[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 188 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55776-55781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22717]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 188 / Friday, September 26, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 55776]]



OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

2 CFR Parts 1 and 182


Guidance for Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Financial 
Assistance)

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget.

ACTION: Proposed guidance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing 
guidance on drug-free workplace requirements for financial assistance. 
The guidance conforms with the common rule that 31 Federal agencies 
published on November 26, 2003 and therefore makes no substantive 
change to Federal policies and procedures in this area. The agencies 
issued that common rule after resolving public comments received in 
response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
    OMB is proposing to issue this guidance as an administrative 
simplification that will streamline the policy framework for drug-free 
workplace requirements in two ways. First, the guidance is in a form 
suitable for Federal agency adoption, which will reduce the volume of 
Federal regulations on drug-free workplace, make it easier for the 
affected public to use them, and make it easier and less expensive for 
the Federal Government to maintain them. Second, the guidance is 
located in the recently established Title 2 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (2 CFR). Locating the OMB guidance in 2 CFR will make it 
easier to find. It also is the first step toward co-locating in the 
same CFR title the agencies' regulations that implement the guidance, a 
further simplification for the public.
    This notice also proposes a minor change to the previously issued 2 
CFR part 1, to conform that part with the guidance published today.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Due to potential delays in OMB's receipt and processing of 
mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, we encourage respondents to 
submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt. We cannot 
guarantee that comments mailed will be received before the comment 
closing date.
    Comments may be sent to via http://www.regulations.gov--a Federal 
E-Government Web site that allows the public to find, review, and 
submit comments on documents that agencies have published in the 
Federal Register and that are open for comment. Simply type ``drug-free 
workplace guidance'' (in quotes) in the Comment or Submission search 
box, click Go, and follow the instructions for submitting comments. 
Comments received by the date specified above will be included as part 
of the official record.
    Comments may be e-mailed to: [email protected]. Please include 
``drug-free workplace guidance'' in the subject line of your e-mail 
message. Also, please include the full body of your comments in the 
text of the electronic message, as well as in an attachment. Please 
include your name, title, organization, postal address, telephone 
number, and e-mail address in the text of the message. Comments may 
also be submitted via facsimile to (202) 395-3952.
    Comments may be mailed to Marguerite Pridgen, Office of Federal 
Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget, Room 6025, New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite Pridgen, Office of Federal 
Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget, telephone (202) 
395-7844 (direct) or (202) 395-3993 (main office) and e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background. Congress established drug-free workplace requirements 
for Federal grant recipients in section 5153 of the Drug-Free Workplace 
Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D, which was enacted 
November 18, 1988). Section 5156 of the Act (41 U.S.C. 705) requires 
Governmentwide regulations to implement the requirements.
    In the initial implementation of the Act, OMB issued guidance (54 
FR 4946, January 31, 1989) in conjunction with agencies' issuance of a 
common rule (54 FR 4947). Each agency adopted the common rule in a new 
subpart added to the existing common rule on nonprocurement debarment 
and suspension. On November 26, 2003 (68 FR 66534), the agencies 
updated the common rule on drug-free workplace requirements and 
converted it to plain language. Each agency at that time also relocated 
the drug-free workplace coverage to its own CFR part and removed it 
from the subpart in the debarment and suspension common rule.
    OMB and an interagency working group helping to implement the 
Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. 
L. 106-107) subsequently proposed a better way to implement 
Governmentwide requirements, as an alternative to common rules. The 
alternative is to publish the full text of the implementation as OMB 
guidance in a form that each agency can adopt in a short regulation, 
without repeating the full text in the way that a common rule does. The 
advantages of the approach are to make a rule easier for the affected 
public to use and easier and less expensive for the Government to 
maintain. As the first step toward putting this new approach in place, 
the common rule on nonprocurement debarment and suspension was 
converted to OMB guidance. The Federal Register notices associated with 
that conversion (70 FR 51863 and 71 FR 66431) provide more details 
about the advantages of converting from common rules to adoptable OMB 
guidance.
    In conjunction with the shift to adoptable guidance, OMB and the 
interagency working group also proposed to create a single title in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in which OMB would publish its 
guidance for grants and agreements and agencies would publish their 
regulations implementing it. That helps recipients who do business with 
multiple Federal agencies, by creating one title in which they can find 
different agencies' regulations that previously were published in many 
separate CFR titles. On May 11, 2004, OMB established title 2 of the 
CFR for that purpose [69 FR 26276].
    Purpose of this action. Today's notice proposes OMB guidance for 
drug-free workplace requirements in a new CFR part--2 CFR part 182--and 
in a form that agencies may adopt. We also will

