HRTG_NOFO_New 2023.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Fund Availability under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural

Areas

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (New Applicants)

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains information concerning the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, grant application process, and amount of funding available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The National Coordinator, Highly

Rural Transportation Grants, Veterans Transportation Program (VTP), Member

Services (15MEM), 2957 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329; at HRTG@va.gov.

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR: Organizations who are interested in applying for this grant can view an informational webinar about the Highly Rural Transportation

Grants program at the following link:

http://va-eerc-ees.adobeconnect.com/p552nvc4m5e/.

mailto:HRTG@va.gov http://va-eerc-ees.adobeconnect.com/p552nvc4m5e/ Rusek, Kisha K. (KPMG, LLP) Agency policy and the agency-wide NOFO template now refers to all funding announcements as Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: VA-HRTG-NEW-2023

Assistance Listing Number: 64.035

DATES AND ADDRESSES:

Applications for assistance under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly

Rural Areas program must be submitted to www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on July 31, 2023. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants and with the single exception described below regarding unforeseen technical problems beyond the control of the applicant with the Grants.gov website, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will not consider any application received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make early submission of their materials 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.

Access to the application

The application can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html, utilizing the “search by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number” function, and entering in that search field the number 64.035. Questions should be referred to the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) Office by e-mail at http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html

HRTG@va.gov. For further information on Grants for Transportation of Veterans in

Highly Rural Areas program requirements, see the Final Rule published in the

Federal Register (78 FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is codified in 38 CFR §§

17.700-.730.

Submission of application package

Applications may not be sent by facsimile. Applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by the application deadline. Applications must be submitted 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. All applicable forms cited in the application description must be included.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Funding Opportunity Description

Overview

Access to VA care for veterans in highly rural areas continues to be an issue across the United States. VA has established this program to help address barriers to access to care. This program funds innovative approaches to transporting veterans in highly rural areas who typically have longer commute times to Department of

Veterans Affairs medical centers (VA medical centers).

http://www.grants.gov/

Purpose

VA VTP is pleased to announce it is seeking grant applications for the Grants for

Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. This Highly Rural

Transportation Grant program furthers the Department’s mission by offering this

Notice for new grantees of this program to assist veterans in highly rural areas with innovative transportation services to travel to VA medical centers and to otherwise assist in providing transportation services in connection with the provision of VA medical care to these veterans.

Definitions: 38 CFR 17.701 contains definitions of terms used in the Grants for

Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program. Definitions of key terms are also provided below for reference; however, 38 CFR 17.701 should be consulted for a complete list of definitions.

• Applicant is an eligible entity that submits an application for a grant announced in a Notice of Funding Opportunity.

• Eligible entity is either a Veterans Service Organization or a State Veterans

Service Agency.

• Grantee is an applicant that is awarded a grant under this NOFO.

• Highly rural area is an area consisting of a county or counties having a population of less than seven persons per square mile. NOTE: A listing of these highly rural areas may be found with the application materials on www.grants.gov, or at this website under additional resources:

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vtp/grant_applicants.asp.

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vtp/grant_applicants.asp

I clarified “of this program,” so that it is clear that entities can already be recipients of other sources of Federal funding from other agencies and/or programs.

• Notice is a Notice of Funding Availability published in the Federal Register in accordance with 38 CFR 17.710.

• Participant is a Veteran in a highly rural area who is receiving transportation services from a grantee.

• Provision of VA medical care means the provision of hospital or medical services as authorized under sections 1710, 1703, and 8153 of title 38 United

States Code (U.S.C.).

• State Veterans Service Agency means the element of a state government that has responsibility for programs and activities of that government relating to Veterans benefits.

• Subrecipient is an entity that receives grant funds from a grantee to perform work for the grantee in the administration of all or part of the grantee’s program.

• Transportation services means the direct provision of transportation, or assistance with transportation, to travel to VA medical centers and other VA or non-VA facilities in connection with the provision of VA medical care.

• Veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable.

• Veterans Service Organization is an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.

Authority

Grants applied for under this Notice are authorized by section 307 of the Caregivers and

Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-163, (the 2010 Act), as implemented by regulations codified at 38 CFR §§17.700-.730, Grants for

Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas. Funds made available under this

Notice are subject to the requirements of the aforementioned regulations and other applicable laws and regulations.

