[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9898-9900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5295]



[[Page 9897]]

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Part VI





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding 
Availability for Fiscal Year 1997; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9898]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4189-N-01]


Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding 
Availability; FY 1997

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

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 
1997.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites applications from institutions of higher 
education, area-wide planning organizations (APOs), 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 1997 
appropriations (plus any additional funds recaptured from prior 
appropriations) to fund work study programs to be carried out from 
August 1997 to September 1999.

DATES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING APPLICATIONS: Applications may be 
requested beginning March 14, 1997. 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 5, 1997. Facsimile (FAX) copies of the 
application will not be accepted. This deadline is firm as to date, 
hour, and place. In the interest of fairness to all competing 
applicants, HUD 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. Applicants 
hand-delivering applications are advised that considerable delays may 
occur in attempting to enter the building because of security 
procedures.
    Application packages 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-4189.'' 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://www.oup.org; or from a Gopher Server at: 
gopher://oup.org:78.

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). Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this 
number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-
800-877-8339. (With the exception of the ``800'' number, these are not 
toll-free numbers.) Mr. Hartung can also be reached via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Section 107(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) (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.
    On July 10, 1996 (61 FR 36456), HUD issued a new final rule for the 
program, making several changes in program requirements. Among other 
revisions, the rule: (1) Limited the number of students assisted under 
the CDWSP to five students per participating institution of higher 
education; (2) limited the CDWSP to graduate level programs; (3) 
permitted institutions of higher education to apply individually or 
through APOs; and (4) streamlined the selection factors used to select 
grantees.
    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 1997 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.

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. 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. As a result of the new final rule for the 
program issued on July 10, 1996, institutions of higher education are 
permitted to choose whether to apply independently or through an APO.
    3. 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.

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 Application Kit 
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 be an agency and must have the required 
staff and community development work study program to carry out its 
activities under CDWSP. Eligible work placement agencies must be 
involved in community building and must be an agency of a State or unit 
of local government, an areawide planning organization, an Indian 
tribe, or a private nonprofit organization.
    4. Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States must maintain 
at least a 50 percent rate of graduation of students from the FY 1994 
funding round which covered school years September 1994 to September 
1996 in order to participate in the current round of CDWSP funding. 
Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States funded under the FY 
1994 CDWSP funding round which did not maintain such a rate will be 
excluded from

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participating in the FY 1997 funding round. Such institutions, APOs, 
and States are eligible to participate in the 1998 round.

