[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 7, Volume 11] [Revised as of January 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 7CFR1726.301] [Page 267-268] TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE CHAPTER XVII--RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PART 1726--ELECTRIC SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents Subpart I--RUS Standard Forms Sec. 1726.301 Borrower contractual obligations. (a) Loan agreement. As a condition of a loan or loan guarantee under the Rural Electrification Act, borrowers are normally required to enter into RUS loan agreements pursuant to which the borrower agrees to use RUS standard forms of contracts for construction, procurement, engineering services and architectural services financed in whole or in part by the RUS loan. Normally, this obligation is contained in section 5.16 of the loan contract. To comply with the provisions of the loan agreements as implemented by this part, borrowers must use those forms of contract (hereinafter sometimes called ``listed contract forms'') identified in the List of Required Contract Forms, Sec. 1724.304(c). (b) Compliance. If a borrower is required by this part or by the loan agreement to use a listed contract form, the borrower shall use the listed contracts in the format available from RUS or GPO. The forms shall not be retyped, changed, modified, or altered in any manner not specifically authorized in this part or approved by RUS in writing. Any modifications approved by RUS must be clearly shown so as to indicate the difference from the listed contract form. Electronic reproduction [[Page 268]] is not acceptable except where indicated in Sec. 1726.304(c). (c) Amendment. Where a borrower has entered into a contract in the form required by this part, no change may be made in the terms of the contract, by amendment, waiver or otherwise, without the prior written approval of RUS. (d) Waiver. RUS may waive for good cause, on a case by case basis, the requirements imposed on a borrower pursuant to this part. Borrowers seeking a waiver by RUS must provide RUS with a written request explaining the need for the waiver. Waiver requests should be made prior to issuing the bid package to bidders. (e) Violations. A failure on the part of the borrower to use listed contracts as prescribed in this part is a violation of the terms of its loan agreement with RUS and RUS may exercise any and all remedies available under the terms of the agreement or otherwise. [63 FR 58286, Oct. 30, 1998]