FAQ_FR-6900-N-29R_7_17_25.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis Research Grant Program

FR-6900-N-29R

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Updated 7/17/2025

1. Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

Eligible applicants are restricted to institutions that are designated at the time of application as one of the following entity types:

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses

• Small businesses

• Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNH)

Individuals are not eligible applicants.

2. When are applications due?

Applications are due on Thursday, July 24, 2025 by 11:59 PM ET. HUD must receive your application by the deadline. Applications received after the deadline are late. Late applications will not be reviewed and are not eligible for HUD funds. HUD is not extending the application due date at this time.

Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow time for Grants.gov validation and to resolve any technical issues.

3. How can I access a copy of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document?

Follow these steps to access the full text of the NOFO:

• Go to this link (alternatively, you can access www.grants.gov, click “search grants,” and type “FR-6900-N-29R” into the “keyword(s)” text box, and click “search”).

• Click on the “related documents” tab.

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359817 http://www.grants.gov/

• Click on the hyperlink under “file name” that reads “FR-6900-N-29R-Full Announcement- Full Announcement.zip” and this will download the text of the full funding announcement as a PDF file.

4. How can I locate the “Competition ID” and the “Opportunity Package ID” for this funding opportunity?

The “Competition ID” and the “Opportunity Package ID” can be found on the grants.gov page associated with this funding opportunity. First, access the specific funding opportunity at this link. Once you have accessed this page, click the “package” tab. Then, scroll to the bottom of this page. Under the header “Opportunity Package(s) Currently Available for this

Funding Opportunity,” you will find the competition ID (FR-6900-N-29R). Scroll across, you will find the Opportunity Package ID (PKG00291047) associated with this funding opportunity.

5. Are applicants required to have matching funds available in order to be eligible for this funding opportunity?

No. This Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

6. Is there a mechanism for further questions, should any more arise?

Questions may be sent to researchpartnerships@hud.gov.

We will also be posting all questions that have been submitted, as well as the associated responses, to a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list that you can find on www.huduser.gov and under the “related documents” of the funding opportunity at this link. Please check back regularly to monitor new information regarding this funding opportunity.

7. Are city or municipal governments eligible to apply?

No. City and township governments are not eligible to apply as prime applicants under this NOFO. However, they may participate as partners to eligible applicants. In such cases, the eligible organization must serve as the prime applicant and, if awarded, the prime recipient.

Cities or townships may also be included in the proposed project as subrecipients, contractors, or consultants, provided the partnership complies with federal requirements in

2 CFR 200.

8. Are Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) eligible to apply?

PHAs themselves are not eligible to apply as prime applicants. However, they may participate in proposed projects as subrecipients, contractors, or consultants if the partnership structure aligns with federal requirements in 2 CFR 200.

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359817 mailto:researchpartnerships@hud.gov http://www.huduser.gov/ https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359817

If a PHA has a separate nonprofit arm or affiliate that independently meets the eligibility requirements in Section II.A of the NOFO, that nonprofit entity may apply as the prime applicant, provided it satisfies all NOFO and federal requirements.

9. Is there a limit on the number of applications an organization can submit?

No. There is no limit on the number of unique proposals an eligible organization may submit. Organizations may submit multiple applications, provided each proposes a distinct project.

The statement in the NOFO that "If HUD receives more than one application from you, HUD will review only the last submission" applies only to multiple versions of the same proposal submitted under the same Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applicants must avoid submitting multiple versions of the same proposal. In such cases, only the most recent version submitted under the same UEI will be reviewed. It does not limit submitting multiple distinct proposals.

10. Can multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) from the same institution submit proposals?

Technically, yes. While there is no restriction on the number of proposals in which a PI may participate, only institutions (organizations) may submit applications; individuals, including PIs, cannot apply directly. A PI may be named in multiple proposals if they are leading or contributing to distinct projects and the institution ensures adequate staff capacity to support each project.

11. Do subrecipients or partners need to submit the same forms and certifications as the prime applicant?

No. Only the prime applicant must submit all forms, assurances, and certifications required by the NOFO.

However, for subrecipients, subcontractors, or consultants who will be part of your key project personnel, you must include a letter of commitment from each named organization or individual. This documentation is required under Rating Factor 3 (Section V.B.1.) of the

NOFO.

