FY 2023 USR NOFO_FINAL.pdf

FY 2023 USR NOFO Back to the Top

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

Fiscal Year 2023 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the 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 ContentsPlanned 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

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $37,260,741.00

2. Projected Number of Awards: 28

3. Maximum Award Amount: $1.6 million

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): Sep. 1, 2023

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): Aug. 31, 2026

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions 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

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) There is no MOE requirement under this program

5. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: August 15, 2023 at 9 a.m. ET

b. Application Submission Deadline: August 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than Aug. 31, 2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than Sep. 1, 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

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 theOrganization to the System and Establish the AOR..13

9. Submitting the Final Application:

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. Other Submission Requirements

13. Intergovernmental Review

14. 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. 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. FEMA Regional Offices

e. Equal Rights

f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. Grants.gov

b. FEMA GO

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

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. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

8. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

9. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

10. Actions to Address Noncompliance

11. Audits

12. Payment Information

13. Whole Community Preparedness

14. Appendices

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Office of Response and Recovery, Response Directorate, Operations Division, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Branch

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.025

3. Assistance Listings Title National Urban Search and Rescue Response System

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2023 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-23-DOD-025-000-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C § 5165f

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023, Title III – Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations and Support (Pub. L. No. 117-328)

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category Response

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System (the System) provides funding to ensure adequate management, training, exercise, procurement (vehicle and equipment) and storage and maintenance for the 28 national task forces staffed and equipped to assist state and local governments, tribes and territories to conduct around-the-clock search-and-rescue operations following a Presidentially declared major disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills and catastrophic structure collapses). When deployed, these task forces support State and local emergency responders' efforts by leading the U.S. response to natural and man-made incidents, conducting mass search and rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of and incident, and assisting with stabilization and restoration of community lifelines immediately following an incident.

In FY22, awards were provided to each of the 28 FEMA US&R Sponsoring Agencies. In CY22, 60 US&R resources responded to four disasters, rescuing, saving, or assisting 1,787 persons and searching or assessing 97,190 structures.

This program supports DHS Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.2:

“Respond During Incidents” as provided in the DHS Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2020-2024, and Goal 3 of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation.

b. Objectives The objective of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide for the sustainment and readiness of the System and local jurisdictions, through the funding of administration and management, training, equipment, and storage and maintenance.

c. Priorities

Program Priorities are as follows:

1. Ensure that System Sponsoring Agency Administrative Organizations manage and administer task force affairs and activities consistent with best practices; to include making available training and exercises that enable task force personnel to safely perform assigned duties in accordance with established FEMA and System standards and guidance.

2. Ensure a state of readiness and enhance operational effectiveness by acquiring and maintaining equipment and tools in accordance with the System’s current approved FEMA Equipment Cache List.

3. Provide leased space to meet the office, training site and storage requirements of the System.

4. Optimize standby activities by making available resources to enable catastrophic event planning, mobilization exercises and technical assistance.

5. Provide forums to enable FEMA and System Sponsoring Agency senior leadership coordination and discussion on System strategic issues.

11. Performance Measures

Performance will be evaluated annually through the FEMA US&R Annual Self-Evaluation;

the Self-Evaluation results will be validated triennially through the FEMA US&R Administrative Readiness Evaluation (ARE).

Factors to be evaluated:

