Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program, 573-577 [2015-33190]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / Notices
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Election of Investment Tax
Credit in Lieu of Production Tax Credit;
Coordination with Department of
Treasury Grants for Specified Energy
Property in Lieu of Tax Credits.
OMB Number: 1545–2145.
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Abstract: This notice provides a
description of the procedures that
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STAT. 115 (the Act), which was enacted
on February 17, 2009. This notice
includes information about election
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notice also discusses the coordination of
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Treasury grant for specified energy
property.
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Type of Review: Extension of a
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Affected Public: Businesses and other
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Approved: December 30, 2015.
Michael Joplin,
Tax Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2015–33276 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted
Housing Assistive Technology Grant
Program
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The U. S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the
availability of funds for the Specially
Adapted Housing Assistive Technology
(SAHAT) Grant Program for fiscal year
(FY) 2016. The objective of the grant is
to encourage the development of new
assistive technologies for specially
adapted housing.
This Notice is intended to provide
applicants with the information
necessary to apply for the SAHAT Grant
Program. Registration will be available
at www.Grants.gov. VA strongly
recommends referring to the Loan
Guaranty—Specially Adapted Housing
Assistive Technology Grant Program
final rule (38 CFR part 36) in
conjunction with this Notice. The
registration process described within
this Notice applies only to applicants
who will register to submit project
applications for FY 2016 SAHAT Grant
Program funds.
DATES: Applications for the SAHAT
Grant Program must be submitted via
www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern
Time on February 29, 2016. The SAHAT
Grant Program application package for
funding opportunity, VA–SAHAT–16–
01, is available through www.Grants.gov
and is listed as VA-Specially Adapted
Housing Assistive Technology Grant
Program.
Applications may not be sent by mail,
email or facsimile. All application
materials must be in a format
compatible with the www.Grants.gov
application submission tool.
SUMMARY:
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573
Applications must arrive as a complete
package. Materials arriving separately
will not be included in the application
package for consideration and may
result in the application being rejected.
Technical assistance with the
preparation of an initial SAHAT Grant
Program application is available by
contacting the program official listed
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Mims (Program Manager),
Specially Adapted Housing Program,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20420, (202) 632–8816 (not a toll-free
number).
Full Text of Announcement: This
Notice is divided into eight sections.
Section I provides a summary of and
background information on the SAHAT
Grant Program as well as the statutory
authority, desired outcomes, funding
priorities, definitions and delegation of
authority. Section II provides award
information, funding availability, and
the anticipated start date of the SAHAT
Grant Program. Section III provides
detailed information on eligibility and
the threshold criteria for submitting an
application. Section IV provides
detailed application and submission
information, including how to request
an application, application content, and
submission dates and times. Section V
describes the review process, scoring
criteria, and selection process. Sections
VI provides award administration
information such as award notices and
reporting requirements. Section VII
provides agency contacts. Section VIII
provides additional information related
to the SAHAT Grant Program. This
Notice includes citations from 38 CFR
part 36, which applicants and
stakeholders are expected to read to
increase their knowledge and
understanding of the SAHAT Grant
Program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Description
A. Summary
Pursuant to the Veterans’ Benefit Act
of 2010, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs (Secretary), through the Loan
Guaranty Service (LGY) of the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA), is
authorized to provide grants of financial
assistance to develop new assistive
technology. The objective of the grant,
known as the Specially Adapted
Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT)
Grant Program, is to encourage the
development of new assistive
technologies for adapted housing.
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B. Background
E. Definitions
C. Start Date
LGY currently administers the
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
Program. Through the SAH program,
LGY provides funds to eligible Veterans
and Servicemembers with certain
service-connected disabilities to help
purchase or construct an adapted home,
or modify an existing home, to allow
them to live more independently.
Currently, most SAH adaptations
involve structural modifications such as
ramps, wider hallways and doorways,
roll-in showers and other accessible
bathroom features, etc. The Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) acknowledges
there are many emerging technologies
that could improve home adaptions or
otherwise enhance a Veteran’s or
Servicemember’s ability to live
independently, such as voicerecognition and voice-command
operations, living environment controls,
and adaptive feeding equipment.
Therefore, VA has defined ‘‘new
assistive technology’’ as an
advancement that the Secretary
determines could aid or enhance the
ability of a Veteran or Servicemember to
live in an adapted home.
Definitions of terms used in the
SAHAT Grant Program are contained in
38 CFR 36.4412(b).
The anticipated start date of grants
funded under this announcement is
April 4, 2016.
