The Department of Health and Human Services awards approximately 60% of the Federal government's grant dollars. HHS awards two types of grants, mandatory and discretionary. Mandatory grants are those that a Federal agency is required by statute to award if the recipient, usually a State, submits an acceptable State Plan or application, and meets the eligibility and compliance requirements of the statutory and regulatory provisions of the grant program. Discretionary grants are those that permit the Federal government, according to specific authorizing legislation, to exercise judgment, or “discretion,” in selecting the applicant/recipient organization, through a competitive grant process. Mandatory and Discretionary grants will be discussed further in their subsequent sections.

Abbreviation	OPDIV
ACF	Administration for Children and Families
AHRQ	Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AoA	Administration on Aging
ASPE/OS	Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation/Office of the Secretary
CDC*	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CMS	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
HRSA	Health Resources and Services Administration
IHS	Indian Health Service
NIH	National Institutes of Health
OPH/OS	Office of Public Health and Science/Office of the Secretary
SAMHSA	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

All grants awarded by HHS and HHS regional offices are included in this report.

*Grant awards made by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are issued by CDC, therefore ATSDR awards are included in the figures for CDC.

This report provides grant award information under three sections: Overview, Mandatory Grant Awards, and Discretionary Grant Awards. Grant awards are financial assistance that provide support or stimulation to accomplish a public purpose. Awards include grants and other agreements in the form of money, or property in lieu of money, to an eligible recipient. This report does not include technical assistance, which provides services instead of money; other assistance in the form of loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, or insurance; direct payments of any kind to individuals; or contracts which are required to be entered into and administered under procurement laws and regulations.