COM 0918.001 2022-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selective Comparison of Article 25 to Federal Standards Article 25, primarily designed around local funding sources, stands to gain from alignment with federal regulations in certain areas, ensuring compliance and effective management, should federal funds become available in any given year, to include as part of the grants to nonprofits. Federal Standards of grants and agreements can be found in the eCFR Title 2,which details grant management principles, agency-specific rules, and uniform audit and administrative guidelines. It underscores the necessity of local code alignment with federal standards to ensure rigorous compliance, oversight, and efficient auditing of federal funds. OCA has identified opportunities to adopt best practices and align with federal standards where applicable. Consequently, OCA suggests several improvements to enhance, clarify, and harmonize code elements with federal practices. Meaningful Feedback from Awardees While soliciting information, awardees provided meaningful feedback for enhancing the program framework. The various organizations proposed specific program improvements for the county, which we believe are noteworthy: 1. Onboard Training and Information. A recurring request from NPOs was for comprehensive onboard training and information resources to enhance their understanding of program management and align their practices with county expectations. It is worth noting that the County has already made strides in this regard by providing certain training materials and resources, which can be accessed at the following link: https://www.hawaiicounty.00v/departments/finance/budget/nonprofit-grant-forms. We commend the County for its past efforts in offering training support. Moreover, we strongly encourage the continuous refinement and expansion of such training initiatives, particularly as the program evolves and adapts. 2. Award Management System or Portal. Several NPOs noted that they typically categorize receipts by vendor, date, or purchaser, making assembling the requested materials difficult. Some organizations would prefer those receipts and other documentation to be uploaded directly to an award management system domiciled by the county and in line with their proposed budget expenditure categories. In this case, the grant packets are complete upon submission of final program reports and can be audited internally. 3. Organizations Seek Feedback. Numerous NPOs have expressed their eagerness to receive feedback regarding their performance and compliance and guidance on potential improvements. According to federal standards, the awarding agency should develop and plan programs with measurable outcomes. Presently, the County requests applicants to propose their performance metrics and subsequently permits the awarded NPOs to self- assess their performance based on these self-established measures. 2