CTP FY 2024 FEMA NOFO_FINAL_508.pdf

FY 2024 NOFO Template – FEMA Version 24-02

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

Fiscal Year 2024 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the system. Requesting a UEI using System for Award Management (SAM.gov) can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is the Unique Entity Identifier.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

Table of Contents Updates in Grant Application Forms:

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $66,000,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 120

3. Period of Performance:

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2024

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2026 and 09/30/2028

6. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward Allowability

b. Subrecipient Eligibility

c. Beneficiaries or Participants

4. Cost Share or Match D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 06/12/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 07/19/2024 at 5:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2024

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/27/2024

e. Other Key Dates:

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM.gov)

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

f. Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR:

8. Submitting the Final Application

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

c. Special Considerations for Non-Profits

11. Other Submission Requirements

12. Intergovernmental Review

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process

a. Program Priorities

b. Past Performance

c. Technical Capability and Capacity

d. Partner Contributions

e. Specific Criteria for the LOMR Review partners tasks are as follows

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. Mandatory Disclosures

3. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

4. Monitoring and Oversight G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. FEMA Grants News

c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division

d. FEMA Regional Offices

e. Equal Rights

f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. Payment Management System (PMS) (“Smartlink”)

b. FEMA GO

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

5. Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards or Subawards

6. Procurement Integrity

a. Important Changes to Procurement Standards in 2 C.F.R. Part 200

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

13. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

14. Appendices

A. Program Description

1. Issued By U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/ Resilience/Engineering and Modeling Directorate/Engineering Services Branch

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.045

3. Assistance Listings Title Cooperating Technical Partners

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2024 Cooperating Technical Partners

5. Funding Opportunity Number Headquarters CTP DHS-24-MT-045-00-99 Regional CTP DHS-24-MT-045-01-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Pub. L. 90-448 § 1302, 82 Stat. 572 (1968) and The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112–141), 126 Stat.

916, both of which are amended and codified at 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47, Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (2024 DHS Appropriations Act)

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Mitigation

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Cooperating Technical Partners Program (CTP) is one mechanism that FEMA uses to deliver Risk MAP to communities. CTP recipients develop flood hazard data and maps for communities that have never had identified risks, build on effective flood hazard data and flood insurance rate maps (FIRMS), and increase public awareness of flood risk and potential mitigation options to reduce that risk and better inform planning. Over the course of FY23, CTP recipients processed over 200 Letters of Map Change, delivered Flood Insurance Rate Maps to more than 600 communities for review and initiated approximately 50,000 miles of stream studies to be updated.

The vision for Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public awareness of flood risk and leads to action that reduces flood risk to life and property. Through https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiS0orWycSDAxVuJkQIHXTPAvwQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fema.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2020-07%2Fnational-flood-insurance-act-1968.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3sveMDsOqwuXTIFRlXJUbH&opi=89978449 https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/4348/text/pl?overview=closed https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2010-title42/USCODE-2010-title42-chap50-sec4001 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2882/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2882/text more precise flood mapping products, risk assessment tools, and planning and outreach support, Risk MAP strengthens the local ability to make informed decisions about reducing flood risk. The Risk MAP process was developed not only to introduce new and useful tools to help address these challenges, but also to create partnerships with communities affected by flooding and other hazards. By engaging local communities throughout the process and by sharing ownership of the products, Risk MAP results in tools that meet the needs of individual communities and stakeholders which can be used to effectively communicate and reduce risk from flooding and other hazards for citizens across the United States. Flood hazard and risk data are also used to inform applications and reviews for federal mitigation grants such as the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program (HMGP), Public Assistance (PA), and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The data that the program provides also contributes to responsible planning and decision-making by other government agencies, elected officials, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), land developers, property owners, and more individuals and entities making decisions relevant to reducing loss of life and property.

Risk MAP, as part of the NFIP, has many benefits to communities and the nation.

These benefits are described in 1) Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report, National Institute of Building Sciences, December 2017. 2) Flood Losses Avoided the History of the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA, July 2019. 3) Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study, Losses Avoided as a Result of Adopting Hazard-Resistant Building Codes, FEMA, November 2020. The direct outputs of the Risk MAP program identify risk and are intended to be used to mitigate future risk.

The accrued benefits of the Risk MAP program lie in how its direct outputs are used to mitigate risk, such as utilizing the data to apply for other mitigation grant programs.

Additional information about Risk MAP (including goals, strategies, progress, and success stories), can be found on FEMA’s website at Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) | FEMA.gov.

For additional information on the CTP program, please visit the CTP program website located at Cooperating Technical Partners Program | FEMA.gov.

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities The overarching goal of the Risk MAP Program is to enhance flood-resilient communities, including underserved communities. The CTP Program supports this goal by establishing, maintaining, and improving collaborative working relationships;

ensuring timely and accurate delivery of data to communities to support flood risk reduction and mitigation; and program ownership. Additionally, CTP supports Risk MAP’s goal of ensuring the long-term flood resiliency of communities, including underserved communities.

The objectives of the CTP program are primarily to support the mission and objectives of the NFIP’s Flood Hazard Mapping Program through FEMA’s flood https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/tools-resources/risk-map https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/tools-resources/risk-map https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/guidance-partners/cooperating-technical-partners hazard identification and risk assessment programs, including the Risk MAP program.

Objectives include:

• Ensure extensive stakeholder engagement throughout the lifecycle of a project so that stakeholders have access to flood hazard data and risk information to validate and use for community resiliency. Stakeholders in CTP projects typically include community and tribal leaders; business and property owners; regional, tribal, and state partners; and local elected officials.

• Enhance communities’ ability to make informed decisions on development using updated information by ensuring it is delivered to communities in a timely manner and on budget.

• Improve acceptance and use of the flood hazard data and risk information, through delivery of high-quality products to communities.

• Increase understanding of flood hazard and risk elements, leading to quality partnerships between CTPs and their communities, and between FEMA and CTPs, by providing training and engagement throughout the project.

The CTP program supports the FY 2024 Risk MAP Program Priorities shown below, as it continues to sharpen focus on advancing flood mitigation actions and prioritizing the technical credibility of data and community engagement throughout the Risk MAP lifecycle. As such, CTP’s FY 2024 approach will continue to focus on the following Risk MAP Program Priorities:

• Maintaining 80% new, validated, or updated engineering (NVUE) data - The NVUE metric is used to measure data quality by ensuring that flood hazard data are new, have been updated, or are deemed to be still valid through a continuous review and update process. NVUE metrics distinguish between engineering studies that adequately identify the level of flood risk (known as Valid) from those that need restudy (known as Unverified). The Risk MAP program is responsible for ensuring that 80% of the Nation’s flood hazard data are current.

• Advancing Ongoing Risk MAP Projects - The initiation of work to maintain 80% NVUE is one part of the mapping process. However, as the entire process takes six to eight years to complete, we need to invest in advancing the current backlog of projects to deliver them to communities. CTPs support this effort to take projects previously funded up to a certain phase and focusing efforts this grant season on funding and completing the remainder of the work for those areas.

• Addressing Remaining Statute Requirements - The Risk MAP Program is still addressing statutory requirements from The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12). These requirements include, but are not limited to, mapping currently unmapped areas of possible population growth, mapping areas of residual risk (in areas protected by levees, dams, and other flood control structures), mapping inundation areas (resulting from failure of levees, dams, and other flood control structures), and mapping future conditions.

• Enhancing Risk MAP for disadvantaged communities by tailoring the type of product received and training and support provided. The Risk MAP program focuses on the priorities shown in Table 1 for FY24 to determine where data are needed to be developed or updated. When those data are developed in a community identified as disadvantaged as determined in the White House’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool (CEJST), the Risk MAP program will focus on more in-depth conversations with the community to ensure the product delivered is usable and identify where additional training or resources may be needed to allow the community to enhance resilience. This will help ensure equitable determination and delivery of products to communities in a tailored way based on their needs.

Focusing on these areas will allow Risk MAP to continue to meet our key program measures and external reporting commitments, while providing the necessary management tools to assess performance and demonstrate Risk MAP’s value and effectiveness to program sponsors and stakeholders.

The CTP program helps achieve the Risk MAP measures and targets for FY 2024 which are provided in Table 1 below. The Regional Targets for the Risk MAP measures below were developed in partnership with FEMA Regional Offices. Any changes to these established targets will be based on joint Headquarters – Regional discussions.

Table 1. Fiscal Year 2024 Targets for Risk MAP Measures

Region

New Validated or

Updated Engineering

(NVUE)

Miles

Projects Forecasted to Preliminary

Issuance

Projects Forecasted to Letter of Final Determination

(LFD)

Mapping Unmapped

Linear Miles

2D Data Development

(square miles)

R1 133 15 4 0 0

R2 3645 6 2 1116 5460

R3 0 4 10 270 892

R4 3725 12 15 1397 3152

R5 1449 23 32 1417 3873

R6 4731 22 12 5192 14070

R7 2989 18 13 773 2025

R8 3079 15 20 24525 46494

R9 696 7 6 1228 0

R10 1046 3 7 245 3950 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan The Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program exists to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The CTP program supports efforts to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience, one of the main goals of the 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan. Additionally, the program supports the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan, Goal 2: Lead whole of community in climate resilience and Goal 3: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and a prepared nation. It helps achieve these goals by fostering strong federal, state, tribal, territorial, regional, and local partnerships to identify flood risks, reduce flood losses, and promote community resilience. It also supports the National Mitigation Investment Strategy, a supporting document to Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-8), National Preparedness.

