[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22334-22335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8972]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5629-N-01]


Authority To Accept Unsolicited Research Proposals

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

ACTION: Notice: Authority to accept unsolicited proposals for research 
partnerships.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that HUD's Office of Policy Development 
and Research has the authority to accept unsolicited research proposals 
that address one of the following research priorities: (1) HUD 
demonstrations, (2) using housing as a platform for improving quality 
of life, (3) the American Housing Survey data, or (4) housing 
technology. In accordance with statutory requirements, the research 
projects must be funded at least 50 percent by philanthropic entities 
and/or federal, state or local government agencies.

DATES: Proposals may be submitted at any time and will be evaluated as 
they are received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed by email 
to [email protected], by telephone to Sarah Schaefer, Office 
of Policy Development at (202) 402-6846 (this number is not toll-free), 
or by mail to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office 
of Policy Development and Research, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 8114, 
Washington, DC 20410, ATTENTION: Research Partnerships. Persons with 
speech or hearing impairments may call the Federal Relay Service TTY at 
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Consolidated and Further Continuing 
Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-55, approved November 18, 2011) 
(2012 Appropriations Act) authorizes the Office of Policy Development 
and Research (PD&R) to enter into non-competitive cooperative 
agreements for projects that are aligned with PD&R's research 
priorities and where HUD can gain value by having substantial 
involvement in the research activity.

Research Priorities

    HUD may enter into noncompetitive cooperative agreements for 
research proposals that inform important policy and program objectives 
of HUD that are not otherwise being addressed and that focus on one of 
HUD's research priorities. For 2012, HUD's four research priorities all 
focus on projects in the United States. The research priorities are:
    (1) HUD demonstrations. HUD values demonstrations as a method for 
evaluating new policy and program initiatives. HUD is interested in 
research opportunities that take advantage of its demonstrations, 
including completed, current, and future demonstrations. For example, 
the Moving to Opportunity demonstration was completed in 2011, but 
additional policy questions remain that could be answered using the 
existing data. In addition, the Choice Neighborhoods demonstration is 
currently under way and the Rental Assistance Demonstration and Small 
Area FMR Demonstration will both begin in 2012, all of which provide 
further opportunities for research.
    (2) Using housing as a platform to improve quality of life. For the 
first time, HUD identified using housing as a platform for improving 
quality of life as a goal in its Strategic Plan. Specifically, HUD is 
interested in how HUD assistance can be used to improve educational 
outcomes and early learning and development; improve health outcomes; 
increase economic security and self sufficiency; improve housing 
stability through supportive services for vulnerable populations, 
including the elderly, people with disabilities, homeless people, and 
those individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless; and 
improve public safety. To evaluate the ability of housing assistance to 
positively affect these various outcomes requires reaching beyond the 
sphere of housing to health, education, and other areas.
    (3) Use of American Housing Survey data. One of HUD's largest 
research

[[Page 22335]]

investments is the American Housing Survey (AHS). The AHS provides a 
wealth of data on size and composition of the nation's housing 
inventory, which could be more effectively used by researchers to 
address questions about housing market dynamics.
    (4) Housing technology for construction and rehabilitation work for 
HUD-funded clients. Public and private housing providers are 
increasingly using housing technology to improve energy efficiency or 
to introduce green or sustainable housing rehabilitation, construction, 
or products in the HUD-funded housing. HUD is interested in research 
that explores the successful efforts and knowledge of the private 
building sector that carries out construction and rehabilitation work 
for HUD-funded clients. This would be accomplished by examining 
products and systems, the decision-making process by private and public 
parties, and strategies pursued by private and philanthropic parties 
producing and promoting products and systems. HUD's interest is in 
encouraging replication of successful efforts by both private builders 
and HUD clients.

Cost Sharing

    Cost sharing is required for research projects to be eligible for 
funding through HUD's non-competitive cooperative agreement authority. 
In accordance with the 2012 Appropriations Act, at least 50 percent of 
the total estimated cost of the project must come from a philanthropic 
entity, other federal agency, or state or local government agency, or 
any combination of these partners. For the purposes of the cost-sharing 
requirement, HUD defines a philanthropic entity as the subset of 
501(c)(3) organizations that directly fund research activities. These 
include private foundations, public charities, and operating 
foundations. An educational institution may have a separate foundation, 
which would be considered a philanthropic entity for these purposes. 
Philanthropic entities may include foreign entities. Contributions do 
not include waiver of overhead or similar costs.

Proposals

    Proposals should contain sufficient information for PD&R to 
identify whether the research would meet statutory requirements for 
cost sharing and alignment with the research priorities identified 
above. Additionally, proposals should include the name, title, and 
telephone number of an individual that PD&R may contact in the event of 
any questions about the proposal. Proposals for research partnerships 
that have already been submitted to HUD as part of a grant competition 
are ineligible as the subject of a non-competitive cooperative 
agreement.

Proposal Review

    Proposals will be reviewed by a person or persons within HUD who 
are knowledgeable in the field of endeavor related to the substance of 
the research proposal. An Advisory Committee that includes the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Office of Research, Evaluation and 
Monitoring, the DAS for the Office of Policy Development, the DAS for 
the Office of Economic Affairs, the DAS for the Office of International 
and Philanthropic Innovation, and the DAS for the Office of University 
Partnerships, or any delegate asked to act on his or her behalf, will 
review proposals and make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary of 
PD&R. That recommendation will be documented and sent to the Office of 
the General Counsel and PD&R's Budget office concurrent with submission 
to the Assistant Secretary. As required by the statutory authority 
within the appropriations bill, HUD will report each award provided 
through a cooperative agreement in the Federal Funding Accountability 
and Transparency Act Sub-award Reporting System created under the 
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.

    Dated: April 9, 2012.
Raphael W. Bostic,
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2012-8972 Filed 4-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P