[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 14 (Friday, January 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4312-4313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1507]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Fund Availability Under VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for applications for assistance under the 
Technical Assistance Grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant 
and Per Diem Program. This notice contains information concerning the 
program, application process, and amount of funding available.

DATES: An original completed and collated grant application (plus three 
completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and 
Per Diem Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 25, 
2009. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). In the interest 
of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to 
date and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any 
application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take 
this practice into account and make early submission of their material 
to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated 
delays, computer service outages (in the case of Grants.gov), or other 
delivery-related problems.
    For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's 
Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per Diem Program at (toll-free) 1-
877-332-0334. In this package is information on Grants.gov submission 
should applicants so desire. For a document relating to the VA's 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, see the final rule 
codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0.
    Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant 
application (plus three copies) and a cover letter clearly stating 
under which funding priority applicants (see funding priorities) wish 
to be considered must be submitted to the following address: VA 
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th 
Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications must be received in 
the Grant and Per Diem Field office by the application deadline. This 
includes applications submitted through Grants.gov. Applications must 
arrive as a complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be 
included in the application package for consideration and may result in 
the application being rejected or not funded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Watson, VA Homeless 
Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
10770 North 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; or call (toll-
free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the availability of 
funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 
Program for eligible non-profit entities with expertise in preparing 
grant applications relating to the provision of assistance for homeless 
veterans to: Provide technical assistance to those non-profit 
community-based groups with experience in providing assistance to 
homeless veterans in order to help such groups apply for grants under 
the final rule, published in the Federal Register, September 26, 2003, 
or to apply for other grants from any source for addressing the 
problems of homeless veterans.
    Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized by the 
``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,'' Public Law 
107-95, Sec.  5, codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2013, 
2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the final rule codified at 38 
CFR Part 61.0. The regulations can be found in their entirety in 38 
CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available under this Notice 
are subject to the requirements of those regulations.
    Funding applied for under this notice may be used for: (a) Group or 
individual seminars providing general instructions concerning grant 
applications; (b) Group or individual seminars providing instructions 
for applying for a specific grant; or (c) Group or individual 
instruction for preparing analyses to be included in a grant 
application. Seminars (course of instruction) may be delivered in 
electronic, face-to-face (individual or group), and correspondence 
methodologies (e.g., Internet based training, video teleconferencing, 
computer media such as CD or disk).
    VA's statutory authority is limited to providing grants so that the 
recipients ``shall provide technical assistance to non-profit 
community-based groups

[[Page 4313]]

with experience in providing assistance to homeless veterans in order 
to assist such groups in applying for grants under this chapter and 
other grants relating to addressing problems of homeless veterans'' (38 
U.S.C. 2064). Potential applicants should take this into consideration 
when developing technical assistance applications to ensure their 
activities as described in the application meet the regulatory criteria 
of aiding potential non-profits by providing general instructions 
concerning grant applications, instruction on completing specific grant 
applications, or providing analyses to be used in grant applications 
(38 CFR 61.50 (a), (b), (c)).
    Entities that are interested in providing technical assistance 
should be aware that historically the Grant and Per Diem Program office 
receives over 1,500 nationwide inquiries per Notice of Fund 
Availability (NOFA) from prospective applicants. It is estimated that 
an additional 1,000 inquiries are received nationwide at VA Medical 
Center Homeless Programs. From these inquiries, VA has seen an increase 
in the number of applicants each year. Approximately 100 to 300 
applications per funding round have been received in past responses to 
NOFAs under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Those 
entities applying to provide technical assistance should consider not 
only the numbers but the diversity of the service provider seeking 
assistance when establishing their service plans.
    The applicant for this funding will be expected to develop an 
integrated technical assistance plan, using funds for purposes as 
specified in this NOFA, the objectives of the program rules and 
regulations to offer technical assistance to agencies in their-
specified target area. Applicants should take note that they will be 
held accountable to provide to VA documentation that demonstrates the 
objectives of technical training are being met throughout the course of 
the award cycle and documentation that clearly demonstrates the 
completion of technical assistance objectives were met, cumulatively, 
at the end of the funding period. Also, VA intends to conduct both 
periodic fiscal and performance reviews of the awarded agency(s). The 
technical assistance should not only raise the awareness of providers 
regarding the availably of funds to assist homeless veterans but also 
increase providers' proficiency in applying for these funds to assist 
homeless veterans. Applicants should take the aforementioned into 
consideration when developing a technical assistance plan. Outcomes 
measures that are specific and measurable should be an integral part of 
the technical assistance plan that is submitted in the application.
    Grant applicants may not receive assistance to replace funds 
provided by any State or local government for the same purpose.

    Authority: Funding applied for under this Notice is authorized 
by the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,'' 
Public Law 107-95, Sec.  5, codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 
2012, 2013, 2061, 2064. The program is implemented by the final rule 
codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. The regulations can be found in their 
entirety in 38 CFR, Sec. 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available 
under this Notice are subject to the requirements of those 
regulations.

    Allocation: Approximately $3 million is available for the technical 
assistance grant component of this program. Funding will be for a 
period beginning on October 1, 2009 and ending on September 30, 2011. 
Not more than $500,000.00 per year per technical assistance provider 
will be awarded. Applicants should take into consideration the 24-month 
period of award when calculating and submitting their budgets for this 
NOFA.
    Funding Priorities: Feedback from previous technical assistance 
users' and documented outcomes from previous technical assistance 
providers indicates a demand and preference for face-to-face group 
seminars to deliver technical assistance information. In order to meet 
this demand VA establishes the following funding priorities.
    Funding priority 1. Eligible entities that will provide 45 face-to-
face group grant writing seminars, nationwide, per year, specific to 
the Grant / Per Diem Program will be placed in funding priority one.
    With these criteria, of those eligible entities in the first 
funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring 
applicant will be funded first followed by the second highest scoring 
applicant until $1 million is funded. Of this group not more than one 
(1) technical assistance grant will be awarded to the same technical 
assistance recipient (defined by tax identification number). Using the 
guidance above, should the goal not be met and if funding is still 
available, remaining funding will go to the second funding priority.
    Funding priority 2. Should funding still be available, eligible 
entities providing general technical assistance activities as stated in 
the regulations will be placed in the second funding priority. Of this 
group not more than one (1) technical assistance grant will be awarded 
to the same technical assistance recipient (defined by tax 
identification number). Of those eligible entities in the second 
funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring 
applicants will be funded first until funding is expended.
    Application Requirements: Applicants must provide a cover letter 
indicating which funding priority they are applying under. The specific 
grant application requirements will be specified in the application 
package. The package includes all required forms and certifications. 
Selections will be made based on criteria described in the application. 
Applicants who are selected will be notified of any additional 
information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the 
application. Applicants will then be notified of the time in which to 
submit such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any 
conditions for grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves 
the right to not award funds and to use the funds available for other 
grant and per diem applicants.

    Dated: January 13, 2009.
James B. Peake,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E9-1507 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
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