To
assist low-income rural families in obtaining adequate housing to
meet their family's needs and/or to provide the necessary guidance
to promote their continued occupancy of already adequate housing.
These objectives will be accomplished through the establishment
or support of housing delivery and counseling projects run by eligible
applicants.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grant
purposes: Grant funds are to be used for a housing delivery system
and counseling program to include a comprehensive program of technical
and supervisory assistance as set forth in the grant agreement and
any other special conditions as required by RHS. Uses of grant funds
may include, but are not limited to: (a) The development and implementation
of a program of technical and supervisory assistance as defined
in RD Instruction 1944-K, 1944.506(h) and (i); (b) payment of reasonable
salaries of professional, technical, and clerical staff actively
assisting in the delivery of the TSA project; (c) payment of necessary
and reasonable office expenses such as office supplies and office
rental, office utilities, telephone services, and office equipment
rental; (d) payment of necessary and reasonable administrative costs
such as workers' compensation, liability insurance, audit reports,
travel to and attendance at RD approved training sessions, and the
employer's share of Social Security and health benefits. Payments
to private retirement funds are prohibited unless prior written
authorization is obtained from the Administrator; (e) payment of
reasonable fees for necessary training of grantee personnel. This
may include the cost of travel and per diem to attend regional training
sessions when authorized by the State Director; and (f) other reasonable
travel and miscellaneous expenses necessary to accomplish the objectives
of the specific TSA grant which were anticipated in the individual
TSA grant proposal and which were included as eligible expenses
at the time of grant approval. Ineligible activities: Grant funds
may not be used for: (1) Acquisition construction, repair, or rehabilitation
of structures or acquisition of land, vehicles, or equipment; (2)
replacement of or substitution for any financial support which would
be available from any other source; (3) duplication of current services
in conflict with the requirements of RD Instruction 1944-k, 1944.514(c);
(4) hiring personnel to perform construction; (5) buying property
of any kind from families receiving technical or supervisory assistance
from the grantee under the terms of the TSA grant; (6) paying for
or reimbursing the grantee for any expenses or debts incurred before
RHS/RD executes the grant agreement; (7) paying any debts, expenses
or costs which should be the responsibilities of the individual
families receiving technical and supervisory assistance; (8) any
type of political activities, and (9) other costs including contributions
and donations, entertainment, fines and penalties, interest and
other financial costs, legislative expenses and any excess of cost
from other grant agreements. Advice and assistance may be obtained
from the national office where ineligible costs are proposed as
part of the TSA project or where a proposed cost appears ineligible.
The grantee may not change fees or accept compensation or gratuities
from TSA recipients for the grantee's assistance under the program.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Technical and Supervisory Assistance
Grants may be made to public or private nonprofit corporations,
agencies, institutions, organizations, Indian Tribes, and other
associations. Listed below are a description and definition of eligible
applicants: 1. Sponsored organization - A public purpose group other
than a unit of government that is a beneficiary under a plan or
program administered by a State, or political subdivision of a State
or local government, and which is subject to approval by a Federal
agency. Usually organized to work for a specific purpose. Examples:
Community development agencies, model cities, and community action
agencies; 2. public nonprofit institution/organization - A public
owned agency or organization established to perform specialized
functions or services for the benefit of all or part of the general
public either without charge or at cost, making no profits and having
no shareholders or receive dividends, includes institutions of higher
education and hospitals. 3. Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government
- the governing body or a governmental agency of an Indian tribe,
nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community (including
native village as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act) certified by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for
the special programs and services provided through the Bureau of
Indian Affairs; and 4. private nonprofit institution/organization
- privately owned organization or institution which represent community
service networks, public information, technical assistance, and
public education. Operated exclusively for charitable, scientific,
literary or educational purposes such that no part of its earnings
is for the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, includes
private institutions of higher education and hospitals. Examples:
Girl Scouts, American Civil Liberties Union.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Eligible beneficiaries must be
low- income, individual/family and rural sponsored organizations.
