To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. STATE & LOCAL MANAGERS’ GUIDE TO Homeland Security GRANTS & GRANTS FUNDING Grants Glossary Abstract: A brief summary of the proposed project, frequently limited to one page. Abstracts should give a brief description of the applicant, should clearly state the goal or purpose to be supported by the grant and provide a statement of need. Also known as a “project summary” or “executive summary.” Audit: A formal review of a grantee’s use of grants funds. Audits can be financial or programmatic. Financial audits detail expenditures, while programmatic audits focus on projects’ successes, failures, benchmarks, milestones, etc. Audits are generally conducted by an outside reviewer or consultant. In many cases, auditing fees can be built into grant budgets. Many grant programs do not require grantees to perform audits, but almost all grant programs require some form of reporting. Authorizing agency: The agency administering the grant program. Block grants: Funds distributed on a formula basis to states, localities and municipalities, generally to address a specific issue or need. State and local governments are then able to determine the unique needs of their constituencies and distribute the funds accordingly. Bricks and mortar: Funding needed for construction or renovation of a building or other structure: i.e. wiring, concrete, plumbing, lumber, etc, exceeding $25,000. Bricks and mortar (or construction) funding is often used to change the footprint of an existing structure. Bridge awards: Grants awarded once the initial grant has expired to help grantees achieve a project-related goal or to continue the project until other funding can be secured. Broad Agency Announcement (BAA): See Call for proposals (CFP) Call for proposals (CFP): The announcement made by the authorizing agency requesting applications from potential grant recipients. CFPs generally contain program objectives, guidelines, eligibility, budget, award limitations and specific instructions for proposal submission. CFPs should always be carefully read and precisely followed. Also known as a request for proposal (RFP), notice of funds availability (NOFA), or broad agency announcement (BAA).). Central Contractor Registration (CCR): The Department of Defense created the CCR in an effort to consolidate the paperwork generated through its work with contractors. Through CCR, businesses and grant applicants are able to enter information about their organization directly into the database. CCR registration is required to register with www.grants.gov. Challenge grant: A grant that requires the grantee to raise a pre-determined amount of dollars from other sources in order to receive the grant. Challenge grants generally come with specific terms setting deadlines for raising additional dollars and limitations on purposes for which the money can be used. Competitive grants: Grants that are open to any applicant who meets the eligibility requirements. Competitive grants are generally announced through RFPs or CFPs. They are frequently reviewed by committees comprising volunteers who specialize in the subject area. The competitiveness of a grant program can frequently be determined by comparing the dollars available for expenditure through the program in that fiscal year to the award limit or ceiling, as stated in the RFP . Consortium: A cooperative arrangement entered into by like-minded organizations intent on pursuing a common goal. Many grant programs favor consortiums due to the likelihood that resource-sharing will lead to a broader impact and better “bang for the buck.” Even if the grant is to be awarded to the consortium, one organization within the group must serve as the lead agency and assume responsibility for administrative oversight of the grant. Cost-sharing: While “cost-sharing” and “matching” are often used interchangeably, many agencies and institutions make the following distinction: “Cost-sharing” means that some of the project costs must be assumed by the institution requesting funding, while 2009 2008 “matching requirements” means that a certain ratio of funds will be acquired, spent or reserved in proportion to the award. Direct costs: All costs that are directly and solely applicable to the proposed project. These can include salaries, travel expenses, equipment purchases or bricks and mortar. Drawdown: The request for dollars submitted by a grant recipient to the authorizing agency once a grant has been awarded and, according to the terms of the grant, periodically until the close of the award. Drawdowns are generally administered by an organization’s financial or business office. DUNS number: The Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System number, or “DUNS,” is a nine-digit figure given by Dun and Bradstreet to applicant organizations and serves as a means of identifying those organizations and businesses. DUNS numbers are frequently required on federal grant forms. Dun and Bradstreet is a self-described “leading provider of global business information, tools, and insight.” Eligibility: The criteria an applicant must meet in order to apply for the program. Eligibility is generally determined by organization type (e.g. healthcare organization, K-12 schools, law enforcement agency). Regional location, population or previous awards may also affect one’s eligibility. Emergency Support Function (ESF) Annexes: Present the missions, policies, structures, and responsibilities of federal agencies for coordinating resource and programmatic support to states, tribes, and other federal agencies or other jurisdictions and entities when activated to provide coordinated federal support during an incident. Federal Resource Coordinator (FRC): Official who may be designated by the Department of Homeland Security in nonStafford Act situations when a federal department or agency acting under its own authority has requested the assistance of the Secretary of Homeland Security to obtain support from other federal departments and agencies. In these situations, the FRC coordinates support through interagency agreements and memorandums of understand- G16 H S T od ay Guide to Homeland Security Grants 2009