[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80390-80394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32406]


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 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veterans' Employment and Training Service


Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Through FY 2017 Stand Down Grant Requests

AGENCY: Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: To amend the Stand Down Federal Register notice {FR Doc. 2014-
00755{time} . This amendment extends funding for Stand Down events from 
fiscal years (FY) 2016 through FY 2017, contingent upon funding 
availability.

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Funding Opportunity No: 17.805

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Veterans' Employment and 
Training Service (VETS) supports local Stand Down events that help 
homeless veterans attain meaningful civilian employment. Authority to 
support such events is in 38 U.S.C. Section 2021, which provides that 
the ``Secretary of Labor shall conduct, directly or through grant or 
contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to 
provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job 
readiness and literacy and skills training) to expedite the 
reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.'' A Stand Down 
is a local community event where homeless veterans are provided a wide 
variety of services and incentives to reintegrate into their community, 
such as housing opportunities, healthcare, and employment 
opportunities, Stand Down funding is provided in the form of non-
competitive grants that are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis 
until available funding is exhausted.
    VETS anticipates that approximately $600,000 will be available to 
award approximately 70 grants in each Federal FY covered by this 
solicitation. The Federal FY begins on October 1 and ends on September 
30 of the next calendar year. Awards will be made for a maximum of 
$10,000 per multi-day event or $7,000 per one-day event.
    VETS is now accepting applications for grant awards to fund Stand 
Down events in FY 2015. All applications for Stand Down grant funding 
must be submitted to the appropriate state Director for Veterans' 
Employment and Training (DVET). Applications will be accepted up to six 
(6) months prior to the event. Please allow up to 60 days to process 
your application. Address and contact information for each state DVET 
can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/map.htm. 
Stand Down grant funding is awarded for a specific event on a specific 
date. Organizations planning Stand Down events must submit a new 
application each year to request funding and should not assume that the 
application will be approved.
    Stand Down grant awards are contingent upon a Federal appropriation 
or a continuing resolution each Federal FY. Therefore, applications 
submitted after July 1 for events to be held after September 30 may be 
held for consideration contingent upon Federal funding availability 
during the upcoming FY. Grant applicants cannot obligate grant funding 
toward Stand Down expenses prior to receiving a Notice of Award from 
the Grant Officer; any such expenses will be disallowed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    ``Stand Down'' is a military term referring to an opportunity to 
achieve a brief respite from combat. Troops assemble in a base camp to 
receive new clothing, hot food, and a relative degree of safety before 
returning to the front. VETS wants to build on this approach for 
homeless civilian veterans to re-enter the labor force. Today, more 
than 160 organizations across the country partner with local 
businesses, government agencies, tribal governments, community and 
faith-based service providers to hold Stand Down events in local 
communities for homeless veterans and their families.
    Each year, the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and 
Training awards Stand Down grants to assist with the reintegration of 
homeless veterans into the labor force through programs that enhance 
employment and training opportunities and promote self-sufficiency. 
Typically, services available at these events include: Temporary 
shelter, showers, haircuts, meals, clothing, hygiene care kits, medical 
examinations, immunizations, legal advice, state identification cards, 
veteran benefit information, training program information, employment 
services, and referral to other supportive services.
    Stand Down funding is provided in the form of non-competitive 
grants that are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until 
available funding is exhausted. For the purpose of a Stand Down grant 
award, applicants must describe a plan that clearly demonstrates how 
grant funding will only be used for homeless veterans. While both 
veterans and non-veterans may participate in Stand Down events, grant 
funding can only be used to purchase items including food and meals, 
for homeless veteran participants. The following minimum services must 
be available for homeless veteran participants during the Stand Down:
    [ssquf] Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)--benefits, medical and 
mental health services;
    [ssquf] Department of Labor (DOL)--State Workforce Agency (SWA) 
employment and training services to include

[[Page 80391]]

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist or other American 
Job Center (AJC) staff (see the following link to locate available 
resources in your area: www.servicelocator.org); and
    [ssquf] Referral services to secure immediate emergency housing.

