Foa_Content_of_FR-6600-N-04.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

2022 Family Self-Sufficiency NOFO

FR-6600-N-04

10/07/2022

Table of Contents Summary

Overview

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

B. Authority

II. Award Information

A. Available Funds

B. Number of Awards

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

D. Period of Performance

E. Type of Funding Instrument

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Ineligible Applicants

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility

F. Program-Specific Requirements

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Obtaining an Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. System for Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

D. Application Submission Dates and Times

E. Intergovernmental Review

F. Funding Restrictions

G. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative, National and Department Policy Requirements and Terms for HUD Recipients Financial Assistance Awards

C. Reporting

D. Debriefing

VII. Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

APPENDIX

Program Office:

Public and Indian Housing Funding Opportunity Title:

2022 Family Self-Sufficiency NOFO Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6600-N-04

Assistance Listing Number:

14.896 Due Date for Applications:

10/07/2022 Summary The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Strategic Plan sets the direction and focus of ourprograms and staff to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all.

HUD's Strategic Goals

HUD’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan lays out this administration’s strategy for ensuring everyone has an affordable,healthy place to live. Over the course of the next four years HUD will pursue two overarching priorities focused on increasing equity and improving customer experience across all HUD programs. Five strategic goals undergird the Plan as follows:

Strategic Goal 1: Support Underserved Communities Strategic Goal 2: Ensure Access to and Increase the Production of Affordable Housing Strategic Goal 3: Promote Homeownership Strategic Goal 4: Advance Sustainable Communities Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen HUD’s Internal Capacity

The five goals of the FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan present the core vision of what we hope to accomplish, the strategies to accomplish those objectives, and the indicators of success.

Overview The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite applications from eligible applicants for the program and purpose described within this NOFO. Prospective applicants should carefully read all instructions in all sections to avoid sending an incomplete or ineligible application. HUD funding is highly competitive. Failure to respond accurately to any submission requirement could result in an incomplete or noncompetitive proposal.

During the selection process HUD is prohibited from disclosing 1) information regarding any applicant’s relative standing, 2) the amount of assistance requested by an applicant, and 3) any information contained in the application. Prior to the application deadline, HUD may not disclose the identity of any applicant or the number of applicants that have applied for assistance.

For Further Information Regarding this NOFO: Please direct questions regarding the specific requirements of this NOFO to the office contact identified in Section VII.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. The information collection requirements in this notice have been approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501- 3520). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. Each NOFO will identify its applicable OMB control number unless its collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR part 1320.

OMB Approval Number(s):

2577-0178

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION.

A. Program Description.

Purpose

On May 24, 2018, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act became Public Law No: 115-174. Section 306 of the Act amended the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the FSS program. The Act specifically changes program requirements related to program eligibility, escrow deposits, and supportive services; allows the Secretary to establish a funding formula; and extends eligibility by allowing private owners of PBRA properties to voluntarily make an FSS program available to their tenants. Please note that HUD published the Final Rule implementing the changes to the FSS program on May 17, 2022. The Notice can be accessed at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/17/2022- 09528/streamlining-and-implementation-of-economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act.

b. Responsibilities of FSS Program Coordinators. An FSS Program Coordinator must:

Implement the FSS program as required by 24 CFR 984 (and 24 CFR 887 for PBRA owners). Be sure to become familiar with the updated regulations published on May 17, 2022.

Create, Maintain and Update the FSS Action Plan (24 CFR 98 CFR 984.201) and all relevant local program policies.

Create and implement an outreach plan and enroll FSS participant families, maintaining at least the minimum number to be served per this NOFO award.

Ensure that an Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP) is prepared for head of FSS family and each adult member of the FSS family who elects to participate in the FSS program. See Section I.A.4 for more information on eligible families.

Build partnerships with employers and service providers in the community and work with the Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) and with such local service providers to ensure that FSS program participants are linked to the supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency, including services for participants with limited English proficiency. See Section I.A.4 of this NOFO ("Definitions") for the definition of PCC. For more information on Partnerships and Collaborations, see Notice PIH 2011-51, and for more information on partnerships between PHAs and Department of Labor Workforce Development Boards/One Stops, see "From the Ground Up: Creating https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/17/2022-09528/streamlining-and-implementation-of-economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/17/2022-09528/streamlining-and-implementation-of-economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/17/2022-09528/streamlining-and-implementation-of-economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/pih2011-51.pdf

Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards" at https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/14_DOL_PUBLICATION.PDF.

