66238 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–5024–N–01] 

Universities Rebuilding America 

Partnerships (URAP)—Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities 

(HBCU) 

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development 

and Research, HUD. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA). 

OVERVIEW INFORMATION: 

A. Federal Agency Name: Department 

of Housing and Urban Development, 

Office of Policy Development and 

Research, Office of University 

Partnerships. 

B. Funding Opportunity Title: 

Universities Rebuilding America 

Partnerships (URAP)—Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). 

C. Announcement Type: Initial 

announcement. 

D. Funding Opportunity Numbers: 

The Federal Register number for this 

NOFA is FR–5024–N–01. The OMB 

approval number for this program is 

2528–0235. 

E. Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: The CFDA 

number for this program is 14.520. 

F. Dates: The application submission 

date is December 1, 2005. 

G. Additional Overview Content 

Information 

1. Purpose of the Program: The 

Universities Rebuilding America 

Partnerships (URAP)—Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 

program will provide critical resources 

and assistance to communities, 

principally for persons of low- and 

moderate-income, impacted by 

Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (or both) to 

revitalize their communities and rebuild 

their lives. 

2. Award Information: Approximately 

$3.6 million of unobligated funds 

appropriated for the HBCU program 

under the Consolidated Appropriations 

Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108–447, approved 

December 8, 2004) has been made 

available for this program. If funding 

remains after awards are made to all 

eligible applicants, the remaining funds 

will be used in the Fiscal Year (FY) 

2006 funding cycle competition for the 

Office of University Partnerships, 

Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities program. 

The maximum amount an applicant 

can request for award is $350,000 for a 

two-year (24-month) grant performance 

period. 

3. Eligible Applicants: Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities that 

meet the definition of Historically Black 

Colleges and Universities as determined 

by the U.S. Department of Education 

(see 34 CFR 608.2) in accordance with 

that Department’s responsibilities under 

Executive Order 13256, dated February 

12, 2002, are eligible to apply for 

funding under this program. Applicants 

must be accredited by a national or 

regional accrediting agency recognized 

by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Purpose 

The purpose of the Universities 

Rebuilding America Partnerships 

(URAP)—Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities (HBCU) program is to 

provide critical resources and assistance 

to communities, principally for persons 

of low- and moderate-income, impacted 

by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (or both) 

to revitalize their communities and 

rebuild their lives. 

For the purposes of this program, an 

applicant must provide services or 

activities in, or for the benefit of persons 

currently residing in or displaced from, 

a designated disaster area affected by 

Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. 

B. Authority 

HUD’s authority for making funding 

available under this NOFA is the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 

(Pub. L. 108–447; approved December 8, 

2004). This program is implemented 

through the regulations at 24 CFR 

570.404 and through this NOFA, and 

the policies governing its operation are 

contained herein. 

II. Award Information 

A. Award Amount 

Approximately $3.6 million of 

unobligated funds appropriated for the 

HBCU program under the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108– 

447) has been made available for this 

program. If funding remains after 

awards are made to all eligible 

applicants, the remaining funds will be 

used in FY06 to fund applicants for the 

Office of University Partnerships, HBCU 

program. 

The maximum amount an applicant 

can request for award is $350,000 for a 

two-year (24-month) grant performance 

period. 

B. Additional Information 

1. For purposes of this NOFA, the 15 

percent cap on public service activities 

(see 24 CFR 570.201(e)(1)) is 

inapplicable. See section VIII.A of this 

NOFA for more information. 

2. Institutions applying for the URAP– 

HBCU program also may submit 

applications for the URAP–Community 

Design Program (CDP) awards. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities as determined by the U.S. 

Department of Education (see 34 CFR 

608.2) in accordance with that 

Department’s responsibilities under 

Executive Order 13256, dated February 

12, 2002, are eligible to apply for 

funding under this program. All 

applicants must be accredited by a 

national or regional accrediting agency 

recognized by the U.S. Department of 

Education. 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching 

None Required. 

