FR-6300-N-30.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Housing

FY19 NOFA Housing Counseling Training Grant

FR-6300-N-30

Application Due Date: 09/05/2019

FY19 NOFA Housing Counseling Training Grant

FR-6300-N-30

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description.

II. Award Information.

III. Eligibility.

A. Eligible Applicants.

B. Ineligible Applicants.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching.

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements.

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

F. Program-Specific Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries.

IV. Application and Submission Information.

A. Obtaining an Application Package.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission.

C. System for Award Management (SAM) and Dun and

Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number.

D. Application Submission Dates and Times.

E. Intergovernmental Review.

F. Funding Restrictions.

G. Other Submission Requirements.

V. Application Review Information.

A. Review Criteria.

B. Review and Selection Process.

VI. Award Administration Information.

A. Award Notices.

B. Administrative, National and Department Policy

Requirements for HUD recipients.

C. Reporting.

D. Debriefing.

VII. Agency Contacts.

VIII. Other Information.

IX. Appendix.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Program Office: Housing Funding Opportunity Title: FY19 NOFA Housing Counseling

Training Grant Announcement Type: Modification Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6300-N-30 Primary CFDA Number: 14.316 Due Date for Applications: 09/05/2019

Overview Prospective applicants should carefully read all instructions in all sections to avoid sending an incomplete or ineligible application. HUD funding is highly competitive. Failure to respond accurately to any submission requirement could result in an incomplete or noncompetitive proposal.

HUD is prohibited from disclosing 1) information regarding any applicant’s relative standing,

2) the amount of assistance requested by an applicant, and 3) any information contained in the application. Prior to the application deadline, HUD may not disclose the identity of any applicant or the number of applicants that have applied for assistance.

For Further Information Regarding this NOFA: Please direct questions regarding the specific program requirements of this Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to the office contact identified in Section VII.

OMB Approval Number(s): 2502-0567

Paperwork Reduction Act.

I. Funding Opportunity Description.

A. Program Description.

1. Purpose.

The purpose of this assistance is to continue investing in the creation and maintenance of a professional and effective housing counseling industry that is able to meaningfully assist consumers by providing them with the information they need to make informed housing choices and maximizes the impact of Federal funding appropriated for HUD’s Housing Counseling Program.

Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203 (2010), individual housing counselors participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program shall demonstrate, by written examination and certification, that they are competent in providing counseling in each of the core topics. HUD published the Final Rule for Housing Counseling:

New Certification Requirements, 81 Fed. Reg. 90,632 (2016) (codified at 24 CFR Part 214), on December 14, 2016. The Final Rule implements statutory requirements that housing counseling required under or provided in connection with all HUD programs must be provided by HUD certified agencies and HUD certified housing counselors. Section 106(e) of the HUD Act of 1968 (12 USC 1701x(e)) (Section 106) provides for six (6) Core Topics in which housing counselors must be competent. These are: Financial management; Property maintenance; Responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy; Fair housing law and requirements; Housing affordability; and Avoidance of, and responses to, rental and mortgage delinquency and avoidance of eviction and mortgage default.

HUD also acknowledges the need for more housing counselors trained in Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) default counseling. HUD recognizes the important role housing counselors can provide in helping to mitigate HECM defaults and foreclosures and decrease losses to the MMI Fund. This assistance will expand the number of agencies and counselors who can provide default counseling for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) borrowers.

Current HUD priorities also center on Disaster Preparation and Recovery. Housing Counseling agencies (HCA's) are in a unique position to help their communities prepare for and recover from a disaster. They can help their clients prepare for disasters by integrating preparedness into their counseling and education activities. Post-disaster, they can use their knowledge of local resources and programs to help clients navigate the complexities of disaster recovery resources and programs. This NOFA supports courses that provide training in the areas of disaster preparation and recovery.

HUD recognizes that counselors may specialize in specific housing counseling topics, and that counselors will need more than general housing counseling training to provide high quality services.

In summary, this NOFA provides notice of a grant program that supports the provision of both basic housing counseling training and specialized topics of training including training in the core topics for housing counselor certification, HECM default counseling and disaster preparation and recovery to help meet these perceived needs and the requirements of Section

106. This financial support will assist HCA's to increase the use of partnerships with local and state-wide organizations to provide additional place-based training on state and local issues. In addition, this support should result in an increased number of counselor training scholarships.

