[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41195-41197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16389]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans 
in Highly Rural Areas

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans 
in Highly Rural Areas. This Notice contains information concerning the 
Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, 
application process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: Applications for assistance under the Grants for Transportation 
of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program must be submitted to 
www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. eastern standard time on September 9, 2013. 
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 materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 
brought about by unanticipated delays, computer service outages (in the 
case of grants.gov), or other delivery-related problems.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: The application can be found 
at grants.gov, http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do, utilizing the 
``search by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number'' function, 
and entering in that search field the number 64.035. Questions should 
be referred to the Veterans Transportation Program Office at (404) 828-
5380 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected]. For 
further information on Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly 
Rural Areas Program requirements, see the Final Rule published in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is codified in 
38 CFR 17.700 through 17.730.
    Submission of Applications: Applications may not be sent by 
facsimile. Applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by the 
application deadline. Applications must be submitted 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. All applicable forms cited in the application 
description must be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Wallace, National Coordinator, 
Highly Rural Transportation Grants, Veterans Transportation Program, 
Chief Business Office (10NB2G), 2957 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329; 
(404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-free number).
    Informational Webinar: People who are interested in applying for 
this grant can view an informational Webinar about the Highly Rural 
Transportation Grants Program at the following link: http://va-eerc-ees.adobeconnect.com/p552nvc4m5e/.
    Grantee Eligibility: The only entities eligible to apply for and 
receive grants are Veterans Service Organizations and State Veterans 
Service Agencies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 307 of the Caregivers 
and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, VA ``shall establish 
a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to 
veterans in highly rural areas.'' To comply with section 307, VA will 
award grants to eligible recipients to assist veterans in highly rural 
areas through innovative transportation services to travel to VA 
medical centers and to other VA and non-VA facilities in connection 
with the provision of VA medical care. Please refer to the Final Rule, 
published in the Federal Register (78 FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which 
is codified in 38 CFR 17.700 through 17.730, for detailed information 
and requirements for the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in 
Highly Rural Areas Program.
    A. Purpose: This program's purpose is to provide grants to eligible 
recipients to assist veterans in highly rural areas through innovative 
transportation services to travel to VA medical centers and to other VA 
and non-VA facilities to assist in providing transportation services in 
connection with the provision of VA medical care.
    B. Definitions: Section 17.701 of the Final Rule and 38 CFR 17.701 
contain definitions of terms used in the Grants for Transportation of 
Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program. Definitions of key terms are 
also provided below for reference; however, 38 CFR 17.701 should be 
consulted for a complete list of definitions.
    Applicant means an eligible entity that submits an application for 
a grant announced in a Notice of Funds Availability.
    Eligible entity means either a Veterans Service Organization or a 
State Veterans Service Agency.
    Grantee means an applicant that is awarded a grant under this NOFA.
    Highly rural area means an area consisting of a county or counties 
having a population of less than seven persons per square mile. Note: A 
listing of these highly rural areas may be found with the application 
materials on grants.gov.
    Notice of Funds Availability means a Notice of Funds Availability 
published

[[Page 41196]]

in the Federal Register in accordance with 38 CFR 17.710.
    Participant means a veteran in a highly rural area who is receiving 
transportation services from a grantee.
    Provision of VA medical care means the provision of hospital or 
medical services as authorized under sections 1710, 1703, and 8153 of 
title 38 United States Code.
    State Veterans Service Agency means the element of a State 
government that has responsibility for programs and activities of that 
government relating to veterans benefits.
    Subrecipient means an entity that receives grant funds from a 
grantee to perform work for the grantee in the administration of all or 
part of the grantee's program.
    Transportation services means the direct provision of 
transportation, or assistance with transportation, to travel to VA 
medical centers and other VA or non-VA facilities in connection with 
the provision of VA medical care.
    Veteran means a person who served in the active military, naval, or 
air service, and who was discharged or released there from under 
conditions other than dishonorable.
    Veterans Service Organization means an organization recognized by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans 
under section 5902 of title 38 United States Code.
    C. Approach: Grantees will be expected to obtain grant funds to 
provide innovative transportation services to veterans in highly rural 
areas and transport veterans to and from VA medical centers and other 
VA and non-VA facilities that provide VA medical care.
    D. Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized 
by section 307 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services 
Act of 2010, Public Law. 111-163 (the 2010 Act), codified in 38 CFR 
17.700 through 17.730, Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly 
Rural Areas. Funds made available under this Notice are subject to the 
requirements of the aforementioned regulations and other applicable 
laws and regulations.
    E. Allocation: Approximately $3 million is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2014, and may be available for each 
subsequent year of the program's existence to fund Grants for 
Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas. In accordance with 38 
CFR 17.710, subject to the availability of VA funds, VA may issue 
additional Notices of Funding Availability which would permit grantees 
to apply for Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural 
Areas in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Notices of 
Funding Availability. The following requirements apply to grants 
awarded under this notice:
    (a) One grant may be awarded to a grantee per fiscal year for each 
highly rural area in which the grantee provides transportation 
services. Transportation services may not be simultaneously provided by 
more than one grantee in any single highly rural area.
    (b) No single grant will exceed $50,000.
    (c) A grantee will not be required to provide matching funds as a 
condition of receiving such grant.
    (d) A veteran who is provided transportation services via grant 
monies will not be charged for such services.
    F. Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas 
Award Period: Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural 
Areas awarded under this Notice will be for a 1-year period.
    G. Grantee Eligibility and Application Procedures: Basic 
eligibility criteria and application procedures are as follows:
    (a) The only entities eligible to apply for and receive grants are 
Veterans Service Organizations and State Veterans Service Agencies.
    (b) Eligible entities can submit a complete grant application 
package to be considered for an initial grant, and would specify in the 
application that an initial grant is being applied for.
    (c) Eligible entities can submit a complete renewal grant 
application package to be considered for a renewal grant, if the 
grantee's program would remain substantially the same, and would 
specify in the application that a renewal grant is being applied for.

