SuperNOFA Questions and Answers

General

Q. Can a cable TV station, community college or local organization access the HUD SuperNOFA satellite broadcasts?

A. Anyone wishing to broadcast or pull down a HUD satellite broadcast may do so without fee or charge. HUD encourages local cable systems, universities and local governments to use the satellite coordinates provided at www.HUD.GOV to view and participate in the satellite broadcast

Q. I am deaf and cannot make it to your location in Boston, but would still like to be able to see the broadcast. can you tell me the best way to get the information.

A. Video tape copies of all the SuperNOFA broadcasts are being made available with closed captioning through the SuperNOFA Information Center. You may call the center using the following TTY phone number to order a copy: 1-800-HUD-2209. Please specify the program or programs you would like to receive. The video tapes are free of charge.

Q. What time do you begin test patterns before your satallite broadcasts, e.g. 4/27 Telstar 5 begins at 12:30 cdt. so test pattern begins when?

A. On Telstar 5 we almost always provide 30 minutes of test time. If we have back to back programs, the previous program serves as a test.

Q. Are the satellite broadcasts free?

A. Satellite Broadcasts are definitely free.

Q. Can I have my University access the signal without charge?

A. There is no charge for these broadcasts

Q. Will the signal be scrambled?

A. Signals are not scrambled.

Q. Do I need an IRD number?

A. There is no IRD number required, however if your receiver requires an IRD number, it may not be compatable with our method of transmission. The HUD Academy broadcasts all programs in an analog FM format. This represents the largest receiver base in the country. Most home satellite receivers out there can receive us. We are on GE-1C Transponder 1, 3,720 MHz. Horiz., 103 degrees West, from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. When not broadcasting a program we keep HUD Academy bars and one of the Local National Public Radio Stations on our satellite for the express purpose of allowing people to test their receiver. On occasion we will simulcast on a Ku satellite and all of the SuperNOFA broadcasts are done in this manner.

Q. What about the audio signal?

A. The audio signal is transmitted in an FM format at both 6.2 and 6.8 MHz. This is pretty much the industry standard at this point.

Public Housing Drug Elimination Program

Q. Is the FY 1997 Set-Aside a separate grant application from the FY 1998 PHDEP program?

A. Yes. The $44.9 dollars remaining in this program are targeted for housing authorities who did not apply or were not funded under the FY 1997 PHDEP program. Consultant the NOFA to determine if you are eligible.

Q. Can I use the Same application for the FY 1997 Set-Aside program as I used in FY 1997?

A. No. Applicants must develop a separate application using the FY 1998 HUD Drug Elimination in Public and Assisted Housing Application Kit. The Scoring factors for the FY 1997 Set-Aside Program are contained in the FY 1998 SuperNOFA and are significantly different than those that were included in the FY 1997 PHDEP NOFA issued last year.

Q. I am a public housing authority that owns a multifamily housing project, am I eligible for the New Approach Anti-Drug Program?

A. Yes.. As specified in the NOFA, public housing agencies are eligible for funding as sub-grantees. However, PHAs are not eligible lead applicant. PHAs must form partnerships as sub-grantees to be eligible for this assistance.

Q. Where can I receive an Application Kit?

A. An application kit can be received by calling the SuperNOFA Clearinghouse at 800-483-8929. If you are on HUD's mailing list, you will receive a hard copy in the mail. A complete copy of the application kit is also available on the web.

Q. If I incurred costs in FY 1997 and did not receive a FY 1997 PHDEP Grant but receive funding under the FY 1997 Set-Aside program are these expenses eligible.

A. No. Only expenses incurred after the grant agreement are eligible. This is included under the "Ineligible Activities" in the NOFAs.

Q. How should I format the required information in the application kit?

A. For each Drug Elimination program, there is a specific format outlined in the Application Kit, In Section II, Application Tab Order.

Q. What is the scoring process for the FY 1998 Drug Elimination Technical Assistance Program?

A. There is no scoring process. The Drug Elimination Technical Assistance Program has threshold requirements that must be met. Applicants who meet the threshold requirements will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Q. How do I determine my unit count for the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program?

A. Eligible PHA projects must be covered by an Annual Contribution Contract during the period of the grant award. Applicants for Native American Housing Developments must certify that that targeted units were covered by an Annual Contributions Contract on September 30th 1997.

Q. I've noticed that on theTab Order list for the DEP program that Tab 15 is Congressional Notification Information. Is there a form for this?

A. Regarding Tab 15, Congressional Notification Information, there is no blank form for this. However, if you are applying for PHDEP or Multifamily DEP you can look at Page 35 of the Application Kit which shows a sample congressional information sheet.

If you are applying for the New Approach Anti-Drug program, you can use this as a model, however, the NOFA instructions should be followed. For New Approach, the NOFA under Section IV states that the Congressional Summary should summarize the proposed program activities in five sentences or less.

Q. What is the Minimum grant award for the FY 1997 Set-Aside program?

A. For units with 1-499 units: the maximum grant award is $50,000 or a grant award cap of $500 per unit, whichever is greater.

