Consolidated Multifamily Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Fiscal Year 2024

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This is the second year that MFH is issuing a consolidated notice for its technical assistance grant programs. MFH designed this consolidated notice with the intent to simplify the application process, better coordinate services for applicants, and ensure transparency and predictability in funding cycles. It is the Agency's belief that consolidating the MFH TA notices will avoid duplication of efforts within the communities it serves and better serve its rural stakeholders most in need of these programs. The RHS Production & Preservation Division will host a virtual workshop prior to the application deadline to provide general information and guidance regarding this notice. The workshop will be announced via GovDelivery notice and will also be posted on the MFH Programs website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multi-family-housing-programs.

Prospective respondents are encouraged to read this entire notice thoroughly and attend the informational workshop for more information and clarification prior to submitting funding applications.

Organization of the Consolidated Notice

This notice is divided into two major sections, the General Section and Program Sections A and B. The standard forms, certifications, assurances, procedures, and requirements applicable to both technical assistance grant programs are included in the General Section of this notice. Program Sections A and B separately outline each technical assistance grant funding opportunity with program-specific eligibility, statutory and regulatory requirements, and include the factors used for scoring and ranking applications, the grant award process, and any additional requirements and/or limitations specific to each program.

Please read both the General Section and Program Sections A-B of this notice carefully to ensure all application and program requirements are met. Not all respondents are eligible to receive awards under both funding opportunities identified within this consolidated notice.

Rural Development Priorities: The Agency encourages respondents to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

• Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice. Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities,
• Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity. Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
• Creating More and Better Market Opportunities. Assisting rural communities to recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

For further information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

Table of Contents: General Section

A. Program Descriptions

B. Federal Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

E. Application Review Information

F. Federal Award Administration Information

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact

H. Other Information

I. General Section

RHS administers the Multifamily Housing Programs that provide affordable multifamily rental housing in rural areas by financing projects geared for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers. The MFH programs extend their reach by guaranteeing loans for affordable rental housing designed for low to moderate-income residents in rural areas and towns. MFH Programs are administered, subject to appropriations, by the USDA as authorized under Sections 514, 515, 516 and 521 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended.

A. Program Descriptions

(1) Purpose of the Programs

The Section 515 MFH NP TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to multifamily housing borrowers and applicants to facilitate the acquisition of Section 515 properties by nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities.

The FLH TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to qualified Section 514 loan and Section 516 grant applicants to encourage the development, repair, and preservation of domestic and migrant FLH projects.

RHS has a strong interest in broad geographic availability of technical assistance services and expanding the pool of technical assistance providers. Respondents will compete in a national funding pool and multiple awards may be made in a single region. However, if there are qualified and eligible respondents, RHS will prioritize awarding at least one MFH NP TA Grant and one FLH TA Grant in each of the following four geographic regions:

Midwestern Region: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI

Northeastern Region: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV

Southern Region: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, PR, SC, TN, TX, VI

Western Region: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

Multifamily Housing's four geographic regions may also be found on the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/multi-family-housing-programs.

Each entity applying for funding under this notice, whether individually or jointly, is limited to submission of one grant application per technical assistance program, per geographic region. Entities applying in more than one geographic region must submit separate applications for each region in which they apply. Respondents may propose to serve single-State or multi-State areas within geographic regions.

(2) Statutory and Regulatory Authority

MFH NP TA Grants are authorized under Sec. 745 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103), Sec. 745 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), and Sec. 743 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42) and implemented by 7 CFR part 3560.

MFH FLH TA Grants are authorized under Section 516(i) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1486(i); and implemented by 7 CFR part 3560.

To be eligible for funding under this consolidated notice, respondents must meet all statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the program(s) for which funding is sought. RD program regulations may be found at the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/regulations-and-guidance.

(3) Definitions and Acronyms

The definitions and acronyms applicable to this notice are published at 7 CFR part 3560.11 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXV/part-3560#3560.11; 7 CFR 15.2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-A/part-15; 2 CFR part 200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200; and 2 CFR part 400 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400.

The following supplementary definitions and acronyms are applicable to and for the purpose of this notice only.

Applicant —one who submits an application to receive technical assistance services from a technical assistance provider (Grantee), and application means such an application.

Broad-based nonprofit organization (as an Off-FLH loan/grant applicant) —nonprofit organization with a membership that reflects a variety of interests in the market area.

