Rural Housing and Economic Development NOFA

FY2006 RHED NOFA.pdf

Rural Housing and Economic Development Program Application and Semi-Annual Reporting

Rural Housing and Economic Development NOFA

OMB: 2506-0169

Document [pdf]
Download: pdf | pdf
Wednesday,
March 8, 2006

Part II

Department of
Housing and Urban
Development

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

Fiscal Year 2006 SuperNOFA for HUD’s
Discretionary Programs; Notice

VerDate Aug<31>2005

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00001

Fmt 4717

Sfmt 4717

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

11712

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5030–N–01A]

Fiscal Year 2006 SuperNOFA for HUD’s
Discretionary Programs
Office of the Secretary, HUD.
Notice of HUD’s Fiscal Year
(FY) 2006 Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) for HUD’s
Discretionary Programs (SuperNOFA).

AGENCY:
ACTION:

SUMMARY: On January 20, 2006, HUD
published its Notice of Fiscal Year 2006
Notice of Funding Availability Policy
Requirements and General Section to
the SuperNOFA (General Section). In
that publication, HUD announced it was
publishing the General Section of the
FY2006 SuperNOFA in advance of the
individual NOFAs in order to give
prospective applicants sufficient time to
begin preparing their applications, and
to register early with Grants.gov to
facilitate their application submission
process. This publication contains the
39 funding opportunities that constitute
HUD’s FY2006 SuperNOFA.
DATES: The key dates that apply to all
HUD federal financial assistance made
available through HUD’s FY2006
SuperNOFA are found in each
individual program NOFA and in
Appendix A to this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
individual program NOFAs will identify
the applicable agency contacts for each
program. Questions regarding this
Introduction should be directed to the
NOFA Information Center between the
hours 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Time at 800–HUD–8929. Hearingimpaired persons may call 800–HUD–
2209. Questions regarding specific
program requirements should be
directed to the agency contacts
identified in each program NOFA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

Introduction (Supplemental General
Section)
This publication follows HUD’s
publication of the General Section of the
FY2006 SuperNOFA on January 20,
2006 (71 FR 3382), and presents the 39
individual funding opportunities that
constitute HUD’s FY2006 SuperNOFA.
HUD makes available through today’s
FY2006 SuperNOFA publication
approximately $2.2 billion in assistance.
While each program NOFA provides
the statutory and regulatory
requirements, threshold requirements,
and rating factors applicable to funding
made available through the individual
NOFA, applicants must also refer to the
January 20, 2006, General Section of the

VerDate Aug<31>2005

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

FY2006 SuperNOFA for important
application information and
requirements, including submission
requirements, which have changed this
year.
Appendix A to the January 20, 2006,
General Section identified the funding
opportunities anticipated to be included
in the FY2006 SuperNOFA. HUD is
revising and republishing Appendix A
(Revised Appendix A) as part of today’s
FY2006 SuperNOFA publication.
Revised Appendix A provides an up-todate funding chart that lists the funding
opportunities included in today’s
FY2006 SuperNOFA publication, along
with the application deadline for receipt
of applications. In reviewing Revised
Appendix A, applicants should note
that the HOPE VI Main Street Program
NOFA is not part of today’s FY2006
SuperNOFA publication. This NOFA
will be published separately, together
with the HOPE VI Revitalization NOFA.
In addition, the Self Help
Homeownership Opportunity Program
(SHOP) is part of today’s FY2006
SuperNOFA publication and is included
in Revised Appendix A.
In addition to Revised Appendix A,
this notice makes one clarification
regarding the discussion of the Logic
Model in Section VI.C. entitled
‘‘Reporting’’ of the January 20, 2006,
General Section (see 71 FR 3398).
Although the Logic Model is to be
completed by applicants, the Return on
Investment (ROI) Statement referenced
in the discussion of the Logic Model
only applies to grantees, i.e., applicants
selected for funding under the NOFAs.
Applicants are not to complete the ROI
statement. Additionally, for FY2006, the
ROI concept is a new concept for the
Logic Model. HUD is considering this
new concept and will issue a separate
notice within the next few weeks that
further addresses the ROI concept.
HUD published the General Section of
the FY2006 SuperNOFA early to
provide its applicant community with
the opportunity to become familiar with
cross cutting requirements, and to
remind prospective applicants to
register or renew their registration in
order to successfully submit an
application via Grants.gov.
Applicants are required to complete a
five-step registration process in order to
submit their applications electronically.
The registration process is outlined in
HUD’s Notice of Opportunity to Register
Early for Electronic Submission of Grant
Applications for Funding Opportunities,
published in the Federal Register on
December 9, 2006 (70 FR 73332), and
the brochure entitled ‘‘STEP BY STEP:
Your Guide to Registering for Grant
Opportunities,’’ located at http://

PO 00000

Frm 00002

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm. HUD also has a new
brochure titled, ‘‘Finding and Applying
for Grant Opportunities,’’ dated
February 2006, which walks you
through the process of finding and
applying for grant opportunities. This
brochure also contains Registration Tips
that will help applicants who
successfully submitted a grant
application last year to determine if
their registration is active and if they are
ready to submit a grant application to
Grants.gov.
HUD has received a number of
questions regarding what to do if an
Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR) has left the organization. An
excerpt from the ‘‘Finding and Applying
for Grant Opportunities Brochure,’’
dated February 2006 and describes the
steps that are needed in such situations
and also provides other pertinent
registration information. This excerpt
can be found on HUD’s Web site at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm under the title
‘‘Registration Tips.’’
In FY2006, HUD intends to continue
to require its applicants to submit their
applications electronically through
Grants.gov. For FY2006, only the
Continuum of Care program will remain
a paper application process. It is HUD’s
intent, however, to move the Continuum
of Care program to electronic
application submission in FY2007. As a
result, HUD continues to encourage
Continuum of Care agencies to become
familiar with Grants.gov requirements to
facilitate this transition.
If you have questions concerning the
registration process, registration
renewal, assigning a new AOR, or have
a question about a NOFA requirement,
please feel free to contact HUD staff
listed in the NOFA. HUD staff cannot
help you write your application, but can
clarify requirements that are contained
in this Notice and HUD’s registration
materials.
Applicants are also encouraged to
participate in HUD’s satellite training
and web cast sessions designed to
provide a detailed explanation of the
general section and program section
requirements for each of the
SuperNOFA programs. The interactive
broadcasts provide you an opportunity
to ask questions of HUD staff. These
broadcasts are also achieved and
accessible from HUD’s Grants page at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm. Applicants should
bookmark the Grants page as it provides
a wealth of information including
responses to frequently asked questions
that arise during the funding application
period.

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

Modifications to any of the NOFAs or
the application are posted to
www.Grants.gov as soon as they are
available. Applicants should subscribe
to the Grants.gov free notification
service. By doing so, you will receive an
e-mail notification as soon as items are

VerDate Aug<31>2005

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

posted to Grants.gov. The address to
subscribe to this service is http://
www.grants.gov/search/email.do.
HUD reiterates the statement made in
the publication of the General Section
on January 20, 2006, and that is, HUD
hopes the steps that it has taken to
provide information early on the

PO 00000

Frm 00003

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

11713

FY2006 funding process and
SuperNOFA requirements are of benefit
to applicants.
Dated: February 22, 2006.
Roy A. Bernardi,
Deputy Secretary.
BILLING CODE 4210–01–P

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

VerDate Aug<31>2005

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00004

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

EN08MR06.000

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

11714

VerDate Aug<31>2005

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00005

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

11715

EN08MR06.001

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

VerDate Aug<31>2005

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00006

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

EN08MR06.002

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

11716

VerDate Aug<31>2005

18:12 Mar 07, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00007

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\08MRN2.SGM

08MRN2

11717

EN08MR06.003

wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 8, 2006 / Notices

Friday,
January 20, 2006

Part IV

Department of
Housing and Urban
Development

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

HUD’s Fiscal Year 2006 Notice of Funding
Availability Policy Requirements and
General Section to the SuperNOFA for
HUD’s Discretionary Programs; Notice

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00001

Fmt 4717

Sfmt 4717

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3382

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5030–N–01]

Notice of HUD’s Fiscal Year 2006
Notice of Funding Availability Policy
Requirements and General Section to
the SuperNOFA for HUD’s
Discretionary Programs
Office of the Secretary, HUD.
Notice of HUD’s Fiscal Year
(FY) 2006 Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) policy
requirements and general section to the
FY2006 SuperNOFA for HUD’s
Discretionary Programs (notice).

AGENCY:

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

ACTION:

SUMMARY: This notice provides
prospective applicants for HUD
competitive funding with the
opportunity to become familiar with the
General Section to HUD’s FY2006
SuperNOFA, in advance of publication
of the FY2006 SuperNOFA. Publication
of HUD’s annual SuperNOFA is targeted
for publication in early 2006. This early
publication of the General Section is
one of several steps that HUD is taking
to improve the funding process for its
grantee community. Early publication of
the General Section will give
prospective applicants additional time
to become familiar with and address
those provisions in the General Section,
which constitute part of almost every
application. HUD will publish changes
to this General Section made after
today’s publication with the
SuperNOFA.
HUD will continue to require that
applicants submit their applications
electronically via Grants.gov. For
FY2006, only the Continuum of Care
will remain as a paper application
process. It is HUD’s intent to move the
Continuum of Care to electronic
application submittal in FY2007. All
prospective applicants should take this
time to carefully read the Federal
Register Notice published on December
9, 2005 entitled ‘‘Notice of Opportunity
to Register Early for Electronic
Submission of Grant Applications for
HUD Funding Opportunities; Early
Registration with Grants.gov,’’ and
register prior to the publication of the
Program Sections of the FY2006
SuperNOFA. The early registration
notice can be found on HUD’s Web site
at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/
grants/fundsavail.cfm. Continuum of
Care applicants are advised to become
familiar with the registration and
submission procedures. Although HUD
is not requiring electronic submission
for the Continuum of Care this year, all
the Federal grant-making agencies are
pledging to make 75 percent of funding

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

opportunities available on Grants.gov in
FY2006. Therefore, Continuum of Care
agencies would benefit from becoming
familiar with the requirements so they
do not limit their ability to get funding
from sources other than HUD in
FY2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Departmental Grants
Management and Oversight, Office of
Administration, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh
Street, SW., Room 3156, Washington,
DC 20410–5000, telephone number
(202) 708–0667. Persons with hearing or
speech impairments may access this
number via TTY by calling the Federal
Information Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each year,
HUD strives to improve its competitive
funding process. In FY2005, HUD
successfully migrated from paper
application submission for the majority
of its funding opportunities to electronic
application submission. Over 5,400
applicants successfully submitted
applications electronically for HUD’s
grant programs. While the majority of
HUD’s applicants were able to make the
transition to electronic government, a
minority had difficulty with the
submission process. In speaking with
applicants, HUD has heard the concerns
raised and therefore has taken several
steps to provide early technical
assistance and information so that every
applicant can successfully meet the
electronic submission requirements.
HUD wants every applicant to
transition successfully to electronic
application submission in FY2006. HUD
believes that by issuing its Early
Registration for Grant Application
Submission Notice published on
December 9, 2005 (70 FR 73332), and
this General Section in advance of the
publication of the FY2006 Program
Sections of the SuperNOFA, applicants
will have time to familiarize themselves
with the General Requirements
applicable to all programs and complete
the five-step Grants.gov registration
process. This way, when the program
NOFAs are published, applicants can
focus on completing and submitting
their applications in accordance with all
related requirements and timelines.
The Early Registration Notice
provides step-by-step instructions for
applicants that have to register with
Grants.gov and renewal instructions for
those that have previously registered.
The renewal instructions are simple and
easy to follow, but must be completed
before an applicant’s registration with
the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)
expires. Failure to update the

PO 00000

Frm 00002

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

registration in the CCR will require an
applicant to go through the entire
registration process again.
Early registration for electronic grant
application submission (see notice
published on December 9, 2005) and
early publication of the General Section
of the FY2006 SuperNOFA are just two
steps that HUD is taking in FY2006 to
improve the funding process. HUD is
also taking steps to streamline and
simplify the application submission
requirements so that applications will
be easier to complete and upload. To
ensure that HUD continues to get
feedback from the public on these
improvements, each application and
HUD’s Web site will contain a revised
‘‘You Are Our Client’’ survey
questionnaire. HUD requests that you
respond to this survey to let us know
what improvements have been
beneficial and to share your ideas on
where improvements can continue to be
made. HUD carefully considers the
comments received from its clients and
continually strives to improve each
year’s SuperNOFA and its funding
process.
HUD believes that early publication of
the General Section is beneficial to
prospective applicants by providing
advance notice of the Department’s
threshold requirements, strategic goals,
policy priorities, and other
comprehensive requirements that are
applicable to almost every individual
NOFA that comprises the SuperNOFA.
The General Section, as in the past, is
structured to refer the reader to the
individual program NOFAs. Although
the program NOFAs are not being
published at this time, the references are
retained. This way, when the program
sections of the FY2006 SuperNOFA are
published, they will work together as
they have done since the first
SuperNOFA was published in 1998.
HUD intends to publish the program
NOFAs in early 2006. Applicants
interested in receiving e-mail
notification of the availability of the
program sections should go to http://
www.grants.gov/Find#receiveGetStarted
and sign up for e-mail notification of
funding opportunities. By doing so, you
will receive an e-mail as soon as the
program NOFA portion of the
SuperNOFA and application is available
on Grants.gov. This publication
includes a list of programs anticipated
to be in the FY2006 SuperNOFA,
subject to the availability of funds. The
program NOFA portion of the
SuperNOFA will include any changes
made to this listing and provide
projected funding available and
application deadline dates.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
In addition to the early publication of
the Grants.gov registration process and
the General Section of the FY2006
SuperNOFA, HUD continually strives to
provide technical assistance and
training to prospective applicants. To
ensure effective communication with
current and potential funding
recipients, HUD has been posting
pertinent documents related to these
efforts on its Web site, including
training opportunities available via
satellite broadcast and Webcast, local
registration and submission clinics, and
grant writing workshops sponsored by
HUD’s Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives. HUD encourages
you to visit the Department’s Web site
for information regarding the latest
developments. HUD’s Web site address
for information on this initiative is
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
egrants/egrants.cfm. Information on
grant streamlining activities can be
found at http://www.hud.gov/offices/
adm/grants/pl-106107/pl106–107.cfm.
HUD hopes that the steps that it has
taken to provide information early on
the FY2006 funding process and
SuperNOFA requirements will be of
benefit to you.
Dated: January 11, 2006.
Roy A. Bernardi,
Deputy Secretary.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Overview Information
A. Federal Agency Name: Department
of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), Office of the Secretary.
B. Funding Opportunity Title: Policy
requirements applicable to all HUD
notices of funding availability (NOFAs)
published during FY2006.
C. Announcement Type: Initial
announcement of the general policy
requirements that apply to all HUD
Federal financial assistance NOFAs for
FY2006 issued simultaneously with or
after the publication of this notice.
D. Funding Opportunity Number: FR
5030–N–01.
E. Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: A CFDA
number is provided for each HUD
Federal financial assistance program.
When using ‘‘Apply Step 1’’ on the
Grants.gov Web site to download an
application, you will be asked for the
CFDA number. Please refer to the
program NOFA for the CFDA number
assigned to the program(s) for which
you wish to apply.
Tip for Finding Application
Information: Use only the CFDA
number, OR the Funding Competition
Identification Number, OR Funding