    Note:  Only initial grants will be funded in fiscal year 2014; 
renewal grants may be funded beginning in fiscal year 2015. 
Information provided on renewal grants in this Notice of Funds 
Availability are merely to provide advance notice for the benefit of 
applicants who may receive an initial grant in fiscal year 2014 that 
they would like to renew in fiscal year 2015.

    H. Application Selection Methodology: VA will review and score all 
initial grant applications in response to this Notice according to the 
following steps and criteria:
    (a) Initial grant scoring: Applications will be scored using the 
following selection criteria:
    (1) VA will award up to 40 points (10 points per question) based on 
the program's plan for successful implementation, as demonstrated by 
the following:
    (i) Program scope is defined, and applicant has specifically 
indicated the mode(s) or method(s) of transportation services to be 
provided by the applicant or identified subrecipient.
    (ii) Program budget is defined, and applicant has indicated that 
grant funds will be sufficient to completely implement the program.
    (iii) Program staffing plan is defined, and applicant has indicated 
that there will be adequate staffing for delivery of transportation 
services according to program scope.
    (iv) Program timeframe for implementation is defined, and applicant 
has indicated that the delivery of transportation services will be 
timely.
    (2) VA will award up to 30 points (15 points per question) based on 
the program's evaluation plan, as demonstrated by the following:
    (i) Measurable goals for determining the success of delivery of 
transportation services.
    (ii) Ongoing assessment of the measurable goals for determining the 
success of delivery of transportation services, with a means of 
adjusting the program if required.
    (3) VA will award up to 20 points (10 points per question) based on 
the applicant's community relationships in the areas to be serviced, as 
demonstrated by the following:
    (i) Applicant has existing relationships with state or local 
agencies or private entities, or will develop such relationships, and 
has shown these relationships will enhance the program's effectiveness.
    (ii) Applicant has established past working relationships with 
state or local agencies or private entities which have provided 
services similar to those offered by the program.
    (4) VA will award up to 10 points (5 points per question) based on 
the innovative aspects of the program, as demonstrated by the 
following:
    (i) How program will identify and serve veterans who otherwise 
would be unable to obtain care.
    (ii) How program will utilize or integrate existing public 
resources (VA, state, or other).
    (b) Initial grant selection: VA will use the following process to 
award initial grants:
    (1) VA will rank those applicants who receive at least the minimum 
amount of total points (70 points) and points per category set forth in 
this notice. The applicants will be ranked in order from highest to 
lowest scores.
    (2) VA will use the grantee's ranking as the basis for selection 
for funding. VA will fund the highest ranked grantees for which funding 
is available.
    (c) Renewal grant scoring: Renewal applications will be scored 
using the following selection criteria: NOTE:

[[Page 41197]]

