This subpart is issued under section 104(a) through (j) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA)(42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).

(a) This subpart codifies recipient requirements for administering Cooperative Agreements awarded pursuant to section 104(d)(1) of CERCLA. This subpart also codifies requirements for administering Superfund State Contracts (SSCs) for non-State-lead remedial responses undertaken pursuant to section 104 of CERCLA.

(b) 2 CFR part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards to Non-Federal Entities,” establishes consistency and uniformity among Federal agencies in the administration of grants and Cooperative Agreements to non-federal entities. For CERCLA-funded Cooperative Agreements, this subpart supplements the requirements contained in 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500 for States, political subdivisions thereof, and Indian Tribes. This subpart references those sections of 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500 that are applicable to CERCLA-funded Cooperative Agreements.

(c) Superfund monies for remedial actions cannot be used by recipients for Federal facility cleanup activities. When a cleanup is undertaken by another Federal entity, the State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe can pursue funding for its involvement in response activities from the appropriate Federal entity.

(a) Indian Tribes are eligible to receive Superfund Cooperative Agreements only when they are federally recognized, and when they meet the criteria set forth in 40 CFR 300.515(b) of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (the National Contingency Plan or NCP), except that Indian Tribes shall not be required to demonstrate jurisdiction under 40 CFR 300.515(b)(3) of the NCP to be eligible for Core Program Cooperative Agreements, and those support agency Cooperative Agreements for which jurisdiction is not needed for the Tribe to carry out the support agency activities of the work plan.

(b) Although section 126 of CERCLA provides that the governing body of an Indian Tribe shall be treated substantially the same as a State, the subpart O definition of “State” does not include Indian Tribes because they do not need to comply with all the statutory requirements addressed in subpart O that apply to States.

(c) Intertribal consortium: An intertribal consortium is eligible to receive a Cooperative Agreement from EPA only if the intertribal consortium demonstrates that all members of the consortium meet the eligibility requirements for the Cooperative Agreement, and all members authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance.

(a) As used in this subpart, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

Activity. A set of CERCLA-funded tasks that makes up a segment of the sequence of events undertaken in determining, planning, and conducting a response to a release or potential release of a hazardous substance. These include Core Program, pre-remedial (i.e., preliminary assessments and site inspections), support agency, remedial investigation/feasibility studies, remedial design, remedial action, removal, and enforcement activities.

Allowable costs. Those project costs that are: Eligible, reasonable, necessary, and allocable to the project; permitted by the appropriate Federal cost principles; and approved by EPA in the Cooperative Agreement and/or Superfund State Contract.

Architectural or engineering (A/E) services. Consultation, investigations, reports, or services for design-type projects within the scope of the practice of architecture or professional engineering as defined by the laws of the State or territory in which the recipient is located.

Award official. The EPA official with the authority to execute Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts and to take other actions authorized by EPA Orders.

Budget period. The length of time EPA specifies in a Cooperative Agreement during which the recipient may expend or obligate Federal funds.

CERCLA. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601—9657).

Change order. A written order issued by a recipient, or its designated agent, to its contractor authorizing an addition to, deletion from, or revision of, a contract, usually initiated at the contractor's request.

Claim. A demand or written assertion by a contractor seeking, as a matter of right, changes in contract duration, costs, or other provisions, which originally have been rejected by the recipient.

Closeout. The final EPA or recipient actions taken to assure satisfactory completion of project work and to fulfill administrative requirements, including financial settlement, submission of acceptable required final reports, and resolution of any outstanding issues under the Cooperative Agreement and/or Superfund State Contract.

Community Relations Plan (CRP). A management and planning tool outlining the specific community relations activities to be undertaken during the course of a response. It is designed to provide for two-way communication between the affected community and the agencies responsible for conducting a response action, and to assure public input into the decision-making process related to the affected communities.

Construction. Erection, building, alteration, repair, remodeling, improvement, or extension of buildings, structures or other property.

Contract. A written agreement between an EPA recipient and another party (other than another public agency) or between the recipient's contractor and the contractor's first tier subcontractor.

Contractor. Any party to whom a recipient awards a contract.

Cooperative Agreement. A legal instrument EPA uses to transfer money, property, services, or anything of value to a recipient to accomplish a public purpose in which substantial EPA involvement is anticipated during the performance of the project.

Core Program Cooperative Agreement. A Cooperative Agreement that provides funds to a State or Indian Tribe to conduct CERCLA implementation activities that are not assignable to specific sites but are intended to develop and maintain a State's or Indian Tribe's ability to participate in the CERCLA response program.

Cost analysis. The review and evaluation of each element of contract cost to determine reasonableness, allocability, and allowability.

Cost share. The portion of allowable project costs that a recipient contributes toward completing its project (i.e., non-Federal share, matching share).

Equipment. Tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit.

Fair market value. The amount at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Fair market value is the price in cash, or its equivalent, for which the property would have been sold on the open market.

Health and safety plan. A plan that specifies the procedures that are sufficient to protect on-site personnel and surrounding communities from the physical, chemical, and/or biological hazards of the site. The health and safety plan outlines:

(i) Site hazards;

(ii) Work areas and site control procedures;

(iii) Air surveillance procedures;

(iv) Levels of protection;

(v) Decontamination and site emergency plans;

(vi) Arrangements for weather-related problems; and

(vii) Responsibilities for implementing the health and safety plan.

In-kind contribution. The value of a non-cash contribution (generally from third parties) to meet a recipient's cost sharing requirements. An in-kind contribution may consist of charges for real property and equipment or the value of goods and services directly benefiting the CERCLA-funded project.

Indian Tribe. As defined by section 101(36) of CERCLA, any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village but not including any Alaska Native regional or village corporation, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. For the purposes of this subpart, the term, “Indian Tribe,” includes an intertribal consortium consisting of two or more federally recognized Tribes.

Intergovernmental Agreement. Any written agreement between units of government under which one public agency performs duties for or in concert with another public agency using EPA assistance. This includes substate and interagency agreements.

Intertribal consortium. A partnership between two or more federally recognized Indian Tribes that is authorized by the governing bodies of those Indian Tribes to apply for and receive assistance agreements. An intertribal consortium must have adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership, and the authorization to apply for and receive assistance.

Lead agency. The Federal agency, State agency, political subdivision, or Indian Tribe that has primary responsibility for planning and implementing a response action under CERCLA.

National Priorities List (NPL). The list, compiled by EPA pursuant to CERCLA section 105, of uncontrolled hazardous substance releases in the United States that are priorities for long-term remedial evaluation and response. The NPL is published at Appendix B to 40 CFR Part 300.

Operable unit. A discrete action, as described in the Cooperative Agreement or Superfund State Contract, that comprises an incremental step toward comprehensively addressing site problems. The cleanup of a site can be divided into a number of operable units, depending on the complexity of the problems associated with the site. Operable units may address geographical portions of a site, specific site problems, or initial phases of an action, or may consist of any set of actions performed over time or any actions that are concurrent but located in different parts of a site.

Operation and maintenance. Measures required to maintain the effectiveness of response actions.

Personal property. Property other than real property. It includes both supplies and equipment.

Political subdivision. The unit of government that the State determines to have met the State's legislative definition of a political subdivision.

Potentially Responsible Party (PRP). Any individual(s) or company(ies) identified as potentially liable under CERCLA for cleanup or payment for costs of cleanup of Hazardous Substance sites. PRPs may include individual(s), or company(ies) identified as having owned, operated, or in some other manner contributed wastes to Hazardous Substance sites.

Price analysis. The process of evaluating a prospective price without regard to the contractor's separate cost elements and proposed profit. Price analysis determines the reasonableness of the proposed contract price based on adequate price competition, previous experience with similar work, established catalog or market price, law, or regulation.

Profit. The net proceeds obtained by deducting all allowable costs (direct and indirect) from the price. (Because this definition of profit is based on applicable Federal cost principles, it may vary from many firms' definition of profit, and may correspond to those firms' definition of “fee.”)

Project. The activities or tasks EPA identifies in the Cooperative Agreement and/or Superfund State Contract.

Project manager. The recipient official designated in the Cooperative Agreement or Superfund State Contract as the program contact with EPA.

Project officer. The EPA official designated in the Cooperative Agreement as EPA's program contact with the recipient. Project officers are responsible for monitoring the project.

Project period. The length of time EPA specifies in the Cooperative Agreement and/or Superfund State Contract for completion of all project work. It may be composed of more than one budget period.

Quality Assurance Project Plan. A written document, associated with remedial site sampling, which presents in specific terms the organization (where applicable), objectives, functional activities, and specific quality assurance and quality control activities and procedures designed to achieve the data quality objectives of a specific project(s) or continuing operation(s).

Real property. Land, including land improvements, structures, and appurtenances thereto, excluding movable machinery and equipment.

Recipient. Any State, political subdivision thereof, or Indian Tribe which has been awarded and has accepted an EPA Cooperative Agreement.

Services. A recipient's in-kind or a contractor's labor, time, or efforts which do not involve the delivery of a specific end item, other than documents (e.g., reports, design drawings, specifications). This term does not include employment agreements or collective bargaining agreements.

Simplified acquisition threshold. The dollar amount specified in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act, 41 U.S.C. 403. The threshold is currently set at $100,000.

Small business. A business as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 632).

State. The several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, and any territory or possession over which the United States has jurisdiction.

Statement of Work (SOW). The portion of the Cooperative Agreement application and/or Superfund State Contract that describes the purpose and scope of activities and tasks to be carried out as a part of the proposed project.

Subcontractor. Any first tier party that has a contract with the recipient's prime contractor.

Superfund State Contract (SSC). A joint, legally binding agreement between EPA and another party(ies) to obtain the necessary assurances before an EPA-lead remedial action or any political subdivision-lead activities can begin at a site, and to ensure State or Indian Tribe involvement as required under CERCLA section 121(f).

Supplies. All tangible personal property other than equipment as defined in this section.

Support agency. The agency that furnishes necessary data to the lead agency, reviews response data and documents, and provides other assistance to the lead agency.

Task. An element of a Superfund response activity identified in the Statement of Work of a Superfund Cooperative Agreement or a Superfund State Contract.

Title. The valid claim to property that denotes ownership and the rights of ownership, including the rights of possession, control, and disposal of property.

Unit acquisition cost. The net invoice unit price of the property including the cost of modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make the property usable for the purpose for which it was acquired. Other charges, such as the cost of installation, transportation, taxes, duty, or protective in-transit insurance, shall be included or excluded from the unit acquisition cost in accordance with the recipient's regular accounting practices.

