fr 5900 n 05 ross program nofa 7.13.15.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators Program

FR-5900-N-05

H04396 Stamp

Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators Program

FR-5900-N-05

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 Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators Program Initial

FR-5900-N-05

14.870 August 31, 2015

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): 2577-0229

I. Funding Opportunity Description.

A. Program Description.

1. Purpose.

The purpose of the Resident Opportunity & Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinator (SC) program is to assist residents of public and Indian housing in making progress towards economic and housing self-sufficiency. To accomplish this goal, ROSS provides grant funding to eligible applicants to hire Service Coordinators to assess the needs of public and Indian housing residents and link them to supportive services that enable participants to increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. In the case of elderly/disabled residents, the Service Coordinator links participants to supportive services which enable them to age/remain in-place thereby avoiding more costly forms of care.

2. Changes from Previous NOFA.

Program Office:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Primary CFDA Number:

Due Date for Applications:

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

a. Renewal applicants: In FY2014, the renewal category was greatly expanded and consisted of two categories: a) applicants who were funded under the FY2011 ROSS-SC NOFA; and b) applicants previously funded in any year from 2008-2010 who had missed their opportunity to apply under what would have been their renewal year. Under this 2015 NOFA, the renewal category reverts to the prior standard of keeping grantees on a three-year funding cycle. Therefore, only grantees who were funded under the FY2012 NOFA will be considered renewal applicants.

b. Documentation required to be submitted with application to justify salary request. Since 2008, HUD has asked applicants to keep documentation on file demonstrating that the salary they are requesting from HUD for the ROSS-SC is comparable to local wages for similar professions. Beginning with this grant offering, HUD requires applicants to submit this documentation with their applications. Applicants must conduct wage comparability studies by contacting a minimum of three local employers who employ social workers, case managers, or other similar positions. If applicable, an applicant may use the wages it pays its own workers in these types of positions as part of its documentation. Documentation must be on the applicant's letterhead; dated between the publication date of this NOFA and the application deadline (or any amended deadline); contain the name and contact information of three local employers consulted;

corresponding wage rates for positions comparable to that of the ROSS-SC; and must be signed by the applicant’s authorized representative. If this information is not included as part of the grant submission, it will be requested during the deficiency period.

c. The NOFA specifies that all Resident Association (RA) applicants must either be a locally-incorporated nonprofit organization or a federally-designated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization by the application deadline of this NOFA.

d. New limit on RA applicants seeking to be included in the statutorily created 25% funding set-aside for qualified RA applicants to one application. If RA applicants wish to submit additional applications on behalf of other entities, such as other RAs or PHAs, they cannot avail themselves of the 25% set-aside.

e. Three ROSS-SCs per Public Housing Authority (PHA) or tribe/Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE). This NOFA explicitly limits the number of ROSS-SCs to any PHA or tribe/TDHE to three under this FY15 ROSS NOFA. Previously, the ROSS NOFAs were not clear regarding how many total ROSS-SC positions a PHA could receive in a given fiscal year through applications submitted by PHAs, RA applicants, and/or nonprofits wishing to serve a particular PHA or tribe/TDHE. The combined limit is 3 ROSS-SCs per fiscal year.

f. Inserted a description of minimum qualifications a ROSS-SC should possess. A description of qualifications was not included in past ROSS NOFAs. The qualifications described herein align with the requirements contained in prior Multifamily Service Coordinator NOFAs.

g. Clarified the Review and Selection section by explaining in more detail how the lottery system works.

h. Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Conversions. The NOFA specifies that PHAs may not apply to serve units that have been approved for RAD conversion or have already converted. Also, PHAs that are submitting RAD applications for some or all of their units, but that have not received approval, will have to withdraw their request for a ROSS grant as soon as they receive a RAD Commitment to enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (CHAP).

i. Threshold Requirements, as per the 2015 General Section, have been modified since the 2014 ROSS competition. Past Performance and Capacity of Applicant are now program requirements. All other thresholds--match; demonstrated link between partners and local need; and letters of support for nonprofit applicants--remain threshold requirements.

j. Eliminated Third Funding Category. This category was targeted to applicants with current ROSS grants that wanted to apply for additional funding to serve properties that were not being serviced by their existing ROSS grant. Under past funding competitions, there was not enough money to fund this category, so it is being eliminated. Entities funded under the FY2013 or FY2014 NOFA competitions should not apply under this FY2015 NOFA.

k. Added definition of incorporated nonprofit organization.