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description

General Section to HUD’s Fiscal Year
2006 SuperNOFA

VerDate Aug<31>2005

Opportunity Number when using the
search feature on Grants.gov. Using
more than one of these items will result
in an error message indicating that the
opportunity cannot be found.
F. Dates: The key dates that apply to
all HUD Federal financial assistance
made available through HUD’s FY2006
NOFAs are found in each individual
program NOFA. Appendix A to this
General Section lists the programs
expected to be included in the FY2006
SuperNOFA. The SuperNOFA
publication will contain a detailed
Appendix A that will provide the final
list of programs included in the
SuperNOFA, funds available under each
funding opportunity, and key deadline
dates.
G. Optional, Additional Overview
Content Information: Unless otherwise
stated, HUD’s general policy
requirements set forth in this notice
apply to all HUD Federal financial
assistance made available through
HUD’s FY2006 NOFAs. These policies
cover those NOFAs issued through the
SuperNOFA, as well as those that HUD
will issue after publication of the
SuperNOFA in the Federal Register.

Jkt 208001

This notice describes HUD’s FY2006
policy requirements applicable to all of
HUD’s NOFAs published in FY2006.
Each such NOFA will contain a
description of the specific requirements
for the program for which funding is
made available and each will refer to
applicable policies described in this
General Section. Each program NOFA
will also describe additional procedures
and requirements that apply to the
individual program NOFA, including a
description of the eligible applicants,
eligible activities, threshold
requirements, factors for award, and any
additional program requirements or
limitations. To adequately address all of
the application requirements for any
program for which you intend to apply,
please carefully read and respond to
both this General Section and the
individual program NOFAs.
Authority. HUD’s authority for
making funding available under its
FY2006 programs is identified in each
program NOFA under the section
entitled ‘‘Funding Opportunity
Description.’’
II. Award Information
Funding Available. Each program
NOFA will identify the estimated
amount of funds available in FY2006,
either as a result of the enactment of a
HUD appropriations act or based upon

PO 00000

Frm 00003

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3383

available appropriations and any funds
from previous years available for award
in FY2006. Appendix A to this notice
contains a chart of the programs
expected to be included in the FY2006
SuperNOFA. HUD will publish an
updated chart, noting the amount of
funds available for each program, and
the required deadline date with the
publication of the Program NOFA
section of the FY2006 SuperNOFA. If
other program funds become available,
HUD reserves the right to increase the
available funding for the applicable
program by those amounts. Note that
additional program NOFAs may be
published as part of the FY2006
SuperNOFA or published separately
from the FY2006 SuperNOFA.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
The individual program NOFAs
describe the eligible applicants and
eligible activities for each program.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
The individual program NOFAs
describe the applicable cost sharing,
matching requirements, or leveraging
requirements related to each program, if
any. Although matching or cost sharing
may not be required, HUD programs
often encourage applicants to leverage
grant funds with other funding to
receive higher rating points.
C. Other Requirements and Procedures
Applicable to All Programs
Except as may be modified in the
individual program NOFAs, the
requirements, procedures, and
principles listed below apply to all
programs in FY2006 for which funding
is announced by NOFA and published
in the Federal Register. Please read the
individual program NOFAs for
additional requirements and
information.
1. Statutory and Regulatory
Requirements
To be eligible for funding under
HUD’s NOFAs issued during FY2006,
applicants must meet all statutory and
regulatory requirements applicable to
the program or programs for which they
seek funding. Applicants requiring
program regulations may obtain them
from the NOFA Information Center or
through HUD’s Grants Web site at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm. See the individual
program NOFAs for instructions on how
HUD will respond to proposed activities
that are ineligible.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3384

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

2. Threshold Requirements
a. Ineligible Applicants. HUD will not
consider an application from an
ineligible applicant.
b. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) Number
Requirement. All applicants seeking
funding directly from HUD must obtain
a DUNS number and include the
number in its Application for Federal
Assistance submission. Failure to
provide a DUNS number will prevent
you from obtaining an award, regardless
of whether it is a new award or renewal
of an existing award. This policy is
pursuant to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) policy issued in the
Federal Register on June 27, 2003 (68
FR 38402). HUD published its
regulation implementing the DUNS
number requirement on November 9,
2004 (69 FR 65024). A copy of the OMB
Federal Register notice and HUD’s
regulation implementing the DUNS
number can be found on HUD’s Web
site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/
grants/duns.cfm. Applicants cannot
submit applications electronically
without a DUNS number entry.
Applicants must carefully enter the
DUNS number on the application
package, making sure it is identical to
the DUNS number under which the
Authorized Organization Representative
is registered to submit an application.
c. Compliance With Fair Housing and
Civil Rights Laws.
(1) With the exception of federally
recognized Indian tribes and their
instrumentalities, applicants must
comply with all applicable fair housing
and civil rights requirements in 24 CFR
5.105(a). If you are a federally
recognized Indian tribe, you must
comply with the nondiscrimination
provisions enumerated at 24 CFR
1000.12, as applicable. In addition to
these requirements, there may be
program-specific threshold
requirements identified in the
individual program NOFAs.
(2) If you, the applicant:
(a) Have been charged with an
ongoing systemic violation of the Fair
Housing Act; or
(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 findings
identifying ongoing systemic
noncompliance under Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or
Section 109 of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974,
and the charge, lawsuit, or letter of
findings referenced in subparagaph (a),

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

(b), or (c) above has not been resolved
to HUD’s satisfaction before the
application deadline, then you are
ineligible and HUD will not rate and
rank your application. HUD will
determine if actions to resolve the
charge, lawsuit, or letter of findings
taken before the application deadline
are sufficient to resolve the matter.
Examples of actions that would
normally be considered sufficient to
resolve the matter include, but are not
limited to:
(i) A voluntary compliance agreement
signed by all parties in response to a
letter of findings;
(ii) A HUD-approved conciliation
agreement signed by all parties;
(iii) A consent order or consent
decree; or
(iv) An issuance of a judicial ruling or
a HUD Administrative Law Judge’s
decision.
d. Conducting Business in
Accordance With Core Values and
Ethical Standards. Applicants subject to
24 CFR parts 84 and 85 (most nonprofit
organizations and State, local, and tribal
governments or government agencies or
instrumentalities that receive Federal
awards of financial assistance) are
required to develop and maintain a
written code of conduct (see 24 CFR
84.42 and 85.36(b)(3)). Consistent with
regulations governing specific programs,
your 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, or agents for their
personal benefit in excess of minimal
value; and outline administrative and
disciplinary actions available to remedy
violations of such standards. Before
entering into an agreement with HUD,
applicants awarded assistance under a
HUD program NOFA announced in
FY2006 will be required to submit a
copy of its code of conduct and describe
the methods it will use to ensure that all
officers, employees, and agents of its
organization are aware of its code of
conduct. Applicants are prohibited from
receiving an award of funds from HUD
if they fail to meet this requirement for
a code of conduct. Applicants that
submitted an application during FY2004
or FY2005 and included a copy of their
code of conduct will not be required to
submit another copy if the applicant is
listed on HUD’s Web site at http://
www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
codeofconduct/cconduct.cfm and if the
information has not been revised.
Applicants not listed on the HUD Web
site must submit a copy of their code of
conduct with their FY2006 application
for assistance. Applicants must also

PO 00000

Frm 00004

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

include a copy of their code of conduct
if the information listed on HUD’s Web
site has changed (e.g., the person who
submitted the previous application is no
longer your authorized organization
representative, the organization has
changed its legal name or merged with
another organization, or the address of
the organization has changed, etc.).
Applicants that need to may submit
their code of conduct to HUD via
facsimile using the form HUD–96011,
Facsimile Transmittal. When using the
facsimile transmittal form, please type
the requested information. Use HUD–
96011 as the cover page to the
submission and include in the top line
of the form under ‘‘Name of Document
Being Requested,’’ ‘‘Code of Conduct for
(insert organization name, city, and
state),’’ and fax the information to
HUD’s toll-free number at (800) HUD–
1010. If you cannot access the 800
number or have problems, you may use
(215) 825–8798 (this is not a toll-free
number). When received, HUD will
update the information on its Code of
Conduct Web site.
e. Delinquent Federal Debts.
Consistent with the purpose and intent
of 31 U.S.C. 3720B and 28 U.S.C.
3201(e), HUD will not award Federal
funds to an applicant that has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt
unless (1) the delinquent account is
paid in full, (2) a negotiated repayment
schedule is established and the
repayment schedule is not delinquent,
or (3) other arrangements satisfactory to
HUD are made prior to the deadline
date.
f. Pre-Award Accounting System
Surveys. HUD may arrange for a preaward survey of the applicant’s
financial management system in cases
where the recommended applicant has
no prior Federal support, HUD’s
program officials have reason to
question whether the applicant’s
financial management system meets
Federal financial management
standards, or the applicant is considered
a high risk based upon past performance
or financial management findings. HUD
will not disburse funds to any applicant
that does not have a financial
management system that meets Federal
standards.
g. Name Check Review. Applicants
are subject to a name check review
process. Name checks are intended to
reveal matters that significantly reflect
on the applicant’s management and
financial integrity, or if any key
individual has been convicted or is
presently facing criminal charges. If the
name check reveals significant adverse
findings that reflect on the business
integrity or responsibility of the

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
applicant or any key individual, HUD
reserves the right to (1) deny funding or
consider suspension or termination of
an award immediately for cause, (2)
require the removal of any key
individual from association with
management or implementation of the
award, and (3) make appropriate
provisions or revisions with respect to
the method of payment or financial
reporting requirements.
h. False Statements. A false statement
in an application is grounds for denial
or termination of an award and possible
punishment as provided in 18 U.S.C.
1001.
i. Prohibition Against Lobbying
Activities. Applicants are subject to the
provisions of Section 319 of Public Law
101–121 (approved October 23, 1989)
(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. In
addition, applicants must disclose,
using Standard Form LLL (SF–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, or 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
only under State law must comply with
this requirement. Applicants must
submit the SF–LLL if they have used or
intend to use Federal funds for lobbying
activities.
j. Debarment and Suspension. In
accordance with 24 CFR part 24, no
award of Federal funds may be made to
applicants that are presently debarred or
suspended, or proposed to be debarred
or suspended from doing business with
the Federal Government.
3. Other Threshold Requirements. The
individual program NOFAs for which
you are applying may specify other
threshold requirements. Additional
threshold requirements may be
identified in the discussion of
‘‘eligibility’’ requirements in the
individual program NOFAs. If a
program NOFA requires a certification
of consistency with the Consolidated
Plan and the applicant fails to provide
a certification, and such failure is not
cured as a technical deficiency, HUD
will not fund the application. If HUD is

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

provided a signed certification
indicating consistency with the area’s
approved Consolidated Plan and HUD
finds that the activities are not
consistent with the Consolidated Plan,
HUD will not fund the inconsistent
activities or will deny funding the
application if a majority of the activities
are not consistent with the approved
Consolidated Plan. The determination
not to fund an activity or to deny
funding may be determined by a
number of factors, including the number
of activities being proposed, the impact
of the elimination of the activities on
the proposal, or the percent of the
budget allocated to the proposed
activities.
4. Additional Nondiscrimination and
Other Requirements
Applicants and their subrecipients
must comply with:
a. Civil Rights Laws, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), the Age
Discrimination Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.
6101 et seq.), and Title IX of the
Education Amendments Act of 1972 (20
U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
b. Affirmatively Furthering Fair
Housing. Under Section 808(e)(5) of the
Fair Housing Act, HUD has a statutory
duty to affirmatively further fair
housing. HUD requires the same of its
funding recipients. If you are a
successful applicant, you will have a
duty to affirmatively further fair housing
opportunities for classes protected
under the Fair Housing Act. Protected
classes include race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, disability, and
familial status. Unless otherwise
instructed in the individual program
NOFA, your application must include
specific steps to:
(1) Overcome the effects of
impediments to fair housing choice that
were identified in the jurisdiction’s
Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair
Housing Choice;
(2) Remedy discrimination in
housing; or
(3) Promote fair housing rights and
fair housing choice.
Further, you, the applicant, have a
duty to carry out the specific activities
provided in your responses to the
individual program NOFA rating factors
that address affirmatively furthering fair
housing. These requirements apply to
all HUD programs announced via a
NOFA, unless specifically excluded in
the individual program NOFA.
c. Economic Opportunities for Lowand Very Low-Income Persons (Section
3). Certain programs to be issued during
FY2006 require recipients of assistance
to comply with Section 3 of the Housing

