Automated Permitting Systems Demonstration NOFO (PDR-2600-DC-029O)_5.29.2026.pdf

z

PDR-2600-DC-029O

Applications are due by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on 07/13/2026.

Policy Development and Research

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Automated Permitting Systems Demonstration NOFO

Table Of Contents PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 2 of 48

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Summary

B. Agency Contact(s)

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Eligible Applications

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose

B. Goals and Objectives

C. Authority

D. Unallowable Costs

E. Indirect Costs

F. Program History

G. Other Information

IV. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

A. Standard Forms, Assurances, and Certifications 18

B. Budget

C. Narratives and Other Attachments

D. Other Application Content

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Threshold Review

B. Merit Review

C. Risk Review

D. Selection Process

E. Award Notices

VI. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND

DEADLINES

A. Deadlines

B. Submission Methods

C. Other Submission Information

D. False Statements

VII. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND

ADMINISTRATION

A. Administrative, National and Departmental Policy

Requirements, and General Terms and Conditions

B. Environmental Requirements

C. Remedies for Noncompliance

D. Reporting

VIII. CONTACT AND SUPPORT

A. Agency Contact

B. Grants.gov

C. SAM.gov

D. Debriefing

E. Applicant Experience Survey

F. Other Online Resources

APPENDIX

Appendix I. Definitions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before You Begin PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 3 of 48

If you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, register in the required systems and review the application materials. If you are already registered, confirm that your information is current and active.

SAM.gov Registration You must have an active and up-to-date account with SAM.gov, at the time of application and throughout the life of any award.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

It can take several weeks to register in SAM.gov, so get started now if you are planning to apply. SAM.gov also provides each organization with a unique entity identifier (UEI). A valid UEI is required to apply for funding.

Grants.gov Registration You must have an active Grants.gov registration. This requires a Login.gov registration as well. See step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants. You must apply for funding using Grants.gov, unless HUD has approved your waiver request.

See Section VI.B. Submission Methods.

Find the Application Package Use the Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number PDR-2600-DC- 029O . The application package has all the online forms you need to apply. You also need to access the Download Instructions link and review the content before you apply.

If you have other technical difficulties using Grants.gov, contact the Support Center on Grants.gov.

To get updates on changes to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), click Subscribe from the View Grant Opportunity page on Grants.gov.

Application Deadline Applications are due by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on 07/13/2026.

HUD Listserv To get email alerts about current and future funding opportunities, subscribe to HUD's Funding Opportunities listserv.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://login.gov https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/signup?listname=HUD%20Funding%20Opportunities&list=HUD-FUNDING-OPPORTUNITIES-L https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/signup?listname=HUD%20Funding%20Opportunities&list=HUD-FUNDING-OPPORTUNITIES-L

I. Basic Information

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and Support

Appendix

I. BASIC INFORMATION

I. Basic Information

A. Summary

B. Agency Contact(s)

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 5 of 48

I. BASIC INFORMATION See Contact and Support section of this NOFO.

A. Summary Federal Agency Name:

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD Program Office:

Policy Development and Research Announcement Type:

Initial Program Type:

Discretionary Paperwork Reduction Act Information:

2501-0044 Due Date for Intergovernmental Review:

See Section VI.C.1.

1. NOFO Summary The Automated Permitting Systems Demonstration NOFO is intended to support jurisdictions that will deploy automated building code permitting systems and partner with HUD to evaluate their applicability and effectiveness within real-world operating conditions. This demonstration will test the real-world deployment of an automated permitting platform within a government

Key Facts Opportunity Name:

Automated Permitting Systems Demonstration NOFO Opportunity Number:

PDR-2600-DC-029O

Federal Assistance Listing(s):

14.506

Key Dates Application Due Date:

11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on:

07/13/2026 Anticipated Award Date:

08/31/2026 Estimated Performance Period Start Date:

10/01/2026 Estimated Performance Period End Date:

10/01/2029

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 6 of 48 permitting environment to evaluate its effects on processing timelines, workflow efficiency, staff roles, and applicant experience. The demonstration will generate empirical evidence on operational performance, costs, governance needs, and potential cost savings to inform broader adoption by state and local jurisdictions.

