​The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently released a memo highlighting their efforts to streamline the federal grants process, particularly from the point-of-view of the applicant. New guidelines have been issued to all federal agencies, requiring them to report on plans to implement new federal data standards for grant awarding systems by April 30, 2019. The focus of the new effort is twofold: reducing the compliance burden and simplifying the reporting process.

To that effect, the OMB is seeking a reduction in the number of systems through which grants are processed. In addition, the SF-424B form, which covers most grants sought by institutions of higher education, will become optional in the new year, with an eye towards phasing it out entirely later on. Also, additional emphasis will be placed on the System for Award Management (SAM) in an effort to make it a single data repository for federal award requirement compliance.

No timeline was given in the memo on the ultimate achievement of these goals, with the agency reporting deadline of April 30 serving as the next guide post along the path. Once all agencies have announced their plans, further news is anticipated.​