Source: https://www.tvc.texas.gov/2018-2019-h4txh-grant-request-for-applications/
Timestamp: 2019-12-12 16:38:24
Document Index: 449336615

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 466', '§ 502', '§ 2306', '§ 6033', '§ 501', '§ 501', '§ 501', 'art.\n1', 'art 200', 'art 200']

2018-2019 Housing 4 Texas Heroes Grant Request For Applications - Texas Veterans Commission
HomeMedia2018-2019 Housing 4 Texas Heroes Grant Request For Applications
X. Timeline for 2018-19 H4TXH Grant Applications
During the 81st Legislature, Senate Bill 1655 established the Veterans’ Assistance Game. This allowed for money to be transferred to the Fund from proceeds of a game operated by the Texas Lottery Commission, operated under the Texas Government Code §§ 466.027 and 466.408. The Fund is also composed of money deposited to the Fund under the Texas Transportation Code § 502.1746. The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) oversees all rules governing the awarding of grants from the FVA.
The Housing for Texas Heroes (H4TXH) grant program was established in 2011 during the 82nd Legislative Session. During the Regular Session of the 85th Legislature, the TVC was appropriated General Revenue to support H4TXH grant program in the 2018-2019 biennium. Rider 9, Page I-91 of the General Appropriations Act states that the TVC will receive funding for the purpose of administering a Veterans Housing Assistance Program that will assist Texas Veterans and their families in obtaining, maintain, or improving housing.
Priority will be given to the following service category:
• Diversity of Services in Geographic Areas
• Outstanding Grant Applications
The Texas Veterans Commission is authorized to use funds appropriated to the FVA to administer the Fund and make reimbursement grants to address the needs of Veterans and their families. The H4TXH program provides reimbursement grants to organizations to assist Texas Veterans and their families in obtaining, maintaining, or improving housing. As described in Texas Government Code § 2306.202(b)(1), Housing Trust Fund dollars are to be used to provide assistance for individuals and families of low and very low income.
Projects funded under this grant may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Homeless support programs, shelter, transitional living/temporary housing, rapid re-housing
At risk homeless prevention, long-term rental assistance, case management, wrap-around services
Temporary housing assistance to families of Veterans who are undergoing long-term treatment at a medical facility in Texas
Home modification, home repair, or weatherization
The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to seek Grant Applications from Eligible Applicants for Reimbursement Grants using FVA funds. All grant awards will be made through a competitive grant selection process. This RFA and accompanying Application documents are for the 2018-19 H4TXH Grant.
Please see Section V – Grant Application, Part I – Proposed Project for more information on Service Categories eligible for funding under this RFA.
Upon Commission approval of the grant awards, the parties will be bound by the following: 1) the terms and requirements within this RFA document, 2) the Grant Application and all items submitted by the grant applicant to the Commission in response to this RFA, and 3) the Notice of Grant Award (NOGA). In the event of conflicts or inconsistencies between any of these documents, the provisions set forth in the NOGA will prevail
Be received by the Agency by the deadline established in the grant application instructions, as listed in Section IX. Application Submission, of this RFA.
Organizations will only be awarded one H4TXH grant during this competition cycle. An organization may not have overlapping or concurrent FVA H4TXH Grants.
While there is no mandated matching requirement, the FVA does expect Grantees to share in the operational cost of funded projects. Applicants are required to identify the anticipated funds they will use on the Proposed Project. Organization revenue, excluding FVA grants, will be reviewed with respect the amount requested in the application.
Non-exempt charitable trusts, and section 527 political organizations to provide the IRS with the information required by Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 6033 (relating to returns by exempt organizations. To be considered as sufficient Minimum Required Financial Documentation, the Form 990 submitted must include Part X. Balance Sheets.
Low Income. Defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as 80 percent of the median family income for the area, subject to adjustments for areas with unusually high or low incomes or housing costs.
Mortgage. Obligation, including a mortgage, mortgage deed, bond, note, deed of trust, or other instrument that is a lien. Grantees are required to confirm that the owner of a home is current on any existing mortgage loans or home equity loans prior to providing home modification, repair, or weatherization assistance.
Very Low Income. Defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as 50 percent of the median family income for the area, subject to adjustments for areas with unusually high or low incomes or housing costs.
