Grant Terminology Glossary

The transfer of unspent grant funds from one budget period to the next. Some grants require prior agency approval; others allow automatic carryover below a threshold.

A government-wide catalog that assigns a unique 5-digit number to every federal assistance program (e.g., 93.853 for NIH Extramural Research). Now maintained as the Assistance Listings in SAM.gov.

The UEI (issued by SAM.gov) replaced the DUNS number in April 2022 as the standard identifier for organizations receiving federal awards. Required for all grant applicants.

The types of organizations or individuals authorized to apply for a specific grant. Common categories include state/local governments, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, tribal organizations, and for-profit entities.

Used interchangeably with NOFO at many agencies (including NIH). An FOA is the published document that describes the grant opportunity and application requirements in detail.

The official document issued by a federal agency that authorizes a grant. It specifies the award amount, period of performance, applicable terms and conditions, and reporting requirements.

Non-cash resources - such as donated time, equipment, space, or services - that count toward a cost-sharing requirement. Must be verifiable and directly benefit the project.

Overhead costs not directly tied to a specific project, such as utilities, administration, and building maintenance. Recovered through a negotiated indirect cost rate (NICRA) with a federal agency.

A non-binding notice submitted before a full application, indicating your intent to apply. Many agencies request LOIs to gauge interest and plan reviewer assignments. Requirements vary by program.

Non-federal funds that an applicant contributes toward the total project cost, as required by some grant programs. Can be cash or in-kind contributions. The required percentage varies by program.

A formal agreement between an organization and a federal cognizant agency establishing the rate at which indirect costs may be charged to federal awards.

The official announcement that a federal agency is soliciting applications for a specific grant program. The NOFO outlines eligibility requirements, funding amounts, evaluation criteria, and submission deadlines.

The time frame during which grant-funded activities must be completed and costs incurred. Defined in the Notice of Award and can sometimes be extended with agency approval.

A required report describing grant activities and outcomes during the reporting period. Submitted on a schedule defined in the Notice of Award - typically semi-annually or annually.

The official US government portal for entities doing business with the federal government. Organizations must register in SAM.gov and maintain an active registration to receive federal grant awards.

The standard federal grant application form required by most agencies. Collects basic organizational information, funding request amounts, and certifications. Submitted via grants.gov.

A procurement method that bypasses competitive bidding when only one qualified source exists. Federal grants generally require competitive procurement and limit sole-source awards.

An award from a primary recipient to an eligible sub-recipient to carry out part of the federal award. The primary recipient (pass-through entity) retains responsibility for compliance.