Award Information

In accordance with 38 CFR § 17.710, VA is issuing this Notice for grants under the

Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program for fiscal year

2023. Approximately $5,000,000.00 is authorized to be appropriated for this fiscal year.

VA is issuing this additional Notice to permit other applicants to apply for grants under the program (in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Notice). The following requirements apply to grants awarded under this Notice:

• One grant may be awarded to each grantee for fiscal year 2023 for each highly rural area in which the grantee provides transportation services. (The available counties not serviced by a current grantee will be included in the full announcement on www.grants.gov).

• Transportation services may not be simultaneously provided by more than one grantee in any single highly rural area.

• No single grant will exceed $50,000 per highly rural area.

• A Veteran who is provided transportation services through a grantee’s use of these grant monies will not be charged for such services.

http://www.grants.gov/

Fiscal year 2023 or fiscal year 2024? When will these grants be issued? For a period of performance before or after October 1, 2023?

• Grants awarded under this Notice will be for a 1-year period.

• All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

The only entities eligible to apply for and receive grants are Veterans Service

Organizations recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and State Veterans

Service Agencies. Current Highly Rural Transportation grantees are ineligible to apply for a grant under this notice. Interested eligible entities must submit a complete grant application package to be considered for a grant.

Cost Sharing or Matching

This solicitation does not require grantees to provide matching funds as a condition of receiving such grants.

Other

2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards states applicants awarded grant funds should operate by sound business practices. Organizations awarded funds under this Notice will be asked to submit organizational policies and procedures. Additional grant application requirements are specified in the application package. Submission of an incomplete application package will result in the application being rejected during the threshold review, the initial review conducted by VA to ensure the application package contains all required forms and certifications. Complete and accurate packages will then be subject to the evaluation, scoring, and selection process described in § 17.705(c) and (d), respectively. Applicants will be notified of any additional information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the grant application and the deadline by which to submit such information.

Application and Submission Information

• Applications will be submitted through www.Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a “one-stop storefront” that provides a unified process for all customers of federal awards to find funding opportunities and apply for funding. Complete instructions on how to register and submit a grant application can be found at www.Grants.gov. If the applicant experiences technical difficulties at any point during this process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–

518–4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.

• Registration in Grants.gov and SAM.gov are required prior to submission. VA strongly encourages registering with Grants.gov and SAM.gov several weeks before the deadline for application submission. In addition, applicants who are new to applying for Federal grants or want to learn more about the Federal grant process should review the Grants 101 modules found at https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101.html. The deadline for applying for funding under this announcement is July 31, 2023.

• Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov by using the following identifying information. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101.html number for this solicitation is 64.035, titled “Veterans Transportation Program,” and the funding opportunity number is VA-HRTG-NEW-2023.

• Submit an application consistent with this solicitation by following the directions in

Grants.gov. Within 24 - 48 hours after submitting the electronic application, the applicant should receive an e-mail validation message from Grants.gov. The validation message will state whether the grant application has been received and validated, or rejected, with an explanation. Important: Applicants are urged to submit their applications at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any problems which may have caused a rejection notification.

• If an applicant experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond the applicant’s control that prevents submission of its application by the deadline, the applicant must contact the VTP Office staff no later than 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to submit its application. At that time, VTP Office staff will instruct the applicant to submit specific information detailing the technical difficulties. The applicant must e-mail the following: a description of the technical difficulties; a timeline of submission efforts; the complete grant application; the applicant’s Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;

and Grants.gov Help Desk tracking number(s) received. After the program office reviews all of the information submitted and contacts the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues reported, VA will contact the applicant to either approve or deny the request to submit a late application. If the technical issues reported cannot be validated, the application will be rejected as untimely.

• To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the registration process in sufficient time; (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its website; (3) failure to follow all instructions in the VA solicitation; and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant’s computer or information technology (IT) environment.

Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov, if any, are posted on the Grants.gov website.