The H4TXH grant is a competitive reimbursement grant available to Eligible Applicants. The funding is to be used to assist organizations with housing assistance needs of Veterans and their families. Grant funding should not be used with the anticipation or expectation of additional or subsequent awards of FVA funding. See E. Additional Funding below.
1. Units of local government;
2. IRS Code § 501(c)(19) Posts or organizations of past or present members of the Armed Forces;
3. IRS Code § 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organizations authorized to do business in Texas;
4. Texas chapters of IRS Code § 501(c)(4) Veterans service organizations; or
5. Non-profit organizations authorized to do business in Texas with experience providing services to Veterans.
2. For-profit entities;
3. Units of federal or state government, including state agencies, colleges, and universities;
4. Organizations that have not fulfilled all legal requirements to operate in the state of Texas; and
5. Organizations that do not have current operations in Texas or a Texas-based chapter.
• Supplanting of Funds
• Duplication of Services
• Duplication of Contracted Services
• Sub-Grants
• The following are also prohibited costs for FVA Grants:
Amount Requested. Check the one box for the amount being requested as instructed. Only Statewide Proposed Projects are eligible to request the $500,000 amount.
Home Modification Assistance: Modification, repair, and weatherization projects can include walkways, ramps, doors, windows, flooring materials, sliding doors, handrails and grab bars, or bathroom modifications.
Veteran Homelessness Prevention Programs: At risk homeless prevention, long-term rental assistance, case management, wrap-around services.
• New: Select this category if your organization has never been awarded an FVA grant for the Proposed Project being described in Appendix I – the Application.
• Expansion: Select this category if your organization has received funding in the past for the Proposed Project, and you are now applying for a grant to provide additional services and/or expanding the eligible veteran and/or family members served.
• Continuation: Select this category if your organization has received funding in the past for the Proposed Project being described in Appendix I – the Application.
Geographic Service Area(s). Check all counties, regardless of region, that the Proposed Project will serve. If the Proposed Project is statewide, only check the Statewide box. Refer to Section III. Definitions of Key Terms for more information on Statewide projects and Regional projects.
Proposed Project Services
1. Briefly describe the Proposed Project. Be specific in your answer and include the Who, What, Where, and When of the Proposed Project.
2. Briefly describe how Beneficiaries will access and/or be provided with Project services by your organization. Be specific in your answer and include the How of the Project.
1. What is/are the community need(s) or existing service gap(s) that the Proposed Project will address? Be specific in your answer and sufficiently describe the need that your service area faces to include the Why of the Project.
2. How did you identify the community need(s) or problem(s)? Be specific in your answer and sufficiently describe any methods used to identify that the need described above in Need Identified #1 is present in your service area. Include references to data that may support that this need exists in your service area.
3. How will the Proposed Project address the identified need(s) or problem(s)? Be specific in your answer and sufficiently describe how the components of the Proposed Project as described above in Proposed Project Services #1 will assist in attempting to resolve the need described above in Need Identified #1.
4. How is the Proposed Project unique from other similar services that may be available in your proposed service area? Be specific with details about what sets your Proposed Project apart.
1.For this grant, Veteran and/or family member beneficiaries must meet specific eligibility criteria:
Be considered Low Income (as defined in Section III. Definition of Key Terms)
Be considered Very Low Income (as defined in Section III. Definition of Key Terms)
Be a Disabled Veteran (as defined in Section III. Definition of Key Terms), OR
Be a Veteran who is undergoing long-term treatment at a medical facility in Texas
Additionally, Grantees will be required to verify that those Veteran and/or family member beneficiaries receiving home modification, home repair, or weatherization assistance are current on any existing mortgage loans or home equity loans prior to providing assistance.
2. Related to information provided in Need Identified above, Applicants may elect to restrict Proposed Project services to particular groups to address need. For example, Proposed Projects may serve only Veterans of a particular era, Veterans with a specific character of discharge, Veterans of a particular branch of service, or particular Veteran dependents. Provide a definition for each category that will be eligible to receive services, listing any service restriction of the Proposed Project. Be specific.
