82_FR_33341 82 FR 33204 - Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program

82 FR 33204 - Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 137 (July 19, 2017)

Page Range33204-33208
FR Document2017-15167

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. This Notice of Funding Availability (Notice) contains information concerning the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, grant renewal application process, and amount of funding available.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33204-33208]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15167]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans 
in Highly Rural Areas Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (Grant Renewals).

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans 
in Highly Rural Areas program. This Notice of Funding Availability 
(Notice) contains information concerning the Grants for Transportation 
of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, grant renewal application 
process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: Applications for assistance under the Grants for Transportation 
of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program must be submitted to 
www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 18, 2017. 
In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants and with the 
single exception described below regarding unforeseen technical 
problems beyond the control of the applicant with the grants.gov Web 
site, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will not 
consider any application that is received after the deadline. 
Applicants should take this practice into account and make early 
submission of their materials 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.

ADDRESSES: 

Access to the Application

    The application can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html, utilizing the ``search by Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number'' function, and entering in that search 
field the number 64.035. Questions should be referred to the Veterans 
Transportation Program Office at (404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-
free number) or by email at [email protected]. For further information on 
Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program 
requirements, see the Final Rule published in the Federal Register (78 
FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is codified in 38 CFR 17.700-730.

Submission of Application Package

    Applications may not be sent by facsimile. Applications must be 
submitted to www.grants.gov by the application deadline. 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. All applicable forms 
cited in the application description must be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Wallace, National Coordinator, 
Highly Rural Transportation Grants, Veterans Transportation Program, 
Member Services (10NF4), 2957 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329; (404) 
828-5380 (this is not a toll-free number); and Sylvester Wallace at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Funding Opportunity Description

    Overview: Access to VA care for veterans that are in highly rural 
areas continues to be an issue across the United States. VA has 
established this program to help address barriers to access to care. 
This program funds innovative approaches to transporting veterans in 
highly rural areas who typically have longer commute times to 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMC).
    Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability (Grant Renewals).
    Funding Opportunity Number: VA-HRTG-2017.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 64.035.
    Purpose: VA Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) is pleased to 
announce that it is seeking grant renewal applications for Grants for 
Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas. This program furthers 
the Department's mission by offering renewal grants to current grantees 
to enable them to continue to assist veterans in highly rural areas 
through innovative transportation services to travel to VAMCs and to 
otherwise assist in providing transportation services in connection 
with the provision of VA medical care to these veterans.
    Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized by 
section 307 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 
of 2010, Public Law 111-163, (the 2010 Act), as implemented by 
regulations at 38 CFR 17.700-730, Grants for Transportation of Veterans 
in Highly Rural Areas. Funds made available under this Notice are 
subject to the requirements of the aforementioned regulations and other 
applicable laws and regulations.
    Award Information: In accordance with 38 CFR 17.710, VA is issuing 
this Notice for renewal grants under the Grants for Transportation of 
Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program for fiscal year 2017. 
Approximately $2 million is authorized to be appropriated for this 
fiscal year. If additional funding becomes available, VA will issue 
additional Notices of Funding Availability to permit other grantees to 
apply for grants under the program (in accordance with the terms and 
conditions of such Notices of Funding Availability). The following 
requirements apply to grants awarded under this Notice:
     One renewal grant may be awarded to each grantee for 
fiscal year 2017 for each highly rural area in which the grantee 
provides transportation services. (A listing of the highly rural 
counties can be found at this Web site under additional resources: 
http://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/vtp/grant_applicants.asp)
     Transportation services may not be simultaneously provided 
by more than one grantee in any single highly rural area.
     No single grant will exceed $50,000.
     A veteran who is provided transportation services through 
a grantee's use of these grant monies will not be charged for such 
services.
     Renewal grants awarded under this Notice will be for a 1-
year period.
     All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be 
imposed by law.

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

    Current 2016 program grantees are the only eligible entities that 
are eligible to apply for a renewal grant. Interested eligible entities 
must submit a complete renewal grant application package to be 
considered for a grant renewal. Further, a renewal grant will only be 
awarded if the grantee's program will remain substantially the same as 
the program for which the original grant was awarded. How the grantee 
will meet this requirement must be specifically addressed in the 
renewal grant application.

Cost Sharing or Matching

    This solicitation does not require grantees to provide matching 
funds as a condition of receiving such grants.

[[Page 33205]]

Other

    Additional grant application requirements are specified in the 
application package. Submission of an incorrect or incomplete 
application package will result in the application being rejected 
during the threshold review, the initial review conducted by VA to 
ensure the application package contains all required forms and 
certifications. Complete packages will then be subject to the 
evaluation/scoring and selection processes described in Sec.  17.705(c) 
and (d), respectively. Applicants will be notified of any additional 
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the 
renewal grant application and the deadline by which to submit such 
information.

Application and Submission Information

    Renewal applications will be submitted through grants.gov. 
Grants.gov is a ``one-stop storefront'' that provides a unified process 
for all customers of Federal awards to find funding opportunities and 
apply for funding. Complete instructions on how to register and submit 
a renewal grant application can be found at www.grants.gov. If the 
applicant experiences technical difficulties at any point during this 
process, please call the grants.gov customer support hotline at 1-800-
518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays.
    Registration in grants.gov is required prior to submission. VA 
strongly encourages registering with grants.gov several weeks before 
the deadline for application submission. The deadline for applying for 
funding under this announcement is [30 days after publication].
    Search for the funding opportunity on grants.gov using the 
following identifying information. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 64.035, titled 
``Veterans transportation program,'' and the funding opportunity number 
is VA-HRTG-2017.
    Submit an application consistent with this solicitation by 
following the directions in grants.gov. Within 24-48 hours after 
submitting the electronic application, the applicant should receive an 
email validation message from grants.gov. The validation message will 
state whether the renewal grant application has been received and 
validated, or rejected, with an explanation. Applicants are urged to 
submit their applications at least 72 hours prior to the due date of 
the application to allow time to receive the validation message and to 
correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
    If an applicant experiences unforeseen grants.gov technical issues 
beyond the applicant's control that prevents submission of its 
application by the deadline, the applicant must contact the VTP Office 
staff no later than 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to 
submit its application. At that time, VTP Office staff will instruct 
the applicant to submit specific information detailing the technical 
difficulties. The applicant must email the following: A description of 
the technical difficulties, a timeline of submission efforts, the 
complete grant application, the applicant's Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number, and grants.gov help desk tracking number(s) 
received. After the program office reviews all of the information 
submitted and contacts the grants.gov help desk to validate the 
technical issues reported, VA will contact the applicant to either 
approve or deny the request to submit a late application. If the 
technical issues reported cannot be validated, the application will be 
rejected as untimely.
    To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the 
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: 
(1) Failure to begin the registration process in sufficient time, (2) 
failure to follow grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply 
as posted on its Web site, (3) failure to follow all of the 
instructions in the VA solicitation, and (4) technical issues 
experienced with the applicant's computer or information technology 
environment. Notifications regarding known technical problems with 
grants.gov, if any, are posted on the grants.gov Web site.

