1 federal grants streamlining michael nelson director, grants management division
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Federal Grants Streamlining
Michael NelsonDirector, Grants Management Division
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Major Changes Since Last Year:
1. Grants Policy Committee Reinvigorated by Tom Cooley, Chief Financial Officer of the
National Science Foundation, and Susan Grant, CFO of the Department of Energy
2. Grants.gov has measurable targets for find and apply that are substantially higher for allfederal grant making agencies
3. Government Accountability Office is now actively tracking progress
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Federal Financial Assistance ManagementImprovement Act
1. Also known as Public Law 106-1072. Initial plan developed against which all agencies
are being judged was developed3. Plan is at: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/
pl106-107final.pdf
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Sec. 3. Purposes
The purposes of this Act are to—
(1)Improve the effectiveness and performanceof Federal financial assistance programs;
(2)Simplify Federal financial assistance applicationand reporting requirements
(3)Improve the deliver of services to the public; and(4)Facilitate greater coordination among those
responsible for delivering such services
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Activities
Five topic areas:1. Pre-Award2. Mandatory3. Post-Award4. Audit Oversight5. Training and Certification
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Pre-AwardPre-Award
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DoneDone/In Process/Future
Done:Done: 1. Standard opportunity announcement format 2. Standard application forms and data elements 3. Include virtually all assurances in
announcement and terms and conditions(not in application)
4. DUNS number requirement
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DoneDone/In Process/FutureDone:Done:5. Grants.gov “Find” data elements developed6. Single Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Government- wide Requirement for Drug-Free Workplace (Grant) Rule published7. Title 2 established for all grant regulations8. Cost circulars, Administrative Circular for non- governments, and Suspension and Debarment guidance moved to Title 2.
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
In Process:In Process:1. Drug-free workplace guidance2. Central Contractor Registry standard policies3. Single administrative requirements
guidance to agencies4. Working with the Federal Demonstration Partnership on standard terms and conditions
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Done/In Process/FutureFuture
Future:Future:1. Standardize Notice of Award2. Place agency specific regulations in
Title 2, Part B3. Continue to improve and standardize application data elements
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MandatoryMandatory
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Done/In ProcessDone/In Process/Future
Done:Done:1. Developed and deployed the SF-424M (standard
cover page)2. Approved additional forms (already in use by
discretionary grants) for Mandatory applications
In Process:In Process:1. Terms and conditions2. Policy for application use
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Done/In Process/FutureFuture
Future:Future:1. Consistent application requirements2. Consistent reporting requirements
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Post-AwardPost-Award
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DoneDone/In Process/Future
Done:Done:Payments1. Either ASAP or PMS had to be chosen2. Pooled payments is an option
Cost PrinciplesSimplification of three sets of cost principles
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
In Process:In Process:Payments
Survey of utilization of ASAP and PMS by agencies
Indirect Cost Uniform Guidance HandbookRequirements document being finalized
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
In Process:In Process:
Reports1. Inventions – to be used to report all inventionsconceived or put into practice using grant fundsa. Data elements developedb. Utilize iEdisonc. Working on policy statement
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
2. Federal Financial Report – to report cash outlaysand expenditures, obligations, cost sharing, andprogram income
a. Form finalizedb. Data elements finalizedc. Pilot test currently at the Payment Management
System of Health and Human Servicesd. If approved, will go out from OMB for final
agency utilization
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
3. Real Property Report – status report on Real Property or request agency instructions ondisposition:
a. Reviewed and commented upon by federal agencies
b. Notice being prepared for Federal Register
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
4. Personal Property Report – status report ofcertain grantee owned equipment and/orfederally owned equipment:
a. Initial format being reconsideredb. Issues regarding status versus dispositionc. Non-Federal reporting for select equipmentd. Federally owned of intense interest
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
5. Program Performance Report – to report on allProgress by recipients other than research awards.
a. Format developedb. Agency comments received and acted uponc. Revisions to administrative requirements being
worked ond. Next step is for Federal Register Notice
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
6. Research Report – to be used by all recipientsof research grants and cooperative agreements.
a. Developed by an interagency teamb. Reviewed and analyzed by all research funding
agenciesc. Approved for Federal Register Notice
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Done/In Process/FutureFuture
Future:Future:
1. Consolidate Cost Principles2. Reduce Payment Systems3. Further simplify and standardize all reports
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Audit OversightAudit Oversight
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DoneDone/In Process/Future
Done:Done:
1. Threshold for audit raised to $500,000 of expenditures per year.2. Pamphlet completed: Highlights of the Single Audit Processhttp://www.dol.oig.gov/public/reports/oa/Documents/singleauditcfoBrochure.pdf
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
In Process:In Process:
1. Review of data elements, instructions, and appearance of Single Audit Clearinghouseinformation collection
2. Update compliance supplement for accuracy and consistency
3. Review of audit quality performed byCPA firms
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/Future
3. Review of audit quality performed by CPA firms
4. Audit Policy issues being reviewed
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Done/In Process/FutureFuture
Future:Future:
1. Improve services provided by Single AuditClearinghouse
2. Develop single audit policy for all recipientorganizations
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Training Training and and OversightOversight
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Done/In ProcessIn Process/FutureIn Process:In Process:
1. Federal and non-Federal training curriculums are being reviewed for recommendations
2. Competencies for grants managers are being developed
3. Certification requirements are beingreviewed
4. A database of current knowledge andcompetencies is in the planning phase
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Done/In Process/FutureFutureFuture:Future:
1. Standard training for all grant managers2. Standard abilities and competencies
defined government-wide3. A process for certifying current and
future grant managers will be Developed
4. Government-wide data base will be built
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In ConclusionIn Conclusion
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Public Law 106-107
1. The law sunsets in November, 20072. OMB and the grant making agencies
have a mandate to comply with the Act.3. Annual reports to Congress are being
closely scrutinized4. Agency budgets are being impacted
based on their compliance with the Act5. Most agencies take their responsibilities
seriously and are participating in all of these efforts.
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QUESTIONS