Veterans Legacy Grants Program, 19193-19197 [2023-06608]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19193-19197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06608]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Veterans Legacy Grants Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery 
Administration (NCA) is awarding grants for a maximum of $500,000 per 
awardee through the Veterans Legacy Grants Program (VLGP), to provide 
funding to educational institutions and other eligible entities to 
conduct cemetery research and produce educational tools for the public 
to utilize and learn about the histories of Veterans interred in VA 
national cemeteries and VA grant-funded State and Tribal Veterans' 
cemeteries. This notice includes information about the process for 
applying for a VLGP grant; criteria for evaluating applications; 
priorities related to the award of grants; and other requirements and 
guidance regarding VLGP grants.

DATES: Applications for grants under VLGP must be received by the VLGP 
Office by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 1, 2023. In the interest of 
fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date 
and hour. VA will treat any application that is received after the 
deadline as ineligible for consideration. Applicants should take this 
requirement into account and submit their materials early to avoid the 
risk of unanticipated delays, computer service outages, or other 
submission-related problems that might result in ineligibility. 
Successful applicants will be notified within approximately 45 days 
following the application deadline. The VLGP grant award will be 
awarded within fiscal year (FY) 2023 and all work under the award must 
occur in FY 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    For a Copy of the Application Package: The required documentation 
for an application is outlined under Section IV. (Application 
Documentation Required) of this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). 
Questions should be referred to the VLGP Office by email at: 
[email protected]. For detailed VLGP information and requirements, see 38 CFR 
38.710-38.785.
    For Submission of an Application Package: Applicants must submit 
applications electronically by following instructions found at: 
www.grants.gov.
    For Technical Assistance: Information regarding how to obtain 
technical assistance with the preparation of a grant application can be 
found at: www.grants.gov or email [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Williams, Grants Specialist, 
Veterans Legacy Grants Program, National Cemetery Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs, [email protected] or 314-934-8825. This is 
not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Funding Opportunity Title: Veterans Legacy Grant Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: VA-NCA-VLGP-FY2023.
    Assistance Listing: 64.204, VA Veterans Legacy Grant Program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose: Funding for VLGP grants under this NOFA is authorized 
by 38 U.S.C. 2400 note. This NOFA announces the availability of funding 
to applicants found eligible to receive a VLGP grant to tell the 
stories of Veterans interred in these cemeteries, especially Veterans 
who have significant connection to the local community and Veterans 
from historically underrepresented groups, to include Veterans or 
Service members underrepresented by race, ethnicity or identity as well 
as Veterans or Service members from our LGBTQ+ community, from any 
period of American history, so they are honored in perpetuity.
    Funding is interdisciplinary and not restricted according to 
academic focus or specialization. Eligible applicants are institutions 
of higher learning, educational institutions, local educational 
agencies, State educational agencies or non-profits. Successful 
applicants will:
    1. Meet VLGP's mission to commemorate the Nation's Veterans and 
Service members through the discovery and sharing of their stories. 
VLGP encourages students and teachers at the K-12 levels and 
universities around the country to immerse themselves in the rich 
historical resources found within 1 or more of VA's 155 national 
cemeteries or 1 or more of the 121 VA grant-funded

