Fiscal Year 2025 ASSURE_508.pdf

1 | P a g e FEMA Version 25-02

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO))

Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG)

Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence

(ASSURE)

Fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and other criminal or noncriminal misconduct related to this program may be reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1 (800) 323-8603 and TTY 1 (844) 889-4357.

Contents

1. Basic Information A. Agency Name B. NOFO Title C. Announcement Type D. Funding Opportunity Number E. Assistance Listing Number F. Expected Total Funding G. Anticipated Number of Awards H. Expected Award Range I. Projected Application Start Date J. Projected Application End Date K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date L. Anticipated Award Date M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date N. Projected Period of Performance End Date O. Executive Summary P. Agency Contact

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types B. Project Type Eligibility C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties D. Maximum Number of Applications E. Additional Restrictions F. References for Eligibility Factors within the NOFO G. Cost Sharing Requirement H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

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3. Program Description A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History B. Goals and Objectives C. Program Rationale D. Federal Assistance Type E. Performance Measures and Targets F. Specific Unallowable Program Costs G. General Funding Requirements H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) I. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs J. Pre-Award Costs K. Beneficiary Eligibility L. Participant Eligibility M. Authorizing Authority N. Appropriation Authority O. Budget Period P. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services

4. Application Contents and Format A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers Not applicable B. Application Content and Format C. Application Components D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines A. Address to Request Application Package B. Application Deadline C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline E. Effects of Missing the Deadline

6. Intergovernmental Review A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

7. Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria B. Application Criteria C. Financial Integrity Criteria D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review E. Reviewers and Reviewer Selection F. Merit Review Process

8. Award Notices A. Notice of Award B. Pass-Through Requirements

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C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs D. Obligation of Funds E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants

9. Post-Award Requirements and Administration A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions C. Financial Reporting Requirements D. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements E. Closeout Reporting Requirements F. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. § 180.335 G. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance H. Single Audit Report I. Monitoring and Oversight J. Program Evaluation K. Additional Performance Reporting Requirements L. Termination of the Federal Award M. Best Practice N. Payment Information

10. Other Information A. Period of Performance Extension B. Other Information Appendix A: CTG ASSURE Program Guidelines and Application Content

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1. Basic Information A. Agency Name U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA)

B. NOFO Title Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

C. Announceme nt Type

Initial

D. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-25-NPD-146-00-99

E. Assistance Listing Number

97.146

F. Expected Total Funding

$1.8 million

G. Anticipated Number of Awards

1 award

H. Expected Award Range

$ 1.8 million – $ 1.8 million

I. Projected Application Start Date

08/01/2025 12 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

J. Projected Application End Date

08/15/2025 5: p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date

09/01/2025

L. Anticipated Award Date

09/01/2025

M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date

09/01/2025

N. Projected Period of Performance End Date

08/31/2028

O. Executive Summary

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As

5 | P a g e jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.

The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG), Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) provides funding to the eligible applicant to develop and deliver training solutions to address national preparedness gaps and ensure training is available and accessible to a national audience.

Specifically, this notice provides funding for Mississippi State University’s Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (hereafter, ASSURE) to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

P. Agency Contact

a. Program Office Contact National Training and Education Division (NTED) maintains programmatic responsibility for the CTG program and will maintain the program management function and responsibilities throughout the life cycle of the awarded grant. Contact our NTED point of contact Ms. Jessica Sterling at (202) 212-3042 or via email to jessica.sterling@fema.dhs.gov or Mr. Samuel Phillips at (202) 507- 2324 or via email at Samuel.Phillips@fema.dhs.gov for additional information.

b. FEMA Grants News This channel provides general information on all FEMA grant programs and maintains a comprehensive database containing key personnel contact information at the federal, state, and local levels.

