5900 n 08 rural capbldg nofa final 7.13.15.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Planning and Development

Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants

FR-5900-N-08

H04396 Stamp

Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants

FR-5900-N-08

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Funding Opportunity Description. I.

Award Information. II.

Eligibility Information.

Eligible Applicants. A.

Cost Sharing or Matching. B.

Other. C.

III.

Application and Submission Information.

Obtaining an Application Package. A.

Content and Form of Application Submission. B.

DUNS Number and SAM Registration. C.

Application Submission Dates and Times. D.

Intergovernmental Review. E.

Funding Restrictions. F.

Other Submission Requirements. G.

IV.

Application Review Information.

Criteria. A.

Review and Selection Process. B.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates. C.

V.

Award Administration Information.

Award Notices. A.

Administrative, National and Departmental Policy Requirements. B.

Reporting. C.

VI.

Agency Contact(s). VII.

Other Information. VIII.

Appendix. IX.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Planning and Development Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants Initial

FR-5900-N-08

14.265 September 14, 2015

Funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's programs such as the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) create affordable housing and support economic development in communities across the Nation.

However, the success of these efforts relies in large part on the capacity of local non-profits, local governments, and Indian Tribes to develop and implement effective housing and community development plans. Rural communities have unique challenges in meeting these needs. The funding appropriated for this program is intended to serve high-need rural areas and help rural housing development organizations, community development organizations (CDCs), community housing development organizations (CHDOs), local governments, and Indian tribes obtain financing, training and technical assistance necessary to undertake effective community development activities.

The Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing (Rural Capacity Building) program, is intended to fund applicants with demonstrated expertise in affordable housing and community development in high-need rural communities. To ensure that there is a sufficient mix of grantees funded, HUD reserves the right to fund less than the amount requested by any applicant.

Adjustment in funding amounts are also intended to ensure a fair distribution of the funds for the provision of capacity building assistance on a national, geographically diverse basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding the specific program requirements of this Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to the agency contact identified in Section VII. Please direct questions regarding the FY 2015 General Section to the Office of Strategic Planning and Management, Grants Management Division, at (202) 708-0667 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access these numbers via TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

Additional Overview Information

1. Incorporation of the General Section. HUD publishes a General Section each fiscal year that contains mandatory requirements for all applicants to HUD’s various competitive grant programs, including this NOFA. Applications must meet all of the requirements of the General Section in addition to the requirements of this NOFA to be considered and potentially receive funding. The full title of the General Section is the General Section to the Fiscal Year 2015 NOFAs for Discretionary Programs. Copies are available at Grants.gov or HUD's Funds Available page, http: //portal.hud.gov /hudportal /HUD?src= /program_offices /administration /grants /fundsavail.

2. OMB Approval Number(s): 2506-0195

Program Office:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Primary CFDA Number:

Due Date for Applications:

http://www.grants.gov http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail

2. OMB Approval Number(s): 2506-0195

I. Funding Opportunity Description.

A. Program Description.

1. Purpose.

Through funding of national organizations with expertise in rural housing and community development, the Rural Capacity Building program enhances the capacity and ability of rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian Tribes to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income families and persons and low- and moderate-income families and persons in rural areas.

2. Changes from Previous NOFA.

The FY15 Rural Capacity Building for Affordable Housing program NOFA contains multiple material changes from prior years. To increase your chance of success, please be sure to read this announcement fully and carefully. Due to the magnitude of these changes the application period for the FY15 Rural Capacity Building NOFA has been expanded from 30 to 60 days.

3. Definitions.

a. Eligibility Requirements – Eligibility requirements are those requirements that must be met for an application to be eligible for funding. Deficiencies in meeting an eligibility requirement may be categorized as either curable or non-curable.

b. Threshold Requirement – Threshold requirements are a category of eligibility requirements. A threshold requirement is a requirement that must be met in order for an application to be reviewed.

Threshold requirements are not curable.

Threshold requirements are listed in Section III.C.2. of both the 2015 General Section and in this Program

NOFA.

