Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 50979 

Dated: October 25, 2017. 

Gladys Perez-Hernandez, 

Manager, Classification Team 82413, 

Examinations Operations—Philadelphia 

Compliance Services. 

[FR Doc. 2017-23885 Filed 11-1-17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830-01-P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Funding Availability: Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA), Veterans Health Administration 

(VHA), VA Homeless Providers Grant 

and Per Diem (GPD) Program. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA). 

SUMMARY: VA is announcing the 

availability of per diem funds to eligible 

entities to provide transitional housing 

beds under VA’s Homeless Providers 

GPD Program models. VA expects to 

fund 1,500 beds with this NOFA for 

applicants who will use one or a 

combination of the following housing 

models: Bridge Housing, Low Demand, 

Hospital-to-Housing, Clinical 

Treatment, and Service-Intensive 

Transitional Housing and Service 

Centers. 

DATES: An original signed and dated 

application for assistance (plus two 

completed collated copies) for VA’s 

Homeless Providers GPD Program and 

associated documents must be received 

by the GPD Program Office by 4:00 p.m. 

Eastern Standard Time February 28, 

2018 (see application requirements 

below). 

ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be 

submitted to the following address: VA 

Homeless Providers GPD Program 

Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C– 

200, Tampa, Florida 33617. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Jeffery L. Quarles, Director, VA 

Homeless Providers GPD Program, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 

N. 46th Street, Suite C–200, Tampa, FL 

33617; (toll-free) 1– (877) 332–0334. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Funding Opportunity Description 

This NOFA announces the availability 

of per diem funding to 501(c)(3) and 

501(c)(19) non-profit organizations, 

State and Local governments, and 

Indian Tribal governments to provide a 

minimum of five transitional housing 

beds. No more than 40 beds per model, 

per medical center, per each applicant’s 

Employer Identification Number (EIN) 

will be allowed under this NOFA. 

Applicants must apply for funding 

using one or more of these models, and 

a separate application is required for 

each model. Applicants agree to meet 

the applicable requirements of 38 CFR 

part 61. In addition, all applications for 

these housing models need to 

demonstrate low barriers to accessing 

service as well as policies and 

procedures to work with Veterans who 

relapse. 

Housing Models Descriptions 

Bridge Housing 

Targeted Population—Homeless 

Veterans who have been offered and 

have accepted a permanent housing 

intervention (e.g., Supportive Services 

for Veteran Families (SSVF), 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development-VA Supportive Housing 

(HUD–VASH), Housing Coalition/ 

Continuum of Care (CoC)), but are not 

able to immediately enter the permanent 

housing. Other permanent housing may 

also be identified (e.g., purchase of a 

home, or an apartment lease). 

Applicants should review the 

availability of the community’s 

permanent housing prior to applying 

under this model so as to avoid not 

being able to move Veterans to 

permanent housing as quickly as 

possible. 

Model Overview—Bridge housing is 

intended to be a short-term stay in 

transitional housing for Veterans with 

pre-identified permanent housing 

destinations. 

Characteristics & Standards—Goals in 

the Individual Service Plan should be 

short-term with the focus on the move 

to permanent housing, rather than the 

completion of treatment goals. Veterans 

are expected to receive case 

management and support, which should 

be coordinated with the HUD–VASH, 

SSVF, or other available communitybased programs. Grantees will assist 

Veterans with accessing services as 

needed/requested by the Veteran and 

must make available to participants a 

menu of available services. 

Length of Stay (LOS) will be 

individually determined based on need, 

but in general, is not expected to exceed 

90 days. 

Admission Criteria—Veterans must 

have been offered and accepted a 

permanent housing intervention prior to 

admission or within the first 14 days of 

admission. 

Required Minimum Performance 

Metrics/Targets—Discharge to 

permanent housing is 70 percent. 

Negative Exits target is less than 23 

percent. Negative exits are defined as 

those exits from a GPD program for a 

violation of program rules, failure to 

comply with program requirements, or 

leaving the program without consulting 

staff. 

Low Demand 

Targeted Population—Chronically 

homeless Veterans who suffer from 

mental-health or substance-use 

problems, or who struggle with 

maintaining sobriety; and Veterans with 

multiple treatment failures who may 

have never received treatment services, 

or may have been unsuccessful in 

traditional housing programs. These 

Veterans may have not yet fully 

committed to sobriety and treatment. 

Model Overview—Low-Demand 

housing uses a low-demand/harmreduction model to better accommodate 

chronically homeless Veterans, and 

Veterans who were unsuccessful in 

traditional treatment settings. 

Programming does not require sobriety 

or compliance with mental health 

treatment as a condition of admission or 

continued stay. Overall, demands are 

kept to a minimum; however, services 

are available as needed. The goal is to 

establish permanent housing in the 

community, while providing for the 

safety of staff and residents. 

