Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program Thomas Graves Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care, Patient Care Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office

Introduction History The Grant Process 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 State Home Construction Grant Program

4 History Between 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 § –Regulated via 38 CFR § 59

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

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

State Home Construction Grant Process –Timeline –Pre-Award –Award –Post-Award –Close Out State Home Construction Grant Program

Timeline for 3 Priority Lists Conditional grants have their final requirements due 180 Days after SECVA grants conditional approval (varies) SeptNovDecFebMar15 Apr July30 Sept FY 2010 Priority List Priority List Created Initial Applications Due SeptNovDecFebMar15 AprJuly30 Sept Priority List signed by SECVA Funding Letters sent to states Budget Approved (Varies) Requirements for Conditional and Final Approvals Due SECVA must sign all packages SeptNovDecFebMar15 Apr6 July30 Sept FY 2011 Priority List FY 2012 Priority List 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 15 th – 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 15 th to be placed in priority group 1

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

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

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

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

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 Cannot receive the final payment until grant close out requirements are met

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 Clinton 271 pmt pdf FAI Clinton B2d Historical pdf –Do not include multiple documents in one scanned file –Keep projects separate in correspondence 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: You need proof the state has them –Copy of budget or act: some type of proof

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.

State Home Construction Grant Program Staff Tom Graves: Program Analyst: Vacant Presidential Management Fellow: On rotation Program Support: Christina Dempsey: –George Washington University Graduate Student