[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28947-28949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11585]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Fund Availability Under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per
Diem Program (VANS)
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 assistance to acquire vans in order to
facilitate transportation of veteran participants for currently
operational Grant and Per Diem grantee projects funded under VA's
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program and demonstrate an
occupancy rate of 65 percent or better for the period of October 1,
2012, through March 31, 2013. This Notice of Funding Availability
(NOFA) contains information concerning the program, funding priorities,
application process, and amount of funding available.
DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three
completed collated copies) for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers
Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem
Program Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 28, 2013.
Applications 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
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, computer service outages (in the case of Grants.gov), or other
delivery-related problems.
For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp or http://www.grants.gov/. Questions should be referred to the
Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) (877) 332-0334. For
additional information on VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem
Program, see Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 61.
Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant
application (plus three copies) 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.
Applications must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Program Office
by the application deadline. This includes applications submitted
through Grants.gov. Applications must arrive 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffery L. Quarles, 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 NOFA announces the availability of
capital funds under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program
for current operational Grant and Per Diem grantees seeking to purchase
a van(s) to facilitate transportation of veteran participants. Only one
application for funding per operational grant project number may be
awarded. However, in the one allowable application, if the grantee has
50 or more beds associated with that project number, 2 vans may be
requested. Please refer to 38 CFR part 61 for detailed program
information.
Purpose: VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for VA's Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program as a part of the effort to
increase the availability of transportation to veteran participants in
Grant and Per Diem funded programs by providing funding to purchase a
van(s).
Definitions: 38 CFR 61.1 contains definitions of terms used in VA's
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The District of
Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession
of the United States, may be considered eligible entities under the
definition of ``State'' in 38 CFR 61.1.
Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized by
title 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2061. VA implements this
statutory authority in 38 CFR part 61. Funds made available under this
NOFA are subject to the requirements of those regulations.
Inspections and Monitoring Requirements: VA places a great deal of
emphasis on the responsibility and accountability of grantees. VA will
request the purchase documents, a copy of the title, and insurance upon
completion of the purchase. VA may also inspect the van(s) upon
completion of the purchase to determine if it was accomplished in
accordance with the application submitted and meets all appropriate
regulations. Applicants agree to submit reasonable assurances with
respect to receipt of a capital grant under this part that:
(1) The van(s) will 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 Grant and Per Diem 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
61.1-61.82;
(2) The recipient 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;
(3) The applicant has agreed to comply with the applicable
requirements of 38 CFR part 61 and other applicable laws and has
demonstrated the capacity to do so;
(4) 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
(5) The applicant is not in default by failing to meet requirements
for any previous assistance from VA.
Allocation: Approximately $2 million is available for grant awards
under this NOFA. The amount awarded will not exceed 65 percent of the
estimated total cost of the van(s) as stated in the van application.
The maximum amount of the van(s) award will be the lesser of the
approved van(s) award amount, and the actual cost of the van(s) not to
exceed $35,000.00 per van. As applicants are already operating, they
should take note that if the application is successful and van(s)
funding is awarded under this NOFA, they will be subject to the
[[Page 28948]]
recapture provisions of 38 CFR 61.67(f) for this award and the
disposition requirements of 38 CFR 49.34 and 43.32. Applicants should
become familiar with the amount of time the van(s) will have to operate
as based on the amount of funding awarded. Operational time for these
grants will begin upon van(s) purchase. Grantees will be required to
support their request for the van(s) (see Application Requirements).
Payments: Under this NOFA, VA will make payments in a method
consistent with VA policy. Payments will be paid only for allowable
costs as specified under the Office of Management and Budget Circulars
for Grants Management and for the activities outlined in this NOFA. All
payment specifics will be given to the grantee at the time of award.
Application: Applicants should be careful to complete the proper
application package. Submission of an incorrect or incomplete
application package may result in the application being rejected at
threshold. The package will consist of two parts. The first part will
be the standard forms required for van grants to include all required
forms and certifications and will be provided by VA on the Grant and
Per Diem Web site. They are:
Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424)
Application Receipt Form (VA Form 10-0361A)
General Assurances (VA Form 10-0361 VAN)
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility
Matters
--Primary Transactions (VA Form 10-0361)
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility
Matters
--Lower Tier Transactions (VA Form 10-0361)
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary
--Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions (VA Form 10-0361)
Certification Drug Free Workplace (VA Form 10-0361)
Certification Regarding Lobbying (VA Form 10-0361)
Standard Form 424A, Non-Construction Budget
Standard Form 424B, Non-Construction Assurances
The second part of the application will be provided by applicants
and consist of a project narrative and supporting documentation for
purchase (see Application Requirements). Selections will be made based
on the criteria described in the application, VA regulations, and NOFA.
Applicants who are conditionally 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.
Application Requirements: This section sets forth provisions for
obtaining a van capital grant under 38 U.S.C. 2011. In addition to
being an eligible entity, an applicant already must have received a
grant under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program and that
grant must currently be operational. In addition, the project must
demonstrate an occupancy rate of 65 percent or better for the period of
October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. Potential applicants may
contact the Grant and Per Diem Program Office to determine if this
requirement is met prior to application.
Project Narrative and Supporting Documentation: Applicants will be
required to provide an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)
Determination Letter and a letter from a Certified Public Accountant
(CPA) or letter from the United Way stating they are a member in good
standing. Applicants must also submit a narrative responding to the
items and questions in this section of the NOFA. The responses should
be labeled with the same titles and order of this NOFA. This is to be
completed in a normal business format on not more than 15 double-spaced
typed, single-sided pages in Arial 12 font. The narrative should
address the following:
Budget Summary: Note: The estimated total costs of purchasing the
van(s) may include the purchase price, sales taxes, title, and
licensing fees.
(a) The Total Cost of the Van(s). This is the amount requested from
VA plus the remaining balance of funds required to complete
acquisition.
(b) Sixty-Five Percent of Total Cost Requested from VA. This is the
amount of VA participation.
(c) Thirty-Five Percent Matching Funds. Provide the cash value of
documented cash and in-kind resources from other public (including
Federal and State) and private sources that are committed to the
acquisition of the van(s), i.e., applicant cash, third party cash,
third party non-cash.
Supporting Documentation of Match: Applicants must document
matching resources on the appropriate organization letterhead
stationary in the following format.
(a) Applicant Cash Resources: If this proposal is funded, applicant
will commit $-------- of its own funds for -------- to be made
available to VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program. The
funds will be available on --------.
(b) Third Party Cash: If this proposal is funded, -------- will
commit $-------- to -------- for -------- to be made available to VA's
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program. These funds will be made
available on --------.
(c) Third Party Non-Cash: If this proposal is funded, -------- will
commit to make available -------- valued at $-------- to VA's Homeless
Providers Grant and Per Diem program proposed by --------. These
resources will be made available to VA's Homeless Providers Grant and
Per Diem program from -------- to --------.
Timeline: Please provide the number of estimated days and from
execution of the grant agreement that it will take for the van(s)
acquisition to occur.
Description of Need: The information you provide here will assist
in the rating of your project. Identify the need for this van(s), by
providing a short and descriptive narrative responding to each of the
following items:
(a) Identify other sources of alternate public transportation
available to homeless veterans in your project.
(b) Project location (e.g., is the project you are requesting a van
or vans for located on medical center grounds? If yes, explain how the
van(s) will be used to link homeless veterans with services off of the
VA property in the community).
(c) Is this van(s) replacing a van(s) due to expired life use of
current van(s)?
(d) Is this van(s) for special disabled individual transportation?
Description of Activity: Describe how the van(s) will facilitate
service to homeless veteran participants. Include the following:
(a) Frequency of use.
(b) Type of use (e.g., describe how frequently the van or vans will
be used for outreach versus used as an appointment shuttle and or
greater access to neighborhood activities, services, and institutions).
(c) Type of van(s) (e.g., passenger van, justification for
wheelchair lift, or other modifications. Include all options and or
extra equipment that will be added to the van(s)).
Describe Operator Qualification: Provide a job description for the
van operator that details the following:
(a) Requirements of the position, and
(b) Training that will be provided to the driver.
[[Page 28949]]
Methodology: VA will review all capital grant applications in
response to this NOFA as follows: VA will group the applicants into the
funding priority categories as applicable. Applicants will then be
ranked within their respective funding category based on score and any
ranking criteria set forth in that funding category, only if the
applicant scores at least 80 cumulative points under the criteria in 38
CFR 61.18(d)(1-3).
The highest-ranked application for which funding is available,
within the highest funding category, will be conditionally selected in
accordance with their ranked order until VA reaches the projected
amount of funding for each category. If funds are still available after
selection of those applications in the highest priority group, VA will
continue to conditionally select applicants in lower priority
categories in accordance with the selection method set forth in 38 CFR
61.14.
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. Jose D.
Riojas, Interim Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs,
approved this document on May 9, 2013 for publication.
Dated: May 10, 2013.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-11585 Filed 5-15-13; 8:45 am]
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