means an arbitrary and capricious exercise of authority that is inconsistent with the mission of the executive agency concerned or the successful performance of a contract or grant of such agency. 

(2) The term “Inspector General” means an Inspector General appointed under the Inspector General Act 

of 1978 and any Inspector General that receives funding from, or has oversight over contracts or 

grants awarded for or on behalf of, the executive agency concerned. 

(h) Construction.--Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to 

provide any rights to disclose classified information not otherwise provided by law. 

[(i) Repealed by Pub.L. 114-261, § 1(a)(3)(A)(ii), Dec. 14, 2016, 130 Stat. 1362] 

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Appendix F. 2 CFR Appendix II to Part 200: Contract provisions for 

nonfederal entity contracts under federal awards 

In addition to other provisions required by the federal agency or nonfederal entity, all contracts made by the 

nonfederal entity under the federal award must contain provisions covering the following, as applicable. 

(A) Contracts for more than the simplified acquisition threshold currently set at $150,000, which is the inflation 

adjusted amount determined by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations 

Council (Councils) as authorized by 41 U.S.C. 1908, must address administrative, contractual, or legal remedies in 

instances where contractors violate or breach contract terms, and provide for such sanctions and penalties as ap-

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propriate. 

(B) All contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by the non-Federal 

entity including the manner by which it will be effected and the basis for settlement. 

(C) Equal Employment Opportunity. Except as otherwise provided under 41 CFR Part 60, all contracts that meet the 

definition of “federally assisted construction contract” in 41 CFR Part 60-1.3 must include the equal opportunity 

clause provided under 41 CFR 60-1.4(b), in accordance with Executive Order 11246, “Equal Employment Oppor

tunity” (30 FR 12319, 12935, 3 CFR Part, 1964-1965 Comp., p. 339), as amended by Executive Order 11375, 

“Amending Executive Order 11246 Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity,” and implementing regulations at 

41 CFR part 60, “Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity, Department of 

Labor.” 

(D) Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3141-3148). When required by Federal program legislation, all prime 

construction contracts in excess of $2,000 awarded by non-Federal entities must include a provision for compli

ance with the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141-3144, and 3146-3148) as supplemented by Department of Labor 

regulations (29 CFR Part 5, “Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and 

Assisted Construction”). In accordance with the statute, contractors must be required to pay wages to laborers and 

mechanics at a rate not less than the prevailing wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of 

Labor. In addition, contractors must be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The non-Federal entity 

must place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicita

tion. The decision to award a contract or subcontract must be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage deter

mination. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal awarding agency. 

The contracts must also include a provision for compliance with the Copeland “Anti-Kickback” Act (40 U.S.C. 3145), 

as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR Part 3, “Contractors and Subcontractors on Public 

Building or Public Work Financed in Whole or in Part by Loans or Grants from the United States”). The Act provides 

that each contractor or subrecipient must be prohibited from inducing, by any means, any person employed in the 

construction, completion, or repair of public work, to give up any part of the compensation to which he or she is 

otherwise entitled. The non-Federal entity must report all suspected or reported violations to the Federal award-

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ing agency. 

(E) Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3701-3708). Where applicable, all contracts awarded 

by the non-Federal entity in excess of $100,000 that involve the employment of mechanics or laborers must in

clude a provision for compliance with 40 U.S.C. 3702 and 3704, as supplemented by Department of Labor regula

tions (29 CFR Part 5). Under 40 U.S.C. 3702 of the Act, each contractor must be required to compute the wages of 

every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard work week of 40 hours. Work in excess of the standard 

work week is permissible provided that the worker is compensated at a rate of not less than one and a half times 

the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in the work week. The requirements of 40 U.S.C. 

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3704 are applicable to construction work and provide that no laborer or mechanic must be required to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous. These requirements do not 

apply to the purchases of supplies or materials or articles ordinarily available on the open market, or contracts for 

transportation or transmission of intelligence. 

(F) Rights to Inventions Made Under a Contract or Agreement. If the Federal award meets the definition of “fund-

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ing agreement” under 37 CFR §401.2 (a) and the recipient or subrecipient wishes to enter into a contract with a 

small business firm or nonprofit organization regarding the substitution of parties, assignment or performance of 

experimental, developmental, or research work under that “funding agreement,” the recipient or subrecipient 

must comply with the requirements of 37 CFR Part 401, “Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations 

and Small Business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts and Cooperative Agreements,” and any implement

ing regulations issued by the awarding agency. 

(G) Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251-1387), as 

amended—Contracts and subgrants of amounts in excess of $150,000 must contain a provision that requires the 

non-Federal award to agree to comply with all applicable standards, orders or regulations issued pursuant to the 

Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251-

1387). Violations must be reported to the Federal awarding agency and the Regional Office of the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA). 