D. Selection Factors (100 points)

    The following factors will be considered by HUD in evaluating 
applications in response to the solicitation.
    1. Quality of academic program (30 points). The quality of the 
academic program offered by the institution of higher education (or 
institutions, in the case an application from an APO or State), 
including without limitation the:
    (a) Quality of course offerings;
    (b) Appropriateness of course offerings for preparing students for 
careers in community building; and
    (c) Qualifications of faculty and percentage of their time devoted 
to teaching and research in community building.
    2. Rates of graduation (7 points). The rates of graduation of 
students previously enrolled in a community building academic program, 
specifically including (where applicable) graduation rates from any 
previously funded CDWSP academic programs or similar programs.
    3. Extent of financial commitment (10 points). The commitment and 
ability of the institution of higher education (or institutions, in the 
case of an application from an APO or State) to assure that CDWSP 
students will receive sufficient financial assistance (including loans, 
where appropriate) above and beyond the CDWSP funding to complete their 
academic program in a timely manner and without working in excess of 20 
hours per week during the school year.
    4. Quality of work placement assignments (15 points). The extent to 
which the participating students will receive a sufficient number and 
variety of work placement assignments, the assignments will provide 
practical and useful experience to students participating in the 
program, and the assignments will further the participating students' 
preparation for professional careers in community building. Students 
engaging in community building projects through an institution of 
higher education may do so only through a community outreach center and 
will then be considered placed at that center. Accordingly, in 
assessing the number and variety of work placement assignments an 
applicant will make available to students, such a community outreach 
center will be considered a single placement assignment.
    5. Likelihood of fostering students' permanent employment in 
community building (10 points). The extent to which the proposed 
program will lead participating students directly and immediately to 
permanent employment in community building, as indicated by:
    (a) The past success of the institution of higher education in 
placing its graduates (particularly CDWSP-funded and similar program 
graduates, where applicable) in permanent employment in community 
building; and
    (b) The amount of faculty/staff time and resources devoted to 
assisting students (particularly students in CDWSP-funded and similar 
programs, where applicable) in finding permanent employment in 
community building.
    6. Effectiveness of program administration (18 points). The degree 
to which the applicant will be able to effectively coordinate and 
administer the program. HUD will allocate the maximum points available 
under this criterion equally among the following three considerations, 
except that the maximum points available under this criterion will be 
allocated equally only between (a) and (b), where the applicant has not 
previously administered a CDWSP-funded program.
    (a) The strength and clarity of the applicant's plan for placing 
CDWSP students on rotating work placement assignments and monitoring 
CDWSP students' progress both academically and in their work placement 
assignments;
    (b) The degree to which the individual who will coordinate and 
administer the program has clear responsibility, ample available time, 
and sufficient authority to do so;
    (c) The effectiveness of the applicant's prior coordination and 
administration of a CDWSP-funded program, where applicable (including 
the timeliness and completeness of the applicant's compliance with 
CDWSP reporting requirements).
    7. Commitment to meeting the needs of economically disadvantaged 
and minority students (10 points). The applicant's commitment to 
meeting the needs of economically disadvantaged and minority students 
as demonstrated by the policies and plans regarding, and past efforts 
and success in, recruiting, enrolling and financially assisting 
economically disadvantaged and minority students. If the applicant is 
an APO or State, HUD will consider the demonstrated commitment of each 
institution of higher education on whose behalf the APO or State is 
applying; HUD will also consider the demonstrated commitment of the APO 
or State to recruit and hire economically disadvantaged and minority 
students.

E. 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 (6) will be selected.

F. Application Content and Review Procedures

    Applicants must complete and submit applications in accordance with 
instructions contained in the application kit, and must include all 
certifications, assurances, and budget information requested in the 
kit. 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 570.415.

G. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    If an application lacks certain technical items or contains a 
technical error, such as an incorrect signatory, HUD may 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.

H. Findings and Certifications

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

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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

    Section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Reform Act of 1989 (HUD Reform Act) and the final rule codified at 24 
CFR part 4, subpart A, published on April 1, 1996 (61 FR 1448), contain 
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 14, 1992 (57 FR 1942), HUD 
published a notice that also provides information on the implementation 
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 that 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.
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.
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.

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 who have ethics related questions should contact HUD's 
Ethics Law Division (202) 708-3815 (This is not a toll-free number.)

5. Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

    Applicants for funding under this NOFA are subject to the 
provisions of section 319 of the Department of Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (31 U.S.C. 1352) (the 
Byrd Amendment), which prohibits applicants from using appropriated 
funds for lobbying the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Federal 
Government in connection with a specific contract, grant, or loan. 
Applicants are required to certify, using the certification found at 
Appendix A to 24 CFR part 87, that they will not, and have not, used 
appropriated funds for any prohibited lobbying activities. In addition, 
applicants must disclose, using Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' any funds, other than Federally appropriated 
funds, that will be or have been used to influence Federal employees, 
members of Congress, and Congressional staff regarding specific grants 
or contracts.

6. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    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 2528-0175. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless the collection displays a valid control number.

7. Environmental Impact

    This NOFA does not direct, provide for assistance or loan and 
mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate property 
acquisition, disposition, lease, rehabilitation, alteration, 
demolition, or new construction, or set out or provide for standards 
for construction or construction materials, manufactured housing, or 
occupancy. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1), this NOFA is 
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321). In 
addition, the provision of assistance under this NOFA is categorically 
excluded from review in accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(b)(9).

I. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for the CDWSP is 
14.234.

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

    Date: February 18, 1997.
Michael A. Stegman,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 97-5295 Filed 3-3-97; 8:45 am]
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