Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              Grants & Contracts
                              Contracts
                              Contract Policies & Regulations
                              Exhibit 1: Conference Spending Provisions -HHS Appropriations Act
 Navigate to:
  HHS Grants
                                            
            
            Get Ready for Grants Management
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Grants Policies & Regulations
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Avoid Grant Scams
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS Build America, Buy America
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      HHS Contracts
                                            
            
            Get Ready to Do Business
                          
            
            Programs for Businesses & Employers
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Vendor Communication Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Service Contract Inventory
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Contract Policies & Regulations
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      HHS Small Business Support
                                            
            
            Contract Opportunities
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Register for Events
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Small Business Programs
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Small Business Resources
                          
            
            Late Payment Assistance
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Vendor Engagement Sessions
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Grants & Business Contacts
                                            
            
            HHS Operating and Staff Division Grant Officials
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Small Business Staff
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Heads of Contracting Activity and Key Managers
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Competition Advocates
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Suspension and Debarment Official and Staff
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and AccountabilityText resize icon

                    




Exhibit 1: Conference Spending Provisions of the HHS Appropriations Act








  
  
    

  
      





The following requirements were enacted in Section 3003 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013; Section 119 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014; and Title VII, Section 739 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015; and are expected to continue and be enforced in subsequent Fiscal Years:

*“(a) The head of any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this or any other appropriations Act shall submit annual reports to the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference held by any such department, agency, board, commission, or office during fiscal year 2013 (and 2014) for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $100,000.*

*“(b) Each report submitted shall include, for each conference described in subsection (a) held during the applicable period—*

*(1) a description of its purpose;*

*(2) the number of participants attending;*

*(3) a detailed statement of the costs to the United States Government, including — (A) the cost of any food or beverages; (B) the cost of any audio-visual services; (C) the cost of employee or contractor travel to and from the conference; and (D) a discussion of the methodology used to determine which costs relate to the conference; and*

*(4) a description of the contracting procedures used including — (A) whether contracts were awarded on a competitive basis; and (B) a discussion of any cost comparison conducted by the departmental component or office in evaluating potential contractors for the conference.*

*“(c) Within 15 days of the date of a conference held by any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this or any other appropriations Act during fiscal year 2013 (and 2014) for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $20,000, the head of any such department, agency, board, commission, or office shall notify the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, of the date, location, and number of employees attending such conference.*

*“(d) A grant or contract funded by amounts appropriated by this or any other appropriations Act to an Executive branch agency may not be used for the purpose of defraying the costs of a conference described in subsection (c) that is not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded, such as a conference held in connection with planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes related to a project funded by the grant or contract.*

*“(e) None of the funds made available in this or any other appropriations Act may be used for travel and conference activities that are not in compliance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M–12–12 dated May 11, 2012.”*

The following outlines the policy implications of these provisions:

Sub-Sections (a) and (b) require additional annual reporting requirements, which are addressed in Section 1.4 B of the policy.
	Sub-Section (c) requires on-going reporting as described in Section 1.4 A and Exhibit 3 of the Policy.
	Sub-Section (d) reminds OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs that agencies may not use a grant or contract for the purpose of defraying the costs of an HHS conference unless such conference is directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded.
	Sub-Section (e) restricts the use of funds appropriated in the HHS Appropriations Acts, beginning with FY2013, for travel and conference activities unless they are consistent with OMB Memorandum M-12-12, and thus, makes it an Antideficiency Act (ADA) violation to use any HHS funds for travel and conferences that are inconsistent with OMB Memorandum M-12-12.The following requirements were enacted in Title V, Section 527 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015; and are expected to continue and be enforced in subsequent Fiscal Years:

*SEC. 527. For purposes of carrying out Executive Order 13589, Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M–12–12 dated May 11, 2012, and requirements contained in the annual appropriations bills relating to conference attendance and expenditures:*

*(1) the operating divisions of HHS shall be considered independent agencies; and*

*(2) attendance at and support for scientific conferences shall be tabulated separately from and not included in agency totals.*

Note:  The impacts and implementation of Subsection 527(2) will be made in a subsequent update to this policy.  Therefore, scientific conferences must continue to be approved in accordance with the thresholds and processes established in Policy Section1.3, and reported in accordance with Policy Section 1.4.
                        Related Information        





HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending (January 23, 2015): Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications

Attachment 1: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space

	Exhibit 1: Conference Spending Provisions of the HHS Appropriations Act
		Exhibit 2: List of Meetings and Events that are Not Conferences
		Exhibit 3: Report on Conferences Held by HHS OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs in Excess of $20,000
	Attachment A: HHS Conference Request and Approval Form - PDF
	Attachment B: HHS Conference Request for Waiver Form - PDF
	Attachment C: HHS Conference Attendance Request and Approval - PDF

                    
  


Content created by Division of Acquisition Content last reviewed January 26, 2015 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​