VA-GPD-CG-FY2022.pdf

Posted 09/03/2021

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

FUNDING AVAILABILITY:

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program Capital Grant

AGENCY:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

ACTION:

Notice of Funding Opportunity

SUMMARY:

During the National Emergency due to COVID–19, VA announces the availability of approximately $75 million in capital grants to increase safety and reduce the risk to Veterans in GPD transitional housing who otherwise would be experiencing homelessness. Funding for grants awarded under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) (P.L. 117-2). This NOFO responds to the mounting need for equity in communities where evidence suggests that the existing supply of transitional housing is inadequate to meet the demand of unsheltered Veterans. As shown in the 2020 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in January 2021, although the increase in the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness between 2019 and 2020 was small (i.e. less than 1%), the increase was entirely among Veterans staying in unsheltered places. The funding offered under this NOFO will allow current GPD grantees to improve the transitional housing they offer to Veterans, potentially making transitional housing more attractive than unsheltered places for Veterans who previously were difficult to outreach.

By increasing the availability of private accommodations, this funding will provide for the safety of Veterans experiencing homelessness and reduce or avoid the risk associated with shared or congregate accommodations.

This is the second batch of funding in a limited series of funding opportunities designed to continue relief efforts in response to COVID-19. While the first batch of funding, made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, 2020 (CARES Act) (P.L. 116-136), supported a remarkable 200% more grants than originally forecasted, the funding did not reach all of the communities in need. Therefore, this second opportunity targets other communities in need, such as high-cost areas, by increasing the funding available, by continuing to focus on current GPD grantees and continuing to hold applicants to high standards.

VA continues to monitor current events as they impact the transitional housing needed in communities. VA is committed to supporting community-based organizations as they transform programs and meet the challenge of providing high-quality transitional housing to Veterans experiencing homelessness.

GPD NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FY 2022 – Capital

DATES:

Applications for grants must be received by the GPD National Program Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 6, 2021.

In the interest of fairness to all, this deadline is firm as to date and hour. VA will treat any application received after the deadline as ineligible. Applicants should take this practice into account and submit their materials early to avoid the risk of unanticipated delays, computer service outages or other submission-related problems that might result in ineligibility.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The required documentation for applications is outlined under the Application Documentation Required sections of this NOFO. For detailed GPD program information and requirements, see part 61 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) or 38 C.F.R. part 61.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

Applications must be submitted by following instructions at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Applications may not be submitted any other way.

Applications must be received by the GPD National Program Office no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date. 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 or not funded.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:

Information regarding how to obtain technical assistance with the preparation of a grant application is available on the GPD program website at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffery Quarles, Director, GPD Program VA National Grant and Per Diem Program Office, by phone at 1-877-332-0334 (this is a toll-free number) or by email at GPDGrants@va.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Funding Opportunity Title: GPD Capital Grant Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: VA-GPD-CG-FY2022 Assistance Instrument: Grant Assistance Listing: 64.024, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem

Program http://www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp mailto:GPDGrants@va.gov

CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Purpose The funding offered under this NOFO will allow current GPD grantees to improve the transitional housing they offer to Veterans, potentially making transitional housing more attractive than unsheltered places for Veterans who previously were difficult to outreach.

By creating private rooms with private bathrooms, this funding will provide for the personal safety of Veterans experiencing homelessness and reduce or avoid the risk associated with close quarters living. VA is committed to supporting GPD grantees as they continue to transform programs and meet the challenges of providing high-quality transitional housing to Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Funding is offered to current GPD grantees only. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee is an organization that has an active GPD grant under NOFO VA-GPD- PDO-FY2020, and that is eligible for an option year award starting October 1, 2022. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee includes Per Diem Only (PDO) transitional housing projects. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee does not include GPD grantees with only a PDO Service Center grant, Transition in Place (TIP) grant, Special Need grant or Case Management grant unless they also have an active PDO transitional housing grant.

The purpose of this NOFO is to provide capital grants to support acquisition, construction and/or rehabilitation of real property used for GPD transitional housing facilities. Funds provided through this NOFO are not to support per diem costs, services costs, or the cost of operating transitional housing beds for Veterans.

Eligibility is summarized here and also discussed in the Eligibility section of this NOFO:

• Applicants, as defined by Employer Identification Number (EIN), are limited to one application per currently active GPD PDO grant per VA medical facility catchment area.

• Applications must be from the same organization with the same EIN as is associated with the currently active GPD PDO Federal Award Identifying Number

(FAIN).

• Organizations who are not currently a GPD grantee with an active PDO grant are not eligible to apply.

