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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

17.504:  Consultation Agreements

Objectives:  To fund consultative workplace safety and health services to smaller employers with the more hazardous operations.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

17.504 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Designated State agencies which have been authorized by the Governor to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with full power to perform the obligations funded therein and to expend Federal funds as well as State funds as required.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Any private employer operating within a State, with priority given to smaller employers with the more hazardous operations.

Credentials/Documentation:  State agency responsible for providing consultative services to employers must meet the minimum requirements of the consultation program set forth at 29 CFR 1908.

17.504 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  No preapplication is required. This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372.

Application Procedure:  Application instructions are distributed to the States by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to the designated State agencies through OSHA's Regional Offices. Completed applications are returned to OSHA's National Office through the Regional Offices. OMB Circular No. A-110 governs application requirements.

Award Procedure:  Final approval of funding requests is given annually by the Director of Administrative Programs.

Deadlines:  Annual schedules are established by OSHA's National Grants Office. Contact National Grant Office for deadline schedules.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Three months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Funding to States for administering their consultation program can be renewed indefinitely, provided that State consultation projects continue to meet the requirements of the program. Applications for renewals are submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's National Grants Office.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Agreements may be awarded only to a State agency, designated by the Governor of a State, which has submitted an application for funding.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Fifty (50) State agencies and public Universities operate consultation programs by providing workplace safety and health assistance to employers.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Fiscal year 1999 grants ranged from $143,000 to $4,389,000. These awards represent about 90 percent of total program costs.

17.504 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 17.502 Occupational Safety and Health: Susan Harwood Training Grants;
• 17.503 Occupational Safety and Health: State Program;
• 17.600 Mine Health and Safety Grants;
• 17.601 Mine Health and Safety Counseling and Technical Assistance;
• 17.602 Mine Health and Safety Education and Training;
• 93.262 Occupational Safety and Health Research Grants;
• 93.263 Occupational Safety and Health: Training Grants.

17.504 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999 State consultations visits totaled 23,241, fiscal year 2000 estimate is 27,500, and fiscal year 2001 estimate is 30,700 State consultation visits.

17.504 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Type of Assistance:  Cooperative Agreements.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $40,872,000 (recission); FY 00 est $42,854,000; and FY 01 est $47,903,000.

Budget Account Number:  16-0500-0-1-554.

Authorization:  Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 21(d) Public Law 91-596, 29 U.S.C. 60(c).

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  29 CFR PART 1908, and OMB Circular No. A-102 and A-110.

17.504 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  See Appendix IV of the Catalog for regional offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Headquarters Office:  Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210. Contact: Patricia Irving. Phone: (202) 639-2426.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

17.504 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Matching is required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Consultation Cooperative Agreements are aspects of a continuing program. Grantees receive funds through the Department of Health and Human Services' Payment Management System.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Cooperative Agreements to States to provide occupational safety and health consultative services to provide employers.

17.504 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Program and fiscal reports are required quarterly.

Audits:  Audits are required at least once every two years in accordance with 29 CFR 96, "Audit Requirements for Grants, Contracts and Agreements."

Records:  Records must be retained for three years following grant closeout or final audit, whichever is later.