FY_2024_EMPG_NOFO_04_12_24_Final_508AB.pdf

FY 2024 EMPG NOFO

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

Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the system. 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/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20registration https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

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: $319,550,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2026

5. Projected Budget Period(s)

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward Allowability

b. Subrecipient Eligibility

c. Other Subaward Information

d. Beneficiaries or Participants

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

b. Public Alert and Warning Preparedness

c. Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership

5. Cost Share or Match D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/16/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/24/2024 at 5 p.m. ET

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than August 23, 2024

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than September 30, 2024

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.gov)

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a Login.gov Account:

e. Register with SAM:

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

8. Submitting the Application

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

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

e. Evaluation Costs

f. Other Direct Costs

g. Unallowable 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

a. Initial Review

b. Overall Review

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Pass-Through Requirements

3. 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

4. Reporting

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. FEMA Grants News

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. 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. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

4. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

5. State Housing Strategy

6. State-Administered Direct Housing Implementation

7. Appendices

a. EMPG Program Work Plan

b. EMPG Requirements Matrix

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

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

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.042

3. Assistance Listings Title Emergency Management Performance Grants

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-GPD-042-01-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), as amended, (Pub. L. No. 109-295) (6 U.S.C. § 762); the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.); the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as amended (Pub. L. No. 95-124) (42 U.S.C. §§ 7701 et seq.); and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended (Pub. L. No.

90448) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.).

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47, Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (2024 DHS Appropriations Act);

Compact of Free Association Act of 2003, as amended (Pub. L. No. 108-188)1

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category

Preparedness: Emergency Management

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program is one of the grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA’s focus on all-hazards emergency preparedness, including the evolving threats and risks associated

1 An additional $50,000 is funded pursuant to the Federal Programs and Services Agreements of the Compact of Free Association Act of 2003, as amended (Pub. L. No. 108-188).

with climate change. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS.

Last year, 56 states and territories were awarded EMPG Program funding, as were two Compact of Free Association nations. For a full list of FY 2023 recipients, please refer to Information Bulletin (IB) 490a.

b. Goals, Objectives. and Priorities Goals: The goal of the FY 2024 EMPG Program is to provide funds to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies to implement the National Preparedness System (NPS) and to support the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) of a secure and resilient nation.

Objectives: The EMPG funds will address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community by meeting the following objectives:

1) Building or sustaining those capabilities that are identified as high priority through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process and other relevant information sources (see Priorities section below);

2) Closing capability gaps that are identified in the state or territory’s most recent SPR; and

3) Building continuity capabilities to ensure governmental essential functions and services resilience

DHS/FEMA requires EMPG Program recipients to complete a THIRA/SPR.

Additional information on the THIRA/SPR process, including other NPS tools and resources, can be found at National Preparedness System | FEMA.gov and the Preparedness Grants Manual (FM-207-23-001).

Priorities: All EMPG Program applicants are required to develop and submit a Work Plan as described in the appendix in Section H below. All EMPG Program Work Plans will require final approval by the applicable FEMA Regional Administrator (RA). Prior to submission, the applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to ensure that appropriate regional and state/territory priorities are effectively addressed in the Work Plan.

Priorities, and associated EMPG Program-funded projects, must be mutually agreed to by the recipient and RA. Identification of priorities and development of the EMPG Program Work Plan should involve a collaborative negotiation process through which a common set of priorities will emerge based on a combination of state/territory priorities, regional priorities, and national priorities (as outlined in the table below).

State/territory priorities should be primarily driven by the THIRA/SPR process, as explained in the Objectives section above. Other relevant information sources, such as: 1) after-action reports (AARs) following exercises or real-world events; 2) audit https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ib_2023_award_announcement_thgsp_update_signed_508c.pdf https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual and monitoring findings; 3) Hazard Mitigation Plans; and/or 4) other deliberate planning products may also be used to inform state/territory priorities. Additionally, states and territories are urged to consider the funding needs of local governments when developing their funding priorities. Regional priorities will be determined by the RA based on their unique knowledge of the region’s preparedness and emergency management needs, including broader insight into common capability gaps across the region and potential opportunities for economies of scale to capitalize on those commonalities. Regional priorities should also be based on an analysis of THIRA/SPR data and other information sources provided by the states/territories in their area(s) of responsibility. Ideally, all EMPG Program funded projects, as outlined in the approved FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan, will support the priorities identified through this approach.

