[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94487-94494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30957]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Funding Availability: Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA), VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) 
Program.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: VA is announcing the availability of per diem funds to 
currently operational GPD grantees which have their current 
transitional housing grants under VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program 
whose grants are scheduled to be terminated as discussed in an 
accompanying Federal Register notice. VA expects to fund 24 existing 
service centers and 12,000 beds with this NOFA for applicants who will 
operate service centers or use one or a combination of the following 
housing models: Bridge Housing, Low Demand, Respite Care, Clinical 
Treatment, and Service-Intensive Transitional Housing.

DATES: An original signed and dated application for assistance (plus 
two completed collated copies) for VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program 
and associated documents must be received by the GPD Program Office by 
4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 (see 
application requirements below).

ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be submitted to the following 
address: VA Homeless Providers GPD Program Office, 10770 N. 46th 
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 33617.

[[Page 94488]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA 
Homeless Providers GPD Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 
N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (toll-free) 1-(877) 332-
0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Funding Opportunity Description

    This NOFA announces the availability of per diem funding to 
currently operational GPD grantees that will have their current grants 
terminated as discussed in an accompanying Federal Register notice.
    Under this NOFA, VA is only offering per diem for supportive 
transitional housing and service centers to applicants willing to use a 
model listed below. Applicants must apply for funding using one or more 
of these models, and a separate application is required for each model. 
Further, only currently operational VA GPD-funded service centers may 
apply under the service center model. Applicants agree to meet the 
applicable requirements of 38 CFR part 61. In addition, all 
applications using the service center and housing models need to have 
low barriers to access service as well as policies and procedures to 
work with Veterans who relapse. As such, admission criteria are 
strongly encouraged to not have any required sobriety period, income 
requirement, or employment requirement.

Housing Models/Service Center Descriptions

Bridge Housing

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans that have been offered and 
accepted a permanent housing intervention (e.g., Supportive Services 
for Veterans Families (SSVF), Department of Housing and Urban 
Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), Housing Coalition/
Continuum of Care (CoC)), but are not able to immediately enter the 
permanent housing.
    Model Overview--Bridge housing is intended to be a short-term stay 
in transitional housing for Veterans with pre-identified permanent 
housing destinations.
    Characteristics & Standards--Goals in the Individual Service Plan 
should be short-term with the focus on the move to permanent housing, 
rather than the completion of treatment goals.
    Veterans are expected to receive case management and support, which 
should be coordinated with the HUD-VASH, SSVF, or other available 
community based programs. Grantees will assist Veterans with accessing 
services as needed/requested by the Veteran and must make available to 
participants a menu of available services.
    Length of Stay (LOS) will be individually determined based on need, 
but in general, is not expected to exceed 90 days.
    Admission Criteria--Veterans must have been offered and accepted a 
permanent housing intervention prior to admission or within the first 
14 days of admission.
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets--Discharge to 
permanent housing is 70 percent. Negative Exits target is less than 23 
percent. Negative exits are defined as those exits from a GPD program 
for a violation of program rules, failure to comply with program 
requirements, or leaving the program without consulting staff.

Low Demand

    Targeted Population--Chronically homeless Veterans who suffer from 
mental-health or substance-use problems, or who struggle with 
maintaining sobriety; and Veterans with multiple treatment failures 
that may have never received treatment services, or may have been 
unsuccessful in traditional housing programs. These Veterans may have 
not yet fully committed to sobriety and treatment.
    Model Overview--Low-Demand housing is a program design using a low-
demand/harm-reduction model to better accommodate chronically homeless 
Veterans, and Veterans who were unsuccessful in traditional treatment 
settings. Programming does not require sobriety or compliance with 
mental health treatment as a condition of admission or continued stay. 
Overall, demands are kept to a minimum; however, services are available 
as needed. The goal is to establish permanent housing in the community, 
while providing for the safety of staff and residents.
    Characteristics & Standards--Project is small in size (typically, 
20 beds or less);
    Services must include case-management, substance-use, and mental-
health treatment; and referrals for benefits are made available as 
Veterans engage;
    Must provide the participant an orientation that sets the 
expectations of performance for the participant;
    Must have 24/7, on-site staffing at the same location as the 
location of the program participant. (Use of resident managers is not 
allowed);
    Must have a method to monitor participant and guests comings and 
goings;
    Must have a system in place for the management of the introduction 
of contraband;
    Must be willing to retain Veterans who commit minor infractions of 
rules and who cannot and/or will not stop drinking and/or using legal 
or illegal substances;
    Must be committed to keeping the veterans housed and staying 
continuously engaged with each veteran and provide services as needed;
    Must have procedures to ensure safety of staff and residents; and
    The grantee agency must participate in bi-monthly calls and an 
annual fidelity assessment process as established by VA.
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets--Discharge to 
permanent housing is 50 percent and negative exits less than 23 
percent. Negative exits are defined as those exits from a GPD program 
for a violation of program rules, failure to comply with program 
requirements, or leaving the program without consulting staff.

