84396 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 

directed by, or having acted or purported to 

act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, 

Gabriela Del Villar Contreras, a person 

sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059. 

13. TERRA MINAS E INVERSIONES DEL 

PACIFICO, S.A.P.I. DE C.V., Guadalajara, 

Jalisco, Mexico; Organization Established 

Date 26 May 2021; Organization Type: 

Mining and Quarrying; Folio Mercantil No. 

N–2021047829 (Mexico) [ILLICIT–DRUGS– 

EO14059]. 

Designated pursuant to section 1(b)(iii) of 

E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or 

directed by, or having acted or purported to 

act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, 

Manuel Alejandro Foubert Cadena, a person 

sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059. 

B. On November 30, 2023, OFAC 

updated the entry on the SDN List for 

the following person, whose property 

and interests in property subject to U.S. 

jurisdiction continue to be blocked 

under the relevant sanctions authority 

listed below. 

Individual 

1. MONTERO PINZON, Julio Cesar (a.k.a. 

‘‘EL TARJETAS’’), Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 

Mexico; DOB 02 Jun 1982; POB Puerto 

Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico; nationality Mexico; 

Gender Male; C.U.R.P. 

MOPJ820602HJCNNL05 (Mexico) 

(individual) [ILLICIT–DRUGS–E.O.]. 

-toMONTERO PINZON, Julio Cesar (a.k.a. 

HERNANDEZ JIMENEZ, Cesar; a.k.a. 

VELAZQUEZ BALTAZAR, Luis Armando; 

a.k.a. ‘‘Comandante Tarjetas’’; a.k.a. ‘‘El 

Chess’’; a.k.a. ‘‘El Chino’’; a.k.a. ‘‘El Tarjetas’’; 

a.k.a. ‘‘HERNANDEZ JIMENEZ, Francisco’’; 

a.k.a. ‘‘Moreno’’), Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 

Mexico; Estero del Cayman, Real Ixtapa, 

#137–A, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico; 

DOB 02 Jun 1982; alt. DOB 08 Nov 1982; alt. 

DOB 25 Aug 1986; alt. DOB 28 Jun 1977; POB 

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico; alt. POB 

Amatan, Chiapas, Mexico; nationality 

Mexico; Gender Male; R.F.C. VEBL860825 

(Mexico); C.U.R.P. MOPJ820602HJCNNL05 

(Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. 

MOPJ821108HJCNNL04 (Mexico); alt. 

C.U.R.P. VEBL860825HJCLLS05 (Mexico); 

alt. C.U.R.P. HEJC770628HCSRMS06 

(Mexico); Electoral Registry No. 

GRMRLR82012730M700 (Mexico) 

(individual) [ILLICIT–DRUGS–EO14059]. 

Dated: November 30, 2023. 

Gregory T. Gatjanis, 

Associate Director, Office of Foreign Assets 

Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26651 Filed 12–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Funding Opportunity Under Supportive 

Services for Veteran Families Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice of funding availability. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for supportive 

services grants under the Supportive 

Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 

Program. This notice of funding 

availability (NOFA) contains 

information concerning the SSVF 

Program, the renewal and new applicant 

supportive services grant application 

processes, and the amount of funding 

available. Awards made for supportive 

services grants will fund operations 

beginning October 1, 2024. 

DATES: Applications for supportive 

services grants under the SSVF Program 

must be received by the SSVF Program 

Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on 

February 23, 2024. 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 submissions of their 

materials to avoid any risk of loss of 

eligibility brought about by 

unanticipated delays, computer service 

outages or other submission-related 

problems. 

ADDRESSES: Information about the 

application can be downloaded from the 

SSVF website at www.va.gov/homeless/ 

ssvf. Questions may be referred to the 

SSVF Program Office via email at 

SSVF@va.gov. For detailed SSVF 

Program information and requirements, 

see part 62 of title 38, Code of Federal 

Regulations (38 CFR part 62). 

Submission of Application Package: 

Applicants must submit applications 

electronically following instructions 

found at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. 

Applications may not be mailed, handcarried or sent by facsimile (FAX). 

Applications must be received in the 

SSVF Program Office by 4 p.m. eastern 

time on the application deadline date. 

Application materials 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 

package being rejected. See Section II.B. 

and II.C. of this NOFA for maximum 

allowable grant amounts. 

Technical Assistance: Information 

regarding how to obtain technical 

assistance with the preparation of a 

renewal supportive services grant 

application is available on the SSVF 

Program website at www.va.gov/ 

HOMELESS/SSVF. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Supportive Services for Veteran 

Families Program. 

Announcement Type: Initial. 

Funding Opportunity Number: VA– 

SSVF–103121. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 64.033, VA 

Supportive Services for Veteran 

Families Program. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Purpose: The SSVF Program’s 

purpose is to provide supportive 

services grants to private non-profit 

organizations and consumer 

cooperatives who will coordinate or 

provide supportive services to very lowincome Veteran families who (i) are 

residing in permanent housing and at 

risk of becoming homeless, (ii) are 

homeless and scheduled to become 

residents of permanent housing within 

a specified time period or (iii) after 

exiting permanent housing within a 

specified time period, are seeking other 

housing that is responsive to such very 

low-income Veteran family’s needs and 

preferences. 

SSVF delivers services using a 

housing-first approach that emphasizes 

permanent housing placement as the 

primary objective. Housing First is an 

evidence-based, cost-effective approach 

to ending homelessness for the most 

vulnerable and chronically homeless 

individuals (see B5_USICH_Housing_

First_Checklist.pdf (va.gov). 

SSVF prioritizes the delivery of rapid 

re-housing services to homeless Veteran 

households. Rapid re-housing is an 

intervention designed to help 

individuals and families quickly exit 

homelessness, return to housing in the 

community, and avoid homelessness 

again in the near term. The core 

components of a rapid re-housing 

program are housing identification, 

move-in and rent financial assistance, 

and rapid re-housing case management 

and services. These core components 

represent the minimum that a program 

must provide to households to be 

considered a rapid re-housing program. 

Applicants should familiarize 

themselves with the Homelessness 

Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Best 

Practice Standards found at 

www.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF. 

