[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31272-31292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14812]
[[Page 31271]]
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Part III
Department of Housing and Urban Development
_______________________________________________________________________
Combined Notices of Funding Availability for FY 1997 for the Public and
Indian Housing Economic Development and Supportive Services Program and
the Tenant Opportunities Program; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 109 / Friday, June 6, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 31272]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-4196-N-01]
Combined Notices of Funding Availability for FY 1997 for the
Public and Indian Housing Economic Development and Supportive Services
Program and the Tenant Opportunities Program
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, HUD.
ACTION: Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) for Fiscal Year (FY)
1997.
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SUMMARY: Through this announcement HUD is making a total of $62.225
million in grant funds available for two programs: the Public and
Indian Housing Economic Development and Supportive Services Program
(ED/SS) and the Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP). Applicants will
continue to submit separate applications for either program. The
announcements have been combined to highlight HUD's parallel
restructuring of these complementary programs. The restructuring
represents a major HUD initiative to improve the targeting and
management of limited resources for public and Indian housing resident
self-sufficiency. The goal is to most effectively focus these resources
on ``welfare to work'' and on independent living for the elderly and
persons with disabilities.
DATES: Applications for funding under the TOP NOFA must be physically
received at the correct local HUD Field Office or Area Office of Native
American Programs (AONAP) as applicable on or before August 13, 1997,
at 3:00 pm, local time. This application deadline is firm as to date
and hour.
Applications for funding under the ED/SS NOFA must be physically
received at the correct local HUD Field Office or Area Office of Native
American Programs (AONAP) as applicable on or before August 18, 1997,
at 3:00 pm, local time. This application deadline is firm as to date
and hour.
In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, HUD will
treat any application that is received after the respective program
deadlines as ineligible for consideration. 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 any
unanticipated or delivery-related problems. Delivery of applications by
Facsimile (FAX) is not acceptable.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning either the
ED/SS or TOP programs contact: the local HUD Field Office, Director,
Office of Public Housing (Appendix ``A'' of this NOFA) or HUD's
Resident Initiative Clearinghouse, telephone 1-800-955-2232.
For questions concerning Native Americans programs contact: the
local HUD Field Office, AONAP Administrator (Appendix ``A'' of this
NOFA), or HUD's Resident Initiative Clearinghouse, telephone 1-800-955-
2232.
Hearing-or-speech impaired persons may access these numbers via TTY
by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
(Except for the ``800'' numbers, these telephone numbers are not toll-
free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The recent passage of The Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193; 110 Stat.
2105; approved August 22, 1996), transformed the former Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC) program into the Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF) program. This change confronts the public housing
and Native American communities with a profound challenge and
opportunity. Approximately forty percent (40%) of families residing in
public housing list AFDC as their primary source of income.
The rewards of moving this substantial segment of public and Indian
housing residents from welfare dependency to work and self-sufficiency
are clear. The potential consequences of failure are equally clear and
threaten not only the economic well being of individual families, but
of entire public housing and Native American communities that could
experience significant losses of rental income as residents become
ineligible for further welfare assistance. HUD believes that it is
imperative that housing authorities and residents work together to meet
the challenge of welfare reform.
These combined NOFAs announce the availability of a total of
$62.225 million for two programs: The Public and Indian Housing
Economic Development and Supportive Services Program (ED/SS) and the
Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP). With these revised NOFAs, HUD has
restructured both of these programs to: (1) Maximize their
effectiveness in helping the public housing and Native American
communities meet the challenge of welfare reform; and (2) direct
funding to public housing and Native American communities that have the
best prospects for success.
In order for housing authorities to succeed in moving a substantial
number of welfare dependent families to work and self-sufficiency, they
must have a sound ED/SS implementation plan that is based on meeting
valid community needs. The plan must be based on an examination of the
public and Native American housing community's needs and resources. It
must include a Section 3 component and in the case of Indian Housing
Authorities (IHAs), Indian preference requirements as stated in
950.175, must be implemented . The plan must also include measurable
goals that can be achieved within 24 months. It is important to
emphasize two additional components of the plan that are critical to
success.
First, although housing authorities need to direct a meaningful
portion of their internal resources to increase the self-sufficiency of
residents, HUD recognizes that housing authorities will have to utilize
resources outside of public and Indian housing in the local community
in order to succeed. HUD is requiring that housing authorities secure
partnerships in advance of applying for an ED/SS grant as well as a one
for one (100%) match of grant funds. Secondly, HUD also maintains that
services for residents must be anchored in the local community to be
effective. HUD is therefore requiring that a majority of resident
services to be provided under the ED/SS implementation plan must be
based in a community facility that is accessible to the resident
recipients of the services. The community facility can be provided by
the housing authority (HA) (many already exist in public and Indian
housing communities) or provided by another organization, as long as it
is easily accessible to the residents to be assisted.
Just as HUD has revised the ED/SS program to improve its
effectiveness, HUD has made similar revisions to the TOP program. In
order to apply for TOP, applicants (Resident Associations (RAs)-
includes RCs, RMCs, ROs, etc. see definitions in Section IV of this
Announcement) will have to include an implementation plan with specific
measurable goals that can be achieved within 24 months. HUD is
requiring that TOP applicants have a signed partnership agreement
(Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement) with the HA prior to
submitting their application. A provision in the partnership agreement
must give TOP applicants access to a community facility to anchor the
residents' activities. In the conference report for HUD's 1997
appropriations bill, the
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Congress specifically required that HUD improve program effectiveness
prior to awarding further funding (See H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 812, 104th
Cong., 2d Sess. 54 (1996)). HUD examined the TOP program and concluded
its major weaknesses were: (1) A lack of partnership between the TOP
grantees and their HAs; (2) a need for enhanced financial management
controls; (3) a need to expedite grantee program implementation; (4) a
lack of a clear focus on performance objectives; and (5) a failure to
target TOP grants toward the basic self-sufficiency needs of residents.
HUD believes that the measures it is putting in place to address
these problems would also benefit the ED/SS program and would address
the need to restructure the programs to promote self-sufficiency.
Therefore, this NOFA adds the following additional threshold
requirements for both programs:
1. Applicants in either program now must certify that grants
previously received under one of HUD's Community Relations and
Involvement grants (such as Public Housing Drug Elimination, ED/SS,
TOP, Family Investment Center, Elderly Service Coordinator, etc.) are
not in default.
2. All ED/SS applicants that are designated as ``troubled'' are now
required to provide for a qualified contract administrator. All TOP
applicants except those whose financial management system and
procurement procedures have been determined to comply (by HUD or an
independant accountant) with 24 CFR Part 84 are required to provide for
a qualified contract administrator.
3. Applications must include a sound assessment of resident needs
and resources to meet the needs.
4. Applications (other than Elderly and Disabled Supportive
Services Category ED/SS applications) must also include an ED/SS
implementation plan for the two year period after which many residents
will lose benefits if they fail to find work. The implementation plan
must be coordinated with the state welfare plan.
5. Programs proposed in applications (other than Elderly and
Disabled Supportive Services Category ED/SS applications) must aim
primarily at residents directly affected by potential loss of benefits.
In addition to modifying application threshold requirements, the
NOFA contains restructured selection factors designed to emphasize
performance capability. Applicants must specifically describe the
following elements to obtain the maximum number of points: (1)
Staffing; (2) budget; (3) timetable; (4) project management structure;
(5) fiscal management structure; and (6) program assessment provisions.
Reviewers will also assess the previous experience of applicants in
carrying out previously awarded public housing grants that support
resident services and (for ED/SS) will consider the applicant's Public
Housing Management Assessment Program (PHMAP) score in the case of
housing authority applicants in the ED/SS program.
It should also be noted that HUD has taken steps to improve the
implementation of current TOP grants. HUD has placed 64 grantees in
default for failing to comply with program requirements. Grantees
currently in default are not eligible for funding under this
announcement.
HUD believes that the steps outlined above will increase the
effectiveness of both of these grant programs. HUD also believes that
the two programs can complement one another in many instances. To
encourage grantees to coordinate the activities of these programs, HUD
is allocating a portion of the points in the selection factors for ED/
SS grantees and TOP grantees that agree to work together (see selection
factor at Section VI(h)(3)(i)(A)). While there is no guarantee that
applicants that have agreed to coordinate their grant activities will
both be funded, HUD believes that both TOP and ED/SS applicants will
have a higher chance of success in implementing their programs if they
enter into such an arrangement. Such a sharing of resources should
benefit both the housing authority ED/SS applicant and the Resident
Association TOP applicant.
Promoting Comprehensive Approaches to Housing and Community Development
HUD is interested in promoting comprehensive, coordinated
approaches to housing and community development. Economic development,
community development, public housing revitalization, homeownership,
assisted housing for special needs populations, supportive services,
and welfare-to-work initiatives can work better if linked at the local
level. Toward this end, HUD in recent years has developed the
Consolidated Planning process designed to help communities undertake
such approaches.
In this spirit, it may be helpful for applicants under this NOFA to
be aware of other related HUD NOFAs that have recently been published
or are expected to be published in the near future. By reviewing these
NOFAs with respect to their program purposes and the eligibility of
applicants and activities, applicants may be able to relate the
activities proposed for funding under this NOFA to the recent and
upcoming NOFAs and to the community's Consolidated Plan.
With respect to community and economic development, the following
related NOFAs have been published: (1) The NOFA for the HUD-
Administered Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program--
Development Grants for Fiscal Year 1997 and the Section 108 Loan
Guarantee Program for Small Communities in New York State (December 3,
1996, at 61 FR 64196); (2) the NOFA for the Community Outreach
Partnership Centers (March 20, 1997, at 62 FR 13506); (3) the NOFA for
the Youthbuild Program (April 23, 1997, at 62 FR 19860); and (4) the
NOFA for Historically Black Colleges (May 12, 1997, at 62 FR 26180).
The NOFA for the Joint HUD/HHS/ED Community Partnership will be
published in the near future. To foster comprehensive, coordinated
approaches by communities, HUD intends for the remainder of FY 1997 to
continue to alert applicants to upcoming and recent NOFAs as each NOFA
is published. In addition, a complete schedule of NOFAs to be published
during the fiscal year and those already published appears under the
HUD Homepage on the Internet, which can be accessed at http://
www.hud.gov/nofas.html. Additional steps on NOFA coordination may be
considered for FY 1998.
For help in obtaining a copy of your community's Consolidated Plan,
please contact the community development office of your municipal
government.
II. Funding Amounts
(a) FY 1997 Appropriations. HUD is making a total of $62.225
million in grant funds available for two programs: ED/SS funded at
$42.25 million and TOP funded at $19.975 million. Under the Departments
of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Pub. L. 104-204, 110 Stat. 2874;
approved September 26, 1996) (FY 1997 Appropriations) sixty ($60)
million was set aside for the ED/SS program.
(b) TOP Funding. Five ($5) million of the sixty ($60) million
available under the ED/SS set-aside was further allocated to fund the
TOP program for FY 1997. HUD has carried over fifteen ($15) million
appropriated in FY 1996 for the TOP program pursuant to the Omnibus
Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-
134, 110 Stat. 1321; approved April 26, 1996). HUD has allocated
$25,000 from the fifteen million carried over to
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fund an applicant which, due to a technical error, was not awarded a
grant pursuant to a previous TOP NOFA. HUD is adding the remaining
$14,975,000 carried over from FY 1996 to the five ($5) million
available under the FY 1997 Appropriations to make a total of $19.975
million available under this NOFA for TOP.
Of the total amount available for TOP, $5 million will be
competitively awarded to National Resident Organizations (NROs),
Regional Resident Organizations (RROs) and Statewide Resident
Organizations (SROs) to provide training and technical assistance, and
coordinate linkages to appropriate supportive services for public and
Indian housing resident organizations who have not been awarded RM/TOP
funds. The remainder of the funds ($14,975,000) is being made available
on a competitive basis under this NOFA to applicants other than
National Resident Organizations (NROs), Regional Resident Organizations
(RROs) and Statewide Resident Organizations (SROs) that submit timely
applications and are selected for funding. This financial assistance
may not exceed $100,000 with respect to any public and Indian housing
project.
HUD encourages housing authorities to notify their RAs of this
funding opportunity. It is important for residents to be advised that,
even in the absence of a RA, the opportunity exists to establish a RA
before applying for funding. If no RA exists for any of the
developments, HUD encourages every HA to post this NOFA in a prominent
location within the HA's main office, as well as in each development's
office.
(c) ED/SS funding. Of the remaining fifty five ($55) million
available for the ED/SS program, the following has been set aside:
(1) Five ($5) million for the Moving to Work Demonstration;
(2) $250,000 to the community of St. Petersburg, Florida for a
self-sufficiency program for public housing residents (part of a
package of assistance in response to the civil disturbances in St.
Petersburg); and
(3) $2.5 million to be used in conjunction with funding from the
Department of Health and Human Services for a Resident Uplift and
Economic Development Program.
(4) $5 million for service coordinators, which will be administered
by the Office of Housing and that will be made available separately.
(5) HUD is making the remaining $42.25 million available under this
NOFA.
III. Application Submission Requirements
Applicants must apply using application kits that HUD has provided.
Application kits for either the ED/SS or TOP programs may be obtained,
and assistance provided from: (1) The local HUD Field Office with
delegated public housing responsibilities over an applying public
housing agency or RA; (2) The Area Offices of Native American Programs
(AONAPs) having jurisdiction over an Indian housing authority, Resident
Organization or Native American Resident Management Corporation making
an application; (3) By calling HUD's Resident Initiatives
Clearinghouse, telephone (800) 955-2232; or (4) by consulting the
Funding cross reference under HUD's Business and Community Partner
HomePage on the Internet's World Wide Web (http://www.hud.gov/
bushome.html): look under Funding then under Public Housing and then
under the reference for either ED/SS or TOP. The application kit
contains information on all exhibits and certifications required under
this NOFA as well as additional guidance.
For the ED/SS program, an HA may submit one application under the
Family Economic Development and Supportive Services grant category and/
or one application under the Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services
grant category to assist the Elderly and/or Persons with Disabilities.
The maximum number of applications that an HA may submit is two. If the
HA submits two applications, the total amount requested must not exceed
the maximum permitted for the Family Economic Development and
Supportive Services category.
Joint applications ARE NOT PERMITTED under the ED/SS program with
the following EXCEPTION: HAs under a single administration (such as HAs
managing another HA under contract or HAs sharing a common executive
director) may submit a single application, even though each HA has its
own operating budget. For TOP, only one Basic or Additional Grant
application will be considered for funding from an individual project
(See Section VII(d) of this Announcement for explanation of types of
grants). If two such applications are received from a project, only the
application from the duly elected RA will be considered. In addition,
for all funding years, the sum total of TOP and Resident Management
Program financial assistance for any single public or Indian housing
project, including all project-based Basic and Additional Grants and
any portion of an Intermediary Grant which benefits the project, may
not exceed $100,000 (See Section VII(d) of this Announcement for
explanation of types of grants).
With respect to both the ED/SS and TOP programs, an original
application and two identical copies of the original application must
be received by the deadline at the local HUD Field Office with
responsibilities over the applying HA or RA (exclusive of Resident
Organizations and Native American Resident Management Corporations),
and addressed Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing or (in the
case of Indian housing authorities, Resident Organizations or Native
American Resident Management Corporations) to the local HUD AONAP,
Attention: Administrator, AONAPs with jurisdiction over the applying
Indian housing authorities, Resident Organization or Native American
Resident Management Corporations, as appropriate. A complete listing of
these offices is provided in Appendix ``A'' of this NOFA.
It is not sufficient for an application to bear a postage date
within the submission time period. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE
DEADLINE DATES/TIMES LISTED ABOVE, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Applications
submitted by facsimile (FAX) are not acceptable.
IV. Common Definitions
Community Facility means a non-dwelling structure that provides
space for multiple supportive services for the benefit of public and
Indian housing residents (as well as others eligible for the services
provided) that may include but are not limited to:
(1) Child care;
(2) After-school activities for youth;
(3) Job training;
(4) Campus of Learner activities; and
(7) English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Contract Administrator means an overall administrator and/or a
financial management agent that oversees the financial aspects of a
grant and assists in the entire implementation of the grant. Examples
of qualified organizations that can serve as a Contract Administrator
are:
(1) Local housing authorities; and
(2) Community based organizations such as Community Development
Corporations (CDCs), community churches, and State/Regional
Associations/Organizations.
Development has the same meaning as the term ``Project'' below.
Elderly person means a person who is at least 62 years of age.
[[Page 31275]]
Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Organization means an incorporated
nonprofit organization or association that meets the following
requirements:
(1) Most of its activities are conducted within the jurisdiction of
a single housing authority;
(2) There are no incorporated Resident Councils, Resident
Management Corporations, Resident Organizations or Native American
Resident Management Corporations within the jurisdiction of the single
housing authority;
(3) It has experience in providing start-up and capacity-building
training to residents and resident organizations; and
(4) Public or Indian housing residents representing unincorporated
Resident Councils within the jurisdiction of the single housing
authority must comprise the majority of the board of directors.
Intermediary Resident Organizations means Jurisdiction-Wide
Resident Organizations, State-wide Resident Organizations, Regional
Resident Organizations and National Resident Organizations.
National Resident Organization (NRO) means an incorporated
nonprofit organization or association for public and Indian housing
that meets each of the following requirements:
(1) It is national (i.e., conducts activities or provides services
in at least two HUD Areas or two States);
(2) It has experience in providing start-up and capacity-building
training to residents and resident organizations; and
(3) Public or Indian housing residents representing different
geographical locations in the country must comprise the majority of the
board of directors.
Native American Resident Management Corporation (RMC) (as defined
in 24 CFR 950.962) means an entity that proposes to enter into, or
enters into, a contract to manage IHA property. The corporation shall
have each of the following characteristics:
(1) It shall be a nonprofit organization that is incorporated under
the laws of the State or Indian tribe in which it is located;
(2) It may be established by more than one resident organization,
so long as each such organization both approves the establishment of
the corporation and has representation on the Board of Directors of the
corporation;
(3) It shall have an elected Board of Directors;
(4) Its by-laws shall require the Board of Directors to include
representatives of each resident organization involved in establishing
the corporation;
(5) Its voting members are required to be residents of the project
or projects it manages; and
(6) It shall be approved by the resident organization. If there is
no organization, a majority of the households of the project or
projects shall approve the establishment of such an organization.
Person with disabilities means an adult person who:
(1) Has a condition defined as a disability in section 223 of the
Social Security Act;
(2) Has a developmental disability as defined in section 102 of the
Developmental Disabilities Assistance Bill of Rights Act. Such a term
shall not exclude persons who have the disease of acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs) or any conditions arising from the
etiologic agent for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; or
(3) Is determined, pursuant to regulations issued by the Secretary,
to have a physical, mental, or emotional impairment which:
(i) Is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration;
(ii) Substantially impedes his or her ability to live
independently; and
(iii) Is of such a nature that such ability could be improved by
more suitable housing conditions.
Project is the same as ``low-income housing project'' as defined in
section 3(b)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437 et. seq.) (1937 Act).
Resident Association (RA) means any or all of the forms of resident
organizations as they are defined elsewhere in this Definitions section
and includes Resident Councils (RC), Resident Management Corporations
(RMC), Resident Organizations (RO), Native American Resident Management
Corporations, Regional Resident Organizations (RRO), Statewide Resident
Organizations (SRO), and National Resident Organizations (NRO).
Resident Council (RC) means (as provided in 24 CFR 964.115) an
incorporated or unincorporated nonprofit organization or association
that shall consist of persons residing in public housing and must meet
each of the following requirements in order to receive official
recognition from the HA/HUD, and be eligible to receive funds for RC
activities and stipends for officers for their related costs for
volunteer work in public housing. (Although 24 CFR part 964 defines an
RC as an incorporated or unincorporated nonprofit organization, HUD
requires the RC to be registered with the State at the time of
application submission.)
(1) It must adopt written procedures such as by-laws, or a
constitution which provides for the election of residents to the
governing board by the voting membership of the public housing
residents. The elections must be held on a regular basis, but at least
once every 3 years. The written procedures must provide for the recall
of the resident board by the voting membership. These provisions shall
allow for a petition or other expression of the voting membership's
desire for a recall election, and set the percentage of voting
membership (``threshold'') which must be in agreement in order to hold
a recall election. This threshold shall not be less than 10 percent of
the voting membership.
(2) It must have a democratically elected governing board that is
elected by the voting membership. At a minimum, the governing board
should consist of five elected board members. The voting membership
must consist of heads of households (any age) and other residents at
least 18 years of age or older and whose names appear on a lease for
the unit in the public housing that the resident council represents.
(3) It may represent residents residing in:
(i) Scattered site buildings in areas of contiguous row houses;
(ii) One or more contiguous buildings;
(iii) A development; or
(iv) A combination of the buildings or developments described
above.
Regional Resident Organization (RRO) means an incorporated
nonprofit organization or association for public or Indian housing that
meets each of the following requirements:
(1) It is regional (i.e., not limited by HUD Areas, including
Tribal Areas);
(2) It has experience in providing start-up and capacity-building
training to residents and resident organizations; and
(3) Public or Indian housing residents representing different
geographical locations in the region must comprise the majority of the
board of directors.
Resident Organization (RO) means an RC for an Indian housing
authority (24 CFR 950.962).
Resident Management Corporation (RMC) (See 24 CFR 964.7, 964.120)
means an entity that consists of residents residing in public housing
and must have each of the following characteristics in order to receive
official recognition by the HA and HUD:
(1) It shall be a nonprofit organization that is validly
incorporated under the laws of the State in which it is located;
(2) It may be established by more than one RC, so long as each such
council:
[[Page 31276]]
(i) Approves the establishment of the corporation; and
(ii) Has representation on the Board of Directors of the
corporation.
(3) It shall have an elected Board of Directors, and elections must
be held at least once every 3 years;
(4) Its by-laws shall require the Board of Directors to include
resident representatives of each RC involved in establishing the
corporation; include qualifications to run for office, frequency of
elections, procedures for recall, and term limits if desired;
(5) Its voting members shall be heads of households (any age) and
other residents at least 18 years of age and whose names appear on the
lease of a unit in public housing represented by the RMC;
(6) Where an RC already exists for the development, or a portion of
the development, the RMC shall be approved by the RC board and a
majority of the residents. If there is no RC, a majority of the
residents of the public housing development it will represent must
approve the establishment of such a corporation for the purposes of
managing the project; and
(7) It may serve as both the RMC and the RC, so long as the
corporation meets the requirements of this part for an RC.
Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Statewide Resident Organization (SRO) means an incorporated
nonprofit organization or association for public or Indian housing that
meets the following requirements:
(1) It is Statewide or Tribe-wide;
(2) It has experience in providing start-up and capacity-building
training to residents and resident organizations; and
(3) Public or Indian housing residents representing different
geographical locations in the State or Tribe must comprise the majority
of the board of directors.
V. Common Requirements
(a) Selection Processing. (1) Corrections to Deficient
Applications. After the submission deadline date, HUD will screen each
application to determine whether it is complete, consistent, and
contains correct computations.
(i) HUD will notify an applicant, in writing, of any curable
technical deficiencies in the application. The applicant must submit
corrections in accordance with the information specified in HUD's
letter within 14 calendar days from the date of HUD's letter notifying
the applicant of any such deficiency.
(ii) Curable technical deficiencies relate to items that are not
necessary for HUD review under selection factors and would not improve
the quality of the applicant's program proposal.
(iii) An example of a curable technical deficiency would be the
failure of an applicant to submit a required assurance, budget
narrative, certification, applicant data form, summaries of written
resident comments, incomplete forms such as the SF-424 or lack of
required signatures, appendixes and documentation referenced in the
application or a computational error based on the use of an incorrect
number(s) such as incorrect unit counts. These items are discussed in
the application kit and samples, as appropriate, are provided.
(iv) An example of a non-curable defect or deficiency would be a
missing SF-424A (Budget Information).
(2) Scoring. HUD will review each application that it determines
meets the requirements of these NOFAs and evaluate it by assigning
points in accordance with the selection factors for the program for
which the applicant applied. (HUD may utilize non-HUD staff reviewers
to assist in scoring applications.) The number of points that an
application receives will depend on the extent to which the application
is responsive to the information requested in the selection factors. An
application must receive a score of at least 75 points (or in the case
of Elderly and Disabled Supportive Service Category applications in the
ED/SS program--60 points) out of the maximum of 100 points that may be
awarded under either of these NOFAs to be eligible for funding.
After applications have been scored, Headquarters will rank the
applications in accordance with the ranking procedures for each
program. Awards will be made in ranked order until all funds are
expended. HUD will select the highest ranking applications that can be
fully funded. In the event that two eligible applications receive the
same score, and both cannot be funded because of insufficient funds,
the application with the highest score in Selection Factor 3 will be
selected. If Selection Factor 3 is scored identically for both
applications, the scores in Selection Factors 1, 2, and 4 (for TOP)
will be compared in this order, one at a time, until one application
scores higher in one of the factors and is selected. If the
applications score identically in all factors, the application that
requests less funding will be selected. In the event that the remaining
applications contain equal funding, selections will be made among the
remaining applications by lottery.
(b) Post Selection Administration Funding--Reduction of Requested
Grant Amounts and Special Conditions. All awards will be made to fund
fully an application, except as follows. HUD may approve an application
for an amount lower than the amount requested, withhold funds after
approval, adjust line items in the proposed grant budget within the
amount requested and/or the grantee will be required to comply with
special conditions added to the grant agreement, in accordance with 24
CFR 85.12 (public housing agencies), and 24 CFR 950.135 (Indian housing
authorities) as applicable, and the requirements of this NOFA, or
where:
(1) HUD determines the amount requested for one or more eligible
activities is not supported in the application, and/or is unreasonable
or unnecessary;
(2) The application does not otherwise meet applicable cost
limitations established for the program;
(3) The applicant has requested an ineligible activity; An activity
proposed for funding does not qualify as an eligible activity and can
be separated from the budget;
(4) Insufficient amounts remain in that funding round to fund the
full amount requested in the application and HUD determines that
partial funding is a viable option; or
(5) For any other reason where good cause exists.
(c) General Grant Requirements. In addition to the requirements set
forth in this NOFA, grantees are responsible for ensuring that grant
funds are administered in accordance with all applicable laws and
regulations, OMB circulars, HUD fiscal and audit controls, grant
agreements, grant special conditions, the grantee's approved budget (SF
424A), and supporting budget narrative, plan and activity timetable.
Applicable Federal laws include but are not limited to those related to
fair housing and equal opportunity and the following:
(1) Grant Administration. The policies, guidelines, and
requirements of the following apply to this NOFA:
(i) For HAs and any governmental subgrantees: 24 CFR part 85, OMB
Circular A-87 and 24 CFR part 44;
(ii) For private non-profit grantees or subgrantees: 24 CFR part
84, OMB Circulars A-122 or A-21, as applicable, and 24 CFR part 45; and
(iii) For for-profit participants using Federal funds: 24 CFR part
84 and Federal Acquisition Requirements (FAR).
[[Page 31277]]
(2) Cost Principles. The cost principles of OMB Circulars A-87, A-
21, or A-122, as applicable to the specific entity incurring the cost,
apply to grantees and subgrantees funded under this NOFA.
(3) Ineligible Contractors. The provisions of 24 CFR part 24 apply
and relate to the employment, engagement of services, awarding of
contracts, or funding of any contractors or subcontractors during any
period of debarment, suspension, or placement in ineligibility status.
(4) Freedom of Information Act. Applications submitted in response
to this NOFA are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA).
(5) Grant Staff Personnel. All persons or entities compensated by
grants for services provided under an ED/SS or TOP grant must meet all
applicable personnel or procurement requirements and shall be required,
as a condition of employment, to meet relevant State, local and Tribal
government, insurance, training, licensing, civil rights or other
similar standards and requirements.
(6) Grant Agreement. After an application has been approved, HUD
and the applicant shall enter into a grant agreement (Form 1044)
setting forth the amount of the grant and its applicable terms,
conditions, financial controls, payment mechanism (which except under
extraordinary conditions will operate under HUD's Line of Credit
Control System (LOCCS)) and special conditions, including sanctions for
violation of the agreement. Except as otherwise specified in the Grant
Agreement, the applicant's entire application, including but not
limited to the budget, timetable, and narrative will be incorporated in
the Grant Agreement.
(7) Duplication of Funds. Under OMB Cost Circulars (A-87, A-21, and
A-122), grantees may not duplicate funding from (i.e., charge the same
costs to) the ED/SS or TOP grant and any other funding sources,
although the costs of budget line items may be shared between the grant
and other funding sources in accordance with allocation criteria in the
applicable OMB Cost circular. Adequate financial controls must be in
place to assure compliance with these requirements.
(8) Risk Management. Grantees and subgrantees are required to
implement, administer and monitor programs so as to minimize the risk
of fraud, waste, abuse, and liability for losses from adversarial legal
action. The following requirements address these concerns:
(i) Insurance/Indemnification. Each grantee shall obtain adequate
insurance coverage to protect itself against any potential liability
arising out of the eligible activities under this part. Subgrantees
shall obtain their own liability insurance. For the TOP program,
section 20(b)(3) of the 1937 Act states that bonding and insurance, or
its equivalent, shall be available to protect the Secretary and the
Public Housing Agency against loss, theft, embezzlement or fraudulent
acts on or behalf of the RMC or its grantees.
(ii) Failure to implement program(s). If the grant plan, approved
budget, and timetable, as described in the approved application, are
not operational within 90 days of the grant agreement date, the grantee
must report by letter to the local HUD Field Office or the local AONAPs
the steps being taken to initiate the plan and timetable, the reason
for the delay, and the expected starting date. Any timetable revisions
that resulted from the delay must be included. The local HUD Field
Office or AONAPs will determine if the delay is acceptable, approve/
disapprove the revised plan and timetable, and take any additional
appropriate action.
(iii) Default. HUD may impose sanctions, subject to HUD notice and
Grantee opportunity to respond/correct as described in the program
grant agreement if the grantee:
(A) Is not complying with the requirements of this part or of other
applicable Federal laws or requirements;
(B) Fails to make satisfactory progress toward its program goals,
as specified in its plan and as reflected in its performance, financial
status reports or through other information available to HUD;
(C) Does not establish procedures that will minimize the time
elapsing between drawdowns and disbursements;
(D) Does not adhere to grant agreement requirements or special
conditions;
(E) Proposes substantial plan changes to the extent that, if
originally submitted, the applications would not have been selected for
funding;
(F) Engages in the improper award or administration of grant
subcontracts;
(G) Does not submit reports; or
(H) Files a false certification.
(iv) Sanctions. The sanctions that HUD may impose include but are
not limited to:
(A) Temporarily withhold cash payments pending correction of the
deficiency by the grantee or subgrantee;
(B) Disallow all or part of the cost of the activity or action not
in compliance;
(C) Wholly or partly suspend or terminate the current award for the
grantee's or subgrantee's program;
(D) Require that some or all of the grant amounts be remitted to
HUD;
(E) Condition a future grant and elect not to provide future grant
funds to the grantee until appropriate actions are taken to ensure
compliance;
(F) Withhold further awards for the program; or
(G) Take other remedies that may be legally available.
(10) Treatment of Income. For public housing only, annual Income
does not include the earnings and benefits to any family member
resulting from the participation in a program providing employment
training and supportive services in accordance with the Family Support
Act of 1988, section 22 of the 1937 Act (See 24 CFR part 5), or any
comparable Federal, State, or local authority during the exclusion
period. For purposes of this paragraph, the following definitions
apply:
(i) Comparable Federal, State, local or tribal law means a program
providing employment training and supportive services that:
(A) Is authorized by a Federal, State, local or tribal law;
(B) Is funded by the Federal, State, local or tribal government;
(C) Is operated or administered by a public agency;
(D) Has as its objective to assist participants in acquiring
employment skills.
(ii) Exclusion period means the period during which the resident
participates in a program described in this NOFA, plus 18 months from
the date the resident begins the first job acquired by the resident
after completion of such program that is not funded by public housing
assistance under the 1937 Act. If the resident is terminated from
employment based on good cause, the exclusion shall end.
(iii) Earnings and benefits means the incremental earnings and
benefits resulting from a qualifying employment program or subsequent
job.
(11) Reports and Closeout (i) Semiannual reports. Each applicant
receiving a grant shall submit to HUD a semi-annual progress report in
a format prescribed by HUD that indicates program expenditures and
measures performance in achieving program milestones and goals. No
grant payments will be approved for grantees with overdue progress
reports.
(ii) Final reports and closeout. As part of a grant closeout
process, each applicant receiving a grant shall submit to HUD a final
report in a format prescribed by HUD that reports final program
expenditures and measures performance in achieving program goals.
[[Page 31278]]
(iii) Audits and closeouts. HUD will make maximum use of audits
required under 24 CFR parts 44 and 45 as applicable in conducting grant
closeout. At grant closeout, grantees shall make the latest audit
available to HUD along with the final report. TOP Grantees shall time
their final audit to reflect grant completion and to be available at
closeout.
(12) LOCCS/VRS All grantees will access the grant funds through the
LOCCS/VRS.
VI. Public Housing Economic Development and Supportive Services Program
(ED/SS) NOFA
(a) Purpose and Description. (1) Authority. The ED/SS program is
authorized pursuant to the 1997 Appropriations Act.
(2) Funding Available. The Department is making a total of $42.25
million available for award pursuant to this NOFA. The Department is
setting aside 10% of this amount to fund applications from IHAs with
the remainder (90%) available to fund applications from PHAs. Both the
amount for IHAs and the amount for PHAs will be allocated as follows:
80% will be allocated to Family Economic Development and Supportive
Services category grants; and the remaining 20% will be allocated to
Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services category grants.
(3) Program Description. The ED/SS program provides grants to HAs
to enable them to establish and implement programs that increase
resident self-sufficiency and support continued independent living for
elderly and disabled residents.
(b) Eligible Applicants (1) Primary Applicants. Public and Indian
Housing Authorities that have not received a previous ED/SS grant are
eligible primary applicants. Public and Indian Housing Authorities are
required to establish partnerships with eligible co-applicants as
described below.
(2) Co-Applicants. Eligible Co-Applicants are:
(i) Corporations (including non-profit and for profit corporations)
are eligible co-applicants; and
(ii) Public bodies, including an agency or instrumentality thereof,
are eligible co-applicants.
(3) Co-Applicant Roles and Requirements. (i) Co-Applicants
capabilities will be considered in reviewing applications.
(ii) Co-Applicants are considered an integral part of the
application and cannot be changed once applications are submitted and
under review without disqualifying an application. If an applicant HA
is awarded a grant, it must obtain HUD approval prior to dissolving a
partnership with a Co-Applicant or significantly changing its role.
(iii) Co-Applicants can be designated subgrantees if appropriate,
but in such an instance become subject to Federal requirements
applicable to subgrantees.
(c) Eligible Participants. (1) Residents of conventional public or
Indian housing are eligible to participate in and/or receive the
benefits of a Family ED/SS category grant. A grantee may designate that
up to twenty five percent (25%) of the total number of persons eligible
to participate in and/or receive the benefits of a Family ED/SS
category grant may be recipients of assistance under the Section 8
Program rather than residents of conventional public housing.
(2) A grantee may designate that up to twenty five percent (25%) of
the total number of persons eligible to participate in and/or receive
the benefits of a Disabled Supportive Services category grant may be
recipients of assistance under the Section 8 Program rather than
residents of conventional public housing.
(3) A grantee may plan for assistance for elderly persons or
persons with disabilities on a waiting list for either public housing
or Section 8 assistance in advance of their becoming public housing
residents or securing Section 8 assistance.
(d) Maximum Grant Amounts. The maximum grant awards are limited as
follows:
(1) For Family Economic Development and Supportive Services
category--no more than $250 per unit up to the below listed maximums:
(i) For HAs with 1 to 780 units, the maximum grant award is
$150,000.
(ii) For HAs with 781 to 7,300 units the maximum grant award is
$500,000.
(iii) For HAs with 7,301 or more units, the maximum grant award is
$1,000,000.
(2) For Elderly or Disabled Supportive Services category--no more
than $100 per unit up to the below listed maximums:
(i) For HAs with 1 to 217 units occupied by Elderly residents or
persons with disabilities, the maximum grant award is $100,000.
(ii) For HAs with 218 to 1,155 units occupied by Elderly residents
or persons with disabilities, the maximum grant award is $200,000.
(iii) For HAs with 1,156 or more units occupied by Elderly
residents or persons with disabilities, the maximum grant award is
$300,000.
(3) An HA may submit one application under the Family Economic
Development and Supportive Services grant category and/or one
application under the Elderly or Disabled Supportive Services grant.
The maximum number of applications that an HA may submit is two. If an
HA submits two applications, the total amount requested must not exceed
the maximum grant amount available for its size under the Family
Economic Development and Supportive Services category (as listed
above).
(e) Eligible activities. Program funds may be used for the
following:
(1) Family Economic Development and Supportive Services category.
(i) Economic Development activities. Activities essential to
facilitate economic uplift and provide access to the skills and
resources needed for self-development and business development.
Economic development activities may include:
(A) Entrepreneurship Training (literacy training, computer skills
training, business development planning).
(B) Entrepreneurship Development (entrepreneurship training
curriculum, entrepreneurship courses).
(C) Micro/Loan Fund. Developing a strategy for establishing a
revolving micro/loan fund and/or capitalizing a loan fund. A loan fund
(from non-grant funds and/or grant funds) must be included as part of a
comprehensive entrepreneurship training program if applicable.
(D) Developing credit unions. Developing a strategy to establish
and/or creating on-site credit union(s) to provide financial and
economic development initiatives to HA residents. (ED/SS grant funds
cannot be used to capitalize a credit union.) The credit union could
support the normal financial management needs of the community (i.e.,
check cashing, savings, consumer loans, micro-businesses and other
revolving loans).
(E) Employment training and counseling (e.g., job training (such as
Step-Up programs), preparation and counseling, job search assistance,
job development and placement, and continued follow-up assistance).
(F) Employer linkage and job placement.
(ii) Supportive Services. The provision of services to assist
eligible residents to become economically self-sufficient, particularly
families with children where the head of household would benefit from
the receipt of supportive services and is working, seeking work, or is
preparing for work by participating in job-training or educational
programs. Supportive services may include:
[[Page 31279]]
(A) Child care, of a type that provides sufficient hours of
operation and serves appropriate ages as needed to facilitate parental
access to education and job opportunities.
(B) Computer based educational opportunities, skills training, and
entrepreneurial activities.
(C) Homeownership training and counseling, development of
feasibility studies and preparation of homeownership plans/proposals.
(D) Education including but not limited to:
(1) Remedial education;
(2) Literacy training;
(3) Assistance in the attainment of certificates of high school
equivalency;
(4) Two-year college tuition assistance;
(5) Trade school assistance;
(6) Youth leadership skills and related activities (activities may
include peer leadership roles training for youth counselors, peer
pressure reversal, life skills, goal planning).
(E) Youth mentoring of a type that mobilizes a potential pool of
role models to serve as mentors to public or Indian housing youth.
Mentor activities may include after-school tutoring, drug abuse
treatment, job counseling or mental health counseling.
(F) Transportation costs, as necessary to enable any participating
family member to receive available services to commute to his or her
training or supportive services activities or place of employment.
(G) Personal welfare (e.g., family/parental development counseling,
parenting skills training for adult and teenage parents, substance/
alcohol abuse treatment and counseling, and self-development
counseling, etc.).
(H) Supportive health care services (e.g., outreach and referral
services).
(I) The employment of case managers.
(2) Elderly or Disabled Supportive Services Category. Supportive
Services for the elderly and for persons with disabilities include:
(i) Meal service adequate to meet nutritional need;
(ii) Personal assistance (which may include, but is not limited to,
aid given to eligible residents in grooming, dressing, and other
activities which maintain personal appearance and hygiene);
(iii) Housekeeping aid;
(iv) Transportation services;
(v) Wellness programs, preventive health education, referral to
community resources;
(vi) Personal emergency response; and
(vii) Congregate services--includes supportive services that are
provided in a congregate setting at a conventional HA development.
(3) For both Family Economic Development and Supportive Services
category and Elderly or Disabled Supportive Services category grants:
(i) The employment of service coordinators. For the purposes of
this NOFA, a service coordinator is any person who is responsible for
one or more of the following functions:
(A) Assessing the training and supportive service needs of eligible
residents (for Family Economic Development and Supportive Service
category grants);
(B) Working with community service providers to coordinate the
provision of services and to tailor the services to the needs and
characteristics of eligible residents;
(C) Establishing a system to monitor and evaluate the delivery,
impact, effectiveness and outcomes of supportive services under this
program;
(D) Coordinating this program with other independent living or
self-sufficiency, education and employment programs;
(E) Performing other duties and functions that are appropriate to
assist eligible public and Indian housing residents to become
economically self-sufficient;
(F) Performing other duties and functions to assist residents to
remain independent, and to prevent unnecessary institutionalization;
and
(G) Mobilizing other national and local public/private resources
and partnerships.
(ii) Any other services and resources, proposed by the applicant
and approved by HUD and authorized by the 1997 Appropriations Act that
are determined to be appropriate in assisting eligible residents.
(4) Administrative costs not to exceed 15% of the grant amount.
(f) Term of Grant. All funds must be expended within 36 months
after the effective date of grant agreement. Grant implementation
progress must be evident and documented within the first six months of
grant award. Grantees must have completed all but grant closeout
activities within 30 months after the effective date of the grant
agreement. Grant terms may not be extended without substantial good
cause (circumstances reasonably unforeseen and reasonably beyond the
grantee's control) and subject to HUD approval.
(g) Program Requirements--Threshold Criteria. The following
threshold requirements are considered essential for an application to
be complete and acceptable for rating and ranking:
(1) General Submission Requirements. A complete application as
prescribed in the Application Kit must be submitted to the appropriate
field office by the deadline as specified in this NOFA.
(2) Needs Assessment Report. The applicant must provide a needs
assessment report dealing with the proposed recipient population that
contains, at minimum, sections containing statistical or survey
information on the needs of the recipient population that addresses the
needs of different projects to be served relative to the needs of the
overall housing authority and an identification of resources to meet
the needs.
(3) Grant Implementation Plan. (i) The applicant must provide a
grant implementation plan, in a format prescribed by the application
kit, that reduces the level of needs identified in the needs assessment
report.
(ii) This plan must, at minimum, list specific measurable
objectives to be achieved as a result of grant activities (such as an
objective of 100 residents becoming employed, 10 resident businesses
starting, or 150 residents completing GED requirements) and list major
milestones necessary to accomplish the goals. Milestones shall include
the number of participants to be served, types of services, outcomes,
and dollar amounts to be allocated over the two year period.
(iii) The plan must also include a detailed budget, activities and
timetable.
(iv) In addition, the plan must describe how resources and/or
services firmly committed by partners/co-applicants are effectively
directed to support the residents' self-sufficiency efforts. To be
considered ``firmly committed'' there must be a written agreement to
provide the resources. The written agreement may be contingent upon an
applicant receiving a grant award. These resources must be provided for
a period two years.
(4) For Family Economic Development and Supportive Service
Applications. The applicant must provide evidence that the proposed
grant implementation plan is consistent with the State or Tribal
Welfare Plan. Applicants must, however, comply with the restrictions of
the ED/SS program if its requirements conflict with those of the State
or Tribal Welfare Plan. For example the State or Tribal plan may give
TANF recipients five years to leave public assistance; but, the ED/SS
program is to be completed within two and a half years regardless. In
order to be consistent with the State or Tribal Welfare Plan, the
implementation plan must have a performance objective that would result
in a majority of the participants becoming self sufficient by the
deadline for termination of TANF assistance set
[[Page 31280]]
by the State. In addition, the applicant's plan must be guided by the
goals, milestones and schedules set by the State TANF plan both overall
and to the extent that such goals, milestones and schedules are set for
individual families.
(5) Focus on Residents Affected by Welfare Reform. The application
must contain written evidence from the HA that at least 75% or more of
the public or Indian housing residents to be included in the proposed
program and served by ED/SS grant funds are affected by the welfare
reform legislation, including TANF recipients, legal immigrants, and
disabled SSI recipients. This requirement is not applicable to
applications dealing with elderly persons and/or persons with
disabilities.
(6) Accessible Community Facility. The application must provide
evidence (e.g. through an executed use agreement) that a preponderance
of the proposed activities will be administered at community facilities
in or within easy access of the specific public or Indian housing
development(s). These facilities and these programs must be accessible
to persons with disabilities. These facilities may include deprogrammed
units, existing community space or off-site facilities. If units have
to be converted from dwelling use into a community facility or the
facility is to be constructed, the applicant must submit a plan for the
conversion or construction that provides for adequate resourcing and a
time schedule. If the proposed community facility is to be provided by
an entity other than the applicant, the application must include an
agreement with the proper authority (owner or operator of the site) for
use of the proposed facility. The community facilities must be
operational within nine (9) months of the grant awards. In the case of
applications for programs to be implemented for the primary benefit of
residents in housing that is dispersed in a rural setting, the
applicant must provide evidence that participants will have access to
transportation to the community facility that is convenient. This
community facility requirement also shall not apply to reverse
community activities that provide transportation to jobs that are
distant from the dwellings of participants.
(7) Leveraging Other Resources (Matching Requirement). The budget,
the narrative described in paragraph (3) above, and commitments from
resources and services other than the grant for which the applicant is
applying to support the grant (including Comprehensive Grant, and other
grants or assistance from governmental units/agencies of any type and/
or private sources, whether for-profit or not-for-profit) must clearly
evidence that these resources are firmly committed, will support the
proposed grant activities and will, in combined amount (including in-
kind contributions of personnel, space and/or equipment) equal the ED/
SS grant amount proposed in this application. At least half of the
match amount must consist of a monetary contribution of funds rather
than in-kind or other types of contributions. Salaries paid for with
ED/SS funds do not qualify as funds from sources outside HUD. The
following are guidelines for valuing certain types of contributions:
(i) The value of volunteer time and services shall be computed at a
rate of five dollars per hour except that the value of volunteer time
and service involving professional and other special skills shall be
computed on the basis of the usual and customary hourly rate paid for
the service in the community where the ED/SS activity is located.
(ii) The value of any donated material, equipment, building, or
lease shall be computed based on the fair market value at time of
donation. Such value shall be documented by bills of sales, advertised
prices, appraisals, or other information for comparable property
similarly situated not more than one year old taken from the community
where the item or ED/SS activity is located, as appropriate.
(8) Compliance with Current Programs. The applicant must provide
certification in the format provided in the Application Kit that it is
not in default at the time of application submission with respect to
grants for the programs listed below:
(i) The Family Investment Center Program;
(ii) The Youth Development Initiative under the Family Investment
Center Program;
(iii) The Youth Apprenticeship Program;
(iv) The Apprenticeship Demonstration in the Construction Trades
Program;
(v) The Urban Youth Corps Program;
(vi) The HOPE 1 Program;
(vii) The Public Housing Service Coordinator Program;
(viii) The Public Housing Drug Elimination Program; and
(ix) The Youth Sports Program.
(x) In the case of an HA that is designated as ``troubled'' as a
result of its PHMAP score or ``High Risk'' IHAs, the HA must provide
certification that a Contract Administrator (or equivalent qualified
organization) will be deployed in the administration of this proposed
grant.
(9) Automated Capability. The application must provide
certification that the applicant will secure access to on-line
computer/INTERNET capability as a means of communication with HUD on
grant matters.
(10) Audit Findings and Equal Opportunity Requirements. An
applicant cannot have unresolved, outstanding Inspector General audit
findings or fair housing and equal opportunity monitoring and
compliance review findings or Field Office management review findings
relating to discriminatory housing practices. In addition, the
applicant must be in compliance with civil rights laws and equal
opportunity requirements. An applicant will be considered to be in
compliance if:
(i) As a result of formal administrative proceedings, there are no
outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil rights laws or the
applicant is operating in compliance with a HUD-approved compliance
agreement designed to correct the area(s) of noncompliance.
(ii) There is no adjudication of a civil rights violation in a
civil action brought against it by a private individual, or the
applicant demonstrates that it is operating in compliance with a court
order, or implementing a HUD-approved tenant selection and assignment
plan or compliance agreement, designed to correct the area(s) of
noncompliance.
(iii) There is no deferral of Federal funding based upon civil
rights violations;
(iv) HUD has not deferred application processing by HUD under Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-1) (Title VI), the
Attorney General's Guidelines (28 CFR 50.3) and HUD's Title VI
regulations (24 CFR 1.8) and procedures (HUD Handbook 8040.1) [PHAs
only] or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794) (Section 504) and HUD's implementing regulations (24 CFR 8.57)
[PHAs and IHAs];
(v) There is no pending civil rights suit brought against the
applicant by the Department of Justice; and
(vi) There is no unresolved charge of discrimination against the
applicant issued by the Secretary under section 810(g) of the Fair
Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601-3619), as implemented at 24 CFR 103.400.
(11) PHMAP Score. An applicant cannot have a PHMAP score of less
than a C for either Indicator #6,component (1), Financial Management/
Cash Reserves, or Indicator #7, Resident Services and Community
Building, on its most recent PHMAP. If an applicant's most recent PHMAP
score is derived from the predecessor PHMAP regulation
[[Page 31281]]
(24 CFR Part 901, published December 30, 1996), the applicant cannot
have a PHMAP score of less than a C for either Indicator 9, Operating
Reserves, or Indicator 11, Resident Initiatives.
(h) Selection Factors. Each application for a grant award that is
submitted in a timely manner, as specified in the Application Kit, to
the local HUD field office or AONAP as applicable and that otherwise
meets the threshold and other requirements of this NOFA will be
evaluated competitively using a point scale.
The number of points that an application receives will depend on
how well it addresses the selection factors described below. An
application must receive a score of at least 75 points (or in the case
of Elderly and Disabled Supportive Service Category applications in the
ED/SS program--60 points) out of the maximum of 100 points that may be
awarded under this competition to be eligible for funding. Applications
for both Family Economic Development and Supportive Services and
Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services Grants will be scored on the
following factors.
(1) Quality of Planning for Self-sufficiency (for Family Economic
Development and Supportive Services Category applications) and
Independence for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (for Elderly
and Disabled Supportive Services Category applications). (Maximum
Points: 40) In assessing this factor, HUD will consider the following:
(i) Needs Assessment (Maximum Points: 10): HUD will award up to 10
points based on the quality and comprehensiveness of the needs
assessment document.
(A) In order to obtain maximum points for Family Economic
Development and Supportive Services Category applications, this
document must contain statistical data which provides:
(1) A thorough socioeconomic profile of the eligible residents in
relationship to HA-wide and national public and Indian housing data on
residents:
(a) Who are on TANF, SSI benefits, or other fixed income
arrangements;
(b) In job training, entrepreneurship, or community service
programs; and
(c) Who are employed.
(d) Specific information should be provided on training,
contracting and employment through the HA.
(5) An assessment of the current service delivery system as it
relates to the needs of the target population, including the number and
type of services, the location of services, and community facilities
currently in use.
(B) In order to obtain maximum points for Elderly and Disabled
Supportive Services Category applications, this document must contain
statistical data which provides:
(1) the numbers of elderly, disabled and Supplemental Security
Income recipient residents that are residing in the targeted
development(s).
(2) An assessment of the current service delivery system as it
relates to the needs of the target population, including the number and
type of services, the location of services, and community facilities
currently in use,
(3) A description of the goals, objectives, and program strategies
that will result in increased independence for proposed program
participants.
(ii) Viability and comprehensiveness of the strategies to address
the needs of residents (Maximum Points: 20): The score in this factor
will be based on the viability and comprehensiveness of strategies to
address the needs of residents. HUD will award up to 20 points based on
the following:
(A) Services (Maximum Points: 10): The score in this factor will be
based on the extent and comprehensiveness of the services that will be
provided.
(1) For Family Economic Development and Supportive Services
Category applications a high score is received if there is a
comprehensive description of how the applicant's plan provides services
that specifically address the successful transition from welfare to
work of non-elderly families. To receive a high score, the applicant
must commit to a whole family approach, whereby children and adult
members of the same household are provided with comprehensive services,
along with case management that tracks the provision of those services
: services would include counseling, job training/development/placement
(and/or business training/development/start-up), child care and
transportation.
(2) For Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services Category
applications, a high score is received if the applicant includes case
management, health and personal care, congregate services and
transportation. To obtain maximum points the services must be located
in a community facility and be available on a 12 hour basis or as
needed by the eligible residents.
(B) Resident Contracting and Employment (Maximum Points: 5): The
score in this factor will be based on the extent to which residents
will achieve self-sufficiency through the applicant contracting with
resident owned businesses and through resident employment. A high score
will be awarded where there is documentation (letter or resolution)
describing the HA's commitment to hire a substantial number of
residents or contract with a substantial number of resident owned
businesses and a narrative describing the reasonable number of jobs or
contracts, as well as the training processes related to the
comprehensive plan. Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services Category
applications will not be scored on this criterion.
(C) Rent Reform and Occupancy Incentives (Maximum Points: 5): The
score in this factor will be based on the degree to which the applicant
has implemented, proposes to implement or collaborates with a public
welfare department to implement incentives designed to promote resident
self-sufficiency including but not limited to: ceiling rents, rent
exclusions, rent escrows, occupancy preferences for applicants who work
or who are in a self-sufficiency program, stipends, or income
disregards. A high score is received if the applicant can show how the
incentives complement other aspects of the applicant's implementation
plan. Elderly and Disabled Supportive Services Category applications
will not be scored on this criterion.
(iii) Budget appropriateness/efficient use of grant (Maximum
Points: 5): Up to 5 points based on the extent to which the proposed
ED/SS program will result in a lower total ED/SS program cost per
dwelling unit to be served in the program in comparison to other
applications under ED/SS. For the purposes of this selection factor,
applicants may only count dwelling units currently under an annual
contributions contract at the time of application submission. The
procedure for determining the score is outlined below.
(A) HUD will combine all of the per-unit amounts, rounded to the
nearest whole dollar, into a single nationwide list in order from the
lowest cost per unit to the highest cost per unit. HUD will take the
total number of grant applications that have met the prerequisites to
be scored and divide them by the score for this factor (i.e. 5) to
establish a scoring increment.
(B) HUD will start at the lowest per-unit amount and count one
scoring increment into the list (i.e. 1/5th of the way into the list).
The per-unit amount at that location will constitute a breakpoint. HUD
will count the next scoring increment into the list and establish
another breakpoint. The process will be repeated to establish 5
segments of per-unit costs. In the event that multiple applications
share the same per-unit cost at a breakpoint, the
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breakpoint will be adjusted by $1 higher or lower than that of the
initial breakpoint to achieve as close as possible a 1/5th segment.
(C) Once all of the breakpoints have been established as outlined,
HUD will enter the score. All applications with a cost per unit below
that of the first breakpoint will receive a score of 5; those with a
cost per unit above the first breakpoint but lower than the second
breakpoint will receive a score of 4; etc.
(iv) Reasonableness of the Timetable (Maximum Points: 5): The score
in this factor will be based on the speed at which the applicant can
realistically accomplish the goals of the proposed ED/SS program. To
receive a high score, the applicant must demonstrate that it will make
substantial progress within the first six months after grant execution
including putting staff in place, finalizing partnership arrangements,
completing the development of requests for proposals and achieving
other milestones that are prerequisites for implementation of the
program. In addition the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed
timetable for all components of the proposed program is reasonable
considering the size of the grant and its activities and that it can
accomplish its objectives within the first 30 months of the grant term.
(2) Applicant Capability/Organizational Structure for Administering
Grant Activities (Maximum Points: 30): In assessing this factor, HUD
will consider the following:
(i) Proposed program staffing (Maximum Points: 5): The score in
this factor will be based on the extent to which the applicant's
proposed staffing in support of the program is suited to accomplishing
the program's objectives in terms of the appropriateness of staff
skills, assignments and levels. In order to receive a high score an
applicant must provide a comprehensive description of who will provide
the services and how the services identified will be delivered. This
should include an organizational chart, proposed staff/other resources/
consultants proposed, and a discussion of coordination among various
services providers.
(ii) Program Administration (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the proposed management of the
proposed ED/SS program. In order to receive a high score an applicant
must provide a comprehensive description of the project management
structure, including the use of a contract administrator, if
applicable. The narrative must provide a description of how any co-
applicants, subgrantees and other partner agencies relate to the
program administrator as well as the lines of authority and
accountability among all components of the proposed program.
(iii) Fiscal Management (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the applicant's proposed
fiscal management. In order to receive a high score an applicant must
provide a comprehensive description of the fiscal management structure,
including but not limited to budgeting, fiscal controls and accounting.
The application must describe the staff responsible for fiscal
management, and the processes and timetable for implementation during
the proposed grant period.
(iv) Program Evaluation (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the applicant's plan to
evaluate the success of its proposed ED/SS program both at the
completion of the program and during program implementation. In order
to receive a high score the application must contain a comprehensive
description of the program evaluation system (including staff
designated for the program quality controls), performance measures
(including use of automated systems for collecting the program data),
and the timetable for undertaking this activity. The NOFA Application
Kit will contain guidance on the preparation of performance measures.
The performance measures must be related to the goals and objectives of
the proposed program and could include but not be limited to the
following based on the grant category for which the applicant is
applying:
(A) The number of residents starting jobs or entrepreneurship
training programs;
(B) The number of residents successfully completing job training or
starting businesses;
(C) The number of residents receiving supportive services
(specified by type of service);
(D) The number of community facilities used for welfare to work and
other self-sufficiency/independence efforts; and
(E) The number of community partnerships executed in support of
self-sufficiency for residents.
(v) Applicant/Administrator Track Record (Maximum Points: 10): The
score in this factor will be based on the applicant's or if a Contract
Administrator is proposed the Administrator's prior performance in
successfully carrying out grant programs designed to assist residents
in increasing their self-sufficiency, security or independence. In
order to receive a high score the applicant must demonstrate its (or
the proposed Administrator's) program compliance and successful
implementation of any of resident self-sufficiency, security or
independence oriented grants (including those listed below) awarded to
the applicant or overseen by the Administrator. Applicants or
Administrators with no prior experience in operating programs that
foster resident self-sufficiency, security or independence will receive
a score of 0 on this factor. The applicant's past experience may
include but is not limited to administering the following grants:
(A) The Family Investment Center Program;
(B) The Youth Development Initiative under the Family Investment
Center Program;
(C) The Youth Apprenticeship Program;
(D) The Apprenticeship Demonstration in the Construction Trades
Program;
(E) The Urban Youth Corps Program;
(F) The HOPE 1 Program;
(G) The Public Housing Service Coordinator Program;
(H) The Public Housing Drug Elimination Program; and
(I) The Youth Sports Program.
(3) Resident and Other Partnerships (Maximum Points: 30).
In assessing this factor, HUD will consider the following:
(i) Applicant Partnership with Residents (Maximum Points: 15): The
score in this factor will be based on the following:
(A) Overall Relationship/TOP Coordination (Maximum Points: 5): For
Family Economic Development and Supportive Services Category
applications, the score in this factor will be based on the extent of
coordination between the applicant's proposed ED/SS program and any/all
existing or proposed TOP programs sponsored by RAs within the
applicant's jurisdiction. In order to receive a high score the
application must contain a Memorandum(s) of Understanding (MOU) that
describes collaboration between HA staff and residents on all of the
specific components related to the implementation plans of both the
proposed or current TOP and ED/SS Programs. If there are no existing
and no proposed TOP grants within the jurisdiction of the applicant,
the score for this factor will be 0. Elderly and Disabled Supportive
Services Category applications will not be scored on this criterion. In
addition, if all of the resident groups eligible to apply for
[[Page 31283]]
TOP within the applicant's jurisdiction have already received TOP
grants and will have completed their activities, the applicant will not
be scored on this criterion.
(B) Resident Involvement in ED/SS Activities (Maximum Points: 10):
The score in this factor will be based on the extent of resident
involvement in developing the proposed ED/SS program as well as the
extent of proposed resident involvement in implementing the proposed
ED/SS program. In order to receive a high score on this factor the
applicant must provide documentation that describes the involvement of
residents in the planning phase for this program, and a commitment to
provide continued involvement in grant implementation. In order to
receive maximum points a memorandum of understanding or other written
agreement between the applicant and the appropriate Resident
Associations must be included.
(ii) Other Partnerships (Maximum Points: 15): The score in this
factor will be based on the successful integration of partners into
implementation of the proposed ED/SS program. In order to receive a
high score an applicant must provide a signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) (or other equivalent signed documentation provided
that it delineates the roles and responsibilities of each of the
parties and the benefits they will receive) that delineates specific
partnerships related to the components in the comprehensive plan. In
assessing this factor HUD will examine a number of aspects of the
proposed partnership including:
(1) The appropriateness of the level of expertise of the partners
related to activities proposed in the application;
(2) The soundness of the division of responsibilities/management
structure of the proposed partnership relative to the expertise and
resources of the partners;
(3) The extent of commitment of the partners (time, resources,
funds, etc.); and
(4) The extent to which the partnership as a whole addresses a
broader level of unmet resident needs: the extent to which the addition
of the partners provides the ability to meet needs more cost
effectively or efficiently than the applicant or its partners could
achieve individually without forming the partnership.
(5) If located in, or serving the population of a federally
designated Empowerment Zone or Enterprise community, the extent to
which the program has been coordinated with the Empowerment Zone or
Enterprise Community Strategic Plan.
(4) Bonus Points (Maximum Points: 10): Selection as a Job Plus
Demonstration Site--The applicant will receive 10 bonus points if it
has been selected as a participant in the Department's Jobs Plus
demonstration program.
(i) Ranking Procedures: HUD will divide the applicants that have
complied with the threshold requirements and possess a score greater
than or equal to the minimum score listed in Section V(a)(2) of this
announcement into two lists: one list for PHA applicants and one list
for IHA applicants. The applicants on these two lists will further be
ranked in two lists based upon the category of grant requested.
Headquarters shall fund the applications on each of the four lists in
rank order pursuant to the procedure outlined in Section V(a)(2) of
this announcement utilizing the funding allocated to PHAs and IHAs
respectively and to each category of grant (Family Economic Development
and Supportive Services category and Elderly and Disabled Supportive
Services category) in Section VI(a)(2) of this announcement. If there
are insufficient applications to exhaust the funding for a category,
the remaining funds will be reallocated to the other category within
the separate PHA or IHA allocation. After any such reallocation, if
there are insufficient applications to exhaust the funding for the PHA
or the IHA allocation, the remaining funds will be reallocated to the
other type of applicant (PHA or IHA) list. If such a reallocation
occurs, the reallocated amount is subject to the category allocations
until there are insufficient applications to exhaust the funding in
which case the funds can be reallocated to the other category.
(j) General Program Requirements. (1) Persons participating in an
Elderly or Disabled Supportive Services category grant program shall
not be required to provide more information than is necessary to
participate in the specific services that are requested. Any and all
information provided to a service coordinator or service provider must
be kept confidential. Housing Authority staff are prohibited from
examining participant medical records or requesting/obtaining
information on the extent or nature of a participant's disability. This
provision shall not prohibit grantees, service coordinators and service
providers from collecting information reasonably necessary to maintain
complete records of and report on program activities including: the
demographic characteristics of people served, the kinds of services
provided and the results/outcomes of services provided.
(2) Grantees are required to attend HUD sponsored training
specifically designated for grantees under this program. The Department
intends to offer a three to four day training session within six months
of awarding grants.
VII. Tenant Opportunity Program (TOP) NOFA
(a) Purpose and Description. (1) Authority. TOP is authorized under
section 20 of the 1937 Act. Section 20(a) states that ``[t]he purpose
of this section [section 20] is to encourage increased resident
management of public housing projects * * * [and the provision of
funding] * * * to promote formation and development of resident
management entities.'' Further, section 20(f)(1) of the 1937 Act
provides that:
[T]he Secretary shall provide financial assistance to resident
management corporations or resident councils that obtain, by
contract or otherwise, technical assistance for the development of
resident management entities, including the formation of such
entities, the development of the management capability of newly
formed or existing entities, the identification of the social
support needs of residents of public housing projects, and the
securing of such support.
Section 20(f)(2) designates that financial assistance may not
exceed $100,000 with respect to any public or Indian housing project.
HUD has implemented section 20 at 24 CFR part 950, subpart O (for
Indian housing), and part 964 (for public housing).
(2) Funding Available. This NOFA makes $12,975,000 available for
awards to public housing Resident Associations, $2 million for awards
to Resident Organizations and Native American Resident Management
Corporations and $5 million for awards to intermediary Resident
Organizations to provide technical assistance and training activities
under the TOP program. (3) Program Description. (i) The TOP program
helps meet the need in many communities for economic development and
supportive services. The program enables resident entities to establish
priorities, based on the efforts in their public and Indian housing
communities, that are aimed at furthering economic lift and
independence.
(ii) Technical assistance grants are provided by the Secretary to
resident grantees and NROs/RROs/SROs (referred to as Intermediary
Resident Organizations) to assist residents to improve their
educational, professional, and economic levels, by obtaining skills
which will make them more employable in the local community. TOP
technical
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assistance grants are available for the development of resident
management entities, including the formation of such entities, the
development of the management capability of newly formed or existing
entities, the identification of the social support needs of residents
of public and Indian housing projects and the securing of such support.
(b) Eligible applicants. (1) Basic and Additional Grants. Funding
for Basic and Additional Grants under this program is limited to the
following Resident Associations (RAs) with duly elected boards:
Resident Councils (RCs), Resident Management Corporations (RMCs),
Resident Organizations (ROs), and Native American Resident Management
Corporations. This year, the following restrictions have been placed on
applicant eligibility which differ from previous years:
(i) HUD no longer allows for the submission of city-wide/
jurisdiction-wide or multiple RA applications except for Jurisdiction-
Wide Resident Organizations. Subject to the previous exception for
Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Organizations only applications which
represent a single development may apply. Joint applications of any
sort will not be considered for grant awards.
(ii) HUD no longer allows for the formation of Partnership Paradigm
Technical Assistance (PPTA) organizations or Technical Assistance
Organizations (TAOs). Therefore, no PPTA or TAO applications will be
considered for grant awards.
(iii) Applicants must be registered as non-profit corporations with
501(c) status or have applied for such status.
(2) Intermediary Grants. Funding for Intermediary Grants under this
program is limited to the following Intermediary Resident Organizations
which must be registered as non-profit corporations with 501(c) status:
Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Organizations, Statewide Resident
Organizations (SROs), Regional Resident Organizations (RROs) and
National Resident Organizations (NROs).
(c) Eligible Participants. Residents of conventional public or
Indian housing are eligible to participate in and/or receive the
benefits of TOP grant activities.
(d) Eligible Grant Amounts. (1) Basic Grants. Eligible Applicant
RAs that have not previously received direct TOP funding or assistance
from an Intermediary Resident Organization can receive up to $100,000
in grant funds. The $100,000 maximum grant amount of Eligible
Applicants that have received assistance from an Intermediary Resident
Organizations must be reduced by the value of the assistance that they
received from the Intermediary Resident Organization. Intermediary
Resident Organizations that provide assistance to RAs must provide the
value of the assistance to the RA upon request.
(2) Additional Grants. Any eligible RA selected for a Resident
Management (RM) or a TOP grant in FYs 1988-1995 (including a mini grant
for start-up activities) that received less than a total of $100,000
may apply for an Additional Grant, provided that total cumulative RM/
TOP funding for a project site, including Citywide or Intermediary
Grant funds benefiting the project, does not exceed (including previous
grants) the total statutory maximum of $100,000.
(3) Housing Authority Jurisdiction Maximum. The amount of funding
available for all applicants that are not Intermediary Resident
Organizations, Resident Organizations or Native American Resident
Management Organizations and that are located within the jurisdiction
of a single housing authority is limited to the following amounts based
on the size of the housing authority.
For Housing Authorities with one to 780 units the maximum funding
amount is $700,000.
For Housing Authorities with 781 to 7,300 units the maximum funding
amount is $1,400,000.
For Housing Authorities with more than 7,301 units the maximum
funding amount is $2,100,000.
(4) Intermediary Grants. Eligible Intermediary Resident
Organizations may apply for up to $250,000 except for Jurisdiction-Wide
Resident Organizations that may only apply for up to $100,000.
Intermediary Resident Organizations must list in their application the
name of the RAs that will receive training or technical assistance, and
submit letters of support from each entity identified in the
application. The intermediary cannot list RAs that have already
received RM/TOP grants totaling $100,000 and cannot propose to provide
assistance to a given project that would result in the project
exceeding its statutory maximum for RM/TOP funding.
(5) Grant Limits. (i) For all years combined, a public or Indian
housing development (a ``project'') may receive a maximum of $100,000
in TOP funds and/or TOP funded assistance by Intermediary Resident
Organizations.
(ii) If an applicant was awarded a TOP grant jointly with other RAs
in a previous year, HUD will prorate the total grant awarded, and the
applicants can apply for the remaining balances not to exceed the
maximum of $100,000 per public or Indian housing project.
(e) Eligible and Ineligible Activities. (1) Eligible Activities.
Activities for which funding under this NOFA may be provided to an
eligible RA or Intermediary include any combination of, but are not
limited to, the following:
(i) Social Support Needs (such as Self-Sufficiency and Youth
Initiatives) including:
(A) Feasibility studies to determine training and social services
needs;
(B) Training in management-related trade skills, computer skills,
etc.;
(C) Management-related employment training and counseling including
job search assistance, job development assistance, job placement
assistance and follow up assistance;
(D) Coordination of support services including:
(1) child care services,
(2) educational services including remedial education, literacy
training, assistance in attaining a GED,
(3) vocational training including computer training,
(4) health care outreach and referral services,
(5) meal services for the elderly or persons with disabilities,
(6) personal assistance to maintain hygiene/appearance for the
elderly or persons with disabilities,
(7) housekeeping assistance for the elderly or persons with
disabilities,
(8) transportation services,
(9) congregate services for the elderly or persons with
disabilities, and
(10) case management;
(E) Training for programs such as child care, early childhood
development, parent involvement, volunteer services, parenting skills,
before and after school programs;
(F) Training programs on health, nutrition, safety and substance
abuse;
(G) Workshops for youth services including: child abuse and neglect
prevention, tutorial services, youth leadership skills, youth
mentoring, peer pressure reversal, life skills, and goal planning. The
workshops could be held in partnership with community-based
organizations such as local Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Boy/Girl
Scouts, Campfire and Big Brother/Big Sisters, etc.
(H) Training in the development of strategies to successfully
implement a youth program. For example, assessing the needs and
problems of the youth, improving youth initiatives that are currently
active, and training youth, housing authority staff, resident
management corporations and resident councils on youth initiatives and
program activities; and
[[Page 31285]]
(ii) Resident Management Business Development including:
(A) Training related to resident-owned business development and
technical assistance for job training and placement in RMC
developments;
(B) Technical assistance and training in resident managed business
development through:
(1) Feasibility and market studies;
(2) Development of business plans;
(3) Outreach activities; and
(4) Innovative financing methods including revolving loan funds and
the development of credit unions; and
(C) Legal advice in establishing a resident managed business
entity.
(iii) Resident Management:
(A) Training residents, as potential employees of an RMC, in skills
directly related to the operation, management, maintenance and
financial systems of a project;
(B) Training residents with respect to fair housing requirements;
and
(C) Gaining assistance in negotiating management contracts, and
designing a long-range planning system.
(iv) Homeownership Opportunity. Determining feasibility for
homeownership by residents, including assessing the feasibility of
other housing (including HUD owned or held single or multifamily)
affordable for purchase by residents.
(v) Resident Capacity Building:
(A) Training Board members in community organizing, Board
development, and leadership training;
(B) Determining the feasibility of resident management enablement
for a specific project or projects; and
(C) Assisting in the actual creation of an RMC, such as consulting
and legal assistance to incorporate, preparing by-laws and drafting a
corporate charter.
(vi) General:
(A) Required training on HUD regulations and policies governing the
operation of low-income public housing including contracting/
procurement regulations, financial management, capacity building to
develop the necessary skills to assume management responsibilities at
the project and property management;
(B) Purchasing hardware, i.e. computers and software, office
furnishings and supplies, in connection with business development.
Every effort must be made to acquire donated or discounted hardware;
(C) Training in accessing other funding sources; and
(D) Hiring trainers or other experts. By law, resident grantees
must ensure that all training is provided by a qualified public or
Indian housing management specialist (Consultant/Trainer), HUD
Headquarters or Field/Area ONAP staff or the local HA. To ensure the
successful implementation of the TOP Work Plan activities, the RAs are
required to determine the need to contract for outside consulting/
training services. The RA and the HA must jointly select and approve
the consultant/trainer. Each RA should make maximum use of its HA,
nonprofits, or other Federal, State, local or Tribal government
resources for technical assistance and training needs. The amount
allowed for hiring an individual consultant for this purpose shall not
exceed 30 percent of the total grant award or $30,000, whichever is
less. The amount available for all individual consultants (not
including training firms) and contracts shall not exceed 50% of the
grant or $50,000 whichever is less. HUD Field Offices or AONAPs will
monitor this process to ensure compliance with program and OMB
requirements.
(E) Rental or lease of a car, van, or bus by resident grantees to
attend training;
(F) Stipends, as provided in this paragraph. Trainees and TOP
program participants of a RA may only receive stipends for
participating in or receiving training under the TOP to cover the
reasonable costs related to participation in training and other
activities in the TOP program, subject to the availability of funds.
The stipends should be used for additional costs incurred during the
training programs, such as child care and transportation costs. The
cost of stipends may not exceed $200 per month per trainee without
written HUD authorization.
(G) Reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by Officers and
Board members in the performance of their fiduciary duties and/or
training related to the performance of their official duties.
(H) Travel directly related to the successful completion of the
required TOP Work Plan. All grantees must adhere to the travel policy
established by HUD. The policy sets travel costs at a maximum amount of
$5,000 per RA (not applicable to intermediaries) without special HUD
approval.
(I) Child care expenses for individual staff and board members, in
cases where staff or board members who need child care are involved in
training-related activities associated with grant activities including
welfare-to-work and economic development and other self-sufficiency
initiatives.
(vii) Administrative costs necessary for the implementation of
grant activities. Administrative costs are not to exceed 25% of the
grant unless the grantee is unable to obtain the services of a Contract
Administrator without cost in which case administrative costs are not
to exceed 30% of the grant. (Costs associated with the functions of a
Contract Administrator are considered Administrative costs subject to
the cost limitations of this paragraph.) Appropriate administrative
costs include, but are not limited to, the following items or
activities:
(A) Telephone, computer, printing, copying, and sundry non-dwelling
equipment (such as office supplies, software, and furniture). A grantee
must justify the need for this equipment in relationship to
implementing its approved grant activities.
(B) Grant contract and financial management, audit. If a grantee is
unable to obtain the services of a Contract Administrator or accountant
without charge, the cost for a Contract Administrator or accountant is
eligible. The cost for an independent audit should be budgeted
separately from this item.
(viii) Technical assistance regarding any other service and/or
resource, including case management that is proposed by applicants and
approved by HUD.
(2) For Intermediary Grants only. (i) The purpose of this grant is
to provide training, technical assistance and coordinate linkages to
appropriate supportive services for public and Indian housing residents
who have not been awarded RM/TOP funds or have received awards less
than $100,000.
(ii) All Intermediaries must be knowledgeable and adhere to all
policies that relate to the RA.
(3) Ineligible Activities. Ineligible items or activities include,
but are not limited to, the following:
(i) Entertainment, including associated costs such as food and
beverages, except normal per diem for meals related to travel performed
in connection with implementing the TOP Work Plan. (See TOP Travel
Notice for more specific guidance.)
(ii) Purchase or rental of land or buildings (including the
community facility) or any improvements to land or buildings.
(iii) Activities not directly related to the welfare-to-work
initiatives (e.g., lead-based paint testing and abatement and operating
capital for economic development activities).
(iv) Purchase of any vehicle (car, van, bus, etc.) or any other
property, other than as described under section VII(e)(1) (Eligible
Activities) of this NOFA, unless approved by HUD Headquarters or the
local HUD Field Office or AONAPs.
(v) Architectural and engineering fees.
[[Page 31286]]
(vi) Payment of salaries for routine project operations, such as
security and maintenance, or for RA staff, except that a reasonable
amount of grant funds may be used to hire a person to coordinate the
TOP grant activities or coordinate on-site social services.
(vii) Payment of fees for lobbying services.
(viii) Any expenditures that are fraudulent, wasteful or otherwise
incurred contrary to HUD or OMB directives.
(ix) Any cost otherwise eligible under this NOFA for which funds
are being provided from any other source.
(x) Legal fees and/or expenses of any sort except for expenses
directly related to establishing an RA as a 501(c) non-profit
corporation or legal advice directly related to establishing resident
management or business entities.
(xi) Entertainment equipment such as televisions, radios, stereos,
and VCRs. A waiver of this item may be granted by the HUD Field Office
or AONAP if funding is being utilized specifically and explicitly for
the purposes of establishing a business directly related to radio,
television or film or some other form of technical communication, and
equipment is being utilized for training of residents or RAs. All such
waivers must be authorized in writing by the HUD Field Office or AONAP
before purchases may be made.
(4) For Intermediaries Only. In addition to the other ineligible
activities listed in this NOFA, intermediaries cannot provide training
and technical assistance to RAs that have received TOP funds of
$100,000 or that would result in exceeding the statutory ceiling by
providing more than $100,000 of training or technical assistance to a
given project site.
(f) Term of Grant. All funds must be expended within 36 months
after effective date of grant agreement. Grant implementation progress
must be evident and documented within the first six months of grant
award. Grantees must have completed all but grant closeout activities
within 30 months after the effective date of the grant agreement. Grant
terms may not be extended without substantial good cause (circumstances
reasonably unforeseen and reasonably beyond the grantee's control) and
subject to HUD approval. All extensions or waivers to this time frame
must be authorized by the HUD Field Office or AONAP in writing. Funds
not utilized during this time frame are subject to cancellation and
recapture.
(g) Program Requirements--Threshold Criteria. The following
threshold requirements are considered essential for an application to
be complete and acceptable for rating and ranking:
(1) General Submission Requirements. (i) A complete application as
prescribed in the Application Kit must be submitted to the appropriate
field office by the deadline as specified in this NOFA.
(ii) Needs Assessment Report. A Needs Assessment Report dealing
with the proposed recipient population that contains, at minimum,
sections containing statistical or survey information on the needs of
the recipient population and an identification of resources to meet the
needs.
(iii) Two Year Workplan. A Two Year Work Plan Linked to a Resident
Self-Sufficiency or Independent Living Strategy: These plans must, at
minimum, include the following:
(A) Sections discussing TOP specific program goals, objectives,
strategies, performance measures, staffing, timetable, and budget. The
timetable must show that the plan can be implemented within 24 months.
(B) Sections describing how activities and performance standards
are targeted to meet needs which are identified in the needs
assessment, and advance a resident self-sufficiency and/or independent
living strategy, as appropriate for resident composition.
(C) Evidence that the proposed TOP program has been coordinated
with and supports the housing authority's efforts to increase resident
self-sufficiency and is coordinated and consistent with the State or
Tribal Welfare Plan.
(2) Focus on Residents Affected by Welfare Reform. The application
must contain written evidence provided by the HA to the RA that at
least 75% or more of the public or Indian housing residents to be
included in the proposed program are affected by the welfare reform
legislation, including TANF recipients, legal immigrants, and disabled
SSI recipients.
(3) Partnership between the Resident Association and the Housing
Authority. (i) The application must contain a signed MOU between the RA
and the HA which describes the specific roles, responsibilities and
activities to be undertaken between the two entities.
(ii) The MOU, at a minimum, must identity the principal parties
(i.e. the name of the HA and RA), the terms of the agreement
(expectations or terms for each party), and an indication that the
agreement pertains to the support of the RA TOP grant application. This
document is the basis for foundation of the relationship between the RA
and HA. It must be precise and outline the specific duties and
objectives to be accomplished under the grant. All MOUs must be
finalized, dated and signed by duly authorized officials of both the RA
and HA upon submission of the application. A sample MOU will be
provided in the Application Kit.
(iii) This threshold requirement is not applicable to Intermediary
Resident Organization applicants.
(4) Accessible Community Facility. The applicant must provide
evidence (e.g., through an executed use agreement and/or in the MOU
with the HA) that a preponderance of the proposed activities will be
administered at community facilities in or within easy access of the
property represented by the RA within nine months of the grant award.
If units have to be converted from dwelling use into a community
facility or the facility is to be constructed, the applicant must
submit a plan for the conversion or construction that provides for
adequate resourcing and a time schedule. If the proposed community
facility is to be provided by an entity other than the applicant, the
application must include an agreement with the proper authority (owner
or operator of the site) for use of the proposed facility. These
facilities and these programs must be accessible to persons with
disabilities. The center must also offer other types of services such
as education, employment readiness/placement, child care, health and
other appropriate social services to prepare and support the
participating residents' efforts. In the case of applications for
programs to be implemented for the primary benefit of residents in
housing that is dispersed in a rural setting, the applicant must
provide evidence that participants will have access to transportation
to the community facility that is convenient. This community facility
requirement also shall not apply to reverse community activities that
provide transportation to jobs that are distant from the dwellings of
participants.
(5) Contract Administrator. Unless HUD or an Independent Public
Accountant has determined that the applicant's financial management
system and procurement procedures comply with 24 CFR part 84, the
application must contain evidence that the RA will use the services of
a Contract Administrator in administering the grant. Troubled HAs are
not eligible to be Contract Administrators. In the event that an
applicant is unable to obtain the services of a Contract Administrator
without having to pay for the services the Contract Administrator would
provide, the applicant may enter into an agreement with a capable
entity (e.g., subrecipient) to serve the function
[[Page 31287]]
of a Contract Administrator. If an applicant selects such an option,
the applicant would either have to follow the competitive procurement
procedures established in 24 CFR part 84 or alternatively select a
proposed Contract Administrator subject to the following terms and
conditions without being subject to the competitive procurement
requirements of 24 CFR part 84. First the applicant must enter into a
written agreement with the proposed Contract Administrator that would
not obligate the applicant to pay the proposed Contract Administrator
any compensation for expenses incurred in advance of the applicant
entering into a grant agreement with HUD. In cases where the Contract
Administrator is the HA, the contract administration responsibilities
can be incorporated into the MOU discussed in paragraph (g)(3) above.
This requirement does not apply to Intermediary Resident Organization
applicants.
(6) Applicant Non-Profit Status and Democratic Board Elections. The
applicant must provide:
(i) Evidence that the applicant is registered as a nonprofit
corporation with 501(c) or (for RAs other than Intermediary Resident
Organizations) has applied for 501(c) status; and
(ii) For RAs other than Intermediary Resident Organizations.
Certification of the RA board election as required by HUD, notarized by
the local HA and/or an independent third-party monitor.
(7) Compliance with Current Programs. The applicant must provide
certification on the format provided in the Application Kit that it is
not in default at the time of application submission with respect to
any previous HUD funded grant programs the applicant has received.
(8) Automated Capability. The application must provide
certification that the applicant will secure access to on-line
computer/INTERNET capability as a means of communication with HUD on
grant matters.
(9) Audit Findings and Equal Opportunity Requirements. An applicant
cannot have unresolved, outstanding Inspector General audit findings,
or fair housing and equal opportunity monitoring review findings or
Field Office management review findings relating to discriminatory
housing practices. In addition, the applicant must be in compliance
with civil rights laws and equal opportunity requirements. An applicant
will be considered to be in compliance if:
(i) As a result of formal administrative proceedings, there are no
outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil rights laws or the
applicant is operating in compliance with a HUD-approved compliance
agreement designed to correct the area(s) of noncompliance;
(ii) There is no adjudication of a civil rights violation in a
civil action brought against it by a private individual, or the
applicant demonstrates that it is operating in compliance with a court
order, or implementing a HUD-approved tenant selection and assignment
plan or compliance agreement, designed to correct the area(s) of
noncompliance;
(iii) There is no deferral of Federal funding based upon civil
rights violations;
(iv) HUD has not deferred application processing by HUD under Title
VI, the Attorney General's Guidelines (28 CFR 50.3) and HUD's Title VI
regulations (24 CFR 1.8) and procedures (HUD Handbook 8040.1) [PHAs
only] or under Section 504 and HUD's implementing regulations (24 CFR
8.57) [PHAs and IHAs];
(v) There is no pending civil rights suit brought against the
applicant by the Department of Justice; and
(vi) There is no unresolved charge of discrimination against the
applicant issued by the Secretary under section 810(g) of the Fair
Housing Act, as implemented by 24 CFR 103.400.
(10) Applicants which are Intermediary Resident Organizations must
list in the application the name of the RAs that will receive training,
technical assistance and/or coordinated supportive services and must
provide letters of support from each entity identified in the
application. The intermediary can not list RAs that have been
previously awarded Resident Management and/or TOP funds at the maximum
limit of $100,000.
(h) Selection Factors. Each application for a grant award that is
submitted in a timely manner, as specified in the Application Kit, to
the local HUD field office or AONAP as applicable and that otherwise
meets the threshold and other requirements of this NOFA will be
evaluated competitively using a point scale.
The number of points that an application receives will depend on
how well it addresses the selection factors described below. An
application must receive a score of at least 75 points out of the
maximum of 100 points that may be awarded under this competition to be
eligible for funding. Unless specifically noted below, Intermediary
Resident Organization applicants will be scored based on the same
factors as those generally applicable to the TOP program.
Applications for the Tenant Opportunities Program activities will
be scored on the following factors:
(1) Quality of the TOP Implementation Plan (Maximum Points: 40).
In assessing this factor, HUD will consider the following:
(i) Needs Assessment (Maximum Points: 10): HUD will award up to 5
points based on the quality and comprehensiveness of the needs
assessment document. Intermediary Resident Organizations will receive
points under this Needs Assessment factor (as outlined below) based on
the assessment of needs and resources for each of the project sites the
Intermediary Resident Organization proposes to assist as well as the
goals, objectives and strategies for those sites. In order to obtain
maximum points, this document must contain statistical data and other
information which provides:
(A) A thorough socioeconomic profile of the eligible residents in
relationship to PHA-wide and national public and Indian housing data on
residents:
(1) Who are on TANF, SSI, or other fixed income arrangements;
(2) In job training, entrepreneurship, or community service
programs;
(3) Who are employed.
(4) Specific information should be provided on training,
contracting and employment through the HA.
(B) An assessment of the current service delivery system as it
relates to the needs of the target population, including the number and
type of services, the location of services, and community facilities
currently in use;
(ii) Viability and comprehensiveness of the strategies to address
the needs of residents (Maximum Points: 15): (A) The score in this
factor will be based on the extent and comprehensiveness of the
training and related services that will be provided as well as the
extent that the proposed training and related services will contribute
to providing for unmet resident needs identified in the required Needs
Assessment Report.
(B) To receive a high score applicants must provide a comprehensive
description of how the proposed plan provides training and related
services that specifically address the successful transition from
welfare to work of non-elderly families and the achievement of
independence of elderly families and persons with disabilities. To
obtain maximum points the training and related services must be located
in the community facility and be available as needed by the eligible
residents.
(C) Intermediary Resident Organizations will receive points under
this Viability and Comprehensiveness factor (as outlined above) based
on the training and related services for each of the project sites the
Intermediary
[[Page 31288]]
Resident Organization proposes to assist.
(iii) Proposed program staffing (Maximum Points: 5): The score in
this factor will be based on the extent to which the applicant's
proposed staffing in support of the program is suited to accomplishing
the program's objectives in terms of the appropriateness of staff
skills, assignments and levels. In order to receive a high score an
applicant must provide a comprehensive description of who will provide
the training and related services and how the training and related
services identified will be delivered. This should include an
organizational chart, proposed staff/other resources/consultants
proposed, and a discussion of coordination among various services
providers.
(iv) Budget appropriateness/efficient use of grant funds (Maximum
Points: 5): The score in this factor will be based on the following:
(A) Detailed Budget Break-Out: The extent to which the application
includes a detailed budget break-out for each budget category in the
SF-424A.
(B) Reasonable administrative costs: The extent to which the
application includes reasonable administrative costs within the
administrative cost ceiling.
(C) Budget Efficiency: The extent to which the application requests
funds commensurate with the level of effort necessary to accomplish the
goals and objectives and the estimated costs to the government are
reasonable in relationship to the anticipated results.
(v) Reasonableness of the timetable (Maximum Points: 5): The score
in this factor will be based on the speed at which the applicant can
realistically accomplish the goals of the proposed TOP program. To
receive a high score, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed
timetable for all components of the proposed program is reasonable
(i.e. a given task is allotted the amount of time it would normally
take to accomplish such a task) and that the applicant can accomplish
the proposed implementation plan objectives within the 24 month time
limit. The applicant must also demonstrate that a substantial portion
of their proposed program will be implemented within 6 months of
receiving grant funds.
(2) Adequacy of Managerial/Fiscal Structure for Administering and
Coordinating the Services to Meet the Needs (Maximum Points: 30).
In assessing this factor, HUD will consider the following:
(i) Program Administration (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the proposed management of the
proposed TOP program. In order to receive a high score an applicant
must provide a clear description of the project management structure,
including the use of a contract administrator if applicable. The
narrative must provide a description of how any partner organizations
relate to the program administrator as well as the lines of authority
and accountability among all components of the proposed program.
(ii) Fiscal Management (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the applicant's proposed
fiscal management. In order to receive a high score an applicant must
provide a comprehensive description of the fiscal management structure,
including but not limited to budgeting, fiscal controls and accounting.
The application must clearly describe the staff responsible for fiscal
management, and the processes and timetable for implementation during
the proposed grant period.
(iii) Program Assessment (Maximum Points: 5): The score in this
factor will be based on the soundness of the applicant's plan to assess
the success of its proposed TOP program both at the completion of the
program and during program implementation. In order to receive a high
score the application must contain a comprehensive description of the
program assessment system (including staff designated for the program
quality controls), program evaluation and performance measures
(including use of automated systems for collecting the program data),
and timetable for undertaking this activity. Guidance on the
preparation of performance measures will be contained in the
Application Kit. The performance measures must be related to the goals
and objectives of the proposed program and may include but not be
limited to the following:
(A) Number of residents successfully completing job training or
beginning businesses;
(B) Number of residents receiving supportive services (specified by
type of service);
(C) Number of community facilities used for welfare to work or
other self-sufficiency/independence efforts; and
(D) Number of community partnerships executed in support of self-
sufficiency for residents.
(iv) Applicant/Administrator Track Record/Capability (Maximum
Points: 15): In assessing this factor, HUD will consider the soundness
of the prior experience of the Applicant and the Contract Administrator
(if applicable) in successfully carrying out resident services programs
designed to assist residents in increasing their self-sufficiency,
security or independence. A high score is received if the Applicant or
Administrator can demonstrate compliance and successful implementation
(i.e. completion of grant implementation plan tasks) of prior resident
services programs. Applicants and Contract Administrators with no prior
experience in operating programs that foster resident self-sufficiency,
security or independence will receive a score of 0 on this factor.
(3) Partnerships (Maximum Points: 30). In assessing this factor,
HUD will consider the following:
(i) Housing Authority-Resident Association Partnership (Maximum
Points: 10): (A) The score in this factor will be based on the extent
of coordination between the applicant's proposed TOP program and any/
all existing or proposed HA resident services programs that assist
residents in increasing their self-sufficiency, security or
independence. In order to receive a high score the application must
contain an MOU (between the HA and the RA) which describes
collaboration between HA staff and residents on all of the specific
components related to the implementation plans of both the proposed TOP
program and the resident services programs of the housing authority.
(B) Intermediary Resident Organizations will receive points under
this Housing Authority-Resident Association Program Partnership factor
based on the extent to which the Intermediary Resident Organization can
demonstrate that the housing authorities for each of the project sites
the Intermediary Resident Organization proposes to assist have agreed
to support and coordinate their efforts with those of the Intermediary
Resident Organization in assisting the project site.
(ii) Other Partnerships (Maximum Points: 15): The score in this
factor will be based on the successful integration of partners into
implementation of the proposed TOP program. In order to receive a high
score an applicant must provide an MOU or other equivalent
documentation that delineates specific partnerships related to the
components in the comprehensive plan. In assessing this factor HUD will
examine a number of aspects of the proposed partnership including:
(A) The appropriateness of the level of expertise of the partners
related to activities proposed in the application;
(B) The soundness of the division of responsibilities/management
structure of the proposed partnership relative to
[[Page 31289]]
the expertise and resources of the partners;
(C) The extent of commitment of the partners (time, resources,
funds, etc.); and
(D) The extent to which the partnership as a whole addresses a
broader range of resident needs: the extent to which the addition of
the partners provides the ability to meet needs more cost effectively
or efficiently than the applicant or its partners could achieve
individually without forming the partnership.
(5) If located in, or serving the population of a federally
designated Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community, the extent to
which the program has been coordinated with the Empowerment Zone or
Enterprise Community Strategic Plan.
(iii) Resident Involvement (Maximum Points: 5). (A) The score in
this factor will be based on the extent of resident involvement in
developing the proposed TOP program as well as the extent of proposed
resident involvement in implementing the proposed TOP program. In order
to receive a high score on this factor the applicant must provide
verifiable documentation which describes the involvement of affected
residents in the planning phase for this program, and a commitment by
the Resident Association to provide continued involvement in grant
implementation. In order to receive maximum points the application must
contain a resolution from the appropriate RA(s) which includes
signatures from the resident community.
(B) Intermediary Resident Organizations will receive points under
this Resident Involvement factor based on the demonstrated level of
coordination of efforts between the RA for each of the project sites
the Intermediary Resident Organization proposes to assist and the
Intermediary Resident Organization. Higher points will be awarded to
the extent that RAs proposed to be assisted have taken the preliminary
steps to be ready to take advantage of the assistance proposed for
their site by the Intermediary Resident Organization. For example, the
RA for the proposed site has organized itself and selected its
leadership and obtained basic training from the HA or other community
organizations.
(4) Bonus Points (Maximum Points: 5): The applicant may receive up
to 5 bonus points based on the following factor:
(i) Leveraging Community Resources (Maximum Points: 5): The
applicant may receive a maximum of 5 extra points if the budget can
show that outside resources (including other existing Federal, state,
local, Tribal, public, non-profit, and/or private resources) are to be
utilized in this proposed program. The maximum number of points can be
provided if the applicant can demonstrate that the total amount of the
resources (including in-kind contributions of personnel, space and/or
equipment) equals the amount proposed in this grant application.
(i) General Program Requirements. (1) Travel Policy. All TOP
grantees must adhere to the travel policy established by HUD. All
travel must be in complete compliance with PIH Notice 96-18, Travel
Policy for Resident Management/Tenant Opportunities Program Grantees.
The policy ensures that all travel funded under TOP is directed toward
the successful completion of the required TOP Work Plan/Performance
Standards. The travel policy sets a maximum amount of $5,000 over the
2- to 3-year period of the grant. Requests for funds beyond the limit
of $5,000 must be approved by the local HUD Office.
(2) TOP Orientation. Grantees are required to attend HUD sponsored
training specifically designated for grantees under this program. The
Department intends to offer a three to four day training session within
six months of awarding grants. If the grantee's grant agreement is
executed and the organization is properly established in the Line of
Credit Control System/Voice Response System (LOCCS/VRS), the grantee
must draw down the total amount needed to attend the training. If the
grantee's grant agreement is not executed and the organization is not
properly established in the LOCCS/VRS, the grantee may request the HA
to advance the organization the total amount needed to attend the HUD
orientation training. The grantee must reimburse the HA when the
organization is properly established in the LOCCS/VRS.
(3) Procurement of Trainers and Consultants. To ensure the
successful implementation of the TOP Work plan activities, RAs are
required to determine the need to contract for outside consulting/
training services. The RA and HA must jointly select the consultant/
trainer in accordance with applicable procurement requirements and with
approval by the local HUD Field Office or AONAP. Each RA should make
maximum use of the resources provided by the following entities for
technical assistance and training needs:
(i) HAs;
(ii) Nonprofits;
(iii) Educational institutions; and
(iv) Federal, State, local or Tribal government institutions.
(4) Computer Capability. RAs must have access to computer
capability and access to the INTERNET and electronic mail and must make
such access available to resident beneficiaries for TOP training and
supportive service activities.
(5) Training Requirements. All grantees must adhere to the
following training requirements:
(i) RA grantees are required to have training, and intermediary
grantees are requested to provide training, in the areas listed below.
The amount and scope of training, however, will depend on their RA's
goals. For example, the training required to assume property management
is more extensive than the training needed to establish a landscaping
enterprise. The required training areas are:
(A) HUD regulations and policies governing the operation of low-
income housing, which includes:
(1) The part 900 series of 24 CFR;
(2) Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12
U.S.C. 1701u) and HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 135 or
in the case of programs in Native American jurisdictions Indian
preference requirements as stated in 950.175; and
(3) The applicable civil rights laws as implemented for public
housing (24 CFR part 964) and Indian housing (24 CFR part 950).
(B) Financial management, including budgetary and accounting
principles and techniques, in accordance with Federal guidelines,
including:
(A) (1) OMB Circulars A-110 (and HUD's implementing regulations at
24 CFR part 84) and A-122, which contain Federal administrative
requirements for grants; and
(2) OMB Circular A-133 (and HUD's implementing regulations at 24
CFR part 48), which relates to audit requirements for nonprofit
organizations;
(C) Capacity building to develop the necessary skills to become
economically self-sufficient.
(D) Organizational planning and development leadership training and
development skills.
(E) Interviewing skills, effective communication skills, and proper
attire in the workforce, specifically as it relates to the skills being
taught.
(ii) Each grantee must ensure that the training is provided by a
qualified housing management specialist (Consultant/Trainer) or the
local HA. The total allowed to assist in hiring an individual
consultant shall not exceed 50 percent of the total grant award or
$50,000, whichever is less.
(j) Ranking Procedures: For the TOP program, Headquarters will rank
[[Page 31290]]
applicants that have complied with the threshold requirements and
possess a score greater than or equal to the minimum score in three
lists based upon the type of applicant (Intermediary Resident
Organization applicants vs. applicants that are either Resident
Organizations or Native American Resident Management Corporations vs.
Resident Association (RA) applicants that do not fall within either of
the previous two categories) pursuant to Section V(a)(2) of this
announcement. Using the Resident Association list (not including
Intermediary Resident Organizations, etc.), Headquarters will select
the highest ranking applications from each housing authority
jurisdiction until the funds available for that jurisdiction are
exhausted. In the event of a tie score HUD will follow the procedure
outlined in Section V(a)(iv)(2) of this announcement. HUD will then
compile the list of the higher ranking applications from each
jurisdiction that do not exhaust the funding available for the housing
authority jurisdiction and array them from highest to lowest score on
one National list. Headquarters shall separately fund the remaining
applications on all three separate lists (the Intermediary Resident
Organization list, the Resident Organization/Native American Resident
Management Corporation list and the Resident Association list exclusive
of the other two categories) in rank order pursuant to the procedure
outlined in Section V(a)(2) of this announcement utilizing the funding
allocated to each type of applicant in Section V(a)(2) of this
announcement. At the completion of the process, there will be a
separate list of awardees corresponding to the separate rank order
lists. If there are insufficient applications to exhaust the funding
for either the Intermediary Resident Organization applicants list or
the applicants that are either Resident Organizations or Native
American Resident Management Corporations list (or for both lists), the
remaining funds will be reallocated to the list for the other type of
applicant (Resident Associations that do not fall within the first two
categories). If there are insufficient applications to exhaust the
funding for the Resident Associations that do not fall within the first
two categories, the remaining funds will be reallocated to the list for
Intermediary Resident Organization applicants first and then if funds
remain to the list for either Resident Organizations or Native American
Resident Management Corporations.
VIII. Findings and Certifications
The following findings and certifications are applicable to both
the TOP and ED/SS Programs:
Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection requirements
contained in this Notice have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501-3520), and assigned OMB control numbers 2577-0087 (TOP) and
2577-0211(ED/SS). 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.
Environmental Impact. The ED/SS and TOP NOFAs do 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), the ED/SS and TOP NOFAs are categorically excluded from
environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321).
Federalism Executive Order. The General Counsel, as the Designated
Official under section 6(a) of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has
determined that this NOFA will not have substantial, direct effects on
states, on their political subdivisions, or on their relationship with
the Federal Government, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities between them and other levels of government. This
notice announces the availability of funds to provide economic
development opportunities and supportive services to residents of
public and Indian housing and other low-income families. It will not
have an effect on the relationship between the Federal Government and
the states or their political subdivisions.
Prohibition of Advance Disclosure of Funding Decisions. HUD's
regulation implementing section 103 of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, 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 the applications and in the
making of funding decisions are limited 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.)
Section 102 of the HUD Reform Act--Documentation, Access, and
Disclosure. 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 requirements. 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) 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.
Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities. Applicants for funding
under
[[Page 31291]]
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. Section 1352 (the Byrd Amendment) and to
the provisions of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-65
(December 19, 1995).
The Byrd Amendment, which is implemented in regulations at 24 CFR
part 87, prohibits applicants for Federal contracts and grants from
using appropriated funds to attempt to influence Federal Executive or
legislative officers or employees in connection with obtaining such
assistance, or with its extension, continuation, renewal, amendment or
modification. The Byrd Amendment applies to the funds that are the
subject of this NOFA. Therefore, applicants must file a certification
stating that they have not made and will not make any prohibited
payments and, if any payments or agreement to make payments of
nonappropriated funds for these purposes have been made, a form SF-LLL
disclosing such payments must be submitted. The certifications and the
SF-LLL are included in the application package.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 14.853.
Dated: June 2, 1997.
Kevin Emanuel Marchman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
Appendix--Names, Addresses and Telephone Numbers of the Local HUD
Offices and Offices of Native American Programs Accepting Applications
for the Economic Development and Supportive Services Grant Program
New England
Connecticut State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, First Floor, 330 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106-1860,
Telephone No. (203) 240-4523
Massachusetts State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., Federal Building, 10 Causeway
Street, Boston, MA 02222-1092, Telephone No. (617) 565-5634
New Hampshire State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street,
Manchester, NH 03101-2487, Telephone No. (603) 666-7681
Rhode Island State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Sixth Floor, 10 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI 02903-
3234, Telephone No. (401) 528-5351
New York/New Jersey
New Jersey State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, One Newark Center, Thirteenth Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-5260,
Telephone No. (202) 622-7900
New York State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3237, New York, NY 10278-0068,
Telephone No. (212) 264-6500
Buffalo Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Lafayette Court, Fifth Floor, 465 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-
1780, Telephone No. (716) 846-5755
Mid-Atlantic
District of Columbia Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing 820 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4205, Telephone
No. (202) 275-9200
Maryland State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, City Crescent Building, 5th Floor, 10 South Howard Street,
Baltimore, MD 21201-2505, Telephone No. (410) 962-2520
Pennsylvania State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia,
PA 19107-3390, Telephone No. (215) 656-0576 or 0579
Virginia State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, The 3600 Centre, 3600 West Broad Street, P.O. Box 90331,
Richmond, VA 23230-0331, Telephone No. (804) 278-4507
West Virginia State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 405 Capitol Street, Suite 708, Charleston, WV 25301-1795,
Telephone No. (304) 347-7000
Pittsburgh Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 339 Sixth Avenue, Sixth Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2515,
Telephone No. (412) 644-6571
Southeast/Caribbean
Alabama State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Beacon Ridge Tower, Suite 300, 600 Beacon Parkway, West, Birmingham,
AL 35209-3144, Telephone No. (205) 290-7617
Caribbean Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing, New
San Juan Office Building, 159 Carlos E. Chardon Avenue, Room 305,
San Juan, PR 00918-1804, Telephone No. (809) 766-6121
Georgia State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Spring Street, SW, Atlanta,
GA 30303-3388, Telephone No. (404) 331-5136
Kentucky State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 601 West Broadway, P.O. Box 1044, Louisville, KY 40201-
1044, Telephone No. (502) 582-5251
Mississippi State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Doctor A.H. McCoy Federal Building, Suite 910, 100 West
Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1016, Telephone No. (601) 965-5308
North Carolina State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Koger Building, 2306 West Meadowview Road, Greensboro, NC
27407-3707, Telephone No. (910) 547-4001
South Carolina State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street,
Columbia, SC 29201-2480, Telephone No. (803) 765-5592
Tennessee State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 251 Cumberland Bend Drive, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37228-
1803, Telephone No. (615) 736-5213
Jacksonville Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Southern Bell Tower, Suite 2200, 301 West Bay Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202-5121, Telephone No. (904) 232-2626
Knoxville Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, John J. Duncan Federal Building, Third Floor, 710 Locust
Street, Knoxville, TN 37902-2526, Telephone No. (615) 545-4384
Midwest
Illinois State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Ralph Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, IL 60604-3507, Telephone No. (312) 353-5680
Indiana State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
151 North Delaware Street, Suite 1200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2526,
Telephone No. (317) 226-6303
Michigan State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue,
Detroit, MI 48226-2592, Telephone No. (313) 226-7900
Minnesota State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 220 Second Street, South, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2195,
Telephone No. (612) 370-3000
Ohio State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2499, Telephone No. (614)
469-5737
Wisconsin State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Suite 1380, Henry S. Reuss Federal Plaza, 310 West
Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1380, Milwaukee, WI 53203-2289, Telephone
No. (414) 297-3214
Cincinnati Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 525 Vine Street, Suite 700, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3188,
Telephone No. (513) 684-2533
Cleveland Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Renaissance Building, Fifth Floor, 1350 Euclid Avenue,
Cleveland, OH 44115-1815, Telephone No. (216) 522-4058
Grand Rapids Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 50 Louis Street, N.W.--Third Floor, Grand Rapids, MI 49503,
Telephone No. (616) 456-2127
Southeast
Arkansas State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, TCBY Tower, 425 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-
3488, Telephone No. (501) 324-5931
Louisiana State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 501 Magazine Street, Ninth Floor, New Orleans, LA 70130,
Telephone No. (504) 589-7233
Oklahoma State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 500 West Main
[[Page 31292]]
Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, Telephone No. (405) 553-7559
Texas State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
1600 Throckmorton, Post Office Box 2905, Fort Worth, TX 76113-2905,
Telephone No. (817) 885-5401
Houston Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Norfolk Tower, Suite 200, 2211 Norfolk, Houston, TX 77098-4096,
Telephone No. (713) 834-3274
San Antonio Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Washington Square 800 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX 78207-4563,
Telephone No. (210) 229-6800
Great Plains
Iowa State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Federal Building, Room 29, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-
2155, Telephone No. (515) 284-4512
Kansas/Missouri State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Gateway Tower II, Room 200, 400 State Avenue, Kansas City,
KS 66101-2406, Telephone No. (913) 551-5462
Nebraska State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Executive Tower Centre 10909 Mill Valley Road, Omaha, NE
68154-3955, Telephone No. (402) 492-3100
St. Louis Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Robert A. Young Federal Building 50 Louis, N.W., Third
Floor, St. Louis, MO 63103-2836, Telephone No. (314) 539-6512
Rocky Mountains
Colorado State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 633--17th Street 12th Floor, Denver, CO 80202-3607,
Telephone No. (303) 672-5440
Pacific/Hawaii
Arizona State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
2 Arizona Center, Suite 1600, 400 North Fifth Street, Phoenix, AZ
85004-2361, Telephone No. (602) 379-4434
California State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse 450
Golden Gate Avenue, Ninth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102-3448,
Telephone No. (415) 556-4752
Hawaii State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
Seven Waterfront Plaza, Suite 500, 500 Ala Moana Boulevard,
Honolulu, HI 96813-4918, Telephone No. (808) 522-8175
Los Angeles Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, AT&T Center 611 West 6th Street, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA
90017-3127, Telephone No. (213) 894-8000 ext. 3500
Sacramento Area Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, 777 12th Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814-1997,
Telephone No. (916) 551-1351
Northwest/Alaska
Alaska State Applicants submit applications to the Washington
State Office in Seattle, WA (see below):
Oregon State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public Housing,
400 Southwest Sixth Avenue, Suite 700, Portland, OR 97204-1596,
Telephone No. (503) 326-2519
Washington State Office, Attention: Director, Office of Public
Housing, Seattle Federal Office Building, Suite 200, 909 1st Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98104-1000, Telephone No. (206) 220-5101
Office of Native American Program Offices
Serves East of the River (Including all of Minnesota)
Eastern Woodlands Office of Native American Programs, Attention:
Administrator, Office of Native American Programs, Metcalfe Federal
Building, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3507,
Telephone No. (800) 735-3239 [Toll Free] or (312) 886-3539
Serves: Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Eastern Texas
Southern Plains Office of Native American Programs, Attention:
Administrator, Office of Native American Programs, 500 West Main
Street, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, Telephone No. (405) 553-
7525
Serves: Colorado, Montana, The Dakotas, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming
Northern Plains Office of Native American Programs, Attention:
Administrator, Office of Native American Programs, First Interstate
Tower North, 633 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202-3607, Telephone No.
(303) 672-5465
Serves: California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico
Southwest Office of Native American Programs, Attention:
Administrator, Office of Native American Programs, Two Arizona
Center, Suite 1650, 400 North Fifth Street, Suite 1650, Phoenix, AZ
85004-2361, Telephone No. (602) 379-4156
or
Albuquerque Division of Native American Programs, Albuquerque Plaza,
201 3rd Street, Suite 1830, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3368, Telephone
No. (505) 766-1372
Serves: Iowa, Washington, Idaho and Oregon
Northwest Office of Native American Programs, Attention:
Administrator, Office of Native American Programs, 909 1st Avenue,
Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104-1000, Telephone No. (206) 220-5270
Serves: Alaska
Alaska Office of Native American Programs, Attention: Administrator,
Office of Native American Programs, University Plaza Building, 949
East 36th Avenue, Suite 401, Anchorage, AK 99508-4399, Telephone No.
(907) 271-4633
Serves: National
Office of Native American Programs, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3390, Box
90, Denver, CO 80302, Telephone No. (303) 675-1600
[FR Doc. 97-14812 Filed 6-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P