[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16348-16351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8334]



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Part IV





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Fiscal Year 1998 Notice of Funding Availability for Community Outreach 
Partnership Centers (COPC) for Institutionalization Grants; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 63 / Thursday, April 2, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4309-N-01]


Fiscal Year 1998 Notice of Funding Availability for Community 
Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) for Institutionalization Grants

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

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year 1998 for 
Institutionalization Grants.

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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the availability of Fiscal Year 1998 
funding to make Institutionalization Grants under the Community 
Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) Program. Funding for New Grants 
under the COPC Program was announced in HUD's SuperNOFA for Housing and 
Community Development Programs, published in the Federal Register on 
March 31, 1998.
    Available funding. Approximately $500,000 to fund certain 
Institutionalization Grants.
    Eligible applicants. Only public and private nonprofit institutions 
of higher education that received New Grants in FY 1995 and have not 
previously received an Institutionalization Grant.
    Purpose. To assist in establishing or carrying out research and 
outreach activities addressing the problems of urban areas. Funding 
under this demonstration program shall be used to continue operation of 
Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC).
    The NOFA contains information concerning: (1) the principal 
objectives of the competition, the funding available, eligible 
applicants and activities, and factors for award; (2) the application 
requirements; and (3) the application process, including how to apply 
and how selections will be made.

Application Due Dates and Instructions for Obtaining Applications

    Applicants will be required to submit a new application. HUD 
recognizes, however, that applicants will probably be able to use most 
of their FY 1997 application, with the modifications listed in section 
II of this NOFA. For the list of specific application submission 
requirements, see section II of this NOFA. Please note that all 
certifications must be new. New application kits will not be available. 
Applicants should submit an original and two copies of their 
applications.
    Applications must be physically received by the Office of 
University Partnerships, in care of the Division of Budget, Contracts, 
and Program Control, in Room 8230 by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 
May 4, 1998. Facsimiles of applications will not be accepted. The 
above-stated application deadline is firm as to date, hour and place. 
In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, the Department 
will treat as ineligible for consideration any application that is 
received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into 
account and make early submission of their materials to avoid any risk 
of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other 
delivery-related problems. Applicants hand-delivering applications are 
advised that considerable delays may occur in attempting to enter the 
building because of security procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Karadbil, Office of University 
Partnerships in the Office of Policy Development and Research, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, S.W., 
Room 8110 Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-1537. Hearing or 
speech-impaired individuals may call HUD's TTY number (202) 708-0770, 
or 1-800-877-8399 (Federal Information Relay Service TTY). Other than 
the ``800'' number, these are not toll-free numbers. Ms. Karadbil can 
also be contacted via the Internet at Jane__R.__K[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    The information collection requirements contained in this notice 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned 
OMB control number 2528-0180. 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.

I. Purpose and Substantive Description

A. Authority

    This competition is authorized under the Community Outreach 
Partnership Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 5307 note; hereafter referred to as 
the ``COPC Act''). The COPC Act is contained in section 851 of the 
Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (Pub.L. 102-550, approved 
October 28, 1992) (HCD Act of 1992). Section 801(c) of the HCD Act of 
1992 authorizes $7.5 million for each year of the 5-year demonstration 
to create Community Outreach Partnership Centers as authorized in the 
COPC Act. The COPC Act also required HUD to establish a national 
clearinghouse to disseminate information resulting from research and 
outreach conducted at the centers.

B. Allocation and Form of Award

    The competition in this NOFA is for up to $500,000 to fund certain 
Institutionalization Grants under the COPC Program.
    Institutionalization Grants will be awarded to certain COPC 
grantees to help ensure that their COPC activities are 
institutionalized as an integral part of the teaching, research, and 
service missions of their colleges and universities. Each 
Institutionalization Grant will be for a one-year period, with a 
maximum grant size of $100,000. Applicants for Institutionalization 
Grants will be disqualified if they request more than the maximum 
allowable amount. The term of the grant will be for one year. If the 
grantee proposes entirely new activities, it may conduct activities 
under both its current and proposed Institutionalization Grants, until 
funds from both are fully expended. If the applicant proposes 
continuation of current activities, it must expend all the funds under 
the current grant before expending any new funds under an 
Institutionalization Grant. Current grantees may request a no-cost 
extension from HUD if necessary to finish expending all their FY 1995 
grant funds.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applicants for this competition must be public or private nonprofit 
institutions of higher education that received New Grants in FY 1995 
and have not previously received an Institutionalization Grant. Current 
COPC grantees that received grants as consortia must apply again as 
consortia, with all current member institutions participating in the 
proposed Institutionalization Grant, and with the same lead applicant 
as in their current COPC. A consortium is defined as a group of 
institutions of higher education. It can be composed of community 
colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. Applicants must 
demonstrate the continued existence and functioning of their consortia 
through all of the following documentation: a mention in the Executive 
Summary; funding in the budget (especially if the institutions received 
COPC funding in FY 1995) or a listing as matching funds; a task 
description in the Project Management Work Plan; and letters of 
commitment from the institutions. For more information about the 
specific application requirements see section II of this NOFA.

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D. Program Requirements

    Grantees must meet the following program requirements:
    1. Responsibilities. In accordance with section 851(h) of the HCD 
Act of 1992, each COPC shall:
    ``(a) Employ the research and outreach resources of its sponsoring 
institution of higher education to solve specific urban problems 
identified by communities served by the Center;
    (b) Establish outreach activities in areas identified in the grant 
application as the communities to be served;
    (c) Establish a community advisory committee comprised of 
representatives of local institutions and residents of the communities 
to be served to assist in identifying local needs and advise on the 
development and implementation of strategies to address those issues;
    (d) Coordinate outreach activities in communities to be served by 
the Center;
    (e) Facilitate public service projects in the communities served by 
the Center;
    (f) Act as a clearinghouse for dissemination of information;
    (g) Develop instructional programs, convene conferences, and 
provide training for local community leaders, when appropriate; and
    (h) Exchange information with other Centers.''
    2. Cap on Research Costs. No more than 25 percent of the total 
project costs (Federal share plus match) can be spent on research 
activities.
    3. Match. Grantees must meet the following match requirements.
    (a) Research Activities. 50 percent of the total project costs of 
establishing and operating research activities.
    (b) Outreach Activities. 25 percent of the total project costs of 
establishing and operating outreach activities.
    This non-Federal share may include cash or the value of non-cash 
contributions, equipment and other allowable in-kind contributions as 
detailed in 24 CFR Part 84, and in particular Section 84.23 entitled 
``cost sharing or matching.''
    4. Administrative. The grant will be governed by the provisions of 
24 CFR Part 84 (Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals and other Nonprofit Organizations), A-122 (Cost 
Principles for Nonprofit Organizations), and A-133 (Audits of States, 
Local Governments and Non-profit Organizations). No more than 20% of 
the Federal grant funds may be used for planning and program 
administrative costs. Overhead costs directly related to carrying out 
activities under research and outreach need not be considered planning 
and program administrative costs, since those costs are eligible under 
that section. The 20% limitation imposed under this program applies 
only to Federal funds received through this grant, not to matching 
funds.

E. Eligible Activities

    Eligible activities include:
    1. Research activities which have practical application for solving 
specific problems in designated communities and neighborhoods, 
including evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach activities. 
Such activities may not total more than one-quarter of the total 
project costs contained in any grant made under this NOFA (including 
the required 50 percent match).
    2. Outreach, technical assistance and information exchange 
activities which are designed to address specific urban problems in 
designated communities and neighborhoods. Such activities must total no 
less than three-quarters of the total project costs contained in any 
grant made under this NOFA (including the required 25 percent match).
    Applicants should propose activities that will bring their COPC 
projects to a successful conclusion or could result in securing funding 
to continue either current or new COPC activities from other sources, 
such as local governments or foundations. Applicants are reminded that 
leases for office space in which to house the Community Outreach 
Partnership Center are an eligible cost under the following conditions:
    (a) The lease must be for existing facilities;
    (b) No repairs or renovations of the property may be undertaken 
with Federal funds; and
    (c) Properties in the Coastal Barrier Resource System designated 
under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501) cannot be 
leased with Federal funds.

F. Ineligible Activities

    Grant funds cannot be used for:
    1. Research activities which have no clear and immediate practical 
application for solving urban problems or do not address specific 
problems in designated communities and neighborhoods.
    2. Any type of construction, rehabilitation, or other physical 
development costs.
    3. Costs used for routine operations and day-to-day administration 
of regular programs of institutions of higher education, local 
governments or neighborhood groups.

II. Application Content and Review Process

    Applications must contain the following documents. Many of these 
documents can simply be redlined and strikeout versions of the 
application submitted for the last funding round; but others must be 
newly prepared and signed. All of the forms can be downloaded from the 
University Partnerships website at http//www.oup.org.
    a. A new SF-424, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Institution or his/her designee. If a designee signs, a letter from the 
Chief Executive Officer delegating signatory authority must be 
included.
    b. A new transmittal letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer 
or his/her designee.
    c. A revised Executive summary, with the changes relating to the 
consortium partners noted in redline/strikeout.
    d. A new SF-424B, Assurances.
    e. All of the budget documents previously submitted, with the 
changes resulting from participation by the consortium partners noted 
in redline/strikeout.
    f. A revised Project Management Work Plan, with the changes 
relating to the consortium partners' activities noted in redline/
strikeout.
    g. A revised Narrative Statement Responding to the factors, with 
the changes resulting from participation by the consortium partners 
noted in redline/strikeout.
    h. A new Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to 
Influence Certain Federal Transactions (Form-LLL).
    i. A new Certification Regrading Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.
    j. Current financial management and audit information, which can be 
resubmission of the previously submitted materials if there have been 
no changes.
    k. Letters of commitment from the consortium partners to 
participate in the project.
    Following the expiration of the application submission deadline, 
HUD will review to determine if the application meets the following 
threshold criteria on compliance with civil rights laws. In making this 
assessment, HUD shall review appropriate records maintained by the 
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, such as records of 
monitoring, audit, or compliance review findings, complaint 
determinations, compliance agreements. If the review reveals the 
existence of any of the following, the application will be rejected:

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    a. There is a pending civil rights suit against the sponsor 
instituted by the Department of Justice.
    b. There is an outstanding finding of noncompliance with civil 
rights statutes, Executive Orders, or regulations as a result of formal 
administrative proceedings, unless the applicant is operating under a 
HUD-approved compliance agreement designed to correct the areas of non-
compliance, or is currently negotiating such an agreement with HUD.
    c. There is an unresolved Secretarial charge of discrimination 
issued under section 819(g) of the Fair Housing Act 42 U.S.C. 3619(g), 
as implemented by 24 CFR 103.400.
    d. There has been an adjudication of a civil rights violation in a 
civil action brought against it by a private individual, unless the 
applicant is operating in compliance with a court order designed to 
correct the area of noncompliance, or the applicant has discharged any 
responsibility arising from such litigation.
    e. There has been a deferral of the processing of applications from 
the sponsor imposed by HUD under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-2000d-4) and HUD regulations (24 CFR 1.8), the 
Attorney General's Guidelines (28 CFR 50.3), or under section 504 of 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and HUD regulations (24 
CFR 8.57).
    All applications that pass this threshold review will be reviewed 
under the selection criteria listed below and then ranked in a manner 
consistent with the procedures described in this Notice.

III. Rating Factors/Selection Process

    (a) Rating Factors. Applicants will be required to meet three 
selection factors, summarized as ``Past Performance,'' ``Proposed 
Activities,'' and ``Potential for Institutionalization.'' Each factor 
and the maximum points assigned to it are described below:
    1. (30 points) The demonstrated past performance of the applicant, 
as measured by: the research and outreach resources made available to 
the applicant under the current COPC grant; the ability of the 
applicant to provide local leadership and disseminate results of the 
grant; and the effectiveness of the activities undertaken in the grant.
    2. (30 points) The effectiveness of the proposed research and 
outreach activities, as measured by: need for the activities; 
involvement of the community in these activities; demonstrated 
commitment of the application by providing a matching contribution; and 
likelihood that these activities can be successfully carried out within 
the grant period.
    3. (40 points) The potential of the proposed outreach strategy to 
ensure institutionalization of the COPC functions at the college or 
university, as measured by the extent to which the proposed COPC 
functions will become an integral part of the teaching, research and 
urban service mission of the institution and the extent to which the 
COPC activities are supported by the highest levels of institutional 
leadership. In reviewing this factor, HUD will consider the extent to 
which the COPC activities are part of and will enhance a broader set of 
existing or planned activities and will foster a culture that rewards 
faculty and student work on these activities.
    (b) Selection Process. An applicant must receive a score of at 
least 70 points in order to be funded. Applications will be rated but 
not ranked. There is sufficient funding for all eligible applications.

IV. Corrections to Deficient Applications

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

V. Promoting Comprehensive Approaches to Housing and Community 
Development

    HUD believes the best approach for addressing community problems is 
through a community-based process that provides a comprehensive 
response to identified needs. In this spirit, it may be helpful for 
applicants under this NOFA to be aware of other related HUD NOFAs that 
have been published or are expected to be published this fiscal year. 
On March 31, 1998, HUD published in the Federal Register its SuperNOFA 
on Housing and Community Development Programs. This SuperNOFA covered 
19 HUD Housing and Community Development programs. The March 31, 1998 
SuperNOFA is the first of three SuperNOFAs that will be published in 
Fiscal Year 1998. By reviewing this first SuperNOFA, the two SuperNOFAs 
to follow, and other individual NOFAs that HUD may publish with respect 
to the program purposes and the eligibility of applicants and 
activities described in these NOFAs, applicants may be able to relate 
the activities proposed for funding under this NOFA to upcoming NOFAs 
and the community's Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to 
Fair Housing Choice. Applicants and interested parties may find out 
more about HUD's NOFAs through the HUD web site on the Internet.

V. Findings and Certifications

Federalism Impact

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the policies 
and procedures contained in this notice will not have substantial 
direct effects on States or their political subdivisions, or the 
relationship between the federal government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. As a result, the notice is not subject to review under the 
Order. Specifically, the notice solicits participation in an effort to 
provide assistance to institutions of higher education for establishing 
and carrying out research and outreach activities addressing the 
problems of urban areas. The COPCs established under this notice will 
work with local communities to help resolve urban problems. The notice 
does not impinge upon the relationships between the Federal government 
and State or local governments.

Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance

    Section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Reform Act of 1989 (HUD Reform Act) and the final rule codified at 24 
CFR part 4, subpart A, published on April 1, 1996 (61 FR 1448), contain 
a number of provisions that are designed to ensure greater 
accountability and integrity in the provision of certain types of 
assistance administered by HUD. On January 14, 1992, HUD published, at 
57 FR 1942, 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:

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

Byrd Amendment

    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 subject 
to this NOFA. Applicants must file, therefore, a certification stating 
that they have not made and will not make any prohibited payments and, 
if payments or agreement to make payments of nonappropriated funds for 
these purposes have been made, a SF-LLL disclosing such payments should 
be submitted. The certification and the SF-LLL are included in the 
application package issued pursuant to this NOFA.

Protection of Human Subjects

    45 CFR part 46, Subtitle A on the protection of human subjects does 
not apply to the COPC program because the research activities to be 
conducted under the program are only incidentally regulated by the 
Department solely as part of its broader responsibility to regulate 
certain types of activities whether research or non-research in nature.

Environmental Impact

    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
was made for the 1997 NOFA in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 
part 50, which implements section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). That Finding of No 
Significant Environmental Impact is applicable to this NOFA and is 
available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 
weekdays in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 10276, 
451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410-0500.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program 
is 14.511.

    Dated: March 23, 1998.
Paul A. Leonard,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 98-8334 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P