Joint Circular No. 34/2009/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN amending and supplementing certain provisions of Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN guiding financial management for the program "building models of application and transfer of science and technology to serve economic and social development in rural and mountainous areas..."

JOINT CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing certain articles
Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN dated May 23, 2005
Guidelines for financial management of the Program
"Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural and Mountainous Areas from now until 2010"
for the development of rural and mountainous economic and social sectors
during the period from now to 2010”

-------------------------------------

Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to Decision No. 122/2004/QĐ-TTg dated July 5, 2004 of the Prime Minister approving the Program "Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural and Mountainous Areas from now until 2010";

To align with current circumstances, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology provide guidance to amend and supplement certain points of Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN dated May 23, 2005 regarding guidelines for financial management of the Program "Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural and Mountainous Areas from now until 2010", specifically as follows:

Article 1 - Amend the content of item 5, point 1.1, Clause 1, Section II, costs of materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing the project, as follows:

Costs of materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing the project (including raw materials for constructing shade houses, net houses, plastic houses, mushroom cultivation sheds, filtration tanks, wells, cold storage facilities, irrigation systems... which are critical to technology, the level of support for constructing shade houses, net houses, plastic houses, mushroom cultivation sheds, filtration tanks, wells, cold storage facilities, irrigation systems... shall not exceed 30% of the total state budget funding allocated to the project).

Article 2 - Amend the content of item 3, point 1.4, Clause 1, Section II, costs of primary materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing the project, as follows:

Costs of primary materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing the project (including raw materials for constructing shade houses, net houses, plastic houses, mushroom cultivation sheds, filtration tanks, wells, cold storage facilities, irrigation systems... which are critical to technology, the level of support for constructing shade houses, net houses, plastic houses, mushroom cultivation sheds, filtration tanks, wells, cold storage facilities, irrigation systems... shall not exceed 30% of the total state budget funding allocated to the project).

Article 3 - Amend the content of Clause 2, Section II, remuneration for members of the Steering Committee, as follows:

- Chairman of the Program Steering Committee: 500,000 VND/person/month

- Deputy Chairman of the Program Steering Committee: 400,000 VND/person/month

- Member of the Program Steering Committee: 300,000 VND/person/month

- Director of the Program Office: 400,000 VND/person/month

Article 4 - Supplement the end of point 4.1, Clause 4, Section II, allocation of budget estimates, as follows:

During the period of validity of the project's implementation according to the approval of the competent authority, if the funds allocated in the budget estimate for the project are not fully utilized in the year, they may be carried over to the next year for continued implementation.

Article 5 - Amend and supplement the content of point 5.1, Clause 5, Section II, regarding disbursement and control of expenditures for centrally-managed projects, as follows:

1. Opening accounts, receiving funds, and controlling expenditures:

- The Program Office opens a budget account at the State Treasury to pay for common activities of the Program and to pay the implementing units. The Program Office is responsible for controlling the legality, legitimacy, documentation, and vouchers of expenditures made by the implementing units.

- Implementing units open deposit accounts at the State Treasury where transactions take place to receive project implementation funds. Implementing units bear full responsibility for their own expenditure decisions and are subject to inspection and control by the Program Office regarding the use and settlement of project implementation funds.

- The State Treasury where the Program Office conducts transactions implements payment control according to Clause 2 and Clause 3 of Article 5 of this Circular.

2. Advance payments:

- When making advance payments, the Program Office withdraws the budget to make advance payments of 100% of the first installment of funds to the implementing units based on not exceeding the allocated budget for the year and the agreed funding schedule between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the implementing units (but not more than 70% of the total approved project funding).

- When advancing funds for subsequent phases, the Program Office organizes inspections and evaluations of the progress, volume of work completed, and the use of funds for the project. The Program Office will only advance funds for subsequent phases for projects that have utilized at least 50% of the previously advanced funds. The documents for advancing funds for subsequent phases submitted to the State Treasury include:

+ Inspection report on progress and assessment of the volume of work completed.

+ Confirmation of funds used.

+ Budget withdrawal request (advance).

3. Advance payment settlement:

When settling advance payments, the Program Office sends the advance payment settlement documents to the State Treasury where transactions are conducted. The advance payment settlement documents include:

- Confirmation from the Program Office regarding the amounts of funds spent corresponding to the completed work volume.

- Advance payment settlement request from the Program Office.

- Copy of vouchers with confirmation from the main implementing agency or technology transfer unit.

Article 6 - Implementation Organization

This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of signature. Other contents stipulated in Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN dated May 23, 2005, guiding financial management for the Program "Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural and Mountainous Areas from now until 2010," which do not conflict with the provisions of this Circular, remain in effect.

During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units and localities are requested to report to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology for research and appropriate amendments.