1. ezFedGrants Update

2. NIFA FY 17 & 18 Capacity Programs
Evans-Allen (Section 1445)
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program
The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research)
The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund)
Animal Health and Disease Research Program
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Extension at 1890 Land-grant Colleges (Section 1444)
Joint Cooperative Extension Programs at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions and University of the District of Columbia
CES at 1862 Land-grant Institutions (Smith-Lever Special Needs)
Renewable Resources Extension Act Program
Research and Extension Programs processed through ezFedGrants. If you don’t work on these programs, you don’t need to get access at this time. FOR NIFA AWARDS. Your access for other agencies, under the same DUNS number will allow you access to NIFA agreements, now and in the future.

3. Status 522 Active FY 2017 agreements Ongoing amendments for FY 2017
FY 2018 capacity RFAs published on Grants.gov in early August, due Sept.
FY 2017 capacity annual SF425 must be submitted through ezFedGrants
Reports made available October 1, 2017
Due by December 29, 2017
Examples of types of amendments: release of funds, change in AR/PD, matching waiver actions.
Received 445 FY 2018 applications as of
Due date has been standardized for all programs. All now due 90 days after the period of performance annual end date. This is a change for some programs that used to be due in the spring around the time of the POW annual report due dates.

4. SF 425 Submit using system’s electronic workflow
School must have users with roles in ezFedGrants
Report is available in your “Pending Reports” tile
Pre-populated template
Instructions how to submit can be found
“Recipient Report Submission”
NIFA sent one message to impacted schools with documentation how to submit SF425 in late Sept. Will send reminders.
NOTE: as of 10/1 – all NIFA recipients except 13 schools have at least one registered user. We will be reaching out to those that don’t.

5. ezFedGrants Client Page Access for EXTERNAL USERS
Start at this page for resources and to launch the application. Job aides under the training hat icon.

6. What has NOT changed for NIFA applicants
Applicants apply through Grants.gov
Grantees utilize Treasury’s ASAP system to draw funds
Capacity reporting remains the same in REEport and in Plan of Work
NIFA’s competitive awards will not be managed in ezFedGrants until a later date

7. ezFedGrants use by USDA agencies
da.gov/FSS/Training/Online/ezFedGrants/Resources/JA-_Functions.pdf
This is also under the training icon. Compares how different USDA agencies are using the system.

8. Update – DUNS Pilot

9. NIFA Grants and Applications:
NIFA issues grants to universities and programs
Eligible universities, schools and programs apply NIFA grants funds
Grants Applicants
from different schools
Eligible programs apply NIFA grants
University/School System Administrator/Dean
Univ of MD School System
Administrator/Dean
Univ of MD School System
Administrator/Dean
NIFA
RFA Issued to Schools and Universities
Campus A
Campus B
Campus Z
Sub School a
Sub School x
Sub School z
Sub School y
Grants Management Office issued RFA and receive applications through grants.gov

10. Recommendation – Use Department Field on SF-424 R&R
Department field on 424 R&R must be completed and match eligible department from the RFA

11. Proposed NIFA Policy Changes
Mandatory Use of Department Field
Description
NIFA policy will require that the Department Field be completed on the 424 and aligned with program eligibility (i.e. entering specific school or department level - forestry funds should be going to the forestry school)
NIFA Pros
Traceability of eligibility to receipt of funds (through back-end)
Allows NIFA to specify eligible departments in RFA
No change in ezFedGrants Business Partners
University Pros
Simple to implement

12. Debrief - FY18 Capacity DUNS Pilot
432 applications received
98% DUNS matched Appendices
80% Legal Name Dept matched Appendices
32% Increase in Use of Legal Name Dept Field

13. Update – CFDA Numbering Change

14. CFDA Numbers Break out of CFDA 10.500 for each ag extension program
would remain a general ag extension program CFDA
11 new CFDA numbers total
Grouped by purpose and authority
Applies to new awards; not retroactive

15. CFDA Number Implementation
For capacity awards, FY 2019*
For other competitive extension programs, TBD
*FY 18 capacity awards will be issued under

16. CFDA Implementation cont’d
Requires updates to NIFA IT systems
Grantees will also need to make updates to their systems
Point of Contact:
Ruth Dunmore at

17. – Smith-Lever
– 1890 Extension
– 1890 Facilities
– Expanded Food & Nutrition Ed Prog
– Renewable Resources Ext Act
– Rural Health and Safety Education
– Ext Svcs at 1994 Inst
– Food Animal Residue Avoidance Datatbase
– Grants to Youth-Serving Inst
– Ag Risk Management Ed Partnership
– Children, Youth, & Families At-Risk

18. Cost Sharing or Matching
Follow Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR requirements.
Third party-in-kind match must be valued in accordance with
Follow limitations of the award
If indirect costs unallowable under award, unallowable as match
If there is a cap, and the cap is met under the Federal share of the award, cannot count matching funds

19. To count as match, funds must be:
Verifiable in institution records
Not included as contributions for any other Federal award
Necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program objectives
Allowable under the Cost Principles
Non-federal funds

20. For 1890s and Insular Areas Only
7 CFR 3419 Update
For 1890s and Insular Areas Only
NIFA preparing to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to update this rule
When published, NIFA will notify institutions via website and s
Sign up for notifications about regulatory actions on NIFA’s website!
Institutions will have 60 days to submit comments

21. Time and Effort Reporting
NIFA Fact sheet released September 20, 2017

22. This is part of Financial Management Standards 2 CFR 200.302
Segregation of Funds
Must identify, in its account, all Federal awards and expenditures by:
Program
Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN)
Year
CFDA number
Federal agency and pass-through agency (if applicable).
This is part of Financial Management Standards 2 CFR

23. Accounting Records
Adequately identify grant funds (Awards, obligations, assets, liabilities, income and expenditures);
Supported by source documentation;
Must be maintained in accordance with GAAP

24. Source Documentation Costs must trace to authorizing document
Proof that costs are allowable & allocable
If no documentation, cost is not allowable

25. Capacity Grant Updates
Allowable/Unallowable costs
Terms and Conditions
Budgets
NIFA Policy Guide

26. Capacity Terms and Conditions
Implemented in November 2016
Part of Notices of Award for FY 2016 and FY 2017 awards
Incorporates 2 CFR part 200
Captures info from previous Admin Manuals not found in NIFA Policy Guide
Includes unallowable costs

27. Capacity Grants --Grant Application Submissions -Budget (FY 2020)
-Via grants.gov
-SF-424R&R Cover Sheet
-Budget (FY 2020)
--SF 425 Financial Reports
-Submitted via ezFedGrants

28. NIFA Policy Guide In process of being updated
Will incorporate Uniform Guidance
Updated Terms and Conditions
Previous unresolved feedback
Will have opportunity for review and comment
Estimated timeframe: Q1 FY 2018