FY 2024 ASSURE NOFO v3 061324 .pdf

FY 2024 ASSURE NOFO

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program

Continuing Training Grants

Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research

Excellence (ASSURE)

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 for Award Management

(SAM.gov) Requesting a UEI using System for Award Management (SAM.gov) can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is the Unique

Entity Identifier.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

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

Table of Contents

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $1,800,000.00

2. Projected Number of Awards: 1

3. Maximum Award Amount: $1,800,000.00

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2024

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2027

7. Projected Budget Period(s)

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

4. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 7/3/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 8/3/2024, 11:59 E.T

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2024

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/01/2024

e. Other Key Dates

2. Address to Request Application Package

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

Award Management (SAM.gov)

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to register to apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

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

7. Submitting the Final Application in FEMA GO

8. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. .. 17

9. Intergovernmental Review

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications

Equipment or Services

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

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

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

e. Mandatory Disclosures

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. FEMA Grants News

c. Equal Rights

d. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. FEMA GO

b. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

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

6. Procurement Integrity

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

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

13. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

14. Appendix

A. CTG ASSURE Program Guidelines and Application Content

Appendix A: CTG ASSURE Program Guidelines and Application Content

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency /

Resilience/National Preparedness Directorate, National Training and Education Division

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.005

3. Assistance Listings Title

State and Local Homeland Security National Training Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) - Continuing

Training Grants (CTG) - Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence

(ASSURE)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-NPD-005-00-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Title III of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, (Pub. L. No.

118-47); Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Department of Homeland Security

Appropriations Act, 2024

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, (Pub. L. No. 118-47).

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category

Preparedness: Training

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery.

As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.

The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Homeland Security

National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG), Alliance for

System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) provides funding to eligible applicants to develop and deliver training solutions to address national preparedness gaps and ensure training is available and accessible to a national audience.

Specifically, this notice provides funding for Mississippi State University’s Federal

Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (hereafter, ASSURE) to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal and territorial partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, whole community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

Continuing Training Grants play an important role in the National Training and

Education System, which is part of the larger National Preparedness System (the

System). The System is designed to build, sustain, and deliver the core capabilities and achieve the desired outcomes identified in the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal).

The Goal is “a secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.” The System provides a consistent and reliable approach to support decision making, resource allocation, and measure progress toward these outcomes.

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

The mission and goal of the CTG ASSURE program is to enable communities to address specific evolving and emerging threats and hazards and close capability gaps through development and delivery of learning solutions that strengthen the nation’s preparedness.

The CTG ASSURE program identifies to identify, develops, tests and delivers training to the SLTT emergency management and emergency response workforce, and provides on-site and mobile training at the performance and management and planning levels. The objectives of the CTG ASSURE program are:

• Identify, develop, test, and deliver on-site mobile and web-based training at the awareness, performance, planning and management levels to the SLTT emergency management and emergency response workforce.

• Support FEMA strategic priorities to instill equity as a foundation of emergency management and lead whole of community climate resilience; and

• Analyze and address current and emerging capability gaps and risks identified in the 2023 National Preparedness Report.

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

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan

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

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan positions the agency to respond to a changing landscape in which the emergency management community must embrace its expanding role. To meet this challenge, the Strategic Plan outlines three bold and ambitious goals.

The objectives under each goal outline how FEMA will support its workforce, better position communities, and leverage its programs and processes to advance the emergency management field.

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

• Goal 2 - Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience

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

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

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

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

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

Community Preparedness.

https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan

• Where appropriate, ASSURE partners should also incorporate: 1) the inseparable nature of climate and equity within the context of emergency management activities with learning objectives that address the significant compounding effects of climate change in underserved and marginalized communities; and 2) consequence management activities (e.g., planning, response, recovery) related to the threat of multiple, cascading critical infrastructure failures.

The CTG ASSURE program supports the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan, particularly

Goal 3: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation and Objective 3.1 to

Strengthen the emergency management workforce. The CTG ASSURE program also supports The DHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024, Goal 5: Strengthen

Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.4 Train and Exercise First Responders.

d. THIRA/SPR

States, territories, major urban areas, and tribes that receive homeland security grants provide annual data on their proficiency across 32 core capabilities through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), Stakeholder Preparedness

Reviews (SPR), exercise and real-world after-action reports, and other preparedness data.

This data feeds into the National Preparedness Report (NPR), which summarizes progress made, and challenges that remain, in building and sustaining the capabilities needed to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats, hazards, and incidents that pose the greatest risk to the nation. The THIRA/SPR assessments and the

NPR are mandated by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and

Presidential Policy Directive 8, and also help fulfill obligations outlined in the Disaster

Recovery Reform Act of 2018. Please visit fema.gov to access the 2023 National

Preparedness Report and the Homeland Security Digital Library to access previous

National Preparedness Reports.

11. Performance Measures

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

FEMA applies the New World Kirkpatrick Model for the FY 2024 CTG ASSURE program as follows:

Level 1: a student’s assessment of the training setting, material, and instruction. This is evaluated through surveys administered during or directly following curriculum delivery and uses numerical (e.g., Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA

NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure experiences compared with standards and expectations.

Level 2: a comparison of pre-course knowledge and skills with post-course knowledge and skills. This is evaluated through testing administered during or directly following curriculum delivery. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness#reports https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness#reports https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness#reports https://www.hsdl.org/c/ https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/the-kirkpatrick-model/ assessed to measure knowledge transfer compared with an established standard of a twenty-six-point increase.

Level 3: an assessment of learning applicability at the home organization or jurisdiction This is evaluated through surveys administered following curriculum delivery, typically between

90 and 180 days after training, and uses a numerical (e.g., Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure training impact on a student’s organization or jurisdiction.

