Non Governmental Organization Micro Grant Program NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABLITY & REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Date Issued: 12/14/12
1.0 PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM TOGETHER North Jersey Page 2 TOGETHER North Jersey has established the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Micro Grant Program to provide financial assistance to non governmental organizations to meaningfully participate in the planning processes that will lead to the development of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) for Northern New Jersey. The seeks the participation, insight and active engagement of community based organizations, including community development corporations, social service organizations, faith based institutions, or other groups at the local level that regularly interact with, are trusted by, and include members of traditionally underrepresented populations. Funded via a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program, the will fund outreach processes to engage NGO staff, their constituent members and their affected communities. Through the, TOGETHER North Jersey will solicit feedback and seek to work with grant recipients on economic, housing, transportation, public health and environmental issues, among others, that will be addressed as part of the RPSD. TOGETHER North Jersey expects that NGO Micro Grant program grant recipients will also undertake activities to foster neighborhood revitalization and safe and healthy community environments with resources from the grant. In turn, the insights and experiences of the NGO Micro Grant recipients will be valuable for the TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team partners in the identification of effective policies, plans and strategies to advance the establishment of sustainable communities. 2.0 BACKGROUND The is an initiative funded through a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD ). In response to HUD s FY2011 Sustainable Communities Grant Program solicitation, the Edward J. Bloustein School for Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University (Rutgers Bloustein) submitted a grant application to establish TOGETHER North Jersey with the mission of preparing a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. Rutgers Bloustein School is the administrative/fiscal agent of TOGETHER North Jersey. Goals. As stated in the HUD grant application, TOGETHER North Jersey expressed the following goals for the project to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development: Strengthen the region s economic base by growing jobs in key industry sectors and leveraging existing assets, including existing workforce, port/airport, etc. Align existing plans, programs, and regulations to support economic growth. TOGETHER North Jersey In November 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notified Rutgers Bloustein School that it was awarded a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant. The grant application was prepared in collaboration with the following partners: North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and jurisdictions from throughout the NJTPA region; NJ TRANSIT; NJ Office of Planning Advocacy (NJOPA), Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (HCDN NJ), Sustainability Institute/Sustainable Jersey at The College of New Jersey; NJ Future; NJ Regional Coalition (NJRC); PlanSmart NJ; and Regional Plan Association (RPA).
Page 3 Improve transportation connections and choices to better link where people live with where they need to go. Focus residential and employment growth in areas with existing infrastructure (including transit service) to reduce future costs at all levels of government. Engage a broad spectrum of the public, businesses, local government officials and other interested parties to develop locally defined long term planning goals for the region. Consider equity issues throughout the planning and implementation process, including access to opportunity (jobs, education, fresh food, etc.) for all region s residents and the benefits and burdens that accrue to areas prioritized for growth and those identified for more limited growth and preservation. These goals as well as strategies on how to achieve these goals are expected to be thoroughly discussed with TOGETHER North Jersey s Steering Committee, standing committees, various stakeholder groups and the public in a vigorous regional planning process. Regional Plan Development Approach. Plan development will be divided into three phases (see Figure 1). Public outreach will play a key role in the development of the plan throughout each phase of the planning process. Specific broad questions frame each phase of the plan development process to solicit input and explore the priorities of residents throughout the 13 county region. TOGETHER North Jersey will organize planning involvement processes to get input, feedback and explore the priorities of the region s various stakeholders. Discovery Workshop Visioning Workshop Implementation Workshop Figure 1: Major Phases in Regional Plan Development Approach The Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) will recommend strategies and actions to reach the preferred future as expressed by participants. The RPSD planning process will bring all levels of government together to create collaborative problem solving opportunities and, ideally, effectively align existing plans, regulations, investments, and incentive programs.
