Notice of Funding Availability for the Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) for Fiscal Year 2024, 50554-50560 [2024-13131]
Download as PDF
50554
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
document applies is 10.904, Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Executive Order 12372
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,’’ requires consultation with
State and local officials that would be
directly affected by proposed Federal
financial assistance. The objectives of
the Executive order are to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism, by relying on
State and local processes for State and
local government coordination and
review of proposed Federal financial
assistance and direct Federal
development. This project is subject to
the provisions of Executive Order
12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with
State and local officials.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil
rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its
agencies, offices, and employees, and
institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family or
parental status, income derived from a
public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior
civil rights activity, in any program or
activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Individuals who require alternative
means of communication for program
information (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign
Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and
telephone) or dial 711 for
Telecommunications Relay Service
(both voice and text telephone users can
initiate this call from any phone).
Additionally, program information may
be made available in languages other
than English.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, AD–
3027, found online at: https://
www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-aprogram-discrimination-complaint and
at any USDA office or write a letter
addressed to USDA and provide in the
letter all the information requested in
the form. To request a copy of the
complaint form, call (866) 632–9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
USDA by: (1) mail to: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690–
7442; or (3) email: program.intake@
usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Travis Mote,
Acting Utah State Conservationist, Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–13062 Filed 6–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS–24–SFH–0009]
Notice of Funding Availability for the
Section 533 Housing Preservation
Grant (HPG) for Fiscal Year 2024
Rural Housing Service,
Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Rural Housing Service
(RHS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) mission area agency
of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), announces the
availability of $12.2 million in funding
for the Housing Preservation Grant
(HPG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2024,
which includes approximately $2.2
million that will be made available for
disaster assistance. The funds are
available to eligible sponsoring
organizations for the repair or
rehabilitation of housing owned or
occupied by low- and very-low-income
rural citizens under the HPG Program.
This notice announces the opening and
closing dates for receipt of
preapplications for HPG funds,
including the availability of calendar
year 2022 disaster assistance, from
eligible applicants, as well as
submission requirements. Expenses
incurred in developing preapplications
will be at the applicant’s cost.
DATES: Completed preapplications for
grants must be submitted according to
one of the following methods:
• Paper Submissions: The deadline
for receipt of a paper preapplication is
4:30 p.m. local time, July 29, 2024.
Applicants intending to mail
preapplications must provide sufficient
time to permit delivery on or before the
closing deadline date and time.
Acceptance by the United States Postal
Service or private mailer does not
constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX),
and postage due applications will not be
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
accepted. The preapplication dates and
times are firm. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received
after the deadline.
• Electronic submissions: Electronic
preapplications must be received by
email or submitted to Grants.gov. The
deadline for receipt of an electronic
preapplication is 11:59 p.m. Eastern
Time on July 29, 2024. The
preapplication dates and times are firm.
The Agency will not consider any
preapplication received after the
deadline. The Agency will not solicit or
consider scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the
preapplication deadline. The Agency
will not consider any preapplication
received after the deadline. The Agency
reserves the right to contact applicants
to seek clarification information on
materials contained in the submitted
preapplication.
Application Submission:
Entities wanting to apply for assistance
may download the preapplication
documents and requirements as stated
in this Notice from the HPG website:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/single-family-housingprograms/housing-preservation-grants.
Applicants will also find the
requirements in the HPG program
regulation found in 7 CFR 1944 (Subpart
N). Preapplication information for
electronic submissions may be found at
https://www.Grants.gov.
Applicants may also request paper
preapplication packages from the RD
office in their state. A list of Rural
Development State Office (RDSO)
contacts can be found via: https://
www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mandy Couture, Finance and Loan
Analyst, Single Family Housing Direct
Division, Special Programs and New
Initiatives Branch at (515) 418–2188
(voice) (this is not a toll-free number) or
email: Mandy.Couture@usda.gov. You
may also contact the RD office for the
state in which the applicant is located.
A list of RDSO contacts is provided at:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices.
ADDRESSES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name:
Rural Housing Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Housing
Preservation Grant (HPG).
Announcement Type: Notice of
Funding Availability (NOFA).
Funding Opportunity Number:
USDA–RD–HCFP–HPG–2024.
Assistance Listing: 10.433.
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Dates: Completed preapplications for
grants must be submitted according to
one of the following methods:
• Paper Submissions: The deadline
for receipt of a paper preapplication is
4:30 p.m. local time, July 29, 2024.
Applicants intending to mail
preapplications must provide sufficient
time to permit delivery on or before the
closing deadline date and time.
Acceptance by the United States Postal
Service or private mailer does not
constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX),
and postage due applications will not be
accepted. The preapplication dates and
times are firm. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received
after the deadline.
• Electronic submissions: Electronic
preapplications must be received by
email or submitted to Grants.gov. The
deadline for receipt of an electronic
application is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
on July 29, 2024. The preapplication
dates and times are firm. The Agency
will not consider any preapplication
received after the deadline. The Agency
will not solicit or consider scoring or
eligibility information that is submitted
after the preapplication deadline. The
Agency will not consider any
preapplication received after the
deadline. The Agency reserves the right
to contact applicants to seek
clarification information on materials
contained in the submitted
preapplication.
Rural Development Key Priorities: The
Agency encourages applicants to
consider projects that will advance the
following key priorities (more details
available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
priority-points):
• Reducing climate pollution and
increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic
support to rural communities.
• Ensuring all rural residents have
equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects; and
• Assisting rural communities recover
economically through more and better
market opportunities and through
improved infrastructure.
For further information, visit https://
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The HPG
program is a grant program
administered by the Single-Family
Housing Programs of RHS. It is limited
to eligible rural areas and to qualified
entities (such as public agencies, private
non-profit organizations, and federally
recognized Tribes). Grant funds can be
used to assist low- and very low-income
homeowners in repairing and
rehabilitating their homes in rural areas.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
Cooperative housing complexes (coops) and rental property owners may
receive assistance under the HPG
program if they agree to make such units
available to very low- and low-income
persons. Rental property owners can
include section 515 and 538 rental
properties if the eligibility requirements
are met for the HPG program. In
accordance with 7 CFR 1944.663, rental
property owners, or the co-op, must
agree to make the units repaired or
rehabilitated available for occupancy to
very low- or low-income persons for a
period of not less than five years. The
minimum five-year rent restriction for
very low- and low-income tenants will
only apply to the units that are repaired
with the HPG funding. Any units within
the property that were not repaired with
HPG funding will not be subject to the
five-year restriction.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority.
Funding is authorized by section 533 of
the Housing Act of 1949, as amended
and pursuant to the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118–
42); 42 U.S.C. 1490m, and 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N.
3. Definitions. The definitions
applicable to this notice may be found
at 7 CFR 1944.656.
4. Application of Awards. The Agency
will review, evaluate, and score
preapplications in response to this
notice based on the provisions in 7 CFR
1944.679 and as indicated in this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024 $12.2
million, to remain available until
expended.
Available Funds: Approximately
$12.2 million is made available to
eligible participants. Approximately
$2.2 million of this funding is available
for disaster assistance. The disaster
funding is made available from the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023,
Division N, Title I. RHS may, at its
discretion, increase the total level of
funding available from any available
source provided the awards meet the
requirements of the statute which made
the funding available to the Agency.
Award Amounts: As required by 7
CFR 1944.680, no single entity may be
awarded more than 1⁄2 of a state’s
allocation if there are two or more
preapplications for a given state that
meet the threshold criteria of 7 CFR
1944.679(a). Award amounts available
in FY 2024 State Allocation have not
been finalized and can be obtained from
the RDSO. An award made for disaster
assistance may not exceed a maximum
award amount of $50,000, with no state
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50555
maximum for the number of such
disaster assistance awards.
A list of RDSO contacts is provided at:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices.
