Advancing Building Technology Grant Program

The Advancing Building Technology Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), aims to catalyze innovation in affordable housing through the study and adoption of emerging building technologies. This discretionary funding opportunity (FR-6900-N-92) is focused on increasing the supply and reducing the cost of housing across the United States. The total funding pool is approximately $10 million, with individual awards ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million and an anticipated total of around 15 cooperative agreements to be issued. Applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on July 24, 2025. The grant supports research on a range of innovative construction techniques and housing-related regulatory reforms, including offsite construction, 3-D printed homes, and manufactured housing. The program emphasizes projects that can deliver demonstrable results quickly, ideally within 12–18 months, and increase affordable housing supply. Five eligible research categories include rapid rebuilding after disasters, reforms to the HUD Code, offsite construction and emerging technologies, innovative financing models, and applications of artificial intelligence to reduce regulatory burdens. Eligible applicants must propose projects that align with at least one of these categories. The funding will be issued through cooperative agreements, meaning HUD will maintain substantial involvement throughout the grant lifecycle. Responsibilities shared with recipients include project management, research design, deliverables review, access facilitation to HUD datasets, and approval of key personnel or consultants. Required deliverables include a management and work plan, research design, quality control plan, quarterly progress reports, interim and final briefings, and a final research report. Deliverables must adhere to HUD style and submission protocols. Entities eligible to apply include state and local governments, special districts, school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally and non-federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses), and small businesses. Faith-based organizations are also eligible on an equal basis. Individuals are not eligible to apply. There are no matching requirements for this program. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and must include several standard forms (e.g., SF-424, HUD-424B, HUD-2880), a detailed budget (HUD-424-CBW), a budget narrative, and responses to specific rating criteria such as contribution to affordable housing, soundness of approach, team capacity, project management, and budget reasonableness. HUD requires supporting documents such as resumes of key personnel, letters of commitment from partners, and a list of references. The narrative portion is capped at 20 pages and must be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font. The performance period for awarded projects begins around October 7, 2025, and extends up to 36 months. Applicants must maintain current registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Questions about the application should be directed to Michael Stewart (202-402-2258 or ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov). Paper application waiver requests must be submitted to Carol Gilliam (202-402-4354 or ResearchPartnerships@hud.gov) at least 15 days before the application deadline.

Use HUD style guide, plan for trips to DC, and follow narrative structure precisely.