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. Contract Administrator is an overall grant administrator or a financial management agent (or both) that oversees the implementation of the grant and/or the financial aspects of the grant. Troubled applicants and all RA applicants are required to submit a Contract Administrator Partnership Agreement (CAPA) with their application. See "Other Requirements" under Section III.C. of this NOFA for more information about a CA.

g. Elderly person – any person 62 years of age or older.

h. Incorporated Non-profit Organization – A non-profit organization that has filed articles of incorporation with the state office (usually the Secretary of State or Attorney General) responsible for incorporations and has been granted such status and has maintained this status by complying with state requirements. Resident Association (RA) applicants who are in the process of incorporating as a non-profit organization and have not been approved of such status by the time of the application deadline will not be eligible for a ROSS grant. All incorporated non-profit RA applicants must submit evidence of their incorporated non-profit status. Please see definition of Resident Association below for more information.

i. Indian Tribe – This NOFA follows the same definition of Indian tribe as found in section 4(13) of the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA). Namely, a tribe that is a federally recognized tribe or a State recognized tribe.

(1) Federally Recognized Tribe. The term “federally recognized tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.

(2) State Recognized Tribe. In General, the term “State recognized tribe” means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community--

(i) That has been recognized as an Indian tribe by any State; and

(ii) For which an Indian Housing Authority has, before the effective date of NAHASDA entered into a contract with the Secretary pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937 (1937 Act) for housing for Indian families and has received funding pursuant to such contract within the 5-year period ending upon such effective date.

j. Lottery – HUD will make awards for the ROSS-SC program using a lottery system. A lottery for the purposes of this NOFA means a random sample selection process, without replacement, through which each applicant or application has the same probability of being chosen. Once an applicant or application is selected from the pool, it will not be reintroduced to the pool when additional selections are to be made so as to deliberately avoid selecting the same applicant or application a second time.

k. NAHASDA-Assisted Resident – A NAHASDA-eligible person who has been assisted under

NAHASDA.

l. New/Other Applicant – An applicant that has never received ROSS funding or a previously awarded ROSS grantee with no ROSS funds remaining. Note: funding from Public Housing Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is not considered ROSS funding.

m. Person with Disabilities – A person who:

(1) Has a condition defined as a disability in section 223 of the Social Security Act; or

(2) Has a developmental disability as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Bill of Rights Act.

The term “person with disabilities” does not exclude persons who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) or any conditions arising from the etiologic agent for AIDS. In addition, no individual shall be considered a person with disabilities, for purposes of eligibility for low-income housing, solely on the basis of any drug or alcohol dependence. The definition of “person with disabilities” for certain program purposes (e.g., income determination, eligibility) under 24 C.F.R.

5.403 is different from the definition of “individual with handicaps” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Where Section 504 applies, the definition of “individual with handicaps” under 24 C.F.R. 8.3 will apply.

n. PHAS Troubled – An applicant that carries a designation by HUD as “troubled” under the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) on the national PHAS Operational List of Troubled PHAs on the deadline date of the application. NOTE: In accordance with 24 CFR 902.66(a) a “high performance” or “standard performance” rating may be withheld, denied, or rescinded if fair housing/civil rights requirements are not met. Any applicant that is unsure of whether they are considered troubled by HUD should contact the Office of Public Housing in the local HUD field office/area ONAP to determine whether they are required to have a Contract Administrator Partnership agreement.

o. Project – Specific to PHAs, this term means a group of properties as defined in PIH Notice 2007-28, "Changes in the Project Numbering System and Process for Requesting Changes in Project Identifications." The term "new project number" will refer to the new project number that will be assigned

Identifications." The term "new project number" will refer to the new project number that will be assigned to each Asset Management Project (AMP). Henceforward, the terms ‘AMP,’ ‘project,’ and ‘new project number’ will be synonymous. These projects are identified in PIC with 11-digit codes. For tribes/TDHEs previously funded through the 1937 Housing Act, a project is identified by the 11-digit project code. For tribes/TDHEs funded by NAHASDA, a project is identified by an official project name. If there is not an official project name in use, please develop a unique project identifier that can be used in this application and future applications.

