[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21970-21974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10726]



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Part VIII





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Funding Availability for the HUD Urban Scholars Fellowship Program; 
Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 67 , No. 84 / Wednesday, May 1, 2002 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4724-N-01]


Notice of Funding Availability for the HUD Urban Scholars 
Fellowship Program

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the availability of approximately $550,000 
in FY 2001 funds for the HUD Urban Scholars program for FY 2002.
    Purpose of the Program. To provide encouragement to new scholars to 
undertake research now, and throughout their careers, on research 
topics of interest to HUD.
    Available Funds. Approximately $550,000 in FY 2001 funding.
    Eligible Applicants: Only Ph.D.s who have an academic appointment 
at an institution of higher education and have received their Ph.D. 
degrees no earlier than January 1, 1997.
    Application Deadline. June 5, 2002.
    Match. University support in terms of course load reductions, 
indirect costs waived, space, etc. are required.

Additional Information

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    The information collection requirements contained in this NOFA have 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned OMB 
Control Number 2528-0175. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless the collection displays a valid control number.

I. Application Due Date, Application Kits, Further Information, and 
Technical Assistance

    Application Due Date. Your completed application must be received 
on or before June 5, 2002.
    Address for Submitting Applications. Your completed application 
consists of an original signed application, which can be submitted in 
hard copy or electronically. Submit your completed application to the 
following address: The Fellowship Office/HUD TJ 2041, National Research 
Council, 2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20007. Please mark 
on the envelope for your application that it is for the HUD Urban 
Scholars Fellowship Program.
    HUD will accept only one application per applicant.
    For Application Kits. An application kit can be obtained by calling 
or writing the Fellowship Office/HUD, TJ 2041, National Research 
Council, 2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007. Telephone 
number 202-334-2872 and facsimile number 202-334-3419. The application 
kit can be downloaded from the Internet at: http://national-academies.org/fellowships or at http://www.hud.gov./grants.
    For Further Information and Technical Assistance. You may call the 
above number. You may also write to the National Research Council (NRC) 
via email at [email protected].

II. Amount Allocated

    Approximately $550,000 is being made available from the 
Department's Fiscal Year 2001 appropriation under this NOFA for the HUD 
Urban Scholars Fellowship Program.
    The maximum grant period is 15 months. The performance period will 
commence on the effective date of the grant agreement.
    The maximum amount to be requested by and awarded to an applicant 
is $55,000. In order to ensure research efforts are focused on specific 
Departmental priorities, HUD reserves the right to make awards for less 
than the maximum amount or less than the amount requested in your 
application.

III. Program Description; Eligible Applicants; Eligible Activities

    (A) Program Description. The purposes of the HUD Urban Scholars 
Program are to:
    (1) Fund research relevant to HUD priorities and issues;
    (2) Provide encouragement to new scholars to undertake research 
now, and for the rest of their careers, on research topics of interest 
to HUD; and
    (3) Have an impact on the academic context in which these scholars 
work so that this kind of research becomes highly valued. The research 
priorities for the HUD Urban Scholars Program are designed to inform 
Federal problem-solving and policy-making relating to HUD's strategic 
goals for this year. Examples of topics addressing these priorities 
include but are not limited to:
     Homeownership
    1. Homeownership
    (a) Relative importance of factors in tenure decisions
    (b) Estimation of private and social benefits and costs of 
homeownership
    (c) Role in employment, household savings, and investment decisions
    (d) Effects of demographics, macro-economic environment and 
government policies on homeownership
    (e) Effects of homeownership on low- and moderate-income households
    2. Housing Finance
    (a) Institutional barriers to efficiency in the housing finance 
system
    (b) Enabling the housing finance system to better serve low-income 
and minority borrowers more effectively
    3. Home Equity Conversion Mortgages
     Housing Market Conditions
    1. Housing Markets
    (a) Factors affecting rents, home values, tenure, vacancy rates
    (b) Market absorption of new units
    (c) Construction activity
    2. Housing Stock
    (a) Durability of stock
    (b) Energy efficiency
    (c) Factors determining rehabilitation and remodeling
    (d) Comparisons with stock in other developed countries
    3. Availability of Affordable Housing
    (a) Policy and program options in tight or ``soft'' markets
    (b) Preservation of existing stock
     Equal Opportunity and Access to Housing
    1. Effectiveness of different models (including local initiatives) 
for promoting Fair Housing objectives
    2. Discrimination in housing and lending
    (a) Methods to detect discrimination
    (b) Systemic patterns and practices
     Homelessness
    1. Strategies to combat homelessness
    (a) Addressing chronic homelessness
    (b) Causes of homelessness
    (c) Helping families move from transitional to permanent housing
    (d) Issues and responses to youth homelessness
     Community and Economic Development
    1. Create or expand business
    (a) Meet the needs of underserved inner city, older suburb, or 
rural areas
    (b) Expansion of access to capital
    (c) Joint ventures with faith-based or other community-based 
grassroots organizations
    1. Development of inner cities
    (a) Studies of reinvestment pressures
    (b) Theories of capital/land/market failure that help to explain 
depopulation or disinvestment
    (c) Government policies or market interventions that would 
alleviate these patterns
    3. Regionalism and growth management
    (a) The economic interdependence of cities and suburbs
    (b) Rehabilitation and infill development
    (c) Regional problem solving and coalition building
    (d) Reinvestment in the urban core