Operations

• Complement of Rostered Task Force Members

• Complement of Trained Task Force Members

• Complement of Deployable Task Force Members

• Complement of Deployable Canine Search Specialist Teams

• Members Participating in Annual Training and Exercises

• Members Participating in Training/Drill Sessions Logistics Logistics

• Complement of Cache Equipment Items

• Adequacy of Transportation Resources

• Cache Mobilization – Training/Exercise

• Adequacy of Cache Management Inventory System

• Adequacy of Warehouse Resources Administrative / Management

• Complement of Cooperative Agreement Staffing and Resources

• Validation of Complete, Accurate, Timely Cooperative Agreement Reports

• Validation of Cooperative Agreement Plans and Memoranda of Agreement

• Validation of Financial and Accounting Processes and Records

• Adequacy of Sponsoring Agency Support Functions

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $37,260,741.00

2. Projected Number of Awards: 28

3. Maximum Award Amount: $1.6 million

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

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

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): Sep. 1, 2023

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): Aug. 31, 2026

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

See Appendix A, US&R Task Force FY23 Readiness Cooperative Agreement Statement of Work (SOW) for specific examples of FEMA/US&R Branch Responsibilities and Sponsoring Agency Responsibility and Requirements.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Must be a FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Sponsoring Agency

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Must be one of the 28 FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Sponsoring Agencies

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Before allocating 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.

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.

4. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) There is no MOE requirement under this program.

5. Cost Share or Match There is no cost share or match under this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: August 15, 2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: August 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components 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

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 award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means: before 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 notice, “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 Aug. 31, 2023

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than Sep. 1, 2023

e. Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) Four weeks before actual submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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/.

Hard copies of the funding notice can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this notice, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

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.

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. 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;

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion 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 Organization in FEMA GO Prior to beginning application

Submitting complete application in FEMA GO One week before actual submission deadline https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

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 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.

https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607

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.

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.

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 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 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 past 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.

II. HELP WITH SAM

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

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

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

9. 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 notice, “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 notice.

10. 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.

11. 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) o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information (Construction), in addition to or instead of SF-424A https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction) o For construction under an award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances

(Construction), in addition to or instead of SF-424B

• 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 notice, “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 notice, “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 FEMA

GO:

Completed US&R Budget Narrative Workbook, FEMA Form 089-0-101; and Requests for pre-award costs (if applicable) must be made in writing on Sponsoring

Agency letterhead and include detailed information on the need for pre-award funding; and

If one or more vehicle purchases is/are included in the budget narrative, include the following:

o Vehicle (rolling or floating) specifications of the vehicle(s) the applicant intends to purchase; and o A completed Vehicle Support Unit Purchase Replacement/Disposal Justification Form, FEMA Form 089-0-26.

12. Other Submission Requirements

Submitting Sponsoring Agency applicants must submit one complete application each, including a budget plan that is in accordance with the items outlined in the US&R Task Force FY 2023 Readiness Cooperative Agreement Statement of Work. (Appendix A)

13. Intergovernmental Review

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

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf).

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

14. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs All costs charged to awards covered by this notice must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the funding notice, 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 notice, the terms and condition of an award, or other program materials, costs charged to awards covered by this notice 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 notice as well as with the terms and conditions of the 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 notice 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.

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

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).

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. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

FEMA grant funding may be permitted to procure replacement equipment and services impacted by this prohibition, provided the costs are otherwise consistent with the requirements of the notice.

II. 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);

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 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

Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.458, pre-award costs are those incurred before the effective date of the Federal award directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the Federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work.

Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the Federal award and only with the written approval from FEMA.

To apply for the approval to of pre-award costs (i.e., costs incurred prior to the beginning of the Period of Performance for this Cooperative Agreement) the recipient shall submit a justification as to why the pre-award cost approval is necessary, along with a detailed estimate of costs, in the application. The US&R Branch will review and forward the application to the Grant Programs Directorate for approval. The recipient will then be instructed to include their request and the approval with their application package submission.

Once the cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient may then draw down this funding to cover the pre-award expenses at that time.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs Management and Administration costs are allowed under this program, as outlined in 44 C.F.R. § 208.23. Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to implementing the award. M&A costs are not operational costs. They are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or because of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. Funding levels for M&A costs, if proposed, will be negotiated on a per applicant basis

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 a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R.

Part 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to the FEMA US&R Grants Management Specialist or other relevant FEMA position for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an indirect cost rate must also reach out to the FEMA US&R Grants Management Specialist or other relevant FEMA position for further instructions.

e. Other Direct Costs

• Planning: Planning costs related to training or exercises are allowed under this program.

• Training: Training related costs are allowed under this program.

• Exercises: Exercise related costs are allowed under this program.

• Equipment: Equipment costs are allowed under this program.

• Medical Monitoring: Medical Monitoring costs are allowed under this program

• Domestic: Domestic travel costs are allowed under this program.

• International: International travel is not an allowable cost under this program unless approved in advance by FEMA.

• Except for minor renovations and modifications of existing warehouse facilities that do not change the footprint of the structure, construction and renovation costs are not allowed. Examples of permissible minor renovation and modification costs include but are not limited to office/storage space build-out/reconfiguration, ceilings, loading docks/doors, lighting, HVAC, and security fencing. US&R Branch approval is required for reimbursement of renovation and modification costs. The purpose of allowing minor renovation and modification costs is to ensure the equipment cache is maintained as required under the National Urban Search and Rescue Response program. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 5165f(l)(2); 44 C.F.R. § 208.23(c)(4).

• You may only use cooperative agreement funds to pay for warehouse leases for a twelve-month consecutive period within the overall period of performance and there is no guarantee of cooperative agreement funding in future years. Task forces may write contracts with an available fund’s clause or option years for protection.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

Only FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Sponsoring Agencies (28 total, see Appendix B) are eligible to apply for this NOFO.

Applicants must be a FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Sponsoring Agency. Submitting Sponsoring Agency applicants must submit one complete application each, including a budget plan that is in accordance with the items outlined in the US&R Task Force FY 2023 Readiness Cooperative Agreement Statement of Work. (Appendix A).

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

Prior to making a federal award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3354, as enacted by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-117 (2020); 41 U.S.C. § 2313;

and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206 to review information available through any Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-designated repositories of governmentwide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, including whether the applicant is suspended or debarred.

FEMA may also pose additional questions to the applicant to aid in conducting the pre-award risk review. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

i. Financial stability.

ii. Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

iii. History of performance in managing federal award.

iv. Reports and findings from audits; and

v. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review Before making a federal award where the anticipated total federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000:

i. FEMA is required to review and consider any information about the applicant, including information on the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors, if applicable, that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM), which is currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered.

iii. FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

2. Review and Selection Process

FEMA staff, professionally and technically qualified in the System, will evaluate applications and select applicants for funding. Applicants will be evaluated and selected for funding based on the following:

a. The applicant is a FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Sponsoring Agency.

b. The applicant’s proposed work plan is consistent with the US&R Task Force FY 2023 Readiness Cooperative Agreement Statement of Work. (Appendix A)

c. The applicant proposes costs that are allowable, reasonable, and allocable in relation to proposed projects and tasks.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

Before accepting the award, the AOR and recipient should carefully read the award package.

The award package includes instructions on administering the grant award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under federal awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this notice as well as any specific terms and conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically via FEMA GO.

Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and Obligating Document. An email notification of the award package will be sent through FEMA’s grant application system to the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) that submitted the application.

https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/#/home https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/#/home

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 90 days from the award date. The recipient shall notify FEMA of its intent to accept and proceed with work under the award through the FEMA GO system.

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award through the FEMA GO system and all other conditions of the award have been satisfied or until the award is otherwise rescinded. Failure to accept a grant award within the specified timeframe may result in a loss of funds.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements In addition to the requirements of in this section and in this notice, FEMA may place specific terms and conditions on individual awards in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions All successful applicants for DHS grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, which are available online at: DHS Standard Terms and Conditions.

The applicable DHS Standard Terms and Conditions will be those in effect at the time the award was made. What terms and conditions will apply for the award will be clearly stated in the award package at the time of award.

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights As the Nation works towards achieving the National Preparedness Goal, it is important to continue to protect the civil rights of individuals. Recipients and subrecipients must carry out their programs and activities, including those related to the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities, in a manner that respects and ensures the protection of civil rights for protected populations.

Federal civil rights statutes, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, along with DHS and FEMA regulations, prohibit…