FY 2021 HSNTP_Final_CTG NCPC NOFO__3.pdf

FY 2021 CTG NCPC NOFO

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

Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) Continuing Training Grants (CTG)

National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC)

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained an Employer Identification Number (EIN), a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), or your SAM registration is not active, please take immediate action to obtain an EIN and DUNS Number, if applicable, and then register immediately in SAM or, if applicable, renew your SAM registration. 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. Detailed information regarding DUNS, EIN, and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “How to Register to Apply.” Detailed information regarding the time required for each registration is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “Other Key Dates.”

Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

11. Performance Metrics

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $4,000,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 1

3. Maximum Award Amount:

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2021

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2024

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

5. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

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

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

11. Other Submission Requirements

12. Intergovernmental Review:

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Pass-Through Requirements

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

4. Reporting

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

2. Period of Performance Extensions

3. Disability Integration

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

5. Procurement Integrity

6. Record Retention

7. Actions to Address Noncompliance

8. Audits

9. Payment Information

10. Whole Community Preparedness

11. Appendices Appendix A: HSNTP/NCPC Program Guidelines and Application Content

Requirements Appendix B –Training Objectives, and Other Training Requirements

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Resilience/National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Training and Education Division (NTED)

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.005

3. Assistance Listings Title State and Local Homeland Security National Training Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) – Continuing Training Grants (CTG) - National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-21- NPD-005-00-03

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-260)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-260)

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) – Continuing Training Grants (CTG) - National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC)

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG), National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) provides funding to the eligible applicant to develop and deliver cybersecurity training solutions to address national preparedness gaps, map training to the core capabilities, and ensure training is available and accessible to a nationwide audience. The NCPC addresses the below Presidential Policy Directives through training of State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) first responders.

• Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness

• Presidential Policy Directive 21: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7669 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7669

The NCPC plays an important role in the National Training and Education System (NTES), which is part of the larger National Preparedness System (the System). The System is designed to build, sustain, and deliver the core capabilities and achieve the desired outcomes identified in the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). The Goal is “a secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”

The System provides a consistent and reliable approach to support decision making, resource allocation, and measure progress toward these outcomes.

Lifelines: Through the NCPC program, FEMA places significant emphasis on development and delivery of training programs that enable Community Lifelines. Lifelines enable the continuous operation of critical business and government functions and are critical to human health and safety or national economic security. For more information on Lifelines, please refer to the Community Lifelines Implementation Toolkit. The Lifelines for the NCPC are:

• Safety and Security

• Communications

b. Objectives The NCPC identifies, develops, tests, and delivers training to State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency response providers, provides on-site and mobile training at the awareness, performance, and planning and management levels. Through collaboration, FEMA and the NCPC members address long-term cybersecurity trends that influence national preparedness—including emerging cybersecurity threats, new technologies and continuous individual, organizational and community cybersecurity risk. Specifically, the NCPC program supports cybersecurity training that closes core capability area gaps identified in recent National Preparedness Reports.

States and territories provide annual data on their proficiency across 32 core capabilities through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews, exercise and real world after-action reports, and other preparedness data. This data feeds into the National Preparedness Report and forms a shared national picture of needs relative to capability gaps—including what threats and hazards are posing the greatest risks, and what core capabilities are most in need of improvement or sustainment. Communities and federal agencies alike use this data to prioritize, synchronize, and guide programs and activities to build and sustain capabilities. Analytic results help shape prioritization decisions at FEMA and across the nation to make sure we are focusing our time and our resources in the right areas.

FEMA is committed to reducing complexity, increasing efficiency, and improving outcomes.

In simple terms, the training return on investment (ROI) is expressed as the benefit to cost ratio for individuals, teams, departments, jurisdictions, and regions across the nation to reach and maintain fully qualified/mission capable status. In practice, training ROI is difficult to measure. The cost of training varies significantly depending upon several variables including delivery format (i.e., online, indirect/train-the-trainer, mobile, resident/on-campus) and competency level (i.e., awareness, performance/operations, management). FEMA uses a http://www.fema.gov/whole-community http://www.fema.gov/whole-community https://www.fema.gov/core-capabilities https://www.fema.gov/core-capabilities https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf systematic approach to optimize the national preparedness training portfolio, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound ROI from the local to the national level. Collaboration with FEMA’s training partners is integral to that effort.

c. Priorities The FY 2021 NCPC Program supports several strategic priorities that recipients are expected to incorporate into products and activities funded through the NCPC program to the greatest extent possible.

• The DHS Strategic Plan FY 2020 - 2024;

• Core Capabilities; and

• Community Lifelines.

Core Capabilities: The highest priority for the NCPC is to develop and deliver training to close core capability area gaps identified in recent National Preparedness Reports.

Recent NPRs have highlighted gaps in the following areas:

• Cybersecurity;

• Operational Coordination; and

• Infrastructure Systems.

Please visit fema.gov to access the 2020 National Preparedness Report and the Homeland Security Digital Library to access previous National Preparedness Reports.

11. Performance Metrics The New World Kirkpatrick Model is applied for analyzing and evaluating the results of training and educational programs. It considers any style of training, both informal and formal, to assess learning.

