400-1 Equal Opportunity Agreement

Form RD 400-1
(Rev. 5-00)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FORM APPROVED
OMB No. 0575-0018

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT
This agreement, dated

between

(herein called ''Recipient'' whether one or more) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Secretary of Labor (herein called the 'Secretary') issued under the authority of Executive Order 11246 as amended,
witnesseth:
In consideration of financial assistance (whether by a loan, grant, loan guaranty, or other form of financial assistance) made or to be
made by the USDA to Recipient, Recipient hereby agrees, if the cash cost of construction work performed by Recipient or a construction
contract financed with such financial assistance exceeds $10,000 - unless exempted by rules, regulations or orders of the Secretary of
Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965.
1. To incorporate or cause to be incorporated into any contract for construction work, or modification thereof, subject to the relevant
rules, regulations, and orders of the Secretary or of any prior authority that remain in effect, which is paid for in whole or in part with the
aid of such financial assistance, the following "Equal Opportunity Clause":
During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees as follows:
(a) The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex or
national origin. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are
treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Such action shall include, but
not be limited, to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff
or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor
agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the
USDA setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.
(b) The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that all
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
(c) The contractor will send to each labor union or representative of workers with which he has a collective bargaining agreement
or other contract or understanding, a notice, to be provided by the USDA, advising the said labor union or workers'
representative of the contractor's commitments under this agreement and shall post copies of the notice in conspicuous places
available to employees and applicants for employment.
(d) The contractor will comply with all provisions of Executive Order 11246 of September 24,1965, and of all rules, regulations
and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.
(e) The contractor will furnish all information and reports required by Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, rules,
regulations, and orders, or pursuant thereto, and will permit access to his books, records, and accounts by the USDA Civil
Rights Office, and the Secretary of Labor for purposes of investigation to ascertain compliance with such rules,
regulations, and orders.
(f) In the event of the contractor's noncompliance with the nondiscrimination clauses of this contract or with any of the said rules,
regulations, or orders, this contract may be cancelled, terminated, or suspended in whole or in part and the contractor may be
declared ineligible for further Government contracts or federally assisted construction contracts in accordance with procedures
authorized in Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, and such other sanctions may be imposed and remedies
invoked as provided in Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, or by rule, regulation or order of the Secretary of
Labor, or as otherwise provided by Law.
(g) The contractor will include the provisions of paragraph 1 and paragraph (a) through (g) in every subcontract or purchase order,
unless exempted by the rules, regulations, or orders of the Secretary of Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of Executive Order
No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, so that such provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor. The
contractor will take such action with respect to any subcontract or purchase order as the USDA may direct as a means of
enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance: Provided, however, that in the event the contractor becomes
involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the USDA, the
contractor may request the United States to enter into such litigation to protect the interest of the United States.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collections is 0575-0018. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 10 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Position 6

RD 400-1 (Rev. 5-00)

2. To be bound by the above equal opportunity clause with respect to its own employment practices when it participates in federally
assisted construction work: Provided, that if the organization so participating is a State or local government, the above equal opportunity
clause is not applicable to any agency, instrumentality or subdivision of such government which does not participate in work on or under
the contract.
3. To notify all prospective contractors to file the required 'Compliance Statement', Form RD 400-6, with their bids.
4. Form AD-425, Instructions to Contractors, will accompany the notice of award of the contract. Bid conditions for all nonexempt
federal and federally assisted construction contracts require inclusion of the appropriate ''Hometown'' or ''Imposed'' plan affirmative
action and equal employment opportunity requirements. All bidders must comply with the bid conditions contained in the invitation to
be considered responsible bidders and hence eligible for the award.
5. To assist and cooperate actively with USDA and the Secretary in obtaining the compliance of contractors and subcontractors with the
equal opportunity clause and rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary, that will furnish USDA and the Secretary such
information such as , but not limited to, Form AD-560, Certification of Nonsegregated Facilities, to submit the Monthly Employment
Utilization Report, Form CC-257, as they may require for the supervision of such compliance, and that it will otherwise assist USDA in
the discharge of USDA's primary responsibility for securing compliance.
6. To refrain from entering into any contract or contract modification subject to such Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965,
with a contractor debarred from, or who has not demonstrated eligibility for, Government contracts and Federally assisted construction
contracts pursuant to the Executive Order and will carry out such sanctions and penalties for violation of the equal opportunity clause as
may be imposed upon contractors and subcontractors by USDA or the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Part II, Subpart D, of the
Executive Order.
7. That if the recipient fails or refuses to comply with these undertakings, the USDA may take any or all of the following actions:
Cancel, terminate, or suspend in whole or in part this grant (contract, loan, insurance, guarantee); refrain from extending any further
assistance to the organization under the program with respect to which the failure or refund occurred until satisfactory assurance of
future compliance has been received from such organization; and refer the case to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal
proceedings.
Signed by the Recipient on the date first written above.
Recipient
(CORPORATE SEAL)

Recipient

Name of Corporate Recipient

Attest:
Secretary

By

President