(H) Debarment and Suspension (Executive Orders 12549 and 12689)—A contract award (see 2 CFR 180.220) must 

not be made to parties listed on the governmentwide exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM), in 

accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR part 1986 Comp., 

p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR part 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” SAM Exclusions contains the 

names of parties debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded by agencies, as well as parties declared ineligible 

under statutory or regulatory authority other than Executive Order 12549. 

(I) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352)—Contractors that apply or bid for an award exceeding 

$100,000 must file the required certification. Each tier certifies to the tier above that it will not and has not used 

Federal appropriated funds to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer 

or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member 

of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 U.S.C. 

1352. Each tier must also disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds that takes place in connection with obtain

ing any Federal award. Such disclosures are forwarded from tier to tier up to the non-Federal award. 

(J) See §200.322 Procurement of recovered materials. 

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Appendix G. Remittance of Interest Earned Amounts 

2 CFR § 200.305 (b)(9) – Payment (remittance of interest earned) 

1. Interest earned amounts up to $500 per year may be retained by the non-federal entity for administrative 

expense. Any additional interest earned on federal advance payments deposited in interest-bearing accounts must be remitted annually to the Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS) through an electronic medium using either Automated Clearing House (ACH) network 

or a Fedwire Funds Service payment. Remittances must include pertinent information of the payee and 

nature of payment in the memo area (often referred to as “addenda records” by Financial Institutions) as 

that will assist in the timely posting of interest earned on federal funds. Pertinent details include the Payee 

Account Number (PAN) if the payment originated from PMS, or Agency information if the payment originated from ASAP, NSF or another federal agency payment system. The remittance must be submitted as 

follows: 

i. For ACH Returns: 

Routing Number: 051036706 

Account number: 303000 

Bank Name and Location: Credit Gateway - ACH Receiver St. Paul, MN 

ii. For Fedwire Returns*: 

Routing Number: 021030004 

Account number: 75010501 

Bank Name and Location: Federal Reserve Bank Treas NYC/Funds Transfer Division New York, NY 

(* Please note organization initiating payment is likely to incur a charge from your Financial Institution for this type of payment) 

iii. For International ACH Returns: 

Beneficiary Account: Federal Reserve Bank of New York/ITS (FRBNY/ITS) 

Bank: Citibank N.A. (New York) 

Swift Code: CITIUS33 

Account Number: 36838868 

Bank Address: 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013 

Payment Details (Line 70): Agency 

Name (abbreviated when possible) and ALC Agency POC: Michelle Haney, 301-492-5065 

For recipients that do not have electronic remittance capability, please make check** payable to: 

“The Department of Health and Human Services.” 

Mail Check to Treasury approved lockbox: 

HS Program Support Center, P.O. Box 530231, Atlanta, GA 30353-0231 

(** Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of a payment by check to be applied to the appropriate 

PMS account) 

iv. Any additional information/instructions may be found on the PMS Web site at 

http://www.dpm.psc.gov/. 

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Appendix H. Additional resources for grant recipients 

All recipients must follow the guidance in the financial fact sheets as outlined in this manual. The following are the 

fact sheets that can be found on the Award Management Materials web page: 

• Grant Adjustment Modifications—Budget Modification fact sheet 

• Consultant Contractor Rate fact sheet 

• Program Income fact sheet 

• Sole Source Justification fact sheet 

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COPS Office Resources 

Websites 

COPS Office Newsletter, Community Policing Dispatch: https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/ 

COPS Office Beat Podcast: https://cops.usdoj.gov/thebeat 

Grants information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants 

President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing One-Year Progress Report: 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-W0805 

SRO Resources: https://cops.usdoj.gov/supportingsafeschools 

Updated Publication list: https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ric.php 

For more information about the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tribal TTA efforts, visit: 

https://www.justice.gov/tribal and select “training and technical assistance” on the left toolbar. 

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) provides resources and training and technical 

assistance (TTA) to further practical and specialized knowledge used to implement and enhance justice system 

efforts, particularly in the law enforcement field. The COPS Office supports resources and TTA that is not only 

specifically geared toward tribes but also generally applies across broader topic areas such as community policing, 

drugs, gangs, and youth safety, among others. On the Tribal Community Policing Resources page you’ll find a 

variety of resources and courses the COPS Office offers for tribal law enforcement. These resources are constantly 

being updated and added to so please check back often. https://cops.usdoj.gov/tribalpolicing. 

