Western Grants Forum: Super Circular Training and Federal Grants Management Update

April 11 and 12, 2017

Seattle, Washington (Sheraton Seattle Hotel)

Learn the Super Circular's Key Requirements and Keep Current on Changes Affecting the Super Circular and Federal Grants Management Requirements

You probably already know that the implementation of the OMB's uniform guidance for administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit standards for Federal grantees, marked the start of a new era in grants management. The Uniform Grants Guidance (better known as the Super Circular or Omnicircular), and the major Federal awarding agencies' implementing regulations, provide a new framework for managing grants and subgrants that continues to evolve. Despite the goal of "uniformity," the Federal awarding agencies included deviations from the OMB's version of the Super Circular in their regulations, and the OMB has made revisions to the Super Circular since publishing the supposedly "final" version. More changes are expected in 2017 with the new year and a new administration. All non-Federal entities (pass-throughs, grantees and subrecipients) need to understand this new framework and recent changes to remain in compliance with Federal requirements. By attending the Western Grants Forum in Seattle, you will receive in-depth explanations of what the Super Circular and recent developments in grants management mean for grantees and subgrantees in 2017--including what has changed, what is changing, and what to expect going forward. 

During this two-day OMB Super Circular Training and Grants Management Update, you will learn about the Super Circular's key requirements and recent amendments, challenges in implementing the Uniform Guidance, and current legal, legislative, and policy developments affecting Federal grants. Just some of the topics that you will explore are:  

• Key requirements under the Super Circular (Uniform Guidance) and amendments;
• Administrative requirements under the Super Circular and challenges, including:
  • Procurement and property management standards;
  • Fiscal management requirements;
  • New internal control standards;
  • Revised record retention requirements;
  • Changes to closeouts and later adjustments; and,
  • Changes to funding source remedies;
• Unified cost principles under the Super Circular and issues encountered in navigating the new cost principles (including direct and indirect cost issues);
• New time and effort reporting requirements;
• Requirements of the Federal Awardee Performance Integrity and Information System (FAPIIS);
• Effect of recent legislation and court and administrative decisions on Federal grants;
• Requirements for risk management in the award and management of grants and subgrants;
• Single Audit Act (Subpart F) audits, reporting, and resolution under the Uniform Guidance;
• When grants can be terminated and what recipients can do to keep their funding; and,
• Impact of a new administration on grants management policies and procedures.

This Super Circular Training and Grants Management Update will discuss these topics and more to provide you with the latest information about Federal grants management that you need to stay in compliance with grants requirements.  You will also have ample opportunities to ask and get answers to your Super Circular and grants management questions.

AGENDA

This two-day conference is scheduled to be held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel on April 11 and 12, 2017. The planned agenda for each day is as follows:

Day One (Tuesday, April 11, 2017)

8:00 A.M. - On-site Conference Check-in
8:30 A.M. - Session I:  Federal Grants Management
10:00 A.M. - Morning Break
10:15 A.M. - Session II:  Legal, Legislative, and Policy Issues and Recent Developments
12:00 P.M. - Lunch Break
1:30 P.M. - Session III:  Pre-Award Considerations for Awards and Subawards
3:00 P.M. - Afternoon Break
3:15 P.M. - Session IV:  Administrative Standards and Award Performance
4:30 P.M. - Adjourn (Day One)

Day Two (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)

8:00 A.M. - On-site Conference Check-in
8:30 A.M. - Session V:  Procurement and Property Management Rules
10:00 A.M. - Morning Break
10:15 A.M. - Session VI-A:  Super Circular Cost Principles and Implementation Challenges
12:00 P.M. - Lunch Break
1:30 P.M. - Session VI-B:  Super Circular Cost Principles and Implementation Challenges
3:00 P.M. - Afternoon Break
3:15 P.M. - Session VII:  Single Audit Act Audits and the Compliance Supplement
4:30 P.M. - Adjourn (Conference)

OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES

By attending, you will learn about challenges related to the change in administrations, the Super Circular's major requirements, amendments to the Uniform Guidance, and other important developments affecting grants management.  After attending the, you will be able to:

• Identify the key areas of emphasis for awarding agencies in implementing the OMB Super Circular and how those affect compliance concerns for grantees and subgrantees;
• List the major administrative requirements under the Super Circular;
• Identify the most significant challenges faced in implementing the revised procurement standards;
• List the key features of FAPIIS and related risk management efforts under the Super Circular relative to the award and management of grants and subgrants;
• Distinguish the differences between the prior time and effort reporting requirements and the new standards under the OMB Super Circular;
• Identify the unified cost principles and the challenges in implementing them and explain the key differences between the current, unified cost principles and the previous cost principles;
• Identify changes to Single Audit Act audits and the audit reporting and resolution process; and,
• List the revisions to the most recent Single Audit Act Compliance Supplement.

AUDIENCE

REGISTRATION

Early birds get the discount! Registration for the OMB Super Circular Training and Federal Grants Management Update is just $499 per person through March 21, 2017, and just $549 per person after the Early Bird period.  Cancellations before March 1, 2017, are subject to a $25 administrative fee, and all cancellations on or after March 1, 2017 (but before March 13, 2017) are subject to a $125 administrative fee.  Refunds will not be issued for cancellations on or after March 13, 2017.  In lieu of cancellations, registrants may substitute another participant from his or her organization at no charge.  Registration does not include lodging or transportation; you are responsible for making your own hotel and transportation reservations.  Space is extremely limited.

CONFERENCE HOTEL

Our conference hotel will be the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of downtown near local dining, shopping, and attractions as well as public transportation.  Rooms are available for special conference rates starting at the government per diem of $167 per night (plus tax).  The special rates are available for April 10 and 11 and may be offered for additional nights, subject to hotel availability.  Hotel reservations can be made by calling 1-888-627-7056.  Please ask for the special rate for the "Western Grants Forum April 2017 Meeting."  Reservations can also be made on-line by clicking here for the reservations page.  The room reservation cut-off date is March 13, 2017 (or until the block is exhausted). Because of the small number of rooms available, we advise making your reservations as soon as possible.

Register Now!

R. Brian Tipton is a practicing attorney with more than fifteen years' experience working with nonprofits, governmental units, and other grant-funded organizations across the United States.  Currently, Brian is Managing Director with The Private Client Law Group, P.C., in Atlanta, where he heads the firm's tax-exempt and grant-funded solutions practice.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.  Brian regularly represents grant-funded entities of all types in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation.  Brian also consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits and grant-funded organizations.