FR-6800-N-29F (1).pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Policy Development and Research

HUDRD - HBCU Research Center of Excellence

FR-6800-N-29F

07/09/2024

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

B. Authority

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds

B. Number of Awards

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

D. Period of Performance

E. Type of Funding Instrument

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Ineligible Applicants

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility

F. Program-Specific Requirements

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Obtain an Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. System for Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

D. Application Submission Dates and Times

E. Intergovernmental Review

F. Funding Restrictions

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

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

C. Reporting

D. Debriefing

VII. AGENCY CONTACT(S)

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX

Program Office:

Policy Development and Research

Funding Opportunity Title:

HUDRD - HBCU Research Center of Excellence Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6800-N-29F

Assistance Listing Number:

14.506 Due Date for Applications:

07/09/2024

OVERVIEW

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

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

1) information regarding any applicant’s relative standing; 2) the amount of assistance requested by any applicant; and 3) any information contained in the application. Prior to the application deadline, HUD may not disclose the identity of any applicant or the number of applicants who have applied for assistance.

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

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. §§ 3501- 3520) (PRA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements in this NOFO. HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. This NOFO identifies the applicable OMB control number, unless the collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR Part 1320.

OMB Control Number(s):

2501-0044

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

The purpose of this NOFO is to fund research at one or more research Centers of Excellence (Centers or COEs, COE when singular) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Centers will conduct research projects on topics of strategic interest to HUD and produce research that provides evidence-based solutions to housing, community development, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-4/subpart-B https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1 economic development, or built environment challenges in underserved communities. Applicants must clearly specify proposed research projects and how they fill key knowledge and evidence gaps, describe their capacity to successfully conduct the proposed research and disseminate their findings to policymakers and other key stakeholders, and detail plans for developing and sustaining a Center of Excellence.

Through this NOFO, HUD is seeking HBCUs with demonstrated capacity to conduct rigorous and policy-relevant research, develop actionable policy recommendations, and share findings with policymakers, community organizations and other key stakeholders able to implement policy and programmatic solutions to challenges in underserved communities. We encourage applicants to propose building on their demonstrated experience to do something new and innovative. We encourage the submission of proposals that draw on novel research approaches, including big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence; community-engaged and participatory research; and novel partnerships such as academic consortia and collaboration with other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), other Institutions of Higher Education, community-based organizations, or other federal, state and local government agencies. Partners can include subrecipients. Competitive applications will include action and sustainability plans, creative partnerships and collaboration models, multidisciplinary and holistic methodologies, and new or enhanced theory of change models designed to achieve transformative outcomes.

HUD anticipates awarding up to four awards ranging from $1 million to $4 million. Using the funds made available through this NOFO, recipients will undertake multiple research projects.

Research Projects: The research projects proposed by the applicant must be on topics of strategic interest to HUD that address challenges related to housing, community development, economic development, or the built environment in underserved communities. These topics may be from HUD’s 2022-26 Learning Agenda, which identifies HUD’s priority learning and research questions, consistent with the Departmental objectives and goals described in HUD’s 2022-26 Strategic Plan.

Other topics of strategic interest to HUD include:

• equity issues in local housing markets, broadly defined to include production and preservation, rental and homeownership, tenant protections, fair housing, zoning and land use, property appraisals, and property taxation;

• promoting housing stability and preventing people from experiencing homelessness;

• improvements and innovations in building codes, planning methods and construction technologies to address housing and community development needs and improve environmental sustainability and climate resilience;

• “green” or energy-efficient practices in housing and carbon reduction strategies;

• disaster preparedness and disaster recovery;

• leveraging technology to address housing, community development, and economic development needs, improve the built environment, or create wealth-building opportunities in historically underserved communities;

• innovative solutions that allow residents of HUD-assisted rental housing and other low-income renters to access economic opportunities, quality education, affordable transportation, health care, essential services, green space, and cultural amenities;

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/HUD-Learning-Agenda.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/CFO/documents/FY2022-2026HUDStrategicPlan.pdf

• housing and community planning that addresses the needs of and engages underserved communities.

