Gail Lipton

Perform special assignments and projects in support of sensitive, high profile initiatives. Serve as the Associate Administrator's principal staff support during formative stages of new activities. Have lead responsibility for advising the Bureau on issues related to promoting coordination at the Federal level of the activities authorized under the Recovery Act and Titles III, VII, and VIII grant programs. Maintain liaison with other components of the HRSA, particularly the Office of Federal Assistance Management, to assure compatibility of policies, objectives and grant procedures, and to promote understanding of the Bureau’s unique grant requirements, etc. Provide coordination and support for grants policy administration. Work with Office and Division Directors to improve the overall quality of BHPr funding opportunity announcements. Coordinate review of all program announcements for adherence to BHPr and HRSA requirements. Provide comments, edits and technical assistance to program staff. Work with OFAM and other HRSA staff to obtain clearance of program announcements and resolution of outstanding issues in a timely fashion. Coordinated, developed, and rolled out a BHPr Project Officer Curriculum Training program, with tracks that specifically educate and train Project Officers on all aspects of pre- and post-award activities, grantee performance, budget review, program integrity, performance data, and fraud abuse; and implement lessons learned during CY10 grantee cycle. Provide briefings to Senior staff and presentations to other staff as warranted. Develop assignments on own initiative in response to Associate Administrator's requests. Assignments are primarily broad-based and touch upon Agency-wide crosscutting areas and activities which sometimes involve other parts of the Department. Coordinate OIG and GAO program activity within the Bureau. Participate as member of various HRSA-wide workgroups.

Served as the HRSA focal point on financial assistance policy development, and related management information and training issues. Supervised a staff of grants and financial policy specialists. Analyzed, developed and implemented new and revised policies and procedures covering the full range of financial assistance mechanisms and processes. Provided oversight and expert advice to the HRSA Administrator and other key agency officials on controversial or highly complex aspects of financial assistance programs, assisting in the identification and resolution of grants policy issues and problems. Directed the analysis of regulations, program guidelines, and grants management policies and procedures developed both by HRSA and by the Department. Prepared or oversaw the preparation of comments or recommendations; solicited and coordinated input from other staff offices; and assured clearance through proper channels. Ensured that HRSA policies and procedures were revised to reflect appropriate changes to Departmental grant policies. Monitored and reviewed HRSA’s funding opportunity announcements. Instituted activities to determine OFAM training needs and developed OFAM-wide training plan. Interviewed OFAM Managers and DGMO Division Directors to determine the training needs of their employees, and developed a chart on the training needs of OFAM employees used both to determine the need for end of the year training dollars and to identify five first quarter training classes for DGMO staff. Represented HRSA on Agency and Departmental task forces and committees addressing grants management policy issues. Participated in cross-cutting inter-agency meetings in such areas as policy development and grants system integration. Served as the grants liaison for HRSA’s electronic systems and processes. Served as the coordinator for Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) studies on HRSA programs.