Foa_Content_of_FR-6800-N-06 (1).pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Policy Development and Research

HUD's FY 2024 and FY 2025 Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

FR-6800-N-06

06/20/2024

Table of Contents

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. Obtain 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

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative, National and Departmental Policy Requirements and Terms for HUD Applicants and Recipients of Financial Assistance Awards

C. Reporting

D. Debriefing

VII. AGENCY CONTACT(S)

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX

Program Office:

Policy Development and Research

Funding Opportunity Title:

HUD's FY 2024 and FY 2025 Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6800-N-06

Assistance Listing Number:

14.259 Due Date for Applications:

06/20/2024

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. You, as a prospective applicant, 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, ineligible, or noncompetitive proposal.

In accordance with Title 24 part 4, subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), during the selection process (which includes HUD’s NOFO development and publication, and concludes with the announcement of the selection of recipients of assistance), HUD is prohibited from disclosing covered selection information. Examples of impermissible disclosures include:

1) information regarding any applicant’s relative standing; 2) the amount of assistance requested by any 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 who have applied for assistance.

For further information regarding this NOFO, direct questions regarding the specific requirements of this NOFO to the agency contact identified in section VII.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. §§ 3501- 3520) (PRA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements in this NOFO. 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. This NOFO identifies the applicable OMB control number, unless the collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR Part 1320.

OMB Control Number(s):

2528-0348

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

Through this NOFO, HUD is announcing the availability of approximately $91,000,000 in total funding including $88,500,000 in FY 2024 funding for its Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program (Community Compass) and up to $2,500,000 in FY https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-4/subpart-B https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1

2023 Departmental Technical Assistance funding for the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance program (TCTA). We reserve the right to award FY 2025 Community Compass funds based on this single NOFO competition.

Community Compass is HUD’s integrated technical assistance (TA) and capacity building initiative. Community Compass helps customers navigate complex housing and community development challenges. It equips them with knowledge, skills, tools, and capacity to implement HUD’s programs and policies. Community Compass provides effective administrative and managerial oversight of HUD funding. Community Compass is centrally managed by HUD Headquarters with the involvement of our Regional, Field, and Area Offices.

HUD's TCTA program helps local governments address pressing housing needs by identifying land for housing development near transportation projects; developing preservation and anti-displacement strategies; identifying and implementing reforms to reduce barriers to location-efficient housing; and improving coordination and supporting a holistic approach to housing and transportation.

We recognize that our customers often interact with a variety of HUD programs, and other federal programs servicing common customers, as they deliver housing or community development services. Community Compass brings together TA investments from across HUD program offices, including the offices of Community Planning and Development, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Housing, and Public and Indian Housing. This cross-funding approach allows TA to address the needs of grantees and subgrantees, often within the same engagement, and promotes intra- and inter-agency issue resolution. You are encouraged to procure contractors and consultants that demonstrate experience across a wide variety of HUD programs, as well as in specific skill and policy areas related to HUD programs. Through this NOFO, HUD will also address the TA needs of some emerging priorities that include: community violence intervention, implementation of and compliance with the Violence Against Women Act's (VAWA) 2022 Reauthorization, climate resilience, housing needs of youth, and environmental reviews. It is highly encouraged that applicants assemble a diverse team of professionals and people with lived experience from the communities HUD serves. Their perspectives can add immeasurable value in the development and delivery of technical assistance.

a. Background

In March 2022, the HUD Secretary published the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Within the context of the Secretary’s vision to support underserved communities, this NOFO invites competitive applications for three funding years: FY 2023 (TCTA), FY 2024 Community Compass and FY 2025 Community Compass. This means that a single application may request funding from one, two, or three funding years. Eligible applicants will submit a single SF424 but must clearly identify the amount requested for each funding year in its application summary; see requirements in NOFO section IV.B.1.a. Along with significantly reducing the burden for applicants, this funding process should enable HUD to make FY 2025 awards through the same NOFO.

