THIS GRANT AGREEMENT dated ____________________, 19____, is between ____________

In consideration of financial assistance in the amount of $________ (called “Grant Funds”) to be made available by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 to Grantee under section 523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 to be used in (specify area to be served) ________ for the purpose of providing a program of technical and supervisory assistance which will aid low-income families in carrying out mutual self-help housing efforts. Grantee will provide such a program in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 regulations.

Date of Completion means the date when all work under a grant is completed or the date in the TA Grant Agreement, or any supplement or amendment thereto, on which Federal assistance ends.

Disallowed costs are those charges to a grant which the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 determines cannot be authorized.

Grant Closeout is the process by which the grant operation is concluded at the expiration of the grant period or following a decision to terminate the grant.

Termination of a grant means the cancellation of Federal assistance, in whole of in part, under a grant at any time prior to the date of completion.

(a) This Agreement shall terminate ________ years from this date unless extended or sooner terminated under paragraphs (e) and (f) of this Agreement.

(b) Grantee shall carry out the self-help housing activity described in the application docket which is attached to and made a part of this Agreement. Grantee will be bound by the conditions set forth in the docket, 7 CFR part 1944, subpart I, and the further conditions set forth in this Agreement. If any of the conditions in the docket are inconsistent with those in the Agreement or subpart I of part 1944, the latter will govern. A waiver of any condition must be in writing and must be signed by an authorized representative of FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354.

(c) Grantee shall use grant funds only for the purposes and activities specified in FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 regulations and in the application docket approved by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 including the approved budget. Any uses not provided for in the approved budget must be approved in writing by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 in advance.

(d) If Grantee is a private nonprofit corporation, expenses charged for travel or per diem will not exceed the rates paid FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 employees for similar expenses. If Grantee is a public body, the rates will be those that are allowable under the customary practice in the government of which Grantee is a part; if none are customary, the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 rates will be the maximum allowed.

(e) Grant closeout and termination procedures will be as follows:

(1) Promptly after the date of completion or a decision to terminate a grant, grant closeout actions are to be taken to allow the orderly discontinuation of Grantee activity.

(i) Grantee shall immediately refund to FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 any uncommitted balance of grant funds.

(ii) Grantee will furnish to FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 within 90 days after the date of completion of the grant a “Financial Status Report”, Form SF-269A. All financial, performance, and other reports required as a condition of the grant will also be completed.

(iii) Grantee shall account for any property acquired with technical assistance (TA) grant funds, or otherwise received from FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354.

(iv) After the grant closeout, FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 retains the right to recover any disallowed costs which may be discovered as a result of any audit.

(2) When there is reasonable evidence that Grantee has failed to comply with the terms of this Agreement, the State Director may determine Grantee as “high risk”. A “high risk” Grantee will be supervised to the extent necessary to protect the Government's interest and to help Grantee overcome the deficiencies.

(3) Grant termination will be based on the following:

(i) Termination for cause. This grant may be terminated in whole, or in part, 90 days after a Grantee has been classified as “high risk” if the State Director determines that Grantee has failed to correct previous deficiencies and is unlikely to correct such items if additional time is allowed. The reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to, such problems as:

(A) Actual TA costs significantly exceeding the amount stipulated in the proposal.

(B) The number of homes being built is significantly less than proposed construction or is not on schedule.

(C) The cost of housing not being appropriate for the self-help program.

(D) Failure of Grantee to only use grant funds for authorized purposes.

(E) Failure of Grantee to submit adequate and timely reports of its operation.

(F) Failure of Grantee to require families to work together in groups by the mutual self-help method in the case of new construction.

(G) Serious or repetitive violation of any of the provisions of any laws administered by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 or any regulation issued under those laws.

(H) Violation of any nondiscrimination or equal opportunity requirement administered by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 in connection with any FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 programs.

(I) Failure to establish an accounting system acceptable to FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354.

(J) Failure to serve very low-income families.

(K) Failure to recruit families from substandard housing.

(ii) Termination for convenience. FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 or Grantee may terminate the grant in whole, or in part, when both parties agree that the continuation of the project would not produce beneficial results commensurate with the further expenditure of funds. The two parties shall agree upon the termination conditions, including the effective date and, in case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated.

(4) To terminate a grant for cause, FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 shall promptly notify Grantee in writing of the determination and the reasons for and the effective date of the whole or partial termination. Grantee will be advised of its appeal rights under 7 CFR part 1900, subpart B.

(f) An extension of this grant agreement may be approved by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 provided, in its opinion, the extension is justified and there is a likelihood that the Grantee can accomplish the goals set out and approved in the application docket during the period of the extension.

(g) Grant funds may not be used to pay obligations incurred before the date of this Agreement. Grantee will not obligate grant funds after the grant termination or completion date.

(h) As requested and in the manner specified by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354, the Grantee must make quarterly reports, exhibit C of this subpart (on 1/15, 4/15, 7/15 and 10/15 of each year), and a financial status report at the end of the grant period, and permit on-site inspections of program progress by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 representatives. FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 may require progress reports more frequently if it deems necessary. Grantee must also comply with the audit requirements found in § 1944.422 of subpart I of 7 CFR part 1944, if applicable. Grantee will maintain records and accounts, including property, personnel and financial records, to assure a proper accounting of all grant funds. These records will be made available to FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 for auditing purposes and will be retained by Grantee for three years after the termination or completion of this grant.

(i) Acquisition and disposal of personal, equipment and supplies should comply with Subpart R of 2 CFR part 200 as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR part 400.

(j) Results of the program assisted by grant funds may be published by Grantee without prior review by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354, provided that such publications acknowledge the support provided by funds pursuant to the provisions of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. 1471, et seq., and that five copies of each such publication are furnished to the local representative of FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354.

(k) Grantee certifies that no person or organization has been employed or retained to solicit or secure this grant for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee.

(l) Grantee shall comply with all civil rights laws and the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 regulations implementing these laws.

(m) In all hiring or employment made possible by or resulting from this grant, Grantee: (1) Will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, marital status, national origin, age, or mental or physical handicap, and (2) will take affirmative action to insure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, marital status, national origin, or mental or physical handicap. This requirement shall apply to, but not be limited to, the following: Employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. In the event Grantee signs a contract which would be covered by any Executive Order, law, or regulation prohibiting discrimination, Grantee shall include in the contract the “Equal Employment Clause” as specified by FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354.

(n) It is understood and agreed by Grantee that any assistance granted under this Agreement will be administered subject to the limitations of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq., and related regulations, and that rights granted to FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 in this Agreement or elsewhere may be exercised by it in its sole discretion to carry out the purposes of the assistance, and protect FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354's financial interest.

(o) Grantee will maintain a code or standards of conduct which will govern the performance of its officers, employees, or agents. Grantee's officers, employees, or agents will neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from suppliers, contractors, or others doing business with the grantee. To the extent permissible by State or local law, rules, or regulations such standards will provide for penalties, sanctions, or other disciplinary actions to be taken for violations of such standards.

(p) Grantee shall not hire or permit to be hired any person in a staff position or as a participant if that person or a member of that person's immediate household is employed in an administrative capacity by the organization, unless waived by the State Director. (For the purpose of this section, the term household means all persons sharing the same dwelling, whether related or not).

(q) Grantee's board members or employees shall not directly pr indirectly participate, for financial gain, in any transactions involving the organization or the participating families. This includes activities such as selling real estate, building material, supplies, and services.

(r) Grantee will retain all financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records pertinent to this agreement for 3 years, and affirms that it is fully aware of the provisions of the Administrative Remedies for False Claims and Statements Act, 31 U.S.C. 3801, et seq.