Update on A-87 Certification Notice

Based on feedback received by Human Resources, the Business Office and LLPC, this communication is intended to clarify the intent of e-mails that were sent to approximately 190 staff members.

On Monday, April 4, approximately 190 employees received an e-mail in regard to Circular A-87 certification. The e-mail was sent from aea11_online_systems_WF with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required. The Business Office was responsible for sending this request, it is not spam.

On Wednesday, March 30, an e-mail was sent to the affected employees from Brian Whalen, Heartland’s new Business Manager, which contained a video link that explains the A-87 certification process in more detail. The April 4 e-mail contained the actual Certification Notice with a link to the certification that has to be completed. Please contact Brian Whalen at bwhalen@aea11.k12.ia.us or at ext. 14005 if you did not receive the video link or have further questions.

Heartland is currently taking steps to comply with the federal grant rules identified in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, pertaining to documentation needed for federal expenditures. Recipients of the e-mails were identified as Heartland employees whose positions are fully funded from a federal grant. As a fully federally funded employee, Circular A-87 sets forth audit requirements we need to meet for documentation of appropriate federal expenditures. This documentation requirement is new for Heartland and all AEAs this year.

Since last fall, the Business Office has been working with every budget manager to identify and verify those employees partially and fully funded from federal sources. The determination of whether a staff member is funded from federal sources vs. state/local sources has to do with many factors, such as if you do Medicaid claiming or not, what age group population you serve, how we can maximize the use of federal funds when our state/local funds are reduced, and in some cases, because your work is based on specific federal grants. This is not an ARRA (stimulus funds) issue. The Business Office and the IFAS technology department developed an automated process to simplify certification.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we strive to comply with this new federally mandated documentation requirement.