Note: This chart summarizes new or revised policy/procedures or other changes, as applicable.

Disclaimer: Archived entries may have been recently changed or removed. Please check the current ADS chapters and references, as well as recent interim updates for the latest information.

This new ADS chapter defines USAID policy and responsibilities related to breastfeeding, provides references to updated guidance on best breastfeeding practices and breastfeeding program support approaches for USAID strategic objective areas, and addresses breastfeeding programming as related to mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease.

USAID promotes optimal breastfeeding. In general practice, no USAID funds will be used to purchase or transport breastmilk substitutes or related materials. If an exception is necessary to increase child survival, the policy provides guidance.

The United States is a party to two international agreements concerning the use of tied and untied aid.

The first agreement is the OECD's Development Assistance Committee's "Recommendation to Untie Aid to the Least Developed Countries." The United States, represented by USAID, joined a consensus with Members of the DAC in May 2001 to untie specified categories of aid. The Recommendation became effective on January 1, 2002. ADS Chapter 221 specifies the procurement and grant actions that are covered and excluded from the Recommendation. It also contains data collection and reporting procedures on covered procurement and grant actions.

The second agreement is the OECD's "Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits" also known as the Helsinki Agreement. Although the U.S. has been a participant in the Arrangement since its inception, USAID has not actively provided the "required" information on capital projects. The Treasury Department, which has primary responsibility for U.S. adherence to the Arrangement, requested that USAID comply immediately (or as soon as it can get internal procedures in place). ADS Chapter 221, therefore, contains rules on mixed credit activities and tied aid reporting requirements covered by the Arrangement.

This new chapter includes: country groupings covered under each agreement; procurement and grant actions covered by each agreement; numerical thresholds that apply to the covered procurement and grant actions; exclusions from coverage; consultation procedures for "capital projects" financed with a combination of grants, loans, guarantees, and private sector funds; reporting requirements to international organizations; and responsibilities of USAID/W and the Missions.

• The discussion of "policy and procedures" has changed to "policy directives and required procedures."
• We added information about ADS CD author submission deadlines and how to obtain ADS CDs.
• Folks now have one year (versus 180 days) to incorporate or sunset an Interim Update.

Clearance Process

• We included new information on a Global Address List for ADS clearing officials.
• M/AS/IRD now requests that authors send completed drafts to them before sending material out for clearance.
• We now require that clearance request e-mails must include detailed descriptions of additions and deletions.
• We have eliminated the AID Form 3-69, added information on the Global Address List for clearing officials, and now require authors to describe new and revised policy in the clearance e-mail.
• We added a requirement for clearing officials to have back-ups while out of the office.
• Authors may proceed without further administrative delay if a clearing official does not respond within 10 business days.

Format and Style

• We clarified asterisk usage.
• We’ve included new hyperlinking standards.
• The next time an ADS chapter is updated it must be converted to the new format and written in plain language.
• We added info on EO 12866 (simple, easy-to–understand).
• We added a requirement that each chapter include an authority.

We also added several sections:

• Section 508 Format Requirements
• Forms
• ADS Glossary and Ownership of Definitions
• Effective Dates and Origination Dates
• We expanded on the description of the definitions section. Additionally, several definitions were added and have been modified.

Two sample letters that CTOs can use to request additional information or suspend payment amounts were added as Additional Help references.

• 630.3.4.19 details the new policy of liquidating the oldest fund cite in obligating documents funded by multiple fund cites.
• 630.3.3.5 outlines the new policy of not requiring administrative approval on periodic advance vouchers to correspond with the existing policy of not requiring such approval when the advances are given though a Letter of Credit.

Material on the USAID Entertainment Account was either deleted or relocated to section 630.3.11. The new ADS 610 on Use of the Entertainment Account is referenced.

630.3.4.3 clarifies that electronic invoices are allowed as original payment documents so long as adequate safeguards and controls ensure the integrity of data and prevent duplicate payments.

Please note section numbers were reorganized. If you have questions about this chapter, please call Phil Amos, pamos@usaid.gov.

Questions about this web page or the ADS? Please contact us by using our Questions/Comments form page or send an e-mail to ads@usaid.gov.

To view PDF files, download the accessible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

This document was last updated on Thursday, 20-Mar-2003 09:51:26 EST