PO 00000

Frm 00005

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3385

and Urban Development Act of 1968
(Section 3), 12 U.S.C. 1701u (Economic
Opportunities for Low- and Very LowIncome Persons in Connection with
Assisted Projects), and the HUD
regulations at 24 CFR part 135,
including the reporting requirements at
subpart E. Section 3 requires recipients
to ensure that, to the greatest extent
feasible, training, employment, and
other economic opportunities will be
directed to low- and very-low income
persons, particularly those who are
recipients of government assistance for
housing, and business concerns that
provide economic opportunities to lowand very low-income persons. Review
the individual program NOFAs to
determine if Section 3 applies to the
program for which you are seeking
funding.
d. Ensuring the Participation of Small
Businesses, Small Disadvantaged
Businesses, and Women-Owned
Businesses. HUD is committed to
ensuring that small businesses, small
disadvantaged businesses, and womenowned businesses participate fully in
HUD’s direct contracting and in
contracting opportunities generated by
HUD financial assistance. Too often,
these businesses still experience
difficulty in accessing information and
successfully bidding on Federal
contracts. State, local, and tribal
governments are required by 24 CFR
85.36(e) and nonprofit recipients of
assistance (grantees and sub-grantees)
by 24 CFR 84.44(b) to take all necessary
affirmative steps in contracting for the
purchase of goods or services to assure
that minority firms, women’s business
enterprises, and labor surplus area firms
are used whenever possible or as
specified in the individual program
NOFAs.
e. Relocation. The relocation
requirements of the Uniform Relocation
Assistance and Real Property
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (URA),
as amended, and the implementing
government-wide regulation at 49 CFR
part 24, cover any person who moves
permanently from real property or
moves personal property from real
property as a direct result of acquisition,
rehabilitation, or demolition for a
program or project receiving HUD
assistance. While there are no statutory
provisions for ‘‘temporary relocation’’
under the URA, the URA regulations
recognize that there are circumstances
where a person will not be permanently
displaced but may need to be moved
from a project for a short period of time.
Appendix A, § 24.2(a)(9)(ii)(D) to the
URA regulation explains that any tenant
who has been temporarily relocated for
a period beyond one year must be

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

3386

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

contacted by the displacing agency and
offered URA relocation assistance. Some
HUD program regulations provide
additional protections for temporarily
relocated tenants. For example, 24 CFR
583.310(f)(1) provides guidance on
temporary relocation for the Supportive
Housing Program for the homeless.
Before planning their project, applicants
should review the regulations for the
programs for which they are applying.
The URA does not apply to
displacements resulting from the
demolition or disposition of public
housing covered by Section 18 of the
United States Housing Act of 1937.
f. Executive Order 13166, ‘‘Improving
Access to Services for Persons with
Limited English Proficiency (LEP).’’
Executive Order 13166 seeks to improve
access to federally assisted services,
programs, and benefits for individuals
with limited English proficiency.
Applicants obtaining an award from
HUD must seek to provide access to
program benefits and information to
LEP individuals through translation and
interpretive services in accordance with
LEP guidance published on December
19, 2003 (68 FR 70968). For assistance
and information regarding your LEP
obligation, go to http://www.lep.gov.
g. Executive Order 13279, ‘‘Equal
Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based
and Community Organizations.’’ HUD is
committed to full implementation of
Executive Order 13279. The Executive
Order established fundamental
principles and policymaking criteria to
guide Federal agencies in formulating
and developing policies that have
implications for faith-based and
community organizations to ensure the
equal protection for these organizations
in social services programs receiving
Federal financial assistance. Consistent
with this order, HUD has undertaken a
review of all policies and regulations
that have implications for faith-based
and community organizations and has
established a policy priority to provide
full and equal access to grassroots faithbased and other community-based
organizations in HUD program
implementation. HUD revised its
program regulations in 2003 and 2004 to
remove the barriers to participation of
faith-based organizations in HUD
funding programs (68 FR 56396,
September 30, 2003), (69 FR 41712, July
9, 2004), and (69 FR 62164, October 22,
2004). Copies of the regulatory changes
can be found at http://www.hud.gov/
offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm.
h. Accessible Technology. Section 508
of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 508)
requires HUD and other Federal
departments and agencies to ensure,
when developing, procuring,

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

maintaining or using electronic and
information technology (EIT), that the
EIT allow, regardless of the type of
medium of technology, persons with
disabilities access to and use of
information and data on a comparable
basis as is made available to and used
by persons without disabilities. Section
508’s coverage includes, but is not
limited to, computers (hardware,
software, word processing, email, and
Internet sites), facsimile machines,
copiers, and telephones. Among other
things, Section 508 requires that unless
an undue burden would result to the
Federal department or agency,
electronic and information technology
must allow individuals with disabilities
who are employees or members of the
public seeking information or services,
to have access to and use of information
and data that are comparable to that of
employees and members of the public
who are not disabled. Where an undue
burden exists to the Federal department
or agency, alternative means may be
used to allow a disabled individual use
of the information and data. Section 508
does not require that information
services be provided at any location
other than a location at which the
information services are generally
provided. HUD encourages its funding
recipients to adopt the goals and
objectives of Section 508 by ensuring,
whenever EIT is used, procured, or
developed, that persons with disabilities
have access to and use of the
information and data made available
through the EIT on a comparable basis
as is made available to and used by
persons without disabilities. This does
not affect recipients’ required
compliance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and, where
applicable, the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
i. Procurement of Recovered
Materials. State agencies and agencies of
a political subdivision of a State that are
using assistance under a HUD program
NOFA for procurement, and any person
contracting with such an agency with
respect to work performed under an
assisted contract, must comply with the
requirements of Section 6002 of the
Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended
by the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act.
In accordance with Section 6002,
these agencies and persons must
procure items designated in guidelines
of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) at 40 CFR part 247 that contain
the highest percentage of recovered
materials practicable, consistent with
maintaining a satisfactory level of
competition, where the purchase price
of the item exceeds $10,000 or the value

PO 00000

Frm 00006

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

of the quantity acquired in the
preceding fiscal year exceeded $10,000;
must procure solid waste management
services in a manner that maximizes
energy and resource recovery; and must
have established an affirmative
procurement program for procurement
of recovered materials identified in the
EPA guidelines.
j. Participation in HUD-Sponsored
Program Evaluation. As a condition of
the receipt of financial assistance under
a HUD program NOFA, all successful
applicants will be required to cooperate
with all HUD staff or contractors who
perform HUD-funded research or
evaluation studies.
k. Executive Order 13202,
‘‘Preservation of Open Competition and
Government Neutrality Towards
Government Contractors’ Labor
Relations on Federal and Federally
Funded Construction Projects.’’
Compliance with HUD regulations at 24
CFR 5.108 that implement Executive
Order 13202 is a condition of receipt of
assistance under a HUD program NOFA.
l. Salary Limitation for Consultants.
FY2006 funds may not be used to pay
or to provide reimbursement for
payment of the salary of a consultant
whether retained by the Federal
government or the grantee at more than
the daily equivalent of the rate of the
high of the pay band paid for level IV
of the Executive Schedule, unless
specifically authorized by law.
m. OMB Circulars and Governmentwide Regulations Applicable to
Financial Assistance Programs. Certain
OMB Circulars also apply to HUD
programs in this SuperNOFA. The
policies, guidance, and requirements of
OMB Circulars A–87 (Cost Principles
Applicable to Grants, Contracts and
Other Agreements with State and Local
Governments), A–21 (Cost Principles for
Education Institutions), A–122 (Cost
Principles for Nonprofit Organizations),
A–133 (Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations), and the regulations at 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), may apply
to the award, acceptance, and use of
assistance under the individual program
NOFAs of this SuperNOFA, and to the
remedies for noncompliance, except
when inconsistent with the provisions
of HUD’s appropriations act for FY2006,
other Federal statutes or regulations, or
the provisions of this General Section.
Compliance with additional OMB

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
circulars or government-wide
regulations may be specified for a
particular program in the NOFA
Program Section of the SuperNOFA.
Copies of the OMB circulars may be
obtained from EOP Publications, New
Executive Office Building, Room 2200,
Washington, DC 20503, telephone (202)
395–3080 (this is not a toll-free number)
or (800) 877–8339 (toll-free TTY Federal
Information Relay Service) or from the
Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/circulars/index.html.
n. Environmental Requirements. If
you become a recipient under one of
HUD’s programs that assist in physical
development activities or property
acquisition, you are generally prohibited
from acquiring, rehabilitating,
converting, demolishing, leasing,
repairing, or constructing property or
committing or expending HUD or nonHUD funds for these types of program
activities, until one of the following has
occurred:
(1) HUD has completed an
environmental review in accordance
with 24 CFR part 50; or
(2) For programs subject to 24 CFR
part 58, HUD has approved a recipient’s
Request for Release of Funds (Form
HUD–7015.15) following a Responsible
Entity’s completion of an environmental
review.
You, the applicant, should consult the
individual program NOFA for any
program for which you are interested in
applying to determine the procedures
for, timing of, and any exclusions from
environmental review under a particular
program. For applicants applying for
funding under the Section 202
Supportive Housing for the Elderly
program or Section 811 Supportive
Housing for Persons with Disabilities
program, please note the environmental
review requirements for these programs.
o. Conflicts of Interest. If you are a
consultant or expert who is assisting
HUD in rating and ranking applicants
for funding under this General Section
or future NOFAs published in FY2006,
you are subject to 18 U.S.C. 208, the
Federal criminal conflict of interest
statute, and the Standards of Ethical
Conduct for Employees of the Executive
Branch regulation published at 5 CFR
part 2635. As a result, if you have
assisted or plan to assist applicants with
preparing applications for programs in
the SuperNOFA or NOFAs published in
FY2006, you may not serve on a
selection panel and you may not serve
as a technical advisor to HUD. Persons
involved in rating and ranking HUD
FY2006 NOFAs, including experts and
consultants, must avoid conflicts of
interest or the appearance of conflicts.
Persons involved in rating and ranking

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

applications must disclose to HUD’s
General Counsel or HUD’s Ethics Law
Division the following information, if
applicable: How the selection or nonselection of any applicant under the
FY2006 SuperNOFA 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
person must disclose this information
before participating in any matter
regarding a FY2006 NOFA. If you have
questions regarding these provisions or
concerning a conflict of interest, you
may call the Office of General Counsel,
Ethics Law Division, at (202) 708–3815
(this is not a toll-free number).
p. Drug-Free Workplace. Applicants
awarded funds from HUD are required
to provide a drug-free workplace.
Compliance with this requirement
means that the applicant will:
(1) Publish a statement notifying
employees that it is unlawful to
manufacture, distribute, dispense,
possess, or use a controlled substance in
the applicant’s workplace and that such
activities are prohibited. The statement
must specify the actions that will be
taken against employees for violation of
this prohibition. The statement must
also notify employees that, as a
condition of employment under the
Federal award, they are required to
abide by the terms of the statement and
that each employee must agree to notify
the employer in writing of any violation
of a criminal drug statute occurring in
the workplace no later than 5 calendar
days after such violation;
(2) Establish an ongoing drug-free
awareness program to inform employees
about:
(a) The dangers of drug abuse in the
workplace;
(b) The applicant’s policy of
maintaining a drug-free workplace;
(c) Any available drug counseling,
rehabilitation, or employee maintenance
programs; and
(d) The penalties that may be imposed
upon employees for drug abuse
violations occurring in the workplace;
(3) Notify the Federal agency in
writing within 10 calendar days after
receiving notice from an employee of a
drug abuse conviction or otherwise
receiving actual notice of a drug abuse
conviction. The notification must be
provided in writing to HUD’s Office of
Departmental Grants Management and
Oversight, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street,
SW., Room 3156, Washington, DC
20410–3000, along with the following
information:

PO 00000

Frm 00007

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3387

(a) The program title and award
number for each HUD award covered;
(b) The HUD staff contact name,
phone, and fax numbers and
(c) A grantee contact name, phone,
and fax number; and
(4) Require that each employee
engaged in the performance of the
federally funded award be given a copy
of the drug-free workplace statement
required in item (1) and notify the
employee that one of the following
actions will be taken against the
employee within 30 calendar days of
receiving notice of any drug abuse
conviction:
(a) Institution of a personnel action
against the employee, up to and
including termination consistent with
requirements of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended; or
(b) Imposition of a requirement that
the employee participate satisfactorily
in a drug abuse assistance or
rehabilitation program approved for
such purposes by a Federal, State, or
local health, law enforcement, or other
appropriate agency.
q. Safeguarding Resident/Client Files.
In maintaining resident and client files,
HUD funding recipients shall observe
State and local laws concerning the
disclosure of records that pertain to
individuals. Further, recipients are
required to adopt and take reasonable
measures to ensure that resident and
client files are safeguarded.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
A. Addresses To Request Application
Package
This section describes how applicants
may obtain application forms,
additional information about the HUD
program NOFAs, and technical
assistance. Copies of the published
NOFAs and application forms for HUD
programs announced through NOFAs
may be downloaded from the Grants.gov
Web site at http://www.grants.gov/FIND
and chosen from links provided under
the topic ‘‘Search Grant Opportunities,’’
which allows applicants to do a basic
search or to browse by category or
agency. Applicants having difficulty
accessing the information may receive
customer support from Grants.gov by
calling its help line at (800) 518–
GRANTS or sending an e-mail to
support@grants.gov. The customer
service representatives will assist
applicants in accessing the information.
Applicants that do not have Internet
access that need to obtain a copy of a
NOFA can contact HUD’s NOFA
Information Center toll-free at (800)
HUD–8929. Persons with hearing or

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3388

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

speech impairments may also call tollfree at (800) HUD–2209.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

