Joint Circular No. 34/2009/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN amending and supplementing certain provisions of 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"

JOINT CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing some provisions of the Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN dated May 23, 2005 guiding financial management of the Program "Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural Areas and Mountainous Regions from now until 2010"

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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 Areas and Mountainous Regions from now until 2010";

To adapt to practical circumstances, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology guide the amendment and supplementation of certain points of Joint Circular No. 39/2005/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN dated May 23, 2005 on guiding financial management of the Program "Building Models for Application and Transfer of Science and Technology to Serve Economic and Social Development in Rural Areas and Mountainous Regions from now until 2010", specifically as follows:

Article 1. Amend the fifth bullet point under Point 1.1, Clause 1, Section II, costs of materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing projects, as follows:

Costs of materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing projects (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 third bullet point under Point 1.4, Clause 1, Section II, costs of main materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing projects, as follows:

Costs of main materials, tools, and raw materials for implementing projects (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: VND 500,000/person/month

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

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

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

Article 4. Supplement the end of Point 4.1, Clause 4, Section II, budget allocation, as follows:

During the implementation period of the project according to the approval of the competent authority, the funds allocated in the budget for implementing the project that are not used up in the year can 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 the issuance 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 for units responsible for implementing the project. The Program Office is responsible for controlling the legality, legitimacy, documentation, and vouchers of expenditures made by units responsible for implementing the project.

- Units responsible for implementing the project open deposit accounts at the State Treasury where transactions take place to receive project implementation funds. Units responsible for implementing the project bear full responsibility for their 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, 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 units implementing the project based on not exceeding the annual budget allocation and the agreed funding schedule between the Ministry of Science and Technology and units responsible for implementing the project (but not more than 70% of the approved project budget).

- For subsequent advance payments, the Program Office organizes inspections and evaluations of project progress, volume of work completed, and fund usage. The Program Office will only make subsequent advance payments to projects that have used at least 50% of the previously advanced funds. Documentation for subsequent advance payments submitted to the State Treasury includes:

+ Inspection report on project progress and evaluation of completed work volume.

+ Confirmation of funds used.

+ Budget withdrawal request (advance payment).

3. Settlement of advance payments:

When settling advance payments, the Program Office submits settlement documentation to the State Treasury where transactions take place, including:

- Confirmation from the Program Office on expenditures corresponding to completed work volume.

- Request for advance payment settlement from the Program Office.

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

Article 6. Implementation Organization

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

In the course of 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 appropriate amendments.