FY24 Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency) Service Coordinator Program -FR-6800-N-05.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Public and Indian Housing

ROSS (Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency) Service Coordinator Program - FY2024 -

NOFO

FR-6800-N-05

09/30/2024

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

G. Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative, National and 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:

Public and Indian Housing Funding Opportunity Title:

ROSS (Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency) Service Coordinator Program - FY2024 -

NOFO

Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6800-N-05

Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number):

14.870 Due Date for Applications:

09/30/2024

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 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 award 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 that 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 its applicable OMB control number, unless its collection of information is excluded from these requirements under 5 CFR part 1320.

OMB Approval Number(s):

2577-0229, 2501-0017, 2501-0034

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-1320?toc=1

A. Overview. The Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS) grant program is designed to assist residents of Public and Indian Housing make progress towards economic and housing self-sufficiency by removing the educational, professional and health barriers they face.

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, and physical and mental health and financial empowerment-related goals. For the ROSS program, self-sufficiency is further defined as a resident’s ability to progress along the self-sufficiency continuum through training and the utilization of voluntary supportive services. In the case of elderly residents and residents with disabilities, self-sufficiency means utilization of voluntary supportive services which enable them to age in place or remain living independently for as long as possible.

To help residents make progress towards self-sufficiency, HUD provides ROSS grant funding through a NOFO to eligible applicants to hire a service coordinator who assesses the needs of residents, provides case management, and links residents to training and voluntary supportive services that will enable participants to move along the self-sufficiency continuum. Through the ROSS grant, HUD also provides limited funding flexibility to allow grantees to provide direct services to ROSS participants where necessary to further support the work of the service coordinator (ROSS-SC) and ultimately, the attainment of the self-sufficiency goals of ROSS participants.

ROSS is a place-based program that targets the entire resident community within the project(s) to be served and aims to address the areas of need at both the resident community and individual level. Resident participation with supportive services is voluntary and cannot be a condition of housing. The ROSS-SC must work with residents, Public Housing Agency (PHA) staff, Multifamily Owners, tribal government and housing staff, local partners, Resident Associations (RA), and other stakeholders to develop local strategies to address the needs of residents and remove barriers so that residents make progress towards achieving economic and housing self-sufficiency.

On March 9, 2024, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42), extended eligibility by allowing PHAs or Multifamily Owners to continue to serve (or restart service to) residents of a project with assistance converted from public housing to Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Project-based Voucher (PBV) or RAD Project-based Rental Assistance

(PBRA).

B. Core Functions of ROSS-SC Program.

1. Community Needs Assessment: ROSS-SCs must assess the needs of residents in the project(s) to be served to determine the critical needs that residents identify as barriers to achieving self-sufficiency. The Community Needs Assessment must ensure all residents have meaningful access to participate including persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) as required by Title VI and ensure effective communication with all residents with disabilities as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations must be provided, when necessary, to ensure full and equal participation by individuals with disabilities in the Community Needs Assessment. The results of the Community Needs Assessment are a key component of your application. A sample Community Needs Assessment is included with this NOFO at Appendix A.

2. Coordination and Direct Service Delivery: The role of each ROSS-SC shall be designed to meet the needs of both individual residents and the local community of project(s) to be served. The ROSS-SC must build partnerships with local service providers, tribal departments, and/or other organizations to coordinate the delivery of services and to ensure that program participants are linked to the voluntary supportive services they need. The ROSS-SC must also assess any gaps in service delivery by existing partners/tribal departments/local service providers and may supplement these directly using limited administrative funding through subcontracts with other organizations possessing the expertise to fulfill the unmet needs of active ROSS participants. The ROSS-SC may also coordinate educational and/or community events that help residents achieve economic independence and stability.

3. Case Management/Coaching: The ROSS-SC must provide one-on-one case management to residents which includes an intake assessment, education, referral to service providers in the local community and/or subcontractors, and follow-up to effectively track outcomes.

4. Resident Leadership Development: The ROSS-SC should work with residents, including resident associations, resident management corporations and other resident councils, to cultivate and strengthen their skills, abilities, and competencies to be active partners in the preservation and improvement of their housing communities. The goal of the service coordinator is to support residents in their ability to advocate for their concerns and engage collaboratively with their public housing agency and community partners.

5. Resident Engagement: ROSS-SCs must find creative ways, including identifying local partners, to engage residents and RAs in activities that help increase awareness of ROSS voluntary supportive services and to recruit and retain individuals into the ROSS program.

