Opportunity Information: Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2024
The Veterans Cemetery Grants program (Funding Opportunity Number VA NCA VCGP 2024, CFDA 64.203) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, focused on helping eligible public entities develop veterans cemeteries. Historically, VA reports awarding more than $1 billion through this program to support 122 veterans cemeteries across 49 states and various U.S. territories and locations, including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. These grant-supported cemeteries play a major role in providing burial access closer to home, with state cemeteries funded by NCA conducting more than 45,000 interments in fiscal year 2022.
Funding is tightly limited to specific types of applicants and projects. Eligible applicants are state governments, U.S. territorial governments, and federally recognized tribal governments (for cemeteries located on trust land). The program does not fund private organizations or local governments such as counties or cities, and it also does not extend to other types of agencies outside the eligible categories. Grant funds may be used only to establish a new veterans cemetery or to expand or improve an existing veterans cemetery, as long as that cemetery is owned and operated by the state, territory, or qualifying tribal government. A key limitation is that VA grant funds cannot be used to acquire land, so applicants must already control the land needed for the project. For new cemetery establishment projects, VA may also fund certain operating equipment in addition to development costs.
A major benefit of the program is the potential cost coverage: VA can fund up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project. That said, approval comes with strict federal design and compliance expectations. Cemeteries built or improved with these funds must meet VA standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction. In addition, projects must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements in Title IX, Sections 70901-70952 of Public Law 117-58. Practically, that means recipients must certify that grant funds will be used in a way that follows domestic content procurement preferences. All iron, steel, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced or manufactured in the United States, and all manufactured products used in the project must be produced in the U.S. Under the described standard, a manufactured product generally qualifies as U.S.-produced only if the cost of its U.S.-made components exceeds 55 percent of the total component cost.
Operationally, the cemetery must be dedicated to serving veterans and eligible family members under VA rules. Grant-funded cemeteries must be operated solely for the interment of veterans as defined in 38 CFR 39.2 and eligible family members as described in 38 CFR 39.10. The opportunity also notes a recent legal change allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals defined in 38 U.S.C. 2408(i)(2), even though those individuals are not eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery; additional details are available through the NCA Notices webpage referenced in the announcement.
Finally, while VA can heavily support development, it does not take over ongoing responsibilities. The administration, operation, and maintenance of a VA-supported state, territorial, or tribal cemetery remains solely the responsibility of the grantee government. Separately from the construction grant assistance, VA is also authorized to reimburse states a "plot allowance" of up to $828.00 for expenses related to the burial of certain eligible veterans. The posted closing date for this opportunity is July 1, 2024, and the listed award ceiling is $60,000,000.Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2024
- The VA National Cemetery Administration in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Veterans Cemetery Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 64.203.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VA NCA VCGP 2024) - FAQs
What is the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP)?
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number VA NCA VCGP 2024, CFDA 64.203) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The program helps eligible public entities develop veterans cemeteries so veterans and eligible family members can have burial access closer to home.
Who runs this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
What types of applicants are eligible to apply?
Only the following applicant types are eligible:
- State governments
- U.S. territorial governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments (only for cemeteries located on tribal trust land)
Are counties, cities, or other local governments eligible?
No. The program does not fund local governments such as counties or cities.
Are private organizations or nonprofits eligible to apply?
No. The program does not fund private organizations.
What kinds of projects can the grant funds be used for?
Grant funds may be used only to:
- Establish a new veterans cemetery, or
- Expand or improve an existing veterans cemetery
The cemetery must be owned and operated by the state, territory, or qualifying tribal government.
Can this grant be used to buy or acquire land?
No. VA grant funds cannot be used to acquire land. Applicants must already control the land needed for the project.
Does the VA cover the full cost of an approved project?
VA may fund up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project.
For new cemetery projects, can funds be used for operating equipment?
Yes. For new cemetery establishment projects, VA may fund certain operating equipment in addition to development costs.
Are there design, planning, or construction standards that the cemetery must meet?
Yes. Cemeteries developed or improved with these funds must meet VA standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction.
What is the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirement for this grant?
Projects must comply with Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements (Title IX, Sections 70901-70952 of Public Law 117-58). Recipients must certify that grant funds will be used in a way that follows domestic content procurement preferences.
What does BABAA require for iron, steel, and construction materials?
All iron, steel, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced or manufactured in the United States.
What does BABAA require for manufactured products?
All manufactured products used in the project must be produced in the United States. Under the described standard, a manufactured product generally qualifies as U.S.-produced only if the cost of its U.S.-made components exceeds 55 percent of the total component cost.
Who can be buried in a grant-funded cemetery?
Grant-funded cemeteries must be operated solely for the interment of:
- Veterans as defined in 38 CFR 39.2, and
- Eligible family members as described in 38 CFR 39.10
Does the opportunity mention any recent changes to interment eligibility?
Yes. It notes a recent legal change allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals defined in 38 U.S.C. 2408(i)(2), even though those individuals are not eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery. Additional details are available through the NCA Notices webpage referenced in the announcement.
After construction or improvements are completed, does VA take over cemetery operations?
No. The administration, operation, and maintenance of a VA-supported state, territorial, or tribal cemetery remains solely the responsibility of the grantee government.
Is there any other VA financial support related to burials besides this construction/development grant?
Yes. Separately from construction grant assistance, VA is authorized to reimburse states a "plot allowance" of up to $828.00 for expenses related to the burial of certain eligible veterans.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling for this opportunity is $60,000,000.
What is the application deadline (closing date)?
The posted closing date for this opportunity is July 1, 2024.
Where has this program been used historically?
Historically, VA reports awarding more than $1 billion through this program to support 122 veterans cemeteries across 49 states and various U.S. territories and locations, including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan.
How significant are state cemeteries funded by NCA in terms of interments?
VA reports that state cemeteries funded by NCA conducted more than 45,000 interments in fiscal year 2022.
Does the program fund cemeteries that are not owned and operated by an eligible government?
No. Funding is limited to projects where the cemetery is owned and operated by the state, territory, or qualifying tribal government.
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