VA Department Grant for Per Diem, Special Need Renewal Grant

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) 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 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL 33617; (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 currently operational Grant and Per Diem Special Need
recipients and their collaborative VA partners to obtain grant
assistance with additional operational costs that would not otherwise
be incurred but for the fact that the recipient is providing supportive
housing beds and services for the Special Needs of the centers for the
following homeless veteran populations:
Women, including women who have care of minor dependents;
Frail elderly;
Terminally Ill; or
Chronically mentally ill.

Definitions of these populations are contained in 38 CFR 61.1
Definitions. Eligible applicants should review these definitions to
ensure their proposed populations meet the specific requirements.
VA is pleased to issue this Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) for
the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program as a part of the
effort to end chronic homelessness among our nation’s veterans. Funding
applied for under this Notice may be used for: the provision of
service, operation, or personnel to facilitate the following with
regard to the targeted group:

Women, Including Women Who Have Care of Minor Dependents

(1) Ensure transportation for women and their children, especially
for health care and educational needs;
(2) Provide directly or offer referrals for adequate and safe child
care;
(3) Ensure children’s health care needs are met especially age
appropriate wellness visits and immunizations; and
(4) Address safety and security issues including segregation
procedures from other program participants if deemed appropriate.

Frail Elderly

(1) Ensure the safety of the residents in the facility to include
preventing harm and exploitation;
(2) Ensure opportunities to keep residents mentally and physically
agile to the fullest extent through the incorporation of structured
activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within
the program and in the community;
(3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life
transitional issues and separation and/or loss issues;
(4) Provide access to assistance devices such as walkers, grippers,
or other devices necessary for optimal functioning;
(5) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(6) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or
through referral for other services particularly relevant for the frail
elderly, including services or programs addressing emotional, social,
spiritual, and generative needs.

Terminally Ill

(1) Help participants address life-transition and life-end issues;
(2) Ensure that participants are afforded timely access to hospice
services;
(3) Provide opportunities for participants to engage in “tasks of
dying,” or activities of “getting things in order” or other
therapeutic actions that help resolve end of life issues and enable
transition and closure;
(4) Ensure adequate supervision including supervision of medication
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(5) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or
through referral for other services particularly relevant for
terminally ill such as legal counsel and pain management.

Chronically Mentally Ill

(1) Help participants join in and engage with the community;
(2) Facilitate reintegration with the community and provide
services that may optimize reintegration such as life-skills education,
recreational activities, and follow up case management;
(3) Ensure that participants have opportunities and services for
re-establishing relationships with family;
(4) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of
medication and monitoring of medication compliance; and
(5) Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or
through referral, to obtain other services particularly relevant for a
chronically mentally ill population, such as vocational development,
benefits management, fiduciary or money management services, medication
compliance, and medication education.
VA is seeking, through this NOFA, to renew previous grant and per
diem Special Need providers and their VA collaborative partners to
continue to serve the Special Need veteran populations.
No part of a Special Need grant may be used for any purpose that
would change significantly the scope of the specific grant and per diem
project for which a capital grant and per diem was awarded. As a part
of the review process, VA will review the original project and
subsequent renewals as listed in the previous Special Need applications
to ensure significant scope changes do not occur displacing other
homeless veteran populations. VA may reject for Special Need Funding
those applications that significantly alter the original scope (38 CFR
Section 61.62).
A separate Special Need application is required for each previously
funded grant and per diem project (identified by unique project number
(see Application Requirements in this NOFA).

