An executive order that Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula issued earlier this month establishes the American Samoa Grants Clearinghouse Division, which is to serve as the central coordinating entity for all federal grants, territorial grants, and financial assistance awarded to executive branch departments, agencies, and semi-autonomous entities.
According to the executive order, fragmented grants management across departments has resulted in operational inefficiencies, missed funding opportunities, audit findings, compliance deficiencies, and risk of high-risk grantee designation by federal agencies.
The division is set up under the Governor’s Office, reporting directly to the Governor or his designee.
Its authority extends to all grants, cooperative agreements, and financial assistance received by executive branch entities from federal agencies, territorial sources, and other funding organizations. However, this executive order does not apply to grants administered by the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency.
The division is tasked with reviewing all grant applications prior to submission for completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
The division is also responsible for conducting quarterly compliance reviews of high-risk grants, track audit findings, and monitoring corrective actions.
No executive branch entity shall submit a grant application or execute a grant agreement without prior notification to and review by the Grants Clearing House Division.
In cases of non-compliance, the division may issue written notices to agency heads, require corrective action plans, and recommend suspension of application authority until deficiencies are remediated.
Agencies may submit written appeals to the Governor within 10 business days of receiving notice of an ASGCD decision. The Governor’s decision is final.
The division shall be led by an Administrator (Territorial Chief Grants Officer), appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor.
An executive order issued in 2013 establishing the Office of Grants Oversight and Accountability is rescinded and all personnel, equipment, records, and resources previously assigned to the Office of Grants Oversight and Accountability are transferred to the American Samoa Grants Clearinghouse Division.
