Grants streamlining Accomplishments

Many of the listings below represent activities for which the Office of Management and Budget has issued policy direction or guidance and that have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented by the federal grant-making agencies. More details about the accomplishments of the Grants Policy Committee and the Grants Streamlining Initiative can be found in the P.L. 106-107 Reports to Congress on the documents page of this website.

2007-2008

• Performance Progress Report approved by OMB for agency use. Use of SF-PPR is encouraged by OMB; however no policy issuance exists yet. [EXIT Disclaimer]

• Comments are being reviewed for the following proposed reports:
• Research Performance Progress Report Format [EXIT Disclaimer]

• A new information collection standard: Tangible Personal Property Reports [EXIT Disclaimer]

• Real Property Status Report

• Financial reporting consolidation for grants and cooperative agreements into the Federal Financial Report [EXIT Disclaimer]

2006

- Developed an addendum to the Research and Development Cluster in the OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement to address sub-recipient monitoring.

- Worked with federal Departmental liaisons to publish the single audit compliance supplement for use by auditors in auditing federal assistance programs under OMB Circular A-133.

- Developed draft guidance to assist non-federal entities and their auditors as well as cognizant and oversight agencies on Hurricane Katrina/Rita issues related to the OMB Circular A-133 single audits.

- In conjunction with the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), performed quality control reviews on over 200 single audit reports from a broad range of entities that cover the entire grantee community.

2005

- Worked with and recommended that the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) revise the Central Contractor Registry’s handbook for new CCR registrants. The IAE posted the handbook at http://www.ccr.gov/pdfs/CCR_Handbook.pdf.

- Published adoptable OMB guidance on non-procurement debarment and suspension in the new title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR part 180).

- Published cost principles in OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, and A-122 at 2 CFR parts 220, 225, and 230, respectively, in the new title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

2004

- Established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

- Made the language of the OMB cost principles more consistent.

- Updated the SF-SAC form used to submit single audits under OMB Circular A-133 to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

- Issued the 2004 OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement.

2003

- Updated the suspension and debarment common rule using plain language and eliminating a previously required certification.

- Opened the government-wide portal for electronic submission of applications.

- Issued policy-requiring agencies to post on Grants.gov FIND the synopses of funding opportunities for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.

- Modified the Standard Form 424 to update its contents and serve as the core data elements for Grants.gov APPLY.

- Issued a government-wide policy on use of a universal identifier that requires all applications for Federal grants or cooperative agreements to include a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

- Issued revisions to OMB Circular A-133, to increase the threshold for audit from $300,000 to $500,000.

- Issued a government-wide policy requiring agencies to use a standard template for announcing grant and cooperative agreement funding opportunities. The policy included the detailed instructions and standard template.

- Issued the final standard data elements for an announcement synopsis under Grants.gov FIND.

2001

- Developed and distributed a pamphlet entitled "Highlights of the Single Audit Process" to more than 40,000 recipients and to federal agencies to ensure a better understanding of the single audit process under Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133.