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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - LACO AGMT TRANSIT SERVICESO Agenda Item: 6 1. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: A,1 DATE: October 25, 2022 SUBJECT: AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE OPERATION OF TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE UNINCORPORATED SANTA CLARITA VALLEY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PRESENTER: Adrian Aguilar RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve an agreement with the County of Los Angeles for the City of Santa Clarita to provide public transportation services in unincorporated areas, and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Agreement, or modify the award in the event that issues of impossibility of performance arise, subject to City Attorney approval. BACKGROUND Since 1991, the City of Santa Clarita (City) has assumed responsibility from the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (County) for public transportation services in the Santa Clarita Valley (Valley). In return, the County reimburses the City for the transportation services operated in the unincorporated areas. Based on the current level of public transportation service provided in the unincorporated versus incorporated area, the County reimburses the City as follows: • 14.78 percent of local bus service costs • 22.97 percent of commuter express bus service costs • 11.95 percent of paratransit (Dial -a -Ride) service costs • Bus procurements shared by the County using above allocations • 15 percent administrative overhead fee These percentages have remained consistent over the years, and are being proposed in the next agreement that will cover Fiscal Year 2022-23 to Fiscal Year 2025-26. City staff works closely with the County to ensure that the level of public transportation services meets the needs of Page 1 Packet Pg. 22 O County residents, and that the City is properly compensated for the services provided in the unincorporated areas of the Valley. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The Los Angeles County maximum contribution is $3,771,000 for Fiscal Year 2022-23. The expenditure and revenue have been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget. ATTACHMENTS County Contract FY 22 - FY 26 (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Page 2 Packet Pg. 23 AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT FOR SANTA CLARITA VALLEY TRANSIT SERVICES FISCAL YEARS 2022-23, 2023-241 2024-25, 2025-26 AGREEMENT THIS cooperative AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as AGREEMENT), made and entered into by and between the City of Santa Clarita, a municipal corporation in the County of Los Angeles (hereinafter referred to as CITY), and the County of Los Angeles, a political subdivision of the State of California (hereinafter referred to as COUNTY): WITNESSETH WHEREAS, CITY and COUNTY agree that it is in the public's interest to provide various forms and modes of public transportation services, including a system of local bus passenger service, commuter bus service, and paratransit service to the eligible elderly sixty (60) years and older, persons with disabilities, and the general public (hereinafter referred to as SERVICES), to serve the public in the Santa Clarita Valley; and WHEREAS, CITY and COUNTY desire to operate SERVICES during Fiscal Years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26; and WHEREAS, CITY is willing to administer the contract for SERVICES for Fiscal Years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26; and WHEREAS, CITY and COUNTY propose to finance their respective jurisdictional shares of the total actual cost of SERVICES, including operational costs (contract and vehicle acquisition/lease costs) and administration; and WHEREAS, because of CITY/COUNTY joint programs set forth herein, CITY shall apply for and CITY may be granted incentive, bonus, or other funds, including but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Subregional Paratransit Grant Program funds, Federal Transit Administration funds, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds, Proposition A Discretionary funds, State Transit Assistance funds, Proposition C Discretionary funds, or Proposition A Incentive funds (all hereinafter referred to as BONUS), which shall be applied to the total actual cost of service as described in Exhibit A. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits to be derived by CITY and COUNTY and of the promises herein contained, it is hereby agreed as follows: FIRST: CITY, for the consideration hereafter set forth and the acceptance by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors (hereinafter referred to as BOARD) of said COUNTY, hereby agrees to provide SERVICES as described in the attached Exhibit A, Scope of Work. Page 1 of 31 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this AGREEMENT to be executed by their respective officers, duly authorized by the CITY OF SANTA CLARITA on 2022, and by the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS on 2022, pursuant to the delegated authority by the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Board of Supervisors, , 2022, Item COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES APPROVED AS TO FORM: DAWYN R. HARRISON Acting County Counsel is Deputy CITY OF SANTA CLARITA M ATTEST: 0 City Manager City Clerk City Attorney Director of Public Works P:\TPUB\TRNST\(REGNLOPRT)\SC\AGMT 18-22\AGRMNT FY22-26 Page 3of31 H. CITY shall maintain operating and fiscal records as necessary to comply with LACMTA Proposition A Local Return requirements and procedures and to maintain all records on file for a minimum of five (5) years following the terms of this AGREEMENT. All vehicles used in SERVICES shall be maintained at a minimum to meet standards in accordance with vehicle manufacturer's recommended preventive maintenance program. All vehicles required to be utilized in this AGREEMENT will be safe for operation on public roads and streets. All vehicles shall be free of graffiti and any obvious damage to the interior and exterior and shall be thoroughly cleaned prior to operation of SERVICES. All vehicles, vehicle equipment, and other equipment and facilities required by this AGREEMENT and maintained by CITY contractor(s) and/or subcontractor(s) during the term hereof, shall be in good order and repair and in condition satisfactory to DIRECTOR. J. CITY shall be responsible for collection of National Transit Database (NTD) data as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on behalf of COUNTY. CITY shall prepare and submit quarterly and annual NTD reports, including data for the unincorporated COUNTY communities served, in accordance with the FTA's NTD Guidelines to LACMTA with a copy forwarded to the DIRECTOR. CITY shall be responsible for complying with all current NTD and FTA requirements. 2. COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITIES A. COUNTY shall review and approve, as appropriate, invoices submitted by the CITY to the DIRECTOR for the COUNTY'S jurisdictional share of the total cost of SERVICES, less BONUS and fares, and to pay CITY within thirty (30) calendar days of approval of invoices. B. COUNTY shall pay for its jurisdictional share for the purchase of the local service and commuter buses less BONUS. Payment is to be made within thirty (30) calendar days of approval of invoice. Page 5 of 31 emergency, CITY shall cooperate with and deploy vehicles, within the limits of available resources, in a manner described by the County of Los Angeles Sheriffs and Fire Departments, or local police. CITY may invoice COUNTY for such emergency service(s) provided within the unincorporated COUNTY communities at the same rates described in paragraph H. If regular SERVICES are disrupted during an emergency, charges for SERVICES shall be suspended for the duration of such emergency. H. CITY and COUNTY'S jurisdictional shares of the total actual costs of SERVICES shall be determined as follows: 1. Local Bus Service CITY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the ratio of service revenue hours traveled in CITY to the total system revenue hours traveled. COUNTY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the ratio of service revenue hours traveled in COUNTY to the total system service revenue hours traveled as shown in the CITY Local Service Timetable effective January 8, 2012. CITY'S jurisdictional share of the local bus service is 85.22 percent and COUNTY'S jurisdictional share is 14.78 percent. 2. Commuter Bus Service CITY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the percentage of the total ridership who are CITY residents. COUNTY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the percentage of the total ridership, who are residents of the unincorporated COUNTY communities. The current share is based on a CITY survey of commuters completed in the spring of 2010. CITY'S jurisdictional share is 77.03 percent and COUNTY'S jurisdictional share is 22.97 percent. 3. Paratransit Services CITY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the percentage of the total ridership who are CITY residents. COUNTY'S jurisdictional share shall be equal to the percentage of the total ridership who are residents of the unincorporated COUNTY communities. The jurisdictional shares shall be based on the ridership information from Fiscal Year 2009-10. CITY'S jurisdictional share of paratransit services is 88.05 percent and COUNTY'S jurisdictional share is 11.95 percent. Page 7 of 31 EXHIBIT B — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Interpretation of AGREEMENT A. Ambiguities or Discrepancies Both parties have either consulted or had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel regarding the terms of this AGREEMENT and are fully cognizant of all terms and conditions herein. Should there be any uncertainty, ambiguity, or discrepancy in the terms or provisions hereof, or should any misunderstanding arise as to the interpretation to be placed upon any position hereof or the applicability of the provisions hereunder, neither party shall be deemed as the drafter of this AGREEMENT and the uncertainty, ambiguity, or discrepancy shall not be construed against either party. B. Definitions Whenever in the AGREEMENT, Scope of Work, Terms, Requirements, and/or Conditions the following terms are used, the intent and meaning shall be interpreted as follows: AGREEMENT — The written agreement covering the performance of the SERVICES and the furnishing of labor, materials, supervision, and equipment in the performance of the SERVICES. BOARD — The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. City — City of Santa Clarita, a municipal corporation in the County of Los Angeles. Contractor — The person or persons, sole proprietor, partnership, joint venture, corporation or other entity who has entered into AGREEMENT with the CITY to perform or execute the SERVICES covered herein. County — The County of Los Angeles or County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. Countv's Chief Executive Officer— The Chief Executive Officerforthe County of Los Angeles appointed by the BOARD. Day — The calendar day(s) unless otherwise specified. Director — The County of Los Angeles Director of Public Works or his designee. Page 9 of 31 3. COUNTY may, at its sole discretion, authorize extensions of time to this AGREEMENT'S term. CITY agrees that such extensions of time shall not change any other term or condition of this AGREEMENT during the period of such extensions. To implement an extension of time, an amendment to this AGREEMENT shall be prepared and executed by CITY and BOARD, or if delegated by BOARD, DIRECTOR and CITY. To the extent that extensions of time for CITY performance do not impact either scope or cost of this AGREEMENT, DIRECTOR may, at her sole discretion, grant CITY extensions of time provided, however, the aggregate of all such extensions during the life of this AGREEMENT shall not exceed sixty (60) days. B. Budget Reduction In the event that the BOARD adopts, in any fiscal year, a COUNTY budget, which provides for reduction in the salaries and benefits paid to the majority of COUNTY employees or imposes similar reductions with respect to COUNTY contracts, COUNTY reserves the right to reduce its payment obligation under this AGREEMENT correspondingly for that fiscal year and any subsequent fiscal year during the term of this AGREEMENT (including any extensions) and the services to be provided by CITY under this AGREEMENT shall also be reduced correspondingly. COUNTY'S notice to CITY regarding said reduction in payment obligation shall be provided within thirty (30) days of the BOARD'S approval of such actions. Except as set forth in the preceding sentences, CITY shall continue to provide all of the services set forth in this AGREEMENT. C. Compliance with Applicable Laws CITY, or its contractor, shall comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, or directives, and all provisions required thereby to be included in this AGREEMENT herein are hereby incorporated by reference. This AGREEMENT shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CITY and COUNTY agree and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of California for all purposes concerning this AGREEMENT and further agree and consent that venue of any action brought in connection with or arising out of this AGREEMENT, shall be exclusively in the COUNTY. 2. CITY, or its contractor, shall defend, indemnify, and hold COUNTY harmless from and against any and all liability, damages, costs, expenses including, but not limited to, defense costs, and attorney's Page 11 of 31 CITY'S duty under this AGREEMENT to comply with all applicable provisions of law, CITY warrants that it is now in compliance and shall during the term of this AGREEMENT maintain compliance with the employment and wage reporting requirements as required by the Federal Social Security Act (42 USC Section 653a) and California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1088.5, and shall implement all lawfully served Wage and Earnings Withholding Orders or Child Support Services Department Notices of Wage and Earnings Assignment for Child, Family, or Spousal Support, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 706.031 and Family Code Section 5246(b). F. Employment Eligibility Verification 1. CITY warrants that it fully complies with all Federal and State statutes and regulations regarding the employment of aliens and others and that all of its employees performing work under this AGREEMENT meet the citizenship or alien status requirements set forth in Federal and State statutes and regulations. CITY shall obtain from all covered employees performing services hereunder, all verification and other documentation of employment