2. Funding Details Type of Funding Instrument CA (Cooperative Agreement)

Available Funds Funding of approximately $3,000,000 is available through this NOFO.

Additional funds may become available for award. Use of these funds is subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the selection process contained in this NOFO.

Estimated Number of Awards 6 awards from available funding The minimum award amount is $300,000 and the maximum award amount is $1,500,000.

Length of Performance Period:

36-month project period and budget period Other Length of Periods Explanation:

Applicants should select a period of performance that aligns with the proposed project. The period of performance will vary by project based on the level of complexity and the proposed methodology. In selecting a period of performance, you should consider activities that typically cause delays, such as data acquisition or collection. The minimum period of performance is 12-months and the maximum period of performance is 36-months.

B. Agency Contact(s) See Contact and Support section of this NOFO.

II. ELIGIBILITY

II. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Eligible Applications

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 8 of 48

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants If your organization is not an eligible applicant, your application won't be reviewed or scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD.

1. Eligible Entity Types:

00 (State governments) 01 (County governments) 02 (City or township governments) 07 (Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)) Additional Information on Eligibility You cannot apply as an individual.

Faith-based organizations may apply just like any other organization. HUD does not have any policies or practices that unfairly target these institutions.

2. Restrictions

a. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements You must meet the current General Statutory and Regulatory Eligibility Requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, your application won't be scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD. This is a threshold requirement for all HUD funding.

b. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters If you have any outstanding or unresolved judgments for violating civil rights laws, you must settle them before you apply. If you don't, settle the civil rights law violations before you apply, your application won't be scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD. This is a threshold requirement for all HUD funding.

B. Eligible Applications

1. An application from an eligible entity is considered for funding if it meets basic threshold requirements and passes merit review.

2. Your application must support the goals of this NOFO.

3. Awards made under this NOFO will not be used to conduct activities that subsidize or facilitate illegal racial preferences or other forms of illegal discrimination, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching This Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/part-5/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Subpart%20A%20of%20Part%205 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02611/eradicating-anti-christian-bias https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02611/eradicating-anti-christian-bias https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/Eligibility-Requirements-Addendum-FY2025.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Cost%20sharing%20or%20matching)

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

III. Program Description

A. Purpose

B. Goals and Objectives

C. Authority

D. Unallowable Costs

E. Indirect Costs

F.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 10 of 48

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose As the President said in his Executive Order on Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction (March 13, 2026):

The American dream of homeownership depends on a dynamic housing market in which a varied inventory of new homes is built and renovated each year. Layers of unnecessary regulatory barriers, slow permitting processes, and onerous mandates at all levels of government have delayed construction, restricted development, and driven up the costs of new housing. These constraints have made housing less affordable for many Americans.

It is the policy of my Administration to reduce regulatory barriers to building homes and to steward taxpayer dollars in a manner that promotes housing affordability.

HUD has developed the Automated Permitting System Demonstration NOFO to address slow housing permitting processes by collaborating with States and local governments to test new automated permitting tools that may increase the speed and lower the cost of permitting, with the broader aims of promoting housing affordability.

The demonstration will support jurisdictions that will deploy automated building code permitting systems and partner with HUD to evaluate their applicability and effectiveness within real-world operating conditions. This demonstration will test the real-world deployment of an automated permitting platform within a government permitting environment to evaluate its effects on processing timelines, workflow efficiency, staff roles, and applicant experience.

The demonstration will generate empirical evidence on operational performance, costs, governance needs, and potential cost savings to inform broader adoption by state and local jurisdictions.

The demonstration is necessary because it addresses the budget and implementation constraints that affect the willingness of local governments to adopt new technology. The demonstration provides funding to support the implementation and execution of the product.

Government support is critical for encouraging the experimentation with technology that will create the evidence needed to encourage adoption at a national scale.

