[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11942-11946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6886]
[[Page 11941]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part II
Department of Housing and Urban Development
_______________________________________________________________________
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research
_______________________________________________________________________
Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding
Availability for FY 1996
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 11942]]
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research
[Docket No. FR-4016-N-01]
Community Development Work Study Program; Notice of Funding
Availability--FY 1996
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and
Research, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY)
1996.
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SUMMARY: This notice invites applications from institutions of higher
education, area-wide planning organizations, and States for grants
under the Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP). The CDWSP,
authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as
amended, assists economically disadvantaged and minority students
participating in work study programs in such institutions. This notice
announces HUD's intention to award up to $3 million from FY 1996
appropriations (plus any additional funds recaptured from prior
appropriations) to fund work study programs to be carried out from
August, 1996 to September, 1998.
Note: The Congress has not yet enacted FY 1996 appropriation for
HUD. However, HUD is publishing this notice to give potential
applicants adequate time to prepare applications. The amount of
funds announced in this NOFA is an estimate of amounts that may be
made available in FY 1996, and is based on the level of funding
available for FY 1995. HUD is not bound by the estimate set forth in
this notice. The estimated amount may be adjusted based on the
enacted FY 1996 appropriation.
DATES: Applications may be requested beginning April 1, 1996.
Applications must be physically received by the Office of University
Partnerships, in care of the Division of Budget, Contracts, and Program
Control, in Room 8230 by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on May 31, 1996. This
deadline is firm as to date, hour, and place. In the interest of
fairness to all competing applicants, the Department will treat as
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the
deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make
early submissions of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of
eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-
related problems.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hartung, Office of University
Partnerships, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, Telephone (202) 708-3061, extension
261 (Voice). The TTY number for the hearing impaired is (202) 708-1455.
(These are not toll-free numbers.) Mr. Hartung can also be reached via
the Internet at jhartung@hud.gov.
Application packages (requests for grant application) may be
obtained by written request from the following address: HUD USER, ATTN:
Community Development Work Study Program, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD
20850. Requests for application kits may be faxed to: 301-251-5747
(this is not a toll-free number). Requests for application kits must
include the applicant's name, mailing address (including zip code),
telephone number (including area code), and must refer to ``Document
FR-4016.'' The application kit is also available on the Internet from
the Office of University Partnerships Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse
can be accessed from the World Wide Web at: http://oup.aspensys.com:89;
or from a Gopher Server at: gopher://oup.aspensys.com:77.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
Section 107(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of
1974, as amended, (the Act) authorizes the CDWSP. Under this section,
HUD is authorized to provide grants to institutions of higher
education, either directly or through area-wide planning organizations
or States, for the purpose of providing assistance to economically
disadvantaged and minority students, including students with
disabilities, who participate in community development work study
programs and are enrolled in full-time graduate or undergraduate
programs in community or economic development, community planning, or
community management. Two-year institutions are not eligible applicants
for funding under this program. This notice announces HUD's intention
to award up to $3 million from FY 1996 appropriations (plus any
additional funds recaptured from prior appropriations). Awards will be
made under the HUD implementing regulations at 24 CFR 570.400 and
570.415 and the provisions of this Notice.
Note: The Congress has not yet enacted FY 1996 appropriation for
HUD. However, HUD is publishing this notice to give potential
applicants adequate time to prepare applications. The amount of
funds announced in this NOFA is an estimate of amounts that may be
made available in FY 1996, and is based on the level of funding
available for FY 1995. HUD is not bound by the estimate set forth in
this notice. The estimated amount may be adjusted based on the
enacted FY 1996 appropriation.
B. Eligible Applicants
The following are eligible to apply for assistance under the
program subject to the conditions noted below:
1. Institutions of higher education offering graduate degrees in a
community development academic program.
2. Institutions of higher education offering undergraduate degrees
in a community development academic program if no institutions of
higher education in the standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA)
or non-SMSA area in which they are located offer graduate degrees in a
community development academic program.
Note: Two-year institutions of higher education are not eligible
applicants for funding under this program.
3. Area-wide planning organizations (APOs) which apply on behalf of
two or more institutions of higher education located in the same SMSA
or non-SMSA area as the APO.
