Special Features and Updates
OMB, Feds Respond to Questions on Recovery Act
Washington, March 31 – The Association of Government Accountants’ Partnership for Intergovernmental Management and Accountability recently held a conference call on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Following are abridged responses offered during a question-and-answer session. The participants were Danny Werfel, deputy controller at the Office of Management and Budget; Sheila Conley, deputy chief financial officer at the Department of Health and Human Services; Owen Barwell, deputy chief financial officer at the Department of Energy; Kristine Leiphart, deputy chief financial officer of the Federal Transit Administration; and Melinda Morgan, director of the financial staff at the Department of Justice.
NGMA Conference: Grants Law Questions Addressed at NGMA Session
Washington, May 6 — The Federal Bar Association hosted a question-and-answer session on aspects of grants law and regulations at the National Grants Management Association Annual Training Conference. Session panelists were Thomas Armstrong, assistant general counsel for appropriations and budgeting at the Government Accountability Office; Stacia Davis Le Blanc, senior counsel at Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP; Peter Wathen-Dunn, senior attorney for the Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel; and Jennifer Schwab, senior attorney with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel. The following offers condensed responses to Recovery Act questions posed during the session.
Grants.gov Answers Frequently Asked Application Questions
Washington, May 8 – As more grantseekers begin using the federal government’s Web portal, Grants.gov, to submit applications for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, officials are noting an increased number of questions coming in to its contact center. To help answer some of these questions, Granst.gov has updated its site with a new guide to address its users’ frequently asked questions. The Economic Recovery Grants Center below provides some of the most common questions along with Grants.gov’s answers.
OMB Details ARRA Administrative Cost Flexibilities
GAO: OMB Should Alter Single Audit Process for Recovery Act Programs
Washington, May 21 – The process for conducting single audits of programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act should be altered to make them more timely and useful, the Government Accountability Office is recommending in the first of a series of reports on how states are implementing Recovery Act funds.
Auditors of ARRA Programs Warned Not To Send Personal Information
Washington, June 15 – When auditors eventually submit entire single audit reporting package online as part of America Recovery and Reinvestment Act requirements, they must ensure that no personal information is included, according to a key official with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Beginning the Grantseeking Process
For many organizations, getting a grant award can seem like the solution to all of their financial problems. For other organizations, government grants are viewed as laden with red tape and too many strings. These organizations do not want to give up their freedom when it comes to spending monies or moving a dollar from one line item to the next without the grantor’s written permission. Executive directors have heard horror stories from their nonprofit colleagues and they’ve simply decided to exist off of private sector grant awards and individual contributions. What are they failing to realize? Every funder — public or private sector — expects and requires high levels of accountability. After all, funders are accountable to someone too!
The Dates You Need to Know
With President Obama’s signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a detailed timeline of events kicked into gear. Beginning on Feb. 19, effects of the stimulus package will start to impact state and local governments wishing to take advantage of the billions of dollars in available funding.
OJP Launches Web site to Track Stimulus Grants
The Office of Justice Programs, a division of the Department of Justice, recently launched a new Web site that details which of its grant programs are included in the economic stimulus package, and how much each program will be distributing. Funded programs include the Edward Byrne Memorial Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, Grants for Victim Compensation and Assistance, and Assistance for Tribal Law Enforcement.
EPA Releases State-by-State Funding Allocations
Washington, Feb. 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a state-by-state table estimating the funding allocations that will be made for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund from funds provided by the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