eligibility status required by Federal and State statutes and regulations, including but not limited to, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (P.L.99-603) or as they currently exist and as they may be hereafter amended. CITY shall retain all such documentation for all covered employees for the period prescribed by law. 2. CITY shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless, COUNTY, its BOARD, agents, officers, and employees from employer sanctions and any other liability, which may be assessed against CITY or COUNTY or both in connection with any alleged violation of Federal or State statutes or regulations pertaining to the eligibility for employment of persons performing services under this AGREEMENT. G. No Pavment for Services Following Expiration/Suspension/Termination of AGREEMENT CITY shall have no claim against COUNTY for payment of any money or reimbursement, of any kind whatsoever, for any service provided by CITY after the expiration, suspension, or termination of this AGREEMENT. Should CITY receive any such payment, it shall immediately notify COUNTY and shall immediately repay all such funds to COUNTY. Payment by COUNTY for services rendered after expiration/suspension/termination of this AGREEMENT shall not constitute a waiver of COUNTY'S right to recover such payment from CITY. This provision shall survive the expiration/suspension/termination of this AGREEMENT. Page 13 of 31 4. Indemnification and Insurance Requirements Insurance requirements stated below apply to all CITY contractor(s) as well as CITY, provided, however, that DIRECTOR will accept evidence from CITY of self-insurance program, which meets the requirements stated below. A. The parties agree the Assumption of Liability Agreement 59595 approved by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on June 21, 1988, and/or a Joint Indemnity Agreement approved by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on October 8, 1991, shall not apply in relation to the SERVICES. B. In addition to all other indemnities in favor of COUNTY in this AGREEMENT, CITY shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless COUNTY, BOARD, its officers, agents, employees, and its special districts (hereafter collectively referred to as COUNTY indemnitees), from and against any and all liability, expense, including defense costs and legal fees, and claims for damages of any nature whatsoever including, but not limited to, bodily injury, death, or property damage arising from or connected with any alleged act or omission of CITY, or its contractor(s) in connection with the SERVICES, including but not limited to, maintenance of equipment, or operation of SERVICES, including any workers' compensation suits, liability, or expense, and excepting any such loss or damage arising from the sole negligence orwillful misconduct of COUNTY indemnitees. CITY expressly waives application of Government Code Section 895.2, which provides for joint and several liabilities of public entities entering into agreements absent inclusion of an indemnity provision to the contrary. The provisions of Section 2778 of the California Civil Code are made a part hereof. In addition, without limiting the CITY'S foregoing indemnity in favor of COUNTY indemnitees, if CITY provides SERVICES through a contractor, CITY shall use its best effort to include in its contract with any contractor(s) providing SERVICES under this AGREEMENT a provision with the above terms whereby the contractor(s) agree(s) to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless COUNTY indemnitees as third -party beneficiaries, on the same basis the CITY indemnifies, defends, and holds harmless the COUNTY indemnitees under this AGREEMENT. C. Without limiting CITY'S and CITY contractor's indemnification of COUNTY, during the term of this AGREEMENT, CITY shall provide and maintain, or if CITY'S contractor provides SERVICES, CITY shall ensure that its contractor(s) provide and maintain, the program(s) of insurance covering its operations hereunder as specified in Section 4.E. Page 15 of 31 A certificate evidencing such insurance coverage and an endorsement naming COUNTY as additional insured thereunder shall be filed with DIRECTOR prior to CITY providing SERVICES hereunder. 3. Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability insurance or qualified self-insurance program of workers' compensation insurance in an amount and form to meet all applicable requirements of the Labor Code of the State of California, including employer's liability with a $1,000,000 limit, covering all persons CITY is legally required to cover. A certificate evidencing such insurance coverage shall be filed with DIRECTOR prior to CITY providing SERVICES hereunder. 