FY20_CTG_NOFO_ v16_(CLEAN).pdf

The Department of Homeland Security Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2020 Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and/or are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), please take immediate action to obtain a DUNS Number, if applicable, and then to register immediately in SAM. It may take 4 weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize your information. Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO, subsection, Content and Form of Application Submission.

A. Program Description

1. Issued By U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Training and Education Division (NTED)

2. Assistance Listings (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number) 97.005

3. Assistance Listings Title (formerly CFDA Title) State and Local Homeland Security National Training Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2020 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) – Continuing Training Grants (CTG)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-20-NPD-005-00-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-93)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-93)

8. Announcement Type

Initial http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3931/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3931/text

Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities Through its Continuing Training Grants (CTG) program, the Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) plays an important role in the National Preparedness System. The CTG program supports building, sustaining, and delivering core capabilities through the development and delivery of training to achieve the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal), which is “a secure and resilient Nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk”.

Specifically, the CTG program provides funding for eligible applicants to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, whole community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

Training solutions must meet the following criteria:

1. Available and accessible to a nationwide audience; and

2. Address emerging threats (specifically cybersecurity; and/or

3. Address Community Lifelines (Lifelines), specifically for the Food, Water and

Sheltering and Communications and Transportation Lifelines. For more Lifelines information use the following link: Community Lifelines Implementation Toolkit.

The FY 2020 CTG program’s purpose is to address emerging threats and Lifelines through the development and delivery of training and facilitate a national whole community approach to focus on the challenges with the greatest impact on the Nation’s preparedness. FEMA, through CTG recipients, will concentrate on developing training to address long-term gaps—including rising disaster costs, new technology, an older and more diverse population, cybersecurity – and operating in a pandemic environment.

The CTG program addresses three of the five basic missions of DHS as specified in the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review through SLTT partners to:

• Prevent terrorism and enhance security;

• Safeguard and secure cyberspace; and

• Ensure resilience to disasters.

The CTG program addresses the below Presidential Policy Directives through development and delivery of training for SLTT partners:

• Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness

• Presidential Policy Directive 21: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience

Innovation: Applications should include innovative training and technical assistance ideas and concepts that can help to solve the tough problems that the Nation’s emergency responders are expected to confront. These innovations should be replicable, satisfy a specific need, and include processes where new ideas result in useful products.

https://www.fema.gov/lifelines

Incorporating Community Lifelines into the FY 2020 CTG Program

The FY 2020 CTG program priority areas consist of select emerging threats and Community Lifelines that represent the strategic priorities that recipients are expected to incorporate into products and activities funded through the CTG program to build training capability to reduce risk to Lifelines before a disaster and support rapid stabilization and restoration during and after a disaster.

Community Lifelines: Through the CTG program, FEMA places significant emphasis on development and delivery of training programs that enable Lifelines. Lifelines enable the continuous operation of critical business and government functions and are critical to human health and safety or national economic security. The seven Community Lifelines are:

• Safety and Security

• Food, Water, and Sheltering

• Health and Medical

• Energy (Power and Fuel)

• Communications

• Transportation

• Hazardous Material

WHY A LIFELINES CONSTRUCT?

• Decision-makers must rapidly determine the scope, complexity and interdependent impacts of an incident. Applying the lifelines construct allows decision-makers to:

- Rapidly determine whether an incident is large (complicated) or complex

- Prioritize and focus response efforts to maintain or restore the most critical services and infrastructure

- Ensure limited resources can go toward a common goal that requires involvement across the whole community (root cause analysis vs. cascading impacts)

- Promote a response that fosters better integration and communication across the whole community since lifeline management transcends public and private sector boundaries

The FY 2020 CTG Community Lifeline Priority Areas

The FY 2020 CTG Program targets training solutions that address gaps in capabilities that contribute to reducing risk and supporting rapid stabilization and restoration of the following:

Community Lifeline Priority Area

Primary Lifeline Component

Food, Water, and Sheltering Shelter

The Food, Water, and Sheltering Lifeline contains the “Sheltering” component. To reduce impacts in disaster to the Shelter component by moving displaced survivors quickly into more permanent housing, FEMA invites applicants to submit applications that identify current and emerging gaps and corresponding training solutions to address the development and management of temporary housing and permanent housing construction programs.

Transportation and Communications All Components

Components of the Transportation and Communications Lifelines are key to ensuring that a community can swiftly move from immediate response actions and on towards longer term recovery. Most important to restore the economic lifeblood of a community are effective, early actions to stabilize all components of Transportation to restore the movement of goods and services and swiftly stabilize the Communications infrastructure that enables financial services, particularly access to cash and access to electronic payment capabilities. FEMA invites applicants to submit applications that identify current and emerging gaps and corresponding training solutions in community transportation vulnerability assessments, capital access and insurance, economic diversification, small business and entrepreneurship, supply chain issues, asset based economic development, and economic resiliency.

All Lifelines All Components

Tribal and Rural Preparedness are congressionally directed training topics that contribute to all Community Lifelines and their components.

9. Performance Metrics

The Kirkpatrick Model is used for analyzing and evaluating the results of training and educational programs. It considers any style of training, both informal or formal, to determine aptitude based on four levels of criteria. If possible, individuals take the test or evaluation prior to the training (pre-test) and following training (post-test) to determine the transfer of knowledge for a student.

The Kirkpatrick levels used include level I: the student’s assessment of the training setting, material, and instruction; and level II: a comparison of pre-course knowledge and skills with post-course knowledge and skills (note: for level II evaluation: FEMA training partners use a standard twenty-six-point increase in knowledge as a measure of effective knowledge transfer).

10. Sustainment FEMA has the option to sustain any training course created under the HSNTP/CTG at the end of the award period of performance. Once FEMA determines to sustain a course, after consulting with the award recipient, FEMA may transfer any or all course material to another organization or entity to ensure program sustainability and to continue training delivery. FEMA will coordinate the orderly transition of courses between organizations.

In FY 2020, FEMA is exploring options to improve sustainment of courses developed under the CTG program. At present, the majority of sustained CTG courses are delivered by the award recipient who developed the course. Some CTG courses will be appropriate for sustainment by other members of the NTED training enterprise, including the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), and the Higher Education Program. FEMA will collaborate with CTG partners and other members of the NTED training enterprise in the development and implementation of a plan to improve CTG sustainment.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $8,000,000

2. Projected number of Awards 4-5

3. Period of Performance: 36

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2020

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2023

6. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

a. Cooperative Agreements The CTG program, prescribed by this NOFO, is awarded through separate cooperative agreements, as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.24, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. No. 95-224), (31 U.S.C.

§§6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with all non-federal entities in carrying out the activities under each CTG award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model.

FEMA program managers and training specialists provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• State governments, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territory governments

• City or township governments

• County governments

• Federally recognized Indian tribal governments (tribal governments)

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) status

• Nonprofit private institutions of higher education

• Nonprofit national associations and organizations

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Training Expertise. Applicants must currently administer an existing training program, consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), relevant to the selected Training Topic(s), or have demonstrable expertise to create and administer a training program capable of developing and delivering training for a national whole community audience, relevant to the selected Training Topic(s).

For the purposes of the CTG program, the minimum standard for training expertise is defined as the principal activities that an organization conducts which are primarily focused on the development and delivery of training for an external audience, but may include an internal audience, resulting in a change or increase of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.

Training types/modes that meet this definition include web-based training, instructor-led courses conducted in classrooms and/or training areas (to include mobile courses), and seminars and workshops that measure a change in knowledge, skill, and/or abilities. Drill and exercise-only type activities, without a learning component, do not meet the definition of training expertise for the CTG program. Organizations that do not describe suitable expertise in training are ineligible.

Organizational Partnerships. Eligible applicants may apply individually or as the submitting member (e.g., executive agent) of a partnership such as a consortium.

However, only one organization may serve as the applicant.

3. Cost Share or Match

There is no Cost Share or Cost Match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 06/08/2020

b. Application Submission Deadline: 07/09/2020 at 12:00:AM EST

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date No later than 09/01/2020

d. Anticipated Award Date No later than 09/30/2020

Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline For Completion Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline Submitting complete application in ND grants One week before actual submission deadline

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package

Initial Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal and the complete application will be processed through the ND Grants System.

Hardcopies of the NOFO and associated application materials are not available.

In addition, the following Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and/or Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) number available for this Notice is: (800) 462-7585.

Applications in hard copy are not accepted.

4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for Award Management (SAM)

To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)

Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and Employer ID Number (EIN)

b. In the application, provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System DUNS number, which is currently the unique entity identifier;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

e. Create a Grants.gov account;

f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account;

g. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;

h. Submit an initial application in Grants.gov;

https://www.login.gov/

i. Submit the final application in the ND Grants; and

j. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award.

Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, DHS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

5. Electronic Delivery

DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity For this funding opportunity, the DHS/FEMA requires applicants to submit initial applications through Grants.gov and the final and complete application through the ND Grants System.

6. How to Register to Apply

a. Instructions: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

1) Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

2) Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

3) Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

4) Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

5) EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html

6) Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

7) Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

7. How to Submit an Initial Application to DHS via Grants.gov Standard Form 424 (SF-424) is the initial application for this NOFO.

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS number. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24- 48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

g. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist DHS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants After submitting the initial application in Grants.gov, eligible applicants will be notified by DHS/FEMA and asked to proceed with submitting their complete application package in ND Grants. Applicants can register early with ND Grants and are encouraged to begin their ND Grants registration at the time of this announcement. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their application.

In ND Grants applicants will be prompted to submit all the information contained in the following forms:

• Application Narrative (Appendix D of this NOFO)

• Standard Form 424A, Budget Information (Non-construction)

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form

• Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if the grantee has engaged or intends to engage in lobbying activities)

These forms can be found online.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://portal.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

If you need assistance registering for the ND Grants system, please contact ndgrants@fema.gov or (800) 865-4076.

For program-specific application submission requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application Submission” under Section D of this NOFO or to other program documents.

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

As application submission is a two-step process, the applicant with the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgment of receipt. This notification does not serve as proof of timely submission as the application is not complete until it is submitted in the ND Grants System. All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on 07/10/2020.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by ND Grants. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by ND Grants. Additionally, the applicant(s) listed as contacts on the application will receive a system-generated email to confirm receipt. Applications received after the deadline will be deemed ineligible.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to The following forms or information are required to be submitted in either Grants.gov or ND Grants. The Standard Forms (SF) are submitted either through Grants.gov, through forms generated in ND Grants, or as an attachment in ND Grants. Applicants may also access the SFs at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

a. Grants.gov SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance (Initial Application) Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

b. ND Grants: Standard Forms or Information SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-construction) SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-construction) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Indirect Cost Agreement, if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement. If the applicant is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement but will charge indirect costs and is required to have an indirect cost rate proposal, the applicant must provide a copy of their indirect cost rate proposal with the application. See the section below on indirect costs for more information or contact the relevant Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist for further instructions.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

c. ND Grants: Program-Specific Forms or Information In addition, applicants are also be required to submit the following in ND Grants:

Program Narrative Detailed Budget

d. Intergovernmental Review

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372.(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html; https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC- February-2019.pdf).

11. Funding Restrictions

Federal funds made available through this award are restricted to the purpose set forth in this award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Recipients may not use award funds for matching funds on any other Federal award, lobbying, or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, recipients cannot use Federal funds to sue the Federal government or any other government entity.

12. Allowable Costs

a. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are allowable only with the prior written approval of DHS/FEMA and if they are included in the award agreement. To request pre-award costs a written request must be included with the application, signed by the Authorized Representative of the entity. The letter must outline what the pre-award costs are for, including a detailed budget breakout of pre-award costs from the post-award costs, and a justification for approval.

b. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to managing and administering the award. Recipients may use up to 5 percent of the amount of the award for their M&A.

c. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application. Post-award requests to charge indirect costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based upon the submission of an agreement or proposal as discussed above.

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf

d. Fringe Benefits The cost of fringe benefits is allowable in a manner consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal awards at 2 C.F.R. § 200.431. The full text of 2 C.F.R. §

200.431 is at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2fbfda2c4f9b5952adfa67429facb2fb&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1431&rgn =div8.

e. Direct Costs Cost Principles Costs charged to this award must be consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal Awards located at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E.

Equipment This program allows equipment costs.

Travel This program allows domestic travel costs, as provided for in this NOFO. This program does not allow international travel unless approved in advance by

DHS/FEMA.

Construction and Renovation This program does not allow construction and renovation costs.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria Prior to making a federal award, the DHS FAO is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3321 note, 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

• Financial stability.

• Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

• History of performance in managing federal award.

• Reports and findings from audits.

• Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

a. Financial Integrity Criteria

Prior to making a federal award, the DHS/FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3321 note, 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

1) Financial stability.

2) Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

3) History of performance in managing federal award.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2fbfda2c4f9b5952adfa67429facb2fb&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1431&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2fbfda2c4f9b5952adfa67429facb2fb&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1431&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2fbfda2c4f9b5952adfa67429facb2fb&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1431&rgn=div8 https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/uniform-guidance/selectitemsofcost.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2011-title31/USCODE-2011-title31-subtitleIII-chap33-subchapII-sec3321 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-sec200-205

4) Reports and findings from audits.

5) Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

b. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review Prior to making a federal award where the anticipated total federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000 (see Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-91, OMB Memorandum M-18-18 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf):

1) DHS/FEMA is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM, which is currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) and is accessible through the SAM website.

2) An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered.

3) DHS/FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205.

2. Review and Selection Process

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Review and Scoring. SMEs from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and agencies, along with SMEs from industry and academia, as appropriate for each Training Topic, will review and score eligible applications. SMEs will score (numerically) each application based on the criteria described in this NOFO. SMEs will review and score five categories (described in the evaluation criteria table in Appendix C) and may award a total of 90 points. An average of SME scores will result in the final SME score.

FEMA Review and Scoring. FEMA program managers, training specialists, and members of leadership from FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate will review and score applications that pass eligibility screening, as described in Section C Eligible Applicants and Eligibility Criteria. FEMA will review and score seven categories (described in the evaluation criteria table in Appendix C) and may award a total of 130 points. An average of FEMA scores will result in the final FEMA score.

All reviewers will utilize the guidance contained in this notice for evaluation; this includes all Training Topic objectives and referenced standards. Reviewers will provide narrative support (i.e., scoring comments) for each scored application.

FEMA senior leadership will review all scoring results and will then apply additional factors such as executive and legislative guidance, alignment with DHS and FEMA https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ strategic priorities, along with investment strategy and budgetary limits in order to prioritize the top-scoring applications.

Supplemental Financial Integrity Review If the anticipated federal share of a federal award will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000 (see Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal year 2008, Pub. L. No. 115-91, OMB Memorandum M-18- 18 at https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/4986:

• Prior to making a federal award with a total amount of federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, DHS is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS).

• An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously

• DHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award Before accepting the award, the AOR and recipient should carefully read the award package. The award package includes instructions on administering the grant award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under federal awards.

Recipients must accept all conditions in this NOFO as well as any special terms and conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

FEMA will notify recipients of awards through the ND Grants system using an automatic email to the recipient point of contact (the “authorized official”) listed in the initial application. The date FEMA approves the award is the “award date”. The recipient should follow the directions in the notification to accept the award.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 90 days from the award date. The recipient shall notify FEMA of its intent to accept and proceed with work under the award or provide a notice of intent to decline through the ND Grants system. For instructions on how to accept or decline an award in the ND Grants system, please use the following link to access the ND Grants Grantee Training Manual.

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award through the ND Grants system and all other conditions of award have been satisfied. FEMA may rescind the award if the intended recipient does not accept the award or if conditions are not satisfied within a 90-day timeframe.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/4986 https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/ar/media-library/assets/documents/25949

Before accepting the award, the authorized official should carefully read the award package. The award package contains instructions on administering the grant award, as well as terms and conditions with which the recipient must comply. Recipients must accept the conditions in this NOFO as well as Terms and Conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All successful applicants for all DHS grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with DHS Standard Administrative Terms and Conditions, which are available online at: DHS Standard Terms and Conditions. The applicable DHS Standard Administrative Terms and Conditions will be those in effect at the time the award was made.

The applicable DHS Standard Terms and Conditions will be those in effect at the time the award was made. In that event, the terms and conditions in effect at the time the original award was made will generally apply. What terms and conditions will apply for the award will be clearly stated in the award package at the time of award.

2. Reporting

Recipients are required to submit various financial and programmatic reports as a condition of their award acceptance. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if these reports are delinquent.

a. Federal Financial Reporting Requirements

The Federal Financial Report (FFR) form is available online at: SF-425 OMB #4040- 0014.

Recipients must report obligations and expenditures on a quarterly basis through the FFR (SF-425) to DHS/FEMA. Recipients must file the FFR electronically using the Payment and Reporting System (PARS). Award recipients must submit an FFR quarterly throughout the period of performance, including partial calendar quarters, as well as for periods where no grant award activity occurs. FEMA may withhold future awards and fund drawdowns if these reports are delinquent, demonstrate lack of progress, or are insufficient in detail.