Through the priority development and negotiation process, each region and state/territory should discuss state/territory, regional, and national priorities.

Converging their processes for identifying priorities and reaching consensus on a common set of shared priorities helps the region and each state/territory to realize economies of scale. As a result of these negotiations, the region and state/territory should reach a consensus on three-to-five priorities each recipient will focus on addressing and improving in its EMPG Program Work Plan.

Federal regulations outlined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200 require federal awarding agencies to measure recipient performance to show achievement of program goals and objectives, share lessons learned, improve program outcomes, and foster adoption of promising practices (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.301, Performance measurement). For FY 2024, there is a continuing emphasis on priorities-based investments. Additionally, recipients must set outcome-oriented performance goals for closing capability gaps related to the three-to-five agreed-upon priorities, aligning funding with high-priority strategic preparedness needs. An outcome-oriented approach will allow recipients to define success, benchmark their projects, and measure their progress in building capability.

Recipients will be able to use this to generate a feedback cycle. If projects are not achieving desired outcomes, recipients will have a basis for revisiting plans and assessments and adjusting their projects and other investments.

Finally, there is a continuing requirement that at least 87.5% of all projects that include Planning, Training, and/or Exercise deliverables align with closing capability gaps identified and documented in the state/territory’s most recent THIRA/SPR submission and other relevant information sources, as explained above.

When developing state/territory priorities, applicants should also consider the following national priorities, which correspond directly to the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan and are further described below:

• Equity;

• Climate Resilience; and

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

Equity Underserved communities suffer disproportionately from disasters. Disasters compound the challenges faced by these communities and increase their risk to future disasters. By instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management and striving to meet the unique needs of underserved communities, the emergency management community can work to break this cycle of compounding risks and build a more resilient nation.

Executive Order (EO) 13985 on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (January 20, 2021) defines equity as “the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment,” and further defines underserved communities as “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life…such as Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American, Alaska Native and Indigenous, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, Middle Eastern, and North African persons. It also includes individuals who belong to communities that face discrimination… (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons)…” The EO definition of underserved communities also includes members of religious minorities, persons with disabilities, persons who live in rural areas, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. See Goal 1: Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan for additional information on this topic.

Equity in emergency management requires proactively prioritizing actions that reinforce cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as reflect the historical context of specific groups of people. To that end, states and territories are strongly encouraged to explore how EMPG Program-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, consistent with applicable law.

The focus on equity and investing in strategies that meet the needs of underserved communities will strengthen the whole of community system of emergency management. Substantial and ongoing prioritization of, and investment in, underserved communities is essential for the entire system to be effective and efficient. Engaging the whole community requires all members of the community to be part of the emergency management team, including representatives of underserved communities, diverse community members, social and community service groups and institutions, faith-based and disability advocacy groups, academia, professional associations, the private and nonprofit sectors, and government agencies that may not traditionally have been directly involved in emergency management. The whole community includes children; older adults; individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; those from religious, racial, and ethnically diverse https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/25/executive-order-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-in-the-federal-workforce/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/25/executive-order-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-in-the-federal-workforce/ https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-1 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-1 backgrounds; people with limited English proficiency; and owners of animals including household pets and service animals.

To the extent possible, equity considerations must be factored into all FY 2024 EMPG Program-funded investments across all national priority areas. Additionally, applicants are required to designate at least one project in their FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan and budget narrative that exclusively focuses on addressing equity considerations.