Page 4 Three Standing Committees have been formed to provide advisory input for the development of the RPSD: 1) Livability and the Environment; 2) Economic Competitiveness and Workforce Development; and 3) Society and Community. Each Standing Committee will bring together subject matter experts from all walks of life private sector, public sector, NGO organizations and contribute insights on key topics of the plan as the process advances (see Figure 2). The Committees will explore the opportunities and challenges ahead for each of these topics, formulate goals, and recommend strategies to reach long term desired outcomes for the North Jersey region. As the project moves through the phases of the regional plan development process, TOGETHER North Jersey anticipates that the Standing Committees will convene at least 3 times annually and meet on other occasions, as may be appropriate. The Standing Committees include county and city representatives from Northern New Jersey as well as private sector representatives, NGO stakeholders, and Figure 2: Standing Committees by Key Topics subject matter experts from various state agencies (e.g., transportation, environmental protection, housing, etc.). However, an important goal of the NGO Micro Grant Program is to further broaden and diversify the representation of these key advisory committees which will provide a forum for integrated collaborative problem solving and the preparation of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. 3.0 PROGRAM OVERVIEW The will fund various activities to support participation in the regional planning process and to materially advance the development of the RPSD. The invites grant applicants to consider and translate the Goals of the RPSD into effective local strategies to guide long term development and reinvestment, address issues of regional significance, and engage stakeholders and residents in meaningful decision making processes. Eligible Recipients: Community based organizations whose primary mission is to work on behalf of low income or minority populations, persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), persons with disabilities, underprivileged youth and seniors or who work in communities with high concentrations of these traditionally underrepresented populations. Eligible grant recipients must be located or work in one of the thirteen counties of Northern New Jersey, including: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.
Page 5 Purpose of Funds: Grant recipients must provide support for specified outreach processes as part of their grant award and participate in the below specified regional planning processes. Grant recipients may use a portion of their remaining grant funds for local planning activities consistent with the goals of the study that are focused on neighborhood revitalization, the built environment, healthy community design and active transportation and active living. Total Funding Available and Period of Performance: The NGO Micro Grant program will distribute grants in the amount of $15,000 $20,000 with about 7 10 grants being awarded. All work activities funded under the NGO Micro Grant Program must be completed no later than September 15, 2014. Rutgers will establish a service agreement with grant recipients for conducting eligible activities that follows terms and conditions acceptable to U.S. HUD and Rutgers. Application Process: Eligible grant recipients wishing to participate in the program must submit a grant application proposal to Rutgers Bloustein through the Rutgers University Procurement Services. Applications will be reviewed by the NGO Micro Grant Subcommittee which will have the authority to recommend approval, modification, or denial of applications based upon the extent to which the applications meet the program guidelines. Eligible Funding Activities: The includes required and supplemental activities that grant recipients will agree to undertake as a condition of funding. recipients will be required to attend TOGETHER North Jersey standing committee meetings, organize community involvement meetings with their constituent members to support the RPSD s scenario planning process, and participate in select advisory meetings related to the preparation of a Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment report (see Section 4.1, Required Activities). Grant recipients, at their option, may also undertake small planning studies consistent with the goals of the RPSD and the establishment of sustainable communities that are focused on neighborhood revitalization, healthy community design and active transportation and active living (see Section 4.2, Elective/Supplemental Activities). 4.0 ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES Eligible activities for funding under the are described in greater detail in this section and include required and supplemental activities. Grant recipients will agree to provide a Quarterly Progress Report to Rutgers that describes the status of each activity funded by the NGO Micro Grant as a means for documenting performance and providing a basis for reimbursement payments made to grant recipients awarded a grant. 4.1 REQUIRED ACTIVITIES Activity 1: Participate in Standing Committees As a condition of receiving the NGO Micro Grant, the recipient organization agrees to identify a member of their organization who will attend all Standing Committee meetings to assist in the development of the RPSD. Participation in these meetings will include reviewing information, reports, or other RPSD documents presented, or scheduled for discussion at committee meetings.
