(a) Subject to Federal statutes and regulations, a grantee shall use its general policies and practices when it hires, uses, and pays a consultant as part of the project staff.

(b) The grantee may not use its grant to pay a consultant unless:

(1) There is a need in the project for the services of that consultant; and

(2) The grantee cannot meet that need by using an employee rather than a consultant.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474)