Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program, 21662-21666 [2024-06634]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21662-21666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06634]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology 
Grant Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is publishing the 
announcement of the availability of funds for the Specially Adapted 
Housing Assistive Technology (SAHAT) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 
2024. The objective of the grant is to encourage the development of new 
assistive technologies for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant 
recipients. This notice is intended to provide applicants with the 
information necessary to apply for the SAHAT Grant Program. VA strongly 
recommends referring to the SAHAT Grant Program regulation in 
conjunction with this notice. The registration process described in 
this notice applies only to applicants who will register to submit 
project applications for FY 2024 SAHAT Grant Program funds.

DATES: Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted 
through www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 28, 
2024. Awards made for the SAHAT Grant Program will fund operations for 
FY 2024. The SAHAT Grant Program application package for funding 
opportunity VA-SAHAT-24-09 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 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. 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: Jason Latona, Assistant Director, 
Specially Adapted Housing, Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, 202-461-9201 or [email protected]. This is not 
a toll-free telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 covers award information, including 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

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describes the review process, scoring criteria, and selection process. 
Section VI provides award administration information such as award 
notices and reporting requirements. Section VII lists agency contact 
information. Section VIII provides additional information related to 
the SAHAT Grant Program. This notice includes citations from 38 CFR 
part 36 regarding the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology 
Grant Program (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-36/subpart-C/section-36.4412), and VA Financial Policy, Volume X Grants 
Management Financial Policy Documents (https://department.va.gov/financial-policy-documents/?_financial_policy_volumes=volume-x-grants-management) which applicants and stakeholders are expected to read to 
increase their knowledge and understanding of the SAHAT Grant Program.

I. Program Description

A. Summary

    Pursuant to the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-275, 
203), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 SAHAT Grant Program is to 
encourage the development of new assistive technologies for adapted 
housing.

B. Background

    LGY currently administers the SAH Grant Program. Through this 
program, LGY provides funds to eligible Veterans and Service members 
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. Please see 38 U.S.C. 2101(a)(2)(B) and (C) and 
38 U.S.C. 2101(b)(2) for a list of qualifying service-connected 
disabilities. Currently, most SAH adaptations involve structural 
modifications such as ramps; wider hallways and doorways; roll-in 
showers; and other accessible bathroom features, etc. For more detailed 
information about the SAH Grant Program, please visit https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/.
    VA acknowledges that there are many emerging technologies and 
improvements in building materials that could improve home adaptions or 
otherwise enhance a Veteran's or Service member's ability to live 
independently. Therefore, in 38 CFR 36.4412(b)(2), VA has defined ``new 
assistive technology'' as an advancement that the Secretary determines 
could aid or enhance the ability of an eligible individual, as defined 
in 38 CFR 36.4401, to live in an adapted home. New assistive technology 
can include advancements in new-to-market technologies, as well as new 
variations on existing technologies. Examples of the latter might 
include modifying an existing software application for use with a smart 
home device; upgrading an existing shower pan design to support 
wheelchairs; using existing modular construction methods to improve 
bathroom accessibility; or using existing proximity technology to 
develop an advanced application tailored to blind users. In addition, 
the recent passage of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive 
Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-168) expanded VA health care and 
benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, 
including those with disabilities due to inhalation injuries resulting 
from toxic exposures. New solutions that can potentially help VA meet 
the needs of SAH-eligible Veterans impacted by these injuries are of 
interest to the SAHAT Grant Program.
    Please Note: SAHAT funding does not support the construction or 
modification of residential dwellings for accessibility. Veterans and 
Service members interested in receiving assistance to adapt a home are 
encouraged to visit the following website to identify home adaptation 
programs offered by VA: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/.

