An award made in accordance with legislation allowing the funding source to exercise reasonable freedom in selecting the project, the grantee, and determining the amount of the award.

Financial assistance that is awarded on the basis of competitive merits from among proposals that are submitted. Even in cases where projects are identified, or earmarked, by members of Congress, grant-making agencies generally will require recipients to file applications and abide by the procedures of what was designed as a competitive grant-making process.

an award made by the Department for which the Department has discretion, or choice in, which applicants get funded