Publications 

Intelligence-Led Community Policing, Community Prosecution, and Community Partnerships: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P322 

Officer-Involved Shootings: A Guide for Law Enforcement Leaders: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P350 

Police Perspectives: Building Trust in a Diverse Nation - No. 1. How to Increase Cultural Understanding: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P344 

Police Perspectives: Building Trust in a Diverse Nation - No. 2. How to Serve Diverse Communities: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P345 

Police Perspectives: Building Trust in a Diverse Nation - No. 3. How to Support Trust Building in Your Agency: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P346 

Rank and File: Leaders in Building Trust and Community Policing: 

https://cops.usdoj/gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-P351 

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Glossary of Terms 

allowable costs. Allowable costs are costs that will be paid for by this award program. Upon review of your 

submitted budget, any unallowable costs were removed. The award financial information included in your award 

package specifies your allowable costs, contains the final budget category amounts for which your agency was 

approved, and notes any relevant revisions that were made to your original budget submission. 

assistance listing. The assistance listing contains a description and index of all forms of federal assistance. Each 

program is assigned an assistance listing number, which is used by auditors to track award revenues. It is also used 

in participating states by State Single Points of Contact in conducting the required intergovernmental reviews 

under Executive Order 12372. The assistance listing number for COPS Office awards is 16.710. 

audit. Work done by auditors, including both the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and state or local auditors, 

to examine financial statements and to review 

• compliance with laws and regulations; 

• economy and efficiency of operations; 

• effectiveness in achieving program results; and 

• allowability of costs claimed against the award. 

authorized officials. The authorized officials are the individuals in your organization who have final authority and 

responsibility for all programmatic and financial decisions regarding this award. At the time of award application, 

your agency listed the law enforcement executive (usually the chief of police, Sheriff, etc.) and the government 

executive (usually the mayor, board president, etc.) for your agency. These executives are listed on your award 

document and are understood to be your authorized officials. If any of the executive information is incorrect, 

please revise the information via JustGrants. For any assistance, please reference the 

https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/jarg-entity-management.pdf. 

Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). An AFIS system is a highly specialized biometrics system that 

compares a single fingerprint image with a database of fingerprint images. Fingerprint images are collected from 

crime scenes or are taken from criminal suspects when they are arrested. Fingerprint images may be captured by 

placing a finger on a scanner or by electronically scanning inked impressions on paper. 

award end date. This is the date until which your agency is authorized to purchase items or hire positions that 

were approved by the COPS Office. The award end date is found on your award document. Recipients may not 

make any purchases or hire any positions after this date without written approval from the COPS Office. 

award number. The award number identifies your agency’s award and can be found on your award document. 

This number should be used as a reference when corresponding with the COPS Office. Your award number is in the 

following format: 15JCOPS-22-GG-02187-XXXX. The COPS Office tracks award information based upon this number. 

award start date. This is the date on or after which your agency is authorized to purchase or hire any allowable 

equipment, services, personnel, or other costs that were approved by the COPS Office. The award start date is 

found on your award document. Recipients may not expend funds or hire or rehire award-funded officers prior to 

this date without written approval from the COPS Office. 

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career law enforcement officer. The COPS Office statute defines a career law enforcement officer as a person 

hired on a permanent basis who is authorized by law or by a state or local public agency to engage in or oversee 

the prevention, detection, or investigation of violations of criminal laws. 

closeout. The process in which the awarding agency, the COPS Office, determines that all applicable administrative 

actions and all required work and conditions of the award have been completed and met by the recipient and 

awarding agency. 

cognizant federal agency. Your cognizant federal agency is generally the federal agency that provides your agency 

with the most federal money. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may have already assigned your 

cognizant federal agency to you. If this is the first federal award that your organization has received, the U.S. 

Department of Justice is your cognizant federal agency. 

community policing. Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the 

systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions 

that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.. 

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Computer database that can track calls for service, maintain status of 

units available, provide various reports, produce address histories, and support electronic mail. With the 

installation of integrated CAD systems, officers are able to receive calls for service on their mobile data terminals 

rather than over the radio. Radios can then be used only for serious emergencies. 

COPS Office. Created under the 1994 Crime Bill, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) 

is an independent office within the U.S. Department of Justice that is the grantor or awarding agency for your 

award or cooperative agreement. The COPS Office is responsible for assisting your agency with the administration 

and maintenance of your award for the entire award period. If you have any questions regarding the COPS office, 

please call the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or visit the COPS Office website at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov. 