C. Other 

1. Eligible Activities 

Eligible activities are listed in 24 CFR 

part 570, subpart C, particularly 

§§ 570.201 through 570.206. Information 

regarding these activities can be found 

at: www.hudclips.org (click on the Code 

of Federal Regulations for detailed 

information). 

a. Examples of eligible activities for 

this program include, but are not 

limited to: 

(1) Clearance and demolition; 

(2) Rehabilitation of residential 

structures, including lead-based paint 

hazard evaluation and reduction, and 

making accessibility and visitability 

modifications in accordance with the 

requirements of Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 

794); 

(3) Assistance to organizations within 

the disaster area, including communitybased development organizations in 

accordance with 24 CFR 570.204; faithbased organizations; institutions of 

higher education; and state and local 

entities to carry out neighborhood 

revitalization and community economic 

development; 

(4) Public service activities such as 

those general support activities that can 

help to stabilize a neighborhood in the 

designated disaster area and contribute 

to sustainable redevelopment of the 

area, including, but not limited to, such 

activities as those concerned with 

employment, job training, youth 

programs, child care, and health care 

services; 

(5) Technical assistance to help 

neighborhood residents file insurance 

claims and obtain qualified, reputable 

contractors to make repairs on homes/ 

property; 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 66239 

(6) Distance learning opportunities to 

displaced university students and local 

residents—who are away from the 

campus/office; 

(7) Establishment of neighborhood 

technology centers (e.g., neighborhood 

network centers); and 

(8) Technical assistance to small and 

minority-owned businesses. 

b. Eligible activities that may be 

funded under this program are those 

eligible activities that meet both the 

Community Development Block Grant 

(CDBG) program national objectives and 

eligibility requirements. 

c. The three national objectives of the 

CDBG program are to: 

(1) Benefit low- or moderate-income 

persons; 

(2) Aid in the prevention or 

elimination of slums or blight; and 

(3) Meet other community 

development needs having a particular 

urgency because existing conditions 

pose a serious and immediate threat to 

the health and welfare of the 

community, and when other financial 

resources are not available to meet such 

needs. Criteria for determining whether 

an activity addresses one or more 

national objectives are provided at 24 

CFR 570.208. 

d. The CDBG publication entitled 

‘‘Community Development Block Grant 

Program Guide to National Objectives 

and Eligible Activities for Entitlement 

Communities’’ describes the CDBG 

regulations, and a copy may be obtained 

from HUD’s NOFA Information Center 

at 800–HUD–8929 (toll-free) or 800–

HUD–2209 (toll-free) for the hearingimpaired. 

2. Audit Requirements 

Applicants must ensure that their 

most current A–133 audit is on file at 

the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. 

(Applicants are not required to submit 

a copy of the audit with the 

application.) Grantees that expend 

$500,000 or more in federal financial 

assistance in a single year (this can be 

program year or fiscal year) must be 

audited in accordance with the OMB 

requirements as established in 24 CFR 

part 84. Additional information 

regarding this requirement can be 

accessed at the following Web site: 

http://harvester.census.gov/sac. 

3. Threshold Requirements 

All applicants must comply with the 

threshold requirements as defined in the 

General Section of the FY2005 

SuperNOFA (70 FR 13576, March 21, 

2005) and the requirements listed below 

to be evaluated, rated, and ranked. 

Applications that do not meet these 

requirements will be considered 

ineligible for funding and will be 

disqualified: 

a. An applicant must meet the 

eligibility requirements as defined in 

Section III.A. Eligible Applicants. 

b. Only one application can be 

submitted per institution. If multiple 

applications are submitted, all will be 

disqualified. 

c. An applicant must receive a 

minimum score of 75 points to be 

considered for funding. 

d. An applicant must have a DUNS 

number to receive HUD grant funds. 

(The General Section of the FY 2005, 

SuperNOFA) provides information 

regarding the DUNS requirement). 

4. Program Requirements 

In addition to the program 

requirements listed in Section III.C of 

the General Section, applicants must 

meet the following program 

requirements: 

a. All funds awarded are for a twoyear (24-month) grant performance 

period. 

b. Applicants must ensure that not 

less than 51 percent of the aggregated 

expenditures of the grant benefits lowand moderate-income persons under the 

criteria specified in 24 CFR 570.208(a) 

or 570.208(d)(5) or (6). 

c. Environmental Requirements. 

Selection for award does not constitute 

approval of any proposed sites. 

Following selection for award, HUD will 

perform an environmental review of 

properties proposed for assistance in 

accordance with 24 CFR part 50. The 

results of the environmental review may 

require that proposed activities be 

modified or proposed sites be rejected. 

Applicants are particularly cautioned 

not to undertake or commit funds for 

acquisition or development of proposed 

properties prior to HUD approval of 

specific properties or areas. An 

application constitutes an assurance 

that the institution will help HUD 

comply with 24 CFR part 50; will 

supply HUD with all available and 

relevant information to perform an 

environmental review for each proposed 

property; will carry out mitigating 

measures required by HUD or select 

alternate property; and will not acquire, 

rehabilitate, convert, demolish, lease, 

repair, or construct property, and not 

commit or expend HUD or local funds 

for these program activities with respect 

to any eligible property until HUD’s 

written approval of the property is 

received. In supplying HUD with 

environmental information, applicants 

should use the same guidance as 

provided in the HUD Notice CPD–05–07 

entitled ‘‘Field Environmental Review 

Processing for Rural Housing and 

Economic Development (RHED) 

Grants,’’ issued August 30, 2005, http:// 

www.hudclips.org/subscriber/cgi/ 

legis.cgi?legis. 

