Contract Management

This appropriation will be used to continue and enhance contract management services to pass-through recipients of Outdoor Heritage Fund appropriations to the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The goal of contract management is to ensure that grantees are properly reimbursed and that organizations operate in compliance with OHF pass-through appropriation procedures, policies from the Department of Administration's Grants Management, OHF statute, and the recommendations of the Legislative Auditor. Contract management includes: grant agreements and amendments, training, technical assistance, reporting, fiscal monitoring, reimbursement request processing, and close-out of grants.

The DNR is currently the administrative agent for this program. The DNR's Office of Management and Budget (OMBS) Grants Unit is applying to continue to provide contract management services to pass-through grant recipients. The OMBS Grants Unit's goal is to provide pass-through recipients with the contract management, technical assistance, and grant monitoring they need to successfully complete their conservation work. The Grants Unit provides grantees with one consistent point of contact for their agreements and delivers timely, responsive, customer service.

This proposal includes a funding request of $350,000, an increase of $14,000 from the ML 2023 appropriation. The increase would allow the DNR to retain current service levels and ensure funding for continuous improvement and activities on land acquisition procedures, which the Grants Unit is working on in conjunction with Lands and Minerals.

Contract management services are billed using a professional services rate. In FY24, 4.5 FTE will be dedicated to contract management. The professional services hourly rate includes salary and fringe for grants management staff, supervisory time, travel costs, supplies, and allocated administrative costs including rent and printing as well as other related costs necessary to carry out the pass-through grant management program. Multiple staff with a variety of grants, financial or other responsibilities provide contract management services to OHF as well as the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). The Grants Unit consults with Lands and Minerals and Fish and Wildlife staff as necessary on technical issues. Cost coding is used to record and differentiate time spent on ENRTF and OHF pass-through grant management. Services not received or provided will not be billed. The rate for FY23 is $72.00/hr and is re-calculated at least biennially. If the rate changes, LSOHC staff will be informed immediately.