New CCR Policy Begins August 9, 2011

Grant writers, you have one week left.

     Beginning August 9, 2011, the government will begin to actively reject submissions from organizations with an expired CCR registration. Grants.gov will implement a real-time registration confirmation with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system: all applicants must have current CCR status at the time of application and throughout the duration of any Federal award. Your CCR status must be renewed annually.

What is CCR?

     Central Contractor Registration (CCR): the primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions, including Federal agency contract and assistance awards. Please note that the term "assistance awards" includes grants, cooperative agreements and other forms of federal assistance. Whether applying for assistance awards, contracts, or other business opportunities, all entities are considered "registrants."

     Both current and potential federal government registrants are required to register in CCR in order to be awarded contracts by the federal government. Registrants are required to complete a one-time registration to provide basic information relevant to procurement and financial transactions. Registrants must update or renew their registration at least once per year to maintain an active status. In addition, entities (private non-profits, educational organizations, state and regional agencies, etc.) that apply for assistance awards from the Federal Government through Grants.gov must now register with CCR as well. However, registration in no way guarantees that a contract or assistance award will be awarded.

     CCR validates the registrant information and electronically shares the secure and encrypted data with the federal agencies’ finance offices to facilitate paperless payments through electronic funds transfer (EFT). Additionally, CCR shares the data with federal government procurement and electronic business systems.  Information provided in your registration may be shared with authorized federal government offices. However, registration does not guarantee business with the federal government.

     Central Contractor Registration will now be checked at the time of every Grants.gov application submission. If your CCR registration is expired and you attempt to submit an application, you will receive a rejection email indicating that your CCR account is expired. Your organization will be required to go to CCR and renew the registration.

     Applicants should verify their CCR status and renew registration if needed. Check your CCR status at http://www.ccr.gov. For more information on Federal grants visit: www.Grants.gov.

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