Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Program in the US

Deadline: 22-Nov-22

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is announcing applications for the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance program that will provide funding to technical assistance providers to help local governments ensure housing needs are considered as part of their larger infrastructure investment plans, while also supporting equitable development and local economic development ecosystems in Disadvantaged Communities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy, and other federal agencies are also providing technical assistance under the banner of “Thriving Communities.” HUD’s TC/TA is specifically focused on integrating housing and transportation planning to support disadvantaged communities as UGLGs design and implement infrastructure plans.

Focus Areas

• Using a wide range of eligible activities, HUD expects TA awardees under this NOFO to focus on assisting UGLGs in the following four areas:
  • Identifying and using vacant, abandoned, or underutilized land located on or near transportation projects that is suitable for housing development (including land owned by federal, state, and local governmental entities as well as the private sector) to create locationefficient housing.
  • Preserving affordable housing and protecting residents and businesses from displacement as new infrastructure is deployed.
  • Identifying and implementing regulatory and procedural reforms to reduce unnecessary barriers to location-efficient housing that impede housing production and increase development costs.
  • Improving coordination both among public entities (for example, local housing, transportation, planning, and community development departments) and between public entities and state recipients of infrastructure funding; transit authorities and other quasipublic entities; the private sector; and locally-based organizations in ways that support a holistic and regional approach to housing and transportation.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $5,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
• Award Floor: $500,000.

Eligible Activities

• Successful applicants may be tasked to deliver TA using any of the eligible activities described in These activities are subject to any restrictions or limitations imposed by the federal regulations, statutes, and policies referenced in this NOFO. HUD expects TA providers will use a range of tools to work with jurisdictions. Some jurisdictions may have specific technical needs (for example, conducting geospatial analysis to identify vacant and underutilized land suitable for development; or identifying mechanisms to capture value from development near transit to support affordable housing and community development).
  • Needs Assessments: Needs assessments are intended to help determine the nature and scope of the TA and capacity building required by the jurisdictions requesting TA. Needs assessments help to quantify the potential impact of development activity and initiatives.
  • Direct TA and Capacity Building Engagements: Direct TA and capacity building require working onsite and/or remotely to improve knowledge and capacity around TA Focus Areas.
  • Development and Maintenance of Tools and Products: Tools and products developed will use adult learning principles to assist UGLGs in adopting effective, efficient, and sustainable practices that address challenges in the TA Focus Areas supported by this NOFO.
  • Self-Directed and Group Learning: Self-directed and group learning is intended to increase the capacity and close the competency gaps of participants by equipping them with the necessary program knowledge and skills needed to integrate housing needs into their infrastructure planning and increase housing supply.
  • Coordination: Coordination involves activities conducted with other TA providers and/or HUD to plan the technical assistance engagements, including data gathering, studies, and analysis, and the identification of actions that will implement such plans.
  • Administration: Administrative activities are directly associated with overall award management and execution, including salaries and benefits of persons who support the execution of the award terms.

Eligibility Criteria

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses
• The following requirements affect applicant eligibility. Detailed information on each requirement is posted on HUD’s Funding Opportunities Page.
  • Active Prime and Sub Recipient registration with SAM.gov
  • Outstanding Delinquent Federal Debts
  • Debarments or Suspensions, or both
  • Pre-selection Review of Performance
  • Sufficiency of Financial Management System
  • False Statements
  • Mandatory Disclosure Requirement
  • Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities.

Program-Specific Requirements

• TA engagements could take place across the United States and its insular areas as HUD deems necessary.
• HUD may task a successful applicant to coordinate with organizations conducting other federally-funded activities.
• Successful applicants must comply with all applicable program statutes, regulations, policies, and award provisions.
• Successful applicants will be required to provide information on the results, impacts, and outcomes of their capacity building and TA activities.
• Successful applicants must obtain access to relevant HUD systems and other HUD tools to assist in the management of award requirements.
• HUD reimburses on a monthly basis. Advance payments are not permitted.
• Successful applicants must maintain stated capacity throughout the duration of the period of performance:
  • You must actively maintain staff/subrecipients/consultants that have the knowledge and experience described in your application.
  • If you decline or delay assignments or fail to deliver acceptable TA in your stated areas of experience/capacity, HUD reserves the right to terminate your cooperative agreement early and recapture funds awarded to you, consistent with 2 CFR Part 200. HUD may also consider declined or delayed assignments or unacceptable TA engagements during future HUD TA NOFO competitions.
• If you receive an award, you must operate within the structure of the “demand-response system” (as defined in NOFO section I.A.). Under the demand-response system, you must:
  • Promptly respond to assignments or requests from the GTM or GTR.
  • Coordinate TA plans and activities with other TA providers that have particular skills and/or experience in providing assistance to TA beneficiaries in the same jurisdiction or geographic area using TA funds. The coordination may include conference calls, virtual meetings, and/or in-person meetings.
  • Attend and/or conduct joint training sessions, workshops, or conferences with other TA providers, as may be requested by the GTM or GTR.
  • Conduct work only when tasked or assigned by HUD (GTM, GTR, or designee).
  • Provide TA plans, requests for reimbursement, performance reports, deliverables, and trainings in formats prescribed by HUD.
• Successful applicants should be able to make a plan and then adapt as needed to changing circumstances such as pivoting from in-person to virtual capacity building engagements.
• Successful applicants must be prepared to contribute to and participate in virtual hosting platforms. You must be ready to learn and master virtual modalities using various tools available centrally through HUD's existing TA funded resources and/or be prepared to purchase specific platforms if you anticipate needing them in support of implementing specific TA work plan assignments.
• Successful applicants may be required to obtain the necessary facilities (e.g., a hotel conference room) to deliver TA to TA beneficiaries under the TA award.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=343955