Characteristics & Standards—Project 

is small in size (typically 20 beds or 

less); Services must include case 

management, substance-use, and 

mental-health treatment; and referrals 

for benefits are made available as 

Veterans engage; 

Must provide the participant an 

orientation that sets the expectations of 

performance for the participant; Must 

have 24/7, on-site staffing at the same 

location as the location of the program 

participant. (Use of resident managers is 

not allowed); 

Must have a method to monitor 

participant and guests’ comings and 

goings; 

Must have a system in place for the 

management of the introduction of 

contraband; 

Must be willing to retain Veterans 

who commit minor infractions of rules 

and who cannot and/or will not stop 

drinking and/or using legal or illegal 

substances; 

Must be committed to keeping the 

Veterans housed, staying continuously 

engaged with each Veteran and provide 

services as needed; 

Must have procedures to ensure safety 

of staff and residents, and the grantee 

agency must participate in bi-monthly 

calls and an annual fidelity assessment 

process as established by VA. 

Required Minimum Performance 

Metrics/Targets—Discharge to 

permanent housing is 50 percent and 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
50980 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 

negative exit target is less than 23 

percent. Negative exits are defined as 

those exits from a GPD program for a 

violation of program rules, failure to 

comply with program requirements, or 

leaving the program without consulting 

staff. 

Hospital-to-Housing 

Targeted Population—Homeless 

Veterans identified and evaluated in 

emergency departments and inpatient 

care settings for suitability for direct 

transfer to a designated GPD Program for 

transitional housing and supportive 

care. 

Model Overview—Respite care is a 

medical model to address the housing 

and recuperative care needs of homeless 

Veterans who have been hospitalized. 

Characteristics & Standards— 

Housing sites are expected to be in close 

proximity to the referring medical 

center so that ongoing clinical care, 

including specialty care, can continue to 

be provided; 

Have a post-discharge care plan as 

pre-requisite to program placement that 

addresses ongoing physical, mental 

health, substance use disorder, and 

social work needs as well as care 

management plans to transition the 

Veteran to permanent housing upon 

clinical stabilization; 

The VA Homeless Patient Aligned 

Care Team (H–PACT), or other 

appropriate care unit, will facilitate and 

coordinate the ongoing care needs upon 

transition; 

A Memorandum of Understanding 

must be in place with the local medical 

center that details participation in the 

Hospital-to-Home (H2H) program. 

Included in this should be a detailing of 

acceptance criteria for Veterans being 

referred from local facility emergency 

departments and inpatient wards, a 

detailing of how follow-up care with the 

medical center is organized, and a 

commitment to engaging enrolled 

Veterans in permanent housing as part 

of program objectives. 

Admission Criteria—Individual must 

be functional, be able to perform 

independent Activities of Daily Living 

(ADL), not require acute detox, have no 

apparent psychosis, and have a post 

discharge plan coordinating care with 

the medical center (e.g., H–PACT Team, 

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, etc.). 

Required Minimum Performance 

Metrics/Targets—Discharge to 

permanent housing is 65 percent and 

negative exit target is less than 23 

percent. Negative exits are defined as 

those exits from a GPD program for a 

violation of program rules, failure to 

comply with program requirements, or 

leaving the program without consulting 

staff. 

Clinical Treatment 

Targeted Population—Homeless 

Veterans with a specific diagnosis 

related to a substance-use disorder and/ 

or mental-health diagnosis; Veteran 

actively chooses to engage in clinical 

services. 

Model Overview—Clinically focused 

treatment provided in conjunction with 

services effective in helping homeless 

Veterans secure permanent housing and 

increase income through benefits and/or 

employment. 

Characteristics & Standards— 

Although the programming and services 

have a strong clinical focus, permanent 

housing and increased income are a 

required outcome of the program. 

Treatment programs must incorporate 

strategies to increase income and 

housing attainment services; 

Individualized assessment, services, 

and treatment plan which are tailored to 

achieve optimal results in a time 

efficient manner and are consistent with 

sound clinical practice; 

Program stays are to be individualized 

based upon the individual service plan 

for the Veteran (not program driven); 

Staff are to be licensed and/or 

credentialed to perform the substanceuse disorder (SUD)/mental health (MH) 

services provided as directed by State 

and Local law, treatment services must 

be provided by the applicant or through 

contract arrangement (VA staff cannot 

not be the treatment provider for this 

model); and 

Veterans are offered a variety of 

treatment service modalities (e.g., 

individual and group counseling/ 

therapy, family support groups/family 

therapy, and psychoeducation). 

Required Minimum Performance 

Metrics/Targets—Discharge to 

permanent housing is 65 percent; 

employment of individuals at discharge 

is 50 percent; and negative exit target is 

less than 23 percent. Negative exits are 

defined as those exits from a GPD 

program for a violation of program rules, 

failure to comply with program 

requirements, or leaving the program 

without consulting staff. 

Service-Intensive Transitional Housing 

Targeted Population—Homeless 

Veterans who choose a supportive 

transitional housing environment 

providing services prior to entering 

permanent housing. 

Model Overview—Provides 

transitional housing and a milieu of 

services that facilitate individual 

stabilization and movement to 

permanent housing as rapidly as 

clinically appropriate. 

Characteristics & Standards—Scope 

of services should incorporate tactics to 

increase the Veteran’s income through 

employment and/or benefits and 

obtaining permanent housing. Services 

provided and strategies used by the 

applicant will vary based on the 

individualized needs of the Veteran and 

resources available in the community. 

Applicant specifies the staffing levels 

and range of services to be provided. 

Required Minimum Performance 

Metrics/Targets—Discharge to 

permanent housing is 65 percent; 

employment of individuals at discharge 

is 50 percent; and negative exit target is 

less than 23 percent. 

Service Centers 

Targeted Population—Homeless 

Veterans who are seeking assistance 

with obtaining housing, employment, 

medical care, or benefits. 

Model Overview—Provides services 

and information to engage and aid 

homeless Veterans obtain housing and 

services. 

Characteristics & Standards—Scope of 

services should incorporate tactics to 

engage and aid the Veteran. Services 

provided and strategies used by the 

applicant will vary based on the 

individualized needs of the Veteran and 

resources available in the community. 

Applicant specifies the staffing levels 

and range of services to be provided. 

Eligibility Information: To be eligible, 

an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) or 

501(c)(19) non-profit agency, State or 

local government agency or recognized 

Indian Tribal Government (38 U.S.C. 

2011, 2012). 

Transition in Place (TIP) grantees do 

not need to respond to this NOFA as 

their awards have established time 

limits and will be addressed under 

separate NOFAs. 

Authority: Funding applied for under this 

NOFA is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012. 

Award Information 

Overview 

This NOFA announces the availability 

of per diem funding to eligible entities; 

501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) non-profit 

organizations, State and Local 

governments, and Indian Tribal 

governments. A minimum of five 

transitional housing beds and no more 

than 40 beds per model, per medical 

center, per each applicant’s Employer 

Identification Number (EIN) will be 

allowed under this NOFA. 

VA expects to fund approximately 

1,500 beds with this NOFA. (See 

additional budget information in this 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 50981 

NOFA for calculation of bed days of 

care). Applicants applying for more than 

one model at the same VAMC should 

take into account that VA will only 

award up to two applications per 

medical center, per applicant EIN. 

Cost Sharing or Matching: None. 

Funding Period: Funding awarded 

under this NOFA will be for a period of 

1 year with a 1-year option for renewal, 

beginning on October 1, 2018, and 

ending on September 30, 2019. 

Payment: Per diem will be paid in a 

method that is in accordance with VA 

and other Federal fiscal requirements. 

The per diem payment calculation may 

be found at 38 CFR 61.33. Awardees 

will be subject to requirements of this 

NOFA, GPD regulations, 2 CFR 200, and 

other Federal grant requirements. A full 

copy of the regulations governing the 

GPD Program is available at the GPD 

Web site at: https://www.va.gov/ 

HOMELESS/GPD.asp 

Funding Priorities: VA has established 

the following funding priorities based 

on a gap analysis of existing and 

anticipated VA transitional housing 

needs within Continuums of Care (COC) 

nationwide. Applicants must identify 

and link their application to a specific 

COC. VA will then place that 

application into the correct funding 

priority. Applicants who fail to identify 

a COC will be placed in the last funding 

priority. 

Funding Priority 1. VA expects to 

fund approximately 300 beds in the first 

funding priority. VA will place in the 

first funding priority those applications 

that identify the location of services to 

be provided are in the following COCs: 

AK–500 Anchorage; AK–501 Alaska 

Balance of State; CA–501 San Francisco; 

CA–502 Oakland/Alameda; CA–503 

Sacramento; CA–600 Los Angeles; WA– 

500 Seattle/King. Applications will then 

be ranked within the funding priority. 

The highest ranking applications in 

funding priority one will be selected for 

funding first until approximately 300 

beds have been selected. Those 

applications not selected will fall to the 

third funding priority. 

Funding Priority 2. VA expects to 

fund approximately 200 beds in the 

second funding priority. VA will place 

in the second funding priority those 

applications that identify the location of 

services to be provided are in the 

following COCs: AZ–502 Phoenix/Mesa/ 

Maricopa; CA–606 Long Beach; HI–501 

Honolulu; LA–503 New Orleans; MD– 

505 Baltimore; OR–501 PortlandGresham-Multnomah; and TX–600 

Dallas City and County/Irving. 

Applications will then be ranked within 

the funding priority. The highest 

ranking, applications in funding priority 

two will be selected for funding until 

approximately 200 beds have been 

selected. Those applications not 

selected will fall to the third funding 

priority. 

