FY 2017 PDM NOFO FINAL.pdf

The Department of Homeland Security Notice of Funding Opportunity

FY 2017 Pre-Disaster Mitigation

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/applicants/organization-registration.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Section D of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Application Submission Information.

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 97.047

CFDA Title

Pre-Disaster Mitigation

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2017 Pre-Disaster Mitigation

NOFO Number

DHS-17-MT-047-00-99

Authorizing Authority for Program Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5133)

Appropriation Authority for Program

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

Program Type Continuation http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program makes available Federal funds to State, Local and Tribal Governments to implement and sustain cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding from future disasters.

The PDM program strengthens national preparedness and resilience and supports the mitigation mission area in the National Preparedness System and National Preparedness Goal.

FEMA’s priorities for funding FY 2017 PDM applications are outlined below.

Greater detail on factors to be considered in the evaluation of applications is specified in Section E of this NOFO under Application Evaluation Criteria.

As required in Section 203(f)(2)(A) of the Stafford Act, FEMA will continue to provide grant funding allocations to each state and territory in the amount of the lesser of one percent of the appropriation amount or $575,000. FEMA will also set aside funding for federally-recognized Native American tribes for mitigation planning and projects in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the appropriation amount. FEMA’s first priority for competitive funding after meeting the state/territory allocations and tribal set-aside is multi-state/tribal mitigation initiatives. The balance of PDM funds will be distributed on a competitive basis with priority given to eligible applicants that have less disaster funding available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) than the PDM funding limits for planning and projects (see the Program Funding Restrictions subsection under Section D of this NOFO) in order to complement the HMGP funds available to states, territories and tribes following disasters. In addition, FEMA will prioritize competitive projects for funding by hazard and activity type in an effort to minimize duplication of the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program with a priority of non-flood hazard (e.g., wildfire, drought, seismic, and wind) mitigation project activities over flood mitigation projects. For more information on the HMGP and FMA programs, see the Related Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs subsection under Section H of this NOFO.

FEMA will prioritize funding mitigation projects over mitigation planning in accordance with the 2017 appropriations report language.

B. Federal Award Information Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions Available Funding for the NOFO: $90,000,000

Projected number of Awards: 250

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, Application and Submission Information of this NOFO).

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 of this NOFO.

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 for PDM funding. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one PDM grant application to FEMA. Applications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award.

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 applicant agency. 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 FY 2017 PDM grant application to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants system (see section D, Application and Submission Information, of this NOFO).

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 Code of Federal Regulations (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.

All mitigation projects submitted as part of a PDM grant application must be consistent with the goals and objectives identified in a) the current, FEMA-http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers approved State or Tribal (Standard or Enhanced) mitigation plan and b) the local Mitigation Plan for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. There is no mitigation plan requirement for applicants and subapplicants to submit planning subapplications for the development of a new mitigation plan or the update of a mitigation plan.

Other Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for the state/territory allocation or the tribal set aside (see Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities in Section A of this NOFO), the applicant’s highest ranked planning or project subapplication must not exceed $575,000 Federal share. There is no limit to the number of planning and project subapplications that applicants can submit for the state/territory allocation or tribal set aside up to $575,000 federal share, but the applicant must rank them higher than subapplications for competitive consideration (see the Review and Selection Process in section E of this NOFO).

Applicants may include no more than nine project subapplications for competitive consideration over and above any project(s) submitted for the state/territory allocation or tribal set aside.

Any applicant agency willing to serve as the applicant for multi-state or multi-tribal mitigation activities may include one multi-state/tribal project subapplication(s) in their grant application for a maximum of ten competitive projects, notwithstanding any project(s) submitted towards their state/territory allocation or tribal set aside. Applicants who include multi-state/tribal subapplication(s) in their grant application must clearly identify how the effort will be coordinated.

Cost Share or Match Cost share is required under this program. Federal funding is available for up to 75 percent of the eligible activity costs. The remaining 25 percent of eligible activity costs must be derived from non-Federal sources.

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.

Small, impoverished communities are eligible for up to a 90 percent Federal cost share for their mitigation planning and project subapplications in accordance with the Stafford Act. A small, impoverished community must:

• Be a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals identified by the State as a rural community that is not a remote area within the corporate boundaries of a larger city;

• Be economically disadvantaged, with residents having an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80 percent of the national per capita income, based on best available data. For the most current information, go to the Bureau of Economic Analysis website at http://www.bea.gov;

• Have a local unemployment rate that exceeds by 1 percentage point or more the most recently reported, average yearly national unemployment rate. For the most current information, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website at http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm; and

• Meet other criteria required by the applicant in which the community is located.

Native American Tribal applicants meeting the definition of a small, impoverished community that apply to FEMA directly as applicants are eligible for a 90 percent Federal cost share for their planning, project and management costs sub-applications, which make up their overall PDM grant application.

Applicants and subapplicants must request the Federal cost share amount up to 90 percent in the Cost Share section of their planning, project and management costs subapplication(s). Applicants must certify small, impoverished community status and provide documentation with the subapplication(s) to justify up to a 90 percent Federal cost share. If documentation is not submitted with the subapplication, then FEMA will provide no more than 75 percent Federal share of the total eligible costs.

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, 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.bea.gov/ http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279

To be considered timely, a PDM 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 PDM grant submission to FEMA. It is recommended that applicants attach approved planning, project and management costs subgrant applications to their PDM 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 PDM grant application (see the Content and Form of Application Submission subsection below).

Other Key Dates

Address to Request Application Package

The application package is built into the Mitigation eGrants system, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) collection #1660-0072, which all applicants must use to submit PDM 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-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

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 PDM grant application and attach approved planning, 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

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 PDM grant application to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants system on the internet:

https://portal.fema.gov by the application deadline to be considered for 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;

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

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

• PDM grant applications, to include applicant-approved planning, project and management costs subapplications, must be submitted in a FY 2017 PDMC 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 internet: 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 PDMC grant application and then add approved planning, project and management costs subgrant applications submitted by the applicant and/or subapplicants to the PDMC grant application. 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 rank all of the subgrant applications included in their grant application in the eGrants system. FEMA will consider the applicant’s highest ranked planning or project subapplication(s) for the state/territory allocation or 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 tribal set aside up to $575,000 federal share and the remaining eligible subapplications on a competitive basis (see Review and Selection Process in section E of this NOFO). Applicants may indicate their state/territory/tribe’s priorities for funding in the Comments to FEMA section of the grant application;

the subgrant ranking should not be used for that purpose.

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 PDMC grant applications prior to the submission deadline will receive a confirmation message including the assigned PDM application number in the eGrants system (e.g., PDMC-01-MA-2017). In addition, once FEMA receives and delegates the PDM 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 PDM grant application after the submission deadline. Applicants who attempt to submit a PDM 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 PDM 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 DHS and FEMA instructions and directives (i.e., DHS Directive 023-01, DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, mailto:MTeGrants@fema.dhs.gov

(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 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 PDM 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).

The SF-424 family of forms are available on the Grants.gov website:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. The FEMA Form http://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

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 subgrants in the eGrants system. To turn on/off this requirement in the eGrants system, applicants must click the “Administration” link on the eGrants Homepage to set their Preferences for enabling/disabling 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’s application process. Contact information 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 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.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/9754 http://www.fema.gov/mitigation-egrants-system-0 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/

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.

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 state/territory 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.

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

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 technical difficulties with the Mitigation 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.

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. No applicant may receive more than 15 percent of the appropriated PDM funding, or $15 million, per Section 203(f)(2)(B) of the Stafford Act.

The maximum Federal share for PDM activities is as follows:

• $4 million for mitigation projects

• $400,000 for new mitigation plans consistent with 44 CFR Part 201

• $300,000 for state/territorial and multi-jurisdictional local or tribal mitigation plan updates consistent with 44 CFR Part 201

• $150,000 for single jurisdiction local or tribal mitigation plan updates consistent with 44 CFR Part 201

• 10 percent of plan and project subapplications for information dissemination activities including public awareness and education (brochures, workshops, videos, etc.) related to a proposed planning or project activity

• 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) mailto:MTeGrants@fema.dhs.gov http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc

• 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)

As directed by the appropriations language, FEMA will use the majority of PDM grant funding for mitigation projects.

Allowable costs are:

• 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

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 PDM 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.

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

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:

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 PDM program, such as subapplication development, geocoding mitigation projects, delivery of technical assistance, or managing awards and staff salary costs, are eligible for PDM 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 PDM grant application for management of the grant and all selected subgrants. Applicant requests for management costs must be submitted in a separate management costs subgrant application in the Mitigation eGrants system (see the Content and Form of Application Submission subsection).

Applicants and subapplicants may include subapplicant management costs up to 5 percent of the total of their planning or project subapplication to manage the proposed activity. For applicants, this is in addition to the 10 percent applicant management costs to manage the overall grant. Subapplicant 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. (See definition of recipient in the Notice of Award subsection of Section F in this

NOFO.)

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 subapplications submitted by each applicant to ensure compliance with 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 Part V, Application Review Information, of the HMA Guidance available on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279.

FEMA will select eligible subapplications up to the available PDM funding amount of $90 million in the following order:

1. Statutory allocation of $575,000 federal share for States, Territories and the

District of Columbia (DC).

To meet the statutory requirement, FEMA will select eligible planning and project subapplications from each state, territory and DC in order of the applicant’s rank (#1–x) to the lowest ranked subapplication that brings the total federal share to no more than $575,000 (see Other Eligibility Criteria subsection under section C of this NOFO).

For example, an Applicant’s #1 ranked subapplication for $200,000 Federal share and #2 ranked subapplication for $340,000 would be selected for the allocation; however, the #3 ranked subapplication for

$575,000 and any other eligible subapplications would be considered on a competitive basis in priority category 3 below.

2. Tribal set aside of $10 million for federally-recognized Native American tribes, not to exceed $575,000 federal share per tribal applicant.

