FEMA HSPTAP NOFO FY 2024 (final 508).pdf

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

Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP)

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

Grants.gov registration information can be found at: https://www.grants.gov/register.

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

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

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

Table of Contents

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

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

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $400,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 2-4

3. Maximum Award Amount: $200,000

4. Period of Performance: 12 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): Estimated 09/20/2024

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): Estimated 09/19/2025 https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20%20registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20%20registration https://www.grants.gov/register https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

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7. Projected Budget Period(s)

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

5. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

6. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 08/15/2024 at 9:00 AM ET

b. Application Submission Deadline: 09/16/2024 at 5:00 PM ET

c. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

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

Award Management (SAM.gov)

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number:

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

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

8. Submitting the Application

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

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

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

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

e. Evaluation Costs

f. Other Direct Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

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a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

e. Mandatory Disclosures

4. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

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

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contacts

b. FEMA Grants News

c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division

d. Civil Rights

e. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. FEMA GO

b. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

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

6. Procurement Integrity

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

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

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9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

13. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

14. Appendices

Appendix A: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under HSPTAP Appendix B: Project Narrative Template Appendix C: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria Appendix D: Budget Detail Worksheet Template

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A. Program Description

1. Issued By U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) / Resilience / Office of Resilience Strategy / Strategic Communications and Partnerships Division

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.007

3. Assistance Listings Title Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP)

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-NPD-007-00-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, Public Law 107-296, § 503(b)(2)(G) (codified as amended at 6 U.S.C. § 313(b)(2)(G))

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47, Division C, Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations and Support

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Preparedness; Subcategory Training

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview The Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP) provides financial assistance to professional non-profit organizations in activities to improve and/or build state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate major events, including threats or acts of terrorism.

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b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

Goal

The overarching programmatic goal focuses on building state and local capabilities through various means and methods, each one aimed at achieving the National Preparedness Goal and furthering our collective efforts to remain a safe and secure nation. Specific HSPTAP activities anticipated for achieving this goal include, but will not be limited to:

• developing and disseminating written products relating to emerging homeland security, emergency management and public safety issues and established or model state homeland security and emergency management efforts;

o e.g., since 2018, HSPTAP recipient, the NGA Center, has prepared and distributed 230+ weekly policy newsletters, 20+ homeland security policy memos, and 40+ research memos to support state homeland security efforts.

• facilitating calls, meetings, or discussions amongst representatives from key stakeholder groups on a regular basis which serve to share information, knowledge, experiences, and practices relating to current and emerging homeland security, emergency management and public safety issues; and, o e.g., since 2018, the NGA Center Homeland Security Team has conducted 51+ monthly plenary calls of the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisors Council

(GHSAC)

• providing educational seminars, trainings and workshops for apprising newly appointed Governor’s Homeland Security Advisors and Emergency Management Directors of federal homeland security doctrine, best-practices and established principles;

o e.g., in 2022, HSPTAP recipient, NEMA, conducted a series of four webinars covering a range of issues: The Federal Role in Disaster, State and Local Cybersecurity, The Role of Politics in DHS Policy, and Election Security.

• convening trainings, workshops, and other meeting opportunities designed to bring together in a common forum nationwide Homeland Security Advisors, state, local and tribal Emergency Management Directors, as well as other professional organizations in the public and private sectors and to inform partners on the impacts of federal homeland security, emergency management and public safety legislation, regulations and policies on the states.

o e.g., Since 2018, the NGA Center has brought together 770+ participants with annual meetings and NEMA has brought together over 530 participants. Topics discussed at these forums have included modernizing Emergency Communications Policies, bolstering the COVID-19 Supply Chain, protecting Critical Infrastructure, enhancing Resiliency to Disasters, countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems, developing Cybersecurity capabilities.

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Objectives

HSPTAP supports key homeland security and emergency preparedness stakeholders nationwide to further build a national system of emergency management capabilities.

Specific objectives include:

1. Conducting activities that bring together the collective perspectives of SLTT officials and the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to provide a broad-based sounding board on homeland security issues for all national stakeholders, resulting in improved information sharing and collaboration. Supporting this objective should include establishing, providing, and maintaining a forum for organizations to exchange ideas, conduct targeted discussions, and to provide technical assistance to governor’s offices, associations, and organizations on all relevant SLTT homeland security policy areas.

2. Developing, transferring, and institutionalizing pertinent knowledge at the state, local, tribal, and territorial level for addressing current public policy challenges facing SLTT emergency management directors, homeland security advisors, and other officials, resulting in improved awareness of current and emerging homeland security, emergency management, and public safety issues.

3. Collaborating with public, private, and non-profit sectors and all disciplines and levels of government (e.g., national, regional, and SLTT) to facilitate improved information sharing, enhance communication and coordination, and address the complex challenges of developing and implementing homeland security policies and practices including: intelligence sharing; SLTT homeland security organization, structure and governance; communications interoperability; critical infrastructure protection; climate-driven disturbances and emergent risks; and all hazards disaster prevention, protection, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery to include areas of emergency management, homeland security, public health, fire, law enforcement, Emergency Management Services (EMS), agriculture, National Guard, emergency communications, and public works.

