What Is a SuperNOFA?

The SuperNOFA is the new streamlined way HUD notifies the public of, and distributes funding available through its competitive grant programs. Previously, HUD published a separate Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register for each competitive grant program that it administers. Each NOFA described program details, including the grant's purpose, eligible applicants, the amount of funding available, acceptable activities under the program, application process and requirements, and pre-established factors used to determine who would be awarded grants. In a given year, HUD would issue as many as 40 NOFAs, each with its own publication and submission dates, application requirements, factors for award, and selection process.

In FY98, the funding notification process was changed. In FY 1998, as part of HUD's Management Reform, each of HUD's competitive grant programs was classified under one of three categories based on the program's purpose:

• Housing and Community Development.
• Economic Development and Empowerment.
• Targeted Housing and Homeless Assistance Programs.
  

In 1999, these management reform efforts continued and HUD combined these three categories of programs into one SuperNOFA. This year's SuperNOFA also includes funding opportunities for elderly and disabled persons, available under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. This single SuperNOFA describes the funding available from each of the grant programs issued for each category. In addition, rather than 40 sets of rules and requirements, much of the grant application and selection process has been standardized for programs covered by the SuperNOFA. This is detailed in the section entitled "What Changes Are Associated With the SuperNOFA?"