FSS Coordinators may also perform job development functions (e.g., outreach to potential employers) for the FSS program.

FSS Coordinators are encouraged to ensure that participants have greater access to financial education/literacy/empowerment/coaching programs that will help them acquire the knowledge and skills to make informed and effective decisions that ultimately help them reach their goals and achieve self-sufficiency and financial stability. This includes partnering with organizations that conduct financial education workshops that cover topics such as credit, debt, savings, budgeting, asset building and banking services;

and/or organizations that can provide financial coaching.

For information on financial empowerment tools and resources available to help HUD-assisted families enhance their financial empowerment and asset building skills, please see Notice PIH 2014-26 (HA) and the two webinar series posted on https://www.hud.gov/strongfamilies

Ensure that the services and supports included in the participants' Contracts of Participation are provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis; participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the Contracts; and FSS escrow accounts are established and properly maintained for eligible families. This includes ensuring that FSS families are provided with a statement of their escrow account balance at least once each year, but more often is encouraged.

Monitor the progress of participants, promote opportunities for them to increase their income and address and eliminate barriers to advancement and graduation.

Oversee the account of forfeited escrow funds in accord with 24 CFR 984.305(f)(2) and local policy.

The FSS Guidebook and Online training are a resource that FSS Coordinators, PCCs, PHA board members and commissioners, executive directors, senior housing staff, and other staff who may work with the FSS program can use to better serve FSS participants and run an effective FSS program. The guidebook and online training provide in-depth information about all aspects of the FSS program, drawing on evidence about "what works" and the experience of practitioners.

The Guidebook and Training will be updated over the summer of 2022 to conform with the changes made by the FSS Final Rule. All FSS applicants must have a representative from their organization complete the new FSS training as a condition of award, prior to accessing funds (not prior to application). See Section III.A.2 for more information.

c. Staffing Guidelines. Under normal circumstances, a full-time FSS Program Coordinator should be able to serve approximately 50 FSS participants, depending on the coordinator's case management/coaching functions. While this NOFO requires at least 25 FSS participants to qualify for one full-time FSS Coordinator position (see Section III.F.3. of this NOFO "Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS families served" for more information), grantees are encouraged to serve at least 50 FSS participants per full-time coordinator position.

Please Note: that best practice dictates that Program Coordinators be available in the community, in locations accessible by participants, potential participants, partners and potential https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/14_DOL_PUBLICATION.PDF https://www.hud.gov/strongfamilies https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FSS-Program-Guidebook.pdf https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/family-self-sufficiency-training/ partners. This may include in homes, at workplaces, at partner sites and at days/hours that are outside of “traditional” work hours. In as much is possible, PHAs are encouraged to support this flexibility.

d. Outreach. Grantees must take affirmative steps to reach out to eligible families with disabilities and to persons with limited English proficiency who might be interested in participating in the FSS program, and to include agencies that work with and provide services to families with disabilities and agencies that work with and provide services to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) on their FSS Program Coordinating Committee (PCC).

Further, grantees must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency. As an aid to recipients, HUD 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). LEP guidance and LEP information is available here: Federal Register.

Grantees must take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities and must also ensure effective communication and provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, to include providing all materials, notices, and communications in a manner that is effective for persons with hearing, visual and other communication-related disabilities. All materials, notices, and communications used shall be provided in a manner that is effective for persons with hearing, visual, and other communication-related disabilities, consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and HUD's Section 504 regulations (see 24 CFR 8.6.) All methods that include public meetings must be held in facilities that are physically accessible to persons with disabilities, and auxiliary aids or services or other reasonable accommodations must be provided to ensure equal participation by individuals with disabilities. Where accessibility for persons with disabilities is not possible, you must give priority to alternative participatory methods that are accessible and usable by qualified individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate and must ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794) and HUD’s implementing regulation at 24 CFR part 8, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134) and the implementing regulation at 28 CFR Part 35. Additionally, grantees should take reasonable steps to engage and ensure participation by formerly homeless persons, veterans, persons with criminal records and any other underserved or historically unrepresented groups.

e. Coordination between Programs with Services or Service Coordination. Grantees that are located in a jurisdiction that receives multiple sources of funding (from the programs listed below) to serve the same population or geographic area, should coordinate among those programs, where appropriate, so as to leverage shared resources, avoid duplication of services, and improve access and service delivery to participating families: ROSS Service Coordinators (ROSS-SC), Jobs Plus, HOPE VI Revitalization, Choice Neighborhoods, Elderly/Disabled Service Coordinators, HUD-VASH, Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers, Foster Youth initiative (FYI), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), Continuum of Care programs and/or other special use housing assistance with services or service coordination. One example of coordination is a PHA that administers both FSS and ROSS-SC programs using a https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/16/E7-4794/final-guidance-to-federal-financial-assistance-recipients-regarding-title-vi-prohibition-against single Program Coordinating Committee. Coordination between programs should be conducted by and between program coordinators or other program management staff. In general, residents that are part of FSS should not also be served by ROSS-SC and should be very carefully managed between FSS and Jobs Plus. Jobs Plus programs should consult their Grant Managers for more information.