Anticipated Award Date: The Agency
anticipates making awards
approximately 120 days after the
application deadline.
Performance Period: 24 months from
the executed grant agreement.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards:
None.
Approximate Number of Awards: The
number of awards will depend on the
number of eligible participants and the
total amount of requested funds. Based
on the Agency’s prior experience with
this program, it expects to make
approximately 80–120 awards.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. (a) Potential
applicants must meet the eligibility
requirements of 7 CFR 1944.658.
Additionally, potential applicants must
meet the requirements of 7 CFR
1944.661, 1944.662, and/or 1944.686 as
applicable. Eligible entities for these
competitively awarded grants must meet
the definition of ‘‘organization’’ as
defined in 7 CFR 1944.656. Eligible
entities include State and local
governments, non-profit corporations,
which may include, but not be limited
to Faith-Based and community
organizations; federally recognized
Indian Tribes; and consortia of eligible
entities. HPG applicants who were
previously selected for HPG funds are
eligible to submit new preapplications
to apply for FY 2024 HPG program
funds. An additional HPG grant may be
made when the grantee has achieved or
nearly achieved the goals established for
the previous or existing grant. The
commitment of program dollars will be
made to selected applicants who have
fulfilled the necessary requirements for
obligations. Awards for disaster
assistance grants may be made only for
disaster declared as a presidentially
declared disaster during calendar year
2022 presidentially declared area(s). A
presidentially declared disaster is
defined as a ‘‘major disaster or
emergency’’ declared under the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). A list of 2022
presidentially declared disasters can be
viewed at https://www.fema.gov/
disaster/declarations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Pursuant
to 7 CFR 1944.652(a)(1), grantees are
expected to coordinate and leverage
funding for repair and rehabilitation
activities; as well as replacement
housing, with housing and community
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
50556
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
development organizations or activities
operating in the same geographic area.
While it is encouraged that HPG funds
be leveraged with other resources, cost
sharing or matching is not a requirement
for the HPG applicant, and the HPG
applicant would not necessarily be
denied an award of HPG funds if all
other required project selection criteria
described in this notice and at 7 CFR
1944.679(a) have been met.
3. Discretionary Points. None.
4. Other. Awards made under this
Notice are subject to the provisions
contained in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118–
47, division E title VII, sections 744 and
745, regarding Corporate Felony
Convictions and Corporate Federal Tax
Delinquencies; and the Further
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
division B, title VII sections 744 and
745. To comply with these provisions,
only applicants that are or propose to
be, corporations will be required submit
Form AD 3030, ‘‘Representations
Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax
Delinquent Status for Corporate
Applicants’’ as part of their
preapplication.
There are no limits on proposed direct
and indirect costs. Expenses incurred in
developing preapplications will be at
the applicant’s cost.
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package. Entities wanting to apply for
assistance may download the
preapplication documents for this
Notice from the HPG website: https://
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
single-family-housing-programs/
housing-preservation-grants.
Application information for electronic
submissions may be found at https://
www.grants.gov.
Applicants may also request a paper
application package from the RD office
in their state. A list of RDSO contacts
can be found via https://
www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission. All requirements for
submission of a preapplication under
the Housing Preservation Program are
subject to 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
If the applicant is ineligible or the
preapplication is incomplete, the
Agency will inform the applicant in
writing of the decision, reasons
therefore, and its appeal rights and no
further evaluation of the application
will occur.
As specified by 7 CFR 1944.676, the
Agency requires applicants to submit
the following information to make an
eligibility determination:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
1. An SF–424, ‘‘Application for
Federal Assistance’’;
(i) Made available by contacting any
RDSO at the website: https://
www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices; or
(ii) Grants.gov at the following
website: https://www.grants.gov.
2. A statement of activities proposed
by the applicant for its HPG program as
appropriate to the type of assistance the
applicant is proposing, including:
(i) A complete discussion of the type
of and conditions for financial
assistance for housing preservation,
including whether the request for
assistance is for a homeowner assistance
program, a rental property assistance
program, or a cooperative assistance
program.
(ii) The process for selecting
recipients for HPG assistance,
determining housing preservation needs
of the dwelling, performing the
necessary work, and monitoring/
inspecting work performed.
(iii) A description of the process for
identifying potential environmental
impacts in accordance with § 1944.672
of this subpart, and the provisions for
compliance with Stipulation I.A–G of
the PMOA (RD Instruction 2000–FF
available in any Rural Development
office) in accordance with 7 CFR
1944.673(b) . With the exception of
Stipulation I.D of the PMOA, this may
be accomplished by adoption of exhibit
F–1 within RD Instruction 1944–N
(available in any Rural Development
office), or another process supplying
similar information acceptable to Rural
Development.
(iv) The development standard(s) the
applicant will use for the housing
preservation work; and, if not the RD
standards for existing dwellings, the
evidence of its acceptance by the
jurisdiction where the grant will be
implemented.
(v) The time schedule for completing
the program.
(vi) The staffing required to complete
the program.
(vii) The estimated number of very
low- and low-income minority and nonminority persons the grantee will assist
with HPG funds; and, if a rental
property or cooperative assistance
program, the number of units and the
term of restrictive covenants on their
use for very low- and low-income.
(viii) The geographical area(s) to be
served by the HPG program.
(ix) The annual estimated budget for
the program period based on the
financial needs to accomplish the
objectives outlined in the proposal. The
budget should include proposed direct
and indirect administrative costs, such
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
as personnel, fringe benefits, travel,
equipment, supplies, contracts, and
other cost categories, detailing those
costs for which the grantee proposes to
use the HPG grant separately from nonHPG resources, if any. The applicant
budget should also include a schedule
(with amounts) of how the applicant
proposes to draw HPG grant funds, i.e.,
monthly, quarterly, lump sum for
program activities, etc. The applicant
can use SF–424A to provide this
information.
(x) A copy of an indirect cost
proposal/rate or direct cost policy when
the applicant has another source of
federal funding in addition to the RD
HPG program.
(xi) A brief description of the
accounting system to be used.
(xii) The method of evaluation to be
used by the applicant to determine the
effectiveness of its program which
encompasses the requirements for
quarterly reports to RD in accordance
with 7 CFR 1944.683(b) and the
monitoring plan for rental properties
and cooperatives (when applicable)
according to 7 CFR 1944.689.
(xiii) The source and estimated
amount of other financial resources to
be obtained and used by the applicant
for both HPG activities and housing
development and/or supporting
activities.
(xiv) The use of program income if
any, and the tracking system used for
monitoring same.
(xv) The applicant’s plan for
disposition of any security instruments
held by them as a result of its HPG
activities in the event of its loss of legal
status.
(xvi) Any other information necessary
to explain the proposed HPG program.
(xvii) The outreach efforts outlined in
7 CFR 1944.671(b).
3. Experience. Complete information
about the applicant’s experience and
capacity to carry out the objectives of
the proposed HPG program.
4. Evidence of Legal Existence.
Evidence of the applicant’s legal
existence, including, in the case of a
private non-profit organization, a copy
of, or an accurate reference to, the
specific provisions of State law under
which the applicant is organized; a
certified copy of the applicant’s Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws or other
evidence of corporate existence;
certificate of incorporation for
applicants other than public bodies;
evidence of good standing from the state
when the corporation has been in
existence one year or more; and the
names and addresses of the applicant’s
members, directors and officers. If other
organizations are members of the
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
applicant-organization, or the applicant
is a consortium, preapplications should
be accompanied by the names,
addresses, and principal purpose of the
other organizations. If the applicant is a
consortium, documentation showing
compliance with paragraph (4)(ii) under
the definition of ‘‘organization’’ in 7
CFR 1944.656 must also be included.
5. Audited and Financial Statements.
For a private non-profit entity, the most
recent audited statement and a current
financial statement dated and signed by
an authorized officer of the entity
showing the amounts and specific
nature of assets and liabilities together
with information on the repayment
schedule and status of any debt(s) owed
by the applicant. If the applicant is an
organization being assisted by another
private non-profit organization, the
same type of financial statement should
also be provided by that organization.
6. Narrative Statement. A brief
narrative statement which includes
information about the area to be served
and the need for improved housing
(including both percentage and the
actual number of both low-income and
low-income minority households and
substandard housing), the need for the
type of housing preservation assistance
being proposed, the anticipated use of
HPG resources for historic properties,
and the method of evaluation to be used
by the applicant in determining the
effectiveness of its efforts (according to
7 CFR 1944.676(b)(1)(xii)).
7. Alleviating Overcrowding
Statement. A statement containing the
component for alleviating any
overcrowding as defined by 7 CFR
1944.656.
8. List of Other Activities. A list of
other activities the applicant is engaged
in and expects to continue, a statement
as to any other funding, and whether it
will have sufficient funds to assure
continued operation of the other
activities for at least the period of the
HPG grant agreement.
9. Project Selection Criteria. Any
other information necessary to address
the selection criteria in 7 CFR 1944.679.
10. Environmental Compliance
Agreement. The applicant must comply
with the requirements of 7 CFR part
1970 and submit RD Instruction 1970–
A Exhibit H ‘‘Multi-tier Action
Environmental Compliance
Agreement.’’
11. Public Participation and
Intergovernmental Review.
Intergovernmental Review. In
accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674(c), the
HPG program is subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372,
which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
officials. RD conducts
intergovernmental consultation as
implemented with 2 CFR part 415,
subpart C. Not all States have chosen to
participate in the intergovernmental
review process. A list of participating
States is available at the following
website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/management/office-federalfinancial-management/. Preapplications
from federally recognized Indian Tribes
are not subject to this requirement.
(i) The applicant must submit written
statements and related correspondence
reflecting compliance with 7 CFR
1944.674(a) regarding consultation with
local leaders from the county, parish,
and/or township governments of the
area where the HPG activities will take
place for the purpose of assuring that
the proposed HPG program is beneficial
and does not duplicate current
activities. American Indian nonprofit
organization applicants should obtain
the written concurrence of the tribal
governing body in lieu of consulting
with the county governments when the
program is operated only on tribal land.
(ii) The applicant is to make its
statement of activities available to the
public for comment prior to submission
to RD pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674(b).
The applicant(s) must announce the
availability of its statement of activities
for review in a print or online
newspaper of general circulation in the
project area and allow at least 15 days
for public comment. The start of this 15day period must occur no later than 16
days prior to the last day for acceptance
of preapplications by the Agency.
Federally recognized Indian Tribes,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, should
obtain the written concurrence of the
tribal governing body in lieu of
consulting with the county governments
when the program is operated only on
tribal land. The preapplication must
contain a description of how the
comments (if any were received) were
addressed.
12. Equal Opportunity Agreement.
The applicant must submit an original
of Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal Opportunity
Agreement’’ and Form RD 400–4,
‘‘Assurance Agreement’’ in accordance
with 7 CFR 1944.676.
13. RD Instruction 2000–FF. Provided
for informational purposes during the
preapplication period per 7 CFR
1944.673.
Applicants should review 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N for a comprehensive list
of all application requirements.
Preapplications will not be considered
for funding if they do not provide
sufficient information to determine
eligibility or are missing required
elements.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50557
Applicants must collect and maintain
data provided by recipients on race, sex,
and national origin and ensure ultimate
recipients collect and maintain this data
as described in 7 CFR 1944.671. Race
and ethnicity data will be collected in
accordance with OMB Federal Register
notice, ‘‘Revisions to the Standards for
the Classification of Federal Data on
Race and Ethnicity’’ (62 FR 58782),
October 30, 1997. Sex data will be
collected in accordance with Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972.
These items should not be submitted
with the application but should be
available upon request by the Agency.
The applicant and the recipient must
comply with title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age
Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive
Order 12250, Executive Order 13166
Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and
7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
Debarment and suspension
information is required in accordance
with 2 CFR 180 and 2 CFR 417 (OMB’s
Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) (Non
procurement Debarment and
Suspension) supplemented by 2 CFR
180 and 2 CFR 417 (Nonprocurement
Debarment and Suspension) if it
applies. The section heading is ‘‘What
information must I provide before
entering into a covered transaction with
a Federal agency?’’ located at 2 CFR
180.335. It is part of OMB’s Guidance
for Grants and Agreements concerning
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension. Applicants are not eligible
if they have been debarred or suspended
or otherwise excluded from, or
ineligible for, participation in Federal
assistance programs under 2 CFR parts
180 and 417.
3. System for Award Management and
Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, each
applicant must have an active
registration in the System for Award
Management (SAM) before submitting
its application in accordance with 2
CFR 25 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/
title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25). To
register in SAM, entities will be
required to obtain a Unique Entity
Identifier (UEI). Instructions for
obtaining the UEI are available at
https://sam.gov/content/entityregistration.
(b) Applicant must maintain an active
SAM registration, with current, accurate
and complete information, at all times
during which it has an active Federal
award or an application under
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
50558
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
consideration by a Federal awarding
agency.
(c) Applicant must ensure they
complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and
Representations in SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid
UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110
(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/
subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/
section-25.110).
(e) The Agency will not make an
award until the applicant has complied
with all SAM requirements including
providing the UEI. If an applicant has
not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Agency is
ready to make an award, the Agency
may determine that the applicant is not
qualified to receive a Federal award and
use that determination as a basis for
making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times. The
Agency will not solicit or consider new
scoring or eligibility information that is
submitted after the preapplication
deadline. RHS also reserves the right to
ask applicants for clarifying information
and additional verification of assertions
in the application.
5. Intergovernmental Review.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,’’ applies to this program. This
E.O. requires that Federal agencies
provide opportunities for consultation
on proposed assistance with State and
local governments. Many states have
established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation.
For a list of States that maintain a SPOC,
please see the White House website:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
management/office-federal-financialmanagement/. If your State has a SPOC,
you may submit a copy of the
application directly for review. Any
comments obtained through the SPOC
must be provided to your State Office
for consideration as part of your
application. If your state has not
established a SPOC, you may submit
your application directly to the Agency.
Applications from Federally recognized
Indian Tribes are not subject to this
requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. Applications
must be for eligible purposes as defined
above and must comply with the grant
fund limitations found within 7 CFR
1944. There are no limits on proposed
direct and indirect costs. Expenses
incurred in developing preapplications
will be at the applicant’s cost.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
None.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
E. Pre-Application Review Information
1. Criteria.
All eligible and complete
preapplications for section 533 HPG
funds must be filed with the appropriate
RDSO and all paper or electronic
preapplications must meet the
requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR
1944.679. Preapplications determined
not eligible and/or not meeting the
selection criteria will be notified by the
RDSO.
2. Review and Selection Process.
The Agency reserves the right to offer
the applicant less than the grant funding
requested. RDSOs will utilize the
following threshold project selection
criteria for applicants in accordance
with 7 CFR 1944.679:
(a) Providing a financially feasible
program of housing preservation
assistance. ‘‘Financially feasible’’ is
defined as proposed assistance which
will be affordable to the intended
recipient or result in affordable housing
for very low- and low-income persons.
(b) Serving eligible rural areas with a
concentration of substandard housing
for households of very low- and lowincome.
(c) Being an eligible applicant as
defined in 7 CFR 1944.658.
(d) Meeting the requirements of
consultation and public comment in
accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674.
(e) Submitting a complete
preapplication as outlined in 7 CFR
1944.676.
3. Scoring.
For applicants meeting all the
requirements listed above, the RDSOs
will use weighted criteria in accordance
with 7 CFR 1944.679(b) as selection for
the grant recipients. Each preapplication
and its accompanying statement of
activities will be evaluated and, based
solely on the information contained in
the preapplication, the applicant’s
proposal will be numerically rated on
each criterion within the range
provided. The highest-ranking
applicant(s) will be selected based on
allocation of funds available to the state.
(1) Points are awarded based on the
percentage of very low-income persons
that the applicant proposes to assist,
using the following scale:
(i) More than 80%: 20 points
(ii) 61% to 80%: 15 points
(iii) 41% to 60%: 10 points
(iv) 20% to 40%: 5 points
(v) Less than 20%: 0 points
(2) The applicant’s proposal may be
expected to result in the following
percentage of HPG fund use (excluding
administrative costs) to total cost of unit
preservation. This percentage reflects
maximum repair or rehabilitation with
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the least possible HPG funds due to
leveraging, innovative financial
assistance, owner’s contribution, or
other specified approaches. Points are
awarded based on the following
percentage of HPG funds (excluding
administrative costs) to total funds:
(i) 50% or less: 20 points
(ii) 51% to 65%: 15 points
(iii) 66% to 80%: 10 points
(iv) 81% to 95%: 5 points
(v) 96% to 100%: 0 points
(3) The applicant has demonstrated its
administrative capacity in assisting very
low- and low-income persons to obtain
adequate housing based on the
following:
(i) The organization or a member of its
staff has at least one or more years of
experience successfully managing and
operating a rehabilitation or
weatherization type program: 10 points.
(ii) The organization or a member of
its staff has at least one or more years
of experience successfully managing
and operating a program assisting very
low- and low-income persons obtain
housing assistance: 10 points.
(iii) If the organization has
administered grant programs, there are
no outstanding or unresolved audit or
investigative findings which might
impair carrying out the proposal: 10
points.
(4) The proposed program will be
undertaken entirely in rural areas
outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas
(MSAs) identified by RD as having
populations below 10,000 or in remote
parts of other rural areas (i.e., rural areas
contained in MSAs with less than 5,000
population) as defined in 7 CFR
1944.656: 10 points.
(5) The program will use less than 20
percent of HPG funds for administration
purposes:
(i) More than 20%: Not eligible
(ii) 20%: 0 points
(iii) 19%: 1 point
(iv) 18%: 2 points
(v) 17%: 3 points
(vi) 16%: 4 points
(vii) 15% or less: 5 points
(6) The proposed program contains a
component for alleviating overcrowding
as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 5 points.
In the event more than one
preapplication receives the same
number of points, those preapplications
will then be ranked based on the actual
percentage figure used for determining
the points in item (1) in the ‘‘Scoring’’
section of this Notice (7 CFR 1944.679
(b)(1)).
Example of 1st tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Applicant X’s percentage in ‘‘Scoring’’
section item (1) is 65%
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
Applicant B’s percentage in ‘‘Scoring’’
section item (1) is 75%
Applicant B is ranked higher than
Applicant X
Applicant B will be funded before
Applicant X
Further, if preapplications are still
tied, then those preapplications still tied
will be ranked based on the percentage
figures used for determining the points
in item (2) in the ‘‘Scoring’’ section of
this Notice.
Example of 2nd tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Both Applicants percentage in
‘‘Scoring’’ section item (1) is 65%
Applicant X’s percentage in ‘‘Scoring’’
section item (2) is 55%
Applicant B’s percentage in ‘‘Scoring’’
section item (2) is 60%
Applicant X is ranked higher with a
lower percentage than Applicant B
Applicant X will be funded before
Applicant B
Further for preapplications where
HPG assistance to rental properties or
co-ops is proposed, those still tied will
be further ranked based on the number
of years the units are available for
occupancy under the program (a
minimum of five years is required). For
this part, ranking will be based on most
to least number of years.
Example of 3rd tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Both Applicants percentage in
‘‘Scoring’’ section item (1) is 65%
Both Applicants percentage in
‘‘Scoring’’ section item (2) is 55%
Applicant X’s rental unit will be
available for occupancy under the
program for 10 years
Applicant B’s rental unit will be
available for occupancy under the
program for 5 years
Applicant X is ranked higher than
Applicant B
Applicant X will be funded before
Applicant B
If any of the applicants that remain
tied after the 1st and 2nd tie-breaks are
offering to assist single family owners,
then the 3rd tie-break would not be
applicable, and a lottery would be used
to select the applicant to be funded.
If there is still a tie after the first two
(or three, when applicable) tie-breaks,
then a lottery system will be used to
select the applicant to be funded. The
lottery will be conducted at the National
Office. The lottery will consist of the
names of each preapplication with equal
scores printed onto a same size piece of
paper, which will then be placed into a
receptacle that fully obstructs the view
of the names. The Director of the SingleFamily Housing Division, in the
presence of two witnesses, will draw a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
piece of paper from the receptacle. The
name on the piece of paper drawn will
be the applicant to be funded.
After the award selections are made
by the National Office, all applicants
will be notified of the status of their
preapplications in writing. Applicants
will be given their review rights or
appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR
1944.682.
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Award Notices.
The Agency will notify in writing,
applicants whose preapplications have
been selected for funding. At the time of
notification, the Agency will advise the
applicant what further information and
documentation is required along with a
timeline for submitting the additional
information. If the Agency determines it
is unable to select the preapplication for
funding, the applicant will be informed
in writing. Such notification will
include the reasons the applicant was
not selected. The Agency will advise
applicants, whose preapplications did
not meet eligibility and/or selection
criteria, of their review rights or appeal
rights in accordance with 7 CFR
1944.682.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements.
(a) The following additional
requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(i) Form SF–424, ‘‘Application for
Federal Assistance’’
(ii) Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for
Obligation of Funds’’
(iii) RD Instruction 1944–N Exhibit A,
‘‘Housing Preservation Grant
Agreement’’
(iv) Letter of Conditions (if applicable)
(v) Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of Intent
to Meet Conditions’’ (if applicable)
(vi) RD Instruction 1940–Q Exhibit A–
1, ‘‘Certification for Contracts, Grants
and Loans’’ (if applicable)
(vii) Form SF 3881, ‘‘ACH Vendor
Payment Enrollment Form’’
(viii) Form SF 270, ‘‘Request for
Advance or Reimbursement’’
(ix) Form SF 425, ‘‘Federal Financial
Report’’
(x) RD Instruction 1944–N Exhibits E–1
and E–2, ‘‘Quarterly (Final)
Performance Report’’ and ‘‘Quarterly
(Final) Performance Report Guide’’
(xi) RD Instruction 1970–B Exhibit D,
‘‘Categorical Exclusion Form’’
(xii) RD Instruction 1944–N Exhibit F–
1, ‘‘Grantee’s Process for Identifying
Properties Requiring Rural
Development Environmental
Assessments’’
(xiii) FEMA Form FF–206–FY–21–116
(formerly 086–0–32), ‘‘Standard Flood
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50559
Hazard Determination Form
(SFHDF)’’
(xiv) Execute Form SF–LLL, ‘‘Disclosure
of Lobbying Activities’’ (if applicable)
The grant recipient must include the
required nondiscrimination statements
in any of their advertisements and
brochures. Grantees will be required to
collect and maintain data provided by
recipients on race, sex, and national
origin and ensure recipients collect and
maintain this data. Race and ethnicity
data will be collected in accordance
with OMB Federal Register notice,
‘‘Revisions to the Standards for the
Classification of Federal Data on Race
and Ethnicity,’’ (62 FR 58782), October
30, 1997. Data on recipients’ sex will be
collected in accordance with Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972.
These items should not be submitted
with the application but should be
available upon request by the Agency.
3. Reporting. Performance reporting,
including applicable forms, narratives,
and other documentation, are to be
completed and submitted in accordance
with the provisions of 7 CFR 1944.683
and the Grant Agreement. Further, all
grantees must submit an audit or
financial information covering the
defined period of performance as
outlined in 7 CFR 1944.688 and the
Grant Agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this
announcement, please contact Mandy
Couture, Finance and Loan Analyst,
Single Family Housing Direct Division,
Special Programs and New Initiatives
Branch at (515) 418–2188 (voice) (this is
not a toll-free number) or email:
Mandy.Couture@usda.gov. The Program
website also provides up to date contact
information at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
programs-services/single-familyhousing-programs/housingpreservation-grants#contact.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the information collection
requirements associated with the
programs, as covered in this notice,
have been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under
OMB Control Number 0575–0157.
2. National Environmental Policy Act.
All recipients under this notice are
subject to the requirements of 7 CFR
part 1970.
3. Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act. All applicants,
in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must
be registered in SAM and have a UEI
number as stated in section D.3 of this
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
50560
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Notices
notice. All recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to
report information about first-tier subawards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170.
4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made
under this notice are subject to Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as
required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15,
subpart A- Nondiscrimination in
Federally-Assisted Programs of the
Department of Agriculture—Effectuation
of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964) and section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, title VIII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English
Proficiency), Executive Order 11246,
and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of
1974.
5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In
accordance with Federal civil rights
laws and USDA civil rights regulations
and policies, the USDA, its Mission
Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees,
and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, income derived from a
public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior
civil rights activity, in any program or
activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made
available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means of
communication to obtain program
information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language)
should contact the responsible Mission
Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA
TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600
(voice and TTY); or the 711 Relay
Service.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD–3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, which can be obtained online at
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/
files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any
USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992,
or by writing a letter addressed to
USDA. The letter must contain the
complainant’s name, address, telephone
number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
rights violation. The completed AD–
3027 form or letter must be submitted to
USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Yvonne Hsu,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–13131 Filed 6–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the Arizona
Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of virtual
business meeting.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) that a virtual business meeting
of the Arizona Advisory Committee
(Committee) to the U.S. Commission on
Civil Right will convene via ZoomGov
on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 12:00
p.m.–1:30 p.m. Arizona Time. The
purpose of the meeting is to review
drafts of their report examining the
racial and/or ethnic disparities in access
to pediatric health care.
DATES: The meeting will take place on:
Meeting 2: Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Arizona Time.
ADDRESSES:
Webinar Zoom Link to Join (Audio/
Visual): https://www.zoomgov.com/
webinar/register/WN_1MKV-XrYRXySwjqZPM1qQ.
Telephone (Audio Only) Dial: 1–833–
435–1820 (US Toll-free); Webinar ID:
160 428 9106.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana
Fortes, DFO, at afortes@usccr.gov or
(202) 681–0857.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Committee meetings are available to the
public through the videoconference link
above. Any interested member of the
public may listen to the meeting. An
open comment period will be provided
to allow members of the public to make
a statement as time allows. Per the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, public
minutes of the meeting will include a
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
list of persons who are present at the
meeting. If joining via phone, callers can
expect to incur regular charges for calls
they initiate over wireless lines,
according to their wireless plan. The
Commission will not refund any
incurred charges. Closed captioning will
be available for individuals who are
deaf, hard of hearing, or who have
certain cognitive or learning
impairments. To request additional
accommodations, please email Angelica
Trevino, Support Services Specialist, at
atrevino@usccr.gov at least 10 business
days prior to the meeting.
Members of the public are entitled to
make comments during the open period
at the end of the meeting. Members of
the public may also submit written
comments; the comments must be
received in the Regional Programs Unit
within 30 days following the meeting.
Written comments can be sent via email
to Ana Fortes (DFO) at afortes@
usccr.gov.
Records generated from this meeting
may be inspected and reproduced at the
Regional Programs Coordination Unit
Office, as they become available, both
before and after the meeting. Records of
the meetings will be available via
www.facadatabase.gov under the
Commission on Civil Rights, Arizona
Advisory Committee link. Persons
interested in the work of this Committee
are directed to the Commission’s
website, https://www.usccr.gov, or may
contact the Regional Programs
Coordination Unit at atrevino@
usccr.gov.
Agenda
I. Welcome, Roll Call, and
Announcements
II. Review Draft Report
III. Public Comment
IV. Adjournment
Dated: June 11, 2024.
David Mussatt,
Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2024–13155 Filed 6–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the Arizona
Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of virtual
business meeting.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM
14JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 116 (Friday, June 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50554-50560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13131]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS-24-SFH-0009]
Notice of Funding Availability for the Section 533 Housing
Preservation Grant (HPG) for Fiscal Year 2024
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) mission area agency of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of $12.2 million in
funding for the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program for fiscal
year (FY) 2024, which includes approximately $2.2 million that will be
made available for disaster assistance. The funds are available to
eligible sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of
housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens
under the HPG Program. This notice announces the opening and closing
dates for receipt of preapplications for HPG funds, including the
availability of calendar year 2022 disaster assistance, from eligible
applicants, as well as submission requirements. Expenses incurred in
developing preapplications will be at the applicant's cost.
DATES: Completed preapplications for grants must be submitted
according to one of the following methods:
Paper Submissions: The deadline for receipt of a paper
preapplication is 4:30 p.m. local time, July 29, 2024. Applicants
intending to mail preapplications must provide sufficient time to
permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time.
Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does
not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), and postage due applications
will not be accepted. The preapplication dates and times are firm. The
Agency will not consider any preapplication received after the
deadline.
Electronic submissions: Electronic preapplications must be
received by email or submitted to Grants.gov. The deadline for receipt
of an electronic preapplication is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 29,
2024. The preapplication dates and times are firm. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received after the deadline. The Agency
will not solicit or consider scoring or eligibility information that is
submitted after the preapplication deadline. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received after the deadline. The Agency
reserves the right to contact applicants to seek clarification
information on materials contained in the submitted preapplication.
ADDRESSES: Application Submission: Entities wanting to apply for
assistance may download the preapplication documents and requirements
as stated in this Notice from the HPG website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/housing-preservation-grants. Applicants will also find the requirements in the HPG program
regulation found in 7 CFR 1944 (Subpart N). Preapplication information
for electronic submissions may be found at https://www.Grants.gov.
Applicants may also request paper preapplication packages from the
RD office in their state. A list of Rural Development State Office
(RDSO) contacts can be found via: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mandy Couture, Finance and Loan
Analyst, Single Family Housing Direct Division, Special Programs and
New Initiatives Branch at (515) 418-2188 (voice) (this is not a toll-
free number) or email: [email protected]. You may also contact the
RD office for the state in which the applicant is located. A list of
RDSO contacts is provided at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Housing Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Housing Preservation Grant (HPG).
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RD-HCFP-HPG-2024.
Assistance Listing: 10.433.
[[Page 50555]]
Dates: Completed preapplications for grants must be submitted
according to one of the following methods:
Paper Submissions: The deadline for receipt of a paper
preapplication is 4:30 p.m. local time, July 29, 2024. Applicants
intending to mail preapplications must provide sufficient time to
permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time.
Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does
not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), and postage due applications
will not be accepted. The preapplication dates and times are firm. The
Agency will not consider any preapplication received after the
deadline.
Electronic submissions: Electronic preapplications must be
received by email or submitted to Grants.gov. The deadline for receipt
of an electronic application is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 29,
2024. The preapplication dates and times are firm. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received after the deadline. The Agency
will not solicit or consider scoring or eligibility information that is
submitted after the preapplication deadline. The Agency will not
consider any preapplication received after the deadline. The Agency
reserves the right to contact applicants to seek clarification
information on materials contained in the submitted preapplication.
Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities
(more details available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
Assisting rural communities recover economically through
more and better market opportunities and through improved
infrastructure.