2. Changes from Previous NOFA.

Two-Year NOFA: One Competition Distributes Subsequent Year Funding if Available.

HUD will use the grant applications received for FY2019 and the corresponding scores and funding methodology to make awards for FY2020, subject to the availability of appropriations.

HUD will contact eligible FY2019 grantees to determine their interest in FY2020 funds if available.

Funding:

This amount will include funding to expand capacity to address and prevent HECM defaults.

Reporting:

Grantees will be required to submit a monthly report on counselors trained and courses offered with all funding. Quarterly reports will include only counselors trained and courses offered with

HUD Training Grant Funds.

Application Charts:

Added Public Reporting Information and Privacy Statement.

Added HUD number, HUD-92910.

Clarified definition and updated instructions on scholarships, columns N, O, and P in Charts A and B, to define "full scholarship" as travel (including lodging, transportation, and per diem) and tuition.

OMB published a Federal Register Notice (FRN) of the revised forms for this NOFA on June 19, 2019. The comment period closed August 5, 2019 and final approval by OMB is forthcoming. The FRN can be found at : https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-06-19 /pdf/2019-13019.pdf Changes to Rating Factors:

Rating Factor 1: Requirement to provide number of counselors since inception changed to number of counselors trained in the last three grant years, June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018 Rating Factor 3: Include narrative on actual expenditures in Rating Factor 3, Chart C – Applicants must explain expenses in excess of 10% of the overall budget that did not result in the direct provision of training services and were not supported by an approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or an indirect cost rate.

HECM Default Counseling course(s) must be included in the proposed workplan training curriculum.

The applicant must also provide a narrative identifying HECM default counseling training, include the anticipated number and type (lodging, tuition only, tuition & travel) of HECM default housing counseling scholarships that will be made available during the grant period of performance October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.

Proposed Funding Methodology:

Applications that earn a score of 75 points or more will receive a base amount, as determined by HUD. The second tier of funding will be based on the total number of scholarships awarded in FY2017 Grant Period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The third tier of funding will be based on the total number of classes provided during FY2017 Grant Period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The fourth tier of funding will be based on the proposed number of scholarships that will be made available during the grant period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 for HECM default counseling training.

3. Definitions.

a. Standard Definitions

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Regulations. Statutory obligation to affirmatively further the purposes and policies of the Fair Housing Act and guidance promulgated thereunder.

Assurances. By submitting your application, you provide assurances that, if selected to receive https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-06-19/pdf/2019-13019.pdf an award, you will comply with U.S. statutory and public policy requirements, including, but not limited to civil rights requirements.

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

Award, as used in this NOFA means a federal grant OR cooperative agreement as specified in Section II.E (Type of Funding Instrument).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a directory of the various Federal listings, projects, services and activities offering financial and non-financial assistance and benefits to the American public. CFDA Number is the unique number assigned to each program, project, service or activity listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

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

Contract means a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. The term as used in this NOFA does not include a legal instrument, even if the non-Federal entity considers it a contract, when the substance of the transaction meets the definition of a Federal award or subaward (See 2 CFR 200.22.)

Contractor means an entity receiving a contract.

Deficiency is information missing or omitted 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.). Depending on specific criteria, deficiencies may be either curable or non-curable.

Curable Deficiency – Applicants may correct a curable deficiency with timely action.

To be curable the deficiency must:

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

o not influence how an applicant is ranked or scored versus other applicants; and o be remedied within the time frame specified in the notice of deficiency.

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.

DUNS Number is the nine-digit identification number assigned to a business or organization by Dun & Bradstreet and provides a means of identifying business entities on a location-specific basis. Requests for a DUNS number can be made by visiting the Online DUNS Request Portal.

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

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) is a database that has been established to track contractor misconduct and performance.

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

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). -The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as "any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation…"

Institution of Higher Education (IHE), has the meaning given at 20 U.S.C. 1001.

Non-Federal Entity means a state, local government, Indian tribe, institution of higher education (IHE), or non-profit organization carrying out a Federal award as a recipient or sub recipient.