B. Funding Priorities: The principal 

goal of this NOFA is to seek entities that 

have the greatest capacity to end 

homelessness among Veterans or sustain 

gains made in ending homelessness 

among Veterans. Priority will be given 

to grantees who can demonstrate the 

adoption of evidence-based practices in 

their application. Under Priority 1, VA 

will provide funding to existing grantees 

who have at least one of the following 

accreditations: 3-year accreditation from 

the Commission on Accreditation of 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 84397 

Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 

Employment and Community Services: 

Rapid Rehousing and Homeless 

Prevention standards, a 4-year 

accreditation in Housing Stabilization 

and Community Living Services from 

the Council on Accreditation’s (COA) or 

a 3-year accreditation in The Joint 

Commission’s (JC) Behavioral Health 

Care: Housing Support Services 

Standards. Priority 1 applicants must 

demonstrate that accreditation is active 

at the date of submission, and 

accreditation must be maintained 

throughout the project period and/or 

funding cycle. Priority 2 includes 

existing grantees not included in 

Priority 1 but who have annual awards 

and are seeking to renew their grants. 

Existing grantees are SSVF grantees that 

have a Memorandum of Agreement 

(MOA) for operations through 

September 30, 2024. 

C. Definitions: Part 62 of title 38, Code 

of Federal Regulations (38 CFR part 62), 

contains definitions of terms used in the 

SSVF Program. In addition to the 

definitions and requirements described 

in 38 CFR part 62, this NOFA provides 

additional resources to secure 

permanent housing. These resources 

may be provided by the SSVF grantee 

under 38 CFR 62.34 to assist Veterans in 

remaining in or obtaining permanent 

housing. Grantees will be allowed to 

provide up to the equivalent of 2 

months’ rent in addition to the security 

deposit to landlords under 38 CFR 

62.34(g) as a resource for any lease of 

not less than 1 year when necessary to 

assist a Veteran in remaining in or 

obtaining permanent housing. The 

additional funds may be used to 

facilitate the leasing of rental units to 

tenants with significant housing 

barriers. Landlords are less likely to 

lease to certain groups due to the risk of 

non-payment of rent or concerns about 

damage or disruption to their buildings. 

Tenants with significant housing 

barriers might include Veterans with 

poor credit histories and criminal 

justice involvement that might 

otherwise disqualify them from 

obtaining a lease. Veterans with 

histories of sex offenses are generally 

considered high-risk tenants by 

landlords. 

Veterans are sometimes reluctant to 

move into apartments that do not offer 

any of the comforts typically associated 

with living independently. The General 

Housing Stability Assistance, provided 

under 38 CFR 62.34(e), while offering 

some funds for bedding and basic 

kitchen supplies, leaves significant 

needs unaddressed. Therefore, grantees 

also will be allowed to provide up to 

$1,000 to Veteran families for 

miscellaneous move-in expenses under 

38 CFR 62.34(g), to encourage them to 

obtain permanent housing with a lease 

of not less than 1 year. These funds are 

to be provided to assist Veterans 

through accounts established at local 

merchants, such as grocery stores and 

retailers, in the enrolled Veteran’s name. 

These items could include, but are not 

limited to, food, furniture, household 

items, electronics (including televisions) 

or other items typically associated with 

independent living in permanent 

housing. Furthermore, internet can now 

be considered as utilities as the 

definition for financial assistance as 

utility payments under 38 CFR 62.34(b) 

is expected with this NOFA to include 

these charges. Access to the internet is 

an essential component of the modern 

economy, comparable to utilities. 

Veterans without such access are put at 

a disadvantage in finding and applying 

for work opportunities, purchasing 

needed consumer goods at the lowest 

possible cost and communicating 

through email and other forms of social 

media. 

In addition to the definitions and 

requirements described in 38 CFR part 

62, this NOFA provides further 

clarification in this paragraph on the use 

of Emergency Housing Assistance 

(EHA). EHA may be provided by the 

SSVF grantee under 38 CFR 62.34(f) to 

offer transition in place when a 

permanent housing voucher, such as is 

offered through the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development’s 

(HUD) Section 8 program, is available 

from any source, but access to the 

permanent housing voucher is pending 

completion of the housing inspection 

and administrative processes necessary 

for leasing. In such circumstances, the 

EHA payment cannot exceed what 

would otherwise be paid when the 

voucher is used. EHA also may be used 

as part of Rapid Resolution, also known 

as a diversion or problem-solving 

service, that helps Veteran households 

avoid entry into homelessness through 

placements with family or friends. EHA 

may also be used as an outreach tool to 

engage and offer housing to unsheltered 

homeless Veterans with significant 

housing needs who refuse to access 

traditional emergency shelter services in 

the community. 

D. Approach: Respondents to this 

NOFA should base their proposals and 

applications on the current 

requirements of part 62. Grantees will 

be expected to leverage supportive 

services grant funds to enhance the 

housing stability of very low-income 

Veteran families who are occupying 

permanent housing. In doing so, 

grantees are required to establish 

relationships with local community 

resources. Therefore, agencies must 

work through coordinated partnerships 

built either through formal agreements 

or the informal working relationships 

commonly found among successful 

social service providers. 

Through this NOFA, grantees can pay 

fees related to securing a lease of at least 

1 year. In addition, as noted previously 

herein, Veterans are sometimes 

reluctant to move into apartments that 

do not offer any of the comforts 

typically associated with living 

independently. Pursuant to this NOFA, 

grantees would be able to use funds for 

miscellaneous expenses associated with 

moving into a new home. Moreover, 

nationally, the median average rental 

unit has increased in price by 28% 

through September 2023. Furthermore, 

service-connected Veterans with high 

levels of disability may have incomes 

that exceed the current SSVF income 

threshold of 50% of the area median 

income. These Veterans, some of the 

most vulnerable served by the VA, can 

be left ineligible for critically needed 

SSVF services. As a result, VA is 

invoking the provision in 38 U.S.C. 

