§ 17.219 - Preapplication phase.

A State shall submit to the Department of Veterans Affairs a preapplication (SF-424, 424C, and 424D) for Federal assistance for each State home project if Federal participation exceeds $100,000. An original and two copies are required. Costs incurred for the project by the State after the date the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies the State that the project is feasible for Department of Veterans Affairs participation are allowable costs if the application is approved and the grant is awarded. These pre-award expenditures include architectural and engineering fees.

(a) Purpose. A preapplication is required to determine the applicant's general eligibility, to establish communication between the Federal agency and the applicant, and to identify those proposals which are not feasible for Department of Veterans Affairs participation before the applicant incurs significant expenditures in preparing a formal application. Filing a preapplication by April 15 of each year will give the Department sufficient time to accomplish these purposes. The State shall submit to the Department of Veterans Affairs a letter designating the State Official authorized to apply for a State home construction or acquisition grant and a point of contact for all matters relating to a State home grant. If the authorized State official is changed, notice shall be provided in writing to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b) Preapplication requirements. The preapplication shall include schematic drawings, a space program, and a needs assessment. States applying for Federal assistance for new State home beds shall provide justification for the beds by addressing the following areas:

(1) Demographic characteristics of the veteran population of the area;

(2) Availability and suitability of alternative health care providers and facilities in the area;

(3) Waiting lists for existing State home beds;

(4) Documentation that existing State home facilities in the State meet current codes and standards;

(5) Availability of acute medical care services and qualified medical care personnel to staff the proposed facility;

(6) Other information that may be required by the Assistant Chief Medical Director for Geriatrics and Extended Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(c) Revisions to preapplications. Grantees shall request approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs for significant revisions after preapplications have been submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the scope changes and/or cost estimates increase by more than 10 percent, a new preapplication may be required which will be subject to the same review and approval procedure as for the original preapplication.

(Information collection requirements contained in § 17.219 were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2900-0520)