FEMA applies the New World Kirkpatrick Model for the FY 2021 NCPC program as follows:

Level 1: A student’s assessment of the training setting, material, and instruction; this is evaluated through surveys administered during or directly following curriculum delivery and uses a numerical (e.g. Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure experiences compared with standards and student expectations.

Level 2: A comparison of pre-course knowledge and skills with post-course knowledge and skills; this is evaluated through testing administered during or directly following curriculum delivery. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure knowledge transfer compared with an established standard of a twenty-six-point increase.

Level 3: An assessment of learning applicability at the home organization or jurisdiction; this is evaluated through surveys administered following curriculum file://hqli2f3/npdshare/National%20Preparedness%20Assessment%20Division%20(NPAD)/PERFORMANCE%20AND%20GRANT%20MEASURES/NOFOs/FY21%20NOFOs/Comment%20on%20NPD%20NOFOs/%E2%80%A2%09%20https:/www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 file://hqli2f3/npdshare/National%20Preparedness%20Assessment%20Division%20(NPAD)/PERFORMANCE%20AND%20GRANT%20MEASURES/NOFOs/FY21%20NOFOs/Comment%20on%20NPD%20NOFOs/%E2%80%A2%09%20https:/www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/mission-core-capabilities https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/mission-core-capabilities https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/lifelines https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/lifelines https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf https://www.hsdl.org/c/ https://www.hsdl.org/c/ https://www.hsdl.org/c/ delivery, typically between 90 and 180 days after training, and uses a numerical (e.g.

Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure increases or improvements to local preparedness and resilience.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $4,000,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 1

3. Maximum Award Amount: $4,000,000

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to [Section H of this NOFO.

FEMA awards only include one budget period, so it will be same as the period of performance. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 for definitions of “budget period” and “period of performance.”

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2021

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2024

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement The NCPC program, prescribed by this NOFO, is awarded through separate cooperative agreements, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.24, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Pub. L. No. 95-224), (31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with all recipients as they carry out activities under the award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. NTED Training Partners Program managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• University of Arkansas, Criminal Justice Institute (Principal for the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium)

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria To receive funding under this program, recipients must be members of the NCPC as defined by 6 U.S.C. § 1102.

https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/6/1102

3. Other Eligibility Criteria Not applicable

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Not applicable

5. Cost Share or Match There is no Cost Share or Match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date:

b. Application Submission Deadline:

06/24/2021

07/26/2021 at 5:00 PM 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 their submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

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

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For additional assistance using the ND Grants System, please contact the ND Grants Service Desk at (800) 865-4076 or NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov. The ND Grants Service Desk is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact 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 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2021

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/1/2021 at 11:59:00

e. Other Key Dates

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 Initial applications are processed through the Grants.gov portal. Final applications are completed and submitted through FEMA’s Non-Disaster Grants (ND Grants) System.

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.gov.

Hardcopies of the NOFO and associated application materials are not available.

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

Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal.

4. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

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

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

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Starting initial application in Grants.gov

One week before actual submission deadline

Submitting final application in ND grants

One week before actual submission deadline https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

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 and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide a valid 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;

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

h. Register in ND Grants

i. Submit an initial application in Grants.gov;

j. Submit the final application in ND Grants, including electronically signing applicable forms; and

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

Specific instructions on how to apply for, update, or verify a DUNS number or SAM registration or establish an AOR are included below in the steps for applying through Grants.gov.

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 and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide a valid 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. Submit the complete application; and

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

https://www.login.gov/

Applicants are advised that FEMA 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 FEMA is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, FEMA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

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

5. Electronic Delivery DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. General Instructions:

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

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

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Organizations must also have a Grants.gov account to apply for an award under this program.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application https://www.govregs.com/regulations/2/25.110 https://www.govregs.com/regulations/2/25.110 submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

b. Obtain a DUNS Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

Note: At some point, the DUNS Number will be replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID. Grants.gov has begun preparing for this transition by educating users about the upcoming changes and updating field labels and references to the DUNS Number (the current identifier) within the Grants.gov system. Users should continue using the DUNS Number in UEI fields until further notice. To learn more about SAM’s rollout of the UEI, please visit https://gsa.gov/entityid.

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number In addition to having a DUNS number, all entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

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

d. Create a login.gov account:

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

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

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

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

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

e. Register with SAM:

In addition to having a DUNS number, all organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://gsa.gov/entityid https://gsa.gov/entityid https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf

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

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

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

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is “ACTIVE.”

SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.” Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain a DUNS number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current. Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, DUNS number, and Employer Identification Number, or EIN, are up to date in SAM and that the DUNS number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

II. HELP WITH SAM

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

f. Create a Grants.gov Account:

The next step in the registration process is to create an account with Grants.gov. Applicants must know their organization's DUNS number to complete this process.

For more information, follow the on-screen instructions or refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

See also Section D.8 in this NOFO, “Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants,” for instructions on how to register early in ND Grants.

g. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account:

A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

h. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles:

After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access are sent to the EBiz POC.

