[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 152 (Monday, August 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48204-48206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19948]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under VA's 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 fiscal year (FY) 2009 
VA Grant and Per Diem Special Need Grant Recipients in conjunction with 
their collaborative VA Special Need partners and currently operational 
VA Grant and Per Diem Special Need Grant Recipients not involved with 
collaborative VA partners. All current VA Grant and Per Diem Special 
Need Grant recipients will have the opportunity to reapply for 
assistance under the Special Need Grant Component of VA's Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The focus of this Notice of 
Funding Availability (NOFA) is to encourage applicants to continue to 
deliver services to the homeless Special Need veteran population as 
outlined in their FY 2009 Special Need grant application. This Notice 
contains information concerning the program, application process, and 
amount of funding available.

DATES: An original signed and dated request for re-application letter 
(on agency letterhead) for assistance under the VA's Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem 
Program Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 25, 2011 
(see re-application requirements below). Requests for re-application 
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 request for re-
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: An application package is 
not needed for this NOFA. Applicants submitting a letter on their 
agency's letterhead requesting re-application agree that VA shall use 
the applicant's previously awarded FY 2009 Special Need grant 
application for scoring purposes (see re-application requirements in 
this NOFA).
    Submission of Application: An original and complete letter 
requesting re-application with project number (see re-application 
requirements in this NOFA) must be submitted to the following address: 
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Office, 10770 North 
46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 33617. Letters of re-
application must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Program office 
by the re-application deadline. Any additional materials arriving 
separately will not be included in the re-application package for 
consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Watson, Deputy Director, 
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 
33617; (toll-free) (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 FY 2009 operational Grant and Per Diem Special Need grant 
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 for the Special Needs of the centers for the 
following homeless veteran populations:
    Women, including women who have care of minor dependents;
    Frail elderly;
    Terminally ill; or
    Chronically mentally ill.

Definitions of women and women who have care of minor dependents are 
self-defining. The population definitions of frail elderly, terminally 
ill, and chronically mentally ill 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 VA's Homeless Providers 
Grant and Per Diem Program as a part of the effort to end 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:

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

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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.

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.
    Through this NOFA, VA seeks to renew the FY 2009 previous grant and 
per diem Special Need providers and their VA collaborative partners in 
order to continue serving the Special Need veteran populations.
    No part of a Special Need grant may be used for any purpose that 
would significantly change 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 and 
subsequent approved program changes of the previous FY 2009 Special 
Need applications to ensure significant scope changes have not occurred 
thereby displacing other homeless veteran populations. VA will not 
allow any changes under this renewal 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 Program Office at (877) 332-0334. 
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:  Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized 
by the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,'' 
Public Law 107-95, Sec.  5, codified as amended at title 38 U.S.C. 
2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the 
Final Rule codified at 38 CFR part 61.0. The regulations can be 
found in their entirety in 38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds 
made available under this Notice are subject to the requirements of 
those regulations.

    Allocation: Approximately $11 million is available for current 
Grant and Per Diem Special Need grant projects. Funding will be for a 
period beginning on October 1, 2011 and ending on September 30, 2013. 
Applicants are limited to a maximum award equal to their FY 2009 
Special Need award plus a 5-percent increase. For example: $100,000 
award in FY 2009 would be $100,000 plus 5 percent or $105,000. 
Applicants should ensure their funding requests are based on this 24-
month period and should be approximately in line with prior 
expenditures. 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 maximum award to each VA collaborative partner will follow the same 
methodology; limited to a maximum award equal to their FY 2009 Special 
Need award plus a 5-percent increase.
    The goal of this Notice 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:
    Potential applicants should take into consideration, ``Grant 
recipients that concurrently receive Special Needs and per diem 
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)). Further, 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. 
Awardees will be required to support their request for Special Needs 
and per diem payments with adequate fiscal documentation as to program 
income and expenses.
    All awardees that are selected in response to this NOFA must meet 
the requirements of the current edition of the Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association as it relates to their specific 
facility. Applicants should note that all facilities are to be 
protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system unless a 
facility is specifically exempted under the Life Safety Code. 
Applicants should make consideration of this when submitting their 
grant applications as no additional funds will be made available for 
capital improvements under this NOFA.
    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.
    VA will monitor the homeless Special Need participants and services 
provided by GPD recipients according to appropriate VA 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.
    Re-Application Requirements and Additional Information: A separate 
request for renewal letter is needed for each project number for which 
you are requesting Special Need 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

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received, and the state abbreviation for the project location, (i.e., 
09-325-MA would have been funded in the year 2009, the 325th 
application received, and located in Massachusetts). If you do not know 
your project number. please call VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Office 
at (877) 332-0334.
    The grant application requirements were specified and met in the 
original application package and need not be provided as the applicant 
agrees that, as a condition of funding under this NOFA, the grant 
recipient's FY 2009 Special Need grant application will be used.
    The following additional information is required by this NOFA. The 
renewal request must include:
    a. A letter from the renewal applicant on agency signed letterhead, 
stating the applicant agrees to the following: (1) That, as a condition 
of funding under this NOFA, the grant recipient's FY 2009 Special Need 
grant application will be used, (2) that the applicant will provide the 
services as outlined in the FY 2009 Special Need grant application, and 
(3) the applicant's FY 2009 required forms and certifications still 
apply for the period of this award.
    b. If the FY 2009 Special Need grant was a collaborative project 
the renewal request must include an updated letter of commitment or an 
updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the VA collaborative 
partner, stating that the VA will continue to meet its objectives or 
provide its duties as outlined in the original MOA in FY 2009.
    c. A complete new budget for the renewal applicant and 
collaborative partner with costs based on past costs incurred and the 
funding limitation of 100 percent of their 2009 award plus 5 percent 
per each Special Need FY 2009 grant as stated in this NOFA. Renewal 
applicants should take into consideration the 24 month period of award 
when calculating and submitting their budget for this NOFA.
    d. A complete new budget for the VA collaborative partner with 
costs based on past costs incurred and the funding limitation of 100 
percent of their 2009 award plus 5 percent per each Special Need FY 
2009 grant as stated in this NOFA. VA partners should take into 
consideration the 24 month period of award when calculating and 
submitting their budget for this NOFA (if there is no collaborative 
partner then only an applicant budget is needed).
    Applicants having questions with regard to the funding from 
previous Special Need awards should contact the Grant and Per Diem 
Program Office prior to application for this NOFA.
    Selections will be made based on criteria described in the FY 2009 
application and additional information as specified in 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 and to use the funds available for other grant and per 
diem applicants.

    Dated: August 1, 2011.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-19948 Filed 8-5-11; 8:45 am]
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