6. Evaluation: Grantees must regularly monitor and evaluate participant progress, the quality of services delivered by partners and subcontractors, and the overall program success. Regular monitoring and evaluation will help grantees make any necessary changes to improve the implementation of their program during the grant.

7. Reporting: Grantees must submit an annual report to HUD. The annual report is due October 30th of each year. However, final reports are due 120 days after the grant term ends.

C. Area of Need(s). Based on the results of the Community Needs Assessment, you must choose from the areas of need below to indicate which areas your ROSS-SC will focus on. See section III.F.2 a for more information.

• Digital Inclusion

• Education

• Financial Literacy

• Health & Wellness

• Elderly/Persons with Disabilities

• Employment

• Re-Entry

• Substance Use

D. Coordination with Other HUD Programs with Services or Service Coordination. If you are in a jurisdiction receiving multiple sources of HUD funding (from the programs listed below) to serve the same population or geographic area, you should coordinate among those programs, where appropriate, to leverage shared resources, avoid duplication of services, and improve access and service delivery to participating families. These programs are Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS), Jobs Plus Initiative, Choice Neighborhoods, Elderly/Disabled Service Coordinators, HUD-VASH, Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers, Multi-Family Service Coordinators, Housing Counseling, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Continuum of Care programs and/or other special use housing assistance that includes voluntary supportive services or service coordination. A PHA that administers both FSS and ROSS programs and uses a single Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) for both programs is an example of effective coordination. Coordination between programs should be conducted by and between program coordinators and/or other program management staff.

However, a full-time ROSS-SC cannot also work as a full-time service coordinator for the FSS, Jobs Plus, or Multifamily Service Coordinator programs.

E. Eligible Use of Funds. Funds under this NOFO may only be used for the coordinator's salary and fringe benefits; travel and training expenses; and limited administrative costs including costs for direct services or for subcontracting for direct services.

• Salary and Fringe Benefits: Funds awarded for salaries and fringe benefits to grantees under this NOFO shall only be used to pay the salary and fringe benefits of the ROSS- SC(s). Funds under this budget line item may not be used for any other purpose than the salary and fringe of the ROSS-SC.

• Training and Travel Related to Professional and/or Program Development: Funds may also be requested to pay for training and travel costs only if related to professional and/or program development of the ROSS service coordinator(s). All training and associated travel must be approved by the HUD Field Office or Area ONAP prior to incurring expenses.

• Administrative Costs: The funds HUD awards to grantees under this NOFO to cover administrative costs and limited funding for direct services may only be used to support the ROSS program. These funds may not be used by a grantee's Central Office Cost Centers to cover other grantee costs.

• The ROSS program is a cost-reimbursable grant which means that costs are reimbursed by HUD after they are incurred. Please see section IV.F for more information on allowable costs and funding restrictions.

2. HUD and Program-Specific Goals and Objectives

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.

However, of the five goals only those applicable to this NOFO are identified below.

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

1. Strategic Goal 1: Support Underserved Communities Fortify support for underserved communities and support equitable community development for all people.

2. 1C: Invest in the Success of Communities Promote equitable community development that generates wealth-building for underserved communities, particularly for communities of color.

3. 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.

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

5. 4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

This NOFO is aligned to the Department’s commitment to creating a more equitable, inclusive and prosperous future for all communities in the United States where everyone has access to quality and affordable housing. This NOFO places a specific focus on initiatives and programs that: 1) Fortify support for underserved communities and support equitable community development for all people; 2) Promote equitable community development that generates wealth-building for underserved communities, particularly for communities of color; and 3) Advance sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience and energy efficiency, promoting environmental justice, and recognizing housing’s role as essential to health.

Place-based initiatives represent an important strategy for realizing the Department’s commitment to wealth building stemming from community self-determination. In a place-based strategy, each local initiative or program the Department creates or engages in nuanced tailored activities to meet the community’s particular needs for housing and services, based on the local context and resources.

The ROSS grant program is designed to assist residents of Public Housing, RAD PBV, RAD PBRA, and Indian Housing in making progress towards economic and housing self-sufficiency by removing the educational, professional and health barriers they face. ROSS Programs must assess the needs of residents in the project(s) to be served to determine the critical needs that residents identify as barriers to achieving self-sufficiency.

