[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11942-11946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6886]




[[Page 11941]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part II





Department of Housing and Urban Development





_______________________________________________________________________



Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research



_______________________________________________________________________



Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding 
Availability for FY 1996

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11942]]


DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research
[Docket No. FR-4016-N-01]


Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding 
Availability--FY 1996

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 
1996.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites applications from institutions of higher 
education, area-wide planning organizations, and States for grants 
under the Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP). The CDWSP, 
authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as 
amended, assists economically disadvantaged and minority students 
participating in work study programs in such institutions. This notice 
announces HUD's intention to award up to $3 million from FY 1996 
appropriations (plus any additional funds recaptured from prior 
appropriations) to fund work study programs to be carried out from 
August, 1996 to September, 1998.

    Note: The Congress has not yet enacted FY 1996 appropriation for 
HUD. However, HUD is publishing this notice to give potential 
applicants adequate time to prepare applications. The amount of 
funds announced in this NOFA is an estimate of amounts that may be 
made available in FY 1996, and is based on the level of funding 
available for FY 1995. HUD is not bound by the estimate set forth in 
this notice. The estimated amount may be adjusted based on the 
enacted FY 1996 appropriation.

DATES: Applications may be requested beginning April 1, 1996. 
Applications must be physically received by the Office of University 
Partnerships, in care of the Division of Budget, Contracts, and Program 
Control, in Room 8230 by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on May 31, 1996. This 
deadline is firm as to date, hour, and place. In the interest of 
fairness to all competing applicants, the Department will treat as 
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the 
deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make 
early submissions of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of 
eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-
related problems.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hartung, Office of University 
Partnerships, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, Telephone (202) 708-3061, extension 
261 (Voice). The TTY number for the hearing impaired is (202) 708-1455. 
(These are not toll-free numbers.) Mr. Hartung can also be reached via 
the Internet at [email protected].
    Application packages (requests for grant application) may be 
obtained by written request from the following address: HUD USER, ATTN: 
Community Development Work Study Program, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 
20850. Requests for application kits may be faxed to: 301-251-5747 
(this is not a toll-free number). Requests for application kits must 
include the applicant's name, mailing address (including zip code), 
telephone number (including area code), and must refer to ``Document 
FR-4016.'' The application kit is also available on the Internet from 
the Office of University Partnerships Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse 
can be accessed from the World Wide Web at: http://oup.aspensys.com:89; 
or from a Gopher Server at: gopher://oup.aspensys.com:77.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Section 107(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1974, as amended, (the Act) authorizes the CDWSP. Under this section, 
HUD is authorized to provide grants to institutions of higher 
education, either directly or through area-wide planning organizations 
or States, for the purpose of providing assistance to economically 
disadvantaged and minority students, including students with 
disabilities, who participate in community development work study 
programs and are enrolled in full-time graduate or undergraduate 
programs in community or economic development, community planning, or 
community management. Two-year institutions are not eligible applicants 
for funding under this program. This notice announces HUD's intention 
to award up to $3 million from FY 1996 appropriations (plus any 
additional funds recaptured from prior appropriations). Awards will be 
made under the HUD implementing regulations at 24 CFR 570.400 and 
570.415 and the provisions of this Notice.

    Note: The Congress has not yet enacted FY 1996 appropriation for 
HUD. However, HUD is publishing this notice to give potential 
applicants adequate time to prepare applications. The amount of 
funds announced in this NOFA is an estimate of amounts that may be 
made available in FY 1996, and is based on the level of funding 
available for FY 1995. HUD is not bound by the estimate set forth in 
this notice. The estimated amount may be adjusted based on the 
enacted FY 1996 appropriation.

B. Eligible Applicants

    The following are eligible to apply for assistance under the 
program subject to the conditions noted below:
    1. Institutions of higher education offering graduate degrees in a 
community development academic program.
    2. Institutions of higher education offering undergraduate degrees 
in a community development academic program if no institutions of 
higher education in the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) 
or non-SMSA area in which they are located offer graduate degrees in a 
community development academic program.

    Note: Two-year institutions of higher education are not eligible 
applicants for funding under this program.

