[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42248-42252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15966]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program; Grants for Services to Women, Frail Elderly, or Terminally Ill 
Homeless Veterans

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of fund availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs is announcing the 
availability of funds for currently operational Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Recipients that are providing services at the time 
of the application to make applications for assistance in the delivery 
of services to the homeless veteran population of women, including 
women who have care of minor dependents; frail elderly; or terminally 
ill. The focus of this Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) under the 
special needs grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem Program is to encourage applicants to collaborate with VA Health 
Care Facilities in the delivery of such services. This NOFA contains 
information concerning the program, application process, and amount of 
funding available.

DATES: Application deadline. An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three completed collated copies) for each special 
need

[[Page 42249]]

population and project seeking assistance under this NOFA must be 
received in the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office 
by 4 p.m. eastern time on August 17, 2004. Applications may not be sent 
by facsimile (fax), e-mail, or other electronic means. 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 regulations at 38 CFR part 61.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three copies) for each special need population and 
project 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. For those agencies that choose to 
collaborate with a VA Health Care Facility, the documentation to be 
provided by the VA collaborative partner for assurance of non-
duplication of services through collaboration must be included with the 
application package (see Funding Priorities). 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 N. 
46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOFA announces the availability of 
funds for assistance under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program (Program) for eligible operational grant and per diem 
recipients with and without VA collaborative partners to assist with 
additional operational costs that would not otherwise be incurred but 
for the fact that the recipient is providing beds or services in 
supportive housing or at a service center for the following homeless 
veteran populations:

    Women, including women who have care of minor dependents;
    Frail elderly; or
    Terminally ill.

    Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance 
Act of 2001, authorizes this Program. No part of a special needs grant 
may be used for any purpose that would change significantly the scope 
of the project for which a capital grant and per diem was awarded. As a 
part of the review process VA will review the original project listed 
in the special needs application to ensure significant scope changes do 
not occur, displacing other homeless veteran populations. VA may reject 
for special needs funding those applications that significantly alter 
the original scope (38 CFR 61.62).
    Example 1: A provider currently has 50 beds and finds in the course 
of normal operation that at any given time the project is serving 20 
homeless veterans that are frail elderly. This provider could apply for 
special needs funding to assist in the additional operational costs 
that are incurred due to providing services to these 20 frail elderly 
homeless veterans.
    Example 2: A provider currently has 50 beds and finds in the course 
of normal operation that the addition of a staff member would allow the 
project to serve homeless women veterans that it must currently refer 
to other sources. This provider could apply for special needs funding 
to assist in the additional operational costs that are incurred due to 
development of providing services to homeless women veterans.
    Example 3: A provider currently has 50 beds serving the general 
homeless veteran population and now wants to serve ``only women'' 
homeless veterans in the 50 beds. This provider could not apply for 
special needs funding, as it would significantly alter the scope of the 
original project.
    Example 4: A provider currently has 50 beds and finds in the course 
of normal operation that at any given time the project is serving 10 
homeless frail elderly veterans and 6 homeless women veterans. This 
provider could apply for special needs funding to assist in the 
additional operational costs that are incurred due to providing 
services to both of these populations.

    Note:  A separate application is needed for each population and 
the provider would use the same project number on each application.

    A separate special needs application is required for each 
previously funded grant and per diem project, for each special 
population targeted to be served (see Application Requirements in this 
NOFA).
    Use of Funding: Special Needs funding may not be used for capital 
improvements or to purchase vans or real property. However, the leasing 
of vans or real property may be acceptable. Questions regarding 
acceptability should be directed to VA's Homeless Providers Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office, at 1-877-332-0334. Applicants may not receive 
special needs assistance to replace funds provided by any Federal, 
State, or local government agency or program to assist homeless 
persons.
    Funding applied for under this notice may be used for: the 
provision of service, operation, or personnel to facilitate the 
following with regard to the targeted group:
    Women, including women who have care of minor dependents:

    (1) Ensure transportation for women and their children, especially 
for health care and educational needs;
    (2) Provide directly or offer referrals for adequate and safe child 
care;
    (3) Ensure children's health care needs are met, especially age 
appropriate wellness visits and immunizations; and
    (4) Address safety and security issues including segregation 
procedures from other program participants if deemed appropriate.

