Assisting Awardees as They Meet Regulatory Requirements

clock March 24, 2011 12:15 by author Bulletin Board
In order to deploy Recovery Act funds quickly with the requisite oversight, EERE staff has to use their knowledge of an array of Federal financial assistance rules—and fast. As Recovery Act projects have commenced, EERE staff had to be able to answer new questions about how these funds can be used. Project Officers must balance the need for flexibility in managing projects with regulations in place to ensure that Federal funds are spent properly. [More]
Categories: Headquarters | Monitoring | Weatherization | Permalink
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Expediting the Decision Process for Awards with Stage Gate Requirements

clock March 18, 2011 11:22 by author Bulletin Board
Monitoring EERE’s financial assistance awards requires Federal Program Managers to make complex technical and financial decisions. They must do so in a way that is both deliberative yet at a pace conducive to the development and commercialization of new technologies. This is particularly challenging for Recovery Act-funded awards with stage gates – key points in a project when reviewers make decisions on whether to continue or to terminate. [More]
Categories: Field Offices | General | Permalink
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Fair Wages for Recovery Act Projects

clock March 17, 2011 09:45 by author Bulletin Board
EERE conducts site visits to recipients of financial assistance awards to ensure that Federal funds are being spent properly. One such visit to a recipient of funds under the State Energy Program uncovered some questions about whether the recipient complied with the Davis-Bacon Act. The questions stemmed from missing payroll records, questionable wage determinations, incorrect contact information and whether or not wages were posted in the workplace. The state government, EERE’s prime recipient, erroneously thought that it was the sub recipient’s responsibility to collect and retain the original payroll. [More]
Categories: Monitoring | Permalink
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Reviewing Projects’ Potential to Impact the Environment

clock March 16, 2011 16:56 by author Bulletin Board
Sometimes overseeing an EERE financial assistance award means taking part in technological innovation, and sometimes it means helping the recipient navigate a complex landscape of people, technology, and regulations

An important project working to transform the market for hydrogen fuel cells in the telecommunications industry involved the installation of backup power systems at 189 different sites—which traditionally would have required 189 separate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews! This massive effort could have stalled the project. [More]
Categories: Field Offices | NEPA | Permalink
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Improving Invoice Review

clock March 11, 2011 10:37 by author Bulletin Board
With an unprecedented amount of funds being disbursed under the Recovery Act, and a Presidential mandate calling for high levels of transparency and accountability, EERE program officers have increased responsibilities in monitoring project performance, ensuring quality work, and promoting best practices.

During a monitoring site visit for the recipient of a financial assistance awards under the Weatherization Assistance Program, EERE’s Project Officer identified issues with one of the recipient’s billing processes. [More]
Categories: Field Offices | Monitoring | Weatherization | Permalink
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Helping grant recipients manage effectively

clock March 4, 2011 16:00 by author Bulletin Board
While EERE project officers lead monitoring activities, the recipients themselves serve an important role by providing the data and insights that are essential to an objective, transparent monitoring process. Key recipient staff have the most immediate exposure to project developments and acutely understand the everyday challenges of turning plans into reality. Each project’s success depends on having well-tuned teams on the government and recipient sides that recognize the value of communication, financial management, and good conduct. [More]
Categories: Field Offices | Monitoring | Permalink
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