fr 5900 n 04 fss nofa 6.25.2015 final.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

Family Self-Sufficiency Program

FR-5900-N-04

H04396 Stamp

FR-5900-N-04

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Funding Opportunity Description. I.

Award Information. II.

Eligibility Information.

Eligible Applicants. A.

Cost Sharing or Matching. B.

Other. C.

III.

Application and Submission Information.

Obtaining an Application Package. A.

Content and Form of Application Submission. B.

DUNS Number and SAM Registration. C.

Application Submission Dates and Times. D.

Intergovernmental Review. E.

Funding Restrictions. F.

Other Submission Requirements. G.

IV.

Application Review Information.

Criteria. A.

Review and Selection Process. B.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates. C.

V.

Award Administration Information.

Award Notices. A.

Administrative, National and Departmental Policy Requirements. B.

Reporting. C.

VI.

Agency Contact(s). VII.

Other Information. VIII.

Appendix. IX.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

Initial

FR-5900-N-04

14.896 07/27/2015

This Notice announces the availability of funding of approximately $75 million for salaries of program coordinators for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD’s) Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program.

As in FY 2014, funding for FSS coordinators that serve Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants and/or Public Housing (PH) participants will be made available under this Notice; there are no longer two separate Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) for the HCV FSS program and the PH FSS program.

This means that any applicant that submitted two separate applications in previous years (one for HCV FSS and one for PH FSS) will only submit one application this year. See Section II.A.2 of this NOFA "Combined FSS Funding Streams" for more information.

Due to the limited funding available, the Department will only fund applicants currently administering an FSS program that also meet one of the following criteria:

the applicant was funded under any of the FY 2012, FY 2013, and/or the FY 2014 FSS NOFAs; or the applicant received an FSS program through a transfer or consolidation from a Public Housing Agency (PHA) that was funded under such NOFAs.

If funding remains after all eligible applicants are funded for renewal positions (i.e., positions funded under any of the FY 2012 FY 2013, and/or the FY 2014 FSS NOFAs), funding will be made available to eligible applicants for a funding increase for part-time renewal positions that are increasing to a full-time position and for new FSS coordinator positions (positions that were not funded in FY 2012, FY 2013, or FY 2014) as described in Section V.B.1 of this NOFA "Funding Priority Categories".

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

A list of common mistakes for which applications were found ineligible or not processed in previous FSS competitions is provided as Appendix A. Please read this appendix carefully; it is intended to serve as a guide so that applicants do not repeat such mistakes under this NOFA. Please note, however, that this list of common mistakes is not intended to provide the applicant with all of the information needed to be successful in the application registration and submission process. Applicants are advised to read HUD’s FY 2015 General Section and to use the checklists, user guides, and other help features located at the System for Award Management (SAM) and Grants.gov websites.

In the FY 2014 FSS NOFA the Department announced its intent to rate and rank applicants, starting with the FY 2015 FSS NOFA, based on FSS participants' increased earned income. The Department solicited and received feedback on the proposal from several PHAs. After consideration of the comments received, the Department has determined not to implement the proposed rating and ranking factor in this FY 2015 FSS competition. However, the Department plans to further evaluate alternatives for rating and ranking

Program Office:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Primary CFDA Number:

Due Date for Applications:

http://grants.gov/ applicants, which the Department may implement starting with the FY 2016 FSS NOFA, subject to appropriations.

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

Additional Overview Information

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

2. OMB Approval Number(s): 2577-0178

I. Funding Opportunity Description.

A. Program Description.

1. Purpose.

a. Overview. The purpose of the FSS program is to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of assistance under the HCV and PH programs with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income and financial literacy, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. PHAs or tribes/Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) that administer FSS programs enter into five-year contracts with new families on an ongoing basis. The FSS contract spells out the terms and conditions governing participation and the responsibilities of both the PHA (or tribe/TDHE) and the family. As required by the FSS statute and regulations, each FSS program reflects local needs and resources. PHAs are not permitted to limit FSS participation to those families most likely to succeed because of current education level or job history.