p. Renewal Applicant – Only applicants that were grantees funded under the FY2012 ROSS-SC NOFA qualify as renewal applicants. If an applicant is a new PHA with a new PHA identifying number and an ACC created by the consolidation of two or more divesting PHAs, the PHA's application shall be considered a renewal under this NOFA if at least one of the divesting PHAs had a ROSS Service Coordinators Program grant under the FY2012 ROSS-SC NOFA.

To view a list of grantees and projects funded under the FY12 ROSS-SC NOFA, applicants should review the “Previously Funded Development Report.” This report will be included with the ROSS-SC application materials in the “Applications Instructions” download on Grants.gov. The report will also be posted on the FY15 ROSS NOFA web page which will be accessible at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/funds avail.cfm.

If the number of ROSS-SCs for which an applicant is eligible has changed since its original application, a renewal applicant is eligible to apply only for the number of ROSS-SCs for which it is currently eligible (i.e., if the number of units has decreased, the number of SCs may have decreased also and vice versa.)

A renewal applicant may make changes from its original grant as to budget, projects served, number of SCs, serving family or elderly/disabled, partners, logic model goals, etc., and will be considered a renewal if it is a grantee applying to serve the same PHA(s) or Tribe(s) for which it was originally funded. PHAs, Tribes, and Site-based RAs applying to renew a prior ROSS-SC grant may not also apply for new funding.

q. Renewal Funding Category – The category of funding reserved for renewal applicants. Applicants in the renewal funding category have priority over applicants in the new funding category.

r. Resident Association (RA) – Includes any of the following types of resident organizations:

City-Wide Resident Councils, Intermediary Resident Organizations, Jurisdiction-Wide Resident Organizations, Regional Resident Organizations (RRO), Resident Councils (RC), Statewide Resident Organizations (SRO), Site-Based Resident Associations, and National Resident Organizations (NRO). The NOFA will use “Resident Association” or “RA” to refer to all eligible types of resident organizations.

In order to be eligible for ROSS funding, all RA applicants must have either IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (see "h" above) or be a locally-incorporated non-profit organization (see "v" below). Applicants must provide documentation with their application attesting to their non-profit or tax-exempt status.

All RA applicants must submit form HUD-52753 “Certification of Election of Resident Council Board” and must indicate their RA type on the HUD-52768 “ROSS-SC Application Form.” These forms will be included as part of the Instructions Download on grants.gov.

Per the 1937 Act, twenty-five percent of ROSS funds will be set aside for qualified RA applicants. RAs that wish to be placed in this funding set-aside may only submit one application. If an RA wishes to submit more than one application (up to three applications under the new and/or renewal funding categories), it cannot request to be placed in this funding set-aside.

See 24 CFR 964.115 for more information about the requirements that apply to RAs.

s. Resident Management Corporation (RMC) – Must consist of residents residing in public housing;

propose to enter, or have entered into a contract to conduct one or more management activities of a PHA;

and meet the characteristics outlined in 24 CFR 964.120 including being a non-profit organization that is http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm validly incorporated under the laws of the State in which it is located.

t. Service Coordinator Qualifications – Minimum qualifications for a ROSS-SC include the following:

(1) A Bachelor of Social Work or degree in Gerontology, Psychology or Counseling is preferable;

although any other completed college degree is fully acceptable. You may also consider individuals who do not have a college degree, but who have relevant work experience;

(2) Knowledge of procedures and eligibility for federal and applicable state entitlement programs;

legal liability issues relating to providing Service Coordination;

(3) For applicants proposing to serve elderly residents, the ROSS-SC should possess knowledge of the aging process, elder services, disability services, drug and alcohol use and abuse by the elderly, and mental health issues;

(4) Two to three years’ experience in social service delivery for low-income youth, adults, senior citizens and/or people with disabilities;

(5) Demonstrated working knowledge of supportive services and other resources for youth, adults, senior citizens and/or non-elderly people with disabilities available in the local area;

