FY 2017 FMA NOFO Final.pdf

The Department of Homeland Security Notice of Funding Opportunity

FY 2017 Flood Mitigation Assistance

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and/or are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), please take immediate action to obtain a DUNS Number, if applicable, and then to register immediately in SAM. It may take 4 weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize your information. Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Section D of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), subsection, Content and Form of Application Submission.

A. Program Description

Issued By U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 97.029

CFDA Title

Flood Mitigation Assistance

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2017 Flood Mitigation Assistance

NOFO Number

DHS-17-MT-029-00-99

Authorizing Authority for Program Section 1366 of The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended (Pub. L.

No. 90-448) (42 U.S.C. § 4104c)

Appropriation Authority for Program

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Pub. L. No. 115-31)

Program Type Continuation http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program makes available Federal funds to State, Local and Tribal Governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FMA program strengthens national preparedness and resilience and supports the mitigation mission area in the National Preparedness System and National Preparedness Goal.

In FY17, the FMA Program will prioritize proposals that address community flood risk by setting aside $70 million for this purpose. FEMA will seek to fund two types of community flood mitigation activities:

• Advance Assistance for flood mitigation design and development of community flood mitigation projects.

• Mitigation projects that address community flood risk for the purpose of reducing NFIP flood claim payments.

The remaining funding, at least $90,000,000, will be used for FMA technical assistance, mitigation planning, and mitigation projects reducing risk to severe repetitive loss (SRL) and repetitive loss (RL) properties. See Section E:

Application Review Information for more information on FY17 FMA funding priorities.

B. Federal Award Information Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions Available Funding for the NOFO: $160,000,000

Projected number of Awards: 120

Period of Performance: 42 Months

The Period of Performance begins with the opening of the application period and ends no later than 36 months from the Funding Selection Date (see section D of this NOFO under Application and Submission Information).

An extension to the Period of Performance for this program is allowed. For details on the requirements for requesting an extension to the Period of Performance, please refer to Section H, Additional Information under Extensions.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date: 08/14/2017

Projected Period of Performance End Date: 01/30/2021

Funding Instrument

Grant

C. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants

States District of Columbia U.S. Territories Federally-recognized Native American Tribal governments

Each State, Territory, Commonwealth, or Native American Tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the Applicant.

Local governments, including cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and Native American tribal organizations are considered Subapplicants and must submit subapplications for mitigation planning and projects to their State/Territory/Tribe Applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (i.e., regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as Subapplicants if they are part of a community that is participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for funding, all Applicants must submit their FMA grant application to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants system (see section D, Application and Submission Information, of this NOFO).

All Subapplicants must be participating in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn or suspended, to be eligible to apply for FMA grant funds. Flood insurance must be maintained through completion of the mitigation activity and for the life of the structure.

All Applicants and Subapplicants submitting project subapplications must have a FEMA approved Mitigation Plan by the application deadline and at the time of obligation in accordance with Title 44 CFR Part 201. Project applications submitted by Applicants or Subapplicants that do not have an approved and adopted mitigation plan as of the application deadline are ineligible. FEMA may grant an exception to the local or Tribal Mitigation Plan requirements in extraordinary circumstances to allow award of a project if it meets the criteria stated in Part III, E.5.3, Extraordinary Circumstances, of the HMA Guidance (see section F, Federal Award Administration Information, of this NOFO).

All mitigation projects submitted as part of a FMA grant application must be consistent with the goals and objectives identified in a) the current, FEMA-approved State or Tribal (Standard or Enhanced) mitigation plan and b) as the local Mitigation Plan for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. Current http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers mitigation plans are not required for Applicants and Subapplicants submitting planning subapplications to develop a new mitigation plan or to update a mitigation plan.

To be eligible to receive community flood mitigation project funding, communities must be in favorable standing with the NFIP. NFIP community status can be verified at: https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book.

Cost Share or Match Cost share is required under this program. Recipients (see section F for definition) must provide a cost share of 25 percent of eligible activity costs derived from non-Federal sources with FEMA contributing up to a 75 percent Federal cost share. The cost share applies to all projects under this program, including community flood mitigation projects.

