You may have heard the term Uniform Guidance Audit, aka UGA, tossed around and you’re wondering if you need one, how it works, and if you should be worried.
Our 7-part UGA blog series should give you the information and tips you need to avoid trouble. Let’s start at the beginning:
Basically, the UGA is a compliance audit under Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, (GAGAS). It is a mandatory, annual audit that is designed to test whether your company complies with your grant’s terms and conditions. If you had an NIH grant in the past, you would know it by its former name, the OMB A-133.
If you have a firm, fixed price award, you don’t need to worry about the UGA and you’re probably done with this blog and blog series. However, fixed price grants with the Federal government are rare.
If you have a cost-reimbursable award, the Uniform Guidance Audit reference will be incorporated into your grant.
A cost-reimbursable award means that the government will reimburse you for the monies you spend on your innovation. Of course, those monies have to be in agreement with your proposal, and you have to be able to prove the expenditures are compliant with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and the funding agency’s supplemental policies and regulations.
Not sure if you have a fixed price or cost reimbursable award? There are numerous funding agencies and funding vehicles subject to the Uniform Guidance Act. If you see your funding agency or award below, your award is probably subject to a UGA.
If you expended $750,000 during your fiscal year on a grant(s) that is subject to the UGA, you must have a UGA. If you expended less than $750,000, you are off the hook. This year.
A couple very important caveats:
Worried about a UGA Audit? Contact Us to schedule a time to speak to one of our government funding experts, and we will follow up within 48 hours!
This is the first of our seven-part series about the Uniform Guidance Audit:
If you want to go deeper into the Uniform Guidance Audit, check out our webinar.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.