Nongovernmental organizations include Non-Federal entities and for-profit entities for the purpose of calculating indirect cost proposals accompanying applications submitted under this

NOFA.

Personally identifiable information (PII) means information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual. The definition of PII is not anchored to any single category of information or technology. Rather, it requires a case-by-case assessment of the specific risk that an individual can be identified. For more detail, refer to 2

CFR 200.79.

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

Opportunity Zone according to the IRS, is an “economically-distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.”

Opportunity Zones are further defined in 26 U.S.C. 1400Z.

Promotores/Promotoras are Spanish-speaking Community Health Workers who work in their communities to reduce barriers to health services and make health care systems more responsive.

Recipient means a non-Federal entity receiving an award directly from HUD to carry out an activity under a HUD program.

Section 3 Business Concern means a business concern: (1) 51 percent or more owned by Section 3 residents; (2) of which at least 30 percent of permanent, full-time employees are currently Section 3 residents, or were Section 3 residents within three years of the date of first employment with the business concern; or (3) provides evidence of a commitment to subcontract over 25 percent of the dollar award of all subcontracts to be awarded to business concerns meeting the qualifications in this definition.

Section 3 Residents means: 1) Public housing residents; or 2) Low and very-low income persons, as defined in 24 CFR 135.5, who live in the metropolitan area or non-metropolitan county where Section 3 covered assistance is expended.

Standard Form 424 (SF-424) means the government-wide forms required to apply for Application for Federal Assistance Programs, required by discretionary Federal grants and other forms of financial assistance programs. Applicants for this Federal assistance program must submit all required forms in the SF-424 Family of forms, including SF-424B. For an application under this notice to be complete, the applicant must sign and submit all required forms in the SF-424 Family.

Subaward means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal award received by the recipient. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual beneficiary of a Federal program. A subaward may be provided through any form of legal agreement, including an agreement that the pass-through entity considers a contract. The legal agreement must contain the subrecipient’s assurance of compliance with program requirements, including but not limited to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements.

Subrecipient means a non-Federal entity receiving a subaward from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a HUD program; but does not include an individual beneficiary of such program. A subrecipient may also receive other Federal awards directly from a Federal awarding agency (including HUD).

System for Award Management (SAM), is an official website of the U.S. government. SAM is a U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of Central Contractor Registry (CCR), Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Registration with Sam.gov is required for submission of applications via Grants.gov. You can access the website at Sam.gov There is no cost to use SAM.

Threshold Requirement – Threshold requirements are a type of eligibility requirement.

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

4. Program Definitions.

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agencies. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are private and public nonprofit organizations that are exempt from taxation under section 501(a) pursuant to section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1996, 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and 501(c), and approved by HUD, in accordance with HUD Handbook 7610.1 REV-5 and 24 CFR Part 214, to provide housing counseling services to clients directly, or through their affiliates or branches, and which meet the requirements set forth in this part.

Eligible Training Recipients. Recipients of training offered by Grantees under the award that are employed by housing counseling agencies participating in HUD's Housing Counseling Program.

Training Partners: Agencies and organizations that have at least two years of experience providing housing counseling training services to housing counselors employed by housing counseling agencies participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. They may be governmental agencies and/or non-profit organizations. Examples of training partners include state housing finance agencies, state, local and tribal government agencies, housing counseling coalitions and networks, housing industry associations, HUD approved housing counseling agencies and other housing industry partners.

[A1]Definition added.

[A1]Definition added.

5. Web Resources.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Regulations Code of Conduct list Do Not Pay Dun & Bradstreet Equal Participation of Faith-Based Organizations Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System FFATA Subaward Reporting System https://hudgov-my.sharepoint.com/personal/judith_a_ayersbritton_hud_gov/Documents/TNOFA/2019%20TNOFA/Departmental%20Clearance/OGC%20Comments%20Response.docx#_msoanchor_1 https://hudgov-my.sharepoint.com/personal/judith_a_ayersbritton_hud_gov/Documents/TNOFA/2019%20TNOFA/Departmental%20Clearance/OGC%20Comments%20Response.docx#_msoanchor_1 https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/affh/ https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/conduct http://donotpay.treas.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=d67b2c9e097a45629d959d63e5e4f297&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&r=SECTION&n=se24.1.5_1109 https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.fsrs.gov/