Page 6 Specific meeting attendance requirements will be stipulated in the Approved Work Plan for each NGO Micro Grant award. Each Standing Committee meeting may take 4 6 hours of actual meeting attendance time and will likely require some preparation time to review all materials in advance of attendance and some debriefing time following each event to review and comment on meeting notes prepared by the TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team lead responsible for organizing each Standing Committee. It is expected that there will be approximately 5 6 standing committee meetings held over the grant award period. DELIVERABLE(S) Quarterly Progress Report describing the time and effort in attendance and/or support of Standing Committee meetings. Activity 2: Participate / Support Discovery Phase Workshop(s) Public and stakeholder engagement will be an important part of the process to develop the RPSD. Each NGO recipient organization will designate a trusted liaison to organize a Discovery Phase Workshop with members of their organizations and that will also engage constituents from the general public as well as groups that have been traditionally underrepresented (e.g., African Americans, Latinos, immigrants, disabled persons, elderly, youth, and lower income residents) in the planning process. The liaison will organize an event co sponsored by their organization at a convenient venue(s) within their community. These meetings will be conducted in the primary language or vernacular of their group affiliation. Events may be held in a variety of convenient locations, including community centers, senior citizen centers, schools, libraries, faith based institutions, apartment buildings, or assisted living facilities. The overall atmosphere of the event should be relaxed and informal with refreshments. TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team members will give presentations, bring supporting materials (e.g., presentation boards, flip charts, markers, PowerPoint presentations), and facilitate group discussions held at these workshops. In broad terms, workshop events will focus on exploring the question: Where are we now? Where are we headed?, as a means for framing discussions about key concerns and trends that affect the economic vitality, health and safety of their community. The following workshop agenda items are anticipated as likely themes during this phase of the planning process: Overview of TOGETHER North Jersey and the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development An overview of TOGETHER North Jersey and the RPSD Planning Process will be given by a TOGETHER North Jersey partner (e.g., Rutgers Bloustein, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, etc.). Depending on the event, other initiatives of the planning partners may also be highlighted. Shared Values Dialogue Through use of electronic interactive polling technologies that will be made available through TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team members, a shared values exercise will be conducted to find out what people like and dislike about living in their region and community, and what community planning goals they would prefer in order to address future growth, investment, economic development, public health and safety, environmental and cultural resource protection, and improved quality of life. Access to Opportunities and Impediments TOGETHER North Jersey is embarking on the preparation of a Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment report as part of the Regional Plan for Sustainable
Page 7 Development. This workshop item will explore with participants the concepts of fair housing and access to opportunities and its linkages to transportation, employment, education, land use, and safe and healthy community environments. Regional and local impediments to fair housing and access to opportunities will be explored along with possible future placed based planning initiatives. Kick Off Discussion for Elective/Supplemental Activity NGO Micro Grant recipient organizations will have an opportunity to undertake a planning activity that is consistent with the sustainable community goals set forward by the RPSD (see Section 4.2 below). The discovery phase workshop event will provide an opportunity for the grant recipient organization to hold a kick off discussion with participants to inform them about the purpose and scope of this funded planning activity and solicit input from those in attendance at the event. TOGETHER North Jersey will bring one or more representatives to each of the Discovery Workshop Events and facilitate each of the agenda items for the Discovery Workshop. Grant recipients will be expected to participate actively in the pre planning and implementation of the outreach event to ensure that the event is relevant for local participants and capable of drawing between 30 and 60 participants. Grant recipients should assume their participation in the following pre planning and implementation activities: Attending an orientation/training session to receive background information on TOGETHER North Jersey and its planning partners (e.g., Rutgers, NJTPA, New Jersey Transit, Housing Community Development Network New Jersey, New Jersey Regional Coalition, etc. ) and the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development; Scheduling the workshop event within the prescribed time period (Round 1: Discovery Phase Workshops are tentatively scheduled between January May, 2013); Identifying a convenient venue(s). It is up to each applicant to suggest a convenient place for the Discovery Phase event where participants can meet to share their ideas and give feedback; Inviting attendees who are affiliated with the grant recipient organization as well as members of the affected community; Attending the workshop event during this phase; and Summarizing the meeting process and outcomes. Each applicant is asked to suggest how best to creatively engage the participants in sharing their ideas. Community meetings or workshops may be held in conjunction with already scheduled activities and, if appropriate, partnerships may be formed with other organizations to co sponsor the event. DELIVERABLE(S) Quarterly Progress Report describing time and effort spent setting up meetings, including scheduling and obtaining a meeting location, helping to develop a list of invitees, approaches to advertising, and meeting attendance (as indicated by filling out sign in sheets at each meeting) Narrative report of meeting outcomes Brief narrative describing key themes and priorities expressed by participants in attendance that relate to the goals, objectives, topics and issues of concern of the RPSD. The themes and priorities will be shared with the Together North Jersey Project Team, steering
committee and standing committees. The process and product of this community outreach event will inform the RPSD and is valued component of a robust public outreach process. Activity 3: Visioning and Goal Setting: Scenario Development Phase Following the completion of the Discovery Phase round of public involvement, the TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team will work to build scenarios over the next 3 to 6 months, based on data (i.e., current conditions, projections for growth) and the participating stakeholders expressed values and preferences. Open house events will then be held at select regional locations to present the resulting scenarios and how they perform against important performance measures that reflect community values. Interactive sessions with live polling are expected to be conducted at these open house events as well. Page 8 As active participants in the regional planning process, the designated trusted liaisons from the NGO grant recipient organizations will be active partners and contributors to the development of a vision and goals where do we want to go? in this phase of the RPSD development process. As part of this task, the trusted liaison(s) from the awarded NGO Micro Grant recipient organizations must agree to publicize this subsequent event through their organization, encourage their community membership to attend the open house event, and attend this larger workshop session organized by TOGETHER North Jersey that will be held in their region. DELIVERABLE(S) Quarterly Progress Report of time and effort spent publicizing Vision and Goal Setting Workshop and recruitment efforts to attend the event. Activity 4: Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Workshops TOGETHER North Jersey is preparing a Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Report (FHEA) as part of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. The report will investigate geographies of opportunity places that effectively connect people to jobs, quality public schools, and other amenities. Today in Northern New Jersey, there are neighborhoods of concentrated poverty and segregation where zip code not only predicts poor and minority segregation, but also poor education, employment and even health outcomes. In their present state, these neighborhoods are not sustainable. Strategies must be developed to better connect these communities and their residents to places of opportunity as well as reinvest and strengthen existing communities to increase opportunities in place. NGO Micro Grant recipient organizations will be asked to designate a representative to attend and participate in up to three (3) FHEA related workshops as part of the report s development. Specific meeting attendance requirements will be stipulated in the Approved Work Plan for each NGO Micro Grant award. Each workshop meeting may take 3 hours of actual attendance time and will likely require some preparation time to review all materials in advance of attendance and debriefing time following each event to review and comment on meeting notes prepared by the TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team lead responsible for organizing the workshop. DELIVERABLE(S) Quarterly Progress Report of time and effort spent in attendance and/or support for Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Workshops.
4.2. ELECTIVE/SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES TOGETHER North Jersey In addition to the required activities listed above, the will fund elective or supplemental activities that are consistent with the sustainable communities goals set forward for the RPSD. The following are examples of potential planning activities supported under this category; grant recipients can choose activities from the examples below or identify an alternative activity(s) for consideration by the NGO Micro Grant Subcommittee. Example 1: Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Grants for this purpose must reflect an expressed community need that advances, but is not limited to such goals as: Improved neighborhood health and safety Improved mobility or access to transit Better commercial district viability Increased youth or community engagement on sustainable community objectives Improved workforce preparedness and development Examples of planning projects that could be eligible include (but are not limited) to things like: A plan to locate bike racks that would encourage people to use transit. Page 9 A plan for better lighting to help people feel safer to walk to transit. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Training and Audit an exercise with qualified CPTED professional to identify safety oriented landscape or streetscape improvements. Community priorities for strategies and recommendations are mapped after training session and walk thorough of neighborhood with the participation of community groups. GIS Participatory Mapping Exercise to identify problem areas in the built environment related to access to parks, shopping areas, routes to transit, condition of sidewalks and bus shelters, etc. A plan for establishing community gardens that transform underutilized vacant lots or a farmers market that will ensure improved access to healthy, affordable and locally grown food. Example 2: Built Environment, Healthy Community Design and Active Transportation Grants for this purpose involve planning and designing sustainable communities that encourage people to live healthier lives by making it easier to walk, bike or use transit, improving where and how we live, learn, work and play. Funded projects must reflect an expressed community need to promote community health and wellness. Examples of planning projects that could be eligible include: Safe Routes to Schools Walkability and bikeability assessments, development of School Travel Plans, conduct of parent community school workshops to explore issues and strategies to improve safe routes to schools, and deployment of innovative methods to encourage children and youth to bike or walk to school, walking school buses, organization of bike to school events. Bike and Walk Safety Identification and mapping of neighborhood traffic hot spots with high crashes, pedestrian vehicular conflicts, or potential to become safe routes to transit and employment nodes, requiring traffic calming, signage, lighting, sidewalks and other improvements.