The non-Federal cost share contribution is calculated based on the total cost of the proposed activity. For example, if the total cost is $400,000 and the non-Federal cost share is 25 percent, then the non-Federal contribution is $100,000: 25 percent of $400,000 is $100,000.

FEMA may contribute up to 100 percent Federal cost share for SRL properties.

FEMA may contribute up to 90 percent Federal cost share for RL properties.

A SRL property is a structure that:

(a) Is covered under a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP; and

(b) Has incurred flood related damage

i. For which 4 or more separate claims payments (includes building and contents) have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding $20,000, or

ii. For which at least 2 separate claims payments (includes only building) have been made under such coverage, with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure.

A RL property is a structure covered by a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP that:

(a) Has incurred flood-related damage on 2 occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event; and https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-status-book

(b) At the time of the second incidence of flood-related damage, the contract for flood insurance contains increased cost of compliance coverage.

To receive an increased Federal cost share, properties must meet one of the definitions for SLR or RL properties. Applicants and Subapplicants that are requesting an increased Federal cost share must submit documentation with their application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet these definitions.

If documentation is not submitted with the application or subapplication to support a reduced non-Federal cost share, FEMA will provide no more than 75 percent Federal share of the total eligible costs. The remaining 25 percent of eligible activity costs are derived from non-Federal sources.

Structures with different federal cost share requirements can be submitted in a single project subapplication. The overall project federal cost share documented in the Cost Share section of the project subgrant application in eGrants should reflect the combined federal cost shares of the structures. For example, a project with $100,000 costs for one SRL structure funded at 100 percent federal share plus $100,000 costs for one RL structure funded at 90 percent federal share will have an overall project federal cost share of 95 percent, or $190,000, of the $200,000 total cost for both structures.

For insular areas, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, FEMA automatically waives the non-Federal cost share when the non-Federal cost share for the entire grant is under $200,000. If the non-Federal cost share for the entire grant is $200,000 or greater, FEMA may waive all or part of the cost share. If FEMA does not waive the cost share, the insular area must pay the entire non-Federal cost-share amount, not only the amount over $200,000.

More detailed information is provided in Part III, C, and Cost Sharing, of the HMA Guidance available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

D. Application and Submission Information

Key Dates and Times

Date Posted to Grants.gov: 07/10/2017

Application Start Date: 08/14/2017

Application Submission Deadline: 11/14/2017 at 03:00:00 PM [Eastern Time]

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: 01/30/2018

Anticipated Award Date: 12/30/2018 http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279

To be considered timely, a FMA grant application must be submitted by the application deadline via the Mitigation eGrants system, and the Applicant must have received a confirmation message in eGrants that indicates successful FMA grant submission to FEMA. It is recommended that Applicants attach approved planning, project and management costs subgrant applications to their FMA grant applications at least 72 hours prior to the application deadline in order to allow time for the Applicant to review and correct issues that may prevent subgrant applications from being attached to a FMA grant application (see the Content and Form of Application Submission subsection below).

An Applicant that experiences unforeseen technical issues beyond the Applicant’s control that prevents submission of the FMA grant application by the deadline may request approval to submit a late application. To request approval to submit a late application, an Applicant must email the HMA Helpline (see section G, the Additional Information below) within 24 hours after the application deadline.

Other Key Dates

Address to Request Application Package

The application package is built into the Mitigation eGrants system, OMB #1660- 0072, which all Applicants must use to submit FMA grant applications electronically to FEMA. The Mitigation eGrants system is available through the FEMA Grants Portal on the internet at https://portal.fema.gov (see the Content and Form of Application Submission subsection below). FEMA will only process applications received via the Mitigation eGrants system. Mitigation eGrants system Information, training and resources on the Mitigation eGrants system are available on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/mitigation-egrants-

Event Suggested Deadline For Completion

Obtaining Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Register for access to the FEMA Grants Portal and request access to the Mitigation eGrants system

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Create a FMA grant application and attach approved planning, technical assistance, project and management costs subgrant applications in the Mitigation eGrants system

72 hours before actual submission deadline https://portal.fema.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/mitigation-egrants-system-0 system-0 or from the Mitigation eGrants Helpdesk (see section G, DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information of this NOFO).

