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Summary: HERA Operational Implementation Guidance (CPS, COD System, and EDExpress Suite) -- Procedure for Fall 2006 Adjustments to ACG and National SMART Grant 2006-2007 Award Year Initial Authorizations

Publication Date: August 9, 2006 Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid Summary: HERA Operational Implementation Guidance (CPS, COD System, and EDExpress Suite) -- Procedure for Fall 2006 Adjustments to ACG and National SMART Grant 2006-2007 Award Year Initial Authorizations

Posted on 08-09-2006

As explained in previous Electronic Announcements posted on August 1, 2006 (http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/0720ACGAwdYrIniitialAuth.html and http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/0801HERAOperationalImplementationGuidance.html), we have processed the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) Initial Authorizations, known in the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System as Current Funding Levels (CFLs), for the 2006-2007 Award Year. We have also sent an Electronic Statement of Account (ESOA) for each program that lists the amount of a school's Initial CFL for the ACG Program and for the National SMART Grant Program for the 2006-2007 Award Year.

As we explained previously, the Initial CFL does not represent expected expenditures for the entire award year. The Initial CFL listed on the ESOA is not intended to be a school's entire authorization for the 2006-2007 Award Year. Because these are new programs, we did not yet have information that enabled us to target funds to schools based on prior history of ACG or National SMART Grant recipients. Instead, the Initial CFL was an estimate that we anticipated would be sufficient for the school to disburse funds for the first (fall 2006) term--before the school is able to submit ACG and/or National SMART Grant disbursement records to the COD System beginning December 16, 2006. To obtain additional ACG and/or National SMART Grant funds for spring 2007 disbursements, the school will need to submit disbursement records to the COD System, and we will adjust the CFL accordingly.

Between now and December 16, 2006, if a school needs additional ACG and/or National SMART Grant funds to cover disbursements for the first (fall 2006) term, it can request a funding increase via e-mail to the COD School Relations Center at CODSupport@acs-inc.com.

The school's e-mail must include--

  • "ACG Authorization Increase Request" or "National SMART Grant Authorization Increase Request," as applicable, in the subject line of the e-mail.
  • The following information in the body of the e-mail:

    1. School's name, contact person and telephone number, Pell ID, and GAPS award sequence number (if known)

    2. Total amount of additional funding needed for the first (fall 2006) term to fund disbursements for eligible students

The COD School Relations Center will verify that the school is eligible for the request and then submit the request to Federal Student Aid staff for action. If the request is approved, the school will receive a new ESOA that reflects the funding increase.

Note: A school that uses the Reimbursement or Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (HCM2) funding method will not qualify for funding using this e-mail procedure. The school must contact its Payment Analyst for further guidance.

If you have any questions about this announcement, contact the COD School Relations Center at 800/4PGRANT. You may also e-mail CODSupport@acs-inc.com.