FY_2020_HSGP_NOFO_FINAL_508ML.pdf

FY 2020 HSGP NOFO

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

Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

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 four weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize your information.

Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

A. Program Description

1. Issued By Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2. Assistance Listings Number (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number) 97.067

3. Assistance Listings Title (formerly CFDA Title)

Homeland Security Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Homeland Security Grant Program

• State Homeland Security Program

• Urban Area Security Initiative

• Operation Stonegarden

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-20-GPD-067-00-02

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-296, as amended) (6 U.S.C. § 603)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. No. 116-93)

8. Announcement Type New http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the Nation’s communities against potential terrorist attacks. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, HSGP supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience. In FY 2020, there are three components of HSGP:

1) State Homeland Security Program (SHSP): SHSP assists state, local, tribal, and territorial efforts to build, sustain, and deliver the capabilities necessary to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism.

2) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI): UASI assists high-threat, high-density Urban Areas efforts to build, sustain, and deliver the capabilities necessary to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism.

3) Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): OPSG supports enhanced cooperation and coordination among Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Border Patrol (USBP), and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to improve overall border security. OPSG provides funding to support joint efforts to secure the United States’ borders along routes of ingress/egress to and from international borders, to include travel corridors in states bordering Mexico and Canada as well as states and territories with international water borders. State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies utilize their inherent law enforcement authorities to support the border security mission and do not receive any additional authority as a result of participation in OPSG.

The 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for reducing the risks posed by terrorism and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country. HSGP supports the goals of Building a Culture of Preparedness and Readying the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters. We invite our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient Nation, as preparedness is a shared responsibility and funding should support priorities that are most impactful and demonstrate the greatest return on investment.

Finally, for FY 2020, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other emerging threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the “failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism” prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks.1 The threat profile has changed in the last two decades – we now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, threats to our democratic election

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

process and threats from new and emerging technologies. But information sharing and cooperation between state, local, and tribal authorities and federal agencies, including all DHS officials, is just as vital, and perhaps even more vital, today. Therefore, for FY 2020, we have identified four priority areas, tied to some of the most serious threats that DHS would like to see addressed by state and local governments, that recipients will need to address with their HSGP funds. Perhaps most importantly, we will be focused on forging partnerships to strengthen information sharing and collaboration in each of these priority areas and looking for recipients to remove barriers to communication and cooperation with DHS and other federal agencies.

Objectives

The objective of the FY 2020 HSGP is to fund state, local, tribal, and territorial efforts to prevent terrorism and prepare the Nation for threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of the United States.

Priorities

Given the evolving threat landscape, it is incumbent upon DHS/FEMA to continuously evaluate the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2020, four priority areas attract the most concern.

And due to the unique threats that the nation faces in 2020, DHS/FEMA has determined that these four priorities should be addressed by allocating specific percentages of HSGP funds to each of these four areas, for a total of 20 percent. The following are the four priority areas for FY 2020, along with the corresponding amount of HSGP funds that each recipient will be required to propose for each priority area in order to obtain a full allocation of HSGP funds:

1) Enhancing cybersecurity (including election security) – 5 percent

2) Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places (including election security) – 5 percent;

3) Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies, including DHS – 5 percent;

4) Addressing emergent threats (e.g., unmanned aerial systems [UASs], etc.) – 5 percent.

Failure by a recipient to propose investments and projects that align with these four priority areas and spending requirements may result in a recipient receiving a reduced grant award. DHS/FEMA may not award funding in excess of a recipient’s minimum allocation threshold2 to the extent that investments and projects do not align with these four priority areas.

A State or high-risk urban area may allocate the remaining 80 percent to gaps identified through their Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Process.

