CSBG-DCL-2021-28 CSBG CARES Spending Schedule

This guidance provides clarification regarding the spending schedule for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Funds.

RELATED REFERENCES

Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, 2020, Public Law 116-36; and Department of Health and Human Services Block Grant Regulations, 45 CFR Part 96.

BACKGROUND

CARES Act funds provided $1 billion in supplemental funds to states, territories, and tribes authorized under the CSBG Act. These funds were intended to address the consequences of increasing unemployment and economic disruption as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

OBLIGATION AND EXPENDITURE DEADLINES

CSBG CARES obligation and expenditure deadlines are listed below, broken down by type of grantee.  For purposes of this guidance, "obligation” refers to orders placed for services, contracts and sub-awards made, and similar transactions during a given period that require payment during the same or a future period.  “Expenditure” refers to satisfying financial obligations by paying owed amounts.  Project period end dates for federal discretionary grantees are also included.

States (CSBG CARES funding awarded in FY 2020)

90% CSBG CARES Funds to Eligible Entities are available for expenditure until 9/30/2022.

10% CSBG CARES State Funds (e.g., administrative, T/TA, monitoring costs) are available for obligation until 9/30/2021, and should follow grants policy regarding expenditure.

Remaining portion to “Small States” (Remaining portion of CSBG CARES funding awarded in FY 2021 to 12 small states)[1]

90% of remaining portion of CSBG CARES Funds to Eligible Entities are available for expenditure until 9/30/2023.

10% of remaining portion of CSBG CARES State Funds (e.g., administrative, T/TA, monitoring costs) are available for obligation until 9/30/2022, and should follow grants policy regarding expenditure.

Territories (CSBG CARES funding awarded in FY 2020)

All CSBG CARES Funds to Territories are available for obligation until 9/30/2022, and should follow grants policy regarding expenditure.

Direct-Funded Tribes (CSBG CARES funding awarded in FY 2020)

All CSBG CARES Funds to Direct-Funded Tribes are available for obligation until 9/30/2022, and should follow grants policy regarding expenditure.

Direct-Funded Tribes (CSBG CARES funding awarded in FY 2021)

All CSBG CARES Funds to Direct-Funded Tribes are available for obligation until 9/30/2023, and should follow grants policy regarding expenditure.[2]

Federal Discretionary Grantees

All CSBG CARES funds to federal discretionary grantees should follow grants policy regarding expenditure and the project period end dates, as noted below. 

• The National Center of Excellence for Human Capacity and Community Transformation (National Community Action Partnership) and Regional Performance Innovation Consortia grantees have a project period end date of 09/29/2022. 
• The CSBG Performance Management Technical Assistance grantee (National Association for State Community Services Programs) and the National T/TA Strategy to Support, Stabilize, Educate and Train CSBG Eligible Entities, and Promote Exemplary Practices and Policies grantee (CAPLAW) have a project period end date of 09/29/2023.

For additional resources on CARES Act funding, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, please visit our CSBG CARES Act Grantee Toolkit.

 Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS grantees.