[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23958-23985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11388]



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Part IV





Department of Housing and Urban Development





_______________________________________________________________________



Super Notice of Funding Availability for National Competition Programs 
(National SuperNOFA); Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 83 / Thursday, April 30, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4361-N-01]


Super Notice of Funding Availability for National Competition 
Programs (National SuperNOFA)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HUD.

ACTION: Super Notice of Funding Availability for National Competition 
Programs (National SuperNOFA).

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SUMMARY: This National SuperNOFA announces the availability of 
approximately $5,050,000 in HUD program funds covering three (3) 
National Competition Programs operated and managed by the following HUD 
Offices: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), Housing, and Lead 
Hazard Control. The General Section of this National SuperNOFA contains 
the procedures and requirements applicable to all 3 programs. The 
Programs Section of this National SuperNOFA contains a description of 
the specific programs for which funding is made available under this 
National SuperNOFA and additional procedures and requirements that are 
applicable to each.

APPLICATION DUE DATES: The information contained in this ``APPLICATION 
DUE DATES'' section applies to all programs contained in this National 
SuperNOFA. Completed applications must be submitted to HUD no later 
than July 7, 1998. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). The 
Program Chart also lists the application due dates.

ADDRESSES AND APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURES: Addresses. Completed 
applications must be submitted to the location specified in the 
Programs Section of this SuperNOFA. When submitting your application, 
please refer to the program name for which you are seeking funding.
    Applications to HUD Headquarters. All applications under this 
National SuperNOFA are to be submitted to HUD Headquarters at: 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., 
Room ________ (See Program Chart or Programs Section for room 
location), Washington DC 20410. Please follow the requirements of the 
Programs Section to ensure that you submit your application to the 
proper location. HUD requests additional copies in order to 
expeditiously review your application and appreciates your assistance 
in providing the copies. Please note that timeliness of submission will 
be based on the time the application is received at HUD Headquarters.
    Applications Procedures--Mailed Applications. Applications will be 
considered timely filed if postmarked on or before 12:00 midnight on 
the application due date and received by the designated HUD Office on 
or within ten (10) days of the application due date.
    Applications Sent by Overnight/Express Mail Delivery. Applications 
sent by overnight delivery or express mail will be considered timely 
filed if received before or on the application due date, or upon 
submission of documentary evidence that they were placed in transit 
with the overnight delivery service by no later than the specified 
application due date.
    Hand Carried Applications. For applications submitted to HUD 
Headquarters, hand carried applications delivered before and on the 
application due date must be brought to the specified location and room 
number between the hours of 8:45 am to 5:15 pm, Eastern time. 
Applications hand carried on the application due date will be accepted 
in the South Lobby of the HUD Headquarters Building at the above 
address from 5:15 pm until 12:00 midnight, local time.

FOR APPLICATION KITS, FURTHER INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: The 
information contained in this section is applicable to all programs 
contained in this National SuperNOFA.
    For Application Kits and SuperNOFA User Guide. HUD is pleased to 
provide you with application kits and/or a guidebook to all HUD 
programs. When requesting an application kit, please refer to the 
program name of the application kit you are interested in receiving. 
Please be sure to provide your name, address (including zip code), and 
telephone number (including area code).
    Requests for application kits should be made immediately to ensure 
sufficient time for application preparation. We will distribute 
application kits as soon as they become available.
    The SuperNOFA Information Center (1-800-HUD-8929) can provide you 
with assistance, application kits, and guidance in determining which 
HUD Office(s) should receive a copy of your application.
    Consolidated Application Submissions. Where an applicant can apply 
for funding under more than one program in this National SuperNOFA, the 
applicant need only submit one originally signed SF-424 and one set of 
original signatures for the other required assurances and 
certifications, accompanied by the matrix contained in each application 
kit. As long as the applicant submits one originally signed set of 
these documents with an application, only copies of these documents may 
be submitted with any additional application submitted by the 
applicant.
    For Further Information. For answers to your questions about this 
National SuperNOFA, you have several options. You may call the HUD 
Office or Processing Center serving your area at the telephone number 
listed in your program area section to this National SuperNOFA, or you 
may contact the SuperNOFA Information Center at 1-800-HUD-8929. Persons 
with hearing or speech impairment may call the Center's TTY number at 
1-800-HUD-2209. Information on this National SuperNOFA also may be 
obtained through the HUD web site on the Internet at http://
www.hud.gov.
    For Technical Assistance. Before the application due date, HUD 
staff will be available to provide general guidance and technical 
assistance about this National SuperNOFA. Current law does not permit 
HUD staff to assist in preparing the application. Following selection 
of applicants, but prior to award, HUD staff will be available to 
assist in clarifying or confirming information that is a prerequisite 
to the offer of an award or Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) by HUD.

Introduction to the SuperNOFA Process

    To further HUD's objective, under the direction of Secretary Andrew 
Cuomo, of improving customer service and providing the necessary tools 
for revitalizing communities and improving the lives of people within 
those communities, HUD will publish three SuperNOFAs, in addition to 
this National SuperNOFA, in 1998, which coordinate program funding for 
nearly 40 programs and cut across traditional program lines.
    (1) The first is the SuperNOFA and consolidated application process 
for Housing and Community Development Programs, published in the March 
31, 1998, Federal Register, at 63 FR 15490, covering 19 Housing and 
Community Development Programs.
    (2) The second is the SuperNOFA and consolidated application 
process for Economic Development and Empowerment Programs. This second 
SuperNOFA includes funding for the following programs and initiatives: 
Brownfields; Youthbuild; Economic Development Initiative; Neighborhood 
Initiatives; Tenant Opportunity Program; Economic Development and 
Supportive Services; Mark to Market Outreach and Training, and Mark to 
Market Technical Assistance Intermediaries Grant Administration.

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This second SuperNOFA is published elsewhere in today's Federal 
Register.
    (3) The third is the SuperNOFA and consolidated application process 
for Targeted Housing and Homeless Assistance Programs. This third 
SuperNOFA includes the following programs and initiatives: Housing 
Opportunities for Persons with Aids; Continuum of Care Assistance; 
Section 202 Elderly Housing; Section 811 Disabled Housing; Service 
Coordinators; and Elderly Housing Revitalization. This third SuperNOFA 
is published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
    All of these SuperNOFAs and consolidated applications, to the 
greatest extent possible, given statutory, regulatory and program 
policy distinctions, will have one set of rules that, together, offer a 
``menu'' of approximately 39 programs. From this menu, communities will 
be made aware of funding available for their jurisdictions. Nonprofits, 
public housing agencies, local and State governments, tribal 
governments and tribally designated housing entities, veterans service 
organizations, faith-based organizations and others will be able to 
identify the programs for which they are eligible for funding. HUD is 
anticipating publishing all three SuperNOFAs before May 1, 1998.

The National Competition SuperNOFA

    In addition to the three SuperNOFAs, HUD is publishing this single 
NOFA for three national competitions: the Fair Housing Initiatives 
Program (FHIP) National Focus Education and Outreach Competition; the 
National Housing Counseling Training Program; and the National Lead 
Hazard Awareness Campaign.

The Housing and Community Development SuperNOFA

    The first SuperNOFA announced the availability of approximately 
$1,247,906,870 in HUD program funds covering nineteen (19) Housing and 
Community Development Programs operated and managed by the following 
HUD Offices: Community Planning and Development (CPD), Public and 
Indian Housing (PIH), Housing, Policy Development and Research (PD&R), 
Office of Lead Hazard Control, and Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity 
(FHEO).
Assisting Communities to Make Better Use of Available Resources.
    The SuperNOFA approach represents a marked departure from, and HUD 
believes a significant improvement over, HUD's past approach to the 
funding process. In the past, HUD has issued as many as 40 separate 
NOFAs, all with widely varying rules and application processing 
requirements. This individual program approach to funding, with NOFAs 
published at various times throughout the fiscal year, did not 
encourage and, at times, unintentionally impeded local efforts directed 
at comprehensive planning and development of comprehensive local 
solutions. Additionally, the old approach seemed to require communities 
to respond to HUD's needs rather than HUD responding to local needs. 
Secretary Cuomo brings to the leadership of HUD the experience of 
successfully implementing a consolidated planning process in HUD's 
community development programs. As Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development, Secretary Cuomo consolidated the planning, 
application, and reporting requirements of several community 
development programs. The Consolidated Plan rule, published in 1995, 
established a renewed partnership among HUD, State, and local 
governments, public and private agencies, tribal governments, and the 
general citizenry by empowering field staff to work with other entities 
in fashioning creative solutions to community problems.
    The SuperNOFA approach builds upon Consolidated Planning 
implemented by Secretary Cuomo in HUD's community development programs, 
and also reflects the Secretary's organizational changes for HUD, as 
described in the Secretary's management reform plan. On June 26, 1997, 
Secretary Cuomo released the HUD 2020 Management Reform Plan, which 
provides for significant management reforms at HUD. This plan calls for 
significant consolidation of like programs to maximize efficiency and 
dramatically improve customer service. The plan also calls for HUD to 
improve customer service by adopting a principle of ``menus not 
mandates.''
    By announcing the funding of groups of related programs in one 
NOFA, HUD hopes to assist communities in making better use of available 
resources to address their needs and the needs of those living within 
the communities in a holistic and effective fashion. These funds are 
available for eligible applicants to support individual program 
objectives, as well as cross-cutting and coordinated approaches to 
improving the overall effective use of available HUD program funds.
    To date, HUD has been consolidating and simplifying the submission 
requirements of many of its formula grant and discretionary grant 
programs to offer local communities a better opportunity to shape 
available resources into effective and coordinated neighborhood housing 
and community development strategies that will help revitalize and 
strengthen their communities, physically, socially and economically. To 
complement this overall consolidation and simplification effort, HUD 
designed this process to increase the ability of applicants to consider 
and apply for funding under a wide variety of HUD programs in response 
to a single NOFA. Everyone interested in HUD's assistance programs can 
benefit from having this information made available in one NOFA.
Coordination, Flexibility, and Simplicity in the HUD Funding Process
    This National SuperNOFA coordinates the application process for 
those program activities which successful grantees will be required to 
implement on a nationwide, rather than a local or regional, basis. This 
nationwide scope is the unique characteristic which distinguishes the 
three programs included in this National SuperNOFA. The programs which 
make funding available under the other three FY 1998 SuperNOFAs focus 
on meeting local housing and community development needs. For those 
programs, the SuperNOFAs encourage greater coordination by, and provide 
flexibility to, eligible applicants to determine what HUD program 
resources best fit a community's needs, as identified in local 
Consolidated Plans and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 
(``Analysis of Impediments'' (AI)).
    This National SuperNOFA seeks to implement the same improvements 
for nationwide activity grant competitions as the other SuperNOFAs do 
for local activity grants: a simplification of the application process; 
the promotion of effective and coordinated use of program funds; a 
reduction of duplication in the delivery of services and housing and 
community development programs; permitting interested applicants to 
seek to deliver a wider, more integrated array of services; and an 
improvement in the system for potential grantees to be aware of, and 
compete for program funds.
    HUD encourages eligible applicants to apply for multiple HUD 
programs and work together to coordinate and, to the maximum extent 
possible, join their activities to form a seamless and comprehensive 
program of assistance to meet the nationwide needs addressed by this 
National SuperNOFA.
    The specific statutory and regulatory requirements of each of the 
three separate programs continue to apply to

