03-18493. Fund Availability Under the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

AGENCY:

Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the availability of funds for applications for assistance under the Life Safety Code grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. This Notice contains information concerning the program, application process, and amount of funding available.

DATES:

An original completed and collated grant application (plus two completed collated copies) for assistance under the VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2003. Applications may not be sent by facsimile (FAX). In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into account and make early submission of their material to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.

For a Copy of the Application Package: Download directly from VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Web page at http://www.va.gov/​homeless/​page.cfm?​pg=​3 or call the Grant and Per Diem Program at 202-273-8443 or (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

For a document relating to the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, see the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2003, Sections 61.0 through 61.82.

Submission of Application: An original completed and collated grant application (plus two copies) must be submitted to the following address: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Field Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, Florida 33617. Applications must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office by the application deadline. Applications must arrive 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Victor Harris, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420; 202-273-8443 or Tampa Field Office (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This Notice announces the availability of funds for assistance under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program for eligible capital grantees who received a previous grant under section 3 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-590; 38 U.S.C. 7721 note) for construction, renovation, or acquisition of a facility and may seek a Life Safety Code grant solely for renovations to such facility to comply with the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, authorizes this program. Funding applied for under this Notice may be used solely for renovations to such facility to comply with the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

Authority: VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is authorized by Public Law 107-95, section 5(a)(1) the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 codified at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, 2064 and has been extended through Fiscal Year 2005. The program is implemented by the interim final rule codified at 38 CFR 61.0. The interim final rule was published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2003, the regulations can be found in their entirety in 38 CFR §§ 61.0 through 61.82. Funds made available under this Notice are subject to the requirements of those regulations.

Allocation: Approximately $3.5 million is available for the Life Safety Code grant component of this program.

Funding Priorities: None.

Application Requirements: The specific grant application requirements will be specified in the application package. The package includes all required forms and certifications. Selections will be made based on criteria described in the application.

Applicants who are selected will be notified of any additional information needed to confirm or clarify information provided in the application. Applicants will then be notified of the deadline to submit such information. If an applicant is unable to meet any conditions for grant award within the specified time frame, VA reserves the right to not award funds and to use the funds available for other grant and per diem applicants.

Dated: July 14, 2003.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.