By supporting the adoption of automated permitting processes, the demonstration will advance the President's Executive Order on Removing Barriers to American Leadership on Artificial Intelligence (January 23, 2025), which stated that "it is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America's global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security."

HUD substantial involvement. HUD expects to execute cooperative agreements with selected applicants under this NOFO. As such, the following examples of HUD substantial involvement are expected:

• Review and final approval of the overall project management plan.

• Review and final approval of the project plan which may include data collection protocols, data collection instruments, and analytic plans.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 11 of 48

• Review and approval of any written materials documenting results.

• Support in identifying available and relevant data assets and facilitating access to select data assets, where feasible.

• Regularly scheduled meetings to discuss project progress.

• Review and approval of any changes in key personnel or employment of any external consultants.

B. Goals and Objectives The primary purpose of the NOFO is to demonstrate and document the implementation of automated permitting and plan review systems for testing the real-world deployment of an automated permitting platform within a government permitting environment to evaluate its effects on processing timelines, workflow efficiency, staff roles, and applicant experience.

Through this demonstration, HUD seeks to accelerate the adoption of automated permitting platforms in willing jurisdictions, gather operational data on performance and implementation challenges, and develop practical guidance for other permitting offices considering similar investments. The resulting findings are intended to inform future state and local policy, technical assistance, and permitting modernization efforts nationwide. Additionally, jurisdictions will track core metrics for their administrative permitting process, including permit timelines, revision cycles, and review outcomes, before and after implementation of an automated permitting system. The demonstration will quantify changes in permit processing time, staff workload, applicant experience, and costs (in dollars and percentages) resulting from the use of automated permitting, and to identify the data, governance, and operational conditions required for effective use of these technologies.

Funding would cover the initial three-year period of the software licensing, costs associated with hardware or cloud-based infrastructure necessary to support system operation, as well as salaries and expenses for staff to manage the adoption and operation of the system, including assembling data to document outcomes. Participating jurisdictions could deploy systems such as PermitFlow, Blitz Permits, CivCheck, Permitify, or similar platforms that assist with application intake, completeness checks, automated code screening, and digital workflow management. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement. Recipients must conduct all procurements in accordance with 2 CFR 200.319 and related procurement requirements to ensure full and open competition.

While these systems are increasingly marketed to state and local governments, there is limited publicly available documentation of implementation experiences, staffing implications, and governance considerations.

Jurisdictions will document how these systems affect processing times, accuracy of application, staffing workloads, and applicant interactions, and will highlight integration protocols for use with any existing permitting software. Findings from these demonstrations will be used to produce case studies, practical guidance, and/or published recommendations to help state and local permitting offices evaluate how automated permitting solutions can improve the consistency, predictability, and efficiency of residential permitting processes.

Ultimately, an intended outcome of this is that it will lead to a better understanding of automated permitting processes, highlight both the advantages as well as any challenges of

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 12 of 48 automated permitting, and provide a playbook for other jurisdictions interested in integrating this technology.

Research supported under this funding opportunity must be consistent with the tenets of Gold Standard Science that are outlined in the Executive Order published May 23, 2025 titled Restoring Gold Standard Science. Applicants should become familiar with all other applicable current and future Executive Orders, a listing of which is found here.

C. Authority This program is authorized by Sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §1701z-1 and §1701z-2) and funding is provided by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4, approved March 15, 2025).

D. Unallowable Costs Funds may not be used for a doctoral dissertation research NOFO. However, doctoral students may work on projects funded under this NOFO, and costs such as stipends or tuition remission may be allowable if reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the proposed research, consistent with 2 CFR 200.466.

The recipient or subrecipient must not earn or keep any profit. HUD will determine whether the salary rates are reasonable, customary for the skill set provided and the tasks to be conducted, and in accordance with federal legal requirements.

Lease or rental of space for any activities supported through this NOFO is allowed only under the following conditions:

• The lease must be for existing facilities not requiring rehabilitation or construction except for minimal alterations to make the facilities accessible for a person with disabilities;

• No repairs or renovations of the property may be undertaken with funds from this NOFO; and

• Properties in the Coastal Barrier Resources System designated under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501) cannot be leased or rented with federal funds.