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each program. The National SuperNOFA reflects, where necessary, the 
statutory requirements and differences applicable to the specific 
programs. Please pay careful attention to the individual program 
requirements that are identified for each program. Also, you will note 
that not all applicants are eligible to receive assistance under all 
three programs identified in this SuperNOFA.
    The National SuperNOFA contains two major sections. The General 
Section contains the procedures and requirements applicable to all 
applications. The Programs Section describes each program for which 
funding is made available in the National SuperNOFA. As in the past, 
each program provides a description of eligible applicants, eligible 
activities, and any additional requirements or limitations that apply 
to the program. An additional feature of this National SuperNOFA is 
that it consolidates both the factors for award and application 
submission requirements into common elements that apply to all three 
national programs. The presentation of a single set of uniform rating 
factors and submission requirements further advances the coordination 
and simplification of the NOFA process, and demonstrates the 
interconnections that can be realized even with programs as diverse as 
the three covered under this National SuperNOFA.
    Please read carefully both the General Section and the Programs 
Section of the SuperNOFA for the program(s) to which you are applying. 
This will ensure that you apply for program funding for which your 
organization is eligible to receive funds and you fulfill all the 
requirements for that program(s).

The Programs of this National SuperNOFA and the Amount of Funds 
Allocated

    The three programs for which funding availability is announced in 
this National SuperNOFA are identified in the following chart. The 
approximate available funds for each program are listed as expected 
funding levels based on appropriated funds. Should recaptured or other 
funds become available for any program, HUD reserves the right to 
increase the available program funding amounts by the amount available.
    The chart also includes the application due date for each program, 
the OMB approval number for the information collection requirements 
contained in the specific program, and the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) number.

BILLING CODE 4210-32-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30AP98.014



BILLING CODE 4210-32-C

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Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    For those programs listed in the chart which have OMB approval 
numbers, the information collection requirements contained in this 
National SuperNOFA for those programs have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). For those programs listed 
in the chart for which an OMB approval number is pending, the approval 
number when received will be announced by HUD in the Federal Register. 
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.

General Section of the National SuperNOFA

I. Authority; Purpose; Amount Allocated; Eligible Applicants and 
Eligible Activities

(A) Authorities
    The authority for Fiscal Year 1998 funding availability under this 
National SuperNOFA is the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing 
and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 
(Pub.L. 105-65, approved October 27, 1997) (FY 1998 HUD Appropriations 
Act). Where applicable, additional authority for each program in this 
National SuperNOFA is identified in the Programs Section.
(B) Purpose
    The purpose of this National SuperNOFA is to:
    (1) Make funding available through a variety of programs to 
implement information, outreach and education activities on a 
nationwide scale that will empower communities and their residents, 
particularly the poor and disadvantaged, to develop viable communities, 
provide decent housing and a suitable living environment for all 
citizens, without discrimination in order to improve themselves both as 
individuals and as a community.
    (2) Simplify and streamline the application process for funding 
under HUD programs. By making available to eligible applicants the 
application requirements for HUD programs with nationwide coverage in 
one NOFA, HUD hopes that the result will be a less time consuming and 
less complicated application process. This new process also allows an 
applicant to submit one application for funds for several programs. 
Except where statutory or regulatory requirements or program policy 
mandate differences, the National SuperNOFA strives to provide for one 
set of rules, standardized rating factors, and uniform and consolidated 
application procedures.
    (3) Enhance the ability of applicants to make more effective and 
efficient use of HUD national funding to implement coordinated 
information, outreach and education activities on a nationwide scale. 
Through this National SuperNOFA process, applicants are encouraged to 
promote methods for developing more coordinated and effective 
approaches to dealing with national problems by recognizing the 
interconnections among the underlying problems and ways to address them 
through layering of available HUD programs;
    (4) Promote the ability of eligible applicants to participate in 
the programs contained in this National SuperNOFA; provide an increased 
opportunity to assist the effort to develop and implement consistent, 
national programs which promote fair housing practices and open housing 
opportunities; and provide technical assistance and services to improve 
program results and increase the productivity of HUD programs in 
meeting community needs; and
    (5) Recognize and make better use of the expertise that each of the 
programs, and organizations eligible for funding under this National 
SuperNOFA, can contribute when developing and implementing nationwide 
information, outreach and education activities.
(C) Amounts Allocated
    The amounts allocated to specific programs in this National 
SuperNOFA are based on appropriated funds. Should recaptured funds 
become available in any program, HUD reserves the right to increase the 
available funding amounts by the amount of funds recaptured.
(D) Eligible Applicants and Eligible Activities
    The eligible applicants and eligible activities for each program 
are identified and described for the program in the Programs Section of 
the National SuperNOFA.

II. Requirements and Procedures Applicable to All Programs

    Except as may be modified in the Programs Section of this Super 
NOFA, or as noted within the specific provisions of this Section II, 
the following principles apply to all programs. Please be sure to read 
the program area section of the National SuperNOFA for additional 
requirements or information.
(A) Statutory Requirements
    All applicants must meet and comply with all statutory and 
regulatory requirements applicable to the program for which they are 
seeking funding in order to be awarded funds. Copies of the regulations 
are available from the SuperNOFA Information Center or through the 
Internet at http://www.HUD.gov. HUD may reject an application from 
further funding consideration if the activities or projects proposed 
are ineligible, or HUD may eliminate the ineligible activities from 
funding consideration and reduce the grant amount accordingly.
(B) Threshold Requirements--Compliance with Fair Housing and Civil 
Rights Laws
    All applicants must comply with all applicable Fair Housing and 
civil rights laws, statutes, regulations and executive orders as 
enumerated in 24 CFR Sec. 5.105(a). If an applicant (1) has been 
charged with a violation of the Fair Housing Act by the Secretary; (2) 
is the defendant in a Fair Housing Act lawsuit filed by the Department 
of Justice; or (3) has received a letter of noncompliance findings 
under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act, or Section 109 of the Housing and Community 
Development Act, the applicant is not eligible to apply for funding 
under this National SuperNOFA until the applicant resolves such charge, 
lawsuit, or letter of findings to the satisfaction of the Department.
(C) Additional Nondiscrimination Requirements
    Applicants must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
(D) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
    Where applicable, each successful applicant will have a duty to 
affirmatively further fair housing. Applicants should include in their 
work plans the specific steps that they will take to (1) address the 
elimination of impediments to fair housing; (2) remedy discrimination 
in housing; or (3) promote fair housing rights and fair housing choice. 
Further, applicants have a duty to carry out the specific activities 
cited in their responses to the rating factors that address 
affirmatively furthering fair housing in this National SuperNOFA.
(E) Forms, Certifications and Assurances
    Each applicant is required to submit signed copies of the standard 
forms,

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certifications, and assurances, listed in this section, unless the 
program requirements in the Programs Section specifies otherwise.
    (1) Standard Form for Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424);
    (2) Standard Form for Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs 
(SF-424A) or Standard Form for Budget Information-Construction Programs 
(SF-424C), as applicable;
    (3) Standard Form for Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (SF-
424B) or Standard Form for Assurances--Construction Programs (SF-424D), 
as applicable;
    (4) Drug-Free Workplace Certification (HUD-50070);
    (5) Certification and Disclosure Form Regarding Lobbying (SF-LLL); 
(Tribes and tribally designated housing entities (THDEs) established by 
an Indian tribe as a result of the exercise of the tribe's sovereign 
power are not required to submit this certification. Tribes and TDHEs 
established under State law are required to submit this certification.)
    (6) Applicant/Recipient Disclosure Update Report (HUD-2880);
    (7) Certification that the applicant will comply with the 
requirements of the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age 
Discrimination Act of 1975, and will affirmatively further fair 
housing.
    (8) Certification required by 24 CFR 24.510. (The provisions of 24 
CFR part 24 apply to the employment, engagement of services, awarding 
of contracts, subgrants, or funding of any recipients, or contractors 
or subcontractors, during any period of debarment, suspension, or 
placement in ineligibility status, and a certification is required.)
(F) OMB Circulars
    The policies, guidances, and requirements of OMB Circular No. A-87 
(Cost Principles Applicable to Grants, Contracts and Other Agreements 
with State and Local Governments) and 24 CFR part 84 (Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 
Non-Profit Organizations) and 24 CFR part 85 (Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State, Local, and 
Federally recognized Indian tribal governments) apply to the award, 
acceptance and use of assistance under the programs of this SuperNOFA, 
and to the remedies for noncompliance, except when inconsistent with 
the provisions of the FY 1998 HUD Appropriations Act, other Federal 
statutes or the provisions of this SuperNOFA. Compliance with 
additional OMB Circulars may be specified for a particular program in 
the Programs Section of the SuperNOFA. Copies of the OMB Circulars may 
be obtained from EOP Publications, Room 2200, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 10503, telephone (202) 395-7332 (this is not a 
toll free number).
(H) Prohibition Against Multiple Billing
    A recipient may not bill two or more awards for the same work, 
materials, or any other expenses.

