Recovery.gov - Track the Money

This competitive solicitation allows the field to submit applications for funding for training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects that are (1) national in scope (defined as relevant and useful to many or most communities and states across the Nation); and (2) address gaps in the field in the areas of training and technical assistance; or (3) develop promising practices, models, or programs through demonstration projects.

1) DOJ/OJP's Risk Assessment Plan was posted at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/recovery in April 2009. Some highlights include:

a) Special conditions will be placed on all High-Risk grantees awarded Recovery Act funding requiring, for example, additional reporting requirements or additional monitoring requirements.

b) Following grant award, DOJ will ensure that all grantees are assessed for monitoring priority based on a series risk indicators, which include a combination of standard grant risk indicators, as well as indicators specific to the Recovery Act.

c) DOJ will conduct on-site monitoring of at least 30% of open, active funding awarded under the Recovery Act before the end of the project period.

d) DOJ will run quarterly metrics reports to identify lead risk indicators and work with the grantee to address potential risks.

2) OJP's Financial System, FMIS2 allows the agency to track grantees' use of funds by program and project code. Project codes align with major program purpose areas and/or allowable funding categories. Project codes are developed or in development for most Recovery Act programs.

3) The applicant must include a plan to perform basic evaluation of the project, incorporating the performance measures identified in the solicitation and any other performance indicators identified by the applicant.

4) DOJ/OJP conducts both programmatic and financial monitoring of its grantees. This monitoring includes review elements that address grantee compliance, as well as performance. DOJ/OJP has a robust procedure for tracking and addressing issues of grantee performance and compliance. DOJ/OJP will conduct on-site of no less than 30% of open, active award funding throughout the life of the Recovery Act programs.

5) In addition, DOJ/OJP's Office of Audit, Assessment, and Management conducts performance assessments of grants and grant programs, which includes a more intensive focus on the short/medium-term impacts of grant funding. This office will focus heavily on Recovery Act programs during the life of these programs.

OJP conducts both programmatic and financial monitoring of its grantees. This monitoring includes review elements that address grantee compliance, as well as performance, and entails verification of all data submitted by grantees. In particular, financial monitors sample grantee expenditures to verify that expenses are allowable and reasonable. OJP has robust procedures for tracking and addressing issues of grantee performance and compliance. In order to collect, compile, and disseminate grantee performance and program cost information:

(1) OJP will accept electronic performance measurement data from its grantees through its grant management system. OJP will aggregate and report all information as required by OMB implementation guidance.

(2) OJP will conduct programmatic monitoring of grantees, which will include a review of performance measure face validity (a determination as to whether measure does what it was intended to do).

(3) In addition, OJP's Office of Audit, Assessment, and Management conducts program assessments, which include a thorough review of data reported by grantees for validity and completeness.

This program does not fund infrastructure investments.