[[Page 55777]]

maintain the guidance at the OMB Web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_docs.html ), for the benefit of individuals who 
would prefer to access it there.
    Once we resolve any comments received on the proposed guidance and 
issue it in final form, each agency will publish a short regulation 
adopting the guidance in its chapter of 2 CFR. An agency's regulation 
will give regulatory effect to the OMB guidance on drug-free workplace 
for its financial assistance awards and recipients. The agency also 
will remove the full text of the current common rule on drug-free 
workplace from its CFR title.
    Structure and content of the guidance. Our intent is to issue OMB 
guidance that is substantively unchanged from the drug-free workplace 
common rule that the agencies issued in November 2003. We modified some 
of the structure and language of the common rule, however, to create a 
part that reads properly as OMB guidance to agencies rather than an 
agency regulation.
    The most significant structural changes are in sections 182.5 to 
182.40, which precede subpart A. The primary purpose of those sections 
is to instruct Federal agencies on the use of 2 CFR part 182. Sections 
182.20 through 182.35, for example, tell agencies that they must issue 
regulations to implement the drug-free workplace guidance, identify 
required and optional content for those regulations, and specify where 
and when the agencies must issue the regulations. Most of these 
sections have no counterparts in the November 2003 common rule because 
it was designed to be an agency rule rather than OMB guidance.
    Subparts A through F of 2 CFR part 182 contain the guidance that an 
agency will adopt to specify its drug-free workplace policies and 
procedures. There is a minor restructuring in subpart A because the 
first two sections, 182.100 and 182.105, do not have counterparts in 
the November 2003 common rule. The intent of those added sections is to 
be helpful to the public reading the guidance. Subpart A also is the 
only portion of the guidance where section numbers vary from the common 
rule (due to the added sections at the beginning of the subpart, 
sections 182.110 through 182.125 correspond to sections ----.100 
through ----.115 of the common rule). Other minor wording changes 
throughout subparts A through F are to make the document read properly 
as OMB guidance.
    Invitation to comment. We are requesting comment on the proposed 
guidance for 30 days rather than a longer period, because: (1) The 
agencies published the final common rule in November 2003 after an 
opportunity for public comment; and (2) we believe that we have made no 
substantive changes from that common rule. In the future, the process 
for making any substantive changes to this guidance will include 
proposing the changes with an opportunity for public comment, in 
accordance with Sec.  182.40 of the new part 182. In soliciting 
comments on this proposed guidance, we are not seeking to revisit 
substantive issues raised by comments and resolved by the agencies 
during preparation of the November 2003 final rule. However, we invite 
comments on any unintended changes we have made in the guidance 
relative to that common rule.
    Next steps. We will finalize the guidance after resolving any 
comments received on the proposed version. At that time, each Federal 
agency that is a signatory to the drug-free workplace common rule then 
will issue a brief rule in its chapter of 2 CFR to adopt the OMB 
guidance and will remove the November 2003 common rule from its own CFR 
title. We expect to complete the process in calendar year 2009.
    Conforming 2 CFR part 1. We also are updating 2 CFR part 1 to add 
to the table in Sec.  1.215 a citation to the previous location of the 
drug-free workplace requirements.

List of Subjects

2 CFR Part 1

    Cooperative agreements, Grant programs, Grants administration.

2 CFR Part 182

    Administrative practice and procedure, Drug abuse, Grant programs, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Danny Werfel,
Deputy Controller.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth above, the Office of Management and 
Budget amends 2 CFR, subtitle A, as follows:

PART 1--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 31 U.S.C. 503; 31 U.S.C. 1111; 41 U.S.C. 405; 
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970; E.O. 11541, 35 FR 10737, 3 CFR, 
1966-1970, p. 939.

    2. Section 1.215 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.215  Relationship to previous issuances.

    Although some of the guidance was organized differently within OMB 
circulars or other documents, much of the guidance in this subtitle 
existed prior to the establishment of title 2 of the CFR. Specifically:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Guidance in . . .                 On . . .                        Previously was in . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Chapter I, part 180.........  Nonprocurement           OMB guidance that conforms with the government-wide
                                   debarment and            common rule (see 60 FR 33036, June 26, 1995).
                                   suspension.
(b) Chapter I, part 182.........  Drug-free workplace      OMB guidance (54 FR 4946, January 31, 1989) and a
                                   requirements.            government-wide common rule (as amended at 68 FR
                                                            66534, November 26, 2003).
(c) Chapter II, part 215........  Administrative           OMB Circular A-110.
                                   requirements for
                                   grants and agreements.
(d) Chapter II, part 220........  Cost principles for      OMB Circular A-21.
                                   educational
                                   institutions.
(e) Chapter II, part 225........  Cost principles for      OMB Circular A-87.
                                   State, local, and
                                   Indian tribal
                                   governments.
(f) Chapter II, part 230........  Cost principles for non- OMB Circular A-122.
                                   profit organizations.
(g) [Reserved.].................  .......................  .....................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 55778]]

Chapter I--[AMENDED]

    3. Part 182 is added to Chapter I, to read as follows:

PART 182--GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE 
(FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

Sec.
182.5 What does this part do?
182.10 How is this part organized?
182.15 To whom does the guidance apply?
182.20 What must a Federal agency do to implement the guidance?
182.25 What must a Federal agency address in its implementation of 
the guidance?
182.30 Where does a Federal agency implement the guidance?
182.35 By when must a Federal agency implement the guidance?
182.40 How is the guidance maintained?
Subpart A--Purpose and Coverage
182.100 How is this part written?
182.105 Do terms in this part have special meanings?
182.110 What do subparts A through F of this part do?
182.115 Does this part apply to me?
182.120 Are any of my Federal assistance awards exempt from this 
part?
182.125 Does this part affect the Federal contracts that I receive?
Subpart B--Requirements for Recipients Other Than Individuals
182.200 What must I do to comply with this part?
182.205 What must I include in my drug-free workplace statement?
182.210 To whom must I distribute my drug-free workplace statement?
182.215 What must I include in my drug-free awareness program?
182.220 By when must I publish my drug-free workplace statement and 
establish my drug-free awareness program?
182.225 What actions must I take concerning employees who are 
convicted of drug violations in the workplace?
182.230 How and when must I identify workplaces?
Subpart C--Requirements for Recipients Who Are Individuals
182.300 What must I do to comply with this part if I am an 
individual recipient?
Subpart D--Responsibilities of Agency Awarding Officials
182.400 What are my responsibilities as an agency awarding official?
Subpart E--Violations of this Part and Consequences
182.500 How are violations of this part determined for recipients 
other than individuals?
182.505 How are violations of this part determined for recipients 
who are individuals?
182.510 What actions will the Federal Government take against a 
recipient determined to have violated this part?
182.515 Are there any exceptions to those actions?
Subpart F--Definitions
182.605 Award.
182.610 Controlled substance.
182.615 Conviction.
182.620 Cooperative agreement.
182.625 Criminal drug statute.
182.630 Debarment.
182.635 Drug-free workplace.
182.640 Employee.
182.645 Federal agency or agency.
182.650 Grant.
182.655 Individual.
182.660 Recipient.
182.665 State.
182.670 Suspension.

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 701, et seq.


Sec.  182.5  What does this part do?

    This part provides Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance 
for Federal agencies on the portion of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 
1988 (41 U.S.C. 701-707, as amended) that applies to grants. It also 
applies the provisions of the Act to cooperative agreements and other 
financial assistance awards, as a matter of Federal Government policy.


Sec.  182.10  How is this part organized?

    This part is organized in two segments.
    (a) Sections 182.5 through 182.40 contain general policy direction 
for Federal agencies' use of the uniform policies and procedures in 
subparts A through F of this part.
    (b) Subparts A through F of this part contain uniform 
governmentwide policies and procedures for Federal agency use to 
specify the--
    (1) Types of awards that are covered by drug-free workplace 
requirements;
    (2) Drug-free workplace requirements with which a recipient must 
comply;
    (3) Actions required of an agency awarding official; and
    (4) Consequences of a violation of drug-free workplace 
requirements.