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State, Territorial or Tribal Veterans cemeteries.
    2. Include a study of Veterans or Service members interred in one 
of VA's national cemeteries or in one of the VA grant-funded State, 
Territorial or Tribal cemeteries.
    3. Foster engagement in the communities surrounding one or several 
of the national cemeteries or VA grant-funded cemeteries.
    4. Tell the stories of Veterans interred in these cemeteries, 
especially Veterans who have significant connection to the local 
community and Veterans from historically underrepresented groups, to 
include Veterans or Service members underrepresented by race, ethnicity 
or identity as well as Veterans or Service members from our LGBTQ+ 
community, from any period of American history.
    B. Priorities: Competitive Preference Priorities (CPP) for FY 2023 
and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of 
applications from this annual competition will align with specific VLGP 
initiatives, which will be noted as CPPs. NCA will award one priority 
point for each CPP addressed by the application up to a maximum of 
three priority points. Each CPP must be described in a one-page 
abstract submitted with the application. To earn CPP's submitted 
applications will:
    1. Successfully showcase Veterans or Service members interred in 
qualifying cemeteries that have never been studied as part of a 
previous VLGP project and in a new geographic region where a VLGP 
project has not had a presence.
    2. Creatively highlight interred Veterans and Service members who 
have never been studied or researched in previous VLGP projects.
    3. Maximize the use of best practices in digital scholarship, 
pedagogy, scholarly communication and digital public engagement that 
expands biographical content within NCA's Veterans Legacy Memorial 
(www.va.gov/remember). Note: If applicants wish to be considered for 
CPP points, applicants must include, in a one-page abstract submitted 
with the application, a statement indicating which of the CPPs are 
addressed. If an applicant addresses CPPs, this information must also 
be listed on the VLGP Profile Form.
    C. Total Available Funds: The total funds allocated for VLGP in FY 
2023 is $2.2 million. VA may allocate additional funds, depending on 
the availability of funds and the number of compliant grant 
applications received.
    Under Public Law 116-107 1(a)(4) (codified at 38 U.S.C. 2400 note), 
each grant may not exceed $500,000 in total costs for the entire grant 
period. VA will only accept one application per applicant. VA reserves 
the right to select which application to consider based on the 
submission dates and times or based on other factors included in 38 CFR 
38.710-38.785.
    D. Eligible Recipients: Applicants must be eligible entities that 
meet one of the definitions in 38 CFR 38.715 for an institution of 
higher learning, educational institution, local educational agency, 
State educational agency or non-profit.

II. Award Information

    A. Allocation of Funds: $2.2 million in Federal funding is 
available under this NOFA with a maximum award of $500,000 per grant. 
Each VLGP grant must be awarded in FY 2023, and the period of 
performance under the grant must have a start date that is also within 
FY 2023. The number of grants awarded during this period is at the 
discretion of VA.
    B. Funding Restrictions: No part of an award under this NOFA may be 
used for a course buyout, and the grant funds shall not be used to 
substitute a class that a professor is required to teach during an 
academic year.
    C. Funding Limitations: VA's decisions will be based on factors 
such as need, geographic dispersion and availability of funding.

III. Application and Submission Information

    A. Obtaining a Grant Application: The required documentation for an 
application submission is outlined in Section IV. (Application 
Documentation Required) of this NOFA. All applications must be 
submitted through: www.grants.gov, which will outline required forms 
and documentation. Registration information is available at: 
www.grants.gov. Questions should be referred to the VLGP Office at: 
[email protected]. For detailed VLGP information and requirements, see 38 CFR 
38.710-38.785.
    B. Submitting a Grant Application: Applicants must ensure that they 
include all required documents in their email application submission, 
carefully follow the format and provide the information requested and 
described below. Submission of an application that contains conflicting 
information or is incomplete, untimely or incorrectly formatted will 
result in the application being rejected. Applicants must submit 
applications electronically by following instructions found at: 
www.grants.gov. 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 or not funded.
    C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM): 
Applicants (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding 
agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) 
or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency 
under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) are required to: (i) be registered in SAM before 
submitting their application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity 
identifier in its application; and (iii) provide proof of an active and 
updated SAM registration at the time of application submission, which 
must be maintained throughout the award period as a continuing 
condition of eligibility. The Federal awarding agency will not make a 
Federal award to an applicant that does not have an active and updated 
SAM registration at the time of application submission.

IV. Application Documentation Required

    A. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Supporting 
Documents: Applicants are required to complete the SF-424 and attach 
the following supporting documents following application instructions 
outlined on www.grants.gov.
    1. Project Abstract: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-point 
Times New Roman font, provide a brief abstract of the proposed project. 
As applicable, include other information relevant to an understanding 
of the overall project and specify if you wish to be considered for CPP 
points set out in Section I.B. (Priorities) of this NOFA.
    2. Project Proposal: In 1,200 words or less, double-spaced, 12-
point Times New Roman font, include a narrative outlining the proposed 
plan for the project and include a detailed timeline for the tasks 
outlined in the project description and proposed milestones. See 
Section IV.C. (Project Proposals) for additional information.
    3. Expertise and Capacity: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-
point Times New Roman font, include a description of the applicant's 
ability and capacity to administer the project. This should include any 
evidence of past experience with projects similar in scope as defined 
by the NOFA, to include descriptions of the engagement model; examples 
of successful leadership and management of a project of similar (or 
greater) scale and budget; or related work in this field.
    4. Proposed Budget: In 500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-point 
Times New Roman font, provide the proposed

