Please join us for a webcast on
Uniform Guidance Implementation
A Conversation Presented by the Council on Financial Assistance Reform
Thursday October 2nd, 1:00-3:00PM
The live event (no RSVP needed) will be available here.
After the live event, a recorded version will be available here (note, not available yet).
On Tuesday September 30th, OMB announced new metrics for the Uniform Guidance.
COFAR Releases Frequently Asked Questions
2014-08-29 Frequently Asked Questions
On Friday, August 29, 2014, COFAR released the second set of FAQs in support of 2 C.F.R 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Over two hundred thoughtful questions and comments have been received from grantors, grantees, and grant management and oversight professionals throughout country. If you have additional questions or comments please send them to cofar@omb.eop.gov.
Message From the Chairs
Welcome to the webpage for the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR). We are committed to using this platform to provide current and ongoing information about our important work for the Federal financial assistance community as part of the President’s commitment to openness in Government. Since its creation in October 2011, the COFAR has led several efforts to improve delivery, management, coordination, and accountability of Federal grants and cooperative agreements. The COFAR continues to engage with stakeholders including Congress, Federal Agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, Federal Councils including the Government Accountability and Transparency Board, and other groups to foster more efficient Federal financial management, ultimately for better outcomes for Federal grants.
We invite you to learn more about our work on these priority areas. We look forward to receiving your input as we strive to realize better policies and practices for the assistance community.
You can contact us at cofar@omb.eop.gov and sign up for the mailing list at COFAR mailing list.
COFAR Releases Frequently Asked Questions
On Wednesday, February 12, 2014, COFAR released the first set of FAQs in support of 2 C.F.R 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Over two hundred thoughtful questions and comments have been received from grantors, grantees, and grant management and oversight professionals throughout country. Additional FAQ releases will parallel Federal agency submission of implementing regulations. If you have additional questions or comments please send them to cofar@omb.eop.gov.
Uniform Guidance 1-27-14 Training Webcast
On Monday, January 27th, the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR), held a training webcast for more than 5,000 registered viewers, on the major updates to OMB’s recently reformed guidance on Administrative Requirements, Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Federal Financial Assistance (2 C.F.R. 200). The presenters provided the public with a comprehensive overview of the guidance, insight into the COFAR’s deliberative process during the two year development process, and addressed frequently asked questions. The Uniform Guidance will be implemented one year from publication on December 26, 2014. OMB and the COFAR will continue to engage Federal and Non-Federal stakeholders over the next year to facilitate a smooth implementation process. Please submit any comments or questions to cofar@omb.eop.gov.
Participants Included:
Links to the Uniform Guidance 1-27-14 Training Webcast
COFAR Training Intro 1-27-14
http://youtu.be/SOET4b-7my8
COFAR Training Administrative Requirements 1-27-14
http://youtu.be/BP3l3PjI1JQ
COFAR Training Cost Principles 1-27-14
http://youtu.be/q0rWXdy2ICM
COFAR Training Audit Requirements 1-27-14
http://youtu.be/g-U8HGbbC-Y
Links to the Training Webcast Presentation Slides
COFAR Training Administrative Requirements 1-27-14 Slides
COFAR Training Cost Principles 1-27-14 Slides
COFAR Training Audit Requirements 1-27-14 Slides
Uniform Grant Guidance Links:
Proposed Guidance:
On Friday February 8, 2013, the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) and members of the grants community held a roundtable discussion on OMB’s proposed uniform guidance on grants. To view a recorded version of the discussion, please visit: http://youtu.be/dlZfb9ALBck.
Participants Included:
Danny Werfel, Co-Chair
Ellen Murray, Co-Chair
About the COFAR
The COFAR, established by OMB Memorandum M-12-01, is comprised of an interagency group of Executive Branch officials to coordinate financial assistance. Council activities include providing recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on policies and actions necessary to effectively deliver, oversee, and report on grants and cooperative agreements, as well as sharing with executive departments and agencies (agencies) best practices and innovative ideas for transforming the delivery of this assistance. In addition, the Council will engage relevant stakeholders across Government on key issues to foster more efficient and effective Federal management by coordinating the development and implementation of standardized business processes, data standards, metrics, and information technology. This Council replaces two Federal boards – the Grants Policy Council and the Grants Executive Board to create a more streamlined, flexible, and strategic structure. The Council’s work builds in part on grants streamlining activities under Public Law (P.L.) 106-107, the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999. COFAR and CFOC efforts are supported partly by the Financial Management Line of Business.
Agency Members
The membership of the Council on Financial Assistance Reform consists of the:
Controller of the Office of Management and Budget and senior policy officials from eight Federal agencies that provide the largest amounts of financial grants assistance and one additional agency that serves a two-year term to represent the perspective of other agencies that administer grants and cooperative agreements:
Two-year Term Agency
COFAR Priority Focus Areas
Council Reports and Documents
Effective Management of Federal Grant Dollars: Council On Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) Priorities for FY13-15 (PDF)
Improving Management of Federal Grant Dollars: Council on Financial Assistance Reform Priorities for FY13-15 COFAR Priorities for FY13-15 1-28-13 (PDF)
OMB Memorandum M-12-01 establishing the COFAR
Council Minutes
December 10, 2012 (PDF)
November 13, 2012 (PDF)
August 27, 2012 (PDF)
Related Links
OMBlog
www.grants.gov
www.cfda.gov
www.usaspending.gov
www.sam.gov
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