F. Delegation of Authority
III. Eligibility Information
Pursuant to 38 CFR 36.4412(i), each
VA employee appointed to or lawfully
fulfilling any of the following positions
is hereby delegated authority, within the
limitations and conditions prescribed by
law, to exercise the powers and
functions of the Secretary with respect
to the SAHAT Grant Program authorized
by 38 U.S.C. 2108:
A. Eligible Applicants
C. Statutory Authority
Public Law 111–275, the Veterans’
Benefits Act of 2010 (the Act), was
enacted on October 13, 2010. Section
203 of the Act amended chapter 21, title
38, United States Code, to establish the
SAHAT Grant Program. The Act
authorizes VA to provide grants of up to
$200,000 per fiscal year, through
September 30, 2016, to a ‘‘person or
entity’’ for the development of specially
adapted housing assistive technologies
and limits to $1 million the aggregate
amount of such grants VA may award in
any fiscal year.
Reference: 38 U.S.C. 2108 and 38 CFR
36.4412
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D. Desired Outcomes and Funding
Priorities
Grantees will be expected to leverage
grant funds to develop new assistive
technologies for specially adapted
housing. Pursuant to 36 CFR 36.4412,
the Secretary may establish scoring
priorities based on the specific needs of
Veterans and Servicemembers. For FY
2016, the Secretary has established
innovation and unmet needs, as
described in scoring criteria 1 and 2
contained in Section V(A) of this
announcement, as top priorities.
Additional information regarding how
these priorities will be scored is
contained in Section V(A) of this
announcement.
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1. Under Secretary for Benefits
2. Deputy Under Secretary for Economic
Opportunity
3. Director, Loan Guaranty Service
4. Deputy Director, Loan Guaranty
Service
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
The aggregate amount of assistance
VA may award in any fiscal year is
limited to $1,000,000. This funding will
be provided as an assistance agreement
in the form of grants. The number of
assistance agreements VA will fund as
a result of this announcement will be
based on the quality of the technology
grant applications received and the
availability of funding. However, the
maximum amount of assistance a
technology grant applicant may receive
in any fiscal year is limited to $200,000.
B. Additional Funding Information
Funding for these projects is not
guaranteed and is subject to the
availability of funds and the evaluation
of technology grant applications based
on the criteria in this announcement. In
appropriate circumstances, VA reserves
the right to partially fund technology
grant applications by funding discrete
portions or phases of proposed projects.
If VA decides to partially fund a
technology grant application, it will do
so in a manner that does not prejudice
any application or affect the basis upon
which the application, or portion
thereof, was evaluated and selected for
award, and therefore maintains the
integrity of the competition and
selection process. Award of funding
through this competition is not a
guarantee of future funding. The
SAHAT Grant Program is administered
annually and does not guarantee
subsequent awards. Renewal grants to
provide new assistive technology will
not be considered under this
announcement.
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As authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108, the
Secretary may provide a grant to a
‘‘person or entity’’ for the development
of specially adapted housing assistive
technologies. In order to foster
competition and best serve the needs of
Veterans and Servicemembers, VA is
placing no restrictions on the types of
eligible entities, except as noted in
Section III(C) of this announcement.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
There is no cost sharing, matching, or
cost participation for the SAHAT Grant
Program. However, leveraged resources
will be considered as an evaluation
criterion during the application review
process (see scoring criterion 6 in
Section V of this announcement).
Leveraged resources are not included in
the approved budget (outlined in the
424A) for the project and need not be an
eligible and allowable cost under the
grant. Any form of proposed leveraging
that is evaluated under Section V
scoring criteria must be included in the
application and the application must
describe how the technology grant
applicant will obtain the leveraged
resources and what role VA funding
will play in the overall project.
C. Threshold Criteria
As stated in Section III(A), VA is
placing no restrictions on the types of
eligible entities. However, all
technology grant applicants and
applications must meet the threshold
criteria set forth below. Failure to meet
any of the following threshold criteria in
the application will result in the
automatic disqualification of the
application for funding consideration.
Ineligible participants will be notified
within 30 days of the finding of
disqualification for award consideration
based on the following threshold
criteria:
1. Projects funded under this
announcement must involve new
assistive technologies that the Secretary
determines could aid or enhance the
ability of a Veteran or Servicemember to
live in an adapted home.
2. Projects funded under this
announcement must not be used for the
completion of work which was to have
been completed under a prior grant.
3. Applications in which the
technology grant applicant is requesting
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assistance funds in excess of $200,000
will not be reviewed.