Page 10 Trail, Greenway or Bike Path Plans that improve resident access to parks and open space by improving connections via contiguous sidewalks, street signage, lighting, curb modifications, dedicated bike lanes, etc. Joint Use for Safe Places to Play and Be Active Explore feasibility of joint use or shared use agreements so that children and adults can enjoy improved access to community facilities to be more physically active. Joint use or shared use refers to two or more entities usually a school and a city or private organization sharing indoor and outdoor spaces like gymnasiums, athletic fields and playgrounds at a reduced cost or for free. Successful formal agreements are likely to address maintenance, operations, liability, ownership and cost issues. DELIVERABLE(S) Progress Conference Calls Each Micro Grant recipient will speak with a designated Together North Jersey Project Team representative to review progress, identify challenges, and brainstorm solutions. A summary report describing their supplemental/elective activity, including outreach processes that were undertaken, the scope of work and analytical methods, key findings and planned next steps stemming from their elective activity. Results and Lessons Learned Meeting The Micro Grant recipients will convene to present their elective/supplemental activity as a case study explaining their approach, results and lessons learned. Grant recipients will be asked to share their insights and highlight their key accomplishments, their performance against desired outcomes, planned next steps to advance project implementation, and possible challenges ahead. Grant recipients will also present how their case study relates to the goals of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) and suggest possible lessons their case study may offer for formulating strategic action recommendations for the RPSD (e.g., changes in policy, statutory or regulatory changes; needed capital investment or infrastructure priorities; maintenance and operational practices or standards that should be set; governing or organizational partnering relationships that should be encouraged; needed technical assistance or training; etc.) 5.0 GRANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Community organization(s) applying for a NGO Micro Grant must include a resident driven organization or initiative serving a geographic or cultural community and, must be a registered 501(c)(3) non profit organizations with a mission and track record of place based work with diverse constituencies; organizations that are not 501(c)(3)s must have a 501(c) (3) fiscal sponsor. Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, neighborhood based organizations, cultural organizations, small business associations, local district councils, and other community based entities, whether formal or informal, who are representative of and and/or led by low income communities, communities of color, immigrant communities, or people with disabilities. TOGETHER North Jersey encourages and will give additional consideration to strategies that build bridges and create cross sector relationships between stakeholders, such as residents, nonprofits, businesses, philanthropic and government entities. Grant awards must be completed no later than September 15, 2014. Organizations can apply for one NGO Micro Grant.