2044(f)(6)(C) and 38 CFR 62.2, allowing 

VA to establish an income ceiling higher 

or lower than 50% of the median 

income for an area if VA determines that 

such variations are necessary because 

the area has unusually high or low 

construction costs, fair market rents (as 

determined under section 8 of the 

United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 

U.S.C. 1437f)) or family incomes. Area 

median income (AMI) is one factor 

SSVF uses to establish eligibility. A 

higher income ceiling, as reflected by 

the AMI, will allow grantees to serve 

Veterans who have endured significant 

increases in their housing cost burden, 

placing them at greater risk for 

homelessness. 

For purposes of this NOFA, grantees 

will be able to serve Veterans in their 

communities who have up to 80% of the 

AMI. HUD–VA Supportive Housing 

(HUD–VASH) eligibility also has an 

income of 80% of AMI. Aligning SSVF 

and HUD–VASH eligibility will allow 

SSVF grantees’ housing navigators to 

assist Veterans eligible for HUD–VASH 

as necessary with identifying and 

obtaining permanent housing. Aligning 

SSVF and HUD–VASH eligibility will 

also improve the coordination of care 

and simplify and standardize eligibility 

determinations. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to 

provide letters of support from the 

Continuums of Care (CoC) in the 

location where they plan to deliver 

services, reflecting the applicant’s 

engagement in the CoC’s efforts to 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
84398 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 

coordinate services. A CoC is a 

community planning entity that 

organizes and delivers housing and 

services to meet the needs of people 

who are homeless as they move to stable 

housing and maximize self-sufficiency. 

The CoC includes action steps to end 

homelessness and prevent a return to 

homelessness. CoC locations and 

contact information can be found at 

https://www.hudexchange.info/

grantees/contacts/?params=

%7B%22limit

%22%3A20%2C%22sort%22

%3A%22%22%2C%22order

%22%3A%22%22%2C

%22years%22%3A%5B%5D

%2C%22searchTerm

%22%3A%22%22%2C%22grantees

%22%3A%5B%5D%2C

%22state%22%3A

%22%22%2C%22programs

%22%3A%5B3%5D

%2C%22coc%22%3Atrue

%7D##granteeSearch. 

The CoC’s letter of support should 

note if the applicant is providing 

assistance to the CoC in building local 

capacity to build Coordinated Entry 

Systems (CES) and the value and form 

of that assistance, whether support is 

direct funding or staffing. CES requires 

that providers operating within the 

CoC’s geographic area must also work 

together to ensure the CoC’s coordinated 

entry process allows for coordinated 

screening, assessment and referrals 

(HUD Notice: CPD–17–01). The CoC’s 

letter of support also must describe the 

applicant’s participation in the CoC’s 

community planning efforts. Failure for 

a Priority 1 or Priority 2 applicant to 

provide a letter of support from the CoC 

as described will limit the maximum 

award to 90% of the award made in the 

previous fiscal year (FY) as described 

herein at II.C.7. In addition, any 

applicant proposing to serve an Indian 

Tribal area is strongly encouraged to 

provide a letter of support from the 

relevant Indian Tribal Government. 

The aim of the provision of 

supportive services is to assist very lowincome Veteran families residing in 

permanent housing to remain stably 

housed and to rapidly transition those 

not currently in permanent housing to 

stable housing. Assistance in obtaining 

or retaining permanent housing is a 

fundamental goal of the SSVF Program. 

SSVF emphasizes the placement of 

homeless Veteran families who are 

described in 38 CFR 62.11(b)–(c) as 

follows: 

(b)(1) Is lacking a fixed, regular and 

adequate nighttime residence, meaning: 

(i) That the Veteran family’s primary 

nighttime residence is a public or 

private place not designed for or 

ordinarily used as a regular sleeping 

accommodation for human beings, 

including a car, park, abandoned bus or 

train station, airport or camping ground, 

(ii) That the Veteran family is living 

in a supervised publicly or privately 

operated shelter designated to provide 

temporary living arrangements 

(including congregate shelters, 

transitional housing and hotels and 

motels paid for by charitable 

organizations or by Federal, State or 

local government programs for lowincome individuals) or 

(iii) That the Veteran family is exiting 

an institution where the Veteran family 

resided for 90 days or less and who 

resided in an emergency shelter or place 

not meant for human habitation 

immediately before entering that 

institution, 

(b)(2) Are at risk to remain in the 

situation described herein at paragraph 

(b)(1) of this section but for the grantee’s 

assistance and 

(b)(3) Scheduled to become a resident 

of permanent housing within 90 days 

pending the location or development of 

housing suitable for permanent housing 

or 

(c) Has met any of the conditions 

described herein at paragraph (b)(1) of 

this section after exiting permanent 

housing within the previous 90 days to 

seek other housing that is responsive to 

the very low-income Veteran family’s 

needs and preferences. 

E. Authority: Funding available under 

this NOFA is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 

2044. VA implements the SSVF Program 

through regulations in 38 CFR part 62. 

Funds made available under this NOFA 

are subject to the requirements of these 

regulations. 

F. Requirements for the Use of 

Supportive Services Grant Funds: The 

applicant’s request for funding must be 

consistent with the limitations and uses 

of supportive services grant funds set 

forth in 38 CFR part 62 and this NOFA. 

In accordance with 38 CFR part 62 and 

this NOFA, the following requirements 

apply to supportive services grants 

awarded under this NOFA: 

1. Grantees may use a maximum of 

10% of supportive services grant funds 

for administrative costs identified in 38 

CFR 62.70(e). 

2. Grantees must enroll a minimum of 

60% of Veteran households who are 

literally homeless and qualify under 38 

CFR 62.11(b). (NOTE: Grantees may 

request a waiver to decrease this 

minimum, as discussed herein at 

section V.B.3.a.) 

3. Grantees are required to have 

available temporary financial assistance 

resources that can be paid directly to a 

third party on behalf of a participant 

and may be used for childcare, 

emergency housing assistance, 

transportation, rental assistance, utilityfee payment assistance, security 

deposits, utility deposits, moving costs 

and general housing stability assistance 

(which includes emergency supplies) 

and as otherwise stated in 38 CFR 62.33 

and 38 CFR 62.34. 

4. Grantees are able to provide up to 

$1,000 supplemental assistance to every 

Veteran household who obtains a lease 

of not less than 1 year to cover 

miscellaneous move-in expenses. 