We will use the applications received through this NOFO and the resulting application scores to make awards for FY 2023 TCTA and FY 2024 Community Compass. We will use the same scores and award methodology to make new Community Compass awards for FY 2025 appropriations. HUD also reserves the right to issue a supplemental or independent FY 2025 Community Compass Program NOFO if necessary (e.g., to accommodate a new TA priority or new funding source). When making awards, we will consider your remaining Community Compass funds and your performance under prior Community Compass awards, including declined or delayed assignments or unacceptable TA engagements.

Additional funds may also become available for award under this NOFO, such as supplemental funding appropriated for Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery (CDBG- DR) technical assistance.

b. TA Focus Areas

We expect to focus our TA efforts and available funding on the programs listed for each HUD Office in the Category A Technical Assistance Focus Areas table located in Appendix I. The table also notes the corresponding funding source(s). Since overlap often occurs among these HUD Offices and programs, we encourage you to explain your experience working across HUD Offices, as appropriate.

As new HUD priorities and customer needs emerge during the period of performance for a TA award, TA assignments may address additional HUD programmatic or policy areas that are not listed in Appendix I, including major grants, assistance, and regulatory programs that may be supported by Community Compass TA.

c. Community Compass Eligible Activities

Eligible activities for the Community Compass program are specified below. Successful applicants may be tasked to use one or more of these activities to provide technical assistance pursuant to the purposes of the Community Compass program. These activities are subject to any restrictions or limitations imposed by the federal regulations, statutes, and requirements referenced in this NOFO or by the regulations and requirements governing the program(s) under which the technical assistance is funded.

i. Needs Assessments. Needs assessments are intended to help determine the nature and scope of TA and capacity building needed by HUD customers. Needs assessments may also assist customers with quantifying the impact of affordable housing and community and economic development or disaster recovery initiatives and identifying local market conditions so that program resources may be better targeted and leveraged. In some instances, a self-assessment by the customer or a Field Office assessment may provide a satisfactory basis for determining the scope and scale of technical and capacity building assistance; in other cases, a TA provider will conduct on-site or remote needs assessments to collect information about the capacity gaps of the identified customer. A needs assessment may use multiple information collection and analysis tools, such as the Consolidated Plan, Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) or Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting (DRGR) reports, Public Housing Annual Plan, Indian Housing Plan, Tribal Performance Assessments, Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Assessments, Assessment of Fair Housing, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice or any fair housing plan required pursuant to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rulemaking, Point-In-Time Counts of the homeless, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data, Continuum of Care (CoC) application information, HUD monitoring results, energy audits, capital needs assessments, annual financial audits, funds obligation and expenditures, CPD Maps, and interviews with grantees and HUD staff.

ii. Direct TA and Capacity Building Engagements. Direct TA and capacity building require working onsite and/or remotely with HUD's customers and their subrecipients to improve HUD program knowledge and staff capacity in one or more of the programs and/or cross-cutting issues noted in the “Technical Assistance Focus Areas” table in Appendix I. Direct TA also includes the operation of one or more virtual help desks and addressing questions and issues raised by HUD’s customers.

iii. Develop and Maintain Tools and Products. Tools and products developed will use adult learning principles to assist HUD customers with understanding existing, revised, or new program statutes and regulations, as well as other federal requirements (e.g., Davis-Bacon wage rates, Section 3, civil rights compliance, environmental justice and environmental standards, Limited English Proficiency [LEP] requirements, accessibility for persons with disabilities, ConnectHome and federal immigration and naturalization law) that apply to these programs.

HUD employs virtual training and TA as a cost-effective way to reach diverse audiences and address the constantly changing needs of customers and program requirements. These products might take the form of web-based courses or trainings, videos, interactive tools, and webinars.

