Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, 51476-51482 [2017-24086]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51476-51482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24086]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for assistance under the Per Diem Only component 
of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program. This 
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) encourages reapplication for 
those applicants who seek to continue providing ``Transition in Place'' 
(TIP) grants and new applicants that will serve the homeless Veteran 
population through a TIP housing model to facilitate housing 
stabilization. This Notice contains information concerning the program, 
funding priorities, application process, and amount of funding 
available.

DATES: An original signed, dated, and collated grant application (plus 
two completed collated copies) for assistance under VA's Homeless 
Providers GPD Program must be

[[Page 51477]]

received in the GPD Program Office, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 (see Submission Dates and Times below for 
additional requirements).
    In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this 
deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible 
for consideration any application that is received after the deadline. 
Applicants should take this practice into account and make early 
submission of their material to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 
brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-related 
problems.

ADDRESSES: An original signed, complete, and collated grant application 
(plus two copies) must be submitted to the following address: VA 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th 
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida 33617.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffery Quarles, Director, VA's 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, Florida, 33617; 
(toll-free) (877) 332- 0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Funding Opportuity Description

    This Notice announces the availability of per diem funds for 
assistance under VA's Homeless Providers GPD Program TIP Per Diem Only 
(PDO) for eligible entities. Applicants may apply for a minimum of 5 
beds and up to a maximum of 25 beds under this NOFA as a part of the 
effort to end homelessness among our Nation's Veterans.

Housing Model Description

Transition in Place Model (TIP)

    Targeted Population--Homeless Veterans who choose a supportive 
transitional housing environment providing services prior to entering 
permanent housing.
    Model Overview--Provides transitional housing and a milieu of 
services that facilitate individual stabilization and movement of the 
Veteran to permanent housing in the residence as rapidly as clinically 
appropriate.
    Characteristics & Standards--The TIP housing model offers Veteran 
residents housing in which support services transition out of the 
residence over time, rather than the resident. This leaves the resident 
in place at the residence and not forced to find other housing while 
stabilizing. It is expected that Veterans will transition in place in 
approximately 6 to 12 months. Extensions may be granted after 12 months 
but not to exceed 24 months. This model does not support discharge 
planning that would have the Veteran transition to Housing and Urban 
Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) as the HUD-VASH Program 
targets a Veteran population in need of specialized case management.
    Scope of services should incorporate tactics to increase the 
Veteran's income through employment and/or benefits and securing the 
permanent housing in the Veteran's name. Services provided and 
strategies utilized by the applicant will vary based on the 
individualized needs of the Veteran and resources available in the 
community. Applicant specifies the staffing levels and range of 
services to be provided.
    Applicants identify or convert existing suitable apartment-style 
housing where homeless Veteran participants would receive time-limited, 
supportive services optimally for a period of 6-12 months, but not to 
exceed 24 months. Upon completion, the Veteran must be able to 
``transition in place'' by assuming the lease or other long-term 
agreement which enables the unit in which he or she resides to be 
considered the Veteran's permanent housing. Grantees are expected to 
replace units as they are converted to permanent housing to maintain 
the average number of bed days as stated in the application during the 
entire grant period. Once the Veteran assumes the lease or other long-
term agreement, VA will no longer provide funding for the unit under 
this NOFA. For example, each time a Veteran assumes the lease or other 
long-term agreement for the apartment, the grantee must identify a new 
unit in which to place another Veteran. By program design, transition 
to permanent housing should occur as rapidly as possible, and grantees 
should continually be acquiring and coordinating with VA on the 
inspection of new units to maintain a steady number of Veterans served.
    Applicants applying under this NOFA must own or lease apartments 
intended as permanent housing for an individual or single family. 
Apartments must meet the inspection standards outlined at title 38 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) 61.80, and have the following 
characteristics:
    1. Private access without unauthorized passage through another 
dwelling unit or private property;
    2. Sanitary facilities within the unit;
    3. Basic furnishings; and
    4. Suitable space and equipment within the unit to store, prepare, 
and serve food in a sanitary manner (including, at a minimum, a 
refrigerator, freezer, sink, and stove). Note: Microwave ovens, hot 
plates, or similar items are not suitable substitutes for an 
operational stove.
    Required Minimum Performance Metrics/Targets: VA has established 
performance metrics/targets for all successful applicants. Discharge to 
permanent housing is 75 percent; employment of individuals at discharge 
is 50 percent; and negative exits are less than 28 percent.
Participant Agreement Information
    Lease Guarantors: When a third party (in this case the grantee) 
guarantees to pay the lease costs if the lessee (in this case the 
Veteran) defaults. This is not allowed under this program.
    Sub-lease: The sub-lease is ``[a] lease by a lessee (in this case 
the grantee) to a third party (the Veteran) conveying the leased 
property for a shorter term than that of the lessee, who retains a 
reversion in the lease.'' For the sake of clarity, in a sub-lease TIP 
housing scenario, the landlord is the lessor, the grantee is the 
lessee, and the Veteran is the sub-lessee.
    GPD TIP Grantees may use sub-leases during the transitional housing 
phase if the sub-lease has been approved by the GPD Program Office and 
the sub-lease must meet the following conditions:
    1. Period of sub-lease must be less than entire period of the 
grantee's lease with the landlord.
    2. Grantee lease renewal must be taken into consideration when 
stating the period of the sub-lease.
    3. Sub-lease must be explicit that the grantee is the lessee, not 
the Veteran.
    4. Sub-lease must revert back to the grantee lessee without 
sanctions to the Veteran should the Veteran leave prior to program 
completion and lease assumption.
    5. Sub-lease may not contain requirements contrary to GPD 
regulations.
    6. Security deposits may not be charged to Veterans. However, 
grantee lessees may take other available and appropriate legal steps in 
situations of property destruction.
    Lease Assumption: When a third party (in this case the Veteran) 
assumes a lease, the original lessee does not retain any interest in 
the lease.
    Low Income Housing Tax Credits: Grantees that use tax credit 
programs may request that Veterans fill out a tax credit application, 
as there is no prohibition in GPD regulation. The issues that could 
arise are operational and specific to GPD TIP. Here are two examples.
    Example 1. Under the GPD TIP for which the grantee is funded, the 
Veteran