Applicants must ensure their application package addresses all threshold requirements. Please check your application carefully!

c. Deficiency – Deficiencies are not the same as errors. Errors are never curable except as permitted under Section IV.C.2. Deficiencies are items of missing or omitted information within a submitted application.

Deficiencies typically involve missing documents, information on a form, or some other type of unsatisfied information requirement (e.g., an unsigned form, unchecked box, etc.). Depending on specific criteria, deficiencies may be either curable or non-curable.

d. Curable Deficiency – A curable deficiency is a specific type of deficiency that applicants may correct with timely action. To be curable the deficiency must:

– Not be a threshold requirement;

– Not influence how an applicant is ranked or scored versus other applicants; and

– Be remedied within the time frame specified in the notice of deficiency.

e. Non-Curable Deficiency – An applicant cannot correct a non-curable deficiency after the submission deadline. Non-curable deficiencies are deficiencies that if corrected would change an applicant’s score or rank versus other applicants. Non-curable deficiencies may result in an application being marked ineligible, or otherwise adversely affect an application’s score and final determination.

For the purposes of this grant opportunity the following definitions will also apply:

Community Development Corporation (CDC):

a. A CDC is a nonprofit organization that undertakes eligible Rural Capacity Building Program activities as defined in this NOFA. The CDC must be:

Organized under Federal, State or local law to engage in community development activities (which may include housing and economic development activities) primarily within an identified geographic area of operation;

1.

Governed by a board of directors composed of community residents, business and civic leaders

2.

Have as its primary purpose the improvement of the physical, economic or social environment of its geographic area of operation by addressing one or more critical problems of the area, with particular attention to the needs of persons of low income;

3.

Be neither controlled by, nor under the direction of, individuals or entities seeking to derive profit or gain from the organization;

4.

Have a tax exemption ruling from the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1);

5.

Have standards of financial accountability that conform to 2 CFR 200.302, “Financial Management” and 2 CFR 200.303, “Internal Controls”;

6.

Not be an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government;7.

For urban areas, “community” may be a neighborhood or neighborhoods, town, village, county or multi-county area (but not the entire State or territory).

8.

b. An organization that does not qualify under paragraph (1) through (8) may also be determined to qualify as an eligible entity if:

It is a Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Section 501 State Development Company, or an SBA Certified Section 503 Company under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended (P.L. 85-699), or

1.

The recipient demonstrates to the satisfaction of HUD, through the provision of information regarding the organization’s charter and by-laws, that the organization is sufficiently similar in purpose, function, and scope to those entities qualifying under paragraphs (1) through (8) of this definition, or

2.

It is a State or locally chartered organization; however, the State or local government may not have the right to appoint more than one-third of the membership of the organization’s governing body and no more than one-third of the board members may be public officials or employees of the State or local government entity chartering the organization. Board members appointed by the State or local government may not appoint the remaining two-thirds of the board members.

3.

Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO): A CHDO is defined in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program regulation (HOME Program) at 24 CFR 92.2. The HOME Program is authorized by the HOME Investment Partnerships Act at title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.

Consortium: A consortium is defined as two or more private or public nonprofit organizations that collectively have the capacity and experience to carry out the proposed activities in the target geography.

These organizations must enter into an agreement to submit a single application for Rural Capacity Building funding with one organization being designated as the lead entity. The lead entity must submit the application, and, if selected for funding, execute the grant agreement with HUD. The lead entity assumes responsibility for the grant and is accountable for all consortium members’ performance and compliance with all program requirements. Where an application involves more than one applicant or co-applicant each applicant or co-applicant must meet the threshold requirement outlined in the General Section.

Family: Family refers to the definition of “family” in 24CFR 5.403. Family includes, but is not limited to, the following, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status:

a. A single person, who may be an elderly person, displaced person, disabled person, near-elderly person, or any other single person; or

b. A group of persons residing together, and such group includes, but is not limited to:

A family with or without children (a child who is temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care is considered a member of the family);

1.

An elderly family;2.

A near-elderly family;3.

A disabled family;4.

A displaced family; and5.

The remaining member of a tenant family.6.