The FSS program supports the Department’s strategic goal of utilizing housing as a platform for improving quality of life by helping HUD-assisted renters increase their economic security and self-sufficiency. The FSS program provides critical tools that can be used by communities to help families develop new skills that will lead to economic self-sufficiency. By having an FSS coordinator whose primary responsibility is to guide and connect participants to needed training and resources, FSS participants gain access to the support they need in order to achieve their self-sufficiency goals and move up the economic ladder. HUD is aware of the many variables facing FSS programs including local job markets, varying availability of services, and significant barriers to employment faced by many participants. In spite of these challenges, the majority of families begin to earn FSS escrow credits during the term of their FSS contracts based on increases in their earned income after entering the FSS program.

Many families participating in FSS have achieved stable employment which has made it possible for them to become homeowners or move to other non-assisted rental housing.

Research suggests that the FSS program helps self-selected families to secure employment, increase wages and accumulate assets. In a study conducted by HUD’s Office of Policy Development and http://www.grants.gov http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail

Research, 181 FSS participant outcomes were assessed from 2005 to 2009. The report found that during that period, program graduates were more likely to be employed and had higher incomes than non-program graduates. The average annual income for FSS graduates had increased from $19,902 to $33,390, while the average annual income of households who exited and were not FSS graduates only increased from $15,551 to $15,918. The average escrow balance of graduates in that study was $5,294, more than double the escrow balance of households who exited and were not FSS graduates. The first national evaluation of FSS conducted by HUD which covered the period from 1996-2000 revealed that the median income for FSS families increased 72 percent during participation in the FSS program, while a similar group of non-FSS participants’ median incomes increased by only 36 percent during the same period. In addition to these studies, HUD plans to complete a rigorous longitudinal evaluation by 2018 of the FSS program by controlling for self-selection, which would provide a more definitive evidence base for the program’s effectiveness.

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

(1) 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.3 of this NOFA ("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 Investment Boards/One Stops, see "From the Ground Up: Creating Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards" at https://www.workforce3one.org/view/5001417448285409284/info.

(2) Prepare an Individual Training and Services Plan for the head of the FSS family and each adult member of the FSS family who elects to participate in the FSS program.

(3) Ensure that the services included in the participants' contracts of participation are provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis; that participants are fulfilling their responsibilities under the contracts; and that FSS escrow accounts are established and properly maintained for eligible families.

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

(4) Monitor the progress of participants and evaluate the overall success of the 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 can 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 literacy tools and resources available to help HUD-assisted families enhance their financial literacy and asset building skills, please see Notice PIH 2014-26 (HA).

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 functions. While this NOFA requires at least 25 FSS participants to qualify for one full-time FSS Coordinator position (see Section III.C.4.f of this NOFA "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.

d. Outreach. Grantees are encouraged to reach out to persons with disabilities and to persons with limited English proficiency who are PH or HCV program participants and 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 on their FSS Program Coordinating Committee (PCC). Additionally, grantees are encouraged http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2011-51.pdf https://www.workforce3one.org/view/5001417448285409284/info http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2014-26.pdf to reach out to formerly homeless persons, veterans, and formerly incarcerated persons.

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, Multi-Family Service Coordinators, 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 single Program Coordinating Committee. Coordination between programs should be conducted by and between program coordinators or other program management staff.

2. Changes from Previous NOFA.

Please note that this Section highlights only the major changes from the previous FSS NOFA. Applicants should read this entire NOFA 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 NOFA are followed.

No Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Priority: under the FY 2014 FSS NOFA PHAs that had committed to provide vouchers under RAD's Choice-Mobility Commitment to the covered Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) project of a PHA or Mod Rehab owner without a voucher program were given priority for new FSS positions if funding remained after eligible FSS applicants were funded for the renewal of existing coordinator positions (positions funded under the FY 2011, FY 2012, and/or FY 2013 HCV FSS and/or PH FSS NOFA). Of 751 applicants under the FY 2014 competition, 2 applicants were found by HUD to be eligible for the RAD priority. Additionally, no PHA with RAD priority was funded for new positions due to the lack of resources. Consequently, HUD has determined to remove the RAD priority and any funding categories related to such RAD priority from this FSS NOFA. The RAD priority has also been removed from the revised RAD notice, PIH 2012-32, Rev-2 “Rental Assistance Demonstration – Final Implementation, Revision 2”.