Grants.gov Healthy Homes Strategic Plan Healthy Housing Reference Manual HUD Funding Opportunities HUD’s Strategic Plan HUD Grants Limited English Proficiency NOFA webcasts Opportunity Zone Procurement of recovered materials Section 3 Business Registry State Point of Contact List System for Award Management (SAM) Uniform Relocation Act – Real Property Acquisition and Relocation Requirements USA Spending

B. Authority.

HUD's Housing Counseling Program is authorized by Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x) and Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) as amended by Subtitle D. Office of Housing Counseling of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act The Housing Counseling implementing regulations are found at 24 CFR part 214. Additional guidance is provided in the HUD Handbook 7610.1, REV-5.

II. Award Information.

A. Available Funds.

Funding of up to $2,500,000 is available through this NOFA.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFA, because of HUD's efforts to recapture unused funds, use carryover funds, or because of the availability of additional appropriated funds. Use of these funds is subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the applicable funding restrictions contained in this NOFA.

Awards are available to provide, under cooperative agreements with HUD, training activities designed to improve and standardize the quality of counseling provided by housing counselors employed by "Participating Agencies". Participating Agencies are all housing counseling and Intermediaries participating in HUD's Housing Counseling Program, including HUD-approved HCA's, Affiliates and Branches of HUD-approved Intermediaries, HUD-approved Multi-State Organizations (MSO), and State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFA).

B. Number of Awards.

https://grants.gov https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.PDF https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/housing_ref_manual_2012.pdf https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/strategicplan2014_2018 https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/limited_english_proficiency_0 https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/multimedia https://www.cdfifund.gov/Pages/Opportunity-Zones.aspx https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=91f378a1992b84880fbe5823086278fc&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1322 https://portalapps.hud.gov/Sec3BusReg/BRegistry/What https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf https://beta.sam.gov/ https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/library/relocation https://www.usaspending.gov/Pages/Default.aspx

HUD expects to make approximately 4 awards from the funds available under this NOFA.

The number of awards under this NOFA will depend on the number of eligible applicants and other factors. For information on the methodology used to make award determinations under this NOFA, please see Section V.B. Review and Selection Process below.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information.

The minimum award amount for this project is $0, with a maximum award request of $2,500,000.00.

Estimated Total Funding: $2,500,000 Minimum Award Amount: $0 Per Project Period Maximum Award Amount: $2,500,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance.

The period of performance for this project begins on October 1, 2019 and ends on September 30, 2020.

Estimated Project Start Date: 10/01/2019 Estimated Project End Date: 09/30/2020 Length of Project Periods: 12-month project period and budget period Length of Project Periods Explanation of Other: The initial period of performance for grants awarded under this program will be for a period of 12 months. For planning purposes, Applicants should assume that the period of performance is October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.

HUD expects to make approximately 4 awards from the funds available under this NOFA.

HUD may at its discretion, fund a single organization to deliver the full spectrum of activities eligible for funding, or make multiple awards under this NOFA. HUD also reserves the right to not make any awards.

E. Type of Funding Instrument.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement HUD expects to use a cooperative agreement. All awards will be made on a cost reimbursement basis in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements in 2 CFR Part 200. If an Applicant receives an award, it must comply with and must ensure that sub-recipients also comply with the above requirements.

Awards made under a Cooperative Agreement may entail significant HUD involvement including, but not limited to, the following items:

Review and approval of marketing of courses assistance Work plan changes, including but not limited to increasing the availability of remote training;

Review and approval of proposed courses, including course materials;

HUD may provide Grantees with counseling content standards Review and approval of training locations, technology and logistics. HUD reserves the right to review and approve or reject training locations, technology and logistics as well as the type of training and courses offered including review to ensure appropriate access is provided for persons with disabilities and persons with Limited English Proficiency

(LEP);

Review and approval of evaluation instruments and methodology for determining value of courses and impact;

Identifying functional needs of persons with disabilities or other population groups and outreach techniques; and

Course audit by HUD staff.

If funds are provided subject to a Cooperative Agreement, HUD may also exercise the right to have substantial involvement by conducting monitoring reviews, requesting quarterly reports, approving all proposed deliverables documented in the Applicant's Work Plan or Statement of Work (SOW), and determining whether the agency meets all certification and assurance requirements.