Capacity —demonstrated experience in the areas of federal grant administration and technical assistance program development and delivery.

Co-respondent —a separate legal entity made part of the application process by the primary respondent through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or other agreement who will be accountable to the primary respondent for any federal award funds received.

Conflicts of interest —situations in which an officer, director, board member, agent, employee, or partner of the non-Federal entity being considered for a Federal award, any immediate family member of these parties, or any organization which employs or is about to employ any of these parties, have a competing personal, professional, financial, and/or other interest in activities performed under the Federal award or may receive a tangible personal benefit from activities performed under the Federal award which renders them unable, or gives the appearance of being unable, to be impartial in conducting/administering the Federal award.

Consultant —an individual who provides professional advice or services for a fee but may not be an employee of the engaging party. The term “consultant” may also include a firm that provides paid professional advice or services, or independent entities engaged under a grant to provide a specific service or product (product purchase or fee-for-service). They are not employees of the grantee, and no employer-employee relationship exists between the consultant and the grantee.

Contract —for the purpose of Federal financial assistance, a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award.

Contractor —an entity that receives a contract as defined in this section.

Curable deficiency —omission, error, or oversight that, if corrected, would not alter the review and/or scoring of an application in a positive or negative fashion.

Disallowed costs —charges to a federal award that the Federal awarding agency or pass- through entity determines to be unallowable, in accordance with the applicable Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

Expenditures —charges made by a non-Federal entity to a project or program for which a Federal award was received.

Federal awarding agency —the Federal agency that provides a Federal award directly to a non-Federal entity.

Federal share —the portion of the Federal award costs that are paid using Federal funds.

Grant Agreement —a legal instrument of financial assistance between a Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity and a non-Federal entity that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6302, 6304: (1) Is used to enter into a relationship the principal purpose of which is to transfer anything of value to carry out a public purpose authorized by a law of the United States (see 31 U.S.C. 6101(3)); and not to acquire property or services for the Federal awarding agency or pass- through entity's direct benefit or use; (2) Is distinguished from a cooperative agreement in that it does not provide for substantial involvement of the Federal awarding agency in carrying out the activity contemplated by the Federal award; (3) Does not include an agreement that provides only: (i) Direct United States Government cash assistance to an individual; (ii) A subsidy; (iii) A loan; (vi) A loan guarantee; or (v) Insurance.

Grantee —a legal entity that has been awarded financial assistance under one of the Agency's grant programs and assumes responsibility for fiscal accountability for managing awarded funds, supervision of grant-supported activities, and submission of final reports.

Indirect Costs (facilities & administrative (F&A)) —costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. To facilitate equitable distribution of indirect expenses to the cost objectives served, it may be necessary to establish a number of pools of indirect F&A costs. Indirect F&A cost pools must be distributed to benefitted cost objectives on bases that will produce an equitable result in consideration of relative benefits derived.

Indirect cost rate —a percentage established by a Federal department or agency for a grantee organization, which the grantee uses in computing the dollar amount it charges to the grant to reimburse itself for indirect costs incurred in doing the work of the grant project.

Key personnel services —technical assistance service delivery and grant administration.

Market Area —the geographic or locational delineation of the market for a specific project, including outlying areas that will be impacted by the project, i.e., the area in which alternative, similar properties effectively compete with the subject property.

Non-curable deficiency —omission, error, or oversight that, if corrected, would alter the review and/or scoring of the application in a positive or negative fashion.

Non-Federal Entity —a State, local government, Indian tribe, or nonprofit organization that carries out a federal award as a recipient or subrecipient.

Organizational conflicts of interest —situations in which the non-Federal entity being considered for a federal award is unable, or appears to be unable, to be impartial in conducting/administering the Federal award because of its relationship with a parent company, affiliate, subsidiary organization, or other related organization or party.

Period of Performance —the total estimated time interval between the start of the initial grant award and the planned end date.

Primary Respondent —one who submits an application, request, or plan required to be approved by an Agency as a condition of eligibility for Federal financial assistance, and application means such an application, request, or plan.

Respondent (see Primary Respondent).

Supportive Services —services that help tenants with challenges maintain stable housing ( e.g., employment assistance, meals, transportation, personal care assistance, housekeeping, wellness checks, care coordination, and outpatient health services).

Targeted service area —area targeted to receive technical assistance services.

Technical Assistance —technical expertise, information and services provided by eligible entities with the necessary knowledge, experience, and capacity to provide the services outlined in this notice to eligible respondents.