III. Application Selection Process

(A) General
    To review and rate applications, HUD may establish panels including 
persons not currently employed by HUD to obtain certain expertise and 
outside points of view, including views from other Federal agencies.
    (1) Rating. All applications for funding in each program listed in 
this National SuperNOFA will be evaluated and rated against the 
criteria in this National SuperNOFA. The rating of the ``applicant'' or 
the ``applicant's organization and staff'' for technical merit or 
threshold compliance, unless otherwise specified, will include any sub-
contractors, consultants, sub-recipients, and members of consortia 
which are firmly committed to the project.
    (2) Ranking. Applicants will be ranked within each program. 
Applicants will be ranked only against others that applied for the same 
program funding and where there are set-asides within the competition, 
the applicant would only compete against applicants in the same set-
aside competition.
(B) Threshold Requirements
    HUD will review each application to determine whether the 
application meets all of the threshold criteria described for program 
funding made available under this National SuperNOFA. Applications that 
meet all of the threshold criteria will be eligible to be rated and 
ranked, based on the criteria described, and the total number of points 
to be awarded.
(C) Factors For Award Used To Evaluate and Rate Applications
    (1) For all of the programs for which funding is available under 
this National SuperNOFA, the points awarded for the factors total 100.
    (2) The Five Standard Rating Factors. In accord with the other 
three SuperNOFAS for this year, this National SuperNOFA uses Five 
Standard Rating Factors. One of these factors in the other SuperNOFAs, 
Rating Factor 2: Need/Extent of the Problem, has been modified to 
reflect the national scope of the programs under this National 
SuperNOFA. The Need in the other SuperNOFA programs must be identified 
by applicants at the local level at which they propose to undertake 
activities. In this National SuperNOFA, the need for the eligible 
activities has been determined by HUD to exist at the national level. 
Therefore, applicants will be expected to address this factor by 
describing the basis or rationale they used to determine why the 
proposed work activities will best address the needs that HUD has 
identified.
    The factors for rating and ranking applicants and the maximum 
points for each factor are listed in this Section III(C)(2) as follows:
Rating Factor 1: Capacity of the Applicant and Relevant Organizational 
Experience (30 Points)
    This factor addresses the extent to which the applicant has the 
organizational resources necessary to successfully implement the 
proposed activities in a timely manner, and the applicant's ability to 
develop and implement large information campaigns, community tension 
projects, or training programs, as appropriate, on a national scale. 
The rating of the ``applicant'' or the ``applicant's organization and 
staff'' for technical merit or threshold compliance, unless otherwise 
specified, will include any sub-contractors, consultants, sub-
recipients, and members of consortia that are firmly committed to the 
project. In rating this factor, HUD will consider the extent to which 
the application demonstrates:
    (1) General Description of Applicant Organization and Relevant 
Experience.
    (a) The eligibility and qualifications of the applicant 
organization; the type of organization (e.g., public, private, non-
profit, for profit); and the organization's general areas of activity 
or line of business.
    (b) If the applicant has managed large, complex, interdisciplinary 
projects, the applicant must include information on them in its 
response.
    (c) Awards and major accomplishments of the applicant organization 
must be described. HUD will also consider any documented evidence, such 
as performance reviews, newspaper articles, or monitoring findings, 
that may reflect positively or negatively upon the ability of the 
applicant and its proposed staff to perform the work.
    (d) The applicant's capability in handling financial resources with 
adequate financial control procedures and accounting procedures. In 
addition,

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HUD will consider findings identified in applicants' most recent 
audits; internal consistency in the application of numeric quantities; 
accuracy of mathematical calculations; and other available information 
on financial management capability.
    (2) Specific Description of Staff for Proposed Activities. The 
applicant has sufficient personnel or will be able to quickly access 
qualified experts or professionals to deliver the proposed activities 
in a timely and effective fashion, including the readiness and ability 
of the applicant to immediately begin the proposed work program; the 
knowledge and experience of the overall proposed project director and 
staff, including the day-to-day program manager, consultants and 
contractors in planning and managing programs for which funding is 
being requested. To demonstrate that the applicant has sufficient 
personnel, the applicant must submit the proposed number of staff hours 
for the employees and experts to be allocated to the project, the 
titles and relevant professional background and experience of each 
employee and expert proposed to be assigned to the project, and the 
roles to be performed by each identified employee and expert. 
Experience will be judged in terms of at least two years' worth of 
recent and relevant experience to undertake eligible program activities 
or projects similar in scope or nature and directly relevant to the 
work activities proposed.
    (3) Specific Description of Experience Relevant to the Proposed 
Activities. Applicants must describe their ability to effectively 
develop, implement, and manage a media campaign, tension reduction 
project for communities, or training program, as appropriate, on a 
national scale. Applicants for FHIP program funding must specifically 
describe their experience in formulating or crrying out programs to 
prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices. Applicants must 
discuss their knowledge of implementing coordinated national training 
programs, reducing community tensions, or marketing national awareness 
campaigns, especially in the areas of fair housing, discrimination, 
public health, and housing. In responding to this subfactor, the 
applicant must describe the extent to which its past activities have 
resulted in successful national media campaigns, training programs, or 
reduction of tensions in communities, as appropriate, especially with 
respect to developing and implementing innovative strategies resulting 
in positive public response.
Rating Factor 2: Need/Approach to the Problem (10 Points)
    This factor addresses the extent to which the applicant documents 
the national need that its proposed activities and methods are intended 
to address, and how its proposal offers the most effective approach for 
dealing with that national need. In responding to this factor, an 
applicant will be evaluated on the following:
    (1) The extent to which the applicant describes and documents the 
national need the application intends to address, which demonstrates a 
grasp of the elements of the problem and its pervasiveness at the 
national level. The applicant's description of the national need will 
be used to evaluate the depth of the applicant's understanding of the 
problem as an indication of ability to address the problem; and
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a rationale for how 
its proposed activities and methods most effectively deal with the 
national need described by the applicant in response to subfactor (1), 
immediately above. To the extent possible, applicants should 
demonstrate effectiveness in terms of scope and cost.
Rating Factor 3: Soundness of Approach (40 Points)
    This factor addresses the quality and cost-effectiveness of the 
applicant's proposed work plan. In evaluating this factor, HUD will 
consider the extent to which:
    (1) Work Plan. Applications include work plans that:
    (a) Clearly describe the specific tasks and subtasks to be 
performed, the sequence in which the tasks are to be performed, noting 
areas of work which must be performed simultaneously, estimated 
completion dates, and the work and program deliverables to be completed 
within the grant period, including specific numbers of quantifiable end 
products and program improvements the applicant aims to deliver by the 
end of the award agreement period as a result of the work performed;
    (b) Provide national coverage, specific protected class focus, as 
well as focus on persons traditionally underserved; and
    (c) Describe the immediate benefits of the project and how the 
benefits will be measured. Applicants must describe the methods they 
will use to determine the effectiveness of their national marketing 
strategies or training programs.
    (2) Budget. Applications include proposed budgets that demonstrate:
    (a) Cost estimates of salary levels, staff assignments, number of 
staff hours, and all other budget items are reasonable, allowable, and 
appropriate for the proposed activities;
    (b) The proposed program is cost effective in achieving its 
anticipated results, as well as in achieving significant impact;
    (3) Proposed activities will be conducted in a manner (e.g., 
languages, formats, locations, distribution, use of minority media) 
that will reach and benefit all members of the public, especially 
members of target groups identified in the individual program sections 
of this National SuperNOFA;
    (4) Applications describe how proposed activities will yield long-
term results and innovative strategies or ``best practices'' that can 
be readily disseminated to other organizations and State and local 
governments; and
    (5) The proposed media campaign, community tensions project, or 
training program makes activities, training and meeting sites, and 
information services and materials in places and formats that are 
accessible to all persons including persons with disabilities.
Rating Factor 4: Leveraging Resources (10 Points)
    This factor addresses the ability of the applicant to secure other 
resources which can be combined with HUD's program resources to achieve 
program purposes. In evaluating this factor HUD will consider:
    The extent to which the applicant has partnered with other entities 
to secure additional resources, including financial resources, to 
increase the effectiveness of the proposed program activities. 
Resources may include funding or in-kind contributions, such as 
services or equipment, allocated to the purpose(s) of the award the 
applicant is seeking. Resources may be provided by governmental 
entities, public or private nonprofit organizations, for-profit private 
organizations, or other entities willing to partner with the applicant. 
Applicants must also describe how they plan to use their affiliated 
branches, or partner with other organizations, to distribute materials, 
training or services developed under this National SuperNOFA for use at 
the local level. Applicants may also partner with other program funding 
recipients to coordinate the use of resources in the target area or 
subject.
    Applicants must provide evidence of leveraging/partnerships by 
including in the application letters of firm commitment, memoranda of 
understanding, or agreements to participate from those entities 
identified as partners in the application. Each letter of commitment, 
memorandum of

[[Page 23965]]

understanding, or agreement to participate should include the 
organization's name, proposed level of commitment and responsibilities 
as they relate to the proposed program. The commitment must also be 
signed by an official of the organization legally able to make 
commitments on behalf of the organization.
Rating Factor 5: Comprehensiveness and Coordination (10 Points)
    This factor addresses the extent to which the applicant's program 
makes materials, training or services available to local community 
programs and implements a coordinated process of addressing the 
national need by using HUD funding resources and other available 
resources. Applicants must also describe how they plan to use their 
affiliated branches, or partner with other organizations, to distribute 
materials, training or services developed under this National SuperNOFA 
for use at the local level. In evaluating this factor, HUD will 
consider:
    (1) The extent to which the application demonstrates that project 
activities will reach the targeted audience. This includes a discussion 
of the applicant's methods or approaches to ensure that activities and 
materials are made available to local groups and organizations and a 
description of how such activities can enhance or work in tandem with 
local activities and materials. At a minimum, the application should 
discuss procedures to be used to promote awareness of the services 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the application demonstrates that the 
applicant, in carrying out program activities, will make communities 
and organizations aware of opportunities for linking activities with:
    (a) Other HUD funded program activities, proposed or on-going; or
    (b) Other proposed or on-going State, Federal, local or privately 
funded activities which, taken as a whole, support and sustain a 
comprehensive system to address the purposes of these programs.
(D) Negotiation
    After all applications have been rated and ranked and a selection 
has been made, HUD requires that all winners participate in 
negotiations to determine the specific terms of the grant agreement and 
budget. In cases where HUD cannot successfully conclude negotiations or 
a selected applicant fails to provide HUD with requested information, 
awards will not be made. In such instances, HUD may offer an award to 
the next highest ranking applicant, and proceed with negotiations with 
the next highest ranking applicant.
(E) Adjustments to Funding
    HUD reserves the right to fund less than the full amount requested 
in any application to ensure the fair distribution of the funds and to 
ensure the purposes of the programs contained in this National 
SuperNOFA are met. HUD also reserves the right to adjust funding based 
on revisions in locations for project activities. HUD may choose not to 
fund portions of the applications that are ineligible for funding under 
applicable program statutory or regulatory requirements, or which do 
not meet the requirements of this General Section of this National 
SuperNOFA or the requirements in the Programs Section for the specific 
program, and fund eligible portions of the applications.
    If funds remain after funding the highest ranking applications, HUD 
may fund part of the next highest ranking application in a given 
program area. If the applicant turns down the award offer, HUD will 
make the same determination for the next highest ranking application. 
If funds remain after all selections have been made, remaining funds 
may be available for other competitions for each program area where 
there is a balance of funds.
    Additionally, in the event of a HUD procedural error that, when 
corrected, would result in selection of an otherwise eligible applicant 
during the funding round of this National SuperNOFA, HUD may select 
that applicant when sufficient funds become available.
(F) Performance and Compliance Actions of Grantees
    Performance and compliance actions of grantees will be measured and 
addressed in accordance with applicable standards and sanctions of 
their respective programs.

