That the bill from the Senate (S. 303) entitled An Act to reauthorize and improve the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999. , do pass with the following

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009

. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Reauthorization.

Sec. 3. Website relating to Federal grants.

Sec. 4. Report on implementation.

Sec. 5. Strategic plan.

Sec. 6. Data standard requirements.

Reauthorization

Section 11 of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended— (1)in the section heading, by striking

AND SUNSET

; and (2)by striking and shall cease to be effective 8 years after such date of enactment.

Website relating to Federal grants

Section 6 of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; (2)by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsections:

(e)

Website relating to Federal grants

(1)

In general

The Director shall establish and maintain a public website that serves as a central point of information and access for applicants for Federal grants. (2)

Contents

To the maximum extent possible, the website established under this subsection shall include, at a minimum, for each Federal grant— (A)the grant announcement; (B)the statement of eligibility relating to the grant; (C)the application requirements for the grant; (D)the purposes of the grant; (E)the Federal agency funding the grant; (F)the deadlines for applying for and awarding of the grant. (G)all applications received for the grant, set forth in the single data standard adopted under section 9(b); and (H)all reports relating to the use of the grant, set forth in the single data standard adopted under section 9(b). (3)

Use by applicants

The website established under this subsection shall, to the greatest extent practicable, allow grant applicants to— (A)use the website with any computer platform; (B)search the website for all Federal grants by type, purpose, funding agency, program source, and other relevant criteria; (C)apply for a Federal grant using the website; (D)manage, track, and report on the use of Federal grants using the website; and (E)provide all required certifications and assurances for a Federal grant using the website. (4)

Use by the public

The website established under this subsection shall, to the greatest extent practicable, allow members of the public to— (A)view the items described in paragraph (2); (B)navigate easily among and between the items described in paragraph (2) and other supporting materials; (C)download grant applications and reports, in the single data standard adopted under section 9, individually or as a single data set; and (D)access individual grant applications and reports at web addresses that are distinct, permanent, unique, and searchable. (f)

Publication of information

Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the publication of information otherwise exempt under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (popularly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act).

; and

(3)in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by striking All actions and inserting Except for actions relating to establishing the website required under subsection (e), all actions.

Report on implementation

The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by striking section 7 and inserting the following:

Evaluation of implementation

(a)

In general

Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, and every 2 years thereafter until the date that is 15 years after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director shall submit to Congress a report regarding the implementation of this Act. (b)

Contents

(1)

In general

Each report under subsection (a) shall include, for the applicable period— (A)a list of all grants for which an applicant may submit an application using the website established under section 6(e); (B)a list of all Federal agencies that provide Federal financial assistance to non-Federal entities; (C)a list of each Federal agency that has complied, in whole or in part, with the requirements of this Act; (D)for each Federal agency listed under subparagraph (C), a description of the extent of the compliance with this Act by the Federal agency; (E)a list of all Federal agencies exempted under section 6(d); (F)for each Federal agency listed under subparagraph (E)— (i)an explanation of why the Federal agency was exempted; and (ii)a certification that the basis for the exemption of the Federal agency is still applicable; (G)a list of all common application forms that have been developed that allow non-Federal entities to apply, in whole or in part, for multiple Federal financial assistance programs (including Federal financial assistance programs administered by different Federal agencies) through a single common application; (H)a list of all common forms and requirements that have been developed that allow non-Federal entities to report, in whole or in part, on the use of funding from multiple Federal financial assistance programs (including Federal financial assistance programs administered by different Federal agencies); (I)a description of the efforts made by the Director and Federal agencies to communicate and collaborate with representatives of non-Federal entities during the implementation of the requirements under this Act; (J)a description of the efforts made by the Director to work with Federal agencies to meet the goals of this Act, including a description of working groups or other structures used to coordinate Federal efforts to meet the goals of this Act; and (K)identification and description of all systems being used to disburse Federal financial assistance to non-Federal entities. (2)

Subsequent reports

The second report submitted under subsection (a), and each subsequent report submitted under subsection (a), shall include— (A)a discussion of the progress made by the Federal Government in meeting the goals of this Act, including the amendments made by the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, and in implementing the strategic plan submitted under section 8, including an evaluation of the progress of each Federal agency that has not received an exemption under section 6(d) towards implementing the strategic plan; and (B)a compilation of the reports submitted under section 8(c)(3) during the applicable period. (c)

Definition of applicable period

In this section, the term applicable period means— (1)for the first report submitted under subsection (a), the most recent full fiscal year before the date of the report; and (2)for the second report submitted under subsection (a), and each subsequent report submitted under subsection (a), the period beginning on the date on which the most recent report under subsection (a) was submitted and ending on the date of the report.

Strategic plan

(a)

In general

The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is further amended— (1)by redesignating sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 as sections 9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively; and (2)by inserting after section 7, as amended by this Act, the following new section:

Strategic plan

(a)

