DRAFT_FY21_EMBAG_NOFO_2021.04.15_v1130_clean_508c.pdf

FY 2021 EMBAG NOFO

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

Fiscal Year 2021 Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained an Employer Identification Number (EIN), a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), or your SAM registration is not active, please take immediate action to obtain an EIN and DUNS Number, if applicable, and then register immediately in SAM or, if applicable, renew your SAM registration. It may take four 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, EIN, and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “How to Register to Apply.” Detailed information regarding the time required for each registration is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “Other Key Dates.”

Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number 3

3. Assistance Listings Title 3

4. Funding Opportunity Title 3

5. Funding Opportunity Number

.................................................................................6. Authorizing Authority for Program 3

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type 3

9. Program Category 3

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities 3

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information 7

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $825,000 7

2. Projected Number of Awards: 2-4 7

3. Period of Performance: 12 Months 7

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2021

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/30/2022 7

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant 7

C. Eligibility Information 7

1. Eligible Applicants 7

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria 8

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) 9

5. Cost Share or Match 9

D. Application and Submission Information ....................................................................................................... 1. Key Dates and Times 9

Back to the Top http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application 11

5. Electronic Delivery 12

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov 12

7. How to Submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov 15

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants 17

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission 17

10. Content and Form of Application Submission 18

11. Other Submission Requirements 18

12. Intergovernmental Review 18

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information 22

1. Application Evaluation Criteria 22

2. Review and Selection Process 25

F. Federal Award Administration Information 26

1. Notice of Award . 26

2. Pass-Through Requirements 27

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements . 27

4. Reporting 28

5. Monitoring and Oversight 32

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information 33

2. Systems Information 34

H. Additional Information 35

1. Termination Provisions 35

2. Period of Performance Extensions 35

3. Disability Integration 36

4. Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards or Subawards 37

5. Procurement Integrity 38

6. Record Retention

7. Actions to Address Noncompliance 43

8. Audits 44

9. Payment Information 45

10. Whole Community Preparedness 46

11. Appendices 46 Appendix A: FEMA Expectations for Standards Alignment and Assessment Review 47 Appendix B: Detail on EMBAG Performance Measurement 50 Appendix C: Detail of Allowable and Not Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG 51 Appendix D: Project Narrative Template 52 Appendix E: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria 55 Appendix F: Budget Detail Worksheet Template 58 Appendix G: Post-Award Requirements 62 Appendix H: Guidance for Data Collection and Continuity Assessment Tool Activities

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/ National Preparedness Directorate (NPD)/National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD)

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.131

3. Assistance Listings Title Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2021 Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant (EMBAG)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-21-NPD-131-00-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 503 (b)(2)(G) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 313 (b)(2)(G))

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-260).

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Preparedness: Emergency Management

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The purpose of the FY 2021 EMBAG is to develop, maintain and update, and test national-level standards for emergency management that can help ensure that jurisdictions (state, tribal, territorial, and local communities) have accredited emergency management programs and certified emergency management professionals in place in advance of an incident. To achieve this purpose, the EMBAG supports voluntary national-level standards and peer review assessment processes that jurisdictions can use to identify the capacity and shortfalls of their emergency management programs and professionals and develop a path to compliance. These national-level standards fall under “other assistance” called out under Section 503 (b)(2)(G) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to “build tribal, local, State, regional, and national capabilities…necessary to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.”

The EMBAG specifically supports:

1. The development, maintenance, update, revision, and enhancement of voluntary national-level standards and peer review assessment processes for emergency

FY 2021 EMBAG NOFO Back to the Top preparedness and response that are driven, established, validated, and revised through consensus;

2. Related efforts to develop or update national-level accreditation for these standards;

and

3. The assessment of select state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management programs and professionals against these national-level standards.

The EMBAG aligns to the FY 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan, Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8), and DHS/FEMA’s (FEMA’s) mission and 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. The EMBAG specifically addresses Goal 5, Objective 5.1 of the FY 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan to strengthen preparedness and resilience by building a national culture of preparedness. The EMBAG program aligns to PPD-8 through supporting national-level standards and assessment processes that emergency management programs and professionals can use to improve their preparedness capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effect of, respond to, and recover from the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the Nation. In addition, the EMBAG program reinforces DHS/FEMA’s (FEMA’s) mission of advancing all-hazards preparedness, which is driven by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA). The EMBAG program supports the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan through the following goals and their objectives:

Goal Name Objective Name

Goal 1 Build a Culture of Preparedness

Objective 1.3 Help People Prepare for Disasters

Objective 1.4 Better Learn from Past Disasters, Improve Continuously, and Innovate

Goal 2 Ready the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters

Objective 2.1 Organize the “BEST” (Build, Empower, Sustain, and Train) Scalable and Capable Incident Workforce

Objective 2.4 Improve Continuity and Resilient Communications Capabilities

Goal 3 Reduce the Complexity of FEMA

Objective 3.2 Mature the Disaster Recovery Framework

b. Objectives The EMBAG program supports investment in national-level standards for emergency management that target critical functions necessary to prepare for and manage disasters, with the goal of supporting the following short and long-term outcomes:

• In the short to mid-term, jurisdiction emergency management programs participating in the EMBAG achieve compliance with national-level standards for critical functions necessary to prepare for and manage disasters. Long-term, these programs increase their preparedness to manage disasters.

