Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due: August 11, 2026

Community Assistance Program – State

Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)

Assistance Listing Number: 97.023

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-MT-023-01-99

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts

Contents Before you begin 2

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 3

Basic information 4

Eligibility 5

Program Description 8

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 13

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 14

Step 3: Write Your Application 17

Application Contents and Format 18

Step 4: Learn About the Award Review Process 20

Application Review Information 21

Intergovernmental Review 23

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award 24

Award Notices 25

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 25

Other Information 35

Contacts and Appendices 42

Contacts 43

Appendices 45

Before you begin

If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your System for

Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registration is active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and other criminal or noncriminal misconduct related to this program may be reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1-(800)-323-8603 and TTY 1-(844)-889-4357

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were before clicking an internal link by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://login.gov/

1.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 4

Eligibility 5

Program description 8

Jump to a step

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Basic Information A. Award Facts

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience, Hazard Mitigation

Directorate, Floodplain Management

Assistance Listing Number: 97.023

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Community Assistance

Program – State Support Services Element

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-MT-023-01-99

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $65,000 - $600,000

Expected Total Funding: $15,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 51

B. Executive Summary The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) program provides funding to states and territories to ensure adoption and enforcement of standards consistent with the National Flood

Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum criteria in participating and flood-prone communities. This cooperative agreement strives to empower states and territories to own and effectively manage their flood risk and reduce exposure, disaster costs, and recovery demands.

The cooperative agreement funds NFIP Coordinating Agencies to conduct specific activities in support of NFIP administration and enables independent investment to build floodplain management capacity and capability in line with the provisions set forth in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 60.25.

As a result of CAP-SSSE funding, states and territories have increased the amount of community audits, floodplain management engagements, and average grantee self-investment year-over-year.

More information, including key information, documents, and details, can be found on FEMA.gov:

https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program.

Key Dates

Projected Application Start Date: July 13, 2026

Projected Application End Date: August 11, 2026

Anticipated Funding Selection

Date: August 12, 2026

Anticipated Award Date:

September 30, 2026

Projected Period of

Performance Start Date:

July 1, 2026

Projected Period of

Performance End Date:

June 30, 2027

Budget Period:

July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Have questions? See Contacts and Support https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program

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Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

Only the following entities or entity types are eligible to apply.

Applicant Eligibility

Designated NFIP Coordinating Agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories are eligible to apply for funding under this funding opportunity. Collectively, they are referred to as “grantees.”

NFIP Coordinating Agencies are designated by statute or Governor’s declaration as a “State Coordinating Agency” as described in 44 C.F.R. § 59.1 and § 60.25.

Subapplicant Eligibility

Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types

Activities Eligible for Federal Funding or State Funding (Match/In-Kind, noted in the Cost Share Description section of this funding opportunity)

• Negotiated, eligible activities (listed in detail in Appendix 1) completed within the period of performance:

0. Management & Administration Costs

1. FEMA Systems and Meetings

2. Minimum NFIP Standards Support

3. NFIP Community Support

• Indirect Costs, as applicable, associated with these activities, as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414, and the Indirect Costs section of this funding opportunity.

• Other Direct Costs specifically associated with these activities: supplies less than $10,000 and equipment greater than $10,000 (as defined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1), Information Technology (IT) equipment (such as computers, cameras, software, or mobile applications), and contracts to conduct the above activities.

• Domestic Travel that is specifically associated with these activities.

Activities Only Eligible for State Funding (Match/In-Kind)

• Negotiated, eligible activities (listed in detail in Appendix 1) completed within the period of performance:

4. Communication and Promotion of Flood Topics

5. Coordination of Floodplain Management

6. Strategy and Long-Term Planning

• Indirect Costs, as applicable, associated with these activities, as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414, and the Indirect Costs section of this funding opportunity.

• Other Direct Costs, as applicable, associated with these activities, including development and printing of outreach materials, “swag,” booth fees, conferences or external meeting costs, professional certifications, exams, and renewal fees.

• Domestic Travel that is specifically associated with the above activities, including conferences,

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts external meetings, outreach events, or other activities outlined above.

