Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grants (14.906)

 

Program

14.906 Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grants

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD HAZARD CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

 

Authorization

Sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970; Consolidated Appropriations Resolution Act of 2004, Public Law 108-199.

 

Program Number

14.906

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To fund technical studies to improve methods for detecting and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards. The purpose of the Healthy Homes Technical Studies program is to improve our knowledge of housing-related health hazards, and to improve or develop new hazard assessment and control methods.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

For fiscal year 2004, potential applicants should consult the NOFA for available grant funding, particular requirements and restrictions, and application due dates. Applications are available by calling 1-800-HUD-8929.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Academic, not-for-profit and for-profit institutions located in the U.S. (for-profit firms are not allowed to profit from the project), State and local governments, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the United States. Federal agencies and Federal employees are not eligible to apply for this program. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs; as defined in 30 CFR 608.2) are eligible to apply for a set-aside, as well as under the general provisions of this program.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Homeowners, rental property owners, and public housing residents.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State, local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal governments and specific requirements of 24 CFR Part 85. Costs will be determined for nonprofit and educational institutions in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-122 and No. A-21, respectively, and in accordance with the requirements of 24 CFR Part 84.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

The competitive Notification of Funding Availability (NOFA) for fiscal year 2004 Healthy Homes Technical Studies grants provides information about the application procedure. Copies of the NOFA and required forms can be obtained from HUD's website (www.hud.gov), the Office's website (www.hud.gov/offices/lead), HUD's SuperNOFA Information Center at 1-800-HUD-8929, or via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

Award Procedure

HUD's review and awarding procedures are explained in the NOFA.

Deadlines

To be considered for funding, the original and three copies of the application package, whether sent by mail, express mail or overnight delivery, must be received at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, Attn: Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program, 451 7th Street, SW, Room P-3206, Washington, DC 20410, no later than the date specified in the NOFA. No hand-delivered applications will be accepted. Announcements regarding availability of funding will be published in the Federal Register.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

There is no matching requirement for the Healthy Homes Technical Studies grant program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Healthy Homes Technical Studies grants are awarded up to 36 months after the date of award. HUD reserves the right to approve no cost time extensions for a period not to exceed 12 months. Payment is on a cost-reimbursable basis.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly financial management and performance reports are required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State, Local, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal governments; or Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations; as applicable.

 

Program Accomplishments

Healthy Homes Technical Studies grants have resulted in, for example, low cost interventions to reduce moisture intrusion and associated mold problems in urban homes and documenting an improvement in the symptoms of asthmatic children following such interventions; developing improved methods for controlling cockroaches and cleaning cockroach allergen, the development of a scoring system for injury hazards in homes.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

86-0174-0-1-451.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 03 $2,009,000; FY 04 est $2,000,000; and FY 05 est $2,000,000. (NOTE: Amounts reported reflect allocation of new budget authority rather than obligation amounts.)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Healthy Homes Technical Studies grants awarded in 2003 ranged from $250,000 to $855,000; the average was $502,000. HUD will make about $3 million available for Healthy Homes Technical Studies, and anticipates awarding approximately 3 to approximately 6 awards, ranging from approximately $200,000 to approximately $1 million.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The Notice of Funding Availability and Application Kit are self-contained; all necessary information is provided; no other regulations pertain. For Hazard Control Grants, there is some change in the content and direction of the NOFA that is issued each year, dependent on SuperNOFA format, Congressional direction, changes in emphasis among priorities, and improvements based on experience with prior NOFAs.

 

Related Programs

14.901, Healthy Homes Demonstration Grants.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Dr. Peter J. Ashley, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, at the address above. E-mail: Peter_J._Ashley@hud.gov. Telephone: (202) 755-1785, extension 115 (this is not a toll-free number). If you are a hearing- or speech-impaired person, you may reach the above telephone number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

Web Site Address

http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Studies to design and field test methods of insulating walls that could be installed to permanently eliminate moisture and mold conditions in walls cost-effectively, to develop practical, economical and portable sensors to detect mold hidden behind walls, and to assess variability in children's exposure to allergens in low income and predominantly minority immigrant families and explore the ability of visual inspection tools for predicting presence of elevated levels of these allergens over time.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

For fiscal year 2004 HUD will use the technical and financial selection criteria listed in the NOFA.