Content and Form of Application Submission

    This section describes what a renewal application must include. 
Failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified 
elements will result in the rejection of the application at the 
threshold review stage. Moreover, if applications are not adequately 
responsive to the scope of the solicitation, particularly to any 
critical element, or fail to include a program narrative, budget detail 
worksheet including a budget narrative, tribal resolution (if 
applicable), eligibly entity designation, or a list of the highly rural 
county or counties to be served, they will be rejected and receive no 
further consideration.
Threshold Review Criteria: (Critical Elements)
     Interim Final Report: A report of your organization's 
performance for the last three quarters through June 2017.
     Application deadline: Applications not received by the 
application deadline through www.grants.gov will not be reviewed.
     Eligibility: Applications that do not conform to the 
eligibility requirements at the beginning section of this document will 
not be reviewed.
     Budget detail worksheet including a budget narrative: VA 
strongly recommends use of appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., 
``Program Narrative,'' ``Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget 
Narrative,'' ``Timelines,'' ``Memoranda of Understanding,'' 
``Resumes'') for all attachments. VA recommends that resumes be 
included in a single file.
     Information to complete the Application for Federal 
Assistance (SF-424): The SF-424 is a standard form required for use as 
a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and 
related information. Grants.gov takes information from the applicant's 
profile to populate the fields on this form.
     Program Narrative: Provide a detailed narrative of your 
program scope and specifically discuss the innovative modes and methods 
of transportation services to be provided. If the provision of 
transportation services will necessitate procurement or use of specific 
equipment, such equipment must be specifically listed.
    Note on project evaluations: Applicants that propose to use funds 
awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should 
be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic 
investigations designed to develop or contribute to knowledge) may 
constitute research. However, project evaluations that are intended 
only to generate internal improvements to a program or service, or are 
conducted only to meet VA's performance measure data reporting 
requirements, likely do not constitute research. Research, for the 
purposes of VA-funded programs, is defined as, ``a systematic 
investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, 
designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.'' 38 CFR 
16.102(d). In addition, research involving human subjects is subject to 
certain added protections, as set forth in 38 CFR part 16. Applicants 
should provide sufficient information for VA to determine whether 
particular project activities they propose would either

[[Page 33206]]

intentionally or unintentionally collect and/or use information in such 
a way that it meets VA's regulatory definition of research and 
therefore be subject to the requirements and procedures set forth in 38 
CFR part 16.

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

    Budget Detail Worksheet: A sample SF 424A Budget Detail Worksheet 
can be found at the grants.gov Web site. Please submit a budget and 
label it, as the example above indicates. If the budget is submitted in 
a different format, the budget categories listed in the sample budget 
worksheet must be included.
    Budget Narrative: The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and 
clearly describe every category of expense listed in the Budget Detail 
Worksheet. The narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond 
with the information and figures provided in the Budget Detail 
Worksheet. The narrative should explain how all costs were estimated 
and calculated and how they are relevant to the completion of the 
proposed project. The narrative may include tables for clarification 
purposes but need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget 
Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken down by year. 
Note: All non-Federal entities have to comply with 2 CFR 200.400-475 
Cost Principles and all Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Regulations and Circulars.
    Budget Brief (example):
    1. Our organization requests ____ for the acquisition of _____ 
van(s).
    2. The total cost of the van(s)____. This is the amount requested 
from VA.
    3. Our organization will utilize ____ for innovative approaches for 
transporting veterans. This is the amount requested from VA for a 
maximum of $50,000.

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (If Applicable)

    Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a federally 
approved indirect cost rate. (This requirement does not apply to units 
of local government). A copy of the rate approval must be attached. If 
the applicant does not have an approved rate, one can be requested by 
contacting the applicant's cognizant Federal agency, which will review 
all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization or, 
if the applicant's accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in 
the direct cost categories. If VA is the cognizant Federal agency, 
obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost rate proposal from 
the contact person listed in this solicitation.

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (If Applicable)

    If an application identifies a subrecipient that is either (1) a 
tribe or tribal organization or (2) a third party proposing to provide 
direct services or assistance to residents on tribal lands, then a 
current authorizing resolution of the governing body of the tribal 
entity or other enactment of the tribal council or comparable governing 
body authorizing the inclusion of the tribe or tribal organization and 
its membership must be included with the application. In those 
instances when an organization or consortium of tribes proposes to 
apply for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, the 
application must include a resolution from all tribes that will be 
included as a part of the services/assistance provided under the grant. 
A consortium of tribes for which existing consortium bylaws allow 
action without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without 
authorizing resolution or other enactment of each tribal governing 
body) may submit a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application 
in order to satisfy this requirement.

Submission Dates and Times

    Renewal grant applications under the Grants for Transportation of 
Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program must be submitted to 
www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on [30 days after 
publication]. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, 
this deadline is firm as to date and hour and with the single exception 
described above regarding unforeseen technical problems beyond the 
control of the applicant with the grants.gov Web site, VA will treat as 
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the 
deadline. Applicants should take this into account and make early 
submission of their materials 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.
    The application can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html, utilizing the ``search by Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number'' function, and entering in that search 
field the number 64.035. Questions should be referred to the Veterans 
Transportation Program Office at (404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-
free number) or by email at [email protected]. For further information on 
Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program 
requirements, see the governing regulations codified at 38 CFR 17.700-
730.
    Renewal grant applications may not be sent by facsimile. These 
applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by the application 
deadline; they must also 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. All 
applicable forms cited in the application description must be included.

Intergovernmental Review

    Some states require that applicants must contact their State's 
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out and comply with the State's 
process, to comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (1982). Names and 
addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of Management and 
Budget's homepage at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/.

Funding Restrictions

    Grants will only be awarded to those organizations that are 
eligible under law as described in the eligibility information section.

Other Submission Requirements

    For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact 
the grants.gov customer support hotline at 1-800-518-4726 or via email 
to grants.gov">support@grants.gov. The grants.gov support hotline hours of 
operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays. 
For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact 
Darren Wallace, National Program Coordinator for Grants for 
Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas, at (404) 828-5380 
(this is not a toll-free number) or by email to 
[email protected].
    Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award 
are available for download on www.grants.gov. Examples of these forms 
can be viewed at the grants.gov Web site. For successful applicants, 
receipt of funds will be contingent upon submission of all necessary 
forms. Please note in particular the following forms: Certifications 
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirement; Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities (Required for any applicant that expends any funds for 
lobbying activities; this form must be downloaded, completed, and then 
uploaded); and Standard Assurances (SF 424B) (Required to be submitted 
to

[[Page 33207]]

the VTP Office prior to the receipt of any award funds).