Tool and product development may also include the creation of templates, desk guides, toolkits, and curricula that improve program management and operations, evaluation, and performance measurement. Where appropriate, HUD program and other federal requirements, such as fair housing and civil rights, will be integrated into comprehensive products to serve the TA needs of a broad range of program partners. All products and tools developed must comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements. Development and maintenance of tools and products could include translating existing materials into other languages.

iv. Self-Directed and Group Learning. Self-directed and group learning is intended to increase the capacity and close competency gaps of HUD's customers and their subrecipients by equipping them with the necessary program knowledge and skills needed to administer and manage HUD programs. Group learning will incorporate adult learning principles that may include delivery of HUD-approved training courses remotely or in person; online self-directed courses; problem-solving clinics; policy academies; live or pre-recorded webinars; and peer-to-peer assistance exchanges for customers with similar local market contexts, challenges, opportunities, and community needs. Group learning could include establishing and supporting group learning cohorts and curricula, such as communities of practice. In-person group learning must take place in facilities that are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Remote activities must be provided in an accessible format that is readily usable by individuals with disabilities.

v. Knowledge Management. Knowledge management consists of capacity building for HUD's customers on a) the development, maintenance, and operation of websites, website platforms, and web-based systems for information or learning management to organize, publish, and disseminate technical assistance resources or, b) activities to encourage consumption of technical assistance resources, through marketing, promotion, outreach, and customer engagement.

Awards under this NOFO will not provide maintenance or developmental or operational support for any HUD program databases, websites or systems, including but not limited to IDIS, DRGR, or e-snaps that are the responsibility of HUD.

vi. Data analysis, reporting, and performance measurement. This activity includes TA and training that help customers analyze data and understand data trends; use data to inform and revise plans and strategies; use performance measurement and reporting tools; create data-sharing partnerships and agreements; and collect, report, and use accurate and valid data on programs, activities, and beneficiaries.

This eligible activity includes, but is not limited to, technical assistance and training for CoCs and recipients on how to collect, analyze, use, manage, report, and communicate about data that is critical for measuring and meeting local objectives related to ending homelessness. This TA funding provides support to CoCs to achieve the highest level of performance and results for Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and comparable database implementation, including improving the capacity of persons charged with setting up and operating HMIS implementations; ensuring that HMIS collects accurate, comprehensive, and timely data; and supporting CoCs and stakeholders to use homeless data to improve efforts to end homelessness.

It could also support HUD customers track and analyze utility consumption and resilience to climate hazards to make informed decisions about capital investments.

This funding also provides technical assistance to CoCs for HMIS software management and operation, HMIS governance, standardized data collection for HUD-required reporting, system performance measurement and analysis, and system modeling.

Under the National Homeless Data Analysis Project (NHDAP), eligible activities include Administrative activities, Coordination activities, HMIS TA, and the following four projects:

• Sage HMIS Reporting Repository (Sage). Supports the stable and secure operation of the Sage, a virtual aggregate-data environment for CoC and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program recipients’ performance reports. Provides an interface to receive CoC and ESG funded projects’ .CSV files, converted into performance reports for local use and for HUD. Eligible activities include maintaining, operating, updating, and hosting Sage; data cleaning and importing; data analysis and reporting. providing Sage specific short term Technical Assistance such as, but not limited to the development of tools and products using adult learning principles to assist Customers with understanding Sage reporting and usage (i.e., Sage User Manual, APR Guidebook, CAPER Guidebook, etc.,) and the creation and delivery of trainings and other knowledge transfer methods (i.e., conducting Sage user trainings, working one-on-one, remotely, with Sage customer support, Sage presentations, etc.).

• National HMIS Data Lab. Supports the configuration of HMIS and comparable databases to collect local homeless and service data in a standardized fashion; increasing confidence that the software chosen in the private marketplace accurately collects and stores data; and produce reliable reports. Eligible activities include testing of HMIS and comparable database data and performance impacts related homeless federal policy and program changes; maintaining and using a stable HMIS software application(s) with test data in a controlled environment to test changes to the HMIS programming specifications; providing HMIS test kits to the public; short term Technical Assistance such as, but not limited to the development of tools and products using adult learning principles (i.e., programming specifications, HMIS data dictionary, glossary, mapping, and manuals, HMIS Test kits, etc.,) and the creation and delivery of trainings and other knowledge transfer methods (i.e., conducting monthly vendor and system administration office hours, working one-on-one, remotely, with Data Lab customer support, HMIS Data Lab presentations, etc.).

• Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) and Homeless Data Exchange (HDX).

Supports the AHAR, a report from HUD to the U.S. Congress that provides nationwide estimates of homelessness based on data during a 12-month period, point-in-time (PIT) counts and the inventory of shelter and housing available in a community, the Housing Inventory Chart (HIC). Provides an interface for recipients to submit PIT count, HIC, System Performance Measures (SPM), and Longitudinal System Analysis (LSA) data to Homelessness Data Exchange (HDX) 1.0 or 2.0, an aggregate reporting repository.

Eligible activities include assisting CoC with local data quality improvements; receiving, processing and analyzing data; converting data for Stella community use; producing national reports (i.e., AHAR Part 1, AHAR Part 2, and SPM reports, etc.,); maintaining, operating, updating and hosting HDX 1.0 and HDX 2.0; and short term Technical Assistance such as, but not limited to, developing tools and products related to AHAR and HDX (i.e., LSA Programming Specifications, PIT/HIC Data Submission Guidance, etc.,); delivering trainings and other knowledge transfer methods (i.e., LSA office hours, AHAR and HDX presentations, etc.).

• HMIS Data and Technical Standards. Supports HMIS Standards applied to HUD, US Department of Veteran Affairs, and US Department of Health and Human Services homeless programs, which represents a collective benefit to federal grantees. The HMIS Standards do not constitute an information system or IT investment owned, operated, or maintained by HUD. HMIS Standards support Customers with collecting housing and service data that conforms to standard definitions, with the same content and format.

Eligible activities include, facilitating end-to-end data and technical standards change process such as, but not limited to, coordinating review and approval process; providing technical services; delivering short term technical assistance on how to use the HMIS Standards, developing related tools and products (i.e., CoC Program Manual, HMIS Logic Model, online HMIS Data Standards Interactive Tool, etc.,); and delivering trainings and other knowledge transfer methods (i.e., conducting federal partner and stakeholder meetings, working one-on-one, remotely, with HMIS Standards customer support, etc.).

This eligible activity also includes support for performance tracking and reporting required under section 407 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), as authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

vii. NAHASDA Allocation Formula Administration and Negotiated Rulemaking and Consultation Support. Support for administration of the Indian Housing Block Grant Allocation Formula and related formula negotiated rulemaking, as authorized under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (5 U.S.C. 565(c)) and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, including administration of the allocation formula, assistance with formula determinations, census challenges, notification letters, and data correction and reports, administration of performance tracking and reporting under section 407 of NAHASDA (25 U.S.C. 4167), as well as consultation assistance to the Department for all negotiated rulemaking with Indian tribes and any other required tribal consultation.

viii. Administrative. Administrative activities are directly associated with overall award management and execution, including salaries and benefits of persons who support the execution of the award terms. Costs include preparing reports for submission to HUD, obtaining program audits, and general operating costs when billed directly. Administrative costs are not allowable as direct award execution charges when these costs are included in a selected applicant organization’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or when the organization is using the de minimis rate. Refer to section VI.A.5. of this NOFO for administrative cost limits applicable to award execution costs.

Certain administrative costs are not considered to be award execution costs and are not subject to the administrative limits in this NOFO. For example, the salary and fringe benefits for the Program Manager assigned to oversee the outcome of a specific TA engagement are considered part of the TA engagement costs and are not included in the award execution costs. Rental and maintenance of office space 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 provided under this NOFO.

• 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.

ix. Coordination. Coordination activities consist of services related to coordinating technical assistance with other award recipients and planning technical assistance engagements, including data gathering, studies, and analysis, and the identification of actions that will implement such plans. Coordination enables successful applicants to:

• Determine needs and capacity gaps to address with HUD customers, including addressing needs across multiple HUD programs.

• Set long-term goals and short-term objectives for technical assistance plans.

• Devise products and activities to meet these goals and objectives.

• Evaluate the progress of such programs and activities in accomplishing these goals and objectives.

