Notice of Funding Opportunity FY 2020 Flood Mitigation Assistance_7.16.20-508compliant.pdf

FY 2020 FMA NOFO

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

FY 2020 Flood Mitigation Assistance

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 (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Mitigation Directorate, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division (HMA)

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

Number) 97.029

3. Assistance Listings Title (formerly CFDA Title) Flood Mitigation Assistance

4. Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2020 Flood Mitigation Assistance

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-20-MT-029-000-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Section 1366 of The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended (Pub. L. No. 90-

448) (42 U.S.C. § 4104c)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. No. 116-93, Division D)

8. Announcement Type http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Initial

9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, Indian tribal governments, and local communities to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FMA program addresses Presidential Policy Directive 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, and supports the mitigation mission area through Strategic Goal #1 Building a Culture of Preparedness, Objectives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 of the 2018 – 2022 FEMA Strategic Plan.

FEMA will distribute the available FY 20 FMA funding amount as follows:

1. Project Scoping (previously Advance Assistance): Project Scoping to develop community flood mitigation projects and/or individual flood mitigation projects that will subsequently reduce flood claims against the NFIP. FEMA will select up to $4 million of Project Scoping subapplications.

2. Community Flood Mitigation Projects: FEMA will select up to $70 million of projects that address community flood risk for the purpose of reducing NFIP flood claim payments.

3. Technical Assistance: Technical Assistance to maintain a viable FMA program over time. To be eligible to apply, the Applicant must have received an FY 19 FMA Award of at least $1 million federal share.

4. Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning: Planning subapplications for the flood hazard component of State, Local, Territory, and Tribal (SLTT) Hazard Mitigation Plans and plan updates.

5. Individual Flood Mitigation Projects: Projects that mitigate the risk of flooding to individual NFIP insured structures.

For more information on FY 20 FMA funding priorities and eligible activities, see Section E, Application Review Information, Review, and Selection Process.

10. Performance Metrics Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is the method by which the future benefits of a hazard mitigation project are determined and compared to its costs. The end result is a BCR, which is calculated by a project’s total benefits divided by its total costs. The BCR is a numerical expression of the "cost-effectiveness" of a project. A project is considered to be cost effective when the BCR is 1.0 or greater, indicating FEMA expects the benefits of a prospective hazard mitigation project are sufficient to justify the costs.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $160,000,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months or 48 months (Period of Performance for community flood mitigation projects will be 48 months)

The Period of Performance (POP) is 36 months, starting on the date of the Recipient’s federal Award (see Section D, Application and Submission Information). Given the complexity of the community flood mitigation projects, the POP for community flood mitigation projects is 48 months, starting on the date of the Recipient’s federal Award (see Section D, Application and Submission Information). Any subsequent amendments to the federal Award will not extend the POP unless explicitly stated.

Extensions to the Period of Performance are allowed. For additional information on Period of Performance extensions, please refer to Section H, Additional Information, Period of Performance Extensions.

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s):

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s):

flood mitigation projects and 36 months for all other projects

5. Funding Instrument Type:

Will vary by Award 48 months for community from date of Award Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• States

• District of Columbia

• U.S. territories

• Indian tribal governments (federally recognized)

Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and Indian tribal government (federally recognized) shall designate one agency to serve as the Applicant for FMA funding. Each Applicant’s designated agency may submit only one FMA grant Application to FEMA.

Applications under which two or more entities would carry out the Award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the Applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the Award.

2. Eligible Subapplicants Local governments, including cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and Indian tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants), are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications to their state/territory/tribal Applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (i.e., regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community that is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

• All subapplicants must be participating in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. Structures identified in the subapplication must have an NFIP policy in effect at the FMA application start date and must maintain it through completion of the mitigation activity and for the life of the structure. NFIP community status can be verified at https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book.

3. Hazard Mitigation Planning

• Hazard Mitigation Plan Requirement

Applicants must have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 201 by the Application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds for project, Project Scoping, and Technical Assistance subapplications. More detailed information is provided in Part III, E.5, Hazard Mitigation Plan Requirement, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Subapplicants must have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 by the Application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds for project, Project Scoping, and Technical Assistance subapplications.

• Mitigation Plan Integration Encouraged

In addition, communities are encouraged, but not required, to pursue Plan Integration, which is a process where communities look critically at their existing planning framework and align efforts. Integration of hazard mitigation principles into other local planning mechanisms (comprehensive plans, transportation plans, floodplain ordinances, etc.) and vice versa is vital to build a safer, more resilient community. This two-way exchange of information supports community-wide risk reduction, both before and after disasters occur. Not only will the community’s planning efforts be better integrated, but by going through this process there is a higher level of interagency coordination, which is just as important as the planning mechanisms themselves. Additional information on Plan Integration can be found at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/108893.

4. Application Submission in FEMA’s Grant System

To be considered for funding, all Applicants must submit their FY 2020 FMA grant Application to FEMA via FEMA’s grant application system (see Section D, Application and Submission Information).

https://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/108893

5. Other Eligibility Criteria

All subapplications submitted under the Project Scoping priority (see Section E, Application Review Information) must demonstrate that future projects submitted would benefit NFIP insured properties by submitting a map and associated geospatial file(s) (e.g., Shapefile, KML/KMZ, Geodatabase, or other GIS enabled document) delineating the proposed project’s benefitting area.

All subapplications submitted under the community flood mitigation project priority (see Section E, Application Review Information, of this NOFO) must demonstrate that the proposed project benefits NFIP insured properties by submitting a map and associated geospatial file(s) (e.g., Shapefile, KML/KMZ, Geodatabase, or other GIS enabled document) delineating: the proposed project footprint boundary, the area benefitting from project, and active NFIP policies (if this data is available).

All Project Scoping, community flood mitigation project, individual flood mitigation project, and Technical Assistance subapplications submitted as part of an FMA grant Application must be consistent with the goals and objectives identified in: the current, FEMA-approved State or Tribal (Standard or Enhanced) Mitigation Plan, and the local mitigation plan for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. Hazard Mitigation Plans should reflect state-wide mitigation priorities, across all potential federal and non-federal mitigation funding sources. Current mitigation plans are not required for Applicants and subapplicants submitting planning subapplications to develop a new flood mitigation plan or to update the flood portion of a mitigation plan.

6. Cost Share or Match

Cost share is required for all subapplications funded under this program. Federal funding is available for up to 75 percent of eligible costs in most cases. The remaining 25 percent of eligible costs must be derived from non-federal sources and applied in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306. For example, if the total cost is $400,000 and the non-federal cost share is 25 percent, then the non-federal contribution is $100,000: 25 percent of $400,000 is $100,000. FEMA may consider the non-federal cost share based on availability of remaining federal funds, as noted in Section E, Application Review Information.

• FEMA may contribute up to 100 percent federal cost share for severe repetitive loss

(SRL) properties. An SRL property as defined under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(h)(3) is a structure that:

(a) Is covered under a contract for flood insurance made available under the

NFIP; and

(b) Has incurred flood-related damage

i. For which four or more separate claims payments (includes building and contents) have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding $20,000, or

ii. For which at least two separate claims payments (includes only building) have been made under such coverage, with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure.

• FEMA may contribute up to 90 percent federal cost share for repetitive loss (RL) properties. An RL property as defined under 42 U.S.C. 4121 is a structure covered by a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP that:

(a) Has incurred flood-related damage on two occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event; and

(b) At the time of the second incidence of flood-related damage, the contract for flood insurance contains Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage.

To receive an increased federal cost share, properties must meet one of the definitions for SRL or RL properties. Applicants and subapplicants that are requesting an increased federal cost share must submit documentation with their Application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet these definitions. If documentation is not submitted with the Application or subapplication to support a reduced non-federal cost share, FEMA will provide no more than 75 percent federal cost share of the total eligible costs.

The remaining 25 percent of eligible activity costs are derived from non-federal sources.

Structures with different federal cost-share requirements can be submitted in a single project subapplication. The overall project federal cost share documented in the Cost Share Section of the project subapplication should reflect the combined federal cost shares of the structures. For example, a project with $100,000 costs for one SRL structure funded at 100 percent federal cost share plus $100,000 costs for one RL structure funded at 90 percent federal cost share will have an overall project federal cost share of 95 percent, or $190,000, of the $200,000 total cost for both structures.

For insular areas, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, FEMA automatically waives the non-federal cost share for the Recipient when the non-federal cost share for the entire Award is under $200,000. If the non-federal cost share for the entire Award is $200,000 or greater, FEMA may waive all or part of the non-federal cost share at the request of the Recipient. The Recipient may request 100 percent cost-share in its application.

The non-federal cost share may consist of cash, donated or third-party in-kind services, materials, or any combination thereof. Cash and third-party in-kind matches must consist of eligible costs (i.e., same eligibility as the federal share). Applicants cannot apply other federal Award funds toward the non-federal cost share unless the other federal statutory authority allows the funds to be used to meet cost-share requirements. Likewise, third-party in-kind matches used to meet the matching requirement may not be used to meet matching requirements for any other federal grant program. FEMA encourages innovative use of public and private-sector partnerships to meet the non-federal cost share.

Ultimately, the Recipient is responsible for ensuring that it contributes the proper cost share to its actual project costs. If actual total project costs exceed the projected total project costs stated in the federal Award, and the additional costs are not approved by FEMA, the Recipient will be responsible for contributing additional funds above the required cost match. If actual total project costs are less than the projected total project costs stated in the federal Award, the Recipient will be responsible for contributing a cost match calculated as a percentage of those actual project costs.

More detailed information is provided in Part III, C, and Cost Sharing, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 09/30/2020

b. Application Submission Deadline: 01/29/2021 at 3:00 PM

[Eastern Time]

All Applications must be received by 3:00 PM Eastern Time on January 29, 2021.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the Application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role that submitted the Application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the Application.

Applications received by FEMA GO after the established due date for Applications will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.

DHS/FEMA will not review Applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late Applications for funding. DHS/FEMA may, however, extend the Application deadline on request for any Applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the Applicant’s control that prevent submission of the Application by the deadline, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for DHS/FEMA to make an Award.

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and prior to the Application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the filing of the Application within the required timeframe may preclude consideration of the Award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following: prior to the Application deadline and within 48 hours after the Applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 611-4700. For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist. If Applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at askcsid@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Other Key Dates

All complete Applications must be received by the established 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

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.”

For a hard copy of the full NOFO, please write a request to:

Kayed Lakhia Director, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division, Mitigation Directorate Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency 400 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20472

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Create account with login.gov One week before actual submission deadline Registering in SAM or updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering with FEMA GO One week before actual submission deadline Submitting final Application in FEMA GO By submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.govail mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

In addition, the following Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and/or Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) number available for this Notice is: 1-800-462-7585.

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 and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the Application, provide a valid 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. Register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBIZ POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete Application in FEMA GO; and

g. 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/FEMA 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/FMA 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/FEMA 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, FEMA requires Applicants to submit their Application through FEMA GO.

6. How to Register to Apply

a. Instructions:

Registering and applying for an Award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607

DHS/FEMA 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. To ensure an Application meets the deadline, Applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

Applicants must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

1) Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a Data Universal Numbering System (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) Obtain Employer Identification Number: In addition to having a DUNS number, all entities applying for funding must provide an employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

3) Create a login.gov account: Applicants must have a login.gov account in order to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account here:

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c- 8323-a62b99571fd3.

Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For Applicants that are existing SAM users, use the same email address for the login.gov account as with SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

4) Register with SAM: In addition to having a DUNS number, all Applicants 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.

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.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf

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.

5) Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the AOR:

Register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBIZ POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

7. Submitting the Application in FEMA GO

After submitting the final Application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the Application. Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives their Application.

8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All Applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the Application deadline. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by FEMA GO. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the Application is successfully submitted to FEMA in FEMA GO. Additionally, the Applicant will receive a system-generated email to confirm submission.

FEMA will address any system-related issues Applicants and subapplicants are experiencing until 3:00 PM Eastern Time on 01/27/2021, two days before the application deadline. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the Application submission deadline will not be accepted.

9. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances and Certifications Forms The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Certification Regarding Lobbying SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• For construction under an Award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information (Construction), in addition to or instead of SF-424A

SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• For construction under an Award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances

(Construction), in addition to or instead of SF-424B SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 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/forms/sf-424-family.html

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or Proposal if the budget includes indirect costs and the Applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal.

See further information below regarding allowability of indirect costs and documentation requirements, including if the Applicant does not have or is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, or contact the relevant DHS/FEMA staff identified in Section G, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” for further instructions.

The SF-424 family of forms is available on the Grants.gov website at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. The FEMA Form FF 20- 16C, Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements is available from the FEMA library online at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754.

Applicants may require their subapplicants to complete and attach the grant Application and/or Assurance and Certifications forms to their planning, Project Scoping, community flood mitigation project, Technical Assistance, and individual flood mitigation project subapplications in FEMA’s grant application system.

Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency for information specific to their state/territory/Indian tribal government’s (federally recognized) application process.

Contact information for the SHMOs is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

All Applicants must submit an FMA grant Application via FEMA’s grant application system by the Application deadline to be considered for funding. The required format for Applications and subapplications is built into FEMA’s grant application system:

FMA Applications, including Applicant-approved planning, Project Scoping, community flood mitigation project, Technical Assistance, individual flood mitigation project, and management costs subapplications must be submitted in an FY 2020 FMA Application.

Flood hazard mitigation planning activities must be submitted in a planning subapplication;

Project Scoping activities must be submitted in a Project Scoping subapplication;

Community flood mitigation projects and individual flood mitigation projects must be submitted in a project subapplication;

Applicant management costs (for Applicants only) must be submitted in a management costs subapplication;

Technical Assistance costs (for Recipients to which FEMA obligated an FY 2019

FMA Award of at least $1 million federal share) must be submitted in a Technical Assistance subapplication.

Management Costs Applicant requests for management costs must be submitted in a separate management costs subapplication in FEMA’s grant application system. Applicants may apply for http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754 https://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers

Applicant management costs of up to 10 percent of the total FMA grant application for management of the Award and all selected subawards.

Subapplicants may include subapplicant management costs of up to 5 percent of the total cost of their planning, Project Scoping, or mitigation project subapplication to manage the proposed subaward activities. Subapplicant management cost activities must be added to the Scope of Work section and identified as a line item in the Cost Estimate section of subapplications in FEMA’s grant application system.

For additional information, please refer to Section D.13.b Management Costs.

10. Other Submission Requirements

This section sets forth documentation which must be provided to document specific eligibility criteria set forth in Section C, Eligibility Information, Other Eligibility Criteria.

Benefit-Cost Analysis for Mitigation Projects Applicants and subapplicants applying for mitigation projects (community flood mitigation projects or individual flood mitigation projects) must provide a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) or other documentation that validates cost-effectiveness. BCA is the method of estimating the future benefits of a project compared to its cost. The end result is a benefit-cost ratio (BCR), which is derived from a project’s total net benefits divided by its total project cost. The total benefits and costs must be entered in the Cost- Effectiveness section of the project subapplication and a FEMA-approved BCA must be attached as documentation, as applicable. Planning, Project Scoping, Technical Assistance, and management costs subapplications do not require a BCA.

FEMA has created software to ensure that the BCR is calculated in accordance with FEMA's standardized methodologies and OMB Circular A-94, Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs, available on the Internet at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/circulars/A94/a094.pdf FEMA’s Benefit Cost Toolkit is available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis Version 6.0 or newer are the only versions FEMA will accept as documentation for demonstrating cost effectiveness. A non-FEMA BCA methodology may only be used if pre-approved by FEMA in writing.

More detailed information is available in Part IV, I, Cost Effectiveness, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Acquisition Project Requirements The subrecipient must provide FEMA with a signed copy of the Statement of Voluntary Participation for each property post- award. The Statement of Voluntary Participation formally documents the Notice of Voluntary Interest and information related to the purchase offer. The Statement of Voluntary Participation is available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/13708.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/circulars/A94/a094.pdf https://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/13708

Subrecipients must apply deed-restriction language to all acquired properties to ensure that the property is maintained in perpetuity as open space consistent with the conservation of natural floodplain functions, as agreed to by accepting FEMA mitigation award funding. Deed-restriction language is applied to acquired properties by recording the open space and deed restrictions. The FEMA Model Deed Restriction is available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28496.

Subrecipients, as well as recipients and FEMA are responsible for enforcing compliance with open space restrictions pursuant to 44 CFR Part 80 requirements.

National Environmental Policy Act Requirements for Mitigation Projects Applicants and subapplicants applying for mitigation projects (community flood mitigation projects or individual flood mitigation projects) must provide information needed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321–4370h) and the related DHS and FEMA instructions and directives (i.e., DHS Directive 023-01, DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, FEMA Directive 108-1, FEMA Instruction 108-1-1). The required information is included in the subapplication in FEMA’s grant application system. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Job Aids and Supplements are available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/102051. The required information is included in the subapplication in FEMA’s grant application system.

11. 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).

12. Funding Restrictions All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO or the terms and conditions of the Award.

Federal funds made available through an Award under this NOFO may only be used for the purpose set forth in this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the Award and must be consistent with the statutory and regulatory authority for the Award. Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other federal grants/cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity.

The federal funding caps for FMA are as follows:

o $600,000 per Applicant for all Project Scoping subapplications;

o $30 million cap per community flood mitigation project subapplication;

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28496 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28496 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/102051 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 o $50,000 per Applicant for all Technical Assistance subapplications, for Recipients to which FEMA obligated an FY 2019 FMA Award of at least $1 million federal share;

o $100,000 per Applicant for flood hazard mitigation planning with maximums of:

$50,000 for state flood hazard mitigation planning;

$25,000 for local flood hazard mitigation planning;

o 10 percent of the total Application budget for Applicant management costs for Applicants to administer and manage Award and subaward activities (see the Management and Administration Costs subsection below);

o 5 percent of the total mitigation project, Project Scoping, and planning subapplication budget for subapplicant management costs for subapplicants to manage their subaward activities (see the Management and Administration Costs subsection below).

Applicants should analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, especially high-cost items and those subject to rapid technical advances. Large equipment purchases must be identified and explained. For more information regarding property management standards for equipment and federal procurement requirements, please reference 2 C.F.R. Part 200, available at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

More detailed information is available in Part III, E.1, Eligible Activities, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

13. Allowable Costs

a. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs directly related to developing the FMA grant Application or subapplication that are incurred prior to the date of the grant award are allowed subject to FEMA approval at time of award. Such costs may have been incurred prior to Application submission, for example gathering NEPA data or developing a BCA (see Section D, Application and Submission Information), preparing design specifications, or conducting workshops or meetings related to development and submission of subapplications. To be eligible for FMA funding, pre-award costs must be identified as separate line items in the cost estimate of the subapplication.

Pre-award costs may be cost shared or Applicants and subapplicants may identify them as their non-federal cost share (see Section C, Eligibility Information, Cost Share or Match).

Costs associated with implementation of proposed projects in the submitted grant Application or subapplication that are incurred prior to the date of the grant Award are not allowed. Activities initiated or completed prior to the date of the grant Award are generally not eligible.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Applicants and subapplicants who are not awarded Awards or subawards will not receive reimbursement for the corresponding pre-award costs. More detailed information is provided in Part IV, F.2, Pre-Award Costs, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

b. Management Costs Management costs are any indirect costs, any direct administrative costs, and other administrative expenses that are reasonably incurred in administering an Award or subaward.

Applicant and subapplicant management cost activities including the implementation of the FMA program, such as subapplication development, geocoding mitigation projects, delivery of Technical Assistance, managing Awards and staff salary costs are eligible for FMA funding in accordance with the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Applicants may apply for Applicant management costs of up to 10 percent of the total FMA grant Application for management of the Award and all selected subawards.