Application Review Information

Criteria

    VA is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding 
these renewal grants. The VTP Office will review the renewal grant 
application to make sure that the information presented is reasonable, 
understandable, measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with 
the solicitation. Peer reviewers will conduct a threshold review of all 
applications submitted under this solicitation to ensure they meet all 
of the critical elements and all other minimum requirements as 
identified herein. The VTP Office may use either internal peer 
reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a combination to review the 
applications under this solicitation. An external peer reviewer is an 
expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who 
is not a current VA employee. An internal reviewer is a current VA 
employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of 
this solicitation. Eligible applications will then be evaluated, 
scored, and rated by a peer review panel. Peer reviewers' ratings and 
any resulting recommendations are advisory only.
    VTP Member Services Office conducts a financial review of 
applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the fiscal 
integrity and financial capability of applicants; examines proposed 
costs to determine if the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 
accurately explain project costs; and determines whether costs are 
reasonable, necessary, and allowable under applicable federal cost 
principles and agency regulations.
    Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of 
authority to the contrary, the Veterans Health Administration, through 
the VTP Office, will forward the reviewers' recommendations for award 
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who will then review and approve 
each award decision. Such determinations by the Secretary will be 
final. VA will also give consideration to factors including, but not 
limited to: Underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic 
priorities, and available funding when making awards.
    Review and Selection Process: Selection of Renewal Grants for 
Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas is very competitive. 
Listed below are the scoring and selection criteria:
    1. Renewal Grant Scoring: Renewal applications will be scored using 
the following selection criteria:
    A. VA will award up to 55 points (an applicant must score at a 
minimum of 27.5 points) based on the success of the grantee's program, 
as demonstrated by the following: Application shows that the grantee or 
identified subrecipient provided transportation services which allowed 
participants to be provided medical care timely and as scheduled; and 
application shows that participants were satisfied with the 
transportation services provided by the grantee or identified 
subrecipient, as described in the Notice;
    B. VA will award up to 35 points (an applicant must score at a 
minimum of 17.5 points) based on the cost effectiveness of the program, 
as demonstrated by the following: The grantee or identified 
subrecipient administered the program on budget and grant funds were 
utilized in a sensible manner, as interpreted by information provided 
by the grantee to VA under 38 CFR 17.725(a)(1-7); and
    C. VA will award up to 15 (an applicant must score at a minimum of 
7.5 points) points based on the extent to which the program complied 
with the grant agreement and applicable laws and regulations.
    2. Renewal Grant Selection: VA will use the following process to 
award renewal grants:
    A. VA will rank those grantees who receive at least the minimum 
amount of total points (52.5) and points per category set forth in the 
Notice. The grantees will be ranked in order from highest to lowest 
scores.
    B. VA will use the grantee's ranking as the basis for selection for 
funding. VA will fund the highest-ranked grantees for which funding is 
available.

Award Administration Information

Award Notices and Renewal Grant Agreements

    After an applicant is selected for a renewal grant in accordance 
with 38 CFR 17.705(d) and notified as described above, VA will send 
renewal grant agreement to be executed by the Assistant Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations in VA and the 
grantee. Upon execution of the renewal grant agreement, VA will 
obligate the approved amount. Recipients will use the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services Payment Management System for grant 
drawdowns. Instructions for submitting requests for payment may be 
found at www.dpm.psc.gov/.
    The Grant Agreement will be sent through the U.S. Postal Service to 
the awardee organization as listed on its SF424. Note that any 
communication between the VTP Office and awardees prior to the issuance 
of the Notice of Award (NoA) is not authorization to begin performance 
on the project.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified of their status by letter, 
which will likewise be sent through the U.S. Postal Service to the 
applicant organization as listed on its SF 424.
    The renewal grant agreement will provide that:
    1. The grantee must operate the program in accordance with the 
provisions of this section and the grant application;
    2. If a grantee's renewal application identified a subrecipient, 
such subrecipient must operate the program in accordance with the 
provisions of this section and the grant application; and
    3. If a grantee's application identified that funds will be used to 
procure or operate vehicles to directly provide transportation 
services, the following requirements must be met:
    A. Title to the vehicles must vest solely in the grantee or in the 
identified subrecipient or with leased vehicles in an identified 
lender;
    B. The grantee or identified subrecipient must, at a minimum, 
provide motor vehicle liability insurance for the vehicles to the same 
extent they would insure vehicles procured with their own funds;
    C. All vehicle operators must be licensed in a U.S. State or 
Territory to operate such vehicles;
    D. Vehicles must be safe and maintained in accordance with the 
manufacturer's recommendations; and
    E. Vehicles must be operated in accordance with applicable 
Department of Transportation regulations concerning transit 
requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Successful applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with 
additional applicable legal requirements upon acceptance of an award. 
(VA strongly encourages applicants to review the information pertaining 
to these additional requirements prior to submitting a renewal 
application). As to those additional requirements, we note that while 
their original grants were subject to additional legal requirements as 
set forth in 38 CFR parts 43 and 49 those regulatory provisions have 
since been superseded by the Common Rule governing all Federal Grant 
Programs. The Common Rule is codified at 2 CFR part 200. Thus, grantees 
and identified

[[Page 33208]]

subrecipients awarded renewal grants under the Program must agree as 
part of their grant agreement to comply with all requirements of the 
Common Rule, as applicable.

Reporting

Progress Reports

    Awardees must agree to cooperate with any VA evaluation of the 
program and provide required quarterly, annual, and final (at the end 
of the fiscal year) reports in a form prescribed by VTP. A final report 
consists of a summation of grant activities which include progress 
toward goals, financial administration of grant funds, grant 
administration issues and barriers. Reports are to be submitted 
electronically. These reports must outline how grant funds were used, 
describe program progress and barriers, and provide measurable 
outcomes.
    Required quarterly and annual reports must include the following 
information:
     Record of time expended assisting with the provision of 
transportation services;
     Record of grant funds expended assisting with the 
provision of transportation services;
     Trips completed;
     Total distance covered;
     Veterans served;
     Locations which received transportation services; and
     Results of veteran satisfaction survey.

Program Monitoring

    VTP is responsible for program monitoring. All awardees will be 
required to cooperate in providing the necessary data elements to the 
VTP. The goal of program monitoring is to ensure program requirements 
are met; this will be accomplished by tracking performance and 
identifying quality and compliance problems through early detection. 
Methods of program monitoring may include: Monitoring the performance 
of a grantee's or sub-recipient's personnel, procurements, and/or use 
of grant-funded property; collecting, analyzing data, and assessing 
program implementation and effectiveness; assessing costs and 
utilization; and providing technical assistance when needed. Site visit 
monitoring will include the above-described activities, in addition to 
the conduct of safety assessments and, if applicable, verification of 
both current driver's licenses and vehicle insurance coverage.

Federal Financial Report

    Awardees are required to submit the FFR SF 425 on a quarterly 
basis. More details will be announced in the NoA.

Audit Requirements

    Awardees must comply with the audit requirements of Office of 
Management and Budget Uniform Guidance 2 CFR part 200 subpart F. 
Information on the scope, frequency and other aspects of the audits can 
be found on at www.federalregister.gov/a/2013-30465.

Program Variations

    Any changes in a grantee's program activities which result in 
deviations from the grant renewal agreement must be reported to VA.

Additional Reporting

    Additional reporting requirements may be requested by VA to allow 
VA to fully assess program effectiveness.