In general

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director shall submit to Congress a strategic plan that— (1)identifies Federal financial assistance programs that are suitable for common applications based on the common or similar purposes of the Federal financial assistance; (2)identifies Federal financial assistance programs that are suitable for common reporting forms or requirements based on the common or similar purposes of the Federal financial assistance; (3)identifies common aspects of multiple Federal financial assistance programs that are suitable for common application or reporting forms or requirements; (4)identifies changes in law, if any, needed to achieve the goals of this Act; and (5)provides plans, timelines, and cost estimates for— (A)developing an entirely electronic, web-based process for managing Federal financial assistance, including the ability to— (i)apply for Federal financial assistance; (ii)track the status of applications for and payments of Federal financial assistance; (iii)report on the use of Federal financial assistance, including how such use has been in furtherance of the objectives or purposes of the Federal financial assistance; and (iv)provide required certifications and assurances; (B)ensuring full compliance by Federal agencies with the requirements of this Act, including the amendments made by the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009; (C)creating common applications for the Federal financial assistance programs identified under paragraph (1), regardless of whether the Federal financial assistance programs are administered by different Federal agencies; (D)establishing common financial and performance reporting forms and requirements for the Federal financial assistance programs identified under paragraph (2), regardless of whether the Federal financial assistance programs are administered by different Federal agencies; (E)establishing common applications and financial and performance reporting forms and requirements for aspects of the Federal financial assistance programs identified under paragraph (3), regardless of whether the Federal financial assistance programs are administered by different Federal agencies; (F)developing mechanisms to ensure compatibility between Federal financial assistance administration systems and State systems to facilitate the importing and exporting of data; (G)developing common certifications and assurances, as appropriate, for all Federal financial assistance programs that have common or similar purposes, regardless of whether the Federal financial assistance programs are administered by different Federal agencies; (H)minimizing the number of different systems used to disburse Federal financial assistance; and (I)applying the single data standard adopted under section 9 to Federal grants and grant applications. (b)

Consultation

In developing and implementing the strategic plan under subsection (a), the Director shall consult with representatives of non-Federal entities and Federal agencies that have not received an exemption under section 6(d). (c)

Federal agencies

(1)

In general

Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Director submits the strategic plan under subsection (a), the head of each Federal agency that has not received an exemption under section 6(d) shall develop a plan that describes how the Federal agency will carry out the responsibilities of the Federal agency under the strategic plan, which shall include— (A)clear performance objectives and timelines for action by the Federal agency in furtherance of the strategic plan; and (B)the identification of measures to improve communication and collaboration with representatives of non-Federal entities on an on-going basis during the implementation of this Act. (2)

Consultation

The head of each Federal agency that has not received an exemption under section 6(d) shall consult with representatives of non-Federal entities during the development and implementation of the plan of the Federal agency developed under paragraph (1). (3)

Reporting

Not later than 2 years after the date on which the head of a Federal agency that has not received an exemption under section 6(d) develops the plan under paragraph (1), and every 2 years thereafter until the date that is 15 years after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the head of the Federal agency shall submit to the Director a report regarding the progress of the Federal agency in achieving the objectives of the plan of the Federal agency developed under paragraph (1).

(b)

Technical and conforming amendment

Section 5(d) of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by inserting , until the date on which the Federal agency submits the first report by the Federal agency required under section 8(c)(3) after subsection (a)(7).

Data standard requirements

(a)

Data standard requirements

The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is further amended— (1)by redesignating sections 9, 10, 11, and 12 as sections 10, 11, 12, and 13, respectively; and (2)by inserting after section 8, as added by this Act, the following new section:

Data standard requirements

(a)

Data standard requirements

(1)

Requirement

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall adopt a single data standard for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of business and financial information for use by private sector entities in accordance with subsection (b) for information required to be reported to the Federal Government, and a single data standard for use by agencies within the Federal Government in accordance with subsection (c) for Federal financial information. (2)

Characteristics of data standards

The single data standards required by paragraph (1) shall— (A)be common across all agencies, to the maximum extent practicable; (B)be a widely accepted, non-proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format for business and financial data; (C)be consistent with and implement— (i)United States generally accepted accounting principles or Federal financial accounting standards (as appropriate); (ii)industry best practices; and (iii)Federal regulatory requirements; (D)improve the transparency, consistency, and usability of business and financial information; and (E)be capable of being continually upgraded to be of maximum use as technologies and content evolve over time. (b)

Implementation of single data standard for private sector

(1)

OMB Guidance

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall issue guidance to agencies on the use and implementation of the single data standard required by subsection (a) for information required to be reported to agencies by the private sector. (2)

Agency requirements

(A)

Requirement

To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the guidance provided by the Office of Management and Budget under paragraph (1), the head of each agency shall require the use of the single data standard required by subsection (a) for business and financial information reported to the agency by private sector companies. (B)

Implementation

The head of the agency shall begin implementing the requirement of subparagraph (A) within one year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009. (c)

Implementation of single data standard for Federal Government

(1)

OMB development

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop the single data standard required by subsection (a) for use by agencies within the Federal Government for Federal financial information. (2)

OMB guidance

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director shall issue guidance to agencies on the use and implementation of the single data standard developed under paragraph (1). (d)

Public access to data

The head of each agency shall ensure that information collected using the single data standards required under this section is accessible to the general public in that format to the extent permitted by law. (e)

Report

Within one year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the status of the implementation of this section. (f)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Agency

The term agency means any executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, independent establishment, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory agency, but does not include— (A)the Government Accountability Office; (B)the Federal Election Commission; (C)the governments of the District of Columbia and of the territories and possessions of the United States, and their various subdivisions; or (D)Government-owned contractor-operated facilities, including laboratories engaged in national defense research and production activities. (2)

Executive department, military department, government corporation, government controlled corporation, independent establishment

The terms Executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, and independent establishment have the meanings given those terms by chapter 1 of title 5, United States Code. (3)

Independent regulatory agency

The term independent regulatory agency has the meaning given that term by section 3502(5) of title 44, United States Code.

(b)

Requirement for use of single data standard by Federal agencies

Section 5 of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)

Single data standard requirement

To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the guidance provided by the Director under section 9, each Federal agency shall require the use of the single data standard adopted under section 9(b) for— (1)all applications for Federal financial assistance; and (2)all reports on the use of Federal financial assistance that the agency requires non-Federal entities to submit.