• Each application must be for the improvement of some or all the GPD beds currently associated with the active GPD PDO grant. Temporary sites (e.g., sites not under the applicant’s direct ownership or control such as motels being used as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 National Emergency) are not eligible for improvement under this NOFO. See payment details under the Award Administration Information section of the NOFO for site control requirements.

• Beds that were selected for funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO VA- GPD-CG-FY2021 are not eligible for funding under this NOFO even if the previous funding is declined by the applicant. Only beds that were not part of an application submitted under capital NOFO VA-GPD-CG-FY2021 and not selected for funding under that NOFO are eligible under this NOFO.

• Each application may request no more than $75,000 total costs per GPD bed that, upon completion of the project, will be changed from a bed in a shared space to a bed in a private room with a private bathroom.

• Each applicant may request no more than $4.5 million total costs per application.

• The number of beds proposed to be changed from a bed in a shared space to a bed in a private room with a private bathroom with funds from this capital grant may be less than, but must not exceed, the total number of beds authorized under the GPD PDO grant. NOTE: For grantees with GPD beds in spaces that flex over time, the maximum number of beds proposed to be changed under this capital grant must not exceed the average number of GPD beds documented over the three months prior to the NOFO publication month.

• An eligible activity may include adding only private bathrooms to bedrooms that already are single occupancy; however, the need for this activity might rank lower than the need for activity that creates both private bedrooms and private bathrooms.

• An activity is not eligible if it is related to capital improvements to a Service Center. Applications that request funding for Service Centers are not eligible.

• Upon completion of the project, the GPD beds changed from a bed in a shared space to a bed in a private room with a private bathroom must continue to be in the same VA medical facility catchment area as the active GPD PDO grant. A change in VA medical facility catchment areas is not allowed. Applicants proposing sites that are within the VA medical facility catchment area, but are a significant distance from their current location, must describe in the Abstract section of the application how they will address relevant impacts (e.g., proximity to VA, employment, transportation). Applicants are reminded that they must continue to provide the same level (or better) of staffing and services as described in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 PDO application, or as modified through an approved change of scope.

Applicants are encouraged to consider the responsibilities they assume if they are funded and to carefully request only the changes to beds and dollar amounts that correspond to the responsibility, they are willing to assume. Specifically, successful applicants are subject to the recovery provisions of 38 C.F.R. 61.67. VA will seek recovery for awarded capital grant funds on a prorated basis if at any time during the minimum operational period a grantee no longer has an active GPD PDO grant and/or if a grantee does not maintain bed numbers. Grantees who do not maintain occupancy levels are subject to bed reduction. Applicants should become familiar with the amount of time provided for completion of the PDO project under 38 C.F.R. 61.67 in order to avoid capital grant repayments. Operational time for these grants will begin on the activation date (i.e., not the award date, but the date GPD approves activation after project completion; see definition of “activation date” later in the NOFO). For details, refer to the table at the end of this NOFO and the regulations.

B. Goals and Objectives The goals of programs under assistance listing 64.024, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, are to provide transitional housing and supportive services to Veterans experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of housing for these Veterans. To achieve these goals, the objective of this NOFO is to provide funds for capital improvement projects. Grants awarded under this NOFO will contribute to the achievement of the goals and objective by increasing individual unit style housing and decreasing congregate housing, thereby improving the quality of housing and supportive services available to Veterans. Each grant’s performance will be indicated by a reduction in the number of GPD beds in a shared room and an increase in the number of GPD beds in a private room with a private bathroom. The overall program’s performance will be indicated by a decrease in the total number of GPD beds in a shared room and an increase in the total number of GPD beds in a private room with private bathrooms across all completed projects.

Successful projects will result in decreased shared and congregate living spaces and increased individual unit style housing for Veterans in GPD transitional housing programs. Successful projects will be able to provide better for the personal safety of Veterans and to reduce risks associated with close quarters living. To be responsive to the urgency of the National Emergency due to COVID-19, proposed projects should be carefully planned and limited in scope. All projects are expected to be completed within 18-24 months.

Funds provided through this NOFO must not duplicate funding provided by any other GPD grant (e.g. a capital grant awarded under VA-GPD-CG-FY2021 with a start date of October 1, 2021) and must not duplicate or replace funds from any Federal, state or local government agency or program to assist homeless persons. If an applicant was selected for funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO and withdraws from that grant in order to request funding for the same beds under this NOFO, the application will be considered ineligible. However, applicants who were selected for funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO for only some of their GPD beds, but not all, may request funding for any remaining eligible beds under this NOFO.

Applicants must agree to meet the applicable requirements of 38 C.F.R. part 61 as a part of the effort to end homelessness among our Nation’s Veterans. In addition, all applicants must demonstrate an ability to complete the capital project timely (within 18- 24 months), to offer a low barrier approach to providing services to Veterans and to have policies and procedures for maintaining low barriers through the provision of service.

C. Authority Funding applied for under this NOFO is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012.

D. Housing Specifications NOTE: This NOFO cannot predict all potential housing arrangements and related circumstances. Applicants are expected to propose plans within the requirements and guidance of the NOFO. When a specific situation is not explicitly addressed in the NOFO, applicants must use their judgment to propose plans that meet the intent of the NOFO and may explain how their choices align with the intent of the program. All applications will be evaluated against the requirements and guidance of the NOFO.

1. Funding must only be used to create private rooms with private bathrooms.

Every GPD bed improved with this capital grant must result in a bed changing from being in a shared space to a bed in a private bedroom with a private bathroom for the GPD Veteran upon completion of the project.

2. The inspection standards outlined in title 38 C.F.R. 61.80 must be met, including requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the current edition of the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association as it relates to the specific facility. Applicants should note that all facilities must be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system unless a facility is specifically exempt under the Life Safety Code. Applicants must consider this when submitting their applications.

3. Upon completion of the project, the GPD beds improved under this capital grant must be in private rooms including the following characteristics:

• The minimum square footage for the private bedroom and private bathroom combined is 120 square feet. The bedroom and bathroom do not need to be attached; in which case the walkway would not usually count toward the square footage calculation.

• The bathroom must include shower and/or tub, sink and toilet.

• Neither the bedroom nor the bathroom facilities may be shared (e.g., no shared sink area outside the toilet room).

• Rooms with partial walls are not acceptable. Walls must go floor-to-ceiling. Rooms must have a door and not involve unauthorized passage through another dwelling unit.

4. After the capital project is completed, if a space will no longer be used for

GPD beds, the expectation is that GPD homeless Veterans would not be placed in beds in that space in the future indefinitely unless the space is later improved consistent with (or better than) the standards described in this

NOFO.

5. Upon completion of the project, GPD beds in shared spaces must be reduced and GPD beds in private rooms must be increased. Applicants must consider how they will measure these changes to show that spaces are safer and healthier for Veterans.

E. Definitions Title 38 C.F.R. part 61 and Title 2 C.F.R. part 200 contain definitions of terms used in the GPD program and in Federal grant programs that are applicable to this NOFO.

Selected and additional definitions are highlighted here:

1. Acquisition: The acquiring by contract of supplies, services, equipment, or real property.

2. Activation date: The date on or after which a grantee may begin serving Veterans in the capitally improved space. This date is provided by GPD to the grantee in writing after the grantee completes all work as described in the application and passes the VA inspection. Also, this is the date on which the minimum operational period begins for purposes of repayment calculations under the recovery provisions (38 C.F.R. 61.67). (See also “recovery provisions” definition).

3. Congregate: Bedroom, bathroom and/or other living areas shared by multiple people at once, especially areas referred to as open bay, dormitories, cubicles, or large group living situations with limited private space.

4. Construction: Creation of new buildings or completion of space in existing buildings (excluding the cost of land acquisition) or changing the "footprint" of an existing facility (e.g., relocation of existing exterior walls, roofs, or floors).

5. GPD facility: A facility, as identified by a discreet building at a discreet site address, approved as part of the GPD PDO grant, that provides at least 75% of the available beds as dedicated transitional housing beds to Veterans funded by a GPD grant, as identified by a FAIN. For purposes of this NOFO, a GPD facility excludes temporary sites (e.g., sites not under the applicant’s direct ownership or control such as motels being used as a temporary measure during the National Emergency due to COVID-19). Temporary sites are not eligible for improvement under this NOFO.

6. Low barrier: For Veterans who are determined to be appropriate for the program, “low barrier” refers to a general approach to admissions in which the requirements for entry are limited or minimal. By focusing on reducing harm, a low barrier approach encourages Veterans experiencing homelessness to seek resources by eliminating obstacles. It also means expediting the time it takes for an eligible Veteran to be admitted into housing (e.g. within 24 hours or no more than 48 hours from the point of identification or referral to the GPD program).

7. Occupancy rate: The ratio of number of beds in use by eligible Veterans to the number of awarded GPD beds overall. See 38 C.F.R. 61.80(r). Grantees who do not maintain occupancy levels are subject to a reduction in authorized beds, a reduction in funding or a termination of the transitional housing grant.

