24 C.F.R. Subpart A—General Provisions
Title 24 - Housing and Urban Development
(a) Section 3. The purpose of section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) (section 3) is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State and local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons. (b) Part 135. The purpose of this part is to establish the standards and procedures to be followed to ensure that the objectives of section 3 are met. The regulations of this part will remain in effect until the date the final rule adopting the regulations of this part with or without changes is published and becomes effective, at which point the final rule will remain in effect. [60 FR 28326, May 31, 1995] (a) Section 3 covered assistance. Section 3 applies to the following HUD assistance (section 3 covered assistance): (1) Public and Indian housing assistance. Section 3 applies to training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities arising from the expenditure of the following public and Indian housing assistance: (i) Development assistance provided pursuant to section 5 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (1937 Act); (ii) Operating assistance provided pursuant to section 9 of the 1937 Act; and (iii) Modernization assistance provided pursuant to section 14 of the 1937 Act; (2) Housing and community development assistance. Section 3 applies to training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities arising in connection with the expenditure of housing assistance (including section 8 assistance, and including other housing assistance not administered by the Assistant Secretary of Housing) and community development assistance that is used for the following projects; (i) Housing rehabilitation (including reduction and abatement of lead-based paint hazards, but excluding routine maintenance, repair and replacement); (ii) Housing construction; and (iii) Other public construction. (3) Thresholds—(i) No thresholds for section 3 covered public and Indian housing assistance. The requirements of this part apply to section 3 covered assistance provided to recipients, notwithstanding the amount of the assistance provided to the recipient. The requirements of this part apply to all contractors and subcontractors performing work in connection with projects and activities funded by public and Indian housing assistance covered by section 3, regardless of the amount of the contract or subcontract. (ii) Thresholds for section 3 covered housing and community development assistance—(A) Recipient thresholds. The requirements of this part apply to recipients of other housing and community development program assistance for a section 3 covered project(s) for which the amount of the assistance exceeds $200,000. (B) Contractor and subcontractor thresholds. The requirements of this part apply to contractors and subcontractors performing work on section 3 covered project(s) for which the amount of the assistance exceeds $200,000; and the contract or subcontract exceeds $100,000. (C) Threshold met for recipients, but not contractors or subcontractors. If a recipient receives section 3 covered housing or community development assistance in excess of $200,000, but no contract exceeds $100,000, the section 3 preference requirements only apply to the recipient. (b) Applicability of section 3 to entire project or activity funded with section 3 assistance. The requirements of this part apply to the entire project or activity that is funded with section 3 covered assistance, regardless of whether the section 3 activity is fully or partially funded with section 3 covered assistance. (c) Applicability to Indian housing authorities and Indian tribes. Indian housing authorities and tribes that receive HUD assistance described in paragraph (a) of this section shall comply with the procedures and requirements of this part to the maximum extent consistent with, but not in derogation of, compliance with section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450e(b)). (See 24 CFR part 905.) (d) Other HUD assistance and other Federal assistance. Recipients, contractors and subcontractors that receive HUD assistance, not listed in paragraph (a) of this section, or other Federal assistance, are encouraged to provide, to the greatest extent feasible, training, employment, and contracting opportunities generated by the expenditure of this assistance to low- and very low-income persons, and business concerns owned by low- and very low-income persons, or which employ low- and very low-income persons. The terms Department, HUD, Indian housing authority (IHA), Public housing agency (PHA), and Secretary are defined in 24 CFR part 5. Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) means the contract under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (1937 Act) between HUD and the PHA, or between HUD and the IHA, that contains the terms and conditions under which HUD assists the PHA or the IHA in providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low income families. The ACC must be in a form prescribed by HUD under which HUD agrees to provide assistance in the development, modernization and/or operation of a low income housing project under the 1937 Act, and the PHA or IHA agrees to develop, modernize and operate the project in compliance with all provisions of the ACC and the 1937 Act, and all HUD regulations and implementing requirements and procedures. (The ACC is not a form of procurement contract.) Applicant means any entity which makes an application for section 3 covered assistance, and includes, but is not limited to, any State, unit of local government, public housing agency, Indian housing authority, Indian tribe, or other public body, public or private nonprofit organization, private agency or institution, mortgagor, developer, limited dividend sponsor, builder, property manager, community housing development organization (CHDO), resident management corporation, resident council, or cooperative association. Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Business concern means a business entity formed in accordance with State law, and which is licensed under State, county or municipal law to engage in the type of business activity for which it was formed. Business concern that provides economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons. See definition of “section 3 business concern” in this section. Contract. See the definition of “section 3 covered contract” in this section. Contractor means any entity which contracts to perform work generated by the expenditure of section 3 covered assistance, or for work in connection with a section 3 covered project. Employment opportunities generated by section 3 covered assistance means all employment opportunities generated by the expenditure of section 3 covered public and Indian housing assistance (i.e., operating assistance, development assistance and modernization assistance, as described in §135.3(a)(1)). With respect to section 3 covered housing and community development assistance, this term means all employment opportunities arising in connection with section 3 covered projects (as described in §135.3(a)(2)), including management and administrative jobs connected with the section 3 covered project. Management and administrative jobs include architectural, engineering or related professional services required to prepare plans, drawings, specifications, or work write-ups; and jobs directly related to administrative support of these activities, e.g., construction manager, relocation specialist, payroll clerk, etc. Housing authority (HA) means, collectively, public housing agency and Indian housing authority. Housing and community development assistance means any financial assistance provided or otherwise made available through a HUD housing or community development program through any grant, loan, loan guarantee, cooperative agreement, or contract, and includes community development funds in the form of community development block grants, and loans guaranteed under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. Housing and community development assistance does not include financial assistance provided through a contract of insurance or guaranty. Housing development means low-income housing owned, developed, or operated by public housing agencies or Indian housing authorities in accordance with HUD's public and Indian housing program regulations codified in 24 CFR Chapter IX. HUD Youthbuild programs mean programs that receive assistance under subtitle D of Title IV of the National Affordable Housing Act, as amended by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 12899), and provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for employment, education, leadership development, and training in the construction or rehabilitation of housing for homeless individuals and members of low- and very low-income families. Indian tribes shall have the meaning given this term in 24 CFR part 571. JTPA means the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1579(a)). Low-income person. See the definition of “section 3 resident” in this section. Metropolitan area means a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), as established by the Office of Management and Budget. Neighborhood area means: (1) For HUD housing programs, a geographical location within the jurisdiction of a unit of general local government (but not the entire jurisdiction) designated in ordinances, or other local documents as a neighborhood, village, or similar geographical designation. (2) For HUD community development programs, see the definition, if provided, in the regulations for the applicable community development program, or the definition for this term in 24 CFR 570.204(c)(1). New hires mean full-time employees for permanent, temporary or seasonal employment opportunities. Nonmetropolitan county means any county outside of a metropolitan area. Other HUD programs means HUD programs, other than HUD public and Indian housing programs, that provide housing and community development assistance for “section 3 covered projects,” as defined in this section. Public housing resident has the meaning given this term in 24 CFR part 963. Recipient means any entity which receives section 3 covered assistance, directly from HUD or from another recipient and includes, but is not limited to, any State, unit of local government, PHA, IHA, Indian tribe, or other public body, public or private nonprofit organization, private agency or institution, mortgagor, developer, limited dividend sponsor, builder, property manager, community housing development organization, resident management corporation, resident council, or cooperative association. Recipient also includes any successor, assignee or transferee of any such entity, but does not include any ultimate beneficiary under the HUD program to which section 3 applies and does not include contractors. Section 3 means section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701u). Section 3 business concern means a business concern, as defined in this section— (1) That is 51 percent or more owned by section 3 residents; or (2) Whose permanent, full-time employees include persons, at least 30 percent of whom are currently section 3 residents, or within three years of the date of first employment with the business concern were section 3 residents; or (3) That provides evidence of a commitment to subcontract in excess of 25 percent of the dollar award of all subcontracts to be awarded to business concerns that meet the qualifications set forth in paragraphs (1) or (2) in this definition of “section 3 business concern.” Section 3 clause means the contract provisions set forth in §135.38. Section 3 covered activity means any activity which is funded by section 3 covered assistance public and Indian housing assistance. Section 3 covered assistance means: (1) Public and Indian housing development assistance provided pursuant to section 5 of the 1937 Act; (2) Public and Indian housing