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
SUBTLE AND NOT-SO-SUBTLE UNIFORM GRANT GUIDANCE CONTENT THAT CAN ROCK YOUR GRANT WORLD
Over three years have passed since the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200) took effect. Whether you are an experienced Federal grants administrator, or someone who is relatively new to grants, by now you are probably familiar with at least the basics of UGG.

But the content in UGG is so broad and comprehensive, many different subjects can compete for your attention as you carry out your responsibilities on a daily basis. Invest your time wisely – let’s take a walk through UGG and look beyond the basics so you have a better idea of where to hone in. This session focuses on the topics in UGG that “rock” our worlds because they involve major changes from previous regulations, and/or because they serve as important reminders that we may need to examine and/or refresh our organizational approaches.

10:30 am – 10:45 am
BREAK

10:45 am – 12:15 pm
INTRO TO INDIRECT COST RECOVERY
One of the major benefits afforded by the implementation of Uniform Guidance is the ability for non-Federal entities to negotiate rates for indirect cost recovery. Unfortunately, many organizations still have not taken advantage of this benefit. Organizations owe it to their mission and to their stakeholders to take full advantage of and recover every dollar of funding that is available. In this session, we will discuss the basic principles of indirect cost recovery including direct vs indirect costs, pools vs bases, allocation methods, cost principles, distorting items, proposal timelines, and the application of rates.

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
TIME AND EFFORT? PARS? PAYROLL CERTIFICATION? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Time and Effort documentation is one of the major changes that was integrated into the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200). Compared to previous requirements, UGG’s new “payroll certification” regulations are much less prescriptive and much more flexible.

But increased flexibility is not necessarily “better.” Grantees now have a greater burden in terms of deciding how to implement procedures that are responsive to and compliant with the new guidance. Will Time and Effort continue to be the #1 audit finding? Whether your organization has a strong existing process, or no written process at all, this session covers the changes in Time and Effort documentation requirements, and how to apply and leverage the increased regulatory ambiguity of payroll certification to your advantage while still remaining compliant.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
BREAK

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
EXAMINING THE AUDITOR’S PLAYBOOK
The Yellow Book (Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards) provides a comprehensive framework for conducting high quality audits by auditors of government entities and entities that receive government awards. 2 CFR 200 requires that auditors follow the Yellow Book when conducting audits of state and local governments and nonprofit entities that receive Federal awards. The most notorious Yellow Book audit of all is the Single Audit or Subpart F audit. In this session, we will discuss the purpose and applicability of the Yellow Book, the Compliance Supplement, what auditors must look for, strategies for successful audits, and actual audit findings issued over the past year and how to spot issues at your organization.

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Q & A DAY 1 WRAP UP

DAY 2:

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

9:00 am – 10:30 am
INTERNAL CONTROLS: YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
The nonprofit community was recently stunned when it was revealed that a large national nonprofit organization suffered an embezzlement of over seven million dollars at the hands of one of its most trusted accountants. Adequate internal controls are critical to preventing fraud, waste, and abuse. OMB expects all non-Federal entities to have a documented system of controls that provides reasonable assurance that Federal awards are being managed in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. In this session, we will discuss the basic principles of internal controls, the key requirements in 2 CFR 200, differences between preventative vs detective, proper segregation of duties, and common control activities related to high-risk areas in the organization.

10:30 am – 10:45 am
BREAK

10:45 am - 12:15 pm
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: MAKING UNIFORM GRANT GUIDANCE WORK, AT WORK
The Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200) was designed to reduce grantee burden, but it defines only what must be done, rather than how to make things happen. UGG requires grantees to develop written policies and procedures that are responsive to UGG requirements, however these policies and procedures must make sense within the organization’s culture in order to be successfully and consistently implemented.

Well-written policies and procedures make life easier for all those involved in the effective stewardship of grant funds, and they also protect the organization in the event of an audit. This session drills into how to translate and incorporate UGG requirements into meaningful organizational policies and procedures designed to incorporate specific operational-level tasks and assignments that support successful performance outcomes and proper accounting records.

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
LUNCH (provided)

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
PROCUREMENT STANDARDS: READY OR NOT HERE THEY COME!
The Compliance Supplement has been updated, the audit teams are preparing, but are organizations ready to comply with the 2 CFR 200 Procurement Standards? Uniform Guidance contains certain standards with which all non-Federal entities are required to comply when acquiring property or services with Federal funds. These requirements, termed the “Procurement Standards,” are set forth at 2 CFR 200.317 through 200.326 and focus primarily on facilitating competition in procurement. The Office of Management and Budget announced in the Federal Register on May 17, 2017, that the grace period for implementation of the Procurement Standards will be extended one additional fiscal year for non-Federal entities. This update extends the grace period through December 25, 2017. All non-Federal entities must have a compliant procurement system in operation for fiscal years beginning on or after December 26, 2017. If your organization has not implemented the new Procurement Standards this is a can’t-miss session. We will discuss the purpose and applicability of the Procurement Standards, elements of full and open competition, required procurement methods, the pre-procurement review process and review some common pitfalls organizations may run into and how to avoid them.

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
BREAK

2:45 pm - 4:15 pm
STEP CAREFULLY WHEN DEALING WITH SUBRECIPIENTS AND CONTRACTORS
A particularly important aspect of the design and implementation of any grant project is the consideration of external relationships, roles, and responsibilities. To what degree do outside organizations need to be involved to support the project’s success?

Proper management of subrecipients and contractors is critical to avoiding the risk of non-compliance. Operational challenges and compliance risks can arise when trying to align the definitions and requirements set forth in the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200) with organizational understanding and practices involving contractor and subrecipient relationships.

This session focuses on not only understanding the requirements of 2 CFR 200 as they pertain to effectively defining and managing external relationships, but also providing practical information designed to help grantees design and implement compliant processes.

4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Q & A DAY 2 WRAP UP