Articles by Scott S. Sheffler

The Council of Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) has published its third edition of its webcast series.  It is in the form of several brief panel discussions on a number of topics, and can be found at: https://cfo.gov/2016/07/05/july-2016-uniform-guidance-promising-practices-in-implementation/. If you are the Chief Financial Officer or Controller in your organization, I…

In January, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Issued an Important Decision on Jurisdiction Over Challenges to Financial Assistance Awards. Over the past several years, there have been a number of financial assistance award “bid protest” cases brought in the Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”) under that Court’s Tucker…

On January 1, 2016, grantees and cooperative agreement holders become subject to new Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (“FAPIIS”) requirements.  80 Fed. Reg. 43301 (Jul. 22, 2015), 80 Fed. Reg. 45395 (Jul. 30, 2015). Here are the basics on FAPIIS. What is FAPIIS? FAPIIS is a federal database…

If your organization is a federal grant recipient and uses social media to further its message, you should take note of a Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) decision issued last week: Environmental Protection Agency—Application of Publicity or Propaganda and Anti-Lobbying Provisions, B-326944 (Dec. 14, 2015). In concluding the Environmental Protection Agency…

As the year winds to a close for many grantees, the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services have produced yet another example of the importance of properly allocating costs charged in whole or in part to federal programs, and the importance of documenting those costs.  As…