Value engineering. A systematic and creative analysis of each contract term or task to ensure that its essential function is provided at the overall lowest cost.

(b) Those terms not defined in this section shall have the meanings set forth in section 101 of CERCLA, 2 CFR part 200, and 40 CFR part 300 (the National Contingency Plan).

Applicants and recipients must comply with the applicable requirements of 2 CFR part 1532, “Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension and of 2 CFR part 1536, “Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance).”

On a case-by-case basis, EPA will consider requests for official exceptions from the non-statutory provisions of this subpart. Refer to the requirements regarding exceptions described in 2 CFR 1500.4.

States, political subdivisions, and Indian Tribes may apply for pre-remedial response Cooperative Agreements.

(a) To receive a State-lead pre-remedial Cooperative Agreement, the applicant must submit an “Application for Federal Assistance” (SF-424) for non-construction programs. Applications for additional funding need include only the revised pages. The application must include the following:

(1) Budget sheets (SF-424A).

(2) A Project narrative statement, including the following:

(i) A list of sites at which the applicant proposes to undertake pre-remedial tasks. If the recipient proposes to revise the list, the recipient may not incur costs on a new site until the EPA project officer has approved the site;

(ii) A Statement of Work (SOW) which must include a detailed description, by task, of activities to be conducted, the projected costs associated with each task, the number of products to be completed, and a quarterly schedule indicating when these products will be submitted to EPA; and

(iii) A schedule of deliverables.

(3) Other applicable forms and information authorized by 2 CFR part 200 Subpart C—Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards.

(b) Pre-remedial Cooperative Agreement requirements. The recipient must comply with all terms and conditions in the Cooperative Agreement, and with the following requirements:

(1) Health and safety plan. (i) Before beginning field work, the recipient must have a health and safety plan in place providing for the protection of on-site personnel and area residents. This plan need not be submitted to EPA, but must be made available to EPA upon request.

(ii) The recipient's health and safety plan must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120, entitled “Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response,” unless the recipient is an Indian Tribe exempt from OSHA requirements.

(2) Quality assurance. (i) The recipient must comply with the quality assurance requirements described in 2 CFR 1500.12.

(ii) The recipient must have an EPA-approved non-site-specific quality assurance plan in place before beginning field work. The recipient must submit the plan to EPA in adequate time (generally 45 days) for approval to be granted before beginning field work.

(iii) The quality assurance plan must comply with the requirements regarding split sampling described in section 104(e)(4)(B) of CERCLA, as amended.

(a) If the Award Official determines that a political subdivision's lead involvement in pre-remedial activities would be more efficient, economical and appropriate than that of a State, based on the number of sites to be addressed and the political subdivision's history of program involvement, a pre-remedial Cooperative Agreement may be awarded under this section.

(b) The political subdivision must comply with all of the requirements described in § 35.6055.

The Indian Tribe must comply with all of the requirements described in § 35.6055, except for the intergovernmental review requirements included in the “Application for Federal Assistance” (SF-424).

States, Indian Tribes, and political subdivisions may apply for remedial response Cooperative Agreements.

To receive a State-lead remedial Cooperative Agreement, the applicant must submit the following items to EPA:

(a) Application form, as described in § 35.6055(a). Applications for additional funding need to include only the revised pages. The application must include the following:

(1) Budget sheets (SF-424A) displaying costs by site, activity and operable unit, as applicable.

(2) A Project narrative statement, including the following:

(i) A site description, including a discussion of the location of each site, the physical characteristics of each site (site geology and proximity to drinking water supplies), the nature of the release (contaminant type and affected media), past response actions at each site, and response actions still required at each site;

(ii) A site-specific Statement of Work (SOW), including estimated costs per task, and a standard task to ensure that a sign is posted at the site providing the appropriate contacts for obtaining information on activities being conducted at the site, and for reporting suspected criminal activities;

(iii) A statement designating a lead site project manager among appropriate State offices. This statement must demonstrate that the lead State agency has conducted coordinated planning of response activities with other State agencies. The statement must identify the name and position of those individuals who will be responsible for coordinating the State offices;

(iv) A site-specific Community Relations Plan or an assurance that field work will not begin until one is in place. The Regional community relations coordinator must approve the Community Relations Plan before the recipient begins field work. The recipient must comply with the community relations requirements described in EPA policy and guidance, and in the National Contingency Plan;

(v) A site-specific health and safety plan, or an assurance that the applicant will have a final plan before starting field work. Unless specifically waived by the award official, the applicant must have a site-specific health and safety plan in place providing for the protection of on-site personnel and area residents. The site-specific health and safety plan must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120, entitled, “Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response,” unless the recipient is an Indian Tribe exempt from OSHA requirements;

(vi) Quality assurance—(A) General. If the project involves environmentally related measurements or data generation, the recipient must comply with the requirements regarding quality assurance described in 2 CFR 1500.12.

(B) Quality assurance plan. The applicant must have a separate quality assurance project plan and/or sampling plan for each site to be covered by the Cooperative Agreement. The applicant must submit the quality assurance project plan and the sampling plan, which incorporates results of any site investigation performed at that site, to EPA with its Cooperative Agreement application. However, at the option of the EPA award official with program concurrence, the applicant may submit with its application a schedule for developing the detailed site-specific quality assurance plan (generally 45 days before beginning field work). Field work may not begin until EPA approves the site-specific quality assurance plan.

(C) Split sampling. The quality assurance plan must comply with the requirements regarding split sampling described in section 104(e)(4)(B) of CERCLA, as amended.

(vii) A schedule of deliverables to be prepared during response activities.

(3) Other applicable forms and information authorized by 2 CFR part 200 Subpart C—Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards.

(b) CERCLA Assurances. Before a Cooperative Agreement for remedial action can be awarded, the State must provide EPA with the following written assurances:

(1) Operation and maintenance. The State must provide an assurance that it will assume responsibility for all future operation and maintenance of CERCLA-funded remedial actions for the expected life of each such action as required by CERCLA section 104(c) and addressed in 40 CFR 300.510(c)(1) of the NCP. In addition, even if a political subdivision is designated as being responsible for operation and maintenance, the State must guarantee that it will assume any or all operation and maintenance activities in the event of default by the political subdivision.

(2) Cost sharing. The State must provide assurances for cost sharing as follows:

(i) Ten percent. Where a facility, whether privately or publicly owned, was not operated by the State or political subdivision thereof, either directly or through a contractual relationship or otherwise, at the time of any disposal of hazardous substances at the facility, the State must provide 10 percent of the cost of the remedial action, if CERCLA-funded.

(ii) Fifty percent or more. Where a facility was operated by a State or political subdivision either directly or through a contractual relationship or otherwise, at the time of any disposal of hazardous substances at the facility, the State must provide 50 percent (or such greater share as EPA may determine appropriate, taking into account the degree of responsibility of the State or political subdivision for the release) of the cost of removal, remedial planning, and remedial action if the remedial action is CERCLA-funded.

(3) Twenty-year waste capacity. The State must assure EPA of the availability of hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities within and/or outside the State that comply with subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act and that have adequate capacity for the destruction, treatment, or secure disposition of all hazardous wastes that are reasonably expected to be generated within the State during the 20-year period following the date of the response agreement. A remedial action cannot be funded unless this assurance is provided consistent with 40 CFR 300.510 of the NCP. EPA will determine whether the State's assurance is adequate.

(4) Off-site storage, treatment, or disposal. If off-site storage, destruction, treatment, or disposal is required, the State must assure the availability of a hazardous waste disposal facility that is in compliance with subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act and is acceptable to EPA. The lead agency of the State must provide the notification required at § 35.6120, if applicable.

(5) Real property acquisition. If EPA determines in the remedy selection process that an interest in real property must be acquired in order to conduct a response action, such acquisition may be funded under a Cooperative Agreement. EPA may acquire an interest in real estate for the purpose of conducting a remedial action only if the State provides assurance that it will accept transfer of such interest in accordance with 40 CFR 300.510(f) of the NCP. The State must provide this assurance even if it intends to transfer this interest to a third party, or to allow a political subdivision to accept transfer on behalf of the State. If the political subdivision is accepting the transferred interest in real property, the State must guarantee that it will accept transfer of such interest in the event of default by the political subdivision. If the State or political subdivision disposes of the transferred real property, it shall comply with the requirements for real property in 2 CFR 200.311. (See § 35.6400 for additional information on real property acquisition requirements.)

(a) Application requirements. The Indian Tribe must comply with all of the requirements described in § 35.6105(a). Indian Tribes are not required to comply with the intergovernmental review requirements included in the “Application for Federal Assistance” (SF-424). Consistent with the NCP (40 CFR 300.510(e)(2)), this subpart does not address whether Indian Tribes are States for the purpose of CERCLA section 104(c)(9).

(b) Cooperative Agreement requirements. (1) The Indian Tribe must comply with all terms and conditions in the Cooperative Agreement.

(2) If it is designated the lead for remedial action, the Indian Tribe must provide the notification required at § 35.6120, substituting the term “Indian Tribe” for the term “State” in that section, and “out-of-an-Indian-Tribal-area-of-Indian-country” for “out-of-State”.

(3) Indian Tribes are not required to share in the cost of CERCLA-funded remedial actions.

(a) General. If the State concurs, EPA may allow a political subdivision with the necessary capabilities and jurisdictional authority to conduct remedial response activities at a site. EPA will award the political subdivision a Cooperative Agreement to conduct remedial response and enter into a parallel Superfund State Contract with the State, if required (See § 35.6800, when a Superfund State Contract is required). The political subdivision may also be a signatory to the Superfund State Contract. The political subdivision must submit to the State a copy of all reports provided to EPA.

(b) Political subdivision Cooperative Agreement requirements—(1) Application requirements. To receive a remedial Cooperative Agreement, the political subdivision must prepare an application which includes the documentation described in § 35.6105(a)(1) through (a)(3).

(2) Cooperative Agreement requirements. The political subdivision must comply with all terms and conditions in the Cooperative Agreement. If it is designated the lead for remedial action, the political subdivision must provide the notification required at § 35.6120, substituting the term “political subdivision” for the term “State” in that section.

(a) The recipient must provide written notification of off-site shipments of CERCLA waste from a site to an out-of-State or out-of-an-Indian-Tribal-area-of-Indian-country waste management facility to:

(1) The appropriate State environmental official for the State in which the waste management facility is located; and/or

(2) An appropriate official of an Indian Tribe in whose area of Indian country the waste management facility is located; and

(3) The EPA Award Official.