II. Allowable Costs

    Stand Down grant funds must be used to enhance employment and 
training opportunities or to promote the self-sufficiency of homeless 
veterans through paid work. Homeless veterans do not always have access 
to basic hygiene supplies necessary to maintain their health and 
confidence. Lack of shelter limits their ability to prepare for and 
present themselves at job interviews or be contacted for follow-up. 
Basic services such as showers, haircuts, attention to health concerns 
and other collaborative services provided at a Stand Down can give the 
homeless veteran greater confidence, improving their chances of 
securing and maintaining employment. Therefore, grant funds may be used 
to support Stand Down activities such as:
    [ssquf] The purchase of food, bottled water, clothing, sleeping 
bags, one-person tents, backpacks filled with non-perishable foods, 
hygiene care kits, and non-prescription reading glasses.
    [ssquf] Vouchers may be purchased for minor time-limited legal 
services, consumer credit counseling services, food, and gasoline gift 
cards for homeless veteran participants. The purchase of gift cards for 
food and/or gas must be restricted to cards that can only be used to 
purchase food or gas. Federal awards may not be used for the purchase 
of alcohol or tobacco products; see 2 CFR part 200.423. All grantees 
purchasing gift cards with grant funds will be required to state the 
measures they will use to comply with this regulation.
    [ssquf] The purchase of job search media such as employment guides 
or literature in hard copy or on portable storage media, etc.
    [ssquf] Special one-time costs for the duration of the Stand Down 
event such as rental of facilities and/or tents, electricity, 
equipment, portable toilets and communications or Internet access.
    [ssquf] The purchase of janitorial supplies, kitchen supplies, and 
advertising materials such as event posters. Care should be taken to 
minimize advertisement costs in order to maximize funding available to 
purchase items or provide services that immediately and positively 
impact the veteran in need. Applicants that request funding for 
advertisement expenses that appear to be unreasonable (i.e. over 20 
percent of the total grant award) will be asked to reevaluate and 
reallocate those funds to ensure the homeless veteran participants 
benefit.
    [ssquf] The hiring of security personnel.
    [ssquf] The rental of transportation equipment (bus, van, car, 
taxi, etc.) to provide transportation of homeless veterans to and from 
the Stand Down event.
    [ssquf] The purchase or rental of other pertinent items and 
services for homeless veteran participants and their families as deemed 
appropriate by VETS, such as clothing, hygiene kits, diapers, etc.
    Only expenses incurred during the time frame listed on the Notice 
of Award will be approved as allowable expenses. Any expenses incurred 
prior to or after the time frame listed on the Notice of Award will be 
disapproved.

III. Funding Restrictions

    Stand Down grant funds may not be used to pay for administrative 
costs or administrative and/or programmatic staff. Stand Down grant 
funds may not be used to purchase clothing items for volunteers, pen 
sets, military and veteran type patches/medals, memento gifts for staff 
members, visitors, or volunteers (e.g. t-shirts, hats); or any other 
supplementary/replacement item(s) not approved by the DVET. Planned 
budget expenses must be fully itemized and applicants must provide 
details for every item in the Budget Narrative. Any planned expenses 
listed as ``other'' or ``miscellaneous'' must be clarified and 
itemized.
    Stand Down grant funding cannot be used to pay for health care 
related expenses. All medical examinations, to include dental and 
optometry examinations, should be provided by the VA or a community 
provider. Purchases of prescription eye wear and dental work are 
considered medical care expenses and are not allowable. Applicants 
should explore all opportunities to secure health related services 
through the local VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic. Non-
prescription reading glasses are considered an allowable expense.
    VETS reserves the right to disapprove any proposed cost not 
consistent with the funding restrictions in this announcement.

IV. Award Information

    The maximum amount that can be awarded to support a multiple day 
Stand Down event in a geographically specific area is $10,000 per 
applicant per fiscal year. If the event is held for one (1) day, the 
maximum amount that can be awarded is $7,000. Grants may be awarded to 
multiple organizations who conduct Stand Downs in the same general area 
so long as there is no commingling of federal funds. Multiple grants 
may be awarded to the same organization if the organization is 
conducting Stand Downs in different geographic areas. In this case, the 
applications are processed in the order received.

V. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    The following organizations may apply for grants under this 
solicitation: State and local Workforce Investment Boards, Veterans 
Service Organizations, local public agencies, tribal governments, and 
non-profit organizations including community and faith-based 
organizations. Organizations registered with the Internal Revenue 
Service as 501(c)(4) organizations are not eligible to apply for this 
funding opportunity.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Cost sharing and matching funds are not required. However, VETS 
strongly encourages applicants to leverage other available resources to 
maximize the services and incentives provided to homeless veteran 
participants at Stand Down events.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    A. As of July 2012, all applicants must register with the System 
for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. SAM is a 
Web-enabled government wide application that collects, validates, 
stores, and disseminates business information about the Federal 
government's trading partners in support of contract award, grants, and 
the electronic payment process. Step by step instructions for 
registering with SAM can be found at: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step2.jsp. A grantee must maintain an active SAM registration with 
current information at all times during which it has an active Federal 
award or application under consideration. To remain registered in the 
SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required 
to review and update its information in the SAM database on an annual 
basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent updates to 
ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. Failure to register in 
SAM before application submission will result in the application being 
found non-responsive. (Prior to July 2012, this functionality was 
handled by the Central Contractor Registry.)

[[Page 80392]]

    B. All applicants for Federal funding are required to include a Dun 
and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) with their application. Applicants can 
obtain a DUNS number at: http://www.dnb.com or by phone at 1-866-705-
5711.

VI. Application Content

    To be considered responsive, all applications for Stand Down grant 
funding must include:
    1. An original applicant memorandum requesting Stand Down funds 
signed in blue ink. The applicant letter must include a statement that 
the individual who signed the SF 424 is authorized to enter into an 
agreement with the USDOL.
    2. Applicants must provide a Program Narrative that clearly states 
the need for the Stand Down and describes the event.
    A. The narrative must detail the geographical area to be served and 
the estimated number of homeless veterans to be served. The narrative 
must also describe how during the event the number of homeless veterans 
and other participants will be tracked. It should also describe how 
provision of services and take-up rates will be tracked. Note: Grant 
recipients will be required to report these outputs during grant close-
out.
    B. The narrative must explain the role of the DVOP specialist or 
other AJC staff.
    C. The narrative must describe the activities of the event. Please 
describe the basic or core activities made available during the event 
as described in section I. Basic or core services are: Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA)--benefits, medical and mental health services; 
Department of Labor--State Workforce Agency employment and training 
services to include Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) 
specialist or other American Job Center staff, and referral services to 
secure immediate emergency housing. Please describe other activities 
and services made available during the event that cannot be classified 
as basic or core.
    D. The narrative must include a timeline for completion of all 
Stand Down event activities. The timeline must clearly indicate 
critical dates in the planning, execution, and follow-up process. If 
applicable, the timeline will demonstrate the need to draw down awarded 
funding in advance of the event date with the purpose and date of the 
funding need.
    E. The narrative must describe what challenges may arise during 
event planning and execution and what solutions would be utilized.
    3. An original Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal 
Assistance, (OMB No. 4040-0004) signed in blue ink. The SF-424 can be 
downloaded from www.grants.gov or at Appendix A as described in Section 
X below. NOTE: The Grant Officer will only accept the most current 
version of the SF 424.
    4. A SF 424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (OMB 
No. 4040-0006). The SF-424A can be downloaded from www.grants.gov or at 
Appendix B as described in Section X below.
    5. A Budget Narrative--A detailed description of each planned 
expenditure listed on the SF 424A. The description should describe or 
indicate the methodology used to determine the cost estimates such as 
price per quantity, if the item will be purchased or rented, and 
whether the items will be utilized by the homeless veteran 
participants, other homeless participants or assist the volunteer(s) at 
the event. VETS does not accept categories designated only as ``Other'' 
or ``Miscellaneous.'' Budget narratives must clearly itemize all 
expenditures. Note: The fair share calculation must be applied for 
expenditures shared among homeless veteran participants and non-
homeless veteran participants. Please describe any funds leveraged for 
the event that will be provided by sources other than the grant. DOL 
funds may only be used for homeless veterans.
    6. A copy of the SAM Registration active through date of event.
    7. A minimum of four letters of support must be provided, and must 
include letters from:
    A. the state or local AJC and/or DVOP specialist(s) stating they 
will provide Department of Labor-funded employment and training 
services at the Stand Down. These basic or core services are required 
in Section I.
    B. the VA stating what benefits, medical and mental health services 
will be available at the event as required in Section I, and
    C. the organization that will provide immediate emergency housing 
based on referrals from the Stand Down event as required in Section I.
    D. different organizations such as the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, the local Continuum of Care, Veteran Service 
Organizations, State and local government agencies, local businesses, 
and local non-profit organizations including community-based and faith-
based organizations that will support the event.
    8. If applicable, a copy of the Internal Revenue Service 
documentation indicating approval of non-profit status, for example: 
501(c)(3), 501(c)(19).
    9. Applicants have the option to use a consolidated Stand Down 
application that consolidates several of the documents above into one 
document (see Appendix C).

