Overview

This two-day course provides a structured, practical overview of the laws, regulations, and policy guidance that govern federal grant programs. It examines how statutory authority, administrative law, and executive branch policy shape how grants are designed, awarded, managed, and overseen.

Participants learn how key legal authorities interact, including authorizing statutes, appropriations law, the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, and the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200, and how these requirements translate into operational decisions. Through applied discussion and realistic examples, the course strengthens participants’ ability to interpret requirements accurately, exercise discretion appropriately, and support defensible grant management decisions.

Syllabus

Module 1: Overview of Federal Grant Law and Policy

Identify core sources of federal grant authority.
Understand the hierarchy of legal and policy requirements.
Recognize how grant law differs from procurement law.

Module 2: Authorizing Statutes and Appropriations

Interpret statutory authority for grant programs.
Understand appropriations constraints.
Identify implications for allowable activities and funding use.

Module 3: Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act

Explain the purpose and scope of the Act.
Distinguish grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.
Apply the Act to award selection decisions.

Module 4: The Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)

Understand the structure and purpose of the Uniform Guidance.
Identify key requirements affecting grant management.
Apply regulatory provisions to operational decisions.

Module 5: Agency-Specific Policies and Terms

Identify agency supplements and policies.
Understand the role of award terms and conditions.
Recognize conflicts between policy and regulation.

Module 6: Administrative Discretion and Limits

Identify areas where agencies and recipients have discretion.
Recognize limits imposed by law and regulation.
Avoid informal practices that exceed authority.

Module 7: Legal Risk and Oversight

Identify legal risks in grant management.
Understand oversight roles of OMB, GAO, and Inspectors General.
Recognize how legal issues become audit findings.

Module 8: Enforcement, Remedies, and Corrective Actions

Understand enforcement authorities under federal grants.
Identify available remedies and sanctions.
Apply proportional responses to noncompliance.

Module 9: Documentation and Defensibility

Document decisions grounded in legal authority.
Prepare grant files for legal and audit review.
Avoid documentation gaps that increase risk.

Module 10: Capstone Simulation – Applying Grant Law and Policy

Apply legal and policy concepts to a realistic scenario.
Identify appropriate authorities for decisions.
Support defensible grant management actions.

Taught by

Seitu Stephens, J.D.

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