Changes from Previous NOFO.

Applicants should read this entire NOFO carefully to ensure that all threshold and eligibility requirements are met (otherwise the applicant will be ineligible for funding), and that the program requirements listed in this NOFO) are followed.

FOR THIS FY22 NOFO ONLY – ALL PHAs that were funded in FY21, FY20, or FY19 NOFOs may apply for for funding in this FY22 NOFO, even if you didn’t meet the minimum number of participants requirement, because HUD is giving all PHAs a grace year due the impacts of COVID-19. HUD will not use 2021 PIC counts to limit your Baseline Positions.

Opportunity for New Grantee Awards. For the first time since FY19, we anticipate having funding available to New (not funded in FY19, FY20, FY21) applicants (after all eligible renewals are funded).

Multifamily Housing (aka Project Based Rental Assistance or PBRA) Applicants. This NOFO will accept applications from Multifamily Housing Owners for the first time due to now being included as eligible entities for funding in the FSS Final Rule. All Multifamily applicants will be in the “New” category.

Two-Year NOFO. This NOFO may be used to make awards for a Subsequent Year of Funding if future appropriated funding becomes available and allows. HUD may use the grant applications received from this NOFO to make additional year renewal awards.

HUD also reserves the right to issue a supplemental FSS NOFO, which may have a limited pool of applicants.

PBRA Participants. Funds awarded under this NOFO may be used to serve residents of Project-Based Rental Assistance (multifamily) regardless of whether they were RAD-affected. Previously, only RAD-affected PBRA residents could be served using NOFO funding.

Part-Time to Full-Time. If you serve at least 25 participants (according to the PIC report in Appendix C) and you are currently only funded for a part-time Coordinator, this NOFO will increase your part-time position to a full-time position (from .5 to 1), unless you submit a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter with this NOFO application. This is not a change from FY21 but a reminder.

Funding Priority Categories: In the previous NOFOs we offered three funding priority categories, which were Category 1: Renewal Funding for Eligible Applicants; Category 2: Increases from Part-time to Full-time Positions; and Category 3: Increases in Funding Amount. In this NOFO, for FY22, subject to your eligible request and available funds:

o Category 1 – Renewals - will be to fund you to the amount to which you were last funded for your Baseline Positions.

o Category 2 – Renewals - If you serve at least 25 participants (according to the PIC report in Appendix C) and you are currently only funded for a part-time Coordinator, this NOFO will increase your part-time position to a full-time position (from 0.5 to 1), unless you submit a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter with this NOFO application.

o Category 3 – Renewals - will be to increase your funding, up to your Maximum Annual Award (or approved Exception Request) or Eligible Funding Request, whichever is less. See Appendix C and Section V.B.3.

o Category 4 will fund New grantees (applicants not funded in FY19, FY20 or

FY21).

FY23 Funding Priorities for applications that came in with the FY22 NOFO cycle as well as any applications that are submitted in any supplemental opening of this NOFO.

o Category 1 – Renewals - will be to fund you to the amount to which you were last funded for your Baseline Positions.

o Category 2 – Renewals - If you serve at least 25 participants (according to the PIC report in Appendix C) and you are currently only funded for a part-time Coordinator, this NOFO will increase your part-time position to a full-time position (from 0.5 to 1), unless you submit a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter with this NOFO application o Category 3 – Renewals - will be to increase your funding, up to your Maximum Annual Award (or approved Exception Request) or up to your Eligible Funding Request, whichever is less. See Appendix C and Section V.B.3.

o Category 4 will fund New grantees (applicants not funded in FY20, FY21 or

FY22).

Salary Comparability Information: In previous NOFOs, applicants were asked to submit salary comparability information with their application. Under this NOFO, as with FY21, salary comparability information is NOT required. Instead, salary information will be taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) locality pay data, with 40 percent added for fringe benefits.

