Funding Frequently Asked Questions
- How will I know my application has been approved?
- Who do I contact for assistance in using the Grants Management System?
- How do I accept my Award?
- How do I obtain payment?
- How can I access PAPRS?
- Why was my payment request denied?
- What are my reporting responsibilities?
- How do I submit reports?
- If I have questions about my grant, whom do I contact?
- What are the address and FAX numbers for OCFO?
How will I know my application has been approved?
If you are the person who applied for the award or the authorized official of the organization named in the application, you will receive an e-mail notifying you of your award. Once registration of at least one Financial Point of Contact (FPOC) is completed in the Grants Management System (GMS), you may access the Award by clicking on the “Awards” tab. For instructions on registering an FPOC, see the Financial Reporting Status User Manual.
Who do I contact for assistance in using the Grants Management System?
Contact the GMS Help Desk from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Phone: 1-888-549-9901 (choose option 3)
E-mail: GMS.HelpDesk@usdoj.gov
How do I accept my Award?
If you are the person who applied for the award or the authorized official of the organization named in the application, you will receive an e-mail notifying you of your award. Once registration of at least one Financial Point of Contact (FPOC) is completed in the Grants Management System (GMS), you may access the Award by clicking on the “Awards” tab. For instructions on registering an FPOC, see the Financial Reporting Status User Manual.
Print and read the Award and Special Conditions right away. If you accept the terms and conditions of the award, have your authorized recipient official sign a copy of the Award and initial the Special Condition pages and fax them to the OJP Control Desk at 202-353-8475 or 202-616-5962. The signature in box 19 should be the same as the preprinted name in box 18. If the authorized recipient official has changed, do not alter the preprinted name in box 18. A grant adjustment notice (GAN) will have to be initiated in GMS notifying your Program Office of this change. Once the Program Office approves the GAN, print it out, have the new authorized recipient official sign in box 19 and initial every page with Special Conditions, and fax both the GAN and signed Award to the OJP Control Desk at 202-353-8475 or 202-616-5962.
If you do not accept the terms/conditions, contact the OJP Program Office noted in the award letter immediately.
Note: OJP will not disburse funds unless the Award is submitted correctly.
How do I obtain payment?
Award recipients should first submit a completed original Automated Clearing House (ACH) form with the original signature of the bank representative via courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the following address:
Office of Justice Programs
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Attn: Control Desk
810 7th Street, NW, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20001
Once the ACH form has been received and verified by OCFO, you may request funds (“drawdown”) using OJP’s Phone-Activated Paperless Request System (PAPRS).
Note: If submitting a new or updated ACH form, please contact the OCFO Customer Service Center at 1-800-458-0786 (option 2) to confirm banking information has been updated before proceeding with payment requests.
Upon successful completion of a drawdown, funds will be electronically deposited into an account designated by the grantee on the ACH form.
How can I access PAPRS?
An OJP-assigned, nine-digit vendor number; personal identification number; and grant ID are required to access the Phone-Activated Paperless Request System (PAPRS). This information (PAPRS package) is mailed to the Grant Point of Contact after a grant has been awarded by OJP. If you’ve been awarded a grant and haven’t received a PAPRS package, contact the OCFO Customer Service Center at 1-800-549-0786 (choose option 2) or ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov.
Why was my payment request denied?
Payment requests may be unsuccessful for various reasons, the most common of which are: (1) award was not accepted and Special Conditions of the grant were not met; (2) certain reporting requirements throughout the life of the grant were not fulfilled; (3) legislation and Federal grant management procedures during the life of a grant were not followed; (4) amount requested exceeded what was available; (5) financial reports (i.e. SF-269a, Progress, or Audit) were not submitted by the due date; (6) the grant end date passed and an administrative closeout was initiated.
Compliance may affect the timing or the amount of the funds made available at any time.
What are my reporting responsibilities?
Upon initial award: Sign and fax the Award and Special Conditions to confirm award acceptance. Complete and return the ACH form according to the instructions in the Award. Follow the instructions in the Award to notify your Program Manager of your compliance with applicable Special Conditions.
Financial Status Reports (known as the “SF-269a” or the “FSR”) are due quarterly as follows:
| Reporting Quarter | Due Not Later Than |
| January 1 - March 31 | May 15 |
| April 1 - June 30 | August 14 |
| July 1 - September 30 | November 14 |
| October 1 - December 31 | February 14 |
The final SF-269a is due 90 days after the grant end date.
If your organization has a match requirement (refer to Program Announcement), the match should be reported on the SF-269a.
OJP and Office on Violence Against Women grantees are required to submit the SF-269a online via GMS. A Financial Point of Contact (FPOC) must be registered before an SF-269a can be submitted. For instructions on registering an FPOC, see the Financial Reporting Status User Manual.
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grantees will not be able to use GMS at this time. COPS grantees must fax the SF-269a to the COPS Control Desk at 202–616–9004. The report should be completed and signed by a certifying official. If the FAX is not available, mail the report to:
Department of Justice Response Center
Attn: COPS Control Desk
1100 Vermont Ave, Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20530 (U.S. Postal Service delivery)
or 20001 (overnight delivery, e.g. FedEx, UPS)
Progress Reports are usually due as follows or as listed in the Solicitation:
| Reporting Period | Due Not Later Than |
| January 1 - June 30 | July 30 |
| July 1 - December 31 | January 30 |
Audit Reports. Single Audit Reports may be required. A Special Condition is included with your award that details the reporting requirements for the audit reports. Please review that Special Condition.
How do I submit reports?
SF-269a and semiannual/annual Categorical Assistance Progress Reports, should be filed online via the Grants Management System (GMS). For assistance, please contact the GMS Helpdesk at 1–888–549–9901 (choose option 3) or GMS.HelpDesk@usdoj.gov.
Audit Reports should be submitted as follows:
- State and Local Governments, Institutions of Higher Education, and Nonprofit Institutions. Completed audit reports should not be submitted to OJP (unless requested by an agency official). Completed audit reports must be mailed to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, Bureau of the Census, 1201 East 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132.
- Commercial Organizations and Individuals. One copy of all audit reports for commercial organizations and individuals should be mailed to the Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Attn: Control Desk, 810 7th Street, NW, Room 5303, Washington, DC 20531.
If I have questions about my grant, whom do I contact?
Program questions: Contact the Program Manager identified in the Award letter.
Financial questions: Contact the OCFO Customer Service Center from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Phone: 1-800-458-0786 (choose option 2)
Fax: 202-353-9279
TDD: 202-616-3867
E-mail: ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov
What are the address and FAX numbers for OCFO?
Office of Justice Programs
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Attn: Control Desk
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531 (U.S. Postal Service delivery)
or 20001 (overnight delivery, e.g. FedEx, UPS)
Fax: 202–353–8475 or 202–616–5962