Hospital to Housing (Respite Care)

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans identified and evaluated in 
emergency departments and inpatient care settings for suitability for 
direct transfer to a designated GPD Program for transitional housing 
and supportive care.
    Model Overview--Respite care is a medical model to address the 
housing and recuperative care needs of homeless Veterans who have been 
hospitalized.
    Characteristics & Standards--Housing sites are expected to be in 
close proximity to the referring medical center, so that ongoing 
clinical care, including specialty care, can continue to be provided;
    Have a post-discharge care plan as pre-requisite to program 
placement that addresses ongoing physical, mental health, substance use 
disorder, and social work needs as well as care-management plans to 
transition the Veteran to permanent housing upon clinical 
stabilization;
    The VA Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT), or other 
appropriate care unit, will facilitate and coordinate the ongoing care 
needs upon transition;
    A Memorandum of Understanding must be in place with the local 
medical center that details participation in the Hospital-to-Home (H2H) 
program. Included in this should be a detailing of acceptance criteria 
for Veterans being referred from local facility emergency departments 
and inpatient wards, a detailing of how follow-up care with the medical 
center is organized, and a

[[Page 94489]]

commitment to engaging enrolled veterans in permanent housing as part 
of program objectives;
    Registration of the program with the national H-PACT program office 
and full participation in program elements, including Veteran tracking, 
quality improvement, and community of practice elements; and
    Active participation, communication, and client tracking with the 
national H-PACT/H2H program office.
    Admission Criteria--Individual must be functional, be able to 
perform independent Activities of Daily Living (ADL); not require acute 
detox, has no apparent psychosis; and has a post-discharge plan 
coordinating care with the medical center (e.g., H-PACT Team, Mental 
Health, Substance Abuse, etc.).
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets--Discharge to 
permanent housing is 65 percent and negative exits less than 23 
percent. Negative exits are defined as those exits from a GPD program 
for a violation of program rules, failure to comply with program 
requirements, or leaving the program without consulting staff.

Clinical Treatment

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans with a specific diagnosis 
related to a substance-use disorder and/or mental-health diagnosis; 
Veteran actively chooses to engage in clinical services.
    Model Overview--Clinically focused treatment provided in 
conjunction with services effective in helping homeless Veterans secure 
permanent housing and increase income through benefits and/or 
employment.
    Characteristics & Standards--Although the programming and services 
have a strong clinical focus, permanent housing and increased income 
are a required outcome of the program. Treatment programs must 
incorporate strategies to increase income and housing attainment 
services;
    Individualized assessment, services, and treatment plan which are 
tailored to achieve optimal results in a time efficient manner and are 
consistent with sound clinical practice;
    Program stays are to be individualized based upon the individual 
service plan for the veteran (not program driven);
    Staff are to be licensed and/or credentialed for the substance-use 
disorder (SUD)/mental health (MH) services provided; and
    Veterans are offered a variety of treatment service modalities 
(e.g., individual and group counseling/therapy, family support groups/
family therapy, and psychoeducation).
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets--Discharge to 
permanent housing is 65 percent; employment of individuals at discharge 
is 50 percent; and negative exits less than 23 percent. Negative exits 
are defined as those exits from a GPD program for a violation of 
program rules, failure to comply with program requirements, or leaving 
the program without consulting staff.

Service-Intensive Transitional Housing

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans who choose a supportive 
transitional housing environment providing services prior to entering 
permanent housing.
    Model Overview--Provides transitional housing and a milieu of 
services that facilitate individual stabilization and movement to 
permanent housing as rapidly as clinically appropriate.
    Characteristics & Standards--Scope of services should incorporate 
tactics to increase the Veteran's income through employment and/or 
benefits and obtaining permanent housing. Services provided and 
strategies used by the applicant will vary based on the individualized 
needs of the Veteran and resources available in the community. 
Applicant specifies the staffing levels and range of services to be 
provided.
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets--Discharge to 
permanent housing is 65 percent; employment of individuals at discharge 
is 50 percent; and negative exits are less than 23 percent.

