News from Grants.gov: As of October 22, 2007, Grants.gov now supports the latest version of Adobe Reader (8.1.1) which is available for free download from the Adobe website. Grants.gov continues to support Adobe Reader version 7.0.9. While using Adobe Reader 8.1.1, Grants.gov offers complete compatibility with the following operating systems: all windows operating systems including Vista, MAC, Unix and Linux.

News from ACF: Administration for Children and Families (ACF) grants staff will continue to post grant application packages on Grants.gov using PureEdge forms until after the Adobe 8.1.1 release has been fully tested. AoA, IHS, and CMS are advised to continue using PureEdge forms until after the testing is complete. If this is of concern, please contact the COE (questions@grantsolutions.gov).

FFATA Update: The Grants Center of Excellence (COE) is sending data to the HHS Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS), which is ready to support Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requirements.  For January 2008, the FFATA Task Force has said Federal Assistance Award Data System (FAADS) data will be used. HHS FAADS data is provided via the accounting systems. Meanwhile, ACF has been working with its grants and program staff to update DUNS numbers for grantees within the COE systems since this is an OMB and FFATA requirement.

Advances in OLDC 3.0: On Monday, October 22, On-Line Data Collection (OLDC) version 3.0 was released with a new look-and-feel.  This new version improves the Assignment Delegation module and the "View Assignments" screen for ACF staff, and provides a view of grant application packages. OLDC now has over 52 agency-specific or program-specific forms being collected electronically. Use of the OLDC increased in FY2007 with the submission of 9,259 grantee reports, compared with 8,404 reports that were submitted in FY2006. The submission of grantee reports electronically via OLDC has significantly reduced Federal data entry, as well as the time to have reports reviewed, approved, and processed. Grantees have also greatly benefited from the ability to have reporting forms pre-populated with grantee and program information, which has increased the accuracy of the data submitted and reduced time spent in meeting the reporting requirements. For more information, download the OLDC Quarterly Newsletter.

Migrations in 2008: Data has successfully been loaded into a GrantSolutions.gov training database for USDA's Food Safety and Information Service (FSIS) and is being tested.  Migration from the GATES client-server system will continue throughout FY 2008.  Training and migration to the GrantSolutions.gov Discretionary Grant module will be scheduled in the upcoming months for the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), and ACF.