1. Application Kits
There are no application kits for HUD
programs. All the information you need
to apply will be in the NOFA and
available at http://www.grants.gov/
Apply. The NOFAs and forms can be
downloaded from http://
www.grants.gov/Apply, by clicking on
Apply Step 1. Please pay attention to
the submission requirements and format
for submission specified in each
program NOFA to ensure that you have
submitted all required elements of your
application.
2. Official NOFA Content Retrieval
In order to retrieve the instructions,
applicants must go to the Grants.gov
Web site entitled ‘‘Download
Application Package’’ at https://
apply.grants.gov/forms_apps_idx.html.
Insert the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number or the
Funding Competition ID, or the Funding
Opportunity Number. Once this
information has been inserted, click on
the ‘‘Download Package’’ button. The
next page on the Web site, ‘‘Selected
Grant Application for Download,’’
instructs applicants to download the
application and its instructions by
selecting the corresponding download
link and saving the files to the
applicant’s computer for future
reference and use. You do not need to
be registered to read the instructions or
complete the application once you have
downloaded it and saved it on your
computer.
a. Instructions and Application
Download Contents. The instructions
download will contain several files, the
General Section, the Program Section,
and any other forms that are not part of
the Application Download. The
Application Download will contain a
cover page entitled ‘‘Grant Application
Package.’’ The cover page provides
information regarding the application
package you have chosen to download,
i.e., Opportunity Title, Agency Name,
CFDA Number, etc., so that you can
ensure that you have selected the
correct application to prepare. The
Grant Application cover page separates
the required forms into two categories:
‘‘Mandatory Documents’’ and ‘‘Optional
Documents.’’ Please note that regardless
of the box in which the forms are listed,
the published Federal Register
document is the official document HUD
uses to solicit applications. Therefore,
applicants should follow the submission
requirements in the published NOFA for
the program in which they are applying
for funding. The Program NOFA will

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

contain a list of forms and other
documents that are part of the
submission. The NOFA will also
identify which forms may be applicable
to only certain applicants and if so, they
need to be submitted with the
application.
b. The published Federal Register
document is the official document that
HUD uses to solicit applications.
Therefore, if there is a discrepancy
between any materials published by
HUD in its Federal Register
publications and other information
provided in paper copy, electronic copy,
or at http://www.grants.gov, the Federal
Register publication prevails. Please be
sure to review your application
submission against the requirements in
the Federal Register file for the program
NOFA or NOFAs to which you are
applying. By accessing the information
via Grants.gov you will not have to wait
for copies of the NOFAs or forms to
begin to prepare your application. HUD
is continuing to streamline programs
and application submission
requirements and encourages applicants
to provide HUD with additional
suggestions.
3. Guidebook and Further Information
A guidebook to HUD programs
entitled, ‘‘Connecting with
Communities: A User’s Guide to HUD
Programs and the FY2006 NOFA
Process,’’ is available from the HUD
NOFA Information Center and the HUD
Web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/
adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. The
guidebook provides a brief description
of all HUD programs, identifies eligible
applicants for the programs, and
provides examples of how programs can
work in combination to serve local
community needs. You can also obtain
a copy from the NOFA Information
Center by calling (800) HUD–8929. The
hearing impaired may call (800) HUD–
2209 (TTY) (both are toll-free numbers).
The NOFA Information Center is open
between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6:30
p.m. eastern time, Monday through
Friday, except on Federal holidays. The
NOFA Information Center will open
with the publication of this Notice.
4. Technical Assistance
HUD staff will be available to provide
you with general guidance and technical
assistance about this notice or about
individual program NOFAs. However,
HUD staff is not permitted to help
prepare your application. Following
selection of applicants, but before
announcement of awards are made,
HUD staff is available to assist in
clarifying or confirming information
that is a prerequisite to the offer of an

PO 00000

Frm 00008

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

award or annual contributions contract
(ACC) by HUD. For technical support
for downloading an application or
submitting an application, please call
Grants.gov Customer Support at (800)
518–GRANTS (this is a toll-free number)
or send an e-mail to support@grants.gov.
5. SuperNOFA Webcasts
HUD provides technical assistance
and training on its programs announced
through NOFAs. The NOFA broadcasts
are interactive and allow potential
applicants to obtain a better
understanding of the threshold,
program, and application submission
requirements for funding. Participation
in this training opportunity is free of
charge and can be accessed via HUD’s
Web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/
adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. The
SuperNOFA Webcast schedule can also
be found via HUD’s Web site at
http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/
index.cfm.
B. Content and Form of Application
Submission
Be sure to read and follow the
application submission requirements
published in each individual program
NOFA for which you are submitting an
application.
1. Forms
Each program NOFA will identify all
the required forms for submission.
HUD’s standard forms are identified
below:
a. Application for Federal Assistance
(SF–424);
b. Survey on Ensuring Equal
Opportunity for Applicants (SF–424
Supplement);
c. Grant Application Detailed Budget
(HUD–424–CB);
d. Grant Application Detailed Budget
Worksheet (HUD–424–CBW);
e. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
(SF–LLL), if applicable;
f. Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/
Update Report (HUD–2880);
g. Certification of Consistency with
RC/EZ/EC–II Strategic Plan (HUD–
2990), if applicable;
h. Certification of Consistency with
the Consolidated Plan (HUD–2991), if
applicable;
i. Acknowledgment of Application
Receipt (HUD–2993);
j. You Are Our Client Grant Applicant
Survey (HUD 2994–A) (Optional);
k. Program Outcome Logic Model
(HUD–96010);
l. Race and Ethnic Data Reporting
Form (HUD–27061), if applicable;
m. America’s Affordable Communities
Initiative (HUD–27300), if applicable;
and

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

n. Facsimile Transmittal (HUD–
96011).
Copies of these forms are available at
HUD’s Web site at http://www.hud.gov/
offices/adm/grants/nofa06/
snofaforms.cfm. Any additional
program form required to be submitted
to meet specific program requirements
is included with each program NOFA.
The electronic instructions contain all
forms required for submission that are
not PureEdgeTM forms. The application
download contains only the PureEdgeTM
forms. To have all the forms needed for
application submission, applicants must
download the instructions as well as the
application.
2. Certifications and Assurances
The form SF–424–B, Assurances and
Certifications, is no longer required as a
separate submission. However,
applicants are placed on notice that by
signing the SF–424 cover page:
a. The governing body of the
applicant’s organization has duly
authorized the application for Federal
assistance. In addition, by signing or
electronically submitting the
application, the Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR)
certifies that the applicant:
(1) has the legal authority to apply for
Federal assistance and the institutional,
managerial, and financial capacity
(including funds to pay for any nonFederal share of program costs) to plan,
manage, and complete the program as
described in the application;
(2) will provide HUD any additional
information it may require; and
(3) will administer the award in
compliance with requirements
identified and contained in the NOFA
(General and Program Sections) as
applicable to the program for which
funds are awarded and in accordance
with requirements applicable to the
program.
b. No appropriated Federal funds
have been paid or will be paid, by or on
behalf of the applicant, to any person for
influencing or attempting to influence
an officer or employee of any agency, a
member of Congress, or an employee of
a member of Congress, in connection
with this application for Federal
assistance or any award of funds
resulting from the submission of this
application for Federal assistance or its
extension, renewal, amendment, or
modification. If funds other than
Federal appropriated funds have been or
will be paid for influencing or
attempting to influence the persons
listed above, the applicant agrees to
complete and submit Standard Form
LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,
as part of its application submission

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

package. The applicant further agrees to
and certifies that it will require all
subawards at all tiers including
subgrants and contracts to similarly
certify and disclose accordingly.
c. Federally recognized Indian tribes
and tribally designated housing entities
(TDHEs) established by a federally
recognized Indian tribe, as a result of
the exercise of the tribe’s sovereign
power, are excluded from coverage by
item b. (also known as the Byrd
Amendment). However, Staterecognized Indian tribes and TDHEs
established under State law are not
excluded from the statute’s coverage
and therefore agree to, and must comply
with, item b. above.
By submitting an application, the
applicant affirms its awareness of these
certifications and assurances. The
Authorized Organization Representative
submitting the application is affirming
that these certifications and assurances
are material representations of the facts
upon which HUD will rely when
making an award to the applicant. If it
is later determined that the signatory to
the application submission knowingly
made a false certification or assurance
or did not have the authority to make a
legally binding commitment for the
applicant, the applicant may be subject
to criminal prosecution, and HUD may
terminate the award to the applicant
organization or pursue other available
remedies.
C. Deadline Dates and Times
Applications submitted through
Grants.gov must be received and
validated by Grants.gov no later than
11:59:59 p.m. eastern time on the
application deadline date. Important
Submission Tip: Please be aware that
when submitting an application via
Grants.gov, you will first receive a
confirmation notice that Grants.gov
received the application. The
application will then go through a
validation process. If the validation
process finds problems with the
application, it will be rejected and
unavailable for retrieval by HUD. The
validation check ensures that:
1. The application is virus free;
2. The application meets the deadline
requirements established for the funding
opportunity;
3. The DUNS number submitted on
the application matches the DUNS
number in the registration, and that the
Authorized Organization Representative
has been authorized to submit the
application for funding by the
organization identified by its DUNS
number; and
4. All the mandatory fields and forms
were completed on the application.

PO 00000

Frm 00009

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3389

5. Upload the application using
Internet Explorer or Netscape browsers.
If the application fails any of these
items on the validation check, the
application will be rejected. The
validation check occurs 24 to 48 hours
after the application submission.
Therefore, HUD recommends that all
applicants submit their application no
later than 48 to 72 hours before the
deadline. That way, if the application
fails the validation process, the
applicant will receive an e-mail
notification providing the error
messages. By submitting 48 to 72 hours
in advance of the deadline, applicants
have time to cure deficiencies in their
application and resubmit it in time to
meet deadline requirements. In
developing the application submission
dates, HUD has considered the
validation process and established due
dates for all NOFAs that build in the
additional time for the validation
process. For example, if HUD previously
provided a 60-day application period,
HUD will provide a 63-day application
period in FY2006.
D. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,’’ was issued to foster
intergovernmental partnership and
strengthen federalism by relying on
State and local processes for the
coordination and review of Federal
financial assistance and direct Federal
development. HUD implementing
regulations are published at 24 CFR part
52. The order allows each State to
designate an entity to perform a State
review function. Applicants can find the
official listing of State Points of Contact
(SPOC) for this review process at http://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html. States not listed on the Web
site have chosen not to participate in the
intergovernmental review process and,
therefore, do not have a SPOC. If your
State has a SPOC, you should contact
the SPOC to see if it is interested in
reviewing your application before
submission to HUD.
Please make sure that you allow
ample time for this review when
developing and submitting your
applications. If your State does not have
a SPOC, you can submit your
application directly to HUD using
Grants.gov.
E. Funding Restrictions
The individual program NOFAs will
describe any funding restrictions that
apply to each program.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3390

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

F. Other Submission Requirements
Application Submission and Receipt
Procedures. This section provides the
application submission and receipt
instructions for HUD program
applications. Please read the following
instructions carefully and completely,
as failure to comply with these
procedures may disqualify your
application.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

1. Electronic Submission of
Applications
Applicants must submit their
applications electronically through
Grants.gov. HUD described the
Grants.gov registration process in its
Early Grants.gov Registration notice
published in the Federal Register on
December 9, 2005 (70 FR 73332), and in
other information available at http://
www.grants.gov/GetStarted. The site
provides registration checklists that
applicants are advised to use, to ensure
that they have all the information they
need to complete all the steps in the
registration process. Past applicants
have found that the checklists made
their registration easier and faster.
There are five sequential steps
required for an applicant to complete
the Grants.gov registration process:
a. Step one is to call Dun and
Bradstreet and request a Dun and
Bradstreet Universal Data Numbering
System (DUNS) number for the
organization (if it does not already have
one), as described above. The DUNS
number is used by the Federal
Government to identify the
organization. Organizations should be
able to obtain a DUNS number on the
same date they contact Dun and
Bradstreet by phone (866) 705–5711
(this is a toll-free number).
b. Step two is to register with the
Central Contractor Registry (CCR) either
toll-free by telephone ((888) 227–2423)
or by going online at http://
www.ccr.gov. When an organization
registers with the CCR, the organization
will be required to designate an EBusiness Point of Contact (E-Business
POC). The E-Business POC will
designate a special password called an
‘‘M–PIN.’’ The password gives the EBusiness POC sole authority to
designate which staff member(s) from
the organization will be allowed to
submit applications electronically on its
behalf. Staff members that are
designated by the organization’s EBusiness POC to submit applications on
its behalf are called Authorized
Organization Representatives (AORs).
Registering with the CCR is required for
an organization to be able to use
Grants.gov. It takes 1 to 3 days to

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

complete this process because security
information has to be sent to the
organization.
Note that CCR registration expires on
an annual basis and, therefore, it must
be updated to remain active. The CCR
will send the E-Business POC an e-mail
message 30 days before the expiration
date of their current registration. If the
E-Business POC does not update the
CCR registration by the expiration date,
the CCR will send the organization a
letter notifying it that its account has
been deactivated.
c. Step three requires that AORs from
the organization register with the
Credential Provider to obtain their
username and password, via the Web
site, https://apply.grants.gov/
OrcRegister. The AOR usernames and
passwords serve as ‘‘electronic
signatures’’ when an AOR submits an
application via Grants.gov on behalf of
an organization. AORs must wait until
after their organization has received
registration confirmation from the CCR
before they can obtain their user names
and passwords. AORs designate their
user name and password when
registering with a credential provider.
AORs will receive validation of their
user names and passwords on the same
day that they submit the information
online.
d. Step four requires the AORs to
register with Grants.gov. AORs must
register with Grants.gov to obtain an
account at the Web site, https://
apply.grants.gov/GrantsgovRegister.
AOR registration with Grants.gov allows
AORs to submit applications on behalf
of the organization and to track the
status of submitted applications.
e. Step five requires the E-Business
POC to approve the designated AORs.
When an AOR registers with Grants.gov
(step 4), the E-Business POC will receive
an e-mail notification. The E-Business
POC must subsequently log into
Grants.gov (using the organization’s
DUNS number as the user name and the
M–PIN as the password) and approve
the AOR(s), thereby giving each
approved AOR permission to
electronically submit applications on
behalf of the organization using
Grants.gov. Only the organization’s EBusiness POC can approve AORs. After
the E-Business POC approves an AOR,
Grants.gov will send the AOR
confirmation of the approval via e-mail.
See HUD’s Notice on Early Registration
for complete details of the registration
process and steps.
2. Important Registration Tips
a. The registration process is distinct
from application submission and
encompasses five-steps that can take