(6) Demonstrated ability to advocate, organize, problem-solve, and provide results for low-income families, the elderly and/or people with disabilities; and

(7) Demonstrated ability to provide communications in a manner that is effective for persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency (LEP).

u. Site-Based Resident Association (or Local Resident Association) – A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization or a locally-incorporated non-profit organization of resident councils or resident management corporations representing a specific public housing project. A site-based RA may only apply for one SC position. A maximum of three site-based RAs serving the same PHA may be funded through this NOFA.

v. Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Organization – An organization that has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS pursuant to I.R.S. 501(c)(3) before the deadline for submission of this application and is therefore exempt from federal taxation. For more information about tax-exempt status, go to www.irs.gov.

Applicants who are in the process of applying for tax-exempt status and have not received this designation from the IRS by the deadline for submission will not be eligible, but may be eligible as an incorporated nonprofit if they are a Resident Association and submit documentation attesting to having this status as of the application deadline. All tax-exempt nonprofit applicants must submit their IRS determination letter to prove their tax-exempt status and must be in compliance with IRS requirements necessary to maintain this status.

w. Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) is an entity authorized or established by one or more Indian tribes to act on behalf of each such tribe authorizing or establishing the housing entity as defined by section 4(22) of NAHASDA.

x. Tribal/TDHE Resident Group means tribal/TDHE resident groups that are democratically elected groups such as IHA-wide resident groups, area-wide resident groups, single project groups, or resident management corporations (RMCs).

y. Youth:

(1) At-risk youth. The term typically implies youth having a future with less optimal outcomes. For example, the youth may be homeless or transient; involved in drugs or alcohol; abused sexually, physically or emotionally; mentally ill; neglected at home or live in stressful family environments;

lacking social or emotional supports; or involved with delinquent peers.

(2) Transition age youth: Youth aged 16-24.

B. Authority.

ROSS is authorized under Section 34 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.1437z-6).

ROSS is governed by 24 CFR Part 964. Funding for this program is authorized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235, approved December 16, 2014).

II. Award Information.

A. Available Funds.

HUD is making available through this NOFA $34,000,000 for Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators 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.

In fiscal year 2015, HUD received a total of $45 million in congressional appropriations for the ROSS-SC program. Congress authorized a portion of these funds to be used for the services component of the Jobs-Plus program. HUD intends to set aside $9 million from the FY15 ROSS appropriations to fund activities related to supportive services under the Jobs-Plus program. HUD will also be setting aside $2 million for a competitive educational initiative which will fund education navigator positions to serve public housing children. This will leave $34 million for the ROSS program. Should funds remain after the Jobs-Plus competition, the educational initiative, or additional carryover or recaptured funds from prior ROSS appropriations become available, they will be used to make additional awards under the FY15 ROSS-SC competition.

B. Number of Awards.

HUD expects to make approximately 110 awards from the funds available under this NOFA.

The chart below shows total funding available in the past three funding cycles and how much was awarded based on the funding category. For Fiscal Year 2015, HUD estimates that approximately $3 million will be available to fund applications under the New/Other category. HUD does not anticipate being able to fund all applications in this category.

Fiscal Year Funds Available (Approximate) Resident Associations Renewal New/Other

2014 $36,000,000 $5,121,847 $25,371,805 $5,254,032

2013 $29,000,000 $3,399,653 $18,456,070 $6,574,627

2012 $35,000,000 $5,158,350 $17,387,351 $12,138,923

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information.

Minimum award amounts will vary. Applicants should only request funding that is commensurate with local wages for professions comparable to that of a ROSS-Service Coordinator. Applicants are reminded that they must submit documentation showing the results of completed salary comparability studies they have conducted to support their salary request for the ROSS-SC they wish to hire.

Estimated Total Funding: $34,000,000 Minimum Award Amount: $0 Per Project Period Maximum Award Amount: $738,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance.

