The Uniform Guidance (UG)—formally known as the OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards—serves as the foundational framework for managing federal grants and contracts at the University of Connecticut.

Review the below for a consolidated overview of how these federal regulations impact University procurement, spending, and compliance.

Questions? Contact BJ Piconka at bj.pivonka@uconn.edu within the UConn Procurement Department or the Sponsored Program Services (SPS) team.

Core Purpose & Applicability

Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) was designed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline the federal grant process, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen oversight of federal funds.

• Who it affects: All Principal Investigators (PIs), researchers, and department administrators managing federally funded projects.
• What it covers: Pre-award and post-award requirements, cost principles (allowability), and audit requirements.
• Authority: These regulations supersede previous OMB Circulars (A-21, A-110, and A-133).

Key Procurement Standards

Under UG, the University must follow specific methods of procurement to ensure “free and open competition.”

Procurement Thresholds (Current as of 2026)

• Micro-Purchases (<$10,000): Can be awarded without soliciting competitive quotes if the price is considered reasonable.
• Small Purchases ($10,000 – $350,000): Requires the an informal competitive solicitation. Note: The federal Simplified Acquisition Threshold was recently increased to $350,000 for sponsored programs.
• Formal Sealed Bids/Proposals (>$350,000): Requires a formal public bidding process coordinated through Procurement.

Five Methods of Procurement

1. Micro-purchases: No competitive quotes required.
2. Small purchase procedures: Relatively simple and informal; price/rate quotes must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources.
3. Sealed bids: Publicly solicited; fixed price contract is awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.
4. Competitive proposals: Used when sealed bids are not appropriate; awarded to the firm whose proposal is most advantageous to the program.
5. Non-competitive proposals (Sole Source): Only used under specific circumstances (e.g., public exigency, unique capability, or express authorization from the federal agency).

Compliance & Internal Controls

To maintain eligibility for federal funding, UConn employees must adhere to the following “Internal Controls”:

• Allowability: Costs must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the federal award.
• Consistency: Costs must be treated consistently across the University, regardless of the funding source.
• Documentation: All procurement decisions, especially sole-source justifications and price analyses, must be documented and retained.
• Conflict of Interest: No employee may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract if a real or apparent conflict of interest exists.

Resources & Training

• Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR): For specific guidance on award management and cost transfers.
• UConn Knowledge Base: Access step-by-step guides for Blanket Orders, Non-Catalog Requisitions, and Supplier Registration.
• Training Materials: Download the UG Implementation PowerPoint Slides for departmental training sessions.