Priorities

The objectives and projects above support the purpose of the FY 2024 HSPTAP, further building of a national system of emergency management capabilities that can effectively and efficiently use the nation's resources to respond to catastrophic incidents, including natural disasters, climate-driven extremes and disturbances, acts of terrorism, domestic extremism, and other man-made emergencies or events. In addition to building state, tribal, territorial, and local capabilities, the activities conducted under the HSPTAP are structured to address the National Preparedness System and full spectrum of mission areas and core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal.

Given the evolving threat landscape, DHS/FEMA continuously evaluates the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce federal resources. Due to the unique threats that the nation faces in 2024, DHS/FEMA has determined four priority areas for FY 2024 HSPTAP funds:

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1. Enhancing climate resilience and adaptation throughout the emergency management community

2. Enhancing equity and accessibility throughout emergency management policies and programs and instilling as a foundation of emergency management.

3. Collaborate with SLTT, Private sector, and Non-Governmental Organizations to strengthen the capability of partners to advance critical issues within their pre and post disaster work. Critical issues may include climate change, future conditions data, climate adaptation and resilience.

4. Addressing emergent threats (e.g., public health and climate-driven emergencies, enhancing election security, etc.).

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan The HSPTAP supports the following DHS and FEMA strategic plan elements:

• The DHS Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2020-2024 o Goal 1: Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threat o Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience

• 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan o Goal 3: Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation Objective 3.1 – Strengthen the Emergency Management Workforce Objective 3.2 – Posture FEMA to Meet Current and Emergent Threats

11. Performance Measures FEMA requires HSPTAP recipients to collect and submit information necessary to calculate metrics derived from the following measures of effectiveness for the HSPTAP grant program:

1. Number of written products, technical assistance, trainings, seminars, workshops, forums, meetings, calls, or other discussions developed and/or delivered by the recipients to build SLTT capabilities specific to the priority areas, with data including but not limited to the following:

a. date delivered;

b. length (e.g. pages, minutes); and

c. delivery type (e.g. online resource, email, in-person, live virtual, or multiple categories).

2. Number of participants engaged with each product, service, or event, with data including but not limited to the following (as available):

a. number of organizers (e.g. staff, facilitators, speakers) and participants in each event;

b. number of participants by affiliation type (e.g. student, SLTT, academia, federal, private, non-profit);

c. number of participants by demographic and/or geographic information; and

d. number of new or repeat participants.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-3 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-3/objective-3-1 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-3/objective-3-2

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3. Results of participant surveys and evaluations regarding products, services, or events, with data including but not limited to the following (as available):

a. percent of participants completing survey responses;

b. percent of participants responding that the product or event met their needs and/or they are satisfied with the product, service, or event (Kirkpatrick Level 1);

c. percent of participants responding that they learned new material or otherwise refined their understanding of the topic (Kirkpatrick Level 2);

d. (followup 1-3 months after) percent of participants responding that they applied what they learned in their work (Kirkpatrick Level 3); and

e. additional quantitative and qualitative questions as appropriate.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $400,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 2-4

3. Maximum Award Amount: $200,000

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): Estimated 09/20/2024

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): Estimated 09/19/2025

7. Projected Budget Period(s) There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance.

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Program authority and responsibility under this cooperative agreement resides with FEMA for the purpose of carrying out a public purpose authorized by law and not to acquire property or services for the federal government or passthrough entity’s direct benefit or use as consistent with 2 C.F.R. § 200.1. FEMA retains the right to terminate all or part of the cooperative agreement in a manner consistent with 2 C.F.R. § 200.340 and may conduct site visits and monitoring throughout the period of performance.

FEMA will work with the recipients to develop and refine the details of executing this award, and provide technical assistance, including work plans, goals, objectives, performance metrics, timelines and objectives. In addition, FEMA may provide subject matter experts to plan, guide, or assist with projects. FEMA will define eligible and ineligible tasks to ensure that the program is effectively implemented. The recipient shall not develop or begin

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Throughout the period of performance of this cooperative agreement, FEMA will be substantially involved in the program implementation. Such involvement includes, but is not limited to, the following roles and responsibilities:

A. Maintaining clear communications to ensure intended outcomes are achieved;

B. Jointly developing the program management plan and program spending plan;

C. Providing insight on data points that are of interest to FEMA in assessing and reporting on national preparedness;

D. Providing technical assistance on how to perform the work, report progress, and provide programmatic guidance.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

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

Eligible organizations must:

a. Be a known entity with a national scope and able to work in partnership with key stakeholders and federal agencies.

b. Demonstrate their experience and capacity to establish, provide, and maintain a collaborative forum which can reach, inform, educate, and engage key homeland security and emergency preparedness stakeholders nationwide; and

c. Demonstrate their experience and ability to work with all disciplines and levels of government to develop and provide direct technical assistance, training, and professional development in the area of current homeland security doctrine, policy, and best practices to key homeland security and emergency preparedness stakeholders nationwide.

