fema_fy-2021-nofo-fema-nehrp-individual-state-earthquake-assistance.pdf

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

Fiscal Year 2021 Individual State Earthquake Assistance

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained an Employer Identification Number (EIN), 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 to 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. 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

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Informaton

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $2,000,000.00

2. Projected number of Awards: 23

3. Maximum Award Amount: $610,694.00

4. Period of Performance: 12 Months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 08/01/2021

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 07/31/2022

7. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Cost Share or Match

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://610,694.00 https://2,000,000.00 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://Grants.gov

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

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

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

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

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Pass-Through Requirements

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

4. Reporting

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

2. Period of Performance Extensions

3. Disability Integration

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

5. Procurement Integrity

6. Record Retention

7. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Appendices

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience/Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Risk Management Directorate, Planning, Safety and Building Sciences Division, Earthquake and Wind Programs Branch.

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.082

3. Assistance Listings Title Earthquake State Assistance

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2021 Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA)

5. Funding Opportunity Number FEMA Region 2 DHS-21-MT-082-02-01 FEMA Region 4 DHS-21-MT-082-04-01 FEMA Region 5 DHS-21-MT-082-05-01 FEMA Region 6 DHS-21-MT-082-06-01 FEMA Region 7 DHS-21-MT-082-07-01 FEMA Region 8 DHS-21-MT-082-08-01 FEMA Region 9 DHS-21-MT-082-09-01 FEMA Region 10 DHS-21-MT-082-10-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Sections 7704 (a)(2)(B), (b)(2)(a)(i) and (b)(2)(B) of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (42 U.S.C. § 7704). Public Law No.115-307, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018.

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No. 116-260), Title III, FEMA, OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT, paragraph 1

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category

Mitigation

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program NEHRP seeks to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering. NEHRP is a multi-agency program consisting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), FEMA, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NEHRP program supports the mission area of the FY20-24 DHS Strategic Plan titled “Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience,” as well as the national preparedness goal of mitigation, as provided in the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-8). NEHRP also supports the FEMA

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2011-title42/USCODE-2011-title42-chap86-sec7704 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1768/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.1768%22%5D%7D&r=1 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1768/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.1768%22%5D%7D&r=1 https://www.congress.gov/public-laws/116th-congress https://www.nehrp.gov/ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/mission

2018-2022 Strategic Plan, by contributing to the accomplishment of Strategic Goal 1: Build a Culture of Preparedness and Strategic Goal 2: Ready the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters.

Participation in the FEMA NEHRP State Assistance program is limited to those States and Territories that have been determined to be at a High to Very High risk of earthquakes.

Participation in this funding opportunity is further limited to those States and Territories that can provide the statutory 25% non-Federal cost share. The Cost Share requirement does not apply to those Territories that are considered "Insular Areas" (Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and otherwise eligible for program participation. See Section C below for additional details.

b. Objectives The program prioritizes reducing the risks to life and property from future earthquakes in the United States through the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program. The program objectives ar e:

Improve understanding of earthquake processes and impacts.

Develop cost-effective measures to reduce earthquake impacts on individuals, the built environment, and society-at-large.

Improve the earthquake resilience of communities nationwide.

c. Priorities

• Work with Model Building Codes and National Consensus Standards to promote implementation of research results.

• Develop and maintain Seismic Resistant Design and Construction Guidance and Tools

(books, software, training) for new and existing structures, including Performance Based Seismic Design Guidelines.

• Program Implementation and Outreach (awareness campaigns, media, articles, initiatives).

• Support multi-State groups.

• Support for State Earthquake Programs.

• Disaster Support (Subject Matter Expert (SME), post-event studies) in accordance with the FEMA Disaster Response Framework, Earthquake Incident Annex and other applicable policies.

• Support Standards for Critical Lifelines Infrastructure.

11. Performance Measures See Appendix H for detailed Performance Measures.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $2,000,000.00

See appendix D for NEHRP State Allocations.

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.fema.gov/about/mission https://2,000,000.00

2. Projected number of Awards: 23

3. Maximum Award Amount: $610,694.00

4. 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.

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 08/01/2021

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 07/31/2022

7. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

See Appendix G for a complete list of all eligible States and Territories

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria Determination of Risk. This funding opportunity is provided to those States and Territories that have been determined to be at a high or very high risk of earthquakes. This determination is made and published annually by FEMA as the State Assistance Target Allocation Plan. The FY21 pl an determination is based on the Seismic Design Category (SDC) per American Society of Civil Engineers and Structural Engineering Institute ASCE/SEI 7-16 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) SDC maps and at-risk population in a State. A State of high earthquake risk (with areas in the State boundary designated as SDC D0 or above per the 2018 IRC SDC map and at-risk population over 50,000 based on 2010 US Census population), OR over 1000 square miles of high seismic area (SDC D or above per 2018 IRC SDC map) will be eligible for a baseline amount plus an additional award amount. Applicants should be aware that changes in areas of earthquake hazard within the State and changes in population size affect the determination.

The additional amount is in proportion to the State’s Annualized Earthquake Loss (AEL), which is from the FEMA P-366 HAZUS Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria Eligibility is further limited to those States who can provide the statutory 25% non-Federal cost share for this funding opportunity (as specified below). T he Cost Share requirement does not apply to those Territories that are considered "Insular Areas" (Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and otherwise eligible for program participation.

https://610,694.00

4. Cost Share or Match Recipients must provide twenty-five (25) percent of the costs of the activities for which assistance is being given.

For a cost share, the recipient contribution is calculated based on total project cost as:

The value of the federal contribution in US$ divided by the federal contribution in percent.

This requires a two-step calculation.

For example, if a program requires a 25% cost share and the federal contribution is $100,000 then:

Step 1: the federal contribution is 100% - 25% = 75%;

Step 2: the recipient contribution is calculated as $100,000/ (100%-25%) = $33,333.

The total project cost in this example is $133,333.

See Appendix D. NEHRP State Allocations, for individual State Cost Shares.

5. Third-party in-kind Contributions.

States and Territories may use third-party in-kind contributions to meet the twenty-five (25) percent cost share requirement. 2 C.F.R. § 200.96 describes in-kind contributions as the value of non-cash contributions (i.e., property or services) that – (a) Benefit a federally assisted project or program; and (b) Are contributed by non-Federal third parties, without charge, to a non-Federal entity under a Federal award.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 05/01/2021

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/01/2021 at 5:00 PM

Eastern Daylight Time

All complete 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 of the full application. 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 prior to the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the filing of the application within the required timeframe may preclude consideration of the award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following:

prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For 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 Contact 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 07/01/2021

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 07/15/2021

e. Other Key Dates

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

Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline Submitting complete application in ND Grants System

By the submission deadline

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

3. Address to Request Application Package Initial applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal. 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.

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO 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

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.login.gov/ https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov 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 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.

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.

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov

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:

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.

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://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://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://login.gov https://login.gov https://login.gov https://login.gov

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 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.

g. 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

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov 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.

h. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles:

After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access are sen t to the EBiz POC.

The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, w hich 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.

i. Track Role Status:

To track your role request, refer to:

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

j. 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:

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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 and the website at 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.

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.

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 of this NOFO.

• Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A);

• Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B);

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL); and

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or Proposal if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. See further information below regarding allowability of indirect costs and documentation requirements, including if the applicant does not have or is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, or contact the relevant DHS/FEMA staff

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support.html 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 https://Grants.gov identified in Section G, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” for further instructions.

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.

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

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• 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, FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://GRANTS.GOV https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov

“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 The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in ND Grants:

i. Work Plan Narrative. A summary (narrative) of an applicant’s Work Plan for grant funding that identifies the strategies, goals, and proposed activities and elements demonstrating enhanced seismic safety must be submitted. Work Plans must include expected products and measurable improvements associated with proposed activities, as identified below. Work Plans must also include any intended sub-award plans. Appendix A provides a template.

ii. Master Schedule/Deliverable Table – A sample table that combines both is found in Appendix B. This one document will combine a schedule of planned activities with milestones and expected dates for completion, along with their associated deliverables (i.e.

people trained, publications distributed, conferences/workshops/drills held, policies made, website improvements, etc.)

ii. Grant Budget - The applicant must provide a detailed budget for the funds requested.

The budget must be submitted with the grant application as a file attachment within the ND Grants system at https://portal.fema.gov. The budget must be complete, reasonable, and cost-effective in relation to the proposed project. The budget should provide the basis of computation of all project-related costs, any appropriate narrative, and a detailed justification of Management and Administrative (M&A) costs.

To prepare the Grant Budget, the grantee must use Earned Value Management methodology to report the Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (Projected Costs), and the Actual Cost of Work Performed. The Grant Budget shall be prepared with Work Breakdown Structure cost categories. Tasks and sub-tasks will be categorized in terms of discrete effort and shall correlate directly with the work plan master schedule and deliverables identified in the work plan delivery table. Use a monthly spreadsheet approved by the FEMA Headquarters Earthquake Program Manager. Recipients may obtain a sample budget spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel source file) from the FEMA Headquarters State Assistance Program Manager.

A SAMPLE Grant Budget (spreadsheet) is at Appendix F.

Funds will not be made available for obligation, expenditure, or drawdown until the applicant’s budget and budget narrative have been approved by FEMA.

https://portal.fema.gov/

iv. Outcomes Report/Logic Model. The Applicant must include an initial Outcomes Report/Logic Model that includes all proposed activities. See Appendix L. SAMPLE Logic Model. Only the “Activities,” and “Inputs” need to be included in the initial Logic Model.

11. Intergovernmental Review

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

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

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO, or the terms and conditions of the award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered, within the period of performance of the award. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h) (referring to budget periods, which for FEMA awards is the same as the period of performance).

In general, the Cost Principles establish standards for the allowability of costs, provide detailed guidance on the cost accounting treatment of costs as direct or administrative costs, and set forth allowability principles for selected items of cost. More specifically, except as otherwise stated in this NOFO, the terms and condition of an award, or other program materials, costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must be consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal Awards located at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E. In order to be allowable, all costs charged to a FEMA award or applied to the cost share must be reasonable in nature and amount and allocable to the particular FEMA award.

Additionally, all costs charged to awards must comply with the grant program’s applicable statutes, policies, requirements in this NOFO as well as with the terms and conditions of the award. If FEMA staff identify costs that are inconsistent with any of these requirements, these costs may be disallowed, and FEMA may recover funds as appropriate, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

As part of those requirements, grant recipients and subrecipients may only use federal funds or funds applied to a cost share for the purposes set forth in this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, and those costs must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award.

Grant funds may not be used for matching funds for other federal grants/cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity.

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

FY 2021 ISEA NOFO Back to the Top 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

Recipients and subrecipients of FEMA federal financial assistance are subject to the prohibitions described in section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 2019 NDAA), Pub. L. No. 115-232 (2018) and 2 C.F.R. § 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Beginning August 13, 2020, the statute – as it applies to FEMA recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors – pr ohibits obligating or expending federal award funds on certain telecommunications and video surveillance products and contracting with certain entities for national security reasons.

Additional guidance is available at Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services (Interim) FEMA Policy #405-143-1

Effective August 13, 2020, FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards to:

(1) Procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system;

(2) Enter into, extend, or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system; or

(3) Enter into, extend, or renew contracts with entities that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.

i. D EFINITIONS

Per section 889(f)(2)-(3) of the FY 2019 NDAA and 2 C.F.R. § 200.216, covered telecommunications equipment or services means:

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

ii. For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

iv. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the People’s Republic of China.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_prohibitions-expending-fema-award-funds-covered-telecommunications-equipment-services.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_prohibitions-expending-fema-award-funds-covered-telecommunications-equipment-services.pdf

Examples of the types of products covered by this prohibition include phones, internet, video surveillance, and cloud servers when produced, provided, or used by the entities listed in the definition of “covered telecommunications equipment or services.” See 2 C.F.R. § 200.471.

b. Pre-Award Costs Pre-Award Costs are NOT allowed under this program.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs M&A activities are those directly relating to the management and administration of Individual State Earthquake Assistance funds, such as financial management and monitoring.

M&A costs are not operational costs. They are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. Recipients may retain a maximum of 5 percent of Individual State Earthquake Assistance funds awarded for M&A purposes associated with the Individual State Earthquake Assistance award. An organization partnering with a recipient (limit one per recipient) may in turn retain 5 percent of the subaward they receive from the recipient for M&A purposes.

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414.