Household: Household means all the persons occupying a housing unit. The occupants may be a family as defined in 24 CFR 5.403; two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who share living arrangements, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

Low- and moderate-income household: Low- and moderate-income household means a household having an income equal to or less than the Section 8 low-income limit established by HUD, which means a household whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Low- and moderate-income person: Low- and moderate-income person means a member of a family having an income equal to or less than the Section 8 low-income limit established by HUD, which means an individual whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the AMI. Unrelated individuals will be considered as one-person families for this purpose.

Low-income household: Low-income household means a household having an income equal to or less than the Section 8 very low-income limit established by HUD, which means a household whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the AMI.

Low-income person:Low-income person means a member of a family that has an income equal to or less than the Section 8 very low-income limit established by HUD, which means an individual whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the AMI. Unrelated individuals shall be considered as one-person families for this purpose.

National Organization: A national organization is defined as a non-profit entity or consortium that has on-going experience in rural housing, including experience working with rural housing development organizations, community development corporations (CDCs), community housing development organizations (CHDOs), local governments, and Indian tribes, as evidenced by past and continuing work in one or more states in five or more of the federal regions described on HUD's website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices/regions.

Rural Area: A rural area is a statistical geographic entity delineated by the Census Bureau that does not meet the definition of an urbanized area contained in the Office of Management and Budget’s 2010 Standards for Delineating Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas, 75 FR 37252 (June 28, 2010) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. Current delineations can be http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf http://www.census.gov/population/metro/ found at http://www.census.gov/population/metro/.

B. Authority.

The Rural Capacity Building program and the funding made available through this NOFA are authorized by the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235, approved December 16, 2014).

II. Award Information.

A. Available Funds.

HUD is making available through this NOFA $5,000,000 for Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFA as a result of HUD's efforts to recapture unused funds, use carryover funds, or because of the availability of additional appropriated funds. Use of these funds will be subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the applicable funding restrictions described in the General Section and to those contained in this NOFA.

B. Number of Awards.

HUD expects to make approximately 4 awards from the funds available under this NOFA.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information.

Estimated Total Funding: $5,000,000 Minimum Award Amount: $500,000 Per Project Period Maximum Award Amount: $2,500,000 Per Project Period D. Period of Performance.

Awards will be for a period of 48 months from the date of execution of the grant agreement.

Estimated Project Start Date: 10/16/2015 Estimated Project End Date: 10/15/2019 48-month project with four 12-month budget periods

E. Type of Funding Instrument.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

HUD will enter into a grant agreement with selected applicants for the period of performance.

F. Supplementation.

Not Applicable.

III. Eligibility Information.

A. Eligible Applicants.

Eligible applicants under the NOFA include:

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf http://www.census.gov/population/metro/

A national organization is defined as a non-profit entity or consortium that has on-going experience in rural housing, including experience working with rural housing development organizations, community development corporations (CDCs), community housing development organizations (CHDOs), local governments, and Indian tribes, as evidenced by past and continuing work in one or more states in five or more of the federal regions described on HUD's website at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices/regions.

HUD does not award grants to individuals. HUD will also not evaluate applications from ineligible applicants.

All applicants must have an active Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform) and have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) before submitting an application. Getting a DUNS number and completing SAM registration can take up to four weeks; therefore applicants should start this process or check their status early.

See also Section IV.B below for necessary content and form of the application.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

This Program requires an applicant to leverage resources through cost sharing or matching as described below.

Generally, federal sources are not allowed to be used as cost share or match unless otherwise permitted by a program’s authorizing statute.

There is no match requirement under the Rural Capacity Building program. However, applicants who submit evidence of leveraging dollars under Rating Factor 4 will receive points according to the scale under that factor. The authorizing language for the Rural Capacity Building Program in the appropriation does not allow Federal sources to be used as leverage. All leverage funds, including in-kind contributions, shall conform to the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200.96

C. Other.

All applicants must also refer to Section III of the General Section for information on HUD-wide eligibility requirements. These requirements may determine whether your application is reviewed or make your application ineligible for funding.

Program specific eligibility criteria for this competition includes:

1. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements.