Likewise, there are several enduring security needs that crosscut the homeland security enterprise, and to which that States should consider allocating funding across core capability gaps and national

2 The Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, allocates for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico

0.35 percent of the total funds appropriated for grants under section 2003 and section 2004 of the Act, and 0.08 percent for each of the four territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

priorities. The following are enduring needs that help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing communities:

1) Effective planning;

2) Training and awareness campaigns;

3) Equipment and capital projects; and

4) Exercises.

The table below provides a breakdown of the FY 2020 SHSP and UASI priorities (the focus of OPSG remains unique to border security), showing the core capabilities enhanced and lifelines supported, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. A detailed description of allowable investments for each project type is included in the Preparedness Grants Manual. DHS/FEMA anticipate that in future years, national priorities will continue to be included and will be updated as the threats evolve and as capability gaps are closed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin planning to sustain existing capabilities through other funding mechanisms.

FY 2020 SHSP & UASI Funding Priorities Priority Areas Core Capabilities Lifelines Example Project Types

National Priorities Enhancing Cybersecurity (including election security)

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Safety and security

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure to meet minimum levels identified by CISA o Cybersecurity training and planning

Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets/ Crowded Places (including election security)

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Safety and security

• Operational overtime

• Physical security enhancements o Security cameras (CCTV) o Security screening equipment for people and baggage o Lighting o Access controls o Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies, including DHS

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Safety and security

• Fusion center operations (Fusion Center project will be required under this investment, no longer as a stand-alone investment)

• Information sharing with all DHS components, fusion centers, and other entities designated by DHS https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291

• Cooperation with DHS officials and other entities designated by DHS in intelligence, threat recognition and analysis

• Joint training and planning with DHS officials and other entities designated by

DHS

Addressing Emergent Threats, such as Transnational Criminal Organizations and

UAS

• Interdiction & disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Physical protective measures

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public Information and Warning

• Operational

Coordination

• Safety and security

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

• UAS detection technologies

• Enhancing weapons of mass destruction

(WMD) and/or improvised explosive device (IED) prevention, detection, response and recovery capabilities o Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) detection, prevention, response, and recovery equipment

Enduring Needs Planning • Planning

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Risk and disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Safety and security

• Development of:

o Security Risk Management Plans o Continuity of Operations Plans o Response Plans

• Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

• Joint training and planning with DHS officials and other entities designated by

DHS

• Cybersecurity training and planning Training & Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Situational assessment

• Community resilience

• Safety and security

• Active shooter training

• Security training for employees

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

• Joint training and planning with DHS officials and other entities designated by

DHS

• Cybersecurity training and planning

Equipment & Capital Projects

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Safety and security

• Protection of high-risk, high-consequence areas or systems that have been identified through risk assessments

• Physical security enhancements o Security cameras (CCTV) o Security screening equipment for people and baggage o Lighting o Access Controls

Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

Exercises • Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Operational coordination

• Operational communications

• Community resilience

• Safety and security

• Response exercises

Starting in FY 2020, each SHSP and UASI recipient is required to submit an Investment Justification (IJ) for each of the four national priorities identified above. Under the Cybersecurity investment and the Soft Target/Crowded Places investments one project for each of those two investments must be to support enhancing election security. As a reminder, all SHSP- and UASI-funded projects must have a demonstrated nexus to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism. However, such projects may simultaneously support enhanced preparedness for disasters unrelated to acts of terrorism.

DHS/FEMA also requires SHSP and UASI recipients (e.g., states, territories, and high-risk urban areas) to complete a THIRA/SPR and prioritize grant funding to support closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities that address national priorities and/or support enduring needs. Additional information on the THIRA/SPR process, including other National Preparedness System (NPS) tools and resources, can be found at https://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-system. Detailed information on THIRA/SPR timelines and deadlines can be found in the Preparedness Grants Manual.