Page 11 Organizations awarded NGO Micro Grants must execute the Memorandum of Understanding to join TOGETHER North Jersey (formerly known as the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium) before proceeding with grant activities. Further information about the MOU can be found at: http://togethernorthjersey.com/participate/join together north jersey/ 6.0 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Interested eligible non governmental organizations must include the following information in their Proposal Submission response and should organize their submission in the same order as the items listed below. 1. Cover Letter Signed by a principal of the applicant organization or a representative of the organization fully authorized to act on the organization s behalf, committing the organization to the terms and conditions described in this NOFA and RFP, without modifications, unless mutually agreed upon by the organization and TOGETHER North Jersey North Jersey. The cover letter should include: Name, title, street address, phone number and email address of the individual with the authority to bind the applicant organization. 2. Description of Organization and Mission Description of organization requesting the grant (1 2 pages). 3. Description of the Project and Work Plan (2 3 pages) a. Required Activities Brief description of possible venues, membership and community populations that are expected to be reached by the organization. b. Elective/Supplemental Activity Brief description of the supplemental activity that will be advanced with remaining funds not required for participation in required activities. Provide rationale for why these activities are consistent with the goals of the RPSD and how they fit within the eligible funding categories. Please comment on the likelihood that the planning activity can lead to subsequent implementation. What factors are in place for the activity to be a success? (e.g., local champions, community support, strong partners, prior successes). c. Desired Outcomes Please describe 2 3 desired outcomes expected from the grant (1 paragraph). d. Anticipated Schedule Please describe when the elective/supplemental activities will get started and be completed. 4. Management Organization and Staffing Description Grant applicant should describe how the project will be managed and the roles and responsibilities of designated staff. Contact Information, resumes and/or biographical descriptions for the following persons are requested for: a. Executive Director/President individual legally authorized to commit the organization to the terms of the agreement. b. Administrative/Business Manager responsible party for administering the terms of the agreement
Page 12 c. Project Manager the designated individual who will be the responsible entity for managing the scope of activities set forward in the Grant application. d. Representative(s) to the Standing Committee and Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Workshops the designated individual(s) who will represent the organization at Standing Committee deliberations and at workshops pertaining to the Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Report. e. Trusted Liaison(s) the lead individual(s) who will be responsible entity for the implementation of the outreach activities of the grant. f. Other Key Staff other key individuals who will be engaged on supplemental activities. 5. Relevant Experience Describe past work around neighborhood revitalization, sustainable development and/ or working with low income communities, minority communities or other traditionally underrepresented communities. (1 2 pages). 6. Budget Estimate by Activity Category How budgetary resources are expected to be allocated among required and supplemental/elective activities and not to exceed the maximum amount which is currently estimated as $20,000. a. Cost and Hours Estimate Format The name, title, hourly billing rates along with an estimate of the time to complete each activity. Please see Appendix A for an example of the requested format for your organization s cost estimate. b. Funds awarded may be used for a variety of proposed activities, including: personnel; partner organizations whose work is detailed in the grant application; meeting support (space, childcare, food, transport, rental of communications equipment); communications tools, including translation services; tours of the community; local travel expenses (bus, gas); notifications/flyers, meeting materials and supplies, or other expenses. Some examples of ineligible expenses include: capital purchases; out of region travel; direct lobbying of state and federal elected officials around specific legislation; support for political campaigns; organizing specifically around an issue that does not align with the goals of the RPSD. c. Applicants awarded work will need to demonstrate that costs are allowable, allocable and reasonable in accordance with applicable Federal cost principles. This grant limits reimbursement for payment of the salary to a rate no higher than equivalent of General Schedule 15, Step 10 base pay rate. Please see the Office of Personnel Management website, www.opm.gov, and its Salaries and Wages link for the current base rate, which may be lower than the local rate: http://www.opm.gov/oca/12tables/pdf/ny_h.pdf d. The does not require a match, but demonstration of a match commitment (in kind or cash) will receive bonus points in consideration of proposals. 7. Financial Statement Organizations must submit audited financial statements for the past two years with their application (submit audited financial statements for the fiscal sponsor if applicable). Organizations may submit unaudited financial statements if they are not required to complete audited statements.
Page 13 7.0 SELECTION EVALUATION CRITERIA The NGO Micro Grant program prioritizes NGO organizations operating in traditionally underrepresented communities living in the Northern New Jersey region. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applicant proposals for funding. Applicant must demonstrate a mission and track record of working with diverse constituencies, particularly around place based, or neighborhood focused, work in Northern New Jersey region. Applicant must set aside sufficient resources and identify capable trusted liaison(s) to organize discovery phase planning workshop as a required activity of the grant. Applicant must set aside sufficient resources and identify representative(s) to attend Standing Committee and Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Workshops. Proposed required and supplemental activities must engage local community members in meaningful participation processes. Applicant must be ready and able to complete required and supplemental activities within the grant period. Proposed supplemental activity must respond to a community need, be realistic in terms of matching work activities with available resources, and offer a good likelihood of implementation. Applicant will receive bonus points in evaluation for 1) evidence of a match commitment (in kind or cash); and/or 2) evidence of quality local partnerships through expressions of support from relevant local policy and decision makers and other key stakeholders or community partners (e.g., local governments, schools, school districts, county or municipal health departments, planning or parks and recreation agencies, public works departments, public housing authorities, local businesses, hospitals and health care providers, advocacy groups, and media outlets). 8.0 AWARD AND CONTRACT INFORMATION Rutgers is the administrative and fiscal agent for TOGETHER North Jersey and the HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant which will be the source of funding for the. Rutgers will enter into a subcontract agreement with NGO grant award recipients. Because the is funded through a U.S. HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant, prospective grant recipients will be subject to flow down provisions of that grant. The draft Service Agreement that will be signed by the grant recipient and Rutgers is posted at: http://togethernorthjersey.com/resources programs/ngo micro grantprogram/ Recipients that receive NGO Micro Grant awards will receive payments on a reimbursement basis following the completion of major milestones set forward in the agreement.