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budget and budget narrative which should identify and justify all costs 
and proposed expenditures, to include additional compensation and 
honoraria (and to whom such payments would be made); equipment costs; 
production costs; and travel costs. The word count does not include 
charts, graphs or spreadsheets an applicant may choose to provide as 
additional attachments. Applicants may include indirect costs as part 
of their proposed budget. Applicants that have a previously negotiated 
indirect cost rate with a cognizant agency may utilize this rate when 
preparing and submitting a proposed budget. Those applicants that do 
not have a previously negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to apply 
a de minimis rate of 10% indirect costs. Applicants that do not have a 
previously negotiated rate but wish to establish a negotiated indirect 
cost rate should submit alongside their proposal an Indirect Cost Rate 
Proposal justifying and evidencing the applicant's proposed indirect 
cost rate.
    5. Project Team: The applicant must provide a narrative description 
of anticipated project team and any extramural partner(s), including 
the responsibilities of the principal investigator, the co-principal 
investigators and any extramural partner entity.
    B. Eligibility: Applicants must meet definitions for eligible 
recipients in 38 CFR 38.715(c) and provide supporting documentation of 
status (for example, Section 503(c)(3) status, consolidated State 
plan).
    C. Project Proposals: Project Proposals should support the 
memorialization of the Nation's Service members' and Veterans' legacy 
enshrined in national cemeteries or VA grant-funded cemeteries in the 
following areas:
    1. Outreach: A framework for digital and non-digital outreach based 
on student research focused on a VA national cemetery (or cemeteries) 
or VA grant-funded State, Territorial or Tribal cemetery (or 
cemeteries).
    2. Educational Materials: A framework of digital instructional 
materials relevant to the grade level of K-12 students involved (e.g., 
lesson plans, learning guides). Alternatively, materials intended for 
general education of the public may be developed in conjunction with 
the above or in lieu of it, but preference will be given to proposals 
that include development of instructional materials intended for K-12 
audiences.
    3. Extended Memorialization: A description of the plan to present 
the students' research in a way that is appropriate to their discipline 
and accessible to the public (such as a website or other medium).
    Materials produced under this grant program must be based on 
primary research on the Service members and/or Veterans interred or 
memorialized in VA's national cemeteries or VA grant-funded cemeteries, 
conducted by students under the guidance of an appropriate educational 
professional (e.g., licensed teacher, tenure-track professor with 
terminal degree or program officer of an educational non-profit 
entity). The research must be produced into formats accessible to 
students, teachers, scholars and the American public. This research may 
be conducted within the context of any established academic discipline 
or may be interdisciplinary as long as the research conveys findings 
about individual Service members or Veterans that expands awareness and 
knowledge of those whose stories have not been told before. NCA's VLGP 
is committed to memorializing all Service members and Veterans, but 
Service members and Veterans from underrepresented communities are of 
particular interest. No preference will be given to any disciplinary or 
methodological approach. Intrinsic to the research process under this 
grant program is students visiting a national cemetery or VA grant-
funded cemetery of interest more than once.
    D. Applicant Contact Information: Must not be a toll-free number or 
P.O. Box address. Must be a working telephone number and physical 
address for grantee accessibility.
    1. Location of the administrative office where correspondence can 
be sent to the Executive Director/President/Chief Executive Officer/
Department Chair (no P.O. Boxes). Include complete address, city, 
state, zip code + four-digit extension, county and congressional 
district.
    2. Organization Primary Contact: Include the name, title, phone 
number and email address. Note: VLGP views the organization's primary 
contact as assigned to the organization, not a specific grant 
application, and should be someone who normally signs grant agreements 
or makes executive decisions for the organization.
    3. Grant Contact #1: Include the name, title, phone number and 
email address. Note: This contact is specific to a grant application 
under this NOFA and may be a Program Manager, Director, Case Manager, 
Grant Administrator or other individual of similar position.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Application Review: Staff reviewers from VA and possibly other 
Federal agencies will assess and score all compliant applications. The 
applications will be ranked from highest to lowest based on application 
scores as explained below.
    B. Applicant Clarification: Following the review process, VA may 
request clarifying information to inform funding recommendations. A 
request for clarification does not guarantee a grant award. If an 
organization does not respond by the deadline to a request for 
clarification, VA will remove its application from consideration.
    C. Application Scoring: Applications will be evaluated and scored 
based on the follow criteria (100-point scale):
    1. Team--10 possible points.
    2. Student research products--15 possible points.
    3. Outreach--15 possible points.
    4. Instructional materials--15 possible points.
    5. Extended memorialization--15 possible points.
    6. Budget--15 possible points.
    7. Collection of program assessment data--15 possible points.
    In addition to the possible 100-point scale, applications can 
receive up to an additional 3 points for CPPs as noted in Section I.B. 
(Priorities).
    D. Technical Factors: Applications will be reviewed and evaluated 
based on the following technical factors to determine the best value 
for NCA and VLGP:
    1. Team: The team of contributing scholars must consist of at least 
two members from accredited institutions of higher education within the 
area of focus, each of whom is a faculty member who holds an advanced 
degree in their field and has evidence of demonstrated scholarly 
output. The team will designate a single point of contact.
    2. Student research products: Applicants shall define a framework 
of at least two digital media products produced for educational 
outreach based on student-generated research. The final products must 
be publicly accessible examples of applied cemetery research.
    3. Outreach: Applicants shall define how they plan to develop a 
framework for digital and non-digital outreach based on student 
research focused on VA national cemetery (or cemeteries) or VA grant-
funded State, Territorial or Tribal cemetery (or cemeteries).
    4. Instructional materials: Applicants shall include the 
development of at least 5 lesson plans appropriate to the

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schools, grades and subjects of teachers and K-12 students in the 
partnership. ``Lesson plan'' includes a plan of instruction that 
reflects the State's K-12 curriculum standards, e.g., Common Core State 
Standards, and includes all other resources, materials and aids 
required for the school-based implementation of the lesson. The lesson 
plan product can be multiple lessons, structured around pre- and post-
visit learning.
    5. Extended memorialization: Applicants shall define how they plan 
to use the student research to extend memorialization of the Service 
members' or Veterans' legacy enshrined in a national cemetery or VA 
grant-funded cemetery of focus.
    6. Budget: Applicants should identify all costs and proposed 
expenditures, to include additional compensation and honoraria (and to 
whom such payments would be made); equipment costs, production costs 
and travel costs.
    7. Collection of program assessment data: Applicants shall design 
assessment instruments for their students and the K-12 students showing 
how this participation in this program affected students' performance 
in their subject of inquiry, e.g., history, film, education, American 
social studies, English Language Arts, art. Data should be anonymously 
sampled but demonstrated to be valid and reliable.
    E. Risk Assessment Evaluation: In addition to the application 
scoring of technical factors, VA staff (and possibly other Federal 
agency staff) will evaluate the risks to the program posed by each 
applicant, including conducting due diligence to ensure an applicant's 
ability to manage Federal funds. If VA determines to make an award, 
special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may 
be applied to the award. VA reserves the right to conduct multiple risk 
assessments of grantees throughout the award period. Applicants will be 
notified of an updated risk level and any measures that may be taken to 
address any heightened level of risk. In evaluating risks, VA may 
review and consider the following:
     Financial stability;
     Quality of management systems and ability to meet the 
management standards prescribed in the uniform requirements in 2 CFR 
part 200;
     Applicant's record in managing previous Federal awards, 
grants or procurement awards, including:
    [cir] Timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting 
requirements;
    [cir] Accuracy of data reported;
    [cir] Validity of performance measure data reported;
    [cir] Conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal 
awards; and
    [cir] If applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded 
amounts will be expended prior to future awards.
     Information available through Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB)--designated repositories of Governmentwide eligibility 
qualification or financial integrity information, such as:
    [cir] Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System;
    [cir] Dun and Bradstreet; and
    [cir] ``Do Not Pay.''
    Applicants may review and comment on information available through 
these OMB-designated repositories, and VA will consider any comments 
made by the applicant.
     Reports and findings from single audits performed under 
subpart F--Audit Requirements, 2 CFR part 200, OMB Circular A-133 and 
findings of any other available audits;
     Applicant organization's annual report;
     Publicly available information, including information from 
the applicant organization's website;
     Applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, 
regulatory or other requirements imposed on award recipients; and
     Applicant's past compliance or ability to comply with 
Federal procurement requirements in procuring the Project Coordinator 
and Investor(s) in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317-200.326.
    F. Priority Groups: This award cycle places no priority 
consideration on grant applications with any specific focus, discipline 
or product.
    G. Disposition of Applications: Upon review of an application and 
dependent on availability of funds, VA will:
     Approve the application for funding, in whole or in part, 
for such amount of funds, and subject to such conditions that VA deems 
necessary or desirable; or
     Determine that the application is of acceptable quality 
for funding, in that it meets minimum criteria, but disapprove the 
application for funding because it did not rank sufficiently high in 
relation to other applications to qualify for an award based on the 
level of funding available; or
     Disapprove the application for failure to meet the 
applicable selection criteria at a sufficiently high level in 
comparison to other applications to justify an award of funds, or for 
another reason as provided in the documentation of the decision; or
     Defer action on the application for such reasons as lack 
of funds or a need for further review.
    H. Withdrawal of Application: Applicants may withdraw a VLGP 
application submitted through www.grants.gov by submitting a written 
request to the VA point of contact specified in this NOFA within 15 
days with a rationale for the request.

