FR-6500-N-04 FY21 FSS NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

2021 Family Self-Sufficiency – Renewal NOFO

FR-6500-N-04

08/27/2021

Table of Contents Overview

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

B. Authority

II. Award Information

A. Available Funds

B. Number of Awards

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

D. Period of Performance

E. Type of Funding Instrument

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Ineligible Applicants

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility

F. Program-Specific Requirements

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. 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. Statutory and Administrative, National and Department Requirements for HUD Recipients

C. Reporting

D. Debriefing

VII. Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

APPENDIX

Program Office:

Public and Indian Housing Funding Opportunity Title:

2021 Family Self-Sufficiency – Renewal NOFO Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6500-N-04

Primary CFDA Number:

14.896 Due Date for Applications:

08/27/2021 Overview The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite applications from eligible applicants for the program and purpose described within this NOFO. Prospective applicants should carefully read all instructions in all sections to avoid sending an incomplete or ineligible application. HUD funding is highly competitive. Failure to respond accurately to any submission requirement could result in an incomplete or noncompetitive proposal.

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

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

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

OMB Approval Number(s):

2577-0178

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION.

A. Program Description.

1. Purpose

a. Overview. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program supports the Department’s goal of increasing economic opportunity for HUD-assisted families. FSS provides grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to support the salaries of FSS Program Coordinators who assist participating families receiving housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher

(HCV/PBV) and Public Housing (PH) programs. FSS Program Coordinators develop local strategies to connect participating families to public and private resources to increase their earned income and financial empowerment, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. In the context of HUD's Self Sufficiency pgrams, “self-sufficiency” is defined as a household’s ability to maintain financial, housing, and personal/family stability. To achieve self-sufficiency, individuals in a household move along a continuum towards economic independence and stability; such movement is facilitated by the achievement of educational, professional, health/mental health, and financial empowerment-related goals. For the FSS program, self-sufficiency is further defined as a work-able family’s ability to maintain itself free from income-based public safety net programs such as TANF, SNAP, Medicaid and housing assistance.

PHAs execute a five-year Contract of Participation with each individual participating family that incorporates the responsibilities of each party, as well as an Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP) to help the family become more self-sufficient. PHAs are not permitted to limit FSS participation to those families most likely to succeed.

On May 24, 2018, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act became Public Law No: 115-174. Section 306 of the Act amended the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the FSS program. The Act specifically changes program requirements related to program eligibility, escrow deposits, and supportive services; allows the Secretary to establish a funding formula; and extends eligibility by allowing private owners of project-based rental assistance (PBRA) properties to voluntarily make an FSS program available to their tenants.

The changes to the FSS program are not in effect until HUD issues implementing regulations. As of the date of the publication of this NOFO, the final rule has not been issued, so this NOFO does not reflect any changes from P.L. 115-174.

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

Build partnerships with employers and service providers in the community and work with the Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) and with such local service providers to ensure that FSS program participants are linked to the supportive services they need to achieve self-sufficiency, including services for participants with limited English proficiency. See Section I.A.4 of this NOFO ("Definitions") for the definition of PCC. For more information on Partnerships and Collaborations, see Notice PIH 2011-51, and for more information on partnerships between PHAs and Department of Labor Workforce Development Boards/One Stops, see "From the Ground Up: Creating Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards" at https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/14_DOL_PUBLICATION.PDF.

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

Ensure that the services included in the participants' Contracts of Participation are provided on a regular, ongoing and satisfactory basis; participants are fulfilling their https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/pih2011-51.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/14_DOL_PUBLICATION.PDF responsibilities under the Contracts; and FSS escrow accounts are established and properly maintained for eligible families.

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

Monitor the progress of participants.

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

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

The FSS Guidebook and Online training are a resource that FSS Coordinators, PCCs, PHA board members and commissioners, executive directors, senior housing staff, and other staff who may work with the FSS program can use to better serve FSS participants and run an effective FSS program. The guidebook and online training provide in-depth information about all aspects of the FSS program, drawing on evidence about "what works" and the experience of practitioners. All FSS applicants must have a representative from their agency complete the FSS training. See Section III.A.2 for more information.

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

Number of FSS families served" for more information), grantees are encouraged to serve at least 50 FSS participants per full-time coordinator position.

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

Further, grantees must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency and must also ensure effective communication and provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, to include providing all materials, notices, and communications in a manner that is effective for persons with hearing, visual and other communication-related disabilities. As an aid to recipients, HUD published Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients: Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons (LEP Guidance) in the Federal Register on January 22, 2007 (72 FR 2732). LEP guidance and LEP information is available https://www.hud.gov/strongfamilies https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FSS-Program-Guidebook.pdf https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/family-self-sufficiency-training/ here: Federal Register.

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

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

2. Changes from Previous NOFO.

Please note that this section highlights only the major changes from the previous FSS (FY 2020) NOFA. Applicants should read this entire NOFA carefully to ensure that all threshold and eligibility requirements are met (otherwise the applicant will be ineligible for funding), and that the program requirements listed in this NOFA are followed.

For THIS FY21 NOFO ONLY – ALL PHAs that were funded in FY20, FY19, or FY18 NOFOs are eligible for funding in this FY21 NOFO, even if you didn’t meet the minimum number of participants requirement, because HUD is giving all PHAs a grace year due the impacts of COVID-19.

Maximum Positions: HUD will not use 2020 PIC counts to limit your Maximum Positions. Starting in this FY21 Renewal NOFO, we are using a 3-year lookback period for determining your Maximum Positions and will use the highest number of funded https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/16/E7-4794/final-guidance-to-federal-financial-assistance-recipients-regarding-title-vi-prohibition-against positions in the eligibility period, with all part-time positions above the first position rounded up to the next highest number of full-time positions, to determine your Maximum Positions.

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

o Category 1 will be to fund you to the amount which you were last funded.

o Category 2, if applicable, will increase your part-time position above 1 full-time coordinator from a part-time position to a full-time position (from 1.5 to 2, 2.5 to 3 etc.), unless you submit a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter with this NOFO application.

o Category 3 will be to increase your funding, up to your Maximum Award or the amount of your approved Exception Request. If you request an exception, you should request the total funding request amount for all three categories. We will adjust this amount accordingly, based upon our approval of your Exception Request and availability of funds. See Appendix C and Section V.B.3.

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

Unexpended Funds: Any unexpended funds will be recaptured and used to make future grants. This was the same in FY20 but is a change from FY19 and FY18.

Target Period: The target period for this NOFO is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

The removal of the HUD form 52651 under this NOFO : This NOFO will not require the HUD-52651, as has been the case in prior FSS Renewal NOFOs. Instead, the relevant fields where HUD needs information from applicants have been indicated in the instructions in Section IV.B. and are to be completed on the SF424. This is not a change from FY20, but a reminder.

Each applicant must apply with a unique TIN and DUNS number: No more than one application will be accepted from any one TIN or DUNS number. HUD will treat multiple applications from one DUNS as duplicates and only review the last application received and validated by HUD. This is not a change, but a reminder.

Renewal Period, Baseline Positions, Maximum Positions, Baseline Funding per Position, Maximum Funding per Position, Baseline Award, Maximum Award & Exception Requests: Please see Program Definitions IV.B. or information on these terms and the process to make an Exception Request, if desired. The funding formula has changed from the FY20 NOFO, which means applicants must do the math to calculate their Maximum Award. Please pay close attention to the new definitions and allowances to request the correct amount for your PHA.

3. Definitions.

a. Standard Definitions

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

Assistance Listings means a unique number assigned to identify a Federal Assistance Listing, formerly known as the CFDA Number.

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

1) Grant;

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

3. Loans;

4. Loan guarantees;

5. Subsidies;

6. Insurance;

7. Food commodities;

8. Direct appropriations;

9. Assessed or voluntary contributions; or

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

b. Federal Financial Assistancedoes not include:

1. Technical assistance, which provides services in lieu of money; and

2. A transfer of title to federally owned property provided in lieu of money, even if the award is called a grant.

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

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

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

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

Deficiency is information missing or omitted within a submitted application. Examples of deficiencies include missing documents, information on a form, or some other type of unsatisfied information requirement (e.g., an unsigned form, unchecked box.). Depending on specific criteria, deficiencies may be either curable or non-curable.

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

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

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

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

Non-Curable Deficiencies cannot be corrected by an applicant after the submission deadline.

Non-curable deficiencies are deficiencies that, if corrected, would change an applicant’s score or rank versus other applicants. Non-curable deficiencies may result in an application being marked ineligible, or otherwise adversely affect an application’s score and final determination.

DUNS Number is the nine-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Number

System identification number assigned to a business or organization by Dun & Bradstreet and provides a means of identifying business entities on a location-specific basis. OMB removed duplicate recipients based on recipient Data Universal Number System (DUNS) numbers, from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). At this time all Federal financial assistance recipients are required to register for DUNS numbers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The instrument setting forth the terms and conditions. The instrument is the grant agreement, cooperative agreement, other agreement for assistance covered in paragraph

(2) of the definitions of Federal financial assistance in 2 CFR §200.1, or the cost-reimbursement contract awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

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

4. See also definitions of Federal financial assistance, grant agreement, and cooperative agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

The definition of "small"—in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy—varies by country and industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business according to a set of standards based on specific industries.{e-CFR Title 13-Chapter I – Part 121}

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

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=0ff5f0839abff4eec707b4478ed733c6&mc=true&node=pt13.1.121&rgn=div5&se13.1.121_1101

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

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

Unique Entity Identifier means the identifier required for SAM registration to uniquely identify business entities.

4. Program Definitions FSS Action Plan is required by FSS program regulations to be developed by PHAs and approved by HUD. An Action Plan describes the policies and procedures of the PHA for operation of a local FSS program. For a full description of the information that the Action Plan must contain, please see 24 CFR 984.201. See also, Sample FSS Action Plan Checklist.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_10-31- 19_v2.docx

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

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

Contract of Participation: See 24 CFR 984.103 for the definition and 24 CFR 984.303 for further information including the Contract term. In an effort to ease barriers to participation for new families enrolling in the FSS Program in 2022, the income and rent amounts to be used in the "Program Contract of Participation'' shall be taken from the amounts on the last certification, reexamination or interim determination before the family's initial participation in the FSS program. Note that in the FY2019 NOFO, per Congressional Directive, HUD removed the requirement to do a new rental re-exam if more than 120 days have elapsed between the last re-exam and the effective date of the Contract of Participation. This requirement is found in the instructions for the FSS Contract of Participation, form HUD-52650. The grant agreement pursuant to this NOFO will continue to remove this requirement and instruct that PHAs use the information on the last certification, reexamination or interim determination before the family's initial participation in the FSS program.

Eligible Families Funding awarded through this NOFO may be used to serve PH residents and HCV/PBV participants. The funds may be used to continue serving residents of former PH projects that converted to PBRA through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, provided the residents were enrolled in the FSS program prior to RAD conversion. PBRA https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_10-31-19_v2.docx https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FSS_Action_Plan_Review_Checklist_10-31-19_v2.docx residents not enrolled in FSS prior to a RAD conversion or PBRA residents that were not formerly PH residents are not eligible to be served by an FSS coordinator funded under this NOFO. See Section III.F.7.d "Rental Assistance Demonstration" for more information).

Renewal Period For purposes of this NOFO, this includes FY20, FY19, and FY18 new, renewal, and supplemental NOFOs.

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

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

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

Baseline Funding per Position. The Baseline Funding Per Position is based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx) for the median salary for the job title “Social Worker: Other” in your zip code (the zip code provided in your last application on record, except for state-wide PHAs, which will use the state level data), with a 40 percent allowance added for fringe. This amount is presented in Appendix C in the column titled “Baseline Funding per Position.” You may request up to 10 percent above the Baseline Fnding per Position without the need to submit an Exception Request.

Baseline Positions. Baseline Positions are the highest number of positions that you were eligible to be funded for during the renewal period. For purposes of this NOFO, we will take your highest number of positions in Appendix C for all of the FSS NOFOs we published for FY20, FY19, and FY18, including new, renewal, and supplemental NOFOs.

Maximum Positions. Maximum Positions are Baseline Positions, with all part-time positions above one position rounded up to the next full-time position (for example, 1.5 positions will round up to 2 positions, but 0.5 positions will stay at 0.5 positions).

You will be funded for your Maximum Positions unless you request fewer by submitting:

An Exception Request for fewer full-time positions (you can only request fewer full-time positions with an Exception Request), or

A Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement to maintain a part-time position above one position instead of a full-time position, if eligible http://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx?newsearch=true

Note: We only will fund full-time positions above one position (no 1.5, 2.5 etc.). This means that if you send a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement letter, you are acknowledging that you will receive the lower full position AND that you will only be funded for that full position(s) and not the additional part-time position and that your Baseline Award will be adjusted down accordingly. We will not be funding more positions than your Maximum Positions this year.

Maximum Funding per Position. The Maximum Funding Per Position is the Baseline Funding per Position plus 10 percent. This amount is NOT reflected in Appendix C. You MUST do the math. If you would like to be funded MORE than the Maximum per Position, you MUST submit an Exception Request with this application.

Baseline Award. The Baseline Award is the higher of:

1. The greatest FSS award you received during the eligibility period (for purposes of this NOFO, this includes awards from FY20, FY19, and FY18 new, renewal, and supplemental NOFOs) AKA Highest Funded

2. Your Maximum Positions multiplied by your Baseline Funding Per Position

Please Note: If you send a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement, your Baseline Award will be reduced by your part-time position lost.

Maximum Award. The Maximum Award (without an Exception Request) is the Baseline Award plus 10 percent. This amount is NOT reflected in Appendix C. You must do the math. If your request on the SF-424 exceeds your Maximum Award (or the amount in your Exception Request, if applicable), we reserve the right to request more information or make a determination.

Exception Request. Please Note: You do NOT need an Exception Request to request above the Baseline Award unless you are requesting more than your Maximum Award). If you would like to be funded for MORE than the Maximum Award, you must include with your application a letter signed by your PHA’s Executive Director explaining the need for a higher funding amount. See Section IV.B. for information on how to submit an Exception Request.

FY 2021 Appropriations Act and PIH Notice 2016-14. The FY 2021 Appropriations Act states that no tenant-based Section 8 or Section 9 funds “may be used by any public housing agency for any amount of salary, including bonuses, for the chief executive officer of which, or any other official or employee of which, that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay payable for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule ($172,500) at any time during any public housing agency fiscal year 2021.” (Section 220 of Pub. L. No. 116-260, December 27, 2020, FY 2021 Appropriations Act.)

Part-Time Loss Acknowledgement. If you have been funded for 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 etc. positions and do NOT wish to increase your funding to the next full-time position (understanding that you have been required to serve the minimum number of participants for the next full-time position for several years) you are required to submit a letter with this NOFO application acknowledging that you will receive FEWER positions (rounded DOWN to the nearest full-time position) than you have in the past (the minimum participant requirement will be reduced commensurately.)

For example, say you were eligible for 1.5 renewal positions in FY20, which is the highest among the NOFOs for the last three Fiscal Years, and you served 78 FSS participants in calendar year 2020. Because the FSS participant thresholds for 1.5 and 2 positions are the same (75-124 FSS participants), your Maximum Positions in this FY21 Renewal NOFO would be 2 positions. If you do not want to request funding for 2 positions, you may request renewal funding for just one position by submitting a Part-Time Loss Acknowledgment, which if approved would only require you to serve 25 participants. Either way, you will not be funded for

1.5 renewal positions, because it includes a part-time position above one position.

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

Target Period. The target period for this NOFO is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Please note this is different from the Period of Performance.

Period of Performance: The period of performance for this NOFO is January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022. Please note that this is different from the Target Period.

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

Number of FSS Service Coordinators Supported by PIC Data, shown in the PIC report, is determined by the number of FSS program participants in a PHA’s entire FSS program during the target period, according to the formula in Section III.F.3 of this NOFO "Eligibility Requirement: Number of FSS families served." For example, if PIC data shows that the PHA has 75 families participating in its FSS program during the NOFO's target period, then the number of FSS coordinators supported by this level of participation would be two.

Starting in this FY21 Renewal NOFO, we are using a 3-year lookback period for determining your Maximum Positions and will use the highest number of participants in any of the previous three calendar years to determine your Maximum Positions.

Note: For THIS FY21 NOFO ONLY – ALL PHAs that were funded in FY20, FY19, or FY18 NOFOs are eligible for funding in this FY21 NOFO, even if you didn’t meet the minimum number of participants requirement, because HUD is giving all PHAs a grace year due the impacts of COVID-19.

Participant to Coordinator Ratio is the ratio of the total number of active FSS participants in your FSS program during the target period, relative to the number of coordinator positions last funded by HUD as represented in the "Mximum Positions" column in the Public Housing Information Center (PIC) report (Appendix C). In other words, it is the ratio of Participants to Coordinators.

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

PIC Report shows data for the HCV and PH programs, including information about participating PHAs’ FSS programs. The PIC report is attached to this NOFO as Appendix C.

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

B. Authority.

The FSS program is authorized by Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Funding for this program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), enacted 12/27/2020.

II. Award Information.

A. Available Funds Funding of approximately $ 105,000,000 is available through this NOFO.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFO, because of HUD's efforts to recapture 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 funding restrictions contained in this NOFO.

Eligible Use of Funds

Funds awarded to PHAs under this NOFO will be used to pay the salary and fringe benefits [defined at 2 CFR 200.431(c) Compensation - fringe benefits] of full-time and part-time FSS program coordinators. You may include a training stipend in your calculation of “fringe benefits.”

The funds awarded per eligible FSS coordinator position may be used to pay for more than one staff position i.e. to job-share, meaning the funds may be spread across more than one staff position if FSS functions are shared between more positions than the number of FSS coordinators awarded. For example, two or more employees may be retained on a reduced-time basis to perform a job normally fulfilled by one funded FSS coordinator position working full-time.

See Section IV.F.2 of this NOFO "Ineligible Activities" for information on ineligible activities.

B. Number of Awards.

HUD expects to make approximately 700 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

For information on the methodology used to make award determinations under this NOFO, please see Section V.B "Review and Selection Process" below.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information Minimum and maximum total award amounts will vary depending on number of coordinators, PIC data, and amount last funded.

Estimated Total Funding:

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-sec200-431/summary

$ 105,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$ 0 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$ 0 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance Most grants made pursuant to this NOFO will run from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. However, the grant term may be modified or extended by HUD as determined necessary. The estimated project start and end dates below are only estimates. Please note that grant extensions are discouraged and will be done pursuant to 2 CFR Part 200.308.

This Period of Performance remains the same for any supplementary versions of this NOFO. Awardees will be allowed to use “pre-award costs” to cover grant eligible expenses starting 1/1/22.

Estimated Project Start Date:

01/01/2022 Estimated Project End Date:

01/01/2023 Length of Project Periods:

12-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

E. Type of Funding Instrument.

Funding Instrument Type:

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

All grantees should have already obtained access to LOCCS. Obtaining access to LOCCS requires HUD approval and can be a lengthy process. If your agency does not currently have LOCCS access, HUD encourages you to begin the process as soon as possible, in the event that your agency is awarded funds under this NOFO. Should you not get LOCCS approval in sufficient time, you could potentially face a lapse in availability of FSS program coordinator funding. For more information about gaining access to LOCCS, please visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/cfo/loccs_guidelines, or contact the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, User Support Branch at 1-877-705-7504 (toll free).

Grantees should review the eLOCCS User Guide (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=eloccs_registration_guide.pdf) for information on the steps needed to gain access to eLOCCS through HUD’s Secure Systems platform. For additional information, please contact your local field office representative, or the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, User Support Branch at 1-877-705-7504 (toll free).

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

Please be reminded that there will be no amendment to any successful applicant’s Annual Contributions Contract, and HUD’s Financial Management Center will not disburse funding increments. (These processes ended with the FY13 HCV FSS NOFA.)

III. Eligibility Information.

A. Eligible Applicants.

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

Additional Information on Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants. PHAs (including MTW PHAs) currently administering an FSS program that have met all funding requirements outlined in prior year Notice of Awards and Grant Agreements and the Terms and Conditions therein, see Appendix C.

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

the applicant was funded under any of the FY 2018, FY 2019, and/or FY 2020 FSS NOFOs; or the applicant received an FSS program through a transfer or consolidation from a PHA that was funded under the FY 2018, FY 2019, or FY 2020 NOFO.

Please Note – PHAs that have repositioned all of their Public Housing stock in which FSS participants resided and do not serve HCV FSS participants are not eligible to apply for funding under this NOFO, as, when their current funding ends, they will no longer meet the definition of “currently administering an FSS program.”

For example, your PHA has 60 PH units and no vouchers. You have 18 FSS participants. You reposition all the PH units were those 18 FSS participants live (for instance, you use RAD to convert all your family units to PBRA and all your FSS participants lived in family units.) Due to the RAD notice, you are able to continue using your FY20 FSS NOFO funding through 12/31/21. However, you no longer have a PH FSS program and you do not serve HCV FSS participants. After 12/31/21, your PHA will no longer administer an FSS program (even if you, http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/cfo/loccs_guidelines http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=eloccs_registration_guide.pdf as the PBRA owner, are serving those RAD-affected FSS participants). Thus, you are not eligible for funding under this FY21 NOFO.

2. Mandatory FSS Training. All PHAs must complete HUD's Online Training and Guidebook that provides guidance on how to develop and administer a successful FSS program. While we recommend that all FSS Coordinators take the training and familiarize themselves with the Guidebook, the requirement is that at least one person from each PHA must complete the FSS online training and submit the "get credit" form. HUD will pull a list of all individuals that have received credit for completing the training from HUD Exchange at the time of grant award. If you are not on the list generated at the time of grant award, all FSS grant funds for your PHA will be held by your Field Office until proof of course completion is submitted to your Field Office. If you have completed the training prior to the FY2021 awards, you have satisfied the requirement under this FY2021 NOFO. You are not required to submit documentation of compliance with this NOFO application.

3. Request for Review of Eligibility. If you are not listed in Appendix C, but believe you meet the eligibility criteria or are listed incorrectly, you must submit a Request for Review of Eligibility via email to fss@hud.gov. The subject line should be "2021 Review of FSS Eligibility – [PHA Name & Number].” HUD cannot guarantee the timely review of such requests if submitted less than one week prior to the application deadline.

B. Ineligible Applicants.

1. Tribe/TDHEs Eligibility: Indian Housing Authorities (IHAs) are not eligible for funding under this NOFO since the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Demonstration Act of 1996 does not allow HUD to enter into new Annual Contributions Contracts (ACCs) with IHAs after September 30, 1997.

2. New Applicants. Applicants that have not been funded in FY 2018, FY 2019, and/or FY 2020 NOFO competitions are ineligible for funding under this NOFO. Please register with Grants.gov to get updates on upcoming publications of NOFOs.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching.

This Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

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.

1. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters. Outstanding civil rights matters must be resolved before the application deadline. Applicants, who after review are confirmed to have civil rights matters unresolved at the application deadline, will be deemed ineligible. Their applications will receive no further review, will not be rated and ranked, and they will not receive funding.

a. Applicants having any of the charges, cause determinations, lawsuits, or letters of findings referenced in subparagraphs (1) – (5) that have not been resolved to HUD’s satisfaction before or on the application deadline date are ineligible for funding. Such matters include:

https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/family-self-sufficiency-training/…