NCD Agency Shutdown Plan in Absence of Appropriations

UPDATE: October 1, 2013 – Because of the absence of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 appropriation, National Council on Disability is compelled to “shut-down” its operations.  All National Council on Disability employees have been placed in a furlough status.  
 
We will return to work once a continuing resolution or an FY 2014 appropriation has been signed into law.

Agency Shutdown Plan
September 26, 2013

1. PURPOSE:  To provide the National Council on Disability’s (“NCD”) policy guidance and instructions for actions to be taken when Congress fails to enact either regular appropriations, a continuing resolution, or needed supplemental, resulting in an interruption of fund availability. In the absence of appropriations:

• NCD officers may not incur any obligations that cannot lawfully be funded from prior appropriations unless such obligations are otherwise authorized by law.
• NCD officers may incur obligations as necessary for orderly termination of an agency’s functions, but funds may not be disbursed.

2. SCOPE: This plan applies to all NCD personnel including the fifteen Special Government Employees (private citizen Presidential appointees.)

3. POLICY: In order to execute an orderly shutdown, the following information is provided:

• Estimated time to complete shutdown: One half-day;
• Number of on-board employees prior to execution: 9;
• Number of employees retained under plan: 0;
• Executive Director will notify OMB that shutdown procedures have initiated;
• Director of Administration will notify building management of shutdown status;
• Director of Administration will notify all agency personnel of shutdown status and will initiate action to issue furlough notices and other instructions as appropriate;
• Director of Administration will direct Contracting Officer’s Representatives to notify agency contractors of shutdown status and other instructions as appropriate;
• Director of Administration will direct Network Consultant to ensure servers and other IT equipment are secured; and
• Agency personnel will be instructed to obtain information from news outlets for when a continuing resolution or an FY 2014 appropriation has been approved and that they will be expected to return to work on their next regularly scheduled work day.

4. REFERENCES:

• OMB Circular No. A-ll (2010), Section 124.2, pages 1-2
• OMB Memo M-13-22, Planning for Agency Operations during a Potential Lapse in

Appropriations (and attachments), September 17, 2013.

5. REVIEW: This Agency Shutdown Plan has been prepared and reviewed by the undersigned. It complies with guidance provided in the reference documents.

 

_________/S/_________________________           

Approved                                                                   

Rebecca Cokley
Executive Director
National Council on Disability