III. Eligibility.

A. Eligible Applicants.

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

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Non-profit organizations, other than institutions of higher education, are eligible to apply.

Applicants must be a public or private non-profit organization and must submit evidence of “tax exempt” status under section 501(a) pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 USC 501(a) and (c)(3)). Applicants must have at least two years of experience providing housing counseling training services nationwide to housing counselors employed by housing counseling agencies participating in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. Applicants are not required to be HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies.

Applicants may utilize in-house staff, sub-grant recipients, Training Partners (see definition of Training Partners in the instructions for HUD-92910 Chart E and in the definitions section of this NOFA), qualified third-party trainers, and consultants, with requisite experience and capacity. HUD strongly encourages the partnering by Grantees with SHFAs and other Training

Partners. However, only a non-profit must be designated as the primary Applicant. This NOFA is structured to encourage agencies to sub-allocate funding to Sub-Grantees or Training Partners or both. Sub-Grantees and Training Partners may include 1) SHFAs; 2) local, county or state governments; or 3) local or state housing coalitions/networks that are public or private non-profit organizations. Sub-Grantees and/or Training Partners in the third category must have “tax exempt” status under IRC section 501(a) as an entity described in IRC section 501(c)(3) [(26 USC 501(a) and (c)(3)].

As required by 2 CFR 25.200 and 24 CFR Part 5 Subpart K, all Applicants for financial assistance must have an active DUNS number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform)and have an active registration in the 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 for necessary form and content information.

All Applicants and Sub-grantees must disclose to HUD the status of active HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) audits or investigations at the time of the NOFA application submission date. At the time of application submission or thereafter, HUD may determine that Applicants are not eligible for grant funding based on its review of HUD OIG audits and investigations.

B. Ineligible Applicants.

For Profit Entities Indian Tribes Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHE) Native American Tribal Governments Individuals

C. Cost Sharing or Matching.

This Program does not require cost sharing, matching or leveraging.

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements.

Applicants who fail to meet any of the following threshold eligibility requirements will be deemed ineligible. Applications from ineligible applicants will not be evaluated.

Outstanding civil rights matters must be resolved to HUD’s satisfaction prior to grant award, provided that all applicable legal processes have been satisfied.

1. Timely Submission of Applications. – Applications submitted after the deadline stated within this NOFA that do not meet the requirements of the grace period policy will be marked late. Late applications are ineligible and will not be considered for funding. See also Section IV Application and Submission Information, part D. Application Submission Dates and Times.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov/

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants of HUD's Grants Programs.

The following requirements affect applicant eligibility. Detailed information on each requirement is posted on HUD’s Funding Opportunities Page (click here).

Outstanding Delinquent Federal Debts Debarments and/or Suspensions Pre-selection Review of Performance Sufficiency of Financial Management System False Statements Mandatory Disclosure Requirement Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities Equal Participation of Faith-Based Organizations in HUD Programs and Activities

F. Program-Specific Requirements Affecting Eligibility.

Geographic Coverage. Applicants must propose to provide the housing counseling trainings nationwide. The proposed training program must be national in scope. In addition, the proposed training program offered by or in conjunction with Training Partners must focus on state and local housing issues.

Required activities:

1. Eligible Training Recipients. Recipients of training offered by Grantees under the award must be housing counselors employed by housing counseling agencies participating in HUD's Housing Counseling Program.

2. Trainers. Trainings must be delivered by experienced trainers who have been trained in adult education and have practical experience and subject matter expertise in the specific field they are presenting. Multiple trainers can be used for a single course to fulfill these requirements.

3. Open Enrollment. Training enrollment and assistance provision must be open to all.

For example, enrollment, eligibility and scholarships may not be restricted to Affiliates or Branches of a specific Intermediary or participating housing counseling agency or conducted in a way that favors affiliates or branches of a particular organization.

4. Housing Counseling Training must not be limited to in-person, but must be offered through a variety of models, to increase ease of access and meet the preference(s) of counselors including webinars and other Internet-based training models.

Live, Internet-based, and other training modes of delivery must be accessible to persons with disabilities. Applicants may offer courses through additional modes of delivery.