    3. Area-wide planning organizations (APOs) which apply on behalf of 
two or more institutions of higher education located in the same SMSA 
or non-SMSA area as the APO.
    4. States which apply on behalf of two or more institutions of 
higher education located in the State. If a State is approved for 
funding, institutions of higher education located in the State are not 
eligible recipients. If an APO is approved for funding, institutions of 
higher education located in the SMSA or non-SMSA non-metropolitan area 
served by the APO are not eligible recipients.

C. Threshold Requirements

    To be eligible for ranking, applications must meet each of the 
following threshold requirements:
    1. The application must be filed in the application form prescribed 
by HUD, and within the required time prescribed by the Request For 
Grant Application (RFGA) released pursuant to this notice.
    2. The application must demonstrate that the applicant is eligible 
to participate.
    3. The applicant must demonstrate that each institution of higher 
education participating in the program as a recipient has the required 
academic programs and faculty to carry out its activities under CDWSP. 
Each work placement agency must have the required staff and community 
development work study program to carry out its activities under CDWSP.
    4. Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States must maintain 
at least a 50 percent rate of graduation of students from the FY 1993 
funding round which covered school years September 1993 to September 
1995 in

[[Page 11943]]
order to participate in the current round of CDWSP funding. 
Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States funded under the FY 
1993 CDWSP funding round which did not maintain such a rate will be 
excluded from participating in the FY 1996 funding round. Such 
institutions, APOs, and States are eligible to participate in the 1997 
round.

D. Selection Factors for Institutions of Higher Education (110 Points)

    The following factors will be considered by the Department in 
evaluating applications received from institutions of higher education 
in response to the solicitation.
    1. Academic Program (53 points, as allocated below).
    Each application will be reviewed for evidence of the school's 
commitment to administering a CDWSP and the overall strength of its 
commitment to meeting the needs of minority and economically 
disadvantaged individuals, including students with disabilities. This 
commitment will be evaluated in the following areas:
    a. Relative quality of the academic program offered by the 
institution of higher education.
    (1) Quality of the academic program in terms of community and 
economic development course offerings and academic requirements for 
students. (8 points)
    (2) Appropriateness of the curriculum to prepare students for 
careers in the community and economic development field. (8 points)
    (3) Qualifications of the faculty and the percentage of time they 
will teach in the academic area. (6 points)
    b. Quality of academic supervision - Qualifications of the academic 
supervisor and the percentage of time they will commit to the students. 
(7 points)
    c. Amount of resources to be committed by the institution to the 
CDWSP.
    (1) Appropriateness and adequacy of the applicant's plan for the 
use of its facilities, equipment and financial resources in support of 
the CDWSP. (2 points)
    (2) The degree to which the applicant is able to contribute funds 
to support the total cost of the project. (5 points)
    (3) The degree to which the applicant will utilize faculty and 
staff administrators on staff. (7 points)
    d. Applicant's success rate in graduating students previously 
enrolled in the HUD CDWSP or similar work study program. (10 points)
    2. Student Work Placement Assignment (9 points, as allocated below)
    a. The extent to which the participating students will receive a 
sufficient number and variety of work placement assignments. (3 points)
    b. The extent to which the assignments will provide practical and 
useful experience to students participating in the program. (3 points)
    c. The extent to which the assignments will further the 
participating students' preparation for professional careers in 
community or economic development, community planning, or community 
management. (3 points)
    3. Seminars (4 points)
    The degree to which the proposed seminars will (a) relate the 
experience provided under the work placement assignments with the 
educational experience provided under the academic programs and (b) 
address career planning and permanent job placement. (4 points)
    4. Placement Opportunities (13 points, as allocated below)
    a. Extent to which the institution's educational program (based on 
past experience) leads directly and immediately to career opportunities 
in the community and economic development fields. (6 points)
    b. The applicant's success in assisting graduates of the HUD CDWSP 
or similar work study program to find permanent employment in community 
development funded agencies. (7 points)
    5. Program Coordination and Administration (16 points, as allocated 
below)
    a. The degree to which the Program Director has clear 
responsibility, ample percentage of time, and sufficient institutional 
or academic authority to coordinate the overall administration of the 
program. (8 points)
    b. The applicant's ability to track and monitor the progress of the 
students previously enrolled in the HUD or similar work study program, 
including the students who drop out of the program. (4 points)
    c. The adequacy of the applicant's plan for placing students on 
rotating assignments in community development work placement 
assignments and keeping track of students during the two-year academic 
period and the internship. (4 points)
    6. Institution's Commitment (15 points, as allocated below)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has a recruitment program that 
demonstrates an active, aggressive, and imaginative effort to identify 
and attract qualified minorities and economically disadvantaged 
students, including students with disabilities. (2 points)
    b. The success of past and current efforts in preparing these 
students for careers in community and economic development. (6 points)
    c. The extent to which the CDWSP award will result in a net 
increase of these students in each academic area. (3 points)
    d. The extent to which the CDWSP award will not result in a 
decrease in the amount of the institution's own financial support 
available for minority and economically disadvantaged students, 
including students with disabilities, in the academic areas or the 
institution as a whole. (2 points)
    e. The extent to which the applicant has provided reasonable 
accommodations for students with disabilities to enable them to 
participate in the college/university's academic and work-study 
programs. (2 points)

E. Selection Factors for Area-Wide Planning Organizations and States 
(110 Points)

    The following factors will be considered by the Department in 
evaluating applications received from area-wide planning organizations 
and States in response to this NOFA. Each application must contain 
sufficient technical information to be reviewed for its technical 
merit.
    1. Academic Program (53 points, as allocated below)
    a. Relative quality of the academic program offered by the 
institutions of higher education.
    (1) Quality of the academic program in terms of community and 
economic development course offerings and academic requirements for 
students. (8 points)
    (2) Appropriateness of the curriculum to prepare students for 
careers in the community and economic development field. (8 points)
    (3) Qualifications of the faculty at each college/university listed 
in the submission and the percentage of time they will teach in the 
academic area. (6 points)
    b. Qualifications of the academic area supervisor at each college/
university listed in the submission and the percentage of time they 
will commit to the students. (7 points)
    c. Amount of resources to be committed to the CDWSP.
    (1) Appropriateness and adequacy of the applicant's and each 
institution's plan for the use of its facilities, equipment and 
financial resources in support of the CDWSP. (2 points)
    (2) The degree to which each college/university listed in the 
application is

[[Page 11944]]
able to contribute funds to support the total cost of the project. (5 
points)
    (3) The degree to which each college/university listed in the 
application will utilize faculty and staff administrators on staff. (7 
points)
    d. The success rate of each institution of higher education 
applying under the applicant in graduating students previously enrolled 
in the HUD CDWSP or similar work study program. (10 points)
    2. Student Work Placement Assignment (9 points, as allocated below)
    a. The extent to which the participating students will receive a 
sufficient number and variety of work placement assignments. (3 points)
    b. The extent to which the assignments will provide practical and 
useful experience to students participating in the program. (3 points)
    c. The extent to which the assignments will further the 
participating students' preparation for professional careers in 
community or economic development, community planning, or community 
management. (3 points)
    3. Seminars. (4 points)
    The degree to which the proposed seminars will (a) relate to the 
experience provided under the work placement assignments with the 
educational experience provided under the academic program and (b) 
address career planning and permanent job placement. (4 points)
    4. Placement Opportunities (13 points, as allocated below)
    a. The extent to which the educational program for each college/
university listed in the application (based on past experience) leads 
directly and immediately to career opportunities in the community and 
economic development fields. (6 points)
    b. The applicant's success in assisting graduates of the HUD 
Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP) or similar work study 
program to find permanent employment in community development funded 
agencies. (7 points)
    5. Program Coordination and Administration (16 points, as allocated 
below)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has established a committee to 
coordinate activities between program participants to advise the 
recipient on policy matters, to assist the recipient in ranking and 
selection of participating students, and to review disputes concerning 
compliance with program agreements and performance. (8 points)
    b. The applicant's ability to track and monitor progress of 
students enrolled in the program and those who drop out. (4 points)
    c. The adequacy of the applicant's plan for placing students in 
work placement assignments and keeping track of students during the 
two-year academic period and during the internship, respectively. (4 
points)
    6. Institution's Commitment (15 points, as allocated below)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has a recruitment program that 
demonstrates an active, aggressive, and imaginative effort to identify 
and attract qualified minorities and economically disadvantaged 
students, including students with disabilities. (2 points)
    b. The success of past and current efforts of colleges/universities 
listed in the application in preparing these students for careers in 
community and economic development. (6 points)
    c. The extent to which the CDWSP award will result in a net 
increase of these students in each academic area. (3 points)
    d. The extent to which the CDWSP award will not result in a 
decrease in the amount of the institutions's own financial support 
available for minority and economically disadvantaged students, 
including students with disabilities, in the academic areas or the 
institution as a whole. (2 points)
    e. The extent to which the applicant has provided reasonable 
accommodations for students with disabilities to enable them to 
participate in the college/university academic and work-study program. 
(2 points)

