Transcript Document 7312450

2007 Northeastern Managing
Officers’ Meeting (NEMO)
CSREES Update
October 29, 2007
Ellen Danus, Chief
Policy, Oversight, and Funds Management Branch
Office of Extramural Programs
CSREES-USDA
CSREES Update
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Office of the Extramural Programs
FY 2007 Wrap-Up
2007 Farm Bill
FY 2008 Budget
Office of Extramural Programs
Implementation of FY 2008 Programs
eGrants
Technical Reporting Requirements
Financial Reporting Requirements
Update on Formula Policies
Oversight Activities
Office of Extramural Programs
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CSREES Organizational Chart
(01/30/2002):
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Charged with providing leadership in the
formulation and implementation of federal
assistance policy for CSREES programs.
Charged with establishing operational
administrative management policies
regarding the solicitation, negotiation,
execution, and administration of grants
and cooperative agreements in
accordance with authorizing legislation
and Federal and departmental assistance
regulations.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE
OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS
Andrea Brandon
Deputy Administrator
202-720-9181
Ellen Danus, Branch Chief
Policy, Oversight, and
Funds Management Branch
202-401-4325
Policy Section
- Administrative Provisions
- Directives/Administrative Manuals
- Memoranda of Understanding
- Policies/Procedures/Regulations
- Requests for Applications
Oversight Section
- Administrative/Financial Site Reviews
- Audit Resolution
- Administrative Mgmt of Formula Programs:
- Animal Health
- Evans-Allen
- Hatch
- McIntire-Stennis
- Native American Endowment
- Renewable Resources Extension Act
- Section 1444 (1890) Extension
- Smith-Lever
- Plan of Work Liaison with Planning and Accountability
Funds Management Section
- Obligation of Funds thru C-REEMS
- Payment of Awards thru DHHS-PMS
- Oversight of Financial Reporting:
- SF-269, Financial Status Report
- SF-272, Federal Cash Transactions Report
thru DHHS-PMS
- Maintenance of official accounting records thru FFIS
- Year-end and ad-hoc financial reports
Carol Langguth, Branch Chief
Awards Management Branch
202-401-5204
AMB Section I and Section II
- Pre-Award Review of Grants and Cooperative
Agreements (legal, regulatory, administrative)
- Execution of Awards
- Post-award Administration
- Administrative Site Reviews
- Administrative Oversight of Facilities Awards
- Assist in the development of Requests for Applications
- Assist in Program Implementation
- Outreach Activities (NCURA, SRA, etc.)
USDA/CSREES/OEP
Policy, Oversight, and Funds Management Branch
Ellen Danus
CHIEF
401-4325
[email protected]
Joseph Perez
Secretary (OA)
205-5667
[email protected]
Erin Daly
Edward Nwaba
Section Leader for Policy
401-3319
[email protected]
Section Leader for Oversight
205-5799
[email protected]
Wanda Walker
Section Leader
Funds Management
401-5582
[email protected]
Melanie Krizmanich
Joanna Moore
Jillian Worthen
Mary E. Bell
Junae’ Slayton
Policy Specialist
401-1762
[email protected]
Policy Specialist
690-6011
[email protected]
Student Aide
401-4248
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
401-4527
[email protected]
Student Aide
401-2363
[email protected]
Ruth Dunmore
John Jefferies
Jon Kavalauskas
Barry S. Sims
Philip Sue-Ling
Michael Silas
Policy Specialist
401-5057
[email protected]
Policy Specialist
401-5061
[email protected]
Staff Accountant
401-4313
[email protected]
Staff Accountant
205-0453
[email protected]
Staff Accountant
401-1302
[email protected]
Student Aide
401-4312
[email protected]
Allison Owens
Brenda Barnett
Viveca Yancey
Jameal Clark
Kenneth Keys
Sharon Vessels
Grants & Agreements Specialist
205-0118
[email protected]
Budget & Fiscal Specialist
401-6520
[email protected]
Grants & Agreements Specialist
401-4172
[email protected]
Team Leader
Payments & Operations
401-6873
[email protected]
Team Leader
Recipient Reporting
401-5310
[email protected]
Team Leader
Reconciliation
401-4322
[email protected]
Arnita Cross
Debbie Ogden
Tonette Bridgwaters
Sophia Wilson
Aurea Anderson
Staff Accountant
401-8928
[email protected]