4. States which apply on behalf of two or more institutions of
higher education located in the State. If a State is approved for
funding, institutions of higher education located in the State are not
eligible recipients. If an APO is approved for funding, institutions of
higher education located in the SMSA or non-SMSA non-metropolitan area
served by the APO are not eligible recipients.
C. Threshold Requirements
To be eligible for ranking, applications must meet each of the
following threshold requirements:
1. The application must be filed in the application form prescribed
by HUD, and within the required time prescribed by the Request For
Grant Application (RFGA) released pursuant to this notice.
2. The application must demonstrate that the applicant is eligible
to participate.
3. The applicant must demonstrate that each institution of higher
education participating in the program as a recipient has the required
academic programs and faculty to carry out its activities under CDWSP.
Each work placement agency must have the required staff and community
development work study program to carry out its activities under CDWSP.
4. Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States must maintain
at least a 50 percent rate of graduation of students from the FY 1993
funding round which covered school years September 1993 to September
1995 in
[[Page 11943]]
order to participate in the current round of CDWSP funding.
Institutions of higher education, APOs, and States funded under the FY
1993 CDWSP funding round which did not maintain such a rate will be
excluded from participating in the FY 1996 funding round. Such
institutions, APOs, and States are eligible to participate in the 1997
round.
D. Selection Factors for Institutions of Higher Education (110 Points)
The following factors will be considered by the Department in
evaluating applications received from institutions of higher education
in response to the solicitation.
1. Academic Program (53 points, as allocated below).
Each application will be reviewed for evidence of the school's
commitment to administering a CDWSP and the overall strength of its
commitment to meeting the needs of minority and economically
disadvantaged individuals, including students with disabilities. This
commitment will be evaluated in the following areas:
a. Relative quality of the academic program offered by the
institution of higher education.
(1) Quality of the academic program in terms of community and
economic development course offerings and academic requirements for
students. (8 points)
(2) Appropriateness of the curriculum to prepare students for
careers in the community and economic development field. (8 points)
(3) Qualifications of the faculty and the percentage of time they
will teach in the academic area. (6 points)
b. Quality of academic supervision - Qualifications of the academic
supervisor and the percentage of time they will commit to the students.
(7 points)
c. Amount of resources to be committed by the institution to the
CDWSP.
(1) Appropriateness and adequacy of the applicant's plan for the
use of its facilities, equipment and financial resources in support of
the CDWSP. (2 points)
(2) The degree to which the applicant is able to contribute funds
to support the total cost of the project. (5 points)
(3) The degree to which the applicant will utilize faculty and
staff administrators on staff. (7 points)
d. Applicant's success rate in graduating students previously
enrolled in the HUD CDWSP or similar work study program. (10 points)
2. Student Work Placement Assignment (9 points, as allocated below)
a. The extent to which the participating students will receive a
sufficient number and variety of work placement assignments. (3 points)
b. The extent to which the assignments will provide practical and
useful experience to students participating in the program. (3 points)
c. The extent to which the assignments will further the
participating students' preparation for professional careers in
community or economic development, community planning, or community
management. (3 points)
3. Seminars (4 points)
The degree to which the proposed seminars will (a) relate the
experience provided under the work placement assignments with the
educational experience provided under the academic programs and (b)
address career planning and permanent job placement. (4 points)
4. Placement Opportunities (13 points, as allocated below)
a. Extent to which the institution's educational program (based on
past experience) leads directly and immediately to career opportunities
in the community and economic development fields. (6 points)
b. The applicant's success in assisting graduates of the HUD CDWSP
or similar work study program to find permanent employment in community
development funded agencies. (7 points)
5. Program Coordination and Administration (16 points, as allocated
below)
a. The degree to which the Program Director has clear
responsibility, ample percentage of time, and sufficient institutional
or academic authority to coordinate the overall administration of the
program. (8 points)
b. The applicant's ability to track and monitor the progress of the
students previously enrolled in the HUD or similar work study program,
including the students who drop out of the program. (4 points)
c. The adequacy of the applicant's plan for placing students on
rotating assignments in community development work placement
assignments and keeping track of students during the two-year academic
period and the internship. (4 points)
6. Institution's Commitment (15 points, as allocated below)
a. The extent to which the applicant has a recruitment program that
demonstrates an active, aggressive, and imaginative effort to identify
and attract qualified minorities and economically disadvantaged
students, including students with disabilities. (2 points)
b. The success of past and current efforts in preparing these
students for careers in community and economic development. (6 points)
c. The extent to which the CDWSP award will result in a net
increase of these students in each academic area. (3 points)
d. The extent to which the CDWSP award will not result in a
decrease in the amount of the institution's own financial support
available for minority and economically disadvantaged students,
including students with disabilities, in the academic areas or the
institution as a whole. (2 points)
e. The extent to which the applicant has provided reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities to enable them to
participate in the college/university's academic and work-study
programs. (2 points)
E. Selection Factors for Area-Wide Planning Organizations and States
(110 Points)
The following factors will be considered by the Department in
evaluating applications received from area-wide planning organizations
and States in response to this NOFA. Each application must contain
sufficient technical information to be reviewed for its technical
merit.