Unallowable costs include unrelated capital expenditures, infrastructure projects not tied to permitting operations, or system purchases used for non-permitting purposes.

E. Indirect Costs If you expect to charge indirect costs to the award, submit the Indirect Cost Information for Award Applicant/Recipient form (HUD-426) with your application.

F. Program History This is a new funding opportunity.

G. Other Information Eligible Activities https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/restoring-gold-standard-science/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Indirect%20cost)

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 13 of 48

Grant funds may be used to support both technology acquisition and the staff capacity required to implement and operate automated permitting systems and document results.

Allowable costs may include, but are not limited to, the following categories:

Technology and System Costs Subscription or licensing fees for automated permitting or plan review systems. Usage of funds must be limited to the period of performance or prorated accordingly.

• Costs associated with integrating new tools with existing permitting or municipal IT systems.

• Data migration, system configuration, testing, and initial deployment activities.

• Hardware or cloud-based infrastructure necessary to support system operation. Costs for hardware and related information technology infrastructure necessary to support the implementation and operation of automated permitting systems may be allowable, subject to prior written approval by HUD. Such costs must be clearly justified as essential to the approved scope of work, directly allocable to the project, and reasonable in cost and scale. Hardware purchases must not involve facility construction, rehabilitation, or permanent building improvements. Equipment with a per-unit acquisition cost of $10,000 or more is subject to the requirements of 2 CFR §

200.313 and must be specifically identified and approved by HUD prior to purchase. All hardware costs must comply with applicable federal procurement standards and HUD grant management policies.

Grant funds may be used to purchase, implement, and operate automated permitting and plan review systems, including digital and artificial intelligence-enabled tools, when those costs are necessary to carry out the approved project and comply with federal requirements.

Allowable technology and system costs may include software, hardware, and related services, as described below.

Software Costs

• Funds may be used for subscription fees, licenses, or usage-based costs for digital permitting, plan review, workflow automation, or AI-enabled platforms. These costs must be limited to the period of performance or prorated accordingly.

• Some software, including AI-enabled systems, may meet the definition of a capital asset under federal regulations. When software is considered a capital asset, its purchase is treated as a capital expenditure and is subject to the requirements of 2 CFR § 200.439 and requires prior written approval from HUD.

• Costs to integrate new software with existing permitting or municipal information technology systems are allowable when they are directly related to the approved scope of work. This includes data migration, system configuration, testing, validation, and initial deployment activities needed to place the system into service.

Hardware, Infrastructure, and Capital Equipment

• Funds may be used to purchase hardware or cloud-based infrastructure needed to support the implementation and operation of automated permitting systems, subject to

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 14 of 48 prior written approval from HUD.

• All hardware and infrastructure costs must be clearly justified as essential to the project, directly related to the approved activities, and reasonable in cost and scale.

These costs may not include construction, rehabilitation, or permanent improvements to buildings or facilities.

• Capital expenditures for equipment or software are allowable only when approved by HUD and consistent with 2 CFR § 200.313 and 200.439.

Limits on Capital Costs

• HUD expects that capital equipment and capital software costs will make up only part of the total award. Applicants should balance these costs with staffing, training, implementation, and operational activities.

• As a general guideline, applicants should expect that combined capital expenditures for equipment and capital software will not exceed 40 percent of the total award amount. HUD may approve a higher or lower amount based on the project scope and the justification provided.

• All capital assets purchased with grant funds must primarily support the funded project.

Equipment or software may continue to be used after the period of performance if the original project purpose has been completed and federal interest is protected, consistent with 2 CFR § 200.313.

Procurement and Federal Interest

• All technology, equipment, and software purchases must follow applicable federal procurement standards including, 2 CFR §§ 200.317 through 200.327 and HUD grant management policies.

• Recipients may retain ownership of equipment and capital software purchased with grant funds, but that ownership is subject to federal requirements. Recipients must properly track, manage, and safeguard these assets and follow federal rules for use, transfer, or disposal, as required by 2 CFR §§ 200.313 and 200.439.