Grants & Agreements Specialist
401-5025
[email protected]
Budget & Fiscal Specialist
401-6409
[email protected]
Budget & Accounting Technician
401-5629
[email protected]
Budget & Fiscal Specialist
401-6323
[email protected]
Mildred Rollins
Ann Tucker
Budget & Fiscal Specialist
401-4317
[email protected]
Budget & Accounting Technician
401-4315
[email protected]
Jeffrey Sweet
Staff Accountant
401-4312
[email protected]
Priscilla Bosco
Selene Gates
Janet Roder
Budget & Fiscal Specialist
401-4316
[email protected]
Budget & Accounting Technician
720-3512
[email protected]
Staff Accountant
205-2448
[email protected]
Khaliah Whittington
Budget & Accounting Technician
401-6309
[email protected]
Policy Section
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Coordination of the RFA Process
Schedule of Awards
Grants Policy
Terms and Conditions
Unified Agenda and Agency Regulations
MOUs
OEP Information Collections
Federal Register Liaison
Federal Register Notices
Implementation of New Programs
Farm Bill Implementation
Oversight Section (Non-Formula)
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Improper Payment Information Act (IPIA)
Reviews and OCFO Contact
A-123 Process and OCFO Contact
Resolution of OIG Hotline Complaints
Administrative and Financial Reviews
Internal Reviews
Audit Resolution
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A-133 Audits
USDA OIG and GAO Audits
Oversight Section (Formula)
 Allocation of CSREES Formula Grant Funds
 Administration of CSREES Formula Grants
 Responding to Questions from Grantees
 Maintenance of the Formula Grant Web
Pages
 Communication with Grantees
 Participation in Formula Policy and RFA
Development
Funds Management Section
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Authorization of Grant Funds through the
Department of Health and Human Services’
Payment Management System (DHHS-PMS)
Review of the SF-269’s for all grant awards
(Including formula grants)
Fiscal close-out of all grant awards
Recording of all Agency financial transactions
related to grant awards
Reconciliation of all Agency grant accounts in
CREEMS, FFIS, and DHHS-PMS
Coordination of the Agency Reimbursable
Process (cradle to grave)
Drivers for POFMB
 The Drive for Accountability and Transparency
 Through New Requirements
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IPIA
FFATA
A-123 process
Through Enforcement of Existing Requirements
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Clean audit opinion on Annual Financial
Statements (USDA)
Prompt resolution of audits
 A-133s
 OIG
 Program Changes
 New Programs
Office of Extramural Programs
 Focus on written policies, allocation of resources, and
training of staff
 Policy, Oversight, and Funds Management Branch
 Phase I of OEP Reorganization
 Three positions in Oversight
 One position in Policy
 Phase II of OEP Organization
FY 2007 Wrap-Up
 FY 2007 was impacted by:
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FY 2007 Continuing Resolution
 No earmarks
 Significant increases on other programs (i.e.,
Hatch Act and McIntire-Stennis Act)
U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Requirements (i.e., Portman Memo)
FY 2007 Wrap-Up
 Waivers Processed ASAP (by 9/26/2007)
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Requiring more documentation to support request
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Unmatched Funds
 Determination made by 9/26/2007
 Redistributed before 9/30/2007
 FY 2007 CSRS and FERS Retirement Allocations
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Posted first week of September 2007
Distributed after receipt of final cert
Redirected to SL regular allocation over 10-year
period CSRS (FY 2007) and FERS (FY 2008)
FY 2007 Wrap-Up
 FY 2007 Pesticide Safety Education (PSEP) Program
Allocated and posted by 9/30/2007
 Grant period is usually 10/01/2006-09/30/2008
 No-cost extensions must be approved in advance
 FY 2007 Non-formula Programs/Awards
 Required to use Grants.gov (i.e., application
packages)
 Making awards up through 09/30/2007
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2007 Farm Bill
 House (HR 2419) passed on July 23, 2007
 Available at
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html.