8. Real property: Land, including land improvements, structures and appurtenances thereto, excluding moveable machinery and equipment.

9. Recovery provisions: Requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. 61.67 that define the minimum time a GPD-funded capital project must be operational to avoid repayment to VA. (See also “activation date” definition.) Applicants are advised to review the requirements including the repayment table to estimate the minimum operational period required based on the amount of funding requested. Minimum operational periods may be subject to change.

Applicants who receive capital funding must refer to 38 C.F.R. 61.67 during the life of their GPD grants for the most up-to-date information.

10. Rehabilitation: Alteration, renovation, remodeling, improvement and/or repair of an existing building and the provision of equipment necessary to make the building suitable for use for the purposes of transitional housing described in this NOFO (i.e., private rooms with private bathrooms for GPD Veterans, less congregate, more individualized, less risk, more safety, more health).

Rehabilitation does not mean minor repairs or improvements such as painting, flooring, or other aesthetical enhancements to the facility unless necessary as part of a broader capital improvement project.

II. Award Information

A. Allocation of Funds Under this NOFO approximately $75 million is available for capital grants to increase safety and reduce risk for Veterans in GPD transitional housing who otherwise would be experiencing homelessness. Each grant will be for a maximum amount of $75,000 per improved bed and up to $4.5 million total costs per grant. VA expects to award approximately 20-40 grants depending on factors such as funding availability. All grants will be new, initial awards. Renewal funding is not available under this NOFO.

A net increase to GPD transitional housing beds nationwide is not expected. Rather, VA is seeking to focus resources to promote the development of individual unit style transitional housing and to reduce the amount of congregate style transitional housing within GPD-funded facilities. Therefore, proposed projects are expected to result in the same number of beds as authorized in the associated PDO grant. Neither bed reductions nor bed increases are expected. However, there may be cases that require a bed reduction in order to provide individual rooms with private bathrooms (e.g.

renovation of multi-person rooms to individual living quarters). If needed, applicants may request a bed reduction through the normal change of scope process either before applying for the capital grant or after receiving notification of conditional selection.

Either way, applicants must explain any potential bed reduction in the application.

Grants awarded under this NOFO are estimated to start during the third quarter of FY 2022 (i.e., April-June). To be responsive to the urgency of the National Emergency due to COVID-19, proposed projects must be carefully planned and limited in scope. All projects are expected to be completed within 18-24 months of the award date.

Funding is dependent upon factors such as reducing risk, need, geographic dispersion, funding availability, the recipient meeting the performance goals, statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as the results of the VA inspection. Applicants must commit to a low barrier approach to providing services to Veterans and have policies and procedures for maintaining low barriers through the provision of service.

Depending on the quantity and quality of applications received and the availability of funding, VA reserves the right to make a second round of conditional selections from this NOFO to the eligible pool of applicants. VA also reserves the right to negotiate with applicants an upward or downward adjustment to bed numbers or dollars amounts including adjustments that exceed the limits stated in this NOFO if needed to accomplish the overall goals and objective of the program.

Grantees must apply for and be selected to receive a PDO grant from GPD on a regular basis (e.g. usually every 3 years) until at least the minimum period of operation is met (see table in 38 C.F.R. 61.67). Applicants who do not apply for, or are not selected to receive a PDO grant, will owe a prorated amount of the capital grant back to the Federal Government.

B. Funding Restrictions

1. Applicants may not receive funding to replace funds provided by any other GPD grant (e.g. a capital grant awarded under VA-GPD-CG-FY2021 with a start date of October 1, 2021) or by a Federal, state or local government agency or program to assist homeless persons.

2. No part of an award under this NOFO may be used to fund per diem, services, or operational beds. Funds must be used to facilitate capital improvements (including acquisition, construction and/or rehabilitation activities).

3. VA expects to award no more than $75,000 total costs per authorized GPD PDO bed that will be improved under this grant and no more than $4.5 million total costs per grant.

4. VA reserves the right to fund only those projects or portions of projects based on the percentage of use by VA and/or based on the actual need of the capital improvement project to increase safety and reduce risk as determined by VA.

Those activities deemed outside of the scope of this NOFO will not be funded, such as general rehabilitations not directly tied to increasing safety and reducing risk, minor repairs, minor improvements, aesthetical enhancements, landscaping, furniture, vans, vehicles, phones, operational costs, services, case management or other costs not directly required for, or a necessary part of, a capital improvement project designed to improve safety and reduce risk by increasing individual units and decreasing shared space for GPD Veterans during the National Emergency due to COVID-19.

