FEMA_FY2021-IBSGP-NOFO_02-19-21.pdf

FY 2021 IBSGP NOFO Back to the Top

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

Fiscal Year 2021 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program 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. 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 Metrics

B. Federal Award Information

2. Period of Performance

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s)

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s)

5. Funding Instrument Type

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Cost Share or Match

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 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

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. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. 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

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.057

3. Assistance Listings Title Intercity Bus Security Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2021 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-21-[GPD]-[057]-[000]-[01]

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 1513 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. No. 110-53) (6 U.S.C. § 1182)

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: Infrastructure Security

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against potential terrorist attacks. IBSGP provides funds to intercity bus companies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the travelling public from acts of terrorism.

Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan, the IBSGP supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for managing the risks posed by terrorism and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country. IBSGP supports the goals of Building a Culture of Preparedness and of Readying the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters.

https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024

We invite our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

Finally, for FY 2021, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other emerging threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the “failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism” prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks.1 The threat profile has changed in the last two decades – we now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, threats to our democratic election process and threats from new and emerging technologies. But information sharing and cooperation among state, local, and tribal authorities and federal agencies, including all DHS officials, is just as vital, and perhaps even more vital, today. Therefore, for FY 2021, we have identified three priority areas, tied to some of the most serious threats that recipients should address with their IBSGP funds. Perhaps most importantly, DHS will be focused on forging partnerships to strengthen information sharing and collaboration in each of these priority areas and looking for recipients to remove barriers to communication and cooperation with DHS and other federal agencies.

b. Objectives

Provide funds to eligible private operators of intercity over-the-road bus transportation systems to protect critical transportation infrastructure and travelling public from acts of terrorism, and to increase the resilience of the transit infrastructure.

c. Priorities Given the evolving threat landscape, it is incumbent upon DHS/FEMA to continuously evaluate the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2021, three areas attract the most concern:

1) Enhancing cybersecurity;

2) Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places; and

3) Addressing emerging threats (e.g., transnational criminal organizations, weapons of mass destruction [WMD], unmanned aerial systems [UASs], etc.).

Likewise, there are several enduring security needs that crosscut the homeland security enterprise. The following are second-tier priorities that help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing critical transportation infrastructure:

1) Effective planning;

1 Homeland Security Act of 2002: Report Together with Minority and Dissenting Views 222, Select Committee on Homeland Security: 107th Congress, U.S. House of Representatives (2002) (H. Rpt. 107-609).

2) Training and awareness campaigns;

3) Equipment and capital projects; and

4) Exercises.

The table below provides a breakdown of these priority areas for the FY 2021 IBSGP, showing both the core capabilities enhanced and lifelines supported, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. A detailed description of allowable investments for each project type is included in the Preparedness Grants Manual. As discussed in Section E, projects that sufficiently address one or more of the three National Priorities (enhancing cybersecurity; enhancing the projection of soft targets/crowded places; or addressing emerging threats) will have their final review scores increased by a multiplier of twenty (20) percent.

FY 2021 IBSGP Funding Priorities

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Lifelines Example Project Types National Priorities Enhancing Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure to meet minimum levels identified by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

• Cybersecurity training and planning

Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets/Crowded Places

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Physical security enhancements at bus stations located in historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions o Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) security cameras o Security screening equipment and technology for people and baggage o Access controls Fencing, barriers, gates, etc.

• Remote disabling technology for over-the-road bus fleets https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 measures

• Risk management for

• protection programs and activities

• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology

• Global Positioning Software (GPS)

Addressing Emerging Threats, such as Transnational Criminal Organizations, WMD and UAS

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Physical protective measures

• Intelligence and

• information sharing

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) detection equipment at bus stations located in historically eligible UASI jurisdictions o Security screening equipment and technology for people and baggage

• Stand-off detection systems Enduring Needs Planning • Planning

• Risk management for protection programs & activities

• Risk & disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Operational coordination

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Development of:

o System-wide Security Risk

Management Plans o Continuity of Operations Plans o Response Plans/Station Action

Plans o System-wide and/or asset-specific vulnerability assessments

• Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

Training & Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information & warning

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Security training for employees, to include:

o Basic security awareness o Active shooter/attacker

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

Exercises

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

Security exercises to enhance prevention, response, and coordination capabilities related to the effects of a terrorist attack scenario

11. Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

• Percentage of funding allocated by the recipient to core capabilities to build or sustain the national priorities identified in the section above.

B. Federal Award Information

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

2. Period of Performance: 24 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 or the Preparedness Grants Manual.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual

FEMA awards under this program 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.”

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2021

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2024

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Private operators providing intercity over-the-road bus transportation that have also completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan, which the Secretary of Homeland Security has approved as described in Section 1531 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) (Pub. L. No. 110-53) (6 U.S.C. § 1181). Private operators are non-governmental entities that may include, but are not limited to, sole proprietorships, affiliates, parent companies and subsidiaries.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for funding is further limited to applicants that meet one or both of the following criteria:

• Operate fixed-route intercity bus transportation providing services to one or more historically eligible UASI jurisdictions as indicated below.

• Operate a charter bus service using over-the-road buses and provide a minimum of 50 trips annually to one or more historically eligible UASI jurisdictions as indicated below.

The following definitions are applicable for the purpose of meeting FY 2021 IBSGP eligibility requirements:

• Charter bus service is defined as a bus service that operates neither over fixed- routes nor on regular schedules. Note: A charter bus service is characterized by the rental of a bus and the services of a driver to a person or group where all passengers embark and disembark at the same point. A charter bus service must use over-the-road buses.

• Fixed-route intercity bus service is defined as passenger transportation service provided to the general public for compensation over specified, predetermined, and published routes between cities or terminals using over-the-road-buses.

• An over-the-road bus is defined as a vehicle designated for long-distance transportation of passengers, characterized by integral construction with an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment and at least 35 feet in length, with a capacity of more than 30 passengers. Only over-the-road buses are eligible for vehicle security enhancements through this program. Limousines, mini-coaches, school buses, or any other vehicle that does not fit the definition of an over-the-road bus are not eligible.

• A trip is defined as a single bus journey from an embarkation point to the furthest destination in that journey. For example, a trip from New York City to Denver to San Francisco would be considered a single trip. A trip is made to an historically eligible UASI jurisdiction if at any point in the trip the bus stops in an historically eligible UASI jurisdiction and embarks or disembarks passengers. For example, a trip from Newburgh, NY to New York City, NY to Charleston, WV is a trip to an historically eligible UASI jurisdiction if passengers embark or disembark in New York City.

• An historically eligible UASI jurisdiction is a high-risk urban area that has received UASI funding in the past.

List of Historically Eligible UASI Jurisdictions

State Urban Area Arizona Phoenix

Tucson

California

Anaheim-Santa Ana Bakersfield Bay Area Fresno Los Angeles-Long Beach Oxnard Riverside Sacramento San Diego

Colorado Denver

Connecticut Bridgeport New Haven Hartford

District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia National Capital Region

Florida

Fort Lauderdale Jacksonville Miami Orlando Tampa

Georgia Atlanta Hawaii Honolulu Illinois Chicago Indiana Indianapolis Kentucky Louisville Kansas/Missouri Kansas City

Louisiana Baton Rouge New Orleans

Maryland Baltimore Massachusetts Boston Michigan Detroit

State Urban Area Minnesota Twin Cities Missouri/Illinois St. Louis Nebraska Omaha Nevada Las Vegas New Jersey Jersey City-Newark

New York

Albany Buffalo New York City Rochester Syracuse

North Carolina Charlotte

Ohio

Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Toledo

Oklahoma Oklahoma City Tulsa

Oregon Portland

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Philadelphia

Puerto Rico San Juan Rhode Island Providence

Tennessee Memphis Nashville

Texas

Austin Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington El Paso Houston San Antonio

Utah Salt Lake City

Virginia Norfolk Richmond

Washington Seattle Wisconsin Milwaukee

An application submitted by an otherwise eligible non-federal entity (i.e., the applicant) may be deemed ineligible when the person that submitted the application is not: 1) a current employee, personnel, official, staff, or leadership of the non-federal entity; and 2) duly authorized to apply for an award on behalf of the non-federal entity at the time of application.

Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance. Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR of the recipient.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training.

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS.

b. Application Limitations

• Eligible applicants may only submit one application; and

• Each application may only include one Investment Justification (IJ).

c. Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan

To be eligible for the FY 2021 IBSGP, operators must have developed or updated their organization’s Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) that must be based on a security assessment, such as the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) performed by Transportation Security Inspectors-Surface from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Private operators providing transportation with an over-the-road bus system must have completed or updated their VASP within the past three years before the opening of the FY 2021 IBSGP application period. Additionally, a copy of the VASP certification must be submitted along with the application in order to be considered eligible.

Failure to include this certification will result in the application being deemed ineligible. All operators must have completed or updated a VASP as required by Section 1531 of the 9/11 Act (6 U.S.C. § 1181) as follows:

• Assessments and security plans should include, as appropriate:

o Identification and evaluation of critical assets and infrastructure, including buses, platforms, stations, terminals, and information systems;

o Identification of vulnerabilities to those assets and infrastructure; and o Identification of gaps in physical security; passenger and cargo security; the security of programmable electronic devices, computers, or other automated systems that are used in providing over-the-road bus transportation; alarms, cameras, and other communications systems and utilities needed for over-the-road bus security purposes, including dispatching systems; emergency response planning; and employee training.

• Security plans should also include, as appropriate:

o The identification of a security coordinator having authority to implement security actions, coordinate security improvements, and receive communications from appropriate federal officials regarding over-the-road bus security;

o A list of needed capital and operational improvements;

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training o Procedures to be implemented or used by the operator in response to a terrorist attack, including evacuation and passenger communication plans that include individuals with access and functional needs;

o The identification of steps taken with state and local law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, and federal officials to coordinate security measures and plans for response to a terrorist attack;

o A strategy and timeline for conducting training to prepare frontline employees for potential security threats and conditions;

o Enhanced security measures to be taken by the operator when the Secretary of Homeland Security declares a period of heightened security risk; and o Plans for providing redundant and backup systems required to ensure the continued operation of critical elements of the operator’s system in the event of a terrorist attack.

For additional information on the above requirements, please contact highwaysecurity@tsa.dhs.gov. Project requests will not be considered until bus operators develop and certify vulnerability assessments and security plans. See below for a template VASP certification statement.

Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan Certification Statement Applicants must certify that they have had a vulnerability assessment completed and a security evaluation preparedness plan developed or updated within the past three years.

Failure to submit this certification or modifying the language in this certification may result in an application not be considered for funding. Applicants are also required to submit their vulnerability assessments and security plans to DHS/FEMA upon request.

I, [insert name], as [insert title] of [insert name of bus company], certify that a vulnerability assessment has been completed and a security evaluation preparedness plan has been developed or updated for my company within the last three years.

Signature Date

d. Ineligible Applicants

Applicants that do not meet the requirements under “Eligible Applicants” in this NOFO Announcement, and Section 1531 of the 9/11 Act (6 U.S.C. § 1181), are ineligible to apply for FY 2021 IBSGP funds. Specific ineligible service categories include:

• School buses;

• Fixed-service routes under contract to transit authorities within UASI jurisdictions;

• Fixed-service routes not stopping in qualifying UASI jurisdictions;

• Intra-city trolley and/or tour services;

• Bus company owners that are not operators; and

• Intra-city bus service; funding for intra-city bus security is addressed through the Transit Security Grant Program.

Applications will further be considered ineligible for the following reasons:

• An application submitted by an entity that does not meet the eligibility requirements, as described in this NOFO;

• An application submitted by an eligible entity that is deficient in any of the documentary submission requirements, as described in this NOFO;

• An application submitted by an eligible applicant, when the submitter is not a current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the applicant and duly authorized to apply for an award on behalf of the applicant at the time of application; and

• Regardless of an applicant’s intent, applications for funding that are deemed “Duplicate Applications” are generally ineligible. As an example, if two applications for the same potential recipient are submitted, both applications will be deemed “Duplicate Applications” and both may be ineligible. However, FEMA retains the discretion to fund one of those duplicate applications based on the criteria set forth in this NOFO.

