Eligibility to apply for this grant is limited to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and State Veterans Service Agencies, as specified in paragraphs (a)(2)(A) -(B) of Section 307 of the 2010 Act. Any VSO applying must be formally recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of Veterans under Section 5902 of Title 38, United States Code.

A list of organizations eligible to apply is available in the Listing of Congressionally Chartered and Other Veterans Service Organizations. These organizations are recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs to prepare, present, and prosecute claims under the laws administered by the VA, as provided in Section 5902 (formerly Section 3402) of Title 38, United States Code, and Subsections 14.628(a) and (c) of 38 C.F.R.

Successful grant applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) signed and dated by the VA’s Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) Office. The NoA will include the amount of the award and other information. The award will also include a statement of standard terms and conditions. Special requirements could apply to awards based on the particular circumstances or deficiencies identified in applications by the review panel.

The Notice of Award (NoA) is the official legal document issued by the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) Office to inform the recipient that an award has been granted and that funds are available for request. The NoA will be sent electronically to the designated awardee as specified on the SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance).

Upon selection for a grant in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 17.700-17.730, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will prepare a grant agreement for execution by both VA and the grantee. Once the agreement is signed, VA will obligate the approved funding amount. The grant agreement will specify that:

• The grantee is required to operate the program in full compliance with the provisions outlined in this section and as specified in the grant application.
• If the grantee’s application designates a sub-recipient, the sub-recipient is likewise required to operate the program in accordance with this section and the grant application.
• If the grantee’s application specifies that funds will be used to procure or operate vehicles for the direct provision of transportation services, the following requirements must be satisfied:
• Title to all vehicles must be held exclusively by the grantee, or, in the case of leased vehicles, by the designated lender.
• At a minimum, the grantee must obtain motor vehicle liability insurance for all vehicles, equivalent to the insurance coverage for vehicles purchased with their own funds.
• All vehicle operators must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. State or Territory for the operation of such vehicles.
• All vehicles must be maintained in safe operating condition and serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Vehicles must be operated in compliance with all applicable Department of Transportation regulations, including transit requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

(Authority: Pub. L. 111-163, 38 U.S.C. 501)

Awardees must agree to cooperate with any federal evaluation of the program and provide required quarterly, semiannual (every six months), annual and final (at the end of the grant) reports in a form prescribed by VTP. Reports will be submitted electronically. These reports will outline how grant funds were used, describe program progress and describe any barriers and measurable outcomes.

Awardees are required to fully cooperate with any federal evaluation of the program and to submit all mandatory reports—quarterly, semiannual, annual, and final—in a format specified by the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP). Reports must be submitted electronically and should detail the use of grant funds, document program progress, discuss any encountered barriers, and present measurable outcomes. Target measures will be based on timely reporting of performance metrics. Reporting must be received within 30 days after the quarter ends and 120 days after the end of the grant cycle.  Grantees will also be evaluated for participation and attendance of quarterly conference calls with VTP Office.  Participants must attend at least three of the four scheduled quarterly meetings (75%).

Applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with all applicable legal requirements upon acceptance of the award, as outlined in the following sections. The VA strongly recommends that prospective applicants review these requirements in detail prior to submitting an application. 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 38 U.S.C. 501, 2 CFR part 200, and as noted in specific sections.

In pursuit of a more efficient, effective, and transparent 21st-century government, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have consolidated and streamlined federal guidance regarding administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards.

This final guidance supersedes and streamlines the requirements established in OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, A-122, A-89, A-102, and A-133, as well as the guidance in Circular A-50 regarding Single Audit Act follow-up. Future reforms may also incorporate the Cost Principles for Hospitals as set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services. Copies of the superseded OMB Circulars are available on the OMB website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars. The consolidated guidance aims to improve clarity and accessibility and is codified in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.