Funding Priority 3. VA expects to 

fund approximately 1,000 beds in the 

third funding priority. VA will place in 

the third funding priority those 

applications not selected in funding 

priorities one and two as well as those 

applications that identify the location of 

services to be provided are in any of the 

United States COCs. Applications will 

then be ranked within the funding 

priority. The highest ranking, 

applications in funding priority three 

will be selected for funding until 

approximately 1,000 beds have been 

selected or funding is expended 

whichever comes first. 

Application Review Information 

A. Criteria for Grants: Rating criteria 

may be found at 38 CFR 61.13 & 61.32. 

B. Review and Selection Process: 

Review and selection process may be 

found at 38 CFR 61.13, 61.32. 

Allocation of Funds: Funding will be 

awarded under this NOFA depending 

on funding availability and subject to 

program authorization. Funding will be 

for a period beginning on October 1, 

2018, and ending on September 30, 

2019, with a 1-year option for renewal 

based on funding availability, the 

recipient meeting performance goals, 

and the results of a VA inspection. 

Funding Actions: Conditionally 

selected applicants will be asked to 

submit additional information under 38 

CFR 61.32(c). Applicants will then be 

notified of the deadline to submit such 

information. If an applicant is unable to 

meet any conditions for the grant award 

within the specified time frame VA may 

non-select the applicant and use the 

funding for another applicant. Should 

an applicant submitting multiple 

applications not have all its applications 

funded, VA may negotiate bed numbers 

with the applicant at this time for those 

applications that were conditionally 

selected and incorporate that number 

into the grant agreement. Upon 

signature of the grant agreement by the 

Secretary or designated representative, 

final selection will be completed and 

the grant funds will be obligated for the 

funding period. 

Grant Award Period: Applicants that 

are finally selected may expect the 

award to begin approximately on 

October 1, 2018, and end on September 

30, 2019, with one option to renew for 

another year. VA will make an initial 

award for the first year of operation. The 

application is submitted with a one-year 

budget. Continuation funding is not 

guaranteed. Factors to be considered in 

awarding continuation grants will 

include satisfactory performance, 

demonstrated capacity to manage the 

grant, compliance with grant 

requirements, agency priorities, and the 

availability of appropriated funds. VA 

reserves the right to adjust the amount 

of a grant or elect not to continue 

funding for subsequent years. 

Funding Restrictions: No part of an 

award under this NOFA may be used to 

facilitate capital improvements or to 

purchase vans or real property. 

Questions regarding acceptability 

should be directed to VA’s National 

GPD Program Office at the number 

listed in contact information. 

Applicants may not receive funding to 

replace funds provided by any Federal, 

state, or local Government agency or 

program to assist homeless persons. 

Flexibility of Beds: For those 

applicants that are successfully funded 

for multiple models under this NOFA, 

VA will allow, without a change of 

scope, a flex of beds between the 

applicant’s models at the same VAMC. 

This flex will be up to five (5) beds or 

15 percent of the total awarded bed 

limit per medical center, whichever is 

greater. Successful applicants who seek 

a greater number of flex beds than what 

is allowed must receive prior written 

approval from the National GPD 

Program Office. 

Cost Sharing or Matching: None. 

Application and Submission 

Information 

Address to Obtain Grant Application: 

Download the standard forms directly 

from VA’s Grant and Per Diem Program 

Web page at: http://www.va.gov/ 

homeless/GPD.asp. The additional 

documents that must also be included 

with the application are listed below in 

the Content and Form of Application 

section of this NOFA. Questions should 

be referred to the GPD Program Office at 

(toll-free) 1 (877) 332–0334. 

Content and Form of Application: The 

Department is seeking to refocus 

programs and resources to better serve 

the homeless Veteran population. 

Therefore, applicants should note that a 

separate application for each housing 

model will be required. Each will be 

scored separately. 

Applicants should review their 

relationships with VAMCs and group 

their projects by medical center, 

selecting those models that are best 

suited. If your agency is unclear on what 

application, or the number of 

applications, to submit, contact the GPD 

National Program Office for clarification 

prior to submission of any application 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
50982 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 

to ensure it is submitting the correct 

format. 

Applicants should use a normal 

business format, single-spaced lines, 

typed, single sided pages, in Arial 12 

font. Applicants should write out the 

question first followed by the respective 

response. The narrative outline should 

be labeled with the same titles and in 

the same order as this NOFA. 

Applicants should simply binder clip 

the application; do not staple, spiral 

bind, or fasten the application. Do not 

include brochures or other information 

not requested. The application consists 

of two parts. The first part will consist 

of Standard Forms and the second part 

will be provided by applicants and 

consist of supporting documentation, 

project narratives, and tables/ 

spreadsheets in a standard business 

format. 