Service Centers

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans who are seeking assistance 
with obtaining housing, employment, medical care, or benefits.
    Model Overview--Provides services and information to engage and aid 
homeless Veterans obtain housing and services.
    Characteristics & Standards--Scope of services should incorporate 
tactics to engage and aid the Veteran. Services provided and strategies 
used by the applicant will vary based on the individualized needs of 
the Veteran and resources available in the community. Applicant 
specifies the staffing levels and range of services to be provided.
    Eligibility Information: In order to be eligible, an applicant must 
be a current operational VA GPD Transitional Housing or Service Center 
grant recipient (that is the grantee of record) as of the publication 
date of this NOFA whose grant is scheduled to be terminated as 
discussed in an accompanying Federal Register notice with the following 
exception: for those GPD grants previously funded as collaborative 
projects that consist of multiple eligible entities funded under one 
project number, VA will treat under this NOFA each eligible entity as a 
separate potential applicant, and each may apply for its portion of the 
previously funded collaborative project to include; but not limited to: 
The site, number of beds, and services to be provided.
    Transition in Place (TIP) and Special Need grants do not need to 
respond to this NOFA as their awards have established time limits and 
will be addressed under separate NOFAs.

    Authority: Funding applied for under this NOFA is authorized by 
38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012.

Award Information

    Overview: This NOFA announces the availability of per diem funds to 
currently operational GPD grantees that will have their current 
transitional housing grants under VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program 
terminated as discussed in an accompanying Federal Register notice. VA 
expects to fund approximately 24 service centers and 12,000 beds with 
this NOFA. (See additional budget information in this NOFA for 
calculation of bed days of care.)
    Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
    Funding Period: Funding awarded under this NOFA will be for a 
period of 1year, beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on September 
30, 2018, with options for VA to offer two additional renewal periods 
dependent upon: fund availability, the recipient meeting the 
performance goals established in the grant agreement, statutory and 
regulatory requirements, and the results of the VA inspection.
    Payment: Per diem will be paid in a method that is in accordance 
with VA and other Federal fiscal requirements. The per diem payment 
calculation may be found at 38 CFR 61.33. Awardees will be subject to 
requirements of this NOFA, GPD regulations, 2 CFR 200, and other 
Federal grant requirements. 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.
    Funding Priorities: VA will prioritize for funding one application 
for each of the following models: Bridge Housing, Low Demand, Clinical 
Treatment and Respite Care (Hospital to Home) at each VA Medical Center 
(VAMC) that has a working relationship with a GPD project. The highest 
scoring application for each of the four selected models, at each VAMC 
that are legally fundable will be conditionally selected for

[[Page 94490]]

funding first. VA will then continue to conditionally select 
applications from the remaining applications in their ranked order 
until funding is no longer available or the number of beds has been 
reached, whichever comes first.

