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5.4 Grants 5.4.1 PROVIDER GRANTS As funding permits, grants may be offered to providers. Providers who receive a grant are required to comply with the grant agreement and comply with all terms and conditions of the grant. If the provider does not comply by staying in the program for the required amount of time or does not purchase the approved items in the grant, recoupment of grant funds will be initiated for all or part of the grant as applicable. This will be done, when possible, by withholding the provider’s last payment. Recoupment of grants is not appealable. Therefore, providers should evaluate their personal situations before committing to the requirements of the grant. If a previous recoupment has been initiated against the provider perhaps because of an audit, overpayment, or if the provider owes money to the Government due to an IRS lien, and funds are being recouped from the provider through their payments, then the provider will not be eligible for any grants offered at that time due to the fact that Child Care Scholarship will automatically take the grant money in payment towards the recoupment or lien. If at the time a grant is offered and the provider is under a repayment for an IRS Lien, the provider should not enter into the grant as the IRS will intercept this money for repayment.

5.4.2 NON-COMPLIANCE WITH GRANT TERMS If the provider does not comply by staying in the Child Care Scholarship Program for the required amount of time, if applicable, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or does not spend the grant funds as requested and approved, recoupment of grant funds will be initiated. SCDSS reserves the right to disqualify the provider for any future grants. This is not appealable. NOTE: Failure to use grants funds properly may result in the initiation of an audit by the Program.