12. Do proposed projects require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval?

Research conducted under this NOFO is subject to 24 CFR Part 60 (Protection of Human Subjects). You do not need IRB approval at the time of application. However, if your project involves human subjects, you must obtain IRB approval before starting any activities involving those subjects. You should also budget for the time and costs of obtaining IRB approval.

13. Can HUD provide feedback on my proposed project idea or confirm if it’s a good fit?

Under federal regulations, HUD cannot review draft proposals, advise on the merits of specific ideas, or confirm the likelihood of funding for any particular application. Applicants are encouraged to review the NOFO carefully to determine if their proposed project aligns with the funding opportunity’s goals and requirements.

14. How do I apply to this NOFO?

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Review the NOFO and Application Instructions Carefully read the NOFO posted on Grants.gov. Pay particular attention to the “Before You Begin” section on page 3, which provides critical guidance for preparing and submitting your application.

• Direct NOFO Link: Grants.gov Listing for FR-6900-N-29R

2. Access Key HUD Resources These HUD resources offer background, application materials, and policy guidance:

• HUD’s Funding Opportunities Page

• General HUD Grant Information

• HUD Grants Policies and Regulations

3. Submit Your Application via Grants.gov All applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. Be sure to register your organization and assign a designated Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in advance, as this process may take several days.

15. What types of proposed research projects is HUD seeking to support under this NOFO?

HUD seeks research projects will build knowledge and advance policy solutions related to the following five research categories:

HUD seeks to support research projects that contribute to understanding and resolving the housing affordability crisis in the United States. Specifically, HUD is looking to fund research aligned with one or more of the following five research categories:

1. Government-induced Demand and Housing Affordability

2. Immigration and Housing Affordability

3. The Financialization of Housing and Housing Affordability

4. Economic Opportunity Cost and Housing Affordability

5. Opportunity Zones

HUD is especially interested in research that results in initial products, such as summaries of preliminary findings, research briefs, or policy action toolkits, within the first 12 months of https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359817 https://www.huduser.gov/portal/ota/funding-opportunities.html https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/grants-info-funding-opps https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/grants-info-policies-regulations https://www.grants.gov/ the grant in order to influence policy and programs in a timely manner. Proposals based on causal experimental evidence are especially preferred.

16. Are preference points available under this NOFO?

No. This NOFO does not offer preference points.

17. What happens if my application is incomplete or contains errors?

Applications that do not meet the requirements of this NOFO will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. HUD may contact applicants to resolve minor technical deficiencies but will not permit applicants to correct substantive deficiencies or add new materials after the deadline. Applicants should carefully review the NOFO to ensure their application is complete and includes all required forms and narratives.

18. I am an eligible applicant seeking funding to construct affordable housing units for occupancy. Am I eligible for this funding opportunity?

No. Funding under this NOFO is intended solely for research and related activities. It does not provide funding for the construction, development, or rehabilitation of housing units for occupancy, rental, or sale. Applicants proposing projects focused on direct housing construction are not eligible for funding under this program.

19. Will funds be disbursed as a lump sum?

No. Recipients will draw down funding over the course of their project’s period of performance in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of their award, which will be established upon selection for award.

20. Will this funding be recurring? Will there be additional rounds of funding?

No, HUD does not expect funds to be recurring or to award additional rounds of funding for this opportunity.

21. Will HUD have the option of awarding grants at an amount lower than what is requested by the applicants?

Yes, HUD reserves the right to fund less than the amount requested in an application.

Applicants who accept a lower award must revise their proposal, budget, and narrative to reflect the reduced funding level. HUD will review these to ensure project feasibility.

22. Does HUD have requirements for key personnel?

Yes. Applicants must clearly identify key personnel, such as Principal Investigator (PI) and

Project Director, in the application narrative and describe their roles and qualifications relevant to the proposed research. HUD requires resumes or brief biosketches (not exceeding two pages each) for key personnel as part of the application submission. The narrative should also describe how time commitments for key personnel will be allocated and demonstrate that the applicant has sufficient staff capacity to complete the proposed research. While HUD does not require a specific percentage of effort for any individual, applicants must include a staffing chart or narrative showing the allocation of person-hours by task to ensure that staff have sufficient time to complete the proposed work. HUD will evaluate the capacity and experience of key personnel as part of the scoring process under

Rating Factor 3.