Further information and assistance on 

HUD’s environmental requirements is 

available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/ 

cpd/energyenviron/environment/ 

index.cfm. 

d. Labor Standards. By Proclamation 

7924 of September 8, 2005, the 

President suspended Davis-Bacon labor 

standards requirements with respect to 

all contracts entered into on or after that 

date to be performed in designated areas 

affected by Hurricane Katrina. See 70 FR 

54225, September 13, 2005. In areas not 

specifically listed in this proclamation, 

including some areas that may have 

been affected by Hurricane Rita, 

institutions and their subgrantees, 

contractors and subcontractors must 

comply with the labor standards (DavisBacon) requirements referenced in 24 

CFR 570.603. All contractors must 

continue to comply with the provisions 

of the Contract Work Hours and Safety 

Standards Act to the extent previously 

required, as referenced in § 570.603.f., 

Economic Opportunities for Low- and 

Very-Low Income Persons (Section 3). 

The provisions of Section 3 of the 

Housing and Urban Development Act of 

1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) apply to this 

NOFA. Regulations may be found at 24 

CFR part 135. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Addresses To Request Application 

Package 

Applicants may submit either a paper 

or electronic application. When 

submitting an electronic application, 

applicants may download the 

instructions to the application found on 

the Grants.gov Web site at http:// 

www.Grants.gov./Apply. The 

instructions contain the General Section 

and Program Section of the published 

NOFA, as well as forms that you must 

complete and attach as a ZIP file to your 

application submission. If you have 

difficulty accessing the information, you 

may call the Grants.gov Support Desk 

toll-free at (800) 518–GRANTS or e-mail 

your questions to Support@Grants.gov. 

The Support Desk staff will assist you 

in accessing the information. Please 

remember that you must complete the 

five-step registration process in order to 

submit an application utilizing 

Grants.gov. Your registration allows you 

to electronically sign the application 

and enables Grants.gov to authenticate 

that the person signing the application 

has the legal authority to submit the 

application on behalf of the applicant. 

66240 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 

Please see the General Section for 

information regarding the registration 

process or ask for registration 

information from the Grants.gov 

Support Desk. Please be aware that the 

registration process is a separate process 

from requesting e-mail notification of 

funding opportunities or downloading 

the application, and should be done as 

soon as you download the application 

from the Grants.gov Web site. If you are 

not sure if you are already registered, 

the Grants.gov Support Desk can verify 

that for you. 

Applicants that choose to submit a 

paper application package must submit 

it to the following address: University 

Partnerships Clearinghouse, c/o Danya 

International, 8737 Colesville Road, 

Suite 1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910–

3929. When submitting an application 

package, also please include the 

following information on the outside of 

the envelope: 

a. Office of University Partnerships; 

b. Universities Rebuilding America 

Partnerships (URAP)—Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU); 

c. Applicant’s name and mailing 

address (including zip code); and 

d. Applicant’s telephone number 

(including area code). 

A complete paper application package 

must include an original signed 

application, three copies, and one 

computer disk of the application (in 

Word 6.0 or higher) and required forms. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

1. Forms 

Copies of the forms required for 

submission are included in Appendix A 

of the General Section. The electronic 

version of the NOFA contains all forms 

required for submission. The required 

forms are as follows: 

a. Application for Federal Assistance 

(SF–424); 

b. Survey on Ensuring Equal 

Opportunity for Applicants (SF–424 

Supplement); 

c. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

(SF–LLL); 

d. Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/ 

Update Report (HUD–2880); 

e. Program Logic Model (HUD–

96010); 

f. Grant Application Detailed Budget 

(HUD–424–CB); 

g. Budget-By-Activity (HUD–40076); 

and 

h. Facsimile Transmittal Cover Page 

(HUD–96011). This form must be used 

as part of the electronic application to 

transmit third-party documents and 

other information as described in the 

General Section as part of your 

electronic application submittal (if 

applicable). Applicants are advised to 

download the application package and 

complete the SF–424 first as it will prepopulate the Transmittal Cover page. 

The Transmittal Cover page will contain 

a unique identifier embedded in the 

page that will help HUD associate your 

faxed materials to your application. 

