[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 35 (Thursday, February 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8077-8079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3029]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under 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 currently operational VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem (GPD) providers to make applications for assistance 
under the Special Need Grant Component of VA's GPD Program. The focus 
of this Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) is to encourage new 
applicants to create new projects that will deliver services to the 
homeless Special Need veteran population. This Notice contains 
information concerning the program, application process, and amount of 
funding available. Note: Current Special Need providers should not 
respond to this NOFA. Renewal funding is being offered under a separate 
NOFA.

[[Page 8078]]


DATES: An original completed grant application (plus three completed 
collated copies) for each project seeking assistance under the VA's GPD 
Program Special Need Grant Component must be received in the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 4, 2007. 
Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be the only electronic 
format accepted. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX) or 
other electronic means (e-mail). 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. This includes applications through 
Grants.gov. 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 electronic transmission problems, 
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. In this package is information on Grants.gov submission 
should applicants so desire. For a document relating to the VA's GPD 
Program, see the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three copies) for each project must be submitted to 
the following address: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field 
Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617. 
Applications must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office by 
the application deadline. This includes applications submitted through 
Grants.gov. Applications must arrive as a complete package. Materials 
arriving separately will not be included in the application package for 
consideration. If all materials are not included in the application 
package, it may result in the application being rejected or not funded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 N. 
46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of 
funds for assistance under VA's GPD Program for currently operational 
Grant and Per Diem providers to obtain grant assistance with additional 
operational costs that would not otherwise be incurred but for the fact 
that the recipient is providing supportive housing beds and services 
for the Special Needs of the following homeless veteran populations:

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

    Definitions of these populations are contained in 38 CFR 61.1 
Definitions. Eligible applicants should review these definitions to 
ensure their proposed populations meet the specific requirements.
    VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for the Homeless Providers Grant 
and Per Diem Program as part of the effort to end chronic homelessness 
among our Nation's veterans. 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:
    Seriously Mentally Ill:
    (1) Help participants join in and engage with the community;
    (2) Facilitate reintegration with the community and provide 
services that may optimize reintegration such as life-skills education, 
recreational activities, and follow-up case management;
    (3) Ensure that participants have opportunities and services for 
re-establishing relationships with family;
    (4) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of 
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (5) Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or 
through referral, to obtain other services particularly relevant for a 
seriously mentally ill population, such as vocational development, 
benefits management, fiduciary or money management services, medication 
compliance, and medication education.
    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.
    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.
    VA is seeking, through this NOFA, to provide an opportunity to 
currently operational Grant and Per Diem providers that are located in 
areas where Special Need project collaboration with the local VA is not 
feasible due to geographic distance, in small urban or rural areas, or 
where the Special Need population is relatively small, yet in need of 
these services. VA is seeking these new projects to create a unique 
service niche for these less addressed Special Needs veteran 
populations.
    No part of a Special Need grant may be used for any purpose that 
would change significantly the scope of the specific grant and per diem 
project for which a Capital Grant and Per Diem was awarded. As a part 
of the review process, VA will review the original

[[Page 8079]]

project listed in the Special Need application to ensure significant 
scope changes do not occur--displacing other homeless veteran 
populations. VA may reject for Special Need Funding, those applications 
that significantly alter the original scope (38 CFR 61.62).
    A separate Special Need application is required for each previously 
funded Grant and Per Diem project (identified by unique project number; 
see Application Requirements in this NOFA).
    Special Need 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 Grant and Per Diem Field Office (at the number listed 
above). Applicants may not receive Special Need assistance to replace 
funds provided by any Federal, state or local government agency or 
program to assist homeless persons.
    Authority: VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program and 
Special Need Grant are authorized by Public Law 109-461, Sec.  703 and 
Sec.  706 respectively, the law is known as the Veterans Benefit, 
Health Care and Information Technology Act of 2006, codified at 38 
U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the Final 
Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. The final rule was published in the 
Federal Register on September 26, 2003, 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 $6 million is available for Special Need 
GPD grant component of this program. Funding will be for a period 
beginning on January 1, 2008 and ending on September 30, 2009. Based on 
the amount of funding available the maximum allowable funding to any 
one operational Grant and Per Diem Special Need recipient under this 
NOFA will be $450,000.00 per project, for the specified time. The goal 
is to create new Special Need services for these homeless veterans' 
populations.
    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. Additionally, potential applicants 
should take into consideration, ``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'' (38 CFR 61.61(h)). 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 a current inspection prior to awardees being 
able to submit request for payment to ensure this requirement is met.
    Each grant awardee will have the VA liaison that was appointed for 
its corresponding Grant and Per Diem program monitor services to ensure 
the Special Need grant is being met and will include at least an annual 
review of each program's progress toward meeting internal goals and 
objectives in helping the Special Need homeless veterans as identified 
in each applicant's original Special Need application. Monitoring for 
all participants will include a review of the agency's income and 
expenses as they relate to this project to ensure Per Diem and Special 
Need payments are accurate.
    Monitoring of Homeless Special Need participants and services 
provided by Grant and Per Diem recipients will be accomplished 
according to the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) procedure. 
These monitoring procedures will be used to determine successful 
accomplishment of outcomes for each collaborative partnership.
    Funding Priorities: None.
    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. 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 not exceed the period specified in this NOFA. A 
condition to obtain the Special Need grant is for the applicant to 
maintain the original (grant or per diem) program for which the Special 
Need grant is sought.
    Application Requirements: A separate application is needed for each 
project number which you are requesting Special Needs funding. 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, (i.e., 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 VA's Grant 
and Per Diem Field Office (toll-free) at 1-877-332-0334.
    The package includes the applicant's required forms and 
certifications. Selections will be made based on criteria described in 
the application and additional information as specified in this NOFA.
    Applicants who are selected will be notified of any further 
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 and to use the funds available 
for other grant and per diem applicants.

    Dated: February 16, 2007.
R. James Nicholson,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7-3029 Filed 2-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P