PO 00000

Frm 00010

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

approximately 10 business days to
complete. Therefore, applicants must
allow sufficient time to complete their
registration prior to submitting their
application. Applicants can submit their
application to Grants.gov once they are
fully registered. Please note that the
Internal Revenue Service takes
approximately 5 weeks to provide a new
organization with a Tax Identification
Number (TIN) or Employer
Identification Number (EIN). You will
need a TIN or EIN to register in the CCR.
Please allow sufficient time to obtain
the TIN or EIN if you currently do not
have one for your organization, as you
will need the number to complete the
registration process in CCR.
b. Applicants must remember the
password and ID they are provided
during the registration process.
Passwords and IDs are case sensitive.
Forgetting your password or ID could
delay the timely submission of your
application.
c. Applicants must register and the EBusiness Point of Contact must
authorize the individual(s) who will be
submitting the application on behalf of
the organization. By authorizing the
person to submit on behalf of the
organization, the organization is stating
that the person can make a legally
binding commitment for the
organization.
3. Instructions On How To Submit an
Electronic Application to HUD via
http://www.grants.gov/Apply
a. Complete Application Package.
Grants.gov has a full set of instructions
on how to complete a grant application
on its Web site at http://
www.grants.gov/CompleteApplication.
Applicants are encouraged to read the
‘‘Complete Application Package’’ Web
site. The site contains a multimedia
demonstration that guides applicants
through the process of completing an
application package. The training
demonstration is also available in text
format on the Web site. Grants.gov
allows applicants to download the
application package, application
instructions, and forms incorporated in
the instructions and work off-line. In
addition to forms that are part of the
application instructions downloaded
from Grants.gov, there are a series of
electronic forms that use a PureEdgeTM
Reader. The PureEdgeTM Reader is
available free for download from Step 2
of http://www.grants.gov/Get Started.
Grants.gov has an updated version of
the PureEdge Viewer (version 6.2). If
applicants have not upgraded their
version of the PureEdge viewer, they
must do so before downloading the
application package. The PureEdgeTM

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
Reader allows applicants to read the
electronic files in a form format so that
they will look like any other Standard
or HUD form. The PureEdgeTM forms
have content-sensitive help. To use this
feature, click on the icon that features
an arrow with a question mark at the top
of the page. This engages the contentsensitive help for each field on the
electronic form. The PureEdgeTM forms
can be downloaded and saved on your
hard drive, network drive(s), or CDs.
Because of the size of the application,
HUD recommends downloading the
application to your computer hard
drive.
The instructions include the General
and Program NOFA sections of the
Federal Register publication and
required forms that have not been
converted to a PureEdgeTM form. Each
program NOFA also includes a
checklist. Please review the checklist in
the program section to ensure that your
application contains all the required
materials.
MacIntosh users will need to use the
Virtual PC emulator software, which
allows PC software to run on MacIntosh
platforms. More information on
PureEdgeTM Support for MacIntosh
Users is available at http://
www.grants.gov/CompleteApplication#,
located under the topic Tips and Tools.
Grants.gov is in the process of
upgrading its system to allow MacIntosh
users to be able to view PureEdge forms.
The new feature will be issued shortly.
Please check the Grants.gov Web site for
the announcement of this additional
feature.
b. Mandatory Fields on PureEdgeTM
Forms. In the PureEdgeTM forms, you
will find fields with a yellow
background. These data fields are
mandatory and must be completed.
c. Completion of SF–424 Fields First.
The PureEdgeTM forms are designed to
automatically populate common data
such as the applicant name and address,
DUNS number, etc., on all PureEdgeTM
electronic forms. In order to trigger this
function, the Standard Form 424 (SF–
424) must be completed first. Once
applicants complete the SF–424, the
information entered will transfer to the
other forms.
d. Submission of Narrative
Statements, Third Party Letters, and
Certifications. In addition to forms,
many of the NOFAs require the
submission of other documentation,
such as third party letters, certifications,
or program narrative statements. This
section discusses how you should
submit this additional information
electronically as part of your
application:

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

(1) Narrative Statements to the
Factors for Award. If you are required to
submit narrative statements, you must
submit them as an electronic file in
Microsoft Word (version 9 or earlier),
Microsoft Excel 2000, or in Portable
Document Format (PDF) that is
compatible with AdobeTM Reader
version 6.0 or earlier. If HUD receives a
file in a format other than those
specified, HUD will not be able to read
the file, and it will not be reviewed.
Each response to a Factor for Award
should be clearly identified and can be
incorporated into a single attachment or
all attachments zipped together into a
single attached file. Program NOFAs
may specify if they want the files
submitted separately or as a single
attachment file, so please carefully
review the program NOFA requirements
for submission format when they are
published. Documents that applicants
possess in electronic format, e.g.,
narratives they have written, or graphic
images (such as Computer Aided Design
(CAD) files from an architect), must be
attached using the ‘‘Attachments’’ form
included in the application package
downloaded from Grants.gov. In order
to reduce the size of its attachments,
applicants can compress all or several
files using a ZIP utility. Applicants can
then attach the zipped file as described
above.
(2) Third Party Letters, Certifications
Requiring Signatures, and Other
Documentation. Applicants required to
submit third party documentation (e.g.,
establishing matching or leveraged fund,
documentation of 501(c)(3) status or
incorporation papers, documents that
support the need for the program,
memoranda of understanding (MOUs),
or program required documentation that
supports your organization’s claims
regarding work that has been done to
remove regulatory barriers to affordable
housing) can choose from the following
two options, as a way to provide HUD
with the documentation:
(a) Scanning Documents to Create
Electronic Files. Scanning documents
increases the size of files. Applicants
may not submit scanned files unless the
facsimile solution described below will
not work due to the nature of the
document. Electronic files must be
labeled so that the recipient at HUD will
know what the file contains. Program
NOFAs will indicate any naming
conventions that applicants must use
when submitting files using the
attachment form.
(b) Faxing Required Documentation.
Applicants may submit the required
documentation to HUD by facsimile.
Applicants may only use the fax method
to submit attachments that are part of

PO 00000

Frm 00011

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3391

their electronic applications. HUD will
not accept entire applications by fax.
HUD will disqualify applications
submitted entirely by fax.
Facsimiles submitted in response to a
NOFA must use the form HUD–96011.
The transmittal form to be downloaded
with the application can be found on
Grants.gov. The transmittal form found
in the downloaded application contains
a unique identifier that allows HUD to
match an applicant’s application
submitted via Grants.gov with faxes
coming from a variety of sources.
Therefore, for HUD to correctly match a
fax to a particular application, the
applicant must use and require third
parties that fax documentation on its
behalf to use the form HUD–96011 as
the cover page of the facsimile. Using
the form HUD–96011 will ensure that
HUD can electronically read faxes
submitted by and on behalf of an
applicant and match them to the
applicant’s application package received
via Grants.gov.
When you download an application
package from Grants.gov, be sure to save
it to your hard drive, complete the SF–
424, and then provide copies of the form
HUD–96011 facsimile transmittal cover
page to third parties that will submit
information in support of your
application. Do not download the same
application package from Grants.gov
more than once. Each time the
application package is downloaded, the
forms are given a unique ID number. To
ensure that all the forms in your
package contain the same unique ID
number, after downloading your
application complete the SF–424, save
the forms to your hard drive, and use
the saved forms to create your
application. If you have to provide a
copy of the form HUD–96011 to another
party that will be responsible for faxing
an item as part of your application,
make a copy of the facsimile transmittal
cover page from your downloaded
application and provide that copy to the
third party for use with the fax
transmission. Please instruct third
parties to use the form HUD–96011 that
you have provided as a cover page when
they submit information supporting
your application using the facsimile
method, because it contains the
embedded ID number that is unique to
your application submission.
Applicants must fax their information,
and third parties must fax information
in support of an applicant’s application,
using the HUD–96011 facsimile
transmittal cover page, to the following
fax number: (800) HUD–1010. If you
cannot access this 800 number or have
problems, you may use (215) 825–8798
(this is not a toll-free number). Failure

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

3392

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

to use the form HUD–96011 as the cover
page will create a problem in
electronically matching your faxes to
the application. If HUD is unable to
match the faxes electronically due to an
applicant’s failure to follow these
directions, HUD will not hand-match
faxes to applications and not consider
the faxed information in rating the
application.
In addition, applicants must fax
individual documents as separate
submissions to avoid fax transmission
problems. When faxing several
documents, applicants must use the
form HUD–96011 as the cover page for
each document (e.g., Letter of Matching
or Leveraging funds, Memorandum of
Understanding, Certification of
Consistency with the Consolidated Plan,
etc.) Please be aware that faxing large
documents at one time may result in
transmission failures. Be sure to check
the record of your transmission issued
by the fax machine to ensure that your
fax submission was completed ‘‘OK.’’
For large or long documents, HUD
suggests that you divide the document
into smaller sections for faxing
purposes. Each time you fax a document
that you have divided into smaller
sections, you should indicate on the
cover sheet the section number of the
total number of sections that you
submitted, (e.g., ‘‘Part 1 of 4 parts’’ or
‘‘pages 1–10 of 20 pages’’).
Your facsimile machine should
provide you with a record of whether
HUD received your transmission. If you
get a negative response or a
transmission error, you should resubmit
the document until you confirm that
HUD has received your transmission.
HUD will not acknowledge that it
received a fax successfully. When HUD
receives a fax electronically, HUD will
electronically read it with an optical
character reader and attach it to the
application submitted through
Grants.gov. Applicants and third parties
submitting information in support of the
applicant’s application may submit
information by facsimile transmissions
at any time before the application
deadline date. Applicants must ensure
that the form HUD–96011 used to fax
information matches their electronic
application (i.e., is part of the
application package downloaded from
Grants.gov). All faxed materials must be
received no later than 11:59:59 p.m.
eastern time on the application deadline
date. HUD will store the information
and match it to the electronic
application when HUD receives it from
Grants.gov.
Facsimile Transmission Tip: Be sure
to save your receipt of successful
facsimile transmission as proof that the

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

document was timely submitted to
HUD. In cases where receipt may be in
question, the transmittal receipt is your
proof of timely receipt and successful
submission.
(c) Submissions Using Other File
Formats. If you are required to submit
files in other formats such as CAD files
of architectural drawings and
blueprints, or pictures, you must attach
these as electronic files in PDF format
that is compatible with Adobe TM Reader
version 6.0 or earlier. The files should
be part of the zipped folder that is
attached and submitted with your
application transmission.
e. Customer Support. The Grants.gov
Web site provides customer support via
(800) 518–GRANTS (this is a toll-free
number) or via e-mail at
support@grants.gov. The customer
support center is open from 7 a.m. to 9
p.m. eastern time, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays, to
address Grants.gov technology issues.
For technical assistance to programrelated questions, contact the number
listed in Section VII Agency Contact in
the program NOFA you are applying for.
4. Timely Receipt Requirements and
Proof of Timely Submission
a. Electronic Submission.
(1) All applications must be received
and validated by Grants.gov by 11:59:59
p.m. eastern time on the application
deadline date established for each
program NOFA. If the application is not
validated before the deadline date, it
will not be considered as meeting the
deadline requirements.
Important Submission Tip: Upon
successful submission, an applicant will
receive an e-mail notification
confirming receipt and indicating the
application is being validated and that
the validation process will be completed
in approximately 24 to 48 hours. If the
application does not pass the validation
check, it will be rejected and the
applicant notified of the reason for the
rejected application. Applicants should
therefore not assume because Grants.gov
received an application, that they have
successfully submitted the application
until they receive the validation notice.
If a rejection notice is received, the
applicant should review the reasons for
rejection and, if time permits, correct
the error(s) and resubmit the application
in time to meet the deadline
requirements.
(2) Proof of timely submission and
validation is automatically recorded by
Grants.gov. An electronic time stamp is
generated within the system when the
application has been successfully
received and validated.