Estimated Project Start Date: 11/02/2015 Estimated Project End Date: 11/01/2018 36-month project with three 12-month budget periods

Grant Extensions. Requests to extend the grant term beyond the three-year grant term must be submitted in writing to the local HUD field office or area ONAP at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the grant term. Requests must explain why the extension is necessary, what work remains to be completed, and what work and progress was accomplished to date. Extensions may be granted by the field office or area ONAP with good cause. Denials of extension requests are reserved for HUD Headquarters. Please note that grantees who receive extensions may receive unfavorable evaluations as part of reviews of future applications. Extension requests will be examined closely and are highly discouraged.

E. Type of Funding Instrument.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Subawards and subrecipients as defined in 2 CFR 200.92 are not permitted under ROSS grants.

Subcontracting within the procurement standards of 2 CFR 200 is permitted.

F. Supplementation.

Not applicable.

III. Eligibility Information.

A. Eligible Applicants.

Eligible applicants under the NOFA include:

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:

In addition to the entities indicated above, the following types of organizations are eligible applicants:

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), states tribes are eligible too.1.

Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs);2.

Newly consolidated PHAs; 3.

Public and Indian Housing Resident Associations with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status;4.

Public and Indian Housing Resident Associations with non-profit status that is validly incorporated under the laws of the State in which it is located; and

5.

501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Organizations that apply with the support of a PHA, tribe/TDHE or RA.

6.

Joint Applicants. More than one PHA/tribe/TDHE or RA may combine their eligible units and share the number of ROSS-SCs for which they are eligible together.

7.

Ineligible applicants: Individuals and for-profit organizations are ineligible for funding under this

NOFA.

EDSC Provision. PHA applicants that are currently eligible to receive annual renewal funding under the Elderly/Disabled Service Coordinator program funded from the public housing Operating

Fund for one or more Elderly/Disabled Service Coordinators (EDSC) that apply to serve elderly/disabled residents through this NOFA will forgo all future eligibility for EDSC Renewal Funding through the Operating Fund. To confirm if your PHA is affected by this EDSC provision, please see the list of PHAs that are eligible to receive EDSC funding by going to:

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=cy2015EDSCProgram.pdf. When completing your ROSS-SC application, please pay special attention to the EDSC section on the HUD form 52768 – “ROSS Service Coordinators Funding Request.”

RAD Provision. Units that have been approved for RAD conversion or units that have already converted are not eligible to be served under the ROSS-SC NOFA. PHAs that are submitting RAD applications for some or all of their units, but that have not received approval during the ROSS application period, must withdraw their request for a ROSS grant as soon as they receive a RAD Commitment to enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (CHAP).

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 requires an applicant to leverage resources through cost sharing or matching as described below.

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

The required match is 25 percent of total requested ROSS funds. Match is a threshold requirement and documentation of match is required by the submission deadline. Therefore, applicants who do not demonstrate the minimum 25 percent match will not receive further consideration for funding. Match may be cash or in-kind. Contributions may include self-sufficiency and supportive services/programs provided to participants in the ROSS-SC program. Please see the section below on threshold requirements for more information on what is necessary to satisfy the match threshold.

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:

a. Maximum Number of Applications (please see Appendix for additional information):

1. PHAs may submit only one application, under the new or renewal category.

2. Tribes/TDHEs may submit only one application, under the new or renewal category.

3. Site-based RAs may submit only one application, under the new or renewal category.

4. Non site-based RAs (i.e., city-wide, intermediary, jurisdiction-wide, state-wide, and http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=cy2015EDSCProgram.pdf http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov national) applying under the 25% RA set aside: These applicants may submit one application under the new or renewal category. NOTE: All RA applicants must submit a CAPA.

5. Non site-based RAs (i.e., city-wide, intermediary, jurisdiction-wide, state-wide, and national) not applying under the 25% RA set aside: These applicants may submit up to three applications under the new and/or renewal category. NOTE: All RA applicants must submit a CAPA.

6. Tax-exempt applicants with 501(c)(3) status: These applicants may submit up to three applications under the new and/or renewal category. Applications submitted in the renewal category must be submitted on behalf of the same organization the applicant was funded to serve in 2012.

b. Maximum Number of SCs per applicant:

1. Site-based RA applicants may only apply for one SC each.

2. The number of positions that a newly consolidated PHA may apply for shall be based on the total sum of occupied units at each divesting PHA as of September 30, 2014. The resultant new PHA must be registered as a new entity at SAM.gov.