Funding Category for Applicants Going from a Part-time Renewal Position to a Full-time Position:

a new funding category has been established for funding increases for renewal positions that are increasing from a part-time to a full-time position as described under Section V.B.1 "Funding Priority Categories" of this NOFA. Eligible applicants will be funded under this category only if funding remains after all eligible renewal coordinator positions are funded. See Section V.B.1 "Funding Priority Categories" of this NOFA for more information.

PBRA Residents: PHAs and/or PBRA owners may, as of the FY2015 appropriations law (Pub. L. No.

113-235, enacted December 16, 2014), offer enrollment in FSS to residents in projects converted to PBRA that were not enrolled in the FSS program prior to the RAD conversion and to any other residents at the project. PBRA owners that are not PHAs may implement their own FSS programs but are not eligible to compete for funding under this NOFA. PHAs awarded funds under this NOFA may serve any PBRA resident (affected by RAD or not) under their FSS programs with funds awarded under this NOFA. See Section III.C.1.d "Rental Assistance Demonstration" of this NOFA for more information.

Logic Model Reporting: in the past, grantees submitted an annual Performance Report to the area ONAP/Public Housing Director in the recipient’s local HUD field office no later than 30 days after the ending date of the one-year funding term under the applicable FSS NOFA. The annual performance report consists of the updated Logic Model (HUD_96010) and answers to the Logic Model Program Management and Evaluations Questions. The reporting period covered the one-year funding term under the applicable FSS NOFA. Under this NOFA, grantees will submit the annual Performance Report to the area ONAP/Public Housing Director in the recipient’s local HUD field office no later than January 30, 2017, unless granted an extension by HUD. The reporting period will cover the 2016 Calendar Year (1/1/2016-12/31/2016).

Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS families served: as indicated in the FY 2014 FSS NOFA, starting with the FY 2015 FSS NOFA, the number of FSS families served will be assessed based on an applicant's overall FSS program. See Section III.C.4.f "Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS families served" of this NOFA for more information.

3. Definitions.

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

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

Threshold requirements are not curable.

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

NOFA.

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

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

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

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

– Not be a threshold requirement;

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

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

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

f. Action Plan. The Action Plan describes the policies and procedures of the PHA or tribe/TDHE for operation of a local FSS program. For a full description of the information that the Action Plan must contain, please see 24 CFR 984.201.

g. Cap on Funding Amount for Renewal Positions. Means the most recent funding amount (i.e., FY 2014 FSS funding, or FY 2013 or FY 2012 PH FSS funding plus FY 2013 or FY 2012 HCV FSS funding, as applicable). If funding was prorated under such NOFAs, funding will be considered as the eligible amount before any proration. See Section IV.F.2 of this NOFA "Limitation on Funding Increases for Renewal Positions" for more information.

h. Cap on Number of Renewal Positions. Equals the most recent number of FSS program coordinator positions funded (i.e., FY 2014 FSS program coordinator positions, or FY 2013 or FY 2012 HCV FSS program coordinator positions plus FY 2013 or FY 2012 PH FSS program coordinator positions, as applicable). Please note that this cap is applicable to renewal positions, which are funded under funding category 1. See Sections IV.F.3 and III.C.4.g of this NOFA "Cap on Number of Renewal Positions" and V.B.1 “Funding Priority Categories” for more information.

i. Client-to-staff ratio. The total number of active FSS participants in the applicant's FSS program during the target period as provided by the applicant under Section IV.B.1.a of this NOFA "Documentation to Confirm the Correct Number of FSS Program Participants During the Target Period” to the number of coordinator positions last funded by HUD as represented in the "Cap on Number of Renewal Positions" column in the Public Housing Information Center (PIC) report (Appendix D).

j. Contract Administrator. Means 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.C.4.a of this NOFA "Pre-Award Accounting System Survey" and Section III.C.4.e of this NOFA "Troubled PHAs" for more information.

