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State Grants
State Grant Workplans : The Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD) recently issued Grants Policy Issuance (GPI) 11-03, “State Grant Workplans and Progress Reports”. The GPI was developed by the State Grant Workplan Workgroup, composed of EPA and State grant practitioners, and replaces the State Grant Performance Measures Template. It is designed to 1) enhance accountability for achieving grant performance objectives; 2) ensure that State grants are aligned with the Agency’s Strategic Plan; and 3) provide for more consistent performance reporting. To achieve those objectives, the GPI requires that workplans and associated progress reports prominently display three “Essential Elements”: the EPA Strategic Plan Goal; the EPA Strategic Plan Objective; and Workplan Commitments plus time frame.
The GPI applies to the fourteen State grant programs previously subject to the State Grant Performance Measures Template. It supplements, but in no way supersedes, existing workplan requirements in 40 C.F.R. Part 35 Subpart A. To allow Regions and States sufficient time to adjust to the new requirements, the effective date of the GPI is October 1, 2012. Based on that effective date, the Agency's goal is to have all covered grants awarded on or after October 1, 2012 comply with the GPI. Regions and States, however, should begin their planning now to transition to the new approach and, at a minimum, the GPI should be considered in FY 2012 workplan negotiations.
As the policy is implemented, it will be important for National Program Managers and Regional Program Offices to provide appropriate outreach, assistance and education to State recipients. In addition, OGD will work with the Regions on a case-by-case basis to address any implementation challenges. Please contact Jennifer Bogus, OARM/OGD, at 202-564-5294 should you have questions related to the GPI.
Background
In EPA's FY 2007 budget, OMB instructed EPA to "…develop a standardized template for States to use in reporting results achieved under grant agreements with EPA". From FY 2007 through FY 2009 EPA used a standardized State Grant Performance Measures Template designed to demonstrate results from continuing environmental program grants. The use of the standardized template for State grant performance measures was discontinued in FY 2010 based on the 2007 Lessons Learned Summary Final Report (PDF). (18pp, 163K)
Interim Guidance on Cost Review of Grants/Performance Partnership Grants Awarded under 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart A (5pp, 172kb, About PDF)
Cost Review Template and Guidance for Project Officers Grants Under 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart A (5pp, 237kb, About PDF)
Cost Review Template and Guidance for Grant Specialist Grants Under 40 CFR Part 35 Subpart A (4pp, 32kb, About PDF)
Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations (OCIR) site on Performance Partnerships
Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Information for States and Tribes
Environmental programs covered by Interim Cost Review Guidance (1p, 18kb, About PDF)