Reclamation Financial Assistance Memorandum (RFAM) No. 02-02
Assignment of Responsibility to Determine Appropriate Award Instrument
84-27800
ADM-13.00
MEMORANDUM
To:
Regional Director, PN, MP, LC, UC, GP
Attention: PN-3700, PN-6300, MP-3800, LC-3100, UC-440,
UC-450, GP-3800
Director, Administrative Service Center
Attention: D-2940
Director, Management Services
Attention: 84-27800, 84-27810
From:
Linda Waring-Wilson
Manager, Acquisition and Assistance Management Services
Subject:
Reclamation Financial Assistance Memorandum (RFAM) 02-02 Assignment of Responsibility to Determine Appropriate Award Instrument
1. Purpose. This purpose of this memorandum is to transmit information regarding new procedures for the determination of the appropriate award instrument.
2. Effective date. The effective date of this RFAM is August 21, 2002.
3. Expiration date. This RFAM is in effect until canceled or superseded.
4. Background. In his memorandum of August 21, 2001, titled "Interim Guidance on the Use of Financial Assistance Agreements," the Commissioner stated that additional guidance would be developed concerning the appropriate business instrument to be used when providing authorized financial assistance to non-Federal entities. The new memorandum amends current policy concerning the official authorized to make a determination of the appropriateness of using a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation.
5. Explanation of Changes.
a. In accordance with his memorandum of August 21, 2002, titled, "Assignment of Responsibility to Determine the Proper Selection of Award Instrument," copy attached, the Commissioner has now assigned the responsibility to determine the appropriate award instrument to Regional Directors and the Directors of the organizations in the Commissioner's Office and the Denver Office, as appropriate. This responsibility may be reassigned to individuals who have sufficient training and experience to properly determine whether a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement is the proper business instrument for award.
b. The Award Instrument Determination form, copy attached, shall be used to document the determination of appropriate instrument, and a copy of the reviewed and signed determination shall be maintained in the official agreement file.
c. The Reclamation Manual and the Reclamation Financial Assistance Handbook will be revised to reflect this change.
d. The following RFAM's are rescinded:
(1) RFAM 83-01, dated October 27, 1983, rescission of Paragraph 3 only.
(2) RFAM 83-01, Supplement 01, dated September 24, 1983 (Note: This was the second Supplement 01 issued to RFAM 83-01.)
6. Action required. Please make further distribution of this memorandum to all Grant and Cooperative Agreement Officers and others who administer financial assistance agreements in your Regional/Denver Office.
7. Point of contact. Stephanie Bartlett, Procurement Analyst, telephone number 303-445-2427.
Attachments:
Commissioner's Memorandum dated August 21, 2002
Guidance on the Determination of Proper Award Instrument
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, 31 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.
Award Instrument Determination form