Mastering Rural Development Standard Form 270 to draw 523 funds

Monday, Mar 29, 2021

By Anne Baker, RCAC rural development specialist

The SF-270 form is frequently used in the Mutual Self-Help program and can be one of the most confusing forms. It is required for all 523 draw requests and provides Rural Development with basic grantee information and financial information for the reporting period of their draw request. Because the form is used for several federal grants not all fields are required for the self-help program, which causes some of the confusion.

Below is a sample of a completed SF-270 for a self-help grantee and a breakdown of each lines’ definition.

Page 1 – Grantee information for sections 1-10 (Click here to view a screenshot of Page 1, SF 270-Request for Advance or Reimbursement-Generic Sample)

Page 2 – Financial Information for sections 11-13

Section 11.

  • Column a. – Enter USDA Section 523 Self Help (Columns B and C are not used for the self-help program).
  • Row a. Total program outlays to date – Date will be the ending date of the period that you have incurred expenses (outlays). The dollar amount is the total expenses incurred through the ending date (this includes the draw amount you are asking for but does not include Advances).
  • Row b. Less: Cumulative Program Income – N/A for self-help
  • Row c. Net Program Outlays – This will auto fill with the total of line a minus line b.
  • Row d. Estimated net cash outlays for advance period – Total amount requesting for advancement if an advancement is included.
  • Row e. Total – Auto filled with the Sum of lines C and D.
  • Row f. Non-federal share of amount on line e – Used to show any non-federal grantee funds that were used in addition to the 523 grant to complete the grant requirements.  Generally, this is only used on the grantee’s final draw of funds and other draws will be $0 in this field.
  • Row g. Federal share of amount on line e – Total shown in line e.
  • Row h. Federal payments previously requested – Total of either line a (if no advancement) or line e (if asking for an advance) minus the draw request.
  • Row i. Federal share now requested – Auto filled with amount of full draw request.
  • Row j. Advances required by month, when requested by federal grantor agency for use in making prescheduled advances – N/A for self-help.

Section 12

  • N/A for self-help.

Section 13

  • Signature, name, title, and contact number of authorized certifying official from the organization.

(Click here to view a screenshot of Page 2, SF 270-Request for Advance or Reimbursement-Generic Sample)

Reminders/Comments:

  • Per the 1944-I grantees should be requesting draws monthly.
  • Each state Rural Development office may require additional documents to be turned in with the request. These documents can be different by state.
  • Always use the newest form. They can be found at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html
  • Keep this example handy for reference.
  • Call your Rural Development technical assistance provider if you have questions about this form.