FY_2024_THSGP_NOFO_04-10-24_Final_508AB.pdf

FY 2024 THSGP NOFO

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

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the 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: $13,500,000

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

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

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

5. Projected Budget Period

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

b. Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder

Preparedness Review (SPR) Development

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. Other Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

e. Mandatory Disclosures

3. Reporting

4. 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

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

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

(FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.067

3. Assistance Listings Title

Homeland Security Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-GPD-067-00-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

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

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

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 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is one of three grant programs that support DHS/FEMA’s focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s communities against potential terrorist attacks.

Tribal Nations face substantially increased risks that are not adequately addressed through other existing grant programs. Factors such as remote locations, limited access to resources, technological infrastructure challenges, and historical tensions make them more susceptible to emerging threats. The need to bolster technology and information infrastructure is crucial to address these challenges adequately. The

THSGP respects the sovereign rights of Tribal Nations by allowing them to apply and be awarded preparedness grant funding as a direct recipient to address their unique risks and needs.

For FY 2024, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. The threats to our nation have evolved during the past two decades. We now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, and threats from domestic violent extremists, who represent one of the most persistent threats to the nation today.1 Therefore, for FY 2024, DHS has identified six priority areas related to the most serious threats to the nation. Recipients are not required, but are encouraged, to address those priority areas with their THSGP funds.

For FY 2023, 43 applications were received and 19 approved for funding. For a full list of recipients, please refer to Information Bulletin (IB) 490a.

b. Goals, Objectives and Priorities

Goals: The THSGP will provide funding directly to eligible tribes to strengthen their capacities to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to potential terrorist attacks.

Objectives: The THSGP provides resources that support eligible Tribal Nations in meeting the following objectives:

• Build and sustain core capabilities in accordance with annual program priorities;

• Address capability gaps identified in their Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process; and

• Implement a comprehensive and coordinated (all-inclusive) approach to address enduring security needs of communities that crosscut the homeland security enterprise, including planning, training and awareness campaigns, equipment and capital projects, and exercises.

Priorities: Given the evolving national security threat landscape, DHS/FEMA continuously evaluates the national risk profile and sets priorities that help inform appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2024, six areas attract the most concern and thus are national priority areas:

1Strategic Intelligence Assessment and Data on Domestic Terrorism, Federal Bureau of Investigation and

Department of Homeland Security, June 2023.

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ib_2023_award_announcement_thgsp_update_signed_508c.pdf

1. Enhancing cybersecurity;

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

3. Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis;

4. Combating domestic violent extremism;

5. Enhancing community preparedness and resilience; and

6. Enhancing election security.

Additional information about these priority areas and how they relate to anti-terrorism security is included in Section D.10.b.

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

1. Effective planning;

2. Training and awareness campaigns;

3. Equipment and capital projects; and

4. Exercises.

The table below provides a breakdown of these priority areas for the FY 2024

THSGP, showing both the core capabilities enhanced and lifelines supported, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. More information on allowable investments can be found in Section D.12 “Funding Restrictions and Allowable

Costs” below. THSGP applicants are not required, but are encouraged, to address these areas in their applications. However, as discussed in Section E of this funding notice, investments that sufficiently address one or more of the National Priority

Areas (enhancing cybersecurity; enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places; combating domestic violent extremism; enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis; enhancing community preparedness and resilience;

and enhancing election security) will have their final review scores increased by a multiplier of 20%. The example project types in the table below are allowable to prepare for disasters unrelated to acts of terrorism as long as they also help achieve target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

FY 2024 THSGP Funding Priorities

All priorities in this table concern Safety and Security Lifelines.

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

National Priorities

Enhancing

Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure to meet minimum levels identified by the

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and

Technology Cybersecurity Framework (Version https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

1.1) o Adoption of cybersecurity performance goals

(CISA's Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance

Goals)

• Cybersecurity training and planning

Enhancing the

Protection of

Soft

Targets/Crowded

Places

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

Risk management for protection programs and activities

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

[CCTV])

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

• Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Information sharing with all DHS components;

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

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

• Identification, assessment, and reporting of threats of violence

• Joint intelligence analysis training and planning with

DHS officials and other entities designated by DHS

Combating

Domestic

Violent

Extremism

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Physical protective measures

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

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

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

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

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

• Training and awareness programs (e.g., through social media, SAR indicators and behaviors) to educate the public on misinformation campaigns and resources to help them identify and report potential instances of domestic violent extremism https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://www.cisa.gov/cpg https://www.cisa.gov/cpg

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

Enhancing

Community

Preparedness and

Resilience

• Planning

• Public Information and Warning

• Community Resilience

• Risk Management for Protection

Programs and Activities

• Mass Care Services

• Intelligence and Information Sharing

• Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment

• Long Term Vulnerability Reduction

• Establish, train, and maintain tribal Community

Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Teen

CERT, with a focus on historically underserved communities, including procurement of appropriate tools, equipment, and training aides for terrorism and related concerns o Local delivery of CERT Train-the-Trainer and

CERT Program Manager to build local program training and maintain capacity

• Establish an emergency communication capability, such as the Integrated Public Alert & Warning

System (IPAWS), that provides immediate emergency and life-saving information to members of the tribal community.

• Provide continuity training, such as FEMA’s

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

• Partner with tribal school districts to deliver the

Student Tools for Emergency Planning curriculum or other educational programming to guide students on how to create emergency kits and family communications plans for terrorism and related concerns

• Partner with key stakeholders to bolster the financial resilience of tribal members and households to assist with completing the Emergency Financial First Aid

Kit or a similar tool for terrorism and related concerns

• Execute You are the Help Until the Help Arrives workshops in concert with community-based organizations to bolster individual tribal member preparedness for terrorism and related concerns

• Target tribal youth preparedness using FEMA programing such as Prepare with Pedro resources and

Ready2Help for terrorism and related concerns

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

Integrating the Needs of Children

Enhancing

Election Security

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Physical security planning support

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

• General election security navigator support

• Cyber navigator support

• Cybersecurity risk assessments, training, and planning

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system https://community.fema.gov/until-help-arrives

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Examples of Allowable Activities

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

• Distributed Denial of Service protection

• Online harassment and targeting prevention services

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

Enduring Needs

Planning • Planning

• Risk management for protection programs & activities

• Risk & disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Development of:

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

• Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

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

• Cybersecurity training and planning

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

Training &

Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information & warning

• Operational coordination

• Situational assessment

• Community resilience

• Active shooter training

• SAR and terrorism indicators/behaviors training

• Security training for employees

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

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

• Cybersecurity training and planning

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

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

Equipment &

Capital Projects

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Interdiction & disruption

• Screening, search & detection

• Access control & identity verification

• Physical protective measures

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

• Physical security enhancements

• Security cameras (CCTV)

• Security screening equipment for people and baggage

• Lighting

• Access controls

• Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

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

• Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, and

Explosive detection, prevention, and response equipment

Exercises • Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Operational coordination

• Operational communications

• Community resilience

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

DHS/FEMA requires THSGP recipients to complete the THIRA and SPR, and to prioritize grant funding to support building capability and/or closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities that address national priorities and/or support enduring needs. Additional information on the THIRA/SPR process, including other National

Preparedness System tools and resources, can be found at National Preparedness

System | FEMA.gov.

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 THSGP supports the goal to Strengthen National

Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines three bold, ambitious goals in order to position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community. The THSGP supports

FEMA’s efforts to achieve equitable outcomes for those we serve (Goal 1.3), as well as to promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation (Goal 3). We invite our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

11. Performance Measures

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

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

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

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

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

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $13,500,000

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 (FM-207-23-001).

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

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2027 https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual

5. Projected Budget Period

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

Directly eligible tribes. “Directly eligible tribe” is defined in Section C.2 “Applicant

Eligibility Criteria” below.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

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

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

No. 103-454) (25 U.S.C. § 5131).

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

(A) any Indian Tribe―

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

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

(iii)

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

(II) that is located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure list established under section

2214(a)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6

U.S.C. § 664(a)(2) or has such a system or asset within its territory;

(III) that is located within or contiguous to one of the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States; or

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

18, United States Code; and

(iv) that certifies to the Secretary of Homeland Security that a state has not provided funds under section 2003 (Urban Area Security Initiative) or

2004 (State Homeland Security Program) of the Homeland Security Act of

2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 604 or 605, respectively) to the Indian Tribe or consortium of Indian Tribes for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and

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

In summary, directly eligible tribes must meet each of the requirements set forth in (A)(i), (A)(ii), and (A)(iv). Tribes must also meet at least one of the requirements set forth in

(A)(iii), that is either (A)(iii)(I), (A)(iii)(II), (A)(iii)(III), or (A)(iii)(IV). Finally, under subparagraph (B), a consortium may also be eligible to be a recipient if each Indian Tribe in the consortium meets the criteria for a directly eligible tribe under subparagraph (A).

In FY 2024, applicants must self-certify as to whether they meet the eligibility requirements.

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

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

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

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward allowability

Subawards are not allowed under the THSGP.

b. 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.

mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS.

b. Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder

Preparedness Review (SPR) Development

By December 31, 2025, as a condition of award, THSGP recipients are required to complete a THIRA/SPR that addresses all 32 core capabilities and is compliant with the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201, Third Edition. The THIRA must be updated and resubmitted every three years while the award remains open.

However, the SPR must be updated and submitted annually. For additional guidance on the THIRA/SPR, please refer to the CPG 201, Third Edition.

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on the THIRA/SPR requirements.

5. Cost Share or Match

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

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/CPG201Final20180525.pdf https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 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 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

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/.

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.

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

(meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to

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://sam.gov/content/home 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 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 https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup 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

SAM and that the UEI number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all 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 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:

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

1660- 0113/FEMA Form: 089-22), which is located in the “Related

Documents” tab on Grants.gov; and

• Self-certification form stating the tribe’s eligibility per the Homeland Security

Act of 2002, as amended (the self-certification is contained within the THSGP

IJ).

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

I. PRIORITY INVESTMENTS

Cybersecurity

Today’s world is more interconnected than ever before, but with increased connectivity comes increased risk of our adversaries, including terrorists, exploiting cyber vulnerabilities and weaknesses to disrupt our way of life.

Cybersecurity investments must support the security and functioning of critical infrastructure and core capabilities as they relate to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism. Therefore, FEMA is giving priority to investments that enhance the tribe’s cybersecurity efforts.

Additional resources and information regarding cybersecurity and cybersecurity performance goals are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure

Security Agency (CISA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Soft Targets and Crowded Places

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

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

Information and Intelligence Sharing and Analysis

Effective homeland security operations rely on access to, analysis of, and the timely sharing of open source, unclassified and classified information, suspicious activity reports, tips/leads, and actionable intelligence on indicators and behaviors.

This information is crucial to accurately identify, assess, and mitigate a wide array of threats against the United States, including terrorism, threats to life, targeted violence, and other threats within the DHS mission space. Accordingly, DHS works diligently to enhance intelligence collection, integration, analysis, and information sharing capabilities to ensure partners, stakeholders and senior leaders receive actionable intelligence and information necessary to inform their decisions and operations. A critical and statutorily charged mission of DHS is to deliver intelligence and information to federal, state, local and tribal governments, and private sector partners. Cooperation and information sharing among state, federal, and local partners, while upholding privacy, civil rights and civil liberties protections, is critical to homeland security operations and the prevention of, preparation for, protection against, and response to acts of terrorism and other https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.cisa.gov/securing-public-gatherings threats to life and criminal acts of targeted violence.