FY 2020 OPSG Funding Priorities Priority Areas Core Capabilities Lifelines Example Project Types

National Priorities Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies, including DHS

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Safety and security

• Participation in the DHS/ICE 287(g) training program

• Information sharing with all DHS components, fusion centers, and other entities designated by DHS

• Cooperation with DHS officials and other entities designated by DHS in intelligence, threat recognition and analysis

• Joint training and planning with DHS officials and other entities designated by

DHS

Addressing Emergent Threats, such as Transnational Criminal Organizations

• Interdiction & disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Physical protective measures

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Safety and security

• Operational overtime for border security operations as directed by the applicable, USBP-approved operations order

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

Starting in FY 2020, each OPSG applicant is required to clearly articulate and identify how the Concept of Operations addresses each of the two national priorities identified above.

https://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-system

10. Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

SHSP and UASI:

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

OPSG:

• Number of contacts that occurred as a result of OPSG deployments o Number of arrests that resulted from OPSG contacts o Value of drug seizures that resulted from OPSG contacts

B. Federal Award Information

Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions

Available Funding for the HSGP NOFO: $1,120,000,000

HSGP Programs FY 2020 Allocation State Homeland Security Program $415,000,000 Urban Area Security Initiative $615,000,000 Operation Stonegarden $90,000,000 Total $1,120,000,000

SHSP Allocations

For FY 2020, DHS/FEMA will award SHSP funds based on risk and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of grant funds upon completion of the application review process. The following table identifies the targeted SHSP allocation ranges for each State based on DHS/FEMA’s relative risk methodology pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. States are strongly encouraged to apply for funding at least 15% over the high end of their target allocation range as ineffective applications will not be funded. Final award amounts will be based on DHS/FEMA’s evaluation of the effectiveness of proposed investments and projects.

Regardless of the amount of a State’s targeted SHSP allocation range, each State must include a separate investment for each of the four national priority areas identified in the Priorities section, above. The funding level in each national priority area investment must equal or exceed the percentage for that respective national priority area, calculated as a percentage of the State’s targeted SHSP allocation in the table below. For the states that receive a target allocation in excess of the minimum, the percentage is calculated against the high end of the range, as displayed in the table below. DHS/FEMA will make final award determinations based upon a review of the anticipated effectiveness of the State’s application as described in Section D, below. Final awards are based on whether the State has proposed investments in each of the four national priority areas in an amount equal to or greater than the percentage for that priority area and based on the effectiveness review.

DHS/FEMA will allocate to each state and territory a minimum allocation under the SHSP using thresholds established in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. The minimum allocation for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 0.35 percent of the total funds appropriated for grants under Section 2003 and Section 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. The minimum allocation for the four territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) is 0.08 percent of the total funds appropriated for grants under Section 2003 and 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. THIRA/SPR results do not impact grant allocation or award.

Regardless of the final award amount, a state must invest SHSP funding in each of the four national priority areas in an amount equal to or greater than percentage identified above for each national priority area, as approved by DHS/FEMA.

FY 2020 TARGET SHSP ALLOCATIONS

State/Territory FY 2020 Allocation State/Territory FY 2020 Allocation

New York $59,174,400 - $73,968,000 Kentucky $4,287,500 California $49,608,800 - $62,011,000 Louisiana $4,287,500 Texas $15,839,200 - $19,799,000 Maine $4,287,500 Illinois $12,085,600 - $15,107,000 Minnesota $4,287,500 Florida $8,127,200 - $10,159,000 Mississippi $4,287,500 Virginia $7,076,800 - $8,846,000 Missouri $4,287,500 Georgia $4,600,000 - $5,750,000 Montana $4,287,500 Pennsylvania $7,076,800 - $8,846,000 Nebraska $4,287,500 Maryland $6,153,600 - $7,692,000 Nevada $4,287,500 New Jersey $6,153,600 - $7,692,000 New Hampshire $4,287,500 Washington $5,384,800 - $6,731,000 New Mexico $4,287,500 Massachusetts $5,384,800 - $6,731,000 North Dakota $4,287,500 Ohio $5,384,800 - $6,731,000 Oklahoma $4,287,500 North Carolina $4,423,200 - $5,529,000 Oregon $4,287,500 District of Columbia $4,423,200 - $5,529,000 Puerto Rico $4,287,500 Michigan $4,423,200 - $5,529,000 Rhode Island $4,287,500 Alabama $4,287,500 South Carolina $4,287,500 Alaska $4,287,500 South Dakota $4,287,500 Arizona $4,287,500 Tennessee $4,287,500 Arkansas $4,287,500 Utah $4,287,500 Colorado $4,287,500 Vermont $4,287,500 Connecticut $4,287,500 West Virginia $4,287,500 Delaware $4,287,500 Wisconsin $4,287,500 Hawaii $4,287,500 Wyoming $4,287,500 Idaho $4,287,500 American Samoa $1,000,000 Indiana $4,287,500 Guam $1,000,000 Iowa $4,287,500 Northern Mariana $1,000,000 Kansas $4,287,500 U.S. Virgin Islands $1,000,000 $415,000,000