Please download the cover page and 

then make multiple copies to provide to 

any of the entities responsible for 

submitting faxed materials to HUD on 

your behalf. Please be sure to use the 

Facsimile Transmittal Cover Page as the 

cover page to any documents faxed in 

response to this NOFA. HUD will not 

accept entire applications submitted by 

facsimile. 

2. Certifications and Assurances 

Please read the General Section for 

detailed information on all 

Certifications and Assurances. All 

applications submitted through 

Grants.gov constitute an 

acknowledgement and agreement to all 

required certifications and assurances. 

Please include in your application each 

item listed. Applicants submitting paper 

copy applications should submit the 

application in the following order: 

a. SF–424, Application for Federal 

Assistance. Please remember the 

following: 

(1) The full grant amount (for the 

entire two years) should be entered, not 

the amount for just one year; 

(2) Include the name, title, address, 

telephone number, fax number, and 

email address of the designated contact. 

This is the person who will receive the 

reviewers’ comments; therefore, please 

ensure the accuracy of the information; 

(3) The Employer Identification/Tax 

ID number; 

(4) The DUNS number; 

(5) The Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance number for this program is 

14.520; 

(6) The project’s proposed start date 

and completion date. For the purpose of 

this application, the program start date 

should be January 1, 2006; and 

(7) The signature of the Authorized 

Organization Representative (AOR): 

(a) Applicants submitting electronic 

applications. The signature of the AOR 

is the individual who has been 

authenticated by the credential provider 

to submit applications via Grants.gov. 

The AOR must be able to make a 

binding legal agreement with HUD. See 

the General Section for instructions and 

requirements for registration with 

Grants.gov. 

(b) Applicants submitting paper 

applications. The signature of the Chief 

Executive Officer of the institution or 

his/her assigned designee is the 

individual who has the authority to 

make a binding legal agreement with 

HUD. 

b. Application checklist. Applicants 

should use the checklist to ensure that 

they have all the required elements of 

their application submission. 

Applicants submitting an electronic 

application do not have to submit the 

checklist in their application. The 

checklist can be found in the NOFA 

(See Attachment A). 

c. Abstract. Applicants must include 

no more than a one-page summary of 

the proposed project. Please include the 

following: 

(1) A clear description of the 

proposed project activities, the 

designated disaster area, and the target 

population that will be assisted; 

(2) A statement that the institution is 

an eligible institution because it is a 

two- or four-year fully accredited 

institution; the name of the accrediting 

agency; and an assurance that the 

accrediting agency is recognized by the 

U.S. Department of Education; 

(3) The designated contact person, 

including phone number, fax number, 

and email address (this is the person 

who will receive the reviewers’

comments; therefore, please ensure the 

accuracy of the information); 

(4) University’s name, department, 

mailing address, telephone number, fax 

number, and email address; and 

(5) The principal investigator, if 

different from the designated contact 

person, for the project, including phone 

number, fax number, and email address. 

d. Narrative statement addressing the 

factors. HUD will use the narrative 

response to the ‘‘Rating Factors’’ to 

evaluate, rate, and rank applications. 

The narrative statement is the main 

source of information. Applicants are 

advised to review each factor carefully 

for program-specific requirements. The 

response to each factor should be 

concise and contain only information 

relevant to the factor, but detailed 

enough to address each factor fully. 

Focus on how well the proposal 

responds to each of the factors. In 

factors where there are subfactors, each 

subfactor must be presented separately, 

with the short title of the subfactor 

presented. Make sure to address each 

subfactor and provide sufficient 

information about every element of the 

subfactor. The narrative section of an 

application must not exceed 15 pages, 

double spaced, in a Times Roman 12- 

point font (font requirements is not 

applicable to forms, budget narrative, 

assurances, commitment letters, 

memoranda of understanding, 

agreements, and abstracts). Each page of 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 66241 

the narrative must include the 

applicant’s name and each page must be 

numbered. Please note that although 

submitting pages in excess of the page 

limit will not disqualify an applicant, 

HUD will not consider the information 

on any excess page. This exclusion may 

result in a lower score or failure to meet 

a threshold requirement. 

e. Budget. The budget submission 

must include the following: 

(1) HUD–424–CB, ‘‘Grant Application 

Detailed Budget.’’ This budget form 

shows the total budget by year and by 

line item for the program activities to be 

carried out with the proposed HUD 

grant. Each year of the program should 

be presented separately. Applicants 

must also submit this form to reflect the 

total cost for the entire grant 

performance period (Grand Total). 

(2) HUD–40076–HBCU, ‘‘Response 

Sheet, Budget-By-Activity.’’ This form 

must be used to document the entire 

two-year grant performance period. The 

form should include a listing of tasks to 

be completed for each activity necessary 

to be performed to implement the 

program, and the overall costs for each 

activity. 

Remember to check addition in 

totaling the categories on all forms so 

that all items are included in the total. 

All budget forms must be fully 

completed. If an application is selected 

for award, the applicant may be 

required to provide greater specificity to 

the budget during grant agreement 

negotiations. 

(3) Budget Justification. A narrative 

must be submitted that explains how 

the applicant arrived at the cost 

estimates for any line item over $5,000 

cumulative. The proposed cost 

estimates should be both reasonable for 

the work to be performed and consistent 

with rates established for the level of 

expertise required to perform the work 

proposed in the geographical area. 

When necessary, quotes from various 

vendors or historical data should be 

used and included. When an applicant 

proposes to use a consultant, the 

applicant must indicate whether there is 

a formal written agreement. For each 

consultant, please provide the name, if 

known, hourly or daily rate, and the 

estimated time on the project. If you are 

proposing to do any of the following 

activities: acquisition of real property, 

construction or clearance and 

demolition, rehabilitation of residential, 

commercial or industrial structures, you 

must submit at least two reasonable 

appraisals/estimates supplied by 

qualified entities, other than the HBCU. 

Such an entity must be involved in the 

business of housing rehabilitation, 

construction, or management. 

Equipment and contracts cannot be 

presented as total of estimated costs. For 

equipment, applicants must provide a 

list by type, cost for each item, and 

explanation of the equipments use. 

(4) Indirect Costs. Indirect costs, if 

applicable, are allowable based on an 

established approved indirect cost rate. 

Applicants should include a copy of 

their indirect cost rate agreement with 

their application. Please refer to Section 

IV.F of the General Section for further 

discussion on electronic submission of 

required documentation. Applicants 

that are selected for funding that do not 

have an approved indirect cost rate 

agreement (established by the 

appropriate Federal agency, Certified 

Public Accountant, or auditor) will be 

required to submit an indirect cost 

proposal to the cognizant federal agency 

to establish a rate. In such cases, HUD 

will issue an award with a provisional 

rate and assist applicants in having a 

rate established. 

f. Appendix. All letters of 

commitment and other required forms 

should be placed in this section. For 

applicants submitting electronic 

applications, please refer to Section IV.F 

of the General Section for instructions 

on how third-party documents are to be 

submitted to HUD using the electronic 

submission process. An applicant 

SHOULD NOT submit general support 

letters or resumes or other back-up 

materials. If this information is 

included, it will not be considered 

during the review process. The 

additional items will also slow the 

transmission of your application. 

C. Submission Dates and Times 

An electronic application package 

must be received electronically by the 

Grants.gov portal no later than 11:59:59 

p.m. Eastern time on or before December 

1, 2005. Applications may be submitted 

in advance of the submission date. 

Electronic faxes using the Facsimile 

Transmittal (Form HUD–96011) cover 

sheet contained in the electronic 

application may be submitted prior to 

the application submission date and 

must be received no later than 11:59:59 

p.m. Eastern time on the application 

submission date. Please see Section IV.F 

of the General Section for electronic 

application submission instructions and 

timely receipt requirements. 

Applicants that submit a paper 

application must have the package 

postmarked on or before 12 midnight on 

the application due date and received 

by the Office of University Partnerships 

Clearinghouse within three (3) calendar 

days of the application due date. 

Applications should be sent using DHL, 

Falcon Carrier, Federal Express (FedEx), 

United Parcel Services (UPS), or the 

United States Postal Services (USPS), as 

access by other delivery services to the 

clearinghouse is not guaranteed. All 

applicants must obtain and save a 

delivery service receipt or certificate of 

mailing to indicate the application was 

submitted for delivery on or before the 

application due date. Hand deliveries 

will not be accepted. 

D. Intergovernmental Review 

This program is excluded from an 

Intergovernmental Review. 

E. Funding Restrictions 

Ineligible CDBG activities are listed at 

24 CFR 570.207. Funding may only be 

provided to applicants that meet the 

standards for eligible applicants in 

Section III.A. Ineligible activities 

include but are not limited to: 

1. Curriculum development and/or 

expansion of an institution’s existing 

curriculum; 

2. General government expenses; and 

3. Political activities. 

F. Other Submission Requirements 

1. Application Submission and 

Receipt Procedure. Please read the 

General Section carefully and 

completely for the submission and 

receipt procedures for all applications 

because failure to comply may 

disqualify your application. 

