HELPFUL GUIDANCE, FAQs, AND RESOURCES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

GUIDANCE FOR NEW APPLICANTS AND NEW GRANTEES

ALL INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST APPLY THROUGH GRANTS.GOV

Applications for grant funding must be submitted through the grants.gov website. All OIA grants, when open and available, can be found using search criteria CFDA 15.875. 

• The associated standard forms for applications, SF-424, are also available on the grants.gov website.

REGISTER AT SAM.GOV FOR A UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER

First things first, you must register your entity to get a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to do business with the federal government.

• Apply for the UEI here.
• For more information or help needed to extend UEI validity, contact the GSA Federal Service Desk.

SUCCESSFUL GRANTEES MUST ENROLL IN ASAP WITH TREASURY FOR GRANT PAYMENTS

OIA grant recipients located in the U.S. territories or the continental United States will be required to enroll with, and utilize, the U.S. Treasury's Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system to request payments under a grant. Grant recipients located in the freely associated states are encouraged to enroll with and utilize ASAP with a U.S. Bank to request and receive payments.

• Enroll here with the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP)

COMPLETE PAPERWORK, NOTIFY OIA GRANT MANAGER

Once you have received your grant award notification, complete and submit the following forms online, then notify the grant manager assigned to your grant.

• ASAP.Gov Participation Request Form - Submit at asap.gov
• ASAP Bank Information Form - Submit at asap.gov
• User Responsibility Statement - Submit at asap.gov
• Grant Recipient User Account Request Form - Submit to Help@GrantSolutions.gov.

HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR CURRENT GRANTEES

FEDERAL AUDIT CLEARING HOUSE

All grant recipients should update Single Audits to the Federal Audit Clearing House at https://facides.census.gov/Account/Login.aspx. Grant recipients receiving less than $750,000 in annual federal grants and do not have Single Audits must complete financial questions requested by Grant Managers.

INDIRECT COST RATES

The Interior Business Center serves the federal financial assistance grants community on behalf of the Department of the Interior who is designated by OMB,  under 2CFR200 Appendix V as the federal cognizant agency for indirect costs assignments for cost negotiations for the Insular Areas.

As described under 2 CFR 200.403 and 2 CFR 200.414, most non-Federal entities may elect to charge the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely, for which no documentation is required, if they meet the exceptions. If eligible, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

• Indirect Cost Rate Negotiation
• Proposal Submittals and FAQs

FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND APPROPRIATIONS LAW

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Code of Federal Regulations
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Grants.Gov
• 2CFR Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
• Principles of Federal Appropriations Law, aka the GAO Red Book

HELP DESK ISSUES WITH UEI, SAM, ASAP?

• All grants management systems have Help Desks for support and assistance, however if you are having issues connecting with the help desks and need extra assistance, contact TAP Deputy Director Tanya_Joshua@ios.doi.gov.