Unexpended Funds: Any unexpended funds will be recaptured and used to make future grants. This was the same in FY21 and FY20 but is a change from FY19.

Unexpended Balance Explanation. If you did not expend at least 60 percent of your last FSS award during its Period of Performance, you MUST submit an Unexpended Balance Explanation to your local Field Office as a condition of your award. This letter must explain why your last grant was not fully expended and how you plan to change your operations to ensure that this award is right-sized and will be fully expended. This application requirement is indicated in Appendix C under the column labeled “Unexpended Balance.”

Revised HUD form 52651 under this NOFO: This NOFO will not require the HUD- 52651 for Renewal applicants, as has been the case in recent FSS Renewal NOFOs. Instead, the relevant fields where HUD needs information from Renewal applicants have been indicated in the instructions in Section IV.B. and are to be completed on the SF-424. This is not a change from FY21, but a reminder. However, the HUD-52651 form has been revised and IS required for New Applicants.

All New applicants must include at least three partners that are currently participating or will be participating in your future Program Coordinating Committee. Information will be captured on form HUD-52651 in space number nine (#9). Applicants must include the name of each organization and the name, email address and phone number of a point of contact at that organization who, if contacted, would confirm that they are currently working with the applying entity on the FSS program or are committed to working with the applying entity if the applicant is successful in being funded for this grant.

Amount Requested, Annual Cost Adjustment, Baseline Annual Award, Baseline Funding per Position, Baseline Renewal Positions, Baseline Two-Year Award, First- Year Funding Request, Largest Renewal Award, Last Renewal Award, Last Renewal Positions, Maximum Annual Award, Maximum Expansion Positions, Maximum Two-Year Award, Multifamily Contract Number, Multifamily Quarterly Report, Number of FSS Participants, Second-Year Funding Request: Please see Program Definitions IV.B. for information on these terms. The funding formula has changed from the FY21 and FY20 NOFOs, which means applicants must do the math to calculate their Maximum Two-Year Funding Request. Please pay close attention to the new definitions and calculations to request the appropriate funding amount for the appropriate number of positions.

Exception Request, Part-Time Loss Acknowledgment & Renewal Period: Please see Program Definitions IV.B. for information on these terms and the process to submit an Exception Request or Part-Time Loss Acknowledgment, if desired. This is not a change from FY21, but a reminder.

Each applicant must apply with a unique TIN and UEI number: This year, HUD will not be accepting DUNS numbers but will require a UEI number instead. For PHA applicants, as before, no more than one application will be accepted from any one TIN or UEI number. For PHA applicants, HUD will treat multiple applications from one UEI as duplicates and only review the last application received and validated by HUD. This is not a change, but a reminder. PBRA applicants, multiple applications from the same Multifamily Contract Number (PBRA HAP Contract Number) will be treated as duplicates. HUD will only review the last application received and validated by HUD.

Definitions.

a. Standard Definitions

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH). Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) means taking meaningful actions, in addition to combating discrimination to overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics. Specifically, affirmatively furthering fair housing means taking meaningful actions that, taken together, address significant disparities in housing needs and in access to opportunities, replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns, transforming racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and fostering and maintaining compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws. The duty to affirmatively further fair housing extends to all program participant’s activities and programs relating to housing and urban development.

Assistance Listing number refers to the publicly available listing of Federal assistance programs managed and administered by the General Services Administration, formerly known as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). Assistance Listing is a unique number assigned to identify a Federal Assistance Listings, formerly known as the CFDA

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is the person authorized to submit applications on behalf of the organization via Grants.gov. The AOR is authorized by the E-Biz point of contact in the System for Award Management. The AOR is listed in item 21 on the SF- 424.

Consolidated Plan is a document developed by states and local jurisdictions. This plan is completed by engaging in a participatory process to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions with funding from formula grant programs. (See 24 CFR part 91 for HUD’s requirements regarding the Consolidated Plan and related Action Plan).

Contract means, for the purpose of Federal financial assistance, a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award. For additional information on contractor and subrecipient determinations, see 2 CFR 200.331.

Contractor means an entity that receives a contract as defined above and in 2 CFR 200.1.

Deficiency is information missing or omitted within a submitted application. Examples of deficiencies include missing documents, information on a form, or some other type of unsatisfied information requirement. Depending on specific criteria, deficiencies may be either Curable or Non-Curable.

Curable Deficiencies may be corrected by the applicant with timely action. To be curable the deficiency must:

Not be a threshold requirement, except for documentation of applicant eligibility;

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.

