11205184 SECVA signed Federal Register Notice date changes (NoFO).pdf

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 8320-01

LOAN GUARANTY: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant

Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is publishing the announcement of the availability of funds for the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology

(SAHAT) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The objective of the grant is to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for Specially Adapted

Housing (SAH) grant recipients. This notice is intended to provide applicants with the information necessary to apply for the SAHAT Grant Program. VA strongly recommends referring to the SAHAT Grant Program regulation in conjunction with this notice. The registration process described in this notice applies only to applicants who will register to submit project applications for FY 2024 SAHAT Grant Program funds.

DATES: Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted through www.Grants.gov by 11 :59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 28, 2024. Awards made for the SAHAT Grant Program will fund operations for FY 2024. The SAHAT

Grant Program application package for funding opportunity VA-SAHAT-24-09 is available through www.Grants.gov and is listed as VA

Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program. Applications may not be sent by mail, email, or facsimile. All application materials must be in a format compatible with the www.Grants.gov application submission tool. Applications must be

3. Applications in which the technology grant applicant is requesting assistance funds in excess of $200,000 will not be reviewed.

4. Applications that do not comply with the application and submission information requirements provided in Section IV of this notice will be rejected.

5. Applications submitted via mail, email, or facsimile will not be reviewed.

6. Applications must be received through www.Grants.gov, as specified in

Section IV of this announcement, on or before the application deadline, as specified in the DATES section of this announcement. Applications received through www.Grants.gov after the application deadline will be considered late and will not be reviewed.

7. Technology grant applicants that have an outstanding obligation that is in arrears to the Federal Government or have an overdue or unsatisfactory response to an audit will be deemed ineligible.

8. Technology grant applicants in default by failing to meet the requirements for any previous Federal assistance will be deemed ineligible.

9. Applications submitted by entities deemed ineligible will not be reviewed.

10. Applications with project dates that extend past August 31, 2025, (this period does not include the 120-day closeout period) will not be reviewed.

All technology grant recipients, including individuals and entities formed as for profit entities, will be subject to the rules on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost

Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as found at 2 C.F.R. § 200 (see

2 C.F.R. § 200.101(a)). Where the Secretary determines that 2 C.F.R. § 200 is not applicable or where the Secretary determines that additional requirements are

2. VA Form 26-0967: Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion.

3. VA Form 26-0967a: Scoring Criteria for SAHAT Grants.

4. Applications: In addition to the forms listed above, each technology grant application must include the following information:

a. A project description, including the goals and objectives of the project, what the project is expected to achieve, and how the project will benefit

Veterans and Service members;

b. An estimated schedule including the length of time (not to extend past

August 31, 2025) needed to accomplish tasks and objectives for the project;

c. A description of what the project proposes to demonstrate and how this new technology will aid or enhance the ability of Veterans and Service members to live in an adapted home. The following link has additional information regarding adapted homes: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability housing-grants/; and

d. Each technology grant applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application addresses each of the scoring criteria listed in Section V(A) of this notice.

C. System for Award Management (SAM)

Each technology grant applicant, unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from the requirements under 2 C.F.R. § 25.11 0(b) or

(c) or has an exception approved by VA under 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(d), is required to:

1. Be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application;

wants to include to show how it will help protect the interests of, or further the mission of, VA and the program (up to 20 points).

B. Review and Selection Process

Eligible applications will be evaluated by a review panel comprising of five VA employees. The review panel will score applications using the scoring criteria provided in Section V(A) and refer to the selecting official those applications that receive a minimum aggregate score of 70. In determining which applications to approve, the selecting official will take into account the review panel score, the priorities described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity, the governing statute, 38 U.S.C. 2108, the governing regulation, 38 C.F.R. § 36.4412, eCFR :: 38 CFR 36.4412 -- Special!�

Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program. and the VA Financial Policy, Volume X Grants Management, Chapter 4 Grants Application Review and Award

Process, Financial Policy Documents - Financial Policy Documents (va.gov). VA will review and consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's (0MB) guidance located at 2 C.F.R. § 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, except as noted.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

Although subject to change, the SAHAT Grant Program Office expects to announce grant recipients after April 1, 2024. Prior to executing any funding agreement, VA will contact successful applicants to make known the amount of proposed funding and verify the applicant's desire to receive the funding. Any