For a hardcopy of the full NOFO, please write or fax a request to:

Michael Grimm Assistant Administrator for Mitigation Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration 400 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20472

FAX: (202) 646-2880

In addition, the following Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and/or Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) number available for this Notice is: 1-800-462- 7585.

Content and Form of Application Submission All Applicants, including States, Tribes and Territories, must submit a FMA grant application to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants system on the internet:

https://portal.fema.gov by the application deadline to be considered for FMA funding. The required format for grant and subgrant applications is built into the Mitigation eGrants system, OMB #1660-0072:

• Mitigation planning activities must be submitted in a planning subgrant application;

• Community flood mitigation advance assistance, community flood mitigation project activities, and SRL or RL property mitigation projects must be submitted in a project subgrant application;

• Applicant management costs (for Applicants only) must be submitted in a management costs subgrant application;

• Technical Assistance costs (for Applicants that received at least $1 million FMA funds in FY 2016) must be submitted in a technical assistance subgrant application;

• FMA grant applications, to include applicant-approved planning, project, management costs, and technical assistance subapplications must be submitted in a FY 2017 FMA grant application.

Blank copies of applications that conform to the Mitigation eGrants system format are available for reference only. FEMA will not accept these as an application package. To access these, registered eGrants system users should login to the FEMA portal at https://portal.fema.gov and then click the “Blank Applications” link on the eGrants system Homepage. For those without access to the eGrants system, the blank copies of eGrants applications are also available on the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program/grant-applicants-blank-applications.

https://portal.fema.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program/grant-applicants-blank-applications https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program/grant-applicants-blank-applications

Subapplicants should contact their applicant agency for information specific to their state/territory’s application process. Contact information for the SHMOs is provided on the following FEMA webpage: http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

Applicants must create a FMA grant application, add approved planning, project, technical assistance and management costs subgrant applications submitted by the Applicant and/or Subapplicants to the FMA grant application, rank the subgrant applications in priority order, and submit the FMA grant application to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants system by the application deadline (see above).

If a Subapplicant does not use the eGrants system to submit planning and project subapplications to the Applicant, then the Applicant must enter the subapplication(s) into the eGrants system on the Subapplicant’s behalf. To do this, Applicants must click the “Create new Paper Subgrant” link on the eGrants Homepage in the eGrants system.

Applicants must ensure that accurate NFIP policy numbers and repetitive loss numbers are included in the Properties section of project subapplications in eGrants in order to be considered for competitive property flood mitigation project funding (see section E, Review and Selection Process, of this NOFO).

Applicants must prioritize and rank their subgrant applications in the Mitigation eGrants system. Applicants may include no more than two community flood mitigation subapplications for competitive consideration: one Advanced Assistance subapplication and one project subapplication that addresses flood risk on a community level. If multiple community flood mitigation subapplications are submitted for Advance Assistance or projects, FEMA will only consider the highest ranked subapplication for competitive consideration (see Section E, Review and Selection Process, of this NOFO for further information). Applicants submitting community flood mitigation advance assistance and project subgrant applications must identify these subgrant applications as such in the subapplication title. For example: “Applicant X FY17 FMA – Community Flood Mitigation Project” or “State X FY17 FMA – Community Flood Mitigation Advanced Assistance” (see section E, Review and Selection Process, of this NOFO for further information).

Wherever possible, supporting documentation for applications should be attached electronically in the Mitigation eGrants system. Over-sized items that cannot be scanned may be mailed to FEMA as necessary; however, Applicants must provide information regarding the paper attachments and the date mailed to FEMA in the Comments and Attachment section of the application in the eGrants system.

Also, the documents must be postmarked by the submission deadline to be considered as part of the application. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to follow-up with FEMA to ensure that paper documents were received for consideration during the review process.