[[Page 51478]]

may not ``assume'' a lease until the transitional housing phase is 
complete. A sub-lease may be used as long as it meets the requirements 
above. If the grantee is not leasing from another landlord, it will 
make a difference. As the relationship changes, the grantee is the 
lessor and the Veteran becomes the lessee. This is not a sub-lease. In 
this case some other form of program agreement may have to be used that 
meets the elements of items 4, 5 and 6 above and meets tax credit 
requirements.
    Example 2. Income under tax credits is calculated differently than 
in GPD. The grantee must follow GPD regulations during the transitional 
phase, and only the Veteran's income may be counted as defined in 38 
CFR 61.82. When the Veteran completes the program and then ``assumes'' 
the lease, the calculation of income will revert to the tax credit 
requirements. The Veteran should be apprised of this prior to program 
entry so appropriate planning can be put into place
    Eligibility Information: Existing nonprofit organizations 
recognized as section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations 
by the United States Internal Revenue Service, existing state and local 
governments, Indian Tribal Governments, and faith-based and community-
based organizations that are capable of creating and providing 
supported transitional housing for homeless Veterans are eligible under 
this NOFA. Organizations meeting the requirements above and located in 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any 
territory or possession of the United States, are also considered 
eligible entities (see definition of ``State'' in 38 CFR 61.1).
    Authority: Funding applied for under this NOFA is authorized by 38 
U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013.

Award Information

    Overview: This NOFA announces the availability of per diem funds 
for assistance under the PDO component of VA's Homeless Providers GPD 
Program. This NOFA encourages reapplication for those applicants who 
seek to continue providing TIP grants and new applicants that will 
serve the homeless Veteran population through a TIP housing model to 
facilitate housing stabilization. VA expects to fund approximately 500 
beds over a 2-year period under this NOFA. Approximately $25 million is 
available to support an average of 25 beds per night, per project.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
    Funding Period: Funding awarded under this NOFA will be for a 
period of two-years.
    Payment: VA payment is limited to the applicant's cost of care per 
eligible Veteran minus other sources of payments to the applicant for 
furnishing services to homeless Veterans up to the per day rate. Per 
diem will be paid in a method that is in accordance with VA and other 
Federal fiscal requirements. The per diem payment will be at a rate not 
to exceed 1.5 times the current VA state home program per diem rate for 
domiciliary care as set by the Secretary under 38 United States Code 
(U.S.C.)1741(a)(1). Awardees will be subject to requirements of this 
NOFA, GPD regulations, 2 CFR 200, and other Federal grant requirements. 
A full copy of the regulations governing the GPD Program is available 
at the GPD Web site at https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp.
    Funding Priorities: None.
    Application Review Information: Of those eligible entities that are 
legally fundable, the highest-ranked applications for which funding is 
available will be conditionally selected for eligibility to receive a 
per diem only award in accordance with their ranked order until the 
approximate number of beds are reached (approximately 500).
    A. Criteria for Grants: Rating criteria may be found at 38 CFR 
61.13 & 61.32.
    B. Review and Selection Process: Review and selection process may 
be found at 38 CFR 61.13, 61.32.
    Allocation of Funds: Approximately $25 million is available for 
this grant component. The maximum amount of the per diem award any 
awardee receives may not exceed $1.25 million for the entire grant 
period. Funding for the entire grant period will be obligated at the 
time of the award and available for draw down by the grantee over the 
grant period. Monthly reimbursements will be issued for bed days of 
care provided based upon the project's approved per diem rate. VA will 
not award more than $50,000.00 per bed over the entire two-year grant 
period based on the average number of beds to be provided as stated in 
the grant application.
    Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants will complete a 
grant funding agreement with VA in accordance with 38 CFR 61.61 and 
provide any additional information as required by VA. Upon signature by 
the Secretary or designated representative, final selection will be 
completed.
    Grant Award Period: For the purposes of this NOFA, the award period 
will be approximately two (2) years beginning on October 1, 2018, and 
ending approximately on September 30, 2020. Specific start and end 
dates will be included in the grant agreement between final selectees 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The award period will not 
exceed 2 years.
    All projects are expected to pass inspection and become operational 
within 90 days from the date of award. Failure to meet the 90-day 
milestone may result in the per diem award being terminated.
    Funding Restrictions: No part of an award under this NOFA may be 
used to facilitate capital improvements or to purchase vans or real 
property. Questions regarding acceptability should be directed to VA's 
National GPD Program Office at the number listed in contact 
information. Applicants may not receive funding to replace funds 
provided by any Federal, state, or local Government agency or program 
to assist homeless persons.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: None.
    Application and Submission Information: Applicants should be 
careful to complete the proper application package. Submission of the 
incorrect or incomplete application package will result in the 
application being rejected. The package will consist of two parts. The 
first part will be the standard forms required for grants to include 
all required forms and certifications and will be provided by VA on the 
GPD Web Site. The second part will be provided by applicants completing 
the items as listed below (see Application Requirements). Applicants 
who are conditionally selected will be notified of any additional 
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the 
application. Applicants will then be notified of the deadline to submit 
such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for 
grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves the right to 
not award funds and to use the funds available for other grant and per 
diem applicants.
    Address To Obtain Standard Grant Forms for Application Package: 
Download the standard grant forms directly from VA's Grant and Per Diem 
Program web page at: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp. Questions 
should be referred to the GPD Program at (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.
    Content and Form of Application: Applications must arrive as a 
complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be included in 
the application package for consideration and may result in the 
application being rejected or not funded.
    Applicants should ensure that they include all required documents 
in their