Non-Curable Deficiencies cannot be corrected by an applicant 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.

DUNS Number is the nine-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Number System identification number assigned to a business or organization by Dun & Bradstreet and provides a means of identifying business entities on a location-specific basis.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) A user registered as an organization applicant who is responsible for the administration and management of grant activities for his or her organization.

The E-Biz POC is likely to be an organization's chief financial officer or authorizing official. The E-Biz POC authorizes representatives of their organization to apply on behalf of the organization (see Standard AOR and Expanded AOR). There can only be one E-Biz POC per DUNS Number.

Eligibility requirements are mandatory requirements for an application to be eligible for funding.

Expanded Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) An AOR is a member of your organization authorized by the EBiz POC to submit applications in Grants.gov on behalf of the organization. An applicant user with the Expanded AOR role is authorized to submit any applications on behalf of the organization and has privileges that allow the user to modify organization-level settings in Grants.gov.

Federal Financial Assistance means assistance that entities received or administer in the form of:

1. Grants;

2. Cooperative agreements (which does not include a cooperative research and development agreement pursuant to the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, as amended (15 U.S.C. 3710a)).

3. Loans;

4. Loan guarantees;

5. Subsidies;

6. Insurance;

7. Food commodities;

8. Direct appropriations;

9. Assessed and voluntary contributions; and

10. Any other financial assistance transaction that authorizes the non-Federal entity's expenditure of Federal funds.

11. Federal financial assistance does not include amounts received as reimbursement for services rendered to individuals as described in section 200.502(h) and (i). (2 CFR 200.1)

Federal award, has the meaning, depending on the context, in either paragraph (i) or (ii) of this definition:

1. (i) The Federal financial assistance that a recipient receives directly from a Federal awarding agency or a subrecipient receives indirectly from a pass-through entity, as described in 2 CFR §200.101; or

ii. The cost-reimbursement contract under the Federal Acquisition Regulations that a non- Federal entity receives directly from a federal awarding agency or indirectly from a pass- through entity, as described in 2 CFR §200.101.

2. The instrument setting forth the terms and conditions. The instrument is the grant agreement, cooperative agreement, other agreement for assistance covered in paragraph (2) of the definitions of Federal financial assistance in 2 CFR §200.1, and this https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-F/subject-group-ECFRfd0932e473d10ba/section-200.502 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 http://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

NOFO, or the cost-reimbursement contract awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

3. Federal award does not include other contracts that a Federal agency uses to buy goods or services from a contractor or a contract to operate Federal Government owned, contractor operated facilities (GOCOs).

4. See also definitions of Federal financial assistance, grant agreement, and cooperative agreement in 2 CFR 200.1.

Grants.gov is the website serving as the Federal government’s central portal for searching and applying for Federal financial assistance throughout the Federal government. Registration on Grants.gov is required for submission of applications to prospective agencies unless otherwise specified in this NOFO.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as: “…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents.

Non-Federal Entity (NFE) means a state, local government, Indian tribe, Institution of Higher Education (IHE), or non-profit organization that carries out a federal award as a recipient or subrecipient.

Point of Contact (POC) is the person who may be contacted with questions about the application submitted by the AOR. The POC is listed in item 8F on the SF-424.

Recipient means an entity, usually but not limited to non-Federal entities, that receives a federal award directly from HUD. The term recipient does not include subrecipients or individuals that are beneficiaries of the award.

Small business is defined as a privately-owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that has fewer employees and less annual revenue than a corporation or regular-sized business.

The definition of “small”—in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy—varies by country and industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business according to a set of standards based on specific industries. See 13 CFR Part 121.

Standard Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) An AOR is a member of your organization authorized by the EBiz POC to submit applications in Grants.gov on behalf of the organization. An applicant user with the Standard AOR role can only submit applications when they are a Participant of that workspace.

Subaward means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program. A subaward may be provided through any form of legal agreement, including an agreement that the pass-through entity considers a contract.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1

Subrecipient means an entity, usually but not limited to non-Federal entities, that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal award but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary of such award. A subrecipient may also be a recipient of other federal awards directly from a federal awarding agency.

System for Award Management (SAM) is the Federal Repository into which an entity must provide information required for the conduct of business as a recipient. Registration with SAM is required for submission of applications via Grants.gov. You can access the website at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. There is no cost to use SAM.

Threshold Requirements are an eligibility requirement that must be met for an application to be reviewed. Threshold requirements are not curable, except for documentation of applicant eligibility and are listed in Section III.D Threshold Eligibility Requirements. Similarly, there are eligibility requirements under Section III.E, Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify business entities.