For further information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The HPG program is a grant program
administered by the Single-Family Housing Programs of RHS. It is
limited to eligible rural areas and to qualified entities (such as
public agencies, private non-profit organizations, and federally
recognized Tribes). Grant funds can be used to assist low- and very
low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in
rural areas.
Cooperative housing complexes (co-ops) and rental property owners
may receive assistance under the HPG program if they agree to make such
units available to very low- and low-income persons. Rental property
owners can include section 515 and 538 rental properties if the
eligibility requirements are met for the HPG program. In accordance
with 7 CFR 1944.663, rental property owners, or the co-op, must agree
to make the units repaired or rehabilitated available for occupancy to
very low- or low-income persons for a period of not less than five
years. The minimum five-year rent restriction for very low- and low-
income tenants will only apply to the units that are repaired with the
HPG funding. Any units within the property that were not repaired with
HPG funding will not be subject to the five-year restriction.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. Funding is authorized by
section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended and pursuant to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42); 42 U.S.C.
1490m, and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
3. Definitions. The definitions applicable to this notice may be
found at 7 CFR 1944.656.
4. Application of Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and
score preapplications in response to this notice based on the
provisions in 7 CFR 1944.679 and as indicated in this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024 $12.2 million, to remain available until
expended.
Available Funds: Approximately $12.2 million is made available to
eligible participants. Approximately $2.2 million of this funding is
available for disaster assistance. The disaster funding is made
available from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Division N,
Title I. RHS may, at its discretion, increase the total level of
funding available from any available source provided the awards meet
the requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the
Agency.
Award Amounts: As required by 7 CFR 1944.680, no single entity may
be awarded more than \1/2\ of a state's allocation if there are two or
more preapplications for a given state that meet the threshold criteria
of 7 CFR 1944.679(a). Award amounts available in FY 2024 State
Allocation have not been finalized and can be obtained from the RDSO.
An award made for disaster assistance may not exceed a maximum award
amount of $50,000, with no state maximum for the number of such
disaster assistance awards.
A list of RDSO contacts is provided at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
Anticipated Award Date: The Agency anticipates making awards
approximately 120 days after the application deadline.
Performance Period: 24 months from the executed grant agreement.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.
Approximate Number of Awards: The number of awards will depend on
the number of eligible participants and the total amount of requested
funds. Based on the Agency's prior experience with this program, it
expects to make approximately 80-120 awards.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. (a) Potential applicants must meet the
eligibility requirements of 7 CFR 1944.658. Additionally, potential
applicants must meet the requirements of 7 CFR 1944.661, 1944.662, and/
or 1944.686 as applicable. Eligible entities for these competitively
awarded grants must meet the definition of ``organization'' as defined
in 7 CFR 1944.656. Eligible entities include State and local
governments, non-profit corporations, which may include, but not be
limited to Faith-Based and community organizations; federally
recognized Indian Tribes; and consortia of eligible entities. HPG
applicants who were previously selected for HPG funds are eligible to
submit new preapplications to apply for FY 2024 HPG program funds. An
additional HPG grant may be made when the grantee has achieved or
nearly achieved the goals established for the previous or existing
grant. The commitment of program dollars will be made to selected
applicants who have fulfilled the necessary requirements for
obligations. Awards for disaster assistance grants may be made only for
disaster declared as a presidentially declared disaster during calendar
year 2022 presidentially declared area(s). A presidentially declared
disaster is defined as a ``major disaster or emergency'' declared under
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). A list of 2022 presidentially
declared disasters can be viewed at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.652(a)(1),
grantees are expected to coordinate and leverage funding for repair and
rehabilitation activities; as well as replacement housing, with housing
and community
[[Page 50556]]
development organizations or activities operating in the same
geographic area. While it is encouraged that HPG funds be leveraged
with other resources, cost sharing or matching is not a requirement for
the HPG applicant, and the HPG applicant would not necessarily be
denied an award of HPG funds if all other required project selection
criteria described in this notice and at 7 CFR 1944.679(a) have been
met.
3. Discretionary Points. None.
4. Other. Awards made under this Notice are subject to the
provisions contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub.
L. 118-47, division E title VII, sections 744 and 745, regarding
Corporate Felony Convictions and Corporate Federal Tax Delinquencies;
and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 division B, title
VII sections 744 and 745. To comply with these provisions, only
applicants that are or propose to be, corporations will be required
submit Form AD 3030, ``Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and
Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants'' as part of their
preapplication.
There are no limits on proposed direct and indirect costs. Expenses
incurred in developing preapplications will be at the applicant's cost.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. Entities wanting to
apply for assistance may download the preapplication documents for this
Notice from the HPG website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/housing-preservation-grants. Application
information for electronic submissions may be found at https://www.grants.gov.
Applicants may also request a paper application package from the RD
office in their state. A list of RDSO contacts can be found via https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. All requirements for
submission of a preapplication under the Housing Preservation Program
are subject to 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. If the applicant is
ineligible or the preapplication is incomplete, the Agency will inform
the applicant in writing of the decision, reasons therefore, and its
appeal rights and no further evaluation of the application will occur.
As specified by 7 CFR 1944.676, the Agency requires applicants to
submit the following information to make an eligibility determination:
1. An SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'';
(i) Made available by contacting any RDSO at the website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices; or
(ii) Grants.gov at the following website: https://www.grants.gov.
2. A statement of activities proposed by the applicant for its HPG
program as appropriate to the type of assistance the applicant is
proposing, including:
(i) A complete discussion of the type of and conditions for
financial assistance for housing preservation, including whether the
request for assistance is for a homeowner assistance program, a rental
property assistance program, or a cooperative assistance program.
(ii) The process for selecting recipients for HPG assistance,
determining housing preservation needs of the dwelling, performing the
necessary work, and monitoring/inspecting work performed.
(iii) A description of the process for identifying potential
environmental impacts in accordance with Sec. 1944.672 of this
subpart, and the provisions for compliance with Stipulation I.A-G of
the PMOA (RD Instruction 2000-FF available in any Rural Development
office) in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.673(b) . With the exception of
Stipulation I.D of the PMOA, this may be accomplished by adoption of
exhibit F-1 within RD Instruction 1944-N (available in any Rural
Development office), or another process supplying similar information
acceptable to Rural Development.
(iv) The development standard(s) the applicant will use for the
housing preservation work; and, if not the RD standards for existing
dwellings, the evidence of its acceptance by the jurisdiction where the
grant will be implemented.
(v) The time schedule for completing the program.
(vi) The staffing required to complete the program.
(vii) The estimated number of very low- and low-income minority and
non-minority persons the grantee will assist with HPG funds; and, if a
rental property or cooperative assistance program, the number of units
and the term of restrictive covenants on their use for very low- and
low-income.
(viii) The geographical area(s) to be served by the HPG program.
(ix) The annual estimated budget for the program period based on
the financial needs to accomplish the objectives outlined in the
proposal. The budget should include proposed direct and indirect
administrative costs, such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel,
equipment, supplies, contracts, and other cost categories, detailing
those costs for which the grantee proposes to use the HPG grant
separately from non-HPG resources, if any. The applicant budget should
also include a schedule (with amounts) of how the applicant proposes to
draw HPG grant funds, i.e., monthly, quarterly, lump sum for program
activities, etc. The applicant can use SF-424A to provide this
information.
(x) A copy of an indirect cost proposal/rate or direct cost policy
when the applicant has another source of federal funding in addition to
the RD HPG program.
(xi) A brief description of the accounting system to be used.
(xii) The method of evaluation to be used by the applicant to
determine the effectiveness of its program which encompasses the
requirements for quarterly reports to RD in accordance with 7 CFR
1944.683(b) and the monitoring plan for rental properties and
cooperatives (when applicable) according to 7 CFR 1944.689.