[[Page 51479]]

application and carefully follow the format described below. Submission 
of an incorrect, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted application 
package will result in the application being rejected. Applicants 
should ensure that the items listed in the ``Application Requirements'' 
section of this NOFA are addressed in their application.
    Applicants should use a normal business format, single-spaced 
lines, typed, single sided pages, in Arial 12-point font. Applicants 
should write out the question first, followed by the respective 
response. The narrative outline should be labeled with the same titles 
and in the same order as this NOFA. Applicants should simply binder 
clip the application; do not staple, spiral bind, or fasten the 
application. Do not include brochures or other information not 
requested. The application consists of two parts. The first part will 
consist of Standard Forms and the second part will be provided by 
applicants and consist of a supporting documentation and project 
narratives and tables/spreadsheets in a standard business format.
    Applicants should ensure that they include all required documents 
in their application, carefully follow the format, and provide the 
information requested and described below. Submission of an incorrect, 
incomplete, or incorrectly formatted application package will result in 
the application being rejected at the beginning of the process.

Application Documentation Required

    1. Standard Forms (approximately 9 pages):
    (a) SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance.
    (b) SF 424 A Non-Construction Budget.
    (c) SF 424 B Non-Construction Assurances.
    2. Eligibility to Receive VA Assistance: (approximately 3 pages)
    Nonprofit Organizations must provide documentation of accounting 
system certification and evidence of private nonprofit status by:
    (a) Providing certification on letterhead stationery from a 
Certified Public Accountant or Public Accountant that the organization 
has a functioning accounting system that is operated in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles, or that the organization has 
designated a qualified entity to maintain a functioning accounting 
system. If such an entity is used, then their name and address must be 
included in the certification letter; and
    (b) Providing evidence of their status as a nonprofit organization 
by submitting a copy of their IRS ruling providing tax-exempt status 
under the IRS Code of 1986, as amended.
    3. Documentation of being actively registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM) (approximately 1 page): Provide a printed copy 
of your agency's active registration in SAM to include the Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number which corresponds to the 
information provided on the Application for Federal assistance (SF424) 
and current Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. Additionally, 
provide the complete legal business address that corresponds to the 
address registered with SAM to include the USPS five-digit zip code 
plus the four digit extension code.
    4. State/Local Government Applicants: Applicants who are State or 
local governments must provide a copy of any comments or 
recommendations by approved State and (area wide) clearinghouses 
pursuant to Executive Order 12372.
    5. Project Summary (approximately 1 page): Provide the following:
(a) Number of Beds to be provided under this TIP Model:----------------

(b) Housing and services provided under this application will be 
located at:

Address:---------------------------------------------------------------

City:------------------------------------------------------------------

State:-----------------------------------------------------------------

Zip Code + 4 digit extension:------------------------------------------

County the site is located in:-----------------------------------------

Additional Counties served by the project:-----------------------------

Congressional District:------------------------------------------------

    6. Contact Information (approximately 4 pages): Where 
correspondence can be sent to the Executive Director/President/CEO.
    (a) Please provide the following:

Agency Name:-----------------------------------------------------------
Physical Address of Administrative Office (no PO Boxes):---------------
City:------------------------------------------------------------------
State:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Zip + 4 digit extension:-----------------------------------------------
County:----------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional District:------------------------------------------------
Telephone number:------------------------------------------------------
Alternate Mailing Address (if you would prefer regular mail be sent to 
a PO Box):-------------------------------------------------------------
City:------------------------------------------------------------------
State:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Zip:-------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Name and title of Executive Director/President/CEO; phone, fax 
and email address:
    (c) Name and title of another management level employee and title, 
phone, fax and email address, who can sign commitments for the agency; 
and
    (d) A complete listing of your agency's officers of the Board of 
Directors and their address, phone, fax, and email addresses.
    7. Project Abstract: On not more than one page, provide a brief 
abstract of the project to include: The project design, supportive 
services committed to the project, types of assistance provided, and 
any special program provisions.
    8. Detailed Project Plan: This is the portion of the application 
that describes your program. VA Reviewers will focus on how the project 
plan addresses the areas of outreach, project plan, model specific 
questions, ability, need, and coordination in relation to the TIP 
model.
    VA expects applicants awarded under this NOFA will meet the VA 
performance metrics for the selected model. With those metrics in mind, 
please, in your agency's responses to the following sections, include 
your agency strategies to meet or exceed VA's national metric targets.
    Applicants must address the following within the application:
    (a) Outreach--In approximately 5 pages, describe your agency 
outreach plan by answering the following:
    1. Outreach--describe your plan for selected Veteran population(s) 
living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation (e.g. 
streets, parks abandon buildings, automobiles) and emergency shelters.
    2. Outreach--identify where your organization will target its 
outreach efforts to identify appropriate Veterans for this program.
    3. Outreach--Describe your involvement in the CoC's Coordinated 
Assessment/Entry efforts as it relates to your outreach plan.;
    (b) Project Plan--VA wishes to provide the most appropriate housing 
based on the needs of the individual Veteran. In approximately 25 
pages, provide the following:
    1. Project Plan--Specifically, list the supportive services, 
frequency of occurrence and who will provide them, and how they will 
help Veteran participants achieve residential stability, increase skill 
levels and/or income, and increase self-determination (i.e., case 
management, frequency of individual/groups, employment services). Use a 
table or spreadsheet for this section. (See Example 3.)
    Example 3:

[[Page 51480]]



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                                                                                          This service supports
                                                                     Job title and          the achievement of
                                        Frequency of offering   credential required for   residential stability,
          Supportive service            (daily, weekly, etc.)        the individual         increase skill and
                                                                   providing services        income, or self-
                                                                                              determination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case management......................  Weekly.................  Case Manager--LCSW.....  Residential stability.
Financial Management Group...........  Bi-Weekly..............  Life Skills Educator--   Increased Skills and
                                                                 BA/BS.                   Income.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Project Plan--VA places emphasis on lowing barriers to 
admissions; describe the specific process and admission criteria for 
deciding which Veterans are appropriate for admission.
    3. Project Plan--Indicate whether you plan on serving a mixed 
gender population or individuals with children.
    4. Project Plan--Provide a listing and explanation of any gender 
specific services.
    5. Project Plan--How will the safety security and privacy of 
participants be ensured?
    6. Project Plan--How, when, and by whom will the progress of 
participants toward meeting their individual goals be monitored, 
evaluated, and documented?
    7. Project Plan--Provide your agency's Individual Service Plan 
(ISP) methodology and the core items to be addressed in the plan.
    8. Project Plan--How will the transition to permanent affordable 
housing be identified in the ISP and made known to participants to plan 
for the participant taking on the lease?
    9. Project Plan--Will your agency provide follow-up services? If 
yes, describe those services, how often they will occur, and the 
duration of the follow-up.
    10. Project Plan--Describe how Veteran participants will have a 
voice and aid in the selection, operation, and maintenance of the 
housing.
    11. Project Plan--Describe your agency's responsibilities, as well 
as any sponsors or contractors' responsibilities in operating and 
maintaining the housing (i.e. sub-recipients, leasing sites).
    12. Project Plan--Describe program policies regarding a clean and 
sober environment. Include in the description how participant relapse 
will be handled and how these policies will affect the admission and 
discharge criteria.
    13. Project Plan--Describe program polices regarding participant 
agreements, including any leases and sub-leases, if used.
    14. Project Plan--Describe program polices regarding 
extracurricular fees.
    15. Project Plan--If co-located with other types of housing, 
homeless populations, or with other non-grant and per diem projects, 
how will differences in program rules and policies be handled? (See 
example 2).
    Example 2:
    Your agency has permanent housing, bridge housing, and low demand 
housing. These all serve different populations and require different 
levels of policy to properly function. How will this be accomplished?
    16. Project Plan--Describe how, using the TIP model, you will 
provide aid in increased income or benefits.
    17. Project Plan--Address how your agency will facilitate the 
provision of nutritional meals for the Veterans. Be sure to describe 
how Veterans with little or no income will be assisted.
    18. Project Plan--VA places great emphasis on placing Veterans in 
the most appropriate housing situation as rapidly as possible. In this 
section, provide a timetable and the specific services, to include 
follow-up, that support housing stabilization. Include evidence of 
coordination of transition services that your agency expects to have 
for Veterans.
    19. Project Plan--Describe how you will facilitate transportation 
of Veteran participants with and without income to appointments, 
employment, and supportive services.
    20. Project Plan--Describe when, and by whom, the progress of 
participants toward meeting their individual goals will be monitored, 
evaluated, and documented.
    21. Project Plan--As this NOFA funding cannot be used for 
furnishings, describe how your agency will provide basic furnishings in 
the selected living quarters.
    22. Project Plan--describe in this section how your agency will 
manage the conversion of the dwelling unit and the services provided to 
the participant from transitional phase to permanent housing and what 
follow-up services will be provided to the Veteran once converted to 
permanent housing. Additionally, describe the instrument that will be 
used (lease, program agreement, memorandum of understanding, etc.) to 
ensure the Veteran's permanent occupancy once the unit has converted. 
Moreover, include how this will enhance housing outcomes leading to 
more timely access to permanent housing.
    23. Project Plan--Indicate whether shared apartments by unrelated 
individuals will be used; typically the TIP model is designed for an 
individual Veteran or a Veteran and family. However, if your agency 
plans to use a model in which roommates would share a living unit that 
would ultimately result in the roommates assuming the lease, your 
agency must describe how this process would be accomplished. The 
description must include the elements of section (n) above and the 
screening and selection process for roommates; responsibilities of each 
roommate, and how anomalies such as a roommate leaving or not meeting 
their responsibilities, will be addressed.
    (c) Ability--In approximately 5 pages; describe your agency's 
experience regarding the TIP model and population.
    1. Ability--Provide a table or spreadsheet of the staffing plan for 
this project. Do not include resumes.
    Example 4:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Amount of annual
                                      Brief (1-2                            Hours per week     salary allocated
           Job title                  sentence)        Educational level   allocated to GPD   to the GPD project
                                    description of                              project               ($)
-----------------------------------responsibilities-------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience assessing 
and providing for the housing needs of homeless Veterans in 
transitional housing.
    3. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience assessing 
and providing supportive services to homeless Veterans in transitional 
housing.

[[Page 51481]]

    4. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience in assessing 
supportive service resources and entitlement benefits.
    5. Ability--Describe your agency's previous experience with 
evaluating the progress of both individual participants and overall 
program effectiveness through using quality and performance data to 
make changes. Provide documentation of meeting past performance goals.
    (d) Need--In approximately 5 pages, describe, using reliable data 
from survey of homes population or other reports or data gathering 
mechanisms, the substantial unmet needs particularly among your 
targeted Veteran population and those needs of the general homeless 
population. Also, describe why your agency chose this model of 
transitional housing. Include in your response how your agency 
determined the number of beds needed, or, for service centers, include 
how your agency determined the anticipated numbers of participation. 
How does this project model meet a need for the community and fit with 
the community's strategy to end homeless in the community?
    (e) Coordination--In approximately 5 pages, describe and provide 
evidence of your agency's involvement in the homeless Veteran 
continuum.
    1. Coordination--Provide documented evidence that your agency is 
part of an ongoing community-wide planning process.
    2. Coordination--How is your process designed to share information 
on available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve 
special need homeless Veterans (i.e. letter of support from your local 
continuum of care)?
    3. Coordination--How is your agency part of an ongoing community-
wide planning process that is designed to share information on 
available resources and reduce duplication among programs that serve 
homeless Veterans?
    4. Coordination--How has your agency coordinated GPD services with 
other programs offered in the Continuum(s) of Care (CoC) they currently 
serve?
    5. Coordination--Provide documented evidence that your agency 
consulted directly with the closest VA Medical Center Director 
regarding coordination of services for project participants; provide 
your plan to assure access to health care, case management, and other 
care services.
    (f) Site Description--In one page, describe the availability of 
current housing stock in your community that would be appropriate for 
this program and would meet the standards required by Life Safety Code 
and 38 CFR 61.1-61.82. Describe whether the sites are scattered or in 
apartment complexes, provide a service area for the project, and, if 
available, provide a proposed or current address for the housing.
    Applicants should be careful to complete the proper application 
package. Submission of an incorrect or incomplete application package 
will result in the application being rejected. Application packages 
must include all required forms and certifications. Selections will be 
made based on criteria described in the application, Final Rule, and 
NOFA.
    Awardees will be required to support their request for payments 
with adequate fiscal documentation as to project income and expenses. 
Awardee agencies that have a negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement (IDC) 
must provide a copy of the IDC with this application if they wish to 
charge indirect costs to the grant. Without this document, only the de 
minims rate would be allowed for indirect costs. All other costs will 
be considered only if they are direct costs.
    Applicants who are conditionally selected will be notified of any 
additional information needed to confirm or clarify information 
provided in the application. Applicants will then be notified of the 
deadline to submit such information. If an applicant is unable to meet 
any conditions for grant award within the specified time frame, VA 
reserves the right to ot award funds nd to use the funds available for 
other grant and per diem applicants.
    Submission Dates and Times: An original signed, dated, completed, 
and application (plus two completed collated copies) and all required 
associated documents must be received in the GPD Program Office, VA 
Homeless Providers GPD Program Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-
200, Tampa, Florida 33617; by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 
Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
    In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this 
deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat any application 
that is received after the deadline as ineligible for consideration. 
Applicants should take this firm deadline into account and make early 
submission of their material to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 
as a result of unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems. 
For applications physically delivered(.e.g., in person, or via United 
States Postal Service, FedEx, United Parcel Service, or any other type 
of courier), the VA GPD Program Office staff will accept the 
application and date stamp it immediately at the time of arrival. This 
is the date and time that will determine if the deadline is met for 
those types of delivery.
    Applications must be received by the application deadline. 
Applications must arrive as a complete package to include VA 
collaborative partner materials (see application requirements). 
Materials arriving separately will not be included in the application 
package for consideration and may result in the application being 
rejected or not funded.
    DO NOT fax or email the application, as applications received via 
these means will be ineligible for consideration.
    Award Notice: Although subject to change, the GPD Program Office 
expects the announcement of grant awards during the late fourth quarter 
of fiscal year 2018 (September). The initial announcement will be made 
via news release, which will be posted on the GPD Web site at 
www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Following the initial announcement, the 
Grant and Per Diem Office will mail a notification letter to the grant 
recipients. Applicants that are not selected will be mailed a 
declination letter within 2 weeks of the initial announcement.
    Administrative and National Policy: It is important to be aware 
that VA places great emphasis on responsibility and accountability. VA 
has procedures in place to monitor services provided to homeless 
Veterans and outcomes associated with the services provided in grant 
and per diem-funded programs. Applicants should be aware of the 
following:
    All awardees that are selected in response to this NOFA must meet 
the requirements of the current edition of the Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association as it relates to their specific 
facility. Applicants should note that all facilities are to be 
protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system unless a 
facility is specifically exempted under the Life Safety Code. 
Applicants should consider this when submitting their grant 
applications, as no additional funds will be made available for capital 
improvements under this NOFA.
    Each program receiving funding will have a liaison appointed from a 
nearby VA medical facility to provide oversight and monitor services 
provided to homeless Veterans in the program.
    Monitoring will include, at a minimum, a quarterly review of each 
per diem program's progress toward meeting VA's performance metrics in 
helping Veterans attain housing stability, adequate income support, and 
self-sufficiency as identified in each per diem application. Monitoring 
will also

[[Page 51482]]

include a review of the agency's income and expenses as they relate to 
this project to ensure payment is accurate.
    Each funded program will participate in VA's national program 
monitoring and evaluation, as these monitoring procedures will be used 
to determine successful accomplishment of housing, employment, and 
self-sufficiency outcomes for each per diem-funded program.
Signing Authority
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. David J. 
Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on 
October 31, 2017, for publication.

    Dated: October 31, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-24086 Filed 11-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P