The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Data Quality Requirements
Data quality reviews (i.e., accuracy, completeness, and timely reporting of information) are intended to identify and avoid two key data problems: material omissions and significant reporting errors, as defined in OMB guidance, M-09-21:
- Material omission is defined as an instance in which the direct recipient or delegated subrecipient fails to report required data. This type of omission can result in significant risk to the public on the status of a Recovery Act activity or project.
- A significant reporting error is defined as an instance in which required data is not reported accurately. Such erroneous reporting results in significant risk that the public will be misled or confused by the recipient report in question. Appropriate action should be taken to reduce the risk of significant reporting errors.
The quarterly activities/project descriptions required in the Section 1512 (c) report are narratives on the overall purpose and expected outputs and outcomes of the award and first-tier subaward(s), including significant deliverables. Information entered in these fields must clearly explain the activities that were planned and performed within the respective quarter.
For the award and project descriptions to be considered complete and adequate, they must include, but are not limited to, the following attributes:
- Adherence to instructions and examples for narrative fields in OMB and agency-specific guidance.
- Clear and complete information on the award’s purpose, scope, nature of activities, outcomes, and status of activities (at a minimum).
- The use of complete sentences.
- An explanation of all abbreviations or acronyms that may be unfamiliar to the general public.
Additional Recovery Act guidance and tools are available on OJP???s Recovery Act Recipient Reporting page at: https://ojp.gov/recovery/recipientreporting.htm.