1. Academic Program (53 points, as allocated below)
a. Relative quality of the academic program offered by the
institutions of higher education.
(1) Quality of the academic program in terms of community and
economic development course offerings and academic requirements for
students. (8 points)
(2) Appropriateness of the curriculum to prepare students for
careers in the community and economic development field. (8 points)
(3) Qualifications of the faculty at each college/university listed
in the submission and the percentage of time they will teach in the
academic area. (6 points)
b. Qualifications of the academic area supervisor at each college/
university listed in the submission and the percentage of time they
will commit to the students. (7 points)
c. Amount of resources to be committed to the CDWSP.
(1) Appropriateness and adequacy of the applicant's and each
institution's plan for the use of its facilities, equipment and
financial resources in support of the CDWSP. (2 points)
(2) The degree to which each college/university listed in the
application is
[[Page 11944]]
able to contribute funds to support the total cost of the project. (5
points)
(3) The degree to which each college/university listed in the
application will utilize faculty and staff administrators on staff. (7
points)
d. The success rate of each institution of higher education
applying under the applicant in graduating students previously enrolled
in the HUD CDWSP or similar work study program. (10 points)
2. Student Work Placement Assignment (9 points, as allocated below)
a. The extent to which the participating students will receive a
sufficient number and variety of work placement assignments. (3 points)
b. The extent to which the assignments will provide practical and
useful experience to students participating in the program. (3 points)
c. The extent to which the assignments will further the
participating students' preparation for professional careers in
community or economic development, community planning, or community
management. (3 points)
3. Seminars. (4 points)
The degree to which the proposed seminars will (a) relate to the
experience provided under the work placement assignments with the
educational experience provided under the academic program and (b)
address career planning and permanent job placement. (4 points)
4. Placement Opportunities (13 points, as allocated below)
a. The extent to which the educational program for each college/
university listed in the application (based on past experience) leads
directly and immediately to career opportunities in the community and
economic development fields. (6 points)
b. The applicant's success in assisting graduates of the HUD
Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP) or similar work study
program to find permanent employment in community development funded
agencies. (7 points)
5. Program Coordination and Administration (16 points, as allocated
below)
a. The extent to which the applicant has established a committee to
coordinate activities between program participants to advise the
recipient on policy matters, to assist the recipient in ranking and
selection of participating students, and to review disputes concerning
compliance with program agreements and performance. (8 points)
b. The applicant's ability to track and monitor progress of
students enrolled in the program and those who drop out. (4 points)
c. The adequacy of the applicant's plan for placing students in
work placement assignments and keeping track of students during the
two-year academic period and during the internship, respectively. (4
points)
6. Institution's Commitment (15 points, as allocated below)
a. The extent to which the applicant has a recruitment program that
demonstrates an active, aggressive, and imaginative effort to identify
and attract qualified minorities and economically disadvantaged
students, including students with disabilities. (2 points)
b. The success of past and current efforts of colleges/universities
listed in the application in preparing these students for careers in
community and economic development. (6 points)
c. The extent to which the CDWSP award will result in a net
increase of these students in each academic area. (3 points)
d. The extent to which the CDWSP award will not result in a
decrease in the amount of the institutions's own financial support
available for minority and economically disadvantaged students,
including students with disabilities, in the academic areas or the
institution as a whole. (2 points)
e. The extent to which the applicant has provided reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities to enable them to
participate in the college/university academic and work-study program.
(2 points)
F. Program Policy Factors
HUD may provide assistance to support a number of students that is
less than the number requested under applications in order to provide
assistance to as many highly rated applications as possible. In
addition, HUD might award a lower funding level than the requested
amount for tuition, work stipend, books and additional support.
In the event two or more applications have the same number of
points, the application with the most points for selection factor (1)
will be selected. If there is still a tie, the application with the
most points for selection factor (5) will be selected.
G. Obtaining Application
For an application kit, contact HUD USER, ATTN: Community
Development Work Study Program, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, Maryland
20850. Applications may be requested beginning April 1, 1996.
Requests for application kits must be in writing, but may be faxed
to 301-251-5747. (This is not a toll-free number.) Please refer to FR-
4016, and provide your name, address (including zip code) and telephone
number (including area code).
H. Submitting Applications and Deadline Date
Applications for funding under this NOFA must be complete and must
be physically received in the place designated in the application kit
for receipt, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on May 31, 1996. The deadline
date and time will be firm as to date and hour. In the interest of
fairness to all competing applicants, the Department will treat as
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the
deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make
early submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of
eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery
related problems.
Following the expiration of the application submission deadline,
HUD will review and rank applications in a manner consistent with the
procedures described in this Notice and the provisions of the program
regulations at 24 CFR 570.425.
1. Application Content
Applicants must complete and submit applications in accordance with
instructions contained in the application kit. The following is a
checklist of the application content that will be specified in the
RFGA:
(a) Transmittal letter, identifying the agency accrediting the
institutions of higher education on whose behalf the application is
filed and further stating that such accrediting agency(ies) are
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
(b) A completed and signed Standard Form 424, Application For
Federal Assistance.
(c) Abstract.
(d) Table of Contents.
(e) Proposal narrative statement addressing the factors for award.
(f) Sample copy of student/recipient binding agreement.
(g) Sample copy of recipient/student work placement agreement.
(h) Management/Workplan.
(i) Resumes of Key staff and faculty.
(j) Budget for resident and non-resident students.
(k) Tuition and fee Schedule.
(l) Audit/financial management system information.
(m) Certification by IPA or cognizant audit agency of applicant's
financial management system.
(n) If applicable, document verifying a 50 per cent rate of
graduation of
[[Page 11945]]
students from the FY 1993 funding round.
2. Certifications and Exhibits
Applications must also include the following:
(a) Drug-Free Workplace Certification.
(b) Certification prohibiting excessive force against nonviolent
civil rights demonstrators, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5304 (applies only to
applicants that are units of general local government).
(c) Certification on HUD Form 2880, Applicant/Recipient Disclosure,
Update Report, disclosing receipt of at least $200,000 in covered
assistance during the fiscal year, pursuant to 24 CFR part 12, subpart
C, Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance.
(d) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities on SF-LLL must be used to
disclose lobbying with other than Federally appropriated funds at the
time of application if the applicant deems it applicable.
J. Corrections to Deficient Applications
After the submission deadline date, HUD will screen each
application to determine whether it is complete. If an application
lacks certain technical items or contains a technical error, such as an
incorrect signatory, HUD will notify the applicant in writing that it
has 14 calendar days from the date of HUD's written notification to
cure the technical deficiency. If the applicant fails to submit the
missing material within the 14-day cure period, HUD may disqualify the
application.
This 14-day cure period applies only to non-substantive
deficiencies or errors. Any deficiency capable of cure will involve
only items not necessary for HUD to assess the merits of an application
against the factors specified in this NOFA.
K. Other Matters:
1. Federalism Impact The General Counsel, as the Designated
Official under section 6(a) of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has
determined that the policies and procedures contained in this notice
will not have substantial direct effects on States or their political
subdivisions, or the relationship between the federal government and
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among
the various levels of government. As a result, the notice is not
subject to review under the Order.
2. Impact on the Family The General Counsel, as the Designated
Official under Executive Order 12606, The Family, has determined that
this notice will likely have a beneficial impact on family formation,
maintenance, and general well-being. Accordingly, since the impact on
the family is beneficial, no further review is considered necessary.
3. Accountability in the Provision of HUD Assistance
HUD has promulgated a final rule to implement section 102 of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (HUD
Reform Act). The final rule is codified at 24 CFR part 12. Section 102
contains a number of provisions that are designed to ensure greater
accountability and integrity in the provision of certain types of
assistance administered by HUD.
On January 16, 1992, HUD published at 57 FR 1942, additional
information that gave the public (including applicants for, and
recipients of, HUD assistance) further information on the
implementation, public access, and disclosure requirements of section
102. The documentation, public access, and disclosure requirements of
section 102 are applicable to assistance awarded under this NOFA as
follows:
a. Documentation and Public Access.
HUD will ensure documentation and other information regarding each
application submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to indicate
the basis upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material,
including any letters of support, will be made available for public
inspection for a five-year period beginning not less than 30 days after
the award of the assistance. Material will be made available in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's
implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will
include the recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its
Federal Register notice of all recipients of HUD assistance awarded on
a competitive basis. (See 24 CFR 12.14(a) and 12.16(b), and the notice
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for
further information on these requirements.)
b. HUD responsibilities--disclosures. HUD will make available to
the public for five years all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form
2880) submitted in connection with this NOFA. Update reports (also Form
2880) will be made available along with the applicant disclosure
reports, but in no case for a period less than three years. All
reports, both applicant disclosures and updates, will be made available
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and
HUD's implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 15. (See 24 CFR part 12,
subpart C, and the notice published in the Federal Register on January
16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for further information on these disclosure
requirements.)
c. State and unit of general local government responsibilities--
disclosures.
States and units of general government receiving assistance under
this NOFA must make all applicant disclosure reports available to the
public for three years. Required update reports must be made available
along with the applicant disclosure reports, but in no case for a
period less than three years. Each State and unit of general local
government may use HUD Form 2880 to collect the disclosures, or may
develop its own form. (See 24 CFR part 12, subpart C, and the notice
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942) for
further information on these disclosure requirements.)
4. Prohibition Against Advance Information on Funding Decisions
HUD's regulation implementing section 103 of the HUD Reform Act,
codified as 24 CFR part 4, applies to the funding competition announced
today. The requirements of the rule continue to apply until the
announcement of the selection of successful applicants.
HUD employees involved in the review of applications and in the
making of funding decisions are restrained by part 4 from providing
advance information to any person (other than an authorized employee of
HUD) concerning funding decisions, or from otherwise giving any
applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons who apply for
assistance in this competition should confine their inquiries to the
subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.
Applicants or employees who have ethics related questions should
contact the HUD Office of Ethics (202) 708-3815 (voice), (202) 708-1112
(TTY). (These are not toll-free numbers.) For HUD employees who have
specific program questions, such as whether particular subject matter
can be discussed with persons outside the Department, the employee
should contact the appropriate Field Office Counsel or Headquarters
Counsel for the program to which the question pertains.
5. Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the
disclosure requirements and prohibitions of Section 319 of the
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1990
[[Page 11946]]
(31 U.S.C. 1352) and the implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 87.
These authorities prohibit recipients of federal contracts, grants, or
loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the Executive or
Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in connection with a
specific contract, grant, or loan. The prohibition also covers the
awarding of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or loans unless
the recipient has made an acceptable certification regarding lobbying.
Under 24 CFR part 87, applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of
assistance exceeding $100,000 must certify that no federal funds have
been or will be spent on lobbying activities in connection with the
assistance.
7. The information collection requirements contained in this NOFA
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned
OMB control number 2535-0084.
8. The assistance under this NOFA is categorically excluded from
review under the National Environmental Policy Act, pursuant to 24 CFR
50.20(b).
L. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 14.234.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5301-5320; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d); 24 CFR
570.402.
Dated: March 13, 1996.
Michael A. Stegman,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 96-6886 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P
