1. The 2006 Transparency Act April 8, 2009 Gina Jowers, FSRB, FMD 301-734-6619 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

2. The Transparency Act • Agenda • What it is • The Government-wide Approach • USDA Approach • FFATA to fill FAADS requirements • A-123 to ensure integrity and quality of data 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

3. The Transparency ActWhat it is • What is the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)? Requires: • disclosure of Federal awards • through a single website • accessible to the public for query (www.usaspending.gov) 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

4. The Transparency ActWhat it is (continued) Exempt: • awards to other federal agencies • awards to individuals • awards less than $25,000 The Web site contains contracts, grants, and other federal program awards from FY 2007 forward 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

5. The Transparency ActWhat it is (continued) The Act identifies sixteen data elements: • Name of the entity receiving the award • The amount of the award • The transaction type • The funding agency • The CFDA number • The funding source 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

6. The Transparency ActWhat it is (continued) 16 data elements (continued) • City, State, Congressional district, and country of the entity receiving the award • City, State, Congressional district, and country of the primary place of performance under the award • DUNS No. 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

7. The Transparency ActGovernment-wide Approach • OMB put in charge • OMB reporting requirements not until 03/30/07 • To achieve the objective of the Act, each agency must provide key data elements of awards within 30 days after the date of the award. 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

8. The Transparency ActUSDA Approach • By Nov 20, 2007, transmit FY’07 and ’08 FFATA and FAADS data • Monthly CFO certification • Monthly plan that describes agency quality and assurance measures, in accordance with OMB Circular A-123 • Write/call if you want a copy of the plan: giana.p.jowers@aphis.usda.gov 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

9. The Transparency ActFFATA to fill FAADS requirements USDA recognized duplicate reporting requirements - FAADS and FFATA • What is FAADS? • Who enters the data now? • For more information about FAADS go to: http://cod.nfc.usda.gov/publications/FAAD/faad.pdf 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

10. The Transparency ActFFATA to fill FAADS requirements Duplicate reporting requirements - FAADS and FFATA: • 13 of the data fields were in common • 17 additional data elements for FFATA (OMB had added additional required fields) • 14 additional data elements for FAADS Therefore, one FFATA/FAADS transmission 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

11. The Transparency ActFFATA to fill FAADS requirements Differences in timeliness and completeness: • FFATA requires monthly reporting. FAAD requires quarterly reporting • Awards to individuals are not reported under FFATA. They are in FAAD. • Awards under $25K are not reported under FFATA. They are in FAAD. 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

12. The Transparency ActA-123 to ensure integrity and quality of data The Plan identifies ways to assure: • Data Completeness • screen print of ACMS attached to obligating document • Data fields are required to be filled in • Data Accuracy • Compare a random sample back to the source document • System edits of address and other fields • Data Timeliness • Compare date signed to date entered, provide feedback to preparer 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

13. The Transparency ActWhat Next? • Grantees report subawards by 2009 • New legislation introduced in 2008 – Strengthening FFATA • $ from non-Federal sources • How much is congressionally directed? • Audits every six months • Assessment of the quality of work performed 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting

14. Questions? 3rd Annual APHIS Agreements Meeting