(xiii) The source and estimated amount of other financial resources
to be obtained and used by the applicant for both HPG activities and
housing development and/or supporting activities.
(xiv) The use of program income if any, and the tracking system
used for monitoring same.
(xv) The applicant's plan for disposition of any security
instruments held by them as a result of its HPG activities in the event
of its loss of legal status.
(xvi) Any other information necessary to explain the proposed HPG
program.
(xvii) The outreach efforts outlined in 7 CFR 1944.671(b).
3. Experience. Complete information about the applicant's
experience and capacity to carry out the objectives of the proposed HPG
program.
4. Evidence of Legal Existence. Evidence of the applicant's legal
existence, including, in the case of a private non-profit organization,
a copy of, or an accurate reference to, the specific provisions of
State law under which the applicant is organized; a certified copy of
the applicant's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other evidence
of corporate existence; certificate of incorporation for applicants
other than public bodies; evidence of good standing from the state when
the corporation has been in existence one year or more; and the names
and addresses of the applicant's members, directors and officers. If
other organizations are members of the
[[Page 50557]]
applicant-organization, or the applicant is a consortium,
preapplications should be accompanied by the names, addresses, and
principal purpose of the other organizations. If the applicant is a
consortium, documentation showing compliance with paragraph (4)(ii)
under the definition of ``organization'' in 7 CFR 1944.656 must also be
included.
5. Audited and Financial Statements. For a private non-profit
entity, the most recent audited statement and a current financial
statement dated and signed by an authorized officer of the entity
showing the amounts and specific nature of assets and liabilities
together with information on the repayment schedule and status of any
debt(s) owed by the applicant. If the applicant is an organization
being assisted by another private non-profit organization, the same
type of financial statement should also be provided by that
organization.
6. Narrative Statement. A brief narrative statement which includes
information about the area to be served and the need for improved
housing (including both percentage and the actual number of both low-
income and low-income minority households and substandard housing), the
need for the type of housing preservation assistance being proposed,
the anticipated use of HPG resources for historic properties, and the
method of evaluation to be used by the applicant in determining the
effectiveness of its efforts (according to 7 CFR 1944.676(b)(1)(xii)).
7. Alleviating Overcrowding Statement. A statement containing the
component for alleviating any overcrowding as defined by 7 CFR
1944.656.
8. List of Other Activities. A list of other activities the
applicant is engaged in and expects to continue, a statement as to any
other funding, and whether it will have sufficient funds to assure
continued operation of the other activities for at least the period of
the HPG grant agreement.
9. Project Selection Criteria. Any other information necessary to
address the selection criteria in 7 CFR 1944.679.
10. Environmental Compliance Agreement. The applicant must comply
with the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970 and submit RD Instruction
1970-A Exhibit H ``Multi-tier Action Environmental Compliance
Agreement.''
11. Public Participation and Intergovernmental Review.
Intergovernmental Review. In accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674(c), the HPG
program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which
requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.
RD conducts intergovernmental consultation as implemented with 2 CFR
part 415, subpart C. Not all States have chosen to participate in the
intergovernmental review process. A list of participating States is
available at the following website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/. Preapplications from
federally recognized Indian Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
(i) The applicant must submit written statements and related
correspondence reflecting compliance with 7 CFR 1944.674(a) regarding
consultation with local leaders from the county, parish, and/or
township governments of the area where the HPG activities will take
place for the purpose of assuring that the proposed HPG program is
beneficial and does not duplicate current activities. American Indian
nonprofit organization applicants should obtain the written concurrence
of the tribal governing body in lieu of consulting with the county
governments when the program is operated only on tribal land.
(ii) The applicant is to make its statement of activities available
to the public for comment prior to submission to RD pursuant to 7 CFR
1944.674(b). The applicant(s) must announce the availability of its
statement of activities for review in a print or online newspaper of
general circulation in the project area and allow at least 15 days for
public comment. The start of this 15-day period must occur no later
than 16 days prior to the last day for acceptance of preapplications by
the Agency. Federally recognized Indian Tribes, pursuant to 7 CFR
1944.674, should obtain the written concurrence of the tribal governing
body in lieu of consulting with the county governments when the program
is operated only on tribal land. The preapplication must contain a
description of how the comments (if any were received) were addressed.
12. Equal Opportunity Agreement. The applicant must submit an
original of Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement'' and Form RD
400-4, ``Assurance Agreement'' in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.676.
13. RD Instruction 2000-FF. Provided for informational purposes
during the preapplication period per 7 CFR 1944.673.
Applicants should review 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N for a
comprehensive list of all application requirements. Preapplications
will not be considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient
information to determine eligibility or are missing required elements.
Applicants must collect and maintain data provided by recipients on
race, sex, and national origin and ensure ultimate recipients collect
and maintain this data as described in 7 CFR 1944.671. Race and
ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with OMB Federal
Register notice, ``Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of
Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997.
Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972. These items should not be submitted with the
application but should be available upon request by the Agency.
The applicant and the recipient must comply with title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive
Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English Proficiency (LEP),
and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
Debarment and suspension information is required in accordance with
2 CFR 180 and 2 CFR 417 (OMB's Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) (Non procurement Debarment
and Suspension) supplemented by 2 CFR 180 and 2 CFR 417 (Nonprocurement
Debarment and Suspension) if it applies. The section heading is ``What
information must I provide before entering into a covered transaction
with a Federal agency?'' located at 2 CFR 180.335. It is part of OMB's
Guidance for Grants and Agreements concerning Governmentwide Debarment
and Suspension. Applicants are not eligible if they have been debarred
or suspended or otherwise excluded from, or ineligible for,
participation in Federal assistance programs under 2 CFR parts 180 and
417.
3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting
its application in accordance with 2 CFR 25 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25). To register in SAM,
entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
(b) Applicant must maintain an active SAM registration, with
current, accurate and complete information, at all times during which
it has an active Federal award or an application under
[[Page 50558]]
consideration by a Federal awarding agency.
(c) Applicant must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110).
(e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times. The Agency will not solicit or
consider new scoring or eligibility information that is submitted after
the preapplication deadline. RHS also reserves the right to ask
applicants for clarifying information and additional verification of
assertions in the application.
5. Intergovernmental Review. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' applies to this
program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide opportunities
for consultation on proposed assistance with State and local
governments. Many states have established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of States that
maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/.
If your State has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application
directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be
provided to your State Office for consideration as part of your
application. If your state has not established a SPOC, you may submit
your application directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally
recognized Indian Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. Applications must be for eligible purposes
as defined above and must comply with the grant fund limitations found
within 7 CFR 1944. There are no limits on proposed direct and indirect
costs. Expenses incurred in developing preapplications will be at the
applicant's cost.
7. Other Submission Requirements: None.
E. Pre-Application Review Information
1. Criteria.
All eligible and complete preapplications for section 533 HPG funds
must be filed with the appropriate RDSO and all paper or electronic
preapplications must meet the requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR
1944.679. Preapplications determined not eligible and/or not meeting
the selection criteria will be notified by the RDSO.
2. Review and Selection Process.
The Agency reserves the right to offer the applicant less than the
grant funding requested. RDSOs will utilize the following threshold
project selection criteria for applicants in accordance with 7 CFR
1944.679:
(a) Providing a financially feasible program of housing
preservation assistance. ``Financially feasible'' is defined as
proposed assistance which will be affordable to the intended recipient
or result in affordable housing for very low- and low-income persons.
(b) Serving eligible rural areas with a concentration of
substandard housing for households of very low- and low-income.
(c) Being an eligible applicant as defined in 7 CFR 1944.658.
(d) Meeting the requirements of consultation and public comment in
accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674.
(e) Submitting a complete preapplication as outlined in 7 CFR
1944.676.
