Appendix B to Part 701 - Partner Vetting Pre-Award Requirements and Award Term
2:1.2.4.2.2.0.52.4.21 : Appendix B
Appendix B to Part 701 - Partner Vetting Pre-Award Requirements and
Award Term Partner Vetting Pre-Award Requirements
(a) USAID has determined that any award resulting from this
assistance solicitation is subject to vetting. An applicant that
has not passed vetting is ineligible for award.
(b) The following are the vetting procedures for this
solicitation:
(1) Prospective applicants review the attached USAID Partner
Information Form, USAID Form 500-13, and submit any questions about
the USAID Partner Information Form or these procedures to the
agreement officer by the deadline in the solicitation.
(2) The agreement officer notifies the applicant when to submit
the USAID Partner Information Form. For this solicitation, USAID
will vet [insert in the provision the applicable stage of the
selection process at which the Agreement Officer will notify the
applicant(s) who must be vetted]. Within the timeframe set by the
agreement officer in the notification, the applicant must complete
and submit the USAID Partner Information Form to the vetting
official. The designated vetting official is:
Vetting official: Address: Email: (for inquiries only).
(3) The applicants must notify proposed subrecipients and
contractors of this requirement when the subrecipients or
contractors are subject to vetting.
Note:
Applicants who submit using non-secure methods of transmission
do so at their own risk.
(c) Selection proceeds separately from vetting. Vetting is
conducted independently from any discussions the agreement officer
may have with an applicant. The applicant and any proposed
subrecipient or contractor subject to vetting must not provide
vetting information to anyone other than the vetting official. The
applicant and any proposed subrecipient or contractor subject to
vetting will communicate only with the vetting official regarding
their vetting submission(s) and not with any other USAID or USG
personnel, including the agreement officer or the agreement
officer's representatives. The agreement officer designates the
vetting official as the only individual authorized to clarify the
applicant's and proposed subrecipient's and contractor's vetting
information.
(d)(1) The vetting official notifies the applicant that it: (i)
Is eligible based on the vetting results, (ii) is ineligible based
on the vetting results, or (iii) must provide additional
information, and resubmit the USAID Partner Information Form with
the additional information within the number of days the vetting
official specified in the notification.
(2) The vetting official will coordinate with the agency that
provided the data being used for vetting prior to notifying the
applicant or releasing any information. In any determination for
release of information, the classification and sensitivity of the
information, the need to protect sources and methods, and the
status of ongoing law enforcement and intelligence community
investigations or operations will be taken into consideration.
(e) Reconsideration: (1) Within 7 calendar days after the date
of the vetting official's notification, an applicant that vetting
has determined to be ineligible may request in writing to the
vetting official that the Agency reconsider the vetting
determination. The request should include any written explanation,
legal documentation and any other relevant written material for
reconsideration.
(2) Within 7 calendar days after the vetting official receives
the request for reconsideration, the Agency will determine whether
the applicant's additional information merits a revised
decision.
(3) The Agency's determination of whether reconsideration is
warranted is final.
(f) Revisions to vetting information: (1) Applicants who change
key individuals, whether the applicant has previously been
determined eligible or not, must submit a revised USAID Partner
Information Form to the vetting official. This includes changes to
key personnel resulting from revisions to the technical portion of
the application.
(2) The vetting official will follow the vetting process of this
provision for any revision of the applicant's Form.
(g) Award. At the time of award, the agreement officer will
confirm with the vetting official that the apparently successful
applicant is eligible after vetting. The agreement officer may
award only to an apparently successful applicant that is eligible
after vetting.
Partner Vetting
(a) The recipient must comply with the vetting requirements for
key individuals under this award.
(b) Definitions: As used in this provision, “key individual,”
“key personnel,” and “vetting official” have the meaning contained
in 22 CFR 701.1.
(c) The Recipient must submit within 15 days a USAID Partner
Information Form, USAID Form 500-13, to the vetting official
identified below when the Recipient replaces key individuals with
individuals who have not been previously vetted for this award.
Note: USAID will not approve any key personnel who are not eligible
for approval after vetting. The designated vetting official is:
Vetting official: Address: Email: (for inquiries only).
(d)(1) The vetting official will notify the Recipient that it
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(i) Is eligible based on the vetting results,
(ii) Is ineligible based on the vetting results, or
(iii) Must provide additional information, and resubmit the
USAID Partner Information Form with the additional information
within the number of days the vetting official specifies.
(2) The vetting official will include information that USAID
determines releasable. USAID will determine what information may be
released consistent with applicable law and Executive Orders, and
with the concurrence of relevant agencies.
(e) The inability to be deemed eligible as described in this
award term may be determined to be a material failure to comply
with the terms and conditions of the award and may subject the
recipient to suspension or termination as specified in the subpart
“Remedies for Noncompliance” at 2 CFR part 200.
(f) Reconsideration: (1) Within 7 calendar days after the date
of the vetting official's notification, the recipient or
prospective subrecipient or contractor that has not passed vetting
may request in writing to the vetting official that the Agency
reconsider the vetting determination. The request should include
any written explanation, legal documentation and any other relevant
written material for reconsideration.
(2) Within 7 calendar days after the vetting official receives
the request for reconsideration, the Agency will determine whether
the recipient's additional information merits a revised
decision.
(3) The Agency's determination of whether reconsideration is
warranted is final.
(g) A notification that the Recipient has passed vetting does
not constitute any other approval under this award.
Alternate I. When subrecipients will be subject to vetting, add
the following paragraphs to the basic award term:
(h) When the prime recipient anticipates that it will require
prior approval for a subaward in accordance with 2 CFR
200.308(c)(6) the subaward is subject to vetting. The prospective
subrecipient must submit a USAID Partner Information Form, USAID
Form 500-13, to the vetting official identified in paragraph (c) of
this provision. The agreement officer must not approve a subaward
to any organization that has not passed vetting when required.
(i) The recipient agrees to incorporate the substance of
paragraphs (a) through (i) of this award term in all first tier
subawards under this award.
Alternate II. When specific classes of services are subject to
vetting, add the following paragraph:
(j) Prospective contractors at any tier providing the following
classes of services
must pass vetting. Recipients must not procure these services until
they receive confirmation from the vetting official that the
prospective contractor has passed vetting. (End of award term)