While CMS's Program Offices are concerned with the scientific, technical and programmatic topics, the Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, Division of Research Contracts and Grants is primarily charged with the business management and policy aspects of CMS's discretionary grant and cooperative agreement activities. (Note: Grants and cooperative agreements are distinguished from each other by the degree of Federal Programmatic involvement anticipated during the performance of the planned activity.)

Currently, CMS conducts a myriad of R&D programs including (but not limited to) the following: Money Follows the Person, Real Choice Systems Changes, Community Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF), Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA).