[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]
[[Page 16347]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Department of Housing and Urban Development
_______________________________________________________________________
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
[[Page 16348]]
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.
[[Page 16349]]
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:
[[Page 16350]]
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]
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