[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 152 (Monday, August 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48204-48206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19948]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Fund Availability Under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the
availability of funds for currently operational fiscal year (FY) 2009
VA Grant and Per Diem Special Need Grant Recipients in conjunction with
their collaborative VA Special Need partners and currently operational
VA Grant and Per Diem Special Need Grant Recipients not involved with
collaborative VA partners. All current VA Grant and Per Diem Special
Need Grant recipients will have the opportunity to reapply for
assistance under the Special Need Grant Component of VA's Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The focus of this Notice of
Funding Availability (NOFA) is to encourage applicants to continue to
deliver services to the homeless Special Need veteran population as
outlined in their FY 2009 Special Need grant application. This Notice
contains information concerning the program, application process, and
amount of funding available.
DATES: An original signed and dated request for re-application letter
(on agency letterhead) for assistance under the VA's Homeless Providers
Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem
Program Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 25, 2011
(see re-application requirements below). Requests for re-application
may not be sent by facsimile (Fax). In the interest of fairness to all
competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA
will treat as ineligible for consideration any request for re-
application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take
this practice into account and make early submission of their material
to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated
delays or other delivery-related problems.
For a Copy of the Application Package: An application package is
not needed for this NOFA. Applicants submitting a letter on their
agency's letterhead requesting re-application agree that VA shall use
the applicant's previously awarded FY 2009 Special Need grant
application for scoring purposes (see re-application requirements in
this NOFA).
Submission of Application: An original and complete letter
requesting re-application with project number (see re-application
requirements in this NOFA) must be submitted to the following address:
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Office, 10770 North
46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 33617. Letters of re-
application must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Program office
by the re-application deadline. Any additional materials arriving
separately will not be included in the re-application package for
consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Watson, Deputy Director,
VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of
Veterans Affairs, 10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida
33617; (toll-free) (877) 332-0334.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces the availability of
funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program for FY 2009 operational Grant and Per Diem Special Need grant
recipients and their collaborative VA partners to obtain grant
assistance with 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 Special Needs of the centers for the
following homeless veteran populations:
Women, including women who have care of minor dependents;
Frail elderly;
Terminally ill; or
Chronically mentally ill.
Definitions of women and women who have care of minor dependents are
self-defining. The population definitions of frail elderly, terminally
ill, and chronically mentally ill are contained in 38 CFR 61.1
Definitions. Eligible applicants should review these definitions to
ensure their proposed populations meet the specific requirements.
VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for the VA's Homeless Providers
Grant and Per Diem Program as a part of the effort to end homelessness
among our nation's veterans. Funding applied for under this Notice may
be used for: The provision of service, operation, or personnel to
facilitate the following with regard to the targeted group:
Women, Including Women Who Have Care of Minor Dependents
(1) Ensure transportation for women and their children, especially
for health care and educational needs;
(2) Provide directly or offer referrals for adequate and safe child
care;
(3) Ensure children's health care needs are met, especially age
appropriate wellness visits and immunizations; and
(4) Address safety and security issues including segregation
procedures from other program participants if deemed appropriate.
Frail Elderly
(1) Ensure the safety of the residents in the facility to include
preventing harm and exploitation;
(2) Ensure opportunities to keep residents mentally and physically
agile to the fullest extent through the incorporation of structured
activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within
the program and in the community;
(3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life
transitional issues and separation and/or loss issues;
(4) Provide access to assistance devices such as walkers, grippers,
or other devices necessary for optimal functioning;
(5) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(6) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or
through referral for other services particularly relevant for the frail
elderly, including services or programs addressing emotional, social,
spiritual, and generative needs.
Terminally Ill
(1) Help participants address life-transition and life-end issues;
(2) Ensure that participants are afforded timely access to hospice
services;
(3) Provide opportunities for participants to engage in ``tasks of
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dying,'' or activities of ``getting things in order'' or other
therapeutic actions that help resolve end of life issues and enable
transition and closure;
(4) Ensure adequate supervision including supervision of medication
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(5) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or
through referral for other services particularly relevant for
terminally ill such as legal counsel and pain management.
Chronically Mentally Ill
(1) Help participants join in and engage with the community;
(2) Facilitate reintegration with the community and provide
services that may optimize reintegration such as life-skills education,
recreational activities, and follow up case management;
(3) Ensure that participants have opportunities and services for
re-establishing relationships with family;
(4) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(5) Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or
through 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.
Through this NOFA, VA seeks to renew the FY 2009 previous grant and
per diem Special Need providers and their VA collaborative partners in
order to continue serving the Special Need veteran populations.
No part of a Special Need grant may be used for any purpose that
would significantly change the scope of the specific grant and per diem
project for which a capital grant and per diem was awarded. As a part
of the review process, VA will review the original project and
subsequent approved program changes of the previous FY 2009 Special
Need applications to ensure significant scope changes have not occurred
thereby displacing other homeless veteran populations. VA will not
allow any changes under this renewal NOFA.
Special Need funding may not be used for capital improvements or to
purchase vans or real property. However, the leasing of vans or real
property may be acceptable. Questions regarding acceptability should be
directed to VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Office at (877) 332-0334.
Applicants may not receive Special Need Assistance to replace funds
provided by any Federal, state or local government agency or program to
assist homeless persons.
Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized
by the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,''
Public Law 107-95, Sec. 5, codified as amended at title 38 U.S.C.
2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the
Final Rule codified at 38 CFR part 61.0. The regulations can be
found in their entirety in 38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds
made available under this Notice are subject to the requirements of
those regulations.