(b) The notification of off-site shipments does not apply when the total volume of all such shipments from the site does not exceed 10 cubic yards.

(c) The notification must be in writing and must provide the following information, where available:

(1) The name and location of the facility to which the CERCLA waste is to be shipped;

(2) The type and quantity of CERCLA waste to be shipped;

(3) The expected schedule for the shipments of the CERCLA waste; and

(4) The method of transportation of the CERCLA waste.

(d) The recipient must notify the State or Indian Tribal government in which the planned receiving facility is located of major changes in the shipment plan, such as a decision to ship the CERCLA waste to another facility within the same receiving State, or to a facility in another State.

(e) The recipient must provide relevant information on the off-site shipments, including the information in paragraph (c) of this section, as soon as possible after the award of the contract and, where practicable, before the CERCLA waste is actually shipped.

Pursuant to CERCLA section 104(d), States, political subdivisions thereof, and Indian Tribes may apply for enforcement Cooperative Agreements. To be eligible for an enforcement Cooperative Agreement, the State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe must demonstrate that it has the authority, jurisdiction, and the necessary administrative capabilities to take an enforcement action(s) to compel PRP cleanup of the site, or recovery of the cleanup costs. To accomplish this, the State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe, respectively, must submit the following for EPA approval:

(a) A letter from the State Attorney General, or comparable local official (of a political subdivision) or comparable Indian Tribal official, certifying that it has the authority, jurisdiction, and administrative capabilities that provide a basis for pursuing enforcement actions against a PRP to secure the necessary response;

(b) A copy of the applicable State, local (political subdivision) or Indian Tribal statute(s) and a description of how it is implemented;

(c) Any other documentation required by EPA to demonstrate that the State, local (political subdivision) or Indian Tribal government has the statutory authority, jurisdiction, and administrative capabilities to perform the enforcement activity(ies) to be funded under the Cooperative Agreement.

An enforcement Cooperative Agreement application from a State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe may request funding for the following enforcement activities:

(a) PRP searches;

(b) Issuance of notice letters and negotiation activities;

(c) Administrative and judicial enforcement actions taken under State or Indian Tribal law;

(d) Management assistance and oversight of PRPs during Federal enforcement response;

(e) Oversight of PRPs during a State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe enforcement response contingent on the applicant having taken all necessary action to compel PRPs to fund the oversight of cleanup activities negotiated under the recipient's enforcement authorities. If the State, political subdivision, Indian Tribe or EPA cannot obtain PRP commitment to fund such oversight activities, then these activities will be considered eligible for CERCLA funding under an enforcement Cooperative Agreement.

(a) The State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe must comply with the requirements described in § 35.6105 (a)(1) through (a)(3), as appropriate.

(b) The CERCLA section 104 assurances described in § 35.6105(b) are not applicable for enforcement Cooperative Agreements.

(c) Before an enforcement Cooperative Agreement is awarded, the State, political subdivision or Indian Tribe must:

(1) Assure EPA that it will notify and consult with EPA promptly if the recipient determines that its laws or other restrictions prevent the recipient from acting consistently with CERCLA; and

(2) If the applicant is seeking funds for oversight of PRP cleanup, the applicant must:

(i) Demonstrate that the proposed Statement of Work or cleanup plan prepared by the PRP satisfies the recipient's enforcement goals for those instances in which the recipient is seeking funding for oversight of PRP cleanup activities negotiated under the recipient's own enforcement authorities; and

(ii) Demonstrate that the PRP has the capability to attain the goals set forth in the plan;

(iii) Demonstrate that it has taken all necessary action to compel PRPs to fund the oversight of cleanup activities negotiated under the recipient's enforcement authorities.

When a planning period of more than six months is available, States, political subdivisions and Indian Tribes may apply for removal Cooperative Agreements.

(a) The State must comply with the requirements described in § 35.6105(a). To the extent practicable, the State must comply with the notification requirement at § 35.6120 when a removal action is necessary and involves out-of-State shipment of CERCLA wastes, and when, based on the site evaluation, EPA determines that a planning period of more than six months is available before the removal activities must begin.

(b) Pursuant to CERCLA section 104(c)(3), the State is not required to share in the cost of a CERCLA-funded removal action, unless the removal is conducted at a site that was publicly operated by a State or political subdivision at the time of disposal of hazardous substances and a CERCLA-funded remedial action is ultimately undertaken at the site. In this situation, the State must share at least 50 percent in the cost of all removal, remedial planning, and remedial action costs at the time of the remedial action as stated in § 35.6105(b)(2)(ii).

(c) If both the State and EPA agree, a political subdivision with the necessary capabilities and jurisdictional authority may assume the lead responsibility for all, or a portion, of the removal activity at a site. Political subdivisions must comply with the requirements described in § 35.6105(a). To the extent practicable, political subdivisions also must comply with the notification requirement at § 35.6120 when a removal action is necessary and involves the shipment of CERCLA wastes out of the State's jurisdiction, and when, based on the site evaluation, EPA determines that a planning period of more than six months is available before the removal activities must begin.

(d) The State must provide the cost share assurance discussed in paragraph (b) of this section on behalf of a political subdivision that is given the lead for a removal action.

(e) Indian Tribes must comply with the requirements described in § 35.6105(a). To the extent practicable, Indian Tribes also must comply with the notification requirement at § 35.6120 when a removal action is necessary and involves the shipment of CERCLA wastes out of the Indian Tribe's area of Indian country, and when, based on the site evaluation, EPA determines that a planning period of more than six months is available before the removal activities must begin.

(f) Indian Tribes are not required to share in the cost of a CERCLA-funded removal action.

(a) States and Indian Tribes may apply for Core Program Cooperative Agreements in order to conduct CERCLA implementation activities that are not directly assignable to specific sites, but are intended to develop and maintain a State's or Indian Tribe's ability to participate in the CERCLA response program.

(b) Only the State or Indian Tribal government agency designated as the single point of contact with EPA for CERCLA implementation is eligible to receive a Core Program Cooperative Agreement.

(c) When it is more economical for a government entity other than the recipient (such as a political subdivision or State Attorney General) to implement tasks funded through a Core Program Cooperative Agreement, benefits to such entities must be provided for in an intergovernmental agreement.

The recipient of a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must comply with the requirements regarding financial administration (§§ 35.6270 through 35.6290), property (§§ 35.6300 through 35.6450), procurement (§§ 35.6550 through 35.6610), reporting (§§ 35.6650 through 35.6670), records (§§ 35.6700 through 35.6710), and other administrative requirements under a Cooperative Agreement (§§ 35.6750 through 35.6790). Recipients may not incur site-specific costs. Where these sections entail site-specific requirements, the recipient is not required to comply on a site-specific basis.

(a) To be eligible for funding under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement, activities must develop and maintain a recipient's abilities to implement CERCLA. Once the recipient has in place program functions described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section, EPA will evaluate the recipient's program needs to sustain interaction with EPA in CERCLA implementation as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section. The amount of funding provided under the Core Program will be determined by EPA based on the availability of funds and the recipient's program needs in the areas described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section:

(1) Procedures for emergency response actions and longer-term remediation of environmental and health risks at hazardous waste sites (including but not limited to the development of generic health and safety plans, quality assurance project plans, and community relation plans);

(2) Provisions for satisfying all requirements and assurances (including the development of a fund or other financing mechanism(s) to pay for studies and remediation activities);

(3) Legal authorities and enforcement support associated with proper administration of the recipient's program and with efforts to compel potentially responsible parties to conduct or pay for studies and/or remediation (including but not limited to the development of statutory authorities; access to legal assistance in identifying applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements of other laws; and development and maintenance of the administrative, financial and recordkeeping systems necessary for cost recovery actions under CERCLA);

(4) Efforts necessary to hire and train staff to manage publicly-funded cleanups, oversee responsible party-lead cleanups, and provide clerical support; and

(5) Other activities deemed necessary by EPA to develop and maintain sustained EPA/recipient interaction in CERCLA implementation (including but not limited to general program management and supervision necessary for a recipient to implement CERCLA activities, and interagency coordination on all phases of CERCLA response).

(b) Continued funding of tasks in subsequent years will be based on an evaluation of demonstrated progress toward the goals in the existing Core Program Cooperative Agreement Statement of Work.

To receive a Core Program Cooperative Agreement, the applicant must submit an application form (“Application for Federal Assistance,” SF-424, for non-construction programs) to EPA. Applications for additional funding need include only the revised pages. The application must include the following:

(a) A project narrative statement, including the following:

(1) A Statement of Work (SOW) which must include a detailed description of the CERCLA-funded activities and tasks to be conducted, the projected costs associated with each task, the number of products to be completed, and a schedule for implementation. Eligible activities under Core Program Cooperative Agreements are discussed in § 35.6225; and

(2) A background statement, describing the current abilities and authorities of the recipient's program for implementing CERCLA, the program's needs to sustain and increase recipient involvement in CERCLA implementation, and the impact of Core Program Cooperative Agreement funds on the recipient's involvement in site-specific CERCLA response.

(b) Budget sheets (SF-424A).

(c) Proposed project and budget periods for CERCLA-funded activities. The project and budget periods may be one or more years and may be extended incrementally, up to 12 months at a time, with EPA approval.

(d) Other applicable forms and information authorized by 2 CFR part 200 Subpart C—Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards.

A State must provide at least ten percent of the direct and indirect costs of all activities covered by the Core Program Cooperative Agreement. Indian Tribes are not required to share in the cost of Core Program activities. The State must provide its cost share with non-Federal funds or with Federal funds, authorized by statute to be used for matching purposes. Funds used for matching purposes under any other Federal grant or Cooperative Agreement cannot be used for matching purposes under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement. The State may provide its share using in-kind contributions if such contributions are provided for in the Cooperative Agreement. The State may not use CERCLA State credits to offset any part of its required match for Core Program Cooperative Agreements. (See § 35.6285 (c), (d), and (f) regarding credit, excess cash cost share contributions/over match, and advance match, respectively.)

States, political subdivisions, and Indian Tribes may apply for support agency Cooperative Agreements to ensure their meaningful and substantial involvement in response activities, as specified in sections 104 and 121(f)(1) of CERCLA and the NCP (40 CFR part 300).

Support agency activities are those activities conducted by the recipient to ensure its meaningful and substantial involvement. The activities described in section 121(f)(1) of CERCLA, as amended, and in subpart F of the NCP (40 CFR part 300), are eligible for funding under a support agency Cooperative Agreement. Participation in five-year reviews of the continuing protectiveness of a remedial action is also an eligible support agency activity.