Commonly Used Acronyms

CFR  Code of Federal Regulation

FLH  Farm Labor Housing

MFH  Multifamily Housing

NOFA  Notice of Funding Availability

NP  Nonprofit organization

OMB  Office of Management and Budget

PHA  Public Housing Authority

RD  Rural Development

RHS  Rural Housing Service

SAM  System for Award Management

SOW  Statement of Work/Scope of Work

TA  Technical Assistance

TDHE  Tribally Designated Housing Entity

UEI  Unique Entity Identifier

USDA  United States Department of Agriculture

(4) Application for Awards

Awards under these programs will be made on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in Program Sections A and B of this notice.

The Agency advises all interested parties that expenses incurred in applying for this notice will be borne by and be at the respondent's sole risk.

B. Federal Award Information

Funding Opportunity Title: Consolidated MFH Technical Assistance Grant Program NOFA FY 2024

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

Assistance Listing (AL) Numbers:

• Multifamily Housing Nonprofit Transfer Technical Assistance Grants: 10.494
• Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Grants: 10.495

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RD-HCFP-NPTA-FLHTA

Dates: Complete applications must be submitted in electronic format and must be received by 12 p.m. ET (noon) on November 18, 2024. To initiate the application process, the applicant must send an email message, by 12 p.m. ET (noon) on November 13, 2024 to the RHS Production and Preservation Division at NPTA.RFP@usda.gov for MFH Nonprofit Transfer Technical Assistance Grant applications or RD.FLHTA@usda.gov for FLH Technical Assistance Grant applications as outlined in Section D, Application and Submission Information. Any emails submitted after 12 p.m. ET (noon) on November 13, 2024 will be rejected and will not be considered.

Available Funds:

• $4.9 million for MFH NP TA Grants—Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024
• $2 million for FLH TA Grants—Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024

Type of Award: Technical Assistance Grants

Award Amounts:

• The minimum and maximum award amounts per funded MFH NP TA Grant application are $100,000 and $750,000, respectively.
• The minimum and maximum award amounts per funded FLH TA Grant application are $50,000 and $250,000, respectively.

Anticipated Award Date: The Agency anticipates making awards 120 days after the application deadline.

Performance Period: 24 months from executed grant agreement.

Renewal or Supplemental Awards None.

Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant Agreement.

Respondents selected for funding will complete a grant agreement suitable to the Agency, which outlines the terms and conditions of the Grant award. The Agency may request changes to the SOW which will be incorporated into the grant agreement. If a selected grantee does not accept the terms of the Agency and/or does not deliver an executed Grant Agreement to the Agency within ten (10) business days after receiving the Grant Agreement with the Agency-approved SOW, the Agency may choose to rescind the award and select another grantee based on scoring without further notice.

The grant period of performance is 24 months with an extension allowed for up to an additional 12 months at the Agency's discretion. However, proposals should be structured to utilize all grant funds within 24 months from the date of the award. The grant term will be defined in the Grant Agreement and will become effective once signed by the Grantee and the Agency. Grant funds will be obligated within ten (10) business days after both parties have executed the Grant Agreement.

C. Eligibility Information

(1) Eligible Respondents

To be considered eligible for funding under this notice, all respondents are required to meet both the general eligibility requirements outlined below, as well as the program specific requirements outlined in Program Sections A or B of this notice, as applicable.

Except as may be modified in Program Sections A and B of this notice, the general requirements, procedures, and principles outlined below apply to respondents for both funding opportunities contained in this notice.

(a) All respondents will be screened for eligibility to participate in the grant program using Treasury's Do Not Pay Portal in compliance with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act.

(b) Debarment and suspension information is required in accordance with 2 CFR 180 (OMB's Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)) supplemented by 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. Respondents 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.

(c) Conflicts of Interest. No Grantee funded under this notice or its officers, directors, board members, agents, employees, or partners can participate in conducting or administering the grant award if a real or apparent conflict of interest exists.

Entities applying for funding under this notice and all funded Grantees must disclose in writing any potential conflicts of interest to the Agency, including situations that would create a conflict of interest, potential for conflict of interest, or any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Unless approved by the Agency, Grantees may not provide TA for projects in which they or their third-party affiliates have a direct or indirect ownership interest. Respondents must disclose all MFH projects in which they or their third-party affiliates have a direct or indirect ownership interest.