• In the short to mid-term, emergency management professionals tied to jurisdiction emergency management programs and participating in the EMBAG achieve compliance with national-level standards for critical functions necessary to manage emergency management programs. Long-term, these professionals increase their capability to manage these programs during disasters.

To achieve these outcomes, the FY 2021 EMBAG program provides funding for two (2) objectives, which together include five (5) projects. These objectives, their projects, and detailed requirements for project activities are described in the table below. These objectives are described in further detail in Appendix G: Post-Award Requirements, and Appendix H:

Guidance for Data Collection and Continuity Assessment Tool Activities of this NOFO.

Objective 1: Supporting Emergency Management Program Accreditation Project Requirements for Activities Maintain and revise national-level standards used to accredit emergency management programs.

Standards must be voluntary, consensus-based, and accredited through a national-level accreditation body for standards and include a peer review assessment process using emergency professionals from the emergency management community.

Efforts should include ongoing update of national-level standards used to accredit emergency management programs.

Efforts should include developing, maintaining, updating, and improving systems, policy, and processes necessary to complete the objectives of the EMBAG.

Efforts can include operationalizing and/or validating these standards.

Maintain a peer review process to assess emergency management program adherence to the standards.

Efforts should include outreach and selection of a peer review team that consists of emergency management officials from other (peer) jurisdiction emergency management programs.

Conduct assessments on a volunteer basis for jurisdictions.

Efforts should include assessments used to accredit jurisdiction emergency management programs using the national-level standards.

Efforts can include assessments of jurisdiction emergency management programs using other capability assessment tools.

Objective 2: Supporting Emergency Management Professional Certification Project Requirements for Activities Maintain and revise national-level standards and criteria used to certify emergency management professional’s competence to manage emergency management programs.

Standards must be voluntary, consensus-based, and involve input from emergency professionals from the emergency management community.

Efforts should include validating and accrediting standards and criteria through a national-level accreditation body for standards.

Efforts should include developing, maintaining, updating, and improving systems, policy, and processes necessary to complete the objectives of the EMBAG.

Conduct assessments on a volunteer basis for state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management professionals against these standards and criteria.

Efforts should include assessments used to certify emergency management professionals using the national-level standards and criteria.

c. Priorities

Any assessment process supported by the EMBAG must include a review of the areas within an emergency management program referenced in Appendix A: FEMA Expectations for Standards Alignment and Assessment Review.

Applicants are encouraged to propose and provide support for the inclusion of the key considerations and practices of the Threat, Hazard, and Risk Identification and Assessment (THIRA) as part of the national-level standards for emergency management program accreditation. Applicants should also ensure these standards are aligned with the following FEMA doctrine and policy documents, also outlined and described in Appendix A: FEMA Expectations for Standards Alignment and Assessment Review

• National Preparedness System (NPS)

• National Continuity Policy, particularly the 2018 Continuity Guidance Circular

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Qualification

System

• Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG), v4 (June 2020)

• National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), Second Edition (June 2016)

• FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Guides (Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning

Guide for States (November 2016), Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Guide for Tribal Governments (September 2019), and Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Guide for Local Governments (February 2017))

• Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Guide, Third Edition

Performance

• National Response Framework, Fourth edition, particularly regarding Community Lifelines

• Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

The FY 2021 EMBAG Application Review criteria consider how applicants describe how their assessment process reviews the areas of an emergency management program referenced in Appendix A: FEMA Expectations for Standards Alignment and Assessment Review.

Application Review criteria also consider how applicants describe the alignment of their national-level standards for emergency management to the FEMA doctrine and policy documents referenced in Appendix A: FEMA Expectations for Standards Alignment and Assessment Review

11. Performance Measures

The performance of the EMBAG is measured against the intended outcomes identified in the Objectives section of this NOFO. The performance of the EMBAG in achieving its targeted short and mid-term outcomes is measured through Metrics 1 and 2 below and the performance of the EMBAG in achieving its targeted long-term outcomes can be measured in part through Metrics 3 and 4 below. Applicants should refer to Appendix B: Detail on EMBAG Performance Measurement for additional information on these metrics, including guidance and a template for reporting.

https://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-system https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/offices https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/Continuity-Guidance-Circular_031218.pdf https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/policy-guidance-fact-sheets https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/policy-guidance-fact-sheets https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/117794 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/117794 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-for-state-governments.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-for-state-governments.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-for-tribal-government.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-for-tribal-government.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-local-governments.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recovery-planning-guide-local-governments.pdf https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/165308 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/165308 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/165308 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/117791 https://www.fema.gov/lifelines https://www.fema.gov/lifelines https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/exercises/hseep

FY 2021 EMBAG Performance Metrics Score Metric 1: Percent of jurisdiction emergency management programs participating in assessments supported by the FY 2021 EMBAG that achieve national-level accreditation.

Percent

Metric 2: Percent of emergency management professionals with certification supported by the FY 2021 EMBAG that achieve national-level certification.

Percent

Metric 3: Percent of jurisdiction emergency management programs supported by the FY 2021 EMBAG that reported one or more aspects of their emergency management program improved as a result of the accreditation process and other support (training and assessments) received through the EMBAG.

Percent

Metric 4: Percent of professionals supported by the FY 2021 EMBAG that reported one or more aspects of their competence to manage an emergency management program improved as a part of the certification process and other support (training and assessments) received through the EMBAG.

Percent

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $825,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 2-4

3. Period of Performance: 12 Months Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this NOFO.

FEMA awards only include one budget period, so it will be same as the period of performance. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 for definitions of “budget period” and “period of performance.”

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2021

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/30/2022

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

The following are eligible applicants for this funding opportunity:

• Nonprofits as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1; and

• Institutions of higher education as defined by 2 CFR § 200.1.

The criterion defining eligible nonprofit organizations and institutes of higher education is based on demonstrating competence in emergency management program accreditation and/or emergency management professional certification and is defined under the Applicant Eligibility Criteria header below.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

The criteria that organizations must meet in order to be eligible for the EMBAG are defined below. Applicants that do not meet eligibility and application submission requirements will not be evaluated and scored by the review panel.

Eligible nonprofit organizations and institutes of higher education must be able to demonstrate, for either emergency management program accreditation AND/OR emergency management professional certification, that they are qualified to develop, update, revise, and enhance national-level standards for emergency management and implement assessments against them for emergency management programs AND/OR emergency management professionals, according to questions defined in Appendix D:

Project Narrative Template. Applicants will demonstrate their experience and expertise (and that of their partner organization, if applicable according to information under the Other EMBAG-Specific Application Information header below) using the questions in Appendix D: Project Narrative Template, and reviewers will use these questions as one set of criteria to score applications as outlined in Appendix E: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria.

Any standard relating to emergency management program accreditation AND/OR emergency management professional certification AND that has been accredited by a national-level accreditation body for standards can satisfy this eligibility criterion.

Additional information is contained in Section E: Application Review Information Appendix D: Project Narrative Template, and Appendix E: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria None

a. Other Program-Specific Application Information Applicants may partner with one (1) other eligible organization, but only one (1) applicant may apply for and receive an award and the applicant must apply on behalf of the partner organization. If applicants choose to partner with another organization, they may issue only one (1) subaward to the organization with which they have chosen to partner under the recipient’s EMBAG award. Applicants and their partner are BOTH subject to the Eligibility Criteria defined in this section and applicants must describe how they and their partner both meet the Eligibility Criteria defined in this section, or the application review panel will not evaluate and score the application.

In order to receive a satisfactory score, applicants must describe how they (and their partner, if applicable) will address at least one (1) objective and two (2) projects as defined in Section A: Program Description. The objective and projects that each organization (the applicant and the partner organization) addresses can be different. If applicants propose more than (1) objective and two (2) projects for themselves and their partner, they will receive a higher score by the Application Review panel. Additional information is contained in Appendix E:

Evaluation and Scoring Criteria. Section E: Application Review Information contains additional information about the application review panel and process.

Eligible beneficiaries of this grant are state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management programs and professionals.

Applications must conform to the guidance provided in Appendix D: Project Narrative Template of this NOFO. Applications will be evaluated using a scoring rubric, which is described in Section E: Application Review Information and Appendix E: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria

The following eligibility criteria apply for projects submitted as part of this application:

i. The application must meet the objectives of the EMBAG and conform to the guidance in Section D: Application and Submission Information, Section E: Application Review Information, Appendix D: Project Narrative Template, and Appendix E: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria. FEMA will not review applications that do not address all questions and subparts described in Appendices D and E.

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Not applicable.