VI. Award Administration Information

    A. Selection for Funding: VA will utilize the ranked scores of 
applications as the primary basis for selection, ultimately made by the 
delegated official who may factor in the risk assessment and clarifying 
information provided by the applicant.
    B. Award Notice: The VLGP Office will announce grant awards after a 
complete review of all received applications. Awards will be for 12 
months. The initial announcement will be made via news release which 
will be posted on VA's VLGP website at: https://www.cem.va.gov/legacy/grants.asp. Following the initial announcement and after the 
application deadline, the VLGP Office will send notification letters to 
the grant recipients. Applicants who are not selected will be sent a 
declination letter.
    C. Grant Agreements: After an applicant is approved for award, VA 
will draft a grant agreement to be executed by VA and the grantee. Upon 
execution of the grant agreement, VA will obligate the grant amount. 
Grantees will be subject to requirements of this NOFA, VLGP regulations 
(38 CFR 38.710-38.785), other Federal grant requirements under 2 CFR 
part 200 and the grantee's VLGP application.
    D. Administrative and National Policy: VA places great emphasis on 
responsibility and accountability. VA has procedures in place to 
monitor grant programs and outcomes associated with the services 
provided under VLGP.
    E. Payment: Grant awards will be paid in a method that is in 
accordance with section 38.760(a). All grantees must register in the 
Health and Human Services Payment Management Services (HHS-PMS) Program 
Support Center at: Home [bond] Payment Management Services (psc.gov). 
Funds will be disbursed through HHS-PMS on initial obligation and 
halfway through the grant period (i.e., the initial payment for the 1st 
6 months and the subsequent payment for the 2nd 6 months). Awardees 
will be required to support their request for funding based on the 
project budget.
    F. Compliance Review: As needed, VA may conduct site visits to 
grantee locations to review grantee accomplishments and management

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control systems. In addition, VA may conduct as many inspections as 
needed of grantee records to determine compliance. All visits and 
evaluations will be performed with minimal disruption to the grantee to 
the extent practicable.
    G. Reporting:
    1. Annual report: All grantees must submit to VA, not later than 60 
days after the last day of the grant period, a final report. The final 
report must include: a program evaluation, proof of meeting VA 
objectives as outlined in VLGP's mission and a summary of the 
effectiveness of the completed proposal.
    2. Additional reporting: VA may request additional information, 
records and reports to allow VA to assess program effectiveness.
    H. Recovery of Funds: VA may recover from the grantee any funds 
that are not used in accordance with the 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 decides to recover grant funds from the grantee, VA will stop 
further payments of grant funds until the grant funds are recovered and 
the condition that led to the decision to recover grant funds has been 
resolved.
    I. Financial Management: The grantee shall conform to the Single 
Audit Act Amendments of 1996, as implemented by 2 CFR part 200. All 
grantees must use a financial management system that complies with 2 
CFR part 200. Grantees must meet the applicable requirements of OMB's 
regulations on Cost Principles at 2 CFR part 200.
    J. Availability of Grant Funds: Federal financial assistance will 
become available subsequent to the effective date of the grant as set 
forth in the grant agreement. Recipients may be reimbursed for costs 
resulting from obligations incurred before the effective date of the 
grant, if such costs are authorized by VA within this NOFA or the grant 
agreement or subsequently by VA in writing and otherwise would be 
allowable as costs of the grant under applicable guidelines, 
regulations and terms and conditions of the grant agreement.
    Signing Authority: Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on March 27, 2023, 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.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-06608 Filed 3-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P