Sec.  182.15  To whom does the guidance apply?

    This part provides OMB guidance only to Federal agencies. 
Publication of this guidance in the Code of Federal Regulations does 
not change its nature--it is guidance and not regulation. Federal 
agencies' implementation of the guidance governs the rights and 
responsibilities of other persons affected by the drug-free workplace 
requirements.


Sec.  182.20  What must a Federal agency do to implement the guidance?

    To comply with the requirement in Section 41 U.S.C. 705 for 
Governmentwide regulations, each Federal agency that awards grants or 
cooperative agreements or makes other financial assistance awards that 
are subject to the drug-free workplace requirements in subparts A 
through F of the guidance must issue a regulation consistent with those 
subparts.


Sec.  182.25  What must a Federal agency address in its implementation 
of the guidance?

    Each Federal agency's implementing regulation:
    (a) Must establish drug-free workplace policies and procedures for 
that agency's awards that are consistent with the guidance in this 
part. When adopted by a Federal agency, the provisions of the guidance 
have regulatory effect for that agency's awards.
    (b) Must address some matters for which the guidance in this part 
gives the agency discretion. Specifically, the regulation must--
    (1) State whether the agency:
    (i) Has a central point to which a recipient may send the 
notification of a conviction that is required under Sec.  182.225(a) or 
Sec.  182.300(b); or
    (ii) Requires the recipient to send the notification to the 
awarding official for each agency award, or to his or her official 
designee.
    (2) Either:
    (i) State that the agency head is the official authorized to 
determine under Sec.  182.500 or Sec.  182.505 that a recipient has 
violated the drug-free workplace requirements; or
    (ii) Provide the title of the official designated to make that 
determination.
    (c) May also, at the agency's option, identify any specific types 
of financial assistance awards, in addition to grants and cooperative 
agreements, to which the Federal agency makes this guidance applicable.


Sec.  182.30  Where does a Federal agency implement the guidance?

    Each Federal agency that awards grants or cooperative agreements or 
makes other financial assistance awards that are subject to the drug-
free workplace guidance in this part must issue a regulation 
implementing the guidance within its chapter in subtitle B of this 
title of the Code of Federal Regulations.


Sec.  182.35  By when must a Federal agency implement the guidance?

    Federal agencies must submit proposed regulations to the OMB for 
review within nine months of the final issuance of this part and issue 
final regulations within eighteen months of the guidance.

[[Page 55779]]

Sec.  182.40  How is the guidance maintained?

    The OMB publishes proposed changes to the guidance in the Federal 
Register for public comment, considers comments with the help of 
appropriate interagency working groups, and then issues any changes to 
the guidance in final form.

Subpart A--Purpose and Coverage


Sec.  182.100  How is this part written?

    (a) This part uses a ``plain language'' format to make it easier 
for the general public and business community to use and understand. 
The section headings and text, often in the form of questions and 
answers, must be read together.
    (b) Pronouns used within this part, such as ``I'' and ``you,'' 
change from subpart to subpart depending on the audience being 
addressed.


Sec.  182.105  Do terms in this part have special meanings?

    This part uses terms that have special meanings. Those terms are 
defined in subpart F of this part.


Sec.  182.110  What do subparts A through F of this part do?

    Subparts A through F of this part specify standard policies and 
procedures to carry out the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 for 
financial assistance awards.


Sec.  182.115  Does this part apply to me?

    (a) Portions of this part apply to you if you are either--
    (1) A recipient of a Federal assistance award (see definitions of 
award and recipient in Sec. Sec.  182.605 and 182.660, respectively); 
or
    (2) A Federal agency awarding official.
     (b) The following table shows the subparts that apply to you:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            If you are . . .                   see  subparts . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) a recipient who is not an            A, B and E.
 individual.
(2) a recipient who is an individual...  A, C and E.
(3) a Federal agency awarding official.  A, D and E.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec.  182.120  Are any of my Federal assistance awards exempt from this 
part?

    This part does not apply to any award to which the agency head, or 
his or her designee, determines that the application of this part would 
be inconsistent with the international obligations of the United States 
or the laws or regulations of a foreign government.


Sec.  182.125  Does this part affect the Federal contracts that I 
receive?

