81 FR 94486 - Notice that Certain VA Homeless Providers Grants Will Be Terminated

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)

Page Range		94486-94487
FR Document		2016-30958

VA is announcing that all per diem funding for grants awarded during fiscal year (FY) 1994 through FY 2016 under VA's Homeless Providers GPD will be terminated, in accordance with the grant award agreements. This does not apply to special need grants and Transition in Place (TIP) grants. Prior to September 30, 2017, VA will offer the opportunity to compete for new grants through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to grantees whose transitional housing and service center grants will be terminated. This will allow the Department and grantees to refocus programs and resources to better serve the homeless Veteran population.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94486-94487]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30958]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Notice that Certain VA Homeless Providers Grants Will Be 
Terminated

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

ACTION: Notice that certain VA homeless providers grants will be 
terminated.

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SUMMARY: VA is announcing that all per diem funding for grants awarded 
during fiscal year (FY) 1994 through FY 2016 under VA's Homeless 
Providers GPD will be terminated, in accordance with the grant award 
agreements. This does not apply to special need grants and Transition 
in Place (TIP) grants.
    Prior to September 30, 2017, VA will offer the opportunity to 
compete for new grants through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 
to grantees whose transitional housing and service center grants will 
be terminated. This will allow the Department and grantees to refocus 
programs and resources to better serve the homeless Veteran population.

DATES: December 19, 2016.

ADDRESSES: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 
North 46th Street Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 33617

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem

[[Page 94487]]

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 that VA will terminate 
per diem payments to grantees for grants that were awarded under VA's 
Homeless Providers GPD Program from FY 1994 through FY 2016 in 
accordance with the grant award agreements (See End Date Adjustments). 
This does not apply to special need and TIP grants, as these grants 
were awarded with expiration dates. Additionally, VA will offer an 
opportunity to apply for new grants to these transitional housing and 
service center grantees under a new NOFA.
    Rationale: Funding for the per diem component of the VA Homeless 
Providers Program is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2013(7). Each FY the 
program's funding may be replenished up to a level authorized and 
appropriated by Congress. VHA must decide the level of funding to 
actually dedicate to this program from the available appropriated 
resources up to the 38 U.S.C. 2013(7) authorized amount. In the past, 
as funding was available, in order to facilitate a continued needed 
resource without possible interruption and encourage new applicants to 
serve homeless Veterans, VHA chose to authorize per diem for those 
operational grantees that met the requirements of 38 CFR 61.80 as 
verified by an annual inspection. Other benefits to VA and the 
community included defrayed costs and stability of housing resources by 
not subjecting the grantees to the GPD application process each fiscal 
year.
    Many current grants were written when the homeless Veteran 
experience was far different than it is now (almost 20 years ago in 
some cases). These grants focused on services, length of stays, and end 
goals different from the current strategies in place to combat Veteran 
homelessness. Despite VA having allowed changes of scope to the grants, 
these changes were not able to keep pace with the rapidly changing 
homeless Veteran experience. VA now has at its disposal additional 
homeless programs that were not in existence previously and is working 
in conjunction with other Federal agencies to address homelessness 
among Veterans. While VA believes GPD will continue to have a 
significant presence in the cadre of homeless programs, the allocation 
of these grants needs to be updated to reflect the documented current 
need as well as to increase the flexibility to adapt to future needs.
    Benefits of Termination: Through this termination and new 
application process, VA will be able to align awards and resources with 
the specific VA homeless goals, and Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) requirements in 2 CFR part 200. This also provides the 
opportunity for current grantees to align their services, treatment 
approach, and housing stock, while taking into account currently 
available resources and needs within their communities. By making the 
awards performance-based, VA will increase accountability and 
flexibility for both VA and grantees to adapt to changing environments.
    Effects of Termination: All grantees must submit a close-out 
Federal Financial Report (SF425) within 90 calendar days after the end 
date of the period of performance, pursuant to 2 CFR 200.343. Any per 
diem over payments discovered will be recovered per VA financial 
policy.
    OMB has, pursuant to its authority under 2 CFR 200.102, approved 
VA's request to grant a class exception to the real property provisions 
of 2 CFR 200.311(c) to recipients that would be subject to those 
requirements based on the planned restructuring of the VA Homeless 
Providers GPD Program.
    The exception is limited to current capital grantees that choose to 
reapply under the separate FY 2017 NOFA and are unsuccessful, and those 
current capital grantees that are successful, but do not receive 
subsequent option year funding. These grantees will not be subject to 
the requirements of 38 CFR 61.67 or the real property disposition 
requirements of 2 CFR 200.311(c).
    Current capital grantees that choose not to reapply in response to 
this NOFA, or who apply and do not meet the threshold requirements for 
scoring as outlined in the NOFA and regulation, will be subject to the 
recapture requirements of 38 CFR 61.67 and, if applicable, the real 
property disposition requirements of 2 CFR 200.311(c).
    Proposed Termination Dates for Grantees: If an existing grantee 
does not apply for a GPD grant under the new NOFA, VA would like to 
terminate the applicable grant agreement on September 30, 2017. If an 
existing grantee does apply and is successful, VA would like to 
terminate the applicable grant agreement on September 30, 2017. If your 
agency applies and is not selected, in the interest of transitioning 
Veterans remaining in those non-selected programs, VA would like to 
terminate the grant payments no later than December 31, 2017.

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2061, and in regulation 
at 2 CFR 200.311(c), 2 CFR 200.343, 38 CFR part 61.

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 Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-30958 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

94486 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices

Each business line desired to ‘‘tuition’’ in the past 9 months are complete a rehabilitation plan (i.e.,
understand the components of the included in the survey pool. Chapter 30, negative closures).
overall customer experience. Each VBA Chapter 1606, and Chapter 1607 The complete survey methodology is
business line wanted to engage their beneficiaries who have received 5 available as a supplemental document
Veteran population with relevant monthly payments during the past 9 to this information collection: Voice of
questions regarding their experience. months are included. the Veteran Methodology FY17.
The following outlines how that is The FY15 Non Response Bias Reports
approached with each of the lines of Loan Guaranty and Specially Adapted are also attached. The FY16 reporting
business. Housing Programs and Non Response Bias Reports will be
The Federal Register Notice with a J.D. Power fielded two survey made available upon completion.
60-day comment period soliciting instruments for Loan Guaranty Service. Estimated Annual Burden: 32,701
comments on this collection of The survey pool for the tracking study hours per year for the life of the
information was published at Vol. 81, for the LGY Enrollment questionnaire collection.
No. 187 on September 27, 2016, at pages includes individuals from a 30 day Estimated Average Burden per
66328–66329. period who closed on a VA home loan Respondent: 15 minutes.
Affected Public: Individuals or Frequency of Response: Once
in the 90 days prior to the fielding
households. Annually (Respondents will not be
period. The sample is stratified as
surveyed more than once in a given
Compensation and Pension Programs follows: (1) Those who closed on
year.
During 2014 J.D. Power fielded three purchase loans, (2) those who received Estimated Number of Respondents:
survey instruments for the loans for interest rate reductions, and (3) 130,800
Compensation and Pension programs. those who obtained cash out or other
refinancing. The survey pool for the By direction of the Secretary.
Discussions with stakeholders from both
tracking study for the SAH Servicing Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,
programs indicated that one survey
instrument could be used for both questionnaire includes individuals who Department of Veterans Affairs, Program
are eligible for a specially adapted Specialist (005R1B), Office of Privacy and
Compensation and Pension Enrollment Records Management, Office of Information
category claimants. In FY2015, housing grant and in the past 12 months
have: (1) Received an approval on their Technology.
Compensation and Pension identified [FR Doc. 2016–30961 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]
the need to separate the Enrollment grant and are currently somewhere in
survey to better serve the business needs post-approval, (2) have had all their BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

of each program. funds dispersed and final accounting is
The Compensation Enrollment survey not yet complete, and (3) have had all
of their funds dispersed and final DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
pool for the VOV Continuous AFFAIRS
Measurement Study includes accounting is complete.
individuals who have received a Vocational Rehabilitation and Notice that Certain VA Homeless
decision on a compensation benefit Employment Program Providers Grants Will Be Terminated
claim within 30 days prior to the
fielding period. This includes those who J.D. Power fielded three survey AGENCY: VA Homeless Providers Grant
were found eligible on a new or instruments for Vocational and Per Diem (GPD) Program, Veterans
subsequent claim and those who have Rehabilitation & Employment Service Health Administration (VHA),
been denied and lack a current appeal (VR&E). The VR&E Enrollment survey Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
of the decision. The Pension Enrollment pool includes individuals who applied ACTION: Notice that certain VA homeless
survey pool includes individuals who within the last 12 months, entered providers grants will be terminated.
have received a decision on a pension Evaluation and Planning and (1) entered
any of the following case statuses: SUMMARY: VA is announcing that all per
benefit claim within the past 30 days.
Extended Evaluation, Independent diem funding for grants awarded during
The Compensation Servicing survey
Living (IL), Rehabilitation to fiscal year (FY) 1994 through FY 2016
pool includes individuals who received
Employment (RTE), or Job Ready Status under VA’s Homeless Providers GPD
a decision and are receiving benefit
(JRS) (excludes re-applicants), or (2) will be terminated, in accordance with
payments. The Pension Servicing survey
were found not entitled. The VR&E the grant award agreements. This does
pool includes individuals who
Servicing survey pool includes not apply to special need grants and
established and completed a claim in
individuals who in the last 30 days were Transition in Place (TIP) grants.
the previous fiscal year. Prior to September 30, 2017, VA will
in a plan of services for more than 60
Education Program days, all rehabilitated participants, and offer the opportunity to compete for
J.D. Power fielded two survey MRGs. Participants who interrupted new grants through a Notice of Funding
instruments for Education Service. The their plan are excluded. The VR&E Non- Availability (NOFA) to grantees whose
Education Enrollment survey pool Participant survey explores why eligible transitional housing and service center
includes individuals who received a individuals chose not to pursue the grants will be terminated. This will
decision on their education benefit benefit entitlement. The VR&E Non- allow the Department and grantees to
application within 90 days (i.e., the Participant questionnaire survey pool refocus programs and resources to better
original end-product was cleared within includes individuals who dropped out serve the homeless Veteran population.
the past 90 days) prior to the fielding of the program prior to completing a DATES: December 19, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

period. The Education Servicing survey rehabilitation plan. The sample is ADDRESSES: VA Homeless Providers
pool includes beneficiaries who are stratified as follows: (1) Applicants who Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770
currently receiving benefits. The never attended the initial meeting with North 46th Street Suite C–200, Tampa,
definition of those receiving benefits a counselor, (2) applicants who were Florida 33617
varies based on the educational entitled to the program but did not FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
program. Chapter 33 beneficiaries who pursue a plan of service, and (3) Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA
have received at least 2 payments for applicants who started, but did not Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem

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Document Created: 2016-12-23 12:29:12
Document Modified: 2016-12-23 12:29:12

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice that certain VA homeless providers grants will be terminated.
Dates		December 19, 2016.
Contact		Mr. Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA 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.
FR Citation		81 FR 94486