Signed by the Governor on June 7, 2013 and effective July 1, 2013, (ch. 2013-154, L.O.F.), House Bill 1309, as amended, made changes to grant
agreements and the procurement process for state agencies. Specifically, the law added requirements for grant agreements and “requires the
Chief Financial Officer to perform audits of executed grant agreements.” Pursuant to ch. 2013-154, L.O.F., “The state agency shall designate
an employee to function as a grant manager who shall be responsible for enforcing the performance of the agreement’s terms and conditions and
who shall serve as a liaison with the recipient or subrecipient. Grant managers who are responsible for grants that exceed $35,000, as stipulated
in s. 215.971(2)(a)1., F.S., must complete training conducted by the Chief Financial Officer for Accountability in Contracts and Grant Management.” This training is Advancing Accountability.
Advancing Accountability training sessions for State Agencies are scheduled for 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM on the following dates in 2016:
- November 3 - Location: Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
- November 30 - Location: Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
- December 8 - Location: Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
There is no charge for these classes; however, registration is required.
Registration for Advancing Accountability Training
Employees can register for training by submitting a completed registration request available on the Bureau of Auditing’s website
located at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/AA/Training/default.htm#.VRq6Ect0ypo. Related Training Materials
are available at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/AA/Training/AAAParticipantPacket.pdf 
.
Future training announcements are available at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/AA/Memos/default.htm. For dedicated training
dates, special requests, or additional information, please send your detailed request to Accountability@myfloridacfo.com or call
(850) 413-3060.
Certified Contract Manager Training
Effective December 1, 2014, each grant manager responsible for agreements in excess of $100,000 annually, including those employed by judicial agencies, must complete training
and become a Certified Contract Manager, as provided in s. 215.971(2)(a)2., F.S., within 24 months. Certified Contract Manager training and
certification requirements have been developed by the Departments of Management Services and Financial Services. Available in late 2015 for judicial agencies,
the Certified Contract Manager training will promote best practices and procedures for negotiating, managing, and ensuring accountability in
agency contracts and grant agreements. Agencies served by the Justice Administrative Commission that require the Certified Contract Manager Training for their grant managers should
contact Mr. Wayne Meyer, JAC’s Director of Operations, at Wayne.Meyer@justiceadmin.org.
Mr. Meyer will facilitate the scheduling of this training with the Florida Department of Management Services. Please click here to access information made available by the Florida Department of Management Services about Certified Contract Manager training.
[For Judicial Contracts: Although judicial related agencies are not subject to s. 287.057(14) F.S., in deference to “best business practices” and robust internal
controls, JAC recommends that managers responsible for a $35,000 - $99,999 contract attend the Advancing Accountability—Best Practices for Contract and Grant Management Training.
Likewise, JAC recommends that contract managers employed by judicial agencies having responsibility for contracts over $100,000 attend the Certified Contract Manager Training.
Again, Wayne Meyer will be happy to help facilitate the registration of contract managers who opt to register for the Certified Contract Manager Training.]
Memoranda from the Chief Financial Officer and Division of Accounting and Auditing, Department of Financial Services:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) launched new Federal grant reforms on December 26, 2014 for state and local governments, colleges,
universities, and nonprofits. The new rule, commonly referred to as the “Super or Omni” Circular, streamlines eight Federal regulations
(including OMB Circulars A-110, A-122, and A-133) into a single, comprehensive policy guide.
Among the many changes in this new rule, the Single Audit threshold was raised from $500,000 in Federal awards per year to $750,000. OMB advises
that this change reduces the audit burden for approximately 5,000 non-Federal entities, while sustaining Single Audit coverage for over 99 percent
of the Federal dollars currently covered. As an internal control measure, non-Federal entities will be required to take reasonable measures to safeguard
protected personally identifiable information, as well as any information that the Federal awarding agency, or pass-through entity, designates as sensitive.
Any entity that awards or receives Federal funds
will be affected by the sweeping reforms within the Omni Circular.
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.205, Federal agencies must have in place a framework for evaluating the risks posed by applicants for Federal awards before a Federal award may be granted. To facilitate part of this risk evaluation, all applicants (other than an individual) are to download, complete, and submit this form with their Federal grant application.
Source: Office of Justice Programs