The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has revised sections of OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreements. This revision reflects a shift toward result-oriented accountability for grants, in accordance with the President’s Management Agenda (PMA). The guidance reflects the Administration’s focus on improved stewardship and assurance that the American people are receiving value for funds spent on grant programs.
Major Themes:
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- Focus on Outcomes: More emphasis on program goals and specific measures up front in program design and funding announcements (200.301), and strengthened termination related to grant outcomes (200.340) gives agencies new tools to reward performance.
- Tailoring to the Mission: Innovations in data-driven risk management and exceptions to the ‘standard’ are encouraged (200.102). Agencies can tailor their practices to the intended grant program mission.
- New Requirements on Collection Methods: Machine-readable formats are now required for any data collection, bringing this into alignment with the Evidence Act (200.336).
Key Terminology Changes:
- CFDA -> “Assistance Listing”
- ”Standard Form” -> “Common Form”
These are some of the many updates that impact both grantors and recipients, which were first published in the Federal Register on August 13, 2020 and become effective on November 12, 2020.