Application Review Information

    A. Criteria for Grants: Rating criteria may be found at 38 CFR 
61.13 & 61.32.
    B. Review and Selection Process: Review and selection process may 
be found at 38 CFR 61.14.
    Allocation of Funds: Funding will be awarded under this NOFA 
depending on funding availability and subject to program authorization. 
Funding will be for a period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending 
on September 30, 2018, with an option for VA to offer two additional 
renewal periods.
    Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants will be asked to 
submit additional information under 38 CFR 61.15, 61.32(c). Applicants 
will then be notified of the deadline to submit such information. If an 
applicant is unable to meet any conditions for the grant award within 
the specified time frame VA may non-select the applicant and uses the 
funding for another applicant. Should an applicant submitting multiple 
applications not have all of its applications funded, VA may negotiate 
bed numbers with the applicant at this time for those applications that 
were conditionally selected and incorporate that number into the grant 
agreement. Upon signature of the grant agreement by the Secretary or 
designated representative, final selection will be completed and the 
grant funds will be obligated for the funding period.
    Grant Award Period: Applicants that are finally selected may expect 
the award to begin on October 1, 2017, and end on September 30, 2018, 
with two options to renew as stated in the funding period above. VA 
will make an initial award for the first year of operation. The 
application is submitted with a one-year budget. Continuation funding 
is not guaranteed. Factors to be considered in awarding continuation 
grants will include satisfactory performance, demonstrated capacity to 
manage the grant, compliance with grant requirements, agency 
priorities, and the availability of appropriated funds. VA reserves the 
right to adjust the amount of a grant or elect not to continue funding 
for subsequent years.
    Funding Restrictions: No part of an award under this NOFA may be 
used to facilitate capital improvements or to purchase vans or real 
property. Questions regarding acceptability should be directed to VA's 
National GPD Program Office at the number listed in contact 
information. Applicants may not receive funding to replace funds 
provided by any Federal, state or local Government agency or program to 
assist homeless persons.
    Applicants whose grants included capital grants must continue to 
use the same project site unless they receive prior written approval 
from the National GPD Program Office; this includes applicants who 
received a 2013 rehabilitation grant. Applicants will be limited in 
their request for beds to the number of combined beds authorized under 
your current relationship with a specific medical center under the GPD 
program. If applying for multiple models your agency may not request 
the total number of beds in each model application (See Examples 1-2).
    Example 1: If your agency had two grant awards paid by the same 
medical center, and each had 15 beds, the total bed limit would be 30. 
If applying for multiple models, the 30 beds would have to be split 
between the different models and not exceed 30.
    Example 2: If your agency had three grant awards, two paid by the 
same medical center, and one by a different medical center with each 
having 15 beds the total bed limit would be 30 beds for the medical 
center that paid the two awards, and the bed limit for the remaining 
medical center would be 15. If applying for multiple models, the total 
beds allowed for each medical center would have to be split.
    Additional multiple models guidance may be found at Examples 3-6 
under the Content and Form of Application section of this NOFA.
    Flexibility of Beds: For those applicants that are successfully 
funded for multiple models under this NOFA, VA will allow without a 
change of scope, a flex of beds between the applicant's models at the 
same VAMC. This flex will be up to five (5) beds or 15 percent of the 
total awarded bed limit per medical center, whichever is greater. 
Successful applicants who seek a greater number of flex beds than what 
is allowed above must receive prior written approval from the National 
GPD Program Office.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: None.

Application and Submission Information

    Address to Obtain Grant Application: Download the standard forms 
directly from VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://
www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.asp. The additional documents that must also be 
included with the application are listed below in the Content and Form 
of Application section of this NOFA. Questions should be referred to 
the GPD Program Office at (toll-free) 1 (877) 332-0334.
    Content and Form of Application: The Department is seeking to 
refocus programs and resources to better serve the homeless veteran 
population. Therefore, applicants should note that a separate 
application for each housing model or service center will be required. 
Each will be scored separately.
    Applicants may, when completing the application, combine or remove 
current project(s) resources to create a single project. There are some 
restrictions. Applicants whose grants included capital grants must 
continue to use the same project site unless they receive prior written 
approval from the National GPD Program Office; this includes applicants 
who received a 2013 rehabilitation grant. Applicants whose grants were 
per diem only may use a different site; however, the site/facility must 
be in the same catchment area and must provide a comparable or better 
living situation.
    Applicants should review their relationships with VAMCs and group 
their projects by medical center. Review to see if you would like to 
remove or combine projects within that medical center. Next, complete 
the application(s) for the housing model(s) or service center for which 
you want to apply (See Examples 3-6).
    Example 3: Applicant A has a service-intensive capital grant and a 
service-intensive per diem only grant facilitated by the same medical 
center. Per the NOFA, Applicant A cannot move the capital grant site, 
but may move the per diem only site. Applicant A could combine these 
projects at the capital grant site and submit one service-intensive 
application for the total number of beds.
    Example 4: Applicant B provides both respite care and service-
intensive housing at the same site and per diem is facilitated by the 
same medical center with a total of 30 beds between the two projects. 
Applicant B would submit two applications one for the respite care 
model and one for the service-intensive model designating specific 
number of beds and services for each not to exceed a total of 30 for 
the two models combined.
    Example 5: Applicant C has a service-intensive capital grant and a 
service-intensive per diem only grant facilitated by different medical 
centers. Applicant C cannot combine these projects. Applicant C must 
submit one service-intensive application for each of the sites that 
fall in the different medical center catchment areas.

