Overview of the Government-wide
Efforts of the Grants Policy Committee’s
Training & Certification Work Group
National Grants Partnership Webcast
Tuesday, October 19, 2010

 Grants Policy Committee (GPC)
 Background of the Training & Certification
Work Group (T&CWG) Efforts
 Coordination with OPM
 Ensuring a well trained Grants Management workforce
 Current Focus & Future Plans

 GPC established the T&CWG to address government-wide issues concerning the Grants
Management workforce
 Karen Tiplady, Chair (NSF – since 2009)
 Work Group representation: HHS, NIH, HUD,
State, DOD, Education, DHS, FEMA, VA, EPA,
DOT, NEA, CNS & NSF

 Assisted OPM development efforts in two areas:
• Competency Model for Grants Management
(released September 2009)
• Proposed issuance of a new classification series
(1109) for the Grants Management workforce
− Flysheet drafted / agency comment period closed at the end of June, 2010
− OPM currently drafting responses to comments received as it moves toward finalizing series flysheet for agency implementation
 Continued coordination with OPM on work group’s training and certification efforts

Federal grants management workforce has been characterized by a lack of a standardized structure across the government with insufficient certification and continuous learning requirements, which has led to:
• Inconsistent application of government-wide requirements across Federal agencies
• Barriers to communication and collaboration between agency grants management professionals
• Lack of professional recognition for a highly skilled workforce
• Unclear career path for grants management professionals within the Federal government

 Current Focus: Preparing a business case that captures the reasoning and benefits of establishing government-wide training and certification
 Future Plans:
• Refining competencies
• Defining career paths
• Developing curricula
• Delineating the certification process
• Coordinating and conducting communications and outreach

Karen Tiplady, Chair
Training and Certification Work Group
Grants Policy Committee and Director, Division of Grants and Agreements
Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management
National Science Foundation phone: (703) 292-8210 email: ktiplady@nsf.gov
Lori Wiley, Executive Secretary
GPC Training & Certification Work Group and Staff Associate, NSF Division of Grants &Agreements phone: (703) 292-8804 email: lwiley@nsf.gov