Administrative costs

(a) Not more than five percent of the aggregate funds expended by the Lead Agency from each fiscal year's allotment, including the amounts expended in the State pursuant to § 98.55(b), shall be expended for administrative activities. These activities may include but are not limited to:

(1) Salaries and related costs of the staff of the Lead Agency or other agencies engaged in the administration and implementation of the program pursuant to § 98.11. Program administration and implementation include the following types of activities:

(i) Planning, developing, and designing the Child Care and Development Fund program;

(ii) Providing local officials and the public with information about the program, including the conduct of public hearings;

(iii) Preparing the application and Plan;

(iv) Developing agreements with administering agencies in order to carry out program activities;

(v) Monitoring program activities for compliance with program requirements;

(xi) Managing or supervising persons with responsibilities described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (x) of this section;

(2) Travel costs incurred for official business in carrying out the program;

(3) Administrative services, including such services as accounting services, performed by grantees or subgrantees or under agreements with third parties;

(4) Audit services as required at § 98.65;

(5) Other costs for goods and services required for the administration of the program, including rental or purchase of equipment, utilities, and office supplies; and

(6) Indirect costs as determined by an indirect cost agreement or cost allocation plan pursuant to § 98.57.

(b) The following activities do not count towards the five percent limitation on administrative expenditures in paragraph (a) of this section:

(1) Establishment and maintenance of computerized child care information systems;

(2) Establishing and operating a certificate program;

(3) Eligibility determination and redetermination;

(4) Preparation/participation in judicial hearings;

(5) Child care placement;

(6) Recruitment, licensing, inspection of child care providers;

(7) Training for Lead Agency or sub recipient staff on billing and claims processes associated with the subsidy program;

(8) Reviews and supervision of child care placements;

(9) Activities associated with payment rate setting;

(10) Resource and referral services; and

(11) Training for child care staff.

(c) The five percent limitation at paragraph (a) of this section applies only to the States and Territories. The amount of the limitation at paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to Tribes or tribal organizations.

(d) Non-Federal expenditures required by § 98.55(c) (i.e., the maintenance-of-effort amount) are not subject to the five percent limitation at paragraph (a) of this section.

(e) If a Lead Agency enters into agreements with sub-recipients for operation of the CCDF program, the amount of the contract or grant attributable to administrative activities as described in this section shall be counted towards the five percent limit.