(a) Application requirements. The applicant must comply with the requirements described in § 35.6105(a)(1) and (3), and other requirements as negotiated with EPA. (Indian Tribes are exempt from the requirement of Intergovernmental Review in 40 CFR part 29.) An applicant may submit a non-site-specific budget for support agency activities.

(b) Cooperative Agreement requirements. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding financial administration (§§ 35.6270 through 35.6290), property (§§ 35.6300 through 35.6450), procurement (§§ 35.6550 through 35.6610), reporting (§§ 35.6650 through 35.6670), records (§§ 35.6700 through 35.6710), and other administrative requirements under a Cooperative Agreement (§§ 35.6750 through 35.6790).

(a) EPA may award a Cooperative Agreement to a recipient for:

(1) A single activity, or multiple activities;

(2) A single activity at multiple sites; and

(3) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section, multiple activities at multiple sites.

(b) EPA will not award or amend a Cooperative Agreement to a political subdivision to conduct multiple activities at multiple sites. Before awarding or amending a Cooperative Agreement to permit multiple activities at multiple sites, EPA must determine that the State or Indian Tribe has adequate administrative, technical, and financial management and tracking capabilities. A State's or Indian Tribe's request for such a Cooperative Agreement will be considered only if EPA determines that consolidating these activities under one Cooperative Agreement would be in the Agency's best interests.

(c) EPA will not award a single Cooperative Agreement to conduct multiple remedial actions at multiple sites.

(d) EPA will require separate Cooperative Agreements for eligible removal actions that exceed the statutory monetary ceiling or whenever a consistency waiver is likely to be sought.

(a) Accounting system standards—(1) General. The recipient's system must track expenses by site, activity, and, operable unit, as applicable, according to object class. The system must also provide control, accountability, and an assurance that funds, property, and other assets are used only for their authorized purposes. The recipient must allow an EPA review of the adequacy of the financial management system as described in 2 CFR 200.302.

(2) Allowable costs. The recipient's systems must comply with the appropriate allowable cost principles described in 2 CFR part 200 Subpart E—Cost Principles.

(3) Pre-remedial. The system need not track expenses by site. However, all pre-remedial costs must be documented under a single Superfund account number designated specifically for the pre-remedial activity.

(4) Core Program. Since all costs associated with Core Program Cooperative Agreements are non-site-specific, the systems need not track expenses by site. However, all Core Program costs must be documented under the Superfund account number(s) designated specifically for Core Program activity.

(5) Support Agency. All support agency agreements will be assigned a single Superfund activity code designated specifically for support agency activities. All support agency costs, however, must be documented site specifically in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Cooperative Agreement.

(6) Accounting system control procedures. Except as provided for in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, accounting system control procedures must ensure that accounting information is:

(i) Accurate, charging only costs attributable to the site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable; and

(ii) Complete, recording and charging to individual sites, activities, and operable units, as applicable, all costs attributable to the recipient's CERCLA effort.

(7) Financial reporting. The recipient's accounting system must use actual costs as the basis for all reports of direct site charges. The recipient must comply with the requirements for financial reporting contained in § 35.6670.

(b) Recordkeeping system standards. (1) The recipient must maintain a recordkeeping system that enables site-specific costs to be tracked by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable, and provides sufficient documentation for cost recovery purposes.

(2) The recipient must provide this site-specific documentation to the EPA Regional Office within 30 working days of a request, unless another time frame is specified in the Cooperative Agreement.

(3) In addition, the recipient must comply with the requirements regarding records described in §§ 35.6700, 35.6705, and 35.6710. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding source documentation described in 2 CFR 200.302.

(4) For pre-remedial and Core Program activities, the recordkeeping system must comply with the requirements described in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding the availability of funds described in 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500.

(b) Except as permitted in § 35.6285, the Award Official must sign the assistance agreement before costs are incurred. The recipient may incur costs between the date the Award Official signs the assistance agreement and the date the recipient signs the agreement, if the costs are identified in the agreement and the recipient does not change the agreement.

(a) General. In addition to the following requirements, the recipient must comply with the requirements regarding payment described in 2 CFR 200.305.

(1) Assignment of payment. The recipient cannot assign the right to receive payments under the recipient's Cooperative Agreement. EPA will make payments only to the payee identified in the Cooperative Agreement.

(2) Interest. The interest a recipient earns on an advance of EPA funds is subject to the requirements of 2 CFR 200.305.

(b) Payment method—(1) Letter of credit. In order to receive payment by the letter of credit method, the recipient must comply with the requirements regarding letter of credit described in 2 CFR 200.305. The recipient must identify and charge costs to specific sites, activities, and operable units, as applicable, for drawdown purposes as specified in the Cooperative Agreement.

(2) Reimbursement. If the recipient is unable to meet letter of credit requirements, EPA will pay the recipient by reimbursement. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding reimbursement described in 2 CFR 200.305.

(3) Working capital advances. If the recipient is unable to meet the criteria for payment by either letter of credit or reimbursement, EPA may provide cash on a working capital advance basis. Under this procedure EPA shall advance cash to the recipient to cover its estimated disbursement needs for an initial period generally geared to the recipient's disbursing cycle. Thereafter, EPA shall reimburse the recipient for its actual cash disbursements. In such cases, the recipient must comply with the requirements regarding working capital advances described in 2 CFR 200.305.

The recipient may pay for its share of response costs using cash, services, credits or any combination of these, as follows:

(a) Cash. The recipient may pay for its share of response costs in the form of cash.

(b) Services. The recipient may provide equipment and services to satisfy its cost share requirements under Cooperative Agreements. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding in-kind and donated services described in 2 CFR 200.306.

(c) Credit—(1) General credit requirements. Credits are limited to State site-specific expenses that EPA determines to be reasonable, documented, direct, out-of-pocket expenditures of non-Federal funds for remedial action, as defined in CERCLA section 101(24), that are consistent with a permanent remedy at the site. Credits are established on a site-specific basis. Only a State may claim credit.

(i) The State may claim credit for response activity obligations or expenditures incurred by the State or political subdivision between January 1, 1978, and December 11, 1980.

(ii) The State may claim credit for remedial action expenditures made by the State after October 17, 1986. If such expenditures occurred after the site was listed on the NPL (Appendix B to 40 CFR Part 300), they will be eligible for a credit only if the State initiated the remedial action after obtaining EPA's written approval.

(iii) The State may not claim credit for removal actions taken after December 11, 1980.

(2) Credit submission requirements. Although EPA may require additional documentation, the State must submit the following before EPA will approve the use of the credit:

(i) Specific amounts claimed for credit, by site (estimated amounts are unacceptable), based on supporting cost documentation;

(ii) Units of government (State agency, county, local) that incurred the costs, by site;

(iii) Description of the specific function performed by each unit of government at each site;

(iv) Certification (signed by the State's fiscal manager or the financial director for each unit of government) that credit costs have not been previously reimbursed by the Federal Government or any other party, and have not been used for matching purposes under any other Federal program or grant; and

(v) Documentation, if requested by EPA, to ensure the actions undertaken at the site are cost eligible and consistent with CERCLA, as amended, and the NCP requirements in 40 CFR part 300. This requirement does not apply for costs incurred before December 11, 1980.

(3) Use of credit. The State must first apply credit at the site at which it was earned. With the approval of EPA, the State may use excess credit earned at one site for its cost share at another site (See CERCLA section 104(c)(5)). Credits must be applied on a site-specific basis, and, therefore, may not be used to meet State cost share requirements for Core Program Cooperative Agreements. EPA will not reimburse excess credit.

(4) Credit verification procedures. Expenditure submissions are subject to verification by audit or other financial review. EPA may conduct a technical review (including inspection) to verify that the claimed remedial action is consistent with CERCLA and the NCP (40 CFR part 300).

(d) Excess cash cost share contributions/overmatch. The recipient may direct EPA to return the excess funds or to use the overmatch at one site to meet the cost share obligation at another site. The recipient may not use contributions in excess of the required cost share at one site to meet the cost share obligation for the Core Program cost share. Overmatch is not “credit” pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this section.

(e) Cost sharing. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding cost sharing described in 2 CFR 200.306. Finally, the recipient cannot use costs incurred under the Core Program to offset cost share requirements at a site.

(f) Advance match. (1) A Cooperative Agreement for a site-specific response entered into after October 17, 1986, cannot authorize a State to contribute funds during remedial planning and then apply those contributions to the remedial action cost share (advance match).

(2) A State may seek reimbursement for costs incurred under Cooperative Agreements which authorize advance match.

(3) Reimbursements are subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

(4) If the State does not seek reimbursement, EPA will apply the advance match to off-set the State's required cost share for remedial action at the site. The State may not use advance match for credit at any other site, nor may the State receive reimbursement until the conclusion of CERCLA-funded remedial response activities. Also, the State may not use advance match for credit against cost share obligations for Core Program Cooperative Agreements.

(5) Claims for advance match are subject to verification by audit.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding program income described in 2 CFR 200.307 and 2 CFR part 1500. Recoveries of Federal cost share amounts are not program income, and whether such recoveries are received before or after expiration of the Cooperative Agreement, must be reimbursed promptly to EPA.

(a) General. (1) Property may be acquired only when authorized in the Cooperative Agreement.

(2) The recipient must acquire the property during the approved project period.

(3) The recipient must:

(i) Charge property costs by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable;

(ii) Document the use of the property by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable; and

(iii) Solicit and follow EPA's instructions on the disposal of any property purchased with CERCLA funds as specified in §§ 35.6340 and 35.6345.

(b) Exception. The recipient is not required to charge property costs by site under a pre-remedial or Core Program Cooperative Agreement.

To obtain supplies, the recipient must agree to comply with the requirements in §§ 35.6300, 35.6315(b), 35.6325 through 35.6340, and 35.6350. Supplies obtained with Core Program funds must be for non-site-specific purposes. All purchases of supplies under the Core Program must comply with the requirements in §§ 35.6300, 35.6315(b), 35.6325 through 35.6340, and 35.6350, except where these requirements are site-specific.

To obtain equipment, the recipient must agree to comply with the requirements in §§ 35.6300 and 35.6315 through 35.6350.

(a) Purchase equipment with recipient funds. The recipient may purchase equipment with the recipient's own funds and may charge EPA a fee for using equipment on a CERCLA-funded project. The fee must be based on a usage rate, subject to the usage rate requirements in § 35.6320.

(b) Borrow federally owned property. The recipient may borrow federally owned property, with the exception of motor vehicles, for use on CERCLA-funded projects. The loan of the federally owned property may only extend through the project period. At the end of the project period, or when the federally owned property is no longer needed for the project, the recipient must return the property to the Federal Government.

(c) Lease, use contractor services, or purchase with CERCLA funds. To acquire equipment through lease, use of contractor services, or purchase with CERCLA funds, the recipient must conduct and document a cost comparison analysis to determine which of these methods of obtaining equipment is the most cost effective. In order to obtain the equipment, the recipient must submit documentation of the cost comparison analysis to EPA for approval. The recipient must obtain the equipment through the most cost-effective method, subject to the following requirements:

(1) Lease or rent equipment. If it is the most cost-effective method of acquisition, the recipient may lease or rent equipment, subject only to the requirements in § 35.6300.

(2) Use contractor services. (i) If it is the most cost-effective method of acquisition, the recipient may hire the services of a contractor.

(ii) The recipient must obtain award official approval before authorizing the contractor to purchase equipment with CERCLA funds. (See § 35.6325, regarding the title and vested interest of equipment purchased with CERCLA funds.) This does not apply for recipients who have used the sealed bids method of procurement.

(iii) The recipient must require the contractor to allocate the cost of the contractor services by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable.

(3) Purchase equipment with CERCLA funds. If equipment purchase is the most cost-effective method of obtaining the equipment, the recipient may purchase the equipment with CERCLA funds. To purchase equipment with CERCLA funds, the recipient must comply with the following requirements:

(i) The recipient must include in the Cooperative Agreement application a list of all items of equipment to be purchased with CERCLA funds, with the price of each item.

(ii) If the equipment is to be used on sites, the recipient must allocate the cost of the equipment by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable, by applying a usage rate subject to the usage rate requirements in § 35.6320.

(iii) The recipient may not use CERCLA funds to purchase a transportable or mobile treatment system.

(iv) Equipment obtained with Core Program funds must be for non-site-specific purposes. All purchases of equipment must comply with the requirements in §§ 35.6300, and 35.6310 through 35.6350, except where these requirements are site-specific.

(a) Usage rate approval. To charge EPA a fee for use of equipment purchased with recipient funds or to allocate the cost of equipment by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable, the recipient must apply a usage rate. The recipient must submit documentation of the usage rate computation to EPA. The EPA-approved usage rate must be included in the Cooperative Agreement before the recipient incurs these equipment costs.

(b) Usage rate application. The recipient must record the use of the equipment by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable, and must apply the usage rate to calculate equipment charges by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable. For Core Program and pre-remedial activities, the recipient is not required to apply a usage rate.

(a) EPA's interest in CERCLA-funded property. EPA has an interest (the percentage of EPA's participation in the total award) in both equipment and supplies purchased with CERCLA funds.

(b) Title in CERCLA-funded property. Title in both equipment and supplies purchased with CERCLA funds vests in the recipient.

(1) Right to transfer title. EPA retains the right to transfer title of all property purchased with CERCLA funds to the Federal Government or a third party within 120 calendar days after project completion or at the time of disposal.

(2) Equipment used as all or part of the remedy. The following requirements apply to equipment used as all or part of the remedy:

(i) Fixed in-place equipment. EPA no longer has an interest in fixed in-place equipment once the equipment is installed.

(ii) Equipment that is an integral part of services to individuals. EPA no longer has an interest in equipment that is an integral part of services to individuals, such as pipes, lines, or pumps providing hookups for homeowners on an existing water distribution system, once EPA certifies that the remedy is operational and functional.

Title to all federally owned property vests in the Federal Government.

The recipient must comply with the following property management standards for property purchased with CERCLA funds. The recipient may use its own property management system if it meets the following standards.

(a) Control. The recipient must maintain:

(1) Property records for CERCLA-funded property which include the contents specified in § 35.6700(c);

(2) A control system that ensures adequate safeguards for prevention of loss, damage, or theft of the property. The recipient must make provisions for the thorough investigation and documentation of any loss, damage, or theft;

(3) Procedures to ensure maintenance of the property are in good condition and periodic calibration of the instruments used for precision measurements;

(4) Sales procedures to ensure the highest possible return, if the recipient is authorized to sell the property;

(5) Provisions for financial control and accounting in the financial management system of all equipment; and

(6) Identification of all federally owned property.

(b) Inventory and reporting for CERCLA-funded equipment—(1) Physical inventory. The recipient must conduct a physical inventory at least once every two years for all equipment except that which is part of the in-place remedy. The recipient must reconcile physical inventory results with the equipment records.

(2) Inventory reports. The recipient must comply with requirements for inventory reports set forth in § 35.6660.

(c) Inventory and reporting for federally owned property—(1) Physical inventory. The recipient must conduct a physical inventory:

(i) Annually;

(ii) When the property is no longer needed; and

(iii) Within 90 days after the end of the project period.

(2) Inventory reports. The recipient must comply with requirements for inventory reports in § 35.6660.

(a) Equipment. For equipment that is no longer needed, or at the end of the project period, whichever is earlier, the recipient must:

(1) Analyze two alternatives: The cost of leaving the equipment in place, and the cost of removing the equipment and disposing of it in another manner.

(2) Document the analysis of the two alternatives in the inventory report. See § 35.6660 regarding requirements for the inventory report.

(i) If it is most cost-effective to remove the equipment and dispose of it in another manner:

(A) If the equipment has a residual fair market value of $5,000 or more, the recipient must request disposition instructions from EPA in the inventory report. See § 35.6345 for equipment disposal options.

(B) If the equipment has a residual fair market value of less than $5,000, the recipient may retain the equipment for the recipient's use on another CERCLA site. If, however, there is any remaining residual value at the time of final disposition, the recipient must reimburse the Hazardous Substance Superfund for EPA's vested interest in the current fair market value of the equipment at the time of disposition.

(ii) If it is most cost-effective to leave the equipment in place, recommend in the inventory report that the equipment be left in place.

(3) Submit the inventory report to EPA, even if EPA has stopped supporting the project.

(b) Supplies. (1) If supplies have an aggregate fair market value of $5,000 or more at the end of the project period, the recipient must take one of the following actions at the direction of EPA:

(i) Use the supplies on another CERCLA project and reimburse the original project for the fair market value of the supplies;

(ii) If both the recipient and EPA concur, keep the supplies and reimburse the Hazardous Substance Superfund for EPA's interest in the current fair market value of the supplies; or

(iii) Sell the supplies and reimburse the Hazardous Substance Superfund for EPA's interest in the current fair market value of the supplies, less any reasonable selling expenses.

(2) If the supplies remaining at the end of the project period have an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000, the recipient may keep the supplies to use on another CERCLA project. If the recipient cannot use the supplies on another CERCLA project, then the recipient may keep or sell the supplies without reimbursing the Hazardous Substance Superfund.

The following disposal options are available:

(a) Use the equipment on another CERCLA project and reimburse the original project for the fair market value of the equipment;

(b) If both the recipient and EPA concur, keep the equipment and reimburse the Hazardous Substance Superfund for EPA's interest in the current fair market value of the equipment;

(c) Sell the equipment and reimburse the Hazardous Substance Superfund for EPA's interest in the current fair market value of the equipment, less any reasonable selling expenses; or

(d) Return the equipment to EPA and, if applicable, EPA will reimburse the recipient for the recipient's proportionate share in the current fair market value of the equipment.

When federally owned property is no longer needed, or at the end of the project, the recipient must inform EPA that the property is available for return to the Federal Government. EPA will send disposition instructions to the recipient.

(a) An interest in real property may be acquired only with prior approval of EPA.

(1) If the recipient acquires real property in order to conduct the response, the recipient with jurisdiction over the property must agree to hold the necessary property interest.

(2) If it is necessary for the Federal Government to acquire the interest in real estate to permit conduct of a remedial action, the acquisition may be made only if the State provides assurance that it will accept transfer of the acquired interest in accordance with 40 CFR 300.510(f) of the NCP. States must follow the requirements in § 35.6105(b)(5).

(b) The recipient must comply with applicable Federal regulations for real property acquisition under assistance agreements contained in part 4 of this chapter, “Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs.”

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding real property described in 2 CFR 200.311.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding copyrights described in 2 CFR part 200.315. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding contract copyright provisions described in § 35.6595(b)(2).

(a) Force Account work is the use of the recipient's own employees or equipment for construction, construction-related activities (including architecture and engineering services), or repair or improvement to a facility. When using Force Account work, the recipient must demonstrate that the employees can complete the work as competently as, and more economically than, contractors, or that an emergency necessitates the use of the Force Account.

(b) Where the value of Force Account services exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, the recipient must receive written authorization for use from the award official.

(a) Recipient standards. (1) In addition to the procurement standards described in 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.327 and 2 CFR part 1500, the State shall comply with the requirements in the following: Paragraphs (a)(5), (a)(9), and (b) of this section, § 35.6555(c), in § 35.6565 the first sentence of the introductory text, the first sentence of paragraph (b), paragraph (d), and §§ 35.6570, 35.6575, and 35.6600. Political subdivisions and Tribes must follow all of the requirements included or referenced in this section through § 35.6610.

(2) EPA review. EPA reserves the right to review any recipient's procurement system or procurement action under a Cooperative Agreement.

(3) Code of conduct. The recipient must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR 200.318 (c)(1) which describes standards of conduct for employees, officers, and agents of the recipient.

(4) Completion of contractual and administrative issues. (i) The recipient is responsible for the settlement and satisfactory completion in accordance with sound business judgment and good administrative practice of all contractual and administrative issues arising out of procurements under the Cooperative Agreement.

(ii) EPA will not substitute its judgment for that of the recipient unless the matter is primarily a Federal concern.

(iii) Violations of law will be referred to the local, State, Tribal, or Federal authority having proper jurisdiction.

(5) Selection procedures. The recipient must have written selection procedures for procurement transactions.

(i) EPA may not participate in a recipient's selection panel except to provide technical assistance. EPA staff providing such technical assistance:

(A) Shall constitute a minority of the selection panel (limited to making recommendations on qualified offers and acceptable proposals based on published evaluation criteria) for the contractor selection process; and

(B) Are not permitted to participate in the negotiation and award of contracts.

(ii) When selecting a contractor, recipients:

(A) May not use EPA contractors to provide any support related to procuring a State contractor.

(B) May use the Corps of Engineers for review of State bidding documents, requests for proposals and bids and proposals received.