Applicants who submit FMA grant applications prior to the submission deadline will receive a confirmation message including the assigned application number in the eGrants system (e.g., FMA-09-CA-2017). In addition, once FEMA receives and delegates the FMA grant application to begin the review process, the eGrants system will send an automatic email message to the Point(s) of Contact (POC) identified in the grant application. The Mitigation eGrants system is programmed to not allow submittal of a FMA grant application after the submission deadline.

Applicants who attempt to submit a FMA grant application after the deadline will receive an error message.

Applicants who experience eGrants system technical issues should contact the Mitigation eGrants Helpdesk by telephone: 1-855-228-3362 or email:

MTeGrants@fema.dhs.gov to report the issue and receive a ticket number.

Applicants who experience unforeseen eGrants system technical issues beyond the Applicant’s control that prevents submission of the FMA grant application by the deadline may request approval to submit a late application. To request approval to submit a late application, an Applicant must email the HMA Helpline (see section G, DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information of this NOFO) within 24 hours after the application deadline. The email must describe the technical difficulties, include a timeline of submission efforts that occurred prior to the deadline and the Helpdesk ticket number. FEMA will review the request and contact the eGrants helpdesk to verify the reported technical issues before informing the Applicant whether the request to submit a late application has been approved or denied.

National Environmental Policy Act Requirements for Mitigation Projects.

Applicants and Subapplicants applying for mitigation projects must provide information needed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370h) and the related Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA instructions and directives (i.e., DHS Directive 023- 01, DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, (FEMA Directive 108-1, FEMA Instruction 108-1-1). The required information is included in the project Subgrant application in the eGrants system under the Environmental Information section.

Benefit Cost Analysis for Mitigation Projects. Applicants and Subapplicants applying for mitigation projects must provide a benefit cost analysis (BCA) or other documentation that validates cost-effectiveness. BCA is the method of estimating the future benefits of a project compared to its cost. The end result is a benefit-cost ratio (BCR), which is derived from a project’s total net benefits divided by its total project cost. The total benefits and costs must be entered in the Cost-Effectiveness section of the project subapplication and a FEMA-approved BCA attached as documentation, as applicable. Planning and management costs subapplications do not require a BCA.

FEMA has created software to ensure that the BCR is calculated in accordance with FEMA's standardized methodologies and OMB Circular A-94, Guidelines mailto:MTeGrants@fema.dhs.gov and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs, available on the internet at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars. FEMA’s Benefit Cost Toolkit is available on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis. Versions 5.2.1 and Version 5.3 are the only versions FEMA will accept as documentation for demonstrating cost effectiveness. A non-FEMA BCA methodology may only be used if pre-approved by FEMA in writing. More detailed information is available in Part IV, I, Cost Effectiveness of the HMA Guidance available on the FEMA website at:

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances and Certifications Forms.

Applicants must complete the following forms and attach them to their FMA grant application in the Mitigation eGrants system for submittal by the application deadline:

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), OMB #4040-0004;

• Budget Information:

o Budget Information for Non-construction Programs (SF-424A), OMB #4040-0006, or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF- 424C), OMB #4040-0008; and

• Assurances and Certifications:

o Assurances for Non Construction Programs (SF-424B), OMB #4040-

0007, or Assurances for Construction Programs (SF-424D), OMB #4040- 0009;

o Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (FEMA Form 20-16C), OMB #1660-0025; and o Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL), OMB #4040-0013 (if the Applicant has engaged in or intends to engage in lobbying activities).

These Standard Forms are available on the Grants.gov website:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. The FEMA Form FF 20-16C, Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements is available from the FEMA library online at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754.

Applicants may require their Subapplicants to complete and attach the grant application and/or Assurance and Certifications forms to their planning and project subgrant applications in the eGrants system. To turn on/off this requirement in the eGrants system, Applicants can click the “Administration” link on the eGrants Homepage to set their Preferences to enable/disable the forms.

Information, training and resources on the Mitigation eGrants system are available on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/mitigation-egrants-system-0.

Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency for information specific to their state/territory Applicant agency’s application process. Contact information https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars http://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754 for the SHMOs is provided on the following FEMA webpage:

http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative that provides the grant community a single site to find grant funding opportunities. Before you can apply for a DHS grant, you must have a DUNS number, be registered in SAM, and be approved as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).

Applicants are encouraged to register early. The registration process can take four weeks or more to be completed. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

DUNS number. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number can be found at the following website: http://www.grants.gov//web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html. The DUNS number must be included in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 family forms submitted as part of this application.

System for Award Management. In addition to having a DUNS number, Applicants must register with SAM. Step-by-step instructions for registering with SAM can be found here:

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

Authorized Organizational Representative. A key step in the registration process is creating a username and password for the FEMA Grants Portal https://portal.fema.gov. Applicants and Subapplicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the Applicant/Subapplicant organization as the AOR in addition to other organizational staff who will assist with creating and managing applications.

After registering on the FEMA Grants Portal, Applicants and Subapplicants will need to request access to the Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Portal. This is crucial because all applications and subapplications must be submitted via the Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal.

An Access ID is required to request access to the Mitigation eGrants system.

Applicants should contact their appropriate FEMA Regional Office, and Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency to get the appropriate Access ID. Contact information for the FEMA Regional Offices is provided on the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/about-agency. Contact information for the SHMOs is provided on the following FEMA webpage:

http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://portal.fema.govt/ https://www.fema.gov/about-agency

To read more detailed instructions for creating a profile on the FEMA Portal and registering for eGrants, see the job aid: “Registering for eGrants Accounts” on the FEMA web: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/17425?id=3865.

AOR Authorization. After creating a profile on the FEMA Portal and registering for Mitigation eGrants system access, FEMA Regions review eGrants access requests from Applicants, and Applicants review eGrants access requests from their Subapplicants. Applicants should contact their appropriate FEMA Regional Office, and Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency regarding the status of their registrations. Contact information for the FEMA Regional Offices is provided on the FEMA website:

https://www.fema.gov/about-agency. Contact information for the SHMOs is provided on the following FEMA webpage: http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

Approved users will receive an email from the eGrants system that indicates what system privileges have been authorized. “Sign/Submit” privileges are given to the AOR. Other users may be given “Create/Edit” and/or “View/Print” privileges. Once access is approved, users can login to the Mitigation eGrants system to create and manage their applications online. Only AORs, individual who can make legally binding commitments for the Applicant/Subapplicant organization, who have “Sign/Submit” privileges will be able to submit applications in the Mitigation eGrants system.

Applicants and Subapplicants are, therefore, encouraged to register on the FEMA Grants Portal and request access to the Mitigation eGrants system at the time of this announcement to ensure the ability to meet required submission deadlines. After you have been approved for access to the Mitigation eGrants system, you will be able to create applications online.

Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through the Mitigation eGrants system constitute electronically signed applications. The registration and account creation for the AOR establishes the AOR for each Applicant/Subapplicant’s organization. If you experience difficulties with the eGrants system, please contact the helpdesk by telephone: 1-855-228-3362 or email: MTeGrants@fema.dhs.gov.

The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an Applicant until the Applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. If an Applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency 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.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/17425?id=3865 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/17425?id=3865 https://www.fema.gov/about-agency http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers

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 http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf).

Name and addresses of the SPOCs are maintained at the Office of Management and Budget’s home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc to ensure currency.

Funding Restrictions Federal funds made available through this award may only be used for the purpose set forth in this award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other Federal grants/cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other government entity.

Program Funding Restrictions.

