1 Federal Grants Streamlining Michael Nelson Director, Grants Management Division

2 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 all federal grant making agencies 3.Government Accountability Office is now actively tracking progress

3 Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act 1.Also known as Public Law Initial plan developed against which all agencies are being judged was developed 3.Plan is at: pl final.pdf

4 Sec. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are to— (1)Improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal financial assistance programs; (2)Simplify Federal financial assistance application and reporting requirements (3)Improve the deliver of services to the public; and (4)Facilitate greater coordination among those responsible for delivering such services

5 Activities Five topic areas: 1.Pre-Award 2. Mandatory 3. Post-Award 4. Audit Oversight 5. Training and Certification

6 Pre-Award

7 Done Done/In Process/Future 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

8 Done Done/In Process/Future Done: 5. Grants.gov “Find” data elements developed 6. Single Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Government- wide Requirement for Drug-Free Workplace (Grant) Rule published 7. Title 2 established for all grant regulations 8. Cost circulars, Administrative Circular for non- governments, and Suspension and Debarment guidance moved to Title 2.

9 In Process Done/In Process/Future In Process: 1.Drug-free workplace guidance 2. Central Contractor Registry standard policies 3. Single administrative requirements guidance to agencies 4. Working with the Federal Demonstration Partnership on standard terms and conditions

10 Future Done/In Process/Future Future: 1.Standardize Notice of Award 2.Place agency specific regulations in Title 2, Part B 3.Continue to improve and standardize application data elements

11 Mandatory

12 Done/In Process Done/In Process/Future 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: 1.Terms and conditions 2.Policy for application use

13 Future Done/In Process/Future Future: 1.Consistent application requirements 2.Consistent reporting requirements

14 Post-Award

15 Done Done/In Process/Future Done: Payments 1. Either ASAP or PMS had to be chosen 2. Pooled payments is an option Cost Principles Simplification of three sets of cost principles

16 In Process Done/In Process/Future In Process: Payments Survey of utilization of ASAP and PMS by agencies Indirect Cost Uniform Guidance Handbook Requirements document being finalized

17 In Process Done/In Process/Future In Process: Reports 1.Inventions – to be used to report all inventions conceived or put into practice using grant funds a. Data elements developed b. Utilize iEdison c. Working on policy statement

18 In Process Done/In Process/Future 2. Federal Financial Report – to report cash outlays and expenditures, obligations, cost sharing, and program income a.Form finalized b.Data elements finalized c.Pilot test currently at the Payment Management System of Health and Human Services d. If approved, will go out from OMB for final agency utilization

19 In Process Done/In Process/Future 3. Real Property Report – status report on Real Property or request agency instructions on disposition: a.Reviewed and commented upon by federal agencies b. Notice being prepared for Federal Register

20 In Process Done/In Process/Future 4. Personal Property Report – status report of certain grantee owned equipment and/or federally owned equipment: a.Initial format being reconsidered b.Issues regarding status versus disposition c.Non-Federal reporting for select equipment d.Federally owned of intense interest

21 In Process Done/In Process/Future 5. Program Performance Report – to report on all Progress by recipients other than research awards. a.Format developed b.Agency comments received and acted upon c.Revisions to administrative requirements being worked on d. Next step is for Federal Register Notice

22 In Process Done/In Process/Future 6. Research Report – to be used by all recipients of research grants and cooperative agreements. a.Developed by an interagency team b.Reviewed and analyzed by all research funding agencies c.Approved for Federal Register Notice

23 Future Done/In Process/Future Future: 1. Consolidate Cost Principles 2. Reduce Payment Systems 3. Further simplify and standardize all reports

24 Audit Oversight

25 Done Done/In Process/Future Done: 1. Threshold for audit raised to $500,000 of expenditures per year. 2. Pamphlet completed: Highlights of the Single Audit Process Documents/singleauditcfoBrochure.pdf

26 In Process Done/In Process/Future In Process: 1.Review of data elements, instructions, and appearance of Single Audit Clearinghouse information collection 2. Update compliance supplement for accuracy and consistency 3. Review of audit quality performed by CPA firms

27 In Process Done/In Process/Future 3.Review of audit quality performed by CPA firms 4.Audit Policy issues being reviewed

28 Future Done/In Process/Future Future: 1.Improve services provided by Single Audit Clearinghouse 2. Develop single audit policy for all recipient organizations

29 Training and andOversight

30 In Process Done/In Process/Future 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 being reviewed 4. A database of current knowledge and competencies is in the planning phase

31 Future Done/In Process/Future Future: 1. Standard training for all grant managers 2. Standard abilities and competencies defined government-wide 3. A process for certifying current and future grant managers will be Developed 4. Government-wide data base will be built

32 In Conclusion

33 Public Law The law sunsets in November, OMB and the grant making agencies have a mandate to comply with the Act. 3.Annual reports to Congress are being closely scrutinized 4. Agency budgets are being impacted based on their compliance with the Act 5. Most agencies take their responsibilities seriously and are participating in all of these efforts.

34 QUESTIONS