(a) In general The Secretary shall approve and disburse assistance under section
4143 of this title through eligible intermediaries selected by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section. If the Secretary does not receive an acceptable proposal from an intermediary offering to administer assistance under this section in a given State, the Secretary shall administer the program in such State directly.
(b) Selection of eligible intermediaries
(1) In general
The Secretary shall develop criteria to select eligible intermediaries, through a competitive process, to administer assistance under this subchapter. The process shall include provision for a reasonable administrative fee.
(2) Priority With respect to all forms of grants available under section
4143 of this title, such criteria shall give priority to applications from eligible intermediaries with demonstrated expertise or experience with the program established under this title
or under the Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987.
(3) Criteria The criteria developed under this subsection shall
(A) not assign any preference or priority to applications from eligible intermediaries based on their previous participation in administering or receiving Federal grants or loans (but may exclude applicants who have failed to perform under prior contracts of a similar nature);
(B) require an applicant to prepare a proposal that demonstrates adequate staffing, qualifications, prior experience, and a plan for participation; and
(C) permit an applicant to serve as the administrator of assistance made available under section
4143 (d) or (e) of this title, based on the applicants suitability and interest.
(4) Geographic coverage
The Secretary may select more than 1 State or regional intermediary for a single State or region. The number of intermediaries chosen for each State or region may be based on the number of eligible low-income housing projects in the State or region, provided there is no duplication of geographic coverage by intermediaries in the administration of the direct assistance grant program.
(5) National nonprofit">nonprofit intermediaries National
nonprofit">
nonprofit intermediaries shall be selected to administer the assistance made available under section
4143 of this title only with respect to States or regions for which no other eligible intermediary, acceptable to the Secretary, has submitted a proposal to participate.
(6) Preference With respect to assistance made available under section
4144 of this title, preference shall be given to eligible regional, State, and local intermediaries, over national
nonprofit">
nonprofit organizations.
(c) Conflicts of interest Eligible intermediaries selected under subsection (b) of this section to disburse assistance under section
4143 of this title shall certify that they will serve only as delegated program administrators, charged with the responsibility for reviewing and approving grant applications on behalf of the Secretary. Selected intermediaries shall
(1) establish appropriate procedures for grant administration and fiscal management, pursuant to standards established by the Secretary; and
(2) receive a reasonable administrative fee, except that they may not provide other services to grant recipients with respect to projects that are the subject of the grant application and may not receive payment, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of grants they have approved.
(d) “Eligible intermediary” defined For purposes of this section, the term eligible intermediary means a State, regional, or national organization (including a quasi-public organization) or a State or local housing agency that
(1) has as a central purpose the preservation of existing affordable housing and the prevention of displacement;
(2) does not receive direct Federal appropriations for operating support;
(3) in the case of a national
nonprofit">
nonprofit organization, has been in existence for at least 5 years prior to the date of application and has been classified by the Internal Revenue Service as an exempt organization under section
501 (c)(3) of title
26;
(4) in the case of a regional or State
nonprofit">
nonprofit organization, has been in existence for at least 3 years prior to the date of application and has been classified by the Internal Revenue Service as an exempt organization under section
501 (c)(3) of title
26 or is otherwise a tax-exempt entity;
(5) has a record of service to low-income individuals or community-based
nonprofit">
nonprofit housing developers in multiple communities and, with respect to intermediaries administering assistance under section
4143 of this title, has experience with the allocation or administration of grant or loan funds; and
(6) meets standards of fiscal responsibility established by the Secretary.