(6) Award. The recipient may award a contract only to a responsible contractor, as described in 2 CFR 200.318 (h) and must ensure that each contractor performs in accordance with all the provisions of the contract. (See also § 35.6020.)

(7) Protest procedures. The recipient must comply with the requirements described in 2 CFR 200.318 (k) regarding protest procedures.

(8) [Reserved]

(9) Intergovernmental agreements. (i) To foster greater economy and efficiency, recipients are encouraged to enter into intergovernmental agreements for procurement or use of common goods and services.

(ii) Although intergovernmental agreements are not subject to the requirements set forth in this section through § 35.6610, all procurements under intergovernmental agreements are subject to these requirements except for procurements that are:

(A) Incidental to the purpose of the assistance agreement; and

(B) Made through a central public procurement unit.

(10) Value engineering. The recipient is encouraged to include value engineering clauses in contracts for construction projects of sufficient size to offer reasonable opportunities for cost reductions.

(b) Contractor standards—(1) Disclosure requirements regarding Potentially Responsible Party relationships. The recipient must require each prospective contractor to provide with its bid or proposal:

(i) Information on its financial and business relationship with all PRPs at the site and with the contractor's parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, subcontractors, or current clients at the site. Prospective contractors under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must provide comparable information for all sites within the recipient's jurisdiction. (This disclosure requirement encompasses past financial and business relationships, including services related to any proposed or pending litigation, with such parties);

(ii) Certification that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, it has disclosed such information or no such information exists; and

(iii) A statement that it shall disclose immediately any such information discovered after submission of its bid or proposal or after award. The recipient shall evaluate such information and if a member of the contract team has a conflict of interest which prevents the team from serving the best interests of the recipient, the prospective contractor may be declared nonresponsible and the contract awarded to the next eligible bidder or offeror.

(2) Conflict of interest—(i) Conflict of interest notification. The recipient must require the contractor to notify the recipient of any actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest regarding any individual working on a contract assignment or having access to information regarding the contract. This notification shall include both organizational conflicts of interest and personal conflicts of interest. If a personal conflict of interest exists, the individual who is affected shall be disqualified from taking part in any way in the performance of the assigned work that created the conflict of interest situation.

(ii) Contract provisions. The recipient must incorporate the following provisions or their equivalents into all contracts, except those for well-drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hook-ups, security guard services, or electrical services:

(A) Contractor data. The contractor shall not provide data generated or otherwise obtained in the performance of contractor responsibilities under a contract to any party other than the recipient, EPA, or its authorized agents for the life of the contract, and for a period of five years after completion of the contract.

(B) Employment. The contractor shall not accept employment from any party other than the recipient or Federal agencies for work directly related to the site(s) covered under the contract for five years after the contract has terminated. The recipient agency may exempt the contractor from this requirement through a written release. This release must include EPA concurrence.

(3) Certification of independent price determination. The recipient must require that each contractor include in its bid or proposal a certification of independent price determination. This document certifies that no collusion, as defined by Federal and State antitrust laws, occurred during bid preparation.

(4) Recipient's Contractors. The recipient must require its contractor to comply with the requirements in §§ 35.6270(a)(1) and (2); 35.6320 (a) and (b); 35.6335; 35.6700; and 35.6705. For additional contractor requirements, see also § 35.6710(c); 35.6590(b); and 35.6610.

The recipient must conduct all procurement transactions in a manner providing maximum full and open competition.

(a) Restrictions on competition. Inappropriate restrictions on competition include the following:

(1) Placing unreasonable requirements on firms in order for them to qualify to do business;

(2) Requiring unnecessary experience and excessive bonding requirements;

(3) Noncompetitive pricing practices between firms or between affiliated companies;

(4) Noncompetitive awards to consultants that are on retainer contracts;

(5) Organizational conflicts of interest;

(6) Specifying only a “brand name” product, instead of allowing “an equal” product to be offered and describing the performance of other relevant requirements of the procurement; and

(7) Any arbitrary action in the procurement process.

(b) Geographic and Indian Tribe preferences—(1) Geographic. When conducting a procurement, the recipient must prohibit the use of statutorily or administratively imposed in-State or local geographical preferences in evaluating bids or proposals. However, nothing in this section preempts State licensing laws. In addition, when contracting for architectural and engineering (A/E) services, the recipient may use geographic location as a selection criterion, provided that when geographic location is used, its application leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project, to compete for the contract.

(2) Indian Tribe. Any contract or subcontract awarded by an Indian Tribe or Indian intertribal consortium shall comply with the requirements of the Indian Self Determination Act.

(c) Written specifications. The recipient's written specifications must include a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements and the qualitative nature of the material, product or service to be procured.

(1) This description must not contain features which unduly restrict competition, unless the features are necessary to:

(i) Test or demonstrate a specific thing;

(ii) Provide for necessary interchangeability of parts and equipment; or

(iii) Promote innovative technologies.

(2) The recipient must avoid the use of detailed product specifications if at all possible.

(d) Public notice. When soliciting bids or proposals, the recipient must allow sufficient time (generally 30 calendar days) between public notice of the proposed project and the deadline for receipt of bids or proposals. The recipient must publish the public notice in professional journals, newspapers, or publications of general circulation over a reasonable area.

(e) Prequalified lists. Recipients may use prequalified lists of persons, firms, or products to acquire goods and services. The list must be current and include enough qualified sources to ensure maximum open and free competition. Recipients must not preclude potential bidders from qualifying during the solicitation period.

The recipient must comply with the requirements for payment to consultants described in 2 CFR 1500.10. In addition, the recipient must comply with the following requirements:

(a) Small purchase procedures. Small purchase procedures are those relatively simple and informal procurement methods for securing services, supplies, or other property that do not cost more than the simplified acquisition threshold in the aggregate. If small purchase procurements are used, the recipient must obtain and document price or rate quotations from an adequate number of qualified sources.

(b) Sealed bids (formal advertising). (For a remedial action award contract, except for Architectural/Engineering services and post-removal site control, the recipient must obtain the award official's approval to use a procurement method other than the sealed bid method.) Bids are publicly solicited and a fixed-price contract (lump sum or unit price) is awarded to the responsible bidder whose bid, conforming with all the material terms and conditions of the invitation for bids, is the lowest in price.

(1) In order for the recipient to use the sealed bid method, the following conditions must be met:

(i) A complete, adequate, and realistic specification or purchase description is available;

(ii) Two or more responsible bidders are willing and able to compete effectively for the business; and

(iii) The procurement lends itself to a fixed-price contract and the selection of the successful bidder can be made principally on the basis of price.

(2) If the recipient uses the sealed bid method, the recipient must comply with the following requirements:

(i) Publicly advertise the invitation for bids and solicit bids from an adequate number of known suppliers, providing them sufficient time prior to the date set for opening the bids;

(ii) The invitation for bids, which must include any specifications and pertinent attachments, must define the items or services in order for the bidder to properly respond;

(iii) Publicly open all bids at the time and place prescribed in the invitation for bids;

(iv) Award the fixed-price contract in writing to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Where specified in bidding documents, the recipient shall consider factors such as discounts, transportation cost, and life cycle costs in determining which bid is lowest. The recipient may only use payment discounts to determine the low bid when prior experience indicates that such discounts are usually taken advantage of; and

(v) If there is a sound documented reason, the recipient may reject any or all bids.

(c) Competitive proposals. The technique of competitive proposals is normally conducted with more than one source submitting an offer, and either a fixed-price or cost-reimbursement type contract is awarded. It is generally used when conditions are not appropriate for the use of sealed bids. If the recipient uses the competitive proposal method, the following requirements apply:

(1) Recipients must publicize requests for proposals and all evaluation factors and must identify their relative importance. The recipient must honor any response to publicized requests for proposals to the maximum extent practical;

(2) Recipients must solicit proposals from an adequate number of qualified sources;

(3) Recipients must have a method for conducting technical evaluations of the proposals received and for selecting awardees;

(4) Recipients must award the contract to the responsible firm whose proposal is most advantageous to the program, with price and other factors considered; and

(5) Recipients may use competitive proposal procedures for qualifications-based procurement of architectural/engineering (A/E) professional services whereby competitor's qualifications are evaluated and the most qualified competitor is selected, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation. This method, where price is not used as a selection factor, may only be used in the procurement of A/E professional services. The recipient may not use this method to purchase other types of services even though A/E firms are a potential source to perform the proposed effort.

(d) Noncompetitive proposals. (1) The recipient may procure by noncompetitive proposals only when the award of a contract is infeasible under small purchase procedures, sealed bids or competitive proposals, and one of the following circumstances applies:

(i) The item is available only from a single source;

(ii) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from competitive solicitation (a declaration of an emergency under State law does not necessarily constitute an emergency under the EPA Superfund program's criteria);

(iii) The award official authorized noncompetitive proposals; or

(iv) After solicitation of a number of sources, competition is determined to be inadequate.

(2) When using noncompetitive procurement, the recipient must conduct a cost analysis in accordance with the requirements described in § 35.6585.

(a) If the public notice clearly stated the possibility that the firm or individual selected could be awarded a contract for follow-on services and initial procurement complied with the procurement requirements, the recipient of a CERCLA remedial response Cooperative Agreement may use the engineer procured to conduct any or all of the follow-on engineering activities without going through the public notice and evaluation procedures.

(b) The recipient may also use the same engineer during subsequent phases of the project in the following cases:

(1) Where the recipient conducted the RI, FS, or design activities without EPA assistance but is using CERCLA funds for follow-on activities, the recipient may use the engineer for subsequent work provided the recipient certifies:

(i) That it complied with the procurement requirements in § 35.6565 when it selected the engineer and the code of conduct requirements described in 2 CFR 200.318(c)(1).

(ii) That any CERCLA-funded contract between the engineer and the recipient meets all of the other provisions as described in the procurement requirements in this subpart.

(2) Where EPA conducted the RI, FS, or design activities but the recipient will assume the responsibility for subsequent phases of response under a Cooperative Agreement, the recipient may use, with the award official's approval, EPA's engineer contractor without further public notice or evaluation provided the recipient follows the rest of the procurement requirements to award the contract.

(a) Prohibited contracts. The recipient's procurement system must not allow cost-plus-percentage-of-cost (e.g., a multiplier which includes profit) or percentage-of-construction-cost types of contracts.

(b) Removal. Under a removal Cooperative Agreement, the recipient must award a fixed-price contract (lump sum, unit price, or a combination of the two) when procuring contractor support, regardless of the procurement method selected, unless the recipient obtains the award official's prior written approval.