Applicants should ensure that they 

include all required documents in their 

application, carefully follow the format, 

and provide the information requested 

and described below. Submission of an 

incorrect, incomplete, or incorrectly 

formatted application package will 

result in the application being rejected 

before being ranked. 

Application Documentation Required 

1. Standard Forms (approximately 9 

pages): 

(a) SF 424 Application for Federal 

Assistance. 

(b) SF 424 A Non-Construction 

Budget. 

(c) SF 424 B Non-Construction 

Assurances. 

2. Eligibility to Receive VA 

Assistance: (approximately 3 pages). 

Nonprofit Organizations must provide 

documentation of accounting system 

certification and evidence of private 

nonprofit status. This must be 

accomplished by: 

(a) Providing certification on 

letterhead stationery from a Certified 

Public Accountant or Public Accountant 

that the organization has a functioning 

accounting system that is operated in 

accordance with generally accepted 

accounting principles, or that the 

organization has designated a qualified 

entity to maintain a functioning 

accounting system. If such an entity is 

used, their name and address must be 

included in the certification letter; and 

(b) Providing evidence of their status 

as a nonprofit organization by 

submitting a copy of their IRS ruling 

providing tax-exempt status under the 

IRS Code of 1986, as amended. 

3. Documentation of being actively 

registered in the System for Award 

Management (SAM) (approximately 1 

page): Provide a printed copy of your 

agency’s active registration in SAM to 

include the Data Universal Numbering 

System (DUNS), the number which 

corresponds to the information provided 

on the Application for Federal 

Assistance (SF424) and current 

Commercial and Government Entity 

(CAGE) code. Additionally, provide the 

complete legal business address that 

corresponds to the address registered 

with SAM, including the USPS fivedigit zip code plus the four-digit 

extension code. 

4. State/Local Government. 

Applicants who are state or local 

governments must provide a copy of any 

comments or recommendations by 

approved state and (area wide) 

clearinghouses pursuant to Executive 

Order 12372. 

5. Project Summary (approximately 3 

pages): Provide the following: 

(a) The name of the closest VA 

Medical Center; 

(b) Name and number of the 

Continuum of Care (COC) of where the 

project application will be located 

llll. 

(c) Description of the number of beds 

your agency is requesting per diem and 

the housing model to be provided at the 

VA facility identified in question 5(a): 

Number of Beds: llll 

Housing Model: (i.e., Bridge Housing, 

Low Demand, Hospital to Home, 

Clinical Treatment, Service-Intensive 

Transitional Housing.) 

or 

Number of Service Center Visits 

(annually): llll 

(d) Whether your agency is submitting 

additional applications to provide other 

housing models or a service center at 

the facility referenced in question 5(a). 

(yes/no) 

If yes, identify the model and the 

number of beds to be provided under 

that model; 

(e) Location of housing and services 

provided under this application: 

Address: llllllllllllll

City: llllllllllllllll

State: lllllllllllllll

Zip Code + 4 digit extension: lllll

County the site is located in: lllll

Additional Counties served by the 

project: llllllllllllll

Congressional District: llllllll

(f) Under this application and model, 

describe how the facility participant 

living space will be configured. Include 

the square footage of the room or bay, 

the number of beds in that square 

footage and if the beds will be bunked 

(i.e., Single Room Occupancy, 100 

square feet, no bunk beds; Open Bay, 

900 square feet, 12 beds, 4 sets of bunk 

beds; Apartment(s), 1500 square feet, 

1,2, or 3 bedroom(s) no bunk beds): 

(g) Whether this project serving men, 

women, or both genders; 

(h) Description of any additional 

populations or types of housing being 

served/provided at this location (i.e., 

children, women, permanent housing, 

contract care). If none, so state. 

6. Contact Information (approximately 

4 pages): Where correspondence can be 

sent to the Executive Director/President/ 

CEO. 

(a) Please provide the following: 

Agency Name: lllllllllll

Physical Address of Administrative Office: (no P.O. Boxes) lllllllll

City: llllllllllllllll

State: lllllllllllllll

Zip + 4 digit extension: lllllll

County: llllllllllllll

Congressional District: llllllll

Telephone number: lllllllll

Alternate Mailing Address: (If you 

would prefer regular mail be sent to a 

P.O. Box). lllllllllllll

City: llllllllllllllll

State: lllllllllllllll

Zip: llllllllllllllll

(b) Name and title of Executive 

Director/President/CEO (phone, fax, and 

email address); 

(c) Name and title of another 

management level employee, (phone, 

fax, and email address) who can sign 

commitments for the agency; 

(d) A complete listing of your 

agency’s officers of the Board of 

Directors and their address, phone, fax, 

and email addresses. 

7. Project Abstract: On not more than 

one page provide a brief abstract of the 

project to include: Project design, 

supportive services committed to the 

project, types of assistance provided, 

and any special program provisions. 

