Contract - Indiana Housing and Community Development Alliance - Housing Counseling Support

Home Browse Search

56. National Industry Standards Code of Ethics and Conduct and Minimum Standard Activities for Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counselin . The Contractor hereby certifies that all counselors performing services under this Agreement have signed the National Industry Standards Code of Ethics and Conduct. If Contractor is not a HUD - approved housing counseling agency, it certifies that it meets or exceeds HUD's housing counseling approval requirements. The Contractor certifies that all work performed under this Contract will meet the Minimum Standard Activities for Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling. If the Contractor is a HUD -approved housing counseling it must be in good standing with HUD. "Not in good standing" is defined as a failure to comply with the laws and regulations that govern the HUD housing counseling program, or the inability of the Contractor to draw down HUD housing counseling grant funds for any reason. IF the Contractor has received Housing Counseling grants from HUD in the past are "not in good standing" unless they (a) continue to be a HUD -Approved Counseling Agency and (b) are not under investigation(s) by HUD for possible non-compliance that have resulted in funds being withheld by HUD. 57. Political Actives If the total consideration set forth in Section 2 of this Contract exceeds $100,000.00, the Contractor hereby certifies that it will not and has not used these funds to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer -or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal contract, grant, or other award covered by 31 U.S.C. § 1352. 58. Public Statements Press Releases and Media. Contractor acknowledges that IHCDA is solely responsible for all public statements, press releases and media related to IFPN and the services provided by Contractor under this Contract. Contractor shall (a) distribute the marketing material provided by IHCDA at the times and according to the instructions given by IHCDA; (b) promptly refer all media inquiries on IFPN or the Contract to IHCDA; (c) immediately contact IHCDA with any questions about media or marketing materials; (d) not alter the marketing materials provided by IHCDA; (e) not contact media (traditional or otherwise) regarding IFPN or this Contract; and (f) not create marketing materials related to IFPN or the Contract. Breach of this Section may be deemed a material breach of this Contract and grounds for immediate termination and denial of further work with IHCDA. 59. Client Fees. To ensure no financial barriers would prohibit clients from receiving foreclosure mitigation counseling services through IFPN, the Contractor agrees not to charge fees (service fees, membership fees or otherwise) to any foreclosure or delinquency counseling clients in exchange for foreclosure counseling services. Contractor may charge a nominal fee for pulling credit reports if the cost does not deter clients from seeking counseling. 60. Conflicts of Interest. The Contractor must ensure that staff and volunteers who provide foreclosure intervention counseling services under IFPN do not have any conflicts of interest due to relationships with servicers, real estate agencies, mortgage lenders, and/or other entities (including itself) that may stand to benefit from particular assistance outcomes. (00028595-11 Page 18 of 39