F. Program Policy Factors

    HUD may provide assistance to support a number of students that is 
less than the number requested under applications in order to provide 
assistance to as many highly rated applications as possible. In 
addition, HUD might award a lower funding level than the requested 
amount for tuition, work stipend, books and additional support.
    In the event two or more applications have the same number of 
points, the application with the most points for selection factor (1) 
will be selected. If there is still a tie, the application with the 
most points for selection factor (5) will be selected.

G. Obtaining Application

    For an application kit, contact HUD USER, ATTN: Community 
Development Work Study Program, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, Maryland 
20850. Applications may be requested beginning April 1, 1996.
    Requests for application kits must be in writing, but may be faxed 
to 301-251-5747. (This is not a toll-free number.) Please refer to FR-
4016, and provide your name, address (including zip code) and telephone 
number (including area code).

H. Submitting Applications and Deadline Date

    Applications for funding under this NOFA must be complete and must 
be physically received in the place designated in the application kit 
for receipt, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on May 31, 1996. The deadline 
date and time will be firm as to date and hour. In the interest of 
fairness to all competing applicants, the Department will treat as 
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the 
deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make 
early submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of 
eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery 
related problems.
    Following the expiration of the application submission deadline, 
HUD will review and rank applications in a manner consistent with the 
procedures described in this Notice and the provisions of the program 
regulations at 24 CFR 570.425.

1. Application Content

    Applicants must complete and submit applications in accordance with 
instructions contained in the application kit. The following is a 
checklist of the application content that will be specified in the 
RFGA:
    (a) Transmittal letter, identifying the agency accrediting the 
institutions of higher education on whose behalf the application is 
filed and further stating that such accrediting agency(ies) are 
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    (b) A completed and signed Standard Form 424, Application For 
Federal Assistance.
    (c) Abstract.
    (d) Table of Contents.
    (e) Proposal narrative statement addressing the factors for award.
    (f) Sample copy of student/recipient binding agreement.
    (g) Sample copy of recipient/student work placement agreement.
    (h) Management/Workplan.
    (i) Resumes of Key staff and faculty.
    (j) Budget for resident and non-resident students.
    (k) Tuition and fee Schedule.
    (l) Audit/financial management system information.
    (m) Certification by IPA or cognizant audit agency of applicant's 
financial management system.
    (n) If applicable, document verifying a 50 per cent rate of 
graduation of

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students from the FY 1993 funding round.

2. Certifications and Exhibits

    Applications must also include the following:
    (a) Drug-Free Workplace Certification.
    (b) Certification prohibiting excessive force against nonviolent 
civil rights demonstrators, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5304 (applies only to 
applicants that are units of general local government).
    (c) Certification on HUD Form 2880, Applicant/Recipient Disclosure, 
Update Report, disclosing receipt of at least $200,000 in covered 
assistance during the fiscal year, pursuant to 24 CFR part 12, subpart 
C, Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance.
    (d) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities on SF-LLL must be used to 
disclose lobbying with other than Federally appropriated funds at the 
time of application if the applicant deems it applicable.

J. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    After the submission deadline date, HUD will screen each 
application to determine whether it is complete. If an application 
lacks certain technical items or contains a technical error, such as an 
incorrect signatory, HUD will notify the applicant in writing that it 
has 14 calendar days from the date of HUD's written notification to 
cure the technical deficiency. If the applicant fails to submit the 
missing material within the 14-day cure period, HUD may disqualify the 
application.
    This 14-day cure period applies only to non-substantive 
deficiencies or errors. Any deficiency capable of cure will involve 
only items not necessary for HUD to assess the merits of an application 
against the factors specified in this NOFA.

K. Other Matters:

    1. Federalism Impact The General Counsel, as the Designated 
Official under section 6(a) of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has 
determined that the policies and procedures contained in this notice 
will not have substantial direct effects on States or their political 
subdivisions, or the relationship between the federal government and 
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. As a result, the notice is not 
subject to review under the Order.
    2. Impact on the Family The General Counsel, as the Designated 
Official under Executive Order 12606, The Family, has determined that 
this notice will likely have a beneficial impact on family formation, 
maintenance, and general well-being. Accordingly, since the impact on 
the family is beneficial, no further review is considered necessary.

3. Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance

    HUD has promulgated a final rule to implement section 102 of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (HUD 
Reform Act). The final rule is codified at 24 CFR part 12. Section 102 
contains a number of provisions that are designed to ensure greater 
accountability and integrity in the provision of certain types of 
assistance administered by HUD.
    On January 16, 1992, HUD published at 57 FR 1942, additional 
information that gave the public (including applicants for, and 
recipients of, HUD assistance) further information on the 
implementation, public access, and disclosure requirements of section 
102. The documentation, public access, and disclosure requirements of 
section 102 are applicable to assistance awarded under this NOFA as 
follows:
    a. Documentation and Public Access.
    HUD will ensure documentation and other information regarding each 
application submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to indicate 
the basis upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material, 
including any letters of support, will be made available for public 
inspection for a five-year period beginning not less than 30 days after 
the award of the assistance. Material will be made available in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's 
implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will 
include the recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its 
Federal Register notice of all recipients of HUD assistance awarded on 
a competitive basis. (See 24 CFR 12.14(a) and 12.16(b), and the notice 
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for 
further information on these requirements.)
    b. HUD responsibilities--disclosures. HUD will make available to 
the public for five years all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form 
2880) submitted in connection with this NOFA. Update reports (also Form 
2880) will be made available along with the applicant disclosure 
reports, but in no case for a period less than three years. All 
reports, both applicant disclosures and updates, will be made available 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and 
HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. (See 24 CFR part 12, 
subpart C, and the notice published in the Federal Register on January 
16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for further information on these disclosure 
requirements.)
    c. State and unit of general local government responsibilities--
disclosures.
    States and units of general government receiving assistance under 
this NOFA must make all applicant disclosure reports available to the 
public for three years. Required update reports must be made available 
along with the applicant disclosure reports, but in no case for a 
period less than three years. Each State and unit of general local 
government may use HUD Form 2880 to collect the disclosures, or may 
develop its own form. (See 24 CFR part 12, subpart C, and the notice 
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942) for 
further information on these disclosure requirements.)

4. Prohibition Against Advance Information on Funding Decisions

    HUD's regulation implementing section 103 of the HUD Reform Act, 
codified as 24 CFR part 4, applies to the funding competition announced 
today. The requirements of the rule continue to apply until the 
announcement of the selection of successful applicants.
    HUD employees involved in the review of applications and in the 
making of funding decisions are restrained by part 4 from providing 
advance information to any person (other than an authorized employee of 
HUD) concerning funding decisions, or from otherwise giving any 
applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons who apply for 
assistance in this competition should confine their inquiries to the 
subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.
    Applicants or employees who have ethics related questions should 
contact the HUD Office of Ethics (202) 708-3815 (voice), (202) 708-1112 
(TTY). (These are not toll-free numbers.) For HUD employees who have 
specific program questions, such as whether particular subject matter 
can be discussed with persons outside the Department, the employee 
should contact the appropriate Field Office Counsel or Headquarters 
Counsel for the program to which the question pertains.

5. Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

    The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the 
disclosure requirements and prohibitions of Section 319 of the 
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year 1990

[[Page 11946]]
(31 U.S.C. 1352) and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 87. 
These authorities prohibit recipients of federal contracts, grants, or 
loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the Executive or 
Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in connection with a 
specific contract, grant, or loan. The prohibition also covers the 
awarding of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or loans unless 
the recipient has made an acceptable certification regarding lobbying. 
Under 24 CFR part 87, applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of 
assistance exceeding $100,000 must certify that no federal funds have 
been or will be spent on lobbying activities in connection with the 
assistance.
    7. The information collection requirements contained in this NOFA 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned 
OMB control number 2535-0084.
    8. The assistance under this NOFA is categorically excluded from 
review under the National Environmental Policy Act, pursuant to 24 CFR 
50.20(b).

L. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 14.234.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5301-5320; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d); 24 CFR 
570.402.

    Dated: March 13, 1996.
Michael A. Stegman,
 Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 96-6886 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P