5. Grantees are able to pay landlords 

up to an amount equal to 2 months’ rent 

for fees related to securing a lease of at 

least 1 year. This incentive may be 

provided at lease-up or split up into 

multiple payments to be paid within the 

first 90 days of the Veteran being 

housed. 

G. Guidance for the Use of Supportive 

Services Grant Funds: Grantees are 

expected to demonstrate the adoption of 

evidence-based practices most likely to 

prevent and lead to reductions in 

homelessness. As part of their 

application, the applying organization’s 

Executive Director must certify on 

behalf of the agency that they will 

actively participate in community 

planning efforts and operate the 

program in a manner consistent with 

core concepts found at https://

www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/ssvfcoreconcepts. Housing is not contingent 

on compliance with mandated therapies 

or services; instead, participants must 

comply with a standard lease agreement 

and be provided with the services and 

supports that are necessary to help them 

do so successfully. Case management 

supporting permanent housing should 

include tenant counseling, mediation 

with landlords and outreach to 

landlords. 

Grantees must develop plans that will 

ensure that Veteran participants have 

the level of income and economic 

stability needed to remain in permanent 

housing after the conclusion of the 

SSVF intervention. Both employment 

and benefits assistance from VA and 

non-VA sources represent a significantly 

underutilized source of income stability 

for homeless Veterans. Income is not a 

pre-condition for housing. Case 

management should include income 

maximization strategies to ensure 

households have access to benefits, 

employment and financial counseling. 

The complexity of program rules and 

the stigma some associate with 

entitlement programs contribute to their 

lack of use. For this reason, grantees are 

encouraged to consider strategies that 

can lead to prompt and successful 

access to employment and benefits that 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 84399 

are essential to retaining housing. 

Consistent with 38 CFR 62.30–62.34, 

grantees are expected to offer the 

following supportive services: 

counseling participants about housing; 

assisting participants in understanding 

leases; securing utilities; making moving 

arrangements; providing representative 

payee services concerning rent and 

utilities when needed; using health care 

navigation services to help participants 

access health and mental health care; 

providing legal services; and providing 

mediation and outreach to property 

owners related to locating or retaining 

housing. Grantees also may assist 

participants by providing rental 

assistance; security or utility deposits; 

moving costs; emergency housing; or 

general housing stability assistance; or 

using other Federal resources, such as 

the HUD Emergency Solutions Grants 

Program (ESG) or supportive services 

grant funds subject to the limitations 

described in this NOFA and 38 CFR 

62.34. 

1. As SSVF is a short-term crisis 

intervention, grantees must develop 

plans that will produce sufficient 

income or supports to sustain Veteran 

participants in permanent housing after 

the conclusion of the initial SSVF 

intervention. Grantees must ensure the 

availability of employment and 

vocational services either through the 

direct provision of these services or 

their availability through formal or 

informal service agreements. 

Agreements with Homeless Veteran 

Reintegration Programs (HVRP) funded 

by the U.S. Department of Labor are 

strongly encouraged. For participants 

unable to work due to disability, income 

must be established through available 

benefits programs. 

2. Per 38 CFR 62.33, grantees must 

assist participants in obtaining public 

benefits. Grantees must screen all 

participants for eligibility for a broad 

range of entitlements such as the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services’ (HHS) Temporary Assistance 

for Needy Families, Social Security, the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program, the HHS Low-Income Home 

Energy Assistance Program, the Earned 

Income Tax Credit and local General 

Assistance programs. Grantees are 

expected to access the Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services 

Administration’s Supplemental Security 

Income/Social Security Disability 

Insurance Outreach, Access, and 

Recovery (SOAR) program directly by 

training staff and providing the service 

or subcontracting services to an 

organization to provide SOAR services. 

In addition, where available, grantees 

should access information technology 

tools to support case managers in their 

efforts to link participants to benefits. 

3. In accordance with 38 CFR 

62.33(g), grantees must assist 

participants in obtaining and 

coordinating the provision of legal 

services relevant to issues that interfere 

with the participants’ ability to obtain or 

retain permanent housing or supportive 

services. Grantees may provide legal 

services directly, through contract 

services, or through referrals to another 

entity. (NOTE: Information regarding 

legal services provided may be 

protected from being released to the 

grantee or VA under attorney-client 

privilege, although the grantee must 

provide sufficient information to 

demonstrate the frequency and type of 

service delivered.) Support for legal 

services can include paying for court 

filing fees to assist a participant with 

issues that interfere with the 

participant’s ability to obtain or retain 

permanent housing or supportive 

services, including issues that affect the 

participant’s employability and 

financial security. Grantees (in addition 

to employees and members of grantees) 

may represent participants before VA 

with respect to a claim for VA benefits, 

but only if they are recognized for that 

purpose pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 

59. Further, the individual providing 

such representation must be accredited 

pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 59. 

4. Access to mental health and 

addiction services is required by SSVF; 

however, grantees cannot fund these 

services directly through the SSVF 

grant. Applicants must demonstrate 

their ability to promote rapid access to 

and engagement with mental health and 

addiction services for the Veteran and 

family members. Grantees are required 

to hire staff who will provide health 

care navigation services that aid 

participants in accessing these health 

and mental health care services. 

5. When serving participants who are 

residing in permanent housing, the 

defining question to ask is: ‘‘Would this 

individual or family be homeless but for 

this assistance?’’ The grantee must use 

a VA-approved screening tool with 

criteria that target those most at risk of 

homelessness. To qualify for SSVF 

services, a participant who is served 

under 38 CFR 62.11(a) (homeless 

prevention) must not have sufficient 

resources or support networks (e.g., 

family, friends, faith-based or other 

social networks) immediately available 

to prevent them from becoming 

homeless. To further qualify for services 

under 38 CFR 62.11(a), the grantee must 

document that the participant meets at 

least one of the following conditions for 

being at risk of homeless under 24 CFR 

576.2: 

(a) Has moved because of economic 

reasons two or more times during the 60 

days immediately preceding the 

application for homelessness prevention 

assistance, 

(b) Is living in the home of another 

because of economic hardship, 

(c) Has been notified in writing that 

their right to occupy their current 

housing or living situation will be 

terminated within 21 days after the date 

of application for assistance, 

(d) Lives in a hotel or motel, and the 

cost of the hotel or motel stay is not paid 

by charitable organizations or by 

Federal, State or local government 

programs for low-income individuals, 

(e) Is exiting a publicly funded 

institution or system of care (such as a 

health care facility, a mental health 

facility or correctional institution) 

without a stable housing plan or 

(f) Otherwise lives in housing that has 

characteristics associated with 

instability and an increased risk of 

homelessness, as identified in the 

recipient’s approved screening tool. 

