§ 17.210 - Definitions.

For the purpose of the regulations concerning grants to States for construction or acquisition of State home facilities:

(a) The veteran population of each State shall be determined on the basis of the latest figures certified by the Department of Commerce.

(b) The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(c) The term construction means the construction of new domiciliary or nursing home buildings, the expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings for the provision of domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care in State homes and the provision of initial equipment for any such buildings. The term includes necessary support systems and work performed over and above that required for maintenance and repair. Generally, facilities such as parking lots, landscaping, sidewalks, streets, storm sewers, etc., are excluded except to the extent the work is inextricably involved with new construction or the remodeling, modification or alteration of existing facilities.

(d) The term cost of construction means the amount which the Secretary determines to be necessary for a State home construction project, including architect fees, supervision and site inspection services, printing and advertising costs, but excluding land acquisition costs.

(e) The term State agency means that State agency or instrumentality of a State designated by a State as authorized to apply for assistance to construct or acquire State home facilities for veterans and thereafter administer those facilities.

(f) The term acquisition means the purchase of a facility for use as a State veterans home for the provision of domiciliary and/or nursing home care to veterans. An acquisition includes any remodeling or alteration needed to meet existing standards.

(g) The term cost of acquisition means the amount which the Secretary determines to be necessary to acquire and renovate a facility for the provision of domiciliary or nursing home care as a State home.

(h) As used in connection with a request from a State for a grant to assist in the construction or acquisition of a State veterans home:

(1) The term preapplication means the State's submission to the Secretary of a preapplication for Federal Assistance on Standard Form 424 with an accompanying space program and schematics for the project; and

(2) The term application means the submission to the Secretary of an application for Federal Assistance for a project on Standard Form 424 after the Department of Veterans Affairs has reviewed the State's preapplication for the project and informed the State that it is a feasible project for Federal participation.

(i) The term life safety project means a State veterans nursing home or domiciliary project which would remedy an existing condition which has been cited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a State or local agency (including a Fire Marshal), or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, as threatening to the lives or safety of patients within the facility.

(j) The term renovation project means a project to expand, remodel or alter a State veterans nursing home or domiciliary which is not a life safety project and does not result in the addition of domiciliary or nursing home beds.