CED-SE and RCD Carryover Request Process

Current as of:

This page provides Community Economic Development Social Enterprise (CED-SE) and Rural Community Development (RCD) grantees whose grants require additional time to commit project funds or complete project activities for the budget year instructions for submitting a carryover request. Note: This process is not needed for traditional CED grantees.

What is a Carryover Request?

Carryover is a process through which unobligated funds remaining at the end of the budget period may be carried forward to the next budget period. A carryover request must be submitted if a CED-SE or RCD grant will require additional time to commit project funds or complete project activities for the budget year. An approved carryover request will allow the grantee to utilize unobligated funds in the next budget year. A carryover request is only needed for grants that receive funding annually, such as CED-SE and RCD grants.
When Should a Carryover be Requested?
 A grantee may submit a request for a carryover at any time during the budget year in which the unobligated balance originated as well as during the subsequent budget year. For the request to be considered, all SF-425s and semi-annual reports (PPRs) from previous and current budget periods must be on file.
What Should I Consider Before Submitting a Carryover Request?

If a grantee believes they need to submit a carryover request, the grantee should contact their Office of Community Services (OCS) Program Specialist and Office of Grants Management (OGM) Grants Management Specialist to discuss to ensure the request is properly justified.

Note:

  • Unobligated balances of grant funds may only be carried over from one budget period to another. Grantees are not limited to carryover funds into the immediate next budget period. However, grantees are encouraged to submit their carryover requests to support completion of unfinished activities and/or goals and objectives as soon as possible for carryover into the next budget period.
  • A carryover does not authorize any new activities beyond the purposes consistent with the original grant award. Carryover funds must be used for the purpose for which they were originally authorized.
What Do I Include in My Carryover Request?

The carryover request must include the following:

  • Cover letter with signature of the authorizing official, including:
    • Amount of the carryover request (not other budget year amounts)
    • Unexpended federal funds that were not committed in the budget year. Note: There are no non-federal match requirements for either CED-SE nor RCD grant projects. Therefore, there is no requirements that the non-federal match requirements be identified in a request to carry over federal funding.
    • Funds that will be used to complete approved activities, but not completed by midnight on the last day of the budget period, as allocated in the final budget of record
  • SF-424 signed by the authorized official
  • SF-424A for the amount of the carryover request only, with special attention to:
    • Section A: Column A, B, E, and G
    • Section B: Columns 1 and 5
  • Budget and budget narrative
    • Budget in spreadsheet or table format
    • Clearly mark federal and non-federal budget items
    • Budget categories reflect SF-424A
    • Identify all line items in each category
    • Budget narrative describes how the budget items directly relate to the overall success of the project and the circumstances that prevented the approved project from being completed within the current fiscal year
  • SF-425 for the budget year with entire unobligated balance on line H

A downloadable template (PDF) that grantees may use to complete the cover letter and budget/budget narrative is available at the bottom of this page.
How Does a Grantee Request a Carryover?

To submit the carryover request, a grantee must submit the request as an Amendment in GrantSolutions. Even if the carryover request is being submitted at the same time as a non-competing continuation, they must be submitted separately.

For instructions on how to submit an amendment in GrantSolutions, refer to the following resources:

Note: After submitting the amendment, the grantee should follow up with the OCS Program Specialist via email and add a GrantNote to let them know it has been submitted.
Who Approves a Carryover Request?

The assigned OCS Program Specialist and Office of Grants Management (OGM) Grants Management Specialist review the carryover request submitted in GrantSolutions to approve or deny the request.

If the carryover is approved, new Notice of Grant Award (NOA) is generated by OGM and the grantee will be notified via GrantSolutions. Grantees can review GrantSolutions or follow-up with their Program Specialist to check in on the status of their carryover request.
What if the Carryover Request is Not Approved?
 If the carryover is denied, the grantee will be contacted by the Office of Grants Management (OGM) in writing. If a carryover request is not approved, the grantee cannot expend funds beyond the budget period end date on the notice of award.