[[Page 94491]]

    Example 6: Applicant D has a service-intensive grant and would now 
like to provide a service center. Applicant D cannot apply for the 
service center funding as Applicant D did not have operational service 
center funding under GPD.
    If your agency is unclear on what application, or the number of 
applications, to submit, contact the GPD National Program Office for 
clarification prior to submission of any application to ensure it is 
submitting the correct format.
    Applicants should ensure that they include all required documents 
in their application and carefully follow the format described below. 
Submission of an incorrect, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted 
application package will result in the application being rejected at 
threshold. Applicants should ensure that the items listed in the 
``Application Requirements'' section of this NOFA are addressed in 
their application. Applicants should ensure the application is compiled 
in the order as outlined below and sections labeled accordingly.
    Applicants are to complete the application in a normal business 
format on not more than fifty (50) single-spaced, typed, single sided 
pages, in Arial 12 font, and number the pages sequentially. The 
narrative must also be labeled with the same titles and order of this 
NOFA. Note: The Standard Forms will not count toward the page maximum. 
Applicants should simply binder clip the application; do not staple, 
spiral bind, or fasten the application. Do not include brochures or 
other information not requested.
    The application consists of two parts. The first part will consist 
of Standard Forms and the second part of the application will be 
provided by applicants and consist of a supporting documentation and 
project narratives and tables/spreadsheets in a standard business 
format.
    Applicants should ensure that they include all required documents 
in their application and carefully follow the format and provide the 
information requested and described below. Submission of an incorrect, 
incomplete, or incorrectly formatted application package will result in 
the application being rejected at the beginning of the process.

Application Documentation Required

    1. Standard Forms:
    First Submission: SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance.
    Note: Second Submission: Conditional Selectees will be provided the 
following at a later date: SF 424A Budget Information, SF 424B 
Assurances and the GPD Per Diem Rate Request Worksheet and 
Instructions.
    2. Eligibility to Receive VA Assistance:
    Nonprofit Organizations must provide documentation of accounting 
system certification and evidence of private nonprofit status. This 
must be accomplished by the following:
    (a) Providing certification on letterhead stationery from a 
Certified Public Accountant or Public Accountant that the organization 
has a functioning accounting system that is operated in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles, or that the organization has 
designated a qualified entity to maintain a functioning accounting 
system. If such an entity is used, then their name and address must be 
included in the certification letter; and
    (b) Providing evidence of their status as a nonprofit organization 
by submitting a copy of their IRS ruling providing tax-exempt status 
under the IRS Code of 1986, as amended
    3. Reasonable Assurances:
    Copy on your agency's letterhead, the following statements (a-e) 
and then sign the letter.
    (a) The applicant certifies that the following are true; the 
existing grant project of the applicant is being, and will continue to 
be, used principally to furnish Veterans the level of care for which VA 
awarded the applicant the original grant under the VA's Homeless 
Providers GPD Program; that not more than 25 percent of participants at 
any one time will be non-Veterans; and that such services will meet the 
requirements of 38 CFR part 61;
    (b) The applicant will keep records and submit reports as VA may 
reasonably require, within the time frames required; and give VA, upon 
demand, access to the records upon which such information is based;
    (c) The applicant agrees to comply with the applicable requirements 
of 38 CFR part 61 and other applicable laws and has demonstrated the 
capacity to do so;
    (d) The applicant does not have an outstanding obligation to VA 
that is in arrears, and does not have an overdue or unsatisfactory 
response to an audit; and
    (e) The applicant is not in default, by failing to meet 
requirements for any previous assistance from VA.
    4. Documentation of being actively registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM): Provide a printed copy of your agency's active 
registration in SAM to include the DUNS number which corresponds to the 
information provided on the Application for Federal assistance (SF424) 
and current CAGE code. Additionally, provide the complete legal 
business address that corresponds to the address registered with SAM to 
include the USPS five-digit zip code plus the four digit extension 
code.
    5. State/Local Government Applicants: Applicants who are state or 
local governments must provide a copy of any comments or 
recommendations by approved State and (area wide) clearinghouses 
pursuant to Executive Order 12372.
    6. Project Summary: On your agency's letterhead provide the 
following:
    (a) The name of the VA facility providing the current per diem 
payment.
    (b) Describe the number of beds your agency is requesting per diem 
for and the housing model to be provided at the VA facility identified 
in question 6(a).

Number of Beds: ___
Number of Visits (annually) if service center: ___

Housing Model: (i.e. Bridge Housing, Low Demand, Hospital to Home, 
Clinical Treatment, Service-Intensive Transitional Housing and Service 
Center).
    (c) Is your agency submitting additional applications to provide 
other housing models at the facility referenced in question 6(a). (yes/
no)
    If yes, identify the model and the number of beds/visits to be 
provided under that model.
    (d) Housing and services provided under this application will be 
located at:
Address:---------------------------------------------------------------
City:------------------------------------------------------------------
State:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Zip Code + 4 digit extension:------------------------------------------
County the site is located in:-----------------------------------------
Additional Counties served by the project:-----------------------------
Congressional District:------------------------------------------------

    (e) Under this application and model; describe how the facility 
participant living space will be configured? Include the square footage 
of the room or bay, the number of beds in that square footage, and if 
the beds will be bunked (i.e. Single Room Occupancy, 100 square feet, 
no bunk beds; Open Bay, 900 square feet, 12 beds, 4 sets of bunk beds; 
Apartment(s), 1500 square feet, 1,2, or 3 bedroom(s) no bunk beds).
    (f) Describe any additional populations or types of housing being 
served/provided at this location? (i.e. children, women, permanent 
housing, contract care). If none so state.
    (g) We are combining the following previous GPD project(s) __ under 
this application and model.
    (h) Contact Information: Where correspondence can be sent to the

[[Page 94492]]

Executive Director/President/CEO. Please provide the following:

Agency Name:
Physical Address of Administrative Office: (no P.O. Boxes)
City:
State:
Zip + 4 digit extension:
County:
Congressional District:
Telephone number:
Alternate Mailing Address: (If you would prefer regular mail be sent to 
a P.O. Box).
City:
State:
Zip:

    (i) Name and title of Executive Director/President/CEO; phone, fax 
and email address:
    (j) Name and title of another management level employee and title, 
phone, fax and email address, who can sign commitments for the agency:
    (k) A complete listing of your agency's officers of the Board of 
Directors and their address, phone, fax, and email addresses.
    7. Project Abstract: On not more than one page provide a brief 
abstract of the project to include: The project design, supportive 
services committed to the project, types of assistance provided, and 
any special program provisions.
    8. Detailed Project Plan: This is the portion of the application 
that describes your program. VA Reviewers will focus on how the project 
plan addresses the areas of outreach, project plan, model specific 
questions, ability, need, and coordination in relation to your selected 
model. Please note there are some questions that only apply to specific 
models (Bridge, Clinical Treatment, Low Demand, Respite), Applicants 
applying for these models must include responses to these questions in 
their application.
    VA expects applicants awarded under this NOFA will meet the VA 
performance metrics for the selected model. With those metrics in mind 
please include in your agency's responses to the following sections 
your agency strategies to meet or exceed VA's national metric targets.
    (a) Outreach--
    1. Outreach--describe in detail the process of how your agency will 
identify and serve your homeless Veteran population(s) in the selected 
model by responding to the following questions:
    2. Outreach--describe your agency outreach plan and frequency for 
your selected Veteran population(s) living in places not ordinarily 
meant for human habitation (e.g. streets, parks abandon buildings, 
automobiles) and emergency shelters.
    3. Outreach--identify where your organization will target its 
outreach efforts to identify appropriate Veterans for this program.
    4. Outreach--Describe you involvement in the CoC's Coordinated 
Assessment/Entry efforts as it relates to your outreach plan.
    (b) Project Plan--VA wishes to provide the most appropriate housing 
based on the needs of the individual Veteran.
    1. Project Plan--Specifically list the supportive services, 
frequency of occurrence and who will provide them and how they will 
help Veteran participants achieve residential stability, increase skill 
levels and or income, and how they will increase Veterans' self-
determination (i.e., case management, frequency of individual/groups, 
employment services). Use a table or spreadsheet for this section (See 
Example 7).
    Example 7:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          This service supports
                                                                 Job title & credential    the  achievement of
                                        Frequency of offering       required for the     residential  stability,
          Supportive service            (daily, weekly, etc.)     individual providing      increase skill and
                                                                        services             income, or self-
                                                                                              determination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case management......................  Weekly.................  Case Manager--LCSW.....  Residential stability.
Financial Management Group...........  Bi-Weekly..............  Life Skills Educator--   Increased Skills and
                                                                 BA/BS.                   Income.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Project Plan--VA places emphasis on lowering barriers to 
admissions; describe the specific process and admission criteria for 
deciding which Veterans are appropriate for admission.
    3. Project Plan--Address if you plan on serving a mixed gender 
population or individuals with children.
    4. Project Plan--Provide a listing and explanation of any gender-
specific services.
    5. Project Plan--How will the safety security and privacy of 
participants be ensured?
    6. Project Plan--How, when, and by whom will the progress of 
participants toward meeting their individual goals be monitored, 
evaluated and documented?
    7. Project Plan--Provide your agency's Individual Service Plan 
(ISP) methodology and the core items to be addressed in the plan.
    8. Project Plan--How permanent affordable housing will be 
identified in the ISP and made known to participants to plan for 
leaving the supportive housing?
    9. Project Plan--Will your agency provide follow-up services? If 
yes, describe those services, how often they will occur, and the 
duration of the follow-up.
    10. Project Plan--Describe how Veteran participants will have a 
voice and aid in operating and maintaining the housing (i.e., volunteer 
time, paid positions, community governance meetings, peer support).
    11. Project Plan--Describe your agency's responsibilities, as well 
as, any sponsors, contractors' responsibilities in operating and 
maintaining the housing (i.e., sub-recipients).
    12. Project Plan--Describe program policies regarding a clean and 
sober environment. Include in the description how participant relapse 
will be handled and how these policies will affect the admission and 
discharge criteria.
    13. Project Plan--Provide and describe the type and implementation 
of the medication control system that will be used in this project 
(e.g., Medication Management, Medication Monitoring, or individual 
storage). For reference, applicants may review these requirements on 
pages 16 and 17 of their current GPD grant projects last annual 
inspection (VA Form 10-0361c).
    14. Project Plan--Describe program polices regarding participant 
agreements, include any leases and sub-leases if used.
    15. Project Plan--Describe program polices regarding 
extracurricular fees.
    16. Project Plan--If co-located with other models, populations, or 
with other non-grant and per diem projects; how will differences in 
program rules and policies be handled (See example 8)?
    Example 8:
    Your agency has permanent housing, bridge housing, and low demand 
housing. These all serve different populations and require different 
levels of policy to properly function. How will this be accomplished?
    17. Project Plan--Describe how in your chosen model you will 
provide assistance to Veterans who seek increased income or benefits.
    18. Project Plan--Address how your agency will facilitate the 
provision of

