[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 35 (Thursday, February 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8079-8082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3031]


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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 Grant and Per Diem 
Special Need Grant Recipients in conjunction with their collaborative 
VA Special Need partners to make re-applications for assistance under 
the Special Need grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and 
Per Diem (GPD) Program. The focus of this Notice of Fund Availability 
(NOFA) is to encourage applicants to continue to deliver services to 
the homeless Special Need veteran population. This Notice contains 
information concerning the program, application process, and amount of 
funding available.

DATES: An original completed grant application (plus three completed

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collated copies) for each project seeking assistance under the VA's 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Special Need grant 
component must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office, by 4 
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 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 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. 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, this 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 Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program for currently operational Grant and Per Diem Special Need 
recipients and their collaborative VA partners 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 or at service centers for the Special Needs 
of the centers for the following homeless veteran populations:
    Chronically 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 a 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:
    Chronically 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 
chronically 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 renew previous grant and per 
diem Special Need providers and their VA collaborative partners to 
continue to serve the Special Need 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 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

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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 current 
Special Need Grant and Per Diem 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, 
providers should include any projected excess funds still remaining 
from their previous award when calculating and submitting their budgets 
for this NOFA. Previously awarded funding will be used first followed 
by the funding from this NOFA for the delivery of services. Based on 
Grant and Per Diem funding availability, approximately, $8 million is 
expected to be made available over the specified time (internally) for 
the current VA collaborative partners.
    The goal is to the maximum extent possible is to ensure a 
continuation of Special Need services to homeless veterans and their VA 
collaborative partners.
    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. In 
addition, current Special Need recipients should also list their 
Special Need Project number. 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 grant application requirements are specified in the application 
package and the following additional information is required by this 
NOFA.
    a. Applicants should include in their submissions documentation of 
successful past performance.
    b. If the previous Special Needs grant was a collaborative the 
submission must include the appropriate performance data from the VA 
collaborative partner that the VA met its objectives or provided its 
duties as outlined in the original MOA.
    c. An updated MOA signed by the VAMC Director and the applicant 
agency Director specifying the collaborative and specific duties of the 
non-profit provider and those of the VA Medical Center that will be 
accomplished under this grant.
    d. Complete new budgets for the provider and collaborative partner 
with costs based on past costs incurred and evidence of the same. Based 
on the amount of funding available providers should include any 
projected excess funds still remaining from their previous award when 
calculating and submitting their budgets for this NOFA. Previously 
awarded funding will be used first, followed by the funding from this 
NOFA for the delivery of services.
    Applicants having questions with regard to the projected amount of 
funding from previous Special Need awards should contact the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office prior to application for this NOFA.
    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

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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. E7-3031 Filed 2-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P