3. Per the chart below, PHAs, tribes/TDHEs, or 501(c)(3) nonprofits applying on their behalf must base their request for SCs on the number of occupied ACC/NAHASDA-assisted units in the PHA’s/tribe/TDHE's portfolio as of September 30, 2014:

Number of PHA/tribe/TDHE Units Max # of SCs Max Grant*

50-1,000 1 $246,000

1,001-2,500 2 $492,000

2,501 or more 3 $738,000

*Applicants may only request funding that is commensurate with local wages for professions comparable to that of a ROSS-Service Coordinator. Applicants must submit documentation showing the results of completed salary comparability studies they have conducted within the past year to support their salary request for the ROSS-SC position(s).

c. Multiple Applications from 501(c)(3) Non-profit Applicants. If a non-profit applicant submits more than one application, each must be complete in and of itself and each will be evaluated independently.

Match commitments must be separate, individualized, and non-duplicated and the match letters for each application must be kept on file.

d. More than one application per project. HUD expects that all entities wishing to serve residents at a particular PHA will have coordinated their grant-seeking efforts. If more than one eligible application proposing to serve the same Project(s) is received, they will both be reviewed and, if both are deemed eligible to enter a lottery, only the first chosen in the lottery will be funded.

e. No more than three ROSS-SC positions per PHA or tribe/TDHE. In order to ensure that the greatest number of PHAs and tribes/TDHEs are served with ROSS funding, HUD is limiting the number of ROSS-SCs to three per PHA or tribe/TDHE. More than one eligible applicant per PHA or tribe/TDHE is eligible to apply and be funded provided that the combined total of ROSS-SC positions does not exceed three. Applicants should coordinate their application efforts in order to ensure that their applications do not exceed this cap.

f. Joint applications. Two or more applicants may join together to submit a joint application for proposed grant activities. However, joint applications must designate a lead applicant. The PHA (or other applicant type) listed first on the SF424 and HUD52768 will be considered the lead applicant. In addition, the lead applicant must be registered with Grants.gov and submit the application using the Grants.gov portal. Lead applicants are subject to all threshold requirements. Non-lead applicants are subject to the following threshold requirements as applicable:

1. Letter(s) of support from each PHA, tribe/TDHE, or RA to be served for 501(c)(3) non-profit applicants;

2. If applying as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit, a copy of the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt determination letter from the IRS as evidence of the organization’s tax-exempt status;

3. Threshold requirements outlined in Section III.C.2. of the FY 2015 General Section; and

4. All members of a consortium are subject to the requirements of this NOFA and the terms and conditions of the award.

NOTE 1: Applicants that are part of a joint application may not also submit separate applications as sole applicants under this NOFA.

NOTE 2: Joint applicants may combine their eligible units in order to be eligible for the ROSS-SC program. If a 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations submits one application to serve more than one PHA (or tribe/RA), a letter of support from each organization to be served is required as part of the application. Also, a Certification of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan is required for each PHA (or tribe) to be served.

g. Eligible Program Activities. Funds awarded to applicants under this NOFA may be used for:

1. Service Coordinator Functions. The role of each ROSS-SC shall be designed to meet the needs of the local community they will serve; however, below is a listing of recommended functions for a ROSS-SC:

(a) Coordinate a Local Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) with local service providers to ensure that program participants are linked to supportive services needed to achieve self-sufficiency. The SC will act as a liaison between the residents/PHA and local service providers.

(b) Market the program to residents, including residents that are single parent heads-of-household and at-risk youth and/or transition age youth.

(c) Provide general case management which includes intake, assessment, education, and referral of residents to service providers in the local community.

(d) Coordinate and oversee the delivery of services, ensuring services are provided on a regular, ongoing, and satisfactory basis.

(e) Coordinate and sponsor educational events, which may include topics relating to health care, job search seminars, life skills training, and digital literacy.

(f) Assist the PHA, tribe/TDHE, or RA to create a resident group to promote self-sufficiency efforts and/or encourage residents to build informal support networks with other residents, family, and friends.