Unless approved by the Agency, neither the Grantee nor any officer, director, board member or partner of the Grantee may accept or share any compensation or remuneration, directly or indirectly, in any form whatsoever, from or with any party interested in the activities performed under the grant agreement.

Unless approved by the Agency, neither the Grantee nor any officer, director, board member, partner or any person employed by the Grantee may accept compensation or remuneration contrary to the intentions of the grant agreement.

Unless approved by the Agency, neither the Grantee nor any officer, director, board member or partner of the Grantee may be involved as an officer, director, board member or general partner in a business venture with an officer, director, board member or general partner of any other party interested in the activities performed under the grant agreement.

Grantees funded under this notice must maintain written standards of conduct governing organizational conflicts of interest and conflicts of interest related to the performance of its officers, directors, board members, agents, and employees in conducting/administering Federal grant awards. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by the Grantee and its directors, board members, officers, employees, and agents.

(2) Cost Sharing or Matching

There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for either program.

(3) Discretionary Points

Please refer to Program Sections A and B.

(4) Other

Each entity applying for funding under this notice, whether individually or jointly, may submit only one application per program, per geographic region. MFH's geographic regions are listed in the General Section A.1. of this notice.

The use of consultants/contractors for key personnel services (technical assistance service delivery and grant administration) is limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the total key personnel services budget. This requirement is intended to advance the Agency's goal of increasing the capacity of Agency-funded nonprofit TA providers to deliver technical assistance services directly to recipients.

The total direct and indirect administrative costs associated with the administration of the grant should not exceed 20 percent of the total technical assistance grant fund.

Any respondent with an open MFH Transfer or FLH technical assistance funding award must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of the work plan identified in their Agency-approved grant agreement to be eligible for funding under this notice. In evaluating satisfactory progress, RHS will consider past performance in managing funds, including, but not limited to, the ability to account for funds appropriately; timely use of funds received from RHS; meeting performance targets for completion of activities; and receipt of promised matching or leveraged funds.

D. Application and Submission Information

(1) Content and Form of Application Submissions

Applications to this notice must be submitted electronically using the process described below. To initiate the application process, the applicant must send an email message, by 12 p.m. ET (noon) on November 13, 2024 to the RHS Production and Preservation Division at NPTA.RFP@usda.gov for MFH Nonprofit Transfer Technical Assistance Grant applications or RD.FLHTA@usda.gov for FLH Technical Assistance Grant applications. The email message must contain the following information:

(a) Subject line: TA Grant Application Submission

(b) Body of email: Respondent Name and complete Contact Information (including address, phone number, email address to receive application submission information).

(c) Request language: Please provide application submission instructions so that we may submit our MFH Nonprofit Transfer TA Grant application or Farm Labor Housing TA Grant application.

Application submission instructions will be emailed to all interested respondents supplying valid email addresses within two (2) business days from the date the email of interest is received by the Agency. Any email submitted after 12 p.m. ET (noon) on November 13, 2024 will be rejected and will not be considered. Entities submitting more than one application must submit a separate email of interest for each submission. The Agency is not liable for technical issues or system-related difficulties that affect an applicant's ability to submit applications in a timely fashion in accordance with the instructions of this NOFA.

(2) Forms, Requirements and Procedures for All Respondents

All respondents are required to electronically submit signed copies of the standard forms, certifications, and assurances listed in this section, unless the requirements in the Program Section specify otherwise. All forms should be completed in their entirety using the most current versions of unexpired OMB-approved forms. All application packages must include a Table of Contents and a separate one-page sheet listing each of the Scoring Criteria from Program Sections A or B, followed by the page numbers of all relevant material and documentation contained within the submitted application materials to support those criteria.

(i) Except as may be modified in the Program Sections A and B, the forms and standard certifications and assurances required for all respondents are:

(A) SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” which can be obtained at: https://www.grants.gov/.

(B) Standard Form 424A, “Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs” which can be obtained at: https://www.grants.gov/.

(C) Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable, or a statement certifying the entity's election to charge the de minimis rate of 10 percent of the modified total direct costs (MTDC).

(D) Form SF-LLL, “Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,” if applicable, or a statement certifying that the organization does not lobby.

(E) Form RD 3560-30, “Certification of no Identity of Interest (IOI),” if applicable: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD3560-30.PDF.

(F) Form RD 3560-31, “Identity of Interest Disclosure/Qualification Certification” if applicable (IOI is defined in 7 CFR 3560.11): http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD3560-31.PDF.