IV. Application Submission Requirements

    As discussed earlier in the introductory section of this National 
SuperNOFA, part of the simplification of this funding process is to 
reduce the duplication effort involved in completing and submitting 
similar applications for HUD funded programs. The application 
submission requirements for all three programs under this National 
SuperNOFA have been consolidated. In addition to the forms, 
certifications and assurances listed in Section II.(E) of the General 
Section of this National SuperNOFA, all applications must, at a 
minimum, contain the following items:
    (A) Transmittal Letter which identifies the SuperNOFA, the program 
under the SuperNOFA for which funds are requested, the dollar amount 
requested for each program, and the applicant submitting the 
application. If applying for more than one program, please indicate in 
the letter the location where the original signed application was 
submitted.
    (B) Budget identifying costs by cost category in accordance with 
the following:
    (1) Direct Labor by position or individual, indicating the 
estimated hours per position, the rate per hour, estimated cost per 
staff position and the total estimated direct labor costs;
    (2) Fringe Benefits identifying the rate, the salary base the rate 
was computed on, and the total estimated fringe benefit cost;
    (3) Material Costs indicating the item, unit cost per item, the 
number of items to be purchased, estimated cost per item, and the total 
estimated material costs;
    (4) Transportation Costs, as applicable. Where a local private 
vehicle is proposed to be used, costs should indicate the proposed 
number of miles, rate per mile of travel identified by item, and 
estimated total private vehicle costs. Where air transportation is 
proposed, costs should identify the destination(s), number of trips per 
destination, estimated air fare and total estimated air transportation 
costs. For purposes of estimating travel costs for the Housing 
Counseling National Training Program and the FHIP Community Tensions 
Project, applicants should project travel costs to the District of 
Columbia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, and New Orleans. The actual 
sites of activities will be determined by HUD. If other transportation 
costs are listed, the applicant should identify the other method of 
transportation selected, the number of trips to be made and 
destination(s), the estimated cost, and the total estimated costs for 
other transportation costs. In addition, applicants should identify per 
diem or subsistence costs per travel day and the number of travel days 
included, the estimated costs for per diem/subsistence, other travel 
costs, such as those for HUD-sponsored training, as appropriate, and 
the total estimated transportation costs;
    (5) Equipment Charges, if any. Equipment charges should identify 
the type of equipment, quantity, unit costs and total estimated 
equipment costs;
    (6) Consultant Costs, if applicable. Indicate the type, estimated 
number of

[[Page 23966]]

consultant days or hours, rate per day or hour, total estimated 
consultant costs per consultant and total estimated costs for all 
consultants;
    (7) Subcontract Costs, if applicable. Indicate each individual 
subcontract and amount. For each proposed subcontract that is in excess 
of 10% of the grant amount, a separate budget which identifies costs by 
cost categories should be included;
    (8) Other Direct Costs listed by item, quantity, unit cost, total 
for each item listed, and total direct costs for the award;
    (9) Indirect costs should identify the type, approved indirect cost 
rate, base to which the rate applies and total indirect costs. The 
submission should include the rationale used to determine costs and 
validation of fringe and indirect cost rates, if the applicant is not 
using an accepted, Federally negotiated indirect cost rate.
    (C) Financial Management and Audit Information. Each applicant must 
submit a certification from an Independent Public Accountant or the 
cognizant government auditor, stating that the financial management 
system employed by the applicant meets the applicable prescribed 
standards for fund control and accountability required by: OMB Circular 
A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit 
Organizations; OMB Circular A-110 (as codified at 24 CFR Part 84), 
Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-Profit 
Organizations; and/or OMB Circular A-102 (as codified at 24 CFR Part 
85) Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements to State, Local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal 
Governments. This information should contain the name and telephone 
number of the Independent Auditor, cognizant Federal auditor, or other 
audit agency, as applicable. Copies of the OMB Circulars may be 
obtained from EOP Publications, Room 2200, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 10503, telephone (202) 395-7332 (this is not a 
toll free number).
    (D) Narrative statement addressing the five Rating Factors in 
Section III.(C) of the General Section of this National SuperNOFA. Your 
narrative response should be numbered in accordance with rating factor 
and subfactor identified under Section III.(C) of the General Section.
    (E) A Work Plan which incorporates all activities to be funded in 
the application and details how the proposed work will be accomplished. 
Following a task-by-task format, the Work Plan must identify activities 
conducted and how the tasks meet the requirements of Rating Factor 3, 
Soundness of Approach, in the General Section of this National 
SuperNOFA.

V. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    After the application due date, HUD may not, consistent with 24 CFR 
part 4, subpart B, consider unsolicited information from an applicant. 
HUD may contact an applicant, however, to clarify an item in the 
application or to correct technical deficiencies. Applicants should 
note, however, that HUD may not seek clarification of items or 
responses that improve the substantive quality of the applicant's 
response to any eligibility or selection criterion. Examples of curable 
technical deficiencies include failure to submit the proper 
certifications or failure to submit an application containing an 
original signature by an authorized official. In each case, HUD will 
notify the applicant in writing by describing the clarification or 
technical deficiency. HUD will notify applicants by facsimile or by 
return receipt requested. Applicants must submit clarifications or 
corrections of technical deficiencies in accordance with the 
information provided by HUD within 14 calendar days of the date of 
receipt of the HUD notification. If the deficiency is not corrected 
within this time period, HUD will reject the application as incomplete.

VI. Findings and Certifications

(A) Environmental Impact
    This National SuperNOFA does not direct, provide for assistance or 
loan and mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate, real 
property acquisition, leasing, rehabilitation, alteration, demolition, 
or new construction, or establish, revise or provide for standards for 
construction or construction materials, manufactured housing, or 
occupancy. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1), this SuperNOFA is 
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).
(B) Federalism, Executive Order 12612
    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the policies 
contained in this National SuperNOFA will not have substantial direct 
effects on States or their political subdivisions, or on the 
relationship between the Federal Government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. Specifically, the National SuperNOFA solicits applicants to 
implement nationwide information, outreach and education activities, 
and does not impinge upon the relationships between the Federal 
government and State and local governments. As a result, the National 
SuperNOFA is not subject to review under the Order.
(C) Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
    Applicants for funding under this National SuperNOFA are subject to 
the provisions of section 319 of the Department of Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1991, 31 U.S.C. 1352 (the 
Byrd Amendment), which prohibits recipients of Federal contracts, 
grants, or loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the 
executive or legislative branches of the Federal Government in 
connection with a specific contract, grant, or loan. Applicants are 
required to certify, using the certification found at Appendix A to 24 
CFR part 87, that they will not, and have not, used appropriated funds 
for any prohibited lobbying activities. In addition, applicants must 
disclose, using Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities,'' any funds, other than Federally appropriated funds, that 
will be or have been used to influence Federal employees, members of 
Congress, and congressional staff regarding specific grants or 
contracts. (Tribes and tribally designated housing entities (THDEs) 
established by an Indian tribe as a result of the exercise of the 
tribe's sovereign power are excluded from coverage of the Byrd 
Amendment, but tribes and TDHEs established under State law are not 
excluded from the statute's coverage.)
(D) Section 102 of the HUD Reform Act; Documentation and Public Access 
Requirements
    Section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545) (HUD Reform Act) and the 
regulations codified in 24 CFR part 4, subpart A, 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 apply to assistance awarded under this National SuperNOFA as 
follows:

[[Page 23967]]

    (1) Documentation and public access requirements. HUD will ensure 
that documentation and other information regarding each application 
submitted pursuant to this National SuperNOFA 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 5-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 in 24 CFR part 15.
    (2) Disclosures. HUD will make available to the public for 5 years 
all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form 2880) submitted in 
connection with this National SuperNOFA. Update reports (also Form 
2880) will be made available along with the applicant disclosure 
reports, but in no case for a period less than 3 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.
    (3) Publication of Recipients of HUD Funding. HUD's regulations at 
24 CFR 4.7 provide that HUD will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register on at least a quarterly basis to notify the public of all 
decisions made by the Department to provide:
    (i) Assistance subject to section 102(a) of the HUD Reform Act; or
    (ii) Assistance that is provided through grants or cooperative 
agreements on a discretionary (non-formula, non-demand) basis, but that 
is not provided on the basis of a competition.
(E) Section 103 HUD Reform Act
    HUD's regulations implementing section 103 of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3537a), 
codified in 24 CFR part 4, apply to this funding competition. The 
regulations 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 the 
regulations from providing advance information to any person (other 
than an authorized employee of HUD) concerning funding decisions, or 
from otherwise giving any applicant an unfair competitive advantage. 
Persons who apply for assistance in this competition should confine 
their inquiries to the subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.
    Applicants or employees who have ethics related questions should 
contact the HUD Ethics Law Division at (202) 708-3815. (This is not a 
toll-free number.) For HUD employees who have specific program 
questions, the employee should contact the appropriate field office 
counsel, or Headquarters counsel for the program to which the question 
pertains.