VII. Award Administration Information

    Stand Down funding is a non-competitive grant awarded on a first-
come, first-served basis until available funding is exhausted for the 
fiscal year. Funding is subject to approval by the Grant Officer and is 
dependent upon various factors such as urban, rural and geographic 
balance, the availability of funds, prior performance and proposals 
that are most advantageous to the government. If approved, the Grant 
Officer will notify the grantee through a Notice of Award. Under no 
circumstances will a Stand Down event be awarded funding after the 
event has taken place.
    Upon award, grantees will receive a Personal Identification Number 
(PIN) and password for e-Grants, the Federal financial reporting 
system, from the Grant Officer. If a grantee does not receive a PIN and 
password for e-Grants, the grantee must notify the DVET immediately. 
Access to e-Grants is required in order to comply with Federal 
financial reporting requirements.
    The grantee will also receive a financial form to complete in order 
for the USDOL Office of Financial Management Operations to set up an 
account in the Health and Human Services, Payment Management System 
(HHS/PMS). The grantee must submit the completed form as directed in 
order to electronically draw down awarded funding. The form should be 
returned via FedEx, UPS, or other non-U.S. Postal Service provider to 
avoid processing delays. Questions or problems relating to accessing 
funding or the electronic draw down process should be referred to the 
USDOL Office of Financial Management Operations at (202) 693-6903.
    After setting up the account, the grantee will be able to draw down 
funds to reimburse approved expenses incurred after award and to cover 
approved expenses that will be paid within three (3) days of the draw 
down. Funds requested for draw down through the HHS/PMS are directly 
deposited into the designated account within 24 hours of the request. 
Funding will be made available for draw down no earlier than 120 days 
prior to the event date, or as identified in the timeline. The timeline 
must include the date the post-event report is due to the DVET (30 days 
following the end of the Federal fiscal quarter in which the Stand Down 
was

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held) as explained in Section VIII below.

VIII. Required Post-Event Activities and Reporting

    After receiving a grant award, the grantee must complete a Federal 
Financial Report (SF 425) no later than 30 days after the end of each 
Federal fiscal quarter (October 31, January 31, April 30 and July 31). 
Instructions for completing this requirement are provided in the HHS/
PMS information packet and are also available at: http://www.dpm.psc.gov/grant_recipient/ffr_info/ffr_info.aspx?explorer.event=true.
    All grant awarded funds must be drawn down by the grantee within 90 
calendar days after the Stand Down. For example, if a Stand Down is 
held on July 12, 2014 (FY 2014), all funds should be drawn down within 
90 days or by October 10, 2014 (FY 2015).
    A final SF 425 is due no later than thirty (30) calendar days after 
the end of the Federal fiscal quarter in which all expended funds have 
been drawn down. For example, if a Stand Down is held on July 27 and 
the final drawdown of all expended funds occurs on September 15, the 
final FFR is due on October 30.
    In addition to financial reporting, the grantee is required to 
submit a Stand Down After Action Report (a post-event report) to the 
DVET at the same time the final SF 425 is completed. Please refer to 
Appendix D.
    Grantees that anticipate a delay in submitting any SF 425 report or 
the post-event report should immediately contact the appropriate DVET 
and provide a justification to request an extension. If VETS 
disapproves a particular expenditure, and the funds were already drawn 
down, the grantee will be notified in writing with an explanation for 
the disapproval and instructions to electronically return the funds to 
the HHS/PMS account within fifteen (15) calendar days of notification 
from VETS.
    Any failure to comply with the guidance and reporting requirements 
set forth in the Stand Down Special Grant Provisions provided with the 
Grant Award letter will be taken into consideration in future funding 
award decisions by USDOL/VETS.

IX. Agency Contacts

    Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the 
DVET in your state. Contact information for each DVET is located in the 
VETS Staff Directory at the following Web page: http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/map.htm.

X. Other Information

1. Acknowledgement of USDOL Funding

    A. Printed Materials/Intellectual Property: In all circumstances, 
the following must be displayed on printed materials prepared by the 
grantee while in receipt of USDOL grant funding: ``Preparation of this 
item was funded by the United States Department of Labor under Grant 
No. [Insert the appropriate grant number].'' All printed materials must 
also include the following notice: ``This workforce product was funded 
by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' 
Employment and Training Service. The product was created by the grantee 
and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. 
Department of Labor and/or the Veterans' Employment and Training 
Service. The U.S. Department of Labor and/or the Veterans' Employment 
and Training Service makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of 
any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, 
including any information on linked sites and including, but not 
limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, 
timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. 
This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. 
Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual 
for non-commercial purposes are permissible. All other uses require the 
prior authorization of the copyright owner.''
    B. Public references to grant: When issuing statements, press 
releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, all grantees receiving Federal funds must clearly 
state:
     The percentage of the total costs of the program or 
project that will be financed with Federal money;
     The dollar amount of Federal financial assistance for the 
project or program; and
     The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the 
project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.
    C. Use of USDOL Logo: The Grant Officer must approve the use of the 
USDOL logo. In addition, once approval is given the following guidance 
is provided:
     The USDOL logo may be applied to USDOL-funded material 
prepared for distribution, including posters, videos, pamphlets, 
research documents, national survey results, impact evaluations, best 
practice reports, and other publications of global interest. The 
grantee(s) must consult with USDOL on whether the logo may be used on 
any such items prior to final draft or final preparation for 
distribution. In no event will the USDOL logo be placed on any item 
until USDOL has given the grantee permission to use the logo on the 
item.
     All documents must include the following notice: ``This 
documentation does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the 
U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial 
products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.''

2. Information Collection

    OMB Information Collection No 1225-0086, Expires January 31, 2016. 
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 
required to respond to a collection of information unless such 
collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden 
for this collection of information is estimated to average three (3) 
hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The 
obligation to respond to this collection is voluntary, authority to 
support such events is in 38 U.S.C. 2021, which provides that the 
``Secretary of Labor shall conduct, directly or through grant or 
contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to 
provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job 
readiness and literacy and skills training) to expedite the 
reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force''.
    Send comments regarding the burden estimated or any other aspect of 
this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this 
burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, to the attention of Michel 
Smyth, Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Room N1301, Washington, DC 20210. Comments may also be emailed to 
[email protected].
    This information is being collected for the purpose of awarding a 
grant. The information collected through this ``Solicitation for Grant 
Applications'' will be used by the Department of Labor to ensure that 
grants are awarded to the applicant best suited to perform the 
functions of the grant. Submission of this information is required in 
order for the applicant to be considered for award of this grant. 
Unless otherwise specifically noted in this announcement, information 
submitted

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in the respondent's application is not considered to be confidential.
    Please do not send your completed application to the OMB. Send it 
to the sponsoring agency as specified in this solicitation.
Appendices
    (Located on the VETS homepage at: www.dol.gov/vets). Follow the 
link for Stand Down Grants and Required Forms under Competitive Grants:

Appendix A: Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424
Appendix B: Budget Information, SF-424A
Appendix C: Consolidated Stand Down Application
Appendix D: Stand Down After Action Report

Thomas Martin,
Grant Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-32406 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-79-P