    Frail Elderly:

    (1) Ensure the safety of the residents in the facility to include 
preventing harm and exploitation;
    (2) Ensure opportunities to keep residents mentally and physically 
agile to the fullest extent through the incorporation of structured 
activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within 
the program and in the community;
    (3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life-
transitional issues and separation and/or loss issues;
    (4) Provide access to assistance devices such as walkers, grippers, 
or other devices necessary for optimal functioning;
    (5) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of 
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (6) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or 
through referral for other services particularly relevant for the frail 
elderly, including services or programs addressing emotional, social, 
spiritual, and generative needs.


[[Page 42250]]


    Terminally Ill:

    (1) Help participants address life-transition and life-end issues;
    (2) Ensure that participants are afforded timely access to hospice 
services;
    (3) Provide opportunities for participants to engage in ``tasks of 
dying,'' or activities of ``getting things in order'' or other 
therapeutic actions that help resolve end of life issues and enable 
transition and closure;
    (4) Ensure adequate supervision including supervision of medication 
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (5) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or 
through referral for other services particularly relevant for 
terminally ill such as legal counsel and pain management.

    Note: Successful applicants will be required to designate at 
least one representative from the organization to attend a post-
award conference. The conference will be held in Washington, DC, and 
is expected to extend over a two-day period. Applicants will be 
required to cover costs of travel, lodging, and meals associated 
with their attendance at the post-award conference; however, these 
costs can be included in budgets submitted for consideration for 
reimbursement of allowable costs under the grant.


    Authority: VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is 
authorized by Pub. L. 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive 
Assistance Act of 2001, section 5(a)(1), codified at 38 U.S.C. 
chapter 20 (38 U.S.C. 2001 through 2066). The program is implemented 
by regulations at 38 CFR part 61, codifying final rules published in 
the Federal Register on September 26, 2003 (68 FR 55467), and on 
June 8, 2004 (69 FR 31883) (revising, effective July 8, 2004, 38 CFR 
61.64, Religious organizations). The regulations can be found in 
their entirety in 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available 
under this notice are subject to the requirements of those 
regulations.

