FY 2023 HSNTP CTG NCPC NOFO FINAL (003).pdf

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security National Training Program

Continuing Training Grants (CTG)

National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC)

All entities wishing to do business with the Federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the SAM system. Requesting a UEI using

SAM.gov can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

On April 4, 2022, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award

Management (SAM.gov). This new identifier is the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

Table of Contents

Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

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 Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $8 million

2. Projected Number of Awards 1

3. Maximum Award Amount: $8 million

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2023

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2026

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

3. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 5/26/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 6/27/2023

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 9/1/2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 9/30/2023

e. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM)

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

f. Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR:

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

h. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles:

i. Track Role Status:

j. Electronic Signature:

8. Submitting the Final Application

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications

Equipment or Services

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

3. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

4. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID)

c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division

d. Equal Rights

e. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

f. Other Contact Information

2. Systems Information

a. Grants.gov

b. Payment and Reporting System (PARS)

c. Payment Management System (PMS) (“Smartlink”)

d. FEMA GO

e. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

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

6. Procurement Integrity

a. Important Changes to Procurement Standards in 2 C.F.R. Part 200

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

Appendix A: Program Guidelines and Application Content 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

Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) – Continuing Training Grants

(CTG) - National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-23-NPD-005-00-97

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021, (Pub. L. No. 117-122)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Division F, Title III, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, (Pub. L. No. 117-328)

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category

Preparedness: Training

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

Over the last several years our nation has witnessed an exponential rise in threat vectors and cyber-attacks with disruptive and destructive physical consequences. Industrial control systems and other supporting information technology which power energy, water, communications, and other critical infrastructure sectors are becoming increasingly interdependent and attractive as targets. Training to address these threats is needed; FEMA learning solutions, developed and delivered through the NCPC, are appropriate to address gaps and reduce risks.

The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 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 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.

The CTG/NCPC supports the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan, particularly Goal 3: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation and Objective 3.1 to Strengthen the emergency management workforce. Through developing and delivering cybersecurity training courses for state, local, tribal and territorial responder the NCPC award also supports

The DHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024, Goal 3: Secure Cyberspace and Critical

Infrastructure, Objective 3.3: Assess and Counter Evolving Cybersecurity Risk.

b. Objectives

The NCPC identifies, develops, tests, and delivers training to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency response providers, provides on-site mobile and web-based training at the awareness, performance, 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.

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

In simple terms, the training return on investment (ROI) is expressed as the benefit to cost ratio for individuals, teams, departments, jurisdictions, and regions across the nation to reach and maintain fully qualified/mission capable status. In practice, training ROI is difficult to measure. The cost of training varies significantly depending upon several variables including delivery format (e.g., online, indirect/train-the-trainer, mobile, resident/on-campus) and competency level (e.g., awareness, performance/operations, management). FEMA uses a systematic approach to optimize the national preparedness training portfolio, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound ROI from the local to the national level. Collaboration with FEMA’s training partners is integral to that effort.

c. Priorities

This NOFO supports several strategic priorities that recipients are expected to support with funded products and activities to the greatest extent possible.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/goal https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024

FEMA Strategic Plan: The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan positions the agency to respond to a changing landscape in which the emergency management community must embrace its expanding role. To meet this challenge, the Strategic Plan outlines three bold and ambitious goals. The objectives under each goal outline how FEMA will support its workforce, better position communities, and leverage its programs and processes to advance the emergency management field.

• Goal 1 - Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management

• Goal 2 - Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience

• Goal 3 - Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation

NCPC partners should address strategic goals and objectives in the 2022-2026 FEMA

Strategic Plan within their submitted statement of work. NCPC partners should explain how activities performed under this award will support the Strategic Plan and ensure the goals and objectives outlined in the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan are incorporated where appropriate into new and existing training curriculum.

• Equity in emergency management requires proactively prioritizing actions that reinforce cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as reflecting the historical context of specific groups of people. NCPC partners are strongly encouraged to explore how funded activities can address the needs of underserved, at-risk communities to help ensure consistent and systematic, fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals before, during, and after a disaster.

• Special emphasis should be placed on the diverse needs and values of individual communities through training and education that aims at reversing the worsening social inequities and risk to our underserved communities. Substantial and ongoing prioritization of, and investment in, underserved communities is essential for the whole of community system of emergency management to be effective and efficient. For more information, refer to H. 13 Whole Community Preparedness.

• Where appropriate, NCPC partners should also incorporate: 1) the inseparable nature of climate and equity within the context of emergency management activities with learning objectives that address the significant compounding effects of climate change in underserved and marginalized communities; and 2) consequence management activities

(e.g., planning, response, recovery) related to the threat of multiple, cascading critical infrastructure failures.

THIRA/SPR: States and territories provide annual data on their proficiency across 32 core capabilities through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews (SPR), exercise and real-world after-action reports, and other preparedness data. This data feeds into the National Preparedness Report (NPR), which summarizes progress made, and challenges that remain, in building and sustaining the capabilities needed to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats, hazards, and incidents that pose the greatest risk to the nation. This annual report offers all levels of government, tribes, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public practical insights into preparedness that support decisions about program priorities, resource allocation, and actions that can create more resilient communities. The NCPC should address current and emerging capability gaps and risks identified in the 2022 National Preparedness Report, including, but not https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment 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_2022-npr.pdf limited to, THIRA/SPR results, and the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic goals and objectives. Please visit fema.gov to access the 2022 National Preparedness Report and the Homeland Security

Digital Library to access previous National Preparedness Reports.

11. Performance Measures

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

FEMA applies the New World Kirkpatrick Model for the FY 2023 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 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 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 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 training impact on a student’s organization or jurisdiction.