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

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

Sustainment: FEMA has the option to sustain any training course created under the

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

Per the objectives in Section 10.b.:

• Identify current and emerging threats through Unified Training Needs Assessments to inform development of new courses and recertification to ensure communities needs are being met.

• Identify innovative approaches by applying new methodologies, best practices, and by leveraging new technology to improve effectiveness of the training programs.

• Analyze current course offerings and ensure learning objectives that teach equity principles are built into all courses, as appropriate.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $1,800,000.00

2. Projected Number of Awards: 1

3. Maximum Award Amount: $1,800,000.00

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

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

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2024 https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-the-Kirkpatrick-New-World-Model.pdf

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2027

7. Projected Budget Period(s)

There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance.

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

The CTG ASSURE program, prescribed by this notice, is awarded through separate cooperative agreements, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.24, and consistent with the Federal

Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Pub. L. No. 95-234), (31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-

6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with all recipients as they carry out activities under the award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of the

Kirkpatrick evaluation model. NTED Training Partners Program managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award. As FEMA will work directly with the award recipient, training will be compliant with agency standards for curriculum design and development and students taking the training will benefit from standardized, high-quality learning.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Mississippi State University as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Transportation

Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To receive funding under this program, recipient must be the CTG ASSURE executive agent.

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward allowability

Subawards are allowed under this Funding Opportunity.

b. Beneficiaries or Participants

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

4. Cost Share or Match

There is no cost share or match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 7/3/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 8/3/2024, 11:59 E.T.

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 the following: prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency

Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the

FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, 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 by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through

Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2024

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/01/2024

e. Other Key Dates mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

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.

2. 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 NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the

Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding

Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

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

Award Management (SAM.gov)

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

a. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process. Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.300, subrecipients are NOT required to go through the full SAM registration process. First-tier subrecipients

(meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to obtain a UEI through SAM, but they are not required to complete the full SAM registration in order to obtain a UEI. Recipients may not make subawards unless the subrecipient has obtained and provided the UEI.

Lower-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds passed through by a higher-tier subrecipient) are not required to have a UEI and are not required to register in SAM.

Applicants are also not permitted to require subrecipients to complete a full registration in

SAM beyond obtaining the UEI.

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

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

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/ https://sam.gov/content/home

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

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

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

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and Employer Identification Number

(EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the 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 https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov date.

5. Electronic Delivery

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

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

FEMA GO.

6. 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 SAM registration and

Grants.gov account to apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity.

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, 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-83-a62b99571fd3.

file:///C:/Users/rsalsbur/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/3T14KI4A/sam.gov 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

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 applicants applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent an applicant from completing the application in

Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

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

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

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

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

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

“ACTIVE.” SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.”

Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain an UEI number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current.

Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, and EIN are up to date in

SAM and that the UEI number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

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.

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

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

AOR:

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

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

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

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

7. Submitting the Final Application in FEMA GO

Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required as described in Section D.10 of this NOFO, “Content and Form of Application Submission.” The Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the

Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

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

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application

Submission” under Section D of this NOFO.

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 AOR role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application.

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

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

8. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

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

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

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

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

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

Refer to Appendix A of this NOFO for additional information on program – specific application content requirements.

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.

9. 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;

Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

10. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

All costs charged to federal awards (including both federal funding and any non-federal matching or cost sharing funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and policies, this NOFO, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. They must also comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2

C.F.R. Part 200 unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO or the terms and conditions of the federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred and products and services must be delivered within the budget period. 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h). The following identifies a list of activities for which a recipient may not use federal funds and any cost sharing or matching funds under federal awards:

• Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306)

• Lobbying or other prohibited activities under 18 U.S.C. § 1913 or 2 C.F.R. § 200.450

• Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity

(see 2 C.F.R. § 200.435) See subsections below for information on any other funding restrictions.

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

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, subrecipients, and their contractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for

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

200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200. The FY 2019

NDAA and these regulations, as they apply to recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors, provide for two distinct prohibitions: (1) prevent the use of federal award funds to procure or obtain covered telecommunications equipment or services; and (2) prevent the use of federal award funds to contract with an entity that uses such covered telecommunications equipment or services.

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:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-15483/pdf/COMPS-15483.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_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

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

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

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

I. DEFINITIONS

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

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies

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

ii. For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua

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

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

iv. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the People’s

Republic of China.

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

b. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are allowable only with the prior written approval of DHS/FEMA and if they are included in the award agreement. To request pre-award costs a written request must be included with the application, signed by the Authorized

Representative of the entity. The letter must outline what the pre-award costs are for, including a detailed budget breakout of pre-award costs from the post-award costs, and a justification for approval.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to managing and administering the award, such as financial management and monitoring. M&A costs are not operational costs. They are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. Recipients may use up to 5% of the amount of the award for their M&A.

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

Indirect (F&A) costs (IDC) means those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. IDC are allowable by the recipient [and subrecipients] as described in 2

C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated

IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to the FEMA Point of Contact for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2

C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

1. Technical Merit

The proposal will be reviewed and evaluated on an applicant’s understanding of the topic based upon statements provided in the narrative that describe knowledge of the topic to include an awareness of current and emerging issues.

2. National in Scope

FEMA will review the proposal to determine the number and diversity of locations and communities directly and indirectly impacted according to the proposal.

3. Target Audience

FEMA will review the proposal to determine whether the proposed training identifies and links to the target audience.

4. Training Development and Plan

FEMA will review the proposal to determine if the training plan correctly incorporates the Instructional System Design, Analysis Design Development

Implementation Evaluation (ISD ADDIE) model.

5. Budget

FEMA will review the budget to determine whether an applicant addressed all categories and elements with dollar amounts and justifications as appropriate.

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

Prior to 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 by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2) to review and consider any information about the applicant, including information on the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner,…