I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2393 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 24, 2011 Mr. Pierluisi (for himself, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Schiff, and Ms. Bordallo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To require each Federal agency to submit an annual forecast of grant solicitations expected to be issued in the next fiscal year by the agency to the Office of Management and Budget for publication on a website, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Grant Solicitations Improvement Act of 2011.

2.

Definition

In this Act, the term Federal agency means an Executive agency as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.

3.

Grant solicitation forecast

(a)

Submission and publication of grant solicitation forecast

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than November 30 of each fiscal year, the head of each Federal agency shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a forecast, in accordance with subsection (b), of all grant solicitations that such Federal agency expects to issue for that fiscal year, organized by subject area. (2)

Extension of deadline

If the deadline in paragraph (1) is not practicable for a grant solicitation, due to a deficiency in appropriated funds, the head of the Federal agency shall submit the forecast for such grant solicitation to the Director not later than 60 days before the deadline the agency establishes for submission of applications for funding under that grant. (3)

Publication

Not later than 30 days after receipt of each forecast received pursuant to this subsection, the Director shall publish the forecast on the www.grants.gov website that is made available to the public. (4)

Effective date

This subsection shall not take effect until after standards are issued under subsection (c). (b)

Grant solicitation forecast

For purposes of subsection (a), the grant solicitation forecast shall be organized by subject area, and shall include, with regard to each grant solicitation, the following: (1)

Notice publication date

The expected or actual scheduled dates for the issuance of the grant solicitation and application, the grant application submission deadline, and the deadline for any Federal agency or intergovernmental review that is conducted with regard to the grant awarding process. (2)

Website link

A link to the website where the grant solicitation and application will be made available to the public. (3)

Award amounts

The estimated amount of the average grant award, the estimated maximum and minimum amounts of the grant award, if applicable, and the estimated total number of grant awards to be made. (4)

Single point of contact

Contact information for the Federal agency, including the name, telephone number, and electronic mail address of a specific person responsible for answering questions about the grant and the application process for that grant. (5)

Notification of award decisions

The expected date on which notifications to applicants of award decisions will be made. (c)

Standards

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officers Council, shall issue standards to ensure uniformity in the format and submission of grant solicitation forecasts by the heads of Federal agencies in carrying out this Act.

4.

Update of grant solicitation forecast

(a)

Revision

The head of each Federal agency shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a revised grant solicitation forecast if any of the contents of the forecast submitted under section (3)(a) are inaccurate, not later than 7 days after the discovery of an inaccuracy. (b)

Solicitation

The head of each Federal agency shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget any grant solicitation and application issued by the agency on the day of issuance. (c)

Publication update

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall update the www.grants.gov website not later than 7 days after receiving a revised grant solicitation forecast under subsection (a) or a grant solicitation or application under subsection (b).