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

l. Eligible Families. PH program participants, HCV program participants, Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA)-assisted residents, or PBRA residents (see Section III.C.1.d "Rental Assistance Demonstration" for more information).

m. FSS Escrow Account. See 24 CFR 984.103 for the definition and 24 CFR 984.305 for further information.

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

o. Indian Tribe. The definition of Indian tribe under this NOFA shall be the same definition of Indian tribe found in Section 4 (13) of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of

1996 (NAHASDA).

p. 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 NOFA "Eligible Use of Funds" for more information.

q. Logic Model. Form HUD-96010. This form is completed by applicants annually as part of their FSS application submission. During application submission, the applicant submits the logic model with projected numbers. Projected numbers show what the applicant plans to accomplish during the reporting period. Funded programs use the Logic Model to show accomplishments against proposed outputs and outcomes as part of the annual reporting requirement. See Section IV.B.2.d of this NOFA "HUD_96010" and Section VI.C.2.a of this NOFA "Logic Model" for more information.

r. Moving to Work (MTW) PHAs. PHAs that are under MTW agreements with HUD. See Section III.C.1.a of this NOFA "Program Administration" for more information.

s. NAHASDA-assisted resident. A NAHASDA-eligible person receiving assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).

t. Number of FSS Coordinators Supported by PIC data. This number, which is shown in the PIC report, is based on the eligibility requirements discussed in Section III.C.4.f of this NOFA "Eligibility Requirement:

Number of FSS families served". As an example, if PIC shows that the PHA has 75 FSS families in its program during the NOFA's target period then the number of FSS coordinators supported by PIC would be 2.

u. Number of FSS Program Participants. The total number of eligible families (heads of household only) under an FSS contract of participation in the applicant’s FSS program during the target period. The total number of FSS families under an FSS contract of participation includes any FSS families with enrollment, progress, and exit reports during the target period.

progress, and exit reports during the target period.

v. PIC Report. A report showing PIC data for FSS programs that were funded under any of the FY 2012, FY 2013, and/or FY 2014 FSS NOFAs; or received an FSS program through a transfer or consolidation from a PHA that was funded under such NOFAs. For each listed PHA, the report shows the number of FSS program participants (as defined above) shown in PIC, the number of FSS coordinators supported by PIC data, the cap on number of renewal positions, and the cap on funding amount for renewal positions.

The PIC report also shows the number of FSS participants (as defined above) during the FY 2014 NOFA's target period as shown in PIC or the documentation submitted by the grantee during the FY 2014 competition to confirm the correct number of FSS program participants. The information on this column only applies to applicants last funded for a part-time position beyond the initial position (see Section III.C.4.f "Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS Families Served" of this NOFA). The PIC report is attached to this NOFA as Appendix D and includes both MTW and non-MTW PHAs.

Please note that the number of FSS program participants in the PIC report does not encompass the full target period range because the target period ends close to the publication of this NOFA. The target period was set in such a way so that applicants who needed to increase their number of FSS program participants to continue to be fully funded had at least a year from publication of the FY 2014 FSS NOFA to increase the number of families under an FSS contract of participation. However, it is expected that most applicants will not see an impact in their eligibility as a result, and therefore, will not need to submit documentation to correct the data in the PIC report. See Section IV.B.1.a of this NOFA "Documentation to Confirm the Correct Number of FSS Program Participants During the Target Period" for information on submission of documentation to confirm the correct numbers of FSS program participants during the target period.

w. Program Coordinating Committee. See 24 CFR 984.103 for the definition and 24 CFR 984.202 for further information.

x. Target Period. The target period 6/1/2014-5/31/2015. This is the period HUD will use to review data in PIC to verify the number of participating families applicants are serving and other relevant information.

B. Authority.

The FSS program is authorized by Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Funding for this program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2015, Pub. L. No. 113-235, enacted December 16, 2014.

