Confirmed Agenda

DAY 1:

8:00 am – 9:00 am
REGISTRATION &
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (provided)

9:00 am – 9:15 am
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Overview of training, introduction of speakers, CPE & GPCI CEU Credit procedure

9:15 am – 10:30 am
Overview of the Uniform Guidance – A Hands on Review

10:30 am – 10:45 am
BREAK

10:45 am – 12:15 pm
Indirect Costs
The uniform guidance consolidated eight prior grant circulars into one uniform regulation; however, there are still significant differences for indirect costs and cost allocation plans among varied nonfederal entities, some of which are included in the provisions of the uniform guidance and some in its 12 appendices. Managing indirect costs was never simple, and now the uniform guidance has changed the rules for indirect costs. Grantees that never had an indirect cost rate can request a "de minimis" 10 percent flat rate, even if a longtime recipient. Grantees with current indirect cost rates can be more assured of having their negotiated rate more widely accepted by federal agencies and pass-through entities. But, there are different types of rates and complicated calculations. Getting to the best rate for your organization means navigating complex requirements and calculation methods.

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
LUNCH (provided)

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm
A LOOK AT THOMPSON’S GRANTS COMPLIANCE EXPERT
Learn how to access your conference slides and Grants Toolkit. Plus, get an overview of subscribers’ favorite features!

1:15 pm – 2:45 pm
RISK AND INTEGRITY UNDER THE UNIFORM GRANT GUIDANCE
Falling short on risk assessments can put your grants on the line. Fail an integrity review and you’ll be labeled NOT QUALIFIED to receive—or keep—your federal awards. In addition, every federal agency using FAPIIS for help making or evaluating awards will see that NOT QUALIFIED designation displayed for five years. It’s crucial for every member of your grants team to understand what the new risk and integrity assessments involve and what it takes to measure up, not just for the proposal but also for the entire applicant organization. During this session, you’ll learn how agencies are using risk assessments to meet the uniform guidance priorities for better performance and responsible stewardship of federal funds.

During this session, you'll create your own risk assessment checklist using the example and template provided

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
BREAK

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost Issues
This session will provide an overview of cost accounting for Federal assistance awards and explains basic financial management principles, guidelines for allowability, the necessary and reasonable test, adequate documentation, and the credit principle. This session will also touch on the classification of costs as either direct or indirect and examine some common pitfalls faced by organizations.

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Q & A DAY 1 WRAP UP
Join us as we review and absorb the information presented today. Ask questions, share thoughts and unwind. It’s been a great day and we have another one planned for you tomorrow.

DAY 2:

8:30 am – 9:00 am
REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (provided)

9:00 am – 10:30 am
How to Partner with your Pre-award Team for Success
This workshop looks at the cyclical nature of the grant process and the dependency of each cycle upon the other. It will provide attendees with pointers on how to build upon the research and work performed in each cycle to enhance performance in the next cycle. This workshop is interactive, incorporating the experience of the attendees with practices provided by the presenter.
The Federal Executive Order 12372 will be reviewed, including the State Clearinghouse intergovernmental grant review process that Maryland uses and requires grant applicants to follow. Also, the following resources will be discussed; highlighting ways they can be used to develop win-win grant strategies: The Maryland Intergovernmental Monitor; The Federal Register; The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance; Grants.gov; Contact with the Sponsoring agency; etc.

10:30 am – 10:45 am
BREAK

10:45 am - 12:15 pm
Internal Controls
The Uniform Grants Guidance (UGG), which went into effect on December 24, 2014 made clear that internal controls are critical to minimize the risk of fraud, waste and abuse in federal programs. Inadequate or nonexistent internal controls are regularly cited in audit and monitoring reports as reasons why grantees and sub-grantees are out of compliance with grant administration requirements. But what exactly are internal controls and how they can improve your current processes? Simply put: internal controls are the safeguards that agencies must have in place to protect the integrity of federal programs. This session will explain what internal controls are, discuss the new requirements under the UGG, identify ways to detect weaknesses in internal controls and provide attendees with practical examples of internal controls.

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
LUNCH (provided)

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Policies and Procedures
OMB’s uniform guidance, 2 C.F.R. 200, requires nonfederal entities to have written policies and procedures. Written policies and procedures provide program managers with guidance about implementing their grants within their own organizations, and also would support a viable defense in case of an audit investigation, providing “reasonable assurance” that the recipient organization is making a good faith attempt to comply with requirements. But ensuring that your policies measure up isn’t just about compliance, it’s also about performance. The uniform guidance promotes flexibility. It defines what must be done, but not how. The burden, therefore, is now on nonfederal entities to define how they will demonstrate compliance, performance and effective stewardship of federal funds. Written policies and procedures are the gateway to that end, and are one of the best ways to improve your organization’s internal controls, minimizing the likelihood of fraud, waste and abuse as well as audit findings. Templates for creating or updating written policies and procedures are provided for all attendees.

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
BREAK

2:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Post-award noncompliance & Audit Resolutions
In this session, we will discuss compliance programs and the discovery of noncompliance matters after the fact. This session will address your legal obligations regarding disclosure and correction when a matter of noncompliance is discovered by your own staff, when asserted by a whistleblower, or when identified by an outside auditor or agency inspection. We will address the audit resolution process, from first assertion of a “finding” to formal and informal dispute processes, and new reporting requirements such as FAPIIS.

4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Q & A DAY 2 WRAP UP
This is your opportunity to ask any final questions or share thoughts that have come to mind over the course of the last two days. Thanks for a great Forum and travel safely home!