UASI Allocations

Eligible candidates for the FY 2020 UASI program are identified in the table below. Eligibility has been determined through an analysis of relative risk of terrorism faced by the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States, in accordance with the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. Detailed information on MSAs is publicly available from the United States Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro.html. THIRA/SPR results do not impact grant allocation or award.

For FY 2020, DHS/FEMA will award UASI funds based on risk and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of grant funds upon completion of the application review process. The following table identifies the targeted UASI allocations for each high-risk urban area based on DHS/FEMA’s relative risk methodology pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for funding at least 15% over the high end of their target allocation range as ineffective applications will not be funded.

Final award amounts will be based on DHS/FEMA’s evaluation of the effectiveness of proposed investments and projects.

In its application, each high-risk urban area, through the State, must include a separate investment for each of the four national priority areas identified in the Priorities section, above.

The funding level in each national priority area investment must equal or exceed the percentage for that respective national priority area, calculated as a percentage of the high-risk urban area’s targeted UASI allocation in the table below. The percentage is calculated against the high end of the range, as displayed in the table below. DHS/FEMA will make final award determinations based upon a review of the anticipated effectiveness of the high-risk urban area’s application as described in Section D, below. Final awards are based on whether the State has proposed investments in each of the four national priority areas in an amount equal to or greater than the percentage for that priority area and based on the effectiveness review.

Regardless of the final award amount, a high-risk urban area must invest UASI funding in each of the four national priority areas in an amount equal to or greater than percentage identified above for each national priority area, as approved by DHS/FEMA.

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro.html

FY 2020 TARGET UASI ALLOCATIONS

State/Territory Funded Urban Area FY 2020 UASI Allocation

Arizona Phoenix Area $4,200,000 - $5,250,000

California

Anaheim/Santa Ana Area $4,200,000 - $5,250,000 Bay Area $30,000,000 - $37,500,000 Los Angeles/Long Beach Area $54,400,000 - $68,000,000 Riverside Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Sacramento Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 San Diego Area $13,520,000 - $16,900,000

Colorado Denver Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 District of Columbia National Capital Region $41,400,000 - $51,750,000

Florida

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

$11,800,000 - $14,750,000

Orlando Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Tampa Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000

Georgia Atlanta Area $5,000,000 - $6,250,000 Hawaii Honolulu Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Illinois Chicago Area $54,400,000 - $68,000,000 Louisiana New Orleans Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Maryland Baltimore Area $3,400,000 - $4,250,000 Massachusetts Boston Area $13,520,000 - $16,900,000 Michigan Detroit Area $4,200,000 - $5,250,000 Minnesota Twin Cities Area $4,200,000 - $5,250,000 Missouri St. Louis Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Nevada Las Vegas Area $4,200,000 - $5,250,000 New Jersey Jersey City/Newark Area $15,240,000 - $19,050,000 New York New York City Area $143,000,000 - $178,750,000 Oregon Portland Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000