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nutritional meals for the Veterans. Be sure to describe how Veterans 
with little or no income will be assisted.
    19. Project Plan--VA places great emphasis on placing Veterans in 
the most appropriate housing situation as rapidly as possible. In this 
section, provide a timetable and the specific services to include 
follow-up that supports housing stabilization. Include evidence of 
coordination of transition services with which your agency expects to 
have for Veterans.
    20. Project Plan--Describe the availability of or how you will 
facilitate transportation of the Veteran participants with and without 
income to appointments, employment, and supportive services.
    (c) Model Specific Questions: Applicants should only respond to the 
following questions as they apply for the model selected in this 
application.
    1. Bridge Housing Model--Describe how your bridge housing is 
coordinated with permanent housing resources as part of a Housing First 
plan for homeless Veterans
    2. Clinical Treatment Model--Describe how you will ensure homeless 
Veterans will be offered available permanent housing resources prior to 
entering treatment resources.
    3. Clinical Treatment Model--Describe how you will ensure permanent 
housing and employment/income improvements will occur and lead to 
successful outcomes.
    4. Low Demand Model--How will your agency manage a safe environment 
if a Veteran returns to the project impaired?
    5. Low Demand Model--Will your safe environment include a sober 
lounge or safe room?
    6. Low Demand Model--What approaches will be used to keep the 
Veterans engaged in services?
    7. Respite Care--Describe the medical evaluation process for 
identifying potential candidates for the program and the Staff involved 
in that process, the evaluation criteria, and the roles of each 
individual.
    (d) Ability--This is where you describe your agency's experience in 
regard to your selected population.
    1. Ability--Provide a table or spreadsheet of the staffing plan for 
this project. Do not include resumes.
    Example 9:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Job title.......................  Brief (1-2          Educational level.  Hours per week      Amount of annual
                                   sentence).                              allocated to GPD    salary allocated
                                  description of....                       project.            to the GPD
                                  responsibilities..                                           project ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience assessing 
and providing for the housing needs of homeless Veterans under your 
chosen model.
    3. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience assessing 
and providing supportive services to homeless Veterans under your 
chosen model.
    4. Describe your agency's previous experience in assessing 
supportive service resources and entitlement benefits.
    5. Describe your agency's previous experience with evaluating the 
progress of both individual participants and overall program 
effectiveness through using quality and performance data to make 
changes. Provide documentation of meeting past performance goals.
    (e) Need--Describe through the use of a gap analysis the 
substantial unmet needs particularly among your targeted Veteran 
population and those needs of the general homeless population. How does 
this project meet a need for the community and fit with the community's 
strategy to end homeless in the community? Support your descriptions 
with empirical statistical documentation of need.
    (f) Coordination--This portion of the application places emphasis 
on evidence of your agency's involvement in the homeless Veteran 
continuum.
    1. Coordination--Provide documented evidence your agency is part of 
an ongoing community-wide planning process.
    2. Coordination--How is your process designed to share information 
on available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve 
homeless Veterans (i.e., letter of support from your local continuum of 
care)?
    3. Coordination--How is your agency part of an ongoing community-
wide planning process which is designed to share information on 
available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve 
homeless Veterans?
    4. Coordination--How has your agency coordinated GPD services with 
other programs offered in the Continuum(s) of Care (CoC) they currently 
serve?
    5. Coordination--Provide documented evidence your agency consulted 
directly with the closest VAMC Director regarding coordination of 
services for project participants; and provide your plan to assure 
access to health care, case management, and other care services.
    (g) Additional Application Requirements--
    1. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Respite Care Documentation--A 
MOU between the local medical center and the applicant must be provided 
demonstrating the local medical center's detailed participation in the 
Hospital-to-Housing program. Included in this should be detailing of 
acceptance criteria for Veterans being referred from local facility 
emergency departments and inpatient wards, a detailing of how follow-up 
care with the medical center is organized, and a commitment to engaging 
enrolled Veterans in permanent housing as part of the program.
    2. Awardees will be required to support their request for payments 
with adequate fiscal documentation as to project income and expenses. 
Awardee agencies that have a negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement (IDC) 
must provide a copy of the IDC with this application if they wish to 
charge indirect costs to the grant. Without this document only the de 
minimis rate would be allowed for indirect costs. All other costs will 
be considered only if they are direct costs.
    Submission Dates and Times: An original signed, dated, completed, 
and application (plus two completed collated copies) and all required 
associated documents must be received in the GPD Program Office, VA 
Homeless Providers GPD Program Office, 10770 N. 46th Street Suite C-
200, Tampa, FL 33617; by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, 
April 4, 2017.
    In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this 
deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat any application 
that is received after the deadline as ineligible for consideration. 
Applicants should take this firm deadline into account and make early 
submission of their material to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 
as a result of unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems. 
For applications physically delivered (e.g., in person, or via United 
States Postal Service, FedEx, United Parcel Service, 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