Key homeland security and emergency preparedness stakeholders include but are not limited to: state emergency management directors, state homeland security advisors, and other SLTT officials.

Applicants must conform to the guidance and demonstrate their experience and expertise using the questions in Appendix B: Project Narrative Template, and reviewers will use these questions as one set of criteria to score applications as outlined in Appendix C: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria. Applicants that do not meet eligibility and application submission requirements will not be evaluated and scored by the review panel.

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries No subawards or subrecipients are allowed under this NOFO.

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4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

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.

Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources (personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs. Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, credentialing, and inventorying, promote a strong national mutual aid capability needed to support delivery of core capabilities. Additional information on resource management, NIMS resource typing definitions, job titles, and position qualifications is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components.

FEMA developed the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National Qualification System to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards. This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes and identifies tools that Federal Emergency Response Officials and emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state (including territorial), local, tribal, and private sector partners (including nongovernmental organizations) are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so to leverage the federal investment in the Federal Information Processing Standards 201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction.

Additional information about NIMS in general is available on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims.

5. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) There is no MOE requirement for this program.

6. Cost Share or Match There is no cost share or cost match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 08/15/2024 at 9:00 AM ET https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims

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b. Application Submission Deadline: 09/16/2024 at 5:00 PM ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

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

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to 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 the following: prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Obtaining Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Four weeks before actual submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

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2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

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

3. Address to Request Application Package Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

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

Award Management (SAM.gov) Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 C.F.R. § 25.110, must:

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

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process.

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

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

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

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

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 Organization in FEMA

GO

Prior to beginning application

Submitting complete application in

FEMA GO

One week before actual submission deadline https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/home

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

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

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

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

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the AOR.

The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, FEMA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

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

6. Electronic Delivery DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup

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For this funding opportunity, FEMA requires applicants to submit applications through

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for FEMA funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process.

Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

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

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

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

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

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number:

All entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

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

d. Create a login.gov account:

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

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

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.

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

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For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

e. Register with SAM:

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

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

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

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

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

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

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

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

II. HELP WITH SAM

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

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

AOR:

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup.

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

FY 2024 HSPTAP NOFO Back to the Top Page 17 of 61

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

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

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

8. Submitting the Application

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

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

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

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the AOR role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application.

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

https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

FY 2024 HSPTAP NOFO Back to the Top Page 18 of 61

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family.

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

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

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

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal 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 of this notice 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 notice for further instructions.

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in

FEMA GO:

• Project Narrative that describes the applicant’s proposed project and how it aligns with the FY 2024 program objective. (Refer to Appendix B: Project Narrative Template for additional details.)

• Budget Detail Worksheet that identifies all project costs and provides justification for the costs identified (including management and administration [M&A]). (Refer to Appendix D: Budget Detail Worksheet Template for additional details.)

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;

Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov).)

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

All costs charged to federal awards (including both federal funding and any non-federal matching or cost sharing funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and policies, this NOFO, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. They must also 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 federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred and products and services must be delivered within the budget period. 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h). The following identifies a list of activities for which a recipient may not use federal funds and any cost sharing or matching funds under federal awards:

https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family 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

FY 2024 HSPTAP NOFO Back to the Top Page 19 of 61

• Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306)

• Lobbying or other prohibited activities under 18 U.S.C. § 1913 or 2 C.F.R. § 200.450

• Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity (see 2

C.F.R. § 200.435) See subsections below for information on any other funding restrictions

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.

Recipients are also expected to conform, as applicable, with accepted engineering practices, established codes, standards, modeling techniques, and best practices, and participate in the development of case studies demonstrating the effective use of grant funds, as requested.

Please refer to Appendix A: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under HSPTAP of this notice for additional information on direct costs allowed and not allowed under this program.

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

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Pub. L. No. 115-232 (2018) (FY 2019 NDAA) and 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200. The FY 2019 NDAA and these regulations, as they apply to recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors, provide for two distinct prohibitions: (1) prevent the use of federal award funds to procure or obtain covered telecommunications equipment or services; and (2) prevent the use of federal award funds to contract with an entity that uses such covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Guidance is available at FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services.

Additional guidance is available at Contract Provisions Guide: Navigating Appendix II to Part 200 - Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards (fema.gov).

FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards 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;

• Enter into, extend, or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-15483/pdf/COMPS-15483.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf

FY 2024 HSPTAP NOFO Back to the Top Page 20 of 61 a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system; or

• 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. DEFINITIONS

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.

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 allowable.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs M&A are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports.

M&A activities are those directly relating to management and administration of the HSPTAP award, 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 result of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant.

Recipients may retain a maximum of 5% of HSPTAP funds awarded for M&A purposes associated with the award.

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

Indirect (F&A) costs (IDC) means those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. IDC are allowable by the recipient [and subrecipients] as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to the FEMA Point of Contact for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards.

e. Evaluation Costs

• Evaluation-related costs are allowed costs (either as direct or…