Budget Justification

• Applications that include capital equipment or capital software must provide a clear budget justification that explains:

o Why the equipment or software is needed to carry out the project;

o How it supports automated permitting outcomes;

o How the equipment or software will be used after the project ends; and o How the recipient will manage and safeguard the asset to protect the federal government's interest.

Staffing and Operational Costs

• Funds may be used for salaries and related expenses for staff responsible for implementation, system administration, workflow redesign, and oversight of automated

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 15 of 48 review functions;

• Training for permitting staff, plan reviewers, and information technology personnel whose roles directly support the implementation, operation, and maintenance of the automated permitting system;

• Outreach and applicant education related to new permitting processes;

• Costs associated with data collection and reporting; and

• Administrative costs related to managing the grant, either direct or indirect costs, consistent with the recipient's approved cost allocation method.

Research and Evaluation Support

• Funds may be used for assembly and reporting of administrative data on processes and outcome; and

• Participation in interviews, workshops, demonstrations, and peer learning activities with HUD approval and that are directly related to performance monitoring, evaluation, or dissemination.

Deliverables HUD cooperative agreements require certain activities and deliverables as part of award and project management.

Award management activities and deliverables include:

• Opening Meeting: a meeting with HUD staff to review the terms and conditions of the award.

• Quality Control Plan: a written document that outlines the awardee's proposed approach to quality control for all activities and deliverables to be produced over the period of performance.

• Management & Work Plan: a written document that outlines the expected workflow for the project over the period of performance, providing a project timeline, the allocation of staff and other resources to each task, and a strategy to address any potential challenges to completing the project on time and within budget.

• Quarterly Progress Reports: a narrative summary of accomplishments of the awardee over the prior quarter, discussion of any deviations from the initial schedule of progress, and a summary of how those deviations impact the project and how the Grantee recommends handling the deviation. Documentation of work completed during the prior quarter should align with financial reporting submitted in the same quarter, including any invoices submitted to draw down funding from the award.

• Final Closeout Report: a report documenting the final breakdown of overall award spending over the full period of performance.

Project management activities and deliverables include:

• Pre/Post Data Reporting: the regular collection and reporting of administrative data generated through normal permitting operations, including permit processing times, II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 16 of 48 review cycles, resubmissions, and staff touchpoints, before and after system deployment.

• Interim Deliverables: Quarterly updates and yearly formal briefings summarizing early lessons learned, operational impacts, and what changes are being made to facilitate the learnings.

• Final Report and Briefing: Report covering the overall demonstration project and a virtual or in-person briefing of the study findings for HUD staff at the conclusion of the project.

PD&R's grants management staff and the Governmental Technical Representative (GTR) for the cooperative agreement will work closely with awardees to further define deliverables during the project. Final work products must be well-written and adhere to plain language principles. The final report must be of publishable quality and conform to PD&R's Guidelines on Preparing a Report for Publication. All final work products must be compliant with § 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d). HUD anticipates publishing the final deliverable(s) on our website at www.huduser.gov. Following submission of the final report, PD&R encourages grantees to seek additional outlets for publishing and communication findings.

IV. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND

FORMAT

IV. Application Contents and Forms

A. Standard Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

B. Budget

C. Narratives and Other Attachments

D. Other Application Content

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 18 of 48

IV. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Applications must include three main elements: a) standard forms, assurances, and certifications; b) budget; and c) narratives and other attachments. The content, forms, and format for each element are included in this section.

You may use this section as a checklist to ensure you submit a complete application.

If you don't provide the required documents in the correct format, your application is incomplete.

Do not submit password protected or encrypted files.

15 pages is the total maximum length of all narratives.

Other The application includes a narrative and all required forms and attachments. Content beyond the indicated page limits (see Section IV.C) will not be reviewed. Charts and tables are allowed and count toward the page limits. All narratives and attachments must be single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font on letter sized paper (8 ½ x 11 inches) with at least 1-inch margins on all sides. Requirements for applications are described in Sections IV.A, IV.B., and IV.C.