Program Definitions.

Amount Requested is the amount you are requesting under this NOFO. Please see definitions of Maximum Annual Award and Exception Request as well as section IV.B for more information. Your Amount Requested must be reflected on line 18.g of SF-424.

PLEASE NOTE: We may issue a Curable Deficiency for any Amount Requested that is larger than your Maximum Two-Year Award, without an Exception Request submitted as part of your application. We may also issue a Deficiency if it appears that you only requested one year of funding instead of two, just to be sure that is what you intended.

Annual Cost Adjustment. In the event that we are able to award FY23 renewal funding through this NOFO, you may request 5 percent more than your Maximum Annual Award for the second year of funding.

PLEASE NOTE: You MUST do the math to include this in your Estimated Funding on line 18.e of the SF-424. We will NOT do the math for you. If you submit the same amounts for FY22 on line 18.a and for FY23 on line 18.e of the SF-424, without an Annual Cost Adjustment included as part of your second-year request on line 18.e, we may issue a Curable Deficiency Notice.

Baseline Annual Award. The Baseline Award is the higher of:

1. The most recent FSS award you received during the Renewal Period (for purposes of this NOFO, this includes awards from FY21, FY20, and FY19 new, renewal, and supplemental NOFOs); and

2. Your Baseline Positions multiplied by your Baseline Funding per Position.

PLEASE NOTE: We may issue a Curable Deficiency Notice for any amount on line 18.a of the SF-424 that is less than your Baseline Annual Award or any amount on line 18.e of the SF-424 that is less than your Baseline Annual Award plus your Annual Cost Adjustment.

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

Baseline Funding per Position. The Baseline Funding Per Position is the greater of:

1. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx) for the median salary for the job title “Social Worker: Other” in your zip code (the zip code provided in your last application on record, except for state-wide PHAs, which will use the state level data), with a 40 percent allowance added for fringe benefits.

2. The annualized full-time living wage (for FY22: $15 per hour x 2,080 hours = $31,200), with a 40 percent allowance added for fringe benefits ($31,200 + 40% = $43,680).

Adding a minimum hourly wage is NEW this year.

For Renewal Applicants, this amount is presented in Appendix C in the column titled “Baseline per Position.”

PLEASE NOTE: For FY22, applicants cannot have a Baseline Funding per Position, including salary and fringe, greater than $176,300.

Baseline Positions. For New Applicants, the numebr of baseline positions requested will be 1.

For Renewal Applicants, this is your Last Renewal Positions, with all part-time positions where the applicant has served at least 25 participants in the Target Period rounded up to a full-time position

Renewal Applicants will be funded for your Baseline Positions unless you request fewer by submitting:

An Exception Request for fewer full-time positions (you can only request fewer full-time positions – not more – with an Exception Request), or

A Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement to maintain a part-time position instead of a full-time position, if eligible

Note: FOR THIS FY22 NOFO ONLY – ALL grantees that were funded in FY21, FY20, and/or FY19 NOFOs may apply for funding under this FY22 NOFO, even if you didn’t meet the minimum number of participants requirement, because HUD is providing flexibility to PHAs due the impacts of COVID-19. HUD will not use 2021 PIC counts to limit your Baseline Positions.

Baseline Two-Year Award. Your Baseline Two-Year Award is your Baseline Annual Award, multiplied by two (to cover two years of possible funding), plus your Annual Cost Adjustment (up to 5 percent of your Maximum Annual Award), unless waived.

PLEASE NOTE: We may issue a Curable Deficiency Notice for any amount on line 18.g of the SF-424 that is less than your Baseline Two-Year Award.

Contract Administrator is an overall grant administrator or a financial management agent (or both) that oversees the implementation of the grant and/or the financial aspects of the grant. See Section III.F.2 of this NOFO "Troubled PHAs" for more information.

Contract of Participation: See 24 CFR 984.103 for the definition and 24 CFR 984.303 for further information including the Contract term.

http://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx?newsearch=true http://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx?newsearch=true

Eligible Funding Request is, for most applicants who intend to apply for two-years of funding, your Funding Awarded through this NOFO.

Eligible Families Funding awarded through this NOFO may be used to serve PH residents and HCV/PBV participants as well as PBRA residents (RAD-affected or not).

Exception Request. If you would like to be funded for MORE than the Maximum Annual Award, you must include with your application submission a letter signed by your PHA’s Executive Director or PBRA owner’s authorized representative explaining the need for a higher funding amount. See Section IV.B. for information on how to submit an Exception Request.