3. Describe any other restrictions on eligibility, if applicable (example: income level, beneficiaries living in a specific service area like a county or region, or referral from VA or other such organization.)
a. Estimated Number of Clients to be Served. In the table provided, enter the estimated number of Veterans, Dependents, and Surviving Spouses to be served by the Proposed Project. The information to be entered is a number. Do not enter a percentage and do not enter a range.
b. Estimated Number of Home Modifications to be Completed. If applicable to your Proposed Project, enter the estimated number of unduplicated Veterans, Dependents, and Surviving Spouses to be served by the Proposed Project. The information to be entered is a number. Do not enter a percentage and do not enter a range.
c. Additional Performance Measures and Estimated Volume of Services Provided to Clients. First enter additional performance measures that align with and are related to the Proposed Project in the Performance Measure column. Then provide the estimated volume for the additional performance measure listed.
d. Goals and Anticipated Outcomes.
1. First enter goals that align with and are related to the Proposed Project in the Goals column. Then provide the anticipated outcome for the goal listed in the “Anticipated Outcomes” column.
2. Describe how you will determine if anticipated outcomes are met. Examples may include using a client satisfaction survey, following up with clients 30-90 days after receiving services to determine statues, and/or tracking pertinent client data.
1. Eligibility to receive services must be verified and documented. List the specific government forms your organization staff will use to verify eligibility of clients who can receive as you have defined it above in Beneficiaries #1 and #2. If dependents and surviving spouses are listed as eligible beneficiaries, include how their eligibility will be verified.
2. Describe how the government forms and other eligibility document(s) will be retained (example: as listed in your organization’s retention policy) and maintained (example: in locked filing cabinet or electronically on your organization’s server).
Project Principal Participants
List the principal participants in the organization. Indicate which principal(s), if any, are Veterans. Refer to Section III. Definitions of Key Terms for who is considered a Principal Participant. Résumés are to be included for each Principal Participant and should describe applicable experience by position.
1. For each Principal Participant listed in the table, describe their role(s) and responsibilities that they will have as related to the Proposed Project.
1. Indicate if your organization has an outreach and/or marketing plan to ensure your organization can reach and provide services to the Estimated Number of Clients to be served as listed in the table for Beneficiaries #3.
2. Describe the outreach and/or marketing plan and how it will ensure your organization is able to provide services to the Estimated Number of Clients to be served as listed in the table for Beneficiaries #3.
1. Indicate if your organization plans to continue the Proposed Project after the one-year FVA Grant Funding Period.
2. If the Proposed Project will continue, describe how it will continue. Be specific. Include in your answer what other funding will be available to your organization and what other organizations with whom you may be partnering or working to carry on the work of the Proposed Project after June 30, 2019.
3. If your organization has received FVA funding in the past for the Proposed Project, describe why you are applying for a grant again.
1. Tell us about the purpose or mission of your organization. This information is about your organization as a whole and not specifically about the Proposed Project. If you have a mission statement, it should be listed here.
2. Enter the year your organization was established.
3. Describe the services and/or programs that your organization currently provides in the community. Give examples and briefly describe these services. Do not include the Proposed Project – only these programs or services that are current.
4. Tell us who is currently served by the programs offered by your organization.
1. Check one box that describes the type of your organization.
2. Check one box that describes the type of governing body of your organization.
1. Check the box next to the applicable accounting software. If your organization uses software that is not listed, enter the type used. Do not leave any item unmarked.
2. Check “YES” or “NO” for each question as instructed. Do not answer “N/A”.
3. Check “TRUE” or “FALSE” for each question as instructed. For F. enter the dollar amount at which your organization capitalizes equipment. Do not answer “N/A”.
1. Describe the type of tool to be used for data collection as instructed.
2. Enter a description of how the data will be consolidated to provide cumulative totals to be reported to the FVA to ensure that no one is double-counted.
1. Complete the table as instructed. For each employee directly associated with the Proposed Project, enter the position title, employee’s name, the percent of time to be allocated to this Project, and their annual salary. Do not include employees that are general administration such as accounting, personnel/human resources IF they are already included in indirect charges. 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. If the employee is a contract employee, list that position under Table F. Client Services or Table H. Other Direct Costs as appropriate.
2. Describe the roles and responsibilities of each position and how each of those roles is necessary to accomplishing the Proposed Project as instructed. Narrative must also include a calculation to demonstrate how the cost was determined.
