Technical Assistance and Capacity Building under the Transformation Initiative Request for Qualifications | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the official title of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Technical Assistance and Capacity Building under the Transformation Initiative Request for Qualifications."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is FR-5415-N-30.

3) Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

4) What CFDA program does this opportunity fall under?

It sits under CFDA 14.259, known as Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building.

5) When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?

It was posted on December 29, 2010, and the application deadline was February 24, 2011.

6) How much total funding did HUD estimate would be available?

HUD estimated total available funding at $24,000,000.

7) Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?

No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of receiving an award.

8) What is OneCPD in the context of this opportunity?

OneCPD refers to the program purpose described in the notice: strengthening the ability of states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations that receive federal funding for community development, affordable housing, economic development, and special needs programs.

9) What problem is this program trying to solve?

The program targets practical implementation gaps where communities may have funding but lack tools, staff capacity, technical knowledge, or systems to use federal resources efficiently and in full compliance with program rules.

10) What kinds of organizations are intended to benefit from the assistance?

The assistance is intended to support state governments, local governments, and nonprofit organizations that receive federal funding tied to community development, affordable housing, economic development, and special needs programs.

11) What is the difference between technical assistance and capacity building here?

Technical assistance is described as hands-on, expert support focused on statutes, regulations, and program implementation. Capacity building is described as longer-term support aimed at improving efficiency and performance, such as stronger internal operations, better management practices, and improved performance measurement.

12) What are examples of topics that technical assistance might cover?

Examples given include guidance on federal requirements, eligible activities, reporting, environmental reviews, financial management, procurement, and other specialized program rules related to compliance and implementation.

13) What are examples of capacity building activities described in the notice?

Capacity building may include helping organizations strengthen internal operations, adopt better management practices, improve performance measurement, and become more effective administrators of federal affordable housing, community and economic development, and special needs funding.

14) Does the opportunity emphasize leveraging other resources?

Yes. A key theme is leveraging: HUD expects grantees and partners to use federal funds as a foundation to attract and coordinate other public and private resources rather than operating in isolation.

15) Are there specific HUD priorities connected to this assistance?

Yes. HUD ties the assistance to broader departmental priorities and specifically notes objectives such as energy efficiency and green building, indicating that providers may be asked to help communities integrate sustainability and energy-related practices where appropriate.

16) Is the assistance limited only to energy efficiency and green building?

No. While energy efficiency and green building are highlighted, the description leaves room for other evolving HUD objectives to be incorporated through work plans and field-driven needs.

17) How is the program managed within HUD?

Management is structured as a partnership between HUD Headquarters and HUD's network of 43 field offices. Headquarters centrally manages OneCPD overall, while field offices play a major operational role and handle day-to-day implementation.

18) What role do HUD field offices play in this program?

Field offices identify and establish technical assistance and capacity building needs based on assessments, negotiate and finalize individual work plans with providers, set and track outcome and performance goals, ensure deliverables are submitted on time and meet requirements, and evaluate provider performance.

19) What does the field office structure imply for awardees or providers?

It suggests providers must be prepared to coordinate closely with local HUD staff, respond to locally identified needs, and deliver products on timelines and standards that field offices will actively manage and review.

20) Who is eligible to apply for OneCPD under this notice?

Eligibility includes states; units of general local government; HOME participating jurisdictions; public housing authorities; public or private nonprofit organizations or intermediaries (including educational institutions and area-wide planning organizations); Indian tribes; for-profit organizations; and joint applications made up of any combination of these entities.

21) Are joint applications allowed?

Yes. The notice allows joint applications made up of any combination of the eligible entity types listed.

22) Is there a narrower eligibility category for "Core Curricula"?

Yes. For "Core Curricula," eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit organizations or intermediaries (including educational institutions and area-wide planning organizations) and for-profit organizations.

23) What does HUD appear to be looking for in applicants?

Based on the description, HUD aimed to build a large, qualified pool of organizations capable of delivering or supporting technical assistance and training at scale, including multiple organizational models and collaborations.

24) Is this a direct service or construction grant?

No. The opportunity is described as a capacity and performance investment rather than a direct service or construction grant. Funding is intended for organizations that help other federal funding recipients and their partners improve planning, administration, compliance, and measurable outcomes.

25) How are performance and deliverables treated in this opportunity?

The notice emphasizes assessments, negotiated work plans, measurable outcomes, and field office oversight, indicating that deliverables and results would be closely monitored.

26) How were applicants instructed to obtain application materials and instructions?

Applicants were directed to obtain application materials and instructions through the download page using the CFDA number.

27) Who is the program contact listed in the notice?

The listed contact is Ms. Holly Kelly, Acting Director.

28) What email address is provided for the program contact?

The email address provided is Holly.A.Kelly@hud.gov.

29) What types of communities or program areas are explicitly mentioned as in scope?

The notice explicitly mentions community development, affordable housing, economic development, and special needs programs as core areas supported through improved capacity and technical assistance.

30) What is the practical intent behind using assessments and negotiated work plans?

The intent is to identify real, field-driven needs, then translate those needs into agreed-upon work plans with specific deliverables, outcome goals, timelines, and performance expectations managed by HUD field offices.