[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2483-2485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00715]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Funding Availability Under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per 
Diem Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability (NOFA)

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for assistance under the Per Diem Only (PDO) 
component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program. 
This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is for those current 
``Transition in Place'' (TIP) grantees who seek to renew their 2012 TIP 
PDO grants. This NOFA contains information concerning the program, 
application process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: An original signed and dated, request for reapplication letter 
on agency letterhead for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers GPD 
Program must be received in the GPD Program Office, by 4:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time on April 20, 2015, (see Submission Dates and Times below 
for additional requirements).
    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.

ADDRESSES: An original signed and dated, request for reapplication 
letter on agency letterhead must be submitted to the following address: 
VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 North 46th 
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffery Quarles, Director, VA's 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-
free) (877) 332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOFA announces the availability of 
renewal funding in the form of per diem payments under VA's Homeless 
Providers GPD Program for current TIP PDO grantees. The authority for 
this NOFA is the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 
2001, Public Law 107-95, sec. 5, codified as amended by Public Law 112-
154, at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, and 38 CFR part 61.
    Award Information: VA is pleased to issue this NOFA under VA's 
Homeless Providers GPD Program as a part of the effort to end 
homelessness among our Nation's Veterans. VA expects to fund 
approximately 500 beds over a 3-year period under this NOFA. The 
maximum award of $1.2 million will support an average of 25 beds per 
night, per project, at the current maximum per diem rate of $43.32; 
taking into consideration that the maximum per diem rate may increase 
in future years. Note: The final amount awarded may be adjusted based 
on any remaining funding from the previous award.
    Funding Priorities: None.
    Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants will complete a 
grant 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.
    VA will make per diem payments in a method consistent with VA 
policy. Per diem will be paid only for eligible Veterans (i.e., 
Veterans whom VA refers to the grantee, or for whom VA authorizes the 
provision of services) and will be available for the periods of awards 
specified in this NOFA. All payment specifics will be given to the 
grantee at the time of award. At no time may grantees draw more than 
the maximum approved per diem rate as authorized by VA's GPD Program 
Office. All costs charged to the per diem grant must be allowable under 
the applicable OMB Circulars for Grants Management.
    Grant Award Period: For the purposes of this NOFA the award period 
will be approximately three (3) years beginning at the time of award 
final selection and announcement (on or about October 1, 2015) and 
ending approximately on September 30, 2018. Specific start and end 
dates will be included in the grant agreement between final selectees 
and VA. For the purposes of this NOFA the award period will not exceed 
three (3) years.
    Eligibility Information: Existing fiscal year (FY) 2012 TIP PDO 
grantees are eligible to apply for renewal funding under this NOFA.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
    Application and Submission Information: An application package is 
not needed for this NOFA. Applicants submitting a letter requesting re-
application on their agency's letterhead agree to VA using their 
previously awarded FY 2012 TIP PDO application for scoring purposes.
    Content and Form of Application: Applicants must submit a letter 
requesting re-application on their agency's letterhead. Failure to 
submit a re-application letter will result in the agency not being 
considered for renewal funding.
    Applicants who are conditionally 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

[[Page 2484]]

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.
    Submission Dates and Times: An original signed and dated, request 
for re-application letter on agency letterhead requesting renewal 
assistance under VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program must be received 
in the GPD Program Office, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 20, 2015.
    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 applications physically delivered (i.e., in person, United 
States Postal Service, FedEx, United Parcel Service (UPS), or any other 
type of courier) the VA GPD Program Office staff will accept the 
application and date stamp it immediately at the time of arrival. This 
is the date and time that will determine if the deadline is met for 
those types of delivery. DO NOT fax or email the application as it will 
be treated as ineligible for consideration.
    Funding Restrictions: Applicants may not receive assistance to 
replace funds provided by any State or local government to assist 
homeless persons.
    Agencies may not increase the number of beds awarded as stated in 
their FY 2012 grant application.
    Other Submission Requirements: None.

Application Review Information

    A. Criteria For Facility Capital Grants: Rating criteria may be 
found at 38 CFR 61.13.
    B. Review and Selection Process: Review and selection process may 
be found at 38 CFR 61.14.
    A full copy of the regulations governing the GPD Program is 
available at the GPD Web site at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp.
    Award Notice: Although subject to change, the GPD Program Office 
expects the announcement of grant awards during the late fourth quarter 
of FY 2015 (September). The initial announcement will be made via news 
release which will be posted on the GPD Web site at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Following the initial announcement, the GPD Program 
Office will mail a notification letter to the grant recipients. 
Applicants that are not selected will be mailed a declination letter 
within 2 weeks of the initial announcement.
    Administrative and National Policy: 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 GPD-
funded programs. Applicants should be aware of the following:
    Awardees will be required to support their request for payments 
with adequate fiscal documentation as to project expenses and in the 
case of per diem payments 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 program seeking per diem will have a liaison appointed from a 
nearby VA medical facility to provide oversight and monitor services 
provided to homeless Veterans in the per diem-funded program.
    Monitoring will include at a minimum, a quarterly review of each 
per diem program's progress toward meeting internal goals and 
objectives in helping Veterans attain housing stability, adequate 
income support, and self sufficiency as identified in each per diem 
program's original application. Monitoring will also include a review 
of the agency's income and expenses as they relate to this project to 
ensure per diem payment is accurate.
    Each per diem-funded program will participate in VA's national 
program monitoring and evaluation system administered by VA's Northeast 
Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC). NEPEC's monitoring procedures will 
be used to determine successful accomplishment of these housing 
outcomes for each per diem-funded program.
    Leases under TIP: Several questions have arisen with regard to 
leases in the GPD/TIP. The VA National GPD Program Office has developed 
the following Sub-Lease guidance in regard to TIP under GPD.
    Lease Guarantors: When a third party (in this case the grantee) 
guarantees to pay the lease costs if the lessee (in this case the 
Veteran) defaults. This is not allowed under this program.
    Sub-lease: The sub-lease is ``[a] lease by a lessee (in this case 
the grantee) to a third party (the Veteran) conveying a subordinate 
right to occupy or use (as applicable) all or a portion of the leased 
property, under stipulated terms and conditions. For the sake of 
clarity, in a sub-lease TIP housing scenario, the landlord is the 
lessor, the grantee is the lessee, and the Veteran is the sub-lessee.
    GPD TIP Grantees may use sub-leases during the transitional housing 
phase if the sub-lease has been approved by the GPD Program Office and 
the sub-lease meets the following conditions:
    1. Period of sub-lease must be less than entire period of the 
grantee's lease with the landlord.
    2. Grantee lease renewal must be taken into consideration when 
stating the period of the sub-lease.
    3. Sub-lease must be explicit that the grantee is the lessee not 
the Veteran.
    4. Sub-lease must stipulate that it will end (terminate) without 
any cost or liability owed from the Veteran to the lessee, if the 
Veteran vacates the sub-leased space prior to program completion.
    5. Sub-lease may not contain requirements contrary to GPD 
regulations, and each sub-lease should expressly state that the lease 
is subordinate to GPD's regulations.
    6. Security deposits may not be charged to Veterans. However, 
grantee lessees may take other appropriate steps (if available under 
applicable law) in situations of property destruction.
    Lease Assumption: If and when a third party (in this case the 
Veteran) contractually assumes a lease from a lessee, the original 
lessee does not retain any legal interest in the lease, unless and to 
the extent that the assignment contract stipulates otherwise. In no 
event should any such exceptions violate GPD regulations.

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, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on January 5, 2015, for publication.


[[Page 2485]]


    Dated: January 13, 2014.
William F. Russo,
Acting Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-00715 Filed 1-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P