• Participate in peer learning with other TA providers.

• Carry out management, coordination, and monitoring of activities necessary for effective planning implementation, but excluding the costs necessary to implement such plans.

Coordination also covers activities associated with participation on the TA Provider Advisory Council (TPAC). Members of the TPAC will act as a ready resource to advise and test new business and system requirements established by the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) prior to implementation for all Community Compass providers, and present best practices during new award recipient orientation sessions. HUD will continue to establish protocols and requirements and train new award recipients through a series of live onboarding sessions and ongoing engagements between the recipient and the Government Technical Representative (GTR). If necessary to share best practices, HUD will pair new providers with existing TPAC providers with a demonstrated track record of successful compliance with the requirements. For example, a best practice to share could involve configuring off-the-shelf financial management systems to be responsive to the administrative requirements HUD has established and trained upon. HUD expects to select 2-3 Providers to be a part of the TPAC. Only existing Community Compass recipients are eligible for TPAC membership.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

HUD’s Strategic Plan sets the direction and focus of our programs and staff to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all. This NOFO supports HUD’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026 to accomplish HUD’s mission and vision. Each of the five goals in the Strategic Plan include what HUD hopes to accomplish, the strategies to accomplish those objectives, and the indicators of success.

HUD will pursue two overarching priorities focused on increasing equity and improving customer experience across all HUD programs. Five strategic goals and several objectives undergird the Plan; however the following goals are applicable to this NOFO.

You are expected to align your application to the applicable strategic goals and objectives below.

Use the information in this section to describe in your application the specific goals, objectives, and measures that your project is expected to help accomplish. If your project is selected for funding, you are also expected to establish a plan to track progress related to those goals, objectives, and measures. HUD will monitor compliance with the goals, objectives, and measures in your project.

Applicable Goals and Objectives from HUD’s Strategic Plan Strategic Goal 1: Support Underserved Communities Fortify support for underserved communities and support equitable community development for all people.

1A: Advance Housing Justice Fortify support for vulnerable populations, underserved communities, and Fair Housing enforcement.

1B: Reduce Homelessness Strengthen Federal, State, Tribal, and community implementation of the Housing First approach to reducing the prevalence of homelessness, with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness.

1C: Invest in the Success of Communities Promote equitable community development that generates wealth-building for underserved communities, particularly for communities of color.

Strategic Goal 2: Ensure Access to and Increase the Production of Affordable Housing Ensure housing demand is matched by adequate production of new homes and equitable access to housing opportunities for all people.

2A: Increase the Supply of Housing Enhance HUD's programs that increase the production and supply of housing across the country.

2B: Improve Rental Assistance Improve rental assistance to address the need for affordable housing.

Strategic Goal 3: Promote Homeownership Promote homeownership opportunities, equitable access to credit for purchase and improvements, and wealth-building in underserved communities.

3A: Advance Sustainable Homeownership Advance the deployment of tools and capital that put sustainable homeownership within reach.

https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

3A: Major Initiative: Expand Homeownership Opportunities Promote financing for innovative ownership models to increase the availability of affordable housing.

3B: Create a More Accessible and Inclusive Housing Finance System Advance new policy, programs, and modernization initiatives that support a more equitable housing finance system. Promote the preservation and creation of affordable housing stock.

Strategic Goal 4: Advance Sustainable Communities Advance sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience and energy efficiency, promoting environmental justice, and recognizing housing's role as essential to health.

4A: Guide Investment in Climate Resilience Invest in climate resilience, energy efficiency, and renewable energy across HUD programs.

4B: Strengthen Environmental Justice Reduce exposure to health risks, environmental hazards, and substandard housing, especially for low-income households and communities of color.

4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

Within the context of the Secretary’s vision to support underserved communities, this NOFO invites competitive applications for three funding years: FY 2023 TCTA, FY 2024 Community Compass, and FY 2025 Community Compass. Recipients of this funding provide training and technical assistance to HUD customers to build their capacity to successfully navigate HUD programs in support of each strategic goal in the Strategic Plan.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

Summary of changes to the general text for all NOFOs (i.e., NOFO Template)

The FY24/25 Departmental NOFO template does not include significant changes with a material impact on applicant submissions.

Summary of changes specific to Community Compass

The FY24/25 NOFO does not make significant changes with a material impact on applicant submissions.

Appendix I: The list of programs/cross-cutting topics was updated to reflect FY24 appropriations and program priorities.

Appendix II: New programs were added to the list of specialized programs/topics.

Application Organization Template: Applicants are now required to organize their applications according to the Application Organization Template.

Budget Form: HUD now requires form HUD-424-CB from all applicants. Instructions for completing the form are provided in section IV.B.

Funding: Funding amounts are different from the FY 2022/2023 NOFO and reflect current year appropriations, additional TA funds from other sources, and available carryover funding.

This NOFO will award FY23 (TCTA), FY24 Community Compass, and FY25 Community Compass program funds. Previously, TCTA was awarded through a separate NOFO from Community Compass.

Explanation added to detail how requested funding source information is considered by HUD and to clarify that the total federal funding requested does not guarantee an award allocation equal to the requested amount. The total federal funding requested is an indication to HUD of your organization’s capacity and HUD will not fund more than stated.

Program-Specific Requirements: New program-specific requirements were added for applicants applying to certain programs.

Unscored responses: Language added to exclude unscored responses from the 50-page limit for narrative responses. Language added to clarify that applicants should not submit narratives for Rating Factor 2 or Rating Factor 3 as part of their unscored response. A new requirement added to limit the total number of unscored responses to eight.

Rating Factors: Points for Subfactors 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1E have changed from the FY22/23 NOFO. Rating Factor 1A is now worth a total of 10 points (from 8), Rating Factor 1B is now worth 13 points (from 10), Rating Factor 1D is now worth 10 points (from 12), and Rating Factor 1E is now worth 10 points (from 13). The 51 total points available for Rating Factor 1 is unchanged from FY22/23.

Language was added to Rating Factor 2 to clarify that the engagement(s) described in Rating Factor 2 can be different from those described in Rating Factor 3, but the engagements must align with the programs/cross-cutting topics described in Rating Factor 1. Corresponding language was added to Rating Factor 3.

Rating Factor 2 point distribution was revised so that all 29 points are available for substantive narrative response questions. The FY22/23 NOFO awarded up to 4 points for basic engagement description elements.

4. Definitions

a. Standard Definitions

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 unique number assigned to each Federal assistance program publicly available in the Assistance Listing, which is managed and administered by the General Services Administration. The Assistance Listing number was formerly known as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number.

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is a person authorized to legally bind your organization and submit applications via Grants.gov. The AOR is authorized by the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) in the System for Award Management (see E-Biz POC definition).

An AOR may include an Expanded AOR and/or a Standard AOR.

Expanded Authorized Organization Representative is a user in Grants.gov who is authorized by the E-Biz POC to perform the functions of a Standard AOR, initiate and submit applications on behalf of your organization, and is allowed to modify organization-level settings and certifications in Grants.gov.

Standard Authorized Organization Representative is a user in Grants.gov who is authorized by the E-Biz POC to initiate and submit applications in Grants.gov. A Grants.gov user with the Standard AOR role can only submit applications when they are a Participant for that workspace.

Consolidated Plan is the document submitted to HUD that serves as the comprehensive housing affordability strategy, community development plan, and submission for funding under any of the Community Planning and Development formula grant programs (e.g., CDBG, ESG, HOME, and HOPWA). This Plan is prepared in accordance with the process described in 24 CFR part 91.

This plan is completed by engaging in a participatory process to assess 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.

Cooperative agreement has the same meaning defined at 2 CFR 200.1.

Deficiency, with respect to the making of an application for funding, is information missing or omitted within a submitted application. Examples of deficiencies include missing documents, missing or incomplete information on a form, or some other type of unsatisfied information requirement. Depending on specific criteria, a deficiency may be either Curable or Non-Curable.