    Allocation: Approximately $8.4 million is available for services to 
assist women, including women who have care of minor dependents; frail 
elderly; or terminally ill under the special needs grant component of 
this Program. Funding will be for a period not to exceed 36 months, 
beginning on January 1, 2005. Based on the amount of funding available 
the maximum allowable funding to any one operational Grant and Per Diem 
Special Needs recipient project will be $200,000.00, per year, for 
three (3) years for a total of $600,000.00. Based on Grant and Per Diem 
funding availability, approximately $6.3 million is expected to be made 
available over 3 years (internally) for the VA collaborative partners, 
if any. Maximum funding for the VA collaborative partners is 
$150,000.00 per project, per year, for (3) three years, beginning in FY 
2005, for a total of $450,000.00 per project. The goal will be to fund 
14 collaborative projects.
    It is important for interested organizations to know that in 
addition to the needs associated with the homeless veteran populations 
targeted in this NOFA, the vast majority of homeless veterans in this 
country suffer from mental illness or substance abuse disorders or are 
dually diagnosed with both mental illness and substance abuse 
disorders. Also, many homeless veterans have serious medical problems. 
Collaboration with VA medical centers, VA community-based outpatient 
clinics or other health care providers to address these needs is an 
important aspect of assuring that homeless veterans have access to 
appropriate health care services. Opportunities to form collaborations 
with VA partners may exist in the linking of innovative Women's Heath 
Care treatment models or Health Care for Homeless Veterans Programs at 
VA Medical Centers with the provider's use of transitional housing, 
permanent housing referral, and extended follow-up mechanisms. These 
linkages may prove to be effective methodologies to deliver 
collaborative services to these populations and are encouraged. In 
addition, providers linking with VA Geriatrics and Extended Care 
Programs at VA Medical Centers may find similar benefits in 
collaborating their delivery of services to the frail elderly and 
terminally ill homeless veteran populations.
    Public Law 107-95 authorizes grants to be offered to both VA Health 
Care Facilities and operational Grant and Per Diem Providers to 
encourage development by those facilities and providers of programs for 
homeless veterans with special needs (38 U.S.C. 2061). In an effort to 
prevent non-duplication of services and encourage cost effectiveness, a 
funding priority will be given to applicants who collaborate their 
delivery of services to the special need homeless veterans population 
with their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) or VA Community Based 
Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), VA Women's Program, Health Care for Homeless 
Veterans (HCHV) Program, Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) 
Program or other VA specialty programs at a VAMC or VA CBOC that may be 
instrumental in developing programs to address the special needs of 
homeless veterans (see Funding Priorities below for specifics).
    It is important to be aware that VA places great emphasis on 
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to 
monitor services provided to homeless veterans and outcomes associated 
with the services provided in grant and per diem-funded programs. 
Applicants should be aware of the following:
    VA per diem payment is limited to the applicant's cost of care per 
eligible veteran minus other sources of payments to the applicant for 
furnishing services to homeless veterans up to the per day rate VA pays 
for State Home Domiciliary care, which is currently $27.19. 
Additionally, potential applicants should take into consideration the 
provisions of 38 CFR 61.61(h): ``Grant recipients that concurrently 
receive per diem and special needs payments shall not be paid more than 
100 percent of the cost for the bed per day, product, operation, 
personnel, or service provided.'' VA would expect that programs that 
apply for special needs funding that will serve special needs homeless 
veterans in less than 20 beds will adjust their request for funding 
appropriately to be cost effective. Awardees will be required to 
support their request for per diem and special needs payments with 
adequate fiscal documentation as to program income and expenses.
    All awardees that are conditionally selected in response to this 
NOFA must meet the Life Safety Code of the National Fire and Protection 
Association as it relates to their specific facility. VA will conduct 
an inspection or review the current inspection prior to awardees being 
able to submit a request for payment, to ensure this requirement is 
met.
    Each special needs grant awardee will have the VA liaison that was 
appointed for its corresponding grant and per diem program monitor 
services to ensure the special needs grant is being met.
    Monitoring will include at least an annual review of each program's 
progress toward meeting internal goals and objectives in helping 
special needs homeless veterans as identified in each applicant's 
original special needs application. Monitoring will also include a 
review of the agency's income and expenses as they relate to this 
project to ensure per diem and special needs payments are accurate.
    Each special needs funded program will participate in VA's national 
program monitoring and evaluation system administered by VA's Northeast 
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). In the event that the special needs 
funded program has chosen a collaborative partner; participation in the 
NEPEC program will also include the collaborative partner. NEPEC's 
monitoring procedures will be used to

[[Page 42251]]

determine successful accomplishment of the special needs outcomes for 
each funded program.
    VA encourages all eligible faith-based and community organizations 
that are eligible entities to carefully review this NOFA and consider 
applying for funds to provide services for special needs homeless 
veteran populations.
    Funding Priorities: VA establishes the following funding priorities 
in order to: (1) Implement the provisions of Public Law 107-95 
regarding non-duplication of service and the mandate to make funding 
available to both the health care facilities of the Department and 
Grant and Per Diem Providers; (2) promote collaboration between 
providers and the Department's health care facilities in the delivery 
of quality services to special needs populations identified in this 
NOFA in a cost effective manner, and (3) address geographic dispersion. 
In this round of special needs funding under this NOFA, VA expects to 
award approximately $8.4 million to operational Grant and Per Diem 
applicants to support beds, services, products, operation, or personnel 
directly serving the special needs homeless veteran populations.
    Funding priority 1. Eligible operational grant and per diem 
recipients that choose to collaborate and provide documentation from a 
VA collaborative partner as outlined below in the form of a Memorandum 
of Agreement (MOA) will be grouped in the first funding priority. The 
goal will be to fund approximately 14 collaborative projects; two (2) 
in each special needs population for a total of 6. The remaining 8 
projects may come from any of the special populations. Not more than 
two (2) special needs grants will be awarded to the same Grant and Per 
Diem recipient (defined by tax identification number), and no more than 
one grant per special needs population will be awarded to the VA 
collaborative partner (defined by VA medical facility), allowing a 
total of three (3) regardless of priority. With this criteria, of those 
eligible entities in the first funding priority, that are legally 
fundable, the highest scoring applicant will be funded first in each 
special needs population, followed by the second highest scoring 
applicant for each special needs population and then by the next 
highest scoring applicant from any special population until 14 
collaborative projects are funded. Using the guidance above, should the 
goal not be met and if funding is still available, remaining funding 
will go to the second funding priority. Applicants not funded in the 
first priority will be placed in the second funding priority.
    Documentation is to be provided by the VA collaborative partner in 
a jointly signed MOA with the applicant agency stating that if funded 
the VA collaborative partner will provide the services as outlined in 
the MOA. The MOA must document the non-duplication of services through 
collaboration and must address the following:
    The special population and number to be served;
    The extent and level of services that will be provided by the VA 
collaborative partner;
    How these services compliment and not duplicate the services 
provided by the applicant;
    Process and outcome measures clearly delineated and linked to 
service delivery and responsibilities for collection, compilation, and 
reporting of these measures;
    Approximate cost to provide these services per year, and over the 
life of the grant; and
    The VA collaborative partner will only provide services to eligible 
veterans.
    Funding priority 2. Should funding still be available, eligible 
operational grant and per diem applicants that choose not to 
collaborate or are unable to collaborate with VA Health Care Facilities 
will be grouped in the second funding priority. Not more than two (2) 
special needs grants will be awarded to the same Grant and Per Diem 
recipient (defined by tax identification number). Of those eligible 
entities in the second funding priority, that are legally fundable, the 
highest scoring applicants regardless of special needs population will 
be funded first until funding is expended.
    Agreement and Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants 
will complete a funding agreement with VA in accordance with 38 CFR 
61.61 and provide any additional information as required by VA under 38 
CFR part 61. Upon signature by the Secretary or designated 
representative final selection will be completed.
    Funding for operational grant and per diem applicants that are 
finally selected will be for a period not to exceed 36 months beginning 
on January 1, 2005. VA collaborative partners of finally selected 
applicants will be funded in accordance with Department internal fiscal 
guidance for a period of 36 months beginning on January 1, 2005. Should 
either of the collaborative partners not provide services as outlined 
in their application and MOA, VA may deobligate or discontinue payments 
for special needs grants to one or both collaborative partners.
    A condition to obtain the special needs grant is for the applicant 
to maintain the original (Grant or Per Diem) program for which the 
special needs grant is sought. This is not an issue for eligible 
capital grantees. However, it is possible that some of the eligible 
``Per Diem Only'' applicant programs would have their original award 
expire prior to fully utilizing the special needs funding. This is 
counterproductive to the intent of the special need grant. Therefore, 
if finally selected, ``Per Diem Only'' applicants will be considered to 
have met the reapplication requirements of 38 CFR 61.33(b) and their 
corresponding Per Diem Only award will be extended to run concurrently 
with their special needs grant. Example: A ``Per Diem Only'' award 
funded in 2003 would expire in 2006. Based on the funding availability 
date of January 1, 2005, if selected under this special need NOFA that 
corresponding PDO award would be extended to December 31, 2007.
    Application Requirements: A separate application is needed for each 
project number and special needs population for which you are 
requesting special need funding. Example: If your operational grant 
project serves both frail elderly and women, a separate application is 
needed for each population and you would use the same project number on 
each application. A project number is the last two digits of the year 
funded, the sequence the application was received, and the state 
abbreviation for the project location (e.g., 00-125-MA would have been 
funded in the year 2000, the 125th application received, and the 
project is located in Massachusetts). If you do not know your project 
number call the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office 
(toll-free) at 1-877-332-0334.
    The grant application requirements are specified in the application 
package and this NOFA. The package includes the applicant's required 
forms and certifications. Additional collaborative documentation as 
outlined in this NOFA is needed if the applicant chooses to collaborate 
with a VA health care facility. Selections will be made based on 
criteria described in the application and this NOFA. 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 deadline 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

[[Page 42252]]

and to use the funds available for other grant and per diem applicants.

    Dated: July 8, 2004.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-15966 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P