8. Detailed Project Plan: This is the 

portion of the application that describes 

your program. VA Reviewers will focus 

on how the project plan addresses the 

areas of outreach, project plan, model 

specific questions, ability, need, and 

coordination in relation to your selected 

model. Please note there are some 

questions that only apply to specific 

models (Bridge, Clinical Treatment, Low 

Demand, Hospital-to-Housing), 

Applicants applying for these models 

must include responses to these 

questions in their application. 

VA expects applicants awarded under 

this NOFA will meet the VA 

performance metrics for the selected 

model. With those metrics in mind, 

please include in your agency’s 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 50983 

responses to the following sections your 

agency strategies to meet or exceed VA’s 

national metric targets. 

(a) Outreach—In approximately 5 

pages, describe how your agency 

outreach plan is tailored to the specific 

model chosen and seeks to provide for 

services Veterans living in places not 

ordinarily meant for human habitation 

(e.g., streets, parks abandon buildings, 

automobiles and emergency shelters) by 

answering the following: 

1. Outreach—Describe your agency’s 

outreach plan and frequency of your 

selected Veteran population(s) living in 

places not ordinarily meant for human 

habitation (e.g., streets, parks abandon 

buildings, automobiles) and emergency 

shelters. 

2. Outreach—Identify where your 

organization will target and tailor its 

outreach efforts to identify appropriate 

Veterans for this program. 

3. Outreach—Describe your agency’s 

involvement in the COC’s Coordinated 

Assessment/Entry efforts. How does the 

plan fit into the COC’s plan to end 

homelessness? 

(b) Project Plan—VA wishes to 

provide the most appropriate housing 

based on the needs of the individual 

Veteran. Be sure to answer these 

questions based on the specific model 

chosen for this application. In 

approximately 25 pages, provide the 

following: 

1. Project Plan—Specifically list the 

supportive services, frequency of 

occurrence and who will provide them 

and how they will help Veteran 

participants achieve residential 

stability, increase skill levels and or 

income, and increase self-determination 

(i.e., case management, frequency of 

individual/groups, employment 

services). Use a table or spreadsheet for 

this section (See Example 1). 

Example 1: 

Supportive service Frequency of offering 

(daily, weekly, etc.) 

Job title and credential required for 

the individual providing services 

This service supports the achievement of 

residential stability, increase skill and income, 

or self-determination 

Case management .......................... Weekly ............................................ Case Manager—LCSW .................. Residential stability. Increased Skills and Income. 

Finance Planning Group .................. Bi-Weekly ........................................ Life Skills Educator, BA/BS ............ Residential stability. Increased Skills and Income. 

2. Project Plan—VA places emphasis 

on lowering barriers to admissions; 

describe the specific process and 

admission criteria for deciding which 

Veterans are appropriate for admission. 

3. Project Plan—Address whether you 

plan on serving a mixed gender 

population or individuals with children. 

4. Project Plan—Provide a listing and 

explanation of any gender-specific 

services. 

5. Project Plan—How will the safety 

security and privacy of participants be 

ensured? 

6. Project Plan—How, when, and by 

whom will participants’ progress toward 

meeting their individual goals be 

monitored, evaluated, and documented? 

7. Project Plan—Provide your 

agency’s Individual Service Plan (ISP) 

methodology and the core items to be 

addressed in the plan. 

8. Project Plan—How will permanent 

affordable housing be identified in the 

ISP and made known to participants 

who plan on leaving the supportive 

housing? 

9. Project Plan—Will your agency 

provide follow-up services? If yes, 

describe those services, how often they 

will occur, and the duration of the 

follow-up. 

10. Project Plan—Describe how 

Veteran participants will have a voice 

and aid in operating and maintaining 

the housing (i.e., volunteer time, paid 

positions, community governance 

meetings, peer support). 

11. Project Plan—Describe your 

agency’s responsibilities, as well as any 

sponsors or contractors’ responsibilities 

in operating and maintaining the 

housing (i.e., sub-recipients). 

12. Project Plan—Describe program 

policies regarding a clean and sober 

environment. Include in the description 

how participant relapse will be handled 

and how these policies will affect the 

admission and discharge criteria. 

13. Project Plan—Provide and 

describe the type and implementation of 

the medication control system that will 

be used in this project (e.g., Medication 

Management, Medication Monitoring, or 

individual storage). For reference, 

applicants may review these 

requirements at http://www.va.gov/ 

homeless/gpd.asp 2018 Notice of 

Funding and Documents—Medication 

Requirements. 

14. Project Plan—Describe program 

polices regarding participant 

agreements, including any leases and 

subleases if used. 

15. Project Plan—Describe program 

polices regarding extracurricular fees. 

16. Project Plan—If co-located with 

other models, populations, or with other 

non-grant and per diem projects, how 

will differences in program rules and 

policies be handled (see example 2)? 

