Veterans' Employment and Training Service January 28, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) supports local Stand Down events that help homeless veterans attain meaningful civilian employment. Authority to support such events is in 38 U.S.C. section 2021, which provides that the ``Secretary of Labor shall conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.'' A Stand Down is a local community event where homeless veterans are provided a wide variety of services and incentives. Stand Down funding is provided in the form of non-competitive grants that are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until available funding is exhausted. VETS anticipates that approximately $600,000 will be available to award approximately 70 grants in each of the three Federal fiscal years covered by this solicitation. The Federal fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the next calendar year. Availability of Stand Down grant funding each fiscal year will be dependent upon Federal appropriation. Awards will be made for a maximum of $10,000 per multi-day event, which is up to three days, or $7,000 per one-day event. VETS is now accepting applications for grant awards to fund Stand Down events in FY 2014. All applications for Stand Down grant funding must be submitted to the appropriate State Director for Veterans' Employment and Training (DVET) no less than 90 days prior to the event. Address and contact information for each state DVET can be found at: https://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/map.htm. Stand Down grant funding is awarded for a specific event on a specific date. Organizations planning Stand Down events must submit a new application each year to request funding and should not assume that the application will be approved. Stand Down grant awards are contingent upon a Federal appropriation or a continuing resolution each Federal fiscal year. Therefore, applications submitted after July 1 for events to be held after September 30 may be held for consideration contingent upon Federal funding availability during the upcoming fiscal year. Grant applicants cannot obligate grant funding toward Stand Down expenses prior to receiving a Notice of Award from the Grant Officer; any such expenses will be disallowed.