FISCAL YEAR 2024 GRANT AGREEMENT TRANSMITTALc.:coENT° U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
�aP 11111 hO, Jacksonville Field Office
CPD Division, 4HD
* Illlll * Charles Bennett Federal Building
I 400 West Bay Street, Suite 1015
cl Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4410
9e4N DEV0
August 28, 2024
The Honorable Bruce Rector
Mayor of Clearwater
Office of the Mayor
100 S Myrtle Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2024 Grant Agreement Transmittal
Dear Mayor Rector:
The Jacksonville Field Office would like to thank you for your continued partnership in
providing quality affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic
opportunities for low -and moderate -income persons through the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) programs.
One Grant Agreement is attached for each program awarded as follows:
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
$940.482.00
$400,221.70
Total FY 2024 Award $1,340,703.70
Plan Approval
Transmittal of a grant agreement does not constitute approval of the activities described
in your Consolidated Plan. You are reminded that you, as grantee, are responsible for ensuring
that all grant funds are used in accordance with all program requirements. By executing the
Grant Agreement (or Funding Approval/Agreement) you will be entering into a legally binding
agreement with HUD to use the awarded funds and carry out the funded activities in accordance
with all Federal statutes, regulations, and award terms and conditions that apply to those funds
and activities.
Please note the special conditions that may be attached to each agreement.
HOME Program Resale/Recapture Requirements
In accordance with the HOME regulations at 24 CFR 92.254(a)(5), a Participating
Jurisdiction (PJ) must establish resale and/or recapture requirements that comply with the
standards of the regulation. Furthermore, the resale and/or recapture requirements must be set
forth in the PJ's Consolidated Plan. HUD must determine if the PJ's provisions comply with the
www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov
requirements of the regulations and notify the PJ in writing of its determination. HUD has
reviewed your resale and/or recapture provisions and has determined that the provisions included
in the Plan comply with the requirements at 24 CFR 92.254(a)(5).
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
On February 9, 2023, HUD published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing." The proposed rule
implements the Fair Housing Act's statutory mandate to affirmatively further fair housing
(AFFH), which directs HUD to ensure that the agency and its program participants proactively
take meaningful actions to overcome patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice,
eliminate disparities in opportunities, and foster inclusive communities free from discrimination.
The public comment period ended on April 24, 2023, and HUD is in the process of finalizing the
rule. More information, including a Fair Housing Planning Toolkit, updates, and, once published,
the final rule, is available here. The AFFH Interim Final Rule (86 FR 30779) remains in effect
during proposed rulemaking.
Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse and Whistleblower Protections
Preventing waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal funds is a shared responsibility and any
person who becomes aware of the existence or apparent existence of fraud, waste or abuse of any
HUD award must report such incidents to both the HUD official responsible for the award and to
HUD's Office of Inspector General (OIG). HUD OIG is available to receive allegations of fraud,
waste, and abuse related to HUD programs via its hotline number (1-800-347-3735) and its
online hotline form.
Please be reminded of the Whistleblower Protection requirements contained in 41 U.S.C.
§ 4712, which, as amended, protect employees of a government contractor, subcontractor,
grantee, and subgrantee from retaliation or reprisal as a result of protected disclosures of gross
mismanagement, gross waste, abuse of authority, and other violations in connection with Federal
contracts or grants. Grantee must inform employees in writing of their rights and remedies.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)
The FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) is a reporting tool that Federal prime
awardees (i.e., prime grant recipients and prime contractors) use to capture and report subaward
and executive compensation data to meet the FFATA reporting requirements. For FSRS
reporting, prime awardees will report on all subawards they make. In accordance with 2 CFR
part 170, prime awardees awarded a Federal grant are required to file a FFATA subaward report
by the end of the month following the month in which the prime awardee awards any subaward
equal to or greater than $30,000 in Federal funds. Additional information can be found on the
FSRS website, at https://www.fsrs.gov/.
Revised Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)
In April 2024, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued revised OMB Guidance
for Grants and Agreements, which is now called the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial
Assistance. In this update, there have been significant changes made to 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards,
commonly known as the "Uniform Guidance." More information on these revision is available
here and here. Of particular note, the revisions increase of the Single Audit threshold from
$750,000 to $1 million and the de minimis indirect cost rate will increase from 10 percent to up
to 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). The revisions to 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart
F (Audit Requirements) will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2024.
The rest of the changes will take effect on October 1, 2024, for (1) awards issued on or after
October 1, 2024, and (2) awards HUD has expressly made subject to the regulations as may be
amended.
Environmental Review Requirements
You are reminded that all activities are subject to the provisions at 24 CFR Part 58
(Environmental Review Procedures). Furthermore, funds for certain activities may not be
obligated or expended until HUD has approved a Request for Release of Funds (RROF) and
issued an Authority to Use Grant Funds (AUGF). A RROF must be signed by a certifying
officer and submitted to HUD along with proof of public notice. Until the AUGF has been
issued, no HUD funds can be committed. If the project or activity is Exempt per 24 CFR 58.34
or Categorically Excluded Not Subject to 58.5 per 24 CFR 58.35(b), no RROF is required.
On April 23, 2024, HUD published the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
(FFRMS) Final Rule to better protect communities from flooding. This Rule amends HUD's
existing floodplain regulations to require a greater level of flood protection for HUD -funded
projects. The Rule, with a compliance date of June 24, 2024, applies to all CPD programs (with
the exception of HTF) as part of the environmental review process. Additional information can
be found at https://www.hud.gov/program offices/comm planning/environment energy/ffrms.
Build America, Buy America (BABA)
The Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act established a Buy America Preference
(BAP) which requires that certain CPD -funded infrastructure projects procure all iron and steel,
construction materials, and manufactured products from domestic sources, unless exempted by a
general or project -specific waiver. HUD issued a Phased Implementation Waiver that phases in
the BAP based on the program funding and materials used. In FY24, the BAP will apply to
additional covered CPD programs and materials. Grantees are encouraged to utilize BABA
resources on the HUD Exchange, including the CPD BABA Implementation Guidance, for
information on how to determine if the BAP applies to a specific project and resources to
maximize the flexibilities provided by current HUD general waivers.
•
Executing the Agreement
Please execute each agreement with electronic signature and date and return to this office
to the attention of Lori Serino, Director, Community Planning and Development. Please ensure
the Chief Elected Official or authorized official electronically signs the agreement and maintain
a copy of each signed agreement in your local program files.
Indirect Cost Rate Addendum: New for FY2024, the authorized official must complete
the Indirect Cost Rate Addendum to each agreement. Please mark one (and only one) checkbox
to reflect how indirect costs will be calculated and charged under the grant. Complete this section
in full by applying the authorized official's name, title, date, and signature. For grantees electing
to use the de minimis indirect cost rate: As noted above, under the 2024 Revisions to 2 CFR Part
200, the de minimis indirect cost rate will increase from 10 percent to up to 15 percent of MTDC.
For FY2024 grants, any grantee that elects to use the de minimis indirect cost rate, and indicates
this selection on the Indirect Costs Rate Addendum to the agreement (2nd checkbox), is permitted
to utilize the de minimis rate of up to 15 percent when the 2 CFR revisions become effective on
October 1, 2024, regardless of whether the grant agreement is executed before, on, or after
October 1, 2024. However, Grantees using the de minimis rate may only apply the higher rate to
MTDC amounts that are incurred on or after October 1, 2024.
For additional information and guidance on grant -based accounting, please refer to the
HUD Exchange at: haps://www.hudexchange.info/manage-a-program/grant-based-accounting/.
To establish a Line of Credit for Fiscal Year 2024 grant funds, you will need to sign,
execute and return one copy of each agreement. If you need to add or remove individuals
authorized to access the Integrated Disbursement Information System (IDIS), please complete an
IDIS Online Access Request Form (HUD 27055), notarize it, and return it to this office.
Additionally, if you need to establish or change the depository account where these funds are to
be wired, a Direct Deposit Sign -Up form (SF -1199A) must be completed by your financial
institution and returned to this office with a copy of a voided check.
HUD congratulates Clearwater on your grant award, and we look forward to assisting you
in accomplishing your programs goals. If you have any questions or need further information or
assistance, please contact Precious Brannon, CPD Representative at (904) 208-2082 or
Precious.Brannon@hud.gov.
Sincerely,
OI9iWIysigned by LORISERIN0
LORI SERINO
ON,CNLORI SERINOC=USO=US.
Qowrnment OU = Daperlmart of Houin9 and
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Lori Serino, Director
Office of Community Planning and
Development
Enclosure(s): B -24 -MC -12-0002, M24 -MC 120230