    This part will affect future contract awards indirectly if you are 
debarred or suspended for a violation of the requirements of this part, 
as described in Sec.  182.510(c). However, this part does not apply 
directly to procurement contracts. The portion of the Drug-Free 
Workplace Act of 1988 that applies to Federal procurement contracts is 
carried out through the Federal Acquisition Regulation in chapter 1 of 
Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the drug-free workplace 
coverage currently is in 48 CFR part 23, subpart 23.5).

Subpart B--Requirements for Recipients Other Than Individuals


Sec.  182.200  What must I do to comply with this part?

    There are two general requirements if you are a recipient other 
than an individual.
    (a) First, you must make a good faith effort, on a continuing 
basis, to maintain a drug-free workplace. You must agree to do so as a 
condition for receiving any award covered by this part. The specific 
measures that you must take in this regard are described in more detail 
is subsequent sections of this subpart. Briefly, those measures are 
to--
    (1) Publish a drug-free workplace statement and establish a drug-
free awareness program for your employees (see Sec. Sec.  182.205 
through 182.220); and
    (2) Take actions concerning employees who are convicted of 
violating drug statutes in the workplace (see Sec.  182.225).
    (b) Second, you must identify all known workplaces under your 
Federal awards (see Sec.  182.230).


Sec.  182.205  What must I include in my drug-free workplace statement?

    You must publish a statement that--
    (a) Tells your employees that the unlawful manufacture, 
distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance 
is prohibited in your workplace;
    (b) Specifies the actions that you will take against employees for 
violating that prohibition; and
    (c) Lets each employee know that, as a condition of employment 
under any award, he or she:
    (1) Will abide by the terms of the statement; and
    (2) Must notify you in writing if he or she is convicted for a 
violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace and 
must do so no more than five calendar days after the conviction.


Sec.  182.210  To whom must I distribute my drug-free workplace 
statement?

    You must require that a copy of the statement described in Sec.  
182.205 be given to each employee who will be engaged in the 
performance of any Federal award.


Sec.  182.215  What must I include in my drug-free awareness program?

    You must establish an ongoing drug-free awareness program to inform 
employees about--
    (a) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;
    (b) Your policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;
    (c) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee 
assistance programs; and
    (d) The penalties that you may impose upon them for drug abuse 
violations occurring in the workplace.


Sec.  182.220  By when must I publish my drug-free workplace statement 
and establish my drug-free awareness program?

    If you are a new recipient that does not already have a policy 
statement as described in Sec.  182.205 and an ongoing awareness 
program as described in Sec.  182.215, you must publish the statement 
and establish the program by the time given in the following table:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              If . . .                                              Then you . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) the performance period of the     must have the policy statement and program in place as soon as possible,
 award is less than 30 days.           but before the date on which performance is expected to be completed.
(b) the performance period of the     must have the policy statement and program in place within 30 days after
 award is 30 days or more.             award.
(c) you believe there are             may ask the agency awarding official to give you more time to do so. The
 extraordinary circumstances that      amount of additional time, if any, to be given is at the discretion of
 will require more than 30 days for    the awarding official.
 you to publish the policy statement
 and establish the awareness program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 55780]]

Sec.  182.225  What actions must I take concerning employees who are 
convicted of drug violations in the workplace?

    There are two actions you must take if an employee is convicted of 
a drug violation in the workplace:
    (a) First, you must notify Federal agencies if an employee who is 
engaged in the performance of an award informs you about a conviction, 
as required by Sec.  182.205(c)(2), or you otherwise learn of the 
conviction. Your notification to the Federal agencies must--
    (1) Be in writing;
    (2) Include the employee's position title;
    (3) Include the identification number(s) of each affected award;
    (4) Be sent within ten calendar days after you learn of the 
conviction; and
    (5) Be sent to every Federal agency on whose award the convicted 
employee was working. It must be sent to every awarding official or his 
or her official designee, unless the Federal agency has specified a 
central point for the receipt of the notices.
    (b) Second, within 30 calendar days of learning about an employee's 
conviction, you must either--
    (1) Take appropriate personnel action against the employee, up to 
and including termination, consistent with the requirements of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), as amended; or
    (2) Require the employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug 
abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for these purposes 
by a Federal, State or local health, law enforcement, or other 
appropriate agency.