(g) Encourage the formation of Civic Engagement and/or Self-Help Groups with residents and faith-based and/or other community-based groups if a particular need is evident. The purpose is to foster a sense of community and encourage residents’ efforts to support and assist each other in their efforts to move toward self-sufficiency or age in-place.

(h) Monitor and track the ongoing provision of services including supportive services from community agencies. Keep the case management and provider agencies up-to-date regarding the progress of individual participants. Monitor the provision of supportive services where appropriate.

(i) Track and report to HUD using the Logic Model form on the progress of residents enrolled in the program.

(j) Evaluate the overall success of the program.

h. Salary and Fringe Benefits of One or More SCs. Under this award the maximum amount HUD will contribute to a ROSS-SC’s salary and fringe benefits will not exceed $70,000 per year. Fringe benefits may include all costs associated with employment that are normally covered by your agency (e.g.

insurance, taxes, retirement contributions, etc.) and in accordance with 2 CFR 200.431. Salary comparables for your local area must be used to determine the maximum amount for which your organization is eligible to apply and must be submitted with your ROSS-SC application. Grantees must pay their ROSS-SC staff the full amount of the salary they have requested from HUD. Applicants should take into consideration both the salary and the fringe benefits for each ROSS-SC when determining how much to request in grant funds. Please see Section IV.B. of this NOFA for guidance regarding the information salary comparability submissions must contain.

i. Part-Time Service Coordinators. A part-time SC may be retained where appropriate; however, the 50-unit minimum to be served by the SC remains the same. In addition, one or more PHAs may share a full-time position if that is deemed most appropriate for an applicant’s program. More than one person may job-share a SC position so that, for example, two part-time staff people may be hired to fulfill the duties of one full-time ROSS-SC. A full-time ROSS-SC staff person may not also serve the functions of an FSS coordinator.

j. Training and Travel Related to Professional and/or Program Development. All training and associated travel for the ROSS-SC staff person must be approved by the HUD Field Office or Area ONAP prior to incurring expenses.

k. Administrative Costs. Administrative costs may be used for activities including but not limited to the list contained in Section IV.F. of this NOFA. The funds HUD awards to ROSS-SC grantees to cover administrative costs may only be used to support the ROSS program. These funds may not be used by grantees’ Central Office Cost Centers to cover other PHA costs.

l. Examples of Services to Be Coordinated. Supportive services to which residents might be connected will vary depending on residents’ needs and available community resources. However, the spectrum of services offered should be as broad and as responsive to residents’ needs as possible. PLEASE NOTE:

These services cannot be paid for using funds from this grant (except where allowed under Admin costs.)

ROSS-SCs may connect residents to organizations providing the following types of services, and the provision of these and other similar services would qualify as match. Please note that match is a threshold requirement. For more information about the match threshold, please go to Section III.C. 2.a. "Match":

1. Life-Skills Training. Life-Skills Training includes:

(a) Financial Literacy/Credit Repair/Banking and Money Management.

(b) Real Life Issues. (e.g. Information on tax forms, leases, car insurance, health insurance, long-term care insurance, etc.)

(c) Literacy training and GED preparation; Basic Education/English as a Second Language (ESOL).

(d) Mentoring.

2. Job Training, Job Search, and Placement Assistance which includes:

(a) Skills assessment of participating residents.

(b) Applying for a job. How to complete employment forms; highlighting skills employers are looking for; researching job opportunities in the area; and calculating net wages.

(c) Digital Literacy/Computer Skills Training.

(d) Soft skills training including problem-solving and other cognitive skills, oral and written communication skills, workplace norms (appropriate dress, punctuality, respectful communication, etc.), and interpersonal and teamwork skills.

(e) Resume writing.

(f) Interviewing techniques.

3. Employer Linkage and Job Placement. Working with local employers and job placement providers who design and offer training that addresses local employers’ needs, and offering a job placement program that refers trained residents to participating employers and other local area employers, including:

(a) Facilitating access to skills training and partnerships with community-based organizations to develop pathways to career-ladders.

(b) Providing information and access to green industry jobs.

(c) Providing mechanisms to ensure residents have long-term access to new employment opportunities created in the local community.

4. Provision of Professional Clothing or Uniforms related to new employment.

5. Career Advancement and Planning Programs. Career advancement and planning programs should be designed to:

(a) Set career goals.