PO 00000

Frm 00012

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

(3) An applicant will receive an
acknowledgement of receipt and a
tracking number from Grants.gov with
the successful transmission of its
application followed by the validation
receipt. When the validated application
is transmitted from Grants.gov to HUD,
the applicant will receive an e-mail
notification that the application was
received by the funding agency.
Applicants should print and file these
receipts along with facsimile receipts for
information provided by facsimile, as
proof of timely submission. Applicants
will be considered as meeting the
deadline date requirements when
Grants.gov has received and validated
your application no later than the
deadline date and time, and all fax
transmissions have been received by the
deadline date and time.
(4) Applications validated by
Grants.gov after the established deadline
date and time for the program will be
considered late. HUD will not consider
any late application submissions.
Similarly, HUD will not consider
information submitted by facsimile as
part of the application if received by
HUD after the established deadline date
and time. Please take into account the
transmission time required for
submitting your application via the
Internet and the time required to fax any
related documents. HUD suggests that
applicants submit their applications
during the operating hours of the
Grants.gov Support Desk so that, if there
are questions concerning transmission,
operators will be available to assist you
through the process. Submitting your
application during the Support Desk
hours will also ensure that you have
sufficient time for the application to
complete its transmission before the
application deadline.
(5) Applicants using dial-up
connections should be aware that
transmitting your application takes extra
time before Grants.gov receives it.
Grants.gov will provide either an error
or a successfully received transmission
message. The Grants.gov Support Desk
reports that some applicants abort the
transmission because they think that
nothing is occurring during the
transmission process. Please be patient
and give the system time to process the
application. Uploading and transmitting
a large file, particularly electronic forms
with associated eXtensible mark-up
language (XML) schema, will take
considerable time to process and be
received by Grants.gov.
Important Submission Tip. When
submitting an application electronically,
applicants should take the following
steps to speed up the transmission
process:

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
• Close all other applications running
on the computer used for the upload;
• Save the completed application to
the desktop, checking to make sure that
the file that you intend to submit is the
complete and final version of your
application;
• Open and view all attachment files
to make sure they are the final versions
of the attachments that you plan to
submit. Check your system to make sure
other versions are not still saved and
delete old versions so you do not submit
the wrong attachments in the
application submission;
• Check the application for errors
using the check application for errors
button contained in the Grants.gov
application; if errors are found, follow
each error message and correct the error;
• Submit your application using
Internet Explorer or Netscape browsers.
Grants.gov has been tested using these
browsers, and HUD has found easier
transmission with these browsers than
others;
• Transmission, even for very large
applications, should be completed in a
few minutes. Transmission should not
take longer than an hour. If transmission
takes longer, close down the
application, and contact the Grants.gov
help line, retaining the help desk ticket
number for future reference. You may
also use the submit tips available on the
Grants.gov Web site;
• Submit the application to
Grants.gov 48 to 72 hours in advance of
the deadline to provide sufficient time
to correct any validation errors noted
and address any registration issues;
• If validation errors are reported,
correct the validation errors and
resubmit the application if it is prior to
the deadline date; late applications will
not be accepted by Grants.gov;
• If you are not sure what to do, call
the Grants.gov help desk and retain the
ticket number for future reference.
• Do not attempt to submit
electronically if the computer you are
using does not meet the minimum
requirements for electronic submission.
These requirements are listed on the
Grants.gov Web site, as well as HUD’s
Web site;
• If you get an ‘‘MEC’’ error message,
it is a Microsoft Configuration Error.
Contact your software provider or your
computer/information technology
support desk to help you configure your
system for the size files you are trying
to upload. This is not a Grants.gov
system issue, but rather an issue with
your computer configuration.
b. Late applications, whether received
electronically or in hard copy, will not
receive funding consideration. HUD will
not be responsible for directing or

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

forwarding applications to the
appropriate location. Applicants should
pay close attention to these submission
and timely receipt instructions, as they
can make a difference in whether HUD
will accept your application for funding
consideration.
5. Waiver of Electronic Submission
Requirements
For FY2006, the procedures for
obtaining a waiver of the electronic
submission requirement have changed.
On December 29, 2005 (70 FR 77292),
HUD published a final rule that
established in 24 CFR 5.1005 the
regulatory framework for HUD’s
electronic submission requirement, as
well as the procedures for obtaining a
waiver. Applicants seeking a waiver of
the electronic submission requirement
must request a waiver in accordance
with 24 CFR 5.1005. If the waiver is
granted, the applicable program office’s
response will include instructions on
how, where, and how many hard copies
of the paper application must be
submitted. Applicants that are granted a
waiver of the electronic submission
requirement will not be afforded
additional time to submit their
applications. The deadlines for
applications will remain as provided in
the program section of the SuperNOFA
and as per the final Appendix A to be
published with the SuperNOFA
program sections. As a result, applicants
seeking a waiver of the electronic
application submission requirement
should submit their waiver request with
sufficient time to allow HUD to process
and respond to the request. Applicants
should also allow themselves sufficient
time to submit their application so that
HUD receives the application by the
established deadline date. For this
reason, HUD strongly recommends that
an applicant that finds it is unable to
submit its application electronically and
must seek a waiver of the electronic
grant submission requirement, submit
its waiver request to the headquarters of
the applicable HUD office
approximately no later than 15 days
before the application deadline date.
This will allow time for HUD to process
the waiver request and give the
applicant sufficient time to submit the
paper application to meet the deadline
date requirement if the waiver is
granted. To expedite the receipt and
review of such requests, applicants may
e-mail their requests to the program
contact listed in the program NOFA.
Applications that are received after the
established deadline date will not be
considered.

PO 00000

Frm 00013

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3393

V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
1. Factors for Award Used To Evaluate
and Rate Applications
For each program NOFA, the points
awarded for the rating factors total 100.
Depending on the program for which
you are seeking funding, the funding
opportunity may provide up to four
bonus points as provided below:
a. RC/EZ/EC-II. HUD will award two
bonus points to each application that
includes a valid form HUD–2990
certifying that the proposed activities/
projects in the application are consistent
with the strategic plan for an
empowerment zone (EZ) designated by
HUD or the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the tax incentive
utilization plan for an urban or rural
renewal community designated by HUD
(RC), or the strategic plan for and
enterprise community designated in
round II by USDA (EZ-II), and that the
proposed activities/projects will be
located within the RC/EZ/EC-II
identified above and are intended to
serve the residents. For ease of reference
in this notice, all of the federally
designated areas are collectively
referred to as ‘‘RC/EZ/EC-IIs’’ and
residents of any of these federally
designated areas as ‘‘RC/EZ/EC-II
residents.’’ The individual funding
announcements will indicate if the
bonus points are available under the
program. This notice contains a
certification that must be completed for
the applicant to be considered for RC/
EZ/EC-II bonus points. Applicants can
obtain a list of RC/EZ/EC-IIs from HUD’s
grants Web page at http://www.hud.gov/
offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm.
Applicants can determine if their
program or project activities is located
in one of these designated areas by
using the locator on HUD’s Web site at
http://egis.hud.gov/egis/.
b. Brownfields Showcase
Communities. In the Brownfields
Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
competition, two bonus points are
available for federally designated
Brownfields Showcase Communities.
(Please see the FY2006 BEDI program
NOFA, when published, for additional
information.) The designation of
Brownfields Showcase Communities is
a Federal agency initiative sponsored by
20 Federal agencies, including HUD. A
list of the federally designated
Brownfields Showcase Communities is
available at http://www.epa.gov/
swerosps/bf/html-doc/showfact.htm.
c. The Five Standard Rating Factors
for FY2006. HUD has established the
following five standard factors for

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3394

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

awarding funds under the majority of its
FY2006 program NOFAs. Additional
details about the five rating factors and
the maximum points for each factor are
provided in the program NOFAs. For a
specific funding opportunity, HUD may
modify these factors to take into account
explicit program needs or statutory or
regulatory limitations. Applicants
should carefully read the factors for
award as described in the program
NOFA to which you are responding.
The standard factors for award, except
as modified in the program NOFAs, are
listed below.
Factor 1: Capacity of the Applicant and
Relevant Organizational Staff.
Factor 2: Need/Extent of the Problem.
Factor 3: Soundness of Approach.
Factor 4: Leveraging Resources.
Factor 5: Achieving Results and
Program Evaluation.
The Continuum of Care Homeless
Assistance programs have only two
factors that receive points: Need and
Continuum of Care.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

B. Reviews and Selection Process
1. HUD’s Strategic Goals To Implement
HUD’s Strategic Framework and
Demonstrate Results
HUD is committed to ensuring that
programs result in the achievement of
HUD’s strategic mission. To support this
effort, grant applications submitted for
HUD programs will be rated on how
well they tie proposed outcomes to
HUD’s policy priorities and annual
goals and objectives, as well as the
quality of the applicant’s proposed
evaluation and monitoring plans. HUD’s
strategic framework establishes the
following goals and objectives for the
Department:
a. Increase Homeownership
Opportunities.
(1) Expand national homeownership
opportunities.
(2) Increase minority homeownership.
(3) Make the home-buying process
less complicated and less expensive.
(4) Fight practices that permit
predatory lending.
(5) Help HUD-assisted renters become
homeowners.
(6) Keep existing homeowners from
losing their homes.
b. Promote Decent Affordable
Housing.
(1) Expand access to affordable rental
housing.
(2) Improve the physical quality and
management accountability of public
and assisted housing.
(3) Increase housing opportunities for
the elderly and persons with
disabilities.
(4) Help HUD-assisted renters make
progress toward self-sufficiency.

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

c. Strengthen Communities.
(1) Provide capital and resources to
improve economic conditions in
distressed communities.
(2) Help organizations access the
resources they need to make their
communities more livable.
(3) End chronic homelessness.
(4) Mitigate housing conditions that
threaten health.
d. Ensure Equal Opportunity in
Housing.
(1) Resolve discrimination complaints
on a timely basis.
(2) Promote public awareness of fair
housing laws.
(3) Improve housing accessibility for
persons with disabilities.
e. Embrace High Standards of Ethics,
Management, and Accountability.
(1) Rebuild HUD’s human capital and
further diversify its workforce.
(2) Improve HUD’s management and
its internal controls and systems, as well
as resolve audit issues.
(3) Improve accountability, service
delivery, and customer service of HUD
and its partners.
(4) Ensure program compliance.
f. Promote Participation of Grassroots
Faith-Based and Other CommunityBased Organizations.
(1) Reduce regulatory barriers to
participation by grassroots faith-based
and other community-based
organizations.
(2) Conduct outreach to inform
potential partners of HUD opportunities.
(3) Expand technical assistance
resources deployed to grassroots faithbased and other community-based
organizations.
(4) Encourage partnerships between
grassroots faith-based and other
community-based organizations and
HUD’s traditional grantees.
Additional information about HUD’s
Strategic Plan FY 2003–FY 2008, and
2002–2005 Annual Performance Plans is
available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/
cfo/reports/cforept.cfm.
2. Policy Priorities
HUD encourages applicants to
undertake specific activities that will
assist the Department in implementing
its policy priorities and achieving its
goals for FY 2006 and beyond, when the
majority of funding recipients will be
reporting programmatic results and
achievements. Applicants that include
work activities that specifically address
one or more of these policy priorities
will receive higher rating scores than
applicants that do not address these
HUD priorities. Each NOFA issued in
FY 2006 will specify which priorities
relate to a particular program and how
many points will be awarded for
addressing those priorities.

PO 00000

Frm 00014

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

a. Providing Increased
Homeownership and Rental
Opportunities for Low- and ModerateIncome Persons, Persons with
Disabilities, the Elderly, Minorities, and
Persons with Limited English
Proficiency. Too often, these individuals
and families are shut out of the housing
market through no fault of their own.
Often, developers of housing, housing
counseling agencies, and other
organizations engaged in the housing
industry must work aggressively to open
up the realm of homeownership and
rental opportunities to low- and
moderate-income persons, persons with
disabilities, the elderly, minorities, and
persons with limited English
proficiency. Many of these families are
anxious to have homes of their own, but
are not aware of the programs and
assistance that are available. Applicants
are encouraged to address the housing,
housing counseling, and other related
supportive service needs of these
individuals and coordinate their
proposed activities with funding
available through HUD’s affordable
housing programs and home loan
programs.
Proposed activities support strategic
goals a, b, and d.
b. Improving our Nation’s
Communities. HUD wants to improve
the quality of life for those living in
distressed communities. Applicants are
encouraged to include activities that:
(1) Bring private capital into
distressed communities;
(a) Finance business investments to
grow new businesses;
(b) Maintain and expand existing
businesses;
(c) Create a pool of funds for new
small and minority-owned businesses;
and
(d) Create decent jobs for low-income
persons.
(2) Improve the environmental health
and safety of families living in public
and privately owned housing by
including activities that:
(a) Coordinate lead hazard reduction
programs with weatherization activities
funded by State and local governments
and the Federal Government; and
(b) Reduce or eliminate health related
hazards in the home caused by toxic
agents, such as molds and other
allergens, carbon monoxide, and other
hazardous agents and conditions.
(3) Make communities more livable
by:
(a) Providing public and social
services; and
(b) Improving infrastructure and
community facilities.
Activities support strategic goals b, c,
and d.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
c. Encouraging Accessible Design
Features. As described in Section
III.C.2.c, applicants must comply with
applicable civil rights laws, including
the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. These
laws and the regulations implementing
them provide for nondiscrimination
based on disability and require housing
and other facilities to incorporate
certain features intended to provide for
their use and enjoyment by persons
with disabilities. HUD is encouraging
applicants to add accessible design
features beyond those required under
civil rights laws and regulations. These
features would eliminate many other
barriers limiting the access of persons
with disabilities to housing and other
facilities. Copies of the Uniform Federal
Accessibility Standards (UFAS) are
available from the NOFA Information
Center at (800) HUD–8929 or (800)
HUD–2209 (TTY) (these are toll-free
numbers) and also from the Office of
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity,
Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW.,
Room 5230, Washington, DC 20410–
2000, at (202) 755–5404 or toll-free at
(800) 877–8339 (TTY) (these are toll-free
numbers).
Accessible design features are
intended to promote visitability and
incorporate features of universal design
as described below.
(1) Visitability in New Construction
and Substantial Rehabilitation.
Applicants are encouraged to
incorporate visitability standards, where
feasible, in new construction and
substantial rehabilitation projects.
Visitability standards allow a person
with mobility impairments access into
the home, but do not require that all
features be made accessible. Visitability
means that there is at least one entrance
at grade (no steps), approached by an
accessible route such as a sidewalk, and
that the entrance door and all interior
passage doors are at least 2 feet, 10
inches wide, allowing 32 inches of clear
passage space. A visitable home also
serves persons without disabilities, such
as a mother pushing a stroller or a
person delivering a large appliance.
More information about visitability is
available at http://
www.concretechange.org.
Activities support strategic goals b, c,
and d.
(2) Universal Design. Applicants are
encouraged to incorporate universal
design in the construction or
rehabilitation of housing, retail
establishments, and community
facilities funded with HUD assistance.
Universal design is the design of

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

products and environments to be usable
by all people to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design. The
intent of universal design is to simplify
life for everyone by making products,
communications, and the built
environment more usable by as many
people as possible at little or no extra
cost to the user. Universal design
benefits people of all ages and abilities.
In addition to any applicable required
accessibility feature under Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the
design and construction requirements of
the Fair Housing Act, the Department
encourages applicants to incorporate the
principles of universal design when
developing housing, community
facilities, and electronic communication
mechanisms, or when communicating
with community residents at public
meetings or events.
HUD believes that by creating housing
that is accessible to all, it can increase
the supply of affordable housing for all,
regardless of ability or age. Likewise,
creating places where people work,
train, and interact that are usable and
open to all residents increases
opportunities for economic and
personal self-sufficiency. More
information on Universal Design is
available from the Center for Universal
Design at http://
www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/ or the
Resource Center on Accessible Housing
and Universal Design at http://
www.abledata.com/
abledata.cfm?pageid=113573&top=
16029§ionid=19326.
Activities support strategic goals a, b,
c, and d.
d. Providing Full and Equal Access to
Grassroots Faith-Based and Other
Community-Based Organizations in
HUD Program Implementation.
(1) HUD encourages nonprofit
organizations, including grassroots
faith-based and other community-based
organizations, to participate in the vast
array of programs for which funding is
available through HUD’s programs. HUD
also encourages states, units of local
government, universities, colleges, and
other organizations to partner with
grassroots organizations (e.g., civic
organizations, faith communities, and
grassroots faith-based and other
community-based organizations) that
have not been effectively utilized. These
grassroots organizations have a strong
history of providing vital community
services, such as assisting the homeless
and preventing homelessness,
counseling individuals and families on
fair housing rights, providing elderly
housing opportunities, developing firsttime homeownership programs,