The maximum Federal share for FMA subapplications is as follows:

• $100,000 for community mitigation advanced assistance applications

• $10,000,000 for community mitigation project applications

• $50,000 for technical assistance for states that received at least $1 million in

FMA awards in FY 2016

• $50,000 for state flood hazard mitigation planning

• $25,000 for local flood hazard mitigation planning

• 10 percent of the grant application budget for applicant management costs for applicants to administer and manage grant and subgrant activities (See the M&A Costs subsection below)

• 5 percent of plan and project subapplication budget for subapplicant management costs for subapplicants to manage their plan or project activity (see the Management and Administration (M&A) Costs subsection below)

Allowable costs are:

• Project design under advance assistance

• Planning costs

• Training related costs

• Domestic travel costs

• Construction and renovation costs

• Equipment costs

Applicants should analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, especially high cost items and those subject to rapid technical advances. Large equipment purchases must be identified and explained. For more information regarding property management standards for equipment, please reference 2 CFR Part 200, available on the internet: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Unallowable costs are:

• Exercise related costs

• Operational Overtime costs

More detailed information is available in Part III, E.1, Eligible Activities, of the HMA Guidance available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Pre-Award Costs. Pre-award costs directly related to developing the FMA grant application or subapplication incurred after the application period has opened but prior to the date of the grant award are allowed. Such costs may have been incurred prior to application submission, for example, gathering NEPA data or developing a BCA (see section D, Application and Submission Information of this NOFO), preparing design specifications, or conducting workshops or meetings related to development and submission of subapplications.

Pre-award costs may be cost shared or Applicants and Subapplicants may identify them as their non-Federal cost share (see Cost Share or Match subsection in Section C, Eligibility Information of this NOFO).

Costs associated with implementation of the submitted grant application or subapplication incurred prior to grant award are not allowed. Mitigation activities initiated or completed prior to award are not eligible.

Applicants and Subapplicants who are not awarded grants or subgrants (awards/subawards) will not receive reimbursement for the corresponding pre-award costs. More detailed information is provided in the HMA Guidance, Part IV, F.2, Pre-Award Costs, available on the FEMA website:

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Management and Administration (M&A) Costs. Management costs are any indirect costs and administrative expenses that are reasonably incurred in administering an award or sub-award. Applicant and Subapplicant management cost activities directly related to the implementation of the FMA program, such as subapplication development, geocoding mitigation projects, delivery of technical assistance, and managing awards and staff salary costs are eligible for FMA funding in accordance with the HMA Guidance available on the FEMA website:

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

Applicants may apply for Applicant management costs up to 10 percent of the total FMA grant application. Applicant requests for management costs must be submitted in a separate management costs subgrant application in the eGrants system (see the Content and Form of Application Submission subsection).

Applicants and Subapplicants may apply for Subapplicant management costs up to 5 percent of the cost of a planning or project subapplication. For applicants, http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279 http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279 this is in addition to the 10 percent applicant management costs to manage the overall grant. Subapplication management cost activities must be added to the Scope of Work section and reflected in the Cost Estimate section of planning and project subgrant applications in the Mitigation eGrants system.

Management costs are only awarded in conjunction with awarded project or planning subapplications. Applicants and Subapplicants who do not receive awards/subawards for any planning or project subapplications will not receive reimbursement for management costs (see the Review and Selection Process subsection of Section E in this NOFO).

Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs. Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 CFR § 200.414. With the exception of Recipients who have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate as described in 2 CFR § 200.414(f), Recipients must have an approved indirect cost rate agreement with their cognizant Federal agency to charge indirect costs to this award. A copy of the approved rate (a fully executed, agreement negotiated with the Applicant’s cognizant federal agency) is required at the time of application and must be provided to FEMA before indirect costs are charged to the award.

Other Submission Requirements

Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance Applicants and Subapplicants proposing projects that have the potential to impact the environment, including but not limited to modification or renovation of existing buildings, structures and facilities, or new construction including replacement of facilities, must participate in the FEMA EHP review process. The EHP review process involves the submission of a detailed project description that explains the goals and objectives of the proposed project along with supporting documentation so that FEMA may determine whether the proposed project has the potential to adversely impact environmental resources and/or historic properties.

E. Application Review Information

Application Evaluation Criteria Prior to making a Federal award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3321 and 41 U.S.C. 2313 to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Application evaluation 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; and (5) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

Review and Selection Process

FEMA will review each application to ensure compliance with applicable regulations at 44 C.F.R. Part 79 and the HMA Guidance, including eligibility of the Applicant and Subapplicant; eligibility of proposed activities and costs;

completeness of the subapplication; cost effectiveness and engineering feasibility of mitigation projects; and eligibility and availability of non-Federal cost share.

For more detailed information, see the HMA Guidance, Part VI, Application Review Information, available on the FEMA website:

FEMA will select subapplications up to the available funding amount of $160,000,000 in the following order.

1. Community Flood Mitigation – Up to $70,000,000 available

a. Advanced Assistance.

FEMA will select the highest ranked eligible subapplication for Advance Assistance from each Applicant up to $100,000 federal share based on final prioritization score (see table below) for a maximum of $2,000,000.

Advanced Assistance can be used to develop mitigation strategies and obtain data to prioritize, select, and develop community flood hazard projects for future funding. FEMA will select subapplications that address flood risk on a community level based on final priority scoring criteria and that benefit communities with high participation and favorable standing in the NFIP.

Consideration of Advanced Assistance early in the decision-making process can help facilitate the development of a viable project, as well as project implementation. FY17 community flood mitigation Advanced Assistance projects are not eligible for FY17 community flood mitigation Project funding. There is no guarantee for future Hazard Mitigation Assistance project funding if Advanced Assistance is awarded.

b. Community Flood Mitigation Projects.

FEMA will select the highest ranked eligible community flood mitigation subapplication from each Applicant up to $10,000,000 federal share based on final priority scoring criteria (see table below) and that benefit communities with high participation and favorable standing in the NFIP. Applicants are not required to apply for Advanced Assistance funding to be eligible to receive a project award.

Eligible activities include but are not limited:

• Infrastructure protective measures

• Localized flood control to protect critical facilities

• Floodwater storage and diversion

• Floodplain and stream restoration

• Water and sanitary sewer system protective measures

• Utility protective measures

• Stormwater management

• Aquifer storage and recovery

• Wetland restoration/creation

Subapplications submitted for either the community flood mitigation Advance Assistance or project funding will be scored and ranked based on the following priorities:

Priority Description Total Points

Private Partnership Cost Share Cost share taken on by private organizations/businesses emphasizing community participation, collaboration, and investment. Points will be assigned based on percentage of private cost share invested.

Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) rating

Assesses effectiveness of enforcement and adequacy of building codes with emphasis on mitigation. Classes weighted based on national class grouping ratings. Highest weight will be assigned to class 1 and descending through lower classes.

Community Rating System (CRS) Participation

The Community Rating System (CRS) recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP standards. Depending upon the level of participation, flood insurance premium rates for policyholders can be reduced up to 45%. Highest weight will be assigned to class 1 and descending through lower classes.

Cooperating Technical Partners Program (CTP) Participation

Qualified partnership program where communities commit to collaborate in maintaining up-to-date flood hazard maps and other flood hazard information. Points are provided to CTP participating communities.

International Building Codes (IBC) Adopted (2009 or newer)

IBC adoption epitomizes community commitment to responsible building regulations. Points are provided to IBC participating communities with 2009 version or higher adopted.

Total Points Available 500*

* In the event of a tie between two or more community flood mitigation applications:

- FEMA will use the highest Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) as a tiebreaker for projects; and.

- FEMA will use the total number of active policies in the local jurisdiction as a tie breaker for Advance Assistance.

After meeting the $70,000,000 available for community flood mitigation or when all eligible community flood mitigation project subapplications have been selected, FEMA will select eligible subapplications for the remaining funds in the following order:

2. Technical Assistance.

FEMA will select eligible technical assistance subapplications up to $50,000 Federal share for Applicants who received FMA awards totaling at least $1,000,000 Federal share in FY 2016.

3. Flood Mitigation Planning.

FEMA will select eligible planning subapplications up to $100,000 Federal share per Applicant with a maximum of $50,000 Federal share for State mitigation plan updates and $25,000 Federal share for local mitigation plans. FEMA may reduce the Federal share of any planning subapplication that exceeds the regulatory maximums.

4. Competitive funding for property flood mitigation projects.

FEMA will select eligible flood mitigation project subapplications on a competitive basis as follows:

a. Projects that will mitigate flood damage to at least 50 percent of structures included in the subapplication that meet definition 42 U.S.C.

4104c(h)(3)(B)(ii) of a Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) property: At least two separate NFIP claim payments have been made with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure

b. Projects that will mitigate flood damage to at least 50 percent of structures included in the subapplication that meet the definition of a Repetitive Loss (RL) property: Have incurred flood-related damage on two occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25% of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event

c. Projects that will mitigate flood damage to at least 50 percent of structures included in the subapplication that meet definition 42 U.S.C.

4104c(h)(3)(B)(i) of a SRL property: four or more separate NFIP claims payments have been made with the amount of each claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of claims payments exceeding $20,000

5. FEMA will select remaining eligible applications once all above priorities are met based on benefits to the NFIP.

Applicants must ensure that accurate NFIP policy numbers and repetitive loss numbers are included in eGrants for all subapplications in order to be eligible to be selected for the above priorities.

For project subapplications in priority categories a through c above, FEMA will prioritize projects as follows:

i. The highest percentage of structures included in the subapplication that meet the definition from 100 to 50 percent;

ii. The largest number of structures included in the subapplication that meet the definition; and

iii. FEMA-validated Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR).

If a project subapplication includes structures that meet the definition in more than one of the priority categories, then the project will be considered under each of those priority categories, and the structures that meet the definition of each priority category will be counted for that category.

• For example, a project with structures that meet the definition in priority category (a) is not selected for priority (a) because less than 50 percent of the structures included in the subapplication meet that definition. However, the project also contains structures that meet the definition in priority category (b). So the project is considered for priority (b), and the percentage of structures included in the subapplication that meet the definition in priority category (b) is used to determine whether it is selected.

FEMA may select a subapplication out of priority order based upon one or more of the following factors:

• Availability of funding;

• Balance/distribution of funds geographically or by type of Applicant;

• Duplication of subapplications;

• Program priorities and policy factors; and,

• Other pertinent information.

FEMA will designate the selected planning and project subapplications as Identified for Further Review. Applicants with planning and/or project subapplication(s) that are Identified for Further Review that submitted a management costs subapplication (see Content and Form of Application Submission subsection in section C of this NOFO) are eligible to receive Applicant management costs not to exceed 10 percent of the selected planning and project subapplications.

Eligible subapplications that are not Identified for Further Review due to a lack of available funding will be given a status of Not Selected.

Planning and project subapplications that do not satisfy the eligibility and completeness requirements will be given a status of Does Not Meet HMA Requirements.

At its discretion, FEMA may review a decision regarding a planning or project subapplication that is Not Selected or Does Not Meet HMA Requirements only where there is an indication of substantive technical or procedural error that may have influenced FEMA’s decision. There will be no reconsideration regarding the amount of planning subapplications, Applicant management costs or technical assistance costs. Applicants must send requests for reconsideration based upon technical or procedural error to their FEMA Regional Office within 60 days of the posting of subapplication status (see Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates section in this NOFO). Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency regarding reconsideration requests, so that the Applicant may submit it to FEMA on their behalf. Contact information for each SHMO is provided at http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

The FEMA Regional Office will review reconsideration requests received from Applicants and submit the regional recommendation to FEMA Headquarters.

FEMA Headquarters will make a final determination to overturn or uphold the original decision and send the response to the Applicant.

Prior to making an award, FEMA will evaluate a recipient to determine the level of risk when there is a history of failure to comply with general or specific terms and conditions of a Federal award or failure to meet the expected performance goals. If FEMA determines that a Federal award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the award, as specified in the HMA Guidance, Part VI, B, which is available on the internet at

If the anticipated Federal award amount will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $150,000 (see 2 CFR § 200.88):

i. Prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, DHS is required to review and consider any information about the Applicant…