A Curable Deficiency is missing or incomplete application information that 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.

A Non-Curable Deficiency is missing or incomplete application information that cannot be corrected by an applicant after the submission deadline. A non-curable deficiency is a deficiency that is a threshold requirement, or a deficiency that, if corrected, would change an applicant’s score or rank versus other applicants. If an application includes a non-curable deficiency, the application may receive an ineligible determination, or the non-curable https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 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 deficiency may otherwise adversely affect the application’s score and final funding determination.

E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) is an individual associated with the applicant organization who is responsible for the administration and management of award activities for the applicant 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 Authorized Organization Representative definition). There can only be one E-Biz POC per unique entity identifier (see definition of Unique Entity Identifier below).

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

Environmental Justice means investing in environmental improvements, remedying past environmental inequities, and otherwise developing, implementing, and enforcing environmental laws and policies in a manner that advances equity and provides meaningful involvement for people and communities that have been environmentally underserved or overburdened, such as Black and Brown communities, indigenous groups, and individuals with disabilities. This definition does not alter the requirements under HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 58.5(j) and 24 CFR 50.4(l) implementing Executive Order 12898. E.O. 12898 requires a consideration of how Federally assisted projects may have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and/or low-income populations. For additional information on environmental review compliance, refer to:

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/regulations.

Equity has the meaning given to that term in Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13985 and means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Federal award, has the meaning, depending on the context, in either paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition:

(1)

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

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-58/subpart-A/section-58.5 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12898.pdf https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/regulations https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

(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.

Federal Financial Assistance has the same meaning defined at 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.

Green and Resilient Building Standard means an industry-recognized standard incorporating both:

(1) Certification under (i) Enterprise Green Communities, (ii) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) (New Construction, Homes, Midrise, Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance, or Neighborhood Development), (iii) International Code Council (ICC)-700 National Green Building Standard Green+ Resilience; or the (iv) Living Building Challenge, or (v) a regional standard such as Earth Advantage New Homes; or (vi) any other equivalent comprehensive green building program acceptable to HUD; and

(2) Minimum energy efficiency requirements, such as those defined in (i) ENERGY STAR (Certified Homes or Multifamily High-Rise), (ii) DOE Zero Energy Ready Home; (iii) Passive House Institute Passive Building or EnerPHit certification from the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), International Passive House Association; or (iv) any other equivalent energy efficiency standard acceptable to HUD.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are 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. A list of accredited HBCUs can be found at the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are

(1) a part B institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1061(2));

(2) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1101a(5));

(3) a Tribal College or University (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3));

(4) an Alaska Native-serving institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059d(b));

(5) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059e(b)(6));

(6) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)); or https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partB-sec1061.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapV-partA-sec1101a.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059c.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059d.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059e.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf

(7) a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059f(b)(2)).

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.

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

Racial Equity is the elimination of racial disparities and is achieved when race can no longer predict opportunities, distribution of resources, or outcomes – particularly for Black and Brown persons.

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 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.

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.

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 eligibility requirements that must be met for an application to be reviewed, rated, and ranked. Threshold requirements are not curable, except for documentation of applicant eligibility, which are listed in Section III.D., Threshold Eligibility Requirements.

Similarly, there are eligibility requirements under Section III.E., Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

Underserved Communities has the meaning given to that term in Section 2(b) of Executive Order 13985 and refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the definition of “equity” above.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify entities. As of April 4, 2022, the Federal government has transitioned from the use of the DUNS https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059f.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

Number to the use of UEI, as the primary means of entity identification for Federal awards government-wide.

b. Program Definitions.

Capacity Building: Assistance which increases the ability of HUD's customers and their partners to organize and independently implement and manage affordable housing, community development, and economic development programs.

Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery TA (CDBG-DR TA): This TA increases the capacity of CDBG-DR recipients to deliver timely assistance to beneficiaries and to comply with program and cross-cutting requirements.

Community Violence Intervention (CVI) TA: TA provided to HUD customers to support HUD's CVI policy.