Fund Availability Under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas |
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Jeffrey M. Martin
Department of Veterans Affairs
5 June 2018
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26149-26154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11944]
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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 availability (new applicants).
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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 Availability
(Notice) contains information concerning the Grants for Transportation
of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program, grant application process,
and amount of funding available.
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/.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability.
Funding Opportunity Number: VA-HRTG-NEW-2018.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 64.035.
DATES: 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 30, 2018. 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 that is 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.
ADDRESSES:
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 Office at (404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-
free number) or by email at 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mindy LaCrone, Acting National
Coordinator, Highly Rural Transportation Grants, Veterans
Transportation Program, Member Services (10NF4), 2957 Clairmont Road,
Atlanta, GA 30329; (918) 348-5564 (this is not a toll-free number); and
Mindy LaCrone at Mindy.LaCrone@va.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Funding Opportunity Description
Overview
Access to VA care for veterans that are 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).
Purpose
VA Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) is pleased to announce
that 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 to assist veterans in highly
rural areas through 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
[[Page 26150]]
should be consulted for a complete list of definitions.
Applicant means an eligible entity that submits an application for
a grant announced in a Notice of Funding Availability.
Eligible entity means either a Veterans Service Organization or a
State Veterans Service Agency.
Grantee means an applicant that is awarded a grant under this NOFA.
Highly rural area means 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 grants.gov, or at this website under additional resources:
http://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/vtp/grant_applicants.asp.
Notice means a Notice of Funding Availability published in the
Federal Register in accordance with 38 CFR 17.710.
Participant means 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 means 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 means 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 means 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,
Public Law 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 2018. Approximately $1 million 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
2018 for each highly rural area in which the grantee provides
transportation services. (The available counties that are not being
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.
A veteran who is provided transportation services through
a grantee's use of these grant monies will not be charged for such
services.
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 that are 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 that
applicants that are awarded grant funds should operate by sound
business practices. Organizations that are 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 processes described in Sec. 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 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 is required prior to submission. VA
strongly encourages registering with Grants.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://grants101.usalearning.net/. The deadline for applying for
funding under this announcement is July 30, 2018.
Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov by using the
following identifying information. The Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 64.035, titled
``Veterans transportation program,'' and the funding opportunity number
is VA-HRTG-NEW-2018.
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
email validation message from Grants.gov. The validation message
[[Page 26151]]
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 that 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 email 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 of the 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 that resumes be
included in a single file.
Information to complete the Application for Federal
Assistance (SF-424): The SF-424 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 that propose to use funds
awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should
be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic
investigations designed to develop or contribute to knowledge) may
constitute research. However, project evaluations that are 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, and evaluation,
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 that 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 SF 424A Budget Detail Worksheet
can be found at the www.grants.gov website. Please submit a budget and
label it, as the example above indicates. 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.
Budget Brief (example):
1. Our organization requests __for the acquisition of___ van(s).
2. The total cost of the van(s)___. 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 Rate Agreement (If Applicable)
Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a federally
approved indirect cost rate. (This requirement does not apply to units
of local government.) A copy of the rate approval must be attached. If
the applicant does not have an approved rate, one can be requested by
contacting the applicant's cognizant federal agency, which will review
all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization or,
if the applicant's accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in
the direct cost categories. If VA is the cognizant federal agency,
[[Page 26152]]
obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost rate proposal from
the contact person listed in this solicitation.
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 include a resolution from all tribes that
will 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 30, 2018. 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 that is 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 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 Veterans
Transportation Program Office at (404) 828-5380 (this is not a toll-
free number) or by email 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.
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 must contact their State's
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out and comply with the State's
process, to comply with 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.-2018.pdf.
Funding Restrictions
Grants will only be awarded to those organizations that are
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 email to
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 Mindy
LaCrone, Acting National Program Coordinator for Grants for
Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas, at (918) 348-5564
(this is not a toll-free number) or by email to
Mindy.LaCrone@va.gov.
Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award
are available for download on www.grants.gov. Examples of these forms
can be viewed at the www.grants.gov website. 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 (SF 424B) (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 that 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 VTP, Member Services 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 give consideration to 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:
[[Page 26153]]
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:
(1) Program scope is defined, and applicant has specifically
indicated the mode(s) or method(s) of transportation services to be
provided.
(2) Program budget is defined, and applicant has indicated that
grant funds will be sufficient to completely implement the program.
(3) Program staffing plan is defined, and applicant has indicated
that there will be adequate staffing for delivery of transportation
services according to program scope.
(4) 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:
(1) Measurable goals for determining the success of delivery of
transportation services.
(2) Ongoing assessment of B.(1), 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:
(1) 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.
(2) 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:
(1) How the program will identify and serve veterans who otherwise
would be unable to obtain care.
(2) 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 NOFA 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 at a
minimum of 27.5 points) based on the success of the grantee's program,
as demonstrated by the following: Application shows that 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 at 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 at 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 Assistant Deputy Under
Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations in VA and the
grantee. Upon execution of the grant agreement, VA will obligate the
approved amount provided that:
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 that 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 sent through the U.S. Postal Service to
the awardee organization as listed on its SF 424. Note that 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 be sent through the U.S. Postal Service 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
[[Page 26154]]
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 Program must agree as part of their grant
agreement to comply with all requirements of the Common Rule, as
applicable.
Reporting
Progress Reports
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, and provide measurable
outcomes.
Required quarterly and annual 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.
Program Monitoring
The VTP is responsible for program monitoring. 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 SF 425 on a quarterly
basis. More details will be announced in the NoA.
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 Reporting
Additional reporting requirements may be requested by VA to allow
VA to fully assess program effectiveness.
Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements
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), Public Law 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 that 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 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 that is 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 that no subaward of an award made under this
solicitation may be made to a subrecipient that is subject to the terms
of FFATA unless the potential subrecipient acquires and provides a DUNS
number.
Other Information
Pursuant to 38 CFR 17.730(a), VA may recover from the grantee any
funds that are 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.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Peter M.
O'Rourke, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on May 24, 2018, for publication.
Dated: May 24, 2018.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-11944 Filed 6-4-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P