5. Learning Checks. Regardless of format, training must have learning checks including a final examination that confirm a counselor's participation and measure understanding of course material and learning objectives.

6. Core Topics. The Final Rule for Housing Counseling Certification, enacted on December 14, 2016, states that individual housing counselors participating in HUD's Housing Counseling Program shall demonstrate, by written examination, that they are https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps competent in providing counseling in each of the following core topics: 1) financial management; 2) property maintenance; 3) responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy; 4) fair housing laws and requirements; 5) housing affordability; and, 6) avoidance of, and responses to, rental and mortgage delinquency and avoidance of eviction and mortgage default. The proposed work plan must describe how the six Core Topics required will be incorporated in the Applicant's proposed courses.

7. HECM Default Counseling. In order to be eligible for funding, the proposed curriculum must include one or more courses for HECM Default Housing Counseling.

8. Scholarships. The proposal must include a scholarship element, including assistance with travel, hotel, and/or tuition expenses for eligible housing counselors.

9. Underserved/Underrepresented Populations. All training programs must include a strong emphasis on effectively serving LEP, rural, lower income, persons with disabilities and other underserved/underrepresented of housing consumer populations.

Affirmative efforts must be made to ensure that existing housing counseling capacity in underserved and underrepresented housing consumer populations is preserved and expanded. To support the delivery of services in communities where English is not the primary language, the training and testing must be culturally sensitive.

Eligible Activities.

Applicants may propose to develop and implement a comprehensive and ongoing training program for housing counselors working for agencies participating in HUD's Housing Counseling Program. The training program must contain both basic and advanced training courses. Eligible activities may also include ongoing efforts to evaluate training quality and impact and assess the need for additional training.

An Applicant may propose to provide training on one or more of the training topics listed below. The proposed training curriculum must include the Core Topics identified under Section I.A. Program Description Purpose. Complete Chart B- Proposed Performance to identify those classes which include the Core Topics. Training specific to HECM default counseling must also be offered as part of the proposed training curriculum.

1. General Housing Counseling. Teach counselors the principles and applications of housing counseling from the lender's and the counselor's point of view. Review the skills and tools needed to be an effective housing counselor. Provide overviews of the industry from a national perspective, as well as information about pre- and post-purchase counseling for homeowners, delinquency, and default counseling.

2. Pre-Purchase Counseling. Train counselors in conducting results-oriented individual counseling sessions for prospective homebuyers, including financial literacy, budget analysis, developing corrective action plans and time lines for success, and facilitating progress as customers overcome obstacles and move toward mortgage-readiness. Train counselors regarding state-of-the-art software designed specifically for credit rebuilding, debt reduction, automated budgeting, and down payment savings accumulation. Use sample customer cases to identify obstacles and simulate counseling sessions. Teach counselors to give consumers more information about the true cost of living by incorporating both housing and transportation costs into measures of affordability.

Teach counselors to conduct educational seminars and advise clients regarding how to avoid predatory lenders and common lending pitfalls. Provide counselors the knowledge and tools to help borrowers avoid inflated appraisals, unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and eventually foreclosure. Train counselors to counsel potential homebuyers to get an independent home inspection before the home sale closing, and train counselors in any HUD required home inspection materials, if applicable. Train counselors on the HUD/EPA Lead Disclosure Rule (24 CFR Part 35, Sub-part A) and the Lead Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR Part 35, Sub-parts B, K and R). See the lead-safety information and guidance at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes.

;Train counselors to counsel potential homebuyers on radon and related issues. See EPA's radon guidance at: www.epa.gov/radon and HUD's at: https://www.hud.gov/healt hyhomes ; by clicking on "About Radon" (including the radon fact sheet linked from that page). Train counselors to help clients manage debt, avoid predatory lenders, avoid discriminatory loan limits and avoid mortgage default. Train counselors to educate potential homebuyers on how to recognize fair housing issues such as redlining, steering, discriminatory appraisals and discriminatory advertising practices. Train counselors to educate potential homebuyers on how to file a fair housing complaint if they suspect their rights have been violated under the Fair Housing Act. Teach counselors how to read the warning signs of debt problems and how to recognize predatory lenders, as well as identify available resources to help keep homeowners out of financial trouble. Inform counselors about HUD's Equal Access Rule and the provision of housing without regard to sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status. Assist counselors with obtaining a thorough understanding of state and federal regulations, including the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 USC 2601 et seq.) (RESPA) and the Truth in Lending Act (15 USC 1601 et seq.)