Pennsylvania Philadelphia Area $13,520,000 - $16,900,000 Pittsburgh Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000

Texas Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Area $13,520,000 - $16,900,000 Houston Area $19,680,000 - $24,600,000 San Antonio Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000

Virginia Hampton Roads Area $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Washington Seattle Area $5,000,000 - $6,250,000 Total $615,000,000

OPSG Allocations For FY 2020, DHS/FEMA will award OPSG funds based on risk and the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of grant funds upon completion of the application review process. The FY 2020 OPSG risk assessment is designed to identify the risk to border security and to assist with the distribution of funds for the grant program. Funding under OPSG is distributed based on the risk to the security of the border and the effectiveness of the proposed projects. Entities eligible for funding are the state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies that are located along the border of the United States. DHS/FEMA will make final award determinations based upon a review of the anticipated effectiveness of the State’s application as described in Section D, below. The THIRA/SPR process is not required for OPSG.

For the purposes of OPSG, the risk is defined as the potential for an adverse outcome assessed as a function of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences associated with an incident, event, or occurrence.

Based upon ongoing intelligence analysis and extensive security reviews, DHS/CBP continues to focus the bulk of OPSG funds based upon risk analyses. The risk model used to allocate OPSG funds considers the potential risk that certain threats pose to border security and estimates the relative risk faced by a given area. In evaluating risk, DHS/CBP considers intelligence, situational awareness, criminal trends, and statistical data specific to each of the border sectors, and the potential impacts that these threats pose to the security of the border area. For vulnerability and consequence, DHS/CBP considers the expected impact and consequences of successful border events occurring in specific areas.

Threat and vulnerability are evaluated based on specific operational data from DHS/CBP.

Threat components present in each of the sectors are used to determine the overall threat score.

These components are terrorism, criminal aliens, drug trafficking organizations, and alien smuggling organizations.

Effectiveness of the proposed investments will be evaluated based on the recipient’s investment strategy, budget, collaboration, and past performance.

Period of Performance: 36 months Extensions to the Period of Performance (PoP) are allowed. For additional information on PoP extensions, refer to the Preparedness Grants Manual.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date: September 1, 2020

Projected Period of Performance End Date: August 31, 2023

Funding Instrument: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants The State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the only entity eligible to submit HSGP applications to DHS/FEMA, including those applications submitted on behalf of UASI and OPSG applicants. All 56 states and territories, including any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, are eligible to apply for SHSP funds. Tribal governments may not apply directly for HSGP funding;

however, funding may be available to tribes under the SHSP and OPSG through the SAA.

2. Eligibility Criteria

Eligible high-risk urban areas for the FY 2020 UASI program have been determined through an analysis of relative risk of terrorism faced by the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States. Subawards will be made by the SAAs to the designated high-risk urban areas.

In FY 2020, OPSG eligible subrecipients are local units of government at the county level or equivalent level of government and Federally recognized tribal governments in states bordering Canada or Mexico and states and territories with international water borders. All applicants must have active ongoing USBP operations coordinated through a CBP sector office to be eligible for OPSG funding.

In FY 2020, OPSG subrecipients eligible to apply for and receive a subaward directly from the SAAs are divided into three Tiers. Tier 1 entities are local units of government at the county level or equivalent and Federally recognized tribal governments that are on a physical border in states bordering Canada, states bordering Mexico, and states and territories with international water borders. Tier 2 eligible subrecipients are those not located on the physical border or international water but are contiguous to a Tier 1 county.

Tier 3 eligible subrecipients are those not located on the physical border or international water but are contiguous to a Tier 2 eligible subrecipient. The tier structure is only applicable with regard to eligibility. OPSG funding allocations are based on the assessed border security risks as determined by the USBP.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation Prior to allocation of any Federal preparedness awards in FY 2020, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. Detailed information on NIMS requirements are in the Preparedness Grants Manual.

Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership In support of the Goal, SHSP recipients must belong to, be in, or act as a temporary member of EMAC, except for American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which are not required to belong to EMAC at this time. All assets supported in part or entirely with FY 2020 HSGP funding must be readily deployable and NIMS-typed when possible to support emergency or disaster operations per existing EMAC agreements. In addition, funding may be used for the sustainment of core capabilities that, while they may not be physically deployable, support national response capabilities, such as Geographic/Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), interoperable communications systems, capabilities as defined under the Mitigation Mission Area of the Goal, and fusion centers.

Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) Per section 2006 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 607), DHS/FEMA is required to ensure that at least 25 percent of grant funding appropriated for grants awarded under HSGP’s authorizing statute are used for law enforcement terrorism prevention activities. DHS/FEMA meets this requirement, in part, by requiring all recipients allocate at least 25 percent of the combined HSGP funds allocated under SHSP and UASI towards law enforcement terrorism prevention activities, as defined in 6 U.S.C. § 607. The LETPA allocation can be from SHSP, UASI, or both. The 25 percent LETPA allocation may be met by funding projects in any combination of the four national priority areas identified above and any other investments. And the 25 percent LETPA allocation is in addition to the 80 percent pass-through requirement to local units of government and tribes, referenced below.

The National Prevention Framework describes those activities that should be executed upon the discovery of intelligence or information regarding an imminent threat to the homeland, to thwart an initial or follow-on terrorist attack and provides guidance to ensure the Nation is prepared to prevent, avoid, or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism. Activities outlined in the National Prevention Framework are eligible for use as LETPA-focused funds. Also, where capabilities are shared with the protection mission area, the National Protection Framework activities are also eligible. All other terrorism prevention activities proposed for funding under LETPA must be approved by the FEMA Administrator.

4. Cost Share or Match There is no cost share or match requirement for the FY 2020 HSGP.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: February 14, 2020

b. Application Submission Deadline: April 15, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline. The Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System has a date stamp that indicates when an application is submitted. Applicants will receive an electronic message confirming receipt of the full application. DHS/FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider them for funding. DHS/FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for an applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, or other exigent or emergency circumstances.

Applicants experiencing technical issues must notify the FEMA Headquarters (HQ) Program Analyst prior to the application deadline. If applicants do not know their FEMA HQ Program Analyst or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at askcsid@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 7/1/2020

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 9/30/2020

e. Other Key Dates:

mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtain DUNS Number 3/1/2020 Obtain a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) 3/1/2020

Update SAM registration 3/1/2020 Submit the initial application in Grants.gov 4/8/2020

Submit the final application in ND Grants 4/15/2020, 5:00 p.m. ET

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

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

3. Address to Request Application Package

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

4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for Award Management (SAM)

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number from

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and Employer ID Number (EIN)

b. In the application, provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System DUNS number, which is currently the unique entity identifier;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. Create a Grants.gov account;

f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account;

a. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;

b. Submit an initial application in Grants.gov;

g. Submit the final application in the Non-Disaster Grants (ND Grants) system and

h. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, DHS may determine that the applicant is not https://www.login.gov/ qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for additional information on the steps required to submit an application.

5. Electronic Delivery DHS/FEMA is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS/FEMA requires applicants to submit their initial applications online through Grants.gov and to submit final applications through ND Grants.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

7. How to Submit an Initial Application to DHS/FEMA via Grants.gov

8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission As application submission is a two-step process, the applicant with the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role who submitted the application will also receive an acknowledgement of receipt, a tracking number (in this format: GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov, and an Agency Tracking Number (in this format: EMX-2020-XX-XXXX) with the successful transmission of the initial application. This notification does not serve as proof of timely submission, as the application is not complete until it is submitted in ND Grants. All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 15, 2020.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by ND Grants. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by ND Grants. Additionally, the applicant(s) listed as contacts on the application will receive a system-generated email to confirm receipt.

