400-1 Equal Opportunity Agreement

Form RD 400-1

_{(Rev. 5-00)} UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT

FORM APPROVED OMB No. 0575-0137

This agreement, dated between

(herein called ''Recipient'' whether one or more) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Secretary of Labor (herein called the 'Secretary') issued under the authority of Executive Order 11246 as amended, witnesseth:

In consideration of financial assistance (whether by a loan, grant, loan guaranty, or other form of financial assistance) made or to be made by the USDA to Recipient, Recipient hereby agrees, if the cash cost of construction work performed by Recipient or a construction contract financed with such financial assistance exceeds $10,000 - unless exempted by rules, regulations or orders of the Secretary of Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965.

1. To incorporate or cause to be incorporated into any contract for construction work, or modification thereof, subject to the relevant rules, regulations, and orders of the Secretary or of any prior authority that remain in effect, which is paid for in whole or in part with the aid of such financial assistance, the following "Equal Opportunity Clause":

During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees as follows:

1. The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited, to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff

or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the USDA setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.

2. The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

3. The contractor will send to each labor union or representative of workers with which he has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice, to be provided by the USDA, advising the said labor union or workers' representative of the contractor's commitments under this agreement and shall post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment.

4. The contractor will comply with all provisions of Executive Order 11246 of September 24,1965, and of all rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

5. The contractor will furnish all information and reports required by Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, rules, regulations, and orders, or pursuant thereto, and will permit access to his books, records, and accounts by the USDA Civil Rights Office, and the Secretary of Labor for purposes of investigation to ascertain compliance with such rules, regulations, and orders.

6. In the event of the contractor's noncompliance with the nondiscrimination clauses of this contract or with any of the said rules, regulations, or orders, this contract may be cancelled, terminated, or suspended in whole or in part and the contractor may be declared ineligible for further Government contracts or federally assisted construction contracts in accordance with procedures authorized in Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, and such other sanctions may be imposed and remedies invoked as provided in Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, or by rule, regulation or order of the Secretary of Labor, or as otherwise provided by Law.

7. The contractor will include the provisions of paragraph 1 and paragraph (a) through (g) in every subcontract or purchase order, unless exempted by the rules, regulations, or orders of the Secretary of Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, so that such provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor. The

contractor will take such action with respect to any subcontract or purchase order as the USDA may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance: Provided, however, that in the event the contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the USDA, the contractor may request the United States to enter into such litigation to protect the interest of the United States.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collections is 0575-0137. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Position 6

RD 400-1 (Rev. 5-00)

2. To be bound by the above equal opportunity clause with respect to its own employment practices when it participates in federally assisted construction work: Provided, that if the organization so participating is a State or local government, the above equal opportunity clause is not applicable to any agency, instrumentality or subdivision of such government which does not participate in work on or under the contract.

3. To notify all prospective contractors to file the required 'Compliance Statement', Form RD 400-6, with their bids.

4. Form AD-425, Instructions to Contractors, will accompany the notice of award of the contract. Bid conditions for all nonexempt federal and federally assisted construction contracts require inclusion of the appropriate ''Hometown'' or ''Imposed'' plan affirmative action and equal employment opportunity requirements. All bidders must comply with the bid conditions contained in the invitation to be considered responsible bidders and hence eligible for the award.

5. To assist and cooperate actively with USDA and the Secretary in obtaining the compliance of contractors and subcontractors with the equal opportunity clause and rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary, that will furnish USDA and the Secretary such information such as , but not limited to, Form AD-560, Certification of Nonsegregated Facilities, to submit the Monthly Employment Utilization Report, Form CC-257, as they may require for the supervision of such compliance, and that it will otherwise assist USDA in the discharge of USDA's primary responsibility for securing compliance.

6. To refrain from entering into any contract or contract modification subject to such Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, with a contractor debarred from, or who has not demonstrated eligibility for, Government contracts and Federally assisted construction contracts pursuant to the Executive Order and will carry out such sanctions and penalties for violation of the equal opportunity clause as may be imposed upon contractors and subcontractors by USDA or the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Part II, Subpart D, of the Executive Order.

7. That if the recipient fails or refuses to comply with these undertakings, the USDA may take any or all of the following actions: Cancel, terminate, or suspend in whole or in part this grant (contract, loan, insurance, guarantee); refrain from extending any further assistance to the organization under the program with respect to which the failure or refund occurred until satisfactory assurance of future compliance has been received from such organization; and refer the case to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal proceedings.

Signed by the Recipient on the date first written above.

Recipient Recipient

(CORPORATE SEAL)

Name of Corporate Recipient

Attest:

Secretary

By

President