Applicant requests for management costs must be submitted in a separate management costs subapplication in FEMA’s grant application system (see Section D, Application and Submission Information, Content and Form of Application Submission).

Subapplicants may include subapplicant management costs of up to 5 percent of the total cost of their planning, Project Scoping, or mitigation project subapplication to manage the proposed subaward activities. Subapplicant management cost activities must be added to the Scope of Work section and identified in the Cost Estimate section of subapplications in FEMA’s grant application system.

Indirect Cost Rates As part of management costs, Applicants and subapplicants may charge indirect costs 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. Subapplicants are not required to submit negotiated indirect cost rate agreements or proposals directly to FEMA, but they may need to submit them to the applicable Applicants per 2 C.F.R. § 200.331.

Applicants and subapplicants that are required to have either a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or proposal may use their applicable indirect cost rate to charge indirect costs, but they may only charge an amount up to the applicable dollar cap set above for all management costs. If Applicants or subapplicants are not required to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, the Applicants should reach out on behalf of themselves or on behalf of subapplicants to the applicable contacts listed in Section G, DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information for further instructions.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

FEMA will review subapplications submitted by each Applicant to ensure compliance with applicable regulations at 44 C.F.R. Parts 79, 80, and 201, and the HMA Guidance, including:

• Eligibility of the Applicant and subapplicant;

• Eligibility of proposed activities and costs;

• Completeness of the subapplication;

• Cost-effectiveness and engineering feasibility of mitigation projects; and

• Eligibility and availability of non-federal cost share.

For more detailed information, see Part VI, Application Review Information, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at

b. 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.

4) Reports and findings from audits.

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

c. 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 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf 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

a. Review Process

FEMA will select subapplications up to the available funding amount of $160 million in the following order.

1. Project Scoping – up to $4 million

FEMA will select the highest ranked eligible subapplication(s) for Project Scoping from each Applicant not to exceed $600,000 total federal cost share.

Project Scoping can be used to obtain data and to prioritize, select, and develop community flood mitigation projects and/or individual flood mitigation projects for future funding based on current FEMA-approved mitigation plans. In accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 79 and HMA Guidance, Project Scoping subapplications will be evaluated to ensure that the end result will lead to an eligible project subapplication that will provide benefits to the NFIP.

Consideration of Project Scoping early in the decision-making process can help facilitate the development of a viable project, as well as project implementation.

FY 2020 Project Scoping projects are not eligible for FY 2020 community flood mitigation project or traditional flood mitigation project funding. There is no guarantee for future HMA project funding if Project Scoping is awarded.

All Project Scoping subapplications must include the following elements:

• Use the Project Scoping application type within FEMA’s grant application system to be considered,

• Be designated as a Project Scoping project in the subapplication title

“Project Scoping for X”, and

• Prove that the proposed project benefits NFIP insured properties by submitting a map and associated geospatial file(s) (e.g., Shapefile, KML/KMZ, Geodatabase, or other GIS enabled document) delineating:

o Estimated area benefitting from the project https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

Eligible Project Scoping activities must benefit NFIP insured properties.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting meetings, outreach and coordination with subapplicants and community residents

• Developing or conducting engineering, environmental feasibility and/or benefit-cost analyses

• Undertaking activities that lead to development of project applications

• Evaluating facilities to identify mitigation actions

• Using staff or resources to develop cost share strategies

2. Community Flood Mitigation Projects – up to $70 million

FEMA will then select the highest scored eligible community flood mitigation project subapplication(s) based on the FEMA scoring criteria (see below). Each subapplication shall not exceed $30 million federal cost share. In accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 79 and HMA Guidance, projects will be evaluated to ensure they will provide benefits to the NFIP.

All community flood mitigation project subapplications must include the following elements:

• Use the Community Flood Control code/activity type within FEMA’s grant application system to be considered,

• Be designated as community flood mitigation project in the subapplication title “Community Flood Mitigation Project”, and

• Prove that the proposed project benefits NFIP insured properties by submitting a map and associated geospatial file(s) (e.g., Shapefile, KML/KMZ, Geodatabase, or other GIS enabled document) delineating:

o The proposed project footprint boundary, o Area…