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    (e) Impact of community economic development policies, programs, 
and initiatives
     Faith-based and Other Community-based Partnerships
    1. Community development and community building
    (a) Role of faith-based groups in low-income housing and community 
development efforts
    (b) Faith-based and higher education community building efforts
    2. Evaluation of college/community partnerships and 
institutionalizing these partnerships at colleges and universities
     Assisted Housing Programs
    1. Housing needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities
    (a) Availability
    (b) Design and Quality, including Accessibility
    (c) Affordability
    (d) Linked services
    2. Affordability of rental housing
    (a) Innovative partnerships or finance tools
    (b) Cost-benefit analyses of alternative methods for providing 
housing assistance
    (c) Effectiveness of voucher programs
    (d) Evaluations of existing programs
     Strategies for helping families in public and assisted 
housing make progress toward self-sufficiency and become homeowners
     Colonias
    1. How current policies determine the kinds of housing available
    2. The perception of ``community'' in colonias
    3. Evaluation of existing housing programs in colonias
    (B) Eligible Applicants. You must have your Ph.D. and meet the 
following conditions:
    (1) You must have an academic appointment with an institution of 
higher education. This means that you must either be on a tenure track 
or be on a term (teaching or research) appointment that will extend 
beyond the 15-month duration of this fellowship;
    (2) You must have received your Ph.D. no earlier than January 1, 
1997;
    (3) It is realistic to believe that your proposed research project 
can be completed within the 15-month fellowship period;
    (4) You must have support from your institution as attested to in 
the letter described below in Section V (C); and
    (5) You must provide appropriate written evidence that you are 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, if you 
are not a citizen.
    (C) Eligible Activities. Your grant must support costs related to 
completion of your research project. Eligible costs include, but are 
not limited to, your salary for two summers, graduate assistants to 
work on the project, up to $2,500 per course for the cost of employing 
a replacement for the course(s) your university releases you from 
teaching, computer software, survey development and administration, the 
purchase of data, travel expenses to collect data or to make 
presentations at meetings on your findings, transcription services, 
compensation for interviews, and no more than eight (8) percent of the 
university's indirect costs.