5. Cost Share or Match A Cost Share or Match is not required.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/20/2021

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/04/2021 at 05:00:00 PM ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

The Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System has a date stamp that indicates when an application is submitted. Applicants will receive an electronic message confirming receipt of their 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 timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means: 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 additional assistance using the ND Grants System, please contact the ND Grants Service Desk at (800) 865-4076 or NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov. The ND Grants Service Desk is available 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 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. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 07/05/2021

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 08/06/2021

e. Other Key Dates

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

3. Address to Request Application Package Initial applications are processed through the Grants.gov portal. Final applications are completed and submitted through FEMA’s Non-Disaster Grants (ND Grants) System.

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.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.

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in SAM or Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in Grants.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in ND Grants Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline Submitting the final application in ND Grants By the submission deadline

Back to the Top mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

4. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application 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 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. Create a Grants.gov account;

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

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

h. Register in ND Grants

i. Submit an initial application in Grants.gov;

j. Submit the final application in ND Grants, including electronically signing applicable forms; and

k. 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.

Specific instructions on how to apply for, update, or verify a DUNS number or SAM registration or establish an AOR are included below in the steps for applying through Grants.gov.

Applicants are advised that 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 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 https://www.login.gov/ 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 receiving a DUNS number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting askcsid@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain a DUNS number and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

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 initial applications through Grants.gov and a final application through ND Grants.]

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

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 a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Organizations must also have a Grants.gov account to apply for an award under this program.

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

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

If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, refer to:

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

b. Obtain a DUNS Number:

mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

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

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

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

Note: At some point, the DUNS Number will be replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID. Grants.gov has begun preparing for this transition by educating users about the upcoming changes and updating field labels and references to the DUNS Number (the current identifier) within the Grants.gov system. Users should continue using the DUNS Number in UEI fields until further notice. To learn more about SAM’s rollout of the UEI, please visit https://gsa.gov/entityid

c. 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

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

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:

In addition to having a DUNS number, all organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

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

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

Note: As a new requirement 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 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://gsa.gov/entityid 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 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 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 a DUNS 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, DUNS number, and Employer Identification Number, or EIN, are up to date in SAM and that the DUNS 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. Create a Grants.gov Account:

The next step in the registration process is to create an account with Grants.gov. Applicants must know their organization's DUNS number to complete this process.

For more information, follow the on-screen instructions or refer to:

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

See also Section D.8 in this NOFO, “Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants,” for instructions on how to register early in ND Grants.

i. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account:

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

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

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

j. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles:

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

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

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

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

k. Track Role Status:

To track your role request, refer to:

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

l. Electronic Signature:

When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR;

this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

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

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using a workspace. A workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each Notice of Funding Opportunity, you can create individual instances of a workspace. Applicants are encouraged to submit their initial applications in Grants.gov at least seven days before the application deadline.

In Grants.gov, applicants need to submit the following forms:

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

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

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

a. Create a Workspace:

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

b. Complete a Workspace:

Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission.

Back to the Top https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

c. Adobe Reader:

If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace so that they will appear similar to other Standard or DHS forms. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

and the website at

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms:

In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color.

These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First:

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

f. Submit a Workspace:

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

g. Track a Workspace:

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

h. Additional Training and Applicant Support:

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

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

Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 (except federal holidays) support via the toll-free number (800) 518-4726, email at support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support.html. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support.html

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

of this NOFO.

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

Applicants needing assistance registering for the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 865-4076. For step-by-step directions on using the ND Grants system and other guides, please see https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system

In ND Grants, 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) are auto generated in ND Grants, but applicants may access these forms in advance through the Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application Submission” under Section D and Appendix D: Project Narrative Template

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission As application submission is a two-step process, the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application in Grants.gov will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of its initial application. This notification does not serve as proof of timely submission, as the application is not complete until it is submitted in ND Grants. Applicants can also view the ND Grants Agency Tracking Number by accessing the Details tab in the submitted workspace section in Grants.gov, under the Agency Tracking Number column. Should the Agency Tracking Number not appear, the application has not yet migrated from Grants.gov into the ND Grants System. Please allow 24 hours for your ND Grants application tracking number to migrate.

All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 PM ET on the application deadline.

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

mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The following forms or information are required to be submitted in either Grants.gov or ND Grants. The Standard Forms (SF) are submitted either through Grants.gov, through forms generated in ND Grants, or as an attachment in ND Grants. Applicants may also access the SFs at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

I. GRANTS.GOV

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, initial application submitted through

Grants.gov

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying, submitted through

Grants.gov

II. ND GRANTS

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information

(Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424A

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants o For construction under an award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances (Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424B

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal, submitted as an attachment in ND Grants if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. If the applicant does not have or is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, please see Section D.13 of this NOFO, “Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs,” for further information regarding allowability of indirect costs and whether alternatives to an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal might be available, or contact the relevant FEMA staff identified in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” for further instructions.

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information EMBAG-specific application instructions for proposal submission are included in Appendix D: Project Narrative Template

11. Other Submission Requirements None.

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

(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative…