FY_2023_THSGP_NOFO_508_v2.pdf

FY 2023 THSGP NOFO Back to the Top

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

Fiscal Year 2023 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program

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

a. Overview

b. Objectives

c. Priorities

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $15,000,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date: 09/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date: 08/31/2026

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants 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

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

4. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 02/27/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 05/18/2023 at 5 p.m. ET

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 07/21/2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/30/2023

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 through Grants.gov

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

9. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

10. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

11. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

12. Intergovernmental Review

13. 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. Other Direct 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. SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants

3. Reporting

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

2. Systems Information

a. Grants.gov

b. Non-Disaster (ND) Grants

c. Payment and Reporting System (PARS)

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. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.067

3. Assistance Listings Title Homeland Security Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2023 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-23-GPD-067-00-02

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 2005 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-296, as amended) (6 U.S.C. § 606)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328)

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Preparedness: Community Security

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is one of three grant programs that support DHS/FEMA’s focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s communities against potential terrorist attacks. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, the THSGP supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines three bold, ambitious goals in order to position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community. The THSGP supports FEMA’s efforts to achieve equitable outcomes for those we serve (Goal 1.3), as well as to promote and sustain a ready FEMA and https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan prepared nation (Goal 3). We invite our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

For FY 2023, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. The threats to our nation have evolved during the past two decades.

We now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, and threats from domestic violent extremists who currently pose the greatest terrorism threat to the nation.1 Therefore, for FY 2023, DHS has identified six priority areas related to the most serious threats to the nation. Recipients are expected to address those priority areas with their THSGP funds.

b. Objectives THSGP provides funding directly to eligible tribes to strengthen their capacities to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to potential terrorist attacks.

c. Priorities Given the evolving national security threat landscape, DHS/FEMA continuously evaluates the national risk profile and sets priorities that help inform appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2023, six areas attract the most concern:

1) Enhancing cybersecurity;

2) Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places;

3) Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis;

4) Combating domestic violent extremism;

5) Enhancing community preparedness and resilience; and

6) Enhancing election security.

Additional information about these priority areas and how they relate to anti-terrorism security is included in Section D.11.b.

Likewise, there are several enduring security needs that crosscut the homeland security enterprise. The following are second-tier priorities that help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing communities:

1) Effective planning;

2) Training and awareness campaigns;

3) Equipment and capital projects; and

4) Exercises.

The table below provides a breakdown of these priority areas for the FY 2023 THSGP, showing both the core capabilities enhanced and lifelines supported, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. A detailed description of allowable investments for each

1Strategic Intelligence Assessment and Data on Domestic Terrorism, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security, May 2021.

project type is included in the Preparedness Grants Manual. THSGP applicants are not required, but are encouraged, to address these areas in their applications. However, as discussed in Section E of this funding notice, investments that sufficiently address one or more of the National Priority Areas (enhancing cybersecurity; enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places; combating domestic violent extremism; enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis; enhancing community preparedness and resilience; and enhancing election security) will have their final review scores increased by a multiplier of 20%. The example project types in the table below are allowable to prepare for disasters unrelated to acts of terrorism as long as they also help achieve target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

FY 2023 THSGP Funding Priorities All priorities in this table concern Safety and Security Lifelines.

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

National Priorities

Enhancing Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure to meet minimum levels identified by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework o Adoption of cybersecurity performance goals (https://www.cisa.gov/cpg) o Cybersecurity training and planning

Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets/ Crowded Places

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Physical security enhancements o Security cameras (closed-circuit television

[CCTV])

o Security screening equipment for people and baggage o Lighting o Access controls

• Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Information sharing with all DHS components;

fusion centers; other operational, investigative, and analytic entities; and other federal law enforcement and intelligence entities

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

• Identification, assessment, and reporting of threats of violence

• Joint intelligence analysis training and planning with DHS officials and other entities designated by DHS https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://www.cisa.gov/cpg

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

Combating Domestic Violent Extremism

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Physical protective measures

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Open-source analysis of misinformation campaigns, targeted violence and threats to life, including tips/leads, and online/social media-based threats

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information, including open-source analysis

• Execution and management of threat assessment programs to identify, evaluate, and analyze indicators and behaviors indicative of domestic violent extremists

• Training and awareness programs (e.g., through social media, suspicious activity reporting [SAR] indicators and behaviors) to help prevent radicalization

• Training and awareness programs (e.g., through social media, SAR indicators and behaviors) to educate the public on misinformation campaigns and resources to help them identify and report potential instances of domestic violent extremism

Enhancing Community Preparedness and Resilience

• Planning

• Public Information and Warning

• Community Resilience

• Risk Management for Protection

Programs and Activities

• Mass Care Services

• Intelligence and Information Sharing

• Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment

• Long Term Vulnerability Reduction

• Establish, train, and maintain tribal Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Teen CERT, with a focus on historically underserved communities, including procurement of appropriate tools, equipment, and training aides for terrorism and related concerns o Local delivery of CERT Train-the-Trainer and

CERT Program Manager to build local program training and maintain capacity

• Establish an emergency communication capability, such as the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), that provides immediate emergency and life-saving information to members of the tribal community.

• Provide continuity training, such as FEMA’s Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs training, to tribal organizations that provide support services such as faith-based organizations, local businesses, and community-based organizations such as homeless shelters, food pantries, nonprofit medical providers, and senior care facilities to bolster their resilience to terrorism and related concerns

• Partner with tribal school districts to deliver the Student Tools for Emergency Planning curriculum or other educational programming to guide students on how to create emergency kits and family communications plans for terrorism and related concerns

• Partner with key stakeholders to bolster the financial resilience of tribal members and households to assist with completing the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit or a similar tool for terrorism and related concerns

• Execute You are the Help Until the Help Arrives https://community.fema.gov/until-help-arrives https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system https://community.fema.gov/until-help-arrives

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities workshops in concert with community-based organizations to bolster individual tribal member preparedness for terrorism and related concerns

• Target tribal youth preparedness using FEMA programing such as Prepare with Pedro resources and Ready2Help for terrorism and related concerns

• Promote tribal community planning, coordination, and integration of children’s needs during terrorism related emergencies through workshops like FEMA’s Integrating the Needs of Children

Enhancing Election Security

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Physical security planning support

• Physical/site security measures (e.g., locks, shatter proof glass, alarms, access controls, etc.)

• General election security navigator support

• Cyber navigator support

• Cybersecurity risk assessments, training, and planning

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments

• Iterative backups, encrypted backups, network segmentation, software to monitor/scan, and endpoint protection

• Distributed Denial of Service protection

• Online harassment and targeting prevention services

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns discussing election security and integrity measures Enduring Needs

Planning • Planning

• Risk management for protection programs & activities

• Risk & disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Development of:

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

• Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

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

• Cybersecurity training and planning

• Revision of existing plans to strengthen community resilience in underserved communities Training & Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information & warning

• Operational coordination

• Situational assessment

• Community resilience

• Active shooter training

• SAR and terrorism indicators/behaviors training

• Security training for employees

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

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

• Cybersecurity training and planning

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

• Targeted outreach and preparedness training for underserved communities in conjunction with community-based organizations

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

Equipment & Capital Projects

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Interdiction & disruption

• Screening, search & detection

• Access control & identity verification

• Physical protective measures

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

• Physical security enhancements

• Security cameras (CCTV)

• Security screening equipment for people and baggage

• Lighting

• Access controls

• Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

• Enhancing Weapons of Mass Destruction and/or improvised explosive device prevention, detection, and response capabilities

• Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, and Explosive detection, prevention, and response equipment

Exercises • Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Operational coordination

• Operational communications

• Community resilience

• Response exercises, including exercise planning with community-based organizations

DHS/FEMA requires THSGP recipients to complete a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), and to prioritize grant funding to support building capability and/or closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities that address national priorities and/or support enduring needs. Additional information on the THIRA/SPR process, including other National Preparedness System tools and resources, can be found at National Preparedness System | FEMA.gov.

11. Performance Measures

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

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

• Percentage of funding and projects allocated by the recipient that align to capability gaps identified through the THIRA/SPR process; and

• Percentage of projects identified by the recipient that address a capability gap in a core capability that has a target(s) rated as high priority.

FEMA will calculate and analyze the above metrics through a review of recipient SPR submissions and required programmatic reports/award monitoring to ensure that the funds are expended for their intended purpose and achieve the stated outcomes in the grant application.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $15,000,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system

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

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.”

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date: 09/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date: 08/31/2026

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Directly eligible tribes.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive THSGP funding, recipients must be directly eligible tribes. Directly eligible tribes are federally recognized tribes that meet the criteria set forth in Section 2001 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 601).

Federally recognized tribes are those tribes appearing on the list published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (Pub. L.

No. 103-454) (25 U.S.C. § 5131).

Per 6 U.S.C. § 601(4), a “directly eligible tribe” is any federally recognized Indian Tribe that meets the following criteria:

(A) Any Indian Tribe―

(i) that is located in the continental United States;

(ii) that operates a law enforcement or emergency response agency with the capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or emergency services;

(iii)

(I) that is located on or near (100 miles) an international border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters;

(II) that is located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure list established under section 2214(a)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 664(a)(2) or has such a system or asset within its territory;

(III) that is located within or contiguous to one of the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States; or https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291

(IV) the jurisdiction of which includes not less than 1,000 square miles of Indian country, as that term is defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code; and

(iv) that certifies to the Secretary of Homeland Security that a state has not provided funds under section 2003 (Urban Area Security Initiative) or 2004 (State Homeland Security Program) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 604 or 605, respectively) to the Indian Tribe or consortium of Indian Tribes for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and

(B) A consortium of Indian Tribes if each tribe satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A).

In summary, directly eligible tribes must meet each of the requirements set forth in (A)(i), (A)(ii), and (A)(iv). Tribes must also meet at least one of the requirements set forth in (A)(iii), that is either (A)(iii)(I), (A)(iii)(II), (A)(iii)(III), or (A)(iii)(IV). Finally, under subparagraph (B), a consortium may also be eligible to be a recipient if each Indian Tribe in the consortium meets the criteria for a directly eligible tribe under subparagraph (A).

In FY 2023, applicants must self-certify as to whether they meet the eligibility requirements.

Self-certification will be provided on the THSGP Eligibility Certification Form as part of the application Investment Justification (IJ). Additionally, DHS/FEMA will verify grant recipient eligibility against these criteria. Any questions regarding an applicant’s proximity to a Critical Infrastructure site, as described in the eligibility criteria, may be directed to 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 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

An application submitted by an otherwise eligible non-federal entity (i.e., the applicant) may be deemed ineligible when the person that submitted the application is not: 1) a current employee, personnel, official, staff, or leadership of the non-federal entity; and 2) duly authorized to apply for an award on behalf of the non-federal entity at the time of application.

Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff, or leadership of the recipient. They must provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance. Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR of the recipient.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

THSGP recipients are required to work toward adopting and implementing NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at NIMS Implementation and Training | FEMA.gov. Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS

4. Cost Share or Match https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training

Cost share or cost match is not required under this program. Applicants that propose a cost share will not receive additional consideration in the scoring.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 02/27/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 05/18/2023 at 5 p.m. ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

The Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System has a date stamp that indicates when an application is submitted. Applicants will receive an electronic message confirming receipt of 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. Note: Hard copies of this application are not available.

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.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 07/21/2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/30/2023 mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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

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 Home | Grants.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; and

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

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.

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 Grants.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in ND Grants Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline Submitting application in Grants.gov Three days before actual submission deadline Submitting the final application in ND Grants By the submission deadline https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number from SAM.gov 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. 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 an UEI number or SAM registration or establish an AOR are included below in the steps for applying through Grants.gov.

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 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 https://www.login.gov/ mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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 initial applications through Grants.gov and a final application through ND Grants.

7. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov For information on how to register to apply through Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

8. 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; and

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

For further information on how to submit an initial application via Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

9. 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 Non-Disaster Grants Management System | FEMA.gov.

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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.fema.gov/grants/tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system 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.

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

11. 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 SF-424 family on Grants.gov.

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 o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information (Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424A

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html o For construction under an award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances (Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424B

• 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.

Generally, applicants have to submit either the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B) or construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D), meaning that applicants that only have construction work and do not have any non-construction work need only submit the construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D) and not the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B), and vice versa. However, applicants who have both construction and non-construction work under this program need to submit both the construction and non-construction forms.

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in ND Grants

• THSGP IJ (Office of Management and Budget [OMB] Control Number: 1660-

0113/FEMA Form: 089-22), which is located in the “Related Documents” tab on Grants.gov; and

• Self-certification form stating the tribe’s eligibility per the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (the self-certification is contained within the THSGP IJ).

Priority Investments

I. CYBERSECURITY

Today’s world is more interconnected than ever before, but with increased connectivity comes increased risk of our adversaries, including terrorists, exploiting cyber vulnerabilities and weaknesses to disrupt our way of life. Cybersecurity investments must support the security and functioning of critical infrastructure and core capabilities as they relate to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

Therefore, FEMA is giving priority to investments that enhance the tribe’s cybersecurity efforts.

Additional resources and information regarding cybersecurity and cybersecurity performance goals are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), https://www.cisa.gov/cpg, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.cisa.gov/cpg

II. SOFT TARGETS AND CROWDED PLACES

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

Additional resources and information regarding securing soft targets and crowded places are available at Securing Public Gatherings (SPG) | CISA.

III. INFORMATION AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND ANALYSIS

Effective homeland security operations rely on access to, analysis of, and the timely sharing of open source, unclassified and classified information, suspicious activity reports, tips/leads, and actionable intelligence on indicators and behaviors. This information is crucial to accurately identify, assess and mitigate a wide array of threats against the United States, including terrorism, threats to life, targeted violence, and other threats within the DHS mission space. Accordingly, DHS works diligently to enhance intelligence collection, integration, analysis, and information sharing capabilities to ensure partners, stakeholders and senior leaders receive actionable intelligence and information necessary to inform their decisions and operations. A critical and statutorily charged mission of DHS is to deliver intelligence and information to federal, state, local and tribal governments, and private sector partners. Cooperation and information sharing among state, federal, and local partners, while upholding privacy, civil rights and civil liberties protections, is critical to homeland security operations and the prevention of, preparation for, protection against, and response to acts of terrorism and other threats to life and criminal acts of targeted violence. This is critical across all areas of the homeland security enterprise, including counterterrorism (both international and domestic), cybersecurity, border security, transnational organized crime, immigration enforcement, economic security, and other areas.

Additional resources and information regarding collaboration and information sharing are available through the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

IV. DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM

As stated in the DHS Homeland Threat Assessment, October 2020, domestic violent extremists present the most persistent and lethal terrorist threat to the Homeland, including ideologically motivated lone offenders and small groups. These violent extremists capitalize on social and political tensions, which have resulted in an elevated threat environment. They utilize social media platforms and other technologies to spread violent extremist ideologies that encourage violence and influence action within the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has further created an environment that may https://www.cisa.gov/securing-public-gatherings https://www.dhs.gov/building-law-enforcement-and-homeland-security-partnerships https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2020_10_06_homeland-threat-assessment.pdf lead to accelerated mobilization to targeted violence and/or radicalization to domestic terrorism, including leveraging lawful protests to incite violence, intimidate targets, and promote their violent extremist ideologies.

Additional resources and information regarding domestic violent extremism are available through Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).

V. COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE

Community organizations are the backbones of American civic life, both during “blue skies” and in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. Community organizations, such as homeless shelters, food banks, public libraries, faith-based institutions, and nonprofit medical providers must have the capabilities to withstand acts of terrorism and provide essential services, especially to members of underserved communities, in the aftermath of an attack. In addition, individual citizens and volunteer responders, such as Community Emergency Response Teams, are often the first on the scene after a terrorist attack. The ability of these volunteers to provide assistance to their fellow citizens prior to the arrival of professional first responders is paramount to a community’s resilience. FEMA’s 2021 National Household Survey recorded an 11% decline in the number of Americans that have taken at least three preparedness actions to bolster individual and household resilience. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on community-based organizations such as homeless shelters, food banks, public libraries, faith-based institutions, and nonprofit medical providers and their ability to continue to provide key services during and after disasters, including acts of terrorism.

Additionally, equity in emergency management requires proactively prioritizing actions that reinforce cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as reflect the historical context of specific groups of people. To that end, tribes are strongly encouraged to explore how THSGP-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.

The focus on equity and investing in strategies that meet the needs of underserved communities will strengthen the whole of community system of emergency management.

Substantial and ongoing prioritization of, and investment in, underserved communities is essential for the entire system to be effective and efficient. Engaging the whole community requires all members of the community to be part of the emergency management team, including representatives of underserved communities, diverse community members, social and community service groups and institutions, faith-based and disability advocacy groups, academia, professional associations, the private and nonprofit sectors, and government agencies that may not traditionally have been directly involved in emergency management. The whole community includes children; older adults; individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; those from religious, racial and ethnically diverse backgrounds; people with limited English proficiency; and owners of animals including household pets and service animals.

https://www.dhs.gov/CP3 https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/2021-National-Household-Survey.pdf https://fema-community-files.s3.amazonaws.com/2021-National-Household-Survey.pdf

Additional resources and information regarding community preparedness and resilience are available through Individuals and Communities | FEMA.gov.

VI. ELECTION SECURITY

In January 2017, DHS designated the infrastructure…