II. Award Information.

A. Available Funds.

HUD is making available through this NOFA $75,000,000 for Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

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

1. Eligible Use of Funds. Funds awarded to PHAs and/or tribes/TDHEs under this NOFA may only be used to pay the salary and fringe benefits of FSS program coordinators. A part-time FSS program coordinator may be retained where appropriate. The funds for a FSS coordinator position may be used to job-share with more than one employee if FSS functions are shared (see Section I.A.3 of this NOFA

"Definitions" for the definition of job-sharing). If job-sharing, the funds may be pro-rated to more than one staff member. See Section IV.F.4 of this NOFA "Ineligible Activities" for information on ineligible activities.

2. Combined FSS Funding Streams. In the past, funding for the PH FSS and the HCV FSS programs was appropriated separately. Therefore, funding was awarded under two separate NOFAs (one for PH FSS and one for HCV FSS) and use of the funding was restricted to the applicable FSS program. FSS funding streams for the PH FSS and the HCV FSS programs were first combined under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-76, 128 Stat. 5, enacted January 17, 2014, and continue to remain combined under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2015, Pub. L. No. 113-235, enacted December 16, 2014. As a result, FY 2015 FSS funding will also be awarded through one NOFA and applicants will need to submit only one application.

Funding awarded through this NOFA may be used to serve PH and PBRA residents and HCV participants under FSS. However, PH FSS and HCV FSS funds awarded under the FY 2013 (or earlier) NOFAs are still restricted to the applicable program. This means that any PH FSS funding made available under the FY 2013 (or earlier) PH FSS NOFA that has not yet been expended by the PHA or tribe/TDHE may only be used to serve PH FSS participants. Similarly, any HCV FSS funding made available under the FY 2013 (or earlier) HCV FSS NOFA that has not yet been expended by the PHA may only be used to serve HCV FSS participants. The exception to this restriction on use of prior years' funds is described in Section III.C.1.d "Rental Assistance Demonstration" of this NOFA.

B. Number of Awards.

HUD expects to make approximately 730 awards from the funds available under this NOFA.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information.

A maximum of $69,000 is available for each full-time coordinator position funded, or a maximum of $34,500 is available for a part-time position.

However, salaries must be based on local comparables, which evidence the comparability of the requested salary to similar positions in the local jurisdiction. Salary comparables must be kept on file in the offices of the PHA or tribe/TDHE. HUD reserves the right to request the salary comparables at any time. If the PHA or tribe/TDHE does not have comparables on file, or the comparables do not support the PHA's or tribe/TDHE's request for funds under this NOFA, this could result in a recapture of funding and other sanctions.

Please note that minimum award amounts will vary. Additionally, the maximum award amount represented below is per full-time coordinator position.

Estimated Total Funding: $75,000,000 Minimum Award Amount: $0 Per Project Period Maximum Award Amount: $69,000 Per Project Period D. Period of Performance.

The grant term is generally twelve months from the expiration of the last grant awarded. However, the grant term may be modified or extended by HUD as determined necessary. Most grants made pursuant to this NOFA will run from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. The estimated project start and end dates below are only estimates, as some grantees may have a grant term that starts and ends on a different date.

Estimated Project Start Date: 01/01/2016 Estimated Project End Date: 12/31/2016

12-month project and budget period

E. Type of Funding Instrument.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Funding will be disbursed through HUD’s Line of Credit Control System (LOCCS), in accordance with each successful applicant’s executed Grant Agreement. Beginning with awards made under the FY2014 FSS competition, all FSS grantees were required to establish an account and drawdown funds utilizing LOCCS. LOCCS is HUD’s primary grant and subsidy disbursement system that disburses and tracks the payment of grant funds to grantees. Grantees must access and manage their grant funds through an internet version of LOCCS called eLOCCS. FSS funds will continue to be disbursed using this system, and in accordance with the Grant Agreement. Additional terms and requirements of the grant will be specified in the Grant Agreement.

All FY 2014 grantees should have already obtained access to LOCCS. Obtaining access to LOCCS requires HUD approval and can be a lengthy process. If your agency does not currently have LOCCS access, we encourage you to begin the process as soon as possible, in the event that your agency is awarded funds under this NOFA. Should you not get LOCCS approval in sufficient time, you could potentially face a lapse in availability of FSS program coordinator funding. For more information about gaining access to LOCCS, please visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/cfo /loccs_guidelines, or contact the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, User Support Branch at 1-877-705-7504 (toll free). Grantees should also review the eLOCCS User Guide (http://portal.hud.gov /hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=eloccs_registration_guide.pdf) for information on the steps needed to gain access to eLOCCS through HUD’s Secure Systems platform. For additional information, please contact your local field office representative, or the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, User Support Branch at 1-877-705-7504 (toll free).

When completing the LOCCS Access Authorization Form (HUD 27054), please indicate “ROSS” in section 5a (LOCSS Program Area) and “Resident Opport and Self Sufficiency” in block 5b (Program Name).

Please be reminded that there will be no amendment to any successful applicant’s Annual Contributions Contract, and HUD’s Financial Management Center will not disburse funding increments.

F. Supplementation.

Not Applicable.

III. Eligibility Information.

A. Eligible Applicants.

Eligible applicants under the NOFA include:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are PHAs (including Moving to Work (MTW) PHAs) and Indian tribes/TDHEs currently administering an FSS program, that have served at least the minimum number of families required by this NOFA (as described in Section III.C.4.f below; "Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS families served"), have met the threshold requirements of this NOFA as outlined in Section III.C.2 of this NOFA "Threshold Requirements" and have met the timely receipt requirements as outlined in Section IV.D of this NOFA "Application Submission Dates and Times".

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/cfo/loccs_guidelines http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/cfo/loccs_guidelines http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=eloccs_registration_guide.pdf http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=eloccs_registration_guide.pdf

Due to the limited funding available under this NOFA, applicants will only be eligible for funding under this NOFA if they meet one of the following criteria:

the applicant was funded under any of the FY 2012, FY 2013, and/or the FY 2014 FSS NOFAs, or the applicant received an FSS program through a transfer or consolidation from a PHA that was funded under such NOFAs.

See Appendix D for a list of applicants who meet the criteria set forth in the bullet points above.

If funding remains after all eligible applicants are funded for renewal positions (i.e., positions funded under any of the FY 2012, FY 2013, and/or FY 2014 FSS NOFAs), funding will be made available to eligible applicants for a funding increase for part-time renewal positions that are increasing to a full-time position and for new FSS coordinator positions (positions that were not funded in FY 2012, FY 2013, or FY 2014) as described in Section V.B.1 "Funding Priority Categories" of this NOFA.

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

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

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

B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

This Program does not require an applicant to leverage resources through cost sharing or matching.

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

C. Other.

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

Program specific eligibility criteria for this competition includes:

1. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements.

Please note that all grantees must administer the FSS program in accordance with the requirements listed below. An applicant's eligibility will be evaluated as described under Section III.C.4 "Other Requirements" of this NOFA.

a. Program Administration. All recipients of funding under this NOFA must administer the FSS program in accordance with HUD regulations and requirements in 24 CFR part 984 and must comply with PH and HCV program requirements, notices, and guidebooks, as applicable. This includes using a PCC to secure the necessary resources to implement and administer the FSS program. A PHA’s FSS program may share a PCC with another PHA. (See 24 CFR 984.202 for more information.)

MTW agencies must administer their FSS programs in accordance with 24 CFR part 984 unless there are provisions of their MTW Plan to the contrary. Please note that an MTW PHA that previously applied jointly with a non-MTW PHA(s) cannot transfer any of its MTW flexibilities to the non-MTW PHA(s).

The same is applicable to two or more MTW PHAs who previously applied jointly (each MTW PHA is http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov subject to its own MTW plan, and may not transfer any of the flexibilities of that plan to the other MTW

PHA).

b. FSS Program Termination Due to Reduced Funding. There are no statutory or regulatory provisions that allow for the wholesale termination of an existing FSS program. Loss of funding for the FSS coordinator position does not relieve the PHA of its contractual obligation to families already under an FSS contract.

c. Participants Moving Between PH FSS and HCV FSS. When an FSS program participant leaves the PH program and enters the HCV program or vice versa (whether through RAD or otherwise; for example, a PH FSS participant may leave PH and become an HCV participant through the PHA's HCV waiting list) the participant will no longer need a new FSS contract. However, because the PH and HCV escrows will be funded from different sources, the PHA must set up separate PH and HCV escrow accounts for the transferring program participant. This means the participant will get two checks upon graduation; one for the PH FSS escrow, and another for the HCV FSS escrow. If the participant fails to complete its FSS contract resulting in forfeiture of the FSS escrow accounts, the escrow funds revert to the program from which they came (PH or HCV).

d. Rental Assistance Demonstration. Project based voucher (PBV) Conversions: PHAs that are converting or have converted public housing units to PBV assistance through RAD are allowed to use funds under this NOFA, the FY14 combined FSS NOFA, and earlier PH FSS NOFAs or HCV FSS NOFAs to serve those PH FSS participants who live in units converted by RAD and who will as a result become HCV FSS participants. Please note that PH FSS participants whose PH assistance is converted to PBV assistance under RAD continue to be eligible for FSS after their housing is converted.

See Section 1.6(C)(5) of the RAD notice (Notice PIH 2012-32 (HA), Rev-2 for more information on continued participation in the FSS program under RAD conversions to PBV.

PBRA Conversions: PHAs that are converting or have converted public housing units to PBRA assistance through RAD are allowed to use FSS funds made available under this NOFA, the FY14 combined FSS NOFA and PH FSS funds made available under earlier PH FSS NOFAs to serve those current FSS participants who live in units converted by RAD, until such participants exit the FSS program. Please note that FSS participants whose PH assistance is converted to PBRA assistance under RAD continue to be eligible for FSS after their housing is converted.

Also, note that PHAs and/or PBRA owners may, as of the FY15 appropriations law (Pub. L. No. 113-235, enacted December 16, 2014), offer enrollment in FSS to residents in projects converted to PBRA that were not enrolled in the FSS program prior to the RAD conversion and to any other residents at the project. In addition, PHAs may offer enrollment to residents residing in non-RAD affected PBRA properties managed by the PHA or may partner with PBRA owners to offer enrollment to residents in such non-RAD affected PBRA properties. PBRA owners that are not PHAs may implement their own FSS programs but are not eligible to compete for funding under this NOFA. Please note that PHAs that convert all of their ACC units to PBRA (and thus now only administer a PBRA program) may continue to use FSS funding that was granted prior to the RAD conversion (and may partner with another PHA with an FSS program) but will only be able to apply for funding if they also administer the HCV program; they will not be eligible to apply for funding as PBRA owners.

PHAs awarded funds under this NOFA may serve any PBRA resident (affected by RAD or not) under their FSS programs with funds awarded under this NOFA. See Section 1.7(B)(4) of the RAD notice (Notice PIH 2012 -32 (HA), Rev-2. Also note that the Office of Multifamily Housing will be issuing guidance to PBRA owners, including PHAs, who want to serve PBRA residents with an FSS program.

2. Threshold Requirements.

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

There are no additional program-specific threshold requirements under this NOFA. The General Section threshold requirements can be found in Section III.C.2 of the FY 2015 General Section. Please note that where an application involves more than one entity each entity must meet the threshold requirements.

3. Compliance with Nondiscrimination and Related Requirements.

Please note that the requirements listed in Section III.C.3 of the FY 2015 General Section (“Compliance with Nondiscrimination and Other Requirements”) apply to this NOFA unless otherwise specified below.

a. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. Applicants should note that this requirement, which is listed in Section III.C.3.b of the FY 2015 General Section, has been modified under this NOFA. Section III.C.3.b of the FY 2015 General Section generally requires applicants to submit a statement (unless otherwise stated in the program NOFA) describing how it is going to carry out the proposed activities in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing in compliance with Section 808(e)(5) of the Fair Housing Act, which requires the Department to affirmatively further the purposes of the Fair Housing Act in its housing and urban development programs.

Applicants under this NOFA do not have to include a statement on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) in their application; instead, successful applicants are required to undertake the following AFFH activities:

(1) Ensure that each participant receives training and information on rights and remedies available under the federal, state, and local fair housing and civil rights laws and a copy of the housing discrimination complaint form.

(2) Ensure that each participant is instructed on how to file a fair housing complaint and given the toll-free number for the Housing Discrimination Hotline: 800-669-9777.

(3) If the family is currently living in a high poverty census tract in the PHA’s jurisdiction, ensure that the family is provided with an explanation of the advantages of moving to an area that does not have a high concentration of low-and very low-income people.

(4) Make available to all participants information on housing opportunities available throughout the region which will provide them with greater opportunities for employment, job training, highly ranked schools and varied cultural amenities, and how to access such opportunities through support organizations in the area.

(5) Seek out fair housing training that will assist the coordinator in fulfilling fair housing responsibilities.

Fair housing training may be available through the local Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agency or the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agency. A listing of FHIPs and FHAPs can be found at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners/FHIP (FHIP) and http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners /FHAP/agencies (FHAP).

NOTE: Indian tribes and TDHEs receiving assistance under NAHASDA are not required to undertake these AFFH activities.

b. Economic Opportunities for Low and Very-Low Income persons (Section 3). Applicants should note that this requirement listed at Section III.C.3.c. of the FY 2015 General Section only applies to the Public Housing program, and does not apply to the HCV program. Recipients of funding under this http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners/FHIP http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners/FHAP/agencies http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/partners/FHAP/agencies

NOFA who run a Public Housing rental assistance program must comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (Section 3), 12 U.S.C. 1701u (Economic Opportunities for Low- and Very Low-Income Persons in Connection with Assisted Projects), and the Department's regulations at 24 CFR part 135.

These requirements apply to the hiring of FSS program coordinators. The Section 3 regulations at 24 CFR part 135, subparts B and E, impose certain reporting requirements on recipients, including the submission of an annual report, using form HUD-60002 on HUD's online system at http://portal.hud.gov /hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/section3/section3.

For tribes/TDHEs, the procedures and requirements of 24 CFR Part 135 apply to the maximum extent consistent with, but not in derogation of, preferences for the benefits of Indians under §7(b) of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450e(b)).

4. Other Requirements.

This program has eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.

Please note that the requirements listed in Section III.C.4 of the FY 2015 General Section (“Other Requirements”) apply to this NOFA unless otherwise specified below.

a. Pre-Award Accounting System Survey. Applicants should note that this requirement listed at Section III.C.4.b of the FY 2015 General Section applies under this NOFA as follows: if the local HUD field office determines that the applicant does not have a financial management system that meets federal standards (per 2 CFR Part 200, subpart D), the local HUD field office may consider the applicant to be high risk (per 2 CFR 200.205). Please note that not yet having LOCCS access is not a basis for considering the applicant to be high risk. PHAs that have never used LOCCS before (e.g., HCV-only PHAs) will be required to set up an account in LOCCS prior to drawing down any funds. If the local HUD field office considers the applicant to be high risk because their financial management system does not meet federal standards, the local HUD field office may require the applicant to enter into a Recovery Agreement with the HUD field office, which may include contracting with an entity acceptable to the HUD field office to act as Contract Administrator for the program. The HUD field office will work with the grantee to put the Recovery Agreement in place prior to the funds being made available. If a Recovery Agreement is required, funding will be contingent upon execution of the Agreement. If the Recovery Agreement requires a Contract Administrator, funding cannot be disbursed until the Contract Administrator is in place, even if the Recovery Agreement has been executed.

b. Debarment and/or Suspensions. Applicants should note that this requirement, which is listed in Section III.C.4.c of the FY 2015 General Section does not apply directly to eligible applicants under this NOFA. However, no person employed by or contracted with the applicant that appears on the Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS) may be paid pursuant to funding under this NOFA. The EPLS may be accessed through the SAM website at the following address: https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1.

c. Conducting Business in Accordance with Ethical Standards/Code of Conduct. Applicants should note that this requirement listed at Section III.C.4.f of the FY 2015 General Section applies under this NOFA as follows: applicants shall continue to maintain a written code of conduct in the PHA administrative plan and/or admissions and continued occupancy policy (ACOP) that prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of gifts or gratuities, in excess of a nominal value, by any officer or employee of the PHA, or…