(b) Provide strategies such as finding a strong professional mentor within an organization for which residents may be working, and focusing on the organization’s priorities.

(c) Reinforce welfare-to-work programs and focus efforts on increasing residents’ earning capacity.

Activities can include job counseling, helping residents secure better paying jobs or jobs in better work environments, preparing for work in a new job category, obtaining additional job skills, and other job-related or educational training.

(d) Working with local employers to create opportunities that combine education and skills training with jobs. Strategies that promote work-based learning can offer the most effective method for giving new workers the tools they need to move onto a career ladder and achieve upward mobility.

6. Support for Career Advancement and Long-term Economic Self-Sufficiency. Post-employment follow-up and activities to support career advancement and long-term economic self-sufficiency:

(a) Information on Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs).

(b) Housing Counseling and Homeownership readiness programs. This can include information to help residents move to market-rate rental housing and/or “pre-purchase” homeownership counseling and training. Applicants are must refer residents to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. For a list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, go to: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc /hccprof14.cfm.

(c) Information on the Earned Income Tax Credit Program, Food Stamps, Child Tax Credit Program, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, the State Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), Student Loan Interest Deduction, tribal welfare programs, and other benefit programs that can help individuals and families make a successful transition to housing and economic self-sufficiency.

(d) Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Grant Program. The VITA program is an IRS initiative designed to promote and support free tax preparation service for the underserved, in both urban and non-urban locations. Service is targeted to low-to-moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking. For more information about this program, please go to: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-VITA-Grant-Program .ROSS Service Coordinators http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-VITA-Grant-Program please go to: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-VITA-Grant-Program .ROSS Service Coordinators may:

Connect residents to local organizations serving as IRS-approved VITA sites;

Work with partners to bring VITA services on-site (to find VITA sites near you, please go to:

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep);

If appropriate, establish a VITA program.

7. After School or Summer Programs. After-school and/or summer programs for school-age children, including children with disabilities and children that have limited English proficiency, that include tutoring, remedial training, and using computers.

8. Transportation. Transportation to enable residents to participate in program activities, find and maintain employment, maintain independent living, etc.

9. Child Care. Child care to enable residents to work or participate in program activities.

10. Early Childhood Education. Early childhood education programs (to include children with disabilities and children that have limited English proficiency).

11. Parenting. Parenting Courses.

12. Nutrition. Nutrition Courses.

13. Health Care Coordination. Coordination of health care information and services including provision of information about benefits available under the Affordable Care Act, referrals to mental health providers and alcohol and other drug abuse treatment programs, and referrals to HIV/AIDS education, testing and treatment programs, where appropriate.

14. Resident Business Development.

15. Good Neighbor Programs.

16. Coordinating Services necessary for elderly or disabled residents to age-in-place.

(a) Assistance with activities of daily living for elderly/disabled residents.

(b) Meal services to meet nutritional need for elderly/disabled residents.

(c) Personal emergency response resources.

17. Disability Services Counseling.

18. Wellness Programs for Families and Seniors.

19. Resident Organization Empowerment and Capacity-building resources and training.

20. Community Safety.

21. Civic Engagement resources and training.

22. Linkages to Other Social Service Agencies. ROSS-SCs may also create and maintain linkages to other local social service agencies such as employment agencies, health departments, transportation agencies, economic/community development agencies, community colleges, recreational and cultural services, and other community organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, 4H Clubs, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

1. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-VITA-Grant-Program http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep

a. ROSS is authorized under Section 34 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.1437z-6).

b. The regulations governing the ROSS-SC program are found at 24 CFR Part 964.

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 two program thresholds for all applicants: match and demonstrated link between partners and local need. 501(c)(3) non-profit applicants that are not themselves an RA must satisfy an additional threshold requirement by submitting support letters from the organization(s) on whose behalf they are applying.

All thresholds will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Applicants must respond to each threshold requirement clearly and thoroughly by following the instructions below. If your application fails a threshold requirement, per Section V.B.3. of the FY15 General Section, HUD will not be able to ask for clarifying information or additional documentation that would allow your application to pass a threshold.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all critical information is…