[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22334-22335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8972]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-5629-N-01]
Authority To Accept Unsolicited Research Proposals
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and
Research, HUD.
ACTION: Notice: Authority to accept unsolicited proposals for research
partnerships.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that HUD's Office of Policy Development
and Research has the authority to accept unsolicited research proposals
that address one of the following research priorities: (1) HUD
demonstrations, (2) using housing as a platform for improving quality
of life, (3) the American Housing Survey data, or (4) housing
technology. In accordance with statutory requirements, the research
projects must be funded at least 50 percent by philanthropic entities
and/or federal, state or local government agencies.
DATES: Proposals may be submitted at any time and will be evaluated as
they are received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed by email
to [email protected], by telephone to Sarah Schaefer, Office
of Policy Development at (202) 402-6846 (this number is not toll-free),
or by mail to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office
of Policy Development and Research, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 8114,
Washington, DC 20410, ATTENTION: Research Partnerships. Persons with
speech or hearing impairments may call the Federal Relay Service TTY at
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Consolidated and Further Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-55, approved November 18, 2011)
(2012 Appropriations Act) authorizes the Office of Policy Development
and Research (PD&R) to enter into non-competitive cooperative
agreements for projects that are aligned with PD&R's research
priorities and where HUD can gain value by having substantial
involvement in the research activity.
Research Priorities
HUD may enter into noncompetitive cooperative agreements for
research proposals that inform important policy and program objectives
of HUD that are not otherwise being addressed and that focus on one of
HUD's research priorities. For 2012, HUD's four research priorities all
focus on projects in the United States. The research priorities are:
(1) HUD demonstrations. HUD values demonstrations as a method for
evaluating new policy and program initiatives. HUD is interested in
research opportunities that take advantage of its demonstrations,
including completed, current, and future demonstrations. For example,
the Moving to Opportunity demonstration was completed in 2011, but
additional policy questions remain that could be answered using the
existing data. In addition, the Choice Neighborhoods demonstration is
currently under way and the Rental Assistance Demonstration and Small
Area FMR Demonstration will both begin in 2012, all of which provide
further opportunities for research.
(2) Using housing as a platform to improve quality of life. For the
first time, HUD identified using housing as a platform for improving
quality of life as a goal in its Strategic Plan. Specifically, HUD is
interested in how HUD assistance can be used to improve educational
outcomes and early learning and development; improve health outcomes;
increase economic security and self sufficiency; improve housing
stability through supportive services for vulnerable populations,
including the elderly, people with disabilities, homeless people, and
those individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless; and
improve public safety. To evaluate the ability of housing assistance to
positively affect these various outcomes requires reaching beyond the
sphere of housing to health, education, and other areas.
(3) Use of American Housing Survey data. One of HUD's largest
research
[[Page 22335]]
investments is the American Housing Survey (AHS). The AHS provides a
wealth of data on size and composition of the nation's housing
inventory, which could be more effectively used by researchers to
address questions about housing market dynamics.
(4) Housing technology for construction and rehabilitation work for
HUD-funded clients. Public and private housing providers are
increasingly using housing technology to improve energy efficiency or
to introduce green or sustainable housing rehabilitation, construction,
or products in the HUD-funded housing. HUD is interested in research
that explores the successful efforts and knowledge of the private
building sector that carries out construction and rehabilitation work
for HUD-funded clients. This would be accomplished by examining
products and systems, the decision-making process by private and public
parties, and strategies pursued by private and philanthropic parties
producing and promoting products and systems. HUD's interest is in
encouraging replication of successful efforts by both private builders
and HUD clients.
Cost Sharing
Cost sharing is required for research projects to be eligible for
funding through HUD's non-competitive cooperative agreement authority.
In accordance with the 2012 Appropriations Act, at least 50 percent of
the total estimated cost of the project must come from a philanthropic
entity, other federal agency, or state or local government agency, or
any combination of these partners. For the purposes of the cost-sharing
requirement, HUD defines a philanthropic entity as the subset of
501(c)(3) organizations that directly fund research activities. These
include private foundations, public charities, and operating
foundations. An educational institution may have a separate foundation,
which would be considered a philanthropic entity for these purposes.
Philanthropic entities may include foreign entities. Contributions do
not include waiver of overhead or similar costs.
Proposals
Proposals should contain sufficient information for PD&R to
identify whether the research would meet statutory requirements for
cost sharing and alignment with the research priorities identified
above. Additionally, proposals should include the name, title, and
telephone number of an individual that PD&R may contact in the event of
any questions about the proposal. Proposals for research partnerships
that have already been submitted to HUD as part of a grant competition
are ineligible as the subject of a non-competitive cooperative
agreement.
Proposal Review
Proposals will be reviewed by a person or persons within HUD who
are knowledgeable in the field of endeavor related to the substance of
the research proposal. An Advisory Committee that includes the Deputy
Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Office of Research, Evaluation and
Monitoring, the DAS for the Office of Policy Development, the DAS for
the Office of Economic Affairs, the DAS for the Office of International
and Philanthropic Innovation, and the DAS for the Office of University
Partnerships, or any delegate asked to act on his or her behalf, will
review proposals and make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary of
PD&R. That recommendation will be documented and sent to the Office of
the General Counsel and PD&R's Budget office concurrent with submission
to the Assistant Secretary. As required by the statutory authority
within the appropriations bill, HUD will report each award provided
through a cooperative agreement in the Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act Sub-award Reporting System created under the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.
Dated: April 9, 2012.
Raphael W. Bostic,
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2012-8972 Filed 4-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P