Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Education and Outreach Initiative

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice Foa_Content_of_OFH-2600-DC-021A.pdf (79 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Award size and project length

• Project period: 12 months · p. 7

  “Length of Performance Period: 12-month project period and budget period Length of Periods Explanation:” Open page 7

• Project period: 18 months · p. 7

  “For EOI awards, the proposed project period and budget period can be in the range of 12 to 18 months.” Open page 7

• Award amounts here are per year · p. 29

  “Training Funds Your proposed budget must set aside exactly $7,500 annually to participate in HUD- sponsored mandatory or approved training.” Open page 29

Registrations you need first (4)

• SAM.gov · p. 3

  “SAM.gov Registration You must have an active and up-to-date account with SAM.gov, at the time of application and throughout the life of any award.” Open page 3

• Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 3

  “SAM.gov also provides each organization with a unique entity identifier (UEI).” Open page 3

• Grants.gov · p. 3

  “Grants.gov Registration You must have an active Grants.gov registration.” Open page 3

• Login.gov · p. 3

  “This requires a Login.gov registration as well.” Open page 3

The deadline is in 26 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

• Form SF-424 · p. 13

  “If inconsistent amounts are requested in an application selected for an award, the amount on the SF-424 will be deemed the controlling amount for purposes of determining eligibility and the award amount. 11.” Open page 13

• Form SF-LLL · p. 33

  “Lobbying Certification form Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) If applicable, required with the application Page limit:” Open page 33

• Form SF-424B · p. 33

  “SF-424B Certification of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan (HUD-2991) Required with the application Page limit:” Open page 33

• Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 42

  “Your work plan must follow all NOFO requirements.” Open page 42

• Budget narrative / justification · p. 43

  “Budget Narrative Your budget Narrative must” Open page 43

• Letters of support or commitment · p. 45

  “To receive the point, you must include in your application a letter of commitment and HBCU status documentation.” Open page 45

• Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 73

  “If you propose hiring key personnel to fill project related positions, you must include an Administrative Task to recruit (advertise) and hire for the position, to provide HUD with the hiring notice and the resume of the selected applicant.” Open page 73

• Project abstract or summary · p. 78

  “APPENDIX C REQUIRED ABSTRACT – SAMPLE FORMAT - All applicants should use the format outlined in this Appendix as an example and as guidance to describe the organization's project.” Open page 78

Length limits

• Page limit (see quote): 10 pages max · p. 32

  “You may submit a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font on letter sized paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) with at least 1-inch margins on all sides, for each Rating Factor 1, 2 and 4, excluding the charts permitted to be submitted as part…” Open page 32

Formatting rules

• 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced · p. 32

  “You may submit a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font on letter sized paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) with at least 1-inch margins on all sides, for each Rating Factor 1, 2 and 4, excluding the charts permitted to be submitted as part…” Open page 32

• single-spaced · p. 32

  “FHEO will not review pages submitted in excess of the permitted Rating Factor page limits, including if single spaced pages are submitted [in that case FHEO will stop reading after the equivalent of the double-spaced page limit has been reached].” Open page 32

How applications are scored (100 points in total, plus up to 7 bonus points)

Build your narrative outline from these criteria

• Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience: 20 points · p. 39

  “Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience 20 max points Description of Staff and Staff Expertise – 10 points Organizational Experience – 10 points Rating Factor 2:” Open page 39

• ↳ Description of Staff and Staff Expertise: 10 points · p. 39

  “Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience 20 max points Description of Staff and Staff Expertise – 10 points Organizational Experience – 10 points Rating Factor 2:” Open page 39

• ↳ Organizational Experience: 10 points · p. 39

  “Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience 20 max points Description of Staff and Staff Expertise – 10 points Organizational Experience – 10 points Rating Factor 2:” Open page 39

• Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem: 50 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• ↳ Problem Statement: 10 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• ↳ Required Narrative Element 1: 10 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• ↳ Required Narrative Element 2: 10 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• ↳ Required Narrative Element 3: 10 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• ↳ Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of Plan and Alignment to Needs): 10 points · p. 39

  “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 3 – 10 points Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of…” Open page 39

• Soundness of Approach: 20 points · p. 39

  “Soundness of Approach 20 max points Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative – 10 points Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative – 10 points Rating Factor 4:” Open page 39

• ↳ Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative: 10 points · p. 39

  “Soundness of Approach 20 max points Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative – 10 points Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative – 10 points Rating Factor 4:” Open page 39

• ↳ Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative: 10 points · p. 39

  “Soundness of Approach 20 max points Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative – 10 points Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative – 10 points Rating Factor 4:” Open page 39

• Achieving Results and Program Evaluation: 10 points · p. 39

  “Achieving Results and Program Evaluation 10 max points Measurement – 5 points Evaluation Plan – 5 Points Policy Initiative Preference Points 7 max points” Open page 39

• ↳ Measurement: 5 points · p. 39

  “Achieving Results and Program Evaluation 10 max points Measurement – 5 points Evaluation Plan – 5 Points Policy Initiative Preference Points 7 max points” Open page 39

• ↳ Evaluation Plan: 5 points · p. 39

  “Achieving Results and Program Evaluation 10 max points Measurement – 5 points Evaluation Plan – 5 Points Policy Initiative Preference Points 7 max points” Open page 39

• Policy Initiative Preference Points: 7 points · p. 39

  “Achieving Results and Program Evaluation 10 max points Measurement – 5 points Evaluation Plan – 5 Points Policy Initiative Preference Points 7 max points” Open page 39

Dates in the notice

• 11/02/2026 · p. 1

  “z OFH-2600-DC-021A Applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 11/02/2026.” Open page 1

Mistakes that get applications rejected (8)

• Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: Applicants with outstanding, unresolved matters or judgments against them for violations of civil rights... · p. 11

  “Applicants with outstanding, unresolved matters or judgments against them for violations of civil rights laws must resolve those judgments before the application submission deadline or the applicant will be deemed ineligible.” Open page 11

• Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible. · p. 11

  “Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible.” Open page 11

• Missing a required part: An application that does not include a narrative response to each of the four Rating Factors will be... · p. 13

  “An application that does not include a narrative response to each of the four Rating Factors will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed. 12.” Open page 13

• Sent the wrong way or format: All proposed surveys/data gathering must be approved by HUD and the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act... · p. 23

  “All proposed surveys/data gathering must be approved by HUD and the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act before the application submission, or the activity is deemed ineligible.” Open page 23

• Outside the award limits: However, applications that consistently request funding outside of the maximum or minimum award limits... · p. 35

  “However, applications that consistently request funding outside of the maximum or minimum award limits will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.” Open page 35

• Missing a required part: Applicants must provide responses to all four Rating Factors or the application will be deemed ineligible... · p. 38

  “Applicants must provide responses to all four Rating Factors or the application will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.” Open page 38

• Missing a required part: You must submit a SOW Chart and HUD 424-CBW Budget for the performance and budget period of the proposed... · p. 44

  “You must submit a SOW Chart and HUD 424-CBW Budget for the performance and budget period of the proposed project, or your application will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.” Open page 44

• Late or not validated: Any application submitted during the grace period but not received and validated by Grants.gov will not be... · p. 52

  “Any application submitted during the grace period but not received and validated by Grants.gov will not be considered for funding.” Open page 52