Grants Policies & Regulations

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda authorize federal awarding agencies the flexibility to aid HHS’ grantee community in several key areas of our grants administration policies and requirements to support the continued research and services necessary to carry out the emergency response related to COVID-19.

• M-21-20 Promoting Public Trust in the Federal Government through Effective Implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act and Stewardship of the Taxpayer Resources (March 19, 2021)
• M-20-26 Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations (June 18, 2020)
• M-20-21 Implementation Guidance for Supplemental Funding Provided in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (April 10, 2020)
• M-20-20 Repurposing Existing Federal Financial Assistance Programs and Awards to Support the Emergency Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (April 9, 2020)
• M-20-17 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations (March 19, 2020)
• M-20-11 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (March 9, 2020)

Grants Policy Topics

• Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirement for HHS Awards (45 CFR Part 75) - Part 75—Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards
• Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200) –Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

Policy Topic: Lobbying

HHS Policy Guidance

• Federal Restrictions on Lobbying for HHS Financial Assistance Recipients
  Recipients of federal funds are not allowed to use federal funding to lobby federal, state, or local officials or their staff to receive additional funding or influence legislation.
• OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement 2016

Policy Topic: Federal Funding Transparency Act (FFATA) / Sub-Award Reporting
Statute

• Public Law 109-282 - Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
• Guidelines to follow for FFATA Sub-Award and Executive Compensation Reporting Requirements and Discretionary Awards –

Resources, Tools and Systems

• FFATA Sub-Award Reporting System (FSRS)
  • FSRS Training (An audio/video slide show is available for review).
  • FSRS User Guide
  • IHS’s Implementation of FSR Sub-Awards Reporting Requirements
  • HRSA’s FFATA Frequently Asked Questions

  Policy Topic: HHS Efficient Spending Policy

  • HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending (January 23, 2015): Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications
    • Attachment 1: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space (January 23, 2015)
      • Exhibit 1: Conference Spending Provisions of the HHS Appropriations Act
      • Exhibit 2: List of Meetings and Events that are Not Conferences
      • Exhibit 3: Conference Expenses and Reporting Requirements
      • FY 2015 Report on Conferences Sponsored by HHS Staff Divisions
        • FY 2015 Report on Conference Spending by HHS Staff Divisions
        • Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
        • Administration for Community Living (ACL)
        • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
        • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
        • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
        • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
        • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
        • Indian Health Services (IHS)
        • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
        • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (Not yet available)

        Policy Topic: Objective Grant Review

        HHS Policy Guidance

        • HHS Grants Policy Statement (Page I 29) – Applications under discretionary grant programs, whether received in response to a funding opportunity announcement, solicited from a single source, or received as unsolicited requests for funding, are subject to objective review. Objective review is an advisory review of discretionary grant applications conducted by a minimum of three unbiased reviewers with expertise in the programmatic area for which applications are submitted (I-30, PG. 44).
        • IHSs Objective Review Training
        • NIHs Peer Review Process

        Grants Policy Resources

        • HHS Grants Policy Statement
        • HHS Administrative and National Policy Requirements
        • Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR – 200) – Final revised rule streamlining grant management requirements. This guidance supersedes requirements from OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, and A-122 (which have been placed in OMB guidances); Circulars A-89, A-102, and A-133; and the guidance in Circular A-50 on Single Audit Act follow-up. (12/26/2013)
        • OMB Home Page – The Office of Management and Budget provides Bulletins, Circulars, Memoranda, Privacy Guidance, Reports and other important guidance information.
        • OMB's Grants Management Home Page – Government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules.
        • 45 CFR Part 75 - Part 75—Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards
        • Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act (PL114-117)
        • Grants Fraud Alert The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public to the latest scheme to defraud the government and steal money from the American people.
          https://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/alerts/alert12212010.asp