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

a. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic Job Title. In the previous NOFO, salary and fringe amounts were subject to the information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the “Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other” occupation. Under this NOFO, salary and fringe will vary depending on the information provided by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the job title “Social Worker: Other” occupation at the median level in your ZIP code. This change ensures that ROSS-SCs job title in BLS is the same job title used by FSS coordinators when applying for funding. This change also increases the comparable median salary by 30 percent. See sections II.C.1 for more information.

b. Modification Requirement for Awarded Salary and Fringe Adjustment. Grantees that will pay their service coordinator(s) less than 25 percent than the awarded amount for salary and fringe, must submit a budget modification and explanation to HUD. See Section III. F.11 for more information.

c. Increased Funding Flexibility for Direct Service Costs. In prior NOFOS up to 10 percent of salary/fringe and training/travel could be used to pay for administrative costs including direct services. Under this NOFO, grantees may submit a budget modification request to use anticipated unexpended funds from the salary/fringe budget line item (BLI) to pay for direct services, for up to 20 percent of the grant. The amount allocated for direct services may only exceed 10 percent of salary/fringe and travel/training for grantees if a budget modification has been successfully submitted and approved by HUD. However, administrative costs that are not related to direct services cost may not exceed 10 percent of salary/fringe and travel/training. Please note that prior to incurring any costs associated with the provision of direct services, grantees must consult and obtain approval from HUD headquarters by submitting their requests to: ROSS-PIH@hud.gov. Modification request may be denied if the costs are not deemed to be necessary, reasonable and allocable. See Section III.F. for more information.

d. Increased Funding Flexibility for Salary and Fringe Benefits. In previous the previous NOFO, the maximum amount allowed for salary and fringe benefits was $80,000. Under this NOFO, applicants may request up to the maximum grant amount ($272,250), that can be designated for the salary, fringe, and administration/training/travel costs of the ROSS program for their service coordinator(s). In cases where applicants are requesting 100 percent of ROSS funds for salary and fringe, they are forfeiting funds for administrative and training and travel costs. See Section IV.F. for more information.

e. Salary Comparability Information. In previous NOFOs, applicants were required to submit salary comparability information from three different sources with their application to support their salary and fringe request. Under this NOFO, salary comparability information is NOT required to be submitted with your application.

Instead, HUD will use the median salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) locality pay data, with 30 percent added for fringe benefits. See sections II.C.1 for more information.

f. Salary Location. Under this NOFO, your salary location is based upon your entity’s ZIP Code that you submit in your application. See section II.C.1 and IV.B.2.c for more information.

g. Standard Definitions. These new definitions are added to this year’s NOFO:

Environmental Justice, Equity, Minority-Serving Institutions, Racial Equity, Resilience, and Underserved Communities. The following definition is removed: DUNS.

h. Rating Factor Criteria. The rating factor criteria have been revised to improve comprehensibility for applicants, while providing guidance on criteria. In addition, HUD adjusted the point maximums for criteria. See section V.A.1 for more information.

i. Advancing Racial Equity Narrative. Under this NOFO, applicants must submit an Advancing Racial Equity Narrative with their application. This is a curable deficiency.

See section III.F and IV.B. for more information.

j. Experience Promoting Racial Equity. Under this NOFO, applicants must submit an Experience Promoting Racial Equity narrative with their application. This is a curable deficiency. Please see section III.F and IV.B for more information.

k. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Narrative. Under this NOFO, applicants must submit a narrative describing how their proposed NOFO activities are aligned with Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirements. This is a curable deficiency. Please note Tribes and TDHEs are not required to submit the AFFH narrative. Please see Section III.F and Section IV.B. for more information.

l. Affirmative Marketing and Outreach. Under this NOFO, applicants must submit a narrative describing how their proposed NOFO activities are aligned with Affirmative Marketing Outreach requirements. This is a curable deficiency. Please note that Tribes and TDHEs are exempted from the requirement to submit this narrative. Please see Section III.F and Section IV.B. for more information.

m. Renewal Applicant Definition. Under this NOFO, renewal applicants are FY19, FY20, and FY21 ROSS grantees. See section V.A. for more information.

n. RAD PBV and RAD PBRA Residents. Under this NOFO, PHAs and Multi-Family Owners may apply to serve residents of a project with assistance converted from public housing to RAD PBV or RAD PBRA, respectively, if the public housing project was previously included in properties served by a prior ROSS grant. See section III.G for more information.

o. Eligibility of PHA Affiliates or Instrumentalities. PHA affiliates or instrumentalities, as defined in PIH Notice 2011-47 (extending PIH Notice 2007-15), that are not applying as a Multifamily Owner and therefore applying to serve public housing residents are ineligible for funds under this NOFO if (1) the PHA they intend to serve is also applying to serve public housing residents or (2) would not be an eligible applicant either because the PHA has a current ROSS grant (funded under the FY22 or FY23 NOFO competition) to serve public housing residents or (3) because the PHA has a high unexpended balance of a prior ROSS award. If such an entity is eligible to apply and is serving public housing residents, it may only submit one application. Similarly, PHAs are ineligible for funds under this NOFO if their PHA affiliate or instrumentality is (1) applying for funds to serve public housing residents or (2) would not be an eligible applicant because the PHA affiliate or instrumentality has a current ROSS grant (funded under the FY22 and FY23 NOFO competition) to serve public housing residents or (3) because the PHA affiliate has a high unexpended balance of a prior ROSS award. See section III.B for more information. Note: PHA Affiliates and Instrumentalities that are not applying as a Multifamily Owner may only serve public housing residents. Additionally, PHA Affiliates and Instrumentalities, that are not applying as a Multifamily Owner, must either be a locally-incorporated nonprofit organization or a federally-designated 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization by the application deadline of this NOFO. See section III.D. for more information.

p. Joint Applications that include Resident Associations. RAs that apply as a joint applicant with a PHA, PHA Affiliate/Instrumentality, tribe, Tribal Designated Housing

Entity (TDHE), or non-RA nonprofit organization will not be eligible for the 25 percent set-aside for RAs. See section III.F.7 for more information.

q. Provision of Direct Services. Under this NOFO, ROSS-SCs may either provide direct services themselves or use grant funds from the administrative budget line item to subcontract for the provision of direct services to support residents’ needs. See section III.F.13.b. for more information.

r. Digital Inclusion as an Area of Need. Under this NOFO, applicants may select digital inclusion as one of their areas of need. See section III.F.11.a for more information.

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 their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-A/part-91 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 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 Authorized Organization Representative definition). There can only be one E-Biz POC per unique entity identifier (see definition of Unique Entity Identifier below).

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 laws and policies in a manner that advances environmental 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 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 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 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 a subrecipient receives 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 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 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 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/

(1) a part B institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1601);

(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);

(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);

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

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

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, which includes Black, Latino, indigenous, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other persons of color.

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 extreme events and changing 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.

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 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 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 business 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.

25 Percent Set-Aside Funding Category is reserved for RA applicants. By statute, and to the extent HUD receives enough qualified applications, 25 percent of all ROSS funds must be awarded to eligible RAs to fund one ROSS-SC position per RA. Eligible RAs will be funded under this funding category. RAs have funding priority over any other applicant type.

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.

Elderly person is any person 62 years of age or older.

Grant Term under this NOFO is 36 months. If awarded funds, the grant term will start on the effective date of the grant agreement. The period of performance upon which the grantee will be evaluated is 36 months.

Indian Tribe is a federally recognized or state recognized tribe as defined in section 4(13) of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) 25 U.S.C. 4103(13).

Lottery means a random sample selection process, without replacement, through which each qualified applicant or qualified application has the same probability of being chosen. Once an applicant or application is selected from the pool, it will not be reintroduced to the pool when additional selections are made which will deliberately prevent selecting the same applicant or application a second time.

Multifamily Contract Number (PBRA HAP Contract Number) is the number assigned by HUD to a Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the owner of a multifamily housing property. Multifamily Owners applying to serve residents in RAD PBRA projects must include the multifamily contract number on Part II (projects to be served) of the HUD 52768 form and must also submit Part 1 of their HAP contract with their application.

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

Multifamily Owner is an entity that has the legal right to lease dwelling units in one or more federally subsidized multifamily housing projects. For this NOFO, Multifamily owners are limited to Owners of RAD PBRA projects that currently receive or previously received (prior to the RAD conversion) ROSS-SC services under a ROSS grant. HUD understands that some Multifamily Owners may also be PHAs, PHA Affiliates/Instrumentalities, or other Non-Profit organizations. However, for the purpose of this NOFO, PHAs, PHA affiliates/instrumentalities, and nonprofit organizations that are applying as Multifamily Owners to serve RAD PBRA units will only be referred to as Multifamily Owners (and not PHAs, PHA Affiliates/Instrumentalities or Non-Profit Organizations). The Multifamily owner’s name must be the same entity applying for ROSS funds on the HUD-52768 and SF-424 form. If there is a discrepancy between the owner’s name on the HAP contract and the application forms, the applicant must provide a written explanation with their application. Failure to provide this explanation may result in a determination of ineligibility.