Content and Form of Application Submission

This section describes what a grant application must include. Failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements will result in the rejection of their application at the threshold review stage. Moreover, if applications are not adequately responsive to the scope of the solicitation, particularly to any critical element, or fail to include a program narrative, budget detail worksheet including a budget narrative, tribal resolution (if applicable), eligibly entity designation, or a list of the highly rural county or counties to be served, they will be rejected and receive no further consideration.

Threshold Review Criteria: (Critical Elements)

• Application deadline: Applications not received by the application deadline through www.grants.gov will not be reviewed.

• Eligibility: Applications that do not conform to the eligibility requirements at the beginning section of this document will not be reviewed.

• Budget detail worksheet including a budget narrative: VA strongly recommends use of appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program

Narrative”, “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative”, “Timelines”, “Memoranda of Understanding”, “Resumes”) for all attachments. VA recommends resumes be included in a single file.

• Information to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF424): The

SF424 is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov takes information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form.

• Program Narrative: Provide a detailed narrative of your program scope and specifically discuss the innovative modes and methods of transportation services to be provided. If the provision of transportation services will necessitate procurement or use of specific equipment, such equipment must be specifically listed.

Note on project evaluations: Applicants proposing to use funds awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to knowledge) may constitute research. However, project evaluations intended only to generate internal improvements to a program or service or are conducted only to meet VA’s performance measure data reporting requirements, likely do not constitute research. Research, for the purposes of VA-funded programs, is defined as, “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, evaluation, and designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” 38 CFR §

16.102(d). In addition, research involving human subjects is subject to certain added protections, as set forth in 38 CFR part 16. Applicants should provide sufficient information for VA to determine whether particular project activities they propose would either intentionally or unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way it meets VA’s regulatory definition of research and thereby invoke the requirements and procedures set forth in 38 CFR part 16.

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

• Budget Detail Worksheet: A sample SF424A Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at the www.grants.gov. Please submit a budget and label it as the

“SF424A Budget Detail Worksheet”. If the budget is submitted in a different format, the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet must be included.

• Budget Narrative: The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet.

The narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how all costs were estimated and calculated and how they are relevant to the completion of the proposed project. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes but need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken down by year. Note: All non-federal entities have to comply with 2

CFR § 200.400-475 Cost Principles and all Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) Regulations and Circulars.

The following is sample text you may use to draft a budget narrative:

[Insert name of organization] requests a total of [insert total dollar amount] for a one-year period of performance to [insert major goal of grant]. Specifically:

1. Our organization requests [insert dollar amount] for the acquisition of [insert quantity of an item] [insert name of item].

2. The total cost of the [insert name of item] is [insert dollar amount]. This is the amount requested from VA.

3. Our organization will utilize _______________for innovative approaches for transporting veterans. This is the amount requested from VA for a maximum of

$50,000.

Indirect Cost Rates

Applicants may include indirect costs as part of their proposed budget. Applicants that have a previously negotiated indirect cost rate with a cognizant agency may utilize this rate when preparing and submitting a proposed budget. Those applicants that do not have a previously negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to apply a de minimis rate of ten percent indirect costs. Applicants that do not have a previously negotiated rate but wish to establish a negotiated indirect cost rate should submit alongside their proposal an Indirect Cost Rate Proposal justifying and evidencing the applicant’s proposed indirect cost rate.

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

If an application identifies a subrecipient that is either (1) a tribe or tribal organization or

(2) a third party proposing to provide direct services or assistance to residents on tribal lands, then a current authorizing resolution of the governing body of the tribal entity or other enactment of the tribal council or comparable governing body authorizing the inclusion of the tribe or tribal organization and its membership must be included with the application. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes proposes to apply for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, then the application must

Indirect Costs are allowed, per 2 CFR 200, for all entities. If an entitity does not have a federally negotiated rate, they are entited, per 2 CFR 200, to elect 10 percent de minimis on their proposed budgets.

include a resolution from all tribes to be included as a part of the services/assistance provided under the grant. A consortium of tribes for which existing consortium bylaws allow action without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without authorizing resolution or other enactment of each tribal governing body) may submit a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application in order to satisfy this requirement.

