Source: https://tfm.fiscal.treasury.gov/v1/p4/ac400.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 20:20:54+00:00

Document:
This chapter addresses requirements for NTDOs.
This chapter addresses applications and payment-related processes that reside under the authority of the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal Service), Payment Management, when payments are not processed by Fiscal Service. NTDOs must adhere to the letter and intent of the authorities, processes, and rules outlined in TFM Volume I, Part 4A, Chapter 4000 for the creation, issuance, and reporting of transactions.
All NTDOs must report to Treasury on a daily basis their anticipated aggregate level of planned disbursements for each disbursing method [for example, wire, Automated Clearing House (ACH), or check] for the following five day period. These reports are due to Treasury each business day by 3 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Each entity that performs its own disbursing should submit one consolidated report each day.
Each NTDO must submit a consolidated agency disbursement report no later than 3 p.m. ET each business day. Fiscal Service has prepared a template to standardize the reporting of this information, Non-Treasury Disbursing Office Reporting.
Fiscal Service will review NTDO compliance and will report to NTDOs on the status of their compliance. Fiscal Service will provide assistance to NTDOs not in compliance or those requesting assistance with proper reporting.
In the event of a government budget year transition or debt ceiling constraint, Treasury will invoke rules for the processing of payments that flow through the Federal Reserve Banks (FRBs) and debit the U.S. Treasury’s General Account (TGA).
A NTDO will only be able to send files to FRB ACH one business day before payment date for "next day" payment scheduling. This means that no government payments will be processed with an effective payment date beyond the next business day.
All NTDOs must segregate their originated ACH files into credit only and debit only files.
All NTDO ACH file transmissions must be completed by 3:30 pm ET to ensure files have been properly positioned at the FedACH.
The FedACH application is set up to automatically pend incoming files based on the Application Identifier (APPL ID-- "CHKS"). CHKS pended files are held over at End of Day (EOD) and can roll to the next day for up to 25 processing days.
All NTDOs are to send corresponding informational spreadsheets of their pended "CHKS" ACH files to NTDOstatus2@fiscal.treasury.gov by 3:30 pm ET.
If Treasury does not instruct the FRB to release the file at the end of 25 business days, then the file may be purged. In the event that a file is purged, the NTDO must have the ability to resubmit or to create a new payment file.
Treasury may instruct the Federal Reserve Bank to disable Fedwire capabilities for NTDOs depending on the available balances in the TGA. Treasury will work with NTDOs and the Federal Reserve Bank regarding issuance of Fedwire payments.
Treasury may instruct NTDOs who issue Treasury checks to hold for release all Treasury Checks and to start sending informational spreadsheets of their daily Treasury Check Payments to NTDOstatus2@fiscal.treasury.gov by 3:30 pm ET.
Agencies must submit the original and one copy of the basic vouchers prepared on government standard forms or on forms otherwise specifically authorized; invoices, bills, or statements of account serving as basic vouchers, to the DO for payment processing. The DO records the payment data on both the original and the copy of the voucher. The DO submits the original voucher as accounting support for the payment transaction and retains the voucher copy for the accounting document files.
Unless required by the appropriate disbursing office, NTDOs are not required to use the Secure Payment System (SPS) for disbursements. Vendors’ invoices, bills, or statements of account may be used as vouchers to support the agency’s accounts and accountability statements, provided they show all the information required in Title 7 of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies.
SF 1221: Statement of Transactions [According to Appropriations, Funds, and Receipt Accounts (Foreign Service Account)].
See TFM Volume I, Part 2, Chapter 3200 for additional information on reporting foreign currency payments.
Agencies using eight-digit ALCs report foreign currency disbursements to an appropriation on their Statement of Transactions (224).
The Voucher Auditor’s Detail Report, providing detailed information (including check number, amount, and issue date) on each payment disbursed.
For additional information on reporting, see TFM Volume I, Part 2, Chapter 5100.
All agencies must use CARS and submit the Treasury Account Symbol (TAS)/Business Event Type Code (BETC) reporting classification of each payment.
All federal agencies not using Treasury disbursing office services must submit disbursement related transaction information through PIR to CARS.
All agencies who have converted to CARS Payment Reporter must submit a valid TAS/BETC combination at the point of initiation. Adjustments can subsequently be made using the CARS Classification Transaction Accountability (CTA) module. Fiscal Service reference data for TAS/BETCs can be found at the Shared Accounting Module (SAM) website.
PIR is a payment reporting tool that supplies the latest information on disbursements and the detail of payment transactions for federal agencies.
Agencies that disburse their payments through FRBs must access PIR to view all payment related debit vouchers and credit vouchers. See the PIR website for enrollment procedures for accessing PIR.
PIR is the vehicle for NTDOs to report their payment TAS/BETCs to CARS. With the exception of transactions that are specifically identified by Treasury as not going through PIR, all NTDOs with payments, or other debit activities that affect the TGA, must report to Treasury payments and/or any returned payments through PIR.
NTDO agencies must report their payment TAS/BETC classifications daily on the date of the payment through PIR using the Standard Reporting Format (SRF). The PIR will report summarized TAS/BETCs to CARS.
Agencies that issue Treasury checks will no longer submit their check issues files using the current Treasury Check Information System (TCIS) format once they are reporting through PIR. NTDOs that issue checks and report them monthly on the check issues file to TCIS will move to daily reporting of checks to PIR using the PIR SRF. PIR files containing check payments will be consumed by both PIR and TCIS. The requirements and rules for check issue reporting as outlined in the PIR SRF replace the requirements in TFM Volume I, Part 4, Chapter 6000, section 6025. For information on submitting claims for nonreceipt of checks drawn on the U.S. Treasury, see TFM Volume I, Part 4, Chapter 7000.
As outlined in the PIR SRF, agencies must submit the files to PIR by 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central Time on the date of payment. The “date of payment” is defined below for various methods of payment.
Check Payments—The date of payment is the issue date of the check (the date inscribed on the check). Files containing check payments will be consumed by both PIR and TCIS. All validation messages for check payment files are communicated via the Transmittal Control and Disbursing Office Maintenance System within TCIS.
ACH (original and return) Payments—The date of payment is the settlement date of the ACH transaction, which is in the acknowledgment received from FedACH.
Wire and International (ITS.gov) Payments—The date of payment is the value date specified in the payment request.
Agencies use the PIR SRF to submit one or more files, each containing one or more batches. A batch is described below, based on the method of payment.
ACH (original payment and returns), Wire, International (ITS.gov)—All transactions that are accounted for with a single voucher (SF 5515/SF 215) should be included in a batch.
Check—All checks issued with the same DO symbol and sequential contiguous serial numbers should be included in a batch. This represents the current issue file sent by NTDOs to TCIS.
Note: Agencies that do not submit payments with the TAS/BETC classified on the SRF on the date of payment will have their vouchers default in CARS to the default TAS/BETC defined in SAM for payment transactions. Then, the agency must reclassify the voucher in the CARS Classification Transaction Accountability (CTA) module. Agencies must clear the default account by the third workday after month-end or it negatively impacts the quarterly scorecard that is sent to agencies’ Chief Financial Officers.
Note: Only the Department of Defense may receive a waiver from the timely reporting of payment transactions when ships or active service units are operating under “brown-out” or “silent-running” conditions, where non-mission-critical transmissions are prohibited.
In accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3321(b), this section prescribes procedures and policies by which Fiscal Service delegates to officers and employees of other federal agencies the authority to disburse public money. It is consistent with Fiscal Service’s continuing oversight over agencies that are delegated disbursing authority.
This section does not pertain to federal agencies that are granted authority to disburse public money by statute. See 31 U.S.C. § 3321(c).
The requesting agency submits its request for delegated disbursing authority, in writing, to Treasury’s Chief Disbursing Officer (CDO). The request must be on agency letterhead and must be signed by the head of the agency or his or her designee. The letter must include adequate documentation of the agency’s business need for delegation and must provide assurance to Treasury that the agency, if the delegated disbursing authority, will maintain effective internal controls and will comply with pertinent security guidelines.
In limited cases when Fiscal Service, in its sole discretion, determines that an agency has met the requirements to be delegated disbursing authority, Fiscal Service executes a written Delegated Disbursing Authority Document. The Delegated Disbursing Authority Document sets forth specific terms, conditions, and limitations of the particular delegation.
Fiscal Service has the authority to amend the specific terms of the Delegated Disbursing Authority Document, as necessary and appropriate. Before Fiscal Service finalizes any amendment, it provides advance notice to the agency, in writing, setting forth the specific purpose and reasons for the proposed amendment. Fiscal Service gives the agency the opportunity to submit comments on any proposed amendment. However, Fiscal Service retains sole decision-making authority to finalize amendments to the Delegated Disbursing Authority Document.
Maintains oversight authority over the disbursing function as demonstrated, in part, by the terms of this chapter. Consistent with this authority, the CDO retains the authority to revoke an agency’s disbursing authority delegation.
Has the right to require that the agency’s operations be inspected and examined to ensure compliance with delegated disbursing authority requirements.
Prescribes and approves procedures for disbursing functions as outlined in this section of the TFM; TFM Volume I, Part 4A, Chapter 2000, Section 2045, for agencies with authority to disburse imprest funds; and the Agency Self-Certification Guide and Questionnaire.
Requires agencies with delegated disbursing authority to submit immediately to the CDO any irregularity in their accounts involving such disbursement activity.
Following the disbursing official and cashier guidelines as set forth under 31 U.S.C. § 3322, § 3325, and § 3528.
Full accountability and liability for all disbursements issued under the delegation. The agency must not delegate the duties and functions related to the delegation to another party without consultation and prior written approval by the CDO.
Reporting of all disbursements made under the delegation in the agency’s payment accounting reports to Fiscal Service, using the appropriate agency accounting codes, as authorized by Fiscal Service. The agency must submit immediately to the CDO any irregularity in accounts involving disbursement activity. Furthermore, the agency must resolve any irregularities or discrepancies associated with such reports.
Periodically obtaining the services of a third party to assess the need for the delegated authority. This agency report will be provided to Treasury.
In addition, an agency with delegated disbursing authority must practice effective security and internal control measures as prescribed by Fiscal Service (in Treasury Directive No. 71-10), GAO, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 (FFMIA), 31 U.S.C. § 3512, note.
Following such reviews, agencies must submit a self-certification and questionnaire response to Fiscal Service stating whether or not they comply with these requirements. Fiscal Service advises agencies of the due date of these responses and provides them with the self-certification language to be included in the response. To the extent that an agency cannot certify that it complies with a specific requirement, the self-certification must document the agency’s planned corrective action to achieve compliance within an identified timeframe.
The self-certification focuses solely on FMFIA, Section 2 reports (internal controls) and Section 4 reports (financial management systems). See 31 U.S.C. § 3512(d)(2) and (d)(2)(B); also see OMB Circular Nos. A-123 and A-127 for further information on Section 2 and Section 4 requirements. Specifically, an agency must self-certify that its Section 2 and Section 4 reports provide reasonable assurance that the agency is in compliance with FMFIA, Section 2 and Section 4 requirements. To the extent that an agency self-certifies “noncompliance” or “qualified assurance” with Section 2 and Section 4 requirements, it must identify all material weaknesses and corrective action plans to achieve compliance within an identified timeframe.
Section 803(a), which requires each agency to “implement and maintain financial management systems that comply substantially with federal financial management systems requirements.” Specifically, the agency must certify that it complies with FFMIA, Section 803(a) requirements, if applicable, and that this determination has been verified by independent audit, as referenced under FFMIA, Section 803(b). See 31 U.S.C. § 3512, note. To the extent that an agency self-certifies “noncompliance” with Section 803(a), it must identify “resources, remedies, and intermediate target dates necessary to bring the agency’s financial management systems into substantial compliance” with Section 803(a). See FFMIA, Section 803(c)(3) discussing the requirement for a remediation plan to achieve compliance.
The self-certification allows an agency to provide information on corrective or remediation plans, if necessary. Fiscal Service provides guidance to agencies on format and procedures for submitting the agency self-certification and questionnaire response in the Agency Self-Certification Guide and Questionnaire.
When an agency’s self-certification indicates the agency is not in compliance with one or more stated requirements, Fiscal Service, in its sole discretion, may determine it is necessary that a risk assessment of the agency’s disbursing system be conducted. In making such a determination, Fiscal Service may consider such factors as the status and utility of the corrective and remedial plans identified by the agency to achieve compliance. The risk assessment is intended to evaluate, among other things, agency-identified deficiencies or material weaknesses in financial management systems, operations, and accounting and reconciliation procedures that may adversely affect the agency’s disbursing performance. The agency develops, and submits to Fiscal Service, a plan for conducting the risk assessment. The plan must identify the party who will conduct the assessment. Risk assessments are conducted in accordance with Fiscal Service’s risk assessment guide or another guide that meets Treasury’s standards and is approved by Fiscal Service. At Fiscal Service’s discretion, agencies must provide Fiscal Service with a copy of their FMFIA, Section 2 and Section 4 reports; FFMIA, Section 803(a) reports; and other audit information as part of any risk assessment.
If an agency does not comply with the review and self-certification reporting requirements provided under subsection 4040.50a, or does not respond to requests for information in connection with a risk assessment as provided under subsection 4040.50b, Treasury’s CDO notifies the agency, in writing, of a final date certain for complying with such requirements. The CDO reserves the right to revoke the agency’s disbursing authority delegation in accordance with subsection 4040.30, if the agency fails to respond adequately to the terms of this written notice by the indicated final date certain.
The agency fails to comply with the terms of the Delegated Disbursing Authority Document executed under the authority of subsection 4040.20.
In addition, the CDO periodically reviews whether the agency continues to meet the standards for delegation of disbursing authority as set forth under 31 U.S.C. § 3321(b) and subsection 4040.10. The CDO may terminate an agency’s delegation of disbursing authority when Fiscal Service determines, in its sole discretion, that the agency no longer meets such standards.
The CDO notifies the agency, in writing, that its delegation of disbursing authority is being terminated. Before any termination action is taken, Fiscal Service and the agency work together to resolve all outstanding questions and issues. If this effort is unsuccessful, Fiscal Service consults with the agency to determine an appropriate effective date for termination and the resumption of Treasury disbursement services. In determining the effective termination date, Fiscal Service and the agency consider the mission of the agency and the needs of its payees. If Fiscal Service and the agency cannot reach a mutual decision on the effective date for termination, Fiscal Service determines the effective date and notifies the agency.

References: § 3321
 § 3321
 § 3322
 § 3325
 § 3528
 § 3512
 § 3512
 § 3512
 § 3321