A. Standard Forms, Assurances, and Certifications You must properly complete and submit with your application the standard forms, assurances, and certifications identified below. You can find all forms in the application package or review them and their instructions at Grants.gov Forms. You can also read more about standard forms on HUD's Funding Opportunities page.

Forms/Assurances/ Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: SF-424

Applicant and Recipient Assurances and Certifications

Required with the application Page limit: Not applicable File name: HUD-424B

Element Submission Form

Standard Forms, Assurances, and Certifications Upload using each required form.

Budget Use the required budget form.

Narratives and Other Attachments Insert each in the Attachments form.

https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/CFO/images/Standard-Application-Forms.pdf

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 19 of 48

Forms/Assurances/ Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

(HUD 424-B)

Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/Update Report

(HUD 2880)

If applicable, required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: HUD-2880

Certification of a Drug-Free Workplace Required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: HUD-50070

Certification Regarding Lobbying Required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: Lobbying Certification form

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

If applicable, required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: SF-LLL

All applicants must submit all required forms as indicated in the Forms/Assurances/ Certifications column above.

B. Budget You must submit a budget with your application to support your project narrative.

At a minimum, your budget must indicate direct and any indirect costs.

Applicants must submit the following budget-related information to support your project narrative: 1) the Grant Application Detailed Budget Worksheet (HUD-424-CBW); 2) the Indirect Cost Information Certification (HUD-426); and 3) the budget narrative, as described below in Section IV.C.

Budget Form/Document Submission Requirement Notes/Description

Grant Application Detailed Budget Worksheet (HUD-424-

CBW)

Required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: HUD-424CBW Form location: download instructions

Indirect Cost Information Certification (HUD-426)

If applicable, this document is required with the application and after award

Page limit: Not applicable File name: ICR Doc.

Form location: download instructions bookmark://_bookmark247403

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 20 of 48

C. Narratives and Other Attachments If applicable, you must upload narrative and other attachments in Grants.gov using the Attachments Form. When using the Attachments Form, you can upload PDF, Word or Excel formats.

The table below describes the submission requirements for a complete application.

Applicants must submit all required forms as indicated in the Notes/Description column as indicated below.

Form/ Document Submission requirement Notes/ Description

Code of Conduct If not included in HUD's eLibrary, this document is required with the application

Page limit: Not applicable File name: Code Acceptable Content

Cover Sheet Required with the application

Page limit: 1 File name: Cover Sheet The Cover Sheet is described in more detail below.

Project Abstract Required with the application Page limit: 2 File name: Project Abstract Additional information below.

Resumes of Key Staff Required with the application

Page limit: 6 Resume of no more than two pages per person for up to three key personnel.

File name: Resumes

Narrative Response to Rating Factors Required with the application

Page limit: 15 File name: Narrative Response Additional information below.

Budget narrative Required with the application Page limit: 3 File name: Budget Narrative

Letters of commitment Required with the application, if applicable

Page limit: N/A File name: Letters of https://grants.gov https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/grants-code-of-conduct https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/grants-code-of-conduct https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/conductgrants

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 21 of 48

Form/ Document Submission requirement Notes/ Description

Commitment

In addition to the requirements above, the following additional information applies to the "Narratives and Other Attachments."

• Cover Sheet (One-Page Maximum): The cover sheet must include the applicant's legal name, a statement regarding whether the applicant has previously been a recipient of PD&R funding, and project title.

• Project Abstract (Two-Page Maximum): Applicants must submit a Project Abstract written in plain language for a general audience that provides a clear, stand-alone summary of the proposed project. The abstract must include the project title; the names and affiliations of the Project Director, key project team members, and any partner organizations with a brief description of their roles; a concise summary of the project objectives, overall study design, and expected results; and the total amount of HUD funding requested. The Project Abstract is for informational purposes only, will not be evaluated or scored, and does not count toward the narrative limit. Any information the applicant wishes HUD to consider in scoring must be included in the appropriate rating factor narrative, not in the Project Abstract.

