CED Policy and Guidance
Grant Guidance
ACF Discretionary Post-Award Requirements
This page provides information regarding the post-award requirements for discretionary grants awarded through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Subpages address topics including terms and conditions, reporting, requesting payment of Federal awards, single audit requirements, and grants management contacts.
HHS Grants Policy Statement
(PDF)
The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as ACF, except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions and points of contact as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference.
HHS/ACF Uniform Guidance 45 CFR § 75
The Uniform Guidance: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Uniform Guidance”) has been issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). HHS/ACF has implemented the Uniform Guidance at 45 CFR § 75.
HHS Poverty Guidelines
The CED Program's objective is to create sustainable business development and employment opportunities for individuals with low income, defined as individuals whose household income level does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty guidelines (PDF), as outlined in the most recent revision of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. See the CED HHS Poverty Guidelines table (PDF)for calculations of 200 percent based on the most current guidelines.
Reading and Understanding the Notice of Award (NoA) for CED Grantees (PDF)
The Notice of Award (NoA) is the official legal document issued to the grantee that indicates a federal grant award has been made and funds may be requested to be used, and reported on, in the approved manner. It is sometimes called a Notice of Grant Award (NGA). This reference document provides detailed information about each field of the NoA.
Information Memoranda
Terminology Changes | CED IM 2021-01 | August 9, 2021
This guidance shares updated terms used in official documents, correspondence, and other communications to align with terminology used in 2 CFR Part 200 and 45 CFR Part 75.
Programmatic Reporting Requirements | CED IM 2018-01 | August 14, 2018
This guidance is intended to clearly outline programmatic reporting requirements and process for grant recipients under the Community Economic Development (CED) program. Grant recipients under the CED program are required to submit CED program-specific Performance Progress Reports (PPRs) on a semi-annual basis for the duration of their project period. Grant recipients are also required to submit other non-programmatic reports, including SF-425 Federal Financial Reports (FFRs).
Federal Recognition of Same Sex Spouses and Marriages | CED IM 2014-01 | May 22, 2014
This guidance is intended to implement a post-Windsor policy of treating same-sex marriages on the same terms as opposite-sex marriages to the greatest extent reasonably possible. Accordingly, when applying the HHS poverty guidelines to define individuals with low income to be employed in CED-funded projects, the income of same-sex spouses shall be considered part of the “household” income if marital status is a factor when determining “household” composition and the same-sex spouses entered into a marriage valid in the state where they were married.
Action Transmittals
Community Economic Development Planning Grant Recipients | OCS CED-AT-25-01 | December 23, 2024
The purpose of this Action Transmittal is to share that the Office of Community Services (OCS) has updated the Community Economic Development Planning (CED-P) Performance Progress Report (PPR) and to make grant recipients aware of upcoming available training and technical assistance regarding this change. The updated CED-P PPR and instructions can be found online in the CED Planning Grant toolkit module.
Dear Colleague Letters
2024 Indigenous Peoples’ Day | OCS DCL 2025-03 | October 10, 2024
As we approach Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 observed on October 14, 2024, the Office of Community Services (OCS) is proud to take this opportunity to celebrate and recognize Indigenous cultures and histories.
OCS Announces Cohort Four of the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot | OCS DCL 2025-02 | October 7, 2024
We would like to highlight and congratulate our brand new fourth cohort of Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot (DDDRP) grant recipients who were announced in this ACF Press Release.
Celebrating Community Economic Development Month 2024 | OCS DCL 2025-01 | October 1, 2024
The Office of Community Services (OCS) is celebrating Community Economic Development (CED) Month throughout October by releasing new stories emphasizing how CED is revitalizing communities and highlighting grant recipients, both old and new.
2024
- National Preparedness Month 2024 | OCS DCL 2024-07 | September 18, 2024
- Resources to Address Wildfire and Extreme Heat Conditions | OCS DCL 2024-06 | August 6, 2024
- Earth Day FY24 | OCS DCL 2024-05 | April 22, 2024
- World Water Day 2024 Celebration | OCS DCL 2024-04 | March 22, 2024
- OCS Releases the Water Utility Affordability Survey Report | OCS DCL 2024-03 | March 21, 2024
- OCS Releases the LIHWAP Implementation and Impact Report, Part 1 | OCS DCL 2024-02 | January 22, 2024
- October is CED Month | CED DCL 2024-01 | October 10, 2023
- OCS Announces Medical-Legal Partnerships Plus Grant Recipients | OCS DCL 2024-01 | October 3, 2023
2023
- National Preparedness Month 2023 | OCS DCL 2023-11 | September 6, 2023
- Celebrating World Water Week 2023 | OCS DCL 2023-10 | August 16, 2023
- OCS Announces the Medical-Legal Partnerships Plus (MLP+) Notice of Funding Opportunity | OCS DCL 2023-09 | July 28, 2023
- Hurricane Season Begins June 1 | CED DCL 2023-01 | June 1, 2023
- Earth Day 2023 Celebration | OCS DCL 2023-07 | April 21, 2023
- World Water Day 2023 Celebration | OCS DCL 2023-06 | March 22, 2023
- Two-Year Anniversary of the American Rescue Plan Act | OCS DCL 2023-05 | March 9, 2023
- FY 2023 LIHEAP Heating Season Toolkit, Updates to energyhelp.us, and Upcoming Audio News Releases | OCS DCL 2023-04 | January 18, 2023
- LIHWAP Water Assistance Resource Website | OCS DCL 2023-02 | October 24, 2022
- October is CED Month | OCS DCL 2023-01 | October 5, 2022
2022
- FY 2021 Annual Report | OCS DCL 2022-21 | September 30, 2022
- White House Hunger Conference FY2022 | OCS DCL 2022-20 | September 28, 2022
- OCS Launches First-Ever Federal Diaper Distribution Pilot | OCS DCL 2022-19 | September 27, 2022
- OCS Launches the Disaster Flexibilities Hub and Celebrates National Preparedness Month | OCS DCL 2022-18 | September 14, 2022
- OCS Relaunches Customer-Facing Energy Help Website | OCS DCL 2022-15 | July 28, 2022
- Save the Date - World Water Week 2022 | OCS DCL 2022-14 | June 30, 2022
- ACF Response to National Infant Formula Shortage | OCS DCL 2022-13 | May 26, 2022
- Information Regarding Medicaid and CHIP Webinar and Resources | OCS DCL 2022-12 | May 23, 2022
- Joint DCL OCS and ACL on Virtual Site Visit | OCS DCL 2022-11 | May 11, 2022
- Earth Day FY2022 | OCS DCL 2022-10 | April 21, 2022
- A Message from ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras | OCS DCL 2022-09 | April 7, 2022
- OCS Welcomes Assistant Secretary January Contreras | OCS DCL 2022-08 | April 1, 2022
- ARP Anniversary FY2022 | OCS DCL 2022-07 | March 25, 2022
- OCS Celebrates World Water Day FY2022 | OCS DCL 2022-06 | March 22, 2022
- OCS Celebrates National Entrepreneurship Month | OCS DCL 2022-05 | February 11, 2022
- Joint DCL-OCS and ACL FY2022 | OCS DCL 2022-04 | January 13, 2022
- Join OCS in Celebrating Community Economic Development Month | CED DCL 2022-01 | October 6, 2021
2021
- OCS Events to Commemorate World Water Week, August 23-27, 2021 | CED-DCL-2021-01 | August 11, 2021
2020
- You’re invited to comment on the Council on Economic Mobility’s Request for Information | CED DCL 2020-05 | August 5, 2020
- ACF grant flexibilities in conducting human service activities related to or affected by COVID-19 | CED DCL 2020-04 | March 30, 2020
- 2020 CED Grantee Conference POSTPONED | CED DCL 2020-03 | March 13, 2020
- Partnership to Address the Spread of COVID-19 | CED DCL 2020-02 | March 12, 2020
- Vacancy Announcement for Division of Community Assistance Director, Office of Community Services --- Applicant Limit of 100 | CED DCL 2020-01 | November 13, 2019
2014-2019
- Request for Feedback: CED Customer Satisfaction Survey | February 11, 2019
- Office of Community Services New Standard Template | January 16, 2019
- Office of Community Services Restructuring | September 27, 2016
- Information and Resources Related to Financial Capability | April 28, 2015
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month | November 14, 2014