Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (FR-6700-N-15).pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (LHHTS) Grant Program

FR-6700-N-15

10/30/2023

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:

Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

Funding Opportunity Title:

Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (LHHTS) Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Number:

FR-6700-N-15

Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number):

14.906,14.902

Due Date for Applications:

10/30/2023

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):

2539-0015

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

Through this NOFO, HUD is funding studies to improve knowledge of housing-related health and safety hazards and to improve or develop new hazard assessment and control methods, with a focus on lead and other key residential health and safety hazards. HUD is especially interested in applications that will advance our knowledge of priority healthy homes issues by addressing important gaps in science related to the accurate and efficient identification of hazards and the 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 implementation of cost-effective hazard mitigation. This includes studies using implementation sciences in identifying specific conditions under which residential environmental hazard interventions, that have been shown to be effective in specific housing types and residential settings, can be assessed in other contexts. Key hazards are discussed in Appendix A, Key Residential Health, and Safety Hazards, of this NOFO. A list of references that serves as the basis for the information provided in this NOFO is provided as Appendix C, Relevant Publications, Guidelines and Other Resources. Priority research topics of particular interest to HUD are identified in section III.F.1.

Both the Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (LHHTS) Programs are important for the achievement of research goals identified in HUD's Healthy Homes Strategic Plan (available at:

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.PDF),the federal healthy homes strategic plan, Advancing Healthy Housing : A Strategy for Action (available at:

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/STRATPLAN_FINAL_11_13.PDF, and the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts (https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/HH/documents/fedactionplan_lead_final.pdf).

a. General Goals

(1) Lead Technical Studies (LTS) The overall goal of the LTS grant program is to gain knowledge to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of methods for evaluation and control of residential lead-based paint hazards.

Through this Program, HUD is working to fulfill the requirements of sections 1051 and 1052 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4854 and 4854a) which directs HUD to conduct research on topics which include the development of improved methods for evaluating and reducing lead-based paint hazards in housing, among others. Brief descriptions of active and previously funded LTS projects can be found on HUD's website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes. Where appropriate, you are encouraged to build your proposed study upon HUD-sponsored work that has been previously completed, in addition to other relevant research (i.e., reported in the published literature). The results of the applicable aspects of LTS will be used in part to update HUD's Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing (Guidelines) and other HUD policy guidance. For supporting references, including where to find the Guidelines, see: The HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-based Paint in Housing | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Appendix C.

The overall objectives include but are not limited to the statutory requirements listed in Section 1052 of Title X:

1. Develop improved methods for evaluating lead-based paint hazards.

2. Develop improved methods for reducing lead-based paint hazards.

3. Develop improved methods for measuring lead in paint films, dust, and soil.

4. Establish performance standards for various detection methods, including spot test kits.

5. Establish performance standards for lead-based paint hazard reduction methods, including the use of encapsulants.

6. Establish appropriate cleanup standards.

7. Evaluate the efficacy of interim controls in various situations.

8. Evaluate the relative performance of various abatement techniques.

9. Evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of interim control and abatement strategies.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/STRATPLAN_FINAL_11_13.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/STRATPLAN_FINAL_11_13.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/STRATPLAN_FINAL_11_13.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/STRATPLAN_FINAL_11_13.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/HH/documents/fedactionplan_lead_final.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/HH/documents/fedactionplan_lead_final.pdf https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/HH/documents/fedactionplan_lead_final.pdf https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/lbp/hudguidelines https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/lbp/hudguidelines https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/lbp/hudguidelines https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/lbp/hudguidelines

10. Assess the effectiveness of hazard evaluation and reduction activities.

Studies should be related to the above primary objectives. For example, a study using large databases may be related to the efficacy of interim controls, etc. Another example may be relating the use of novel methods for lead risk assessment or for dust lead measurements to the primary objective of developing improved methods for evaluating lead-based paint hazards or for measuring lead in dust.

(2) Healthy Homes Technical Studies (HHTS) The overall goal of the HHTS Program is to advance the recognition and control of priority residential health and safety hazards and more closely examine the link between housing and health. The overall objectives of the Program include but are not limited to:

(a) Development and evaluation of cost-effective test methods and protocols for the identification and assessment of housing-related hazards.

(b) Development and assessment of cost-effective methods for reducing or eliminating housing-related hazards.

(c) Evaluation of the effectiveness of housing interventions and barriers and incentives affecting future use of the most cost-effective strategies.

(d) Supporting translational and implementation research studies which involve the adaptation and use of effective healthy homes intervention strategies in different housing types, residential settings, and populations.

(e) Investigation of the epidemiology of housing-related hazards and illness and injuries associated with these hazards, with an emphasis on low income, vulnerable populations (e.g., children, communities of color, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, etc.).

(f) Analysis of existing data or generation of new data to improve knowledge regarding the prevalence and severity of specific hazards in various types of housing and by demographic characteristics of residents, with a focus on low-income housing.

(g) Improved understanding of the relationship between residential exposure and illness or injury of children or other vulnerable populations. (Note: Applicants that propose this type of study should discuss how the knowledge that is gained from the study could be used in a program to reduce these hazards in target communities).

HUD anticipates that the results of program-supported studies will help to develop evidence-based approaches that are cost-effective and efficient and will result in the reduction of health threats for the maximum number of residents and, in particular, children and other vulnerable populations (e.g., communities of color, persons with disabilities, the elderly) in low-income households. Study results are also expected to improve our understanding of how specific aspects of the indoor environment can affect the health of residents.

Applicants should consider the ability of their proposed study to generate definitive results.

Since the size of the awards under this NOFO may limit the ability of applicants to design and implement research on health outcomes using the strongest methodology (i.e., a randomized controlled trial), applicants should consider focusing on important indoor environmental quality (IEQ) measures instead of health outcomes in studies where this is appropriate, such as when existing research has demonstrated a significant association between the IEQ measures and health outcomes. A focus on environmental outcomes is expected to produce results that will complement the health outcome, typically, the impact of improvements to IEQ on health outcomes can be inferred where the evidence base is sufficient. HUD is especially interested in funding practical, applied research, including studies using implementation science, which can directly inform policies and practices to reduce the prevalence and severity of residential health and safety hazards and improve the health and well-being of residents. You should be aware of where your proposed study fits within a translational research framework (i.e., Pettibone et al., 2018: https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3657). Implementation research (IR) helps identify the context (real world environmental and social setting) that impacts the adoption of interventions within a community to address persistent residential environmental health hazards (Bauer, 2020; Smith, 2020). Identifying and understanding the specifications of the context within which the study is being conducted helps provide a better understanding of how and for whom the interventions work, under what conditions, and the expected outcomes (Smith, 2020). To use IR studies effectively the researcher needs to identify the interventions of interest, then determine whether the interventions have shown both effectiveness and efficacy, and if they have, finally use mixed methods designs (Lane-Fall, 2019). HUD is particularly interested in IR proposals that involve the identification and study of the context and conditions under which different interventions are effective, thus making these interventions more acceptable and easily implementable in low-income and affordable housing environments.

The HHTS Program is a component of HUD’s Healthy Homes Program. A description of the Healthy Homes Program is available on the HUD website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi. In addition to deficiencies in basic housing conditions that may impact health (e.g., structural problems, lack of adequate heating and cooling, pest infestation, excess moisture), other subtler health hazards may exist in the residential environment (e.g., asthma triggers, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds including pesticide residues, injury hazards, etc.). While some hazards will be found disproportionately in housing that is substandard, housing-related environmental hazards may also exist in housing that is otherwise of acceptable quality. Appendix A of this NOFO briefly describes the key housing-associated health and safety hazards HUD considers targets for intervention. The hazards and conditions identified in Appendix A are not considered exhaustive, applicants may submit applications that focus on topics that are not included in Appendix A.

HUD has also developed resource papers on several topics of importance under the Healthy Homes Program, including mold, environmental aspects of asthma, carbon monoxide, pesticides, residential assessment and unintentional injuries. These resource papers can be downloaded from https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes.

b. Community Participation HUD believes that it is important for researchers to incorporate meaningful community participation in the development and implementation of studies that are conducted in communities and/or involve significant interaction with community residents. Community participation can improve study effectiveness in various ways, including the development of more appropriate research objectives, improving recruitment and retention of study participants, improving participants' involvement in, and understanding of a study, improving ongoing communication between researchers and the affected community, and improving dissemination of study findings. Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) offers researchers the opportunity to use translational science to improve sustainability/long-term success and efficacy of effective scientific interventions to address residential environmental health issues in diverse communities. It also helps identify specific conditions and structures within the communities needed for these effective interventions to work best. HUD encourages applicants to consider using elements of a CBPR approach, where applicable, in study design and implementation.

https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3657 https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes

(See, e.g., The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences report titled "Successful Models of Community-Based Participatory Research" at https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_12485.PDF and the Wallerstein and Duran (2010) paper titled "Community-based participatory research contributions to intervention research:

The intersection of science and practice to improve health equity"). CBPR is characterized by substantial community input in all phases of a study (i.e., design, implementation, data interpretation, conclusions, and communication of results).

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.

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 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.

2. 4C: Integrate Health and Housing Advance policies that recognize housing's role as essential to health.

Other Goals and Objectives

3. Changes from Previous NOFO

The following is a summary of the major changes in this NOFO relative to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 LHHTS NOFO. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, so applicants should be sure to read the entire NOFO.

a. Section I.A.4.a., 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.

b. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) is removed as a threshold requirement;

however, AFFH remains a program requirement under section IV.G. of the NOFO.

c. Section. III., Eligibility Information. Organizations that received an award under the FY 2021 or FY 2022 Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant Program cycle are ineligible unless applying with a different Principal Investigator (PI).

d. Section III.E., Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Affecting Eligibility – This section in the NOFO is updated to include applicable eligibility requirements. The NOFO Template supplemental document is also updated and posted on HUD’s Funding Opportunity webpage.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_12485.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_12485.PDF https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas https://www.hud.gov/HUD-FY22-26-Strategic-Plan-Focus-Areas

e. Section IV.B.1., Content and Form of Application Submission – This section in the NOFO is updated to require form HUD 424-B (Applicant Assurances and Certifications) and Federal Assistance Assurances.

f. Section. V.B., Review and Selection Process – This section is updated to include a new requirement to ensure applicants have Experience Promoting Racial Equity.

g. Narratives. These narratives are required and must address the issues described in the corresponding sections:

Advancing Racial Equity (Section III.F);

Affirmative Marketing (Section III.F);

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (Section IV.G); and

Experience Promoting Racial Equity (Section V.B).

Applicants will submit these four (4) equity narratives in Appendix B (maximum of 2 pages). Each narrative will be evaluated for sufficiency and will not change the applicant’s score or rank as compared to other applicants. If a narrative is deemed insufficient, it will be a “Curable Deficiency” that will be communicated to the applicant for correction with a notice of deficiency.

h. Section VI.B., Administrative, National and Departmental Policy Requirements and Terms for HUD Applicants and Recipients of Financial Assistance Awards – This section in the NOFO is updated to include compliance with: Secretary Fudge's, April 12, 2022, memorandum; equity requirements; and waste, fraud, and abuse requirements. Additionally, this section clarifies requirements related to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The related NOFO supplemental document is updated and posted on HUD’s Funding Opportunity webpage.

Furthermore, this section is updated to require program details related to its termination policy.

i. Federal Relay Service – The Federal Relay Service contract expired in February 2022. HUD no longer uses the service. The NOFO is updated to include the use of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) relay services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as individuals who have speech or communication disabilities.

j. Under the General Goals for LTS, HUD added the following language: The overall objectives include but are not limited to the statutory requirements listed in Section 1052 of Title X:

Develop improved methods for evaluating lead-based paint hazards.

Develop improved methods for reducing lead-based paint hazards.

Develop improved methods for measuring lead in paint films, dust, and soil.

Establish performance standards for various detection methods, including spot test kits.

Establish performance standards for lead-based paint hazard reduction methods, including the use of encapsulants.

Establish appropriate cleanup standards.

Evaluate the efficacy of interim controls in various situations.

Evaluate the relative performance of various abatement techniques.

Evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of interim control and abatement strategies.

Assess the effectiveness of hazard evaluation and reduction activities.

k. HUD has modified the list of priority research topics for FY 2022 by including the following (see section III.F.1).

(2) The World Health Organization (WHO) “Environment, Climate Change and Health” mentions that housing practices influence climate, which has an intimate relationship with health. The building sector (residential and commercial) accounted for 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions and one-third of global black carbon emissions in 2010, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014). The University of California at Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center reported that, “Residential energy use is responsible for about 20% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US.”

As the Federal agency dedicated to creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities, and quality affordable homes, HUD is on the front lines of the nation’s efforts to increase resilience to climate impacts. In response to the policy set forth in Executive Order 14008, HUD Action Plan is organized around three overarching Climate Action Goals for programs and policies under HUD’s purview: Goal 1: Increase Climate Resilience, Goal 2: Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Goal 3: Pursue Environmental Justice.

To support HUD’s New Climate Action Plan: https://www.hud.gov/climate, HUD is interested in research that identifies actions that protect the health and safety of the families from hazards resulting from natural disasters and help them to mitigate the risks of such health and safety hazards in housing occurring before anticipated disasters. Also, HUD is interested in research on the health effects of indoor air quality of switching, in HUD-supported housing, to low-carbon or zero-carbon sources of energy. (Note:

Applicants that propose this type of study should discuss how the knowledge that is gained from the study could be used in a program to reduce these hazards in target communities). The OLHCHH offers a list of activities (https://www.hud.gov/climate/OLHCHH) that support and implement Climate Action more broadly.

(4) Indoor air quality is also damaged by poor choice of building materials, structural risks as well as poor ventilation practices. Poor ventilation practices may promote excessive exposure to moisture, mold, radon, asbestos, lead, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and indoor pollutants (see Appendix C for research literature on these subjects).

HUD is interested in innovative methods (not discussed elsewhere in this list of priorities) to identify the sources and control the hazards in order to improve the indoor air quality in the residences of the people we serve.

l. HUD has eliminated the Pre-Application Step.

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 https://www.hud.gov/climate https://www.hud.gov/climate/OLHCHH https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Main/documents/HUD-Climate-Action-Plan.pdf 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 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 http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ 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

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 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 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.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

(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

(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.

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 http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ 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-sec1059f.pdf

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 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121?toc=1 http://grants.gov/ 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

None

B. Authority

The Lead Technical Studies program is authorized under sections 1051 and 1052 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4854 and 4854a). The Healthy Homes Technical Studies program is authorized under sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §§ 1701z-1 and 1701z-2). Funding is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), approved December 29, 2022.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funds

Funding of approximately $7,000,000 is available through this NOFO. Subject to appropriations, HUD reserves the right to award fiscal year 2024 funds based on this NOFO competition.

Additional funds may become available for award under this NOFO consistent with Section 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.

Of the $7,000,000 available through this NOFO, up to $2,000,000 is available for the LTS grant program and $5,000,000 is available for the HHTS grant program, from the funding sources noted in section I.B. Authority.

B. Number of Awards

HUD expects to make approximately 13 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

For each of the grant programs funded under this announcement, HUD expects to make the following awards: approximately 4 to 8 awards for the LTS Grant Program and approximately 4 to 5 awards for the HHTS Grant Program. However, the estimated number of awards will depend on the number of eligible applicants for each grant program, their requested amounts, and other factors. For information on the methodology used to make award determinations under this NOFO, please see Section V.B Review and Selection Process below.

C. Minimum/Maximum Award Information

1. Awards will range from $300,000 to a maximum of $800,000 for the LTS Grant Program and $300,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000 for the HHTS Grant Program.

2. Note for New Applicants. If supported by the majority of the Application Review Panel, HUD will make an award of up to $800,000 under the LTS Grant Program or up to $1,000,000 under the HHTS Grant Program for the highest scoring application from a qualified new applicant, as defined here, on the condition that the application receives a score of at least 82 points. A new applicant is an organization that has not been previously funded by the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) under the Technical Studies Grant Program to which they are applying as the primary grantee. A new applicant may have previously been a sub-grantee under an award to another organization. If there is not a qualified new applicant for funding, any remaining funds will be made available to the general pool of qualified LHHTS Grant Program applicants based on the final overall ranking.

Estimated Total Funding:

$7,000,000

Minimum Award Amount:

$300,000 Per Project Period

Maximum Award Amount:

$1,000,000 Per Project Period

D. Period of Performance

The start date will be determined during the period of negotiations with successful applicants.

The period of performance cannot exceed 36 months from the time of award. The proposed performance period should include adequate time for such project components as the Institutional Review Board process (if required), the hiring of new staff, the recruitment of study participants, and the development of methods (e.g., analytical methods), all of which have been found to delay projects in the past.

Period of performance extensions for delays due to exceptional conditions beyond the grantee's control will be considered for approval by HUD in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.308(e)(2), as applicable, and the OLHCHH Program Guide (https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/PGI_2013- 03.PDF). If requested, determined to be appropriate, and subsequently approved by OLHCHH, grantees will be eligible to receive a single extension of up to 12 months in length.

Estimated Project Start Date:

12/07/2023

Estimated Project End Date:

12/07/2026

Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period and budget period

Length of Periods Explanation of Other:

N/A

E. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. Anticipated substantial involvement by HUD staff for cooperative agreements may include, but will not be limited to:

1. Review and suggestion of amendments to the study design, including study objectives;

field sampling plan; data collection methods; sample handling and preparation; and sample and data analysis.

2. Review and provision of technical recommendations in response to quarterly progress reports (e.g., amendments to study design based on preliminary results).

3. Review and provision of technical recommendations on the journal article(s) and final study report.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/PGI_2013-03.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/PGI_2013-03.PDF https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/PGI_2013-03.PDF

Awardees are expected to make reasonable efforts to incorporate HUD suggestions and recommendations when provided.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

00 (State governments)

01 (County governments)

02 (City or township governments)

04 (Special district governments)

05 (Independent school districts)

06 (Public and State controlled institutions of higher education)

07 (Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized))

08 (Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities)

11 (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments))

12 (Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education)

13 (Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education)

20 (Private institutions of higher education)

22 (For profit organizations other than small businesses)

23 (Small businesses)

Additional Information on Eligibility Applications to supplement existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

However, Federal agencies and organizations with the same Principal Investigator (PI) that received an award under the FY 2021 or FY 2022 Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant Program cycle are ineligible.

B. Ineligible Applicants

1. Individuals

2. Federal agencies

3. Organizations with the same Principal Investigator (PI) that received an award under the

FY 2021 or FY 2022 Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant Program cycle.

4. Foreign entities and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for or receive awards made under this announcement.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

Under the application rating factor 3, applicants that provide evidence of significant resource leveraging will receive points (see Leveraging Resources under Section V.A.1.b.(3)(e)).

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…