Unallowable Project Types

The following activities are not allowable for either federal funds or state match claimed under this grant:

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

• Lobbying or other prohibited activities under Title 18 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 1913 or 2 C.F.R.

§ 200.450.

• Non-floodplain management exercise related costs.

• Construction and renovation costs.

• International travel, unless approved in advance otherwise by the managing federal agency.

• Conducting floodplain studies or developing floodplain maps.

• Activities covered under other federal grants (e.g. Cooperative Technical Partners), such as supporting/maintaining web-based digital mapping platforms.

• Professional association dues/memberships.

• Duplication/reimbursement for state or territory-required and state or territory-funded (through appropriation or permit fee income) review activities, such as state or territory permitting.

• Purchase of vehicles or office furniture/furnishings.

• Activities directly chargeable to disaster funding.

C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties

• The capability to perform the duties and responsibilities set forth in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25(b);

• Expertise in floodplain management or the ability to attain expertise in floodplain management through participation in the CAP-SSSE; and

• The ability to develop, implement and manage floodplain management activities.

D. Maximum Number of Applications The maximum number of applications that can be submitted is one per NFIP Coordinating Agency.

E. Additional Restrictions Applicants must have a valid Tiered State Framework (TSF) Assessment prior to applying for the first time.

Applicants must meet the minimum point score to be eligible for the grant. Please contact the CAP-SSSE

Program Lead or appropriate Regional CAP Coordinator for the TSF Framework Playbook and additional information.

Recipients/subrecipients, and if applicable, applicants/subapplicants, are required to certify their compliance with federal statutes, DHS directives, policies, and procedures.

F. References to Other Eligibility Factors Please see the following references provided below:

• “Threshold Review Criteria” subsection

• “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

• “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

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• FEMA may request financial information such as the Employer Identification Number (EIN) and bank information as part of the potential award selection. This will apply to everyone who benefits from the award, including subrecipients.

• “Application Criteria” subsection

• “Appendix 1: Eligible Activities” subsection

G. Cost Share Requirements Applicants, and if applicable, subapplicants, selected for this award must agree to an acceptable cost share agreement or receive an exception from FEMA. Otherwise, they will not be funded. Exceptions to the cost share requirement are: Applicable to “insular areas” per Public Law 96-205, title VI, section 601, March

12,1980, as amended (also noted in 48 U.S.C. § 1469a) and Office of Management and Budget Controller Alert CA-23-04 Waiving Matching Fund Requirements for Insular Areas. The four insular areas are the U.S.

Virgin Islands, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Insular area applicants can propose a voluntary cost share.

H. Cost Share Description, Type, and Restrictions There is a minimum 25% non-federal cost match required for all recipients of CAP-SSSE funds (excluding insular areas) with no restrictions on the types of costs allowed (e.g., in-kind contribution). Applicants are allowed, encouraged, and incentivized through the TSF Assessment to voluntarily match beyond the minimum 25% non-federal cost match.

I. Cost Share Example The recipient contribution is calculated based on the federal contribution as: percent of recipient contribution multiplied by the value of the federal contribution in U.S. dollars. For example, this cooperative agreement requires a 25% cost match. If the federal contribution is $100,000, the recipient contribution is calculated as (0.25) X $100,000 = $25,000. The grant is then made up of $100,000 (federal funding) and $25,000 (state cost match) for a total = $125,000.

J. Required Information for Verifying Cost Share

Applicants, and if applicable subapplicants, should submit the following cost share (or match) documents:

Regionally approved Detailed Budget indicating planned cost match with their application. Grantees may, but are not required, to include a cost match letter with their application.

Please see the “Application Format and Contents” section for more details.

Maintenance of Effort

Not applicable.

https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/96/205.pdf

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Program Description A. Program Purpose

The CAP-SSSE program provides funding to ensure adoption and enforcement of standards consistent with the NFIP minimum criteria in participating and flood-prone communities. This cooperative agreement strives to empower states and territories to own and effectively manage their flood risk and reduce exposure, disaster costs, and recovery demands by providing planning flexibility, tools and best practices, and FEMA expertise to support implementation of their NFIP programs.

