The document, presented by Jeffrey D. Johnson of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), outlines the structure, roles, and challenges associated with federal grants management. It details the responsibilities of the Division of Grants, which provides leadership on grants policy, oversight, systems coordination, and streamlining. The Office of Grants Policy, Oversight and Evaluation (OGPOE) leads the development and implementation of grants policies, ensures compliance, and supports training and evaluation efforts. Key systems such as TAGGS serve as centralized repositories for HHS grants data, enhancing transparency and accountability, while Grants.gov functions as the federal government’s central clearinghouse for grant information and submissions.
The presentation also addresses persistent challenges in federal assistance, highlighted by findings from the GAO and OIG: issues include uncoordinated program creation, inadequate collaboration, weak internal controls, and varying capacities among agencies and recipients. The document advocates for a balanced approach, viewing program architecture as both structure and narrative to better serve beneficiaries. It emphasizes the need for reforms—especially under Uniform Guidance—to streamline processes, strengthen oversight, focus on performance, and reduce burdens on recipients. Effective federal assistance programs are portrayed as deliberate, knowledge-driven, and risk-aware, relying on robust internal controls and risk management throughout the grant life cycle. The presentation concludes by underscoring the importance of upfront work and internal controls to ensure clarity, achieve objectives, and optimize the stewardship of federal funds.