Submission Dates and Times

Grant applications under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural

Areas Program must be submitted to www.grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on July 31, 2023. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date and hour and with the single exception described above regarding unforeseen technical problems beyond the control of the applicant with the Grants.gov website, VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any application received after the deadline. Applicants should take this into account and make early submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays, computer service outages (in the case of www.grants.gov), or other delivery-related problems.

The application can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html, utilizing the “search by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number” function, and entering in that search field the number 64.035. Questions should be referred to the

VTP Office by e-mail at HRTG@va.gov. For further information on Grants for

Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program requirements, see the governing regulations codified at 38 CFR §§17.700-730.

http://www.grants.gov/

Grant applications may not be sent by facsimile. These applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by the application deadline; they must also be submitted 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. All applicable forms cited in the application description must be included.

Intergovernmental Review

Some states require that applicants contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process for fulfilling Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (1982).

Names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of Management and

Budget’s homepage at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-m,mn’.pdf

Funding Restrictions

Grants will only be awarded to those organizations eligible under law as described in the eligibility information section.

Other Submission Requirements

For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact the Grants.gov

Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or via e-mail to www.support@grants.gov.

Note: The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact the National Program Coordinator for Grants for Transportation of

Veterans in Highly Rural Areas, by e-mail at HRTG@va.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-m,mn'.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-m,mn'.pdf http://www.support@grants.gov

Additional forms may be required relating to an award and are available for download on www.grants.gov. Examples of these forms can be viewed at the www.grants.gov. For successful applicants, receipt of funds will be contingent upon submission of all necessary forms. Please note in particular the following forms: Certifications Regarding

Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free

Workplace Requirement; Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Required for any applicant that expends any funds for lobbying activities; this form must be downloaded, completed, and then uploaded); and Standard Assurances (SF424B) (Required to be submitted to the VTP Office prior to the receipt of any award funds).

Application Review Information

Criteria

VA is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding these grants. The

VTP Office will review the grant application to make sure the information presented is reasonable, understandable, measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with the solicitation. Peer reviewers will conduct a threshold review of all applications submitted under this solicitation to ensure they meet all of the critical elements and all other minimum requirements as identified herein. The VTP Office may use either internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a combination to review the applications under this solicitation. An external peer reviewer is an expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a current VA employee. An internal reviewer is a current VA employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. Eligible applications will then be evaluated, scored, and rated by a peer review panel. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only.

The Member Services VTP Office conducts a financial review of applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the fiscal integrity and financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to determine if the Budget Detail Worksheet and

Budget Narrative accurately explain project costs; and determines whether costs are reasonable, necessary, and allowable under applicable federal cost principles and agency regulations.

Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, the Veterans Health Administration, through the VTP Office, will forward the reviewers’ recommendations for award to the Secretary of VA, who will then review and approve each award decision. Such determinations by the Secretary will be final. VA will also consider factors including, but not limited to: underserved populations; geographic diversity; strategic priorities; and available funding when making awards.

Review and Selection Process

1. Initial Grant Scoring: Selection of Renewal Grants for Transportation of Veterans in

Highly Rural Areas is very competitive. Applications will be scored using the following selection criteria:

A. VA will award up to 40 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 20 points) based on the program’s plan for successful implementation, as demonstrated by the following:

i. Program scope is defined, and applicant has specifically indicated the mode(s) or method(s) of transportation services to be provided.

ii. Program budget is defined, and applicant has indicated that grant funds will be sufficient to completely implement the program.

iii. Program staffing plan is defined, and applicant has indicated that there will be adequate staffing for delivery of transportation services according to program scope.

iv. Program timeframe for implementation is defined, and applicant has indicated that the delivery of transportation services will be timely.

B. VA will award up to 30 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 15 points) based on the program’s evaluation plan, as demonstrated by the following:

i. Measurable goals for determining the success of delivery of transportation services.

ii. Ongoing assessment of B(i), with a means of adjusting the program if required.

C. VA will award up to 20 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 10 points) based on the applicant’s community relationships in the areas to be serviced, as demonstrated by the following:

i. Applicant has existing relationships with state or local agencies or private entities, or will develop such relationships, and has shown these relationships will enhance the program’s effectiveness.

ii. Applicant has established past working relationships with state or local agencies or private entities which have provided services similar to those offered by the program.