Eligible Program Activities. Funds may be used to provide the following services:

a. Training, education, support, and advice to enhance the technical and administrative capabilities of rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes, including the capacity to participate in consolidated planning, as well as, in fair housing planning and Continuum of Care homeless assistance efforts that help ensure community-wide participation in assessing area needs;

consulting broadly within the community; cooperatively planning for the use of available resources in a comprehensive and holistic manner; and assisting in evaluating performance under these community efforts and in linking plans with neighboring communities in order to foster regional planning;

b. Loans, pass-through grants, development assistance, predevelopment assistance, or other financial assistance to rural housing organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income or low- and moderate-income families and persons, including the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices/regions http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov for low-income or low- and moderate-income families and persons, and community and economic development activities that create jobs for low-income persons; and;

c. Such other activities as may be determined by the grantees in consultation with the Secretary or his or her designee.

Program Priorities. Activities undertaken as part of, or as a result of, capacity building efforts described in this section shall support the implementation of other HUD programs in rural areas, including but not limited to the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), and the Continuum of Care program. Through the eligible activities of this NOFA, grantees are encouraged to build the capacity of entities in rural areas that lack designated rural housing development organizations, CDCs or CHDOs and to ensure that those entities gain new access or expand existing access to federal funding.

In addition, activities should support HUD’s Strategic Goals and NOFA Priorities as described in Section I. of HUD’s General Section to the NOFAs for Discretionary Programs.

2. Threshold Requirements.

Only applications that meet all threshold requirements established in the General Section and Program NOFA will be evaluated. In addition to the threshold criteria outlined in the General Section, including the Resolution of Outstanding Civil Rights Matters (prior to application deadline), the following threshold requirements must be met:

a) Timely Submission of Applications

b) Resolution of Civil Rights Matters

3. Compliance with Nondiscrimination and Related Requirements.

a) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. Consistent with the instructions in the Section III. C.3.b of the General Section, applicants must submit with their application a description of how their proposed activities will affirmatively further fair housing. In developing their plans, applicants shall review the Analyses of Impediments to fair housing choice in the jurisdictions in which the activities will take place. Examples of activities that may address impediments to fair housing choice include:

(1) Affirmative fair housing marketing that targets persons least likely to apply for housing, including outreach to underserved population groups or advocacy organizations representing such persons; (2) Increasing accessible housing for persons with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC § 794), the Fair Housing Act (42 USC § 3601 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC § 12101 et seq.); (3) Planning new or rehabilitated housing in locations that provide greater housing choice and mobility opportunities for persons protected by the Fair Housing Act; (4) Providing language assistance services to persons with limited English proficiency; and (5) Addressing other impediments to fair housing choice identified in a jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments in coordination with local and regional non-profit community groups and governmental organizations. The proposed activities must address at least one of the following objectives: (1) help overcome any impediments to fair housing choice related to the assisted program or activity itself; (2) promote racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities; or (3) promote housing-related opportunities that overcome the effects of past discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.

b) Accessible Housing and Other Facilities. Housing and other facilities constructed or rehabilitated using funds under this NOFA are subject to federal accessibility requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Architectural Barriers Act (P.L. 90-480), as applicable.

c) Accessibility of Training Facilities. In the conduct of training and educational courses successful applicants must give priority to methods that provide physical access to individuals with disabilities, i.e., holding the training or any other type of meeting in an accessible location in accordance with the regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as applicable. All programs or activities must be held in accessible locations unless the recipient can demonstrate that doing so would result in a fundamental alteration of the program or an undue financial and administrative burden, in which case the recipients must take any action that would not result in such an alteration or such burden but would nevertheless ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the benefits and services of the program or activity, e.g., training at an alternate accessible site, in-home training. Individuals with disabilities must receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

d) Effective Communications. Successful applicants must also ensure that notices of and communications during all training sessions and meetings are provided in a manner that is effective for persons with hearing, visual, and other communications-related disabilities consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (24 CFR 8.6), and as applicable, the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes ensuring that training materials are in appropriate alternative formats as needed, e.g., Braille, audio, large type, sign language interpreters, and assistive listening devices, etc. All products and tools for capacity building must be accessible in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (see, for example, 24 CFR 8.6, on effective communications).

e) Accessible Technology. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, (29 USC § 794d) (Section 508) requires the Department to ensure, when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology (EIT), that the EIT allow persons with disabilities to access and use information and data on a comparable basis as is made available to and used by persons without disabilities. Providing access on a comparable basis means ensuring that the EIT is in compliance with the Section 508 standards adopted by the U.S. Access Board (www.access-board.gov/guidelines -and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/section-508-standards).