2. Paper application will be accepted. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria 

1. Rating Factor 1: Capacity of the 

Applicant and Relevant Organizational 

Experience (25 Points) 

This factor addresses the extent to 

which the institution has the 

organizational resources necessary to 

successfully implement the proposed 

activities in a timely manner. In rating 

this factor, HUD will consider the extent 

to which the proposal demonstrates: 

Knowledge and Experience (25 

Points). The knowledge and experience 

possessed by the proposed project 

director and staff, including the day-today program manager, consultants 

(including technical assistance 

providers), and contractors in planning 

and managing this kind of program for 

which funding is being requested. 

Applicants must clearly identify the 

following: key project team members, 

titles (e.g., project manager/coordinator, 

etc.), respective roles for the project 

staff, and a brief description of their 

relevant experience. Experience will be 

judged in terms of recent and relevant 

knowledge and skills of the staff to 

undertake the proposed eligible program 

66242 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 

activities. HUD will consider experience 

within the last five (5) years to be recent 

and experience pertaining to similar 

activities to be relevant. 

2. Rating Factor 2: Need/Extent of the 

Problem (10 Points) 

This factor addresses the extent to 

which there is a need for funding the 

proposed program activities in the 

designated disaster area. An indication 

of urgency of meeting the need to 

benefit the target area is not necessary, 

as this has already been identified for 

the entire regions affected by Hurricane 

Katrina or Rita. The need(s) described 

must be relevant to the activities for 

which funds are being requested. The 

proposal will be evaluated on the extent 

to which an assessment of the need for 

the proposed activities has been 

documented. 

3. Rating Factor 3: Soundness of 

Approach (55 Points) 

This factor addresses the quality and 

effectiveness of the proposed work plan. 

This factor will be evaluated based on 

the extent to which the proposed work 

plan demonstrates the following: 

a. (45 Points) Quality of the Work 

Plan. This subfactor will be evaluated 

on the extent to which an applicant 

provides a clear detailed description of 

the proposed project and anticipated 

accomplishments. 

(1) (35 Points) Specific Services and/ 

or Activities. The work plan must 

describe all proposed activities and 

major tasks required to successfully 

implement the proposed project and 

achieve anticipated accomplishments. 

(a) Applicants must provide a clear 

description of the proposed activities 

and address the following: 

(i) Describe each proposed activity 

required to successfully implement and 

complete the proposed project in 

measurable terms (e.g., the number of 

persons to be trained and employed, 

houses to be rehabilitated, or minorityowned businesses to be started, etc.); 

(ii) List how each proposed activity 

meets one of the following Community 

Development Block Grant (CDBG) 

Program national objectives: 

• Benefit low- and moderate-income 

persons; 

• Aid in the prevention or 

elimination of slums or blight; or 

• Meet other community 

development needs having a particular 

urgency because existing conditions 

pose a serious and immediate threat to 

the health and welfare of the 

community, and for which other 

financial resources are not available. 

Criteria for determining whether an 

activity addresses one or more objective 

are provided at 24 CFR 570.208; 

(b) Outline the major tasks required 

(in sequential order) to successfully 

implement and complete the proposed 

program activities. Include target 

completion dates for each activity/task 

(in 6-month intervals, up to 24-months); 

and 

(c) Identify the individuals, as 

described in Factor 1, who will be 

responsible for completing each 

activity/task. 

(2) (10 Points) Describe clearly how 

each proposed activity will: 

(a) Address the needs identified in 

Factor 2; 

(b) Relate to and not duplicate other 

activities in the designated disaster area. 

Duplicative effort will be acceptable 

only if an applicant can demonstrate 

through documentation that there is a 

population in need that is not being 

served; and 

(c) Involve and empower citizens of 

the target area in the proposed project. 

b. (5 Points) Involvement of the 

Faculty and Students. The applicant 

must describe the extent to which it 

proposes to integrate the institution’s 

students and faculty into proposed 

project activities. 

c. (5 Points) Involvement of 

Community. Applicants must identify a 

partner within the designated hurricane 

disaster area to serve the impacted 

community, neighborhood, 

municipality, or metropolitan area. 

Applicants may receive four or five 

points under this subfactor as follows: 

(1) (4 Points) Local community 

partner. Examples of potential partners 

are state and local governments; a quasigovernment agency, such as a 

development corporation; public 

housing authority; local or national 

nonprofit organizations; institutions of 

higher education; financial institutions; 

foundations; and faith-based and other 

community-based organizations. 

Applicants must obtain a written 

agreement with the local partner that 

outlines the services needed and the 

involvement of the partner in the 

program to receive funding under this 

program. 

(2) (5 Points) HBCU Partner. 

Applicants are encouraged to partner 

with an HBCU that is located within the 

hurricane-affected area. Applicants 

must obtain a written agreement with 

the local HBCU that outlines the 

services needed and the involvement of 

the partner in the program to receive 

funding under this program. 

HUD reserves the right to require 

grantees to partner with a different 

HBCU than the institution that is 

identified at the time of application. 

4. Rating Factor 4: Achieving Results 

and Program Evaluation (10 Points) 

This factor reflects HUD’s goal to 

embrace high standards of management 

and accountability. It measures the 

applicant’s commitment to assess its 

performance to achieve the program’s 

proposed objectives and goals. 

Applicants are required to develop an 

effective, quantifiable, outcome oriented 

evaluation plan for measuring 

performance and determining that 

objectives and goals have been 

achieved. The Logic Model is a 

summary of the narrative statements 

presented in Factors 1–3. Therefore, the 

information submitted on the logic 

model should be consistent with the 

information contained in the narrative 

statements, but does not have to be 

detailed. 

‘‘Outcomes’’ are benefits accruing to 

the community during or after 

participation in the program. Applicants 

must clearly identify the outcomes to be 

measured and achieved. Examples of 

outcomes include increased 

employment opportunities in the 

designated disaster area by a certain 

percentage, increased incomes/wages or 

other assets for persons trained, or 

enhanced family stability through the 

creation of job opportunities. 

In addition, applicants must establish 

interim benchmarks and outputs that 

lead to the ultimate achievement of 

outcomes. ‘‘Outputs’’ are the direct 

products of the program’s activities. 

Examples of outputs are the number of 

new affordable housing units, the 

number of homes that have been 

renovated, and the number of facilities 

that have been constructed or 

rehabilitated. Outputs should produce 

outcomes for the program. At a 

minimum, an applicant must address 

the following activities in the evaluation 

plan: 

a. Measurable outputs to be 

accomplished (e.g., the number of 

persons to be trained and employed, 

houses to be rehabilitated, or minorityowned businesses to be started); and 

b. Measurable outcomes the grant will 

have in the designated disaster target 

area or population. 

This information must be placed on a 

HUD–96010, Program Outcome Logic 

Model form. Applicants may use as 

many copies of this form as required. It 

will not be included in the page count 

requirement. A narrative is not required 

or requested. The completed logic 

model should stand on its own. 

However, if a narrative is provided, 

those pages will be included in the page 

count. Additional information on this 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 66243 

form and how to use it can be found in 

the General Section. 

B. Review and Selection Process 

1. Application Selection Process 

Two types of reviews will be 

conducted: 

a. A threshold review to determine an 

applicant’s basic eligibility; and 

b. A technical review for all 

applications that pass the threshold 

review to rate and rank the application 

based on the ‘‘Rating Factors’’ listed in 

Section V.A. 

Only those applications that pass the 

threshold review will receive a 

technical review and be rated and 

ranked. 

2. Rating Panels 

To review and rate applications, HUD 

may establish panels, which may 

include experts or consultants not 

currently employed by HUD. 

3. Ranking 

HUD will fund applications in rank 

order, until all available program funds 

are awarded. In order to be funded, an 

applicant must receive a minimum 

score of 75 points out of a possible 100 

points. HUD reserves the right to reduce 

the amount of funding requested in 

order to fund as many highly ranked 

applications as possible. Additionally, if 

funds remain after funding the highest 

ranked applications, HUD may fund 

part of the next highest-ranking 

application. If an applicant turns down 

an award offer, HUD will make an 

award to the next highest-ranking 

application. If funds remain after all 

selections have been made, the 

remaining funds will be carried over to 

the FY06 Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities Program funding 

cycle’s competition. 

4. Correction to Deficient Applications 

The General Section provides the 

procedures for correction to deficient 

applications. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notice 

After all selections have been made, 

HUD will notify all winning applicants 

in writing. HUD may require winning 

applicants to participate in additional 

negotiations before receiving an official 

award. For further discussion on this 

matter, please refer to the General 

Section. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

For further discussion of this matter, 

please refer to Section VI.B. in the 

General Section. 

1. Debriefing 

The General Section provides the 

procedures for requesting a debriefing. 

All requests for debriefings must be 

made in writing and submitted no later 

than 90 days from the announcement of 

the awardees to: Ophelia Wilson, Office 

of University Partnerships, Robert C. 

Weaver Federal Building, 451 Seventh 

Street, SW., Room 8130, Washington, 

DC 20410–6000. 

2. Administrative 

Grants awarded under this NOFA will 

be governed by the provisions of 24 CFR 

part 84 (Grants and Agreements with 

Institutions of Higher Education, 

Hospitals and Other Non-Profit 

Organizations), A–21 (Cost Principles 

for Educational Institutions), and A–133 

(Audits of States, Local Governments, 

and Non-Profit Organizations). 

Applicants can access the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

circulars at the OMB website at 

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/ 

index.html. 

3. OMB Circulars and Governmentwide 

Regulations Applicable to Financial 

Assistance Programs 

The General Section provides further 

discussion on this matter. 

4. Executive Order 13202, Preservation 

of Open Competition and Government 

Neutrality Towards Government 

Contractors’ Labor Relations on Federal 

and Federally Funded Construction 

Projects 

See the General Section for further 

discussion. 

5. Procurement of Recovered Materials 

See Section III.C.4 of the General 

Section for further discussion. 

6. Code of Conduct 

See the General Section for further 

discussion. 

C. Reporting 

All grant recipients under this NOFA 

are required to submit quarterly 

progress reports. The progress reports 

shall consist of two components, a 

narrative that must reflect the activities 

undertaken during the reporting period 

and a financial status report, as well as 

a cumulative summary of costs incurred 

during the reporting. 

For each reporting period, as part of 

the required report to HUD, grant 

recipients must include a completed 

Logic Model form (HUD–96010), which 

identifies output and outcome 

achievements. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

Applicants may contact Ophelia 

Wilson at (202) 708–3061, extension 

4390, or Susan Brunson at (202) 708–

3061, extension 3852. Persons with 

speech or hearing impairments may call 

the Federal Information Relay Service 

(TTY) at (800) 877–8339. Except for the 

‘‘800’’ number, these numbers are not 

toll-free. Applicants may also reach Ms. 

Wilson via e-mail at 

Ophelia_Wilson@hud.gov, and/or Ms. 

Brunson at Susan_S._Brunson@hud.gov. 

VIII. Other Information 

A. Fifteen (15) Percent Cap on Public 

Services 

For this URAP–HBCU NOFA, the 15 

percent cap on public service activities 

provided for in 24 CFR 570.201(e)(1) is 

inapplicable. Although HUD generally 

publishes regulatory changes for 

comment before issuing the regulation 

for effect, HUD may issue a regulatory 

change when good cause allows the 

Department to omit advance notice and 

comment, in accordance with HUD’s 

rules at 24 CFR part 10. The good cause 

requirement is satisfied when prior 

public procedure is ‘‘impractical, 

unnecessary, or contrary to the public 

interest’’ (see 24 CFR 10.1). Because of 

the widespread devastation caused by 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 

urgency to provide assistance to persons 

affected by these natural disasters, HUD 

has determined that it would be 

contrary to the public interest to delay 

the effectiveness of this regulatory 

change in order to solicit prior public 

comment. Therefore, for grants awarded 

pursuant to this URAP–HBCU NOFA, 

there is no cap on the amount of grant 

funds that may be used for public 

service activities. This change is 

effective for this URAP–HBCU NOFA 

only and does not extend to any other 

program. 

B. Environmental Requirements 

This NOFA provides funding under, 

and does not alter the environmental 

requirements of 24 CFR 570.404. 

Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(5), 

this NOFA is categorically excluded 

from environmental review under the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321). Activities under 

this NOFA are subject to the 

environmental review provisions set out 

at 24 CFR 570.404(i). See also 

environmental requirements in Sec. 

III.C.4.d of this NOFA. 

C. Paperwork Reduction Act 

The information collection 

requirements contained in this 

document have been submitted to the 

66244 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 210 / Tuesday, November 1, 2005 / Notices 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520) and 

assigned control number 2528–0235. In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, HUD may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, a collection of information 

unless the collection displays a 

currently valid OMB control number. 

Public reporting burden for the 

collection of information is estimated to 

average 356 hours per annum per 

respondent for the application and grant 

administration. This includes the time 

for collecting, reviewing, and reporting 

the data for the application, quarterly, 

semi-annual, and final reports. The 

information will be used for grantee 

selection and monitoring the 

administration of funds. Response to 

this request for information is required 

in order to receive the benefits to be 

derived. 

Dated: October 24, 2005. 

Darlene F. Williams, 

Assistant Secretary for Policy Development 

and Research. 

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