PO 00000

Frm 00015

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3395

increasing homeownership and rental
housing opportunities in neighborhoods
of choice, developing affordable and
accessible housing in neighborhoods
across the country, creating economic
development programs, and supporting
the residents of public housing
facilities. HUD seeks to make its
programs more effective, efficient, and
accessible by expanding opportunities
for grassroots organizations to
participate in developing solutions for
their own neighborhoods. Additionally,
HUD encourages applicants to include
these grassroots faith-based and other
community-based organizations in their
work plans. Applicants, their partners,
and participants must review the
individual FY2006 HUD program
announcements to determine whether
they are eligible to apply for funding
directly or whether they must establish
a working relationship with an eligible
applicant in order to participate in a
HUD funding opportunity. Grassroots
faith-based and other community-based
organizations, and applicants that
currently or propose to partner, fund,
subgrant, or subcontract with grassroots
organizations (including grassroots
faith-based or other community-based
nonprofit organizations eligible under
applicable program regulations) in
conducting their work programs will
receive higher rating points as specified
in the individual FY 2006 HUD program
announcements.
(2) Definitions of Grassroots
Organizations.
(a) HUD will consider an organization
a ‘‘grassroots organization’’ if the
organization is headquartered in the
local community in which it provides
services; and
(i) Has a social services budget of
$300,000 or less, or
(ii) Has six or fewer full-time
equivalent employees.
(b) Local affiliates of national
organizations are not considered
‘‘grassroots.’’ Local affiliates of national
organizations are encouraged, however,
to partner with grassroots organizations,
but must demonstrate that they are
currently working with a grassroots
organization (e.g., having a grassroots
faith-based or other community-based
organization provide volunteers).
(c) The cap provided in paragraph
(2)(a)(i) above includes only that portion
of an organization’s budget allocated to
providing social services. It does not
include other portions of the budget,
such as salaries and expenses, not
directly expended in the provision of
social services.
Activities support strategic goal f.
e. Participation of Minority-Serving
Institutions (MSIs) in HUD Programs.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

3396

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

Pursuant to Executive Orders 13256,
‘‘President’s Board of Advisors on
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities,’’ 13230, ‘‘President’s
Advisory Commission on Educational
Excellence for Hispanic Americans,’’
13216, ‘‘Increasing Participation of
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
in Federal Programs,’’ and 13270,
‘‘Tribal Colleges and Universities,’’ HUD
is strongly committed to broadening the
participation of MSIs in its programs.
HUD is interested in increasing the
participation of MSIs in order to
advance the development of human
potential, strengthen the nation’s
capacity to provide high quality
education, and increase opportunities
for MSIs to participate and benefit from
Federal financial assistance programs.
HUD encourages all applicants and
recipients to include meaningful
participation of MSIs in their work
programs. A listing of MSIs can be
found on the Department of Education
Web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/
offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html
or HUD’s Web site at http://
www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm. Activities support
strategic goals c and d.
f. Ending Chronic Homelessness.
President Bush has set a national goal to
end chronic homelessness. HUD
Secretary Alphonso Jackson has
embraced this goal and has pledged that
HUD’s grant programs will be used to
support the President’s goal and better
meet the needs of chronically homeless
individuals. A person experiencing
chronic homelessness is defined as an
unaccompanied individual with a
disabling condition who has been
continuously homeless for a year or
more or has experienced four or more
episodes of homelessness over the last
3 years. A disabling condition is defined
as a diagnosable substance abuse
disorder, serious mental illness,
developmental disability, or chronic
physical illness or disability, including
the co-occurrence of two or more of
these conditions. Applicants are
encouraged to target assistance to
chronically homeless persons by
undertaking activities that will result in:
(1) Creation of affordable housing
units, supportive housing, and group
homes;
(2) Establishment of a set-aside of
units of affordable housing for the
chronically homeless;
(3) Establishment of substance abuse
treatment programs targeted to the
homeless population;
(4) Establishment of job training
programs that will provide
opportunities for economic selfsufficiency;

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

(5) Establishment of counseling
programs that assist homeless persons
in finding housing, managing finances,
managing anger, and building
interpersonal relationships;
(6) Provision of supportive services,
such as health care assistance that will
permit homeless individuals to become
productive members of society; and
(7) Provision of service coordinators
or one-stop assistance centers that will
ensure that chronically homeless
persons have access to a variety of social
services.
Applicants that are developing
programs to meet the goals set in this
policy priority should keep in mind the
requirements of the regulations
implementing Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, in particular, 24 CFR
8.4(b)(1)(iv), 8.4(c)(1), and 8.4(d).
Activities support strategic goals b
and c.
g. Removal of Regulatory Barriers to
Affordable Housing.
In FY 2006, HUD continues to make
removal of regulatory barriers a policy
priority. Through the Department’s
America’s Affordable Communities
Initiative, HUD is seeking input into
how it can work more effectively with
the public and private sectors to remove
regulatory barriers to affordable
housing. Increasing the affordability of
rental and homeownership housing
continues to be a high priority of the
Department. Addressing these barriers
to housing affordability is a necessary
component of any overall national
housing policy.
Under this policy priority, higher
rating points are available to (1)
governmental applicants that are able to
demonstrate successful efforts in
removing regulatory barriers to
affordable housing and (2)
nongovernmental applicants that are
associated with jurisdictions that have
undertaken successful efforts in
removing barriers. To obtain the policy
priority points for efforts to successfully
remove regulatory barriers, applicants
must complete form HUD–27300,
‘‘Questionnaire for HUD’s Initiative on
Removal of Regulatory Barriers.’’ Copies
of HUD’s notices published on this issue
can be found on HUD’s Web site at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm.
Local jurisdictions and counties with
land use and building regulatory
authority applying for funding, as well
as housing authorities, nonprofit
organizations, and other qualified
applicants applying for funds for
projects located in these jurisdictions,
are invited to answer the 20 questions
under Part A. An applicant that scores
at least five in column 2 will receive 1

PO 00000

Frm 00016

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

point in the NOFA evaluation. An
applicant that scores 10 or more in
column 2 will receive 2 points in the
NOFA evaluation.
State agencies or departments
applying for funding, as well as housing
authorities, nonprofit organizations, and
other qualified applicants applying for
funds for projects located in
unincorporated areas or areas not
otherwise covered in Part A, are invited
to answer the 15 questions under Part B.
Under Part B, an applicant that scores
at least four in Column 2 will receive
one point in the NOFA evaluation.
Under Part B, an applicant that scores
eight or greater will receive a total of
two points in the respective evaluation.
Applicants that will be providing
services in multiple jurisdictions may
choose to address the questions in either
Part A or Part B for that jurisdiction in
which the preponderance of services
will be performed if an award is made.
In no case will an applicant receive
more than two points for barrier
removal activities under this policy
priority. An applicant that is an Indian
tribe or TDHE may choose to complete
either Part A or Part B based upon a
determination by the tribe or TDHE as
to whether the tribe’s or the TDHE’s
association with the local jurisdiction or
the state would be the more
advantageous for its application.
Form HUD–27300 is available at
http://www.hudclips.org/sub/nonhud/
cgi/pdfforms/27300.pdf. A limited
number of questions on form HUD–
27300 expressly request the applicant to
provide brief documentation with its
response. Other questions require that,
for each affirmative statement made, the
applicant supply a reference, Internet
address, or brief statement indicating
where the back-up information may be
found and a point of contact, including
a telephone number or e-mail address.
Applicants are encouraged to read
HUD’s three notices, which are available
at http://www.hud.gov/
affordablecommunities, to obtain an
understanding of this policy priority
and how it can affect their score.
Applicants that do not provide the
Internet addresses, references, or
documentation will not get the policy
priority points. Activities support
strategic goals a and b.
h. Participation in Energy Star. HUD
has adopted a wide-ranging energy
action plan for improving energy
efficiency in all program areas. As a first
step in implementing the energy plan,
HUD, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and the Department of
Energy (DOE) have signed a partnership
to promote energy efficiency in HUD’s
affordable housing programs, including

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
public housing, HUD-insured housing,
and housing financed through HUD
formula and competitive programs. The
purpose of the Energy Star partnership
is to promote energy-efficient affordable
housing stock while protecting the
environment. Applicants constructing,
rehabilitating, or maintaining housing or
community facilities are encouraged to
promote energy efficiency in design and
operations. They are urged especially to
purchase and use products that display
the Energy Star label. Applicants
providing housing assistance or
counseling services are encouraged to
promote Energy Star materials and
practices, as well as buildings
constructed to Energy Star standards, to
both homebuyers and renters.
Applicants are encouraged to
undertake program activities that
include developing Energy Star
promotional and information materials,
providing outreach to low- and
moderate-income renters and buyers on
the benefits and savings when using
Energy Star products and appliances,
utilizing Energy Star-designated
products in the construction or
rehabilitation of housing units, and
replacing worn products or facilities,
such as light bulbs, water heaters,
furnaces, etc., with Energy Star products
to reduce operating costs. Communities
and developers are encouraged to
promote the designation of community
buildings and homes as Energy Star
compliant. For further information
about Energy Star, see http://
www.energystar.gov or call (888) 782–
7937, or (888) 588–9920 (TTY).
Activities support strategic goals 1
and 2.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

3. Threshold Compliance
Only applications that meet all of the
threshold requirements will be eligible
to receive an award of funds from HUD.
4. Corrections to Deficient Applications
After the application deadline date
and time, 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

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

3397

inconsistencies in the funding request,
failure to submit the proper
certifications, and failure to submit an
application that contains a signature by
an official able to make a legally binding
commitment on behalf of the applicant.
In the case of an applicant that received
a waiver of the regulatory requirement
to submit an electronic application, the
technical deficiency may include failure
to submit an application that contains
an original signature. If HUD finds a
curable deficiency in the application,
HUD will notify you in writing by
describing the clarification or technical
deficiency. HUD will notify applicants
by facsimile or via the U.S. Postal
Service, 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 deadline 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.) If the deficiency is not
corrected within this time, HUD will
reject the application as incomplete, and
it will not be considered for funding. In
order to meet statutory deadlines for the
obligation of funds or for timely
completion of the review process,
program NOFAs may reduce the number
of days for submitting a response to a
HUD clarification or correction to a
technical deficiency. Please be sure to
carefully read each program NOFA for
any additional information and
instructions. An applicant’s response to
a HUD notification of a curable
deficiency should be submitted directly
to HUD in accordance with the
instructions provided in the
notification.

a. Past Performance. In evaluating
applications for funding, HUD will take
into account applicants’ past
performance in managing funds,
including, but not limited to, the ability
to account for funds appropriately,
timely use of funds received either from
HUD or other Federal, State, or local
programs; meeting performance targets
as established in Logic Models approved
as part of the grant agreement, timelines
for completion of activities, and receipt
of promised matching or leveraged
funds; and number of persons to be
served or targeted for assistance. HUD
may consider information available
from HUD’s records, the name check
review, public sources, such as
newspapers, Inspector General or
Government Accountability Office
reports or findings, or hotline or other
complaints that have been proven to
have merit.
b. Deducting Points for Poor
Performance. In evaluating past
performance, HUD may elect to deduct
points from the rating score or establish
threshold levels as specified under the
Factors for Award in the individual
program NOFAs.

5. Rating Panels
To review and rate applications, HUD
may establish panels that may include
persons not currently employed by
HUD. HUD may include these non-HUD
employees to obtain certain expertise
and outside points of view, including
views from other Federal agencies.
Persons brought into HUD to review
applications are subject to conflict of
interest provisions. In addition,
reviewers using HUD information
technology (IT) systems may be subject
to an IT security check.

The individual program NOFAs will
provide the applicable information
regarding this subject.

6. Rating
HUD will evaluate and rate all
applications for funding that meet the
threshold requirements. HUD will
consider the factors described below
when rating your application(s).

PO 00000

Frm 00017

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

7. Ranking
HUD will rank applicants within each
program or, for Continuum of Care
applicants, across the three programs
identified in the Continuum of Care
NOFA. HUD will rank applicants only
against those applying for the same
program funding.
Where there are set-asides within a
program competition, you, the
applicant, will compete against only
those applicants in the same set-aside
competition.
C. Anticipated Announcement and
Award Dates

VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
1. Negotiation
After HUD has rated and ranked all
applications and made selections, HUD
may require, depending on the program,
that a selected applicant participate in
negotiations to determine the specific
terms of the funding agreement and
budget. In cases where HUD cannot
successfully conclude negotiations with
a selected applicant or a selected
applicant fails to provide HUD with
requested information, an award will
not be made to that applicant. In such
an instance, HUD may offer an award to

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3398

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

and proceed with negotiations with the
next highest-ranking applicant.
2. Adjustments to Funding
a. HUD reserves the right to fund less
than the full amount requested in your
application to ensure the fair
distribution of funds and enable the
purposes or requirements of a specific
program to be met.
b. HUD will not fund any portion of
your application that is not eligible for
funding under specific program
statutory or regulatory requirements;
does not meet the requirements of this
notice; or is duplicative of other funded
programs or activities from prior year
awards or other selected applicants.
Only the eligible portions of your
application (excluding duplicative
portions) may be funded.
c. If funds remain after funding the
highest-ranking applications, HUD may
fund all or part of the next highestranking application in a given program.
If you, the applicant, turn down an
award offer, HUD will make an offer of
funding to the next highest-ranking
application.
d. If funds remain after all selections
have been made, remaining funds may
be made available within the current
fiscal year for other competitions within
the program area or held over for future
competitions.
e. Individual program NOFAs may
have other requirements, so please
review the program NOFA carefully.
3. Funding Errors
In the event HUD commits an error
that, when corrected, would result in
selection of an otherwise eligible
applicant during the funding round of a
program NOFA, HUD may select that
applicant when sufficient funds become
available.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

4. Performance and Compliance Actions
of Funding Recipients
HUD will measure and address the
performance and compliance actions of
funding recipients in accordance with
the applicable standards and sanctions
of their respective programs.
5. Debriefing
For a period of at least 120 days,
beginning 30 days after the awards for
assistance are publicly announced, HUD
will provide to a requesting applicant a
debriefing related to its application. A
request for debriefing must be made in
writing or by email by the authorized
official whose signature appears on the
SF–424 or his or her successor in office,
and submitted to the person or
organization identified as the contact
under the section entitled ‘‘Agency

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

Contact(s)’’ in the individual program
NOFA under which you applied for
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.
B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
See Section III.C. of this notice
regarding related requirements.
C. Reporting
In FY2004, HUD used the Logic
Model as a planning tool, which was
submitted as part of the NOFA
application. In FY2005, HUD required
performance reporting against the
approved logic model incorporated into
the grant agreement. In FY2006, HUD is
moving to standardized ‘‘Master’’ Logic
Models from which applicants can
select needs, activities/outputs, and
outcomes appropriate to their programs.
In addition, program offices have
identified Program Management
Evaluation Questions and a Return on
Investment (ROI) Statement that
grantees will be required to report on as
specified in the program NOFA. The
timeframe established for the Logic
Model reporting will be in accordance
with the program’s established reporting
periods and as stated in the program
NOFA. The program NOFA will also
establish the timeframe for reporting the
Program Management Evaluation
Questions and ROI Statement.
The download instructions found on
Grants.gov for each funding opportunity
will include the Program Outcome Logic
Model form HUD–96010, which is a
Microsoft ExcelTM workbook containing
instructions in Tab 1 on how to use the
form. The form or eLogic ModelTM
incorporates a program-specific master
list of statements of need, service or
activity/output(s), and their associated
unit(s) of measure; and outcome(s) and
their associated unit(s) of measure. To
begin completing the form, applicants
will be required to click on a cell within
a column, at which time a drop down
button will appear to the right of the
cell. Applicants can then select the
appropriate statement(s) that reflect
their proposed program. Applicants can
select multiple need(s), services or
activities/outputs, and outcomes, but
each selection is entered in separate
cells using the drop-down menu. The
units of measure, whether for outputs or
outcomes, contain both a number and a
descriptor of the output or outcome that
is counted. Applicants select the unit of

PO 00000

Frm 00018

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

measure in accordance with the output
or outcome selected, and then insert the
expected number of units to be
completed during the period of
performance. In this manner, the
applicant will build a custom logic
model reflecting their program of
activities. The custom logic model will
link the need(s) to the activity/output(s),
which in turn are linked to the result or
expected outcome(s).
Applicants that do not have Microsoft
ExcelTM may obtain a PDF version of the
form along with a program specific
Master Logic Model from HUD’s Web
site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/
grants/fundsavail.cfm. Each programspecific Master Logic Model will be
under the program title on the Web site.
Multiple forms can be used to
distinguish between short, intermediate,
and long-term outputs and outcomes in
the applicant’s proposed program. The
PDF form can be completed, printed,
and transmitted using the facsimile
transmittal form (HUD–96011).
1. In FY2006, grantees must adhere to
the following reporting principles:
a. An evaluation process will be part
of the ongoing management of the HUDfunded award;
b. Comparisons will be made between
projected and actual numbers for
outputs and outcomes;
c. Deviations from projected outputs
and outcomes will be documented and
explained as part of required reporting;
and
d. Data will be analyzed to determine
the relationship of outputs to outcomes
to determine which outputs produce
which outcomes and which are most
effective.
2. As stated above, in FY2006, HUD
is requiring each program to establish a
set of Program Management Evaluation
Questions and a ROI Statement for
grantee reporting. Grantees must use
these program-specific questions to selfevaluate the management and
performance of their program and
address the ROI Statement for the
program in accordance with the
program-specific reporting
requirements. In developing the Master
Logic Model Program Management
Evaluation Questions, HUD trained its
program managers on a critical thinking
process known as the Carter-Richmond
methodology that identifies key
management and evaluation questions
for HUD’s programs. The following table
identifies the Carter-Richmond generic
questions and where the source data is
found in the Logic Model.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices
CARTER-RICHMOND

METHODOLOGY 1: the specific ROI reporting requirements
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR EFFECTIVE for the program during the broadcast.
Applicants should submit the
MANAGEMENT

Management questions
1. How many clients
are you serving?
2. How many units
were provided?
3. Who are you serving?
4. What services do
you provide?
5. What does it cost?
6. What does it cost
per service delivered?
7. What happens to
the ‘‘subjects’’ as a
result of the service?2
8. What does it cost
per outcome?
9. What is the value
of the outcome?
10. What is the return
on investment?

Logic model columns
for source data
Service/Activity/Output.
Service/Activity/Output.
Service/Activity/Output.
Service/Activity/Output.
Service/Activity/Output.
Service/Activity/Output/Evaluation.
Outcome.

Outcome and Evaluation.
Outcome and Evaluation.
Evaluation.

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

1 The
Carter-Richmond methodology is
copyrighted and is provided to support the development of your grant application. Any other
use is prohibited without prior written permission of The Center for Applied Management
Practices, Inc., 3609 Gettysburg Road, Camp
Hill, PA 17011, (717) 730–3705, http://
www.appliedmgt.com.
2 The subject can be a client or a unit, such
as a building and is defined in its associated
unit of service.

As a result of this training, each
program has developed specific Program
Management Evaluation Questions
tailored to the statutory purpose of each
of their programs. Each program NOFA
will require applicants to address the
Program Management Evaluation
Questions based upon the CarterRichmond methodology in their reports
to HUD. The program NOFAs will
identify the particular program
management evaluation questions to be
addressed that relate to the statutory
purpose and intent of each program.
Training on HUD’s Logic Model, the
reporting requirements for addressing
the Program Management Evaluation
Questions, and how to calculate a ROI
Statement will be provided via satellite
broadcast. The training will also provide
examples of how to construct the Logic
Model using the copy and paste method.
Training materials and the dates for the
training will be on HUD’s Web site at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/
fundsavail.cfm, shortly after publication
of the SuperNOFA. In addition, each
program NOFA broadcast will address

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

completed Logic Model as an
attachment to their application in
accordance with the directions in the
program NOFA for addressing the
factors for award. Each program NOFA
will identify if they want the factors for
award, including the Logic Model
required as part of the application
submission, submitted as a single
attached file or as separate files. Please
follow the program NOFA directions.
Once selected for funding and
awarded funds, grantees will be
required to submit a completed form
HUD–96010 Logic Model indicating
results achieved against the proposed
output(s) and proposed outcome(s)
stated in the grantee’s approved
application and agreed to by HUD. The
submission of the Logic Model and
required ROI Statement calculation
must be submitted to HUD in accord
with the reporting periods identified in
each program NOFA for providing
reports to HUD.
VII. Agency Contact(s)

The individual program NOFAs will
identify the applicable agency contacts
related to each program. Questions
regarding this notice should be directed
to the NOFA Information Center
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6:30
p.m. eastern time at 800–HUD–8929.
Hearing impaired persons may call 800–
HUD–2209. Questions regarding specific
program requirements should be
directed to the agency contacts
identified in each program NOFA.
VIII. Other Information
A. Grants.gov and P.L. 106–107
Streamlining Activities
The Federal Financial Assistance
Management Improvement Act of 1999
(Public Law 106–107) directs each
Federal agency to develop and
implement a plan that, among other
things, streamlines and simplifies the
application, administrative, and
reporting procedures for Federal
financial assistance programs
administered by the agency. This law
also requires the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) to
direct, coordinate, and assist Federal
agencies in establishing (1) a common
application and reporting system and (2)
an interagency process for addressing
ways to streamline and simplify Federal
financial assistance application and
administrative procedures and reporting
requirements for program applicants.
The first segment of the Grants.gov
initiative focuses on allowing the public

PO 00000

Frm 00019

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

3399

to easily FIND competitive funding
opportunities and then APPLY via
Grants.gov. HUD posted all of its
funding opportunities on http://
www.grants.gov/Find in FY2004, with
the exception of the Continuum of Care,
and intends to do the same in FY2006.
In addition, Grants.gov is working with
the Federal agencies to begin the
process of accepting mandatory and
formula grant program plans and
application submissions online via
Grants.gov in 2006. Applicants for
HUD’s formula and competitive
programs are urged to become familiar
with the Grants.gov site, registration
procedures, and electronic submissions
so that as the site is expanded, you will
be registered and familiar with the findand-apply functionality.
B. HUD-Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Memorandum of Agreement
HUD and the IRS have entered into a
memorandum of agreement to provide
information to HUD grantees serving
low-income, disabled, and elderly
persons, as well as persons with limited
English proficiency, on the availability
of low-income housing tax credits, the
earned income tax credit, individual
development accounts, child tax credits,
and the IRS Voluntary Income Tax
Assistance program. HUD is making
available on its Web site information on
these IRS asset-building resources. HUD
encourages you to visit the site and
disseminate this information to lowincome residents in your community
and other organizations that serve lowincome residents, so that eligible
individuals can take advantage of these
resources.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The information collection
requirements in this notice have been
approved by OMB under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3520). In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information unless the collection
displays a valid OMB control number.
Each program NOFA will identify its
applicable OMB control number.
D. Environmental Impact
A Finding of No Significant Impact
with respect to the environment has
been made for this notice in accordance
with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50
that implement Section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The
Finding of No Significant Impact is
available for public inspection between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time, Monday

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3400

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

through Friday, except Federal holidays,
in the Office of the General Counsel,
Regulations Division, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
Seventh Street, SW., Room 10276,
Washington, DC 20410–0500.
E. Executive Orders and Recent
Legislative Changes
1. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
Executive Order 13132 prohibits, to
the extent practicable and permitted by
law, an agency from promulgating
policies that have federalism
implications and either impose
substantial direct compliance costs on
State and local governments and are not
required by statute, or preempt State
law, unless the relevant requirements of
Section 6 of the executive order are met.
This notice does not have federalism
implications and does not impose
substantial direct compliance costs on
State and local governments or preempt
State law within the meaning of the
executive order.
2. American-made Products
Sections 708 and 709 of the
Transportation, Treasury, Housing and
Urban Development, the Judiciary, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109–115; approved
Nov. 30, 2005) states that, to the greatest
extent practicable, all equipment and
products purchased with funds made
available in FY2006 should be
American-made.
3. Eminent Domain

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Section 726 of the Transportation,
Treasury, Housing and Urban
Development, the Judiciary, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109–115; approved
Nov. 30, 2005) states that no funds made
available under the Act may be used to
support any Federal, State, or local
projects that seek to use the power of
eminent domain, unless eminent
domain is employed only for a public
use.
For purposes of this provision, public
use shall not be construed to include
economic development that primarily
benefits private entities.
Further, any use of funds for mass
transit, railroad, airport, seaport or
highway projects as well as utility
projects which benefit or serve the
general public (including energy-

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

related, communication-related, waterrelated and wastewater-related
infrastructure), other structures
designated for use by the general public
or which have other common-carrier or
public-utility functions that serve the
general public and are subject to
regulation and oversight by the
government, and projects for the
removal of an immediate threat to
public health and safety or brownsfield
as defined in the Small Business
Liability Relief and Brownsfield
Revitalization Act (Pub. L. 107–118)
shall be considered a public use for
purposes of eminent domain.
F. Public Access, Documentation, and
Disclosure
Section 102 of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development
Reform Act of 1989 (HUD Reform Act)
(42 U.S.C. 3545) and the regulations
codified at 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 individual NOFAs published as
part of HUD’s SuperNOFA or thereafter,
as described below.
1. Documentation, Public Access, and
Disclosure Requirements
HUD will ensure that documentation
and other information regarding each
application submitted pursuant to its
FY2006 NOFAs published in the 2006
SuperNOFA or NOFAs published
thereafter 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 (24 CFR part 15).
2. Form HUD–2880
HUD will also make available to the
public for 5 years all applicant

PO 00000

Frm 00020

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

disclosure reports (form HUD–2880)
submitted in connection with an
FY2006 NOFA. Update reports (also
reported on form HUD–2880) will be
made available along with the applicant
disclosure reports, but in no case for a
period of 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 (24 CFR part 5).
BILLING CODE 4210–32–P

3. 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 funding decisions made by
the Department to provide:
a. Assistance subject to Section 102(a)
of the HUD Reform Act; and
b. Assistance provided through grants
or cooperative agreements on a
discretionary (non-formula, nondemand) noncompetitive basis, but that
is not provided based on a competition.
G. Section 103 of the HUD Reform Act
HUD’s regulations implementing
Section 103 of the HUD Reform Act,
codified at 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 prohibited 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 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). The toll-free TTY number for
persons with speech or hearing
impairments is (800) 877–8339. 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.

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00021

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3401

EN20JA06.000

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

VerDate Aug<31>2005

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00022

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

EN20JA06.001

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

3402

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00023

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4725

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

3403

EN20JA06.002

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

3404

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Notices

[FR Doc. 06–531 Filed 1–19–06; 8:45 am]

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:04 Jan 19, 2006

Jkt 208001

PO 00000

Frm 00024

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4703

E:\FR\FM\20JAN2.SGM

20JAN2

EN20JA06.003

cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES2

BILLING CODE 4210–32–C


File Typeapplication/pdf
File TitleDocument
SubjectExtracted Pages
AuthorU.S. Government Printing Office
File Modified2006-03-08
File Created2006-01-19

© 2024 OMB.report | Privacy Policy