• Narrative Response to Rating Factors (15-Page Maximum): Applicants must submit a project narrative that directly and clearly responds to each of the rating factors identified in Section V.B.1 (Rating Factors 1 through 4). The narrative must be organized by rating factor, with each section clearly labeled to correspond to the applicable factor. All required project descriptions and explanations must be included within the narrative responses to the rating factors and formatted in accordance with Section IV. Any information not provided within, or explicitly referenced by, the rating factor responses will not be reviewed or scored. Points for each rating factor will be based solely on the content submitted in response to that specific factor, including any appendices that are clearly cited in the narrative. Applicants may submit additional supporting materials as appendices; however, these materials will be considered only if they are referenced in the relevant rating factor response and clearly labeled in the footer with the corresponding rating factor they support.

• Supporting Materials. Include, as appendices, required materials that are needed to support your responses to the rating factors, particularly rating factor 3. These will not be counted towards the Rating Factors narrative 15-page limit.

o Applicants must provide brief resumes or position descriptions for the proposed staff, including the Project Director and up to two additional key personnel (total of three). Each resume must not exceed two pages and is limited to information that is relevant in assessing the qualifications and experience of key personnel who will be managing, implementing, or evaluating the proposed demonstration.

o Additionally, applicants should include the following in supporting materials:

▪ Organizational chart.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 22 of 48

▪ Letters of commitment (if applicable). If consultants or subrecipients are proposed as key personnel on the project, a letter of commitment from each named individual must be submitted as evidence of their commitment to the project.

▪ List of references for any research findings or data cited in your responses to the rating factors.

Supporting materials must not exceed 20 pages. Any pages more than this limit will not be reviewed. Any information should not be a continuation of the rating factor narrative but provide further clarification, if needed, of statements made in the rating factor narrative. Any supporting materials with information that is a continuation of rating factor narrative will not be considered.

• Budget. Include a total budget using form HUD424CBW (https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/424CBW.xlsx) included in the Instructions download at Grants.gov, with supporting budget justification of up to four pages, which will cover all budget categories of the federal grant request. The budget justification is a written narrative explanation covering each of the components of the budget, which justifies the cost in terms of the proposed work. This information will not be counted towards the Rating Factors narrative 15-page limit. Use the budget format discussed in Rating Factor 4, Section V.B.1 below. In completing the budget forms and budget justifications, you should address the following elements:

o Direct Labor costs, including all full- and part-time staff required for the planning and implementation phases of the project. These costs should be based on full time equivalent (FTE) or hours per year (hours/year) (i.e., one FTE equals 2,080 hours/year);

o A separate budget form and budget justification for each sub-recipient receiving more than 10 percent of the total federal budget request;

o Supporting documentation for salaries and prices of materials and equipment, upon request.

D. Other Application Content

1. Technical Application Errors HUD will contact you to fix a technical error with your timely application after the due date.

Technical errors, if corrected, do not affect (positive or negative) your merit rating under this NOFO. Examples of technical errors include, but are not limited to: inconsistencies in funding requests; a missing or incomplete form or certification; failure to submit an otherwise sufficient application under the correct Assistance Listings number or Funding Opportunity Number in Grants.gov; improper signature on a form or certification; and missing or inappropriate eligibility documentation.

HUD will send notice to the authorized organization representative to fix a technical error.

You must respond timely and appropriately to HUD's notice (see submission requirements).

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/424CBW.xlsx https://www.grants.gov/

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

IV. Application Contents and Format PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 23 of 48

Your application is not eligible for funding if you fail to fix the error to HUD's satisfaction by the due date in HUD's notice. HUD will not review information submitted after the due date in HUD's notice.

As directed in HUD's Notice of Technical Application Error, please ensure to include (CC) ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov when emailing corrections to HUD at applicationsupport@hud.gov to ensure receipt of submission. HUD will not review nor accept responses only submitted to the ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov inbox.

mailto:ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov mailto:applicationsupport@hud.gov mailto:ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov

V. APPLICATION REVIEW

INFORMATION

V. Application Review Information

A. Threshold Review

B. Merit Review

C. Risk Review

D. Selection Process

E. Award Notices

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

V. Application Review Information PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 25 of 48

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Threshold Review When you apply: Your application is reviewed to make sure it meets the threshold requirements of this NOFO. If your application has a technical error, HUD will allow you to correct it. If you fail to meet any of the threshold requirements, your application is not eligible for HUD funding. If you do meet the threshold requirements, your application moves to Merit Review (the next step).

