82 FR 23983 - VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 99 (May 24, 2017)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23983-23985]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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