Example 2: 

Your agency has permanent housing, 

bridge housing, and low demand 

housing. These all serve different 

populations and require different levels 

of policy to properly function. How will 

this be accomplished? 

17. Project Plan—Describe how in 

your chosen model you will aid 

Veterans who seek increased income or 

benefits. 

18. Project Plan—Address how your 

agency will facilitate the provision of 

nutritional meals for the Veterans. Be 

sure to describe how Veterans with little 

or no income will be assisted. 

19. Project Plan—VA places great 

emphasis on placing Veterans in the 

most appropriate housing situation as 

rapidly as possible. Applicants will 

provide a time line describing program 

admission to program exit for 

individuals in the program and the 

specific services including follow up 

that supports housing stabilization. 

Include evidence of coordination of 

transition services with which your 

agency expects to have for Veterans. 

20. Project Plan—Describe how you 

will facilitate transportation of the 

Veteran participants with and without 

income to appointments, employment, 

and supportive services. 

(c) Model Specific Questions: 

Applicants should only respond to 

the following questions as they apply 

for the model selected in this 

application. 

1. Bridge Housing Model—The 

availability of permanent housing 

options are key to the this model. 

Describe how your bridge housing is 

coordinated with permanent housing 

resources as part of a Housing First plan 

for homeless Veterans. Be sure to 

describe the referral process, how care 

will be coordinated while in GPD and 

ensure a housing outcome is achieved in 

an efficient manner. Include background 

on the amount of available permanent 

housing in the area you propose to 

serve. 

2. Clinical Treatment Model— 

Describe how you will ensure homeless 

Veterans will be offered available 

permanent housing resources prior to 

entering treatment resources. 

3. Clinical Treatment Model— 

Describe how you will ensure 

permanent housing and employment/ 

income improvements will occur and 

lead to successful outcomes. 

4. Low Demand Model—How will 

your agency manage a safe environment 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
50984 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 

if a Veteran returns to the project 

impaired? 

5. Low Demand Model—Will your 

safe environment include a sober lounge 

or safe room? 

6. Low Demand Model—What 

approaches will be used to keep the 

Veterans engaged in services? 

7. Hospital-to-Housing—Describe the 

medical evaluation process for 

identifying potential candidates for the 

program, the staff involved in that 

process, the evaluation criteria, and the 

roles of each individual. 

8. Service Centers—The success of 

service centers is predicated upon the 

engagement of the homeless Veteran 

community. Describe how your agency 

will engage and influence homeless 

Veterans in how they it will address 

their housing, physical, medical, and 

mental health needs. 

(d) Ability—In approximately 5 pages, 

describe your agency’s experience 

regarding your selected population. 

1. Ability—Provide a table or 

spreadsheet of the staffing plan for this 

project. Do not include resumes. 

Example 3: 

Job title Brief (1–2) sentence description of responsibilities Educational 

level 

Hours per 

week allocated 

to GPD project 

Amount of annual 

salary allocated to 

the GPD project 

($) 

Case manager ....... Responsible for working with the Veteran to develop and monitors 

an individual service plan (ISP), adjusts plans as needed. Coordinates with other community agencies to support.

BSW 30 $35,250 

2. Ability—Describe your agency’s 

previous experience assessing and 

providing for the housing needs of 

homeless Veterans under your chosen 

model. 

3. Ability—Describe your agency’s 

previous experience assessing and 

providing supportive services to 

homeless Veterans under your chosen 

model. 

4. Ability—Describe your agency’s 

previous experience in assessing 

supportive service resources and 

entitlement benefits. 

5. Ability—Describe your agency’s 

previous experience with evaluating the 

progress of both individual participants 

and overall program effectiveness 

through using quality and performance 

data to make changes. Provide 

documentation of meeting past 

performance goals. 

6. Ability—Is your agency licensed to 

provide clinical services? If yes, 

describe your licensure. 

(e) Need—In approximately 5 pages, 

describe using reliable data from survey 

of homes population or other reports or 

data-gathering mechanisms, the 

substantial unmet needs particularly 

among your targeted Veteran population 

and those needs of the general homeless 

population. Also, describe why your 

agency chose this model of transitional 

housing? Include in your response how 

your agency determined the number of 

beds needed; or, for service centers, 

include how your agency determined 

the anticipated level of participation. 

How does this project model meet a 

need for the community and fit with the 

community’s strategy to end homeless 

in the community? 

(f) Coordination—In approximately 5 

pages, describe and provide evidence of 

your agency’s involvement in the 

homeless Veteran continuum. 

1. Coordination—Provide 

documented evidence your agency is 

part of an ongoing community-wide 

planning process. 

2. Coordination—How is your process 

designed to share information on 

available resources and reduce 

duplication among programs that serve 

homeless Veterans (i.e., letter of support 

from your local continuum of care)? 

