receives the claim and then at the rate applicable for each 6 month <br /> period as fixed by the Treasury Secretary during the pendency of the <br /> claim. <br /> i <br /> h. The Contractor shall proceed diligently with the <br /> performance of the contract, pending final resolution of any request <br /> for relief, claim, appeal, or action arising under the contract, and <br /> comply with any decision of the Contracting Officer. <br /> i <br /> i. For purposes of this agreement, the Grants Officer <br /> signing this cooperative agreement is the "Contracting Officer" for <br /> <br /> I this agreement. <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> I <br /> <br /> I <br /> 13. [Omitted Grant regulations reference] <br /> 14. BUY AMERICAN ACT To the extent that federal funds are <br /> made available to non-federal parties under this agreement, each <br /> non-federal party. is _required.- to_and doe~_agree _~~~Qmp~~ w~~h <br /> federal Buy American Act procedures. <br /> _ m_. . _.~e __..._._r _ ~ _ _ _ _n~_ r.~ . <br /> 15. Section 611-of the Treasury and Postal Service 1994 <br /> Appropriations Act The parties agree that no funds have or_ wi17, be <br /> spent on interagency financing of boards, commissions, councils, <br /> c mmittees or simil r r th <br /> o a ou s as rohibited b Section 611 of e <br /> g P P Y <br /> Treasury and Postal Service 1994 Appropriations Act <br /> 16. GRATUITIES The parties acknowled~Te that offering <br /> gratuities to government employees is a criminal offense under <br /> federal and state law, and that the commission of such offense gives <br /> the parties the right to void the Agreement ab initio as well as to <br /> collect treble damages. <br /> 7 <br /> _ <br /> <br />