[[Page 94494]]

if the deadline is met for those types of delivery.
    Applications must be received by the application deadline. 
Applications must arrive as a complete package to include VA 
collaborative partner materials (see application requirements). 
Materials arriving separately will not be included in the application 
package for consideration and may result in the application being 
rejected or not funded.
    DO NOT fax or email the application as applications received via 
these means will be ineligible for consideration.
    Award Notice: Although subject to change, the GPD Program Office 
expects to announce grant awards in May 2017. The initial announcement 
will be made via news release which will be posted on VA's National GPD 
Program Web site at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Following the initial 
announcement, the GPD Office will mail notification letters to the 
grant recipients. Applicants who are not selected will be mailed a 
declination letter within two weeks of the initial announcement. All 
notifications will indicate the applicant's status in regard to the 
Office of Management and Budget class exception to the real property 
provisions of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 
200.311(c) to FY 2017 NOFA awardees and non-awardees.
    For capital grantees that choose not to reapply in response to this 
2017 NOFA or who apply and do not meet the threshold requirements for 
scoring as outlined in [the accompanying Federal Register Notice 
regarding the plan to terminate certain grant agreements] and 
regulation, VA will initiate the recapture requirements of 38 CFR 
61.67, and if applicable, the real property disposition requirements of 
2 CFR 200.311(c).
    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 grant 
and per diem-funded programs. Applicants should be aware of the 
following:
    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 consider this when submitting their grant 
applications, as no additional funds will be made available for capital 
improvements under this NOFA.
    Each program receiving funding will have a liaison appointed from a 
nearby VA medical facility to provide oversight and monitor services 
provided to homeless Veterans in the program.
    Monitoring will include, at a minimum, a quarterly review of each 
per diem program's progress toward meeting VA's performance metrics, 
helping Veterans attain housing stability, adequate income support, and 
self-sufficiency as identified in each per diem application. Monitoring 
will also include a review of the agency's income and expenses as they 
relate to this project to ensure payment is accurate.
    Each funded program will participate in VA's national program 
monitoring and evaluation as these procedures will be used to determine 
successful accomplishment of housing, employment, and self-sufficiency 
outcomes for each per diem-funded program.
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. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on December 19, 2016, for publication.

    Dated: December 19, 2016.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the SecretaryDepartment of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-30957 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P