1. Complete the table as instructed. Enter employee travel associated with this project in this table. This includes travel to and from conferences, training, and travel to provide client services.
a. Travel does not include international travel. Travel will follow all policies and procedures for travel established by the organization. All travel costs must be in compliance with 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
b. As noted in the Section XI. Grantee Training, funds do not need to be budgeted for travel to Austin, TX for grantee training. This training will be done remotely via webinar or conference call, or in some instances, FVA staff may conduct onsite training visits at the Awarded Applicant’s facility.
2. Describe each travel item included in the table including but not limited to what the travel is for, mileage rates, meal rates per day, conference registration fees, and why the travel is necessary to accomplish the Proposed Project. Narrative must also include a calculation to demonstrate how the cost was determined.
D. Capital Equipment
1. Complete the table as instructed. This category includes normally consumable and general use items that do not reach the threshold for capital equipment.
2. Describe each supply item listed in the table and explain why each supply item is necessary to accomplish the Proposed Project. Narrative must also include a calculation to demonstrate how the cost was determined.
3. If this is a continuation request and your organization was previously awarded funding for the Proposed Project, note each item of supply listed in the Table above that was also requested as part of a previously funded application and explain why it is being requested again. Examples of such items of supply may include laptops, projectors, printers, phones.
1. Client Services may include, but is not limited to, participant support costs such as rental assistance, transportation assistance for Veterans in shelters, household set-ups for Veterans provided with housing, and any contract personnel that will be providing services to Beneficiaries. An itemized break-out of each client service is required, and extra lines may be inserted into this table. For Home Modification assistance projects, typical Client Services costs include contract labor and supplies. Please note that the maximum amount H4TXH funding for home modification assistance per Veteran household is $15,000. Grantees may utilize other revenue streams in addition to H4TXH funding to fund additional projects on a home modification.
2. Describe each client service listed in the table and explain why each cost is necessary to accomplish the Proposed Project. Include, if applicable, the maximum amount of assistance to be provided to clients. Narrative must also include a calculation to demonstrate how the cost was determined.For Home Modification Projects, narrative calculation must include estimated contract labor and supplies costs used to determine the average home modification cost per Veteran household.
This line is not applicable to this FVA grant application and should be left blank. Construction of buildings is not allowed with this grant. Any remodeling or adaptive assistance for Beneficiaries should be listed under Client Services.
H. Other Direct Costs
1. Complete the table as instructed. Direct costs that appear indirect in nature need to be fully explained, supported, be reasonable and treated in a consistent manner across your organization. The FVA may ask the applicant to re-classify costs as indirect if the support provided does not meet the above criterion.
2. Describe each item of other direct costs listed in the table and explain why each cost is necessary to accomplish the Proposed Project. If costs are allocated be sure to include an approximate percentage to be charged to this grant. Narrative must also include a calculation to demonstrate how the cost was determined.
J. Allowable Indirect Cost Recovery for FVA grants is limited to 10% of total direct costs for all applicants. Indirect charges are those items that are often considered “overhead,” and can be classified as those costs associated with accounting, human resources, and other administrative and facility-related costs.
NOTE: Costs claimed as direct costs that appear indirect in nature or budgets claiming no indirect costs will be scrutinized for accuracy. Any such costs claimed as direct need to be fully explained, supported, be reasonable and treated in a consistent manner across your organization. The FVA may ask the applicant to re-classify costs as indirect if the support provided does not meet the above criterion.
1. Enter the total Direct Costs in table J. to calculate the allowable Indirect Recovery.
2. Provide a basic line item description for each indirect cost (ex. Executive Director, IT, Facilities). No further explanation is required.
• Applications received will be reviewed for eligibility and deemed Ineligible if one or more of the following applies:
o Appendix I – The Application is not complete.
o Minimum Financial Documentation is not provided.
o The Application Package is missing required attachments or signatures.
o If an audit completed in the past 2 years has material findings.
o If the organization has an exclusion record listed on the General Services Administration (GSA) System for Award Management (SAM).
o The Application Package is received after the deadline.
• Each eligible application will be scored using Appendix II – Evaluation Rubric. The Rubric will review the following:
• Organizations and their applications will be assessed for risk including review of additional information available about the organization such as; IRS Select Check, SAM, GuideStar and FVA risk assessment score. Organizations determined to be High Risk will be highlighted for the Advisory Committee and Commissioners’ awareness during review. If selected, High Risk organizations are subject to additional conditions as defined in 2 CFR 200.207.
