[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36587-36590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13054]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Veterans Legacy Grants Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery 
Administration (NCA) is establishing grants for the Veterans Legacy 
Grants Program (VLGP) to provide funding to educational institutions 
and other eligible entities to conduct cemetery research and produce 
educational tools for the public to utilize and learn about the 
histories of Veterans interred in VA national cemeteries and VA grant-
funded State and Tribal Veterans' cemeteries. This notice includes 
information about the general process for applying for a VLGP grant, 
criteria for evaluating applications, priorities related to the award 
of grants and other general requirements and guidance regarding VLGP 
grants.

DATES: Applications for grants under the VLGP must be received by the 
VLGP Office by 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 18, 2022. (In the interest 
of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to 
date and hour. VA will treat any application that is received after the 
deadline as ineligible for consideration. Applicants should take this 
requirement into account and submit their materials early to avoid the 
risk of unanticipated delays, computer service outages, or other 
submission-related problems that might result in ineligibility.) 
Successful applicants will be notified within 30 days following the 
application deadline. The VLGP grant award will cover a period of 1 
year.

ADDRESSES: For a Copy of the Application Package: The required 
documentation for an application is outlined under the ``Application 
Documentation Required'' section of this NOFA. Questions should be 
referred to the VLGP Office by email at: [email protected]. For detailed VLGP 
information and requirements, see 38 CFR 38.710-38.785.
    For Submission of Application Package: Applicants must submit 
applications electronically by following instructions found at: 
www.Grants.gov and https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp.
    For Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain 
technical assistance with the preparation of a grant application is 
available on the VLGP website at: https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Denise Rosier, Program Director, 
Veterans Legacy Grants Program, [email protected], 202-461-5362. 
This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Funding Opportunity Title: Veterans Legacy Grant Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: VA-NCA-VLGP-FY2022.
    Assistance Listing: 64.204, VA Veterans Legacy Grant Program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose: Funding for VLGP grants under this NOFA is authorized 
by 38 U.S.C. 2400 note. This NOFA announces the availability of funding 
to applicants found eligible to receive a VLGP grant to tell stories 
focused on underrepresented Veterans or Service members, to include, 
but not limited to, Veterans or Service members underrepresented by 
race, ethnicity, or identity, as well as Veterans or Service members 
from our LGBTQ+ communities, from any period of American history, so 
they are honored in perpetuity.
    Funding is interdisciplinary and not restricted according to 
academic focus or specialization. Eligible applicants are institutions 
of higher learning, educational institutions, local educational 
agencies, State educational agencies, or non-profits. Successful 
applications will:
    1. Meet the mission of VLGP to commemorate our Nation's Veterans 
and Service members through the discovery and sharing of their stories. 
VLGP encourages students and teachers at the K-12 levels and 
universities around the country to immerse themselves in the rich 
historical resources found within one or more of VA's 155 national 
cemeteries or one or more of the 119 VA grant-funded State, 
Territorial, or Tribal Veterans cemeteries.
    2. Include a study of Veterans or Service members interred in one 
of VA's national cemeteries or in one of the VA grant-funded State, 
Territorial, or Tribal cemeteries.
    3. Foster engagement in the communities surrounding one or several 
of these cemeteries.
    4. Tell the stories of those interred in these cemeteries with a 
focus on underrepresented Veterans or Service members, to include, but 
not limited to, Veterans or Service members underrepresented by race, 
ethnicity, or identity as well as Veterans or Service members from our 
LGBTQ+ community, from any period of American history.
    B. Priorities: Competitive Preference Priorities (CPP) for fiscal 
year (FY) 2022 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of applications from this annual competition, VA will prioritize 
applications that align with specific VLGP initiatives, which will be 
noted as CPPs. We will award up to an additional three points to an 
application if the application meets one or more of the following CPPs, 
described in a one-page abstract submitted with the application and 
listed on the VLGP Profile Form:
    1. Successfully showcasing Veterans or Service members interred in 
these cemeteries with a focus on underrepresented Veterans or Service 
members, to include, but not limited to, Veterans or Service members 
underrepresented by race, ethnicity, identity, as well as Veterans or 
Service members from our LGBTQ+ community, from any period of American 
history.
    2. Creatively highlighting interred Veterans and Service members 
who have never been studied or researched in previous VLGP project 
proposals.
    3. Maximizing the use of best practices in digital scholarship, 
pedagogy, scholarly communication and digital public engagement.
    New CPPs will be outlined in each NOFA each FY it is announced.
    Note: If applicants wish to be considered for CPP points, 
applicants must include, in a one-page abstract submitted with the 
application, a statement indicating which, if any, of the CPPs are 
addressed. If an applicant addresses CPPs, this information must also 
be listed on the VLGP Profile Form.
    C. Total Available Funds: The total funds allocated for VLGP in FY 
2022 is $2.2 million.
    Under Public Law 116-107 1(a)(4), each grant may not exceed 
$500,000 in total costs for the entire grant period of one FY. If more 
than one application per applicant's employer identification number is 
received by the due date and time, VA will consider only one 
application. VA reserves the right to select which application to 
consider based on the submission dates and times or based on other 
factors included in 38 CFR 38.710-38.785.
    D. Eligible Recipients: Applicants must be an eligible entity that 
meets one of the definitions in 38 CFR 38.715 for an institution of 
higher learning, educational institution, local educational agency, 
State educational agency, or a non-profit.

II. Award Information

    A. Allocation of funds: A total of up to $2.2 million in Federal 
funding is available under this NOFA with a maximum award of $500,000 
per grant. Funding awarded under this NOFA for a specific project will 
be for a period of

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1 year, beginning on October 17, 2022, and dependent upon factors such 
as funding availability, the recipient meeting the performance goals 
established in the grant agreement and statutory and regulatory 
requirements. The number of grants awarded during this period is at the 
discretion of VA.
    B. Funding Restrictions: No part of an award under this NOFA may be 
used for a course buyout, and the grant funds shall not be used to 
substitute a class that a professor is required to teach during an 
academic year.
    C. Funding Limitations: VA's decisions will be based on factors 
such as need, geographic dispersion and availability of funding.

III. Application and Submission Information

    A. Obtaining a Grant Application: The required documentation for an 
application submission is outlined below in the ``Application 
Documentation Required'' section of this NOFA. Standard forms, which 
must be included as part of a complete application package, may be 
downloaded directly from VA's VLGP website at: https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp. Questions should be referred to the VLGP Office at: 
[email protected]. For detailed VLGP information and requirements, see 38 CFR 
38.710-38.785.
    B. Submitting a Grant Application: Applicants should ensure that 
they include all required documents in their email application 
submission, carefully follow the format and provide the information 
requested and described below. Submission of an application that 
contains conflicting information or is incomplete, untimely, or 
incorrectly formatted will result in the application being rejected. 
Applicants must submit applications electronically by following 
instructions found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp. Applications must be submitted as a complete package. 
Materials arriving separately will not be included in the application 
package for consideration and may result in the application being 
rejected or not funded.

