2 CFR § 25.400 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t2/s25.400"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "2 CFR § 25.400 - Definitions."
title_number: 2
title_name: "Federal Financial Assistance"
section_number: "25.400"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET GOVERNMENT-WIDE GUIDANCE FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE"
part_number: "25"
part_name: "UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "31 U.S.C. 503; 31 U.S.C. 6101 note; 31 U.S.C. 6102; 31 U.S.C. 6307; 41 U.S.C. 2313; Pub. L. 109-282; Pub. L. 110-252; Pub. L. 113-101; Pub. L. 117-40."
regulatory_source: "89 FR 30109, Apr. 22, 2024, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "25"
---


# 25.400 Definitions.

Terms not defined in this part have the same meaning as provided in 2 CFR part 200, subpart A. As used in this part:

*Applicant* means any entity that applies for a Federal award directly to a Federal agency.

*Entity* includes:

(1) Whether for profit or nonprofit:

(i) A corporation;

(ii) An association;

(iii) A partnership;

(iv) A limited liability company;

(v) A limited liability partnership;

(vi) A sole proprietorship;

(vii) Any other legal business entity;

(viii) Any other grantee or contractor that is not excluded by paragraph (2);

(ix) Any State or locality; and

(x) any subcontractor or subgrantee that is not excluded by paragraph (2);

(2) Does not include:

(i) An individual recipient of Federal financial assistance; or

(ii) A Federal employee.

*Federal Award* means an award of Federal financial assistance that an entity receives from a Federal agency.

*Federal financial assistance* means:

(1) Assistance that entities receive or administer in the form of a:

(i) Grant;

(ii) Cooperative agreement (which does not include a cooperative research and development agreement pursuant to the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, as amended (15 U.S.C. 3710a);

(iii) Loan;

(iv) Loan guarantee;

(v) Subsidy;

(vi) Insurance;

(vii) Food commodity;

(viii) Direct appropriation;

(ix) Assessed or voluntary contribution; or

(x) Any other financial assistance transaction that authorizes the entity's expenditure of Federal funds.

(2) For the purposes of this part, the term “Federal financial assistance” does not include:

(i) Technical assistance that provides services in lieu of money; and

(ii) A transfer of title to federally-owned property provided in lieu of money, even if the award is called a grant.

*Recipient* means an entity that receives or administers a Federal Award directly from a Federal agency.

*System for Award Management (SAM.gov)* means the Federal repository into which an entity must provide the information required for the conduct of business as a recipient.

*Unique entity identifier* means the universal identifier assigned by *SAM.gov* to uniquely identify an entity.