federal register - U.S. Government Printing Office

6122 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Rules and Regulations§ 17.708 of this part. The applicationpacket includes exhibits to be preparedand submitted as part of the applicationprocess, including:(1) Justification for the project byaddressing items listed in § 17.711(c) ofthis part;(2) Site description, design, and costestimates (VA Forms 10–0362G, 10–0362H);(3) Documentation on eligibility toreceive assistance under this part (VAForm 10–0362J);(4) Documentation on matching fundscommitted to the projects (VA Forms10–0362N, 10–0362M);(5) Documentation on operatingbudget and cost sharing (VA Form 10–0362P);(6) Documentation on supportiveservices committed to the project (VAForm 10–0362o);(7) Documentation on site control andappropriate zoning, and on theboundaries of the area or communityproposed to be served (VA Form 10–0362Q);(8) Applicants who are States mustsubmit any comments orrecommendations by appropriate State(and areawide) clearinghouses pursuantto E.O. 12372 (3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p.197) (Standard Form SF 424); and(9) Reasonable assurances withrespect to receipt of assistance underthis part that (VA Form 10–0362K):(i) The project will be usedprincipally to furnish to veterans thelevel of care for which such applicationis made; that not more than 25 percentof participants at any one time will benonveterans; and that such services willmeet standards prescribed by VA;(ii) Title to such site or van will vestsolely in the applicant;(iii) Each recipient will keep thoserecords and submit those reports as VAmay reasonably require, within the timeframes required; and give VA, upondemand, access to the records uponwhich such information is based; and(iv) Adequate financial support willbe available for the purchase of the vanor completion of the project, and for itsmaintenance, repair and operation.(b) Pre-award expenditures. Costsincurred for a project after the date VAnotifies an applicant that the project isfeasible for VA participation areallowable costs if the application isapproved and the grant is awarded.These pre-award expenditures includearchitectural and engineering fees. Suchnotification occurs when VA requestsinformation for the second submissionportion of the application.(Paperwork requirements were approved bythe Office of Management and Budget undercontrol number 2900–0554.)(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 7721, note)§ 17.711 Rating criteria for applications.(a) General. Applications will beassigned a rating score and placed inranked order, based upon the criterialisted in paragraphs (b) through (d) ofthis section.(b) Threshold review. Applicants willundergo a threshold review prior torating and ranking, to ensure they meetthe following:(1) Forms, time, and adequacy.Applications must be filed in the formprescribed by VA in the applicationprocess and within the time establishedin the Notice of Funding Availability(NOFA).(2) Application eligibility. Theapplicant and project sponsor, ifrelevant, must be eligible to apply forthe specific program.(3) Eligible population to be served.The population proposed to be servedmust be homeless veterans and meetother eligibility requirements of thespecific program.(4) Eligible activities. The activities forwhich assistance is requested must beeligible for funding under this part (e.g.,new programs or new components ofexisting programs).(5) Outstanding audit findings. Noorganization that receives assistancemay have an outstanding obligation toVA that is in arrears or for which apayment schedule has not been agreedto, or whose response to an audit isoverdue or unsatisfactory.(c) Rating and ranking of firstsubmission. Applicants that pass thethreshold review will then be ratedusing the eight selection criteria listedin paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(8) of thissection. Applicants must receive at least600 points (out of a possible 1,200) andmust receive points under criteria 1, 2,3, 4, and 8. Applicants that are applyingas an innovative supportive housingproject must achieve points under theinnovative quality of the proposalcriterion.(1) Quality of the project—300 points(VA Forms 10–0362A, 10–0362D);.(2) Targeting to persons on streets andin shelters—150 points (VA Form 10–0362C);(3) Ability of the applicants todevelop and operate a project—200points (VA Form 10–0362E);(4) Need for the type of projectproposed in the area to be served—150points (VA Form 10–0362B);(5) Innovative quality of theproposal—50 points (VA Forms 10–0362A, 10–0362D);(6) Leveraging—50 points (VA Form10–0362F);(7) Cost-effectiveness—100 points (VAForm 10–0362A); and(8) Coordination with otherprograms—200 points (VA Form 10–0362D–1).(d) Selection criteria—(1) Quality ofthe project. VA will award up to 300points based on the extent to which theapplication presents a clear, wellconceivedand thorough plan forassisting homeless veterans to achieveresidential stability, increased skillsand/or income, and more influence overdecisions that affect their lives. Higherratings will be assigned to thoseapplications that clearly describe:(i) How program participants willachieve residential stability, includinghow available supportive services willhelp participants reach this goal;(ii) How program participants willincrease their skill level and/or income,including how available supportiveservices will help participants reach thisgoal;(iii) How program participants will beinvolved in making project decisionsthat affect their lives, including howthey will be involved in selectingsupportive services, establishingindividuals goals and developing plansto achieve these goals so that theyachieve greater self-determination;(iv) How permanent affordablehousing will be identified and madeavailable to participants upon leavingthe transitional housing, and howparticipants will be provided necessaryfollow-up services to help them achievestability in the permanent housing;(v) How the service needs ofparticipants will be assessed on anongoing basis;(vi) How the proposed housing, if any,will be managed and operated;(vii) How participants will be assistedin assimilating into the communitythrough access to neighborhoodfacilities, activities and services;(viii) How and when the progress ofparticipants toward meeting theirindividual goals will be monitored andevaluated;(ix) How and when the effectivenessof the overall project in achieving itsgoals will be evaluated and howprogram modifications will be madebased on those evaluations; and(x) How the proposed project will beimplemented in a timely fashion.(2) Targeting to persons on streets andin shelters. VA will award up to 150points based on:(i) The extent to which the projectwill serve homeless veterans living inplaces not ordinarily meant for humanhabitation (e.g., streets, parks,abandoned buildings, automobiles,under bridges, in transportation