Agreement K2871 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

20.0 LIMIT OF FEDERAL LIABILITY The maximum obligation of AMS to a recipient is the amount indicated in the award. Nothing in these award terms and conditions or in the other requirements of the award requires AMS to make any additional award of funds or limits its discretion with respect to the amount of funding provided for the same or any other purpose . However, if an erroneous amount is stated in the award, the approved budget, or supporting documentation relating to the award, AMS has unilateral right to make the correction and to make an appropriate adjustment in the AMS share of the award to align with the Federal amount authorized. Anyone who witnesses or has knowledge of the existence (or apparent existence) of fraud, waste, or abuse related to AMS grants or use of grant funds should report this information to USDA. The USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provides several means, including toll-free numbers, for this purpose . Recipients can reach the OIG hotline in the following ways : Mail: Un ited States Depa rtment of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General PO Box 23399 Washington , DC 20026-3399 Telephone : 1-800-424-9121 (toll free) or 202-690-1202 (TDD) Fax : 202-690-2474 Email: usda hotli ne@o fg.usda .gov Website: http://www.usda .gov/oig/h0tllne.htm Fraud, waste, and abuse include, but are not limited to, embezzlement, misuse, or misappropriation of grant funds or property, and false statements and misrepresentation,-whether by organizations or individuals. Examples are theft of grant funds for personal use; using funds for non-grant-related purposes; theft of Federally owned property or property acquired or leased under a grant; charging inflated building rental fees for a building owned by the recipient; submitting false financial reports ; and submitting false financial data in bids submitted to the recipient (for eventual payment under the grant). Callers are not required to give their names and , if they do, OIG keeps identities confidential. The Federal government may pursue administrative, civil, or criminal action under a variety of statutes that relate to fraud and false statements or claims . Even if the Federal government does not award a grant, the applicant may be subject to penalties if the information contained in or submitted as part of an application, including its certifications and assurances, is found to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent . 22.0 PROHIBITION OF CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS The prohibition of using funds under grants and coope r ative agreements with entities that require certain internal confidentiality agreements are described below. (a) The recipient may not require its employees, contractors, or subrec i pients seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting them from lawfully reporting that waste, fraud , or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal Department or Agency authorized to receive such information. (b) The recipient must notify its employees, contractors, or subrecipients that the prohibitions and restrictions of any internal confidentiality agreements inconsistent with paragraph (a) of this award provision are no longer in effect. (c) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this award provision does not contravene requirements applicable to any other form issued by a Federal department or Agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information. (d) If the Government determines that the recipient is not in compliance with this award provision, it: 27