5. Allowable costs: See 2 C.F.R. part 200 for the cost principles as well as 38 C.F.R. part 61 for GPD requirements. Allowable costs may include the incidental expense of improving a common area if needed to increase safety and reduce risk. If an incidental cost is requested for improving a common area shared by non-GPD Veterans, the requested cost must be calculated based on the prorated portion directly allocable to the GPD project only. If an incidental cost is requested for improving a common area, it must be budgeted within the per bed dollar limits stated in this NOFO and it must support, and must not detract from, the primary purpose of the grant, which is to create private rooms with private bathrooms for GPD Veterans.

6. Applicants are encouraged to consider the responsibilities they assume if they are funded and to carefully request only the changes to beds and dollar amounts that correspond to the responsibility they are willing to assume. Specifically, successful applicants are subject to the recovery provisions of 38 C.F.R. 61.67.

VA will seek recovery for awarded capital grant funds on a prorated basis if at any time during the minimum operational period a grantee no longer has an active GPD PDO grant and/or if a grantee does not maintain bed numbers.

Applicants should become familiar with the amount of time the PDO project must operate to avoid capital grant repayments. Operational time for these grants will begin on the activation date (i.e., not the award date, but the date GPD approves activation after project completion; see definition of “activation date” earlier in the NOFO). For details, refer to the table at the end of the NOFO and regulations.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligibility An eligible applicant is any current GPD grantee. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee is an organization that has an active GPD grant under NOFO VA-GPD-

PDO-FY2020 and is eligible for an option year award starting October 1, 2022. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee includes PDO transitional housing projects. For purposes of this NOFO, a current GPD grantee does not include GPD grantees with only a PDO Service Center grant, a TIP grant, a Special Need grant, or a Case Management grant unless they also have an active PDO transitional housing grant.

Current GPD grantees must maintain their status as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) non-profit organization, state or local government or recognized Indian Tribal government and must continue to meet the definitions in 38 C.F.R. 61.1. Current GPD grantees that are religious or faith-based organizations are eligible, on the same basis as any other organization, to participate in this VA program. Faith-based organizations should refer to 38 C.F.R. 61.64(b) through 61.64(g) for grant compliance requirements.

Successful recipients of a capital grant provided under this NOFO must maintain eligibility in part by continuing to be a current GPD PDO grant recipient meeting all relevant requirements (e.g., occupancy rates, performance goals, inspections). Capital grantees must successfully reapply for the associated PDO grant beds and maintain an active PDO grant at all times through the minimum operational period of the capital grant as defined in 38 C.F.R. 61.67. At any point after receiving a capital grant and before the minimum operational period has been met, if the grantee no longer has an active PDO grant associated with the beds improved under this NOFO or does not maintain bed numbers, then the recovery provisions of 38 C.F.R. 61.67 may be applied and repayment may be required. Additionally, VA may take any allowable action to remedy the situation including reducing the number of beds under the grant.

Eligible activities include acquiring, constructing or rehabilitating real property for the purpose of increasing individual unit style housing, decreasing congregate living spaces and improving the safety and health for Veterans served at an existing GPD facility. A net increase to GPD transitional housing beds nationwide is not expected. Rather applicants are expected to explain in the applications how the overall bed numbers under their GPD grants will be maintained or will decrease (but will not increase) as a result of the capital projects. Reviewers will take into consideration how the proposal benefits the community in terms of overall capacity relative to need.

Applicants are limited to one application per currently active GPD PDO grant per VA medical facility catchment area. Applications for this capital grant must be from the same organization with the same EIN as is associated with the currently active GPD PDO FAIN. An eligible application is an application that is complete, meets all the requirements named in the NOFO and is submitted on time from an eligible entity for eligible activities at a GPD facility.

If an applicant was selected for funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO and withdraws from that grant in order to request funding for the same beds under this NOFO, the application will be considered ineligible. However, applicants who were selected for funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO for only some of their GPD beds, but not all, may request funding for any remaining eligible beds under this NOFO.

Applicants must not be out of compliance with any reporting requirements or other requirements under any other GPD grant (e.g. outstanding SF-425 Federal Financial Report, outstanding closeout requirements). At the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) instruction (2 C.F.R. 200.344(i)), VA will publicly report to the Federal Award and Performance Integrity and Information System (FAPIIS) any organization whose reporting is not complete within 1 year from the grant end date. GPD may decide not to provide a grant under this capital NOFO to an organization who is out of compliance with requirements under other GPD grants.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching:

None.

Under section 4201(b)(2) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-315), 38 U.S.C.