4. Applications that do not
substantially comply with the
application and submission information
provided in Section IV of this
announcement will be rejected.
5. Applications submitted via mail,
email, or facsimile will not be reviewed.
6. Applications must be received
through www.Grants.gov, as specified in
Section IV of this announcement, on or
before the application deadline
published in Section IV of this
announcement. Applications received
through www.Grants.gov after the
application deadline will be considered
late and will not be reviewed.
7. Technology grant applicants that
have an outstanding obligation to the
Federal Government that is in arrears or
have an overdue or unsatisfactory
response to an audit will be deemed
ineligible.
8. Technology grant applicants in
default by failing to meet the
requirements for any previous Federal
assistance will be deemed ineligible.
9. Applications submitted by entities
deemed ineligible will not be reviewed.
All technology grant recipients,
including individuals and entities
formed as for-profit entities, will be
subject to the rules on Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Agreements With Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other
Non-profit Organizations, as found at 2
CFR part 200. Where the Secretary
determines that 2 CFR part 200 is not
applicable or where the Secretary
determines that additional requirements
are necessary due to the uniqueness of
a situation, the Secretary will apply the
same standard applicable to exceptions
under 2 CFR 200.102.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
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A. Address To Request Application
Package
Technology grant applicants may
download the application package from
www.Grants.gov. Questions regarding
the application process should be
referred to the program official: Robert
Mims (Program Manager), Specially
Adapted Housing Program,
Robert.Mims@va.gov, (202) 632–8816
(This is not a toll-free number.)
B. Content and Form of Application
Submission
The SAHAT Grant Program
application package provided at
www.Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity
Number: VA–SAHAT–16–01) contains
electronic versions of the application
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forms that are required. Additional
attachments to satisfy the required
application information may be
provided. All technology grant
applications must consist of the
following:
1. Standard Forms (SF) 424, 424A,
and 424B: The SF–424, SF–424A, and
SF–424B require general information
about the applicant and proposed
project. The project budget should be
described in SF–424A. Please do not
include leveraged resources in SF–
424A.
2. Applications: In addition to the
forms listed above, each technology
grant application must include the
following information:
a. A project description, including the
goals and objectives of the project, what
the project is expected to achieve, and
how the project will benefit Veterans
and Servicemembers.
b. An estimated schedule including
the length of time (not to exceed the
grant cycle) needed to accomplish tasks
and objectives for the project.
c. A description of what the project
proposes to demonstrate and how this
new technology will aid or enhance the
ability of Veterans and Servicemembers
to live in an adapted home.
d. Each technology grant applicant is
responsible for ensuring that the
application addresses each of the
scoring criteria listed in Section V(A) of
this announcement.
C. DUNS Number and SAM
Each technology grant applicant,
unless the applicant is an individual or
Federal awarding agency that is
excepted from these requirements under
2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an
exception approved by VA under 2 CFR
25.110(d), is required to:
1. Be registered in the System for
Award Management (SAM) prior to
submitting an application;
2. Provide a valid Dun and Bradstreet
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number in the application; and
3. Continue to maintain an active
SAM registration with current
information at all times during which
the technology grant applicant has an
active Federal award or an application
under consideration by VA.
VA will not make an award to an
applicant until the applicant has
complied with all applicable DUNS and
SAM requirements and, if the applicant
has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time VA is ready to
make an award, VA will determine the
applicant is not qualified to receive a
Federal award and will use this
determination as a basis for making the
award to another applicant.
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D. Submission Dates and Times
Applications for the SAHAT Grant
Program must be submitted via
www.Grants.gov to be transmitted to VA
by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February
29, 2016. Submissions received after
this application deadline will be
considered late and will not be
reviewed or considered. Submissions
via email, mail, or fax will not be
accepted.
Applications submitted via
www.Grants.gov must be submitted by
an individual registered with
www.Grants.gov and authorized to sign
applications for Federal assistance. For
more information and to complete the
registration process, visit
www.Grants.gov. Technology grant
applicants are responsible for ensuring
that the registration process does not
hinder timely submission of the
application.
It is the responsibility of grant
applicants to ensure a full and complete
application is submitted via
www.Grants.gov. Applicants are
encouraged to periodically review the
‘‘Version History Tab’’ of the funding
opportunity announcement in
www.Grants.gov to determine if any
modifications have been made to the
funding announcement and/or
opportunity package. Upon initial
download of the funding opportunity
package, applicants will be asked to
provide an email address to be notified
of any changes to the opportunity
package before the closing date.