This cooperative agreement funds NFIP Coordinating Agencies to conduct specific activities in support of

NFIP administration and enables independent investment to build capacity and capability in line with the provisions set forth in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25.

As a result of CAP-SSSE funding, states and territories have increased the number of community audits, floodplain management engagements, and grantee self-investment year-over-year. In a typical year, CAP- SSSE grantees conduct more than 2,000 community compliance audits, provide more than 100,000 instances of direct technical assistance, deliver training to more than 13,000 communities, and contribute

38% on average of their federal award as match.

B. Goals and Objective The goal of the CAP-SSSE program is to empower NFIP Coordinating Agencies to own, manage, and reduce risk and avoid losses from flood events through support to flood prone and NFIP participating communities within their states and territories.

To further this goal, the program will pursue the following objectives:

• Enable state and territory programs to assist communities with NFIP compliance, administration, and enforcement of floodplain management standards, including adopting updated flood risk data and responding effectively to disasters.

• Enable state and territory programs to increase local stakeholders’ capability and capacity for effective floodplain management.

• Inform state and territory programs of best practices for floodplain management activities.

The CAP-SSSE priorities detailed below highlight key items that applicants should focus on in administering funding authorized by this funding opportunity. These priorities provide guidance on important topics, tasks, and activities that funding should be allocated towards to support participation and compliance with the NFIP.

• NFIP Compliance Audit Redesign: Starting on July 1, 2026, all compliance audits, up to the point of enforcement, will be conducted by NFIP Coordinating Agencies, not FEMA. States and territories are expected to use the Compliance Audit Tool and accompanying Compliance Audit Tool User

Guide when conducting audits of communities. States and territories are expected to attend webinars, training, and other events to increase their knowledge and understanding of this process.

o Note: Any already-opened Community Assistance Visits and Community Assistance

Contacts should be closed in line with the previous processes in the Community Information System.

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• Community Information System: States and territories are required to enter activities into the

Community Information System, FEMA’s system of record. States and territories are expected to participate in training and engagements about the updated system and may be asked to provide feedback about future improvements.

o Community Information System Quality Assurance: Review and quality assurance of

Community Information System entries may necessitate updates to reflect correct and accurate data.

C. Performance Measures and Targets FEMA’s Floodplain Management program monitors performance through four program measures to which

NFIP Coordinating Agencies are required to set and meet targets. “Expected” targets reflect anticipated achievement, while “Excellence” targets reflect exceeding expectations. The performance measures include:

• Map Adoption. Grantees must meet the national “Expected” metric of at least 93% map adoptions for those participating communities that receive Letters of Final Determination in their state or territory. A national “Excellence” target of 98% is in place.

• Community Engagement. Grantees must have contact with a designated percentage of the communities in their state or territory by community audits, General Technical Assistance, Regulation Assistance, or Workshops. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate

“Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the percentage of communities that will be engaged during the period of performance.

• Higher Standards Adoption. Grantees must commit to a designated number of communities that will adopt higher floodplain management standards (i.e., standards that are more stringent than those required by the National Flood Insurance Program) as a result of the state or territory’s efforts. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of communities adopting a higher standard during the period of performance. These targets will be documented in the Statement of Work. A national Excellence target of 75% is in place.

• Community Compliance Improvement. Grantees must commit to a designated number of communities in which they will conduct community audits, opening new and closing existing community audits. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate annual “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of audits that will be conducted and closed during the period of performance. Annual targets will be documented in the Statement of Work and will roll-up into the five-period of performance compliance tracking period.

D. Federal Assistance Type Cooperative Agreement

Each state or territory receiving a CAP-SSSE award will sign a cooperative agreement with FEMA describing the terms of the award, including the responsibilities of the recipient. The relevant FEMA Regional Office coordinates throughout the performance period of this cooperative agreement. FEMA retains the authority to manage and direct recipient performance in support of CAP-SSSE objectives. The FEMA Regional Office determines the appropriate number of activities and ensures performance metrics are being met.

FEMA maintains full approval authority of grantees’ proposed annual statement of work and all included

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts activities, as well as any amendments to the approved statement of work. Expectations of NFIP participation are outlined in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25. FEMA may exercise its authority to require a remedial plan, assign corrective actions, and/or stop a state or territory’s funded activity immediately if the state or territory fails to meet these conditions.

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs The following cost types are unallowable for all grantees, for both federal and state shares:

• Non-floodplain management exercise related costs

• Construction and renovation costs

• International travel, unless approved in advance otherwise by the managing federal agency

• Conducting floodplain studies or developing floodplain maps

• Activities covered under other federal grants (such as Cooperative Technical Partners), such as supporting/maintaining web-based digital mapping platforms

• Professional association dues/memberships

• Duplication/reimbursement for state or territory-required and state or territory-funded (through appropriation or permit fee income) review activities, such as state or territory permitting

• Purchase of vehicles or office furniture/furnishings

• Activities directly chargeable to disaster funding

Note: The above may not be exhaustive. Please consult the applicable terms and conditions and with

FEMA for more information.

F. General Funding Requirements Costs charged to federal awards (including federal and non-federal cost share funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, policies, this NOFO, and 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 (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h)).

Recipients may not use federal funds or any cost share funds for the following activities:

1. Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see

2 C.F.R. § 200.306).

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

3. Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity (see 2 C.F.R. §

200.435).

G. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services FEMA provides additional resources regarding the prohibition on covered telecommunications equipment and services in its policy titled Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered

Telecommunications Equipment or Services (FEMA Policy #405-143-1). This policy outlines specific requirements related to the prohibition. Additionally, FEMA's Contract Provisions Guide offers sample language for the required contract provisions.

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:1913%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1913)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 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_fy24.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/232

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts restrict the purchase of covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services. See 2

C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 for more information.

Prohibition on Covered Foreign Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must also comply with Section 1825 of the American Security Drone Act of 2023, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Pub. L. No. 118-31 §§ 1821-33, 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.). This provision mandates that, beginning December 22, 2025, no federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made available may be used to procure a covered unmanned aircraft system

(UAS) that is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. Significantly, no funds may be used in connection with the operation of such a drone or UAS. For more information, refer to Public Law 118-31 and OMB Memorandum M-26-02, Ensuring Government Use of Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems and

Supporting United States Producers.

H. Beneficiary and Participant Eligibility Beneficiary

There are no program requirements for beneficiary eligibility.

Participant

There are no program requirements for participant eligibility.

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary or participant. Please consult the DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, your awarding agency’s terms and conditions, and your awarding documents for more details.

I. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are allowed for recipients.

Indirect costs (IDC) are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to specific cost objectives without disproportionate effort.

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 without 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 FEMA 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.

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.327 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.471 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/appendix-Appendix%20II%20to%20Part%20200 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/M-26-02-Ensuring-Government-Use-of-Secure-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems-and-Supporting-United-States-Producers.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/M-26-02-Ensuring-Government-Use-of-Secure-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems-and-Supporting-United-States-Producers.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414

K. Pre-Award Costs The following pre-award costs are allowable: Pre-award costs directly related to developing the application or directly related to grant implementation after the application period has opened, but prior to the date of the cooperative agreement award or final approval, are allowed.

Applicants seeking pre-award costs must clearly articulate this request in the Detailed Budget and justification and must include details regarding the costs, such as the activities to which costs are related, when costs were (or will be) incurred and whether they are included as direct or indirect costs. The FEMA

Regional Office will review the Detailed Budget and negotiate the pre-award costs as appropriate.

L. Management and Administration Costs Management & Administration costs are allowed per 2 C.F.R. § 200. Management & Administration costs are those defined as directly relating to the management and administration of CAP-SSSE funds, such as financial management, monitoring, and reporting. Recipients only may use up to 5% of the amount for the award for Management & Administration activities.

Management & Administration activities are not overhead costs but are necessary direct 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, these costs can be itemized in financial reports.

M. Authorizing Authority The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (Public Law 90-448), as amended, (42 U.S.C. § 4001 et. seq.).

N. Appropriation Authority Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub. L. No. 119-4, Section 1101.

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/national-flood-insurance-act-1968.pdf

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Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 14

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Submission Requirements and Application

Deadlines A. Registration

You must have an active SAM.gov account which includes having a UEI. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number or to register, go to SAM.gov Entity

Registration and click “Get Started.” From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration

Checklist for the information you will need to register.

You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by step instructions see the

Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

B. Requesting the Application Package The application package is accessible in the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

C. Application and Submission Instructions To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

1. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and EIN from the Internal Revenue Service;

2. Provide their UEI number in the application;

3. Have an account with login.gov;

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

5. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact

(eBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see the FEMA GO Startup Guide;

6. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

7. Always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which the applicant has an active federal award, 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.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(a)(2)(iv), 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. Contact fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and provide the details of the exigent circumstances.

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://grants.gov/help/get-started/ https://go.fema.gov/ https://login.gov/ https://sam.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd_startup_guide_051325.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-25/section-25.110#p-25.110(a)(2)(iv) mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

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D. How to Register to Apply General Instructions

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Below are instructions for registering to apply for FEMA funds. Read the instructions carefully and prepare the requested information before beginning the registration process. Gathering the required information before starting the 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 a UEI number, EIN, and an active SAM registration.

Obtain a UEI Number

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI number.

Obtain Employer Identification Number

In addition to having a UEI number, all entities applying for funding must provide an EIN. The EIN can be obtained from the IRS at Get an employer identification number.

Create a login.gov account

Applicants must have a login.gov account to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account at Create an account.

Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For existing SAM users, use the same email address for both login.gov and SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

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

Register with SAM.gov

In addition to having a UEI number, all organizations must register with SAM.gov. Failure to register with SAM.gov will prevent your organization from applying through FEMA GO. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually and must remain active throughout the entire grant life cycle.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM.gov, refer to Register with SAM.gov.

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, applicants must also provide the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the past three years, if applicable.

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.gov registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see the FEMA GO Startup Guide.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://login.gov/create-an-account/ https://login.gov/create-an-account/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://sam.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-25.200 https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd_startup_guide_051325.pdf

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

• Google Chrome;

• Mozilla Firefox;

• Apple Safari; and

• Microsoft Edge.

Applicants using tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

E. Submitting the Final Application Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information, and any program-specific information required in FEMA GO.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or send an email to the submitting AOR confirming the transmission was successfully received.

F. Application Deadline August 11, 2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

G. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline The following requirements must be completed by the deadlines given below:

Complete draft Activity Planning & Pricing Tools including both base and discretionary activities, are submitted to FEMA Regional Coordinators one week prior to application submission.

H. Post Application Requirements Deadline Not applicable.

I. Effects of Missing Deadlines All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of submission and generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives an application. The submitting AOR will receive an email with an official date/time stamp and a

FEMA GO tracking number to serve as proof of timely submission prior to the application deadline.

Applicants experiencing system-related issues have until 3 p.m. ET on the date applications are due to notify FEMA. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

Step 3: Write Your Application

Application contents and format 18

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Application Contents and Format A. Application Requirements

The following forms or information are integrated into the application package in FEMA GO. Applicants should review these forms at SF-424 Family | Grants.gov before applying to ensure they are providing all required information.

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

2. Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

3. SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• If construction is permitted under the program, submit SF-424C, Budget Information

(Construction), instead of SF-424A

4. SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• If construction is permitted under the program, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances

(Construction), instead of SF-424B

5. SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

B. Required Documents, Content, and Formatting Applicants are required to utilize the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool to develop a reasonable, defensible proposal based in actual financial information. The Activity Planning & Pricing Tool produces appropriately formatted Statement of Work and a Detailed Budget PDFs to be included in the application.

There is no limit on the number of pages, and only one copy of each should be provided. FEMA Regional

Coordinators will review, provide feedback, and ultimately approve proposals prior to application submission.

Complete, draft Activity Planning & Pricing Tools, including base and discretionary activities are due to

FEMA Regional Coordinator for review one week prior to application submission.

The final version of the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool should be provided to the FEMA Regional Coordinator. The Detailed Budget and Statement of Work should be uploaded as .pdf files in FEMA GO, along with an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or Proposal if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. See Indirect Costs for more information.

C. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in FEMA GO:

1. Statement of Work: The applicant’s proposal for cooperative agreement funding that identifies the eligible activities (see Appendix 1) and performance metrics that the state proposes to achieve during the period of performance. The Statement of Work shall be produced using the State Activity Planning & Pricing Tool which is provided annually by e-mail from the Program Manager.

The Statement of Work should also include the applicant’s most recent validated Tiered State

Framework Assessment which will be provided by the FEMA Regional Office.

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

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2. Detailed Budget: The budget must be complete, reasonable, and cost-effective in relation to the proposed activities. The budget should provide the basis of computation of all activity-related costs, and any appropriate narrative. The budget shall be produced using the Activity Planning &

Pricing Tool.

Applicants are required to have a valid Tiered State Framework Assessment to apply for the grant.

D. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants States and territories are required to enter floodplain management activities into Community Information

System (CIS), FEMA’s system of record. States and territories are also expected to participate in programmatic trainings and meetings, as offered, to ensure understanding of requirements, expectations, and updates. If changing the statement of work or budget is needed during the negotiation process

(discussions between FEMA and Applicant following the submission of the application), these documents may be re-submitted directly by email to the appropriate FEMA Regional Program Manager and Grants

Specialist. This review and negotiation process may continue until the applicant’s proposed Statement of

Work and supporting budget is approved by the FEMA Regional Program Manager and Grants Specialist.

Final, approved versions of the Statement of Work and Detailed Budget should be uploaded to FEMA GO.

Recipients must request prior approval for budget and program plan revisions in accordance with 2 C.F.R.

§ 200.308.

CAP-SSSE funds can only be used to reimburse state or territory staff for negotiated, eligible activities that they complete within the period of performance. If a recipient does not maintain the necessary expertise and capability to conduct CAP-SSSE activities, the FEMA Region and recipient will develop a remedial plan.

If the recipient does not agree to implementing the remedial plan or fails to develop the necessary expertise and capability required by the region, the state or territory's CAP-SSSE funding may be reduced or withheld.

Step 4: Learn about the Award Review

Process

Application Review Information 21

Intergovernmental Review 23

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Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria

Applicants must be designated NFIP Coordinating Agencies who develop and submit a reasonable, defensible Fiscal Year 2026 application using the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool. As noted in the Additional Restrictions section of this funding opportunity, applicants must have a valid Tiered State

Framework assessment and have earned at least the minimum score for eligibility.

All applicants, except for Insular Areas, must include at least a 25% state match to be eligible. All activities included in the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool must be eligible activities, as listed in Appendix 1 and as reviewed and approved by the Regional Coordinators.

B. Application Criteria Applications will be reviewed to ensure conformance with the eligibility criteria and application submission requirements in this funding opportunity. Applicants that do not meet eligibility or application submission requirements will be removed from consideration.

Applicants will be evaluated and selected for funding based on their ability to demonstrate the following:

• The capability to perform the duties and responsibilities set forth in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25(b);

• Adherence to qualified funding levels determined by funding methodology described in Appendix

2;

• A reasonable and achievable application outlining planned floodplain management activities, inclusive of annual performance measure targets, and discretionary activities as applicable.

C. Financial Integrity Criteria Before making an award, the awarding agency is required to review OMB-designated databases for applicants’ eligibility and financial integrity information. This is required by the Payment Integrity

Information Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-117, § 2 (2020), 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and the “Do Not Pay Initiative” (31

U.S.C. § 3354). For more details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

Thus, the Financial Integrity Criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

1. Financial stability.

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

3. History of performance in managing federal award.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

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

D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Risk Review Before making an award expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, defined at 41 U.S.C. §

134, over the period of performance:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-60/subpart-C/section-60.25 https://www.congress.gov/116/statute/STATUTE-134/STATUTE-134-Pg113.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-section3354&f=treesort&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjMxIHNlY3Rpb246MzM1MSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSkgT1IgKGdyYW51bGVpZDpVU0MtcHJlbGltLXRpdGxlMzEtc2VjdGlvbjMzNTEp%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-section3354&f=treesort&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjMxIHNlY3Rpb246MzM1MSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSkgT1IgKGdyYW51bGVpZDpVU0MtcHJlbGltLXRpdGxlMzEtc2VjdGlvbjMzNTEp%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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1. The awarding agency is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 to review or consider certain information found in SAM.gov. For details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2).

2. An applicant may review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

3. Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.206, the awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant.

E. Reviewer Selection FEMA Regional Office staff who are professionally and technically qualified in floodplain management will evaluate applications and select applications for funding.

F. Merit Review Process NFIP Coordinating Agencies with valid Tiered State Framework Assessments are eligible on an annual basis as long as their proposals are approved, and they meet the other requirements set forth in this funding opportunity. Proposals are reviewed and approved by FEMA Regional Office staff to align to program priorities, eligible activities, and allowable costs. Available Base Funding amounts are set prior to application development. More information on the Funding Methodology can be found in Appendix 2.

There is competitive Discretionary Funding available for additional FEMA-funded NFIP activities. FEMA sets annual priorities and Regional Coordinators have the authority to review and determine which discretionary activities they will fund for states and territories in their region.

G. Final Selection Applications are pre-approved by FEMA Regional Office staff prior to submission to ensure that submitted applications are reasonable, focusing on outlined priorities, and achievable in the 12-month period of performance.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://sam.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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Intergovernmental Review A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

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. No further action is needed if you do not find a contact for your state in the latest version of the SPOC list.

Note: This requirement does not apply to tribal governments.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=43cc1c138155325b42a3a955d345e1e7860474a2770290d46abb1fd8ae77d8f4JmltdHM9MTc1OTE5MDQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=294b42f1-0982-65d0-0900-572608a06432&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub2pwLmdvdi9JbnRlcmdvdmVybm1lbnRhbFJldmlld1NQT0NMaXN0LnBkZg&ntb=1

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award

Award Notices 25

Post-award requirements and administration 25

Other 35

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Award Notices A. Notice of Award

The AOR should carefully read the federal award package before accepting the federal award. The federal award package includes instructions on administering the federal award as well as terms and conditions for the award.

By applying, applicants agree to comply with the prerequisites stated in this NOFO and the material terms and conditions of the federal award, should they receive an award.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically in FEMA GO. Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and Obligating Document. An award package notification email is sent by the grant application system to the submitting AOR.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 30 days from the award date. Recipients shall notify

FEMA of their intent to accept the award and proceed with work in the FEMA GO system.

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

B. Pass-Through Requirements Pass-through awards are not allowed.

C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs Even if pre-award costs are allowed, beginning performance prior to award is at the applicant or sub-applicant’s own risk.

D. Obligation of Funds The grant funds are obligated in accordance with applicable laws, and no later than upon award.

E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants Efforts will be made to rectify any application issues to ensure successful submission. Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted by their FEMA Regional Coordinator.

Post-Award Requirements and Administration A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Presidential Executive Orders

Recipients must comply with the requirements of Presidential Executive Orders related to grants (also known as federal assistance and financial assistance), the full text of which are incorporated by reference.

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Pursuant to the preliminary injunction order issued on November 21, 2025, in County of Santa Clara et al.

v. Noem, et al., No. 25-cv-08330-WHO (N.D. Cal.), this requirement does not apply to awards or subawards issued to any of the plaintiffs subject to the preliminary injunction order while the order remains in effect.

If the preliminary injunction is extended to cover additional plaintiffs, this provision will also not apply to any awards or subawards issued to those plaintiffs. If the preliminary injunction is stayed, vacated, or extinguished, this requirement will immediately become effective. Also, pursuant to the preliminary injunction order issued on November 21, 2025, in City of Chicago et al. v. Noem, et al., No. 25-CV-12765 (N.D. Ill.), this requirement does not apply to awards or subawards issued to any of the plaintiffs subject to the preliminary injunction order while the order remains in effect.