2011(c)(2) will not apply to any grant awarded during a covered public health emergency for a project described in 38 U.S.C. 2011(b)(1). Therefore, cost sharing that normally would be required is not applicable to capital grant applications submitted under this NOFO.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. To Obtain and Submit an Application Applications must be submitted by following instructions found at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Applications may not be submitted any other way.

Applications must be received by the GPD National Program Office by the due date and time named at the beginning of this NOFO. In the interest of fairness to all, this deadline is firm as to date and time. If a late application is received, VA will treat it as ineligible.

Applicants should take this practice into account and submit their materials early to avoid the risk of unanticipated delays, computer service outages or other submission problems that might result in ineligibility.

In the event of certain errors, such as duplicate applications or multiple applications per VA medical facility catchment area per EIN, VA reserves the right to select which application to consider based on the submission dates and times or based on other factors.

The required documentation for an application submission is outlined in the Application Documentation Required section of this NOFO. Standard forms, which must be included as part of a complete application package, may be downloaded directly from VA’s GPD program website at www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Questions may be referred to the

GPD National Program Office at GPDGrants@va.gov. For detailed GPD program information and requirements, see 38 C.F.R. part 61.

B. Content and Form of Application VA is seeking to focus resources to promote the development of individual unit style transitional housing and to reduce the amount of congregate style transitional housing within an existing GPD facility. Applicants must include all required documents in their application submission as described in section Application Documentation Required.

Submission of an incorrect, incomplete, inconsistent, unclear, or incorrectly formatted application package will result in the application being rejected.

C. Application Documentation Required Standard Form (SF)

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424). Signatures on the SF-424 indicate compliance with all SF-424D Construction Assurances and terms and conditions of award. Applicants do not need to submit the SF-424D with the application.

Instead, the applicant agrees to the assurances by maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). For awareness, however, applicants may refer to the GPD website for a list of assurances and for a sample standard terms and conditions of award.

Eligibility

2. State/local government entities must provide as an attachment to the application a copy of any comments or recommendations by approved state and area-wide clearinghouses pursuant to Executive Order 12372. This item is not applicable if the applicant is not a state/local government entity. This item also is not applicable if the applicant is a state/local government entity but did not receive any such comments or recommendations. NOTE that it is rare for an applicant to have to attach this to their application.

3. Applicants must provide a current EIN, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if available and a SAM expiration date. Applicants for this capital grant must have an active GPD PDO grant as evidence by identical organization names, identical EINs and identical DUNS on both the PDO FAIN and on this application. VA reserves the right to verify information or to not accept an application (e.g., if the information cannot be readily verified).

NOTE: Applicants are required to be registered in SAM before submitting an application and must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or an application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. Refer to section Funding Actions of the NOFO and 2 C.F.R. part 25 for more details. In an effort mailto:GPDGrants@va.gov to promote equity and flexibility, especially during the National Emergency due to COVID-19, GPD will not disqualify an applicant if their SAM registration is not active at the time of application submission. However, no awards will be provided to successful applicants if their SAM registration is not active by the time VA is ready to make award decisions.

Project Summary

4. Name and station number of the VA medical facility whose catchment area includes the GPD facility requested in this application. No changes to the VA medical facility catchment area are allowed between the PDO grant and this application.

5. VISN number.

6. Name(s) and number(s) of the Continuum of Care (CoC) that includes the GPD facility requested in this application.

7. FY 2022 PDO FAIN.

8. Address or addresses of sites that will be improved by this proposed capital grant: address, city, state, zip code + four-digit extension, county, congressional district. NOTE: Applicants proposing to move locations must provide the new address not the current facility location.

9. Per capital grant site address, identify the number of GPD beds that will be improved, housing model(s), amount of requested VA capital funding and whether the grant activity will be acquisition, construction and/or rehabilitation.

10. Address or addresses of sites currently approved under the PDO FAIN that no longer will be used upon completion of the proposed capital project, if applicable.

11. Total number of approved GPD PDO beds under the PDO FAIN.

12. Total approved GPD PDO beds proposed to be changed as part of this capital grant from beds in a shared space to beds in a private room with a private bathroom. This number must not exceed the total number of approved GPD PDO beds under the PDO FAIN (see item #11) and must not include any beds requested under GPD’s previous capital NOFO VA-GPD-CG-FY2021. NOTE:

For grantees with GPD beds in spaces that flex over time, the maximum number of beds requested under this capital grant must not exceed the average number of GPD beds documented over the three months prior to the publication month of this NOFO.

13. Total approved GPD PDO beds not proposed to be changed as part of this capital grant that will remain in a shared space(s), if any. NOTE: The sum of beds cited in item #12 and #13 must equal the beds cited in item #11. For applicants who received a capital grant with a start date of October 1, 2021, and who are applying again under this NOFO, state how many of these beds that are not proposed to be changed are because they are already funded under the GPD’s previous capital NOFO.

NOTE: Applicants must ensure the bed numbers entered in the previous three fields add up to 100% of authorized GPD beds in order to clearly demonstrate to reviewers that the capital project will not result in a bed reduction or increase as compared to the authorized bed number in the associated PDO FAIN.

14. Total funds requested (i.e. up to $75,000 per authorized GPD PDO bed proposed to be changed as part of this capital grant from a bed in a shared space to a bed in a private room with private bath, and not to exceed $4.5 million per application).

Project Abstract

15. In approximately 500 words, provide a brief abstract introducing and summarizing the proposed project. The abstract should be a narrative description of how the facility’s space is configured currently compared to how it will be configured. Abstracts may elaborate on the information provided elsewhere and may provide necessary context about the intent of the project and the potential impact to associated PDO projects (e.g., if the transitional housing location changes significantly within the VA medical facility catchment area include impacts to staffing and services to demonstrate that the same level of services or better will be maintained under the PDO grant; or if your organization received funding under GPD’s previous capital NOFO, explain how this request is not duplicative). Include a summary of how the capital project will increase individual unit style transitional housing, reduce congregate style transitional housing and provide safer, healthier spaces for Veterans, especially in response to the National Emergency due to COVID-19. Include your expected start date and expected completion date for the proposed capital activity. Include discussion of benefits to the community in terms of overall capacity relative to need.

Detailed Application Design

This is the portion of the application that describes your proposed project. VA reviewers will focus on how the detailed application design addresses the areas of need, project plan, outreach, ability and coordination in relation to decreasing risk in response to National Emergency due to COVID-19. VA expects successful applicants will create the number of private beds with private bathrooms proposed. With those numbers in mind, please respond to the following sections. These sections are in compliance with 38 C.F.R. part 61.

NOTE: The information in all sections of the application must be consistent. VA may make a reasonable effort to confirm or clarify information in the application if needed.

VA reserves the right to consider ineligible or to not select any application with inconsistent information or information that cannot be readily confirmed or that leads to an unclear understanding of the proposed project.

16. Need (See 38 C.F.R. 61.13(e)): In approximately 500 words, describe the need for this capital grant considering the National Emergency due to COVID-19.

Describe what needs exist among the homeless GPD population currently being served under your PDO grant. Describe the needs that exist within congregate or shared living spaces under your PDO grant. Tie these needs to risk created by National Emergency due to COVID-19 to make a clear and compelling case for this capital grant. For example, a large open-bay or cubicle-type facility with 10 beds in a shared space with shared bathrooms would indicate some level of risk for COVID-19 transmission and, therefore, would indicate some level of need for this grant. A house-type facility, also with 10 beds but in shared rooms of only two or three people per room, would indicate some level of risk and need as well, but to a lesser degree than the first example. Include evidence to demonstrate a data-driven basis for the described need. Evidence might include information from the local by-name list or data suggesting how the numbers of unsheltered are trending compared to transitional housing availability locally. Applicants with a variety of levels of need are welcome to apply. Applications will be reviewed and scored accordingly. Reviewers will consider the degree to which risk is reduced when scoring applications.

17. Project Plan (See 38 C.F.R. 61.13(b)): In approximately 1,000 words, describe your plans that will result in accomplishing the proposed capital grant project.

Discuss how many beds are currently in the shared space or spaces, how many beds are GPD beds, the overall square footage, and the square footage per GPD bed before the proposed capital project. Discuss bed numbers, room numbers and square footage per GPD bed in a private room with a private bathroom upon completion of the proposed capital project. Discuss bedroom and bathroom configurations before and after the proposed capital project. Discuss how facility or facilities will be changed, expanded, consolidated, acquired, or otherwise improved to accomplish the creation of the private GPD beds with private bathrooms. Describe the current and future structural or architectural configuration and condition of the area or areas to be improved. Describe the structural or architectural work needed to accomplish the change. If proposing rehabilitation activities to an existing facility that currently is in use by GPD Veterans, explain how you will accommodate Veterans during the renovation.

Discuss how the GPD Veteran population served in these private beds will be at reduced risk from COVID-19 and from congregate or shared living. Reviewers will consider the degree to which risk is reduced when scoring applications.

Grantees proposing work at multiple site addresses must ensure that the work proposed is delineated clearly by address.

18. Outreach (See 38 C.F.R. 61.13(c)): In approximately 250 words, discuss how creating the proposed private beds with private bathrooms would allow you to outreach to additional Veterans who you are not currently able to serve because of the need for physical distancing or who you were not able to engage for reasons such as not being able to offer private accommodations. Discuss your expectations around utilization rates for all GPD beds under the PDO FAIN upon completion of the capital project. If applicable, discuss why some GPD beds will not be changed from being in a shared space to a private room as part of this capital grant project. Reviewers will consider the degree to which risk is reduced when scoring applications.

19. Ability (See 38 C.F.R. 61.13(d)): In approximately 250 words, describe your ability to accomplish the proposed project within 18-24 months. Discuss your previous experience creating housing for homeless individuals, especially experience with specific activities proposed in this application (e.g., acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation). Discuss what went well and what did not go well (e.g., which projects were completed on time, early or late, which projects were on, under or over budget). Discuss how problems in the future will be anticipated, managed, and avoided. Discuss relevant staff expertise that would impact your ability to execute a capital project. Discuss historical performance both with VA and non-VA projects, including those from other Federal, state and local agencies and audits by private or public entities, regarding your ability to accomplish the proposed capital project. Reviewers will consider how your ability will impact the degree to which risk is reduced when scoring applications.

20. Coordination (See 38 C.F.R. 61.13(g)): In approximately 500 words, describe how your agency coordinated directly with the VA medical facility Director (or the appropriate authorized VA medical facility representative per the local VA medical facility’s practice), with the local continuum of care (CoC) and with other relevant capital development partners about the proposed project. Discuss coordination activities that happened prior to submitting the application and that are planned during the proposed project period. Discuss any challenges identified and how they will be addressed. Discuss how your coordination efforts result in a tailored approach to reducing the risk posed by COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in your specific community.

Letters from the VA medical facility, CoC and/or other partners are not required but may be provided and may help substantiate information included in the application (see the Attachments section at the end of the application).

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow as much time as possible, but no less than 30 days, for letter or letters of coordination. All application materials must be submitted together in a single package by the due date and time. Any materials arriving separately or late will not be accepted as part of the application.

NOTE: VA reserves the right to confirm with local VA medical facility staff or others any information related to an application, including facility configurations and bed numbers. If information related to an application cannot be confirmed or if discrepancies are identified, VA reserves the right to not select the application and consider another application(s) in rank order.

Budget Narrative/Site Control

21. In approximately 500 words, provide a budget narrative justifying the requested costs. Include per-item calculations. Strong justifications would show the connection between requested costs and program goals, NOFO objective and grant performance indicators (see Funding Opportunity Description section).

Estimates are expected to be a good faith assessment of what is reasonable.

The total dollar amount in this narrative must match total amount(s) on the SF- 424 and elsewhere in the application. The total dollar amount in this narrative must not exceed the per bed and per award amounts stated in the NOFO. If voluntary leveraged funding from other sources is necessary to completing the project in addition to the requested GPD capital grant funds, discuss how and when the other funding will be secured, how much and other details for a full understanding of the financial viability of the proposed project.

As part of this budget narrative, applicants must include a paragraph commenting briefly on their organization’s financial stability, the quality of their management systems, their ability to meet the management standards described in 2 C.F.R.

part 200 and 38 C.F.R. part 61 and their ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities (per 2 C.F.R.

200.206(b)(2) and 38 C.F.R. 61.12).

22. Applicants must attach to the application an itemized detailed budget table (e.g., MS Excel, or another spreadsheet or table format, preferably converted to PDF prior to submission) that corresponds to the budget narrative provided in the previous item. The categories and costs in this detailed budget table must provide a full understanding of the budget plans and must demonstrate compliance with cost principles. See the Attachments section at the end of the application.

NOTE: Successful applicants must follow all applicable budget requirements, including the Federal cost principles in 2 C.F.R. part 200, GPD regulations 38 C.F.R. part 61 and budget requirements in this NOFO. Successful applicants also must follow the procurement standards as applicable (2 C.F.R. 200.317- 327).

23. At the time of application, are you able to demonstrate site control (as described in 38 C.F.R. 61.17) for at least the minimum period during which the recovery provisions are in effect (38 C.F.R. 61.67)? Yes/No.

24. In approximately 250 words, describe how site control has been achieved prior to application or, if not achieved prior to application, how site control will be achieved prior to payments if the application is successful. Discuss your intent to comply with the minimum period during which the recovery provisions are in effect (38 C.F.R. 61.67). Attach evidence of site control if available.

Certifications

25. By signing and submitting this application for Federal assistance, I agree to the following:

a. The scope of services under the associated PDO grant will be the…