6. SSVF grantees are required to 

participate in local planning efforts 

designed to end Veteran homelessness. 

Grantees may use grant funds to support 

SSVF involvement in such community 

planning by sub-contracting with CoCs, 

when such funding is essential, to create 

or sustain the development of these data 

driven plans. 

7. When other funds from community 

resources are not readily available to 

assist program participants, grantees 

may choose to use supportive services 

grants, to the extent described in this 

NOFA and in 38 CFR 62.33 and 62.34, 

to provide temporary financial 

assistance. Such assistance may, subject 

to the limitations in this NOFA and 38 

CFR part 62, be paid directly to a third 

party on behalf of a participant for 

childcare; transportation; family 

emergency housing assistance; rental 

assistance; utility-fee payment 

assistance; security or utility deposits; 

moving costs; and general housing 

stability assistance as necessary. 

8. SSVF requires grantees to offer 

Rapid Resolution (also known as 

diversion or problem-solving) services. 

These services engage Veterans 

immediately before or after they become 

homeless and assist them to avoid 

continued homelessness. These efforts 

can reduce the trauma and expense 

associated with extended periods of 

homelessness, and the strain on the 

crisis response and affordable housing 

resources in the community. Through 

Rapid Resolution, the grantee and the 

Veteran explore safe, alternative 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
84400 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 

housing options immediately before or 

quickly after they become homeless. 

Rapid Resolution can identify an 

immediate safe place to stay within the 

Veteran’s network of family, friends or 

other social networks. All Veterans 

requesting SSVF services should have a 

Rapid Resolution screening and if not 

appropriate for Rapid Resolution 

grantees should then assess the Veteran 

for other SSVF services. More 

information about Rapid Resolution can 

be found at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. 

II. Award Information 

A. Overview: This NOFA announces 

the availability of funds for supportive 

services grants under the SSVF Program 

and pertains to proposals for the 

renewal of existing supportive services 

grant programs. 

B. Funding: The funding priorities for 

this NOFA are as follows. 

1. Priority 1. Under Priority 1, VA will 

provide funding to existing grantees 

who have at least one of the following 

accreditations: 3-year CARF 

accreditations in Employment and 

Community Services: Rapid Rehousing 

and Homeless Prevention standards, 4- 

year COA accreditations in Housing 

Stabilization and Community Living 

Services or 3-year JC accreditations in 

Behavioral Health Care: Housing 

Support Services Standards. Proof of 

accreditation must be submitted with 

the application no later than the 

application due date. The accreditation 

must be active at the date of submission. 

Existing grantees previously awarded 

under Priority 1 with grants scheduled 

to end by September 30, 2024, must 

apply using the renewal application. To 

be eligible for renewal of a supportive 

services grant, Priority 1 applicants’ 

program must be substantially the same 

as the program of the grantees’ current 

award. Renewal applications can 

request funding that is equal to or less 

than their current annualized amount. If 

sufficient funding is available, VA may 

provide an increase of the previous 

year’s award. Any funding increase, if 

provided, will be based on previous 

grant funding utilization and 

enrollment. VA may award a 3-year 

project period as Priority 1 to those 

submitting successful applications who 

remain in good standing and show proof 

of accreditation. 

Grantees previously awarded a 3-year 

project period that is not scheduled to 

end by September 30, 2024, cannot 

submit a renewal application package, 

under this NOFA but instead are 

required to submit a letter of intent 

(LOI) application package by the NOFA 

deadline indicating their intention of 

continuing SSVF services in FY 2025. 

All grantees submitting a LOI must 

include a letter of support from the CoC 

(see section II.C.7.) and a proposed 

budget for FY 2025. Priority 1 grantees 

submitting a LOI also must submit proof 

of continued accreditation. Based on the 

results of audit findings or performance 

concerns, VA may change grantees 

previously awarded funds as Priority 1 

grantees into Priority 2 grantees at 

renewal. The reprioritized grantees 

would then be required to submit a 

renewal application for the FY 2026 

grant year. 

2. Priority 2. Priority 2 includes all 

other existing grantees seeking to renew 

their annual grant awards. Priority 2 

applicants must apply using the renewal 

application. To be eligible for renewal of 

a supportive services grant, Priority 2 

applicants’ program must be 

substantially the same as the program of 

the grantees’ current grant award. 

Renewal applications can request 

funding that is equal to or less than their 

current annualized award. If sufficient 

funding is available, VA may provide an 

increase of the previous year’s award. 

Any funding increase, if provided, will 

be based on previous grant funding 

utilization and enrollment. 

C. Allocation of Funds: Funding will 

be awarded under this NOFA to existing 

grantees for a 1-year project period 

(Priority 2) or a 3-year project period 

(Priority 1) beginning October 1, 2024. 

Priority 1 grantees who are awarded a 3- 

year project period will be funded for 1- 

year and given the option to submit a 

LOI to request to continue funding for 

each additional year. The following 

requirements apply to supportive 

services grants awarded under this 

NOFA: 

1. In response to this NOFA, only 

existing grantees can apply as Priority 1 

or Priority 2 applicants. 

2. Priority 1 and Priority 2 renewal 

grant requests cannot exceed the current 

award. 

3. If a Priority 1 or 2 applicant is not 

renewed, all existing SSVF grants made 

to the non-renewed grantee, including 

awards made to support 62.34(a), will 

be discontinued on September 30, 2024. 

4. If a grantee failed to use any 

previously awarded funds or had 

unspent funds returned to VA, VA may 

elect to limit the renewal award to the 

amount of funds used in the previous 

fiscal year or in the current fiscal year 

less the money swept. 

