UPDATED FAQ ON CARES ACT HEERF
What is the deadline (project period or period of performance) for institutions to spend Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funds received under the CARES Act?
All institutions were given 1 calendar year (365 days) from the date of award in their HEERF Grant Award Notification (GAN) to complete the performance of their HEERF grant.
Therefore, for example, if a grantee received a GAN on April 7, 2020, the one calendar year
period of performance for their HEERF grant would be through April 6, 2021.
Please note that after the end of the year-long period of performance, grantees have an
additional 90 calendar days to liquidate their obligations made during their year-long period
of performance as part of the grant closeout procedures (2 CFR § 200.343(b)).
The Department understands that some grantees, even given the emergency nature of the
HEERF grant, may be unable to obligate funds by this time. Consequently, no-cost
extensions (NCEs) of up to 12 months are available as provided for in 2 CFR §
200.308(d)(2). NCEs may not be exercised merely for the purpose of using unobligated
balances. Given the emergency nature of HEERF grants, the Department does not intend an
NCE to extend longer than 12 months. HEERF grantees are encouraged to discuss any need
for an NCE with their respective program officer well in advance of the end of their grant
period of performance.
For general information about grant management, grantee responsibilities, and grant
closeout, please consult our guide, Grantmaking at ED, available here.