The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

i. Track Role Status:

To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

j. Electronic Signature:

When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR;

this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

7. How to Submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov Standard Form 424 (SF-424) is the initial application for this NOFO.

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using a workspace. A workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each Notice of Funding Opportunity, you can create individual instances of a workspace. Applicants are encouraged to submit their initial applications in Grants.gov at least seven days before the application deadline.

In Grants.gov, applicants need to submit the following forms:

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

a. Create a Workspace:

Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

b. Complete a Workspace:

Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission.

c. Adobe Reader:

If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace so that they will appear similar to other Standard or DHS forms. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms:

In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color.

These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First:

The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS number. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace:

An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the “Sign and Submit” button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

g. Track a Workspace:

After successfully submitting a workspace package, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

h. Additional Training and Applicant Support:

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 (except federal holidays) support via the toll-free number (800) 518-4726, email at support@grants.gov and the website at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support.html. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist FEMA with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

After submitting the initial application in Grants.gov, eligible applicants will be notified by 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 or, at the latest, seven days before the application deadline. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their applications.

Applicants needing assistance registering for the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 865-4076. For step-by-step directions on using the ND Grants system and other guides, please see https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system.

In ND Grants, applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required as described in Section D.10 of this NOFO, “Content and Form of Application Submission.”. The Standard Forms (SF) are auto generated in ND Grants, but applicants may access these forms in advance through the Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

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

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission As application submission is a two-step process, the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application in Grants.gov will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of its 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. Applicants can also view the ND Grants Agency Tracking Number by accessing the Details tab in the submitted workspace section in Grants.gov, under the Agency Tracking Number column. Should the Agency Tracking Number not appear, the application has not yet migrated from Grants.gov into the ND Grants System. Please allow 24 hours for your ND Grants application tracking number to migrate.

All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 PM ET on the application deadline.

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 https://www.grants.gov/support.html mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

Grants. Additionally, the applicant(s) listed as contacts on the application will receive a system-generated email to confirm receipt.

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

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The following forms or information are required to be submitted in either Grants.gov or ND Grants. The Standard Forms (SF) are submitted either through Grants.gov, through forms generated in ND Grants, or as an attachment in ND Grants. Applicants may also access the SFs at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

I. GRANTS.GOV

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, initial application submitted through

Grants.gov

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying, submitted through

Grants.gov

II. ND GRANTS

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal, submitted as an attachment in ND Grants if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. If the applicant does not have or is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, please see Section D.13 of this NOFO, “Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs,” for further information regarding allowability of indirect costs and whether alternatives to an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal might be available, or contact the relevant FEMA staff identified in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” for further instructions.]

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

The following forms are required to be submitted in either Grants.gov or ND Grants. The Standard Forms (SF), submitted either through Grants.gov, through forms generated in ND Grants, or as an attachment in ND Grants, are available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

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

a. Grants.gov

• Standard Form 424 (Initial Application)

b. ND Grants

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

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

• Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

• 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.

• Program Narrative

• Program Budget

11. Other Submission Requirements

Not applicable

12. Intergovernmental Review:

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372 (See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf).

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO, or the terms and conditions of the award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered, within the period of performance of the award. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h) (referring to budget periods, which for FEMA awards is the same as the period of performance).

In general, the Cost Principles establish standards for the allowability of costs, provide detailed guidance on the cost accounting treatment of costs as direct or administrative costs, and set forth allowability principles for selected items of cost. More specifically, except as otherwise stated in this NOFO, the terms and condition of an award, or other program materials, costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must be consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal Awards located at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E. In order to be allowable, all costs charged to a FEMA award or applied to the cost share must be reasonable in nature and amount and allocable to the particular FEMA award.

Additionally, all costs charged to awards must comply with the grant program’s applicable statutes, policies, requirements in this NOFO as well as with the terms and conditions of the https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf award. If FEMA staff identify costs that are inconsistent with any of these requirements, these costs may be disallowed, and FEMA may recover funds as appropriate, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

As part of those requirements, grant recipients and subrecipients may only use federal funds or funds applied to a cost share for the purposes set forth in this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, and those costs must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award.

Grant funds may not be used for matching funds for 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.

a. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are allowable only with the prior written approval of DHS/FEMA and if they are included in the award agreement. To request pre-award costs a written request must be included with the application, signed by the Authorized Representative of the entity. The letter must outline what the pre-award costs are for, including a detailed budget breakout of pre-award costs from the post-award costs, and a justification for approval.

b. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to managing and administering the award. M&A costs are not operational costs. They are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. Examples include preparing and submitting required programmatic and financial reports, establishing and/or maintaining equipment inventory, documenting operational and equipment expenditures for financial accounting purposes; and responding to official informational requests from state and federal oversight authorities. Recipients may use up to five percent (5%) of the amount of the award for their M&A.

c. Indirect Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R.

Part 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to the FEMA Program Analyst for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an indirect cost rate must also reach out to the FEMA Program Analyst for further instructions. Post-award requests to charge indirect costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based upon the submission of an agreement or proposal as discussed above or based upon on the de minimis rate or cost allocation plan, as applicable.

a. Prohibitions…