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements

    All recipients (excluding an individual recipient of Federal 
assistance) of awards of $25,000 or more under this solicitation, 
consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act 
of 2006 (FFATA), Public Law 109-282 (Sept. 26, 2006), will be required 
to report award information on the subaward reporting system of any 
first-tier subawards totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, 
to report information on the names and total compensation of the five 
most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier 
subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure that it has the 
necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting 
requirements should it receive funding.
    It is expected that reports regarding subawards will be made 
through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) found at 
www.fsrs.gov. The FFATA Subaward Reporting System is the reporting tool 
Federal prime awardees (i.e. prime contractors and prime grants 
recipients) use to capture and report subaward and executive 
compensation data regarding their first-tier subawards to meet the 
FFATA reporting requirements. Prime contract awardees will report 
against sub-contracts awarded and prime grant awardees will report 
against sub-grants awarded. Prime Contractors awarded a Federal 
contract or order that is subject to Federal Acquisition Regulation 
clause 52.204-10 (Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier 
Subcontract Awards) are required to file a FFATA subaward report by the 
end of the month following the month in which the prime contractor 
awards any subcontract greater than $25,000.
    Please note also that no subaward of an award made under this 
solicitation may be made to a subrecipient that is subject to the terms 
of FFATA unless the potential subrecipient acquires and provides a DUNS 
number.

Other Information

    Pursuant to 38 CFR 17.730(a), VA may recover from the grantee any 
funds that are not used in accordance with a 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 determines action will be taken to recover grant funds from the 
grantee, the grantee is then prohibited under 38 CFR 17.730(b) from 
receiving any further grant funds.

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 July 11, 2017, for publication.

    Dated: July 14, 2017.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-15167 Filed 7-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P



                                                    33204                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices

                                                      Dated: July 13, 2017.                                  requirements, see the Final Rule                      Veterans in Highly Rural Areas. Funds
                                                    Karen Solomon,                                           published in the Federal Register (78                 made available under this Notice are
                                                    Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of the                      FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is                  subject to the requirements of the
                                                    Comptroller of the Currency.                             codified in 38 CFR 17.700–730.                        aforementioned regulations and other
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–15135 Filed 7–18–17; 8:45 am]                                                                    applicable laws and regulations.
                                                                                                             Submission of Application Package                        Award Information: In accordance
                                                    BILLING CODE 4810–33–P
                                                                                                               Applications may not be sent by                     with 38 CFR 17.710, VA is issuing this
                                                                                                             facsimile. Applications must be                       Notice for renewal grants under the
                                                                                                             submitted to www.grants.gov by the                    Grants for Transportation of Veterans in
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
                                                                                                             application deadline. Applications must               Highly Rural Areas program for fiscal
                                                    AFFAIRS
                                                                                                             be submitted as a complete package.                   year 2017. Approximately $2 million is
                                                    Fund Availability Under the Grants for                   Materials arriving separately will not be             authorized to be appropriated for this
                                                    Transportation of Veterans in Highly                     included in the application package for               fiscal year. If additional funding
                                                    Rural Areas Program                                      consideration and may result in the                   becomes available, VA will issue
                                                                                                             application being rejected. All                       additional Notices of Funding
                                                    AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.                  applicable forms cited in the application             Availability to permit other grantees to
                                                    ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability                   description must be included.                         apply for grants under the program (in
                                                    (Grant Renewals).                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      accordance with the terms and
                                                                                                             Darren Wallace, National Coordinator,                 conditions of such Notices of Funding
                                                    SUMMARY:   The Department of Veterans                    Highly Rural Transportation Grants,                   Availability). The following
                                                    Affairs (VA) is announcing the                           Veterans Transportation Program,                      requirements apply to grants awarded
                                                    availability of funds under the Grants                   Member Services (10NF4), 2957                         under this Notice:
                                                    for Transportation of Veterans in Highly                                                                          • One renewal grant may be awarded
                                                                                                             Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329;
                                                    Rural Areas program. This Notice of                                                                            to each grantee for fiscal year 2017 for
                                                                                                             (404) 828–5380 (this is not a toll-free
                                                    Funding Availability (Notice) contains                                                                         each highly rural area in which the
                                                                                                             number); and Sylvester Wallace at
                                                    information concerning the Grants for                                                                          grantee provides transportation services.
                                                                                                             sylvester.wallace2@va.gov.
                                                    Transportation of Veterans in Highly                                                                           (A listing of the highly rural counties
                                                                                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            can be found at this Web site under
                                                    Rural Areas program, grant renewal
                                                    application process, and amount of                       Funding Opportunity Description                       additional resources: http://
                                                    funding available.                                                                                             www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/vtp/
                                                                                                                Overview: Access to VA care for                    grant_applicants.asp)
                                                    DATES: Applications for assistance                       veterans that are in highly rural areas
                                                    under the Grants for Transportation of                                                                            • Transportation services may not be
                                                                                                             continues to be an issue across the                   simultaneously provided by more than
                                                    Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program                   United States. VA has established this
                                                    must be submitted to www.grants.gov by                                                                         one grantee in any single highly rural
                                                                                                             program to help address barriers to                   area.
                                                    4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on                       access to care. This program funds                       • No single grant will exceed $50,000.
                                                    August 18, 2017. In the interest of                      innovative approaches to transporting                    • A veteran who is provided
                                                    fairness to all competing applicants and                 veterans in highly rural areas who                    transportation services through a
                                                    with the single exception described                      typically have longer commute times to                grantee’s use of these grant monies will
                                                    below regarding unforeseen technical                     Department of Veterans Affairs medical                not be charged for such services.
                                                    problems beyond the control of the                       centers (VAMC).                                          • Renewal grants awarded under this
                                                    applicant with the grants.gov Web site,                     Announcement Type: Notice of                       Notice will be for a 1-year period.
                                                    this deadline is firm as to date and hour,               Funding Availability (Grant Renewals).                   • All awards are subject to the
                                                    and VA will not consider any                                Funding Opportunity Number: VA–                    availability of appropriated funds and to
                                                    application that is received after the                   HRTG–2017.                                            any modifications or additional
                                                    deadline. Applicants should take this                       Catalog of Federal Domestic                        requirements that may be imposed by
                                                    practice into account and make early                     Assistance (CFDA) Number: 64.035.                     law.
                                                    submission of their materials to avoid                      Purpose: VA Veterans Transportation
                                                    any risk of loss of eligibility brought                                                                        Eligibility Information
                                                                                                             Program (VTP) is pleased to announce
                                                    about by unanticipated delays,                           that it is seeking grant renewal                      Eligible Applicants
                                                    computer service outages (in the case of                 applications for Grants for                              Current 2016 program grantees are the
                                                    grants.gov), or other delivery-related                   Transportation of Veterans in Highly                  only eligible entities that are eligible to
                                                    problems.                                                Rural Areas. This program furthers the                apply for a renewal grant. Interested
                                                    ADDRESSES:                                               Department’s mission by offering                      eligible entities must submit a complete
                                                                                                             renewal grants to current grantees to                 renewal grant application package to be
                                                    Access to the Application                                enable them to continue to assist                     considered for a grant renewal. Further,
                                                      The application can be found at                        veterans in highly rural areas through                a renewal grant will only be awarded if
                                                    http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/                        innovative transportation services to                 the grantee’s program will remain
                                                    search-grants.html, utilizing the ‘‘search               travel to VAMCs and to otherwise assist               substantially the same as the program
                                                    by Catalog of Federal Domestic                           in providing transportation services in               for which the original grant was
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                                                    Assistance number’’ function, and                        connection with the provision of VA                   awarded. How the grantee will meet this
                                                    entering in that search field the number                 medical care to these veterans.                       requirement must be specifically
                                                    64.035. Questions should be referred to                     Authority: Funding applied for under               addressed in the renewal grant
                                                    the Veterans Transportation Program                      this Notice is authorized by section 307              application.
                                                    Office at (404) 828–5380 (this is not a                  of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus
                                                    toll-free number) or by email at HRTG@                   Health Services Act of 2010, Public Law               Cost Sharing or Matching
                                                    va.gov. For further information on                       111–163, (the 2010 Act), as                             This solicitation does not require
                                                    Grants for Transportation of Veterans in                 implemented by regulations at 38 CFR                  grantees to provide matching funds as a
                                                    Highly Rural Areas program                               17.700–730, Grants for Transportation of              condition of receiving such grants.


