§ 14.11 - Pre-award policies.

(a) Use of grants and cooperative agreements, and contracts. In each instance, the Grants Officer after coordination with the DoC operating unit shall decide on the appropriate award instrument ( i.e. , grant, cooperative agreement, or contract). The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (31 U.S.C. 6301–08) governs the use of grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. A grant or cooperative agreement shall be used only when the principal purpose of a transaction is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute. The statutory criterion for choosing between grants and cooperative agreements is that for the latter, “substantial involvement is expected between the executive agency and the State, local government, or other recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated in the agreement.” Contracts shall be used when the principal purpose is acquisition of property or services for the direct benefit or use of the Federal Government.

(b) Public notice and priority setting. The DoC operating units shall notify the public of their intended funding priorities for discretionary grant programs, unless funding priorities are established by Federal statute. At a minimum, public notices shall be published in theFederal Register.