3. Scoring.
For applicants meeting all the requirements listed above, the RDSOs
will use weighted criteria in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.679(b) as
selection for the grant recipients. Each preapplication and its
accompanying statement of activities will be evaluated and, based
solely on the information contained in the preapplication, the
applicant's proposal will be numerically rated on each criterion within
the range provided. The highest-ranking applicant(s) will be selected
based on allocation of funds available to the state.
(1) Points are awarded based on the percentage of very low-income
persons that the applicant proposes to assist, using the following
scale:
(i) More than 80%: 20 points
(ii) 61% to 80%: 15 points
(iii) 41% to 60%: 10 points
(iv) 20% to 40%: 5 points
(v) Less than 20%: 0 points
(2) The applicant's proposal may be expected to result in the
following percentage of HPG fund use (excluding administrative costs)
to total cost of unit preservation. This percentage reflects maximum
repair or rehabilitation with the least possible HPG funds due to
leveraging, innovative financial assistance, owner's contribution, or
other specified approaches. Points are awarded based on the following
percentage of HPG funds (excluding administrative costs) to total
funds:
(i) 50% or less: 20 points
(ii) 51% to 65%: 15 points
(iii) 66% to 80%: 10 points
(iv) 81% to 95%: 5 points
(v) 96% to 100%: 0 points
(3) The applicant has demonstrated its administrative capacity in
assisting very low- and low-income persons to obtain adequate housing
based on the following:
(i) The organization or a member of its staff has at least one or
more years of experience successfully managing and operating a
rehabilitation or weatherization type program: 10 points.
(ii) The organization or a member of its staff has at least one or
more years of experience successfully managing and operating a program
assisting very low- and low-income persons obtain housing assistance:
10 points.
(iii) If the organization has administered grant programs, there
are no outstanding or unresolved audit or investigative findings which
might impair carrying out the proposal: 10 points.
(4) The proposed program will be undertaken entirely in rural areas
outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) identified by RD as
having populations below 10,000 or in remote parts of other rural areas
(i.e., rural areas contained in MSAs with less than 5,000 population)
as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 10 points.
(5) The program will use less than 20 percent of HPG funds for
administration purposes:
(i) More than 20%: Not eligible
(ii) 20%: 0 points
(iii) 19%: 1 point
(iv) 18%: 2 points
(v) 17%: 3 points
(vi) 16%: 4 points
(vii) 15% or less: 5 points
(6) The proposed program contains a component for alleviating
overcrowding as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 5 points.
In the event more than one preapplication receives the same number
of points, those preapplications will then be ranked based on the
actual percentage figure used for determining the points in item (1) in
the ``Scoring'' section of this Notice (7 CFR 1944.679 (b)(1)).
Example of 1st tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Applicant X's percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (1) is 65%
[[Page 50559]]
Applicant B's percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (1) is 75%
Applicant B is ranked higher than Applicant X
Applicant B will be funded before Applicant X
Further, if preapplications are still tied, then those
preapplications still tied will be ranked based on the percentage
figures used for determining the points in item (2) in the ``Scoring''
section of this Notice.
Example of 2nd tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Both Applicants percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (1) is 65%
Applicant X's percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (2) is 55%
Applicant B's percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (2) is 60%
Applicant X is ranked higher with a lower percentage than Applicant B
Applicant X will be funded before Applicant B
Further for preapplications where HPG assistance to rental
properties or co-ops is proposed, those still tied will be further
ranked based on the number of years the units are available for
occupancy under the program (a minimum of five years is required). For
this part, ranking will be based on most to least number of years.
Example of 3rd tie-break:
Both Applicants score 80 points
Both Applicants percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (1) is 65%
Both Applicants percentage in ``Scoring'' section item (2) is 55%
Applicant X's rental unit will be available for occupancy under the
program for 10 years
Applicant B's rental unit will be available for occupancy under the
program for 5 years
Applicant X is ranked higher than Applicant B
Applicant X will be funded before Applicant B
If any of the applicants that remain tied after the 1st and 2nd
tie-breaks are offering to assist single family owners, then the 3rd
tie-break would not be applicable, and a lottery would be used to
select the applicant to be funded.
If there is still a tie after the first two (or three, when
applicable) tie-breaks, then a lottery system will be used to select
the applicant to be funded. The lottery will be conducted at the
National Office. The lottery will consist of the names of each
preapplication with equal scores printed onto a same size piece of
paper, which will then be placed into a receptacle that fully obstructs
the view of the names. The Director of the Single-Family Housing
Division, in the presence of two witnesses, will draw a piece of paper
from the receptacle. The name on the piece of paper drawn will be the
applicant to be funded.
After the award selections are made by the National Office, all
applicants will be notified of the status of their preapplications in
writing. Applicants will be given their review rights or appeal rights
in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.682.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices.
The Agency will notify in writing, applicants whose preapplications
have been selected for funding. At the time of notification, the Agency
will advise the applicant what further information and documentation is
required along with a timeline for submitting the additional
information. If the Agency determines it is unable to select the
preapplication for funding, the applicant will be informed in writing.
Such notification will include the reasons the applicant was not
selected. The Agency will advise applicants, whose preapplications did
not meet eligibility and/or selection criteria, of their review rights
or appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.682.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
(a) The following additional requirements apply to grantees
selected for this program:
(i) Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance''
(ii) Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds''
(iii) RD Instruction 1944-N Exhibit A, ``Housing Preservation Grant
Agreement''
(iv) Letter of Conditions (if applicable)
(v) Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions'' (if
applicable)
(vi) RD Instruction 1940-Q Exhibit A-1, ``Certification for Contracts,
Grants and Loans'' (if applicable)
(vii) Form SF 3881, ``ACH Vendor Payment Enrollment Form''
(viii) Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement''
(ix) Form SF 425, ``Federal Financial Report''
(x) RD Instruction 1944-N Exhibits E-1 and E-2, ``Quarterly (Final)
Performance Report'' and ``Quarterly (Final) Performance Report Guide''
(xi) RD Instruction 1970-B Exhibit D, ``Categorical Exclusion Form''
(xii) RD Instruction 1944-N Exhibit F-1, ``Grantee's Process for
Identifying Properties Requiring Rural Development Environmental
Assessments''
(xiii) FEMA Form FF-206-FY-21-116 (formerly 086-0-32), ``Standard Flood
Hazard Determination Form (SFHDF)''
(xiv) Execute Form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' (if
applicable)
The grant recipient must include the required nondiscrimination
statements in any of their advertisements and brochures. Grantees will
be required to collect and maintain data provided by recipients on
race, sex, and national origin and ensure recipients collect and
maintain this data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in
accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and
Ethnicity,'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Data on recipients' sex
will be collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972. These items should not be submitted with the
application but should be available upon request by the Agency.
3. Reporting. Performance reporting, including applicable forms,
narratives, and other documentation, are to be completed and submitted
in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR 1944.683 and the Grant
Agreement. Further, all grantees must submit an audit or financial
information covering the defined period of performance as outlined in 7
CFR 1944.688 and the Grant Agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this announcement, please contact Mandy
Couture, Finance and Loan Analyst, Single Family Housing Direct
Division, Special Programs and New Initiatives Branch at (515) 418-2188
(voice) (this is not a toll-free number) or email:
[email protected]. The Program website also provides up to date
contact information at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/housing-preservation-grants#contact.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information
collection requirements associated with the programs, as covered in
this notice, have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under OMB Control Number 0575-0157.
2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970.
3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM
and have a UEI number as stated in section D.3 of this
[[Page 50560]]
notice. All recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to
report information about first-tier sub-awards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made under this notice are subject
to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA (7
CFR part 15, subpart A- Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted
Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order
11246, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.
5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil
rights laws and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA,
its Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived
from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the 711 Relay Service.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-
9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain
the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written
description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail
to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the
nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-
3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Yvonne Hsu,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-13131 Filed 6-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P