1. Timely Application Submission Late applications are not evaluated and not eligible for funding. See deadlines in Section VI.

2. Complete Application If your application is timely, HUD will confirm completeness. Your application is considered for funding if it is complete and responsive to the requirements in this NOFO. If your application is incomplete, HUD will ask you to fix any technical errors. Otherwise, incomplete and nonresponsive applications are not considered for funding.

3. Eligible Applicant Upon receipt, HUD will confirm whether you are an eligible applicant. Applications from ineligible applicants do not proceed to merit review and are not eligible for HUD funding.

4. Requested Funding Level: Applicants seeking an award amount that is below the minimum award amount ($300K) or above the maximum award amount ($1.5M) will be deemed ineligible.

5. Responsiveness to NOFO Purpose and Required Rating Factor Narratives The application must (1) demonstrate that the proposed project is within the scope of, and aligned with, the purpose, objectives, and goals of this NOFO as described in Section III, and

(2) include a narrative response for each required rating factor identified in Section V.B, clearly labeled and submitted in the required format and within applicable page limits.

Applications that propose activities outside the scope of the NOFO, or that omit a required rating factor narrative, will be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for further review.

B. Merit Review HUD expects to evaluate and score your application using the following merit criteria and process. Merit reviewers evaluate and score all applications that pass the threshold review.

Merit reviewers may include Federal and non-Federal persons. Reviewers receive a copy of your application to evaluate and score each application separately.

If your application meets the threshold requirements, a panel will review and score its merits.

The panel may include HUD employees and non-employees. They will evaluate your application based on the following criteria. The results of the evaluation are shared with senior HUD officials who make the final decisions about funding consistent with this NOFO.

Merit Review Summary

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

V. Application Review Information PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 26 of 48

The maximum number of points that can be awarded to any proposal is 100. No preference points are available under this NOFO. Your project proposal must include a response to each of the Rating Factors.

1. Rating Factors Your application must include a response to the following criteria.

Rating Factors Details

Criterion Max points = 100

Rating Factor 1:

Contribution of the Proposed Project

30 max points

A. The applicant must describe the current permitting workflow. The narrative shall include a description of the administrative data currently being collected to monitor permitting workflow.

B. Applicant must clearly describe the shortcomings of the current permitting system and justify the need for the proposed improvements/automation.

C. Applicant must explain how the project will answer one or more of the following implementation and performance questions:

i. How does the deployment of an automated permitting platform affect permit processing timelines and workflow efficiency?

ii. How does the automated permitting platform system affect staff roles, workloads, and the level of human oversight required to ensure code compliance?

iii. What implementation costs, data requirements, and governance structures are necessary to operate the

Criterion Total number of points = 100 Rating Factor 1: Contribution of the Proposed Project 30 points

Rating Factor 2: Soundness of Approach 30 points Rating Factor 3: Project Management and Capacity of the Team 20 points

Rating Factor 4: Budget and Timeliness Reasonableness 20 points

Total 100 points

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

V. Application Review Information PDR-2600-DC-029O Page 27 of 48 system effectively?

iv. What are the impacts on organizational level changes with respect to transparency, predictability, and responsiveness?

v. Are there cost savings and how much in dollars ($) and percentages (%)?

Rating Factor 2: Soundness of Approach 30 max points

This factor evaluates the quality, feasibility, and readiness of the applicant's proposed approach to implementing a permitting system demonstration. Reviewers will assess whether the applicant has identified a clear permitting workflow problem, proposed an appropriate technology-enabled solution, demonstrated sufficient governmental commitment and internal implementation capacity, and established a credible plan for measuring outcomes, managing data, and maintaining appropriate oversight.

A. Proposed Permitting System and Workflow Improvement The…