(TILA) so they are fully versed in Federal, State, and local requirements in the counseling service area

3. Training Counselors on Lending Practices and Financial Analysis. Train counselors in lending practices, analysis of financials, risk elements, and general concepts affecting conventional and government-insured mortgage loan decisions. Provide counselors with effective procedures and techniques to teach clients about financing options and how to choose appropriate loan products and features. Review case studies to illustrate the functional areas of the underwriting process, from the application to the loan sale.

4. Homebuyer Education Programs. Teach counselors how to: deliver a comprehensive homebuyer education program; use the best materials and methods to train homebuyers with regard to increasing homebuyer financial literacy; create informed consumers when shopping for a home and mortgage loan; improve one's budget and credit profiles;

encourage potential homebuyers to order an independent home inspection before home sale closing, and train counselors regarding any HUD required home inspection materials, if applicable; make homebuyers knowledgeable about the Lead Disclosure Rule for pre-1978 homes, EPA's Rehabilitation, Repair, and Paint Rule and the testing available for lead hazards, toxic mold, radon, and other conditions that affect the living environment and can add substantial costs to home owners having to address these issues after settlement; and maintaining one's home and finances after purchase.

5. Foreclosure Prevention. Train counselors on the protocol for counseling homeowners in financial distress. Address all aspects of delinquency and default, including reasons for default, ways to maximize income and reduce expenses, calculating delinquencies, https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes https://www.epa.gov/radon https://www.hud.gov/healthyhomes https://www.hud.gov/healthyhomes understanding the players in the mortgage marketplace, loss-mitigation options for FHA-insured and other loans, information about foreclosure laws and timelines, tips on effectively intervening with lenders and servicers, managing multiple mortgages or liens, and the pros and cons of mortgage loan refinancing. This training should include information on Federal and other foreclosure prevention programs, such as the Flex Modification Program, as well as how to identify and report loan scams.

6. Reverse Mortgages. Train counselors about reverse mortgages for elderly homeowners, including FHA-insured HECMs. Teach them to understand products and programs, analyze plans, compare their costs and benefits, and identify alternatives. Also, review relevant counseling skills and ethics.

7. HECM Default Counseling. Train housing counselors to work with HECM borrowers who are delinquent and/or at risk of defaulting due to unpaid property taxes, insurance, homeowner association dues, or other fees and assessments. Counselors do not need to be HECM roster counselors to perform HECM default counseling.

8. Reverse Mortgage- HUD HECM Counselor Roster Examination Preparation.

Provide counselors in-class in preparation for the HUD HECM Counselor examination.

9. Reverse Mortgage Continuing Education. Provide counselors a continuing education course that offers advanced topics on reverse mortgage counseling.

10. Non-Delinquency Post Purchase. Train counselors in how to advise individuals and conduct workshops aimed at ensuring the long-term success of new homebuyers, including home maintenance and repair, lead safety for pre-1978 homes (including EPA's Rehabilitation, Repair, and Paint Rule), financial literacy and management, insurance, and record keeping.

11. Counseling Individuals and Families that are Homeless or at Risk of Becoming Homeless. Train counselors about the various social services available to which they should be referring homeless and potentially homeless families and individuals. Provide information on Federal, state, and local homeless programs, including the Continuum of Care (COC) Program and how clients can access these programs. Share strategies on how to partner with local public service providers to ensure that clients receive attention and assistance quickly and efficiently. Review the unique characteristics of the homeless population to help counselors understand the types of financial literacy, physical, and social problems facing the families and individuals who seek their assistance.

12. Counseling on Emergency Preparedness and Recovery. Train counselors how to prepare agency and personal Emergency Preparedness Plans. Train counselors about unique circumstances faced by victims of disasters and other emergencies. Discuss Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FHA and Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that assist with recovery.

13. HUD's Housing Counseling Program Requirements. Train counselors about the requirements of HUD's Housing Counseling Program, including the reporting and delivery of homeownership counseling and education for Local Housing Counseling Agencies, National and Regional Intermediaries and SHFAs.

14. Housing Counseling Program Management. Train managers and future managers about opportunities to diversify funding sources; recruiting, managing, and retaining counseling staff; performing contract reviews and programmatic assessments; marketing to a variety of target audiences; complying with fair housing and other civil rights requirements ; maintaining focus on quality assurance and higher proficiency; increasing capacity; and efficiently managing case files utilizing a variety of time management techniques.

15. Rental Housing. Train counselors in how to educate individuals on how to secure and maintain residence in rental housing; tenant/landlord responsibilities; Lead Disclosure Rule requirements and lead safety awareness; fair housing and other civil rights requirements; state and local laws; the eviction process; budgeting; and how to access rental assistance programs, research, and use of policy and program information, such as market eviction research and eviction data to develop counseling strategies to help renters maintain their housing and avoid evictions. Teach counselors to give consumers more information about the true cost of living by incorporating both housing and transportation costs into measures of affordability. Train counselors regarding mobility counseling, (e.g., promoting strategies which result in moves to low poverty and racially diverse communities, closer to jobs, quality education, health care and other services);

outreach and recruitment of landlords, owners and developers in diverse communities of opportunity; and outreach to community organizations that can provide support to families to solicit their involvement, identify available housing, and link families to services and other support in diverse communities of opportunity.

16. Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Train housing counselors about FHA-insured financing, including minimum requirements of FHA loans, loan limits, advantages or disadvantages of FHA-insured financing, HUD Real Estate Owned (REO), FHA appraisal requirements, FHA sections 203(k), 203(b), and 203(h) forward mortgage insurance programs and HECM.

17. Fair Housing/Lending and Civil Rights. Train housing counselors how to provide households with information, counseling and/or education on housing discrimination, lending and insurance, practices and the rights and remedies available under Federal, state and local fair housing laws. Train housing counselors how to provide households with the name and contact information for local fair housing groups or government agencies that enforce fair housing laws. Train housing counselors to make persons aware of Federal, state and local accessibility requirements, as well as innovative housing design or construction to increase access for persons with disabilities. Train housing counselors on requirements to provide meaningful access to persons with LEP and effective communication with persons with disabilities. Train housing counselors on HUD requirements under HUD's Equal Access Rule, as well as protections against discrimination under state or local law. Train housing counselors on how their clients may file a housing discrimination complaint. The contact information for the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is: 1-800-669-9777 (Toll free) 1-800-927-9275 (TTY); and www.hud.gov/fairhousing. ;

18. Fair Lending and Mortgage Fraud Counseling. Train housing counselors about how to identify and counsel regarding fair lending violations and mortgage fraud, including loan documentation review. Familiarize counselors with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act, truth in lending laws, predatory lending laws, HUD's Equal Access rule, and their companion statutes and regulations as they apply to housing providers, mortgage lenders, realtors, homebuilders, public agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Train counselors to recognize lender and real estate practices that create a disparate impact on clients who are members of a protected class under the Fair Housing Act.

Train housing counselors in how to provide guidance and assistance to the client http://www.hud.gov/fairhousing regarding identifying fair lending violations, loan scams, and mortgage fraud, filing a formal complaint and pursuing a formal investigation with the appropriate authorities under these laws, for example with the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network:

https://www.preventloanscams.org/ and the HUD OIG Hotline Toll-free at: 800-347- 3735, or 800-877-8339 (TTY), Fax: 202-708-4829;

E-mail: hotline@hudoig.gov

19. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. Train counselors to provide households with information, counseling and/or education on discriminatory housing, lending, and insurance practices and the rights and remedies available under Federal, state, and local fair housing laws. Train counselors to provide households with names and contact information for local fair housing groups or government agencies that enforce fair housing laws. Train counselors to make persons aware of Federal, state and local accessibility requirements, as well as innovative housing design or construction to increase access for persons with disabilities; Train counselors to develop a system to share information about possible discrimination and, when there is information that suggests that individual or systemic violations of fair housing laws have occurred or are occurring, training housing counselors to provide this information to HUD or local Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies. Examples of information that suggest systemic discrimination include knowing of multiple clients of the same protected class who are unable to obtain housing from the same housing provider or knowing of multiple clients who allege discrimination or harassment involving the same housing provider.