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Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior

Departmental Manual

 

 

Effective Date:  3/29/06

Series:   Federal Assistance Programs

Part 507:  Program Information and Data

Chapter 1:  Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

 

Originating Office:  Office of Acquisition and Property Management

 

507 DM 1

 

1.1     Purpose.  This chapter provides Department of the Interior (DOI) policy and procedures to implement Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-89 (revised).

 

1.2     Background.  The OMB Circular A-89 (revised) prescribes the manner in which the General Services Administration (GSA), OMB, and executive agencies that administer domestic assistance programs are to carry out their statutory responsibilities under the Federal Program Information Act, Public Law 95-220, and in compliance with the intent of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act, Public Law 106-107.  DOI responsibilities include submitting information to OMB on all domestic assistance programs and activities that are federally funded and administered by the Department for preparation of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

 

1.3     Policy.  In compliance with Public Law 95-220, and in order to maintain transparency consistent with the customer service mandates prescribed in Public Law 106-107, it is the policy of the Department to ensure that information on domestic assistance programs and activities that are federally funded and administered by the Department are entered into the CFDA and updated on a regular basis to provide current information on programs.

 

          A.      The Department uses the CFDA as the single, authoritative, Government-wide comprehensive source document of Federal domestic assistance program information produced by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.  The CFDA is a guide to all domestic assistance programs and activities regardless of funding level or program duration.

 

          B.      While the CFDA provides the public with profiles of financial assistance programs, all actual discretionary grant and cooperative agreement funding opportunities shall be  posted to Grants.gov (www.Grants.gov), in accordance with the October 8, 2003, Office of Management and Budget Policy Directive on Use of Grants.gov FIND.

 

1.4     Description of the CFDA.  The CFDA is a listing and description of Federal programs and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public.

 

          A.      The primary purpose of the CFDA is to help users obtain general information on Federal assistance programs.  Actual funding opportunities for discretionary grants and cooperative agreement programs described in the CFDA shall be posted to Grants.gov.

 

          B.      In the CFDA, each program is described in terms of the specific type of assistance provided, authorizing legislation, objectives and goals of the program, applicant eligibility requirements, and application and award processing.  The names and telephone numbers of persons to be contacted for detailed program information at the headquarters, regional, and local levels are also provided.

 

          C.      The CFDA includes "Federal domestic assistance programs" which provide assistance or benefits for a State or States, territorial possession, county, city, other political subdivision, grouping, or instrumentality thereof, any domestic profit or nonprofit corporation, institution, or individual other than an agency of the Federal Government.

 

          D.      "Assistance" or "benefits" refers to the transfer of money, property, services, or anything of value, the principal purpose of which is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute.  Assistance includes, but is not limited to grants, cooperative agreements, loans, loan guarantees, scholarships, mortgage loans, insurance, and other types of financial assistance; providing or donating Federal facilities, goods, services, property, technical assistance, counseling, statistical, and other expert information, and service activities of regulatory agencies.  It does not include providing conventional public information services.

 

1.5     Responsibilities.

 

          A.      The Office of Acquisition and Property Management (PAM).  PAM is responsible for the Department's coordination with OMB in all matters relating to the CFDA.  It also assists bureaus and offices in maintaining Interior-related information published in the CFDA.  A member of PAM shall be designated responsible for coordinating the necessary dissemination to the Bureau/Office Federal Financial Assistance Communication Liaison the reporting instructions relating to program submissions for the CFDA following transmittal from GSA.  Upon receipt of the material from the Bureau/Office Federal Financial Assistance Communication Liaison (507 DM 2), this person shall review the material for accuracy and completeness prior to submission to OMB.

 

          B.      Heads of Bureaus and Offices are responsible for carrying out the policies, procedures, and guidelines established in this directive.  In accordance with 507 DM 2, each bureau/office head shall designate a Federal Financial Assistance Communication Liaison.   

 

          C.      Federal Financial Assistance Communication Liaison’s responsibilities include serving as the CFDA representative and acting as a liaison with PAM; and distributing materials to prepare new program descriptions for the CFDA and subsequent updates of the descriptions to appropriate offices within the bureau/office, including reviewing the material for completeness and accuracy before transmitting to PAM.  Submissions must be on time to meet the deadlines set by OMB and GSA.

 

          D.      Bureau/Office Federal Register Liaison Officers will be responsible for assuring that all new and amended program information contains the official GSA program number and title when published in the Federal Register as a Federal assistance program announcement.  This includes but is not limited to entries published as final regulations and amendments under the Rules and Regulations Section, and notices of any kind pertaining to ongoing programs. (See 318 DM 1.4B.)

 

1.6     CFDA Website.  The CFDA is available at www.cfda.gov and provides real time access for Federal assistance program updates.

 

1.7     CFDA Numbers and Temporary Program Numbers. 

 

          A.      A CFDA number is a unique number created in the CFDA database.  It tracks all domestically funded Federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally recognized Indian tribal governments; territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals. 

 

          B.      Temporary Program Numbers (TPN).  Since CFDA numbers are now available from the CFDA database in real time, Temporary Program Numbers (TPN) (previously known as “pseudocodes”) will be granted for limited duration and only in cases of emergency, e.g., fires, natural or national emergency.  Upon receipt of written bureau/office financial assistance program requests/justifications, TPN’s will be assigned by the Office of Acquisition and Property Management, and must be superseded by a CFDA number within 45 days of issuance.

 

3/29/06 #3707

Replaces 8/7/96 #3083