Special Need funding may not be used for capital improvements or to
purchase vans or real property. However, the leasing of vans or real
property may be acceptable. Questions regarding acceptability should be
directed to VA’s Grant and Per Diem Field Office (at the number listed
above). Applicants may not receive Special Need Assistance to replace
funds provided by any Federal, state or local government agency or
program to assist homeless persons.
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 $10 million is available for current
Special Need GPD grant component of this program. Funding will be for a
period beginning on October 1, 2009 and ending on September 30, 2011.
Applicants should ensure their funding requests are based on this 24
month period. As this NOFA is for renewal funding; applicant funding
requests should be in line with prior expenditures. Based on Grant and
Per Diem funding availability, approximately, $8 million is expected to
be made available over the specified time (internally) for the current
VA collaborative partners.
The goal is to the maximum extent possible ensure a continuation of
Special Need services to homeless veterans and their VA collaborative
partners.
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:
Potential applicants should take into consideration, “Grant
recipients that concurrently receive Special Needs and per diem
payments shall not be paid more than 100 percent of the cost for the
bed per day, product, operation, personnel, or service provided” (38
CFR 61.61(h)). Further, VA per diem payment is limited to the
applicant’s cost of care per eligible veteran minus other sources of
payments to the applicant for furnishing services to homeless veterans
up to the per day rate VA pays for State Home Domiciliary care.
Awardees will be required to support their request for Special Needs
and per diem payments with adequate fiscal documentation as to program
income and expenses.
All awardees that are conditionally 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 make consideration of this when submitting
their grant applications as no additional funds will be made available
for capital improvements under this NOFA. VA will conduct an inspection
prior to awardees being able to submit request for payment to ensure
this requirement is met.
Each grant awardee will have the VA liaison that was appointed for
its corresponding grant and per diem program monitor services to ensure
the Special Need grant is being met and will include at least an annual
review of each program’s progress toward meeting internal goals and
objectives in helping the Special Need homeless veterans as identified
in each applicant’s original Special Need application. Monitoring for
all participants will include a review of the agency’s income and
expenses as they relate to this project to ensure per diem and Special
Need payments are accurate.
Monitoring of Homeless Special Need participants and services
provided by GPD recipients will be accomplished according to NEPEC
procedure. These monitoring procedures will be used to determine
successful accomplishment of outcomes for each collaborative
partnership.
Funding Priorities: None
Agreement and Funding Actions: Conditionally selected applicants
will complete a funding agreement with VA in accordance with 38 CFR
Section 61.61 and provide any additional information as required by VA.
Upon signature by the Secretary or designated representative final
selection will be completed.
Funding for operational grant and per diem applicants that are
finally selected will not exceed the period specified in this NOFA. A
condition to obtain the Special Need Grant is for the applicant to
maintain the original (grant or per diem) program for which the Special
Need grant is sought.
Application Requirements: A separate application is needed for each
project number, which you are requesting Special Needs Funding. In
addition, current Special Need recipients should also list their
Special Need Project number. A project number is the last two digits of
the year funded, the sequence the application was received, and the
state abbreviation for the project location, (i.e., 00-125-MA would
have been funded in the year 2000, the 125th application received, and
the project is located in Massachusetts). If you do not know your
project number call VA’s Grant and Per Diem Field Office (toll-free) at
1-877-332-0334.
The grant application requirements are specified in the application
package and the following additional information is required by this
NOFA.
a. Applicants should include in their submissions documentation of
successful past performance.
b. If the previous Special Needs grant was a collaborative the
submission must include the appropriate performance data from the VA
collaborative partner that the VA met its objectives or provided its
duties as outlined in the original MOA.
c. An updated MOA signed by the VAMC Director and the applicant
agency Director specifying the collaborative and specific duties of the
non-profit provider and those of the VA Medical Center that will be
accomplished under this grant.
d. Complete new budgets for the provider and collaborative partner
with costs based on past costs incurred and evidence of the same.
Providers should take into consideration the 24 month period of award
when calculating and submitting their budgets for this NOFA.
Applicants having questions with regard to the funding from
previous Special Need awards should contact the Grant and Per Diem
Field Office prior to application for this NOFA.
The package includes the applicant’s required forms and
certifications. Selections will be made based on criteria described in
the application and additional information as specified in this NOFA.
Applicants who are selected will be notified of any further
additional information needed to confirm or clarify information
provided in the application. Applicants will then be notified of the
deadline 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.