4. Cost Share or Match

The FY 2021 IBSGP has a cost share requirement.

The only acceptable form of cost sharing is a hard match, meaning cash, by the recipient. In-kind contributions, also known as soft matches, are not acceptable for the recipient’s cost share requirement.

Eligible IBSGP applicants shall agree to make available non-federal funds to carry out an IBSGP award in an amount equal to, and not less than, 50 percent of the total project cost as submitted in the application and approved in the award. If the total project cost is ultimately higher than anticipated and submitted at the time of application, the recipient is responsible for all additional costs. If the total project cost is less than the amount anticipated at the time of award, the recipient must ensure that it matches the federal funds expended with an amount equal to, and not less than, 50 percent in non-federal funds. The recipient’s contribution should be specifically identified for each proposed project. The non-federal contribution has the same eligibility requirements as the federal share and must be justified as part of the project within the IJ.

For example, if the federal award requires a 50 percent cost share and the total project cost is $100,000, then:

• Federal share is 50 percent of $100,000 = $50,000

• Recipient cost share is 50 percent of $100,000 = $50,000

With this example, if the total project cost ends up being $120,000, the federal share would remain at 50 percent of the original project cost of $100,000 (i.e., $50,000). Conversely, if the total project cost ends up being $80,000, then federal share would be $40,000 versus $50,000. In that case, the recipient would owe FEMA this $10,000 as the difference between the 50 percent cost share under the original project cost versus the decreased actual project cost.

These cash, hard-match contributions must consist of eligible costs and must be identified as part of the submitted application. A cash match includes cash spent for project related costs. The cost match requirement for the IBSGP award may not be met by funds from another federal grant or assistance program or funds used to meet matching requirements for another federal grant or assistance program, unless otherwise permitted by federal statute. Additionally, normal routine operational costs cannot be used as a cost match unless a completely new capability is being awarded. Please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306, as applicable, as well as the Preparedness Grants Manual for additional guidance regarding cost matching.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 02/25/2021

b. Application Submission Deadline: 05/14/2021 at 5:00 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 Non-Disaster (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 Preparedness Officer. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov

(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 7/16/2021

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 9/30/2021

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 See the Preparedness Grants Manual for requesting and submitting an application.

Initial applications are processed through the Grants.gov portal. Final applications are completed and submitted through FEMA’s ND Grants System. Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://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:

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 Starting application in Grants.gov Three weeks before actual submission deadline Submitting application in Grants.gov Two weeks before actual submission deadline Submitting the final application in the ND Grants System Three days before actual submission deadline mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

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 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 basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(c)(2)(ii), 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.

https://www.login.gov/ mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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 For information on how to register to apply through Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

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

For further information on how to submit an initial application via Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

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. Note – applicants must update their ND Grants passwords at least once a year.

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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system 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.

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

• 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.

Generally, applicants have to submit either the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B) or construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D), meaning that applicants that only have construction work and do not have any non-construction work need only submit the construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D) and not the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B), and vice versa. However, applicants who have both construction and non-construction work under this program need to submit both the construction and non-construction forms.

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in ND Grants as file attachments:

• IBSGP Application

• Associated IJ

• Associated detailed budget

• VASP certification statement

I. Priority Investments (IBSGP)

• Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity investments must support core capabilities as they relate to achieving target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

• Soft Targets and Crowded Places

Soft targets and crowded places are increasingly appealing to terrorists and other extremist actors because of their relative accessibility and the large number of potential targets. This challenge is complicated by the prevalent use of simple tactics and less sophisticated attacks. Segments of our society are inherently open to the general public, and by nature of their purpose do not incorporate strict security measures. Given the increased emphasis by terrorists and other extremist actors to leverage less sophisticated methods to inflict harm in public areas, it is vital that the public and private sectors collaborate to enhance security of locations such as transportation centers, parks, restaurants, shopping centers, special event venues, and similar facilities. Additional resources and information regarding securing soft targets and crowded places are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

• Emerging Threats

The spread of rapidly evolving and innovative technology, equipment, techniques, and knowledge presents new and emerging dangers for homeland security in the years ahead.

