New OMB Guideline M-11-34
Directed federal agencies to
• take steps to ensure grantees to complete
ARRA projects by 9/30/2013
• Revise terms of Recovery Act discretionary
grant agreements
– To the extent permitted by law, to provide for
reclamation of funds that remain unspent after
9/30/2013, absent a waiver issued by OMB
pursuant to this memorandum
Effect of this Guideline
• Grants expiring on or before 9/30/2013
– No extension beyond
• Grants expiring after 9/30/2013
– Automatic NCE authority will be eliminated
– Potential amendment of award expiration to
9/30/2013
– Extension beyond 9/30/2013 will require prior
approval and waiver from OMB; request deadline
3/2/2012
Criteria for Granting Waiver
• Project is long-term by design; acceleration would
compromise core programmatic goals
• Project must undergo complex environmental review
that cannot be completed within said timeframe
• Contractual commitments between awardee and
subrecipients/vendors legally prevent adjusting the
timeline for spending
• Acceleration may cause unnecessary harm or
unreasonable risk to vertebrate animals or human
subjects