Authority to Accept Unsolicited Proposals for Research Partnerships Notice of Intent (NOI)

The Authority to Accept Unsolicited Proposals for Research Partnerships Notice of Intent is a federal funding opportunity administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Office of Policy Development and Research. This program is designed to support independent, high-quality research that advances understanding of housing and community development issues in the United States. HUD seeks to collaborate with external research partners through cooperative agreements, emphasizing rigorous methodologies and alignment with federal policy priorities. The initiative reflects HUD’s long-standing authority to fund unsolicited proposals that originate from applicants rather than structured solicitations. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to generate actionable evidence that informs housing policy decisions at the federal, state, and local levels. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative research addressing housing affordability, homelessness, industrialized housing production, and the intersection of housing policy with broader socioeconomic factors. While HUD provides priority topic areas, proposals are not limited to these themes as long as they demonstrate clear relevance to HUD’s mission and offer meaningful policy insights. All research must be independently conceived and not derived from other HUD funding opportunities or previously funded federal work. Funding under this program is distributed through cooperative agreements, which involve substantial collaboration between HUD and the selected recipients. HUD plays an active role in guiding research design, reviewing methodologies, approving deliverables, and facilitating access to relevant data resources. Approximately 2,000,000 dollars is available for awards, with an estimated eight awards expected. There are no minimum or maximum award amounts, and funding decisions are made on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. The anticipated project performance period spans approximately two years, though final timelines are determined through negotiation between HUD and the awardee. A key requirement of this funding opportunity is a mandatory cost-sharing component. Applicants must provide at least 50 percent of the total project cost through cash or in-kind contributions. These contributions may come from philanthropic entities, government partners, or other allowable sources and must be fully documented with signed commitment letters or formal agreements. Matching funds must comply with federal regulations and be directly tied to the project’s activities within the approved performance period. Eligibility for this program is broad but limited to organizational entities. Eligible applicants include philanthropic organizations, federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal entities, and institutions of higher education. Individuals are not permitted to apply. Applicants must also meet federal eligibility requirements, maintain compliance with civil rights laws, and demonstrate the capacity to manage federal funding. Proposals must be complete, original, and aligned with HUD’s policy priorities to advance beyond initial eligibility screening. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as standard federal forms, a detailed budget, and a comprehensive research narrative. The narrative must outline the research objectives, methodology, policy relevance, and expected outcomes. Additional required materials include a project abstract, budget narrative, resumes of key personnel, cost share documentation, and past performance references. Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process including threshold eligibility review, policy relevance assessment, technical merit evaluation, and risk analysis. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a final submission deadline of June 9, 2027 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time, as indicated on page 1 of the document. Awards are anticipated to begin shortly after selection, with an estimated start date of June 10, 2027. Because funding is awarded as proposals are received and approved, early submission is strongly encouraged. Applicants may contact HUD’s Research Partnerships office via email or phone for program-related inquiries. This opportunity does not follow a fixed annual cycle but remains open throughout the funding period, making it a flexible but competitive research funding mechanism.

Ensure research is independently developed and not derived from other HUD solicitations; clearly align proposal with HUD policy priorities; provide strong methodological rigor and clear policy relevance; submit early due to rolling funding