Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/05/13/05-9544/registration-of-agencies-for-voluntary-foreign-aid-summary-of-comments
Timestamp: 2018-04-25 17:26:54
Document Index: 677859392

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 203', 'art 203', '§\u2009203', '§\u2009203', '§\u2009203', '§\u2009203', 'art 203', '§\u2009203', '§\u2009203', '§\u2009203']

Federal Register :: Registration of Agencies for Voluntary Foreign Aid; Summary of Comments
A Rule by the Agency for International Development on 05/13/2005
70 FR 25466
25466-25470 (5 pages)
05-9544
PART 203—REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS (PVOs)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-9544 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-9544
U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID.
Mary Q. Newton, Registrar, Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation—American Schools & Hospitals Abroad; telephone: 202-712-4747; telefax: 202-216-3041 or e-mail: mnewton@usaid.gov.
On May 7, 2002, the Agency published in the Federal Register a proposed revision of Part 203.
The comment period was May 8, 2003, to July 8, 2002.
The Agency received comments from eleven private voluntary organizations (PVOs) as well as comments from two cooperative development organizations (CDOs). The following summarizes the principal comments and actions taken:
1. Annual Documentation Requirements (see § 203.5). For PVOs submitting an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 Audit, the due date for submitting annual documents was changed from six months to nine months following the organization's fiscal year end to take into account the time required for the registrant to prepare the OMB Circular A-133 audit.
2. Submission of Documents. A comment expressed opposition to submitting duplicate documents to various offices within USAID. The words “the same or” were deleted from 203.4(d). The sentence now reads: “Other USAID officials may request similar information at a later date for purposes of determining the PVO's eligibility for a particular grant or cooperative agreement.”
3. Registration Status—Transition Provisions. PVOs currently registered will continue to be registered under the new rule. The new annual documentation requirements are in effect as of the date of the new rule. The previous rule and the new rule are available on the USAID Web site at http://www.usaid.gov Keyword: PVO Registration. New applicants will be required to submit their applications and documentation under the revised Conditions of Registration and new rules.
4. Registration of CDOs. Two comments were made with regard to the elimination of Registration eligibility for IRS 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) organizations, specifically cooperative development organizations (CDOs). The Agency's intent is not to eliminate CDOs from the U.S. PVO Registry at http://www.usaid.gov Keyword: Registry. Therefore, CDOs will continue to be listed in the Registry and will continue to be required to meet the annual documentation requirements in § 203.5. (see § 203.12)
5. AID Form 1550-2. A comment requested that PVOs not currently receiving funding from the U.S. Government for overseas programs not be required to submit the AID Form 1550-2. The suggested change was not adopted since AID Form 1550-2 provides current demographic information on each PVO as well as Start Printed Page 25467financial information. The AID Form 1550-2 has a two-fold purpose: collecting data required to determine whether the organization meets USAID's Conditions of Registration and provide USAID with the information for computing the amount of USAID funding made available to PVOs. Until an applicant completes the AID Form 1550-2 in its entirety, the Agency cannot determine whether that applicant meets the Conditions of Registration.
6. Registration of Non-U.S. PVOs. One comment concerned the Registration on non-U.S. PVOs. There are two types of non-U.S. PVOs: Local and International. A “Local PVO” is a non-U.S. PVO operating in the same foreign country in which it is organized. Local PVOs are not required to register with USAID/Washington. An “International PVO” is a non-U.S. PVO that performs development work in one or more countries other than the country in which it is domiciled. International PVOs are required to register with USAID. The Registration procedures for International PVOs have been added (see § 203.6).
Accordingly, 22 CFR Part 203 is revised as follows.
U S. PVO annual documentation requirements.
Cooperative Development Organizations (CDOs).
(a) USAID registers PVOs to:
(b) It is not the purpose of registration to allow or enable registered PVOs to make any representation to the public concerning the meaning of being registered with USAID. Promotional materials or advertisements suggesting otherwise will be grounds for removal from the USAID PVO Registry.
(a) Cooperative Development Organization (CDO) means an organization designated by USAID as a voluntary, independent business enterprise formed to meet specific needs of its members through a common venture.
(b) Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) means the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2151, et seq.
(c) General Public means citizens and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The general public does not include government agencies in the United States or abroad, or public international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
(e) International Private Voluntary Organization (IPVO) means an entity that:
(1) Is non-U.S. based in that it is organized under the laws of the country in which it is domiciled;
(2) Is a private nongovernmental organization (NGO) that solicits and receives cash contributions from the general public;
(3) Is a charitable organization in that it is nonprofit and tax exempt under the laws of its country of domicile and operation, and is not a university, college, accredited degree-granting institution of education, private foundation, hospital, organization engaged exclusively in research or scientific activities, church, synagogue, mosque or other similar entities organized primarily for religious purposes; and
(4) Conducts, or anticipates conducting, program activities in one or more countries other than its country of origin that are consistent with the general purposes of the Foreign Assistance Act and/or Public Law 480.
(5) Is not recognized as a Public International Organization according to USAID's Automated Directives System (ADS) 308.3.
(f) Local Private Voluntary Organization (LPVO) means a non-U.S. based PVO that meets the definition of an International Private Voluntary Organization, except that it operates only in the same foreign country in which it is organized. LPVOs are not required to register with USAID/Washington but USAID Missions may require some other eligibility method when making awards.
(g) Non-U.S. Private Voluntary Organization (Non-U.S. PVO) means an entity that meets the definition of a U.S. PVO, but is not headquartered in the United States. Non-U.S. PVOs include both Local Private Voluntary Organizations and International Private Voluntary Organizations.
(h) Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) means any nongovernmental organization or entity, whether nonprofit or profit-making.
(i) Nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization that is operated primarily for service, charitable, scientific, educational or other similar purposes; is not organized for profit; and uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expands its operations.
(j) Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) See U.S. Private Voluntary Organization, International Private Voluntary Organization, and Local Private Voluntary Organization.
(k) Public International Organization (PIO) means a non-U.S. based organization (i.e., composed principally of governments) in which the U.S. participates. (See USAID's Automated Directives System (ADS) 308.3).
(l) Public Law 480 means the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 1691, et seq.
(m) Solicits means to undertake a substantial effort to obtain donations.
(n) Supporting Services means the total of general and administration expenses plus fundraising expenses.
(o) USAID means the U.S. Agency for International Development.
(p) U.S. Private Voluntary Organization (U.S. PVO) means an entity that:
(1) Is organized under the laws of the United States and headquartered in the United States;
(2) Is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that solicits and receives cash Start Printed Page 25468contributions from the U.S. general public;
(3) Is a charitable organization in that it is nonprofit and exempt from Federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is not a university, college, accredited degree-granting institution of education, private foundation, hospital, organization established by a major political party in the United States, organization established, funded and audited by the U.S. Congress, organization engaged exclusively in research or scientific activities, church, synagogue, mosque or other similar entity organized primarily for religious purposes; and
(4) Conducts, or anticipates conducting, overseas program activities that are consistent with the general purposes of the Foreign Assistance Act and/or Public Law 480.
There are eight Conditions of Registration for U.S. organizations. The first four Conditions relate to whether an organization meets the definition of a U.S. PVO, as set forth in § 203.2 (p), while the last four Conditions establish standards by which the U.S. PVO is evaluated.
An applicant must be registered with USAID as a U.S. PVO if USAID finds that the applicant has satisfied all of the following Conditions:
(a) Condition No. 1 (U.S. based). Is U.S. based in that it:
(b) Condition No. 2 (Private). Is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and solicits and receives cash contributions from the U.S. general public.
(c) Condition No. 3 (Voluntary). Is a charitable organization in that it:
(d) Condition No. 4 (Overseas Program Activities). Conducts, or anticipates conducting, overseas program activities that are consistent with the general purposes of the Foreign Assistance Act and/or Public Law 480.