PLEASE NOTE: You do NOT need an Exception Request to request above your Baseline Annual Award unless you are requesting more than your Maximum Annual Award on line 18.a of the SF-424, or more than your Maximum Annual Award plus your Annual Cost Adjustment on line 18.e of the SF-424.

First-Year Funding Request: is the amount entered on line 18.a of the SF-424. This may not be larger than your Maximum Annual Award (or approved Exception Request).

PLEASE NOTE: We may issue a Curable Deficiency for any First-Year Funding Request that is larger than your Maximum Annual Award, without an Exception Request submitted as part of your application.

FSS Action Plan is required by FSS program regulations to be developed by FSS programs and approved by HUD. An Action Plan describes the policies and procedures of the program for operation at that particular organization. For a full description of the information that the Action Plan must contain, please see 24 CFR 984.201. See also, Sample FSS Action Plan Checklist https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_Rev_061 52022_OFO_Edits.docx. PLEASE NOTE: All FSS programs will be required to update their FSS Action Plans pursuant to the FSS Final Rule. Renewal grantees will not be able to access their FY22 awards without an approved updated FSS Action Plan in place. New applicants are not required to have an approved FSS Action Plan prior to application or award. New grantees will be required to have an FSS Action Plan approved by their local field office by March 31 of their first year of funding.

FSS Escrow Account is a savings account for FSS participants. As a participating family’s earned income increases, its (income-based) tenant rent payment also increases. However, under FSS, the amount of the family’s rent increase (the difference between the baseline rent, set when the family signs the Contract of Participation, and the new rent, calculated as the family’s income increases) is deposited into the participant’s escrow account. The participating family can access the funds in its escrow account upon graduation from the FSS program, or as an interim disbursement, pursuant to policies defined in each program’s FSS Action Plan. The escrow funds disbursed upon graduation may be used for any purpose, as determined by the graduate family. See 24 CFR 984.103 for the definition and 24 CFR 984.305 for further information.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_Rev_06152022_OFO_Edits.docx https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_Rev_06152022_OFO_Edits.docx

FSS Program Coordinator is the person responsible for linking FSS program participants to supportive services. See Section I.A.1.b "Responsibilities of FSS Program Coordinators" of this NOFO for more information.

FY 2022 Appropriations Act and PIH Notice 2016-14. The FY 2022 Appropriations Act states that no tenant-based Section 8 or Section 9 funds “may be used by any public housing agency for any amount of salary, including bonuses, for the chief executive officer of which, or any other official or employee of which, that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay payable for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule ($176,300) at any time during any public housing agency fiscal year 2022.” (Section 220 of Pub. L. No. 117-103, March 15, 2022, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.)

Job-sharing means that two or more employees are retained on a part-time or reduced-time basis to perform a job normally fulfilled by one FSS coordinator working full-time. See Section II.A.1 of this NOFO "Eligible Use of Funds" for more information.

Largest Renewal Award. The largest dollar amount that you have been awarded from an FSS NOFO in the Renewal Period (FY21 Renewal, FY20 Renewal, FY19 Renewal).

Last Renewal Award. The most recent dollar amount that you were awarded from an FSS NOFO in the Renewal Period (FY21 Renewal, FY20 Renewal, FY19 Renewal).

NEW FOR FY22: If you did not expend at least 60 percent of your last FSS award in the Renewal Period, you MUST submit an Unexpended Balance Explanation to your local Field Office as a condition of your award. Do not submit with this NOFO application. This letter must explain why your last grant was not fully expended and how you plan to change your operations to ensure that this award is right-sized and will be fully expended. This application requirement is indicated in Appendix C under the column labeled “Unexpended Balance.”

Last Renewal Positions are the last number of positions that you were funded for in the Renewal Period (FY21 Renewal, FY20 Renewal, FY19 Renewal).

Maximum Annual Award. Your Maximum Annual Award is the greater of:

1. Your Baseline Annual Award, plus 10 percent. This amount is NOT reflected in Appendix C, so you MUST do the math.

2. Your Largest Renewal Award, plus an Annual Cost Adjustment (of 5 percent). This amount is NOT reflected in Appendix C, so you MUST do the math.

If you would like to request MORE than your Maximum Annual Award, you MUST submit an Exception Request with this application. If your request on the SF-424 exceeds your Maximum Annual Award (or the amount in your approved Exception Request, if applicable), we reserve the right to request more information or make a determination.

