Translated from officialese, the certification basically says that you certify that the government hasn’t forbidden you from receiving federal funds. How does someone get debarred? Generally by committing a crime of some sort against the Federal government; for example, if “within a three-year period preceding this proposal, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification, or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property.” If you were debarred, you would almost certainly know it. If you care to learn more, see http://www.neh.gov/pdf/debarsuspendregs.pdf
This certification is required of all fellows receiving National Endowment for the Humanities funds administered by the Newberry Library; as a condition of our granting these funds to you, we undertake to obtain and maintain on file your certification that you are not debarred from receiving them. Otherwise, we won’t be able to pay you your stipend.