(e) Condition No. 5 (Board of Directors). Has a governing body:
(f) Condition No. 6 (Financial Viability). That it:
(g) Condition No. 7 (Program Activities vs. Supporting Services). That it:
(e) The completed application must be sent in duplicate to the USAID Registrar, Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation—American Schools & Hospitals Abroad, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20523-7600.
(1) Audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year prepared on an Accrual basis in accordance with GAAP by an independent CPA; an OMB Circular A-133 audit, if applicable; or unaudited financial statements if total Start Printed Page 25469Support and revenue is less than $50,000.
(h) The completed submission must be sent annually to the USAID Registrar, Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation—American Schools & Hospitals Abroad, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20523-7600.
There are eight Conditions of Registration for international organizations. The first four Conditions relate to whether an organization meets the definition of an IPVO, as set forth in § 203.2(e), while the last four Conditions establish standards by which the IPVO is evaluated. An applicant must be registered with USAID as an IPVO if USAID finds that the applicant has satisfied all of the following Conditions:
(a) Condition No. 1 (Non-U.S based). Is non-U.S. based in that it:
(b) Condition No. 2 (Private). Is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and solicits and receives cash contributions from the general public.
(d) Condition No. 4 (International Program Activities). Conducts, or anticipates conducting, program activities in one or more countries other than its country of origin and that are consistent with the general purposes of the Foreign Assistance Act and/or Public Law 480.
(d) Other USAID officials may request information similar to that submitted under these regulations for other purposes; for example, to determine an organization's eligibility for a particular grant or cooperative agreement. Start Printed Page 25470
(b) IPVOs also must submit any amendments, if applicable, to its articles of incorporation, charter, or bylaws and any changes in the tax-exempt status.
(e) USAID may revise this list of documents from time to time.
(g) The completed submission must be sent annually in English to the USAID Registrar, Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation—American Schools & Hospitals Abroad, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20523-7600.
(a) Notification of denial of registration. Denial of registration by USAID will include written notice to the applicant stating the grounds for the denial.
(b) Reconsideration. Within 30 days after receipt of a denial notification an organization may request that its application be reconsidered. USAID will consider the request and inform the applicant in writing of USAID's subsequent decision.
(c) Resubmission. An organization may at any time submit a new application for registration.
(a) Reasons. USAID may terminate registration for any of the following reasons if the registrant:
(b) Notification of termination of registration. Termination by USAID will include written notice to the registrant stating the grounds for the termination.
(c) Reconsideration. Within 30 days after receipt of a termination notification an organization may request that its termination be reconsidered. USAID will consider the request and inform the registrant in writing of USAID's subsequent decision. In addition, USAID may, at its own discretion, reconsider a termination of registration at any time.
(d) Resubmission. An organization may at any time submit a new application for registration.
(a) All records, reports, and other documents that are made available to USAID pursuant to this regulation must be made available for public inspection and copying, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other applicable laws.
(b) Communications from USAID will only be sent to the applicant's or registrant's headquarters.
CDOs are not PVOs for purposes of registration under this part. CDOs as part of the larger PVO community will continue to be listed in the U.S. PVO Registry at www.usaid.gov Keyword: Registry and will continue to be eligible for assistance that is otherwise available to registered U.S. PVOs. In order to be listed in the Registry as a CDO, the CDO must comply with the annual documentation requirements of § 203.5. A CDO applying for registration or registered under this part as a U.S. PVO must comply with the requirements of this part.
The Administrator of USAID or his/her designee may delegate authority to the Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance to administer the registration process and, in particular, the authority to waive, withdraw, or amend any or all of the provisions within this part.
Registrar, Private Voluntary Cooperation—American Schools & Hospitals Abroad, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.
[FR Doc. 05-9544 Filed 5-12-05; 8:45 am]