9. Submitting the Final Application in Non-Disaster Grants System (ND Grants)

After submitting the initial application in Grants.gov, eligible applicants will be notified by DHS/FEMA and asked to proceed with submitting their complete application package in ND Grants. Applicants can register early with ND Grants and are encouraged to begin their ND Grants registration at the time of this announcement but no later than seven days before the application deadline. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their application.

In ND Grants applicants will be prompted to submit all of the information contained in the following forms. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required:

• Standard Form 424A, Budget Information (Non-construction);

• Standard Form 424B, Standard Assurances (Non-construction); and

• Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

In addition, applicants must submit copies of the following in ND Grants:

• Investment Justification (the Investment Justification Template may be found in the

Related Documents Tab of the Grants.gov posting and used as a preparation tool;

responses to questions in the Template are entered into the GRT);

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home https://portal.fema.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

• List of Urban Area Working Group (UAWG) and Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) members;

• SAC charter;

• UAWG charter; and

• Indirect Cost Agreement, if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement. If the applicant is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement but will charge indirect costs and is required to have an indirect cost rate proposal, the applicant must provide a copy of their indirect cost rate proposal with the application. See the section below on indirect costs for more information or contact the relevant Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist for further instructions.

Applicants must submit copies of the following in ND Grants if applying for construction projects. The forms may be accessed in the Forms tab under SF-424 Family on Grants.gov:

• Standard Form 424C, Budget Information (Construction); and

• Standard Form 424D, Standard Assurances (Construction).

Applicants needing assistance registering for the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.gov or (800) 865-4076, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

HSGP Specific Application Instructions

Development of the Investment Justification (SHSP and UASI) As part of the FY 2020 HSGP application process for SHSP and UASI funds, applicants must develop formal investment justifications (IJs) that address the proposed investments. Failure to fulfill of all of the terms contained in this section will be considered by DHS/FEMA in its evaluation of the effectiveness of the IJs in accordance with the Risk Methodology and Effectiveness Review described in the Application Review Information and may result in rejection of proposed investments or reduced funding allocations.

Each IJ must demonstrate how proposed investments:

• Support terrorism preparedness;

• Support closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities identified in the community’s

THIRA/SPR process; and

• Support the overcoming of existing logistical, technological, legal, policy, and other impediments to collaborating, networking, sharing information, cooperating, and fostering a culture of national preparedness with federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as well as other regional, and nonprofit partners in efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism, to meet its target capabilities, support the national security mission of DHS and other federal agencies, and to otherwise reduce the overall risk to the high-risk urban area, the State, or the Nation.

mailto:ndgrants@fema.gov

Each IJ must explain how the proposed investments will support the applicant’s efforts to:

• Prevent a threatened or an actual act of terrorism;

• Prepare for all hazards and threats, while explaining the nexus to terrorism preparedness;

• Protect citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards, relating to acts of terrorism; and/or

• Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of an act of terrorism or other catastrophic incidents.

Development of Investments and Projects (SHSP)

• Applicants must propose at least four and may include up to ten investments.

• Required national priority investment justifications must include the name of the priority in the investment name for easy identification.

• Within each investment in their IJ, applicants must propose at least one project to describe the activities they plan to implement with SHSP funds. There is no limit to the number of projects that may be submitted.

• Of the proposed SHSP-funded investments, one single project, within the required intelligence and information sharing investment, must be in support of a designated fusion center. Recipients must coordinate with the fusion center when developing a fusion center project prior to submission. See additional information on how to develop the fusion center projects below.

• Of the proposed SHSP-funded investments, one project in each of the required Cybersecurity and Soft Targets/Crowded Places investments must be in support of enhancing election security.

• All emergency communications investments must describe how such activities align with their Statewide Communication Interoperable Plan (SCIP). Recipients must coordinate with their Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) and/or Statewide Interoperability Governance Body (SIGB) when developing an emergency communications investment prior to submission to ensure the project supports the statewide strategy to improve emergency communications and is compatible and interoperable with surrounding systems. The investment name must include the words “emergency communications” to easily identify any emergency communications investments.

