NIFA Application Kit

OMB Number: 0524-0039

Expiration Date: XX/XX/202X

Representation Regarding Prohibition on

Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements

By submission of its proposal or application, the applicant represents that it does not require any of its employees, contractors, or subrecipients seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting those employees, contractors, or subrecipients from lawfully reporting that waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. Note that: (1) the basis for this representation is a prohibition in sections 743 and 744 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Pub. L. 114113 (Division E, Title VII, General Provisions Government-wide) and any successor provisions of law on making funds available through grants and cooperative agreements to entities with certain internal confidentiality agreements or statements; and (2) section 744 states that it does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, Form 4414, or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information.

Signature of Authorized Representative and Date of Signature

Print Name of Authorized Representative

Public reporting for collection of information is estimated to average XX minutes, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a current valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to NIFA, OGFM, 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10,000, Kansas City, MO 64131, Attention Policy Section. Do not return the completed form to this address. National Institute of Food and Agriculture US Department of Agriculture OMB No. 0524-0039 Form Approved For Use Through XX/XX/XXXX