[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23983-23985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10657]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the
availability of 1-year renewal funding for the 16 currently-operational
fiscal year (FY) 2016 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD)
Program Special Need Grant recipients and their collaborative VA
Special Need partners (as applicable), to enable them to submit renewal
applications for assistance under the Special Need Grant component of
VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program. The focus of this NOFA is to
encourage applicants to continue to deliver services to the homeless
special-need Veteran population. This NOFA contains information
concerning the program, application process, and amount of funding
available.
DATES: An original, completed, signed, and dated renewal application
and associated documents for assistance under VA's GPD Program must be
received by the GPD Program Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
on June 29, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617, (877) 332-
0334 (this is a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOFA announces the availability of
funds to provide 1-year funding assistance in FY 2018 under VA's
Homeless Providers GPD Program for the 16 operational GPD Special Need
recipients and their collaborative VA partners (as applicable).
Eligible applicants may obtain grant assistance to cover additional
operational costs that would not otherwise be incurred, but for the
fact that the recipient is providing supportive housing beds and
services for the following homeless special-needs Veteran population
groups: Women, Frail Elderly, Chronically Mentally Ill, or Individuals
Who Have Care of Minor Dependents. Funding applied for under this NOFA
may be used for the provision of services and operational costs to
facilitate the following for each targeted group:
1. Women:
a. Ensure transportation for women, especially for health care and
educational needs; and
b. Address safety and security issues including segregation from
other program participants if deemed appropriate.
2. Frail Elderly:
a. Ensure the safety of the residents in the facility, including
preventing harm and exploitation;
b. Ensure opportunities to keep residents mentally and physically
agile to the fullest extent through incorporation of structured
activities, physical activity, and social engagement within the program
and in the community;
c. Provide opportunities for participants to address life
transitional, separation, and/or loss issues;
d. Provide access to assistance devices such as walkers, grippers,
or other devices necessary for optimal functioning;
e. Ensure adequate supervision including monitoring of medication
and oversight of medication compliance; and
f. Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or
through referral, for other services particularly relevant for the
Frail Elderly population group, including services or programs
addressing emotional, social, spiritual, and generative needs.
3. Chronically Mentally Ill:
a. Help participants join in and engage with the community;
b. Facilitate reintegration with the community and provide services
that may optimize reintegration, such as life-skills education,
recreational activities, and follow-up case management;
c. Ensure that participants have opportunities and services for re-
establishing relationships with family;
d. Ensure adequate supervision, including monitoring of medication
and oversight of medication compliance; and
e. Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or
through
[[Page 23984]]
referral, to obtain other services particularly relevant for a
chronically mentally ill population, such as vocational development,
benefits management, fiduciary or money management services, medication
compliance, and medication education.
4. Individuals Who Have Care of Minor Dependents:
a. Ensure transportation for individuals and their minor
dependents, especially for health care and educational needs;
b. Provide directly or offer referrals for adequate and safe child
care;
c. Ensure children's health care needs are met, especially age-
appropriate wellness visits and immunizations; and
d. Address safety and security issues, including segregation from
other program participants if deemed appropriate.
Authority: Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,
Public Law 107-95, 5, codified as amended by Public Law 112-154, at 38
U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, and in regulation at 38 CFR 61. 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.
Definitions: Definitions of key terms relating to these populations
are contained in 38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. Eligible applicants should
review these definitions to ensure their proposed populations meet the
specific requirements.
Funding Priorities: None.
Allocation Of Funds: Approximately $5 million is available for the
current Special Need grant component of VA's Homeless Providers GPD
Program. Special Need payment will be the lesser of:
1. One hundred percent of the daily cost of care estimated by the
Special Need recipient for furnishing services to homeless Veterans
with special needs that the Special Need recipient certifies to be
correct, minus any other sources of income; or
2. Two times the current VA State Home Program per diem rate for
domiciliary care.
Special Need awards are subject to FY 2018 funds availability, the
recipient meeting the performance goals as stated in the grant
application, statutory and regulatory requirements, and annual
inspections. Applicants should ensure their funding requests and
operational costs are based on the 12-month period above and should be
approximately in line with prior-year expenditures. Requests cannot
exceed the amount obligated under the FY 2016 award. Applicants should
note in their application that unexpended funding from FY 2016 will be
de-obligated.
Funding Actions: Conditionally-selected applicants may be asked to
submit additional information under to confirm or clarify information
provided in the application, and will be notified of the deadline to
submit such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any
conditions for grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves
the right to not award funds and to use the funds available for other
Special Need applicants. Following receipt and confirmation that all
information is accurate and in acceptable form, applicants will execute
an agreement with VA in accordance with 38 CFR 61.61.