• All requested funding must be associated with specific projects. For each project, several pieces of information must be provided to submit the project for consideration in the application, including the name of the project, the project description, the name of the subrecipient, if applicable, the recipient type (e.g., state or local), the project location (zip code of the primary location of the project), the primary core capability the project supports, whether the project activities are shareable and deployable, and which priority area (if any) the project is in support of. Projects should describe how the proposed investment supports closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities identified in the THIRA/SPR process. Failure to fulfill of all of the terms contained in this section may be considered in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the IJs in accordance with the Risk Methodology and Effectiveness Review described in the Application Review Information and may result in rejection of proposed investments or reduced funding allocations.

• FEMA encourages states to use any DHS provided assessments, such as those performed by DHS’s Protective Security Advisors and Cybersecurity Advisors, when developing their investment justifications.

Priority Investments (SHSP) States are encouraged to review the Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence when developing investments.

Cybersecurity Investment Justification (5 percent) At least one investment must be in support of the state’s cybersecurity efforts. The investment must meet or exceed the FY 2020 national priority percentage for cybersecurity, and will also be subject to DHS/FEMA’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed investments, in order to receive a full allocation of SHSP funds. Cybersecurity investments must support the security and functioning of critical infrastructure and core capabilities as they relate to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism. Recipients and subrecipients of FY 2020 HSGP grant awards will be required to complete the 2020 Nationwide Cybersecurity Review (NCSR), enabling agencies to benchmark and measure progress of improving their cybersecurity posture. The CIO, CISO or equivalent for each recipient should complete the NCSR. If there is no CIO or CISO, the most senior cybersecurity professional should complete the assessment. The NCSR is available at no cost to the user and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. The 2020 NCSR will be open from October – December 2020.

• The NCSR is an annual requirement for recipients and subrecipients of HSGP funds.

Additionally, FEMA recognizes that some subawards will not be issued until after the NCSR has closed. In such cases, such subrecipients will be required to complete the first available NCSR offered after the subaward has been issued by the pass-through entity.

• Although not required by SLTTs that did not receive HSGP funds, all SLTT agencies with preparedness responsibilities are highly encouraged to participate and complete the NCSR to evaluate their cybersecurity posture. For detailed information and background on the NCSR, please see Information Bulletin 439.

In January 2017, the Department of Homeland Security designated the infrastructure used to administer the Nation’s elections as critical infrastructure. This designation recognizes that the United States’ election infrastructure is of such vital importance to the American way of life that its incapacitation or destruction would have a devastating effect on the country. Securing election infrastructure and ensuring an election free from foreign interference are national security priorities. Threats to election systems are constantly evolving, so defending these systems requires constant vigilance, innovation, and adaptation.

Given the importance of the Nation’s election infrastructure, and the multiple and evolving threats to that infrastructure, at least one project within this investment must be in support of the state’s efforts to enhance election security. Additional resources and information regarding election security are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-strategic-framework-countering-terrorism-and-targeted-violence https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac/services/ncsr/ https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac/services/ncsr/ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/election-security-resource-library#wcm-survey-target-id

Soft Target Investment Justification (5 percent) Soft targets and crowded places are increasingly appealing to terrorists and other extremist actors because of their relative accessibility and the large number of potential targets. This challenge is complicated by the prevalent use of simple tactics and less sophisticated attacks. Segments of our society are inherently open to the general public, and by nature of their purpose do not incorporate strict security measures. Given the increased emphasis by terrorists and other extremist actors to leverage less sophisticated methods to inflict harm in public areas, it is vital that the public and private sectors collaborate to enhance security of locations such as transportation centers, parks, restaurants, shopping centers, special event venues, and similar facilities.

Given the increased risk to soft targets and crowded places, at least one investment must be in…