tc ti natural experiments grants due date and rating factors 2 16 2011.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5415-C-22A]

Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Year 2010 Transformation Initiative: Natural

Experiments Grant Program; Correction to Clarify the Factors for Award and

Extend the Application Deadline Date

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA); Technical Correction to Clarify the Factors for Award and Extension of the Application Deadline Date.

SUMMARY: On January 20, 2011, HUD posted on www.Grants.gov, a Notice of Funding

Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year 2010 Transformation Initiative: Natural Experiments Grant

Program. This Correction clarifies the rating Factors for Award to be used in determining selected applicants and extends the deadline date.

Applicants do not need to download a new application or resubmit their applications as a result of this notice.

Funding for this effort is made available by the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117 approved December 16, 2009). This program is undertaken by HUD’s research authority under the Transformation Initiative Fund.

EXPLANATION OF THE TECHNICAL CORRECTION: This Technical Correction corrects a discrepancy in Section IV.B.1. (3) Narrative Statement Addressing the Rating Factors which summarily lists five rating factors that HUD will use to rate, evaluate and rank applications. The listing includes one item not included in the detailed explanation of the rating factors provided in Section V. Application Review Information, Item A. Criteria, and excludes http://www.grants.gov/ one item that is included in Section V.A. This technical correction clarifies that the Rating

Factors listed in V.A.1. through 5. are the rating factors that HUD will use to rate, evaluate and rank applications. These rating factors are as follows:

1. Rating Factor 1: Capacity to do the Research (20 points.

2. Rating Factor 2: Need for the Research (20 Points).

3. Rating Factor 3: Soundness of Approach (30 Points).

4. Rating Factor 4: Broader Impact (20 Points).

5. Rating Factor 5: Achieving Results and Program Evaluation (10 Points)..

These five rating factors and associated sub-factors were clearly articulated in the NOFA as published and applicants are advised by this Technical Correction that HUD will use these as the basis for determining selections.

The NOFA posted on January 20, 2011, also indicated an Application Deadline Date of

February 21, 2011. February 21, 2011 is a Federal Holiday. The Grants.gov Help Desk is closed on Federal holidays. Therefore, this Technical Correction extends the Deadline Date to February

23, 2011 to ensure that applicants have full access to the Grants.gov Help Desk at least 48 hours prior to the application deadline date. HUD urges applicants to submit applications in advance of the deadline date and to provide the Help Desk sufficient time to respond to any issues. The extension of the deadline date will allow applicants to have assistance in advance o the deadline in keeping with HUD policy.

DATES: The new application deadline date is February 23, 2011. Applications submitted through http://www.grants.gov must be received by Grants.gov no later than 11:59:59 p.m.

eastern time on the application deadline date. Applications submitted to Grants.gov go through a validation process before they are accepted by the Grants.gov system. Please allow time for this process to ensure that you meet the timely receipt requirements. Please see the 2010 General

Section for instructions for timely receipt, including actions to take if the application is rejected.

Applicants should carefully read the section titled “APPLICATION and SUBMISSION

INFORMATION” in the 2010 General Section for electronic application submission and receipt requirements.

There are no other changes to this NOFA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding specific program requirements and the changes to the NOPI should contact Michael Morse at (202) 402-5738.

Persons with speech or hearing impairments may call the Federal Information Relay Service

TTY at (800) 877-8339. Except for the "800" number, these numbers are not toll-free. Applicants may also reach Mr. Morse via e-mail at Michael.T.Morse@hud.gov

Questions regarding the General Section, should be directed to the Office of

Departmental Grants Management and Oversight at (202) 708-0667 (this is not a toll-free number) or the NOFA Information Center at (800) HUD-8929 (toll-free). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access these numbers via TTY by calling the Federal Information http://www.grants.gov/

Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. The NOFA Information Center is open between the hours of

10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

[FR-5415-C-22A]