Grant Award Period: Awardees will have a maximum award of one year
beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on September 30, 2018, to
utilize the Special Need funding. Funds unexpended after the September
30, 2018, deadline will be de-obligated.
Funding Restrictions: No part of a Special Need grant may be used
for any purpose that would significantly change the scope of the
specific GPD project for which a capital GPD was awarded. As a part of
the review process, VA will review the original project and subsequent
approved program changes of the previous FY 2016 Special Need
applications to ensure significant scope changes have not occurred and
that other homeless Veteran populations have not been displaced.
Additionally, Special Need funding may not be used for capital
improvements or to purchase vehicles or real property. However, the
leasing of vehicles or real property may be acceptable, and questions
regarding acceptability should be directed to VA's National GPD Program
Office at the number listed above in CONTACT INFORMATION. Changes to
the Special Need population the applicant currently serves will not be
allowed, and applicants may not receive Special Need funding to replace
funds provided by any Federal, state or local Government agency or
program to assist homeless persons.
Eligibility Information: Eligible applicants must be a currently-
operational FY 2016 VA Homeless Providers GPD Program Special Need
Grant recipient with or without a collaborative VA Special Need
partner. Applicants that were not funded under the VA Homeless
Providers GPD Program NOFA as published in the Federal Register on
December 23, 2016, 81 FR 94487-94494, are ineligible for an award under
this NOFA as the applicant must have an operational VA Homeless
Providers GPD grant on October 1, 2017, in order to receive Special
Need funding under this availability. Furthermore, if the applicant
currently has a collaborative project and its VA partner no longer
wishes to continue, the applicant is not eligible for an award under
this NOFA.
Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
Application Requirements and Submission Information
Content and Form of Application
Applicants should ensure 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
the beginning of the process.
Application Documentation Required
Applicants must submit a letter on their organization's letterhead
stating their intent to apply for renewal funding and agreement for VA
to evaluate their previously awarded FY 2016 Special Need application
for scoring purposes. In addition, the letter must state the model (see
listing below) to which that application will be linked and that the
applicant agrees, as a condition of funding under this NOFA, that they
will provide the services as outlined in that application, along with
any VA-approved changes in scope, and that the applicant's FY 2016
required forms and certifications still apply for the period of this
award. The models include Bridge Housing, Low Demand, Clinical
Treatment, Hospital to Housing, or Service Intensive Transitional
Housing.
Performance Goals
Applicants must submit documentation, as evidenced by their last VA
project inspection, of meeting the performance goals stated in their FY
2016 original grant Special Need application.
Letter from VA Collaborative Partner (If Applicable)
If the FY 2016 Special Need grant was a collaborative grant, the
applicant must submit an updated letter of commitment or an updated
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the VA collaborative partner stating
that VA will continue to meet its objectives or provide its duties as
outlined in the original MOA in FY 2016.
Other Submission Requirements: None.
Submission Deadline and Delivery: An original signed and dated
application package, including all required documents, must be received
in the GPD Program Office, VA
[[Page 23985]]
Homeless Providers GPD Program Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-
200, Tampa, FL 33617; by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 29,
2017. Applications must be 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 will 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. Applications may not be sent by facsimile.
In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline
is firm as to date and time, 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 materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility as a result
of unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.
Applications must arrive as a complete package (see Application
Requirements above). Materials arriving separately will not be included
in the application package for consideration and may result in the
application being rejected or not funded.
Rating Criteria for Special Need Grants: Rating criteria may be
found at 38 CFR 61.13 & 61.32.
Review and Selection Process: The VA review and selection process
may be found at 38 CFR 61.44. Selections will be made based on criteria
described in the FY 2016 application and additional information as
specified in this NOFA.
Award Notice: Although subject to change, the GPD Program Office
expects to announce grant awards during the late fourth quarter of FY
2017 (September). 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 grant recipients.
Applicants who are not selected will be mailed a declination letter
within two weeks of the initial announcement.
Administrative and National Policy: VA places great emphasis on
responsibility and accountability, and 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:
Awardees will be required to support their request for
payments with adequate fiscal documentation as to project income and
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 consider this when submitting their grant
applications, as no additional funds will be made available for capital
improvements under this NOFA.
Each program receiving Special Need 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 performance goals,
including the applicant's 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 payment is
accurate.
Each funded program will participate in VA's national program
monitoring and evaluation as these monitoring procedures will be used
to determine successful accomplishment of these housing 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 May 18, 2017, for publication.
Approved: May 18, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management,
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-10657 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P