Federal Agencies Launching Grants.gov Web Site

OMB Watch has been monitoring implementation of the federal government’s grants streamlining project, which is required by the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999. The federal government has developed a web site for all agencies to post grant opportunities, and is also piloting a site for electronic submission of grant applications. You can view these at Grants.gov. By Oct. 1, all federal agencies will be required to post their grant announcements on Grants.gov, which has a standard format for all announcements. This type of streamlining effort will allow applicants to quickly and easily find the information they need to decide whether or not a particular funding opportunity is of interest. In addition, all federal agencies must provide one or more ways (e.g., Internet site, telephone, or postal mail) to receive the full grant announcement. Grants.gov will be more than just a vehicle to find discretionary grant announcements; it will also serve as a tool for applying for a particular grant as well. All federal agencies will be required to tell potential applicants how to get application forms, kits, and all other materials needed to apply. Additionally, they must make these materials available online. While the process for applying for grants will change somewhat, the Department of Health and Human Services ensures OMB Watch that it is taking the appropriate steps to provide help and support services. A Federal Register notice of final policy issuance requires that starting on Oct. 1, all grant applicants will have to provide a number from the Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. This number will act as an identifier for tracking and contacting purposes. Any prospective grantee can request and receive a DUNS number for free by calling 1-866-705-5711 or apply online. Along with the new DUNS number requirement, there will also be a one-time, four-step setup process for all those interested in applying for federal grants online with Grants.gov. After obtaining a DUNS number (step one) all applicants must register with the Central Contractors Registry (CCR) (step two). The CCR is a tool to centralize the information about grant recipients and provide a central location for grantees and applicants to change their organizational information. Information for registering for CCR and online documents can be found at www.ccr.gov. Step three requires all potential grantees to register with a credential provider after Oct. 1, which can be done on Grants.gov. A credential provider is an investigator for the granting agency and provides information on the authenticity of the applicant. Last, the applicant will have to register with Grants.gov as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Once registered and approved the entity that made it through the process will forever be able to submit grant applications online to Grants.gov. It is crucial that all nonprofits, government agencies, nongovernmental agencies, and the like that are interested in applying for federal grants or currently do rely on federal dollars participate in the grants streamlining process. Please take the time to visit Grants.gov to cruise around and inspect the quality of the site. All the tools you need to setup for applying for grants should be available at the site. In order to ensure success in the implementation of the grants streamlining project, engage in the public discussion; visit OMB Watch’s Nonprofit Forum where your comments and suggestions will guide our input to agencies to make Grants.gov more efficient. For background information on grant streamlining, see the special section of our website.
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