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

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Policy Development and Research is issuing a Notice of Intent to accept unsolicited research proposals for research partnerships. This funding opportunity, identified as PDR-2600-DC-0USP, provides approximately $2,000,000 in FY 2026 funding to support roughly eight cooperative agreement awards. The program aims to foster independent, high-quality research that provides practical insights into housing and community development to inform policy decisions. Priority research areas include housing affordability, homelessness, industrialized housing production, Opportunity Zones, and the relationship between housing policy and household decisions regarding marriage and family formation. Additionally, the office seeks innovative approaches to increasing employment for young adults in HUD-assisted housing. Proposals must be original, developed independently, and utilize rigorous research methods consistent with Gold Standard Science principles. A critical requirement for all applicants is the provision of matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost. Because these are cooperative agreements, HUD will be actively involved in the project lifecycle to ensure alignment with Department priorities. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by June 9, 2027, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time, though HUD will review and award proposals on a rolling basis. Successful applicants must maintain active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and provide a comprehensive package including standard forms, a detailed budget using form HUD-424CBW, and research narratives. The estimated performance period for awarded projects is from June 10, 2027, through June 10, 2029.