In-Depth: Mastering the OMB Super Circular 2016 

Special Two-Day Conference in Philadelphia

Understand the OMB Super Circular and Implementing Regulations

You are probably aware that the major Federal grant awarding agencies have issued regulations to implement the Office of Management and Budget's new uniform guidance for administrative requirements, cost principles, and audits for Federal grants, which includes amendments made by the OMB for 2016.  The guidance (commonly called the “Super Circular” or “Omnicircular”), and the Federal agency implementing regulations, provide a new framework for managing Federal grants and subgrants.  Despite the goal of uniformity, the OMB's final guidance contained differences from earlier versions, and Federal grant awarding agencies included deviations from the OMB's version of the Super Circular in their implementing regulations.  In addition, since issuing the so-called "final" guidance, the OMB has made amendments to the Super Circular for 2016.  All non-Federal entities (pass-throughs, grantees and subrecipients) need to understand this new framework and conform their own policies and procedures to the current versions of the Super Circular and awarding agency implementing regulations to remain in compliance with Federal requirements.  By attending this conference, you will receive in-depth explanations of what the Super Circular and the awarding agency implementing regulations mean for Federal grantees and subgrantees so that your organization can remain in compliance with grant requirements.

Over the course of two days in Philadelphia, you will learn about the Super Circular (Omnicircular) and implementing regulations in detail, including: 

• Changes from the proposed OMB guidance to the final guidance and amendments for 2016;
• Differences between the previous administrative standards and new standards under the Super Circular, including:
  • New procurement and property management standards,
  • Changes to fiscal management requirements,
  • New internal control standards,
  • Revised records retention requirements,
  • Changes to closeouts and later adjustments, and
  • Changes to funding source remedies;
• Revisions to the cost principles, including:
  • Changes to treatment of indirect costs,
  • Changes to specific items of cost,
  • New requirements for personnel costs, and
  • Prior approval requirements;
• Changes to Single Audit Act (formerly Circular A-133) audit requirements under the OMB Super Circular (Omnicircular);
• Differences between the OMB's version of the Super Circular and awarding agencies' implementing regulations for the Super Circular (Omnicircular); and,
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the Super Circular (Omnicircular) and its implementation.

The conference will discuss these topics and more to provide you not only with the detailed information necessary to understand the requirements of the OMB's uniform guidance (the Super Circular) and the Federal awarding agencies' implementing regulations but also the information necessary to update internal policies and procedures to comply with the current grant requirements in 2016.  You will also have ample opportunities to ask and get answers to your questions about the Super Circular.

AGENDA

The conference is scheduled for July 21 and 22, 2016. The planned agenda for each day is as follows:

Day One (Thursday, July 21, 2016)

8:00 A.M. - On-site Conference Check-in
8:30 A.M. - Session I: Background Principles
9:30 A.M. - Morning Break
9:45 A.M. - Session II-A: Administrative Standards
11:30 A.M. - Lunch Break
1:00 P.M. - Session II-B: Administrative Standards (Continued)
2:30 P.M. - Afternoon Break
2:45 P.M. - Session II-C:  Administrative Standards (Continued)
4:30 P.M. - Adjourn (Day One)

Day Two (Friday, July 22, 2016)

8:00 A.M. - On-site Conference Check-in
8:30 A.M. - Session III-A: Cost Principles
10:15 A.M. - Morning Break
10:30 A.M. - Session III-B: Cost Principles (Continued)
12:00 P.M. - Lunch Break
1:30 P.M. - Session IV-A:  Audits and Internal Controls
3:00 P.M. - Afternoon Break
3:15 P.M. - Session IV-B: Audits and Internal Controls (Continued)
4:30 P.M. - Adjourn (Conference)

OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES

By attending this two-day conference in Philadelphia, you will learn about the grants management requirements of the OMB Super Circular and the major Federal grant awarding agencies' implementing regulations.  After attending the conference, you will be able to: 

• Explain the grants management framework put in place by the OMB Super Circular (Omnicircular) and the Federal awarding agencies' implementing regulations;
• Recognize the key concepts and policies behind the new Super Circular and the Federal awarding agencies' implementing regulations;
• Identify the changes in the Super Circular affecting administrative standards;
• List the changes to the cost principles (including both general requirements and specific items of cost) and determine whether a cost is allowable or unallowable;
• Describe the changes to Single Audit Act audits under the Super Circular and implementing regulations;
• Explain the treatment of subrecipients and the new requirements placed on pass-through entities under the Super Circular and implementing regulations;
• Distinguish the differences between the general guidance in the OMB Super Circular (including amendments for 2016) and specific, non-uniform implementing regulations from the major Federal grant awarding agencies; and,
• Answer Frequently Asked Questions about the Super Circular (Omnicircular) and its implementation, as compiled and explained by the COFAR.

AUDIENCE

REGISTRATION

Early birds get the discount! Registration for the OMB Super Circular In-Depth conference is just $499 per person through June 20, 2016, and just $549 per person after the Early Bird period.  Cancellations through May 23, 2016, are subject to a $25 administrative fee, and all cancellations after May 23, 2016 (but before June 20, 2016) are subject to a $125 administrative fee.  Refunds will not be issued for cancellations on or after June 20, 2016.  In lieu of cancellations, registrants may substitute another participant from his or her organization at no charge.  Registration does not include lodging or transportation; you are responsible for making your own hotel and transportation reservations.  Space is extremely limited, and registrations will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis.

At the door registration will not be available for this conference.  You must register in advance.  Please bring your event "ticket" or registration confirmation with you to speed your on-site check-in on the morning of July 21, 2016.  Check-in will begin at 8:00 A.M.  The morning session will start promptly at 8:30 A.M.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

The OMB Super Circular In-Depth conference will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia City Center, which is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, on the Avenue of the Arts and within walking distance of City Hall and the historic district (home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall). Rooms are available starting at a special conference rate equal to the government per diem rate of $155 per night (plus applicable taxes) for the nights of July 20 and 21; subject to room availability, this special rate will also be honored for the three nights before July 20 and the three nights after July 21. Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations directly with the hotel. Hotel reservations can be made by calling 1-800-222-8733 and requesting "The Private Client Law Group" rate or can be made online by clicking on this reservations link. Please make your reservations early as the hotel deadline is June 20, 2016, and the number of rooms is extremely limited.  Room availability cannot be guaranteed after that date.

Register Now!

R. Brian Tipton is a practicing attorney with more than fifteen years' experience working with nonprofits, governmental units, and other grant-funded organizations across the United States.  Currently, Brian is Managing Director with The Private Client Law Group, P.C., in Atlanta, where he heads the firm's tax-exempt and grant-funded solutions practice.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.  Brian regularly represents grant-funded entities of all types in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation.  Brian also consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits and grant-funded organizations.