FY_2024_EOCGP_NOFO_04-17-24_Final_508AB.pdf

FY 2024 EOCGP NOFO

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

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Operations Center 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-%20%20registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20%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: $103,189,080

2. Period of Performance: 36 Months

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): No later than 08/01/2024

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): No later than 07/31/2027

5. Projected Budget Period(s)

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

5. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/25/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/07/2024 at 5 p.m. ET

c. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 08/30/2024

d. 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 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. 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

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

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

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. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

8. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

9. Actions to Address Noncompliance

10. Audits

11. Payment Information

12. Whole Community Preparedness

13. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

14. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

15. Procedures for Establishing Indirect Cost Rates

16. Appendices

a. FY 2024 EOC Grant Program Projects

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

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

(FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.052

3. Assistance Listings Title

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-GPD-052-01-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42

U.S.C. 5196c) as amended.

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)

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category

Preparedness: Community Security

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The fiscal year (FY) 2024 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable

EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure coordination and unity of effort among multiple emergency management organizations and across multiple jurisdictions during major disasters or emergencies caused by any hazard.

The FY 2024 EOC Grant Program will provide $103,189,080 for equipping, upgrading, or constructing the EOC projects included in Appendix A of this NOFO.

Per the National Fire Protection Association, an EOC is defined as a “facility or capability from which direction and control is exercised in an emergency. This type of center or capability is designated to ensure that the capacity exists for leadership to direct and control operations from a centralized facility or capability in the event of an emergency.” “Construction,” as defined in this program, refers to building a new facility or any changes to the footprint of an existing facility, while “upgrading” refers only to internal improvements to an existing facility.

Only State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) (on behalf of state and local units of government) and Tribal governments with identified projects in Appendix A of this

NOFO are eligible to apply for FY 2024 EOC Grant Program funding. See Section C of this notice for additional program eligibility information and Section D for detailed application instructions.

For FY 2023, Congress directed $89.1 million to 69 emergency operations centers.

For a full list of recipients, please see the FY 2023 NOFO Appendix A.

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

Goals: The goal of the FY 2024 EOC Grant Program is to promote fully operational

EOCs to help ensure coordination and unity of effort among multiple emergency management organizations and across multiple jurisdictions during major disasters or emergencies caused by any hazard.

Objectives: The objective of the FY 2024 EOC Grant Program is to improve EOC operations through funding the EOC projects included in Appendix A of this NOFO.

These projects fund equipping, upgrading, and/or construction of EOCs to provide fully capable facilities to support command, control, and coordination of multi-agency responses to major disasters or emergencies.

Priorities: The priorities of the FY 2024 EOC Grant Program are to fund equipping, upgrading, and/or construction of the emergency operations center projects identified in Appendix A of this NOFO.

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

Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan for

Fiscal Years 2020-2024, the EOC supports the goal to Strengthen Preparedness and

Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines three bold, ambitious goals in order to position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community. The EOC Grant Program supports Goal 3 to Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation.

11. Performance Measures

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_preparedness-grant_eoc_appendixa_2023.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/25/2021-11168/climate-related-financial-risk

• Percentage of funded projects that result in fully operational emergency operations centers

• Percentage of funded projects that provide an enhanced level of EOC services and capabilities

FEMA will calculate and analyze the above metrics through a review of recipient

Performance Progress Reports and award monitoring to ensure that the funds are expended for their intended purpose and achieve the stated outcomes in the grant application.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $103,189,080

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 Section H of this NOFO.

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): No later than 08/01/2024

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): No later than 07/31/2027

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

Only State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) (on behalf of state and local units of government) and Federally Recognized Tribes with identified projects in Appendix A of this

NOFO are eligible to apply.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Eligible EOC projects are identified in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the

2024 DHS Appropriations Act. Those EOC projects are listed in Appendix A of this NOFO.

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward Allowability

Subawards are allowed under the EOC Grant Program.

b. Subrecipient Eligibility

Subawards are limited to those entities identified as eligible subrecipients as listed in

Appendix A.

c. Other Subaward Information

Please see the following sections for additional information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients:

• Section D.4 “Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and

Register in the System for Award Management”;

• Section D.12 “Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs”;

• Section F “Federal Award Administration Information”;

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

• Section H “Additional Information”; and

• Appendix A “FY 2024 EOC Grant Program Projects”

d. Beneficiaries or Participants

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary. Third parties, such as construction contractors, may receive a direct benefit from an award under this program. There are no eligibility restrictions for such beneficiaries.

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.

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

FEMA developed the National Incident Management System Guideline for the

National Qualification System to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards. This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes and identifies tools that Federal

Emergency Response Officials and emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state (including territorial), local, tribal, and private sector partners

(including nongovernmental organizations) are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so to leverage the federal investment in the Federal Information Processing Standards

201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction.

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

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

5. Cost Share or Match

The FY 2024 EOC Grant Program has a cost share requirement. All award recipients must provide a non-federal entity contribution supporting 25% of the total project costs (federal amount plus cost share amount). The non-federal entity contribution can be cash (hard match) or third-party in-kind (soft match), with the exception of construction activities, which must be a cash (hard) match. In-kind contributions are defined as third-party contributions per 2 C.F.R. § 200.306. The required cost share amount, by project, is included in the project funding table in Appendix A.

All applicants are required to commit to the cost share requirement for each activity under each project at the time of application. The non-federal contribution should be specifically identified for each proposed activity. The non-federal contribution, whether cash or third-party in-kind match, must consist of eligible costs (i.e., same allowability as the federal share).

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/25/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/07/2024 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 Authorized Organization

Representative (AOR) role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of

Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award.

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims 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 Preparedness Officer or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 08/30/2024

d. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this

NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package

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

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.

4. 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

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 mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/home 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.

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. Please review the table above for estimated deadlines to complete each of the steps listed. Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting an application may disqualify that application from funding.

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their 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/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup

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 https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup 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 fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain an UEI number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

6. Electronic Delivery

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

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

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for

FEMA funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process.

Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

Organizations must have an UEI number, an EIN, and an active SAM registration 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 mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://sam.gov/content/home

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

All entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number

(EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

d. Create a login.gov account:

Applicants must have a login.gov account in order to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account here:

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3.

Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For applicants that are existing SAM users, use the same email address for the login.gov account as with

SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

e. Register with SAM:

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

FEMA GO. 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://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm

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 https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm

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

II. HELP WITH SAM

The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration

(GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

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

AOR:

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see

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.

8. Submitting the Application

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

Forms tab under the https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family 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.

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

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the 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.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

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

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

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

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction) o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget

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

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

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

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in

FEMA GO:

• As part of the FY 2024 EOC Grant Program application process, applicants must develop a formal Investment Justification (IJ) that addresses the construction, upgrading, or equipping activities and costs.

FEMA has developed an Excel-based template that establishes the required IJ content and helps ensure that submissions are organized in a consistent manner while addressing key data requirements. Use of the template is not mandatory but recommended to ensure all appropriate https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://go.fema.gov/ information is submitted. If applicants choose to not use the template, they must ensure their application submission includes all fields and data elements that are included in the template. All applications must use the following file naming convention when submitting required documents as part of the FY 2024 EOC Grant Program: “FY 2024 EOC <State

Abbreviation> - <EOC Name>.”

11. Intergovernmental Review

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single

Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372

(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

12. 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.

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).

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

FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards to:

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

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

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

I. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

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

II. DEFINITIONS

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

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies

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

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

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

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

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

Republic of China.

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

b. Pre-Award Costs

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 and be signed by the AOR. The request letter must include:

• an explanation of the pre-award costs incurred, including a justification for why the costs should be deemed allowable; and

• an itemized budget break-out that details all claimed pre-award costs, including dates incurred, to clearly distinguish them from post-award costs.

Recipients and subrecipients are cautioned that an Environmental Planning and

Historic Preservation (EHP) review is required for all federally funded projects. Most projects funded under the EOC Grant Program that involve construction activities

(including site prep and any ground disturbance activities) or modifications to existing buildings will require a full EHP review. Furthermore, the EHP review process usually must be completed before the project may begin. In some limited circumstances FEMA can conduct an after-the-fact (ATF) EHP review, which would retroactively provide approval for EHP-related activities and would allow grant funds to pay for pre-award costs for these activities. However, an ATF review may find

EHP compliance issues that cannot be remedied because construction or installation had already begun. Such situations may compel FEMA to decline to provide pre-award costs, and even revoke federal funding for those portions of the project that fail to meet the EHP compliance requirements. See Section F of this NOFO for additional

EHP guidance.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

M&A costs are allowed for activities directly related to the management and administration of the award, such as financial management, reporting, and program and financial monitoring. M&A costs are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports.

Additional examples of M&A costs include grants management training for M&A staff, equipment and supplies for M&A staff to administer the grant award, travel costs for M&A staff to attend conferences or training related to the grant program, travel costs for the M&A staff to conduct subrecipient monitoring, contractual services to support the M&A staff with M&A activities, and auditing costs related to the grant award to the extent required or permitted by statute or 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

Characteristics of M&A expenses can include the following: 1) direct costs that are incurred to administer a particular Federal award; 2) identifiable and unique to each

Federal award; 3) charged based on the activity performed for that particular Federal award; and 4) not duplicative of the same costs that are included in the approved

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable.

A maximum of up to five percent (5%) of awarded FY 2024 EOC Grant Program funds may be retained by the Tribal governments and subrecipients with identified projects in Appendix A for M&A purposes associated with the award. SAAs are not allowed to retain any EOC Grant Program funding for M&A purposes.

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

Indirect (F&A) costs (IDC) mean 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. See Section

H of this NOFO for additional information on the procedures for establishing an indirect cost rate.

e. Evaluation Costs

Evaluation costs are allowable. See Section H.2 “Program Evaluation” for more details.

f. Other Direct Costs

I. PLANNING

Planning costs to support the EOC construction or upgrading activities are allowable. These planning activities include the following:

i. Developing plans, protocols, or procedures for the operation and use related to new capabilities as a result of the construction or upgrading activities;

ii. Conducting physical and cyber security assessments;

iii. Ensuring EOC continuity of operations; and

iv. Analyzing constructed or renovated space to support the design and implementation of protection systems (e.g., fire protection and suppression, atmospheric filtration, explosives mitigation).

II. EQUIPMENT

Only equipment integral to EOC construction and upgrading activities is allowable. The allowable equipment categories for the FY 2024 EOC Grant

Program are listed on the Authorized Equipment List (AEL). Although an item https://www.fema.gov/grants/tools/authorized-equipment-list may be included within an allowable category on the list, the equipment must also directly support the function and operation of the EOC to be considered allowable.

The select allowable equipment includes equipment from the following AEL categories:

• Explosive Device Mitigation and Remediation (Category 2)

• Information Technology (Category 4)

• Cybersecurity Enhancement Equipment (Category 5)

• Interoperable Communications Equipment (Category 6)

• Power Equipment (Category 10)

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE)

Reference Materials (Category 11)

• Physical Security Enhancement Equipment (Category 14)

• CBRNE Logistical Support Equipment (Category 19)

• Other Authorized Equipment (Category 21)

If applicants have questions concerning the eligibility of equipment not specifically addressed in the AEL, they should contact their FEMA Regional EOC

Grant Program Manager through FEMA Grants News by e-mail at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or by phone at (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, for clarification.

FEMA will consider requests to purchase equipment that is not listed in the AEL on a case-by-case basis. Such requests should be submitted in writing to the applicable FEMA Regional Grant Program Office. FEMA’s review and approval of such requests will involve both the FEMA regional office and headquarters program staff to ensure nationwide consistency in the decision-making process and to support any necessary updates to the AEL.

Applicants should analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, especially high-cost items and those subject to rapid technological advances. Large equipment purchases must be identified and explained. For more information regarding property management standards for equipment, please reference 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.310, 200.313, and

200.316. Also see 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.471, and FEMA Policy #405-143-1, or successor policy, regarding prohibitions on covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Recipients and subrecipients that are using FY 2024 EOC Grant Program funds to support emergency communications activities must comply with the SAFECOM

Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants, including provisions on technical standards that ensure and enhance interoperable communications. This

SAFECOM Guidance can be found at Funding Resources | CISA.

https://www.cisa.gov/safecom/funding

Recipients and subrecipients are required to provide the AEL number for all communications equipment purchased with grant award funding (plus a description of the equipment and the quantity purchased of each item) to the

FEMA GPD once items are procured as part of periodic programmatic grant reporting.

III. CONSTRUCTION AND UPGRADING

“Construction,” as defined in this program, refers to building a new facility or any changes to the footprint of an existing facility, while “upgrading” refers to internal improvements to an existing facility. For EOC projects that involve construction or upgrading of multipurpose facilities, such as public safety facilities, police/fire stations, etc., EOC Grant Program funding may only be used for those parts of the facility that are directly associated with the EOC. For new facility construction, the use of EOC Grant Program funds should be limited to the proportionate facility construction cost, generally based on the square footage

(floor space) of the EOC compared to the square footage of the entire facility.

All proposed construction and upgrading activities must undergo an EHP review, including approval of the review from FEMA, prior to undertaking any action related to the project. Failure of a grant recipient to meet these requirements may jeopardize Federal funding. See Section F.3.c of this NOFO for more information.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

Applications will be reviewed to ensure completeness,…