Regarding environmental justice, EO 14096 Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, provides the federal government with a definition of environmental justice. Environmental justice means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

(i) are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and

(ii) have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

Climate Resilience Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing emergency managers today, and it will continue to shape the field of emergency management for the next several decades. To meet this challenge, the emergency management field needs to anticipate the increasing demands generated by more extreme and frequent disasters, from wildfires and coastal storms to inland flooding. Additionally, emergency managers must learn to manage and support climate-related emergencies such as drought and extreme heat. Natural disasters, worsened by the effects of climate change, often disproportionately affect people in underserved communities where weakened infrastructure, fewer resources, and less support invested in hazard mitigation can compound a disaster’s impact. Therefore, FEMA recommends that climate change and resilience considerations be cornerstones of how the nation builds resilient communities. Emergency managers at the federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels need to undertake targeted efforts to increase resilience, including climate resilience, for underserved individuals and communities.

Climate change has both acute and chronic impacts; communities must be resilient against threats as varied as extreme flooding, drought, hurricanes, and wildfires.

Many communities are faced with aging infrastructure, which can increase risk from major disasters. As the frequency of these disasters accelerates, FEMA must increase climate adaptation investments across the nation. To have the greatest impact, FEMA https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/26/2023-08955/revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/26/2023-08955/revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all encourages smart investments in system-based, community-wide projects to protect those with the most severe and persistent risk. Communities can better target investments to the most transformational projects when they better understand the unique risks posed by climate change.

The future disaster environment will not resemble that of the past, or even what is experienced today. To build long-term resilience, communities must understand their future risk and have the resources and capacity to reduce that risk. Even within the same geographic area, different communities will face differing levels of risk due to their unique demographic, economic, and physical characteristics. It is important for the emergency management community to develop capacity to access and interpret accurate information about this localized risk, specifically in light of future conditions. This information will help communities better understand their own risks and identify the most appropriate resilience actions. See Goal 2: Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan for additional information on this topic.

Climate resilience considerations will be a continued area of focus for FY 2025.

Readiness As disasters become more frequent, severe, and complex, the demands placed upon the emergency management community, as well as federal resources, have increased dramatically. To adapt to this trend, FEMA and the emergency management community must expand our approach to readiness, preparedness, continuity, and resiliency by increasing the overall emergency management capabilities at all levels of government, as well as the private sector, the nonprofit sector, and among individuals. The National Capability Targets provide a shared vision of the staff, expertise, tools, and resources required to build a prepared nation. Aligning state and local readiness plans to these targets will ensure agencies can continuously support the needs and priorities identified by whole community partners, in addition to continuity of government across all hazards.

Disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are not the responsibility of just one agency. Rather, these functions are a shared responsibility requiring coordination of federal agencies, private and social sectors, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and other partners. The ability to support communities begins with how emergency management agencies help them prepare before a disaster occurs. Through better coordination of pre-disaster programs, we can all help communities identify, prioritize, and plan to address their specific community-based threats, identify hazards and risks, and mitigate capability gaps. Together, federal assistance can be targeted to address areas of greatest national risk and increase support to the most at-risk communities. See Goal 3: Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan for additional information on this topic.

https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-2 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-2 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-3 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan/goal-3

Additional Guidance on EMPG Program Priorities Recognizing that every state and territory has its own unique preparedness and emergency management needs, the national priorities outlined above should inform the identification of state/territory priorities and regional priorities when developing the common set of mutual priorities as agreed upon by the RA and each state/territory. Ideally, the regional and state/territory priorities will complement and support the national priorities. In addition to the requirement that at least one project address equity considerations, the only other mandate stemming from these national priorities is the requirement for all EMPG Program recipients to develop and maintain a Distribution Management Plan as an annex to their existing Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). See the Logistics Planning section of the Preparedness Grants Manual for additional details on this requirement.

Consistent with FY 2023, states and territories are encouraged to identify whether and how each project included in their EMPG Program Work Plan addresses equity-related considerations, or the impacts associated with climate change (as applicable).

This guidance is in addition to the requirement that at least one project focus specifically on equity considerations. The reporting of this information will allow FEMA to better understand how states and territories are using EMPG Program funding to support equity and climate resilience. See the appendices of this NOFO for more information about the requirements for addressing these priorities in the EMPG Program Work Plan submission.