VII. The FY 1998 National SuperNOFA Process and Future HUD Funding 
Processes

    In FY 1997, Secretary Cuomo took the first step at changing HUD's 
funding process to better promote comprehensive, coordinated approaches 
to housing and community development. In FY 1997, the Department 
published related NOFAs on the same day or within a few days of each 
other. In the individual NOFAs published in FY 1997, HUD advised that 
additional steps on NOFA coordination may be considered for FY 1998. 
The SuperNOFAs published for FY 1998 represent the additional step 
taken by HUD to improve HUD's funding process and assist communities to 
make better use of available resources through a coordinated approach. 
This new SuperNOFA process was developed based on comments received 
from HUD clients and the Department believes it represents a 
significant improvement over HUD's approach to the funding process in 
prior years. For FY 1999, HUD may take even further steps to enhance 
this process. HUD welcomes comments from applicants and other members 
of the public on this process, and how it may be improved in future 
years.
    The description of program funding available under this first 
National SuperNOFA to implement information, outreach and education 
activities on a nationwide scale follows.

    Dated: April 23, 1998.
Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Secretary.

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Notices  

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Notices  

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Funding Availability for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, 
National Focus Education and Outreach

    Program Description: Approximately $3,500,000 is available for the 
National Focus Education and Outreach Initiative under the Fair Housing 
Initiatives Program (FHIP). This program assists projects and 
activities designed to enforce and enhance compliance with the Fair 
Housing Act and substantially equivalent State and local fair housing 
laws. Under this competition, projects that have a national focus will 
be funded under the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) as follows:
    (1) Nationwide Education Project. Activities funded must provide a 
coordinated national education campaign which provides fair housing 
information to the public. Efforts must include targeting such 
information toward educating all persons about their fair housing 
rights, including groups historically underserved, such as new 
immigrant groups as well as other protected classes under the Fair 
Housing Act about their fair housing rights.
    (2) Community Tensions Project. Funded activities must be used to 
develop and implement national methodologies that can be used 
nationwide as a model for both preventing and responding to the 
community tensions that arise from persons exercising their rights of 
equal housing choice and opportunity as guaranteed by the Fair Housing 
Act (nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, 
familial status, national origin, and disability). Implementation of 
these methodologies must involve sending facilitators to work with 
groups in HUD-selected communities to prevent or respond to the 
emergence of such community tensions.
    Application Due Date: Completed applications must be submitted no 
later than 12:00 midnight, Eastern time on July 7, 1998, at HUD 
Headquarters. See the General Section of this National SuperNOFA for 
specific procedures governing the form of application submission (e.g., 
mailed applications, express mail, overnight delivery, or hand 
carried).
    Address for Submitting Applications: Completed applications (one 
original and five copies) must be submitted to: FHIP/FHAP Support 
Division, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 5234, 
Washington, DC 20410, by mail or hand delivery. When submitting your 
application, please refer to FHIP National Focus, and include your 
name, mailing address (including zip code) and telephone number 
(including area code).
    For Application Kits, Further Information, and Technical 
Assistance: For Application Kits. For an application kit and 
supplemental information please call the HUD SuperNOFA Information 
Clearinghouse at 1-800-HUD-8929. Persons with hearing or speech 
impairments may call the Center's TTY at 1-800-HUD-2209. The 
application kit also will be available on the Internet at: http://
www.HUD.gov. When requesting an application kit, please refer to FHIP 
National Focus, and provide your name, address (including zip code), 
and telephone number (including area code).
    For Further Information. For answers to your questions, you have 
several options. You may contact Ivy Davis, Director, FHIP/FHAP Support 
Division at 202-708-0800 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons who 
use a text telephone (TTY) may call 1-800-290-1617.

Additional Information

I. Authority; Purpose; Amount Allocated; and Eligibility

(A) Authority

    Section 561 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, 
42 U.S.C. 3616 note, established the Fair Housing Initiatives Program 
(FHIP). The FHIP regulations are found at 24 CFR part 125.

(B) Purpose

    In September 1997, HUD announced a ``crackdown on housing 
discrimination'' and pledged to double its enforcement actions. The 
projects funded under the FHIP in FY 98 are expected to contribute to 
the accomplishment of this goal.
    In keeping with the announced crackdown on discrimination, HUD 
believes that educating immigrants about fair housing rights and 
ensuring enforcement mechanisms to address the specific types of 
discrimination they and other underserved populations encounter is 
necessary if we are to expand housing opportunities in communities 
across this nation. Additionally, HUD continues to move aggressively to 
expand opportunities in housing into communities which have not 
historically served persons who are most likely to be the victims of 
unlawful discrimination. HUD recognizes that community tensions often 
arise whenever there are changes or proposed changes in the local 
housing market caused by the entry or the departure of persons from a 
community or neighborhood. For example, such tensions may be prompted 
by a rise in the numbers of a particular immigrant population, 
proposals to establish group homes for persons with disabilities, or 
persons moving or attempting to move into neighborhoods where persons 
of their race or ethnicity have not previously lived or have been 
underrepresented. Recognizing that dealing with existing community 
tensions as well as working to prevent their development is an 
important element of ensuring equal housing opportunity, the Department 
seeks to fund a single entity that can (a) develop national 
methodologies for both preventing and responding to community tensions 
that are related to persons exercising their Fair Housing Act rights 
and moving into communities where members of their protected class 
either have not previously lived or have been underrepresented, and (b) 
respond to or attempt to prevent the emergence of community tensions in 
communities that HUD identifies as experiencing high levels of 
community tensions or showing a strong likelihood that such tensions 
may build up without intervention or preventive measures.

(C) Amount Allocated

    The FY 1998 HUD Appropriations Act appropriated $15 million for 
activities pursuant to section 561, the Fair Housing Initiatives 
Program. Of the $4,500,000 allocated to the EOI, $3,500,000 is being 
used for this competition under the EOI for the following projects:
    (1) Nationwide Education Project. Of the $3,500,000, $2,000,000 is 
available for a single 18-month national EOI project, of which at least 
$200,000 will be for activities related to Fair Housing Month.
    (2) Community Tensions Project. A total of $1,500,000 will be used 
to fund a single 24-month project that will address tensions that arise 
in local communities as persons protected under the Fair Housing Act 
seek to expand their housing choices.
    The remaining funding under this initiative was made available 
through the SuperNOFA published on March 31, 1998, which solicited 
applications that are regional/local in scope.
    The full cost of FY 1998 multi-year awards under the FHIP will be 
funded from FY 1998 funds. HUD retains the right to transfer funds 
between the FHIP projects listed below, within statutorily prescribed 
limitations. The amounts included in this notice are subject to change 
based on the availability of funds.

[[Page 23972]]

(D) Eligible Applicants

    (1) Nationwide Education Project.
    (a) The following organizations are eligible to receive funding 
under the EOI--Nationwide Education Project:
    (i) Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations (QFHOs)
    (ii) Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations (FHOs), and
    (iii) Other non-profit organizations representing groups of persons 
protected under the Fair Housing Act.
    (b) In addition to meeting the eligible applicant requirement, all 
applicants under the EOI--Nationwide Education Project must include as 
part of their proposal a subcontract with an established media/
advertising organization which has experience in conducting national 
media campaigns. Applicants that fail to include such subcontract 
arrangements in their proposals will be ineligible for funding.
    (2) Community-Tensions Project. Eligible applicants that have the 
organizational infrastructure of affiliate chapters, branch members or 
other outreach arms that can be utilized to provide national coverage 
and facilitate involvement at the local level in communities to be 
selected throughout the nation, and that possess familiarity with local 
circumstances and issues in diverse communities, are particularly 
encouraged to apply. Applicants that do not have affiliates or the 
organizational structure to call upon should describe plans to partner 
with other groups or organizations to provide national coverage. In 
addition, the Department particularly encourages the submission of 
applications from traditional civil rights organizations. The 
organizations that are eligible to receive funding under the EOI--
Community-Tensions Project are:
    (a) QFHOs;
    (b) FHOs;
    (c) Public or private non-profit organizations or institutions and 
other public or private entities that are formulating or carrying out 
programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices;
    (d) State or local governments; and
    (e) FHAP Agencies.

(E) Eligible Activities

    (1) Nationwide Education Project. Activities eligible to be funded 
under the Nationwide Education Project must provide a centralized, 
coordinated effort for the development and implementation of a fair 
housing media campaign designed to educate the public of their fair 
housing rights. Applications must address at least one of the following 
statutory objectives: demonstrated cooperation with real estate 
industry organizations; and/or dissemination of educational information 
and technical assistance to support compliance with the housing 
adaptability and accessibility guidelines contained in the Fair Housing 
Amendments Act of 1988. HUD encourages applicants to provide materials 
developed under this program to housing counseling agencies and service 
providers. HUD anticipates that products will be available in at least 
3 languages other than English. Deliverables must include Public 
Service Announcements (PSAs) for radio and television, and posters and 
other graphic materials. Graphic materials may include, but are not 
limited to, enlarged reproductions of several print public service 
announcements, separately produced and printed posters for public 
dissemination, and the development of ad slicks to market in newspapers 
and magazines nationwide. The applicant should plan on using a clipping 
service or other appropriate means to collect information on frequency 
and scope of the placement of ads.
    Applications must include development and dissemination of media 
products in languages other than English and a discussion of the 
applicant's and/or subcontractors' expertise in languages other than 
English and in reaching the informational needs of such non-English 
speaking audiences. Applicants should also utilize media targeted to 
the outreach group, e.g., minority newspapers.
    A minimum of $200,000 in the Nationwide Education Project must be 
budgeted for activities and materials developed for future Fair Housing 
Month activities, and budgets must clearly break out funds relating to 
those activities that support conformity with this requirement.
    (2) Community Tensions Project. Activities funded as a community 
tensions project must be designed to meet the following objectives:
    (a) Prevent the emergence of community tensions that may occur when 
persons who are members of classes (race, color, religion, sex, 
familial status, and disability) protected by the Fair Housing Act 
exercise their right of equal housing opportunity and move into 
communities where members of their protected class have not previously 
lived or have been underrepresented, and
    (b) Respond through interventions when such community tensions 
emerge and create volatile situations which harm, or threaten to harm, 
those who are exercising their rights to equal housing opportunity.
    The applicant would be required to develop a menu of strategies 
that communities can use to reduce or prevent tensions within a 
community due to protected classes exercising their fair housing 
choices and to increase the referral of individuals to file complaints 
with HUD when they believe they have been victims of discriminatory 
housing practices.
    In its community response and preventive work, the applicant should 
solicit participation from, and work with, a diverse group of local 
organizations and community representatives (such as local elected 
officials, schools, police departments, faith-based community groups, 
civil rights organizations, community service organizations, FHAP 
agencies). It is anticipated that the community response and preventive 
work will implement some of the developed strategies and address not 
only immediate problems or problems anticipated at that time, but also 
the underlying issues which make the existence or prospect of community 
tensions a long-term problem. While the application must be submitted 
by a single entity, the application can propose a partnership of 
multiple organizations, consisting of the applicant and its 
subrecipients or subcontractors, in order to accomplish the objectives 
of this project.

