FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Laws 88-450, 89-311, 90-432, 91-178, 93-82, 94-581, 95-62, 96-151, 96-330, 97-251, 97-295, 98-528, 99-166, 99-576, and 100-322, 38 U.S.C. 8131-8137.

OBJECTIVES:

To assist States to acquire or construct State home facilities for furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel, or alter existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care to veterans in State homes.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grant funds must be used for: The construction of new domiciliary or nursing home buildings or acquisition of such facilities; 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. All new domiciliary buildings must be constructed according to nursing home care standards for convertibility. Construction cost means the amount found by the Secretary to be necessary for a construction project, including architect fees, but excluding land acquisition costs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Any State may apply after assuring that the assisted facility will be owned by the State; and will be used primarily for veterans.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Veterans meeting VA and State admission criteria.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

Pre-application Coordination:   (1) The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by Title 38, CFR, Part 43, "Uniform Administrative Requirements" must be used for this program. (2) The preapplication forms are Standard Form 424, 424C, and 424D, Preapplication for Federal Assistance, with attachments. (3) Consultation or assistance is available from Headquarters Office personnel to aid in the preparation of preapplication. (4) An informal preapplication conference is usually not needed; however, notification by telephone of intent to submit a preapplication is recommended. (5) An environmental assessment is required for this program if outside construction exceeds 75,000 gross square feet to determine whether an environmental impact statement is necessary. (6) This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by Title 38, CFR, Part 43, "Uniform Administrative Requirements" must be used for this program. (Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance for Construction Programs, with attachments.) This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Formal approval of the award of the assistance grant to the State is made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with program administered by Chief Consultant, Geriatrics and Extended Care Strategic Healthcare Group.

Deadlines:   Preapplication is due by April 15 for all projects. State assurance of matching funds is due by August 15 to receive priority group one status.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 30 to 60 workdays after receipt of bid tabulations, revised budget page based on bid, and signed Memorandum of Agreement.

Appeals:   No application will be disapproved without the opportunity of a hearing.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   38 U.S.C. 8135 (D)(2). Federal participation provides up to 65 percent of total project cost, with the State providing the remainder.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Accounts are cancelled 5 years after appropriation expires. Appropriations received in fiscal year 1994 or later do not expire. Reimbursement payments are made to the State based on Federal share of cost incurred.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Required in accordance with 38 CFR 17.170-17.183. Final Architectural/Engineering Inspection and equipment list, if applicable, required prior to final payment.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Records should be maintained for the period established by Memorandum of Agreement (7 to 20 years depending upon the amount of the grant). If any claim or audit is started before the expiration of this time period, the records shall be retained until all litigation, claims or audit findings involving the records have been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0181-0-1-703.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $90,367,000; FY 02 est $40,000,000; and FY 03 est $40,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$140,870 to $27,182,408; Average: $2,400,000.

By the end of fiscal year 2001, 13 completed preapplications were received, 3 grants were awarded, 6 conditional grants were approved, no applications were disapproved, and 83 preapplications/applications totaling $236,478,000 were pending. Fiscal year 2002 estimates include 16 grant awards totaling $89,841,000.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations 17.190-17.222, Grants to States for Construction of State Home Facilities.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Thomas Graves 810 Vermont Avene, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20420 Phone: 202-461-6751

Web Site Address:  
http://www.va.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

1) Constructed new 120 bed State home nursing home building; 2) Constructed new 100 bed State home domiciliary building to nursing home care standards for easy conversion; 3) Remodeled existing State home nursing home building; 4) Remodeled existing State home domiciliary building; and 5) Remodeled existing State home hospital building.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

As required by Title 38, U.S.C. Section 5035, all applications are reviewed and accorded priority in the following order: (1) adequate State financial support (matching funds); (2) States without State homes constructed or acquired under Title 38 U.S.C. 8131-8137; (3) greater need; (4) lesser need; and (5) other criteria determined appropriate and published in regulations (38 CFR 17.170 through 17.183).

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