The Research and Evaluation, Demonstrations and Data Analysis and Utilization Program (HUDRD) | FR 6100 N 29

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR 6100 N 29

The Research and Evaluation, Demonstrations and Data Analysis and Utilization Program (HUDRD) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to support research, evaluation, and data-focused work that can strengthen housing and community development policy and practice. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means HUD expects to be actively involved in the project beyond simply providing funds. The program is positioned within the Community Development activity category (CFDA 14.536) and, based on the notice details provided, HUD planned to make at least two awards under this competition, with an award ceiling of $500,000.

This NOFA is organized around two separate research projects. Project 1 is titled "Understanding Child Trajectories in HUD-Assisted Housing." The emphasis here is on improving knowledge about how children who live in HUD-assisted housing fare over time. In practical terms, that kind of work usually involves tracking outcomes across stages of childhood and adolescence, looking at how housing assistance intersects with factors such as residential stability, neighborhood conditions, schooling experiences, health, and later economic mobility. The goal of research framed this way is typically to identify patterns and drivers that can inform better program design, targeting, or supportive services, especially where housing policy can reduce long-term risks and improve life outcomes for children.

Project 2 is titled "The Social and Economic Impacts of the Community Development Block Grant Program." This project centers on evaluating the effects of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, one of the federal government’s major flexible funding streams for local community development. Work under this project would be aimed at assessing the social and economic outcomes associated with CDBG investments, which can include neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, public facilities, infrastructure improvements, and certain types of public services, depending on local plans and eligibility rules. A project like this commonly focuses on questions of impact and effectiveness, such as what measurable changes occur in communities receiving CDBG funds, how outcomes vary by investment type or geography, and what the broader implications are for low- and moderate-income residents and local economic conditions.

HUD indicated it may make one or more cooperative agreements for each project, but overall expected at least two awards from available funds. The opportunity’s listed award ceiling is $500,000, which suggests projects are intended to be substantial but targeted, with a clear scope of work tied to concrete research and evaluation deliverables. Because these are cooperative agreements rather than simple grants, applicants would typically need to be prepared for ongoing coordination with HUD, including shared planning, regular check-ins, and alignment with HUD’s research priorities and data standards.

Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, spanning most major categories of potential research and evaluation performers. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as further clarified in the NOFA’s additional eligibility text. This wide eligibility range signals HUD’s intent to attract strong methodological capacity from universities and research firms, along with program knowledge and administrative data access that can come from governments, housing authorities, and community development stakeholders.

Administrative details in the notice show the opportunity number as FR 6100 N 29, with the funding opportunity title HUDRD. The posting dates indicate it was created on August 16, 2017, with an original closing date of October 15, 2017. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The notice lists an expected award count of 2, consistent with HUD’s statement that it expected to make at least two awards across the two project areas.

In summary, this HUDRD competition is essentially a focused call for evidence-building: one research track aimed at understanding long-run child outcomes among families assisted by HUD programs, and another evaluation track aimed at quantifying and explaining the community-level social and economic impacts of CDBG. The cooperative agreement structure, moderate-to-large award ceiling, and broad eligibility indicate HUD was seeking capable partners who can combine rigorous analysis with practical relevance, producing findings that can be translated into improvements in housing assistance and community development policy.

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Research and Evaluation, Demonstrations and Data Analysis and Utilization Program (HUDRD)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.536.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2017 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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