23. Should applicants create a separate budget narrative for key personnel?

No. Applicants do not need to prepare a separate budget narrative specifically for key personnel. All budget details, including salaries and fringe benefits for key staff, should be included within the unified budget narrative. The budget narrative must explain and justify all costs and align with the amounts shown in form HUD-424 CBW and with the proposed scope of work.

24. Can the PI and Project Director be the same person?

Yes. Under this NOFO, the same individual may serve as both the Principal Investigator (PI) and Project Director if they have the qualifications and capacity to perform both roles.

Applicants should clearly explain the individual’s responsibilities and how they will manage both technical leadership and project oversight within the proposed project.

25. The NOFO states that the Narratives and Other Attachments section must not exceed 35 pages, but the required documents listed in Section IV.C only total 33 pages. What are the other two pages for?

The NOFO allows pages that could cover any optional narrative attachments or supporting material not otherwise listed by name. However, the “Narratives and Other Attachments” section should not exceed 35 pages total under any circumstances. Any pages beyond these limits will not be reviewed.

26. Do graphics, tables, or inset boxes need to be double-spaced?

No. The double-spacing requirement applies only to narrative text. Tables, charts, graphics, and inset boxes may use single spacing for readability and efficient use of space. However, all text must be legible and comply with font and margin requirements specified in the

NOFO.

27. Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as prime applicants under this NOFO.

However, foreign entities may potentially participate as subrecipients if:

• The lead applicant is an eligible U.S.-based organization.

• All costs comply with U.S. federal regulations and are allowable under 2 CFR 200.

• The arrangement meets HUD’s requirements for procurement and cost principles.

• The foreign partner’s role is clearly defined, and capacity is demonstrated.

Applicants should carefully review federal rules if considering foreign partners.

28. Can current HUD awardees or contractors apply for this NOFO?

Yes. Current HUD awardees and contractors are eligible to apply under this NOFO, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and can carry out the proposed research without conflicts of interest.

29. Are subrecipients allowed to participate on more than one grant application?

Yes. Subrecipients and collaborating organizations may participate in multiple applications under this NOFO. However, each application must clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of each subrecipient and ensure that the subrecipient has the capacity to fulfill commitments across multiple projects if funded.

30. Are indirect costs allowed under this NOFO?

Yes. Applicants may include indirect costs in their budgets, either under a federally negotiated indirect cost rate or using the de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs.

31. Should applicants budget for editing and preparation of the final report?

Yes. Applicants should:

• Budget for preparation of both draft and final reports.

• Include costs for potential editing based on HUD feedback.

• Submit a final report that is 508 compliant.

https://www.section508.gov/ https://www.section508.gov/

32. Can proprietary data or technology be included in the proposal?

Yes. Applicants may propose projects that include proprietary information or technology, but must ensure that HUD has sufficient rights to use and disseminate the results for public purposes, subject to confidentiality restrictions.

33. Will HUD hold office hours for this NOFO?

No. HUD will not hold office hours or individual consultations. All questions must be submitted in writing.

34. Can I speak directly to someone at HUD about my proposal?

No. To ensure fair competition, HUD does not meet individually with applicants. Questions should be submitted in writing and will be addressed publicly via FAQs.

35. Can I include costs for hiring consultants in my proposal?

Yes. You may include consultant costs if their work is necessary to complete the research.

Consultant services must be clearly justified in your budget narrative and comply with procurement requirements under 2 CFR Part 200.

36. Can I include costs for conference travel to present my research?

Yes. Costs related to travel for presenting interim project results at conferences are allowable if they are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the project. These costs must be included in your budget narrative and comply with 2 CFR Part 200. However, all travel must occur within the project’s Period of Performance (POP). Costs for conference travel after the POP has ended are not allowable as award expenses.

However, recipients may not publish or publicly share materials produced with award funds, including interim results, without prior review and approval by HUD. Applicants planning to present interim findings should allow time in their project schedule for HUD review and clearance before any public dissemination. After the project concludes, award recipients are free to publish their findings independently, provided any such publications reflect the research conducted under the grant and include appropriate acknowledgements and disclaimers stating that the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent HUD’s views or policies.

37. Are electronic signatures acceptable for letters of commitment?

Yes. HUD accepts electronic signatures on letters of commitment and other documents, provided they are legally valid and clearly identify the signatory.