operating assistance provided pursuant to section 9 of the 1937 Act; (3) Public and Indian housing modernization assistance provided pursuant to section 14 of the 1937 Act; (4) Assistance provided under any HUD housing or community development program that is expended for work arising in connection with: (i) Housing rehabilitation (including reduction and abatement of lead-based paint hazards, but excluding routine maintenance, repair and replacement); (ii) Housing construction; or (iii) Other public construction project (which includes other buildings or improvements, regardless of ownership). Section 3 covered contract means a contract or subcontract (including a professional service contract) awarded by a recipient or contractor for work generated by the expenditure of section 3 covered assistance, or for work arising in connection with a section 3 covered project. “Section 3 covered contracts” do not include contracts awarded under HUD's procurement program, which are governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation System (see 48 CFR, Chapter 1). “Section 3 covered contracts” also do not include contracts for the purchase of supplies and materials. However, whenever a contract for materials includes the installation of the materials, the contract constitutes a section 3 covered contract. For example, a contract for the purchase and installation of a furnace would be a section 3 covered contract because the contract is for work (i.e., the installation of the furnace) and thus is covered by section 3. Section 3 covered project means the construction, reconstruction, conversion or rehabilitation of housing (including reduction and abatement of lead-based paint hazards), other public construction which includes buildings or improvements (regardless of ownership) assisted with housing or community development assistance. Section 3 joint venture. See §135.40. Section 3 resident means: (1) A public housing resident; or (2) An individual who resides in the metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county in which the section 3 covered assistance is expended, and who is: (i) A low-income person, as this term is defined in section 3(b)(2) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)). Section 3(b)(2) of the 1937 Act defines this term to mean families (including single persons) whose incomes do not exceed 80 per centum of the median income for the area, as determined by the Secretary, with adjustments for smaller and larger families, except that the Secretary may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 80 per centum of the median for the area on the basis of the Secretary's findings that such variations are necessary because of prevailing levels of construction costs or unusually high or low-income families; or (ii) A very low-income person, as this term is defined in section 3(b)(2) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)). Section 3(b)(2) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)) defines this term to mean families (including single persons) whose incomes do not exceed 50 per centum of the median family income for the area, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families, except that the Secretary may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 50 per centum of the median for the area on the basis of the Secretary's findings that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes. (3) A person seeking the training and employment preference provided by section 3 bears the responsibility of providing evidence (if requested) that the person is eligible for the preference. Section 8 assistance means assistance provided under section 8 of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437f) pursuant to 24 CFR part 882, subpart G. Service area means the geographical area in which the persons benefitting from the section 3 covered project reside. The service area shall not extend beyond the unit of general local government in which the section 3 covered assistance is expended. In HUD's Indian housing programs, the service area, for IHAs established by an Indian tribe as a result of the exercise of the tribe's sovereign power, is limited to the area of tribal jurisdiction. Subcontractor means any entity (other than a person who is an employee of the contractor) which has a contract with a contractor to undertake a portion of the contractor's obligation for the performance of work generated by the expenditure of section 3 covered assistance, or arising in connection with a section 3 covered project. Very low-income person. See the definition of “section 3 resident” in this section. Youthbuild programs. See the definition of “HUD Youthbuild programs” in this section. [59 FR 33880, June 30, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 5206, Feb. 9, 1996] Except as may be otherwise provided in this part, the functions and responsibilities of the Secretary under section 3, and described in this part, are delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The Assistant Secretary is further authorized to redelegate functions and responsibilities to other employees of HUD; provided however, that the authority to issue rules and regulations under this part, which authority is delegated to the Assistant Secretary, may not be redelegated by the Assistant Secretary. (a) Certification of compliance with part 135. All notices of funding availability (NOFAs) issued by HUD that announce the availability of funding covered by section 3 shall include a provision in the NOFA that notifies applicants that section 3 and the regulations in part 135 are applicable to funding awards made under the NOFA. Additionally the NOFA shall require as an application submission requirement (which may be specified in the NOFA or application kit) a certification by the applicant that the applicant will comply with the regulations in part 135. (For PHAs, this requirement will be met where a PHA Resolution in Support of the Application is submitted.) With respect to application evaluation, HUD will accept an applicant's certification unless there is evidence substantially challenging the certification. (b) Statement of purpose in NOFAs. (1) For competitively awarded assistance in which the grants are for activities administered by an HA, and those activities are anticipated to generate significant training, employment or contracting opportunities, the NOFA must include a statement that one of the purposes of the assistance is to give to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State and local laws and regulations, job training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to section 3 residents and section 3 business concerns. (2) For competitively awarded assistance involving housing rehabilitation, construction or other public construction, where the amount awarded to the applicant may exceed $200,000, the NOFA must include a statement that one of the purposes of the assistance is to give, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State and local laws and regulations, job training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to section 3 residents and section 3 business concerns. (c) Section 3 as NOFA evaluation criteria. Where not otherwise precluded by statute, in the evaluation of applications for the award of assistance, consideration shall be given to the extent to which an applicant has demonstrated that it will train and employ section 3 residents and contract with section 3 business concerns for economic opportunities generated in connection with the assisted project or activity. The evaluation criteria to be utilized, and the rating points to be assigned, will be specified in the NOFA. Other laws and requirements that are applicable or may be applicable to the economic opportunities generated from the expenditure of section 3 covered assistance include, but are not necessarily limited to those listed in this section. (a) Procurement standards for States and local governments (24 CFR 85.36)—(1) General. Nothing in this part 135 prescribes specific methods of procurement. However, neither section 3 nor the requirements of this part 135 supersede the general requirement of 24 CFR 85.36(c) that all procurement transactions be conducted in a competitive manner. Consistent with 24 CFR 85.36(c)(2), section 3 is a Federal statute that expressly encourages, to the maximum extent feasible, a geographic preference in the evaluation of bids or proposals. (2) Flexible Subsidy Program. Multifamily project mortgagors in the Flexible Subsidy Program are not required to utilize the methods of procurement in 24 CFR 85.36(d), and are not permitted to utilize methods of procurement that would result in their award of a contract to a business concern that submits a bid higher than the lowest responsive bid. A multifamily project mortgagor, however, must ensure that, to the greatest extent feasible, the procurement practices it selects provide preference to section 3 business concerns. (b) Procurement standards for other recipients (OMB Circular No. A–110). Nothing in this part prescribes specific methods of procurement for grants and other agreements with institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations. Consistent with the requirements set forth in OMB Circular No. A–110, section 3 is a Federal statute that expressly encourages a geographic preference in the evaluation of bids or proposals. (c) Federal labor standards provisions. Certain construction contracts are subject to compliance with the requirement to pay prevailing wages determined under Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a—276a–7) and implementing U.S. Department of Labor regulations in 29 CFR part 5. Additionally, certain HUD-assisted rehabilitation and maintenance activities on public and Indian housing developments are subject to compliance with the requirement to pay prevailing wage rates, as determined or adopted by HUD, to laborers and mechanics employed in this work. Apprentices and trainees may be utilized on this work only to the extent permitted under either Department of Labor regulations at 29 CFR part 5 or for work subject to HUD-determined prevailing wage rates, HUD policies and guidelines. These requirements include adherence to the wage rates and ratios of apprentices or trainees to journeymen set out in “approved apprenticeship and training programs,” as described in paragraph (d) of this section. (d) Approved apprenticeship and trainee programs. Certain apprenticeship and trainee programs have been approved by various Federal agencies. Approved apprenticeship and trainee programs include: an apprenticeship program approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the Department of Labor, or a State Apprenticeship Agency, or an on-the-job training program approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, in accordance with the regulations at 29 CFR part 5; or a training program approved by HUD in accordance with HUD policies and guidelines, as applicable. Participation in an approved apprenticeship program does not, in and of itself, demonstrate compliance with the regulations of this part. (e) Compliance with Executive Order 11246. Certain contractors covered by this part are subject to compliance with Executive Order 11246, as amended by Executive Order 12086, and the Department of Labor regulations issued pursuant thereto (41 CFR chapter 60) which provide that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in all phases of employment during the performance of Federal or Federally assisted construction contracts.
Title 24: Housing and Urban Development
PART 135—ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW- AND VERY LOW-INCOME PERSONS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 135.1 Purpose.
§ 135.2 Effective date of regulation.
§ 135.3 Applicability.
§ 135.5 Definitions.
§ 135.7 Delegation of authority.
§ 135.9 Requirements applicable to HUD NOFAs for section 3 covered programs.
§ 135.11 Other laws governing training, employment, and contracting.