(G) Form RD 400-4, “Assurance Agreement”: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD400-4.PDF.

(H) Form RD 400-6, “Compliance Statement”: https://formsadmin.sc.egov.usda.gov/eFormsAdmin/browseFormsAction.do?pageAction=displayPDF&formIndex=0.

(ii) All responding entities must include organizational status documents and current (within six months of this notice's deadline date) financial statements to evidence their status as a properly organized private or public nonprofit agency, or public/tribal housing authority, with the financial ability to carry out the approved objectives of the TA grant program under which funding is sought. This requirement includes (at minimum):

(A) Status as a NP ( i.e., Articles of Incorporation, IRS nonprofit certification) or PHA.

(B) Good standing within the State or Tribe in which the entity is organized.

(C) Legal authority to provide services stated in the application under the applicable laws for the state(s) in which operation is proposed. (Examples of acceptable documentation for this requirement include, but are not limited to, bylaws, organizational charters, and statutes or regulations).

(D) Certification of no current or unresolved default or violation of any other Federal, Tribal, State, or local grant or loan agreement(s).

(E) The requirements above will also apply to all entities performing services on behalf of the respondent.

(3) System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier

(a) At the time of application, each respondent must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application in accordance with 2 CFR 25. In order 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) Respondent 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 consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

(c) Respondent must complete the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations in SAM.

(d) Respondent must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.

(e) The Agency will not make an award until the respondent has complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If a respondent has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency may determine that the respondent is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another respondent.

(4) Submission Dates and Times

Submission dates and times can be found in the DATES section of this notice.

(5) Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this notice are not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

(6) Funding Restrictions

Refer to Program Sections A and B for Ineligible Grant Fund Purposes/Costs.

E. Application Review Information

(1) Application Review Criteria

To be eligible for funding under this notice, respondents must meet the criteria set forth in the individual Program Sections A and B of this notice, as well as all general eligibility criteria as follows:

a. The application must be complete as specified by this notice;

b. The complete application must be received by the submission deadline specified in this notice;

c. The application proposal must be for authorized purposes; and

d. The respondent must be an eligible entity and must not currently be debarred, suspended, or delinquent on any Federal debt.

No application will be accepted after the specified deadline unless the date and time is extended by another notice published in the Federal Register . Applications will first be reviewed to determine if they meet the “Eligible Respondents” eligibility requirements outlined in Program Sections A or B as applicable. If all “Eligible Respondents” eligibility requirements are met, applications will then be reviewed for completeness. All complete applications will be reviewed for eligible grant activities, eligible costs, and eligible purposes. If the Agency determines that any application is ineligible or incomplete, application processing will be discontinued, which means the application will be rejected and returned to the respondent without being scored.

RHS may contact respondents to clarify items and/or to correct curable (correctable) technical deficiencies identified within application packages after the application deadline is reached. RHS will notify respondents of any curable deficiencies and will do so on a uniform basis for all respondents. If deficiencies are not corrected within the period prescribed by RHS, the application will be rejected as incomplete, and will not be considered for funding.

Only applications meeting all the general eligibility criteria above will be scored and ranked. RHS will consider the scoring factors outlined in Program Sections A and B to score and rank application(s) for each TA program respectively. Points will be awarded only for factors that are well-documented in the application package and, in the opinion of the Agency, meet the objectives outlined in each of the evaluation criteria. References to external websites, publications, and/or other information not submitted as part of the application package will not be reviewed or considered. Therefore, full documentation and support of all criteria is recommended and encouraged.

Risk Review: The Agency may request additional documentation from selected respondents in order to evaluate the financial, management, and performance risk posed by awardees as required by 2 CFR 200.206. Based on the risk review, the Agency may apply special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed, either pre-award or post-award.

If the Agency determines it is unable to select an application for funding, the respondent will be informed in writing. Such notification will include the reasons the respondent was not selected. The Agency will advise respondents whose applications do not meet eligibility and/or selection criteria of applicable review rights or appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR part 11.

(2) Review and Selection Process

Refer to Program Sections A and B for program specific application reviewing, scoring and selection processes.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

(1) Federal Award Notice

The Agency will notify in writing respondents whose applications have been selected for funding. At the time of notification, the Agency will advise respondents what additional information and documentation is required along with a timeline for submitting the additional information.