Sec.  182.230  How and when must I identify workplaces?

    (a) You must identify all known workplaces under each agency award. 
A failure to do so is a violation of your drug-free workplace 
requirements. You may identify the workplaces--
    (1) To the agency official that is making the award, either at the 
time of application or upon award; or
    (2) In documents that you keep on file in your offices during the 
performance of the award, in which case you must make the information 
available for inspection upon request by agency officials or their 
designated representatives.
    (b) Your workplace identification for an award must include the 
actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites 
where work under the award takes place. Categorical descriptions may be 
used (e.g., all vehicles of a mass transit authority or State highway 
department while in operation, State employees in each local 
unemployment office, performers in concert halls or radio studios).
    (c) If you identified workplaces to the agency awarding official at 
the time of application or award, as described in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section, and any workplace that you identified changes during the 
performance of the award, you must inform the agency awarding official.

Subpart C--Requirements for Recipients Who Are Individuals


Sec.  182.300  What must I do to comply with this part if I am an 
individual recipient?

    As a condition of receiving a Federal agency award, if you are an 
individual recipient, you must agree that--
    (a) You will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, 
dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance in conducting 
any activity related to the award; and
    (b) If you are convicted of a criminal drug offense resulting from 
a violation occurring during the conduct of any award activity, you 
will report the conviction:
    (1) In writing.
    (2) Within 10 calendar days of the conviction.
    (3) To the Federal agency awarding official or other designee for 
each award that you currently have, unless the agency designates a 
central point for the receipt of the notices, either in the award 
document or its regulation implementing the guidance in this part. When 
notice is made to a central point, it must include the identification 
number(s) of each affected award.

Subpart D--Responsibilities of Agency Awarding Officials


Sec.  182.400  What are my responsibilities as an agency awarding 
official?

    As a Federal agency awarding official, you must obtain each 
recipient's agreement, as a condition of the award, to comply with the 
requirements in--
    (a) Subpart B of this part, if the recipient is not an individual; 
or
    (b) Subpart C of this part, if the recipient is an individual.

Subpart E--Violations of This Part and Consequences


Sec.  182.500  How are violations of this part determined for 
recipients other than individuals?

    A recipient other than an individual is in violation of the 
requirements of this part if the agency head or his or her designee 
determines, in writing, that--
    (a) The recipient has violated the requirements of Subpart B of 
this part; or
     (b) The number of convictions of the recipient's employees for 
violating criminal drug statutes in the workplace is large enough to 
indicate that the recipient has failed to make a good faith effort to 
provide a drug-free workplace.


Sec.  182.505  How are violations of this part determined for 
recipients who are individuals?

    An individual recipient is in violation of the requirements of this 
part if the agency head or his or her designee determines, in writing, 
that--
    (a) The recipient has violated the requirements of Subpart C of 
this part; or
    (b) The recipient is convicted of a criminal drug offense resulting 
from a violation occurring during the conduct of any award activity.


Sec.  182.510  What actions will the Federal Government take against a 
recipient determined to have violated this part?

    If a recipient is determined to have violated this part, as 
described in Sec.  182.500 or Sec.  182.505, the agency may take one or 
more of the following actions--
    (a) Suspension of payments under the award;
    (b) Suspension or termination of the award; and
    (c) Suspension or debarment of the recipient under the agency's 
regulation implementing the OMB guidance on nonprocurement debarment 
and suspension (2 CFR part 180), for a period not to exceed five years.


Sec.  182.515  Are there any exceptions to those actions?

    The agency head may waive with respect to a particular award, in 
writing, a suspension of payments under an award, suspension or 
termination of an award, or suspension or debarment of a recipient if 
the agency head determines that such a waiver would be in the public 
interest. This exception authority cannot be delegated to any other 
official.

Subpart F--Definitions


Sec.  182.605  Award.

    Award means an award of financial assistance by a Federal agency 
directly to a recipient.
    (a) The term award includes:
    (1) A Federal grant or cooperative agreement, in the form of money 
or property in lieu of money.
    (2) A block grant or a grant in an entitlement program, whether or 
not the grant is exempted from coverage under the Governmentwide rule 
that implements OMB Circular A-102 (for availability of OMB circulars, 
see 5 CFR 1310.3) and specifies uniform administrative requirements.