Providing your email address will allow
www.Grants.gov to send you an email
message in the event this funding
opportunity package is changed and/or
republished on www.Grants.gov prior to
the posted closing date.
E. Confidential Business Information
It is recommended that confidential
business information (CBI) not be
included in your application. However,
if CBI is included in your application,
it will be handled by VA in accordance
with 2 CFR 200. Applicants must clearly
indicate which portion(s) of their
application they are claiming as CBI. VA
will evaluate such claims in accordance
with 2 CFR 200. If no claim is made, VA
is not required to make an inquiry of the
applicant.
F. Intergovernmental Review
This section is not applicable to the
SAHAT Grant Program.
G. Funding Restrictions
The SAHAT Grant Program does not
allow reimbursement of pre-award
costs.
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V. Application Review Information
Each eligible proposal (based on the
Section III threshold eligibility review)
will be evaluated according to the
criteria established by the Secretary and
provided as described below in Section
A.
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A. Scoring Criteria
The Secretary will score technology
grant applications based on the scoring
criteria listed below. As indicated in
Section I of this announcement, the
Secretary is placing most emphasis on
criteria 1 and 2 listed below. The
establishment of priorities does not
establish new scoring criteria but is
designed to assist technology grant
applicants in understanding how scores
will be weighted. Although there is not
a cap on the maximum aggregate score
possible, a technology grant application
must receive a minimum aggregate score
of 70 to be considered for a technology
grant. The scoring criteria and
maximum points are as follows:
1. A description of how the new
assistive technology is innovative (up to
50 points);
2. An explanation of how the new
assistive technology will meet a
specific, unmet need among eligible
individuals (up to 50 points);
3. An explanation of how the new
assistive technology is specifically
designed to promote the ability of
eligible individuals to live more
independently (up to 30 points);
4. A description of the new assistive
technology’s concept, size, and scope
(up to 30 points);
5. An implementation plan with
major milestones for bringing the new
assistive technology into production
and to the market. Such milestones
must be meaningful and achievable
within a specific timeframe (up to 30
points); and
6. An explanation of what uniquely
positions the technology grant applicant
in the marketplace. This can include a
focus on characteristics such as the
economic reliability of the technology
grant applicant, the technology grant
applicant’s status as a minority or
veteran-owned business, or other
characteristics that the technology grant
applicant wants to include to show how
it will help protect the interests of, or
further the mission of, VA and the
program (up to 20 points).
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B. Review and Selection Process
Eligible applications will be evaluated
by a five-person review panel comprised
of VA employees. Based on this
evaluation, the review panel will score
applications using the scoring criteria
provided in Section V(A), with most
emphasis being placed on scoring
criteria 1 and 2. The review panel will
then rank those applications that receive
a minimum aggregate score of 70 in
order from highest to lowest. The
delegated official will select the highest
ranked application(s) based on, and
subject to, the availability of funds.
2. Quarterly Financial Reports: These
reports will be submitted electronically
using SF–425.
3. Grantee Closeout Report: This final
report will be submitted electronically
and will detail the assistive technology
developed. The Closeout Report must be
submitted to the SAHAT Grant Program
Office no later than September 30, 2017.
VI. Award Administration Information
VII. Agency Contact(s)
A. Award Notices
Although subject to change, the
SAHAT Grant Program Office expects to
announce grant recipient(s) by April 1,
2016. Prior to executing any funding
agreement, VA will contact successful
applicant(s), make known the amount of
proposed funding, and verify the
applicant’s desire to receive the
funding. In advance of grant award,
successful applicants will be required to
complete the VA Form 26–0967, which
is a ‘‘Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary
Exclusion.’’ Any communication
between the SAHAT Grant Program
Office and successful applicants prior to
the issuance of an award notice is not
authorization to begin project activities.
Once VA verifies that the grant
applicant is still seeking funding, VA
will issue a signed and dated award
notice. The award notice will be sent by
U.S. mail to the organization listed on
the SF–424.
Unsuccessful applicants will be
notified by letter, sent by U.S. mail to
the organization listed on the SF–424.
For additional general information
about this announcement contact the
program official: Robert Mims (Program
Manager), Specially Adapted Housing
Program, Robert.Mims@va.gov, (202)
632–8816 (This is not a toll-free
number.)
If mailing correspondence, other than
application material, please send to:
Loan Guaranty Service, VA Central
Office, Attn: Robert Mims (262), 810
Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20420.
All correspondence with VA
concerning this announcement should
reference the funding opportunity title
and funding opportunity number listed
at the top of this solicitation. Once the
announcement deadline has passed, VA
staff may not discuss this competition
with applicants until the application
review process has been completed.
B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
This section is not applicable to the
SAHAT Grant Program.
C. Reporting
VA places great emphasis on the
responsibility and accountability of
grantees. Grantees must agree to
cooperate with any Federal evaluation
of the program and provide the
following:
1. Quarterly Progress Reports: These
reports will be submitted electronically
and outline how grant funds were used,
describe program progress, and describe
any barriers and measurable outcomes.
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D. Disputes
Competition-related disputes
associated with this announcement will
be resolved in accordance with 2 CFR
200, et seq.
VIII. Other Information
The SAHAT Grant Program is a new
program. 38 U.S.C. 2108 authorizes VA
to provide grants for the development of
new assistive technologies through
September 30, 2016. Additional
information related to the SAH program
administered by LGY is available at:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/
adaptedhousing.asp
The SAHAT Grant is not a Veterans’
benefit. As such, the decisions of the
Secretary are final and not subject to the
same appeal rights as decisions related
to Veterans’ benefits. The Secretary does
not have a duty to assist technology
grant applicants in obtaining a grant.
Grantees will receive payments
electronically through the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services Payment Management System.
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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.
Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff,
approved this document on December
30, 2015, for publication.
Dated: December 30, 2015.
William F. Russo,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy &
Management, Office of the General Counsel,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–33190 Filed 1–5–16; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 573-577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33190]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology
Grant Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the
availability of funds for the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive
Technology (SAHAT) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The
objective of the grant is to encourage the development of new assistive
technologies for specially adapted housing.
This Notice is intended to provide applicants with the information
necessary to apply for the SAHAT Grant Program. Registration will be
available at www.Grants.gov. VA strongly recommends referring to the
Loan Guaranty--Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant
Program final rule (38 CFR part 36) in conjunction with this Notice.
The registration process described within this Notice applies only to
applicants who will register to submit project applications for FY 2016
SAHAT Grant Program funds.
DATES: Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted via
www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 29, 2016. The
SAHAT Grant Program application package for funding opportunity, VA-
SAHAT-16-01, is available through www.Grants.gov and is listed as VA-
Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program.
Applications may not be sent by mail, email or facsimile. All
application materials must be in a format compatible with the
www.Grants.gov application submission tool. Applications must arrive as
a complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be included
in the application package for consideration and may result in the
application being rejected. Technical assistance with the preparation
of an initial SAHAT Grant Program application is available by
contacting the program official listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Mims (Program Manager),
Specially Adapted Housing Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-8816 (not a toll-
free number).
Full Text of Announcement: This Notice is divided into eight
sections. Section I provides a summary of and background information on
the SAHAT Grant Program as well as the statutory authority, desired
outcomes, funding priorities, definitions and delegation of authority.
Section II provides award information, funding availability, and the
anticipated start date of the SAHAT Grant Program. Section III provides
detailed information on eligibility and the threshold criteria for
submitting an application. Section IV provides detailed application and
submission information, including how to request an application,
application content, and submission dates and times. Section V
describes the review process, scoring criteria, and selection process.
Sections VI provides award administration information such as award
notices and reporting requirements. Section VII provides agency
contacts. Section VIII provides additional information related to the
SAHAT Grant Program. This Notice includes citations from 38 CFR part
36, which applicants and stakeholders are expected to read to increase
their knowledge and understanding of the SAHAT Grant Program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Description
A. Summary
Pursuant to the Veterans' Benefit Act of 2010, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs (Secretary), through the Loan Guaranty Service (LGY)
of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), is authorized to provide
grants of financial assistance to develop new assistive technology. The
objective of the grant, known as the Specially Adapted Housing
Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grant Program, is to encourage the
development of new assistive technologies for adapted housing.
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B. Background
LGY currently administers the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
Program. Through the SAH program, LGY provides funds to eligible
Veterans and Servicemembers with certain service-connected disabilities
to help purchase or construct an adapted home, or modify an existing
home, to allow them to live more independently. Currently, most SAH
adaptations involve structural modifications such as ramps, wider
hallways and doorways, roll-in showers and other accessible bathroom
features, etc. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acknowledges
there are many emerging technologies that could improve home adaptions
or otherwise enhance a Veteran's or Servicemember's ability to live
independently, such as voice-recognition and voice-command operations,
living environment controls, and adaptive feeding equipment. Therefore,
VA has defined ``new assistive technology'' as an advancement that the
Secretary determines could aid or enhance the ability of a Veteran or
Servicemember to live in an adapted home.
C. Statutory Authority
Public Law 111-275, the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 (the Act),
was enacted on October 13, 2010. Section 203 of the Act amended chapter
21, title 38, United States Code, to establish the SAHAT Grant Program.
The Act authorizes VA to provide grants of up to $200,000 per fiscal
year, through September 30, 2016, to a ``person or entity'' for the
development of specially adapted housing assistive technologies and
limits to $1 million the aggregate amount of such grants VA may award
in any fiscal year.
Reference: 38 U.S.C. 2108 and 38 CFR 36.4412
D. Desired Outcomes and Funding Priorities
Grantees will be expected to leverage grant funds to develop new
assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. Pursuant to 36
CFR 36.4412, the Secretary may establish scoring priorities based on
the specific needs of Veterans and Servicemembers. For FY 2016, the
Secretary has established innovation and unmet needs, as described in
scoring criteria 1 and 2 contained in Section V(A) of this
announcement, as top priorities. Additional information regarding how
these priorities will be scored is contained in Section V(A) of this
announcement.
E. Definitions
Definitions of terms used in the SAHAT Grant Program are contained
in 38 CFR 36.4412(b).
F. Delegation of Authority
Pursuant to 38 CFR 36.4412(i), each VA employee appointed to or
lawfully fulfilling any of the following positions is hereby delegated
authority, within the limitations and conditions prescribed by law, to
exercise the powers and functions of the Secretary with respect to the
SAHAT Grant Program authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108:
1. Under Secretary for Benefits
2. Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
3. Director, Loan Guaranty Service
4. Deputy Director, Loan Guaranty Service
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
The aggregate amount of assistance VA may award in any fiscal year
is limited to $1,000,000. This funding will be provided as an
assistance agreement in the form of grants. The number of assistance
agreements VA will fund as a result of this announcement will be based
on the quality of the technology grant applications received and the
availability of funding. However, the maximum amount of assistance a
technology grant applicant may receive in any fiscal year is limited to
$200,000.
B. Additional Funding Information
Funding for these projects is not guaranteed and is subject to the
availability of funds and the evaluation of technology grant
applications based on the criteria in this announcement. In appropriate
circumstances, VA reserves the right to partially fund technology grant
applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed
projects. If VA decides to partially fund a technology grant
application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any
application or affect the basis upon which the application, or portion
thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains
the integrity of the competition and selection process. Award of
funding through this competition is not a guarantee of future funding.
The SAHAT Grant Program is administered annually and does not guarantee
subsequent awards. Renewal grants to provide new assistive technology
will not be considered under this announcement.
C. Start Date
The anticipated start date of grants funded under this announcement
is April 4, 2016.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
As authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108, the Secretary may provide a grant
to a ``person or entity'' for the development of specially adapted
housing assistive technologies. In order to foster competition and best
serve the needs of Veterans and Servicemembers, VA is placing no
restrictions on the types of eligible entities, except as noted in
Section III(C) of this announcement.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
There is no cost sharing, matching, or cost participation for the
SAHAT Grant Program. However, leveraged resources will be considered as
an evaluation criterion during the application review process (see
scoring criterion 6 in Section V of this announcement). Leveraged
resources are not included in the approved budget (outlined in the
424A) for the project and need not be an eligible and allowable cost
under the grant. Any form of proposed leveraging that is evaluated
under Section V scoring criteria must be included in the application
and the application must describe how the technology grant applicant
will obtain the leveraged resources and what role VA funding will play
in the overall project.
C. Threshold Criteria
As stated in Section III(A), VA is placing no restrictions on the
types of eligible entities. However, all technology grant applicants
and applications must meet the threshold criteria set forth below.
Failure to meet any of the following threshold criteria in the
application will result in the automatic disqualification of the
application for funding consideration. Ineligible participants will be
notified within 30 days of the finding of disqualification for award
consideration based on the following threshold criteria:
1. Projects funded under this announcement must involve new
assistive technologies that the Secretary determines could aid or
enhance the ability of a Veteran or Servicemember to live in an adapted
home.
2. Projects funded under this announcement must not be used for the
completion of work which was to have been completed under a prior
grant.
3. Applications in which the technology grant applicant is
requesting
[[Page 575]]
assistance funds in excess of $200,000 will not be reviewed.
4. Applications that do not substantially comply with the
application and submission information provided in Section IV of this
announcement will be rejected.
5. Applications submitted via mail, email, or facsimile will not be
reviewed.
6. Applications must be received through www.Grants.gov, as
specified in Section IV of this announcement, on or before the
application deadline published in Section IV of this announcement.
Applications received through www.Grants.gov after the application
deadline will be considered late and will not be reviewed.
7. Technology grant applicants that have an outstanding obligation
to the Federal Government that is in arrears or have an overdue or
unsatisfactory response to an audit will be deemed ineligible.
8. Technology grant applicants in default by failing to meet the
requirements for any previous Federal assistance will be deemed
ineligible.
9. Applications submitted by entities deemed ineligible will not be
reviewed.
All technology grant recipients, including individuals and entities
formed as for-profit entities, will be subject to the rules on Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations, as
found at 2 CFR part 200. Where the Secretary determines that 2 CFR part
200 is not applicable or where the Secretary determines that additional
requirements are necessary due to the uniqueness of a situation, the
Secretary will apply the same standard applicable to exceptions under 2
CFR 200.102.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address To Request Application Package
Technology grant applicants may download the application package
from www.Grants.gov. Questions regarding the application process should
be referred to the program official: Robert Mims (Program Manager),
Specially Adapted Housing Program, Robert.Mims@va.gov, (202) 632-8816
(This is not a toll-free number.)
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
The SAHAT Grant Program application package provided at
www.Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SAHAT-16-01) contains
electronic versions of the application forms that are required.
Additional attachments to satisfy the required application information
may be provided. All technology grant applications must consist of the
following:
1. Standard Forms (SF) 424, 424A, and 424B: The SF-424, SF-424A,
and SF-424B require general information about the applicant and
proposed project. The project budget should be described in SF-424A.
Please do not include leveraged resources in SF-424A.
2. Applications: In addition to the forms listed above, each
technology grant application must include the following information:
a. A project description, including the goals and objectives of the
project, what the project is expected to achieve, and how the project
will benefit Veterans and Servicemembers.
b. An estimated schedule including the length of time (not to
exceed the grant cycle) needed to accomplish tasks and objectives for
the project.
c. A description of what the project proposes to demonstrate and
how this new technology will aid or enhance the ability of Veterans and
Servicemembers to live in an adapted home.
d. Each technology grant applicant is responsible for ensuring that
the application addresses each of the scoring criteria listed in
Section V(A) of this announcement.
C. DUNS Number and SAM
Each technology grant applicant, unless the applicant is an
individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from these
requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved
by VA under 2 CFR 25.110(d), is required to:
1. Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to
submitting an application;
2. Provide a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number in the application; and
3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information at all times during which the technology grant applicant
has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by
VA.
VA will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has
complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if the
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time VA
is ready to make an award, VA will determine the applicant is not
qualified to receive a Federal award and will use this determination as
a basis for making the award to another applicant.
D. Submission Dates and Times
Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted via
www.Grants.gov to be transmitted to VA by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
February 29, 2016. Submissions received after this application deadline
will be considered late and will not be reviewed or considered.
Submissions via email, mail, or fax will not be accepted.
Applications submitted via www.Grants.gov must be submitted by an
individual registered with www.Grants.gov and authorized to sign
applications for Federal assistance. For more information and to
complete the registration process, visit www.Grants.gov. Technology
grant applicants are responsible for ensuring that the registration
process does not hinder timely submission of the application.
It is the responsibility of grant applicants to ensure a full and
complete application is submitted via www.Grants.gov. Applicants are
encouraged to periodically review the ``Version History Tab'' of the
funding opportunity announcement in www.Grants.gov to determine if any
modifications have been made to the funding announcement and/or
opportunity package. Upon initial download of the funding opportunity
package, applicants will be asked to provide an email address to be
notified of any changes to the opportunity package before the closing
date. Providing your email address will allow www.Grants.gov to send
you an email message in the event this funding opportunity package is
changed and/or republished on www.Grants.gov prior to the posted
closing date.
E. Confidential Business Information
It is recommended that confidential business information (CBI) not
be included in your application. However, if CBI is included in your
application, it will be handled by VA in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
Applicants must clearly indicate which portion(s) of their application
they are claiming as CBI. VA will evaluate such claims in accordance
with 2 CFR 200. If no claim is made, VA is not required to make an
inquiry of the applicant.
F. Intergovernmental Review
This section is not applicable to the SAHAT Grant Program.
G. Funding Restrictions
The SAHAT Grant Program does not allow reimbursement of pre-award
costs.
[[Page 576]]
V. Application Review Information
Each eligible proposal (based on the Section III threshold
eligibility review) will be evaluated according to the criteria
established by the Secretary and provided as described below in Section
A.
A. Scoring Criteria
The Secretary will score technology grant applications based on the
scoring criteria listed below. As indicated in Section I of this
announcement, the Secretary is placing most emphasis on criteria 1 and
2 listed below. The establishment of priorities does not establish new
scoring criteria but is designed to assist technology grant applicants
in understanding how scores will be weighted. Although there is not a
cap on the maximum aggregate score possible, a technology grant
application must receive a minimum aggregate score of 70 to be
considered for a technology grant. The scoring criteria and maximum
points are as follows:
1. A description of how the new assistive technology is innovative
(up to 50 points);
2. An explanation of how the new assistive technology will meet a
specific, unmet need among eligible individuals (up to 50 points);
3. An explanation of how the new assistive technology is
specifically designed to promote the ability of eligible individuals to
live more independently (up to 30 points);
4. A description of the new assistive technology's concept, size,
and scope (up to 30 points);
5. An implementation plan with major milestones for bringing the
new assistive technology into production and to the market. Such
milestones must be meaningful and achievable within a specific
timeframe (up to 30 points); and
6. An explanation of what uniquely positions the technology grant
applicant in the marketplace. This can include a focus on
characteristics such as the economic reliability of the technology
grant applicant, the technology grant applicant's status as a minority
or veteran-owned business, or other characteristics that the technology
grant applicant wants to include to show how it will help protect the
interests of, or further the mission of, VA and the program (up to 20
points).
B. Review and Selection Process
Eligible applications will be evaluated by a five-person review
panel comprised of VA employees. Based on this evaluation, the review
panel will score applications using the scoring criteria provided in
Section V(A), with most emphasis being placed on scoring criteria 1 and
2. The review panel will then rank those applications that receive a
minimum aggregate score of 70 in order from highest to lowest. The
delegated official will select the highest ranked application(s) based
on, and subject to, the availability of funds.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Although subject to change, the SAHAT Grant Program Office expects
to announce grant recipient(s) by April 1, 2016. Prior to executing any
funding agreement, VA will contact successful applicant(s), make known
the amount of proposed funding, and verify the applicant's desire to
receive the funding. In advance of grant award, successful applicants
will be required to complete the VA Form 26-0967, which is a
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion.'' Any communication between the SAHAT Grant
Program Office and successful applicants prior to the issuance of an
award notice is not authorization to begin project activities. Once VA
verifies that the grant applicant is still seeking funding, VA will
issue a signed and dated award notice. The award notice will be sent by
U.S. mail to the organization listed on the SF-424.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by letter, sent by U.S.
mail to the organization listed on the SF-424.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
This section is not applicable to the SAHAT Grant Program.
C. Reporting
VA places great emphasis on the responsibility and accountability
of grantees. Grantees must agree to cooperate with any Federal
evaluation of the program and provide the following:
1. Quarterly Progress Reports: These reports will be submitted
electronically and outline how grant funds were used, describe program
progress, and describe any barriers and measurable outcomes.
2. Quarterly Financial Reports: These reports will be submitted
electronically using SF-425.
3. Grantee Closeout Report: This final report will be submitted
electronically and will detail the assistive technology developed. The
Closeout Report must be submitted to the SAHAT Grant Program Office no
later than September 30, 2017.
D. Disputes
Competition-related disputes associated with this announcement will
be resolved in accordance with 2 CFR 200, et seq.
VII. Agency Contact(s)
For additional general information about this announcement contact
the program official: Robert Mims (Program Manager), Specially Adapted
Housing Program, Robert.Mims@va.gov, (202) 632-8816 (This is not a
toll-free number.)
If mailing correspondence, other than application material, please
send to: Loan Guaranty Service, VA Central Office, Attn: Robert Mims
(262), 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420.
All correspondence with VA concerning this announcement should
reference the funding opportunity title and funding opportunity number
listed at the top of this solicitation. Once the announcement deadline
has passed, VA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants
until the application review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
The SAHAT Grant Program is a new program. 38 U.S.C. 2108 authorizes
VA to provide grants for the development of new assistive technologies
through September 30, 2016. Additional information related to the SAH
program administered by LGY is available at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp
The SAHAT Grant is not a Veterans' benefit. As such, the decisions
of the Secretary are final and not subject to the same appeal rights as
decisions related to Veterans' benefits. The Secretary does not have a
duty to assist technology grant applicants in obtaining a grant.
Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System.
[[Page 577]]
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. Robert L.
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, approved this document on December 30, 2015,
for publication.
Dated: December 30, 2015.
William F. Russo,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-33190 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