FEMA Grants News Team is reachable via email at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov OR (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

mailto:Jessica.Sterling@FEMA.DHS.GOV mailto:Samuel.Phillips@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

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c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division GPD’s Award Administration Division (AAD) provides support regarding financial matters and budgetary technical assistance. AAD can be contacted via email at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.

d. FEMA Regional Offices FEMA Regional Offices also may provide fiscal support, including pre- and post-award administration and technical assistance. FEMA Regional Office contact information is available via email at https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts.

e. Civil Rights Consistent with Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination & Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the FEMA Office of Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement of federal civil rights obligations in connection with programs and services conducted by FEMA. They are reachable via email at FEMA- CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov.

f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation The FEMA Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (OEHP) provides guidance and information about the EHP review process to FEMA programs and recipients and subrecipients. Send any inquiries regarding compliance for FEMA grant projects under this NOFO to FEMA-OEHP- NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov.

g. Payments System FEMA uses FEMA GO for financial reporting, invoicing, and tracking payments. The Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) method of payment is used for recipients. For any questions about the system, contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk via email at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET.

h. FEMA GO For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk via email at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET.

i. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit mailto:ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov mailto:NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov https://usfema.sharepoint.com/teams/TRESRSLFO/Shared%20Documents/General/Locked%20Files/RSL%20ODA%20Clearance%20Process/2025/2025.06%20June/2025-06-17-R00957%20%5bHW%5d%20FY25%20ASSURE%20NOFO/femago@fema.dhs.gov

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The FEMA Preparedness Toolkit (PrepToolkit) provides access to tools and resources needed to implement the National Preparedness System and provide a collaborative space for communities completing the Unified Reporting Tool. Recipients complete and submit their Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review, and other required assessments using the PrepToolkit. For assistance, contact support@preptoolkit.fema.dhs.gov.

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types

Only the following entities or entity types are eligible to apply.

a. Applicants

Mississippi State University’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

b. Subapplicants

Subapplicants and subawards are allowed.

Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statues, polices, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

B. Project Type Eligibility

a. Unallowable Project Types

This program does not allow construction and renovation projects.

b. Allowable Project Type

Identify, develop, test, and deliver on-site mobile and web-based training at the awareness, performance, planning and management levels to the State Local Tribal and Territorial emergency management and emergency response workforce.

https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/ https://usfema.sharepoint.com/teams/TRESRSLFO/Shared%20Documents/General/Locked%20Files/RSL%20ODA%20Clearance%20Process/2025/2025.06%20June/2025-06-17-R00957%20%5bHW%5d%20FY25%20ASSURE%20NOFO/support@preptoolkit.fema.dhs.gov

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C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties

Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statues, polices, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

Subapplicants/subrecipients must submit short bios and resumes. This should include the type of entity, organizational leadership, and board members along with the both the names and addresses of the individuals. Resumes are subject to approval.

D. Maximum Number of Applications

The maximum number of applications that can be submitted is:

1 per applicant

E. Additional Restrictions

Applicants/subapplicants or recipients/subrecipients are required to certify their compliance with federal statues, DHS directives, polices, and procedures.

F. References for Eligibility Factors within the NOFO

Please see the following references provided below:

1. “Responsiveness Review Criteria” subsection

2. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

3. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

4. FEMA may/will request financial information such as

Employer Identification Number (EIN) and bank information as part of the potential award selection. This will apply to everyone prospered, including subrecipients.

G. Cost Sharing Requirement

There is no cost share requirement.

H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions

Not applicable

I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example

Not applicable.

J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

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3. Program Description

A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History The ASSURE program is designed to enhance the safety and effectiveness of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in emergency management and disaster response. It aims to develop and deliver FEMA-certified training solutions to help emergency responders incorporate UAS technology before, during and after disasters.

Program Purpose

The primary goal of the ASSURE program is to address preparedness gaps by providing targeted training solutions. This includes:

• Developing training courses that are delivered to communities across the nation.

• Enhancing the capabilities of emergency management and first responder communities to effectively leverage UAS technology.

• Facilitating an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

Program History

Since 2022, the ASSURE program has been a part of the CTG program. CTG has provided funding for training programs since 2012. Over the years, the CTG program allocated significant resources to various training initiatives, including the ASSURE program, to better prepare emergency responders throughout the nation. In 2024, ASSURE delivered 63 courses and trained over 666 first responders.