Allocation: Approximately $11 million is available for current
Grant and Per Diem Special Need grant projects. Funding will be for a
period beginning on October 1, 2011 and ending on September 30, 2013.
Applicants are limited to a maximum award equal to their FY 2009
Special Need award plus a 5-percent increase. For example: $100,000
award in FY 2009 would be $100,000 plus 5 percent or $105,000.
Applicants should ensure their funding requests are based on this 24-
month period and should be approximately in line with prior
expenditures. Based on Grant and Per Diem funding availability,
approximately, $8 million is expected to be made available over the
specified time (internally) for the current VA collaborative partners.
The maximum award to each VA collaborative partner will follow the same
methodology; limited to a maximum award equal to their FY 2009 Special
Need award plus a 5-percent increase.
The goal of this Notice is to ensure a continuation of Special Need
services to homeless veterans and their VA collaborative partners.
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:
Potential applicants should take into consideration, ``Grant
recipients that concurrently receive Special Needs and per diem
payments shall not be paid more than 100 percent of the cost for the
bed per day, product, operation, personnel, or service provided'' (38
CFR 61.61(h)). Further, VA per diem payment is limited to the
applicant's cost of care per eligible veteran minus other sources of
payments to the applicant for furnishing services to homeless veterans
up to the per day rate VA pays for State Home Domiciliary care.
Awardees will be required to support their request for Special Needs
and per diem payments with adequate fiscal documentation as to program
income and expenses.
All awardees that are selected in response to this NOFA must meet
the requirements of the current edition of the Life Safety Code of the
National Fire Protection Association as it relates to their specific
facility. Applicants should note that all facilities are to be
protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system unless a
facility is specifically exempted under the Life Safety Code.
Applicants should make consideration of this when submitting their
grant applications as no additional funds will be made available for
capital improvements under this NOFA.
Each grant awardee will have the VA liaison that was appointed for
its corresponding grant and per diem program monitor services to ensure
the Special Need grant is being met and will include at least an annual
review of each program's progress toward meeting internal goals and
objectives in helping the Special Need homeless veterans as identified
in each applicant's original Special Need application. Monitoring for
all participants will include a review of the agency's income and
expenses as they relate to this project to ensure per diem and Special
Need payments are accurate.
VA will monitor the homeless Special Need participants and services
provided by GPD recipients according to appropriate VA procedure. These
monitoring procedures will be used to determine successful
accomplishment of outcomes for each collaborative partnership.
Funding Priorities: None.
Agreement and Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants
will complete a funding agreement with VA in accordance with 38 CFR
61.61 and provide any additional information as required by VA. Upon
signature by the Secretary or designated representative, final
selection will be completed.
Funding for operational grant and per diem applicants that are
finally selected will not exceed the period specified in this NOFA. A
condition to obtain the Special Need Grant is for the applicant to
maintain the original (grant or per diem) program for which the Special
Need grant is sought.
Re-Application Requirements and Additional Information: A separate
request for renewal letter is needed for each project number for which
you are requesting Special Need Funding. In addition, current Special
Need recipients should also list their Special Need Project number. A
project number is the last two digits of the year funded, the sequence
the application was
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received, and the state abbreviation for the project location, (i.e.,
09-325-MA would have been funded in the year 2009, the 325th
application received, and located in Massachusetts). If you do not know
your project number. please call VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Office
at (877) 332-0334.
The grant application requirements were specified and met in the
original application package and need not be provided as the applicant
agrees that, as a condition of funding under this NOFA, the grant
recipient's FY 2009 Special Need grant application will be used.
The following additional information is required by this NOFA. The
renewal request must include:
a. A letter from the renewal applicant on agency signed letterhead,
stating the applicant agrees to the following: (1) That, as a condition
of funding under this NOFA, the grant recipient's FY 2009 Special Need
grant application will be used, (2) that the applicant will provide the
services as outlined in the FY 2009 Special Need grant application, and
(3) the applicant's FY 2009 required forms and certifications still
apply for the period of this award.
b. If the FY 2009 Special Need grant was a collaborative project
the renewal request must include an updated letter of commitment or an
updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the VA collaborative
partner, stating that the VA will continue to meet its objectives or
provide its duties as outlined in the original MOA in FY 2009.
c. A complete new budget for the renewal applicant and
collaborative partner with costs based on past costs incurred and the
funding limitation of 100 percent of their 2009 award plus 5 percent
per each Special Need FY 2009 grant as stated in this NOFA. Renewal
applicants should take into consideration the 24 month period of award
when calculating and submitting their budget for this NOFA.
d. A complete new budget for the VA collaborative partner with
costs based on past costs incurred and the funding limitation of 100
percent of their 2009 award plus 5 percent per each Special Need FY
2009 grant as stated in this NOFA. VA partners should take into
consideration the 24 month period of award when calculating and
submitting their budget for this NOFA (if there is no collaborative
partner then only an applicant budget is needed).
Applicants having questions with regard to the funding from
previous Special Need awards should contact the Grant and Per Diem
Program Office prior to application for this NOFA.
Selections will be made based on criteria described in the FY 2009
application and additional information as specified in this NOFA.
Applicants who are selected will be notified of any additional
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the
application. Applicants will then be notified of the deadline to submit
such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for
grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves the right to
not award funds and to use the funds available for other grant and per
diem applicants.
Dated: August 1, 2011.
John R. Gingrich,
Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-19948 Filed 8-5-11; 8:45 am]
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