Grant Management
Through our Grant Management services, The Merchants Exchange provides industry members the opportunity to reduce the administrative responsibilities associated with being the steward of federal funds.
The Merchants Exchange has direct experience managing Port Security Grants through FEMA and Department of Transportation grants. These Federal grant administrative requirements and regulations can be uniformly applied to most all Federal and State grant programs, allowing us to use our expertise in additional funding opportunities such as Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) and Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) programs.
To provide the best possible service, we stay current on changing regulations, ensuring programmatic and financial compliance for grant recipients.
Strengthening your organization by increasing grant funding. We proactively manage the grant application and award process.
Grant Opportunities
FEMA Port Security Grants:
The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.
Visit FEMA Grants to learn more
MARAD Grants:
The Maritime Administration works side by side with the nation’s shipbuilders and port/waterway operators to ensure a robust and profitable maritime industry. DOT offers a number of funding opportunities grants.
Visit MARAD Grants to learn more
Grant Opportunities
Let us assist you.
To be eligible for federal funding, your company must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.
Contact Us
Grant Specialist
Anthony O’Reilly
(503) 220-2095 Direct
(503) 295-3660 Fax
oreilly@pdxmex.com
Our Services
Application
In connection with the development of a grant funding application, The Merchants Exchange is able to consult and advise on the application, administrative, and management matters. Application services included, but are not limited to, the following:
- Serve as the point of contact between the funding applicant and the grant-making agency with respect to the grant funding application process;
- Serve as the point of contact between the funding applicant and regional review groups (e.g. USCG COTP, Area Maritime Security Committee) regarding the grant funding application process;
- Provide guidance to funding applicant regarding the application packet, typically consisting of Standard Form SF-424, an Investment Justification, and a Budget Detail worksheet;
- Provide guidance to funding applicant regarding the Cost-Match Waiver request process, if applicable;
- Submit the application to the grant-making agency on behalf of the funding applicant;
- Submit a Cost-Match Waiver request to the grant-making agency, if applicable;
- Provide weekly updates regarding the funding application progress to the funding applicant;
- Attend meetings relating to the application at the request of the funding applicant.
Post-Award
Upon award of the funds, the Merchants Exchange is responsible for the post-award grant administration of the project, with input and at the direction from the funding applicant Authorizing Official or from any committee or person delegated such authority by the Authorizing Official.
The Merchants Exchange will designate a person to serve as the Project Grant Administrator and such other staff as required to effectively administer the project for the funding recipient.
As part of the grant management and administration, the Merchants Exchange administrative services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Attend conferences and events as appropriate;
- Provide written minutes or notes of meetings as appropriate;
- Prepare and/or finalize personalized letters, special responses/ mailings and or phone calls to project contractors and the grant-making agency, as instructed by the Authorizing Official;
- Act as an additional point of contact for the project contractors; review and follow-up on project delivery schedule;
- Provide the Authorizing Official and the grant-making agency with regular updates of the project development;
- Ensure that funding recipient complies with all filing and reporting requirements under the Award Package Agreement Articles between the funding recipient and the grant-making agency, by preparing and timely submitting such filings and reports, subject to approval and timely response by the Authorizing Official; and
- Maintain files and archive materials.
As part of the Grant Management & Administration, the Merchants Exchange bookkeeping services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Assist in establishing financial record keeping system to accurately document and monitor the project, in accordance with the requirements of the Award Package Agreement Articles between funding recipient and the grant-making agency;
- Review the funding recipient’s financial record keeping system for accurate financial records including accounts receivable and accounts payable documentation, in accordance with the requirements of the Award Package Agreement Articles between funding recipient and the grant-making agency;
- Ensure that the funding recipient complies with all filing and reporting requirements under the Award Package Agreement Articles between the funding recipient and the grant-making agency, by preparing and timely submitting such filings and reports, subject to approval and timely response by the Authorizing Official; and
- Maintain all files and archive material.
The Merchants Exchange also provides special services as requested. These special services are paid at an agreed hourly rate. Such services are authorized by the Authorizing Official, or such other person delegated such authority by the Authorizing Official.
Our Expertise
For the grant fiscal years 2007 Supplemental through 2011, the Merchants Exchange has gained direct experience in grant management and administration as the designated Fiduciary Agent and Direct Recipient for the Port Security Grant Program funds for the Columbia-Willamette-Snake River Port Area. The Merchants Exchange is offering our experience in grant management and administration as a service to all grant funding applicants.
Our practices have been proven through the successful application and award to PSGP applicants each year from FY-2012 to 2019. Our knowledge and skill in grant management and administration is further evident in our FEMA Region X Financial Monitoring Reports that resulted in zero findings.