(c) Time and material contracts. The recipient may use time and material contracts only if no other type of contract is suitable, and if the contract includes a ceiling price that the contractor exceeds at its own risk.

(a) General. The recipient must conduct and document a cost or price analysis in connection with every procurement action including contract modification.

(1) Cost analysis. The recipient must conduct and document a cost analysis for all negotiated contracts over the simplified acquisition threshold and for all change orders regardless of price. A cost analysis is not required when adequate price competition exists and the recipient can establish price reasonableness. The recipient must base its determination of price reasonableness on a catalog or market price of a commercial product sold in substantial quantities to the general public, or on prices set by law or regulation.

(2) Price analysis. In all instances other than those described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the recipient must perform a price analysis to determine the reasonableness of the proposed contract price.

(b) Profit analysis. For each contract in which there is no price competition and in all cases in which cost analysis is performed, the recipient must negotiate profit as a separate element of the price. To establish a fair and reasonable profit, consideration will be given to the complexity of the work to be performed, the risk borne by the contractor, the contractor's investment, the amount of subcontracting, the quality of its record of past performance, and industry profit rates in the surrounding geographical area for similar work.

(a) General. The recipient must meet the requirements regarding bonding described in 2 CFR 200.326. The recipient must clearly and accurately state in the contract documents the bonds and insurance requirements, including the amounts of security coverage that a bidder or offeror must provide.

(b) Accidents and catastrophic loss. The recipient must require the contractor to provide insurance against accidents and catastrophic loss to manage any risk inherent in completing the project.

(a) General. Each contract must be a sound and complete agreement, and include the following provisions:

(1) Nature, scope, and extent of work to be performed;

(2) Time frame for performance;

(3) Total cost of the contract; and

(4) Payment provisions.

(b) Other contract provisions. Recipients' contracts must include the following provisions:

(1) Energy efficiency. A contract must comply with mandatory standards and policies on energy efficiency contained in the State's energy conservation plan, which is issued under 10 CFR part 420.

(2) Patents inventions, and copyrights. All contracts must include notice of EPA requirements and regulations pertaining to reporting and patent rights under any contract involving research, developmental, experimental or demonstration work with respect to any discovery or invention which arises or is developed while conducting work under a contract. This notice shall also include EPA requirements and regulations pertaining to copyrights and rights to data contained in 2 CFR 200.315.

(3) Labor standards. The recipient must comply with Appendix II to 2 CFR part 200—Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards.

(4) Conflict of interest. The recipient must include provisions pertaining to conflict of interest as described in § 35.6550(b)(2)(ii).

(a) General. The recipient must conduct an administrative and technical review of each claim before EPA will consider funding these costs.

(b) Claims settlement. The recipient may incur costs (including legal, technical and administrative) to assess the merits of or to negotiate the settlement of a claim by or against the recipient under a contract, provided:

(1) The claim arises from work within the scope of the Cooperative Agreement;

(2) A formal Cooperative Agreement amendment is executed specifically covering the costs before they are incurred;

(3) The costs are not incurred to prepare documentation that should be prepared by the contractor to support a claim against the recipient; and

(4) The award official determines that there is a significant Federal interest in the issues involved in the claim.

(c) Claims defense. The recipient may incur costs (including legal, technical and administrative) to defend against a contractor claim for increased costs under a contract or to prosecute a claim to enforce a contract provided:

(1) The claim arises from work within the scope of the Cooperative Agreement;

(2) A formal Cooperative Agreement amendment is executed specifically covering the costs before they are incurred;

(3) Settlement of the claim cannot occur without arbitration or litigation;

(4) The claim does not result from the recipient's mismanagement;

(5) The award official determines that there is a significant Federal interest in the issues involved in the claim; and

(6) In the case of defending against a contractor claim, the claim does not result from the recipient's responsibility for the improper action of others.

Neither EPA nor the United States shall be a party to any contract nor to any solicitation or request for proposals.

The recipient must require its contractor to comply with the following provisions in the award of contracts (i.e. subcontracts). (This section does not apply to a supplier's procurement of materials to produce equipment, materials and catalog, off-the-shelf, or manufactured items.)

(a) The requirements referenced in § 35.6020.

(b) The limitations on contract award in § 35.6550(a)(6).

(c) [Reserved]

(d) The requirements regarding specifications in § 35.6555 (a)(6) and (c).

(e) The Federal cost principles in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E.

(f) The prohibited types of contracts in § 35.6575(a).

(g) The cost, price analysis, and profit analysis requirements in § 35.6585.

(h) The applicable provisions in § 35.6595 (b).

(i) The applicable provisions in § 35.6555(b)(2).

(a) Reporting frequency. The recipient must submit progress reports as specified in the Cooperative Agreement. Progress reports will be required no more frequently than quarterly, and will be required at least annually. Notwithstanding the requirements of 2 CFR 200.328 and 200.329, the reports shall be due within 60 days after the reporting period.

(b) Content. The progress report must contain the following information:

(1) An explanation of work accomplished during the reporting period, delays, or other problems, if any, and a description of the corrective measures that are planned. For pre-remedial Cooperative Agreements, the report must include a list of the site-specific products completed and the estimated number of technical hours spent to complete each product.

(2) A comparison of the percentage of the project completed to the project schedule, and an explanation of significant discrepancies.

(3) A comparison of the estimated funds spent to date to planned expenditures and an explanation of significant discrepancies. For remedial, enforcement, and removal reports, the comparison must be on a per task basis.

(4) An estimate of the time and funds needed to complete the work required in the Cooperative Agreement, a comparison of that estimate to the time and funds remaining, and a justification for any increase.

Events may occur between the scheduled performance reporting dates which have significant impact upon the Cooperative Agreement-supported activity. In such cases, the recipient must inform the EPA project officer as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

(a) Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the award. This disclosure must include a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

(b) Favorable developments which enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or producing more beneficial results than originally planned.

(a) CERCLA-funded property—(1) Content. The report must contain the following information:

(i) Classification and value of remaining supplies;

(ii) Description of all equipment purchased with CERCLA funds, including its current condition;

(iii) Verification of the current use and continued need for the equipment by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable;

(iv) Notification of any property which has been stolen or vandalized; and

(v) A request for disposition instructions for any equipment no longer needed on the project.

(2) Reporting frequency. The recipient must submit an inventory report to EPA at the following times:

(i) Within 90 days after completing any CERCLA-funded project or any response activity at a site; and

(ii) When the equipment is no longer needed for any CERCLA-funded project or any response activity at a site.

(b) Federally owned property—(1) Content. The recipient must include the following information for each federally owned item in the inventory report:

(i) Description;

(ii) Decal number;

(iii) Current condition; and

(iv) Request for disposition instructions.

(2) Reporting frequency. The recipient must submit an inventory report to the appropriate EPA property accountable officer at the following times:

(i) Annually, due to EPA on the anniversary date of the award;

(ii) When the property is no longer needed; and

(iii) Within 90 days after the end of the project period.

(a) General. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding financial reporting described in 2 CFR 200.328.

(b) Financial Status Report—(1) Content. (i) The Financial Status Report (SF-269) must include financial information by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable.

(ii) A final Financial Status Report (FSR) must have no unliquidated obligations. If any obligations remain unliquidated, the FSR is considered an interim report and the recipient must submit a final FSR to EPA after liquidating all obligations.

(2) Reporting frequency. The recipient must file a Financial Status Report as follows:

(i) If a Financial Status Report is required annually, the report is due 90 days after the end of the Federal fiscal year or as specified in the Cooperative Agreement. If quarterly or semiannual Financial Status Reports are required, reports are due in accordance with 2 CFR 200.328;

(ii) Within 90 calendar days after completing each CERCLA-funded response activity at a site (submit the FSR only for each completed activity); and

(iii) Within 90 calendar days after termination or closeout of the Cooperative Agreement.

The lead agency for the response action must compile and maintain an administrative record consistent with section 113 of CERCLA, the National Contingency Plan, and relevant EPA policy and guidance. In addition, recipients of assistance (whether lead or support agency) are responsible for maintaining project files described as follows.

(a) General. The recipient must maintain project records by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable.

(b) Financial records. The recipient must maintain records which support the following items:

(1) Amount of funds received and expended; and

(2) Direct and indirect project cost.

(c) Property records. The recipient must maintain records which support the following items:

(1) Description of the property;

(2) Manufacturer's serial number, model number, or other identification number;

(3) Source of the property, including the assistance identification number;

(4) Information regarding whether the title is vested in the recipient or EPA;

(5) Unit acquisition date and cost;

(6) Percentage of EPA's interest;

(7) Location, use and condition (by site, activity, and operable unit, as applicable) and the date this information was recorded; and

(8) Ultimate disposition data, including the sales price or the method used to determine the price, or the method used to determine the value of EPA's interest for which the recipient compensates EPA in accordance with §§ 35.6340, 35.6345, and 35.6350.

(d) Procurement records—(1) General. The recipient must maintain records which support the following items, and must make them available to the public:

(i) The reasons for rejecting any or all bids; and

(ii) The justification for a procurement made on a noncompetitively negotiated basis.

(2) Procurements in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. The recipient's records and files for procurements in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold must include the following information, in addition to the information required in paragraph (d)(1) of this section:

(i) The basis for contractor selection;

(ii) A written justification for selecting the procurement method;

(iii) A written justification for use of any specification which does not provide for maximum free and open competition;

(iv) A written justification for the choice of contract type; and

(v) The basis for award cost or price, including a copy of the cost or price analysis made in accordance with § 35.6585 and documentation of negotiations.

(e) Other records. The recipient must maintain records which support the following items:

(1) Time and attendance records and supporting documentation;

(2) Documentation of compliance with statutes and regulations that apply to the project; and

(3) The number of site-specific technical hours spent to complete each pre-remedial product.

(a) Applicability. This requirement applies to all financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records which are required to be maintained by the terms, program regulations, or the Cooperative Agreement, or are otherwise reasonably considered as pertinent to program regulations or the Cooperative Agreement.

(b) Length of retention period. The recipient must maintain all records for 10 years following submission of the final Financial Status Report unless otherwise directed by the EPA award official, and must obtain written approval from the EPA award official before destroying any records. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, cost recovery, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the ten-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular ten-year period, whichever is later.

(c) Substitution of an unalterable electronic format. An unalterable electronic format, acceptable to EPA, may be substituted for the original records. The copying of any unalterable electronic format must be performed in accordance with the technical regulations concerning Federal Government records (36 CFR parts 1220 through 1234) and EPA records management requirements.

(d) Starting date of retention period. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding the starting dates for records retention described in 2 CFR 1500.7.

(a) Recipient requirements. The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding records access described in 2 CFR 200.337.

(b) Availability of records. The recipient must, with the exception of certain policy, deliberative, and enforcement documents which may be held confidential, ensure that all files are available to the public.

(c) Contractor requirements. The recipient must require its contractor to comply with the requirements regarding records access described in 2 CFR 200.337.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding changes to the Cooperative Agreement described by subject in 2 CFR part 200.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding program performance monitoring described in 2 CFR 200.329.

The recipient must comply with all terms and conditions in the Cooperative Agreement and is subject to the remedies for noncompliance with the terms of an award and termination described in 2 CFR 200.339 and 200.340.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding non-Federal audits described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart F.

The recipient must comply with the requirements regarding dispute resolution procedures described in 2 CFR part 1500 subpart E.

The Cooperative Agreement benefits only the signatories to the Cooperative Agreement.

(a) Closeout of a Cooperative Agreement, or an activity under a Cooperative Agreement, can take place in the following situations:

(1) After the completion of all work for a response activity at a site; or

(2) After all activities under a Cooperative Agreement have been completed; or

(3) Upon termination of the Cooperative Agreement.

(b) The recipient must comply with the closeout requirements described in 2 CFR 200.344 and 200.345.

The recipient must comply with the requirements described in 2 CFR 200.346 regarding collection of amounts due.

If EPA determines that a recipient is not responsible, EPA may impose specific conditions on the award as described in 2 CFR 200.208 or restrictions on the award as described in 2 CFR 200.339.

A Superfund State Contract (SSC) with a State is required before EPA can obligate or expend funds for a remedial action at a site within the State and before EPA or a political subdivision can conduct the remedial action. An SSC also ensures State or Indian Tribe involvement consistent with CERCLA sections 121(f) and 126, respectively, and obtains the required section 104 assurances (See § 35.6105(b)). An SSC may also be used to document the roles and responsibilities of a State, Indian Tribe, and political subdivision during any response action at a site. A political subdivision may be a signatory to the SSC.

The SSC must include the following provisions:

(a) General authorities, which documents the relevant statutes and regulations (of each government entity that is a party to the contract) governing the contract.

(b) Purpose of the SSC, which describes the response activities to be conducted and the benefits to be derived.

(c) Negation of agency relationship between the signatories, which states that no signatory of the SSC can represent or act on the behalf of any other signatory in any matter associated with the SSC.

(d) A site description, pursuant to § 35.6105(a)(2)(i).

(e) A site-specific Statement of Work, pursuant to § 35.6105(a)(2)(ii) and a statement of whether the contract constitutes an initial SSC or an amendment to an existing contract.

(f) A statement of intention to follow EPA policy and guidance.

(g) A project schedule to be prepared during response activities.

(h) A statement designating a primary contact for each party to the contract, which designates representatives to act on behalf of each signatory in the implementation of the contract. This statement must document the authority of each project manager to approve modifications to the project so long as such changes are within the scope of the contract and do not significantly impact the SSC.

(i) The CERCLA assurances, as appropriate, described as follows:

(1) Operation and maintenance. The State must provide an assurance pursuant to § 35.6105(b)(1). The State's responsibility for operation and maintenance generally begins when EPA determines that the remedy is operational and functional or one year after construction completion, whichever is sooner (See, 40 CFR 300.435(f)).

(2) Twenty-year waste capacity. The State must provide an assurance pursuant to § 35.6105(b)(3).

(3) Off-site storage, treatment, or disposal. If off-site storage, destruction, treatment, or disposal is required, the State must provide an assurance pursuant to § 35.6105(b)(4); the political subdivision may not provide this assurance.

(4) Real property acquisition. When real property must be acquired, the State must provide an assurance pursuant to § 35.6105(b)(5).

(5) Provision of State cost share. The State must provide assurances for cost sharing pursuant to § 35.6105(b)(2). Even if the political subdivision is providing the actual cost share, the State must guarantee payment of the cost share in the event of default by the political subdivision.

(j) Cost share conditions, which include:

(1) An estimate of the response action cost (excluding EPA's indirect costs) that requires cost share;

(2) The basis for arriving at this figure (See § 35.6285(c) for credit provisions); and

(3) The payment schedule as negotiated by the signatories, and consistent with either a lump-sum or incremental-payment option. Upon completion of activities in the site-specific Statement of Work, EPA shall invoice the State for its final payment, with the exception of any change orders and claims handled during reconciliation of the SSC.

(k) Reconciliation provision, which states that the SSC remains in effect until the financial settlement of project costs and final reconciliation of response costs (including all change orders, claims, overmatch of cost share, reimbursements, etc.) ensures that both EPA and the State have satisfied the cost share requirement contained in section 104 of CERCLA, as amended. The recipient may direct EPA to return the overmatch or to use the excess cost share payment at one site to meet the cost share obligation at another site in accordance with § 35.6285(d). Reimbursements for any overmatch will be made to the recipient identified in the SSC.

(l) Amendability of the SSC, which provides that:

(1) Formal amendments are required when alterations to CERCLA-funded activities are necessary or when alterations impact the State's assurances pursuant to the National Contingency Plan and CERCLA, as amended. Such amendments must include a Statement of Work for the amendment as described in paragraph (e) of this section; and

(2) Any change(s) in the SSC must be agreed to, in writing, by the signatories, except as provided elsewhere in the SSC, and must be reflected in all response agreements affected by the change(s).

(m) List of support agency Cooperative Agreements that are also in place for the site.

(n) Litigation, which describes EPA's right to bring an action against any party under section 106 of CERCLA to compel cleanup, or for cost recovery under section 107 of CERCLA.

(o) Sanctions for failure to comply with SSC terms, which states that if the signatories fail to comply with the terms of the SSC, EPA may proceed under the provisions of section 104(d)(2) of CERCLA and may seek in the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the SSC or to recover any funds advanced or any costs incurred due to a breach of the SSC. Other signatories to the SSC may seek remedies in the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction.

(p) Site access. The State or political subdivision or Indian Tribe is expected to use its own authority to secure access to the site and adjacent properties, as well as all rights-of-way and easements necessary to complete the response actions undertaken pursuant to the SSC.

(q) Final inspection of the remedy. The SSC must include a statement that following completion of the remedial action, the State and EPA shall jointly inspect the project to determine that the remedy is functioning properly and is performing as designed.

(r) Exclusion of third-party benefits, which states that the SSC is intended to benefit only the signatories of the SSC, and extends no benefit or right to any third party not a signatory to the SSC.

(s) Any other provision deemed necessary by all parties to facilitate the response activities covered by the SSC.

(t) State review. The State or Indian Tribe must review and comment on the response actions pursuant to the SSC. Unless otherwise stated in the SSC, all time frames for review must follow those prescribed in the NCP (40 CFR part 300).

(u) Responsible party activities, which states that if a Responsible Party takes over any activities at the site, the SSC will be modified or terminated, as appropriate.

(v) Out-of-State or out-of-an-Indian-Tribal-area-of-Indian-country transfers of CERCLA waste, which states that, unless otherwise provided for by EPA or a political subdivision, the State or Indian Tribe must provide the notification requirements described in § 35.6120.

In addition to the requirements specified in § 35.6805, the State and/or political subdivision must comply with the following:

(a) Financial administration. The State and/or political subdivision must comply with the following requirements regarding financial administration:

(1) Payment. The State may pay for its share of the costs of the response activities in cash or credit. As appropriate, specific credit provisions should be included in the SSC consistent with the requirements described in § 35.6285(c). The State may not pay for its cost share using in-kind services, unless the State has entered into a support agency Cooperative Agreement with EPA. The use of the support agency Cooperative Agreement as a vehicle for providing cost share must be documented in the SSC. If the political subdivision agrees to provide all or part of the State's cost share pursuant to a political subdivision-lead Cooperative Agreement, the political subdivision may pay for those costs in cash or in-kind services under that agreement. The use of a political subdivision-lead Cooperative Agreement as a vehicle for providing cost share must also be documented in the SSC. The specific payment terms must be documented in the SSC pursuant to § 35.6805.

(2) Collection of amounts due. The State and/or political subdivision must comply with the requirements described in 2 CFR 200.346 regarding collection of amounts due.

(3) Failure to comply with negotiated payment terms. Failure to comply with negotiated payment terms may be construed as default by the State on its required assurances, even if the political subdivision is responsible for providing all or part of the cost share. (See § 35.6805(i)(5).)

(b) Personal property. The State, Indian Tribe, or political subdivision is required to accept title. The following requirements apply to equipment used as all or part of the remedy:

(1) Fixed in-place equipment. EPA no longer has an interest in fixed in-place equipment once the equipment is installed.

(2) Equipment that is an integral part of services to individuals. EPA no longer has an interest in equipment that is an integral part of services to individuals, such as pipes, lines, or pumps providing hookups for homeowners on an existing water distribution system, once EPA certifies that the remedy is operational and functional.

(c) Reports. The State and/or political subdivision or Indian Tribe must comply with the following requirements regarding reports:

(1) EPA-lead. The nature and frequency of reports between EPA and the State or Indian Tribe will be specified in the SSC.

(2) Political subdivision-lead. The political subdivision must submit to the State a copy of all reports which the political subdivision is required to submit to EPA in accordance with the requirements of its Cooperative Agreement. (See § 35.6650 for requirements regarding progress reports.)

(d) Records. The State and political subdivision or Indian Tribe must maintain records on a site-specific basis. The State and political subdivision or Indian Tribe must comply with the requirements regarding record retention described in § 35.6705 and the requirements regarding record access described in § 35.6710.

(a) In order to conclude the SSC, the signatories must:

(1) Satisfactorily complete the response activities at the site and make all payments based upon project costs determined in § 35.6805(j);

(2) Produce a final accounting of all project costs, including change orders and outstanding contractor claims;

(3) Submit all State cost share payments to EPA (See § 35.6805(i)(5));

(4) Assume responsibility for all future operation and maintenance as required by CERCLA section 104(c) and addressed in 40 CFR 300.510 (c)(1) of the NCP, and if applicable, accept transfer of any Federal interest in real property (See § 35.6805(i)(4)).

(b) After the administrative conclusion of the Superfund State Contract, EPA may monitor the signatory's compliance with assurances to provide all future operation and maintenance as required by CERCLA section 104(c) and addressed in 40 CFR 300.510(c)(1) of the NCP.