B. Goals and Objectives The ASSURE program aims to strengthen national preparedness by improving the emergency management and first responder community’s ability to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. The program’s overarching goal is to close UAS training gaps and continue to build operational capacity across SLTT jurisdictions by developing and delivering FEMA-certified training that leads to measurable improvements in responder readiness, competency, and mission performance.

To advance this goal, the ASSURE program will pursue the following objectives under this

NOFO:

• Develop and deliver mission-critical and mission-essential UAS courses that align with FEMA’s training standards.

• Target specific capability gaps in preparedness and response to promote a more integrated, risk-informed approach to emergency management.

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• Provide instruction at the awareness, performance, planning, and management levels through a range of delivery formats (e.g., mobile, resident, online).

• Expand access to UAS training for SLTT jurisdictions nationally.

• Strengthen the overall emergency management workforce.

• Promote innovation by integrating emerging UAS technologies into emergency operations.

• Use the Instructional System Design (ISD) and ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) models to ensure the quality and effectiveness of training products.1

• Apply Kirkpatrick Level 1, 2, and 3 assessments to evaluate learner satisfaction, knowledge gains, and application of skills in operational settings.

• Support FEMA’s role in the National Preparedness System by advancing an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach.

All equipment and services used in the ASSURE program must comply with federal procurement restrictions as required under Section 889 of the FY 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act2, and Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. § 200) which prohibits the use of grant funds for certain telecommunications and surveillance technologies.3

The ASSURE program’s objectives will be implemented over a three-year period from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028.

FEMA is committed to reducing complexity, increasing efficiency, and improving outcomes. In simple terms, the training return on investment (ROI) is expressed as the benefit to cost ratio for individuals, teams, departments, jurisdictions, and regions across the nation to reach and maintain fully qualified/mission capable status. In practice, training ROI is difficult to measure.

The cost of training varies significantly depending upon several variables including delivery format (e.g., online, indirect/train-the-trainer, mobile, resident/on-campus) and competency level (e.g., awareness, performance/operations, management, and planning). FEMA uses a systematic approach to optimize the national preparedness training portfolio, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound ROI from the local to the national level.

C. Program Rationale The CTG ASSURE program aims to achieve its goals and objectives through a systematic approach that includes developing and delivering FEMA-certified training solutions to enhance the capabilities of emergency responders.

1 Instructional Design.org. ADDIE Model. https://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/addie/ 2 Office of Management and Budget. (2020, August 13). Guidance for grants and agreements (OMB-2020-0001). Federal Register, 85(157), 49506–49565. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/13/2020-17468/guidance-for-grants-and-agreements 3 ¹ U.S. Congress. Section 889 of the FY 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515.

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1. Training Development and Delivery: The program focuses on creating and providing training to help emergency responders effectively use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology before, during, and after disasters.

2. Addressing Preparedness Gaps: By targeting specific gaps in preparedness and response capabilities, the program ensures a more integrated and risk-informed approach to emergency management.

3. Collaboration with FEMA: ASSURE works alongside FEMA program managers to develop training courses that are delivered to communities across the nation.

4. Promoting Innovation: Integrating advanced UAS technology into emergency response operations, which aligns with the DHS’s focus on leveraging technology to enhance security and resilience.

D. Federal Assistance Type Cooperative Agreement

The CTG ASSURE program, prescribed by this notice, is awarded through separate cooperative agreements, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1. Cooperative agreement, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-224 (codified as amended at 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with all recipients as they carry out activities under the award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. NTED Training Partners program managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award. As FEMA will work directly with the award recipient, training will be compliant with agency standards for curriculum design and development and students taking the training will benefit from standardized, high-quality learning.

E. Performance Measures and Targets ASSURE is required to collect data to allow FEMA to measure performance and outcomes.

FEMA will measure ASSURE’s performance using the following indicators:

1. To demonstrate good financial stewardship, ASSURE and FEMA will evaluate the direct cost per student. FEMA’s objective is to provide training under this agreement at $10 in direct costs per student.

2. To measure how well the grant helps strengthen preparedness through training ASSURE will use Kirkpatrick level 1, 2, and 3 evaluations.

Level 1 surveys will be utilized to determine how well the training met student needs with a target goal of at least 75% of respondents indicating satisfaction or greater.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-and-cooperative-agreement-act-1977

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Level 2 assessments compare pre- and post-test results to determine how much students learned with a target of an overall average of 26-point increase.