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices                                            33205

                                                    Other                                                    validation message and to correct any                 Threshold Review Criteria: (Critical
                                                      Additional grant application                           problems that may have caused a                       Elements)
                                                    requirements are specified in the                        rejection notification.                                  • Interim Final Report: A report of
                                                    application package. Submission of an                       If an applicant experiences                        your organization’s performance for the
                                                    incorrect or incomplete application                      unforeseen grants.gov technical issues                last three quarters through June 2017.
                                                    package will result in the application                   beyond the applicant’s control that                      • Application deadline: Applications
                                                    being rejected during the threshold                      prevents submission of its application                not received by the application deadline
                                                    review, the initial review conducted by                  by the deadline, the applicant must                   through www.grants.gov will not be
                                                    VA to ensure the application package                     contact the VTP Office staff no later                 reviewed.
                                                    contains all required forms and                          than 24 hours after the deadline and                     • Eligibility: Applications that do not
                                                    certifications. Complete packages will                   request approval to submit its                        conform to the eligibility requirements
                                                    then be subject to the evaluation/scoring                application. At that time, VTP Office                 at the beginning section of this
                                                    and selection processes described in                     staff will instruct the applicant to                  document will not be reviewed.
                                                    § 17.705(c) and (d), respectively.                       submit specific information detailing                    • Budget detail worksheet including a
                                                    Applicants will be notified of any                       the technical difficulties. The applicant             budget narrative: VA strongly
                                                    additional information needed to                         must email the following: A description               recommends use of appropriately
                                                    confirm or clarify information provided                  of the technical difficulties, a timeline             descriptive file names (e.g., ‘‘Program
                                                    in the renewal grant application and the                 of submission efforts, the complete grant             Narrative,’’ ‘‘Budget Detail Worksheet
                                                    deadline by which to submit such                         application, the applicant’s Data                     and Budget Narrative,’’ ‘‘Timelines,’’
                                                    information.                                             Universal Numbering System (DUNS)                     ‘‘Memoranda of Understanding,’’
                                                                                                             number, and grants.gov help desk                      ‘‘Resumes’’) for all attachments. VA
                                                    Application and Submission                                                                                     recommends that resumes be included
                                                    Information                                              tracking number(s) received. After the
                                                                                                             program office reviews all of the                     in a single file.
                                                       Renewal applications will be                          information submitted and contacts the                   • Information to complete the
                                                    submitted through grants.gov.                            grants.gov help desk to validate the                  Application for Federal Assistance (SF–
                                                    Grants.gov is a ‘‘one-stop storefront’’                  technical issues reported, VA will                    424): The SF–424 is a standard form
                                                    that provides a unified process for all                  contact the applicant to either approve               required for use as a cover sheet for
                                                    customers of Federal awards to find                      or deny the request to submit a late                  submission of pre-applications,
                                                    funding opportunities and apply for                      application. If the technical issues                  applications, and related information.
                                                    funding. Complete instructions on how                    reported cannot be validated, the                     Grants.gov takes information from the
                                                    to register and submit a renewal grant                   application will be rejected as untimely.             applicant’s profile to populate the fields
                                                    application can be found at                                                                                    on this form.
                                                    www.grants.gov. If the applicant                            To ensure a fair competition for                      • Program Narrative: Provide a
                                                    experiences technical difficulties at any                limited discretionary funds, the                      detailed narrative of your program scope
                                                    point during this process, please call the               following conditions are not valid                    and specifically discuss the innovative
                                                    grants.gov customer support hotline at                   reasons to permit late submissions: (1)               modes and methods of transportation
                                                    1–800–518–4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days                   Failure to begin the registration process             services to be provided. If the provision
                                                    a week, except Federal holidays.                         in sufficient time, (2) failure to follow             of transportation services will
                                                       Registration in grants.gov is required                grants.gov instructions on how to                     necessitate procurement or use of
                                                    prior to submission. VA strongly                         register and apply as posted on its Web               specific equipment, such equipment
                                                    encourages registering with grants.gov                   site, (3) failure to follow all of the                must be specifically listed.
                                                    several weeks before the deadline for                    instructions in the VA solicitation, and                 Note on project evaluations:
                                                    application submission. The deadline                     (4) technical issues experienced with                 Applicants that propose to use funds
                                                    for applying for funding under this                      the applicant’s computer or information               awarded through this solicitation to
                                                    announcement is [30 days after                           technology environment. Notifications                 conduct project evaluations should be
                                                    publication].                                            regarding known technical problems                    aware that certain project evaluations
                                                       Search for the funding opportunity on                 with grants.gov, if any, are posted on the            (such as systematic investigations
                                                    grants.gov using the following                           grants.gov Web site.                                  designed to develop or contribute to
                                                    identifying information. The Catalog of                  Content and Form of Application                       knowledge) may constitute research.
                                                    Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)                       Submission                                            However, project evaluations that are
                                                    number for this solicitation is 64.035,                                                                        intended only to generate internal
                                                    titled ‘‘Veterans transportation                           This section describes what a renewal               improvements to a program or service,
                                                    program,’’ and the funding opportunity                   application must include. Failure to                  or are conducted only to meet VA’s
                                                    number is VA–HRTG–2017.                                  submit an application that contains all               performance measure data reporting
                                                       Submit an application consistent with                 of the specified elements will result in              requirements, likely do not constitute
                                                    this solicitation by following the                       the rejection of the application at the               research. Research, for the purposes of
                                                    directions in grants.gov. Within 24–48                   threshold review stage. Moreover, if                  VA-funded programs, is defined as, ‘‘a
                                                    hours after submitting the electronic                    applications are not adequately                       systematic investigation, including
                                                    application, the applicant should                        responsive to the scope of the                        research development, testing, and
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                                                    receive an email validation message                      solicitation, particularly to any critical            evaluation, designed to develop or
                                                    from grants.gov. The validation message                  element, or fail to include a program                 contribute to generalizable knowledge.’’
                                                    will state whether the renewal grant                     narrative, budget detail worksheet                    38 CFR 16.102(d). In addition, research
                                                    application has been received and                        including a budget narrative, tribal                  involving human subjects is subject to
                                                    validated, or rejected, with an                          resolution (if applicable), eligibly entity           certain added protections, as set forth in
                                                    explanation. Applicants are urged to                     designation, or a list of the highly rural            38 CFR part 16. Applicants should
                                                    submit their applications at least 72                    county or counties to be served, they                 provide sufficient information for VA to
                                                    hours prior to the due date of the                       will be rejected and receive no further               determine whether particular project
                                                    application to allow time to receive the                 consideration.                                        activities they propose would either