FEMA’s First Responder Training System (FRTS) includes the Registration and Evaluation

System (RES). The RES is used to collect New World Kirkpatrick Model evaluation data.

Sustainment: FEMA has the option to sustain any training course created under the HSNTP/CTG at the end of the award period of performance. Once FEMA determines to sustain a course, after consulting with the award recipient, FEMA may transfer any or all course material to another organization or entity to ensure program sustainability and to continue training delivery. FEMA will coordinate the orderly transition of courses between organizations.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $8 million

2. Projected Number of Awards 1

3. Maximum Award Amount: $8 million

4. Period of Performance: 36 months https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2022-npr.pdf https://www.hsdl.org/c/ https://www.hsdl.org/c/ https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-the-Kirkpatrick-New-World-Model.pdf https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-the-Kirkpatrick-New-World-Model.pdf

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 under most programs, including this program, 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): 09/01/2023

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2026

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

The CTG NCPC program, prescribed by this NOFO, is awarded through a separate cooperative agreement, as defined by, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative

Agreement Act of 1977 (Pub. L. No. 95-244, 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with the recipient as it carries 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 (TPP) managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award. As FEMA will work directly with the award recipient, training will be compliant with agency standards for curriculum design and development and students taking the training will benefit from standardized, high quality learning.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

University of Arkansas, Criminal Justice Institute (Executive Agent for the NCPC)

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To receive funding under this program, recipients must be members of the NCPC.

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any Federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training.

Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources

(personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs. Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, credentialing, and inventorying, promote a strong national mutual aid capability needed to support delivery of core capabilities. Additional information on resource management, NIMS resource typing definitions, job titles, and position qualifications is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components.

https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-cooperative-agreement-act-1977.html#:~:text=Federal%20Grant%20and%20Cooperative%20Agreement%20Act%20%281977%29%20The,by%20distinguishing%20between%20contracts%2C%20cooperative%20agreements%20and%20grants.

https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-cooperative-agreement-act-1977.html#:~:text=Federal%20Grant%20and%20Cooperative%20Agreement%20Act%20%281977%29%20The,by%20distinguishing%20between%20contracts%2C%20cooperative%20agreements%20and%20grants.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components

FEMA developed the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National

Qualification System to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards. This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes and identifies tools that Federal Emergency Response Officials and emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state (including territorial), local, tribal, and private sector partners (including nongovernmental organizations) are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so to leverage the Federal investment in the Federal Information Processing Standards 201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction.

Additional information about NIMS in general is available on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims.

3. 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: 5/26/2023 9:00AM ET

b. Application Submission Deadline: 6/27/2023 5:00PM ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization

Representative role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely 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 https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following: 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 technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the

FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 611-4700, 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 Management 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.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 9/1/2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 9/30/2023

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

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR 25.110, must:

1) Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

2) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in its application.

3) Continue to always maintain an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration with current information during the Federal Award process.

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Initial registration in SAM.gov includes UEI issuance

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer

Identification Number (EIN) Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in SAM or Updating

SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in FEMAGO Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Starting application in FEMAGO One week before actual submission deadline

Submitting the final application in

FEMA GO

By the submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/

5. 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.

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and Employer

Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration 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.

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a Federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable 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 obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a Federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 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 an UEI number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the Federal award date.

6. 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.

For this funding opportunity, FEMA requires applicants to submit applications through

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

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 an UEI number, an EIN, an active System for Award Management

(SAM) registration and Grants.gov account to apply for grants.

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 UEI 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 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 an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, prior to April 4, 2022, must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to: Sam.gov.

https://usfema-my.sharepoint.com/personal/0556407272_fema_dhs_gov/Documents/FY23%20NOFO/FY23%20NCPC/Grants.gov https://usfema-my.sharepoint.com/personal/0556407272_fema_dhs_gov/Documents/FY23%20NOFO/FY23%20MSU/Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

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

c. Obtain Employer Identification 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:

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. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

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 an UEI 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, and EIN are up to date in SAM and that the UEI 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.

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 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

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) 606-8230.

f. Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR:

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

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

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

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, if applicable, enter the UEI number for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile.

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 is 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.

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

8. Submitting the Final Application

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) may be accessed in 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.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the application. Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives your application.

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

All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application.

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.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The

Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal 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.

11. 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 Executive Orders | National Archives; Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List)

(whitehouse.gov).

12. 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.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html 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. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications

Equipment or Services

Recipients and subrecipients of FEMA Federal financial assistance are subject to the prohibitions described in section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization

Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 2019 NDAA), Pub. L. No. 115-232 (2018) and 2 C.F.R. §§

200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Beginning August 13, 2020, the statute – as it applies to FEMA recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors – prohibits obligating or expending Federal award funds on certain telecommunications and video surveillance products and contracting with certain entities for national security reasons. Guidance is available at FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

Additional guidance is available at Contract Provisions Guide: Navigating Appendix II to

Part 200 - Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards

(fema.gov).

Effective August 13, 2020, FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards to:

• Procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system.

• Enter into, extend, or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system; or

• Enter into, extend, or renew contracts with entities that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.

I. DEFINITIONS

Per section 889(f)(2)-(3) of the FY 2019 NDAA and 2 C.F.R. § 200.216, covered telecommunications equipment or services means:

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or

ZTE Corporation, (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf

ii. For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by

Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology

Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

iv. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the

Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of

Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the People’s Republic of China.

Examples of the types of products covered by this prohibition include phones, internet, video surveillance, and cloud servers when produced, provided, or used by the entities listed in the definition of “covered telecommunications equipment or services.” See 2 C.F.R. § 200.471.

b. 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.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to managing and administering the award, such as financial management and monitoring. 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.

Recipients may use up to five percent (5%) of the amount of the award for their M&A.

d. Indirect Facilities & 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…