Q. What is the minimum grant award for the FY 1998 PHDEP?

A. The minimum grant award is $50,000 or a maximum grant cap of $300 per unit.

Q. When will the PHDEP application Kit be posted on HUD's WWW page?

A. The complete Application Kit should be posted by April 27th 1998.

Q. The DEP application kit provides for Tab 10, Leveraging Resources, but in the instructions it is unclear if Memorandum's of Agreement should be included in this tab or should they be included at the end of Tab Section 9 so that when "evaluating this factor, HUD will also consider the extent to which these initiatives...are part of the comprehensive plan..." which is of course described in Tab Section 9. Does it matter so long the copies are in one place or the other and appropriately referred to in the narrative?

A. The Memorandum's of Agreement are probably best put into
Tab 10. Rating Factor 4: Leveraging Resources. You will want to describe any written agreements in place or that will be put in place in Tab 9. Rating Factor 3: Soundness of Approach (Quality of Plan) and probably refer to Tab 10.

You are correct, it is only necessary to ensure that you include them in either one of the Tabs and refer to it in the other.

Q. I've noticed that on theTab Order list for the DEP program that Tab 15 is Congressional Notification Information. Is there a form for this?

A. Regarding Tab 15, Congressional Notification Information,
there is no blank form for this. However, if you are applying for PHDEP or Multifamily DEP you can look at Page 35 of the Application Kit which shows a sample congressional information sheet.

If you are applying for the New Approach Anti-Drug program, you can use this as a model, however, the NOFA instructions should be followed. For New Approach, the NOFA under Section IV states that the Congressional Summary should summarize the proposed program activities in five sentences or less.

Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program

Q: Can another campus that is part of a school that already received a Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program grant apply?

A: The NOFA allows different campuses to apply as long as they have separate administrative and budgeting structures. Both tests must be met. Thus, if the two schools have separate budgets, but the same President, they could not apply. However, in some systems, a president is the same as a chancellor and is in charge of the entire system. In these cases, a person with a different title would be similar to the president at most institutions of higher education, In this latter case, both campuses would be eligible.

Q: How can I get a list of past COPC award recipients, as well as the type of program, geographic information, and other information about the grant recipients?

A: Summaries of the projects of all COPC award recipients can be found at the University Partnership web site (www.oup.org). They are listed under "OUP Programs," under "COPC."

Q: What does M2M mean? Is it for public housing only?

A: M2M stands for Mark-To-Market. This is an initiative for Multi-family housing and has two programs: Outreach and Training Assistance Grants (OTAG); and Intermediary Technical Assistance Grants (ITAG).

These are not Public Housing Programs.

Q: Do all Youthbuild participants have to be High School dropouts and very low income?

A: No. Up to 25% may have a High School degree or be above the income limit, but all must have special educational needs that justify their participation in the program.

Q: What is the income requirement for Youthbuild participants?

A: This is very low income as defined in Section 3(b) of the Housing Act of 1937. A very low income family has an income that does not exceed 50% of the median income for the area.

Q: Do all Youthbuild participants have to be between the age of 16-24 at time of enrollment?

A: Yes. There are no exceptions.

Q: What is the 50-50 requirement?

A: Fifty percent of each participant's time must be spent on educational and employment training services and 50% in onsite construction training.

Q: Do Davis Bacon Wages apply to Youthbuild participants?

A: If Youthbuild funds are used to pay trainees, Davis-Bacon does not apply. If trainees perform "non routine maintenance" at a Public or Indian Housing Authority, trainer must be paid HUD determined wage rates.

Q: Does HUD have the authority to preempt state and local wage rates determinations for Youthbuild trainee?

A: No.

Q: Can recipients of the Youthbuild award incur expenses before monies are disbursed.

A: Yes. As long as expenditures are consistent with their approved application. The grantee must spend responsibility and be consistent with the approved application, and assuming that a contract is subsequently executed.

Q: Stipend paid to Youthbuild participants isn't taxable under Federal Income tax; is it taxed by FICA?

A: If they are not wages they are not taxable.

Q: Can Youthbuild funds be used for housing construction?

A: Yes, but you will not be eligible for housing priority points. The full cost of housing rehab or construction for each Youthbuild housing site must be covered by other resources.

Q: Who is eligible for Youthbuild funding?

A: Most public or private non-profit organizations, including governmental entities, are eligible to apply for a Youthbuild grant. For-profit corporation and individuals are not eligible.

Q: Is technical assistance available to potential applicants?

A: Yes, the Department has a contract with Youthbuild USA to provide assistance to eligible applicants. You can reach them at (617) 623-9900. Also, HUD headquarters staff are available to answer questions by calling 202-708-2035.

Q: Do student stipends and wages count as income benefits for other Federal assistance?

A: In most cases, wages to Youthbuild participants affect eligibility for Federal benefits, except housing assistance. However, you are encourages to meet with State or local representatives to discuss waivers or exemptions for Youthbuild participants.

Q: Can an applicant use the same application to apply for both under $450,000 and over $450,000?

A: If for a different site and cycle yes, otherwise no.

Q: Can an applicant submit more than one application?

A: Yes, if for a separate site and cycle of trainees.