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  4. Grants Policies & Regulations
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Grants Policies & Regulations

Topics on this page: HHS Grants Policy | Other Grants Policy Resources | Lobbying | Federal Funding Transparency Act (FFATA) / Sub-Award Reporting | HHS Efficient Spending Policy | Objective Grant Review


Grants Policy Statement (GPS)

  • HHS Grants Policy Statement (Effective April 2025) - Applications under discretionary grant programs, whether received in response to a funding opportunity announcement, solicited from a single source, or received as unsolicited requests for funding, are subject to objective review. Objective review is an advisory review of discretionary grant applications conducted by a minimum of three unbiased reviewers with expertise in the programmatic area for which applications are submitted (I-30, PG. 44).
    • October 2025 Version of GPS
    • HHS Grants Policy Statement (Page I 29) – January 2007 (Archived)

Other Grants Policy Resources

  • HHS Administrative and National Policy Requirements
  • Writing Award Descriptions
  • Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations
  • Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR – 200) – Final revised rule streamlining grant management requirements. This guidance supersedes requirements from OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, and A-122 (which have been placed in OMB guidances); Circulars A-89, A-102, and A-133; and the guidance in Circular A-50 on Single Audit Act follow-up. (12/26/2013)
  • OMB Home Page – The Office of Management and Budget provides Bulletins, Circulars, Memoranda, Privacy Guidance, Reports and other important guidance information.
  • 45 CFR Part 75 - Part 75—Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards
  • Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act (PL114-117)
  • Grants Fraud Alert
    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public to the latest scheme to defraud the government and steal money from the American people.
    https://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/alerts/alert12212010.asp

HHS Intergovernmental Review Guidance

  • State Single Points of Contact

Grants Policy Topics

Regulatory Requirements

  • Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirement for HHS Awards (45 CFR Part 75) - Part 75—Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards
  • Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200) – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

Policy Topic: Lobbying

HHS Policy Guidance

  • Federal Restrictions on Lobbying for HHS Financial Assistance Recipients
    Recipients of federal funds are not allowed to use federal funding to lobby federal, state, or local officials or their staff to receive additional funding or influence legislation.
  • OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement 2016

Policy Topic: Federal Funding Transparency Act (FFATA) / Sub-Award Reporting

Statute

  • Public Law 109-282 - Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
  • Guidelines to follow for FFATA Sub-Award and Executive Compensation Reporting Requirements and Discretionary Awards

Resources, Tools and Systems

  • FFATA Sub-Award Reporting System (FSRS)
    • FSRS training video
    • FSRS User Guide

Best Practices

  • IHS’s Implementation of FSR Sub-Awards Reporting Requirements
  • HRSA’s FFATA Frequently Asked Questions

Policy Topic: HHS Efficient Spending Policy

  • HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending (January 23, 2015): Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications
    • Attachment 1: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space (January 23, 2015)
      • Exhibit 1: Conference Spending Provisions of the HHS Appropriations Act
      • Exhibit 2: List of Meetings and Events that are Not Conferences
      • Exhibit 3: Conference Expenses and Reporting Requirements
    • Attachment 2: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Food
    • Attachment 3: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Promotional Items
    • Attachment 4: HHS Policy on Printing and Publications
  • Conference Spending Reports
    These reports include information about conferences held by HHS where costs exceed $100,000.
    • FY 2015 Report on Conferences Sponsored by HHS Staff Divisions
      • FY 2015 Report on Conference Spending by HHS Staff Divisions
    • FY 2015 Reports on Conference Spending by HHS Operating Divisions:
      • Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
      • Administration for Community Living (ACL)
      • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
      • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
      • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
      • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
      • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
      • Indian Health Services (IHS)
      • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
      • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (Not yet available)

Policy Topic: Objective Grant Review

Best Practices

  • IHSs Objective Review Training
  • NIHs Peer Review Process

OMB Memoranda

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda authorize federal awarding agencies the flexibility to aid HHS’ grantee community in several key areas of our grants administration policies and requirements to support the continued research and services necessary to carry out the emergency response related to COVID-19.

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Content created by Division of Grants
Content last reviewed May 6, 2025
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