 What is the Farm Bill?
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A collection of laws establishing agriculture programs
and their requirements, re-authorizing current programs,
and revising current legislation
Reconsidered or revised every four or so years
Current programs expired September 30, 2007
2007 Farm Bill
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House Version
 Proposed Revisions:
 Re-authorizes most programs through FY 2012
 Indirect cost cap includes any vs. competitive
 Merging IFAS and NRI
 10 years
 Basic (NRI – 60 percent) and applied research (Future
Agricultural and Food Systems – 40 percent)
 UDC eligibility for certain programs (SL 3(d) and HEP)
 Change to EFNEP formula
 Review POW requirements
 Multistate and Integrated requirements at 25 percent
2007 Farm Bill
 House Version – New Programs/Initiatives
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Capacity Building Grants for ASCARR Institutions
Researcher training
Grants to upgrade facilities at UDC
Grants to upgrade facilities at Insular 1862s
Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and
Universities
 Endowment
 Competitive research
 Competitive extension
 Competitive institutional capacity
2007 Farm Bill
 House Version – New Programs/Initiatives
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Specialty Crops Policy Research Institute
New ERA Rural Technology Program
Agricultural Bioenergy and Biobased Products
Research Initiative
Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Fresh Cut Produce Safety Grants
2007 Farm Bill (Senate)
 2-Year Postsecondary Education Teaching Program
 EFNEP Formula Change & UDC Eligibility
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Animal Health: 1890’s Eligible
 Authorization level for 1890’s
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Extension 15% to 20%
Research 25% to 30%
Grants to Upgrade Facilities at UDC
Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges & Universities
Indirect Costs 19% to 30%
Research Foundations
Smith-Lever Act
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CYFARnet (1890’s Eligible)
Eliminates Governor’s Report
 Penalty Mail References Deleted
 McIntire-Stennis: 1890’s Eligible
 Review of POW Requirements
FY 2008 Budget (House and Senate
Reports)
 View reports at
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app08.html
 Earmarks
 Included in both versions under:
 Special Research Grants
 Research Federal Administration
 Extension Federal Administration
 Differences between House and Senate
 Some earmarks are under a specific authority and
some are now designated as
earmarks
FY 2008 Budget (House and Senate
Reports)
 Formula Programs
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Hatch Act and McIntire-Stennis Act funds returning to
levels lower than FY 2007 appropriated amounts
Some differences (inc/dec) for other programs:
 Smith-Lever Act – regular allocation
 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
 1890 Research and Extension Programs
2008 Budget (House and Senate
Reports)
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Both House and Senate Reports directs the Secretary to provide
certain reports:
 House
 A report on how each program contributes to the Agency’s
goals – 10/01/2007
 A report on FARAD – 45 days of enactment
 Senate
 National Veterinary Medical Services Act – directs the
Secretary to provide a report on the status of and a
timetable for implementation of the act.
 Special Research Grants – directs the Secretary to provide
a report by 03/01/2008 regarding the status of awards for
FY 2008 and the specific objectives to be sought in each
case.
