This language came from the US House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Labor, HHS and Education. Its language from the Appropriations' bill and (when the Appropriations are passed) requires GAO to address the question of leadership and funding for Grants.gov. They're not going to let Bob join this committee - he needs to stand for election in the State of Michigan (and I'm sure he'd win!). This is a very important step focusing GAO (and OMB and HHS) attention and requiring it to report to the Congress on the future development and stable funding for Grants.gov. It addresses Grants.gov without waiting for the reauthorization of PL 106-107 (a useful step as well). The recent GAO report did not address these issues with any focus and GAO is not, in my opinion, the place to go to requesting fixing current user requests - that a question for the Grants.gov staff. What GAO did say in its report is that HHS needs to create a effective mechanism for user input in the design of the program and that's something to ask HHS to address sooner rather than later. This is a good and important step. Carol Carol J. Blum Director Research Compliance and Adminstration Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) 202-289-6655, ext. 17 (Fax: 202-289-6698) xxxxxx@cogr.edu -----Original Message----- From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Bob Beattie Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 3:42 PM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Grants.gov - House LHHS Committee Report Language I am organizing a session for the FDP in September to bring together some supporters of Grants.gov from the Congress and also someone from GAO to give us an up date on what is going on. I personally think that the system is running quite well now, we get hardly any errors. Now they should devote effort to fixing user requests for forms management. We will present a such list to the G.g staff at that same FDP meeting. The same ones we have been presenting for years :( I do not know who this "House Labor Health & Human Services - Education" committee is. If the House would just pass the current bill that renews PL 106-107, passed by the Senate as S-303, then all should be better. Require all agencies to use Grants.gov and require a Grantee user advisory committee for G.g. There has been enough "Big Siblingism" in this over the past 5 years (previously know as Big Brotherism). Does anyone know who on the staff of House Labor Health & Human Services - Education Committee is behind this new comment. Randall -- where did you get this? Bob ------------------------------ Robert Beattie Division of Research Development and Administration University of Michigan xxxxxx@umich.edu (734) 936-1283 On Jul 24, 2009, at 1:38 PM, Lesley Zajac wrote: I second that motion Lesley S. Zajac Director, Research Administration Jaeb Center for Health Research 15310 Amberly Drive, Ste 350 Tampa, FL 33647 Tel: 813.975.8690 Fax: 813.975.8761 email: xxxxxx@jaeb.org From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Vicki Krell Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 12:08 PM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Grants.gov - House LHHS Committee Report Language I think we need to get Bob Beattie on the GAO committee... J Vicki 480-965-2171 From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Legeai, Randall J Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 8:49 AM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: [RESADM-L] Grants.gov - House LHHS Committee Report Language From the House Labor Health & Human Services - Education FY 10 Appropriations Committee Report: "Grants.gov. - The Committee understands that the government-wide grant-making system, Grants.gov, is struggling under the weight of the applications generated by Recovery Act funding. In fact, the Committee understands that the system was on the verge of collapse in April 2009 until HHS was able to cobble together a patch to keep it operation through the summer. The Committee understands that the system is handicapped by the lack of central management as well as inadequate funding from the partner agencies which are mandated to use it. The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the Grants. gov system and report to the Office of Management and Budget, HHS, and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate its recommendations for improved system management. Specifically, GAO should recommend a business model that provides an adequate, reliable funding stream and the appointment of a unified administrative body that is delegated both control and resources. GAO should submit its report no later than January 1, 2010. Within sixty days of the GAO report, OMB and HHS should submit a joint report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on actions taken or planned in response to the GAO findings." The earlier July GAO report is at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/ d09589.pdf. Randall J. Legeai Director, Institutional Program Development Tulane University, Office of Government Affairs 200 Broadway St., Suite 126 New Orleans LA 70118 - (504) 988-3395; fax (504) 988-3388 ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================