4. Sexual Misconduct Liability insurance covering actual or alleged claims for sexual misconduct and/or molestation with limits of not less than $2,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 aggregate, and claims for negligent employment, investigation, supervision, training or retention of, or failure to report to proper authorities, a person(s) who committed any act of abuse, molestation, harassment, mistreatment or maltreatment of a sexual nature. 5. Failure on the part of CITY or CITY'S contractor(s) to procure or maintain required insurance shall constitute a material breach of this AGREEMENT upon which COUNTY may, at its sole and absolute discretion, immediately suspend or terminate this AGREEMENT. 5. Compliance with COUNTY'S Jury Service Program A. Jury Service Program This AGREEMENT is subject to the provisions of COUNTY'S ordinance entitled Contractor Employee Jury Service (Jury Service Program) as codified in Sections 2.203.010 through 2.203.090 of the Los Angeles County Code. Exhibits D and E include the Jury Service Ordinance and Jury Service Certification form. B. Written Emplovee Jury Service Policy 1. CITY is a contractor subject to compliance with the COUNTY'S Jury Service Program unless CITY has demonstrated to COUNTY'S satisfaction either that CITY is not a contractor as defined in Jury Service Program (Section 2.203.020 of Los Angeles County Code) or that CITY qualifies for an exception to the Jury Service Program under Page 17 of 31 in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend the AGREEMENT as provided in Exhibit B, Section 3.A., Termination/Suspension of AGREEMENT. 6. Safely Surrendered Baby Law Program A. Contractor's Acknowledgement of COUNTY'S Commitment to the Safely Surrendered Babv Law CITY acknowledges that COUNTY places a high priority on the implementation of the Safely Surrendered Baby Law. CITY understands that it is COUNTY'S policy to encourage all COUNTY contractors to voluntarily post COUNTY'S Safely Surrendered Baby Law poster in a prominent position at the contractor's place of business. CITY will also encourage its contractors, if any, to post this poster in a prominent position in the contractor's place of business. COUNTY'S Department of Children and Family Services will supply CITY with the poster to be used. Information on how to receive the poster can be found on the Internet at www.babvsafela.orq. B. Notice to Em0ovees Regarding the Safely Surrendered Baby Law CITY shall notify and provide to its employees, and shall require each contractor, to notify and provide to its employees, a fact sheet regarding the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, its implementation in COUNTY, and where and how to safely surrender a baby. The fact sheet is set forth in Exhibit F of AGREEMENT and is also available on the Internet at www.babysafela.org for printing purposes. 7. Time Off for Votin // // // // // The CITY shall notify its employees and shall require each contractor to notify and provide to its employees, information regarding the time off for voting law (Elections Code, Section 14000). Not less than ten (10) days before every Statewide election, every CITY and its contractor, shall keep posted conspicuously at the place of work, if practicable, or elsewhere where it can be seen as employees come or go to their place of work, a notice setting forth the provisions of Section 14000. Page 19 of 31 EXHIBIT C — EVIDENCE OF INSURANCE PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) 3. The following information for each of the insured vehicle(s): a. Vehicle make b. Vehicle model C. Vehicle year d. Vehicle license number e. Vehicle identification number f. Vehicle seating capacity Page 21 of 31 3. A purchase made through a State or Federal contract; or 4. A monopoly purchase that is exclusive and proprietary to a specific manufacturer, distributor, or reseller, and must match and intermember with existing supplies, equipment, or systems maintained by the County pursuant to the Los Angeles County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual, Section P-3700 or a successor provision; or 5. A revolving fund (petty cash) purchase pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fiscal Manual, Section 4.4.0 or a successor provision; or 6. A purchase card purchased pursuant to the Los Angeles County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual, Section P-2810 or a successor provision; or 7. A nonagreement purchase with a value of less than Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00) pursuant to the Los Angeles County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual, Section A-0300 or a successor provision; or 8. A bona fide emergency purchase pursuant to the Los Angeles County Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual, Section PP-1100 or a successor provision. D. "Full-time" means 40 hours or more worked per week, or a lesser number of hours if: The lesser number is a recognized industry standard, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer, or 2. The contractor has a long-standing practice that defines a full-time schedule as less than 40 hours per week. E. "County" means