Renewal grants may only be funded starting in fiscal year 2015; the 
following criteria are provided merely as advance notice for the 
benefit of applicants who may receive an initial grant in fiscal year 
2014 that they would like to renew in fiscal year 2015.
    (1) VA will award up to 55 points based on the success of the 
grantee's program, as demonstrated by the following:
    (i) Application shows that the grantee or identified subrecipient 
provided transportation services, which allowed participants to be 
provided medical care timely and as scheduled.
    (ii) Application shows that participants were satisfied with the 
transportation services provided by the grantee or identified 
subrecipient based on the satisfaction survey.
    (2) VA will award up to 35 points (17.5 points per question) based 
on the cost effectiveness of the program, as demonstrated by the 
following:
    (i) The grantee or identified subrecipient administered the program 
on budget.
    (ii) Grant funds were utilized in a sensible manner, as interpreted 
by information provided by the grantee to VA as required under Sec.  
17.725(a)(1) through (a)(7).
    (3) VA will award up to 15 points (7.5 points per question) based 
on the extent to which the program complied with:
    (i) The grant agreement.
    (ii) Applicable laws and regulations.
    (d) Renewal Grant Selection: VA will use the following process to 
award renewal grants:
    (1) VA will rank those applications that receive at least the 
minimum amount of total points (75 points) and points per category set 
forth in this Notice. The applications will be ranked in order from 
highest to lowest scores.
    (2) VA will use the applications' ranking as the basis for awarding 
grants. VA will award grants for the highest ranked applications for 
which funding is available.
    I. Application Requirements: Additional grant application 
requirements are specified in the application package. Submission of an 
incorrect or incomplete application package will result in the 
application being rejected during threshold review. The application 
package contains all required forms and certifications. Selections will 
be made based on criteria described in the Final Rule published in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is codified in 
38 CFR 17.700 through 17.730. Applicants will be notified of any 
additional information needed to confirm or clarify information 
provided in the application and the deadline by which to submit such 
information.
    J. Grant Agreements: Grant agreements must be executed prior to VA 
obligating grant funds according to the following steps and criteria.
    (a) General. After a grantee is awarded a grant in accordance with 
38 CFR 17.705(b) or 17.705(d), VA will draft a grant agreement to be 
executed by VA and the grantee. Upon execution of the grant agreement, 
VA will obligate the approved amount. The grant agreement will provide 
that:
    (1) The grantee must operate the program in accordance with the 
provisions of this section and the grant application.
    (2) If a grantee's application identified a subrecipient, such 
subrecipient must operate the program in accordance with the provisions 
of 38 CFR 17.715 and the grant application.
    (3) If a grantee's application identified funds that will be used 
to procure or operate vehicles to directly provide transportation 
services, the following requirements must be met:
    (i) Title to the vehicles must vest solely in the grantee or 
identified subrecipient, or with leased vehicles in an identified 
lender.
    (ii) The grantee or identified subrecipient must, at a minimum, 
provide motor vehicle liability insurance for the vehicles to the same 
extent they would insure vehicles procured with their own funds.
    (iii) All vehicle operators must be licensed in a U.S. State or 
Territory to operate such vehicles.
    (iv) Vehicles must be safe and maintained in accordance with the 
manufacturer's recommendations.
    (v) Vehicles must be operated in accordance with applicable 
Department of Transportation regulations concerning transit 
requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    K. Payments under the grant: Grantees will receive payments 
electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Payment Management System.
    L. Grantee Reporting Requirements: VA places great emphasis on the 
responsibility and accountability of grantees. As described in Sec.  
17.725 of the Final Rule and 38 CFR 17.725, VA has procedures in place 
to monitor services provided to veterans through required reporting 
from grantees as follows.
    (a) Program efficacy. All grantees who receive either an initial or 
renewal grant must submit to VA quarterly and annual reports which 
indicate the following information:
    (1) Record of time expended assisting with the provision of 
transportation services.
    (2) Record of grant funds expended assisting with the provision of 
transportation services.
    (3) Trips completed.
    (4) Total distance covered.
    (5) Veterans served.
    (6) Locations which received transportation services.
    (7) Results of veteran satisfaction survey.
    (b) Quarterly fiscal report. All grantees who receive either an 
initial grant must submit to VA a quarterly report which identifies the 
expenditures of the funds which VA authorized and obligated.
    (c) Program variations. Any changes in a grantee's program 
activities which result in deviations from the grant agreement must be 
reported to VA.
    (d) Additional reporting. Additional reporting requirements may be 
requested by VA to allow VA to fully assess program effectiveness.
    M. Recovery of Funds by VA: VA may recover from the grantee any 
funds that are not used in accordance with a grant agreement. If VA 
decides to recover funds, VA will issue to the grantee a notice of 
intent to recover grant funds, and grantee will then have 30 days to 
submit documentation demonstrating why the grant funds should not be 
recovered. After review of all submitted documentation, VA will 
determine whether action will be taken to recover the grant funds. When 
VA determines action will be taken to recover grant funds from the 
grantee, the grantee is then prohibited from receipt of any further 
grant funds.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jose D. 
Riojas, Interim Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on June 28, 2013, for publication.

    Dated: June 28, 2013.
William F. Russo,
Deputy Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-16389 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
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