[[Page 55781]]

    (b) The term award does not include:
    (1) Technical assistance that provides services instead of money.
    (2) Loans.
    (3) Loan guarantees.
    (4) Interest subsidies.
    (5) Insurance.
    (6) Direct appropriations.
    (7) Veterans' benefits to individuals (i.e., any benefit to 
veterans, their families, or survivors by virtue of the service of a 
veteran in the Armed Forces of the United States).


Sec.  182.610  Controlled substance.

    Controlled substance means a controlled substance in schedules I 
through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812), and as 
further defined by regulation at 21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15.


Sec.  182.615  Conviction.

    Conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo 
contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body 
charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal 
or State criminal drug statutes.


Sec.  182.620  Cooperative agreement.

    Cooperative agreement means an award of financial assistance that, 
consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6305, is used to enter into the same kind of 
relationship as a grant (see definition of grant in Sec.  182.650), 
except that substantial involvement is expected between the Federal 
agency and the recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated by 
the award. The term does not include cooperative research and 
development agreements as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3710a.


Sec.  182.625  Criminal drug statute.

    Criminal drug statute means a Federal or non-Federal criminal 
statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use, or 
possession of any controlled substance.


Sec.  182.630  Debarment.

    Debarment means an action taken by a Federal agency to prohibit a 
recipient from participating in Federal Government procurement 
contracts and covered nonprocurement transactions. A recipient so 
prohibited is debarred, in accordance with the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation for procurement contracts (48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4) and 
agency regulations implementing the OMB guidance on nonprocurement 
debarment and suspension (2 CFR part 180, which implements Executive 
Orders 12549 and 12689).


Sec.  182.635  Drug-free workplace.

    Drug-free workplace means a site for the performance of work done 
in connection with a specific award at which employees of the recipient 
are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, 
dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance.


Sec.  182.640  Employee.

    (a) Employee means the employee of a recipient directly engaged in 
the performance of work under the award, including--
    (1) All direct charge employees;
    (2) All indirect charge employees, unless their impact or 
involvement in the performance of work under the award is insignificant 
to the performance of the award; and
    (3) Temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged in 
the performance of work under the award and who are on the recipient's 
payroll.
    (b) This definition does not include workers not on the payroll of 
the recipient (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet a matching 
requirement; consultants or independent contractors not on the payroll; 
or employees of subrecipients or subcontractors in covered workplaces).


Sec.  182.645  Federal agency or agency.

    Federal agency or agency means any United States executive 
department, military department, government corporation, government 
controlled corporation, any other establishment in the executive branch 
(including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent 
regulatory agency.


Sec.  182.650  Grant.

    Grant means an award of financial assistance that, consistent with 
31 U.S.C. 6304, is used to enter into a relationship--
    (a) The principal purpose of which is to transfer a thing of value 
to the recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or 
stimulation authorized by a law of the United States, rather than to 
acquire property or services for the Federal Government's direct 
benefit or use; and
    (b) In which substantial involvement is not expected between the 
Federal agency and the recipient when carrying out the activity 
contemplated by the award.


Sec.  182.655  Individual.

    Individual means a natural person.


Sec.  182.660  Recipient.

    Recipient means any individual, corporation, partnership, 
association, unit of government (except a Federal agency) or legal 
entity, however organized, that receives an award directly from a 
Federal agency.


Sec.  182.665  State.

    State means any of the States of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or 
possession of the United States.


Sec.  182.670  Suspension.

    Suspension means an action taken by a Federal agency that 
immediately prohibits a recipient from participating in Federal 
Government procurement contracts and covered nonprocurement 
transactions for a temporary period, pending completion of an 
investigation and any judicial or administrative proceedings that may 
ensue. A recipient so prohibited is suspended, in accordance with the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation for procurement contracts (48 CFR part 
9, subpart 9.4) and agency regulations implementing the OMB guidance on 
nonprocurement debarment and suspension (2 CFR part 180, which 
implements Executive Orders 12549 and 12689). Suspension of a recipient 
is a distinct and separate action from suspension of an award or 
suspension of payments under an award.

 [FR Doc. E8-22717 Filed 9-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P