Stakeholders press for wider input on grants management; administration pledges summer review of Bulletin 5

Ellen Tchaikovsky of the Office of Legislative Counsel briefed the committee on a revised draft (3.1) of H 233, a bill that would create an informal working group to study state granting and contracting practices. “Today, draft 3.1 is available for the Committee to review,” Tchaikovsky said, summarizing two small changes from the prior draft and noting where new language would clarify acceptance of uniform indirect rates and authority to award grants in lieu of bidding when another public entity is uniquely suited to deliver services.

Advocates from Common Good Vermont asked the committee to require the working group to take testimony from nonprofit grant recipients and to specifically study “advanced payments, grant agreement execution, and payment schedules,” arguing those items are frequent operational pain points for nonprofit providers.

Secretary of Administration (Secretary Clark) told the committee the administration has already updated Bulletin 5 after last year’s discussions and said he will convene stakeholders this summer to better understand external communication and root causes. “I am committing to taking this on this summer,” Secretary Clark said, adding his staff want to hear directly from grant recipients about the pressure points they encounter and to improve how agencies communicate options beyond the de minimis indirect rate.

Legislators and counsel discussed whether a legislatively mandated working group is necessary; Tchaikovsky confirmed the Legislature can establish working groups and require the administration to participate. Secretary Clark said some items named in the draft already exist in Bulletin 5 but that external communication about how to request exceptions needs improvement. The committee did not take a vote; members signaled interest in continuing conversations and coordinating with the administration’s planned outreach.