C. Statutory Authority

    Public Law 111-275, the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, was enacted 
on October 13, 2010. Section 203 of the Act added 38 U.S.C. 2108 to 
establish the SAHAT Grant Program. The Act authorized 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 SAHATs. For the 
purpose of this notice, VA refers to such persons or entities as 
grantees or grant recipients, and the terms are interchangeable.
    On September 30, 2022, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 was enacted (Pub. L. 117-180, 
205). Section 205 of Pub. L. 117-180 extended the authority for VA to 
provide grants in the manner listed above through September 30, 2024 
(see 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 SAH. In 38 CFR 36.4412(f)(2) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-36/subpart-C/section-36.4412), VA set out the scoring criteria and the maximum points 
allowed for each criterion. As explained in the preambles to both the 
proposed and final rules, while the scoring framework is set out in the 
regulation text, each notice will address the scoring priorities for 
that particular grant cycle (79 FR 53146, 53148, September 8, 2014; 80 
FR 55763, 55764, September 17, 2015). For FY 2024, the Secretary has 
identified the categories of innovation and unmet needs as top 
priorities. These categories are further described as scoring criteria 
1 and 2 in Section V(A) of this notice. Although VA encourages 
innovation across a wide range of specialties, VA is, in this grant 
cycle, particularly interested in technologies that could help Veterans 
with disabilities associated with toxic exposures covered by the 
Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, such as residuals of an inhalation 
injury (including, but not limited to, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and 
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) as they pertain to VA SAH 
adaptations. VA also has particular interest in applications that 
either demonstrate innovative approaches in the design and building of 
adaptive living spaces or would lead to new products and techniques 
that expedite the modification of existing spaces, to reduce the impact 
that adaptive projects can have on a Veteran's quality of life during 
the construction phase. VA notes that applications addressing these 
categories of special interest are not guaranteed selection, but they 
would, on initial review, be categorized as meeting the priorities for 
this grant cycle.
    Additional information regarding how these priorities will be 
scored and considered in the final selection is contained in Section 
V(A) of this notice.

E. Definitions

    Definitions of terms used in the SAHAT Grant Program are found at 
38 CFR 36.4412(b).

F. Delegation of Authority

    Pursuant to 38 CFR 36.4412(i), certain VA employees appointed to or 
lawfully fulfilling specific positions within VBA are delegated 
authority, within the limitations and conditions prescribed by law, to 
exercise the powers and functions of the Secretary with respect

[[Page 21664]]

to the SAHAT Grant Program authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108.

G. Assistance Listings

    The listings include the following: 64.051 Specially Adapted 
Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program; SAM.gov, 64.106 Specially 
Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans; SAM.gov, and 64.118 Veterans 
Housing Direct Loans for Certain Disabled Veterans; SAM.gov.

II. Federal Award Information

A. Funding Availability

    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 notice 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 that relate to adapted housing. 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

    As discussed in Section VI(A) of this notice, the SAHAT Grant 
Program Office expects to announce grant recipients after April 1, 
2024. The anticipated start date for funding grants awarded under this 
announcement is therefore after May 1, 2024.

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.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is no cost sharing, matching, or cost participation for the 
SAHAT Grant Program.

C. Threshold Criteria

    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 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 notice must involve new assistive 
technologies that the Secretary determines could aid or enhance the 
ability of a Veteran or Service member to live in an adapted home.
    2. Projects funded under this notice 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 assistance funds in excess of $200,000 will not be reviewed.
    4. Applications that do not comply with the application and 
submission information requirements provided in Section IV of this 
notice 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, as specified in the DATES section 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 
that is in arrears to the Federal Government 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.
    10. Applications with project dates that extend past July 31, 2025, 
(this period does not include the 120-day closeout period) 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, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards, as found at 2 CFR 200 (see 2 CFR 200.101(a)). Where the 
Secretary determines that 2 CFR 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 following program official: Oscar Hines (Program 
Manager), Specially Adapted Housing Program, [email protected], 202-
461-8316 (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-24-09) contains 
electronic versions of the application forms that are required. 
Additional attachments to satisfy the required application information 
may be provided; however, letters of support included with the 
application will not be reviewed. All technology grant applications 
must consist of the following:
    1. Standard Forms (SF) 424, 424A and 424B. 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. VA Form 26-0967: Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion.
    3. VA Form 26-0967a: Scoring Criteria for SAHAT Grants.
    4. 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 Service members;
    b. An estimated schedule including the length of time (not to 
extend past July 31, 2025) 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 
Service members to live in an adapted home. The following link has 
additional information regarding adapted homes: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/; and

[[Page 21665]]

    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 notice.

C. System for Award Management (SAM)

    Each technology grant applicant, unless the applicant is an 
individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from the 
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 SAM prior to submitting an application;
    2. Provide a valid SAM Unique Entity Identifier 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 SAM requirements. 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.

D. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted through 
www.Grants.gov to be transmitted to VA by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time on the application deadline, as specified in the DATES section of 
this announcement. Submissions received after this application deadline 
will be considered late and will not be reviewed or considered. 
Submissions by email, mail, or fax will not be accepted.
    Applications submitted through 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 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 identify 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 that will 
allow www.Grants.gov to send the applicant 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 the application. However, if CBI is included in an 
application, applicants should clearly indicate which portion or 
portions of their application they are claiming as CBI. See 2 CFR 
200.334-200.338 (addressing access to a non-Federal entity's records 
pertinent to a Federal award).

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.

V. Application Review Information

    Each eligible proposal (based on the Section III threshold 
eligibility review) will be evaluated according to the scoring criteria 
established by the Secretary and provided 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 
notice, the Secretary is placing the greatest emphasis on criteria 1 
and 2. This emphasis does not establish new scoring criteria but is 
designed to assist technology grant applicants in understanding how 
scores will be weighted and ultimately considered in the final 
selection process. A technology grant application must receive a 
minimum aggregate score of 70 to receive further consideration for an 
award. Instructions for completion of the scoring criteria are listed 
on VA Form 26-0967a. This form is included in the application package 
materials on www.Grants.gov. The scoring criteria and maximum points 
are as follows:
    1. A description of how the new assistive technology is innovative, 
to include an explanation of how it involves advancements in new-to-
market technologies, new variations on existing technologies, or both 
(up to 50 points);
    2. An explanation of how the new assistive technology will meet a 
specific, unmet need among eligible individuals, to include whether and 
how the new assistive technology fits within a category of special 
emphasis for FY 2024, as explained in Section I(D) of this notice (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 review panel 
comprising of five VA employees. The review panel will score 
applications using the scoring criteria provided in Section V(A) and 
refer to the selecting official those applications that receive a 
minimum aggregate score of 70. In determining which applications to 
approve, the selecting official will take into account the review panel 
score, the priorities described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity, 
the governing statute, 38 U.S.C. 2108, the governing regulation, 38 CFR 
36.4412 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-36/subpart-C/section-36.4412), and the VA Financial Policy, Volume X 
Grants Management, Chapter 4 Grants Application Review and Award 
Process, Financial Policy Documents (https://department.va.gov/financial-policy-documents/?_financial_policy_volumes=volume-x-grants-management). VA will review and consider applications for funding 
pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with 
Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) guidance located at 2 CFR 200, 
all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, except as 
noted.

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VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    Although subject to change, the SAHAT Grant Program Office expects 
to announce grant recipients on or about April 1, 2024. Prior to 
executing any funding agreement, VA will contact successful applicants 
to make known the amount of proposed funding and verify the applicant's 
desire to receive the funding. 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. This will begin the performance 
period. VA expects that the performance period should not last longer 
than 15 months. The award notice will be sent by U.S. mail or 
electronic means to the organization listed on the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF-424). All applicants will be notified by letter 
or email, sent by U.S. mail or electronic means to the address 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. The format 
for quarterly reporting will be provided to grantees upon grant award.
    2. Quarterly Financial Reports: These reports will be submitted 
electronically using the Federal Financial Report (SF-425).
    3. Grantee Closeout Report: This final report will be submitted 
electronically and will detail the assistive technology developed. The 
grantee's Closeout Report must be submitted to the SAHAT Grant Program 
Office not later than 120 days after the date the performance period 
ends.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional general information about this announcement contact 
the following program official: Oscar Hines (Program Manager), 
Specially Adapted Housing Program, [email protected], 202-461-8316 
(not a toll-free number).
    Mailed correspondence, which should not include application 
material, should be sent to the following address: Loan Guaranty 
Service, VA Central Office, Attn: Oscar Hines (262), 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20420.
    All correspondence with VA concerning this announcement should 
reference the funding opportunity title, SAHAT Grant Program, and 
funding opportunity number, VA-SAHAT-24-09. Once the application 
deadline has passed, VA staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants until the application review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

    Section 2108 authorizes VA to provide grants for the development of 
new assistive technologies through September 30, 2024. Additional 
information related to the SAHAT Grant Program administered by LGY is 
available at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/sahat.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 
(PMS). All grant recipients should adhere to PMS user policies.

IX. Notices of Funding Opportunity

    In accordance with the OMB's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, 
and all applicable Federal laws and relevant Executive guidance, the 
Federal awarding agency will review and consider applications for 
funding pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance 
with the Guidance for Grants and Agreements in title 2 CFR

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved and signed 
this document on March 14, 2024, 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.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-06634 Filed 3-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P