Section 508 covers, but is not limited to, computers (hardware, software, word processing, email, and Internet sites), fax machines, copiers and telephones. Among other things, Section 508 requires that EIT allow individuals with disabilities who are federal employees or members of the public seeking information or services to have access to and use of information and data on a comparable basis as that made available to employees and members of the public without disabilities unless an undue burden would result to the federal department or agency. Where an undue burden exists to the federal department or agency, alternative means may be used to allow an individual with disabilities 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. The Department encourages its funding recipients to adopt the goals and objectives of Section 508 by ensuring, whenever EIT is used, that persons with disabilities have access to and use of the information and data made available through the EIT on a basis comparable 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.

Applicants and recipients seeking further information on accessible technology are directed to www .section508.gov.

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 programs and activities for individuals who, as a result of national origin, are limited in their English proficiency. Applicants obtaining federal financial assistance from the Department shall take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs and activities to LEP individuals. As an aid to recipients, the Department published Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients: Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons (LEP Guidance) in the Federal Register on January 22, 2007 (72 FR 2732). For assistance and information regarding LEP obligations, go to www.justice.gov/crt/lep/guidance http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/section-508-standards http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/section-508-standards http://www.section508.gov http://www.section508.gov http://www.justice.gov/crt/lep/guidance/HUD_guidance_Jan07.pdf http://www.justice.gov/crt/lep/guidance/HUD_guidance_Jan07.pdf http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lep.xml

/HUD_guidance_Jan07.pdf. For more information on LEP, please visit www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lep .xml.

g) Economic Opportunities for Low- and Very Low-income Persons (Section 3). Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Applicants, by signing, certify that the applicant and all subrecipients shall comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701u) and HUD’s implementing regulations at 24 CFR Part 135, which require recipients to ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that training, employment, contracting 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 to business concerns. Additional information regarding al Section 3 requirements can be found in Section III.C.3(c) of the General Section.

Applicants must also ensure that their subrecipients have a feasible Section 3 plan to direct new employment and contracting opportunities created during the expenditure of covered financial assistance to Section 3 residents and Section 3 business concerns, and that their subrecipients demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Section 3 by reporting their activities in the Section 3 Annual Summary Report (Form HUD-60002).

4. Other Requirements.

This program has eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.

You must refer to Section III of the General Section for information on the following eligibility requirements. These requirements may, where applicable, determine whether your application is reviewed or make your application ineligible for funding:

Compliance with nondiscrimination and other requirements, including but not limited to:

compliance with all applicable fair housing and civil rights laws;

affirmatively furthering fair housing;

Delinquent Federal debts;

Financial management systems that meet Federal standards;

Debarment and/or suspension from doing business with the Federal Government;

False statements;

Do Not Pay review and compliance with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012;

Standards of ethical conduct/code of conduct;

Prohibition against lobbying activities; and Conflicts of interest

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Obtaining an Application Package.

An electronic copy of the Application Package and Application Instructions for this NOFA can be downloaded from Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. Unless an applicant received a waiver for good cause, applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov except Continuum of Care applications. The Continuum of Care application is submitted through HUD’s e-snaps system.