5. If, during the course of the grant 

year, VA determines that grantee 

spending is not meeting the following 

minimum percentage milestones, VA 

may elect to recoup projected unused 

funds and reprogram such funds to 

provide supportive services in areas 

with higher need. Should VA elect to 

recoup unspent funds, reductions in 

available grant funds would take place 

the first business day following the end 

of the quarter. VA may elect to recoup 

funds under the following 

circumstances: 

(a) By the end of the first quarter 

(December 31, 2024) of the grantee’s 

supportive services annualized grant 

award period, the grantee’s cumulative 

requests for supportive services grant 

funds are less than an amount equal to 

15% of total supportive services grant 

award. (During this same period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 35% of the total supportive 

services grant award.) 

(b) By the end of the second quarter 

(March 31, 2025) of the grantee’s 

supportive services annualized grant 

award period, the grantee’s cumulative 

requests for supportive services grant 

funds are less than an amount equal to 

40% of total supportive services grant 

award. (During this same period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 60% of the total supportive 

services grant award.) 

(c) By the end of the third quarter 

(June 30, 2025) of the grantee’s 

supportive services annualized grant 

award period, the grantee’s cumulative 

requests for supportive services grant 

funds are less than an amount equal to 

65% of total supportive services grant 

award. (During this same period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 80% of the total supportive 

services grant award). 

6. Priority 1 and Priority 2 applicants 

who fail to provide a letter of support 

from at least one of the CoCs they plan 

to serve will be eligible for renewal 

funding at a level no greater than 90% 

of their previous award. Applicants are 

responsible for determining who in each 

serviced CoC is authorized to provide 

such letters of support. Existing Priority 

1 grantees operating under a 3-year 

project period that are only required to 

submit a LOI application package in 

response to this NOFA must also submit 

a letter of support from at least one of 

CoC’s they plan to serve. The letter of 

support should include the following 

information described herein at 6a and 

b of this section. Applicants may seek 

an exception to this requirement if they 

submit a letter from the CoC stating that 

by policy they cannot provide a letter of 

support. 

To meet this requirement and allow 

the applicant to be eligible for full 

funding, letters must include: 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 84401 

(a) A detailed description of the 

applicant’s participation in the CoC’s 

Coordinated Entry process or planning 

activities and overall community 

planning efforts (for example, 

confirmation of applic’nt’s active 

participation in planning coordinated 

entry; commitment to participating in 

coordinated entry; hours spent on CoCsponsored committee or workgroup 

assignments; and names of said 

committees or workgroups). 

(b) The applic’nt’s contribution to the 

’oC’s coordinated entry process capacity 

building efforts, detailing the specific 

nature of this contribution (for example, 

the hours of staff time and/or the 

amount of funding provided), if such 

SSVF capacity has been requested by 

the CoC or otherwise has shown to be 

of value to the CoC. 

7. Should additional funding become 

available over the course of the grant 

term from funds recouped under the 

Award Information section of this 

Notice, from funds that are voluntarily 

returned by grantees, from funds that 

become available due to a grant 

termination or from other funds still 

available for grant awards, VA may elect 

to offer these funds to grantees in areas 

where demand has exceeded available 

SSVF resources. Additional funds will 

be provided to the highest scoring 

grantee in the selected area who is in 

compliance with their grant agreement 

and has the capacity to use the 

additional funds. 

D. Supportive Services Grant Award 

Period: Priority 2 grants are made for a 

1-year period. Some grantees may be 

eligible to apply as Priority 1 and could 

be selected for an award with the option 

to continue funding each year for up to 

three years, if they meet the criteria 

described herein at section VI.C.6. Grant 

renewals are eligible to be renewed 

subject to the availability of funding. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants: Only eligible 

entities, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 2044(f), 

who are existing grantees can apply in 

response to this NOFA. 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching: None. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Obtaining an Application Package: 

Applications are located at www.va.gov/ 

homeless/ssvf. Any questions regarding 

this process may be referred to the SSVF 

Program Office via email at SSVF@

va.gov. For detailed SSVF Program 

information and requirements, see 38 

CFR part 62. 

B. Content and Form of Application: 

Applicants must submit applications 

electronically following instructions 

found at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf. 

C. Submission Dates and Times: 

Applications for supportive services 

grants under the SSVF Program must be 

received by the SSVF Program Office by 

4 p.m. Eastern Time on February 23, 

2024. Awards made for supportive 

services grants will fund operations 

beginning October 1, 2024. 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. In addition, 

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 materials to avoid 

any risk of loss of eligibility brought 

about by unanticipated delays, 

computer service outages, or other 

delivery-related problems. 

D. Funding Restrictions: Funding will 

be awarded for existing supportive 

services grants under this NOFA 

depending on funding availability. 

Priority 1 and Priority 2 applicants 

should fill out separate applications for 

each supportive services funding 

request. Priority 1 and Priority 2 

applicants must use applications 

designated for renewal applicants. 

Funding will be awarded under this 

NOFA to existing grantees beginning 

October 1, 2024. 

1. Funding used for staff education 

and training cannot exceed 1% of the 

overall program grant award. This 

limitation does not include the cost to 

attend VA mandated training. All 

training costs must be directly related to 

the provision of services to homeless 

Veterans and their families. 

2. Expenses related to maintaining 

accreditation are allowable. Grantees are 

allowed to include expenses for seeking 

initial accreditation only once in a 5- 

year period. The expenses to renew full 

accreditation are allowed and are based 

on the schedule of the accrediting 

agency: for example, every 3 years for 

CARF and every 4 years for COA. 

Expenses related to the renewal of less 

than full accreditation are not allowed. 

E. Other Submission Requirements: 

1. Existing applicants applying for 

Priority 1 or Priority 2 grants may apply 

only as renewal applicants using the 

application designed for renewal grants. 

2. At the discretion of VA, multiple 

grant proposals submitted by the same 

lead agency may be combined into a 

single grant award if the proposals 

provide services to contiguous areas. 

3. Additional supportive services 

grant application requirements are 

specified in the application package. 

Submission of an incorrect or 

incomplete application package will 

result in the application being rejected 

during threshold review. The 

application packages must contain all 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in 38 CFR part 62 and 

this NOFA. Applicants and grantees 

will be notified of any additional 

information needed to confirm or clarify 

information provided in the application 

and the deadline by which to submit 

such information. Applicants must 

submit applications electronically. 

Applications may not be mailed, hand 

carried or faxed. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria: 

1. VA will screen all applications to 

identify those that meet the threshold 

requirements described in 38 CFR 62.21. 

2. VA will use the criteria described 

in 38 CFR 62.24 to score grantees 

applying for renewal of a supportive 

services grant. 

B. Review and Selection Process: VA 

will review all supportive services grant 

applications in response to this NOFA 

according to the following steps: 

1. LOI applications that meet 

threshold requirements described in 38 

CFR 62.21 will be offered funding. 

2. Score all renewal applications that 

meet the threshold requirements 

described in 38 CFR 62.21. 

3. Rank those renewal applications 

that score at least 75 cumulative points 

and receive at least 1 point under each 

of the categories identified for renewal 

applicants in 38 CFR 62.24. The 

applications will be ranked in order 

from highest to lowest scores in 

accordance with 38 CFR 62.25 for 

renewal applicants. 

4. VA will use the ranked scores of 

renewal applications as the primary 

basis for selection. However, VA also 

will use the following considerations in 

38 CFR 62.23(d) to select applicants for 

funding: 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
84402 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 

(a) Give preference to applications 

that provide or coordinate the provision 

of supportive services for very lowincome Veteran families transitioning 

from homelessness to permanent 

housing. Consistent with this preference 

applicants are required to enroll no less 

than 60% of participants who are 

homeless as defined in 38 CFR 62.11(b) 

and (c). Rural areas and tribal areas are 

exempt from this requirement in areas 

defined as rural (https://

www.hudexchange.info/programs/rhed/

#:∼:text=HUD%20defines%20rural

%20in%20three,in

%20a%20Metropolitan%20Statistical

%20Area). Other areas may seek 

waivers to this 60% requirement when 

grantees can demonstrate significant 

local progress towards eliminating 

homelessness in the target service area. 

Waiver requests must include data from 

authoritative sources such as point-intime counts and by-name-lists 

indicating that a community has made 

substantial enough progress on reducing 

homelessness that it can shift additional 

resources to prevention. Waiver requests 

must include an endorsement by the 

impacted CoC explicitly stating that a 

shift in resources from rapid re-housing 

to prevention will not result in an 

increase in homelessness. Grantees who 

are exempt or receive waivers to this 

60% requirement must still enroll no 

less than 40% of all participants who 

are homeless as defined in 38 CFR 62.11 

(b) and (c). 

(b) To the extent practicable, ensure 

that supportive services grants are 

equitably distributed across geographic 

regions, including rural communities 

and tribal lands. This equitable 

distribution criteria will be used to 

ensure that SSVF resources are provided 

to those communities with the highest 

need as identified by VA’s assessment of 

expected demand and available 

resources to meet that demand. 

5. Subject to the considerations noted 

previously herein at paragraph B.4. VA 

will fund the highest-ranked applicants 

for which funding is available. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices: Although subject to 

change, the SSVF Program Office 

expects to announce grant recipients for 

all applicants in the fourth quarter of FY 

2024 with grants beginning October 1, 

2024. Prior to executing a funding 

agreement, VA will contact the 

applicants, make known the amount of 

proposed funding and verify that the 

applicant is still seeking the funding. 

Once VA verifies that the applicant is 

still seeking funding, VA will execute 

an agreement and make payments to the 

grant recipient in accordance with 38 

CFR part 62 and this NOFA. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements: As cited in 38 CFR 62.38 

SSVF grants cannot be used to fund 

ineligible activities. 

C. Reporting: VA places great 

emphasis on the responsibility and 

accountability of grantees. As described 

in 38 CFR 62.63 and 62.71, VA has 

procedures in place to monitor 

supportive services provided to 

participants and outcomes associated 

with the supportive services provided 

under the SSVF Program. Applicants 

should be aware of the following: 

1. Upon execution of a supportive 

services grant agreement with VA, 

grantees will have a VA regional 

coordinator assigned by the SSVF 

Program Office who will provide 

oversight and monitor supportive 

services provided to participants. 

2. Grantees will be required to enter 

data into a Homeless Management 

Information System (HMIS) web-based 

software application. This data will 

consist of information on the 

participants served and types of 

supportive services provided by 

grantees. Grantees must treat the data 

for activities funded by the SSVF 

Program separate from that of activities 

funded by other programs. Grantees will 

be required to work with their HMIS 

Administrators to export client-level 

data for activities funded by the SSVF 

Program to VA on at least a monthly 

basis. The completeness, timeliness and 

quality of grantee uploads into HMIS 

will be factored into the evaluation of 

their grant performance. 

3. VA will complete annual 

monitoring evaluations of each grantee. 

Monitoring will also include the 

submittal of quarterly and annual 

financial and performance reports by 

the grantee. The grantee will be 

expected to demonstrate adherence to 

the grantee’s proposed program as 

described in the grantee’s application. 

All grantees are subject to audits 

conducted by VA or its representative. 

Pursuant to § 62.80, when a grantee fails 

to comply with the terms, conditions, or 

standards of the supportive services 

grant, VA may, on 7-days notice to the 

grantee, withhold further payment, 

suspend the supportive services grant, 

or prohibit the grantee from incurring 

additional obligations of supportive 

services grant funds, pending corrective 

action by the grantee or a decision to 

terminate. Additionally, grantees who 

are identified as not meeting 

performance standards pursuant to 

§ 62.80 are subject to withholding, 

suspension, deobligation, termination, 

and recovery of funds by VA. 

4. Grantees will be assessed based on 

their ability to meet critical performance 

measures. In addition to meeting 

program requirements defined by the 

regulations and applicable NOFA(s), 

grantees will be assessed on their ability 

to place participants into housing and 

the housing retention rates of 

participants served. Higher placement 

for homeless participants and higher 

housing retention rates for participants 

at risk of homelessness are expected for 

very low-income Veteran families when 

compared to extremely low-income 

Veteran families with incomes below 

30% of the area median income. 

5. Grantees’ performance will be 

assessed based on their consumer 

satisfaction scores. These scores include 

the participation rates and satisfaction 

results of the standardized survey 

offered to all participant households. 

6. Organizations receiving renewal 

awards that have had ongoing SSVF 

program operation for at least 1 year (as 

measured from the start of initial SSVF 

services until February 10, 2024) may be 

eligible for a 3-year project period. 

Grantees meeting outcome goals defined 

by VA and in substantial compliance 

with their grant agreements (defined by 

meeting targets and having no 

outstanding corrective action plans) and 

who, in addition, have a 3-year 

accreditation from either CARF in 

Employment and Community Services: 

Rapid Rehousing and Homeless 

Prevention standards, a 4-year 

accreditation from COA in Supported 

Community Living Services, or a 3-year 

accreditation in The Joint Commission’s 

Behavioral Health Care: Housing 

Support Services Standards are eligible 

for a 3-year project period. (NOTE: 

Multi-year project periods are 

contingent on funding availability.) If 

awarded a multiple year renewal, 

grantees may be eligible for funding 

increases as defined in NOFAs that 

correspond to years two and three of 

their renewal funding. At its discretion, 

VA may reduce 3-year project periods to 

a 1-year project period based on 

previous fiscal year performance 

concerns or most recent audit results. 

VII. Other Information 

A. VA Goals and Objectives for Funds 

Awarded Under this NOFA: In 

accordance with 38 CFR 62.24(c), VA 

will evaluate an applicant’s compliance 

with VA goals and requirements for the 

SSVF Program. VA goals and 

requirements include the provision of 

supportive services designed to enhance 

the housing stability and independent 

living skills of very low-income Veteran 

families occupying permanent housing 

across geographic regions and program 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Notices 84403 

administration in accordance with all 

applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, 

and the SSVF grant agreement. For 

purposes of this NOFA, VA goals and 

requirements also include the provision 

of supportive services designed to 

rapidly re-house or prevent 

homelessness among people in the 

following target populations who also 

meet all requirements for being part of 

a very low-income Veteran family 

occupying permanent housing: 

1. Veteran families earning less than 

30% of area median income as most 

recently published by HUD for programs 

under section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act 

of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) (http://

www.huduser.org). 

2. Veterans with at least one 

dependent family member. 

3. Veterans returning from Operation 

Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi 

Freedom or Operation New Dawn. 

4. Veteran families located in a 

community, as defined by HUD’s CoC, 

or a county not currently served by a 

SSVF grantee. 

5. Veteran families located in a 

community, as defined by HUD’s CoC, 

where the current level of SSVF services 

is not sufficient to meet demand of 

Category 2 and 3 (currently homeless) 

Veteran families. 

6. Veteran families located in a rural 

area. 

7. Veteran families located on Indian 

Tribal Property. 

B. Payments of Supportive Services 

Grant Funds: Grantees will receive 

payments electronically through the 

HHS Payment Management System. 

Grantees will have the ability to request 

payments as frequently as they choose 

subject to the following limitations: 

1. During the first quarter of the 

grantee’s supportive services annualized 

grant award period, the grantee’s 

cumulative requests for supportive 

services grant funds may not exceed 

35% of the total supportive services 

grant award without written approval by 

VA. 

2. By the end of the second quarter of 

the grantee’s supportive services 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 60% of the total supportive 

services grant award without written 

approval by VA. 

3. By the end of the third quarter of 

the grantee’s supportive services 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 80% of the total supportive 

services grant award without written 

approval by VA. 

4. By the end of the fourth quarter of 

the grantee’s supportive services 

annualized grant award period, the 

grantee’s cumulative requests for 

supportive services grant funds may not 

exceed 100% of the total supportive 

services grant award. 

Signing Authority 

Denis McDonough, Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs, approved and signed 

this document on November 29, 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. 

Jeffrey M. Martin, 

Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy 

& Management, Office of General Counsel, 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26650 Filed 12–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0418] 

Agency Information Collection Activity 

Under OMB Review: Veterans Affairs 

Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 

809.507–1 and VAAR Provision 

852.209–70 

AGENCY: Procurement Policy and 

Warrant Management Service, Office of 

Procurement Policy, Systems and 

Oversight, Office of Acquisition and 

Logistics (OAL), Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 

1995, this notice announces that the 

Office of Acquisition and Logistics, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, will 

submit the collection of information 

abstracted below to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and comment. The PRA 

submission describes the nature of the 

information collection and its expected 

cost and burden and it includes the 

actual data collection instrument. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice by clicking on the following link 

www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, 

select ‘‘Currently under Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’, then search the 

list for the information collection by 

Title or ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0418.’’ 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 

and Integration, Data Governance 

Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, 

Washington, DC 20420, (202) 266–4688 

or email maribel.aponte@va.gov. Please 

refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0418’’ 

in any correspondence. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–21. 

Title: Veterans Affairs Acquisition 

Regulation (VAAR) 809.507–1 and 

VAAR Provision 852.209–70. 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0418. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: Performance of VA mission 

requires the use of contractors. VAAR 

provision 852.209–70, Organizational 

Conflicts of Interest is to implement 

section 8141 of the 1989 Department of 

Defense Appropriation Act, Public Law 

100–463, 102 Stat. 2270–47 (1988). 

VAAR 809.507–1, Solicitation 

provisions, and VAAR provision 

852.209–70, Organizational Conflicts of 

Interest, requires offerors on 

solicitations for management support 

and consulting services to advise, as 

part of the firm’s offer, whether or not 

award of the contract to the firm might 

involve a conflict of interest or potential 

conflict of interest, and, if so, to disclose 

all relevant facts regarding the conflict 

or potential conflict. The information is 

used by the contracting officer to 

determine whether or not to award a 

contract to the firm or, if a contract is 

to be awarded despite a potential 

conflict, whether or not additional 

contract terms and conditions are 

necessary to mitigate the conflict. 

An agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to a collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. The Federal Register 

Notice with a 60-day comment period 

soliciting comments on this collection 

of information was published at 88 FR 

62429 on September 11, 2023 pages 

62429 and 62430. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 102 hours. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Respondent: 60 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: 1 per each 

solicitation. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

102. 

By direction of the Secretary. 

Maribel Aponte, 

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of 

Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance 

Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26578 Filed 12–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES