To promote the lifelong health and to motivate, encourage and sustain participation and competition in adaptive sports from the local level through elite levels among disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces through partnerships with VA clinical personnel as well as national and community-based

credit: Chargers

adaptive sports programs.

Fiscal Year 2013: The VA Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces Program is very flexible in creating adaptive sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled Servicemembers. In FY 11 and FY 12, the program annually supported over 9,000 activities with over 16,000 unique Veteran participants. Through technical assistance and events such as the Paralympic Leadership Conference, the program created new partnerships and capabilities with nationwide implementation. Through new initiatives such as the National Veterans Sports and Wellness Program, the program established new comprehensive therapeutic links between the mental health and adaptive sport communities for treatment of Veterans with PTSD. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

Sections 701, 702 and 703 of the Veterans" Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-389) established support for the assistance through a congressional mandate to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Under The VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-59) amended 38 U.S.C.

521A with respect that the USOC would no longer function as the pass-through entity administering the grant program and the VA would manage the adaptive sports grant program.

P.L.

113-59 also amended 38 U.S.C.

322 & 521A so that their provisions apply to the applicable Paralympic sport entities in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands in the same manner and to the same degree as the USOC.

The grant program provides funding to private non-profit and public organizations that support the goal of increasing the participation of disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces in Paralympic and adaptive sports.

The grantees are responsible for planning, developing, managing and implementing an integrated adaptive sports program for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.

This includes instruction, participation, and competition in adaptive sports; training and technical assistance to program administrators, coaches, recreational therapists, instructors, and other appropriate individuals; and coordination of athletes.

It also includes athlete assessments, sport-specific training techniques, program development, and other activities related to the implementation and operation of the program.

Limitations on the use of administrative expenses are described in 38 U.S.C.

Part I, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, Section 521A d (4) and (5).

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The Secretary may award the grants to eligible entities with significant experience in managing large-scale adaptive sports programs, in order to plan, develop, manage, and implement programs to provide adaptive sports opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.

Partnerships are authorized between the recipient adaptive sports and organizations with significant experience in the training and support of disabled athletes and the promotion of disabled sports and local, regional, and national levels.

Beneficiary Eligibility

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. Section 521A, awards will be made to eligible adaptive sports entities. In addition, partnership agreements may be developed by adaptive sports entities with organizations with significant experience in the training and support of disabled athletes. The partnership agreements must be with organizations that are able to recruit, support, equip, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise, and implement the participation of disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.

Those eligible to apply include Paralympic Sport Clubs, colleges/ universities, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Parks and Recreation Departments, hospitals, and community-based organizations. In addition, these organizations must also:
1. Serve disabled Veterans or disabled members of the Armed Forces or both.
2. Provide regular, frequent activity over an extended period of time (weeks or months) - one-time events will not be funded unless the event serves as a launching or focal point for ongoing adaptive sport programming.
3. Be designed for long-term sustainability.
4. Have specific objectives and measurable outcomes for participation, community involvement, publicity, skill progress and/or other factors.

Credentials/Documentation

Proof of the ability to perform the required assistance is required. Organizations must have significant experience in supporting disabled athletes, including the promotion of disabled sports at local and national levels. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The VA will publish, in the Federal Register, Grants.Gov, or authorized equivalent, a notice of fund availability, soliciting applications for the grant program and information on applications for requesting eligibility to receive grant funds.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Forms furnished by VA must be used for the program. Applications will only be accepted when received within the timeframe and meeting the requirements described in a notice of fund availability published in the Federal Register.

Award Procedures

Formal approval of the award of assistance is made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the eligible adaptive sport entity. The applicable adaptive sport entity manages the awards program to include partnering entities, including Paralympic Sport Clubs, colleges/ universities, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Parks and Recreation Departments, hospitals, and community-based organizations.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Veterans" Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, Section 703, Public Law 110-389, 38 U.S.C 521A.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

The adaptive sports grant is a congressionally mandate to adaptive sports entities with significant experience in managing a large-scale adaptive sports program, and subject to compliance with accompanying guidelines including 2 CFR 200. The applicable adaptive sports entity manages the grant program in compliance with program directives.

Renewals

The overarching adaptive sports grant program is dependent upon renewal through the authorization process. Subject to the availability of funds, grants may be renewed. Grantees would be required to submit a renewal application within the time frame established in a notice of fund availability.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Length-of-time limitations are established in the notice of fund availability. Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Length-of-time limitations are established in the notice of fund availability. Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Length-of-time limitations are established in the notice of fund availability. Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Length-of-time limitations are established in the notice of fund availability. Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (HHS PMS).

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly and annual financial and performance reports are required.

In addition, an annual report to the Secretary of the VA is required no later than 60 days after the end of the fiscal year detailing the use of the grant funds including the number of Veterans who participated in the integrated adaptive sports programs, participant demographics, and the administrative expenses of the program.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB 2 CFR Chapter I, Chapter II, Part 200, "Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.

Records

Records must be retained at least 3 years after the end of the grant period.

Financial Information

Account Identification

36-0151-0-1-710.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 13 $8,000,000; FY 14 est $7,500,000; and FY 15 Estimate Not Available

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The range and average of financial assistance is to be determined.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 521A, Adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces..

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Michael F. Welch, NVSP&SE (002C), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Room 912D, Washington, D.C. 20420; Phone 202-632-7136; e-mail: vacoadaptiveSP@va.gov.

Headquarters Office

Michael F. Welch 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 912D, Washington, District of Columbia 20420 Phone: 202-632-7136

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The funds will be provided to the adaptive sports entities in accordance with 38 U.S.C. Section 521A. The application must include a description of the activities to be carried out with the grant, including information on specific measurable goals and objectives, including: a detailed description of all partnerships at the national and local levels that will be receiving grant funds and the proposed amount that will be awarded to each partner. Partnerships are agreements made between the adaptive sports entity receiving the grant and other adaptive sports and qualified supporting entities with significant experience in the training and support of disabled athletes and the promotion of disabled sports that are participating in implementing the adaptive sports grant.