Impacts on Implementation of FY 2008
Budget
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Farm Bill Proposals and Implementation
Continuing Resolutions
Transfer of Reimbursable Function to OEP
eGrant Implementation
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Fine tuning the process
Expanding to all competitive and line-item
awards
Including 4 formula programs
Implementation of FY 2008 Programs
 Some programs may be impacted by proposals and
the actual enactment of the 2007 Farm Bill due to the
following potential changes:
 Changes in the formula methodology (e.g.,
EFNEP)
 Changing program eligibility
 Change in indirect cost legislation (e.g.,
application of 19 percent cap (amended through
appropriations to 20 percent) to non-competitive
programs)
 Change in indirect cost cap
FY 2008 Grants Policies
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CSREES will be issuing Grants Policy and Procedures Bulletins on the following:
 Use of Grants.gov to post application packages and to receive grant
applications for:
 All Competitive Programs
 All Line-item Awards
 Special Research
 Federal Administration Research
 Federal Administration Extension
 All awards supported with other administrative and reimbursable funds
 Formula Programs (only four for FY 2008)
 McIntire-Stennis Act funds
 Animal Health and Disease Research
(NARETPA Section 1433)
 Renewable Resources Extension Act funds
 EFNEP funds (Smith-Lever Act Section 3(d))
FY 2008 Grants Policies
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CSREES will be issuing Grants Policy and Procedures Bulletins
(GPPBs) on the following:
 Use of PDF-only attachments for grant applications submitted
through Grants.gov:
 CSREES will only accept grant applications with PDF
attachments
 Applications with non-PDF attachments will be at-risk for
being excluded from CSREES Review
 Policy will be communicated through:
 Request for Applications (RFAs)
 GPPB on Agency website
 CSREES Update
FY 2008 Grants (Forms Update)
eGrants Process
 Pure Edge Forms will be used in FY 2008
 Adobe Forms are tentatively scheduled for release to
the agency in October
 Adobe Forms testing will be done on a small program
to ensure a smooth transition for FY 2009
FY 2008 Grants (Forms Updates)
Applicant and agency
 The Grants.gov process is working for both the applicant
and the agency
 The most common errors made by applicants in the
electronic submission process can be found on CSREES’
eGrants website
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/common_errors.html
Technical Reporting Requirements
 August 22, 2007 Memo on CSREES Announces Changes to
CRIS
 Sandbox of the CRIS Transition Standard Report
 CSREES developing a chart of what technical reports are due
for each CSREES program (OEP, Program, and ISTM)
 Does not apply to Smith-Lever Act Section 3b & c and
NARETPA Section 1444
Financial Reporting Requirements
 CSREES reviewing financial reporting requirements
 CSREES reviewing the standard operating procedures
(e.g., workflow, refunds, written policies, canceling year
funds, etc.)
 SF-269 Workload
 CSREES required to implement procedures to restrict
access to funds after the due date of final SF-269
Other Grant Policies and Requirements
 Research Misconduct (under review at USDA Office of
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the General Counsel)
Control of Genetically Engineered Animals and Insects
(ongoing audit)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
requirements
Grantees need to review the Terms and Conditions of
the Awards
Grant Policy Mail Box
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Policy and Procedures Questions
Update on Formula Policies
 Overall Formula Policies
FPPBs
 FY 2008 Formula Allocation Letters will include
references to the applicable Federal assistance
regulations and policies
 Administrative Guidance
 2007 Farm Bill
 Integrated with Plan of Work (POW)
reporting requirements
 Formula Mail Boxes
 Forms
 Policy & Procedures Questions
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CSREES Oversight Activities
 Improper Payment Information Act (IPIA) Reviews
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(Annually – one 1862 in each region, one 1890, and
one 1994)
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Studies and
Audits
USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Audits
and Investigations
Site Reviews
Agency Investigation of OIG Hotline Complaints
(complaints referred to Agency)
CSREES Oversight Activities
 Audit Resolution
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A-133 Audits
OIG Audits and Investigations
GAO Studies and Audits
Agency Site Visits
IPIA Reviews
Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA)
 Info available at http://www.federalspending.gov
 Requires OMB to launch on a website a public
database on January 1, 2008:
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Name
Amount
Info about the award
Unique Identifier
Location
 Requires OMB to include info on subawards in the
same database on January 1, 2009
 Impacts:
 Federal agencies
 Prime Awardees
 Subawardees