(2) Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected for these TA Grant program awards:

(a) Grantees must complete Form RD 1942-46 “Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.”

(b) Grantees must complete Form RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligation of Funds.”

(c) Grantees must use Form SF 270, “Request for Advance or Reimbursement,” to request reimbursements and provide receipts for expenditures, timesheets, and any other documentation to support the request for reimbursement, as determined by the Agency.

(d) Grantees must maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to the Agency.

(e) Grantees must certify that the U.S. has not obtained an outstanding judgment against their organization in a Federal Court (other than in the United States Tax Court).

(f) MFH NP TA Grants are authorized under Sec. 745 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103), Sec. 745 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), and Sec. 743 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42) and implemented by 7 CFR part 3560.

MFH FLH TA Grants are authorized under Section 516(i) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1486(i); and implemented by 7 CFR part 3560.

(g) Workplace identification is required under the drug-free workplace requirements in 2 CFR part 182, which provides guidance on the portion of the Drug-Free Workplace Act applicable to grants, as adopted by 2 CFR part 421. Therefore, grantees must identify all organizational known workplaces by including the actual physical addresses of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites where work under the award takes place.

(h) Grantees must comply with all other requirements in 2 CFR part 182 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)) and 2 CFR part 421 (Requirements for Drug Free Workplace (Financial Assistance).

(3) Reporting

(a) Grantees must comply with reporting requirements of 2 CFR part 200 and must provide the required financial status and project performance reports for the period after grant approval and throughout the grant period of performance as outlined in the Agency approved grant agreement.

(b) Grantees must maintain records to document all activities and expenditures utilizing technical assistance grant funds. Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation.

(c) Grantees must provide a final project performance report as outlined in the Agency approved grant agreement.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

Stephanie Vergin, Policy Advisor, Production and Preservation Division, Multi-Family Housing, United States Department of Agriculture at NPTA.RFP@usda.gov or RD.FLHTA@usda.gov.

H. Other Information

1. Paperwork Reduction Act

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), OMB must approve all “collection of information” as defined at 42 U.S.C. 3502(3). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection reporting and recordkeeping requirements as covered in this notice, are exempt because the requirements are not imposed on 10 or more people, as defined at 44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A)(i)).

RHS has concluded that the reporting requirements contained in this NOFA will involve less than 10 persons and do not require approval under the provisions of the Act.

2. National Environmental Policy Act

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public Law 91-190, this funding announcement has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970 (Environmental Policies and Procedures). As permitted by 7 CFR 1970.51(b), The Agency has determined that because:

• this action meets the criteria established in7 CFR 1970.53(f);
• no “extraordinary circumstances exist” as defined at7 CFR 1970.52(a); and
• the action is not “connected” (see40 CFR 1508.25(a)(1)) to other actions with potentially significant impacts, is not considered a “cumulative action,” and;
• the action is not precluded by40 CFR 1506.1.

Therefore, the Agency has determined that the action does not have a significant effect on the human environment, and therefore neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is required. All recipients under this notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970.

• For Non-Construction Programs under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):

Technical assistance awards for financial and technical assistance under this notice are classified as a Categorical Exclusion according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b), and usually do not require any additional documentation. MFH will review each grant application to determine its compliance with 7 CFR 1970. The respondent may be asked to provide additional information or documentation to MFH with this determination.

3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

All respondents, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25 ( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-25 ), must be registered in SAM and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3. of this 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 ( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/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 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.

All respondents must certify to compliance with 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, by completing the Financial Assistance General Certification and Representations in SAM.

Civil Rights compliance includes, but is not limited to the following:

(a) Collecting and maintaining data provided by ultimate recipients on race, sex, and national origin.

(b) Collection of race and ethnicity data in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Federal Register notice, “Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity” (published October 30, 1997 at 62 FR 58782). Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

This data should not be submitted with the application but should be available upon request by the Agency.

5. USDA 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, staff office, or the 711 Federal 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: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

II. Program Sections

Organization of the Program Sections

Program Sections A and B of this notice provide descriptions for both of the specific programs. In addition to the requirements set forth in the General section, the following program sections outline additional procedures and requirements applicable to each program.

Both funding opportunities contained in this consolidated notice are identified in the following chart entitled Consolidated Multifamily Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program Funding Chart FY 2024. This chart includes Program Name, the Assistance Listing Number for each program, the Funding Amounts Available, and the Program Section Reference for program- specific application requirements.