IV. Application Selection Process

    The competition and selection process for this program will be run 
on HUD's behalf by the National Research Council (NRC). NRC will 
conduct two types of reviews: A threshold review to determine your 
eligibility to apply; and a technical review to rate your application 
based on the rating factors in this section.
    (A) Threshold Factors for Funding Consideration. Under this 
threshold review, your application can only be rated if the following 
standards are met:
    (1) You are eligible to apply for this program, as defined in 
Section III(B) above, and have provided a letter from your department 
chair confirming this;
    (2) You have obtained a mentor and have included a letter from this 
person confirming this and describing his/her role in your research; 
and
    (3) Your institution has agreed to provide some support to you, 
above that provided by this funding, as part of this grant.
    (B) Ineligible Activities. Your grant may not be used to pay for 
tuition, computer hardware, meals, relocation costs, or other costs not 
directly related to your research project. Fellowship funding cannot be 
used to substitute for university funding.
    (C) Other Requirements.
    (1) Support from your university. Support from your university is 
required. Institutions will be required to contribute, at a minimum, 
the following:
    (a) Designating a faculty advisor to monitor your progress on your 
research project;
    (b) Office space, computer usage, etc.; and
    (c) Waived indirect costs above the eight percent (8%) allowed to 
be covered by this fellowship. In addition, your application will be 
viewed more favorably if your institution agrees to reduce your course 
load by at least one course per term or semester, but to continue 
paying you your full salary.
    (2) Progress reporting. You will be required to submit a report, 
halfway through your fellowship, on the progress you have made towards 
completion of the research project and the likelihood that you will 
complete it on time.
    (3) Mentors. You will be required to work with a mentor on your 
research project. The mentor, who can be someone in your institution or 
elsewhere, should be a well-respected scholar in the area of your 
research topic. The mentor will be expected to provide you with advice 
and direction on substantive research issues. The mentor and the 
faculty monitor described above can be, but do not have to be, the same 
person.
    (4) Compliance with Fair Housing and Civil Rights Laws. All 
applicants and their subrecipients must comply with all Fair Housing 
and civil rights laws, statutes, regulations and executive orders as 
enumerated in 24 CFR 5.105(a). In addition, the applicant and any 
subrecipients must comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act 
of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq).
    If you, the applicant--
    (a) Have been charged with a systemic violation of the Fair Housing 
Act by the Secretary alleging ongoing discrimination;
    (b) Are a defendant in a Fair Housing Act lawsuit filed by the 
Department of Justice alleging an ongoing pattern or practice of 
discrimination; or
    (c) Have received a letter of noncompliance findings under Title 
VI, Section 504 or Section 109, NRC will not rate and rank your 
application under this NOFA if the charge, lawsuit or letter of 
findings has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the Department 
before the application deadline. HUD's decision whether a charge, 
lawsuit, or a letter of findings has been satisfactorily resolved will 
be based upon whether appropriate actions have been taken to address 
allegations of ongoing discrimination in the policies or practices 
involved in the charge, lawsuit or letter of findings.
    (D) Conflicts of Interest. All individuals involved in rating and 
ranking this NOFA, including experts and consultants, must avoid 
conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts. Individuals 
involved in the rating and ranking of applications must disclose to 
HUD's General Counsel or HUD's Ethics Law Division the following 
information, if applicable: how the selection or non-selection of any 
applicant under this NOFA will affect the individual's financial 
interests, as provided in 18 U.S.C. 208; or, how the application 
process involves a party with whom the individual has a covered 
relationship under 5 CFR 2635.502. The individual must disclose this 
information prior to

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participating in any matter regarding this NOFA. If you have questions 
regarding these provisions, or if you have questions concerning a 
conflict of interest. you may call the Office of General Counsel, 
Ethics Law Division, at 202-708-3815.
    (E) Factors for Award Used to Evaluate and Rate Applications. The 
factors for rating and ranking applicants, and maximum points for each 
factor, are provided below. The maximum number of points for this 
program is 100.
    Rating Factor 1: Capacity to do the Research (15 points). In 
reviewing this factor, NRC will determine the extent to which your 
training, past employment, and past written work, such as your 
dissertation, teaching, coursework, and previously completed research 
papers that were accepted for presentation or publication, lay a 
foundation for this proposed work.
    Rating Factor 2: Need for the Research (20 points). In reviewing 
this factor, NRC will determine the extent to which your proposed 
project undertakes research on an area not covered by previous research 
or proposes to look at a previously studied research topic in a new and 
different way. Reviewers will look at the clarity and compellingness of 
the case the applicant makes for this project in the context of the 
existing literature and knowledge base for that topic.
    Rating Factor 3: Approach (40 total points).
    (a) Appropriateness of your Methodology and Approach to the 
Research Topic (25 points). In reviewing this factor, NRC will 
determine the extent to which your research design and methodology are 
likely to produce data and information that will successfully answer 
your research hypotheses. NRC will also evaluate the extent to which 
the methodology you propose to use is sound and generally accepted by 
the relevant research community. Reviewers will be looking at the 
extent to which you use standard methodological practices in line with 
research already completed or existing publications in the field 
related to your research questions.
    (b) Plan for Timely Completion of Your Research Project (10 
points). In reviewing this factor, NRC will determine the extent to 
which your research design and methodology and plan for completion of 
your research project can feasibly be completed within the 15-month 
fellowship period. Applications that propose extremely complex and 
time-consuming data collection efforts (e.g., major longitudinal 
studies or a very large number of site visits within the grant period) 
will be determined to be less feasible of completion within the allowed 
time frame. For example, if you propose a methodology based on 
information that may not be publicly available until after the end of 
the grant period (e.g., census information), or a data collection plan 
that will take longer than the time you have allowed for it, you will 
get a lower score than if you have presented a time line and 
methodology that show evidence that the research project can be 
completed within the grant period.
    (c) Quality of the Mentoring Plan (5 points). In reviewing this 
factor, NRC will determine the appropriateness of the person chosen to 
be your mentor (in terms of his/her previous work (e.g., research, 
publications, presentations, standing in the research community, and 
availability) and the role the mentor has agreed to play in your 
project. The higher the time commitment the mentor makes to you, the 
higher the points you will receive.
    Rating Factor 4: Commitment of the University (10 points). In 
reviewing this factor, NRC will determine the extent of the commitment 
of your university, beyond that required in Section IV (C)(1). The 
quality of your institution's commitment, in terms of its furthering 
your research project, will also be evaluated under this factor. For 
example, your university could propose to cover the cost of a graduate 
assistant to work on your research project in order to demonstrate its 
commitment beyond what is required of it. The larger the commitment, 
translated into dollar terms, the higher the points. Full points may 
only be received if your institution agrees to reduce your course load 
by one course a semester or term and continue paying you your full 
salary.
    Rating Factor 5: Relevance of Your Research to HUD's Strategic 
Goals (15 points). In reviewing this factor, NRC will determine the 
extent to which your proposed research project will produce policy-
relevant information that is directly related to one or more of the 
strategic goals listed above (i.e., the research could improve the 
effectiveness of HUD's programs and policies and the ability to achieve 
the stated goals). The less directly related to one of these goals your 
research project is, the fewer points you will receive. For example, a 
study of minorities' housing choice decisions would have high relevance 
to HUD's strategic goals; a study of transportation inequities would 
have medium relevance; and a study of the effects of global warming on 
urban development would have low relevance.
    (F) Selections. HUD will fund applications in rank order, until it 
has awarded all available funds. However, as noted in Section II, HUD 
reserves the right to make awards for less than the amount requested in 
your application. After all application selections have been made, HUD 
may require that you participate in negotiations to determine the 
specific terms of the fellowship and the grant budget. In cases where 
HUD cannot successfully complete negotiations, or you fail to provide 
HUD with requested information, an award will not be made. In such 
instances, HUD may elect to offer an award to the next highest-ranking 
applicant, and proceed with negotiations with that applicant.

V. Application Submission Requirements

    You should include an original or electronic copy of your 
application. Please note the page limits for some of the items listed 
below and do not exceed them.
    The application kit made available by HUD through NRC will require 
the following items:
    (A) SF-424
    (B) SF-424-B
    (C) SF-424-C
    (D) Evidence of your eligibility, including:
    (1) A Ph.D. received on or after January 1, 1997;
    (2) A letter from your faculty chairperson, including the 
university's name, department, mailing address, telephone and facsimile 
numbers, attesting to your appointment to a tenure track or position 
extending beyond the 15-month duration of this fellowship and 
describing the support provided by the institution;
    (E) Response to Rating Factor 1, your capacity to do the research, 
including:
    (1) Your graduate and post-graduate educational background.
    (2) A one-page abstract of your dissertation.
    (3) A list of your publications: books, refereed journal articles, 
chapters contributed to books, articles in published proceedings, and 
any other articles.
    (4) A list of text and poster presentations made during the last 
five years.
    (5) Grants and awards received during the last five years.
    (6) Teaching load during the last five years.
    (7) Two letters of reference.
    (F) Response to Rating Factor 2, need for the research, including,
    A succinct description of how your proposal is non-duplicative of 
previously published research, and how it supports HUD's research 
agenda.

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    (G) Response to Rating Factor 3, a description of your work plan, 
including;
    (1) A one-page abstract of your research project.
    (2) A narrative of the proposed research, not to exceed 10 double-
spaced typed pages.
    (3) A working bibliography of your proposed project.
    (4) An annotated bibliography, e.g., a two- or three-sentence 
annotation for ten to twelve key sources in your working bibliography.
    (5) A letter from your mentor that includes his/her address, 
telephone and facsimile number and email address, states his/her 
qualifications and availability to be your mentor, and describes his/
her proposed role in your research project.
    (H) Certifications. These forms must be signed by the applicant and 
can be downloaded from the HUD web site at www.hud.gov.
    (1) HUD-2992, Certification regarding debarment and suspension 
pursuant to 24 CFR part 24.
    (2) HUD-50071, Disclosure of lobbying pursuant to 24 CFR part 87.
    (3) HUD-50070, Certification of Drug-Free Workplace, pursuant to 24 
CFR 24.600 et seq.

VI. Corrections to Deficient Applications

    After the application due date, HUD may not, consistent with its 
regulations in 24 CFR part 4, subpart B, consider any unsolicited 
information you, the applicant, may want to provide. HUD may contact 
you to clarify an item in your application or to correct technical 
deficiencies. HUD may not seek clarification of items or responses that 
improve the substantive quality of your response to any rating factors. 
In order not to unreasonably exclude applications from being rated and 
ranked, HUD may contact applicants to ensure proper completion of the 
application and will do so on a uniform basis for all applicants. 
Examples of curable (correctable) technical deficiencies include 
failure to submit the proper certifications or failure to submit an 
application that contains an original signature by an authorized 
official. In each case, HUD will notify you in writing by describing 
the clarification or technical deficiency. HUD will notify applicants 
by facsimile or by USPS, return receipt requested. Clarifications or 
corrections of technical deficiencies in accordance with the 
information provided by HUD must be submitted within 14 calendar days 
of the date of receipt of the HUD notification. (If the due date falls 
on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, your correction must be 
received by HUD on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or 
Federal holiday.)

VII. Environmental Requirements

    This NOFA does not direct, provide for assistance or loan and 
mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate, real property 
acquisition, disposition, 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 NOFA 
is categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321).

VIII. Other Matters

(A) Federalism, Executive Order 13132

    This notice does not have federalism implication and does not 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on State and local 
governments or preempt State law within the meaning of Executive Order 
13132 (entitled ``Federalism'').
    (B) Conducting Business In Accordance With Core Values and Ethical 
Standards. Entities subject to 24 CFR parts 84 and 85 (most non-profit 
organizations and State, local and tribal governments or government 
agencies or instrumentalities who receive Federal awards of financial 
assistance) are required to develop and maintain a written code of 
conduct (see Secs. 84.42 and 85.36(b)(3)). Consistent with regulations 
governing specific programs, your university's code of conduct must: 
prohibit real and apparent conflicts of interest that may arise among 
officers, employees, or agents; prohibit the solicitation and 
acceptance of gifts or gratuities by your officers, employees and 
agents for their personal benefit in excess of minimal value; and, 
outline administrative and disciplinary actions available to remedy 
violations of such standards. If awarded assistance under this NOFA, 
you will be required, prior to entering into a grant agreement with 
HUD, to submit a copy of your university's code of conduct.
    (C) Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities. You, the applicant, 
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. You 
are required to certify, using the certification found at Appendix A to 
24 CFR part 87, that you will not and have not used appropriated funds 
for any prohibited lobbying activities. In addition, you 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. Federally 
recognized Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities 
(TDHEs) established by federally recognized Indian tribes as a result 
of the exercise of the tribe's sovereign power are excluded from 
coverage of the Byrd Amendment, but State-recognized Indian tribes and 
TDHEs established under State law must comply with this requirement.
    (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, HUD published a notice that also provides 
information on the implementation of Section 102 (57 FR 1942). The 
documentation, public access, and disclosure requirements of Section 
102 apply to assistance awarded under this NOFA as follows:
    (1) Documentation and public access requirements. HUD will ensure 
that documentation and other information regarding each application 
submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to indicate the basis 
upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material, including 
any letters of support, will be made available for public inspection 
for a five-year period beginning not less than 30 days after the award 
of the assistance. Material will be made available in accordance with 
the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing 
regulations (24 CFR part 15).
    (2) Debriefing. Beginning not less than 30 days after the awards 
for assistance are announced in the above-mentioned Federal Register 
notice and for at least 120 days after awards for assistance are 
announced, HUD will provide a debriefing to any applicant requesting 
one on their application. All debriefing requests must be made in 
writing or by

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email by the authorized official whose signature appears on the SF-424 
or his or her successor in office, and submitted to the organization 
identified in the section entitled ``For Further Information and 
Technical Assistance.'' Information provided during a debriefing will 
include, at a minimum, the final score you received for each rating 
factor, final evaluator comments for each rating factor, and the final 
assessment indicating the basis upon which assistance was provided or 
denied.
    (3) Disclosures. HUD will make available to the public for five 
years all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form 2880) submitted in 
connection with this NOFA. Update reports (also reported on HUD Form 
2880) will be made available along with the applicant disclosure 
reports, but in no case for a period of less than three years. All 
reports, both applicant disclosures and updates, will be made available 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and 
HUD's implementing regulations (24 CFR part 5).
    (4) Publication of Recipients of HUD Funding. HUD's regulations at 
24 CFR part 4 provide that HUD will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register 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; 
and/or
    (ii) Assistance 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 of the 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, subpart B, 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.) HUD employees who have specific program questions 
should contact the appropriate field office counsel or Headquarters 
counsel for the program to which the question pertains. The Catalogue 
of Federal Domestic Assistance number is: 14.506.

IX. Authority

    The authority for this program is found in Title V of the Housing 
and Urban Development Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-609).

    Dated: April 25, 2002.
Lawrence L. Thompson,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 02-10726 Filed 4-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P