COPS Office Finance Staff Accountants. The COPS Office finance staff accountants are responsible for your 

agency’s financial and budgetary needs related to this award. A staff accountant is assigned to each state and is 

available to answer any questions that you may have concerning the Quarterly Financial Status Report (SF-425) 

and other financial aspects of your award. To identify your staff accountant, please call the COPS Office Response 

Center at 800-421-6770. 

criminal intelligence officer. A criminal intelligence officer, whether working directly with a law enforcement 

agency or assigned to the appropriate state or regional fusion center, works in the field of criminal intelligence and 

may conduct data collection, research, and analysis to produce finished intelligence reports or other products 

designed to assist in the prevention, detection, or investigation of violations of criminal laws. 

disallowed costs. Disallowed costs means those charges that are determined to be unallowable, in accordance 

with the applicable Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of the federal award. 

Employer Identification Number (EIN) / OJP vendor number. This number is usually your agency’s nine-digit 

federal tax identification number as assigned to you by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Your 

accounting/bookkeeping department should have this number. In some cases, the EIN has been previously 

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assigned to another agency within your jurisdiction. In this instance, a new vendor number will be assigned to you 

by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The newly assigned number is to be used for COPS Office administrative 

purposes only and should not be used for IRS purposes. 

equipment. Equipment is tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful 

life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000. 

federally recognized tribe. Federally recognized tribes are Native American Indian tribal entities that are 

recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and are eligible for funding and services by virtue of their status as 

sovereign Native American Indian tribes. They are acknowledged to have the immunities and privileges available to 

federally acknowledged Indian tribes by virtue of their government-to-government relationship with the United 

States, as well as the responsibilities, power, limitation, and obligations of such tribes. For further information, 

contact: BIA, Division of Tribal Government Services, MS-4631-MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240, 

202-208-2475. 

gas mask. A gas mask is connected to a chemical air filter and is used to protect the face and lungs from toxic 

gases. 

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ID. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database is 

maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. The database assigns a unique, 

permanent feature identifier, the feature ID, which is the only standard federal key for integrating or reconciling 

feature data from multiple datasets. 

global positioning system (GPS). Global positioning systems are a series of 24 geosynchronous satellites that 

continuously transmit their positions. Each system is used in personal tracking, navigation, and automatic vehicle 

location technologies. 

Grant Operations Staff. COPS Office Grant Operations Staff are trained and available to assist you in addressing 

any compliance-related questions regarding your award. Grant Operations staff plan and conduct site visits and 

enhanced office-based grant reviews. During the life of your award, you may be selected for a monitoring site visit 

to assess your compliance with the terms and agreements of the award program, to review your community 

policing initiatives, and to provide technical and administrative support for your award. Please contact the COPS 

Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 if you have any compliance-related questions. 

Grant manager. COPS Office Grant managers are trained to assist you with implementing and maintaining your 

award. A Grant manager is assigned to your state and is available to answer any questions that you may have 

concerning the administrative aspects of your award. Your Grant manager can assist you with requesting an 

extension on your award or modifying the award. To obtain the name and phone number of your Grant manager, 

please contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770. 

indirect costs. If approved for your program, indirect (facilities & administrative (F&A)) costs means those costs 

incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the 

cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. 

interoperable communications. Communications interoperability refers to the ability of emergency response 

officials to share information via voice and data signals on demand, in real time, when needed, and as authorized. 

Interoperable communications policies, procedures, and technology are used to increase voice and data 

information sharing among the law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical service communities. 

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local budget cycle. Your agency’s fiscal year. Some common examples include January 1 to December 31, October 

1 to September 30, and July 1 to June 30. Some local budget cycles may extend up to 24 months. 

matching funds. What a locality must contribute as a cash match toward total allowable project costs over the life 

of the program. 

military veteran. a military veteran is is defined as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, 

and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. 

modified total direct cost. Modified total direct cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe 

benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the 

period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, 

charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and 

the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a 

serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect 

costs. 

National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). A comprehensive reporting database where agencies provide 

individual records for eight index crimes and 38 other offenses. 

obligation of funds. The COPS Office obligates federal funds when the award document is signed by the COPS 

Office Director or his or her designated official. For the recipient, award funds are obligated when monies are 

spent hiring approved personnel under the award. The term encumbrance is often used at the local and state 

levels to describe this type of transaction. Liquidated obligations are considered cash outlays or monies actually 

spent. Unliquidated obligations are obligations incurred and recorded but not yet paid (accrual basis of accounting) 

or not yet recorded and not yet paid (cash basis of accounting). 

primary law enforcement authority. An agency with primary law enforcement authority is the agency that is the 

first responder to calls for service, and has ultimate and final responsibility for the prevention, detection, or 

investigation of violations of criminal laws within its jurisdiction. 

The Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act of 1994. The COPS Office is charged with fulfilling the 

mandates of this law. The purposes of the law are to 

• increase the number of community policing officers on the beat; 

• provide additional and more effective training to law enforcement officers to enhance their problem-solving, 

service, and other skills needed in interacting with members of the community; 

• encourage the development and implementation of innovative programs to permit members of the 

community to assist law enforcement agencies in the prevention of crime; and 

• encourage the development of new technologies to assist law enforcement agencies in reorienting the 

emphasis of their activities from reacting to crime to preventing crime. 

rehire. Some COPS Office grant programs provide funding to rehire full-time officers who were laid off (from any 

jurisdiction) or who were scheduled to be laid off on a specific future date at the time of award application as a 

result of state, local, or BIA budget reductions. A recipient may use funding to rehire an experienced full-time 

officer, but any additional costs higher than entry-level that your agency pays the rehired officer must be paid with 

local agency funds, not award funds. 

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retention period. Some COPS Office programs stipulate that awarded position must be retained for at least 12 

months following the conclusion of federal funding for that position. This time span is referred to as the retention 

period. 

School Resource Officer (SRO). A career law enforcement officer with sworn authority, deployed in communityoriented policing and assigned by the employing police department or agency to work in collaboration with schools 

and community-based organizations to 

• address crime problems, gangs, and drug activities affecting or occurring in or around an elementary or 

secondary school; 

• deploy or expand crime prevention efforts for students; 

• educate likely school-age victims in crime prevention and safety; 

• develop or expand community justice initiatives for students; 

• train students in conflict resolution, restorative justice, and crime awareness; 

• assist in the identification of physical changes in the environment that may reduce crime in or around the 

school; and 

• assist in developing school policy that addresses crime and to recommend procedural changes. 

simplified acquisition threshold. Simplified acquisition threshold means the dollar amount below which a nonFederal entity may purchase property or services using small purchase methods. Non-Federal entities adopt small 

purchase procedures in order to expedite the purchase of items costing less than the simplified acquisition 

threshold. The simplified acquisition threshold is set by the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 48 C.F.R. Subpart 2.1 

(Definitions) and in accordance with 41 U.S.C. § 1908. Currently, the simplified acquisition threshold is $250,000. 

subaward. Subaward means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to 

carry out part of a Federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor 

or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a Federal program. A subaward may be provided through any 

form of legal agreement, including an agreement that the pass-through entity considers a contract. 

subrecipient. Subrecipient means a non-Federal entity that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity to 

carry out part of a Federal program; but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary of such program. A 

subrecipient may also be a recipient of other Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency. 

supplanting. COPS Office award funds may not be used to supplant (replace) state, local, or Bureau of Indian 

Affairs (BIA) funds that would be made available in the absence of federal COPS Office award funding. Award funds 

must be used to increase the amount of state, local, or BIA funds otherwise budgeted for sworn officer positions, 

plus any additional state, local, or BIA funds budgeted for these purposes. 

supplies. Supplies means all tangible personal property other than those described under equipment. A computing 

device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than the lesser of the capitalization level established by the nonFederal entity for financial statement purposes or $5,000, regardless of the length of its useful life. 

System for Award Management (SAM). The SAM database is the repository for standard information about 

federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have previously submitted 

applications via https://www.grants.gov/ are already registered with SAM, as it is a requirement for 

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2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Award Owner’s Manual 

https://www.grants.gov/ registration. Please note, however, that applicants must update or renew their SAM at 

least once per year to maintain an active status. Information about registration procedures can be accessed at 

https://www.sam.gov/. 

unique entity Identifier. The Unique Entity ID (SAM) is a 12-character alpha-numeric value and once issued, will 

not change. Entities. A unique entity identifier is required of all applicants for COPS Office awards and must be 

updated every year in SAM.gov. This number will be used by the Federal Government to better track award 

recipient information throughout the award cycle and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic 

award application systems. 

village public safety officer. A “village public safety officer” is defined as “an individual employed as a village public 

safety officer under the program established by the State pursuant to Alaska Statute 18.65.670.” Tribal Law and 

Order Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-211, title II, § 247 (a)(2). 

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Award Owner’s Manual 

This manual was created to assist COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program recipients with the 

administrative and financial matters associated with their award. 

For more information about your AHTF award, please contact your COPS Office grant manager. If you do not know 

the name or telephone number of your grant manager, please contact the COPS Office Response Center at 

AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov or 800-421-6770. 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

145 N Street NE 

Washington, DC 20530 

To obtain details about COPS Office programs, contact the COPS Office Response Center at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov 

or 800-421-6770. 

Visit the COPS Office online at https://cops.usdoj.gov/. 

Published September 2023