Credentials/Documentation:
Have the financial, legal, administrative, and operational capacity
to assume and carry out the responsibilities that meet this requirement
of actual capacity, it must either: (a) Have necessary background
and experience with proven ability to perform responsibly in the
field of low-income rural housing development and counseling,
or other business management or administrative experience which
indicated an ability to provide responsible technical and supervisory
assistance; or (b) be assisted by an organization which has such
background experience and ability and which agrees in writing
that it will provide, without charge, the assistance the applicant
will need to carry out its responsibilities; (c) legally obligate
itself to administer TSA funds, provide an adequate accounting
of the expenditure of such funds, and comply with the grant agreement
and RHS regulations; (d) demonstrate an understanding of the needs
of low-income rural families; (e) have the ability and willingness
to work within established guidelines; and (f) if the applicant
is engaged in or plans to become engaged in any other activities,
it must be able to provide sufficient evidence and documentation
that it has adequate resources, including financial resources,
to carry on any other programs or activities to which it is committed
without jeopardizing the success and effectiveness of its TSA
project.
Pre-application
Coordination: Application Submission: (a) Upon
notification that the applicant has been tentatively selected for
funding, the State office will forward to the applicant a signed
Form AD-622 and provide SF 424.1 with instructions to the applicant
for preparation of an application; (b) upon receipt of Form AD-622,
the applicant will submit an application, an original and two copies
on Form SF 424.1, and provide whatever additional information is
requested to the Field office within 30 days; and (c) upon receipt
of an application on SF 42.1 by the Field office, a docket shall
be assembled which will include the following: (1) Form SF 424.1
and the information submitted in accordance with RD Instruction
1944-k, 1944.526(a) (2); (2) Form AD-622; (3) any comments received
in accordance with 7 CFR part 3015 subpart V, "Intergovernmental
Review of Department of Agriculture Programs and Activities." See
RD Instruction 1940-J, available in any RD office; (4) SF 424.1;
(5) OGC legal administration made pursuant to RD Instruction 1944-K,
1944.526(c) (3); (6) grant agreement; (7) Form RD 1940-1, "Request
for Obligation of Funds;" (8) Form RD 400-1, "Equal Opportunity
Agreement;" (9) Form RD 400-4, "Assurance Agreement;" (10) Form
RD 1940-20, "Request for Environmental Information;" (11) Form RD
1940- 22, "Environmental Checklist for Categorical Exclusions,"
Form RD 1940-21, "Environmental Assessment for Class I Actions"
or exhibit H, subpart G of Part 1940 entitled, Environmental Assessment
for Class II Actions; (12) the historical and archaeological assessment;
and (13) the detailed budget for the agreement period based upon
the needs outlined in the proposal and the comments and recommendations
by RD. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Not applicable.
Award
Procedure: Award is made by the Rural Development
State Director.
Deadlines:
Contact the State office for application deadlines.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 60 to 90
days.
Appeals:
Appeal rights are available under Rural Development's Instruction
1900 Subpart B.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Assistance
is normally for one to two years. Requesting TSA checks: (a) The
initial TSA check may cover the applicant's needs for the first
calendar month. If the first calendar month is a partial month,
the check will cover the needs for the partial month and the next
whole month. (b) the initial advance of TSA grant funds may not
be requested simultaneously with the request for obligation of
TSA grant funds. The initial advance must be requested on Form
RD 440-57 in accordance with the FMI after it has been received
from the Finance Office indicating that funds have been obligated;
and (c) all advances will be requested only after receipt of Standard
Form 279 from the grantee. The amount requested must be in accordance
with the detailed budget, including amendments, as approved by
RHCDS. Standard Form 270 will not be submitted more frequently
than once every 30 days. In no case will additional funds be advanced
if the grantee fails to submit required reports or is in violation
of the grant agreement.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Grant Evaluation, Closeout, Suspension, and Termination: (a) Grant
evaluation will be an ongoing activity performed by both the grantee
and RHS. The grantee will perform self-evaluations by preparing
periodic project performance reports in accordance with 1944.541.
RHS will also review all reports prepared and submitted by the grantee
in accordance with the grant agreement and this part.
Audits:
Within 45 days after the grant ending date, the grantee will complete
closeout procedures as specified in the grant agreement.
Records:
Grantees are required to maintain financial records, supporting
documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent
to the grant for a period of at least 3 years after the submission
of the final Project Performance report.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-2009-0-1-604.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $1,352,00; FY 02 est $1,687,543; and FY 03 est
$1,687,543.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
Regional
or Local Office: Contact the appropriate Rural
Development State office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or
on the internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
Headquarters
Office: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA,
14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Telephone: (202) 720-1474. FTS is not available.