the County of Los Angeles or any public entity for which the Board of Supervisors is the governing body. 2.203.030 Applicability. This chapter shall apply to contractors who enter into contracts that commence after July 11, 2002. This chapter shall also apply to contractors with existing contracts, which are extended into option years that commence after July 11, 2002. Contracts that commence after May 28, 2002, but before July 11, 2002, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter only if the solicitations for such contracts stated that the chapter would be applicable. Page 23 of 31 3. Is not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation. "Dominant in its field of operation" means having more than ten (10) employees and annual gross revenues in the preceding twelve (12) months, that, if added to the annual amount of the contract awarded, exceed Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00). Affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation means a business which is at least twenty percent (20 percent) owned by a business dominant in its field of operation, or by partners, officers, directors, majority stockholders, or their equivalent of a business dominant in that field of operation. 2.203.090 Severability. If any provision of this chapter is found invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H Page 25 of 31 Safel Surrendered Baby Law 4 . F Babies can be safely surrendered to staff at any bospital orfire station in Los Angeles County No shame. No blame. No names. 1n Los Argue County. I-M-BABY SAFE • 14177-222-W23 wwwJwMrj*WW&arg 9t L 91 de Entrega de Bebes Sin Peligro - s y� Los reciin nacidos pueden ser entregados enr forma Segura al persottaf de cualquwr hospital o cuartel de bomberos del Condado de Los Ar igeles Sin pens. Sin culpa. Sin nombres. En el Candado de Los Angebw 14 7 -OM SAFE • 14877-272-9723 www babysaf9W.orq dl EXHIBIT G — INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE NOTICE 1016 Department of the Treasury rAl Internal Revenue Service Notice 1016 (Rev. December 2013) Have You Told Your Employees About the Earned Income Credit (EIC)? What Is the EIC? The EIC is a refundable tax credit for certain workers. Which Employees Must I Notify About the EIC? You must notify each employee who worked for you at any time during the year and from whom you did not withhold income tax. However, you do not have to notify any employee who claimed exemption from withholding on Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. Note: You are encouraged to notify each employee whose wages for 2013 are less than $51,567 that he or she may be eligible for the EIC. How and When Must I Notify My Employees? You must give the employee one of the following: • The IRS Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which has the required information about the EIC on the back of Copy B. • A substitute Form W-2 with the same EIC information on the back of the employee's copy that is on Copy B of the IRS Form W-2. • Notice 797, Possible Federal Tax Refund Due to the Earned Income Credit (EIC). • Your written statement with the same wording as Notice 797. If you are required to give Form W-2 and do so on time, no further notice is necessary if the Form W-2 has the required information about the EIC on the back of the employee's copy. If a substitute Form W-2 is given on time but does not have the required information, you must notify the employee within 1 week of the date the substitute Form W-2 is given. If Form W-2 is required but is not given on time, you must give the employee Notice 797 or your written statement by the date Form W-2 is required to be given. If Form W-2 is not required, you must notify the employee by February 7, 2018. You must hand the notice directly to the employee or send it by First -Class Mail to the employee's last known address. You will not meet the notification requirements by posting Notice 797 on an employee bulletin board or sending it through office mail. However, you may want to post the notice to help inform all employees of the EIC. You can download copies of the notice at www.irs.gov/formr)ubs. Or you can go to www.irs.gov/orderforms to order it. How Will My Employees Know If They Can Claim the EIC? The basic requirements are covered in Notice 797. For more detailed information, the employee needs to see Pub. 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC), or the instructions for Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. How Do My Employees Claim the EIC? Eligible employees claim the EIC on their 2013 tax return. Even employees who have no tax withheld from their pay or owe no tax can claim the EIC and get a refund, but they must file a tax return to do so. For example, if an employee has no tax withheld in 2013 and owes no tax but is eligible for a credit of $800, he or she must file a 2013 tax return to get the $800 refund. Notice 1016 (Rev. 12-2013) Cat. No. 205991 Page 31 of 31