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                                                    33206                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices

                                                    intentionally or unintentionally collect                 proposal from the contact person listed               Highly Rural Areas Program
                                                    and/or use information in such a way                     in this solicitation.                                 requirements, see the governing
                                                    that it meets VA’s regulatory definition                                                                       regulations codified at 38 CFR 17.700–
                                                                                                             Tribal Authorizing Resolution (If
                                                    of research and therefore be subject to                                                                        730.
                                                                                                             Applicable)
                                                    the requirements and procedures set                                                                              Renewal grant applications may not
                                                    forth in 38 CFR part 16.                                    If an application identifies a                     be sent by facsimile. These applications
                                                                                                             subrecipient that is either (1) a tribe or            must be submitted to www.grants.gov by
                                                    Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget                       tribal organization or (2) a third party
                                                    Narrative                                                                                                      the application deadline; they must also
                                                                                                             proposing to provide direct services or               be submitted as a complete package.
                                                       Budget Detail Worksheet: A sample                     assistance to residents on tribal lands,              Materials arriving separately will not be
                                                    SF 424A Budget Detail Worksheet can                      then a current authorizing resolution of              included in the application package for
                                                    be found at the grants.gov Web site.                     the governing body of the tribal entity               consideration and may result in the
                                                    Please submit a budget and label it, as                  or other enactment of the tribal council              application being rejected. All
                                                    the example above indicates. If the                      or comparable governing body                          applicable forms cited in the application
                                                    budget is submitted in a different                       authorizing the inclusion of the tribe or             description must be included.
                                                    format, the budget categories listed in                  tribal organization and its membership
                                                    the sample budget worksheet must be                      must be included with the application.                Intergovernmental Review
                                                    included.                                                In those instances when an organization                  Some states require that applicants
                                                       Budget Narrative: The Budget                          or consortium of tribes proposes to                   must contact their State’s Single Point of
                                                    Narrative should thoroughly and clearly                  apply for a grant on behalf of a tribe or
                                                                                                                                                                   Contact (SPOC) to find out and comply
                                                    describe every category of expense                       multiple specific tribes, the application
                                                                                                                                                                   with the State’s process, to comply with
                                                    listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet.                   must include a resolution from all tribes
                                                                                                                                                                   Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (1982).
                                                    The narrative should be mathematically                   that will be included as a part of the
                                                                                                                                                                   Names and addresses of the SPOCs are
                                                    sound and correspond with the                            services/assistance provided under the
                                                                                                                                                                   listed in the Office of Management and
                                                    information and figures provided in the                  grant. A consortium of tribes for which
                                                                                                                                                                   Budget’s homepage at
                                                    Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative                   existing consortium bylaws allow action
                                                                                                                                                                   www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/.
                                                    should explain how all costs were                        without support from all tribes in the
                                                    estimated and calculated and how they                    consortium (i.e., without authorizing                 Funding Restrictions
                                                    are relevant to the completion of the                    resolution or other enactment of each
                                                                                                             tribal governing body) may submit a                     Grants will only be awarded to those
                                                    proposed project. The narrative may                                                                            organizations that are eligible under law
                                                    include tables for clarification purposes                copy of its consortium bylaws with the
                                                                                                             application in order to satisfy this                  as described in the eligibility
                                                    but need not be in a spreadsheet format.                                                                       information section.
                                                    As with the Budget Detail Worksheet,                     requirement.
                                                    the Budget Narrative must be broken                      Submission Dates and Times                            Other Submission Requirements
                                                    down by year. Note: All non-Federal                                                                              For technical assistance with
                                                    entities have to comply with 2 CFR                          Renewal grant applications under the
                                                                                                             Grants for Transportation of Veterans in              submitting the application, contact the
                                                    200.400–475 Cost Principles and all                                                                            grants.gov customer support hotline at
                                                    Office of Management and Budget                          Highly Rural Areas program must be
                                                                                                             submitted to www.grants.gov by 4:00                   1–800–518–4726 or via email to
                                                    (OMB) Regulations and Circulars.                                                                               support@grants.gov. The grants.gov
                                                       Budget Brief (example):                               p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on [30 days
                                                                                                             after publication]. In the interest of                support hotline hours of operation are
                                                       1. Our organization requests ____ for
                                                                                                             fairness to all competing applicants, this            24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except
                                                    the acquisition of _____ van(s).
                                                       2. The total cost of the van(s)____.                  deadline is firm as to date and hour and              Federal holidays. For assistance with
                                                    This is the amount requested from VA.                    with the single exception described                   any other requirement of this
                                                       3. Our organization will utilize ____                 above regarding unforeseen technical                  solicitation, contact Darren Wallace,
                                                    for innovative approaches for                            problems beyond the control of the                    National Program Coordinator for Grants
                                                    transporting veterans. This is the                       applicant with the grants.gov Web site,               for Transportation of Veterans in Highly
                                                    amount requested from VA for a                           VA will treat as ineligible for                       Rural Areas, at (404) 828–5380 (this is
                                                    maximum of $50,000.                                      consideration any application that is                 not a toll-free number) or by email to
                                                                                                             received after the deadline. Applicants               Sylvester.Wallace2@va.gov.
                                                    Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (If                         should take this into account and make                  Additional forms that may be required
                                                    Applicable)                                              early submission of their materials to                in connection with an award are
                                                      Indirect costs are allowed only if the                 avoid any risk of loss of eligibility                 available for download on
                                                    applicant has a federally approved                       brought about by unanticipated delays,                www.grants.gov. Examples of these
                                                    indirect cost rate. (This requirement                    computer service outages (in the case of              forms can be viewed at the grants.gov
                                                    does not apply to units of local                         grants.gov), or other delivery-related                Web site. For successful applicants,
                                                    government). A copy of the rate                          problems.                                             receipt of funds will be contingent upon
                                                    approval must be attached. If the                           The application can be found at                    submission of all necessary forms.
                                                    applicant does not have an approved                      http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/                     Please note in particular the following
                                                    rate, one can be requested by contacting                 search-grants.html, utilizing the ‘‘search            forms: Certifications Regarding
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                                                    the applicant’s cognizant Federal                        by Catalog of Federal Domestic                        Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and
                                                    agency, which will review all                            Assistance number’’ function, and                     Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free
                                                    documentation and approve a rate for                     entering in that search field the number              Workplace Requirement; Disclosure of
                                                    the applicant organization or, if the                    64.035. Questions should be referred to               Lobbying Activities (Required for any
                                                    applicant’s accounting system permits,                   the Veterans Transportation Program                   applicant that expends any funds for
                                                    costs may be allocated in the direct cost                Office at (404) 828–5380 (this is not a               lobbying activities; this form must be
                                                    categories. If VA is the cognizant                       toll-free number) or by email at HRTG@                downloaded, completed, and then
                                                    Federal agency, obtain information                       va.gov. For further information on                    uploaded); and Standard Assurances
                                                    needed to submit an indirect cost rate                   Grants for Transportation of Veterans in              (SF 424B) (Required to be submitted to


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices                                             33207

                                                    the VTP Office prior to the receipt of                      1. Renewal Grant Scoring: Renewal                  awardee organization as listed on its
                                                    any award funds).                                        applications will be scored using the                 SF424. Note that any communication
                                                                                                             following selection criteria:                         between the VTP Office and awardees
                                                    Application Review Information                              A. VA will award up to 55 points (an               prior to the issuance of the Notice of
                                                    Criteria                                                 applicant must score at a minimum of                  Award (NoA) is not authorization to
                                                                                                             27.5 points) based on the success of the              begin performance on the project.
                                                       VA is committed to ensuring a fair                    grantee’s program, as demonstrated by                    Unsuccessful applicants will be
                                                    and open process for awarding these                      the following: Application shows that                 notified of their status by letter, which
                                                    renewal grants. The VTP Office will                      the grantee or identified subrecipient                will likewise be sent through the U.S.
                                                    review the renewal grant application to                  provided transportation services which                Postal Service to the applicant
                                                    make sure that the information                           allowed participants to be provided                   organization as listed on its SF 424.
                                                    presented is reasonable, understandable,                 medical care timely and as scheduled;                    The renewal grant agreement will
                                                    measurable, and achievable, as well as                   and application shows that participants               provide that:
                                                    consistent with the solicitation. Peer                   were satisfied with the transportation                   1. The grantee must operate the
                                                    reviewers will conduct a threshold                       services provided by the grantee or                   program in accordance with the
                                                    review of all applications submitted                     identified subrecipient, as described in              provisions of this section and the grant
                                                    under this solicitation to ensure they                   the Notice;                                           application;
                                                    meet all of the critical elements and all                   B. VA will award up to 35 points (an                  2. If a grantee’s renewal application
                                                    other minimum requirements as                            applicant must score at a minimum of                  identified a subrecipient, such
                                                    identified herein. The VTP Office may                    17.5 points) based on the cost                        subrecipient must operate the program
                                                    use either internal peer reviewers,                      effectiveness of the program, as                      in accordance with the provisions of
                                                    external peer reviewers, or a                            demonstrated by the following: The                    this section and the grant application;
                                                    combination to review the applications                   grantee or identified subrecipient                    and
                                                    under this solicitation. An external peer                administered the program on budget                       3. If a grantee’s application identified
                                                    reviewer is an expert in the field of the                and grant funds were utilized in a                    that funds will be used to procure or
                                                    subject matter of a given solicitation                   sensible manner, as interpreted by                    operate vehicles to directly provide
                                                    who is not a current VA employee. An                     information provided by the grantee to                transportation services, the following
                                                    internal reviewer is a current VA                        VA under 38 CFR 17.725(a)(1–7); and                   requirements must be met:
                                                    employee who is well-versed or has                          C. VA will award up to 15 (an                         A. Title to the vehicles must vest
                                                    expertise in the subject matter of this                  applicant must score at a minimum of                  solely in the grantee or in the identified
                                                    solicitation. Eligible applications will                 7.5 points) points based on the extent to             subrecipient or with leased vehicles in
                                                    then be evaluated, scored, and rated by                  which the program complied with the                   an identified lender;
                                                    a peer review panel. Peer reviewers’                     grant agreement and applicable laws                      B. The grantee or identified
                                                    ratings and any resulting                                and regulations.                                      subrecipient must, at a minimum,
                                                    recommendations are advisory only.                          2. Renewal Grant Selection: VA will                provide motor vehicle liability
                                                       VTP Member Services Office conducts                   use the following process to award                    insurance for the vehicles to the same
                                                    a financial review of applications for                   renewal grants:                                       extent they would insure vehicles
                                                                                                                A. VA will rank those grantees who                 procured with their own funds;
                                                    potential discretionary awards to
                                                                                                             receive at least the minimum amount of                   C. All vehicle operators must be
                                                    evaluate the fiscal integrity and
                                                                                                             total points (52.5) and points per                    licensed in a U.S. State or Territory to
                                                    financial capability of applicants;                      category set forth in the Notice. The
                                                    examines proposed costs to determine if                                                                        operate such vehicles;
                                                                                                             grantees will be ranked in order from                    D. Vehicles must be safe and
                                                    the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget                   highest to lowest scores.
                                                    Narrative accurately explain project                                                                           maintained in accordance with the
                                                                                                                B. VA will use the grantee’s ranking               manufacturer’s recommendations; and
                                                    costs; and determines whether costs are                  as the basis for selection for funding. VA               E. Vehicles must be operated in
                                                    reasonable, necessary, and allowable                     will fund the highest-ranked grantees                 accordance with applicable Department
                                                    under applicable federal cost principles                 for which funding is available.                       of Transportation regulations
                                                    and agency regulations.
                                                                                                             Award Administration Information                      concerning transit requirements under
                                                       Absent explicit statutory                                                                                   the Americans with Disabilities Act.
                                                    authorization or written delegation of                   Award Notices and Renewal Grant
                                                    authority to the contrary, the Veterans                  Agreements                                            Administrative and National Policy
                                                    Health Administration, through the VTP                                                                         Requirements
                                                                                                               After an applicant is selected for a
                                                    Office, will forward the reviewers’                      renewal grant in accordance with 38                      Successful applicants selected for
                                                    recommendations for award to the                         CFR 17.705(d) and notified as described               awards must agree to comply with
                                                    Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who will                  above, VA will send renewal grant                     additional applicable legal requirements
                                                    then review and approve each award                       agreement to be executed by the                       upon acceptance of an award. (VA
                                                    decision. Such determinations by the                     Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for                  strongly encourages applicants to
                                                    Secretary will be final. VA will also give               Health for Administrative Operations in               review the information pertaining to
                                                    consideration to factors including, but                  VA and the grantee. Upon execution of                 these additional requirements prior to
                                                    not limited to: Underserved                              the renewal grant agreement, VA will                  submitting a renewal application). As to
                                                    populations, geographic diversity,
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                                                                                                             obligate the approved amount.                         those additional requirements, we note
                                                    strategic priorities, and available                      Recipients will use the U.S. Department               that while their original grants were
                                                    funding when making awards.                              of Health and Human Services Payment                  subject to additional legal requirements
                                                       Review and Selection Process:                         Management System for grant                           as set forth in 38 CFR parts 43 and 49
                                                    Selection of Renewal Grants for                          drawdowns. Instructions for submitting                those regulatory provisions have since
                                                    Transportation of Veterans in Highly                     requests for payment may be found at                  been superseded by the Common Rule
                                                    Rural Areas is very competitive. Listed                  www.dpm.psc.gov/.                                     governing all Federal Grant Programs.
                                                    below are the scoring and selection                        The Grant Agreement will be sent                    The Common Rule is codified at 2 CFR
                                                    criteria:                                                through the U.S. Postal Service to the                part 200. Thus, grantees and identified


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                                                    33208                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices

                                                    subrecipients awarded renewal grants                     applicable, verification of both current              reporting requirements. Prime contract
                                                    under the Program must agree as part of                  driver’s licenses and vehicle insurance               awardees will report against sub-
                                                    their grant agreement to comply with all                 coverage.                                             contracts awarded and prime grant
                                                    requirements of the Common Rule, as                                                                            awardees will report against sub-grants
                                                                                                             Federal Financial Report
                                                    applicable.                                                                                                    awarded. Prime Contractors awarded a
                                                                                                               Awardees are required to submit the                 Federal contract or order that is subject
                                                    Reporting                                                FFR SF 425 on a quarterly basis. More                 to Federal Acquisition Regulation clause
                                                    Progress Reports                                         details will be announced in the NoA.                 52.204–10 (Reporting Executive
                                                       Awardees must agree to cooperate                      Audit Requirements                                    Compensation and First-Tier
                                                    with any VA evaluation of the program                                                                          Subcontract Awards) are required to file
                                                                                                               Awardees must comply with the audit                 a FFATA subaward report by the end of
                                                    and provide required quarterly, annual,                  requirements of Office of Management
                                                    and final (at the end of the fiscal year)                                                                      the month following the month in
                                                                                                             and Budget Uniform Guidance 2 CFR
                                                    reports in a form prescribed by VTP. A                                                                         which the prime contractor awards any
                                                                                                             part 200 subpart F. Information on the
                                                    final report consists of a summation of                                                                        subcontract greater than $25,000.
                                                                                                             scope, frequency and other aspects of
                                                    grant activities which include progress                  the audits can be found on at                           Please note also that no subaward of
                                                    toward goals, financial administration of                www.federalregister.gov/a/2013-30465.                 an award made under this solicitation
                                                    grant funds, grant administration issues                                                                       may be made to a subrecipient that is
                                                    and barriers. Reports are to be submitted                Program Variations                                    subject to the terms of FFATA unless
                                                    electronically. These reports must                         Any changes in a grantee’s program                  the potential subrecipient acquires and
                                                    outline how grant funds were used,                       activities which result in deviations                 provides a DUNS number.
                                                    describe program progress and barriers,                  from the grant renewal agreement must
                                                                                                             be reported to VA.                                    Other Information
                                                    and provide measurable outcomes.
                                                       Required quarterly and annual reports                                                                          Pursuant to 38 CFR 17.730(a), VA may
                                                                                                             Additional Reporting
                                                    must include the following information:                                                                        recover from the grantee any funds that
                                                       • Record of time expended assisting                     Additional reporting requirements
                                                                                                                                                                   are not used in accordance with a grant
                                                    with the provision of transportation                     may be requested by VA to allow VA to
                                                                                                                                                                   agreement. If VA decides to recover
                                                    services;                                                fully assess program effectiveness.
                                                                                                                                                                   funds, VA will issue to the grantee a
                                                       • Record of grant funds expended                      Notice of New Post-Award Reporting                    notice of intent to recover grant funds,
                                                    assisting with the provision of                          Requirements                                          and the grantee will then have 30 days
                                                    transportation services;
                                                       • Trips completed;                                       All recipients (excluding an                       to submit documentation demonstrating
                                                       • Total distance covered;                             individual recipient of Federal                       why the grant funds should not be
                                                       • Veterans served;                                    assistance) of awards of $25,000 or more              recovered. After review of all submitted
                                                       • Locations which received                            under this solicitation, consistent with              documentation, VA will determine
                                                    transportation services; and                             the Federal Funding Accountability and                whether action will be taken to recover
                                                       • Results of veteran satisfaction                     Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA),                     the grant funds. When VA determines
                                                    survey.                                                  Public Law 109–282 (Sept. 26, 2006),                  action will be taken to recover grant
                                                                                                             will be required to report award                      funds from the grantee, the grantee is
                                                    Program Monitoring                                                                                             then prohibited under 38 CFR 17.730(b)
                                                                                                             information on the subaward reporting
                                                       VTP is responsible for program                        system of any first-tier subawards                    from receiving any further grant funds.
                                                    monitoring. All awardees will be                         totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain
                                                    required to cooperate in providing the                                                                         Signing Authority
                                                                                                             cases, to report information on the
                                                    necessary data elements to the VTP. The                  names and total compensation of the                     The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
                                                    goal of program monitoring is to ensure                  five most highly compensated                          designee, approved this document and
                                                    program requirements are met; this will                  executives of the recipient and first-tier            authorized the undersigned to sign and
                                                    be accomplished by tracking                              subrecipients. Each applicant entity                  submit the document to the Office of the
                                                    performance and identifying quality and                  must ensure that it has the necessary                 Federal Register for publication
                                                    compliance problems through early                        processes and systems in place to                     electronically as an official document of
                                                    detection. Methods of program                            comply with the reporting requirements                the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina
                                                    monitoring may include: Monitoring the                   should it receive funding.                            S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff,
                                                    performance of a grantee’s or sub-                          It is expected that reports regarding              Department of Veterans Affairs,
                                                    recipient’s personnel, procurements,                     subawards will be made through the                    approved this document on July 11,
                                                    and/or use of grant-funded property;                     FFATA Subaward Reporting System                       2017, for publication.
                                                    collecting, analyzing data, and assessing                (FSRS) found at www.fsrs.gov. The
                                                    program implementation and                               FFATA Subaward Reporting System is                      Dated: July 14, 2017.
                                                    effectiveness; assessing costs and                       the reporting tool Federal prime                      Michael Shores,
                                                    utilization; and providing technical                     awardees (i.e. prime contractors and                  Director, Regulation Policy & Management,
                                                    assistance when needed. Site visit                       prime grants recipients) use to capture               Office of the Secretary, Department of
                                                    monitoring will include the above-                       and report subaward and executive                     Veterans Affairs.
                                                    described activities, in addition to the                 compensation data regarding their first-              [FR Doc. 2017–15167 Filed 7–18–17; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    conduct of safety assessments and, if                    tier subawards to meet the FFATA                      BILLING CODE 8320–01–P




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Document Created: 2017-07-19 06:17:16
Document Modified: 2017-07-19 06:17:16
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Funding Availability (Grant Renewals).
DatesApplications for assistance under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program must be submitted to www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 18, 2017. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants and with the single exception described below regarding unforeseen technical problems beyond the control of the applicant with the grants.gov Web site, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will not consider any application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make early submission of their materials 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.
ContactDarren Wallace, National Coordinator, Highly Rural Transportation Grants, Veterans Transportation Program, Member Services (10NF4), 2957 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329; (404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-free number); and Sylvester Wallace at [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 33204 

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