FEMA will set aside $10 million for federally-recognized Native American tribes applying directly to FEMA as applicants. FEMA will select eligible planning and project subapplications for each tribal applicant in order of the tribe’s rank (#1–x) to the lowest ranked subapplication that brings the total federal share to no more than $575,000, not to exceed a total of $10 million.

3. Competitive Funding.

After meeting the statutory requirement for state/territory allocations and the tribal set aside, FEMA will select from the remaining eligible planning and project subapplications from all applicants on a competitive basis up to the available amount of funding.

If an applicant submits projects in excess of the limit for competitive consideration (see Other Eligibility Criteria subsection under section C of this NOFO), then FEMA will only review the highest ranked competitive project subapplications up to the limit.

FEMA will select subapplications for competitive funding in the following order:

a. Multi-state/tribal mitigation initiatives.

FEMA will select one eligible multi-state/tribal mitigation planning or project subapplication per applicant.

b. Planning subapplications from applicants that have less than $400,000 HMGP planning funds available.

FEMA will select eligible planning subapplications from applicants that have less than $400,000 HMGP planning funds available (see Hazard Mitigation Grant Program subsection in Section H of this NOFO).

c. Project subapplications from applicants that have less than $4 million

HMGP regular project funds available.

FEMA will select eligible project subapplications from applicants that have less than $4 million HMGP regular project funds in the following order:

i. Non-flood hazard (e.g., seismic, wildfire, landslide, wind and drought) mitigation projects

ii. Flood mitigation activities except acquisition, elevation, or mitigation reconstruction (e.g., stormwater management and flood control measures)

iii. Acquisition, elevation and mitigation reconstruction projects

iv. Generators for critical facilities identified in a FEMA-approved

Mitigation Plan

d. Planning subapplications from applicants that have $400,000 or more HMGP planning funds available.

FEMA will select eligible planning subapplications from applicants that have $400,000 or more HMGP planning funds available.

e. Project subapplications from applicants that have $4 million or more

HMGP regular project funds available.

FEMA will select eligible project subapplications from applicants that have $4 million or more HMGP regular project funds available in the following order:

i. Non-flood hazard mitigation projects

ii. Flood mitigation activities except acquisition, elevation, or mitigation reconstruction

iii. Acquisition, elevation and mitigation reconstruction projects

iv. Generators for critical facilities identified in a FEMA-approved

Mitigation Plan

FEMA will further prioritize planning and project subapplications in priority categories 2 and 3 above, as needed, in the following order:

1. Subapplicant’s small impoverished community status (see Cost Share or

Match subsection under section C of this NOFO);

2. Indication of public-private partnership (i.e., whether private sector funding is included in the required non-federal cost share);

3. Subapplicant’s FEMA-validated residential or commercial Building Code

Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) rating, as appropriate to the activity type, from a grade of 1 to 10;

4. FEMA-validated Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) for projects (see Benefit Cost Analysis for Mitigation Projects subsection under section D of this NOFO);

and

5. The applicant’s rank of subapplications (see Content and Form of Application Submission subsection under Section D of this NOFO).

For more information on BCEGS, please visit the Insurance Services Office - Mitigation website: https://www.isomitigation.com/bcegs/iso-s-building-code-effectiveness-grading-schedule-bcegs.htm.

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

• Availability of funding;

• Duplication of subapplications;

• Program priorities and policy factors; and,

• Other pertinent information.

FEMA will ensure the majority of funding will be for selected mitigation projects, per the 2017 appropriations report language.

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 in their PDMC grant application (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 and projects that exceed the competitive project application limit (see Other Eligibility Criteria under Section C of this NOFO) 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 management 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 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.

https://www.isomitigation.com/bcegs/iso-s-building-code-effectiveness-grading-schedule-bcegs.html https://www.isomitigation.com/bcegs/iso-s-building-code-effectiveness-grading-schedule-bcegs.html

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 that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS).

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.

iii. DHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR § 200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

FEMA anticipates announcing the status of applications by the Projected Funding Selection Date of 01/30/2018.

FEMA will post the status of the planning and project subapplications on the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program and alert PDM webpage subscribers when the results of the review are published. For information on how to sign up for a FEMA webpage subscription, visit https://www.fema.gov/subscribe-receive-free-email-updates.

Applicants with planning/project subapplications that are Identified for Further Review will receive notification through the Mitigation eGrants system via an automatic e-mail to the point(s) of contact designated in the Contact Information section of their PDM grant application. Subapplicants should contact their Applicant agency for information. Contact information for each SHMO is provided at http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

https://www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program https://www.fema.gov/subscribe-receive-free-email-updates

F. Federal Award Administration Information Notice of Award

FEMA will provide the Federal award package to the Applicant electronically via the Mitigation eGrants system. Award packages include an award letter, Obligating Document for Awards/Amendments, and Articles of Agreement, including EHP review and/or other conditions. An email notification of the award package will be sent through the eGrants system to the Applicant point(s) of contact designated in the Contact section of their PDM grant application. See 2 CFR § 200.210, Information contained in a Federal award:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-sec200-210.

When FEMA obligates funds for a grant to an applicant, the applicant and subapplicant are denoted as recipient and subrecipient, respectively.