D. VA will award up to 10 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 5 points) based on the innovative aspects of the program, as demonstrated by the following:

i. How the program will identify and serve veterans who otherwise would be unable to obtain care.

ii. How the program will utilize or integrate existing public resources (VA, state, or Other).

2. Initial Grant Selection: VA will use the following process to award initial grants:

A. VA will rank those applications who receive at least the minimum amount of total points (50) and points per category set forth in this Notice. The applications will be ranked in order from highest to lowest scores.

B. VA will use the grantee’s ranking as the basis for selection for funding. VA will fund the highest ranked grantees for which funding is available.

3. Renewal Grant Scoring: There is a separate NOFO for renewal applications.

However, we are including scoring for renewal grants for the further information of new applicants. Renewal applications will be scored using the following selection criteria:

A. VA will award up to 55 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 27.5 points) based on the success of the grantee’s program, as demonstrated by the following:

Application shows the grantee or identified subrecipient provided transportation services which allowed participants to be provided medical care timely and as scheduled; and application shows that participants were satisfied with the transportation services provided by the grantee or identified subrecipient, as described in the Notice;

B. VA will award up to 35 points (an applicant must score a minimum of 17.5 points) based on the cost effectiveness of the program, as demonstrated by the following:

the grantee or identified subrecipient administered the program on budget and grant funds were utilized in a sensible manner, as interpreted by information provided by the grantee to VA under 38 CFR § 17.725(a)(1-7); and

C. VA will award up to 15 (an applicant must score a minimum of 7.5 points) points based on the extent to which the program complied with the grant agreement and applicable laws and regulations.

4. Renewal Grant Selection: Selection of Renewal Grants for Transportation of

Veterans in Highly Rural Areas is very competitive. VA will use the following process to award renewal grants:

A. VA will rank those grantees who receive at least the minimum amount of total points (52.5) and points per category set forth in the Notice. The grantees will be ranked in order from highest to lowest scores.

B. VA will use the grantees’ ranking as the basis for selection for funding. VA will fund the highest-ranked grantees for which funding is available.

Award Administration Information

Award Notices and Grant Agreements

After an applicant is selected for a grant in accordance with 38 CFR § 17.705(d), VA will send a notice of award (NoA) letter with an enclosed grant agreement to be executed by the VA Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations and the grantee. Upon execution of the grant agreement, VA will obligate the approved amount provided:

1. The grantee must operate the program in accordance with the provisions of this section and the grant application;

2. If a grantee’s application identified a subrecipient, such subrecipient must operate the program in accordance with the provisions of this section and the grant application; and

3. If a grantee’s application identified funds will be used to procure or operate vehicles to directly provide transportation services, the following requirements must be met:

A. Title to the vehicles must vest solely in the grantee or in the identified subrecipient or with leased vehicles in an identified lessor;

B. The grantee or identified subrecipient must, at a minimum, provide motor vehicle liability insurance for the vehicles to the same extent they would insure vehicles procured with their own funds;

C. All vehicle operators must be licensed in a U.S. State or Territory to operate such vehicles;

D. Vehicles must be safe and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations; and

E. Vehicles must be operated in accordance with applicable Department of

Transportation regulations concerning transit requirements under the

Americans with Disabilities Act.

Recipients will use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment

Management System for grant drawdowns. Instructions for submitting requests for payment may be found at http:www.dpm.psc.gov/.

The Grant Agreement will be either sent through the U.S. Postal Service or electronically to the awardee organization as listed on its SF424. Note any communication between the VTP Office and awardees prior to the issuance of the NoA is not authorization to begin performance on the project.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified of their status by letter, which will likewise either be sent through the U.S. Postal Service or electronically to the applicant organization as listed on its SF 424.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Successful applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with additional applicable legal requirements upon acceptance of an award (VA strongly encourages applicants to review the information pertaining to these additional requirements prior to submitting an application). As to those additional requirements, we note that while their original grants were subject to additional legal requirements as set forth in 38 CFR parts

43 and 49 those regulatory provisions have since been superseded by the Common

Rule governing all Federal Grant Programs. The Common Rule is codified at 2 CFR part 200. Thus, grantees and identified subrecipients awarded grants under the http://www.dpm.psc.gov/

Program must agree as part of their grant agreement to comply with all requirements of the Common Rule, as applicable.

