[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1001-1002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council; Grants Policy Committee 
(GPC)

ACTION: Notice of outreach for feedback regarding GPC's proposed 
response to the recommendations of the U.S. Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) about the timeliness of Grants.gov application 
submissions.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces an outreach effort for feedback on 
topical items that impact individuals/organizations' ability to submit 
grant applications in a timely fashion. This outreach effort is 
sponsored by the GPC.

DATES: The GPC welcomes feedback on this topic from the date of this 
publication until January 31, 2010. Feedback received after this date 
will be accepted, but may not have the opportunity to inform the 
development of the Work Group product.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments or lists of topical issues 
through http://www.GPC.gov by clicking on ``share your feedback'' on 
the second item in the LATEST NEWS box on the home page.
    Overview: The GPC is in the early stages of developing a proposed 
response recommendation regarding the timeliness of Grants.gov 
applications and would like to gather early feedback from applicants on 
topical items or major issues that impact their ability to submit grant 
applications in a timely fashion. The purpose of this outreach effort 
is to provide a mechanism for the applicant community to submit issues 
that impact individuals/organizations' ability to submit grant 
applications in a timely fashion. This outreach effort is sponsored by 
the GPC.
    Feedback Submission Information: Feedback will be accepted by 
clicking on ``share your feedback'' on the second item in the LATEST 
NEWS box on the home page. Information that pertains to this outreach 
effort is posted on http://www.GPC.gov where you may also submit topics 
or lists of topical issues and major challenges regarding the timely 
submission of grants applications on Grants.gov.
    Questions: Questions should be directed to Charisse Carney-Nunes, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 
22230; e-mail, [email protected], but feedback will not be accepted via 
this address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This outreach effort has been made possible 
by the cooperation of the National Science Foundation and the GPC. A 
team of the Pre-Award Work Group of the GPC has been working to propose 
an OMB response to one of the recommendations in the U.S. Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) Report, ``Grants.gov Has Systemic 
Weaknesses That Require Attention'' (GAO-09-589, July, 2009). The 
proposed recommendation relates to electronic submission of grant 
applications through Grants.gov.

[[Page 1002]]

    Specifically, the team is working on a proposed response to the GAO 
recommendation regarding timeliness of applications, including:
    a. Bases for what constitutes a timely application;
    b. Notification to applicants regarding the timeliness of 
applications; and
    c. Handling of late applications.
    At this early stage of the policy development process the GPC is 
gathering applicant feedback on topical items and major issues related 
to the timely submission of grants applications on Grants.gov. Feedback 
will be accepted by clicking on ``share your feedback'' on the second 
item in the LATEST NEWS box on the home page.
    Please note that this opportunity to provide feedback is not a 
formal request for comment and that the government will not conduct a 
formal review and resolution of any comments received. Rather, the GPC 
seeks to publicly announce the undertaking and invites informal 
feedback regarding a response to the GAO report.
    Background: The GPC is a committee of the U.S. Chief Financial 
Officers (CFO) Council. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
sponsors the GPC; its membership consists of grants policy subject 
matter experts from across the Federal Government. The GPC is charged 
with improving the management of federal financial assistance 
government-wide. To carry out that role, the committee recommends 
financial assistance policies and practices to OMB and coordinates 
related interagency activities. The GPC serves the public interest in 
collaboration with other Federal Government-wide grants initiatives.

    Dated: January 4, 2010.
Charisse A. Carney-Nunes,
Senior Staff Associate of the National Science Foundation and Executive 
Officer of the Grants Policy Committee of the U.S. CFO Council.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-24 Filed 1-6-10; 8:45 am]
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