(a) Applications submitted to the Department are subject to general threshold criteria. Applications which do not meet the general threshold criteria or which cannot resolve an administrative deficiency related to general threshold criteria are subject to termination. Applicants applying directly to the Department to administer the ESG Program must submit an Application on or before the deadlines specified in the NOFA, notification of a direct Subgrant, or notification of availability of a continuing award, and must include items in paragraphs (1) - (13) of this subsection:
  (1) Application materials as published by the Department including, but not limited to, program description, budget, and performance statement.
  (2) An ESG budget that does not exceed the total amount available within the CoC region, other geographic limitation, Subgrant, or offer of continuing award, as applicable.
  (3) A copy of the Applicant's written standards that comply with the requirements of 24 CFR §576.400 and certification of compliance with these standards. Any occupancy standard set by the Subrecipient must not conflict with local regulations or Texas Property Code §92.010.
  (4) A copy of the Applicant's policy for termination of assistance that complies with the requirements of 24 CFR §576.402 and certification of compliance with these standards.
  (5) A Service Area which consists of at least the entirety of one county or multiple counties within the CoC region under which Application is made, unless a CoC region does not include an entire county. When the CoC region does not encompass at least the entirety of one county, the Service Area must encompass the entire CoC region. The Service Area selected within an Application must be fully contained within one CoC region.
  (6) Commitment in the budget to the provision of 100% Match, or request for a Match waiver, as applicable. Match waivers will be considered by the Department based on the rank of the Application. Applicants requesting an award of funds in excess of the minimum award amount as described in the NOFA for Program Participant services are not eligible to request or receive a Match waiver. In the event that the Match waivers requested exceed $100,000, the waivers will be considered only for the highest scoring eligible Applications, subject to availability of excess Match provided by ESG Applicants. Applicants that do not receive the waiver and are unable to provide a source of Match will be ineligible for an ESG award.
  (7) Applicant certification of compliance with State and federal laws, rules and guidance governing the ESG Program as provided in the Application.
  (8) Evidence of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number for Applicant.
  (9) Documentation of existing Section 501(c) tax-exempt status, as applicable.
  (10) Completed previous participation review materials, as outlined in Chapter 1, Subchapter C of this title (relating to Previous Participation), for Applicant.
  (11) Local government approval per 24 CFR §576.202(a)(2) for an Applicant that will be providing shelter activities with ESG or as ESG Match, as applicable. This documentation must be submitted not later than 30 calendar days after the Application submission deadline as specified in the NOFA, or prior to execution of a Contract for Subrecipients subject to a direct Subgrant, or continuing award. Receipt of the local government approval is a condition prior to the Department obligating ESG funding.
  (12) A resolution or other governing body action from the Applicant's direct governing body which includes:
    (A) Authorization of the submission of the Application;
    (B) Title of the person authorized to represent the entity and who also has signature authority to execute a Contract; and
    (C) Date that the resolution was passed by the governing body, which must be not older than 12 months preceding the date the Application is submitted.
(b) An Application must be substantially complete when received by the Department. An Application may be terminated if the Application is so unclear or incomplete that a thorough review cannot reasonably be performed, as determined by the Department. Such Application will be terminated without being processed as an administrative deficiency. Specific reasons for a Department termination will be included in the notification sent to the Applicant but, because the termination may occur prior to completion of the full review, will not necessarily include a comprehensive list of all deficiencies in the Application. Termination of an Application may be subject to §1.7 of this title (relating to Appeals Process).

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.36 adopted to be effective March 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 1040