Maximum Funding per Position. The Maximum Funding Per Position is the Baseline Funding per Position plus 10 percent.

PLEASE NOTE: This amount is NOT reflected in Appendix C. You MUST do the math. If you would like to be funded MORE than the Maximum per Position, you MUST submit an Exception Request with this application.

Moving to Work (MTW) PHAs are PHAs that are under the MTW Standard Agreement or an MTW ACC amendment with HUD. See Section III.F.7.a of this NOFO "Program Administration" for more information.

Maximum Two-Year Award. Your Maximum Two-Year Award is your Maximum Annual Award (or approved Exception Request), multiplied by two (to cover two years of possible funding), plus your Annual Cost Adjustment (up to 5 percent of your Maximum Annual Award), unless waived.

PLEASE NOTE: You will NOT be funded for more than your Maximum Two-Year Award in this NOFO. If you wish to receive your Maximum Two-Year Award, you MUST reflect this in your Estimated Funding on lines 18.a (for FY22) and 18.e (for FY23, including any Annual Cost Adjustment) of the SF-424. The form will automatically total your FY22 and FY23 requests in line 18.g of the SF-424.

You do NOT have to apply for two-years of funding under this NOFO, but we can only fund you for a second year of funding if you include an amount on line 18.e of the SF-424. Therefore, we may issue a Curable Deficiency Notice for any amount on line 18.e that is less than the amount listed on 18.a.

Multifamily Contract Number (PBRA HAP Contract Number) is the number assigned by HUD to a Project Based Rental Assistance Housing Assistance Payments contract with the owner of a multifamily housing property. This number should be entered on line 3 of the HUD- 52651.

Multifamily Quarterly Report is the report submitted by Multifamily (PBRA) properties with FSS programs, detailing information about each FSS family served. This is not applicable to Public Housing or HCV applications, even if they have RAD-PBRA participants (which should be reported separately with an ad-hoc report).

Number of FSS Participants is the total number of Eligible Families under an FSS Contract of Participation during the target period. The total Number of FSS Participants under an FSS Contract of Participation includes any FSS families with enrollment, progress, or exit report(s) during the target period. For public housing participants, FSS families who have ported their assistance to another jurisdiction during the target period will be counted for both the initial and receiving PHA. If you are administering an FSS Contract for a family that has ported to another PHA, you must ensure that your PHA code is in field 17d of the HUD-50058 form in order to receive credit for that FSS family. For more information about FSS PIC reporting, see PIH Notice 2016-08.

PBRA Participants: the Number of FSS Participants will be confirmed based on the property’s most recently submitted Multifamily Quarterly Report.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/pih2016-08.pdf

Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement. If you serve at least 25 participants (according to the PIC report in Appendix C) but you are currently only funded for a part-time Coordinator, you will be eligible for a full-time position in this NOFO. We will automatically increase your part-time position to a full-time position (from 0.5 to 1) in Category 2, unless you submit a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter with this NOFO application. A Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement is a letter signed by the PHA’s Executive Director acknowledging that you are eligible for a full-time position, but you choose to request only a part-time position. If you have a part-time position that will be increased to a full-time position, you should request a full-time salary.

Period of Performance: The period of performance for this NOFO is January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023. The second round of funding, if offered, would cover to January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. Please note that this is different from the Target Period.

PIC Report shows data for the HCV and PH programs, including information about participating PHAs’ FSS programs. The PIC report is attached to this NOFO as part of Appendix C. This is not applicable to PBRA applications.

Program Coordinating Committee (PCC), a requirement of the FSS program, assists the FSS program in securing commitments of public and private resources for the operation of the FSS program within the geographic area served, including assistance to develop the Action Plan and implement the program. See 24 CFR 984.202 for further information.

Renewal Period For purposes of this NOFO, this includes FY21, FY20, and FY19 new, renewal, and supplemental NOFOs.

Second-Year Funding Request: is the amount entered on line 18.e of the SF-424. This may not be larger than your Maximum Annual Award (or approved Exception Request), plus your Annual Cost Adjustment.

PLEASE NOTE: We may issue a Curable Deficiency for any Second-Year Funding Request that is larger than your Maximum Annual Award plus your Annual Cost Adjustment, without an Exception Request submitted as part of your application.

If you submit the same amounts for FY22 on line 18.a and for FY23 on line 18.e of the SF-424, without an Annual Cost Adjustment included as part of your second-year request on line 18.e, we may issue a Curable Deficiency…