Terrorists remain intent on acquiring WMD capabilities, and rogue nations and non-state actors are aggressively working to develop, acquire, and modernize WMDs that they could use against the Homeland. Meanwhile, biological and chemical materials and technologies with dual use capabilities are more accessible throughout the global market.

Due to the proliferation of such information and technologies, rogue nations and non-state actors have more opportunities to develop, acquire, and use WMDs than ever before. Similarly, the proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology increase opportunities of threat actors to acquire and use these capabilities against the United States and its interests. Additional resources and information regarding emerging threats are available through the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

II. Investment Justification

As part of the FY 2021 IBSGP application process, applicants must develop a single formal IJ that addresses each initiative being proposed for funding, including a project’s Management and Administration (M&A) costs. The IJ must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps and deficiencies (identified in a current vulnerability assessment) in current programs and capabilities, and link to one or more core capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal.

The applicant may attach the vulnerability assessment or cite relevant sections/passages within the IJ to demonstrate the linkage between the project request and the identified vulnerability. The IJ should also describe the applicant’s current security posture to demonstrate why the proposed project is necessary and appropriate. The IJ must demonstrate the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by DHS/FEMA.

IBSGP projects must be: 1) both feasible and effective at reducing the risks for which the project was designed, and 2) able to be fully completed within the two-year period of performance. Applicants must ensure that the IJ is consistent with all requirements outlined in this NOFO. Applicants must provide information in the following categories for their single proposed investment:

1. Background

2. Strategic and Program Priorities

3. Impact

4. Funding/Implementation Plan https://www.cisa.gov/securing-soft-targets-and-crowded-places https://www.dhs.gov/topic/weapons-mass-destruction https://www.dhs.gov/topic/weapons-mass-destruction https://www.cisa.gov/securing-soft-targets-and-crowded-places

Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting their IJ as part of the FY 2021 IBSGP:

Organization Name_Project Name

III. Detailed Budget Applicants must provide a detailed budget for the funds requested. The detailed budget must be submitted with the grant application as a file attachment within ND Grants. 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 M&A costs. Applicants receiving funds may not obligate, expend, or draw down funds until budgets and budget narratives have been approved by DHS/FEMA. The budget detail worksheet may be used as a guide to assist applicants in the preparation of budgets and budget narratives. Note: Design and Planning/Engineering costs must be clearly identified in a separate line item in order for partial funding to be released prior to Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) review and approval. Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on the EHP review process.

Detailed budgets must be submitted with the grant application as a file attachment within ND Grants. Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting detailed budgets as part of the IBSGP application process:

Organization Name_Budget Name

IV. Sensitive Security Information (SSI) Requirements A portion of the information that is routinely submitted in the course of applying for funding, reporting under certain programs, or that is provided in the course of an entity’s grant management activities under those programs that are under federal control may be subject to protection under an SSI marking and must be properly identified and marked accordingly.

SSI is a control designation used by DHS/FEMA to protect transportation security-related information. It is applied to information about security programs; vulnerability and threat assessments; screening processes; technical specifications of certain screening equipment and objects used to test screening equipment; and equipment used for communicating security information relating to air, land, or maritime transportation. Further information can be found at 49 C.F.R. Part 1520, Protection of Sensitive Security Information.

For the purposes of the IBSGP, and due to the high frequency of SSI found in IBSGP IJs, all IBSGP IJs shall be considered SSI and treated as such until they have been subject to review for SSI by DHS/FEMA. Therefore, applicants shall label all application documents as SSI in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 1520.13.

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/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.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, the terms and conditions of the award, or the Preparedness Grants Manual. 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 under this program as the period of performance).

Federal funds made available through this award may be used for the purpose set forth in this NOFO, the Preparedness Grants Manual, and the terms and conditions of the award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other federal awards, 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. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on funding restrictions and allowable costs.

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