By Samantha Bowley, RCAC rural development specialist financial management
Rural Development Administrative Notice (AN) No. 4882 (1940-M) issued on July 27, 2021, clarifies the System for Award Management (SAM) screening and addresses the new requirement for SAM.gov registration by participants of all programs, including loans and guarantees. The AN also clarifies the requirement of screening for suspension and debarment of participants of individual and entity loans (insured and guaranteed), grants, and cooperative agreements in connection with any program administered by Rural Development.
The new AN is effective for all applications, for federal grant funds received on or after Oct. 1, 2021.
Rural Development will validate SAM registration of the prime recipients (that’s you, grantee!), other than those exempted (only those participating as natural persons are exempt).
Here’s What to Do
Per 2 CFR § 25.200(b):
(1) Be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan sam.gov.
(2) Maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which it has an active federal award (loan, grant, guarantee, subsidies, etc.) or an application or plan under consideration.
(3) Provide your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in each application or plan.
FYI: The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) is to be replaced by the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number for SAM. GSA and Dun and Bradstreet are working together to ensure continuity of services during the transition to UEI, also known as the SAM Number.
The DUNS will remain the official SAM number until April 2022. New registrants must continue to obtain a DUNS until April 2022.
Prime Recipient Responsibilities
Per 2 CFR §25.200(b)(2) referenced above, prime recipients are required to maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which it has an active loan, grant, or guarantee.
Bottom Line
Ensure your registration is complete within SAM as a grantee receiving federal funds, and review at every grant cycle for updates and/or accuracy.
A link to the full AN is included below:
Good to Know!
- PN = Procedure Notice – Includes a summary of changes to Rural Development Instructions and Rural Development Forms (cover sheet only).
- AN = Administrative Notice – Temporary changes to a particular Rural Development Instruction (one year life cycle unless otherwise indicated).
- UL = Unnumbered Letters – General Correspondence, should not contain policy changes (one year life cycle unless otherwise indicated) (retention at National Office is two years).
- ULs are NOT related to particular instructions, they are standalone memorandums