The table below provides a high-level breakdown of the national priority areas, the associated core capabilities, as well as examples of project types for each area. Please see Section D of this NOFO for more detailed information about allowable costs for projects.

2 NOTE: The core capabilities listed under the Equity priorities are not all-inclusive. Equity considerations should be factored into all core capabilities and all EMPG-funded projects, including those listed under the Climate Resilience and Readiness priorities.

National Priority Area

Associated Core Capabilities2 Examples of Allowable Activities

Equity • Health and Social Services

• Mass Care Services

• Public Health, Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services

• Housing

• Logistics and Supply

Chain Management

• Critical Transportation

• Public Information and

Warning

• Employment of planners to identify, assess, and understand the unique threats, vulnerabilities, inequities and needs of underserved, at-risk communities

• Update of EOPs and other deliberate plans as necessary to ensure the needs of underserved, at-risk communities are adequately addressed in those plans

• Provide training and exercises for emergency managers and other stakeholders, including representatives of underserved, at-risk communities, to ensure awareness and understanding of the plans and procedures that will promote equity for those communities most at risk relative to disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery

National Priority Area

Associated Core Capabilities2 Examples of Allowable Activities

• Community Resilience

• Economic Recovery

• Planning

• Long-Term

Vulnerability Reduction

• Risk and Disaster

Resilience Assessment

• Threats and Hazards

Identification

• Purchase of trailers/temporary points of distribution (to serve as a mobile testing site, educational outreach center, transport for critical resources, etc.), associated equipment and supplies to expand health coverage, critical resources and education to traditionally underserved, at-risk residents following a disaster

• Purchase of GPS-enabled cameras, geospatial mapping technologies, and data integration and analysis tools to support mitigation planning and situational awareness for disaster response and recovery in vulnerable communities

Climate Resilience • Community Resilience

• Infrastructure Systems

• Long-Term

Vulnerability Reduction

• Planning

• Risk and Disaster

Resilience Assessment

• Threats and Hazards

Identification

• Development of/updates to disaster housing plans to incorporate and address climate data/projections/risks (e.g., ensure housing is not placed in potentially climate impacted areas and that housing solutions are climate resilient)

• Establishment of climate or resiliency positions within emergency management offices to assess climate related risks, develop mitigation strategies, and support updating of EOPs

• Development of evacuation plans in accordance with climate exacerbated risk (e.g., mass evacuation during catastrophic fast-moving events, like wildfires)

• Establishment of risk communication plans to inform all residents (including those with access and functional needs) about climate risks (e.g., what the communities can do at a local and individual level to prepare) and potential evacuations

• Development of internal plans (including response and recovery) that incorporate climate impact on emergency management resources (e.g., personnel, logistics)

• Development of climate literacy plans to enable communities to understand and prepare for their climate-related risks

• Conduct exercises that incorporate climate considerations into response and recovery efforts to increase climate literacy and prepare communities to respond to and recover from climate-exacerbated disasters

• Incorporation of climate considerations into risk assessments (e.g., THIRA) and mitigation plans

• Creation of or updates to hazard fuel reduction and safety zone mapping to manage vegetation within a jurisdiction to minimize potential wildfire ignitions along the wildland interface, e.g., urban and/or rural

• Purchase/install solar and battery systems to supply backup power for critical Emergency Operation Center electronic systems and equipment

Readiness:

Catastrophic Disaster Housing

• Housing

• Planning

• Situational Assessment

• Infrastructure Systems

• Development of state-led disaster housing task force plan

• Establishment of State Disaster Recovery Coordinator

• Completion of State Housing Strategy template

• Assessment of accessible housing needs, including the unique risks and needs of underserved communities

National Priority Area

Associated Core Capabilities2 Examples of Allowable Activities

Readiness:

Disaster Financial Management

• Planning

• Risk Management for

Protection Programs and Activities

• Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment

• Community Resilience

• Economic Recovery

• Development of a plan for the sequencing of federal, nonprofit, and state disaster programs

• Development of a Disaster Financial Management Plan

Readiness:

Evacuation Plan/Annex

• Planning

• Risk Management for

Protection Programs and Activities

• Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment

• Threats and Hazards Identification

• Operational Coordination

• Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction

• Critical Transportation

• Infrastructure Systems

• Assessment of evacuation capabilities and needs, including ensuring accessibility and effective communication for persons with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and integration of these requirements into evacuation plans

• Development of/updates to evacuation plans

• Improvement of evacuation capabilities, such as transportation systems to support contraflow lanes

• Conduct evacuation training and exercises

• Development of public awareness campaigns support evacuation plans

• (See Planning Considerations: Evacuation and Shelter-in-

Place for additional guidance)

Readiness:

Logistics – Distribution Management Planning

• Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Supply Chain Integrity and Security

• Development of/updates to a Distribution Management Plan that addresses:

o State/local staging site plans o State/local commodity point of distribution site plans o Staging and Point of Distribution staffing strategies/plans o Transportation strategies/plans o Resource sourcing and accountability strategies/plans o Provision of critical emergency supplies for underserved communities Readiness:

Continuity of Government

• Planning

• Operational

Coordination

• All other core capabilities

• Continuity planning products for the continuance of essential functions and associated leadership.

• Risk-based needs assessments based on the THIRA/SPR to inform risk mitigation efforts for ensuring continuity of essential functions and services.

• Policy and legislation such as through executive orders and statutes setting forth resilience requirements for continuity of essential functions and services.

• Public and private sector outreach and messaging regarding continuity resilience strategies.

Readiness:

Resilient Communications

• Operational Communications

• Planning

• Public Information and

Warning

• Operational

Coordination

• Development of Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans, Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures that address continuity and recovery of emergency communication systems

• Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments associated with emergency communications systems, to include cybersecurity risks https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/planning-considerations-evacuation-and-shelter-in-place.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/planning-considerations-evacuation-and-shelter-in-place.pdf

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan Among the goals noted in the DHS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, the EMPG Program supports the goal to Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines a bold vision and three ambitious goals designed to address key challenges the agency faces during a pivotal moment in the field of emergency management. Wide-ranging and long-term, the goals defined in the plan respond to the changing landscape in which we find ourselves. The goals to meet this challenge are:

• 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

The EMPG Program supports all three of these goals from the strategic plan. The goals position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community. All EMPG Program recipients are encouraged to review the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan and consider how FY 2024 EMPG Program funding can be used to support the Plan’s goals and objectives as they apply to state/territory’s specific needs and the needs of the whole community.

We invite all stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

11. Performance Measures Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

• Performance Measure 1: Percent of capability-building EMPG Program-funded projects that align to capability gaps identified by states, territories, and urban areas in their SPR submissions.

• Performance Measure 2: Percent of EMPG Program dollars spent on capability-building projects that align to capability gaps identified by states, territories, and urban areas in their SPR submissions.

National Priority Area

Associated Core Capabilities2 Examples of Allowable Activities

• Intelligence and Information Sharing

• Cybersecurity

• Physical Protective

Measures

• Long-Term

Vulnerability Reduction

• Risk and Disaster

Resilience Assessment

• Threats and Hazards

Identification

• Infrastructure Systems

• Adoption of cybersecurity performance goals (Cross Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals | CISA )

• Conduct National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant training, exercise, and evaluation activities to test emergency communications capabilities, to include testing of resiliency and continuity of communications

• Physical hardening of infrastructure systems and support emergency communications https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.cisa.gov/cpg https://www.cisa.gov/cpg

• Performance Measure 3: Percent of capability-building EMPG Program-funded projects that address a core capability that has one or more targets rated as high priority.

• Performance Measure 4: Percent of funding allocated to build or sustain capabilities in EMPG Program national priority areas and RA agreed-upon priority areas.

• Performance Measure 5: Percent of Planning, Training, and/or Exercise related projects that align with closing capability gaps identified and documented in the state/territory’s most recent THIRA/SPR submission, Mitigation Plan, AARs, Audit/Monitoring Findings, Continuity Assessments, or Other Deliberate Plans.

FEMA will analyze the above metrics through the review of state/territory SPR submissions, EMPG Program Work Plans, and required programmatic reports.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $319,550,000

EMPG Program awards are based on section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as amended, (6 U.S.C. § 762). All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico receive a base amount of 0.75% of the total available funding appropriated for the EMPG Program. Four territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) receive a base amount of 0.25% of the total available funding appropriated for the EMPG Program. The remaining balance of the funds appropriated for the EMPG Program are distributed on a population-share basis.

In addition to the $319.5 million available from the 2024 DHS Appropriations Act, FEMA will also make available $50,000 in total from the Disaster Relief Fund for the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement of the Compact of Free Association Act of 2003, as amended (Pub. L. No. 108-188).

FY 2024 EMPG Program Full-Year and Supplemental Allocations

State/Territory FY 2024 Allocation State/Territory FY 2024

Allocation Alabama $5,289,642 New Hampshire $3,190,361 Alaska $2,811,645 New Jersey $7,658,501 Arizona $6,605,298 New Mexico $3,593,811 Arkansas $4,133,787 New York $13,481,216 California $24,465,792 North Carolina $8,533,378 Colorado $5,725,277 North Dakota $2,840,259 Connecticut $4,444,987 Ohio $9,071,701 Delaware $2,980,703 Oklahoma $4,692,301 District of Columbia $2,780,814 Oregon $4,793,987 Florida $15,202,768 Pennsylvania $9,737,634 Georgia $8,643,108 Rhode Island $3,016,993 Hawaii $3,209,100 South Carolina $5,439,785

State/Territory FY 2024 Allocation State/Territory FY 2024

Allocation Idaho $3,509,054 South Dakota $2,916,944 Illinois $9,504,284 Tennessee $6,432,631 Indiana $6,282,940 Texas $19,673,053 Iowa $4,212,669 Utah $4,332,025 Kansas $4,061,750 Vermont $2,762,968 Kentucky $4,959,824 Virginia $7,332,745 Louisiana $4,986,782 Washington $6,821,397 Maine $3,186,775 West Virginia $3,398,803 Maryland $5,896,691 Wisconsin $5,744,163 Massachusetts $6,361,781 Wyoming $2,727,055 Michigan $8,081,267 Puerto Rico $4,211,925 Minnesota $5,646,155 U.S. Virgin Islands $848,109 Mississippi $4,061,265 American Samoa $826,905 Missouri $5,905,699 Guam $885,881 Montana $3,037,865 Northern Mariana Islands $825,557 Nebraska $3,516,787 Republic of the Marshall Islands $50,000 Nevada $4,205,403 Total $319,550,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

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

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2026

5. Projected Budget Period(s)

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

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

State or territorial governments (the State Administrative Agency [SAA] or the state’s Emergency Management Agency [EMA]).

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

All 56 states and territories, as well as the Republic of the Marshall Islands (collectively “state or territory”), are eligible to apply for FY 2024 EMPG Program funds. Either the SAA or the EMA is eligible to apply directly to FEMA for EMPG Program funds on behalf of each state or territory. However, only one application will be accepted from each state or territory.

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

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

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward Allowability Subawards are allowed under the EMPG Program.

b. Subrecipient Eligibility Eligible subrecipients are limited to tribes and local units of government.

c. Other Subaward Information Please see the following sections for additional information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients:

• Section C.4.a “National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation”;

• Section D.4 “Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for Award Management”;

• Section D.12.c “Management and Administration (M&A) Costs”;

• Section D.12.d “Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs”;

• Section D.12.f “Other Direct Costs”;

• Section F.2 “Pass-Through Requirements”;

• Section F.3.b “Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights”;

• Section F.5 “Monitoring and Oversight”;

• Section G.1.f “Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation”;

• Section H.1 “Terminations Provisions”;

• Section H.2 “Program Evaluation”;

• Section H.3 “Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure”; and

• Section 7.a “EMPG Program Work Plan.”

Additionally, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for further information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients.

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

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

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

Relatedly, as a post-award requirement for FY 2024, all recipients and subrecipients in the 50 states and the District of Columbia must work toward achieving the Phase 2 National Qualification System (NQS) implementation objectives and must, at a minimum, execute the Implementation Plan they developed last year as part of the Phase 1 NQS Implementation Objectives. All other jurisdictions (including territories and FY 2024 EMPG Program subrecipients) are required to work toward implementation of NQS by developing an Implementation Plan.

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS and NQS implementation requirements.

b. Public Alert and Warning Preparedness

When applying EMPG funding to exercises, grant recipients and subrecipients shall include exercise objectives centered on practicing and validating their plans and procedures for sending emergency alerts to the public through the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Exercise objectives for public alert and warning should include practice of analysis and decision-making in sending an alert to the public; public alert message writing; procedures for coordination, review, and approval to send the alert; and practice in sending an alert though the IPAWS.

Moreover, recipients should clearly outline how they will integrate public alert and warning tests into preparedness efforts and broader exercises. This may include detailed plans for integration and application of the IPAWS Exercise Starter Kit for emergency management planning, completion of training on the IPAWS Message Design Dashboard (MDD) alert message writing tool, and/or plans for incorporating routine IPAWS public alert testing, drills, and exercises as part of overarching preparedness initiatives. Recipients and subrecipients should develop After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans following drills and exercises that identify gaps and successes, and define changes to continue to improve their capabilities to alert the public during emergent incidents that present a risk to the safety of the people and property in their communities. Additional information on IPAWS, including best practices, is available at Integrated Public Alert & Warning System | FEMA.gov.

c. Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership

In support of the Goal, EMPG Program recipients must belong to, be located in, or act as an EMAC temporary member state, except for American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system are not currently subject to these requirements. All assets supported in part or entirely with FY 2024 EMPG Program funding must, where applicable, be readily deployable to support emergency or disaster operations per existing EMAC agreements.

d. Government Continuity Capabilities Planning Recipients are expected to work toward developing continuity plans for the assured performance of government essential functions and services as well as associated supporting activities. These plans should be consistent with the Continuity Guidance Circular and associated Continuity Assessment Tool. For additional information on continuity programs, guidance, and technical assistance, refer to the FEMA Continuity Resource Toolkit or contact FEMA at FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.

5. Cost Share or Match

The FY 2024 EMPG Program has a cost-share requirement. The recipient contribution can be cash (hard match) or third-party in-kind (soft match). Eligible EMPG Program applicants shall agree to make available non-federal funds to carry out an EMPG Program award in an amount not less than 50% of the total project cost. In other words, the federal share applied toward the EMPG Program budget shall not exceed 50% of the total budget as submitted in the application and approved in the award. If the total project ends up costing more, the recipient is responsible for any additional costs; if the total project ends up costing less, the recipient may owe FEMA an amount required to ensure that the federal cost share is not in excess of 50%. A state must at least equally match (cash or third party in-kind) the federal contribution pursuant to sections 611(j) and 613(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L. No. 93-288), as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.). Unless otherwise authorized by law, federal funds cannot be matched with other federal funds. The recipient’s contribution should be specifically identified. These non-federal contributions have the same eligibility requirements as the federal share.

DHS/FEMA administers cost-matching requirements in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306.

To meet matching requirements, the recipient contributions must be verifiable, reasonable, allowable, allocable, necessary under the grant program, and in compliance with all applicable federal requirements and regulations.

For example, if the federal award were at a 50% cost share and the total approved budget cost was $100,000, then:

• Federal share is 50% of $100,000 = $50,000

• Recipient share is 50% of $100,000 = $50,000

However, with this example, if the total cost ended up being $120,000, the federal share would remain at 50% of the total approved budget at the time of application of $100,000, or $50,000. If the total cost ended up being $80,000, then the 50% federal share would decrease to $40,000, and the recipient cost share would be $40,000.

In accordance with 48 U.S.C. § 1469a, cost-match requirements are waived for the insular areas of the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/continuity https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/continuity mailto:FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/16/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/24/2024 at 5 p.m. ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

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