NR 193.16(2)(2) Exceptions. In those cases where the department approves planning or design costs needed for project work that requires a permit, the department understands that the professional services agreement will not be in place before contracted work begins. Likewise, for an Early Detection and Response project under the Aquatic Invasive Species grant program, the department may authorize project work to begin before a professional services agreement is in place.

NR 193.16 HistoryHistory: CR 19-078: cr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (1) (a), (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773.

NR 193.17(1)(1) A grantee shall ensure that its staff, contractors, volunteers, and service providers conducting activities funded with a grant awarded under this chapter complete minimum training requirements or demonstrate sufficient proficiency for grant-funded activities, when established by the department, prior to the start of the project. A grantee may contact department staff for information on training requirements or alternate proficiency standards and any department-sponsored training opportunities.

NR 193.17(2)(2) A grantee shall ensure that all analyses conducted as part of a project funded with a grant awarded under this chapter are performed by the Wisconsin state laboratory of hygiene or a laboratory approved in writing by the department.

NR 193.17(3)(3) A grantee shall implement department-approved quality assurance and quality control plans during the project period. If such protocols do not exist, a grantee collecting physical, biological, or chemical data may be required to submit a quality assurance and quality control plan to the department for approval prior to beginning a project funded with a grant awarded under this chapter. Quality assurance and quality control plans shall include details on the data and information to be collected, data quality standards for precision, accuracy, completeness and validation, and a plan for data management. The department may require program-approved monitoring protocols or maintenance activities necessary to track project progress or outcomes.

NR 193.17(4)(4) A grantee shall submit to the department all data and other information acquired as part of a project funded with a grant awarded under this chapter in a format and frequency specified by the department in the grant agreement.

NR 193.17(5)(5) A grantee shall employ program-approved protocols to accomplish project activities. If protocols are not available for proposed activities, an applicant may be required to submit a plan for department approval prior to beginning a project funded with a grant awarded under this chapter.

NR 193.17 NoteNote: Program-approved protocols include aquatic plant baseline monitoring, aquatic plant pre/post treatment monitoring, wetland plant community assessment and wetland pre/post treatment monitoring, water clarity and chemistry monitoring, aquatic invasive species early detection, prevention, and monitoring, lake classification and assessment, macroinvertebrate community monitoring, water quality monitoring, and social science.

NR 193.18NR 193.18 Grant payments. The department may make payments to the grantee, including advance payments, escrow payments and reimbursements, in the following manner:

NR 193.18(1)(1) Grants awarded under this chapter are generally administered on a reimbursement basis. A grantee shall incur and pay all costs and invoiced work completed before requesting a partial or final payment from the department. A grantee shall submit to the department a request for reimbursement on forms designated by the department at a frequency determined by the department and specified in the grant agreement.

NR 193.18(2)(2) The department may distribute one grant advance, with a maximum amount determined per subprogram using the percentage identified in Table 1 under s. NR 193.05. The grantee may request a grant advance at the same time the grantee returns a signed grant agreement to the department.

NR 193.18(3)(3) The department may only reimburse for eligible project costs incurred during the grant period, except when otherwise approved by the department in writing. For management grants, land acquisition grants notwithstanding, a grantee may request one partial payment per year. The total of all partial payments issued by the department may not exceed 90% of the total grant award. Education and Planning grants are not eligible for partial payments. Table 2 under sub. (5) summarizes partial payments by grant program. A request for partial payment shall be submitted along with a progress report detailing activities that have taken place during the time period for which the grantee is seeking reimbursement and is subject to approval by the department.

NR 193.18(4)(4) A request for final payment shall be submitted no later than 6 months after the end of the grant period. Final payment requests shall be accompanied by a final report detailing activities that have taken place during the entire project period and documentation for the costs being claimed. The final payment may not be issued by the department until final costs have been reviewed, final reports have been approved, required audits have been completed successfully, and the department has made a determination that the grant agreement has been satisfactorily fulfilled.

NR 193.18(5)(5) All project costs are subject to a post-audit process that may take place after partial and final payments are issued by the department. If a determination is made that payments were made in error, the grantee may be required to make a repayment to the department.

NR 193.18 HistoryHistory: CR 19-078: cr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (2) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773.

NR 193.19(1)(1) Progress reports shall accompany a grantee’s request for partial payment. A grantee shall submit a progress report detailing project activities and accomplishments that have taken place during the reporting period at the same time a grantee requests partial payment. The department may also request a progress report from the grantee at any time, up to 4 times per year. A grantee shall submit such a report within 30 days of receiving the request.

NR 193.19(2)(2) A final report shall accompany a grantee’s request for final payment and shall comply with all of the following:

NR 193.19(2)(a)(a) A final report shall detail the activities that occurred during the entire grant period with a written account of project actions, accomplishments, and any obstacles encountered.

NR 193.19(2)(b)(b) A final report shall include all data collected, all grant deliverables specified in the grant agreement, and any educational products or formal summaries of findings produced.

NR 193.19(2)(c)(c) A final report shall follow content or format guidelines specified by the department and shall be in an electronic format and suitable for distribution to and use by the public. The department may use the final reports, images and data for reporting, promotional, assessment or other purposes.

NR 193.20NR 193.20 Variances. The department may approve, in writing, a variance from a requirement of this chapter upon the written request of a grantee, if the department determines that a variance is essential to effect necessary grant actions or program objectives, and where special circumstances indicate a variance is in the best interest of the program. Before approving a variance, the department shall consider factors such as good cause and circumstances beyond the control of the grantee. The department may not approve variances from statutory requirements, or from appraisal, environmental inspection, or audit requirements.