PHA Affiliate/Instrumentality is an entity related to the PHA whose assets, operations, and management are legally and effectively controlled by the PHA, through which PHA functions or policies are implemented and that utilize public housing funds or public housing assets for the purpose of carrying out public housing development functions of the PHA. To be eligible under this NOFO, PHA affiliates/instrumentalities must meet the eligibility requirements of nonprofit organizations and must meet the limitations in PIH Notice 2011-47 (extending PIH Notice 2007- 15). HUD understands that some PHA Affiliates/Instrumentalities may be a Multifamily Owner.

However, for the purposes of this NOFO, a PHA Affiliate/Instrumentality applying as a nonprofit organization to serve public housing units is not considered a Multifamily Owner.

New Applicant is an applicant that has never received ROSS funding or was funded under the FY18 or prior ROSS competition and has an unexpended balance of less than 40 percent. In addition, a joint application that has switched its lead applicant will also be considered a new applicant. Additionally, Multifamily Owners will be considered new applicants and funded under the new applicant funding category.

New Funding Category is reserved for new applicants. After the 25 percent set-aside category for RAs and Renewal Funding Category for renewal applicant is funded, eligible new applicants will be funded.

Nonprofit Organization for the purposes of this NOFO refers to the following two types of organizations:

1. Locally Incorporated Non-profit Organization – A non-profit organization that has filed articles of incorporation with the state office (usually the Secretary of State or Attorney General) or tribal government responsible for incorporations and has been granted such status and has maintained this status by complying with state or tribal government requirements. If applicable, applicants that are in the process of incorporating as a non-profit organization and have not been approved of such status by the time of the application deadline will not be eligible for a ROSS grant; or

2. Tax-Exempt Non-profit Organization is an organization that has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) before the deadline for submission of this application and is therefore exempt from federal taxation. For more information about tax-exempt status, go to irs.gov. If applicable, applicants who are in the process of applying for tax-exempt status and have not received this designation from http://www.irs.gov the IRS by the deadline for submission will not be eligible but may be eligible as a Locally Incorporated Non-profit Organization if they submit documentation attesting to having this status as of the application deadline.

Nonprofit Organizations, including PHA Affiliates/Instrumentalities that are not applying as a Multifamily Owner, must prove their nonprofit status. See section III.D for more information.

Non-Site Based Resident Association (RA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization or a locally incorporated nonprofit organization of resident councils or resident management corporations representing multiple public housing projects at one or more PHAs. A non-site-based RA must adhere to 24 CFR 964.115 "Resident Council Requirements" and must only serve public housing residents. All elected governing board members must be public housing residents. All PHAs to be served in the ROSS application must submit a letter of support signed by the Executive Director or other authorized representative, acknowledging that they have monitored the election process and that the RA is in good standing.

Person with Disabilities is a person who:

1. Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity as defined in Section 3602(h) of the Fair Housing Act;

2. Has a condition defined as a disability in section 223 of the Social Security Act; or

3. Has a developmental disability as defined in section 102 of the Developmental

Disabilities Assistance Bill of Rights Act.

The term “person with disabilities” does not exclude persons who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) or any conditions arising from the etiologic agent for AIDS. In addition, individuals shall be considered a person with disabilities, if they have alcoholism or an addiction to drugs (if it is not caused by current, illegal use of a controlled substance). Note that the definition of “person with disabilities” for certain program purposes (e.g., income determination, eligibility) under 24 C.F.R. 5.403 is different from the definition of “individual with disabilities” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).

For purposes of compliance with federal fair housing and nondiscrimination requirements under Section 504, the definition of “disability” with respect to an individual under 42 U.S.C. 12102 will apply.

Public Housing Agency (PHA), as defined by 24 CFR 5.100, means any State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body, or agency or instrumentality of these entities, that is authorized to engage or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. For the purposes of this NOFO, a PHA excludes a PHA affiliate/instrumentality (as defined above). Additionally, for the purposes of this NOFO, a PHA that is also a Multifamily Owner applying to serve RAD PBRA units is not considered a

PHA.

RAD PBV HAP Contract Number is the number assigned by HUD to a Project Based Voucher (PBV) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the PHA. PHAs applying to serve residents in RAD PBV projects must include the contract number on Part II (projects to be served) of the HUD 52768 form and must also submit the first page of their HAP contract with their application.

PHAS-Troubled Applicant refers to a PHA that carries a designation by HUD as “troubled” under the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) on the national PHAS Operational List of Troubled PHAs as of the deadline date of the application. NOTE: In accordance with 24 CFR 902.66(a), a “high performance” or “standard performance” rating may be withheld, denied, or rescinded if the PHA demonstrates substantial evidence of noncompliance with civil rights, nondiscrimination and fair housing laws and…