HUD is particularly interested in research to both better understand and eliminate disparities in laws and policies, and in public and private institutions, that may deny equal housing and community-building opportunities to individuals and families in underserved communities, and support policy solutions to address these disparities and that can be applied to a wide variety of communities. Research should relate to a long-term goal (e.g., improving minority homeownership). Given the range of possible research topics, the research funded by this NOFO has the potential to address almost all of the goals and objectives in HUD’s Strategic Plan.

The proposed research should apply new and context-specific approaches and methods to studying challenges faced by underserved communities in urban or rural areas. Applicants should also describe how the proposed research would fill key knowledge and evidence gaps and how they plan to share findings with policymakers, community organizations and other key stakeholders able to implement policy and programmatic solutions to challenges in underserved communities. Applicants may wish to review previously approved published research to avoid duplication and illustrate what completed HUD research studies look like.

Center of Excellence: The research Centers of Excellence (COEs) shall conduct rigorous and actionable research focused on housing, community development, economic development, and the built environment in underserved communities. COEs should take a multidisciplinary approach to the research and use innovative methods. Ultimately, the purpose of a COE will be to support evidence-based, data-driven, and community-informed policymaking and program improvements at the local, state, and national levels.

The COE will serve as a platform for the formulation, analysis, and dissemination of innovative, evidence-based solutions to address problems confronting underserved communities. The COE will perform academic research, hold expert convenings, and conduct related activities designed to advance understanding of economic and social factors that affect communities, including housing, economic and workforce development, health and health care, education, civic engagement, public safety, and other dimensions of community health. Through academic programs, research projects, and thought leadership, the COE will help leaders across all levels of government, as well as the business and civic sectors, address critical issues that impact the social and economic well-being of the families and individuals who reside in underserved communities.

Applicants are encouraged to consider and apply lessons from the experiences of and research produced at COEs at HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) funded through past HUD grants, as well as other university-based housing research centers.

The awardee will be required to develop and submit a detailed plan for the development and long-term sustainability (beyond 5 years) of a Center of Excellence to continue the work started under this NOFO and serve as a leader in researching issues related to housing, community development, economic development, and the built environment in underserved communities.

Eligible Activities

Awardees can use funds to conduct research projects on topics described in this NOFO and in their application that will contribute to the development of a sustainable research Center of https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/pdrpubli.html

Excellence. Funds can be used for a variety of research activities, including articulating research questions, establishing and implementing appropriate data analysis, communicating and sharing research findings, and producing informational tools and resources that improve practice.

Center of Excellence does not refer to physical entities; HUD will not fund buildings or the rental and/or maintenance of office space. Funds may not be used for construction or other construction related activities, or for the purchase or lease of real property, or for the purchase of equipment.

Deliverables

At a minimum, HUD expects each award recipient to produce the following deliverables during the 36-month performance period.

1. Management and Work Plan (MWP) that outlines the overall strategy for completing the research within the budget and timeframe allotted. It will describe activities to be undertaken, assign staff, and provide a schedule of key tasks.

2. Research Design describing the methodology that will be used to complete the proposed research, including collection, management, and analysis of data.

3. Quality Control Plan that addresses all potential points of a lapse in quality control.

4. Detailed plan for the establishment, sustainability, and ongoing financial stability of the

Center of Excellence.

5. Quarterly Progress Reports that document activities completed in the most recent reporting period, planned activities for the upcoming reporting period, and budget expenditures by line item (including hours worked for specific staff). Progress reports must be submitted quarterly and shall be aligned with the submission of the draw down requests, by which grantees receive reimbursement.

6. Research Policy Papers related to multiple research projects funded by the award.

7. Final Report that summarizes the entire work, achievements, and findings conducted under the NOFO award. The report format and style requirements are provided at PD&R Style Guide for Reports.

The Government Technical Representative (GTR) and/or other HUD staff as identified by the GTR will have substantial involvement in this grant and work closely with the awardee on defining these deliverables. HUD staff shall have an opportunity to review and comment on these deliverables to ensure they meet the project objectives. The specific times for submission, review, and resubmission are contained in the Cooperative Agreement.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

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

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

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/About/style-guide-for-reports.pdf https://www.huduser.gov/portal/About/style-guide-for-reports.pdf https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

Purpose. The description of the purpose of the program is revised to identify current HUD research priorities.

Rating factors. The rating factors are revised to ensure the research projects are fully described and the research experience relates to the proposed research projects.

Racial Equity and Civil Rights narratives. Applicants are required to provide narratives, no longer than 2 pages each, addressing Advancing Racial Equity, Experience Promoting Racial Equity, and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

4. Definitions

a. Standard Definitions

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

The duty to affirmatively further fair housing extends to all program participant’s activities and programs relating to housing and urban development.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Curable Deficiency is missing or incomplete application information that may be corrected by the applicant with timely action. To be curable, the deficiency must:

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

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

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

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

E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) is an individual associated with the applicant organization who is responsible for the administration and management of award activities for the applicant organization. The E-Biz POC is likely to be an organization's chief financial officer or authorizing official. The E-Biz POC authorizes representatives of their organization to apply on behalf of the organization (see Authorized Organization Representative definition). There can only be one E-Biz POC per unique entity identifier (see definition of Unique Entity Identifier below).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

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

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

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

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

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

(1)

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

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

(2) The instrument setting forth the terms and conditions. The instrument is the grant agreement, cooperative agreement, other agreement for assistance covered in paragraph (2) of the definitions of Federal financial assistance in 2 CFR 200.1, and this NOFO, or the cost-reimbursement contract awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

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

(4) See also definitions of Federal financial assistance, grant agreement, and cooperative agreement in 2 CFR 200.1.

Federal Financial Assistance has the same meaning defined at 2 CFR 200.1.

Grants.gov is the website serving as the Federal government’s central portal for searching and applying for Federal financial assistance throughout the Federal government. Registration on https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-58/subpart-A/section-58.5 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-50/subpart-A/section-50.4 https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12898.pdf https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/regulations https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

Grants.gov is required for submission of applications to prospective agencies unless otherwise specified in this NOFO.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation. A list of accredited HBCUs can be found at the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are

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

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

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

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

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

(6) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)); or

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

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

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

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

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

Resilience is a community’s ability to minimize damage and recover quickly from natural disasters, extreme weather events, and other changing climate conditions.

Small business is defined as a privately-owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that has fewer employees and less annual revenue than regular-sized business. The definition of “small”—in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy—varies by country and industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business according to a set of standards based on specific industries. See 13 CFR part 121.

https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partB-sec1061.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapV-partA-sec1101a.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059c.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title20/pdf/USCODE-2015-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059d.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059e.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059g.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title20/pdf/USCODE-2020-title20-chap28-subchapIII-partA-sec1059f.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) means the identifier assigned by SAM to uniquely identify entities. As of April 4, 2022, the Federal government has transitioned from the use of the DUNS Number to the use of UEI, as the primary means of entity identification for Federal awards government-wide.

b. Program Definitions.

Program theory: A program theory or logic model explains how the activities of an intervention are understood to contribute to a chain of results that produces intended or actual impacts.

Theory of change: Theory of change is a comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context. It is focused on mapping out or “filling in” what has been described as the “missing middle” between what a program or change initiative does (its activities or interventions) and how these lead to desired goals being achieved.

B. Authority This program is authorized by Sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §1701z-1 and §1701z-2) and funding is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022).

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds Funding of approximately $5,000,000 is available through this NOFO.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFO consistent with VI.A.2.e., Adjustments to Funding. Use of these funds is subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the funding restrictions contained in this NOFO.

B. Number of Awards HUD expects to make approximately 4 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

HUD intends to make up to four awards totaling $5,000,000 (maximum $4,000,000 and no less than $1,000,000 for each award) to conduct research projects under this program NOFO.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

Estimated Total Funding:

$5,000,000 Minimum Award Amount:

$1,000,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$4,000,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance

Estimated Project Start Date:

09/30/2024 Estimated Project End Date:

09/29/2027 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

Not applicable

E. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement)

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants 06 (Public and State controlled institutions of higher education)

20 (Private institutions of higher education)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Additional Information on Eligibility Applicant must be an HBCU to be eligible.

Current HBCU COE awardees are eligible to apply.

Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Faith-based organizations

(1) Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at 24 CFR part 5.109, and subject to the protections and requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb et seq., HUD will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization based on the organization’s religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

(2) A faith-based organization that participates in this program will retain its independence and may continue to carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom and conscience protections in Federal law, including the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 238n, 42 U.S.C. § 18113, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2€, 42 U.S.C. § 12113(d), and the Weldon Amendment, among others.

Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws, particularly under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

(3) A faith-based organization may not use direct financial assistance from HUD to support or engage in any explicitly religious activities except where consistent with the Establishment Clause and any other applicable requirements. Such an organization also may not, in providing services funded by HUD, discriminate against a beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice.

B. Ineligible Applicants Any institution that is not an accredited HBCU as defined in the Definitions section is ineligible to be an applicant.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching This Program does not require cost sharing or matching, but provides points based on leverage, as described below.

As described in Rating Factor 4, in Section V.A., an applicant that plans to leverage funds or resources (including in-kind contributions) from other organizations may receive up to 5 points.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-5#p-5.109

D. Threshold Eligibility Requirements Applicants who fail to meet any of the following threshold eligibility requirements are deemed ineligible. Applications from ineligible applicants are not rated or ranked and will not receive HUD funding.

1. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters

Outstanding civil rights matters must be resolved before the application submission deadline.

Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible.

Applications from ineligible applicants are not rated or ranked and will not receive HUD funding.

a. An applicant is ineligible for funding if the applicant has any of the charges, cause determinations, lawsuits, or letters of findings referenced in subparagraphs (1) – (5) that are not resolved to HUD’s satisfaction before or on the application deadline date for this NOFO.

(1) Charges from HUD concerning a systemic violation of the Fair Housing Act or receipt of a cause determination from a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing agency concerning a systemic violation of a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing law proscribing discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, disability or familial status;

(2) Status as a defendant in a Fair Housing Act lawsuit filed by the United States alleging a pattern or practice of discrimination or denial of rights to a group of persons raising an issue of general public importance under 42 U.S.C. § 3614(a);

(3) Status as a defendant in any other lawsuit filed or joined by the Department of Justice, or in which the Department of Justice has intervened, or filed an amicus brief or statement of interest, alleging a pattern or practice or systemic violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Violence Against Women Act, or a claim under the False Claims Act related to fair housing, non-discrimination, or civil rights generally including an alleged failure to affirmatively further fair housing;

(4) Receipt of a letter of findings identifying systemic non-compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; Violence Against Women Act; or the Americans with Disabilities Act; or

(5) Receipt of a cause determination from a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing agency concerning a systemic violation of provisions of a state or local law prohibiting discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or lawful source of income.

b. HUD will determine if actions to resolve the charge, cause determination, lawsuit, or letter of findings taken before the application deadline date will resolve the matter. Examples of actions that may be sufficient to resolve the matter include, but are not limited to:

(1) Current compliance with a voluntary compliance agreement signed by all the parties;

(2) Current compliance with a HUD-approved conciliation agreement signed by all the parties;

(3) Current compliance with a conciliation agreement signed by all the parties and approved by the state governmental or local administrative agency with jurisdiction over the matter;

(4) Current compliance with a consent order or consent decree;

(5) Current compliance with a final judicial ruling or administrative ruling or decision; or

(6) Dismissal of charges.

2. Timely Submission of Applications

Applications submitted after the deadline stated within this NOFO that do not meet the requirements of the grace period policy are marked late. Late applications are ineligible and are not considered for funding. See Section IV. D. Application Submission Dates and Times.

E. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility Eligibility Requirements for Applicants of HUD’s Financial Assistance Programs The following requirements affect applicant eligibility. Detailed information on each requirement is found in the “Eligibility Requirements for Applicants of HUD’s Competitive Programs” document on HUD’s Funding Opportunities page. Applicants who fail to meet any of these eligibility requirements are deemed ineligible to receive HUD funding.

1. Universal Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Requirements

2. Outstanding Delinquent Federal Debts

3. Debarments or Suspensions, or both

4. Mandatory Disclosure Requirement

5. Pre-selection Review of Performance

6. Sufficiency of Financial Management System

7. False Statements

8. Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities

In addition, each applicant under this NOFO must have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the Award Term in Appendix A of 2 CFR part 170 if the applicant receives an award, unless an exception applies as provided in 2 CFR170.110.

F. Program-Specific Requirements Advancing Racial Equity In accordance with Executive Order 13985, Executive Order 14091, Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, and Federal fair housing and civil rights laws, your application must address the following:

▪ You analyzed the racial composition of the persons or households who are expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, from your proposed award activities;

▪ You identified any potential barriers to persons or communities of color equitably benefiting from your proposed award activities;

▪ You detailed the steps you will take to prevent, reduce, or eliminate these barriers; and https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fy24eligibility https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fy24eligibility https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%20170 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170/subpart-A/section-170.110 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

▪ You have measures in place to track your progress and evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts to advance racial equity in your award activities.

Note that any actions taken in furtherance of this section must be consistent with Federal nondiscrimination requirements.

This narrative is required and must address the four bullets outlined in the paragraph above.

Applicants will submit this narrative according to the instructions in Section IV.B. This narrative will be evaluated for sufficiency and will not change the applicant’s score or rank as compared to other applicants. If the narrative is deemed insufficient, it will be a “Curable Deficiency” that will be communicated to the applicant for correction with a notice of deficiency.

The narrative shall be a maximum of two pages.

Experience Promoting Racial Equity In accordance with Executive Order 13985, Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Executive Order 14091, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and Federal fair housing and civil rights laws, your application must demonstrate that the applicant has the experience and/or the resources to effectively address the needs of underserved communities, particularly Black and Brown communities. This may include experience successfully working directly with such groups, experience designing or operating programs that equitably benefit such groups, or experience successfully advancing racial equity in other ways. This may also include experience soliciting, obtaining, and applying input from such groups when designing, planning, or implementing programs and activities.

This narrative is required and must address the issues outlined in the paragraph above.

Applicants will submit this narrative according to the instructions in Section IV.B. This narrative will be evaluated for sufficiency and will not change the applicant’s score or rank as compared to other applicants. If the narrative is deemed insufficient, it will be a “Curable Deficiency” that will be communicated to the applicant for correction with a notice of deficiency.

The narrative shall be a maximum of two pages.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing With some exceptions for Federally recognized Indian tribes and their instrumentalities, the application must discuss how the applicant will carry out the proposed activities in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing in compliance with the Fair Housing Act and its implementing regulations and how applicants will meet the requirements of the definition of affirmatively furthering fair housing at 24 CFR 5.151. If the applicant will carry out proposed activities with an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), the proposed activities should be consistent with the AFH’s fair housing goals and with fair housing strategies specified in the jurisdiction’s Consolidated Plan or Public Housing Agency Plan.

Applicants must address this requirement by submitting a written narrative which describes how their proposed NOFO activities are aligned with the requirement to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH). Specifically, applicants should describe how their proposed NOFO activities will meaningfully: (1) address significant disparities based on protected class in unmet housing needs (2) address disparities based on protected class in access to opportunity (3) address segregation and promoting integration (4) transform racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into well-resourced areas of opportunity without displacing existing residents, and/or (5) foster and maintain compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws]. If the narrative is deemed insufficient, it will be a “Curable Deficiency” that will be communicated to the applicant for correction with a notice of deficiency.

The narrative shall be a maximum of two pages.

G. Criteria for Beneficiaries.

Not applicable

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Obtain an Application Package Instructions for Applicants All application materials, including the Application Instructions and Application Package, are available through Grants.gov. You must access and review all available application materials.

You must submit your application electronically via Grants.gov under the Funding Opportunity Number cited within this NOFO. Your application must list the applicable Funding Opportunity Number.

You can request a waiver from the requirement for electronic submission, if you demonstrate good cause. An example of good cause may include: a lack of available Internet access in the geographic area in which your business offices are located. However, lack of SAM registration or valid UEI is not good cause. If you cannot submit your application electronically, you must ask in writing for a waiver of the electronic application submission requirements. HUD will not grant a waiver if you fail to submit to HUD by email or postmark by mail a request for a waiver at least 15 calendar days before the application deadline. If HUD grants a waiver, a paper application must be received before the deadline for this NOFO. To request a waiver, you must contact:

Name:

Kinnard Wright Email:

HBCUResearchCenterofExcellenceFY24@hud.gov HUD Organization: