FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
2502-FHA CATALYST - Supporting Statement (New).docx Supporting Statement A	2020-10-29
FHA Catalyst Emergency PRA Letter.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-10-13
FHA Catalyst Screenshots.docx Supplementary Document	2020-10-13
2502-FHA CATALYST - Laws and Regulations.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-10-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
244308	FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2502-0620	ICR Reference No: 202010-2502-004
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: HUD/OH	Agency Tracking No:
Title: FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 11/09/2020
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 11/17/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 11/05/2020
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2021	6 Months From Approved
Responses	741	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	741	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs (MFH) has developed a web-based portal for FHA-approved multifamily lenders to submit applications for FHA multifamily mortgage insurance to HUD electronically. The FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal (“FHA Catalyst”), is anticipated to be released in fall 2020 and will aid in the collection of information for FHA multifamily mortgage insurance program applications. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 24 CFR 202.5, 207, 213, 220, 221, 231, 241, and 266 authorize HUD/FHA to collect information and conduct operations under these programs. FHA Catalyst will allow FHA-approved multifamily lenders to submit electronic applications for FHA multifamily mortgage insurance and related documents to HUD through a web-based portal, and HUD staff will be able to receive and download the documents from the portal. The system is designed to streamline existing processes for collecting information to administer FHA multifamily mortgage insurance programs; no new information will be collected as a result of FHA Catalyst.

Emergency Justfication: The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs (MFH) is seeking an emergency review of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requirements for the FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal (“FHA Catalyst”). FHA Catalyst is a new IT solution that has been developed to provide FHA multifamily lenders with a web-based portal so they may begin submitting applications for FHA mortgage insurance to HUD electronically. Applications were previously submitted to HUD offices in paper and USB format through the mail, but this is no longer an option due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, lenders are submitting applications using various web-based applications, including SharePoint and Dropbox, which are not approved for use by HUD’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). FHA Catalyst will provide an immediate and secure platform for online application submissions that will be used for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FHA Catalyst: Multifamily Application Portal

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	741	0	0	741	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	741	0	0	741	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government:

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 11/05/2020

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