3. Coordination—How is your agency 

part of an ongoing community-wide 

planning process that is designed to 

share information on available resources 

and reduce duplication among programs 

that serve homeless Veterans? 

4. Coordination—How has your 

agency coordinated GPD services with 

other programs offered in the 

Continuum(s) of Care (CoC) they 

currently serve? 

5. Coordination—Provide 

documented evidence that your agency 

consulted directly with the closest 

VAMC Director regarding coordination 

of services for project participants; and 

provide your plan to assure access to 

health care, case management, and other 

care services. 

(g) Additional Application 

Requirements— 

1. Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) Hospital-to-Housing 

Documentation—A MOU between the 

local medical center and the applicant 

must be provided demonstrating the 

local medical center’s detailed 

participation in the Hospital-toHousing program. Included in this 

should be a detailing of acceptance 

criteria for Veterans being referred from 

local facility emergency departments 

and inpatient wards, a detailing of how 

follow-up care with the medical center 

is organized, and a commitment to 

engaging enrolled Veterans in 

permanent housing as part of the 

program. 

2. Awardees will be required to 

support their request for payments with 

adequate fiscal documentation as to 

project income and expenses. Awardee 

agencies that have a negotiated Indirect 

Cost Agreement (IDC) must provide a 

copy of the IDC with this application if 

they wish to charge indirect costs to the 

grant. Without this document, only the 

de minimis rate would be allowed for 

indirect costs. All other costs will be 

considered only if they are direct costs. 

Submission Dates and Times: An 

original signed, dated, completed 

application (plus two completed 

collated copies) and all required 

associated documents must be received 

in the GPD Program Office, VA 

Homeless Providers GPD Program 

Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C– 

200, Tampa, FL 33617; by 4:00 p.m. 

February 28, 2018. 

In the interest of fairness to all 

competing applicants, this deadline is 

firm as to date and hour, and VA will 

treat any application that is received 

after the deadline as ineligible for 

consideration. Applicants should take 

this firm deadline into account and 

make early submission of their material 

to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 

because of unanticipated delays or other 

delivery-related problems. For 

applications physically delivered (e.g., 

in person, or via United States Postal 

Service, FedEx, United Parcel Service, 

or any other type of courier), the VA 

GPD Program Office staff will accept the 

application and date stamp it 

immediately at the time of arrival. This 

is the date and time that will determine 

if the deadline is met for those types of 

delivery. 

Applications must be received by the 

application deadline. Applications must 

arrive as a complete package to include 

VA collaborative partner materials (see 

application requirements). Materials 

arriving separately will not be included 

in the application package for 

consideration and may result in the 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices 50985 

application being rejected or not 

funded. 

DO NOT fax or email the application 

as applications received via these means 

will be ineligible for consideration. 

Award Notice: Although subject to 

change, the GPD Program Office expects 

to announce grant awards in July, 2018. 

The initial announcement will be made 

via news release which will be posted 

on VA’s National GPD Program Web site 

at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. 

Following the initial announcement, the 

GPD Office will mail notification letters 

to the grant recipients. Applicants who 

are not selected will be mailed a 

declination letter within two weeks of 

the initial announcement. 

Administrative and National Policy: It 

is important to be aware that VA places 

great emphasis on responsibility and 

accountability. VA has procedures in 

place to monitor services provided to 

homeless Veterans and outcomes 

associated with the services provided in 

grant and per diem-funded programs. 

Applicants should be aware of the 

following: 

All awardees that are selected in 

response to this NOFA must meet the 

requirements of the current edition of 

the Life Safety Code of the National Fire 

Protection Association as it relates to 

their specific facility. Applicants should 

note that all facilities are to be protected 

throughout by an approved automatic 

sprinkler system unless a facility is 

specifically exempted under the Life 

Safety Code. Applicants should 

consider this when submitting their 

grant applications, as no additional 

funds will be made available for capital 

improvements under this NOFA. 

Each program receiving funding will 

have a liaison appointed from a nearby 

VA medical facility to provide oversight 

and monitor services provided to 

homeless Veterans in the program. 

Monitoring will include, at a 

minimum, a quarterly review of each 

per diem program’s progress toward 

meeting VA’s performance metrics, 

helping Veterans attain housing 

stability, adequate income support, and 

self-sufficiency as identified in each per 

diem application. Monitoring may also 

include a review of the agency’s income 

and expenses as they relate to this 

project to ensure payment is accurate. 

Each funded program will participate 

in VA’s national program monitoring 

and evaluation as these procedures will 

be used to determine successful 

accomplishment of housing, 

employment, and self-sufficiency 

outcomes for each per diem-funded 

program. 

Signing Authority 

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or 

designee, approved this document 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. Gina 

S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 

approved this document on October 30, 

2017, for publication. 

Dated: October 30, 2017. 

Michael Shores, 

Director, Regulation Policy & Management, 

Office of the Secretary, Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2017–23906 Filed 11–1–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES