United States Department of Agriculture
Research, Education and Economics
ARS * CSREES * ERS * NASS
Bulletin
Title: | Facilities Construction Authorities |
Number: | 03-250 |
Date: | June 19, 2003 |
Originating Office: | ARS-AFM-Facilities Division |
Distribution: | ARS Area Directors, Area Administrative Officers, Area Budget and Fiscal Officers |
Expires: | June 19, 2004 |
This bulletin clarifies the definition of an
USB authority, and provides instructions on obtaining approval from Headquarters on the
use of construction authorities for new small buildings or alterations to existing
facilities. |
A. Introduction
Effective fiscal year (FY) 2003, Area offices must obtain approval from Headquarters to
use construction authorities for new small buildings or alterations to existing facilities
expected to exceed $25,000.
B. Authorities
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Salaries and Expenses (S&E) appropriation
language contains a number of authorities either limiting the number of buildings, or the
amount of program funds that can be spent on them. Funding for major planning, design,
modernization, and construction of ARS facilities is provided under the Building and
Facilities Appropriation Act.
The provisions addressing buildings and expenditures in the S&E Act have been historically maintained to limit funding for brick and mortar activities within the annual research program account. In recent years both the Agriculture Committees and the Subcommittees for Agriculture Appropriations have expressed interest and concern regarding the funding ARS commits under these various authorities. Currently this information is not coordinated or consolidated at the Agency level. In this regard, ARS is requesting that any plans involving these authorities be submitted to Headquarters to ensure they are applied consistently throughout the Agency; and that Agency wide commitments for such funding are identified for review and approval by the Administrator's Office.
The ARS annual appropriation provides the authority to construct small buildings or alter facilities using Agency program funds as follows:
Detailed descriptions of the authorities are outlined in Policies and Procedures 242-2,
Facilities Construction Authorities.
In an effort to ensure authorities are consistently applied throughout the Agency and
to provide an accurate accounting of funds spent, approval from Headquarters will be
required to use any building authority in excess of $25,000 listed above.
C. Procedures
Effective FY 2003, the following procedures will apply:
A sample format is enclosed for your use in submitting a request.
The Financial Management Division will develop a standard report that can be generated from the Foundation Financial Information System Financial Data Warehouse by Construction Authority; i.e., by Program Type, and Program Class, if applicable. FD will generate these reports periodically to monitor the fund status of each project including the budgeted amount, obligations/expenditures to date, and balance.
Should you have any questions, please contact Patrick Barry, Director, FD, on
301-504-1151.
Patrick G. Barry
Director
Facilities Division
SUBJECT: Request Approval for (Type) Building Authority
TO: FD Director
FROM: Area Office
Program Need and Justification:
Project Description and Scope:
Funding Source and Proposed Implementation Schedule:
Accounting Code (and Program Class, if applicable):
Estimated Design and Construction Cost:
Replacement Cost (for Ten Percent Alteration Authority Requests):
Realty Interest:
Point of Contact: