Office of Management and Budget (OMB):“OMB's predominant mission is to assist the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and to supervise its administration in Executive Branch agencies. In helping to formulate the President's spending plans, OMB evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures, assesses competing funding demands among agencies, and sets funding priorities. OMB ensures that agency reports, rules, testimony, and proposed legislation are consistent with the President's Budget and with Administration policies.” Here you can find links to the President’s budget and supplemental information.

OMB Circulars: These guidelines are issued by OMB to Federal agencies to describe what spending is allowable or restricted using Federal funds. Of particular interest to the research community are Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, A-122, and A-133.

Federal Program Performance Assessment: This page provides links and descriptions to the tools OMB uses to evaluate federal agencies and programs on their management and performance, including the Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART), and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Links to the results of performance evaluations for the federal agencies may be found here, including the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

The Federal Budget Process – Illustrated: This diagram from the Washington Post illustrates the Federal budget process, including the roles played by the President, OMB, the Congressional Budget and Appropriations committees, and the federal agencies.

Council on Governmental Relations: COGR is a nonprofit association of research universities. They monitor and respond frequently to changes in federal regulations from OMB or other federal agencies, that might affect research institutions and scientists. They also have a wide variety of institutional educational resources, including Effective Management Practices for Externally Funded Research Programs.

The Data Quality Act and OMB Peer Review: A moderated debate, available in audio links, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, on the use of scientific information by OMB under the Data Quality Act of 2000.

The OMB and Science Funding: An editorial from the American Institute of Biological Sciences.