Page 14 9.0 APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE 1. Information Workshop Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an informational workshop to discuss the goals of the NGO Micro Grant, the solicitation package, the administrative and reporting requirements, and address questions that participants may have. The informational workshop is tentatively scheduled for January 10 2013 at 10.00 AM at Rutgers Bloustein School. Details will be posted at www.togethernorthjersey.com 2. Deadline for Electronic Submission Grant application proposals must be submitted electronically no later than January 31, 2013, 5.00 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted. 3. Submission Address Grant application proposals must be submitted electronically to: Email: rupoacct@rci.rutgers.edu. Subject: Response to Attn: University Procurement Services 4. Timing of Award The evaluation and review process will involve an NGO Micro Grant Subcommittee. Applicants are expected to be notified within 4 weeks of the application submission date. 10.0 FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS & FUTURE NOTICES Questions pertaining to the eligible activities and submission requirements for the may be directed to: David Aimen, AICP, P.P. Assistant Director, Planning and Technical Assistance Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 33 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 david.aimen@ejb.rutgers.edu Phone: (848) 932 2855 Arnold Cohen Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey acohen@hcdnnj.org Phone: (609) 393 3752 (ext. 16) Questions may be submitted in writing and should be directed to the attention of Sara Vecchio, by email at rupoacct@rci.edu. All questions and answers will be circulated to all participants via email as an addendum to this.
Page 15 This (NOFA) and RFP and other information about the will be posted on the TOGETHER North Jersey website at: http://togethernorthjersey.com/resources programs/ngo micro grant program/ The availability of this NOFA and RFP will be advertised through TOGETHER North Jersey Project Team member networks (e.g., blogs, listservs, newsletter, meeting announcements, contact lists for newsletters, etc.), public service announcements, public notice advertisements, and the NJ APA planning chapter websites, among other websites. NGO organizations that did not initially receive this and RFP via email from Rutgers University Procurement Services are encouraged to register their organization on the TOGETHER North Jersey website to receive any subsequent communications related to this Notice (e.g., Addendums, Frequently Asked Questions, etc.) at: http://togethernorthjersey.com/ngo micro grant mailing list/
Page 16 APPENDIX A BUDGET ESTIMATE BY ACTIVITY CATEGORY Example Format Example Budget Worksheet HUD Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Estimated Budget by Task Activity Name of NGO Applicant Organization Hours by Task Activity Activity 1: Participate in Standing Committees Activity 2: Participate / Support "Discovery" Phase Workshop(s) Activity 3: "Visioning and Goal Setting Scenario Development" Phase Activity 4: Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Workshops Activity 5: Elective / Supplemental Activities Total Employee Name Title/Role Billing Rate Hours Total Labor Costs Person Name 1 Administrative / Business Manager $ 90.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ Person Name 2 Project Manager $ 66.59 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ Person Name 3 Key Staff $ 54.21 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ Person Name 4 Key Staff $ 40.11 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ Person Name 5 Key Staff $ 37.57 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ $ $ $ Subtotal Hours 0 0 0 0 0 0 $ Subtotal Labor Costs $ $ $ $ $ Other Direct Expenses: Travel (gas, bus, parking, transit) Meeting Space Rental Food/Refreshments Equipment Rental Communications Tools (translation, tours, advertising, meeting material and supplies) Miscellaneous / Other Subtotal Direct Expenses $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Total Estimated Budget $