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Federal Grants & Loans |
Overview
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and other laws, federal agencies have been authorized to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in grants and loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian tribes. Significant funding opportunities exist in virtually every sector of the economy, including energy production, energy efficiency, electricity transmission, transportation, health care and communications. Rather than being seen as an exception, federal funding is now increasingly viewed as a standard way of doing business. Yet our early experiences dealing with these programs has underscored te fact that dealing with the government presents unique challenges. The application requirements are often extremely complex, and the application process itself is filled with uncertainties and potential delays.
To assist clients who are interested in seeking federal funding, Perkins Coie has assembled an interdisciplinary team of attorneys and other professionals focused specially on federal grants and loans under ARRA and other laws. Our team can assist clients in several ways:
- Identifying and evaluating funding opportunities. We have a comprehensive understanding of the range of federal funding programs and are experienced with helping clients identify specific opportunities to pursue. We can quickly assess new opportunities to determine (1) the funding levels, (2) what types of entities and projects are eligible, (3) the level of effort required to submit an application, and (4) what critical tasks must be completed in order to meet application deadlines.
- Preparing and filing applications. We have direct, hands-on experience preparing and filing applications for federal grants, loans and loan guarantees under several different programs.
- Completing all of the steps in the application process. This step includes responding to information requests, developing the necessary NEPA (environmental) documentation and taking other actions needed to help keep the application on track.
- Evaluating and advising regarding award terms. We can help assess the agency's award terms and conditions and actions necessary for recipient compliance, obtain agency clarifications and, in some circumstances, negotiate award amendments with the agency. Because many award terms are also identified as eligibility requirements, we can also advise regarding likely post-award terms and conditions as you evaluate funding opportunities and prepare applications.
- Counseling regarding grant and loan administration, compliance and audits. We have an understanding of recipient and sub-recipient reporting, accounting, procurement, and post-award eligibility requirements. We can advise clients regarding development of compliance and audit programs and protocols and assist clients in responding to any Inspector General audits or other agency compliance issues.
We have an understanding of recipient and sub-recipient reporting, accounting, procurement, and post-award eligibility requirements. We can advise clients regarding development of compliance and audit programs and protocols and assist clients in responding to any Inspector General audits or other agency compliance issues.
In addition to our direct experience with grant and loan applications, we have a breadth of subject-matter knowledge in many areas that are relevant to our clients’ applications and subsequent grant and loan administration and compliance, including:
- Government contracts
- Patents
- Energy
- Project development
- Environmental and natural resources
- Land use
- Climate change
- Labor
- Federal, state and local tax
We draw upon all of these disciplines, as needed, when working with our clients to develop applications for federal financial assistance. In addition to advising applicants and recipients, we also draw upon these disciplines and our understanding of the federal financial assistance regulations in advising sub-recipients, vendors and other parties who contract with grant and loan recipients to provide goods and services used to implement federally funded programs.
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