Reporting

All grantees will be required to submit progress reports throughout the period of performance detailing progress toward meeting grant objectives stated in the originally submitted proposal and in the Federal Grant Award Notification documents. Reporting and monitoring cadence and rigor are determined by a grantee’s level of risk. A sample reporting schedule may include submission of bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, or annual reports.

Report submission may also require the use of a designated software by the VTP program office. Awardees must agree to cooperate with any VA evaluation of the program and provide required quarterly, annual, and final (at the end of the fiscal year) reports in a form prescribed by VTP. A final report consists of a summation of grant activities which include progress toward goals, financial administration of grant funds, grant administration issues and barriers. Reports are to be submitted electronically.

These reports must outline how grant funds were used, describe program progress and barriers, changes in personnel, other relevant grant activities, and progress toward measurable outcomes.

At a minimum, reports must include the following information:

• Record of time expended assisting with the provision of transportation services;

• Record of grant funds expended assisting with the provision of transportation services;

• Trips completed;

• Total distance covered;

• Veterans served;

• Locations which received transportation services; and

• Results of veteran satisfaction survey.

Monitoring

The VTP is responsible for program monitoring of all selected awardees. All awardees will be required to cooperate in providing the necessary data elements to the VTP. The goal of program monitoring is to ensure program requirements are met; this will be accomplished by tracking performance and identifying quality and compliance problems through early detection. Methods of program monitoring may include: monitoring the performance of a grantees or subrecipient’s personnel, procurements, and/or use of grant-funded property; collecting, analyzing data, and assessing program implementation and effectiveness; assessing costs and utilization; and providing technical assistance when needed. Site visit monitoring will include the above-described activities, in addition to the conduct of safety assessments and, if applicable, verification of both current driver’s licenses and vehicle insurance coverage.

Federal Financial Report

Awardees are required to submit the FFR SF425 on a quarterly basis. More details will be announced in the NoA.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/grants_forms/SF-425.pdf

Audit Requirements

Awardees must comply with the audit requirements of Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance 2 CFR part 200 subpart F. Information on the scope, frequency and other aspects of the audits can be found on the internet at https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-30465.

Program Variations

Any changes in a grantee’s program activities which result in deviations from the grant agreement must be reported to VA.

Additional Post-Award Reporting

Additional reporting requirements may be requested by VA to allow VA to fully assess program effectiveness. All recipients (excluding an individual recipient of Federal assistance) of awards of $25,000 or more under this solicitation, consistent with the

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), Pub. L. 109-

282 (Sept. 26, 2006), will be required to report award information on the subaward reporting system of any first-tier subawards totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, to report information on the names and total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure it has the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should it receive funding.

It is expected that reports regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA

Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) found at https://www.fsrs.gov. The FFATA http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars https://www.fsrs.gov/

Subaward Reporting System is the reporting tool Federal prime awardees (i.e. prime contractors and prime grants recipients) use to capture and report subaward and executive compensation data regarding their first-tier subawards to meet the FFATA reporting requirements. Prime contract awardees will report against sub-contracts awarded and prime grant awardees will report against sub-grants awarded. Prime

Contractors awarded a Federal contract or order subject to Federal Acquisition

Regulation clause 52.204-10 (Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier

Subcontract Awards) are required to file a FFATA subaward report by the end of the month following the month in which the prime contractor awards any subcontract greater than $25,000.

Please note also no subaward of an award made under this solicitation may be made to a subrecipient subject to the terms of FFATA unless the potential subrecipient acquires and provides a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

Other Information

Pursuant to 38 CFR § 17.730(a), VA may recover from the grantee any funds not used in accordance with a grant agreement. If VA decides to recover funds, VA will issue to the grantee a notice of intent to recover grant funds, and the grantee will then have 30 days to submit documentation demonstrating why the grant funds should not be recovered. After review of all submitted documentation, VA will determine whether action will be taken to recover the grant funds. When VA determines action will be taken to recover grant funds from the grantee, the grantee is then prohibited under 38 CFR §

17.730(b) from receiving any further grant funds.