# Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/pre-award-risk-assessment-and-award-structuring-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring focuses on the most critical—and often misunderstood—control point in the federal grant lifecycle: the pre-award decision. This course reframes risk assessment as a governance and decision-making function, not a checklist or compliance exercise. Participants learn how to evaluate material financial, programmatic, compliance, capacity, and external risks using application materials, audit history, financial information, and professional judgment.

The course emphasizes how pre-award risk assessments should directly inform award decisions and structures, including special conditions, phased funding, reporting requirements, and oversight strategies. Through realistic scenarios and applied exercises, participants practice documenting clear, defensible decisions that align with 2 CFR 200, internal control principles, and oversight expectations from OMB, Inspectors General, and Congress. The course is designed for staff involved in program design, application review, grants management, policy oversight, and monitoring.

## What you'll learn

- Explain the purpose of pre-award risk assessment as a decision-making and governance function
- Identify and distinguish key categories of pre-award risk, including financial, programmatic, compliance, capacity, and external risks
- Analyze applicant risk using application materials, audit history, financial data, and professional judgment
- Evaluate the likelihood and impact of identified risks to determine materiality
- Document pre-award risk conclusions clearly and defensibly
- Translate risk assessment results into appropriate award decisions and structures
- Align pre-award risk assessment with post-award oversight, monitoring, and technical assistance strategies

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1050