Level 3 assessments are used to measure to what degree students are applying the knowledge and skills gained through training to their roles within their home jurisdiction. There is no applicable target.

F. Specific Unallowable Program Costs This program does not allow construction and renovation costs and is subject to all Terms and Conditions where restrictions are provided.

G. General Funding Requirements Costs charged to federal awards, including federal and non-federal cost share funds, must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, policies, this NOFO, and 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).

Recipients may not use federal funds or any cost share funds for the following activities:

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

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

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

C.F.R. § 200.435).

H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) Indirect costs are allowed.

Indirect costs (IDC) are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to specific cost objectives without disproportionate effort. 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 who 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 without a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) who wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to FEMA 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.

I. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title18-section1913&num=0&edition=1999 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414

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M&A costs are allowed.

M&A are not overhead costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it. This could include 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.

J. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are not allowed.

K. Beneficiary Eligibility There are no program requirements for beneficiary eligibility.

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

L. Participant Eligibility There are no program requirements for Participant Eligibility.

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

M. Authorizing Authority Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub L. No 119-4, § 1101.

Appropriation Authority Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub L. No 119-4, § 1101.

N. Budget Period There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance.

O. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services Recipients, sub-recipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which restrict the purchase of covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services. Please see 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services for more information.

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-119publ4 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.471 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 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

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B. Application Content and Format Please refer to Appendix A of this NOFO.

C. Application Components The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at Forms | Grants.gov.

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information Please refer to Appendix A of this NOFO.

E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants Not applicable.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

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

Steps Required to Apply for an Award Under this Program and Submit an Application:

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and 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 System for Award Management (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 Authorized

Organizational Representative (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/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO.

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 https://www.grants.gov/forms https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607

15 | P a g e 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.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(a)(2)(iv), 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. Contact fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and provide the details of the exigent circumstances.

How to Register to Apply:

General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Below are instructions for registering to apply for FEMA funds. Read the instructions carefully and prepare the requested information before beginning the registration process. Gathering the required information before starting the process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

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

Organizations must have a UEI number, EIN, and an active SAM registration.

Obtain a 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.

Obtain Employer Identification Number:

In addition to having a UEI number, all entities applying for funding must provide an 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.

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 at:

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110 mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.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-a62b99571fd https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd

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Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For existing SAM users, use the same email address for both login.gov and SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.

Register with SAM:

In addition to having a UEI number, all organizations must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through FEMA GO. SAM registration must be renewed annually and must remain active throughout the entire grant life cycle.

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

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 past three years, if applicable.

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 FEMA GO Startup Guide.

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

Google Chrome;

Mozilla Firefox;

Apple Safari; and

Microsoft Edge.

Applicants using tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues using FEMA GO.

Submitting the Final Application:

Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information, and any program-specific information required. Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the Forms tab under the:

SF-424 Family | Grants.gov.

Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they are providing all required information.

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-B/section-25.200 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema-go_startup-guide.pdf https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

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After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message, or an email to the submitting AOR confirming the transmission was successfully received.

B. Application Deadline 08/01/25; 8 a.m. E.T.

C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline Not applicable.

D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline Not applicable.

E. Effects of Missing the Deadline All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of submission and generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives an application. The submitting AOR will receive via email the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number to serve as proof of timely submission prior to the application deadline.

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

6. Intergovernmental Review

A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact 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.

7. Application Review Information

A. Threshold Criteria Not applicable.

B. Application Criteria

1. Application Evaluation Criteria o This notice provides funding for ASSURE to develop, deliver, and evaluate mission critical and mission essential training for SLTT partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

C. Financial Integrity Criteria https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SPOC-list-as-of-August-2024.pdf https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SPOC-list-as-of-August-2024.pdf

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Before making an award, FEMA is required to review OMB-designated databases for applicants’ eligibility and financial integrity information. This is required by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-117, § 2 (2020)), 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and the “Do Not Pay Initiative” (31 U.S.C. 3354). For more details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

Thus, the Financial Integrity Criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

1. Financial stability.

2. Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

3. History of performance in managing federal award.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

5. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review Before making an award expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently a total federal share of $250,000) over the period of performance:

1. FEMA is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313: to review or consider certain information found in SAM.gov. For details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2).

