NCDA News Update

HUD Unified Grants System Notice: Please Complete the NCDA Survey by November 20

On October 30, 2026, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register describing the HUD Unified Grants System (HUGS) Recipient Portal, an online reporting and data-tracking platform for monitoring how grant recipients spend federal funds.

Once the system becomes operational, grantees will upload supporting financial documentation for grant expenditures directly to the portal each quarter. This documentation may include vendor and subcontractor invoices, proof of payment, internal cost records (such as payroll records and cost allocation documentation), and supporting cost documentation for subrecipient activities.

HUD is seeking comments on the following topics:

·         Whether HUD's estimate of the time required to comply--4 hours per quarterly submission, or 16 hours annually per grantee--is accurate.

·         How HUD can minimize the administrative burden on grantees.

·         How HUD can improve the quality and clarity of the information collected.

·         Whether collecting financial records is necessary for HUD to carry out its responsibilities and whether the information will have practical value.

To help NCDA respond to the notice and advocate on your behalf, please complete this short survey by November 20.

Call to Action: Urge Your House Representatives to Support Improvements to the BABA Waiver Process

NCDA is working with national stakeholders to improve the BABA waiver process for grantees. Please contact your House representatives by close of business on November 17 and urge them to sign on to a letter calling for a more efficient BABA waiver process at HUD and OMB.

The letter recommends establishing product-specific or category-based general waivers for products with demonstrated domestic supply shortages. It also calls for streamlining the internal waiver review processes at HUD and OMB's Made in America Office (MIAO) and strengthening coordination between the agencies.

For questions, Democratic offices can contact Audrey Smith at audrey.smith@mail.house.gov

in Rep. Goodlander's (D-NH) office, and Republican offices can contact Curt Bliamptis at curt.bliamptis@mail.house.gov in Rep. Flood's (R-NE) office.