(a) For each fiscal year, AMS will calculate the rate for laboratory testing, analysis, and other services, per hour per program employee using the following formulas:

(1) Regular rate. The total AMS laboratory service program personnel direct pay divided by direct hours, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage of cost of living increase, plus the benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus the allowance for bad debt rate. If applicable, travel expenses may also be added to the cost of providing the service.

(2) Overtime rate. The total AMS laboratory service program personnel direct pay divided by direct hours, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage of cost of living increase and then multiplied by 1.5 plus the benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus an allowance for bad debt. If applicable, travel expenses may also be added to the cost of providing the service.

(3) Holiday rate. The total AMS laboratory service program personnel direct pay divided by direct hours, which is then multiplied by the next year's percentage of cost of living increase and then multiplied by 2, plus benefits rate, plus the operating rate, plus an allowance for bad debt. If applicable, travel expenses may also be added to the cost of providing the service.

(b)(1) For each calendar year, based on previous fiscal year/historical actual costs, AMS will calculate the benefits, operating, and allowance for bad debt components of the regular, overtime and holiday rates as follows:

(i) Benefits rate. The total AMS laboratory service program direct benefits costs divided by the total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked, which is then multiplied by the next calendar year's percentage cost of living increase. Some examples of direct benefits are health insurance, retirement, life insurance, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement basic and matching contributions.

(ii) Operating rate. The total AMS laboratory service program operating costs divided by total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked, which is then multiplied by the percentage of inflation.

(iii) Allowance for bad debt rate. Total AMS laboratory service program allowance for bad debt divided by total hours (regular, overtime, and holiday) worked.

(2) The calendar year cost of living expenses and percentage of inflation factors used in the formulas in this section are based on the most recent Office of Management and Budget's Presidential Economic Assumptions.

(c) When a laboratory test service is provided for AMS by a commercial or State government laboratory, the applicant will be assessed a fee which covers the costs to the Science and Technology program for the service provided.

(d) When Science and Technology staff provides applied and developmental research and training activities for microbiological, physical, chemical, and biomolecular analyses on agricultural commodities the applicant will be charged a fee on a reimbursable cost to AMS basis.

(a) The applicant for appeal sample testing will be charged a fee based on the formulas in § 91.37.

(b) The appeal fee will not be waived for any reason if analytical testing was completed in addition to the original analysis.

(a) When analytical testing in a Science and Technology facility requires the services of laboratory personnel beyond their regularly assigned tour of duty on any day or on a day outside the established schedule, such services are considered as overtime work. When analytical testing in a Science and Technology facility requires the services of laboratory personnel on a Federal holiday or a day designated in lieu of such a holiday, such services are considered holiday work. Laboratory analyses initiated at the request of the applicant to be rendered on Federal holidays, and on an overtime basis will be charged fees based on the formulas in § 91.37.

(b) Information on legal holidays or what constitutes overtime service at a particular Science and Technology laboratory is available from the Laboratory Director or facility manager.

(a) The Science and Technology laboratories have a courier charge per trip to retrieve the sample package. The courier service charge is determined from the established single standard mileage rate and from the total authorized distance based on the shortest round trip route from laboratory to sample retrieval site. Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (a) (1) of § 5704 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), the automobile reimbursement rate cannot exceed the single standard mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

(b) The faxing of laboratory analysis reports or certificates is an optional service for each S&T facility offered at a fee specified in table 8 in § 91.37.

Charges, not in excess of the cost thereof and as approved by the Deputy Administrator, may be made for demonstrations, samples, or courses of instruction when such are furnished upon request.

(a) Each billing cycle will end on the 25th of the month. The applicant will be billed by the National Finance Center (NFC) using the Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS) on the 1st day, following the end of the billing cycle in which voluntary laboratory services and other services were rendered at a particular Science and Technology laboratory or office.

(b) The total charge or fee shall normally be stated directly on the analysis report or on a standardized official certificate form for the laboratory analysis of a specific agricultural commodity and related commodity products.

(c) The actual bill for collection will be issued by the USDA, National Finance Center Billings and Collection Branch, (Mail: P.O. Box 60075), 13800 Old Gentilly Road, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0001.

(a) Fees and charges for services shall be paid by the applicant, by check or money order payable, to the “Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA” and sent to the office indicated on the bill.

(b) Fees and charges for services under a cooperative agreement with a State or other AMS programs or other governmental agency will be paid in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement.

(c) As necessary, the Deputy Administrator may require that fees shall be paid in advance of the performance of the requested service. Any fees paid in excess of the amount due shall be used to offset future billings, unless a request for a refund is made by applicant.

(a) Accounts are considered overdue if payment is late with the National Finance Center (NFC). The timeliness of a payment will be based on the postmark date of the payment or the date of receipt by the NFC if no postmark date is present or legible. Bills are payable upon receipt and become delinquent 30 days from date of billing.

(b) Any amount due not paid by the due date will be increased by a late payment charge. The actual assessed rate applied to overdue accounts is set quarterly by the Department of the Treasury. This amount is one-twelfth of one year's late penalty interest rate computed at the prescribed rate.

(c) Overtime or holiday laboratory service will not be performed for any applicant with a notice of delinquency.

(d) Applicants with three notices of delinquency will be reviewed for possible termination of services. A deposit in advance sufficient to cover the fees and expenses for any subsequent service may be required of any person failing to pay in claim after issuance of such notice of delinquency.

(e) The Deputy Administrator of S&T program and personnel of the USDA, NFC Billings and Collections Branch (address as listed in § 91.42) will take such actions as may be necessary to collect any delinquent amounts due for accounts in claim status.

(a) Irrespective of hourly fee rates and charges prescribed in § 91.37, or in other sections of this subchapter E, the Deputy Administrator may enter into contracts with applicants to perform continuous laboratory services or other types of laboratory services pursuant to the regulations in this part and other requirements, as prescribed by the Deputy Administrator in such contract. In addition, the charges for such laboratory services, provided in such contracts, shall be on such basis as will reimburse the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department for the full cost of rendering such laboratory services, including an appropriate overhead charge to cover administrative overhead expenses as may be determined by the Administrator.

(b) Irrespective of hourly fee rates and charges prescribed in this subpart I, or in other parts of this subchapter E, the Deputy Administrator may enter into a written Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or agreement with any administrative agency or governing party for the performance of laboratory services pursuant to said agreement or order on a basis that will reimburse the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department for the full cost of rendering such laboratory service, including an appropriate overhead administrative overhead charge.

(c) The conditions and terms for renewal of such Memorandum of Understanding or agreement shall be specified in the contract.