II. Program Requirements

    In addition to the program requirements listed in the General 
Section of this National SuperNOFA, grantees must meet the following 
program requirements:

(A) Definitions

    The additional definitions that apply to this program section of 
the National SuperNOFA are as follows:
    (1) Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) Agencies means State and 
local agencies funded by the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), as 
described in 24 CFR 115.
    (2) Fair housing enforcement organization (FHO) means an 
organization engaged in fair housing activities as defined at 24 CFR 
125.103.
    (3) Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (QFHO) means an 
organization engaged in fair housing activities as defined at 24 CFR 
125.103.
    (4) Traditional Civil Rights Organizations means private, non-
profit organizations or institutions and/or private entities that are 
formulating or carrying out programs to prevent or

[[Page 23973]]

eliminate discriminatory housing practices and which have a history and 
primary mission of engaging in programs designed to secure civil rights 
protections for groups and individuals.

(B) Additional Requirements

    The following requirements are applicable to all applications:
    (1) All projects must address or have relevance to housing 
discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, 
familial status, or national origin.
    (2) Applications that request FHIP funding in excess of the award 
cap will be ineligible.
    (3) Projects aimed solely or primarily at research or dependent 
upon such data gathering, including but not limited to surveys and 
questionnaires, will not be eligible under this program section of the 
National SuperNOFA.
    (4) All proposals must contain a description of how the activities 
or the final products of the projects can be used by other agencies and 
organizations and what modifications, if any, would be necessary for 
that purpose.
    (5) Every Community Tensions Project application must include as 
one of its activities a procedure for referring persons with fair 
housing complaints to HUD for further enforcement processing. Every 
Nationwide Education Project must propose to use HUD toll free Housing 
Discrimination Hotline numbers for voice and TTY.
    (6) In accordance with 24 CFR 125.104(f), no recipient of 
assistance under the FHIP may use any funds provided by the Department 
for the payment of expenses in connection with litigation against the 
United States.
    (7) Applicants Limited to a Single Award. Applicants may apply for 
funding for more than one project or activity under one or more 
Initiatives. However, applicants are limited to one award under this 
program section of the National SuperNOFA. If more than one eligible 
application is submitted by an applicant for the program section of the 
National SuperNOFA and both are within funding range, the Department 
will select the application which the applicant has indicated as its 
preference for award.
    (8) Independence of Applications. There are no limits on the number 
of applications that can be submitted by a single applicant for this 
National SuperNOFA. However, each project or activity proposed in an 
application must be independent and capable of being implemented 
without reliance on the selection of other applications submitted by 
the applicant or other applicants. This provision does not preclude an 
applicant from submitting a proposal which includes other organizations 
as subcontractors to the proposed project or activity.
    (9) Project Starting Period. The Department has determined that all 
applications must propose that the project will begin immediately upon 
issuance of an award.
    (10) Page Limitation. Applicants will be limited to 10 pages of 
narrative responses for each of the selection factors (this does not 
include forms or documents which are required under each factor). 
Brochures, news articles, PSAs, posters, and other materials submitted 
to document capability will be considered in the evaluation process and 
will not count towards the page limitation. Applicants that exceed the 
10-page limit for each factor will only have the first 10 pages 
evaluated for each factor. Failure to provide narrative responses to 
all selection factors will result in an application being ineligible.
    (11) Training. All applications must include a training set-aside 
of $3,000 for single-year projects and $6,000 (total) for multi-year 
projects in all project budgets. HUD will permit grantees to use these 
funds to attend both HUD-sponsored and HUD-approved training.
    (12) Accessibility Requirements.
    All activities funded by FHIP must be accessible to persons with 
disabilities and materials must be available in accessible formats.

III. Application Selection Process

(A) Rating and Ranking

    (1) General. The selection process is structured to achieve the 
objectives set forth in section I.(B) of this program section of the 
National SuperNOFA. Awards will be made in rank order, except that the 
additional procedures described below will be followed to make awards 
out of rank order to achieve the goals outlined below.
    Each application for funding will be evaluated competitively. Upon 
receipt, the applications will be sorted into two categories: EOI-
Nationwide Education Project and EOI--Community Tensions Project. Then, 
in each category, they will be awarded points and assigned a score 
based on the Rating Factors identified in section III.(C) of the 
General Section of the National SuperNOFA. After eligible applications 
are evaluated against the factors for award and assigned a score, they 
will be organized by rank order. Awards for each category listed above 
will be funded in rank order until all available funds have been 
obligated, or until there are no acceptable applications, with the 
exception described in section III.(A)(2), immediately below. The final 
decision rests with the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal 
Opportunity or designee.
    (2) Tie breaking. When there is a tie in the overall total score 
and insufficient funding is available to fund all applications with the 
tied score, the award will be made to the applicant that has the higher 
score under Rating Factor 3 (Soundness of Approach). If these 
applications are equal in this respect, the application that receives a 
total higher number of points under Rating Factor 1 (Capacity of the 
Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience) will receive the 
award.
    (3) Applicant Notification and Award Procedures. 
    (a) Notification. No information will be available to applicants 
during the period of HUD evaluation, approximately 90 days, except for 
notification in writing or by telephone to those applicants that are 
determined to be ineligible or that have technical deficiencies in 
their applications that may be corrected. Selectees will be announced 
by HUD upon completion of the evaluation process, subject to final 
negotiations and award.
    (b) Negotiations. After HUD has ranked the applications and 
provided notifications to applicants whose scores are within the 
funding range, HUD will require that applicants in this group 
participate in negotiations to determine the specific terms of the 
cooperative agreement. HUD will follow the negotiation procedures 
described in Section III.(D) of the General Section of this National 
SuperNOFA.
    (c) Funding Instrument. HUD expects to award a cost reimbursable 
cooperative agreement to each successful applicant. HUD reserves the 
right, however, to use the form of assistance agreement determined to 
be most appropriate after negotiation with the applicant.
    (d) Reduction of Requested Grant Amounts and Special Conditions. As 
provided in Section III.(E) of the General Section of this National 
SuperNOFA, HUD may approve an application for an amount lower than the 
amount requested, fund only portions of an application, withhold funds 
after approval, and/or require the grantee to comply with special 
conditions added to the grant agreement.
    (e) Performance Sanctions. A recipient failing to comply with the 
procedures set forth in its grant agreement will be liable for such 
sanctions as may be authorized by law, including repayment of 
improperly used funds, termination of further

[[Page 23974]]

participation in the FHIP, and denial of further participation in 
programs of the Department or of any Federal agency.

(B) Factors for Award Used To Evaluate and Rate Applications

    The factors for rating and ranking applicants, and maximum points 
for each factor, are provided in Section III.(C) of the General Section 
of this National SuperNOFA.

IV. Application Submission Requirements

    In addition to the forms, certifications and assurances listed in 
Section II.(E) of the General Section of this National SuperNOFA, all 
applications must, at a minimum, also contain the items listed in 
Section IV. of the General Section.

V. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    The General Section of this National SuperNOFA provides the 
procedures for corrections to deficient applications.

VI. Environmental Requirements

    In accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(b)(9) and (12) of the HUD 
regulations, activities assisted under this program are categorically 
excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 and are not subject to environmental review under the related 
laws and authorities.

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BILLING CODE 4210-32-C

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[[Page 23977]]



Funding Availability for the National Housing Counseling Training 
Program

    Program Description: Approximately $550,000 in housing counseling 
funds is available for the Housing Counseling Training (HCT) Program to 
train housing counselors of local HUD-approved counseling agencies 
nationwide. HUD's HCT Program will cover basic to advanced 
comprehensive counseling.
    Application Due Date: Completed applications must be received no 
later than 12:00 midnight, Eastern time on July 7, 1998, at HUD 
Headquarters. See the General Section of this National SuperNOFA for 
specific procedures governing the form of application submission (e.g., 
mailed applications, express mail or overnight delivery, or hand 
carried).
    Address for Submitting Applications: Completed application (one 
original and two copies) must be submitted to: The Director, Marketing 
and Outreach Division, Office of Single Family Housing, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 9166, 
Washington, DC 20410. When submitting your application, please refer to 
the National Housing Counseling Training Program, and include your 
name, mailing address (including zip code) and telephone number 
(including area code).
    For Application Kits, Further Information and Technical Assistance: 
For Application Kits. For an application kit and supplemental 
information, please call the SuperNOFA Information Center at 1-800-HUD-
8929. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may call the Center's 
TTY number at 1-800-HUD-2209. The application kit also will be 
available on the Internet through the HUD web site at http://
www.HUD.gov. When requesting an application kit, please refer to the 
National Housing Counseling Training Program.
    For Further Information and Technical Assistance. You may call the 
Marketing and Outreach Division at HUD Headquarters at 202-708-0317. 
Before the application deadline, HUD Headquarters staff will be 
available to provide general guidance.

Additional Information

I. Authority; Purpose; Amount Allocated; and Eligibility

(A) Authority

    HUD's Housing Counseling Program is authorized by section 106 of 
the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x), and is 
generally governed by HUD Handbook 7610.1, REV-4, dated August 9, 1995.

(B) Purpose

    Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 
authorizes HUD to provide counseling and advice to tenants and 
homeowners with respect to property maintenance, financial management, 
and such other matters as may be appropriate to assist tenants and 
homeowners in improving their housing conditions and meeting the 
responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership.
    This includes housing counseling training for housing counselors of 
local HUD-approved counseling agencies nationwide to assure that the 
counseling being provided is current and accurate. To achieve this 
purpose, the training must include instructions to the housing 
counselors on (1) how to conduct community outreach to potential first-
time homebuyers, and (2) how to provide counseling to individuals with 
the objective of increasing awareness of homeownership opportunities 
and improving access of low and moderate income households to sources 
of mortgage credit. HUD believes that this training is key to providing 
effective counseling which will support the revitalization and 
stabilization of low income and minority neighborhoods.
    In FY 1998, HUD is requiring applicants to include in their 
proposed training, counseling for:
    (1) First-time homebuyers by offering Homebuyer Education and 
Learning Program (HELP) training sessions;
    (2) Eligible persons 62 or older who desire to use the Home Equity 
Conversion Mortgage (HECM) in order to convert their equity into a lump 
sum payment or an income stream that can be used for such purposes as 
home improvements, medical costs, and/or pay living expenses.
    (3) Other homebuyers, homeowners and renters.

(C) Amount Allocated

    Under this National SuperNOFA program, approximately $550,000 is 
available for eligible non-profits or public entities to provide 
technical training under the HUD Housing Counseling program, fundable 
for a period from twelve (12) to eighteen (18) calendar months. This 
funding is available from unused Housing Counseling funds appropriated 
in FY 1997. The funding period may begin from the date that the award 
is executed by HUD.

(D) Eligible Applicants

    (1) Applicants must be public or private non-profit organizations 
that are HUD-approved housing counseling agencies with at least 2 years 
of relevant training experience. Applicants may propose to provide all, 
or a portion of, the eligible activities specified in section I.(E) of 
this program section of the National SuperNOFA, below.
    (2) Number of Applicants To Be Selected. One or more training 
applicants will be selected who are experienced in delivering housing 
counseling training on a nationwide basis; receive a high score based 
upon the Rating Factors in Section III.(C) of the General Section of 
this National SuperNOFA; and satisfy all other criteria in this 
National SuperNOFA. They include the following: a HUD-approved local 
housing counseling agency; a HUD-approved national, regional, or multi-
state housing counseling intermediary, or affiliate; or, a State 
housing finance agency, or affiliate.

(E) Eligible Activities

    The applicant(s) funded under this National SuperNOFA program will 
deliver comprehensive housing counseling training, or a portion of such 
training, which may be conducted on-site, through satellite broadcast, 
or by means of CD-ROM computer training software, to cover the 
following components:
    (1) Homebuyer Education Programs, including HUD's Homebuyer 
Education and Learning Program (HELP) and similar programs may be used 
in sessions that consist of approximately sixteen (16) hours of 
training. Completion of the training may allow graduates to receive 
first-time homebuyer incentives, such as the reduction in the FHA 
insurance premium. Marketing and outreach personnel at each HUD 
Homeownership Center will be available to assist agencies in this 
endeavor.
    (2) Pre-purchase Homeownership Counseling covering such issues as 
purchase procedures, mortgage financing, down payment/closing cost fund 
accumulation, accessibility requirements of the property, and if 
appropriate, credit improvement, and debt consolidation.
    (3) Post-purchase Counseling, including such issues as property 
maintenance, and personal money management.
    (4) Mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling 
including restructuring debt, arrangement of reinstatement plans, loan 
forbearance, and loss mitigation.
    (5) Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) counseling that assists 
clients, who are 62 years old or older, with the complexity of 
converting the equity in

[[Page 23978]]

their home to income that is used to pay such items as living expenses 
or medical expenses.
    (6) Loss Mitigation Counseling for clients who may be facing 
default and foreclosure, and need mortgage default resolution and 
foreclosure avoidance counseling.
    (7) Outreach Initiatives including providing general information 
about housing opportunities within the community and providing 
appropriate information to persons with disabilities.
    (8) Renter Assistance including information about rent subsidy 
programs, rights and responsibilities of tenants, and lease and rental 
agreements.
    (9) Fair housing counseling that identifies rights, obligations and 
requirements under the Fair Housing Act.

(F) Eligible Costs

    In addition to the budget items required under the application 
submission requirements in Section IV. of the General Section of this 
National SuperNOFA, the following costs are eligible:
    (1) Equipment Needed At Training. Training sites must have the 
equipment necessary for conducting the training, such as overhead 
projectors, and microphones. The training program must provide for 
training sites, information services, and materials accessible to all 
persons, including those with a wide range of disabilities. These costs 
must be included in the budget submitted by applicants.
    (2) Cost of Training Facilities. The cost is to be included in the 
budget unless provided without charge by the hotels or other training 
sites.

II. Program Requirements

    In addition to the program requirements listed in the General 
Section of this National SuperNOFA, grantees must meet the following 
program requirements:

(A) Requirements Applicable to Religious Organizations.

    Where the applicant is a religious organization, or a wholly 
secular organization established by a primarily religious organization, 
to provide training, the organization must undertake its 
responsibilities under the counseling training program in accordance 
with the following principles:
    (1) It will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for 
employment under the program on the basis of religion and will not 
limit employment or give preference in employment to persons on the 
basis of religion;
    (2) It will not discriminate against any person applying for 
counseling under the program on the basis of religion and will not 
limit such assistance or give preference to persons on the basis of 
religion; and
    (3) It will provide no religious instruction or religious 
counseling, conduct no religious services or worship, engage in no 
religious proselytizing, and exert no other religious influence in the 
provision of assistance under the Housing Counseling Program.

(B) On-Site Training

    (1) Number of Training Sites. If applying for on-site training, 
include the following locations: District of Columbia, San Francisco, 
Atlanta, Chicago, and New Orleans.
    (2) Number of Workshops at Each Site. There will be one to three 
workshops at each site. Approximately 40 to 50 participants will attend 
each workshop which will cover approximately from two to three days.
    (3) Total Number of Participants. It is estimated that the total 
number of participants will vary from an estimated 700 to 1000 
participants.
    (4) Eligible Participants. Housing counselors on the staff of local 
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies may participate. At least one 
housing counselor from each local HUD-approved counseling agency will 
be invited to attend the training. In some instances, two participants 
may participate in the workshop particularly where there is a high 
turnover of housing counseling staff and an agency has recently become 
HUD-approved. On a case by case basis, agencies applying for HUD-
approval may be authorized by the Government Technical Representative 
(GTR) to send staff housing counselors to the workshop. There are 
approximately 1250 HUD-approved local housing counseling agencies with 
branch offices. One or more housing counselors from the staff of each 
may be invited to attend the training.

(C) Reimbursement to Participants

    Participants will not be reimbursed for their travel, hotel and 
food costs by the grantee. There will be no charge to the participants 
for attending the workshop, for the training manual and other materials 
and handouts. However, the participants may be reimbursed for their 
travel and/or hotel costs by their agencies.
    (D) Applicants will use the HUD grant to undertake any of the 
eligible housing counseling activities described in this National 
Housing Counseling Training Program as included in their proposed 
training activities. To the maximum extent possible, applicants may 
provide in-kind contributions and seek other private and public sources 
of funding for housing counseling training to supplement HUD funding.

(E) Training Manual

    The selected grantee(s) will use existing materials from HUD and 
other acceptable sources to prepare training materials. The grantee(s) 
will be required to update this information and incorporate the updated 
material within a training manual. HUD will print and distribute the 
training manual to the training sites. In the case of CD-ROM training, 
the training manual shall be incorporated on the CD-ROM. In the case of 
satellite training, the training manual must be available in text 
format via the Internet.
    (1) Cost of Packaging, Reproducing, and Mailing to Training Sites.
    These costs will be borne by HUD outside of the grant amount.
    (2) Use of Color or Black and White for Training Manual. There will 
be several programs included in the training manual, including, 
Comprehensive Housing Counseling, Risk Loss Mitigation Counseling, and 
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Counseling. The training manual 
must separate sections of the manual to allow trainees to easily 
identify each section.

(F) Training Level

    The training to be provided under this program is designated 
``Basic to Advanced.'' It will include participants from beginners to 
experienced.

(G) Training Content

    Training will include housing counseling basics: initial interview; 
intake and family history; recordkeeping; how to write-up a case; use 
of the computer; referrals and follow-ups; and reporting, such as form 
HUD-9902; and Housing Counseling Agency Fiscal Year Activity Report. 
Intermediate and advanced training will include complex problem solving 
covering the counseling components.

(H) In-kind Contributions

    Applicant may provide such benefits.

III. Application Selection Process

(A) General

    Applications will be evaluated competitively, and ranked against 
all other applicants that have applied for the HCT program. However, 
after

[[Page 23979]]

selection, the actual amount funded is subject to negotiation and 
adjustment as described in the General Section of this National 
SuperNOFA.

(B) Factors for Award Used To Evaluate and Rate Applications

    The factors for rating and ranking applicants, and maximum points 
for each factor, are provided in Section III.(C) of the General Section 
of this National SuperNOFA.

IV. Application Submission Requirements

    In addition to the forms, certifications and assurances listed in 
Section II.(E) of the General Section, all applications must, at a 
minimum, also contain the items listed in Section IV of the General 
Section.V. Corrections to Deficient Applications.
    The General Section of this National SuperNOFA provides the 
procedures for corrections to deficient applications.

VI. Environmental Requirements

    In accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(b)(9) of the HUD regulations, 
activities assisted under this program are categorically excluded from 
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and are not 
subject to environmental review under the related laws and authorities.

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BILLING CODE 4210-32-C

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[[Page 23983]]



Funding Availability for the National Lead Hazard Awareness 
Campaign

    Program Description: Approximately $1,000,000 is available to fund 
this grant program for a national media campaign to market ``The 
Campaign for a Lead-Safe America,'' as well as increase overall lead 
awareness on a national scale. Efforts must include developing and 
marketing several public service announcements, assisting activities 
funded under the Local Lead Hazard Awareness Campaign grant to develop 
the infrastructure needed to implement media strategies to successfully 
market ``The Campaign for A Lead-Safe America,'' as well as identifying 
and implementing media strategies to use print, radio and television to 
increase awareness about the dangers of lead-based paint nationally. Up 
to $1 million will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible 
organizations with grant awards ranging between $50,000-$1 million.
    Application Due Date: Completed applications must be submitted no 
later than 12:00 midnight, Eastern time on July 7, 1998, at the address 
shown below. HUD reserves the right to republish this program section 
of the National SuperNOFA and announce additional due dates, or to make 
no awards at all, if proposals are deficient.
    Address for Submitting Applications: Completed applications (one 
original and two copies) must be submitted to: U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, Office of Lead Hazard Control, 451 7th 
Street, SW, B-133, Washington, DC 20410, by mail or hand delivery. When 
submitting your application, please refer to the National Lead Hazard 
Awareness Campaign, and include your name, mailing address (including 
zip code) and telephone number (including area code).
    For Application Kits, Further Information, and Technical 
Assistance: For Application Kits. For an application kit and 
supplemental information please call the HUD SuperNOFA Information 
Clearinghouse at 1-800-HUD-8929. Persons with hearing or speech 
impairments may call the Center's TTY at 1-800-HUD-2209. The 
application kit also will be available on the Internet at: http://
www.HUD.gov. When requesting an application kit, please refer to 
National Lead Hazard Awareness Campaign grant, and provide your name, 
address (including zip code), and telephone number (including area 
code).
    For Further Information and Technical Assistance. Dolline Hatchett, 
Community Outreach Officer, Office of Lead Hazard Control, 202-755-
1785, extension 114 (this is not a toll-free number).

Additional Information

I. Authority; Purpose; Amount Allocated; and Eligibility

(A) Authority

    The National Lead Hazard Awareness Campaign is authorized under 
Title X, The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 
of the Housing and Community Development Act 1992, Pub.L. 102-550, 
section 1011(g)(1).

(B) Purpose

    The Federal government has launched a national public education and 
outreach campaign to protect America's children from the health hazards 
of lead-based paint. The Campaign for a Lead-Safe America was announced 
by Mrs. Tipper Gore, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at a White 
House press conference on November 17, 1997. The National Lead Hazard 
Awareness Campaign funding under this program section of the National 
SuperNOFA will be awarded to conduct a national media campaign to 
market ``The Campaign for a Lead-Safe America''; increase lead hazard 
awareness through the use of radio, newspaper, and television public 
service announcements; and identify and maximize opportunities to raise 
visibility of the lead hazard issue among the general public.
    In keeping with the announced public awareness campaign, the 
Department has developed partnerships with major national hardware 
retailers to display posters in their paint sections and to otherwise 
educate consumers about lead hazards. Public service advertisements 
have also been developed for various publications throughout the 
nation. In addition, Mrs. Tipper Gore has taped two video public 
service announcements for the Department to use as part of the Campaign 
for A Lead-Safe America under the slogan, ``Take the Lead on Lead.''
    The purpose of the campaign is: (1) to identify and maximize 
opportunities to raise visibility of the lead issue among the general 
public, and invigorate the efforts in both the public and private 
sectors to help eradicate the problem, and (2) to increase lead hazard 
awareness through education and outreach activities to specific high 
risk communities, and other identified audiences such as parents, 
caretakers, pediatricians, children, pregnant women, building owners, 
and renovation and maintenance personnel.

(C) Amount Allocated

    Up to $1 million will be made available on a competitive basis to 
eligible organizations with grant awards ranging between $50,000--$1 
million. The funding selections will be based on the Rating Factors 
described in the General Section of the National SuperNOFA. The amounts 
included in this program section of the National SuperNOFA are subject 
to change based on funds availability.

(D) Eligible Applicants

    The types of organizations listed below are eligible to receive 
funding under this program section of the National SuperNOFA. 
Partnerships are encouraged, although the application must be made by a 
single entity.
    (a) Public Relation Firms (PRFs)--For profit firms may not include 
a fee or profit in their budget or costs;
    (b) Marketing/Advertising Companies (MACs); and
    (c) Non-profit organizations--must submit proof of non-profit 
status.

(E) Eligible Activities

    Eligible activities to be funded under this program section of the 
National SuperNOFA shall include but not be limited to developing and 
conducting a national media campaign to increase lead awareness on a 
national scale to market ``The Campaign for A Lead-Safe America.'' 
Activities must also work cooperatively with those funded under the 
Local Lead Hazard Awareness Campaign NOFA to assist in the development 
of the infrastructure needed to implement media strategies to 
successfully market ``The Campaign for A Lead-Safe America,'' as well 
as conduct public education and outreach for lead awareness in specific 
localities. In addition, applicants are encouraged to focus on 
innovative methods of marketing several public service announcements, 
and using well-known public figures as spokespersons for the campaign, 
as well as identifying and implementing media strategies using print, 
radio and television to increase awareness about the dangers of lead-
based paint nationally. Eligible activities will also include work with 
major national hardware retailers to identify and coordinate 
opportunities to increase lead awareness among consumers. Activities 
may also include the preparation of additional graphics needed to 
maintain store inventories of lead related posters and educational 
information. Graphic materials may include, but are not limited to, 
enlarged reproductions of several print public service announcements, 
separately

[[Page 23984]]

produced and printed posters for public dissemination, and the 
development of ad slicks to market in newspapers and magazines 
nationwide. The applicant should plan on using a clipping service or 
other appropriate means to collect information on frequency and scope 
of the placement of ads. Applications which include development and 
dissemination of media products in languages other than English must 
include a discussion of the applicant's and/or subcontractors' 
expertise in languages other than English and in reaching the 
informational needs of such non-English speaking audiences. Applicants 
should also utilize minority media in an effort to achieve diversity in 
its outreach efforts.
    The performance measures and deliverables will be negotiated 
between the grantee and HUD as part of the executed grant agreement and 
will be based upon the applicant's proposal.

II. Program Requirements

    In addition to the program requirements listed in the General 
Section of this National SuperNOFA, grantees must meet the following 
program requirements:

(A) Applicants Limited to a Single Award

    Applicants are limited to one FY 1998 award under this program. If 
more than one eligible application is submitted by an applicant and 
both have an adequate score, the Department will select the application 
which the applicant has indicated as its preference for award.

(B) Independence of Applications

    There are no limits on the number of applications that can be 
submitted by a single applicant. However, each application must be 
independent and capable of being implemented without reliance on the 
selection of other applications submitted by the applicant or other 
applicants. This provision does not preclude an applicant from 
submitting a proposal which includes other organizations as 
subcontractors to the proposed project or activity.

(C) Project Starting Period

    The period of performance will be up to 2 years. The applicant must 
be able to commence work immediately.

(D) Page Limitation

    Applicants will be limited to 10 pages of narrative responses for 
each of the rating factors for a total of no more than 50 pages (this 
does not include forms or documents which are required under each 
factor). Items such as brochures and news articles or similar items 
included in the application will be considered in the evaluation 
process and will not count towards the page limitation. Applicants that 
exceed the 10-page limit for each factor will only have the first 10 
pages evaluated for each factor. Failure to provide narrative responses 
to all selection criteria will result in an application being 
ineligible.

(E) Payment Contingent on Completion

    Payment to grantees will be contingent on the satisfactory 
completion of each project activity.

(F) Accessibility Requirements

    All activities and materials funded by the grant must be accessible 
to persons with disabilities.

(G) Type of Award

    HUD reserves the right to award a cooperative agreement that is 
cost reimbursable or fixed price.

(H) Funding Requests

    Applications that request funding in excess of the stated maximum 
award will be ineligible.

(I) Ineligible Projects

    Projects aimed primarily at research or data gathering, including 
but not limited to surveys and questionnaires, will not be eligible 
under this program section of the National SuperNOFA.

(J) Interagency Cooperation and Coordination

    All proposals must contain a description of how the activities or 
the final products of the projects can be used by other agencies and 
organizations and what modifications, if any, are needed to achieve 
that purpose.

(K) Minimum Application Score

    In order to be funded applicants must have a score of 80 points or 
better. If applicants score less than 80 points, they may apply again 
later under the republished program section of this National SuperNOFA, 
if funds remain available. Not all applicants with scores above 80 will 
necessarily receive awards.

(L) Definitions

    The definitions that apply to this program section of the National 
SuperNOFA are as follows:
    High Risk Communities refers to communities which consist of 
housing built before 1978.
    Media/Advertising Companies (MACs) means private companies that 
develop, advertise and market ideas using media strategies to increase 
awareness and better understanding about a product, method, idea, or 
campaign.
    Public Relations Firms (PRFs) means private organizations that 
develop and implement public awareness methods by using print, 
broadcast and electronic media, or other communication tools to 
influence public opinion.

III. Application Selection Process

(A) Rating and Ranking

    (1) General. The selection process is structured to achieve the 
purpose set forth in Section I(B) of this program section of the 
National SuperNOFA. Awards will be made in rank order.
    Each application for funding will be evaluated competitively, and 
the applicant will be assigned a score based on the Rating Factors used 
to evaluate and rate applications identified in Section III.(C) of the 
General Section of this National SuperNOFA. After eligible applications 
are evaluated based upon the factors for award and assigned a score, 
they will be organized by rank order.
    (2) Tie breaking. When there is a tie in the overall total score 
and insufficient funding is available to fund all applications with the 
tied score, the the award will be made to the applicant that has the 
higher score under Rating Factor 3 (Soundness of Approach). If these 
applications are equal in this respect, the application that receives a 
total higher number of points under Rating Factor 1 (Capacity of the 
Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience) will receive the 
award.
    (B) Factors For Award Used To Evaluate and Rate National Lead 
Hazard Awareness Campaign
    The factors for rating and ranking applicants, and maximum points 
for each factor, are provided in Section III.(C) of the General Section 
of this National SuperNOFA.

(C) Applicant Notification and Award Procedures

    (1) Notification. No information will be available to applicants 
during the period of HUD evaluation of proposals, which is 
approximately 90 days, except for HUD notification in writing or by 
telephone to those applicants that are determined to be ineligible or 
that have technical deficiencies in their applications that may be 
corrected. Selectees will be announced by HUD upon completion of the 
evaluation process, subject to final negotiations and award.
    (2) Funding Instrument. HUD expects to award a fixed price or cost 
reimbursable cooperative agreement to each successful applicant. HUD 
reserves

[[Page 23985]]

the right, however, to use the form of assistance determined to be most 
appropriate after negotiation with the applicant.
    (3) Performance Sanctions. A recipient failing to comply with the 
procedures set forth in its grant agreement will be liable for such 
sanctions as may be authorized by law, including repayment of 
improperly used funds, termination of further participation in the 
program, and denial of further participation in programs of the 
Department or of any Federal agency.

IV. Application Submission Requirements

    In addition to the forms, certifications and assurances listed in 
Section II.(E) of the General Section, all applications must, at a 
minimum, also contain the items listed in Section IV of the General 
Section.

V. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    The General Section of this National SuperNOFA provides the 
procedures for corrections to deficient applications.

VI. Environmental Requirements

    In accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(b)(2), (9) and (12) of the HUD 
regulations, the assistance provided under this program relates only to 
information services, technical assistance and supportive services and 
therefore is categorically excluded from the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and is not subject to 
environmental review under the related laws and authorities. This 
determination is based on the ineligibility of real property 
acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, conversion, leasing or 
repair for HUD assistance under this program.

[FR Doc. 98-11388 Filed 4-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-32-P