Agencies Need Better Guidance for Choosing among Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.
Abstract
The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act distinguishes Federal procurement from Federal assistance relationships and further distinguishes between grant and cooperative agreement types of Federal assistance. However, Federal agencies do not always select the appropriate instrument because of vague OMB guidance and less-than-aggressive implementation by the agencies. As a result, the Federal interest may not be adequately protected in some procurement situations. Further, development of a more orderly and less burdensome Federal assistance system anticipated by the Congress has been impeded. GAO recommends that the Office of Management and Budget clarify its guidance, more actively direct and oversee Federal agencies' implementation of the act, and establish clear differences among contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. GAO also recommends that the Congress extend OMB's authority to except individual programs or transactions from the act's provisions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA106805
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office