CCDO manages all Weed and Seed grant money that is distributed to more than 300 sites across the country. Communities interested in applying for Weed and Seed funds (subject to the availability of funds as appropriated by Congress) must first notify their U.S. Attorney’s Office that they intend to develop a Weed and Seed strategy. A lengthy pre-award period (see box) precedes any funding allocation. A prospective site must submit the application to the local U.S. Attorney's Office for review and later submit the application to CCDO.

In making funding decisions for sites, CCDO considers compliance with the solicitation's requirements and conditions; past performance; past awards; all OJP reporting requirements; and annual reporting as mandated by the Government Performance and Review Act.

Because Weed and Seed is a strategy rather than a grant program, all sites must prove their capacity to obtain financial and in-kind resources from a variety of public and private sources. Weed and Seed funding is not meant to provide for all of a site's public safety and community development-related needs. CCDO encourages sites to use the Weed and Seed application and planning process to work with their Steering Committee and coalition partners to improve collaboration and leverage other available federal, state, and local resources.

CCDO is helping sites plan for sustainability, so they can use funds efficiently and in a manner that will sustain the project for the long term, after the startup funding from CCDO expires. Potential and current sites should research other federal funding sources as well as state, local, and private resources. Weed and Seed sites are encouraged to coordinate with other U.S. Department of Justice programs in their area, particularly Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. Coordination among federal agencies can be facilitated through Federal Executive Boards. Further information on federal agencies and their programs is available in the Federal Resource Guide for Weed and Seed Communities.

Site Reporting Forms

Sites that receive Weed and Seed funding are required to fill out the following fiscal and programmatic reporting forms, which may be filled out online or as noted below:

• SF 269—Financial Status Report. This form must be filed quarterly (May 15, August 14, November 14, and February 14 for the preceding 3 months). A final SF 269 is due 120 days after the end date of the award. Fillable and nonfillable versions of the form are available online.

• Categorical Assistance Progress Report (or "Progress Report"). This form is required two times per year: no later than July 30 and January 30. A final Categorical Assistance Progress Report is due 120 days following the close of the grant or any extension thereof. Please create your actual report (see progress report format for specifics) in a Word document and attach it in GMS. If you have questions on how to use GMS, call the GMS helpline at 888-549-9901.

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) forms for CCDO sites are due each year with a continuation site's funding application. Visit the Application Kit section for a PDF version of the GPRA forms or visit the Weed and Seed Data Center.