The following reporting periods and due dates apply for the FFR:

Reporting Period Report Due Date October 1 – December 31 January 30

January 1 – March 31 April 30 April 1 – June 30 July 30

July 1 – September 30 October 30 http://www.dhs.gov/publication/fy15-dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1

Financial and Compliance Audit Report For audits of fiscal years beginning on or after December 26, 2014, recipients that expend $750,000 or more from Federal funding sources during their fiscal year are required to submit an organization-wide financial and compliance audit report. The audit must be performed in accordance with the requirements of Government and Accountability Office’s (GAO) Government Auditing Standards, located at:

http://www.gao.gov/govaud/ybk01.htm, and the requirements of Subpart F of 2 C.F.R.

Part 200, located at:

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR.

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

Performance Progress Reports Recipients are responsible for providing updated performance reports in Microsoft Word on a semi-annual basis. These is no prescribed government form for this report.

The report is due within 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Recipients must submit it as an attachment to the ND Grants system.

The semi-annual Performance Progress Report must follow the guidance provided by FEMA’s National Training and Education Division (NTED) in the NTED Monitoring Policy and Procedure Guide. FEMA/NTED will provide this guide to recipients of a FY 2020 CTG award as a post-award action.

Program Performance Reporting Periods and Due Dates The following reporting periods and due dates apply for the PPR:

Reporting Period Report Due Date January 1 – June 30 July 30

July 1 – December 31 January 30

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements Within 90 days after the end of the period of performance, or after an amendment has been issued to close out a grant, recipients must submit the following:

1) The final request for payment, if applicable;

2) The final FFR (SF-425);

3) The final progress report detailing all accomplishments;

4) A qualitative narrative summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the period of performance; and

5) Other documents required by this NOFO, terms and conditions of the award, or other DHS/FEMA guidance.

If applicable, an inventory of all construction projects that used funds from this program must be reported with the final progress report.

After these reports have been reviewed and approved by DHS/FEMA a closeout notice will be completed to close out the grant. The notice will indicate the period of http://www.gao.gov/govaud/ybk01.htm https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR performance as closed, list any remaining funds that will be deobligated, and address the requirement of maintaining the grant records for three years from the date of the final FFR, unless a longer period applies, such as due to an audit or litigation, for equipment or real property used beyond the period of performance, or due to other circumstances outlined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.333.

In addition, any recipient that issues subawards to any subrecipient is responsible for closing out those subawards as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.343. Recipients acting as pass-through entities must ensure that they complete the closeout of their subawards in time to submit all necessary documentation and information to <DHS FAO> during the closeout of their prime grant award.

The recipient is responsible for returning any funds that have been drawn down but remain as unliquidated on recipient financial records.

d. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. § 180.335

This reporting requirement pertains to disclosing information related to government-wide suspension and debarment requirements. Before a recipient enters into a grant award with DHS/FEMA, the recipient must notify DHS/FEMA if it knows if it or any of the recipient’s principals under the award fall under one or more of the four criteria listed at 2 C.F.R. § 180.335:

1) Are presently excluded or disqualified;

2) Have been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(a) or had a civil judgment rendered against it or any of the recipient’s principals for one of those offenses within that time period;

3) Are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (federal, state or local) with commission of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(a); or

4) Have had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated within the preceding three years for cause or default.

At any time after accepting the award, if the recipient learns that it or any of its principals falls under one or more of the criteria listed at 2 C.F.R. § 180.335, the recipient must provide immediate written notice to <DHS FAO> in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 180.350.

e. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance (

Per 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix I § F.3, the additional post-award reporting requirements in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix XII may apply to applicants who, if upon becoming recipients, have a total value of currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all federal awarding agencies that exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of an award under this funding opportunity. Recipients that meet these criteria must maintain current information reported in FAPIIS about civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of Appendix XII at the reporting frequency described in paragraph 4 of Appendix XII.

3. Monitoring Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.336, DHS/FEMA, through its authorized representatives, has the right, at all reasonable times, to make site visits to review project accomplishments and management control systems to review project accomplishments and to provide any required technical assistance. During site visits, DHS/FEMA will review grant recipients’ files related to the grant award. As part of any monitoring and program evaluation activities, grant recipients must permit DHS/FEMA, upon reasonable notice, to review grant-related records and to interview the organization’s staff and contractors regarding the program.