38. Is there a salary cap for individuals working on the project?

There is no set salary cap under this NOFO. However, salaries must be reasonable, necessary, and consistent with rates paid for similar work at the applicant organization, as required under 2 CFR Part 200.

39. Are there reporting requirements for recipients?

Yes. recipients must:

• Submit quarterly progress and financial reports

• Provide interim and final briefings

• Submit a draft and final report following HUD formatting and accessibility requirements.

40. Can we include indirect costs in our budget, and what rate should we use?

Yes. Applicants may include indirect costs in the proposed budget. If your organization has a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), use that rate. If no NICRA exists, you may apply the de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs, per 2 CFR

200.414.

Be sure to submit HUD Form 426 (Indirect Cost Certification) with your application. HUD will not approve indirect cost rates post-award that were not included in the original application.

41. Where should we address Rating Factor 5 (Budget Reasonableness)?

Rating Factor 5 must be addressed in the 15-page Narrative Response to Rating Factors and should explain how your budget aligns with the project scope and timeline. It is permissible for applicants to include specific cost or price details in the Narrative Response to Rating

Factors if such details help demonstrate budget reasonableness and alignment with the project scope. In addition, applicants must provide a Budget Narrative as a separate attachment (a maximum of 3 pages, see Section IV.C). The Budget Narrative justifies each cost element and aligns with your HUD-424-CBW worksheet.

42. Are federally funded research labs or agencies eligible to apply?

No. Federal government agencies or national labs (e.g., Department of Energy labs) are not eligible to apply as prime recipients under this NOFO. However, they may be included as subrecipients or contractors under limited circumstances, subject to 2 CFR 200 and HUD approval.

43. Can an eligible organization submit more than one application covering different research categories?

Yes. An eligible organization may submit multiple applications under this NOFO, including applications addressing different research categories. Each application must be complete, responsive to the NOFO requirements, and clearly identify the research category it addresses in the Project Abstract and Narrative.

44. Can an organization submit its own application and also appear on another application as a subrecipient or consultant, even in the same research category?

Yes. An eligible organization may submit its own complete application and also be included as a subrecipient, consultant, or team member in a separate application. This is allowed even if both applications address the same research category. However, each application must clearly describe the organization’s role, responsibilities, and time commitments to ensure there is adequate capacity to fulfill all proposed work and to avoid concerns about duplication or overextension.

45. Does my proposed research need to be national in scope?

No. The NOFO does not require projects to be national in scope. Proposals may focus on a specific geography, such as a state, region, city, or rural area, as long as the research aligns with one of the five eligible research categories and has potential to inform housing policy at the local, state, or national level.

46. May we submit more than one application to cover different research categories?

Yes. Applicants may submit multiple applications, with each application addressing a different research category as defined in Section III.G of the NOFO. Each application must be complete, submitted through its own application package in Grants.gov.

47. Can a single application include multiple research questions?

Yes. A single application may include multiple research questions, provided that all questions fall within the same research category as defined in Section III.G of the NOFO. The

NOFO requires each application to clearly indicate which category it aligns with, and HUD has advised that submitting one application that spans more than one research category is not encouraged and may affect the review of the application's focus and feasibility. If applicants plan to propose research questions that address more than one category, they are strongly encouraged to submit separate applications, each focused on a single research category.

48. Does a bibliography or works cited section count toward the 15-page limit for the

Narrative Response?

No. The bibliography or works cited section should be included in the required References

Appendix, which is limited to 2 pages and does not count toward the 15-page Narrative

Response limit.

49. Does HUD need to review or approve academic articles or other publications after the project concludes?

No. HUD’s review of “written materials documenting research results” applies only to deliverables prepared under the cooperative agreement. As noted in the NOFO (page 16), PD&R encourages grantees to publish and share findings after submission of the final report.

HUD does not require review of publications intended for external publication after the project concludes, and award recipients are free to publish their findings independently as long as the publications accurately reflect the research conducted under the award and include appropriate acknowledgments and disclaimers stating that the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent HUD’s views or policies.

50. Can I submit my application or materials to HUD by email?

No. HUD does not accept applications submitted by email, including submissions to the researchpartnerships@hud.gov mailbox.

All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the deadline listed in the NOFO. HUD will not review or consider applications sent through any other method.

mailto:researchpartnerships@hud.gov