What Was the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)?

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) was a comprehensive resource detailing various federal assistance programs in the U.S. It provided a full listing of programs available to corporations, government agencies, U.S. territories, and individual citizens.

However, the CFDA has since changed, with its information now accessible through the website. It continues to provide information on government assistance, and can make it easier for users to find and apply for programs.

Understanding the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

Entities seeking to access programs through the CFDA needed authorization to conduct business with the federal government. CFDA programs were assigned a unique five-digit number for easy reference. In 2018, the CFDA's website was retired after it was consolidated with other government systems programs to streamline the awards process.

The U.S. federal government, through various agencies and departments, has been offering a range of assistance such as grants, loans, scholarships, property, and counseling. Since 1984, information about these domestic assistance programs was compiled by the General Services Administration, which published it in CFDA. Many, but not all, programs provided financial assistance. Foreign aid was not included.

Entities that used the CFDA included:

• Individuals
• State and local governments (including the District of Columbia)
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Companies
• Nonprofit organizations (NPOs)

Listings were available through the CFDA's official website CFDA.gov. Each program listed online was assigned a unique number by agency and program, enabling data and funding transparency. Each CFDA number contained five digits and appeared as ##.###. The first two digits indicated the agency responsible while the last three digits indicated the program itself.

Transition to the SAM.gov Website

The catalog was consolidated with nine other federal government systems in May 2018. This consolidation led to the retirement of the CFDA website, with its functions being transferred to the website.

The primary goal of this change was to make it easier for authorized entities to do business with the government. Now, the CFDA and the other integrated systems can be accessed through the Assistance Listings section of SAM.gov. The new system still provides information on a variety of assistance programs including loans, grants, insurance, and scholarships.

As of the transition, the federal government offered 2,293 domestic assistance programs. The Department of Health and Human Services led the way with 521 programs, accounting for 22.7% of the total offerings. Other departments with a high volume of assistance programs included the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Neither the CFDA nor SAM.gov has ever directly solicited awards or applications. Unfortunately, this transition led to the creation of new scams via phone, internet, and social media, falsely claiming to offer easy government grant money. These scammers may pose as members of the nonexistent CFDA. People who perpetrated these grant frauds typically promised grant approval in exchange for a fee or their personal information.

How to Get Started on SAM.Gov

There are a few steps to take to start looking for federal assistance on SAM.gov.

First, you'll need to decide whether you want to register to bid and apply for federal awards or simply obtain a Unique Entity ID without completing a full registration. If you want to apply for federal awards or bid on government contracts, you'll need to complete a registration, which includes being assigned a Unique Entity ID.

Start the process on SAM.gov once you've decided on the type of registration you want. You can check the status of your registration and find more information about the registration process on its website. The website also has a Federal Service Desk available to help you with any technical issues or if you need further assistance.

Available Assistance Programs

There are many different programs available through the GSA's SAM.gov. Some of the most common ones include:

• The Department of Education's Federal Pell Grant Program (84.063), which is designed to support undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The program provides grants to eligible students, and unlike loans, these grants do not need to be repaid.
• The Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (93.558) program (often referred to simply as welfare), which supplements the earnings of low-income families with children. The program aims to help these families meet basic needs.
• The Department of Homeland Security's flood insurance (97.022) program, which is administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This program offers coverage for flood-related damages. It's available to homeowners, renters, and businesses in communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Smaller programs also exist to benefit small businesses. For instance, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers almost two dozen programs, including the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (FAST 59.058), which is awarded "to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small business concerns in the U.S."

The Bottom Line

The CFDA was a comprehensive directory of federal assistance programs, including federal grants to scholarships. In 2018, it was integrated into SAM.gov, under the Assistance Listings section. You can apply for assistance on SAM.gov after registering and receiving a Unique Entity ID. While the programs available on SAM.gov are legitimate and federally sponsored, users should be aware of potential scams. For example, some fraudsters may falsely claim to provide government grants, using the name of the CFDA to deceive individuals.