Presidential Executive Order 12372 required that Federal agencies provide states and local governments an opportunity to comment on proposals where they would be affected by Federal financial assistance or direct development. Specific programs requiring intergovernmental review as set forth through Presidential Executive Order 12372 can be found through the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA Catalog) website, Appendix I - Programs Requiring E. O. 12372 Review. The CFDA is updated every six (6) months.

The Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) maintains a list of official State entities designated by the States to review and coordinate proposed Federal financial assistance and direct federal development. These entitles are often referred to as the Single Point of Contact, or SPOC, and OMB is the national central contact for all SPOCs. There is only one (1) SPOC in any State.

Gubernatorial Executive Order 01.01.1983.17 designated the Maryland Department of Planning (formerly the Department of State Planning) as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for federal agencies seeking the views of State, regional, and local public officials. In Maryland this process is called the Maryland Intergovernmental Review and Coordination process, or MIRC. The review and coordination function for the Clearinghouse is outlined in Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), sections 14.24.04 and 14.24.05.