IV. Application Documentation Required

    A. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and supporting 
documents: Applicants are required to complete the SF-424 and attach 
the following supporting documents.
    1. Project Abstract: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-point 
Times New Roman font, provide a brief abstract of the proposed project. 
As applicable, include other information relevant to an understanding 
of the overall project and specify if you wish to be considered for CPP 
points set out in section I.B. (Priorities) of this NOFA.
    2. Project Proposal: In 1,200 words or less, double-spaced, 12-
point Times New Roman font, the applicant must include a narrative 
outlining the plan for the project and include a detailed timeline for 
the tasks outlined in the project description and proposed milestones 
(see section IV.C. for additional information).
    3. Expertise and Capacity: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-
point Times New Roman font, the applicant must include a description of 
the applicant's ability and capacity to administer the project. This 
should include any evidence of past experience with projects similar in 
scope as defined by the NOFA, to include descriptions of the engagement 
model, examples of successful leadership and management of a project of 
similar (or greater) scale and budget, or related work in this field.
    4. Proposed Budget: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-point 
Times New Roman font, the proposed budget should identify all costs and 
proposed expenditures, to include additional compensation and honoraria 
(and to whom); equipment costs; production costs; and travel costs. 
Word count does not include charts, graphs, or spreadsheets an 
applicant may choose to provide as additional attachments.
    5. Project Team: If applicable, the applicant must provide a 
narrative description of anticipated project team and any extramural 
partner(s), including the responsibilities of the principal 
investigator, the co-principal investigators and any extramural partner 
entity.
    B. Eligibility: Applicants must meet definitions for eligible 
recipients in 38 CFR 38.715(c) and provide supporting documentation of 
status (for example, Section 503(c)(3) status, consolidated State 
plan).
    C. Project Proposals: Project Proposals should support the 
memorialization of the Nation's Service members' and Veterans' legacy 
enshrined in national cemeteries or VA grant-funded cemeteries in the 
following areas:
    1. Outreach: A framework for digital and non-digital outreach based 
on student research focused on a VA national cemetery (or cemeteries) 
or VA grant-funded State, Territorial or Tribal cemetery (or 
cemeteries).
    2. Educational Materials: A framework of digital instructional 
materials relevant to the grade level of K-12 students involved (e.g., 
lesson plans, learning guides). Alternatively, materials intended for 
general education of the public may be developed in conjunction with 
the above or in lieu of it, but preference will be given to proposals 
that include development of instructional materials intended for K-12 
audiences.
    3. Extended Memorialization: A way to present the students' 
research in a way that is appropriate to their discipline and 
accessible to the public (such as a website or other medium).
    Materials produced under this grant program must be based on 
research on the Service members and/or Veterans interred or 
memorialized in VA's national cemeteries or VA grant-funded cemeteries, 
conducted by students under the guidance of an appropriate educational 
professional (e.g., licensed teacher, tenure-track professor with 
terminal degree, or program officer of an educational non-profit 
entity). The research must be produced into formats accessible to 
students, teachers, scholars and the American public. This research may 
be conducted within the context of any established academic discipline 
or may be interdisciplinary as long as the research conveys findings 
about individual Service members or Veterans that are otherwise not 
available or are currently unknown. NCA's VLGP is committed to 
memorializing all Service members and Veterans, but Service members and 
Veterans from underrepresented communities are of particular interest. 
No preference will be given to any disciplinary or methodological 
approach. Intrinsic to the research process under this grant program is 
students visiting a national cemetery or VA grant-funded cemetery of 
interest more than once.
    D. Applicant Contact Information: Must not be a toll-free number or 
P.O. Box address. Must be a working number and physical address for 
grantee accessibility.
    1. Location of the administrative office where correspondence can 
be sent to the Executive Director/President/Chief Executive Officer/
Department Chair (no P.O. Boxes). Include complete address, city, 
state, zip code + four-digit extension, county and congressional 
district.
    2. Organization Primary Contact: Include the name, title, phone and 
email address. Note: VLGP views the organization's primary contact as 
assigned to the organization, not a specific grant application, and 
should be someone who normally signs grant agreements or makes 
executive decisions for the organization.
    3. Grant Contact #1: Include the name, title, phone and email 
address.

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    Note: This contact is specific to a grant application under this 
NOFA and may be a Program Manager, Director, Case Manager, Grant 
Administrator, or other individual of similar position.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Application Review: Staff reviewers from VA and possibly other 
Federal agencies will assess and score all compliant applications. The 
applications will be ranked from highest to lowest based on application 
scores as explained below.
    B. Applicant Clarification: Following the review process, VA may 
request clarifying information to inform funding recommendations. A 
request for clarification does not guarantee a grant award. If an 
organization does not respond by the deadline to a request for 
clarification, VA will remove its application from consideration.
    C. Application Scoring: Applications will be evaluated and scored 
based on the follow criteria (100-point scale):
    1. Team--10 possible points.
    2. Student research products--15 possible points.
    3. Outreach--15 possible points.
    4. Instructional materials--15 possible points.
    5. Extended memorialization--15 possible points.
    6. Budget--15 possible points.
    7. Collection of program assessment data--15 possible points.
    In addition to the possible 100-point scale, applications can 
receive up to an additional three points for CPPs as noted in Section 
I.B.
    D. Technical Factors: Applications will be reviewed and evaluated 
based on the following technical factors to determine the best value 
for NCA and VLGP:
    1. Team: The team of contributing scholars must consist of at least 
two members from accredited institutions of higher education within the 
area of focus, each of whom is a faculty member who holds an advanced 
degree in their field and has evidence of demonstrated scholarly 
output. The team will designate a single Point of Contact.
    2. Student research products: Applicants shall define a framework 
of at least two digital media products produced for educational 
outreach based on student-generated research. The final products must 
be publicly accessible examples of applied cemetery research.
    3. Outreach: Applicants shall define how they plan to develop a 
framework for digital and non-digital outreach focused on a VA national 
cemetery (or cemeteries) or VA grant-funded State, Territorial or 
Tribal cemetery (or cemeteries).
    4. Instructional materials: Applicants shall include the 
development of at least five lesson plans appropriate to the schools, 
grades and subjects of teachers and K-12 students in the partnership. 
``Lesson plan'' includes a plan of instruction that reflects the 
state's K-12 curriculum standards, e.g., Common Core State Standards, 
and includes all other resources, materials and aids required for the 
school-based implementation of the lesson. The lesson plan product can 
be multiple lessons, structured around pre- and post-visit learning.
    5. Extended memorialization: Applicants shall define how they plan 
to use the student research to extend memorialization of the Service 
members' or Veterans' legacy enshrined in a national cemetery or VA 
grant-funded cemetery of focus.
    6. Collection of program assessment data: Applicants shall design 
assessment instruments for their students and the K-12 students showing 
how this participation in this program affected students' performance 
in their subject of inquiry, e.g., history, film, education, American 
social studies, English Language Arts, art. Data should be anonymously 
sampled but demonstrated to be valid and reliable.
    E. Risk Assessment Evaluation: In addition to the application 
scoring of technical factors, VA staff (and possibly other Federal 
agency staff) will evaluate the risks to the program posed by each 
applicant, including conducting due diligence to ensure an applicant's 
ability to manage Federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to the 
evaluation of the applicant's quality of its application, and results 
from this evaluation will inform funding decisions. If VA determines to 
make an award, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk 
assessed may be applied to the award. In evaluating risks, VA may 
review and consider the following:
     Financial stability;
     Quality of management systems and ability to meet the 
management standards prescribed in the uniform in 2 CFR part 200;
     Applicant's record in managing previous Federal awards, 
grants, or procurement awards, including:
    [cir] Timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting 
requirements;
    [cir] Accuracy of data reported;
    [cir] Validity of performance measure data reported;
    [cir] Conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal 
awards; and
    [cir] If applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded 
amounts will be expended prior to future awards.
     Information available through Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB)-designated repositories of Governmentwide eligibility 
qualification or financial integrity information, such as:
    [cir] Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System;
    [cir] Dun and Bradstreet; and
    [cir] ``Do Not Pay.''
    Applicants may review and comment on information available through 
these OMB-designated repositories, and VA will consider any comments 
made by the applicant.
     Reports and findings from single audits performed under 
Subpart F--Audit Requirements, 2 CFR part 200, OMB Circular A-133 and 
findings of any other available audits;
     Applicant organization's annual report;
     Publicly available information, including information from 
the applicant organization's website;
     Applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, 
regulatory, or other requirements imposed on award recipients; and
     Applicant's past compliance or ability to comply with 
Federal procurement requirements in procuring the Project Coordinator 
and Investor(s) in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317-200.326.
    F. Priority Groups: This award cycle places no priority 
consideration on grant applications with any specific focus, 
discipline, or product. Applicants can create a proposal that meets the 
priority and preference of the VLGP as outlined in this NOFA and 38 CFR 
38.710-38.785.
    G. Disposition of Applications: Upon review of an application and 
dependent on availability of funds, VA will:
     Approve the application for funding, in whole or in part, 
for such amount of funds, and subject to such conditions that VA deems 
necessary or desirable; or,
     Determine that the application is of acceptable quality 
for funding, in that it meets minimum criteria, but disapprove the 
application for funding because it did not rank sufficiently high in 
relation to other applications to qualify for an award based on the 
level of funding available; or,
     Disapprove the application for failure to meet the 
applicable selection criteria at a sufficiently high level in 
comparison to other applications to justify an award of funds, or for 
another reason as provided in the documentation of the decision; or

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     Defer action on the application for such reasons as lack 
of funds or a need for further review.
    H. Withdrawal of Application: Applicants may withdraw a VLGP 
application submitted through Grants.gov by writing the VA point of 
contact specified in this NOFA within 15 days to request withdrawal 
with a rationale for the request.

VI. Award Administration Information

    A. Selection for Funding: VA will utilize the ranked scores of 
applications as the primary basis for selection, ultimately made by the 
delegated official who may factor in the risk assessment and clarifying 
information provided by the applicant.
    B. Award Notice: Although subject to change, the VLGP Office 
expects to announce grant awards in the 4th quarter of FY 2022. Awards 
will be for 12 months. The initial announcement will be made via news 
release which will be posted on VA's VLGP website at: https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp. Following the initial announcement 
and after the application deadline, the VLGP Office will send 
notification letters to the grant recipients. Applicants who are not 
selected will be sent a declination letter.
    C. Grant Agreements: After an applicant is approved for award, VA 
will draft a grant agreement to be executed by VA and the grantee. Upon 
execution of the grant agreement, VA will obligate the grant amount. 
Grantees will be subject to requirements of this NOFA, the VLGP 
regulations (38 CFR 38.710-38.785), other Federal grant requirements 
under 2 CFR part 200 and the grantee's VLGP application. A full copy of 
the regulations governing the VLGP is available at the VLGP website at: 
https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp.
    D. Administrative and National Policy: VA places great emphasis on 
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to 
monitor grant programs and outcomes associated with the services 
provided under the VLGP.
    E. Payment: Grant awards will be paid in a method that is in 
accordance with VA and other Federal fiscal requirements. Funds will be 
disbursed on initial obligation and halfway through the grant period 
(i.e., for 1st 6 months and then for the 2nd 6 months). Awardees will 
be required to support their request for funding based on the project 
budget.
    F. Reporting: 1. Annual report: All grantees must submit to VA, not 
later than 60 days after the last day of the grant period, a final 
report. The final report must include: a program evaluation, proof of 
meeting VA objectives as outlined in the mission of the VLGP and a 
summary of the effectiveness of the completed proposal. The grantee 
must be open to a possible site visit and external evaluation to be 
considered for future funding.
    2. Additional reporting: VA may request additional information, 
records and reports to allow VA to assess program effectiveness.
    G. Recovery of funds: VA may recover from the grantee any funds 
that are not used in accordance with the grant agreement. If VA decides 
to recover funds, VA will issue to the grantee a notice of intent to 
recover grant funds, and the grantee will then have 30 days to submit 
documentation demonstrating why the grant funds should not be 
recovered. After review of all submitted documentation, VA will 
determine whether action will be taken to recover the grant funds. When 
VA decides to recover grant funds from the grantee, VA will stop 
further payments of grant funds until the grant funds are recovered and 
the condition that led to the decision to recover grant funds has been 
resolved.
    H. Financial Management: The grantee shall conform to the Single 
Audit Act Amendments of 1996, as implemented by 2 CFR part 200. All 
grantees must use a financial management system that complies with 2 
CFR part 200. Grantees must meet the applicable requirements of OMB's 
regulations on Cost Principles at 2 CFR part 200.
    I. Availability of Grant Funds: Federal financial assistance will 
become available subsequent to the effective date of the grant as set 
forth in the grant agreement. Recipients may be reimbursed for costs 
resulting from obligations incurred before the effective date of the 
grant, if such costs are authorized by VA within this NOFA or the grant 
agreement or subsequently by VA in writing and otherwise would be 
allowable as costs of the grant under applicable guidelines, 
regulations and terms and conditions of the grant agreement.
    Signing Authority: Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on June 13, 2022, 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.

Consuela Benjamin,
Regulations Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-13054 Filed 6-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P