[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23804-23805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11097]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for applications for assistance under the 
technical assistance grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant 
and Per Diem Program. This notice contains information concerning the 
program, application process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus two 
completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on June 4, 2003. 
Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). In the interest of 
fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date 
and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any 
application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take 
this practice into account and make early submission of their material 
to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated 
delays or other delivery-related problems.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's 
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-
877-332-0334. For a document relating to the VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program, see the interim final rule codified at 
title 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 61.0.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus two copies) must be submitted to the following 
address: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 
N. 46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL, 33617. Applications must be 
received in the Grant and Per Diem Field office by the application 
deadline. Applications must arrive as a complete package. Materials 
arriving separately will not be included in the application package for 
consideration and may result in the application being rejected or not 
funded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 North 
46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the availability of 
funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program for eligible non-profit entities with expertise in preparing 
grant applications relating to the provision of assistance for homeless 
veterans to: Provide technical assistance to those non-profit 
community-based groups with experience in providing assistance to 
homeless veterans in order to help such groups apply for grants under 
the interim final rule, published in the Federal Register, March 19, 
2003, or to apply for other grants from any source for addressing the 
problems of homeless veterans.
    Pub. L. 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act 
of 2001, authorizes this program. Funding applied for under this notice 
may be used for: (a) Group or individual seminars providing general 
instructions concerning grant applications; (b) Group or individual 
seminars providing instructions for applying for a specific grant; or 
(c) Group or individual instruction for preparing analyses to be 
included in a grant application. Seminars (course of instruction) may 
be delivered in electronic, face-to-face, and correspondence 
methodologies (e.g., Internet based training, video teleconferencing, 
computer media such as CD or disk).
    Entities that are interested in providing technical assistance 
should be aware that historically the Grant and Per Diem Program office 
receives over 1,200 nationwide inquiries per notice of fund 
availability from prospective applicants. It is estimated that an 
additional 1,000 inquiries are received at nationwide VA Medical Center 
Homeless Programs. From these inquiries, VA has seen an increase in the 
number of applicants each year. Approximately 100 to 300 applications 
per funding round have been received in past responses to Notices of 
Fund Availability (NOFAs) under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem Program. Those entities applying to provide technical assistance 
should consider these numbers when establishing their service plans. 
Grant applicants may not receive assistance to replace funds provided 
by any State or local government for the same purpose.
    It should be noted that VA expects to announce additional Notices 
of Fund Availability for construction grants and Per Diem Only awards 
in July or August of 2003. Recipients of technical assistance grant 
awards should be prepared to offer technical assistance very soon after 
the technical assistance awards are made so that organizations will 
have an opportunity to take advantage of technical assistance and 
training prior to and during the application period for these two 
additional NOFAs.

    Authority: VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is 
authorized by Pub. L. 107-95, section 5(a)(1), the Homeless Veterans 
Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 codified at title 38 United 
States Code (U.S.C.), sections 2011, 2012, 2061, 2064 and has been 
extended through Fiscal Year 2005. The program is implemented by the 
interim final rule codified at title 38 CFR Part 61.0. The interim 
final rule was published in the

[[Page 23805]]

Federal Register on March 19, 2003. The regulations can be found in 
their entirety in title 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made 
available under this notice are subject to the requirements of those 
regulations.

    Allocation: Approximately $750,000 is available for the technical 
assistance grant component of this program. Funding will be for a 
period not to exceed 1 year from the date of award.
    Funding Priorities: None.
    Application Requirements: The specific grant application 
requirements will be specified in the application package. The package 
includes all required forms and certifications. Selections will be made 
based on criteria described in the application. Applicants who are 
selected will be notified of any additional information needed to 
confirm or clarify information provided in the application. Applicants 
will then be notified of the time frame to submit such information. If 
an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for grant award within 
the specified time frame, VA reserves the right to not award funds and 
to use the funds available for other grant and per diem applicants.

    Dated: April 30, 2003.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-11097 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am]
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