2. An applicant may review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

3. Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.206, FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant.

E. Reviewers and Reviewer Selection FEMA’s Deputy Administrator for Resilience will approve or disapprove the statements of work proposed by ASSURE and submit award recommendations through the FEMA Administrator to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

F. Merit Review Process There is no merit review process for these non-competitive awards.

G. Final Selection FEMA’s Deputy Administrator for Resilience will approve or disapprove the awards proposed by ASSURE and submit award recommendations through the FEMA Administrator to the Secretary of Homeland Security who will make the final determination.

8. Award Notices A. Notice of Award The Authorized Organization Representative should carefully read the federal award package before accepting the federal award. The federal award package includes instructions on administering the federal award as well as terms and conditions for the award.

https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/117 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/117 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/41/2313 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3354 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3354 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the prerequisites stated in this NOFO and the material terms and conditions of the federal award, should they receive an award.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically via FEMA GO.

Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and Obligating Document. An award package notification is sent via the grant application system to the submitting AOR.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 30 days from the award date. Recipients shall notify FEMA of their intent to accept the award and proceed with work via the FEMA GO system.

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award via FEMA GO and all other conditions of the award have been satisfied, or until the award is otherwise rescinded. Failure to accept a grant award within the specified timeframe may result in a loss of funds.

B. Pass-Through Requirements Not applicable.

C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs Not applicable

D. Obligation of Funds Funds will not be made available for obligation, expenditure, or drawdown until the applicant’s budget, budget narrative, and Indirect Cost Agreement, if applicable, are approved by FEMA and the grant award accepted by the recipient.

E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants In the Continuing Training Grants (CTG) program, notifications to unsuccessful applicants are sent through a formal written communication process.

• Adverse Decision Letter: Unsuccessful applicants receive an Adverse Decision Letter, which is a formal document outlining the reasons for the application’s rejection. This letter is typically sent via email or postal mail, depending on the applicant’s preferred method of communication.

• Detailed Feedback: The letter includes specific feedback on why the application was not selected. This feedback may cover areas such as eligibility issues, deficiencies in the application, or how the proposal scored against the evaluation criteria. This helps applicants understand the specific reasons for the decision.

• Dispute Resolution Information: The Adverse Decision Letter also provides information on the dispute resolution process. Applicants are informed about their

20 | P a g e rights to appeal the decision and the steps they need to take if they wish to contest the outcome.

• Future Opportunities: In some cases, the letter may include suggestions for improving future applications or information about upcoming funding opportunities. This encourages applicants to refine their proposals and reapply in the future.

This structured notification process ensures transparency and provides applicants with valuable insights to enhance their future submissions.

9. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Presidential Executive Orders

Recipients must comply with the requirements of Presidential Executive Orders related to grants (also known as federal assistance and financial assistance), the full text of which are incorporated by reference.

In accordance with Executive Order 14305, Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty (June 6, 2025), and to the extent allowed by law, eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial grant recipients under this NOFO are permitted to purchase unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones, or equipment or services for the detection, tracking, or identification of drones and drone signals, consistent with the legal authorities of state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.

Recipients must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and adhere to any statutory requirements on the use of federal funds for such unmanned aircraft systems, equipment, or services.

Subrecipient Monitoring and Management

Pass-through entities must comply with the requirements for subrecipient monitoring and management as set forth in 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.331-333.

B. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions A recipient under this funding opportunity must comply with the DHS Standard Terms and Conditions in effect as of the date of the federal award. The DHS Standard Terms and Conditions are available online: DHS Standard Terms and Conditions | Homeland Security. For continuation awards, the terms and conditions for the initial federal award will apply unless otherwise specified in the terms and conditions of the continuation award. The specific version of the DHS Standard Terms and Conditions applicable to the federal award will be in the federal award package.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/2025-10803/restoring-american-airspace-sovereignty https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/2025-10803/restoring-american-airspace-sovereignty https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.331 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions

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A recipient under this funding opportunity must comply with the FY 2025 Department of Homeland Security Standard Terms and Conditions, v. 3 (Apr. 18, 2025), with the exception Paragraph C.IX (Communication and Cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Officials) and paragraph C.XVII(2)(a)(iii) (Anti-Discrimination Grant Award Certification regarding immigration). Paragraphs C.IX and C.XVII(2)(a)(iii) do not apply to any federal award under this funding opportunity. The FY 2025 Department of Homeland Security Standard Terms and Conditions, v. 3 (Apr. 18, 2025) are available at www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions.

C. Financial Reporting Requirements

1. Recipients must report obligations and expenditures through a federal financial report.

The Federal Financial Report (FFR) form, also known as Standard Form 425 (SF-425), is available online at: SF-425 OMB #4040-0014.

2. Recipients must submit the FFR quarterly throughout the period of performance (POP) as detailed below:

3. The final FFR is due within 120 calendar days after the end of the POP.

FEMA may withhold future federal awards and cash payments if the recipient does not submit timely financial reports, or the financial reports submitted demonstrate lack of progress or provide insufficient detail.

D. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements Recipients are responsible for providing updated performance reports as Microsoft Word documents on a semi-annual basis. These is no prescribed government form for this report. The report is due within 30 days after the end of the reporting period.

The semi-annual Performance Progress Report must follow the guidance provided by FEMA’s National Training and Education Division (NTED) in the NTED Monitoring Policy and Procedure Guide. FEMA/NTED will provide this guide to recipients of a Fiscal Year 2025 NDPC award as a post-award action.

1. A Performance Report must be submitted [Insert quarterly, semi-annually, or annually] throughout the POP.

2. A Performance Report must include:

[Describe the required contents of the Performance Report]

3. The Progress Report must be submitted through FEMA GO.

4. Performance Report Due Dates [Insert due dates for the Progress Report]

E. Closeout Reporting Requirements Within 120 days after the end of the period of performance, or after an amendment has been issued to close out a federal award, recipients must submit the following:

1. The final request for payment, if applicable.

http://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF425a_2_0-V2.0.pdf

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2. The final FFR.

3. The final progress report detailing all accomplishments.

4. A qualitative narrative summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the period of performance.

5. Other documents required by this NOFO, terms and conditions of the federal award, or other DHS Component guidance.

After FEMA approves these reports, it will issue a closeout notice. The notice will indicate the period of performance as closed, list any remaining funds to be de-obligated, and address the record maintenance requirement. Unless a longer period applies, such as due to an audit or litigation, for equipment or real property used beyond the period of performance, or due to other circumstances outlined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.334, this maintenance requirement is three years from the date of the final FFR.

Also, pass-through entities are responsible for closing out those subawards as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.344; subrecipients are still required to submit closeout materials within 90 calendar days of the subaward period of performance end date. When a subrecipient completes all closeout requirements, pass-through entities must promptly complete all closeout actions in time for the recipient to submit all necessary documentation and information to FEMA during the closeout of their prime award. The recipient is responsible for returning any balances of unobligated or unliquidated funds that have been drawn down that are not authorized to be retained per 2 C.F.R. § 200.344(e).

Administrative Closeout

Administrative closeout is a mechanism for FEMA to unilaterally execute closeout of an award.

FEMA will use available award information in lieu of final recipient reports, per 2 C.F.R. § 200.344(h)-(i). It is an activity of last resort, and if FEMA administratively closes an award, this may negatively impact a recipient’s ability to obtain future funding.

Additional Reporting Requirements

Anytime there is a chance in personnel for any of the awardees and/or subrecipients, their information needs to be submitted for approval (all the previous personal information identified).

F. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. § 180.335 Before entering into a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA if it knows the applicant or any of the principals (as defined at 2 C.F.R. § 180.995) for the federal award:

1. Are presently excluded or disqualified;

2. Have been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in §

180.800(a) or had a civil judgment rendered against you for one of those offenses within that time period;

3. Are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local) with the commission of any of the offenses listed in § 180.800(a); or https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR682eb6fbfabcde2/section-200.344…