State Home Construction Grant Program

2. State Home Construction Grant Program • Introduction • History • The Grant Process

3. State Home Construction Grant Program • Introduction • State Home Construction Purpose • To construct State Home facilities for furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans • To expand, remodel, or alter existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, adult day health, or hospital care to veterans in state homes

4. State Home Construction Grant Program History Between 2000-2010 VA Awarded: $2.22 Billion in construction grants 51 Bed Creation Projects (5,745 Beds) 7 Bed Replacement Projects (1,322 Beds) FY 2012 budget = $100 million Authorized via 38 USC § 8131-8137 Regulated via 38 CFR § 59 4

5. American Reinvestment and Recovery Act $150 Million in ARRA grants to upgrade or construct new State Veterans Homes • 20 States received funding • AL, AZ, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH OR, PA, TX, UT, VA. • 34 Projects would not have received funding if ARRA was not available. • 8 of the projects created 996 new beds for Veterans 5

6. State Home Construction Grant Program • 2011 Priority List • 94 total projects in all priority groups • 49 Priority 1 Projects (has state matching funds) • 45 were offered funding letters • 3 Deferred to a subsequent year • 2 have not been offered a funding letter • Eligible 2012 projects are in the approval process

7. State Home Construction Grant Program • State Home Construction Grant Process • Timeline • Pre-Award • Award • Post-Award • Close Out

8. State Home Construction Grant Program Timeline for 3 Priority Lists FY 2010 Priority List Conditional grants have their final requirements due 180 Days after SECVA grants conditional approval (varies) FY 2011 Priority List SECVA must sign all packages Requirements for Conditional and Final Approvals Due Funding Letters sent to states Budget Approved (Varies) Priority List signed by SECVA FY 2012 Priority List Priority List Created Initial Applications Due Sept Sept Sept Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar 15 Apr 15 Apr 15 Apr July July 6 July 30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept We are here

9. State Home Construction Grant Program Pre-Award Begin application on Grants.gov Mail originals to VA Review Community Living Center design with state Deadline for Initial Application is April 15th Must have A1-A18 of check list complete and approved or project will not be placed on Priority List Send VA scope, must have A1-A18 of check list complete and approved or project will not be placed on Priority List Submit certification of state matching funds by August 15th to be placed in priority group 1 9

10. State Home Construction Grant Program Award – Funding Eligibility: Must rank in priority group 1 on priority list Ranking is determined by statutory and regulatory requirements. Life safety projects are ranked above all others Integration of Community Living Center design Fall in the funding range Will receive a funding or non-funding letter each Fiscal Year from VA 10

11. State Home Construction Grant Program Award – Conditional Approval Should Submit items B1 - B5D by July 6th Have 180 calendar days after Secretary signs conditional approval to submit remaining items for a final award Funds set aside but not available 11

12. State Home Construction Grant Program Award – Final Award Submit items B1 - B7J by July 6th Final Drawings Bid Tabulations Final Budget Contractor:Excluded Parties List system (EPLS) Secretary VA signs grant award Funds are available 12

13. State Home Construction Grant Program Post-Award: Payments begin: Request payment in Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System SF-271 must match 424c exactly You can not increase total funding after grant award For new bed projects: Once construction is approximately 70% complete, the State should inquire about the VA recognition process Grant close out should be completed before recognition is completed 13

14. State Home Construction Grant Program Closeout: Submit a request for a final grant program review Generally, VA will request construction photographs Submit evidence the State has complied with the Single Audit Act requirements Submit the Post-Grant Requirements, VA Form 10-0388-13 Cannot receive the final payment until grant close out requirements are met 14

15. State Home Construction Grant Program • Lessons learned / Helpful hints • Paper Work Reduction • No need for multiple copies • Cover letters are not required • 2 signed copies of MOA • All documents must have FAI# and date • Especially the 424C • Scanned files should be named to describe content • FAI#, location, what it is, date • Example: FAI 40-030 Clinton 271 pmt 5 9.24.10.pdf • FAI 40-030 Clinton B2d Historical 1.24.10.pdf • Do not include multiple documents in one scanned file • Keep projects separate in correspondence

16. State Home Construction Grant Program • Lessons learned / Helpful hints • We got lots of questions on drawings: This is what you send • 2 Half-size set of drawings • 2 spec books • 1 CD of drawings and specifications • State matching funds • You need the Form: 10-0388-6 • You need proof the state has them • Copy of budget or act: some type of proof

17. State Home Construction Grant Program • Lessons learned / Helpful hints • To get on the priority list you must have A1 through A18 on the check list completed • Each year you must have an updated budget • Each year you must have an updated declaration of state matching funds: form and proof • Grant Applications: Scope and must be robust enough to justify the funding.

18. State Home Construction Grant Program Staff Tom Graves: thomas.graves2@va.gov Program Analyst: Vacant Presidential Management Fellow: On rotation Program Support: Christina Dempsey: Christina.Dempsey@va.gov George Washington University Graduate Student