An applicant demonstrating good cause may request a waiver from the requirement for electronic submission. Applicants that cannot submit their applications electronically and must seek a waiver of the electronic grant submission requirements must submit a waiver request so that the request is received at http://www.justice.gov/crt/lep/guidance/HUD_guidance_Jan07.pdf http://www.justice.gov/crt/lep/guidance/HUD_guidance_Jan07.pdf http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lep.xml http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lep.xml http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html least 15 days before the application deadline. If HUD waives the requirement, your paper application must be received by HUD before the deadline of this NOFA. To request a waiver and receive a paper copy of the application materials, you should contact:

Office of Community Planning and Development Office of Policy Development and Coordiation Washington, DC Email: CapacityBuilding@hud.gov

B. Content and Form of Application Submission.

To ensure that the correct Application Package and Application Instructions are used, applicants must verify that the CFDA number and CFDA Description on the first page of the Application Package downloaded from Grants.gov, as well as the Opportunity Title, and the Funding Opportunity Number match the Program and NOFA to which they are applying. Applications will only be considered for the competition indicated in boxes 11, 12, and 13 on the SF-424 submitted in the application.

1. Content

Forms for your package include the forms outlined below:

Additionally, your complete application must include the following narratives and non-form attachments:

A complete application under this NOFA must contain the information below. All forms required for application submission can be found in the application and instruction downloads on Grants.gov at http ://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp .

a. Page Limitation and Font Size. Narratives addressing Factors 1 through 5 are limited to no more than 34 pages of single-spaced text based on an 8.5 by 11 inch paper, using a standard 12-point font. HUD will not review more than 34 pages for all five factors and NOFA policy priorities combined, except that the page limit does not include the form HUD-2995 in support of the Preferred Sustainable Communities Status Bonus points.

b. Prohibition on Materials Not Required. Materials other than what is requested in this NOFA are prohibited. Reviewers will not consider resumes, charts, letters, or any other documents attached to the application, which are not specified in this NOFA.

c. Checklist for Application Submission. The following checklist is provided as a guide to help ensure that applicants submit all the required elements. All applicants should enter the applicant name, DUNS number, and page numbers on the narrative pages of the application. The paper submission must be in the order provided below.

__ Application for Federal Assistance (form SF424) (Note: Applicants must enter the legal name of their organization in box 8.a. and DUNS number in box 8.c. of the SF424 as it appears in the System for Award Management (SAM).

__ Faith-Based EEO Survey (SF424 Supplement, Survey for Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants);

__ Narrative addressing Factors 1 through 5;

__ Grant Application Detailed Budget (HUD-424-CB);

__ Applicant Assurances and Certification (HUD-424-B);

__ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SFLLL) (if applicable);

__ Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/Update Report (HUD2880);

__Certification of Consistency with Sustainable Communities Planning and Implementation Form

(HUD 2995);

mailto:CapacityBuilding@hud.gov http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

2. Format and Form Narratives and other attachments to your application must follow the following format guidelines:

Applicants are advised to address the requirements of each Rating Factor in the corresponding narrative statements for that specific Rating Factor so that information is not missed during the review process. For additional submission requirements, please see the checklist above in Section IV.B.

C. DUNS Number and SAM Registration.

Please refer directly to Section IV.C of the General Section, available at Grants.gov or HUD's Funds Available page, http:// portal.hud.gov /hudportal /HUD?src= /program_offices /administration /grants /fundsavail.

D. Application Submission Dates and Times.

The application deadline is 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern time on September 14, 2015.

Applications must be received no later than the deadline. Please refer to the General Section for more information about timely receipt of applications.

Submit your application to Grants.gov unless a waiver has been issued allowing you to submit your application in paper form or you are applying for the Continuum of Care program. The Continuum of Care application is submitted through HUD's e-snaps system. Instructions for submitting your application to Grants.gov are contained within the Application Package you downloaded from Grants.gov.

Instructions for submitting your paper application will be contained in the waiver of electronic submission.

Your application must be both received and validated by Grants.gov. Your application is “received” when Grant.gov provides you a confirmation of receipt and an application tracking number. If you do not see this confirmation and tracking number, your application has not been received.

After your application has been received, your application still must be validated by Grants.gov. During this process, your application may be “validated” or “rejected with errors.” To know whether your application was rejected with errors and the reason(s) why, you must log into Grants.gov, select “Applicants” from the top navigation, and select “Track my application” from the drop-down list. If the status is “rejected with errors,” you have the option to correct the error(s) and resubmit your application before the Grace Period ends. If your application was “rejected with errors” and you do not correct these errors, HUD will not review your application. If your status is “validated” your application will be forwarded to HUD by Grants.gov.

1. Resubmitting an Application.

Before the submission deadline, applicants who choose to amend an application that has been validated by Grants.gov have several options:

(1) an applicant may email the new or revised supporting materials to ApplicationSupport@hud.gov;

or

(2) an applicant may fax the additional supporting documents using the form HUD-96011.

(3) an applicant may resubmit an entire, revised application via Grants.gov containing the new or changed material;

Whichever option is used, all materials must be received by the applicable deadline.

When submitting additional supporting documentation via email, the applicant must enter "Supporting Documentation" plus the Grants.gov application tracking number in the subject line of the email. (e.g., Subject: Supporting Documentation - GRANT12345678). If this information is not included, HUD will not be able to match the response to the application under review and the application may therefore be http://www.grants.gov http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail not be able to match the response to the application under review and the application may therefore be rejected due to the deficiency.

When submitting additional supporting documentation by fax, the applicant must enter the document name in the box labeled "Name of Document Submitting" in form HUD96011. When submitting a fax, applicants must follow the fax requirements found elsewhere in this notice. If the fax transmittal form from the last application submitted is not the cover page to the applicant's response HUD will not be able to match the response to the application under review and the application may therefore be rejected due to the deficiency.

When resubmitting an application that was previously validated by Grants.gov, all documents faxed in support of the original submission must be either attached to the Grants.gov resubmission or faxed again using the form HUD-96011. If faxing, you must fax the materials, including materials faxed by a third party, after the resubmitted application has been validated by Grants.gov. All faxed materials must be received by the applicable deadline.

2. Grace Period for Grant.gov Submissions.

If an application is received by Grants.gov before the deadline, but is rejected with errors, applicants have a grace period of 24 hours beyond the application deadline to submit a corrected application that is received and validated by Grants.gov. Any application submitted during the grace period that does not meet the criteria above will not be considered for funding. There is no grace period for paper applications.

See the General Section for more information about the grace period.

3. Late Applications.

An application received after the Program NOFA deadline date that does not meet the requirements of the grace period policy will be marked late, and will not be considered for funding.

E. Intergovernmental Review.

This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

F. Funding Restrictions.

No fee or profit may be paid to any recipient or subrecipient of an award under this capacity building

NOFA.

1. Lead Based Paint Requirements.

When providing housing assistance funding for purchase, lease, support services, operation, or work that may disturb painted surfaces, of pre-1978 housing, you must comply with the lead-based paint evaluation and hazard reduction requirements of HUD's lead-based paint rules (Lead Disclosure; and Lead Safe Housing (24 CFR part 35)), and EPA's lead-based paint rules (e.g., Repair, Renovation and Painting;

Pre-Renovation Education; and Lead Training and Certification (40 CFR part 745)).

V. Application Review Information

Rating Criteria. The maximum number of points to be awarded for a rural capacity building application is 105, which includes Rating Factors 1 through 5, three NOFA policy priority points and two bonus points. Applicants that undertake activities that result in achievement of specific NOFA Priorities listed below are eligible to receive additional points in the rating of their application. These points will be considered only if the application meets or exceeds the Program's minimum fundable score based on the rating factors of this NOFA. The minimum score for an application to be considered for funding is 75.

Two bonus points will be awarded for working with communities that are Preferred Sustainability Status Communities and/pr Promise Zones, as described in Section V.A.1.b of the General Section.

Points are assigned based on applicant responses to five factors. When addressing Factors 2 through 5, applicants should discuss the activities that will be carried out with Rural Capacity Building funds during the term of the grant agreement. Submissions should provide recent (within the last four years) and relevant (relative to the proposed activities to be carried out with the funds for this award) examples to support the proposal, where appropriate. Submissions should also be specific when describing the communities, populations, and organizations that they propose to serve and the specific outcomes expected as a result of the activities.

Rating Factor 1 - Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience

Maximum Points: 25

Factor 1 relates to the capacity of the applicant and its relevant organizational experience. Rating of the “applicant” or the “applicant's organization and staff” includes in-house staff and any identified subcontractors and subrecipients firmly committed to the proposed project. In responding to Factor 1, applicants should specify the relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant’s organization and staff. Other than names and position titles, please do not use any Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

a. Experience (13 points) The applicant shall describe the scope of work it performs on a national basis, including geographical areas and populations served and describe the extent of the expertise in rural housing and community development, as it relates to the eligible activities of this NOFA. The applicant shall focus on describing successful recent and relevant experience of the applicant’s organization and staff in building the capacity of rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes to develop rural affordable housing and undertake rural community development activities, and participate in other HUD programs.

In rating this factor, HUD will consider how well the application describes successful recent and relevant experience of the applicant’s organization and staff in providing assistance to build the capacity of program beneficiaries, as demonstrated by (1) work in a variety of HUD regions, (2) assistance to different types of program beneficiaries, (3) expertise in rural housing and rural community development, and (4) concurrently managing projects, to multiple entities, in more than one geographic location.

b. Capacity (12 points) The applicant shall demonstrate that there are experienced key personnel skilled in providing one or more of the eligible activities to provide capacity building in rural settings and a sufficient number of staff, committed subcontractors or subrecipients, or a plan to procure qualified professionals, with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to deliver the proposed level of services in the proposed service area(s) in a timely and effective fashion.

In rating this factor, HUD will consider the extent to which the application demonstrates that the organization has an adequate structure and sufficient number of knowledgeable or experienced staff to successfully manage and/or deliver each of the program’s eligible activities, or a plan to recruit/procure individuals to fill specific roles, with the expert knowledge of capacity building for rural housing and community development providers.

A. Review Criteria.

1. Rating Factors.

community development providers.

Rating Factor 2: Need/Extent of the Problem Maximum Points: 15

Applicants must use objective information and/or data from reliable sources to demonstrate a sound understanding of high-priority needs of rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments and Indian tribes in rural settings and to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the specific need for capacity building among the proposed beneficiaries of this application, in relation to the eligible activities and priorities identified in Section III.C. of this NOFA. In addition, applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the needs of areas identified as high-risk foreclosure areas, Colonias, Appalachia’s distressed counties, the lower Mississippi Delta region, or locally designated community development target areas.

In rating this factor,HUD will evaluate the extent to which the applicant has identified and documented, using objective information and/or data from reliable data sources, (1) the general capacity building needs of rural affordable housing and rural community development providers, (2) of those general needs, which specific capacity building needs will be addressed by the proposed activities for the proposed beneficiaries of this application, and how the applicant decided to strategically target those needs based on the data and information available, (3) a clear understanding of the need and problems of any of the following underserved areas/populations that will be served by the proposed activities:

high risk foreclosure areas, Colonias, Appalachia’s distressed counties, the lower Mississippi Delta region, or locally designated community development target areas, (4) an assessment of an unaddressed problem or unmet need in the rural communities that this application proposes to serve, including but not limited to the need to take action to overcome impediments to affirmatively further fair housing as described in Section III.C. 3. a. of this NOFA (5) the need to increase the capacity of the proposed beneficiaries of this application to administer other HUD programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program (HOPWA), and HUD’s homeless programs, and (6) the need to build the capacity of organizations to be designated as rural housing development organization, CDCs, or CHDOs in rural areas that lack designated organizations.

Rating Factor 3: Soundness of Approach Maximum Points: 45

Factor 3 relates to the overall quality of the applicant’s proposed approach to address the specific capacity building needs of rural housing organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments and Indian tribes as described in response to Rating Factor 2. HUD will consider the connection between the specific identified capacity building needs, the priorities and eligible activities of this program, and the applicant’s proposed activities, as well as the cost-effectiveness of those proposed activities.

a. Program Design (25 points) The applicant shall provide a sound approach for addressing the needs identified in Rating Factor 2, through eligible program activities for rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes. The approach shall incorporate the priorities identified in Section III.C. of this NOFA, to support the implementation of other HUD programs in rural areas. The approach shall include a feasible plan with a detailed description of how the applicant will design, organize, manage, and carry out the proposed eligible program activities.