11. Performance Measures The program added the requirement for Performance Measures in 2015, which help track and quantify the effectiveness of the program. They ensure that FEMA has better visibility on the timeliness, adherence to standards, fiscal responsibility, and quality issues associated with projects. Please refer to Appendix D: Performance Measure References for the suggested CTP performance metrics.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $66,000,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 120

3. Period of Performance:

24 Months for Program Management, Community Outreach and Mitigation Strategies, Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Review Projects, and Special Projects as defined in Appendix C: CTP Project Categories and Requirements

48 Months for Technical Hazard Identification, Risk Analysis, and Mapping Projects as defined in Appendix C: CTP Project Categories and Requirements.

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this NOFO.

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2024 The period of performance may have a variable start date based on when the project is awarded in FEMA GO and the funds become available to the recipient to begin work.

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2026 and 09/30/2028

6. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

The CTP program provides federal assistance through a cooperative agreement to eligible recipients to perform various projects and activities that stimulate and support the ability of NFIP state coordinating agencies and NFIP-participating communities (as defined in 44 C.F.R. § 59.1) to continue their ongoing regulatory NFIP responsibilities, as well as support the ability of states, communities, and the public and private sectors to mitigate flood risk.

https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/mission https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_national-mitigation-investment-strategy.pdf

CTP awards are cooperative agreements due to the level of substantial involvement required by FEMA, which is detailed below. FEMA will be substantially involved in the activities of the recipient beyond the level involved with typical award administration activities.

CTP program activities, especially mapping-related activities, have a direct and substantial impact on the success and sustainability of the NFIP, such as the development of map data, which are used to determine insurance and floodplain management requirements. Additionally, these activities provide for a significant benefit to recipients and the communities they serve by having improved data and resources to implement the NFIP program.

FEMA must provide substantial oversight to maintain quality control of deliverables and to ensure accountability for appropriate use of CTP program funds. Due to the project complexity and length, FEMA collaborates with the recipient on programmatic activities to minimize risk to the NFIP and local implementation of the Flood Hazard Mapping Program. Additionally, certain statutory programmatic activities require federal approval and involvement, such as coordination with the Office of the Federal Register to publicize notices of proposed and final flood hazard changes.

FEMA will provide technical assistance and support (as required or necessary) and approve deliverables, while closely monitoring performance.

Program authority and responsibility under cooperative agreements reside with FEMA.

FEMA will work with recipients to review and refine work plans to ensure program goals and objectives can be effectively accomplished. The following bullets provide examples of FEMA’s substantial involvement in cooperative agreement partnership projects.

However, they are not inclusive of all potential FEMA activities. FEMA will participate in CTP cooperative agreements by:

• Identifying community training, outreach, and development needs, and ensuring activities undertaken to address needs are mutually beneficial, comply with NFIP requirements, and are performed appropriately with qualified personnel.

• Coordinating and approving technical assistance activities provided to communities to advance mitigation activities.

• Collaborating with the recipient to align and integrate state and local mapping needs with national mapping needs for prioritization (as defined in 44 C.F.R. Parts 59 and 60), as well as any Congressional priorities related to mapping.

• Confirming that communication with local governments is executed according to statutory and regulatory program requirements.

• Collaborating with the recipient to develop, and/or review and approve, project-related communications and messaging that is considered sensitive or high-profile (such as media inquiries or congressional inquiries).

• Coordinating efforts among project team members to identify due dates, maintain schedules, and ensure communication and collaboration.

• Performing National Quality Review checks (QR1-QR8) per Standard 508 in

FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping Standards (https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/35313) to ensure products and deliverables comply with programmatic policies and standards, including audits through FEMA’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) process for mapping products.

• Providing the base Hazards US (HAZUS) Level 1 National Average Annualized Loss (AAL) risk assessment for the project area and reviewing and assessing the recipient’s enhanced annualized loss risk assessments and HAZUS model run results.

• Attending community meetings and performing certain statutory or regulatory processing requirements, such as publication of Federal Register Notices, Scientific Review Panel activities as necessary, and distribution of final determination documents.

• Performing activities associated with the post-processing of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), including processing activities undertaken as a result of FEMA’s final determination on a LOMR request such as distribution of final determination documents, publication of Federal Register and newspaper notices, and regulatory appeal period processing.

• Processing regulatory fees associated with Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs) and LOMRs that recipients receive for review (note: recipients must forward the fee to FEMA for processing).

The recipient shall not develop or engage in the development of tasks not approved in the Mapping Activity Statement (MAS) and/or Statement of Work (SOW), without post-award approval from the program office, and the issuance of a cooperative agreement amendment from FEMA. FEMA will monitor the project on a continual basis by maintaining ongoing contact with the recipient and will provide input to the program's direction, in consultation with the recipient, as needed.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants The following entities are eligible for funding under this the CTP program:

• City or township governments

• County governments

• Federally recognized tribal governments

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education

• Institutions of higher education as defined by section 101of the Higher Education Act of

1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1001)

• Public Housing Authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Special district governments

• Territories

• State governments, including the District of Columbia

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria The recipient and any subrecipients must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations regarding the National Flood Insurance Program, including specifically:

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/35313 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/35313

• The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).

• The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–141, 126 Stat. 916).

• The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-89).

• The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Parts 59 through 72.

Potential recipients must have also entered into a signed Partnership Agreement (Memorandum of Agreement) with FEMA confirming they are a partner in FEMA’s Cooperating Technical Partners Program to receive funds under the CTP program. The details for how to enter into a Partnership Agreement with FEMA are described under Appendix B: Establishing a Partnership Agreement.

In addition, an applicant must meet the following additional eligibility criteria to qualify for federal assistance through a cooperative agreement under the CTP program. The recipient must have:

• The capability to comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions for accepting and managing grants or cooperative agreements, including the systems and processes necessary for appropriate management of federal funds;

• Demonstrated capability and capacity to perform, implement, or contract the activities for which it is applying. This demonstrated ability may be indicated through (but not limited to) a FEMA review of the products or support previously prepared or provided by the recipient and the existing processes or systems the recipient intends to use for program-related activities. If the work for any portion of an activity is contracted, the recipient of the award must have in-house staff with the technical capability to monitor the contractor(s) and approve the product(s) developed by the contractor(s). For the purpose of these awards: “capability” means demonstrated experience in the performance of, or management through contracting of, similar activities;

• Evidence of continued maintenance, through non-federal funds, of the processes or systems in place to support the collection, development, evaluation, dissemination, and communication of flood hazard and risk assessment data and mapping (e.g., continued data collection related to changes in flood hazards and development in flood-prone areas;

continued upgrades to data collection or mapping capabilities to incorporate new technologies; preparation of multiple-year mapping or data collection plans; maintenance of hardware, software, licenses, and certifications, etc., necessary to complete, review, monitor and report on the work);

• The ability to achieve CTP program performance metrics outlined in https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/7277 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2010-title42/USCODE-2010-title42-chap50-sec4001 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2010-title42/USCODE-2010-title42-chap50-sec4001 https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-%20congress/house-bill/4348/text/pl https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/4348/text/pl?overview=closed https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-%20bill/3370/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22publiclaw11%203-89%5C%22%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=1 https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3370/text/pl?overview=closed https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2011-title44-vol1/CFR-2011-title44-vol1-chapI-subchapB-subjectgroup-id467 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2011-title44-vol1/CFR-2011-title44-vol1-chapI-subchapB-subjectgroup-id467

Appendix D: Performance Reporting References, and the Federal Award Administration Information of this NOFO and provide timely and accurate reports to FEMA documenting performance and achievements; and

• The recipient must perform and manage work, when applicable, in FEMA’s Mapping Information Platform (MIP) and update the activities within the MIP every 30 days in the Studies Workflow, and more frequently within the Revisions Workflow. Where the award activities are not capable of being performed and managed within a MIP workflow, the recipient is expected to develop and report on cost and performance schedules. In order to obtain access to FEMA’s Risk Analysis Management systems including the MIP, the recipient must have a FEMA-approved Information Sharing Access Agreement

(ISAA).

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward Allowability

Subawards are allowed.

b. Subrecipient Eligibility Eligibility requirements of the subrecipient are the same as the recipient, with the exception of the fact that a subrecipient is not required to have a Memorandum of Agreement with FEMA.

c. Beneficiaries or Participants This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

For additional information on qualifications for entering into a Partnership Agreement or receiving federal assistance for partnership activities, see Section C: Eligibility Information in this NOFO.

Special Considerations for Non-Profits- Non-profit associations must request approval from the FEMA Regional Office (if applicable) and FEMA HQ CTP program Lead (in coordination with the appropriate FEMA HQ Program Manager) prior to applying to these projects. Eligible FEMA-Approved Special Projects are detailed in Appendix C: CTP Project Categories and Requirements.

4. Cost Share or Match Cost Share or Match not required

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 06/12/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 07/19/2024 at 5:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

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 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. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. 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 FEMA to make an award.

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to notify FEMA of the issue in a timely manner, preventing the timely filing of the application, 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 of this NOFO, “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) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). 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 fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2024

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/27/2024

e. Other Key Dates:

mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number

Six weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Six weeks before actual submission deadline

Creating an account with login.gov Six weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in SAM or updating SAM registration

Six weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering Organization in FEMA GO Prior to beginning application

Submitting complete application in FEMA GO 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 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 of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR §25.110, must:

a. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process. Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.300, subrecipients are NOT required to go through the full SAM registration process. First-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to obtain a UEI through SAM, but they are not required to complete the full SAM registration in order to obtain a UEI. Recipients may not make subawards unless the subrecipient has obtained and provided the UEI.

Lower-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds passed through by a higher-tier subrecipient) are not required to have a UEI and are not required to register in SAM.

Applicants are also not permitted to require subrecipients to complete a full registration in SAM beyond obtaining the UEI.

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/home

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early, as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Please review the table above for estimated deadlines to complete each of the steps listed.

Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting an application may disqualify that application from funding.

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

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, add the organization to the system, and establish the AOR. 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/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup

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. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable 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 FEMA 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, 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.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(c)(2)(iii), if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain an UEI number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

6. 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 applications through

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General 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 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.

Organizations must have an UEI number, an EIN, an active SAM registration and Grants.gov account to apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity.

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to: SAM.gov

c. Obtain Employer Identification 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.

d. 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.

https://sam.gov/content/home 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

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.

e. Register with SAM:

All applicants applying online through FEMA GO must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent an applicant from completing the application in Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm

Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.200, applicants must also provide the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is “ACTIVE.” SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.”

Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain an UEI number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current.

Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, and EIN are up to date in SAM and that the UEI number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

II. HELP WITH SAM

The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration (GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

f. Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the

AOR:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do

Applicants must 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/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup

Note: FEMA GO will support only the most recent major release of the following browsers:

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

8. Submitting the Final Application Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required as described in Section D.10 of this NOFO, “Content and Form of Application Submission.” The Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the Forms tab under the https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

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 your application.

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

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. 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 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.

Applicants who experience system-related issues will be addressed until 3:00 PM ET on the date applications are due. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The information from the following forms are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. They are automatically generated in FEMA GO; no additional attachment is needed. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in

FEMA GO:

Funding in FY 2024 for CTP cooperative agreements in support of Risk MAP measures includes the following project categories, which are explained in more detail in Appendix C: CTP Project Categories and Requirements of this NOFO:

• Program Management (PM)

• Community Outreach and Mitigation Strategies (COMS)

• Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Review Activities

• Special Project(s)

• Technical Hazard Identification, Risk Analysis and Mapping

To qualify as complete, applicants must coordinate with their respective FEMA Regional or HQ representative identified in Section G: DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information in this NOFO in advance of applying, and the application must include the documents described below.

The following additional program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in FEMA GO:

a) Partnership Agreement; and

b) MAS or SOW.

a) Partnership Agreement The application must include a copy of the recipient’s signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA. The Partnership Agreement is a prerequisite to any further activities under the CTP program. The Partnership Agreement is discussed in greater detail in Section C: Eligibility Information in this NOFO.

b) Mapping Activity Statement (MAS)/Scope of Work (SOW) For all project categories, recipients are encouraged to work with FEMA in advance of the application to understand FEMA program priorities, objectives and measures, and to identify specific tasks to undertake in FY 2024. In support of program objectives, FEMA may provide technical assistance, training, and/or data to a recipient to enhance the activities within the project categories outlined above. Any funds that FEMA provides through a cooperative agreement to complete project activities are in addition to the leveraged resources and data, which may be provided by the recipient to complete the tasks agreed upon in the SOW or MAS. When awarded a cooperative agreement through the CTP program in support of program objectives and to advance program measures, the recipient must comply with the requirements outlined in this announcement, the terms and conditions of the award (previously referred to as the Articles of Agreement), as well as the Partnership Agreement and the associated FEMA-approved SOW or MAS.

As a recipient and FEMA collaborate to identify specific activities to perform under their Partnership Agreement, they will develop an MAS or SOW to define the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in a flood risk project (see Section E: Application Review Information in this NOFO for additional information).

The MAS or SOW supplements the Partnership Agreement and defines the activities that will be accomplished for a particular project. A cooperative agreement is the award mechanism by which FEMA provides federal funds to qualified recipients to complete certain partnership activities.