• Applicant financial stability will be assessed based on submitted financial documentation, reported previous year annual revenue not including any FVA grants and the amount requested in the application. All information should demonstrate that the applicant, if selected, has sufficient working capital available to execute the project and then request reimbursement supported by adequate documentation.
The FVA Advisory Committee will meet in Austin, Texas on or about January 29, 2018 for a public presentation of the Proposed Projects by Applicants. Following that public presentation, the FVA Advisory Committee will meet in Austin, Texas in March 2018 to make the award recommendations. Additional information on this meeting will be available and shared at a later date. The dates of these meetings are subject to change. Please check the FVA website for updated information.
Potential applicants will have the opportunity to participate in an information session regarding the 2018-19 General Assistance grant application to be held via webinar. The webinars are tentatively scheduled for 10 am, Sep 13, 2017 and 10 am, Oct 4, 2017. The presentation will be the same for both webinars and FVA staff will take questions at the end. Information regarding the meeting and webinar will be available on the FVA website. Please check the FVA website for updated information.
All questions pertaining to this RFA must be submitted to grants@tvc.texas.gov with “2018-19 H4TXH Question” in the subject line of the email. Responses will be posted on the FVA website every Friday: http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Apply-For-A-Grant.aspx.
A complete Application Package includes submission of original signature pages AND submission of the items below. When submitting the Application Package via email the items below must be submitted as attachments in the email. An Application Package via email may have up to seven attachments. Failure to complete all required forms OR to provide an authorized signature may negatively impact the application or result in ineligibility.
2. Appendix I – The Application (The True and Correct Statement of Appendix I – The Application MUST be signed and the signature MUST be original)
3. Résumés of the Principal Participants in the organization
4. List and terms of current governing body members (Board of Directors, Commissioners Court, City Council Members)
5. Financial Documentation (per Section IV. H above.)
6. IRS Tax determination letter regarding non-profit status, if not a unit of local government. Do not submit paperwork from the State Secretary of State or the State Comptroller of Public Accounts regarding non-profit status. Only IRS Tax determination letter indicating your organization is recognized as a tax-exempt non-profit is acceptable.
7. A copy of current professional liability insurance and/or malpractice insurance policy
The application period opens August, 2017 and will close October 26, 2017. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. at the TVC office in Austin, Texas on October 26, 2017 to be considered for funding. TVC office is located in the Stephen F. Austin Building, 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 800. Applicant shall be solely responsible for ensuring their application is received by TVC prior to the deadline outlined in this RFA. To meet the deadline, both paper and electronic applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 26, 2017.
FVA may make a clarification or additional documentation request of applicants after initial review of their submission. Any information requested by the FVA must be submitted within five (5) business days of FVA’s request. If clarification information is not received or is incomplete, the application may not be considered for funding.
2018-19 General Assistance Grant
2018-19 Housing 4 Texas Heroes Grant
1. Appendix I – The Application in Microsoft Word format, and
2. All other applicable items listed in XIII. Application Package in PDF format. Applicable attachments may be sent in multiple PDF files.
The electronic submission must have the words “2018-19 General Assistance Grant” in the subject line and emailed to grants@tvc.texas.gov prior to the deadline.
X. Timeline for 2018-19 Grant Applications
August 21, 2017 2018-2019 H4TXH RFA opens with documents posted at www.tvc.texas.gov/Apply-For-A-Grant.aspx
Any changes, additions, or deletions to the NOGA or Approved Application must be executed through a grant amendment. A Grantee may request an amendment as outlined in the FVA Amendment Policy. Amendments may modify the approved budget, grant period, or scope of the Grant Project as described in the Approved Application. Each amendment request will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A Grantee may have no more than three (3) amendments during a grant period. Budget notifications as described in UGMS are considered as part of the 3 allowable amendments. Amendment requests seeking to change the award amount must be brought before the Commission for approval and must be submitted with sufficient time to be prepared and included on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting. All other amendment requests must be submitted no later than seventy-five (75) days prior to the end of the grant period (concurrent with 3rd Quarter Performance Report). All decisions on amendments are final and non-appealable.