FY 26 EMPG NOFO - Final (002).pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due: July 15, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026

Emergency Management Performance

Grant Program

Assistance Listing Number: 97.042

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26- GPD-042-01-99

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 4

Program Description 8

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 15

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 16

Step 3: Write Your Application 19

Application Contents and Format 20

Step 4: Learn About the Award Review Process 21

Application Review Information 22

Intergovernmental Review 23

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award 24

Award Notices 25

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 25

Other Information 34

Contacts and Appendices 42

Contacts 43

Appendices 45

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

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 (800) 323-8603 and TTY (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. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 4

Eligibility 4

Program description 8

Jump to a step

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

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

Basic Information A. Award Facts

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

Assistance Listing Number: 97.042

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26- GPD-042-01-99

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $870,860 – $25,591,548

Expected Total Funding: $337,250,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 56 awards

B. Executive Summary FY 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program is one of the grant programs that constitutes DHS/FEMA’s focus on all-hazards emergency preparedness, including the evolving threats and risks associated with natural disasters. EMPG Program funding is awarded to the

56 states and territories using a population-based allocation methodology.

The main purpose of the program is to support the emergency management needs of state, local, Tribal Nation, and territorial governments, primarily through investments in planning, training, and exercise activities and to help cover the salaries of emergency management personnel.

Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

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

Applicant Eligibility

State or territorial governments (the State Administrative Agency [SAA] or the state’s Emergency

Management Agency [EMA]).

All 56 states and territories (collectively “state or territory”) are eligible to apply for FY 2026 EMPG Program

Key Dates

Projected Application Start

Date: June 15, 2026

Projected Application End

Date: July 15, 2026

Anticipated Funding Selection

Date: August 31, 2026

Anticipated Award Date:

September 11, 2026

Projected Period of

Performance Start Date:

October 1, 2025

Projected Period of

Performance End Date:

September 30, 2028

Budget Period:

October 1, 2025 – September 30, Have questions? See Contacts and Support

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts funds. Either the SAA or the EMA is eligible to apply directly to FEMA for EMPG Program funds on behalf of each state or territory. However, only one application will be accepted from each state or territory.

Subapplicant Eligibility

Subapplicants and subawards are allowed.

Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statutes, policies, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for further information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types

Allowable costs for EMPG made in support of the national priorities must fall into the categories of planning, organization, equipment, training, or exercises (POETE).

Please see Appendix I for more information on allowable costs.

For costs that do not explicitly fit within one of the mentioned categories, recipients should consult their

Regional EMPG Program Manager to determine whether the cost is allowable under the award. In addition to the descriptions and references in Appendix I, applicants should refer to the Preparedness Grants

Manual.

Unallowable Project Types

See Program Description, Section E “Program-Specific Unallowable Costs” for more information on unallowable project types.

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

Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff, or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance.

Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR of the recipient.

Subapplicants/subrecipients should not include foreign nationals or noncitizens. If a subapplicant/subrecipients has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statues, polices, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual

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

Subapplicants/subrecipients must submit short bios and resumes. This should include the type of entity, organizational leadership, and board members along with both the names and addresses of the individuals. Resumes are subject to approval.

D. Maximum Number of Applications One per state or territory

E. Additional Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Applicants/subapplicants or recipients/subrecipients are required to certify their compliance with federal statutes, DHS directives, policies, and procedures.

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 NIMS Implementation and Training.

Additionally, as a post-award requirement for FY 2026, all recipients and subrecipients in the 50 states and the District of Columbia must work toward achieving the Phase 3 National Qualification System (NQS) implementation objectives. In addition to executing their Implementation Plan, all jurisdictions shall work towards issuing Position Task Books to designated incident workforce personnel and ensure those personnel show progress in working toward task endorsements and minimum training

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

b. Public Alert and Warning Preparedness

When applying EMPG funding to exercises, grant recipients and subrecipients shall include exercise objectives centered on practicing and validating their plans and procedures for sending emergency alerts to the public through the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Exercise objectives for evaluating public alert and warning capabilities should include:

• Practice of analysis and decision-making in sending an alert to the public;

• Public alert message writing;

• Procedures for coordinating, reviewing, and granting approval to send the alert; and,

• Practice in sending an alert though the IPAWS.

Moreover, recipients should clearly outline how they will integrate public alert and warning tests into preparedness efforts and broader exercises. This may include:

• Detailed plans for integrating and applying the IPAWS Exercise Starter Kit for emergency management planning;

• Completing training on the IPAWS Message Design Dashboard (MDD) alert message writing tool;

and/or https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd_preparedness-grants-manual_122025.pdf

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• Plans for incorporating routine IPAWS public alert testing, drills, and exercises as part of overarching preparedness initiatives.

Recipients and subrecipients should develop After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans following drills and exercises that identify gaps and successes and define changes to continue to improve their capabilities to alert the public during emergent incidents that present a risk to the safety of the people and property in their communities. Additional information on IPAWS, including best practices, is available at Integrated Public Alert & Warning System | FEMA.gov.

c. Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership

In support of the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal), EMPG Program recipients must belong to, be located in, or act as an EMAC temporary member state, except for American Samoa and the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which are not currently subject to these requirements, though FEMA encourages EMAC membership regardless. All assets supported in part or entirely with FY 2026 EMPG Program funding must, where applicable, be readily deployable to support emergency or disaster operations per existing EMAC agreements.

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

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

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

1. “Threshold Review Criteria” subsection;

2. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection;

3. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection; and

4. 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.

G. Cost Share Requirements Applicants and subapplicants selected for this award must commit to an acceptable cost share agreement. Otherwise, they will not be funded.

H. Cost Share Description, Type, and Restrictions The FY 2026 EMPG Program has a cost-share requirement. The recipient contribution can be cash (hard match) or third-party in-kind (soft match). Eligible EMPG Program applicants shall agree to make available https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/goal https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/continuity mailto:FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts non-federal funds to carry out an EMPG Program award in an amount not less than 50% of the total project cost. In other words, the federal share applied toward the EMPG Program budget shall not exceed 50% of the total budget as submitted in the application and approved in the award. If the total project ends up costing more, the recipient is responsible for any additional costs; if the total project ends up costing less, the recipient may owe FEMA an amount required to ensure that the federal cost share is not in excess of

50%. A state must at least equally match (cash or third party in-kind) the federal contribution pursuant to sections 611(j) and 613(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L.

No. 93-288), as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.). Unless otherwise authorized by law, federal funds cannot be matched with other federal funds. The recipient’s contribution should be specifically identified.

These non-federal contributions have the same eligibility requirements as the federal share.

DHS/FEMA administers cost-matching requirements in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306. To meet matching requirements, the recipient contributions must be verifiable, reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary under the grant program, and in compliance with all applicable federal requirements and regulations.

I. Cost Share Example For example, if the federal award were at a 50% cost share and the total approved budget cost was

$100,000, then:

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

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

However, with this example, if the total cost ended up being $120,000, the federal share would remain at

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

In accordance with 48 U.S.C. § 1469a, cost-match requirements are waived for the insular areas of the U.S.

territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

J. Required Information for Verifying Cost Share Applicants should submit the following cost share (or match) documents:

A detailed description of the source of the cost share/matching funds. If funds or services are to be provided by a third party for in-kind match, a dated letter of commitment is required to document the donation.

Maintenance of Effort

Not Applicable

Program Description A. Program Purpose

The FY 2026 EMPG Program provides funding to states and territorial governments to enhance their

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts emergency management capabilities. The funding allows recipients to address risks and strengthen core emergency management functions.

B. Goals and Objectives Goals: The goal of the FY 2026 EMPG Program is to provide funds to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies to implement the National Preparedness System (NPS) and to support the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.

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

1. Building or sustaining those preparedness capabilities that are identified as high priority through the

Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review

(SPR) process and other relevant information sources (see Priorities section below);

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

3. Building continuity capabilities to ensure the resilience of essential governmental functions and services.

DHS/FEMA requires EMPG Program recipients to complete a THIRA/SPR. Additional information on the

THIRA/SPR process, including other NPS tools and resources, can be found at National Preparedness

System | FEMA.gov and the Preparedness Grants Manual (FM-207-23-001).

Priorities: All EMPG Program applicants are required to develop and submit a Work Plan as described in

Appendix B below. All EMPG Program Work Plans will require final approval by the applicable FEMA Regional Administrator (RA). The applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program

Manager to ensure that appropriate regional and state/territory priorities are effectively addressed in the

Work Plan.

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

Objectives section above. Other relevant information sources may also be used to inform state/territory priorities, such as:

• After-action reports (AARs) following exercises or real-world events;

• Audit and monitoring findings;

• Hazard Mitigation Plans; and/or

• Other deliberate planning products.

Additionally, states and territories are urged to consider the funding needs of local governments when developing their funding priorities. Regional priorities will be determined by the RA based on their unique knowledge of the region’s preparedness and emergency management needs, including broader insight into common capability gaps across the region and potential opportunities for economies of scale to https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/system

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts capitalize on those commonalities. Regional priorities should also be based on an analysis of THIRA/SPR data and other information sources provided by the states/territories in their area(s) of responsibility.

Ideally, all EMPG Program funded projects, as outlined in the approved FY 2026 EMPG Program Work Plan, will support the priorities identified through this approach.

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

Program Work Plan.

Federal regulations outlined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200 require federal awarding agencies to measure recipient performance to show achievement of program goals and objectives, share lessons learned, improve program outcomes, and foster adoption of promising practices (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.301, Performance

Measurement). For FY 2026, there is a continuing emphasis on priority-based investments. Additionally, recipients must set outcome-oriented performance goals for closing capability gaps related to the three-to-five agreed-upon priorities, aligning funding with high-priority strategic preparedness needs. An outcome-oriented approach will allow recipients to define success, benchmark their projects, and measure their progress in building capability. Recipients will be able to use this to generate a feedback cycle. If projects are not achieving desired outcomes, recipients will have a basis for revisiting plans and assessments and adjusting their projects and other investments.

When developing state/territory priorities, applicants should consider the following national priorities:

• Extreme Weather Resilience; and

• Readiness.

C. Performance Measures and Targets

1. Performance Measure 1: Percentage of capability-building projects that align to capability gaps identified by states, territories, and urban areas in their THIRA/SPR submissions (60%).

2. Performance Measure 2: Percentage of high priority capabilities, as identified in THIRA/SPR submissions, that are built or sustained prior to award closeout (60%).

3. Performance Measure 3: Percentage of capability-building projects that address a high priority core capability as identified by THIRA/SPR submissions (60%).

4. Performance Measure 4: Percentage of projects that build or sustain capabilities relating to the EMPG

Program national priority areas and/or RA agreed-upon priorities (80%).

5. Performance Measure 5: Percentage of Planning, Training, and/or Exercise related projects that align with closing capability gaps identified and documented in the state/territory’s most recent THIRA/SPR submission, Mitigation Plan, After Action Reports (AARs), Audit/Monitoring Findings, or Other Deliberate Plans (60%).

FEMA will analyze the above metrics through the review of state/territory SPR submissions, EMPG Program

Work Plans, and required programmatic reports.

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D. Federal Assistance Type Noncompetitive Grant

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs Grant funds may not be used for:

1. The purchase of firearms, ammunition, grenade launchers, bayonets, or weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind with weapons installed;

2. Expenditures for weapons systems and ammunition;

3. Costs associated with hiring, equipping, training, etc. sworn public safety officers whose primary job responsibilities include fulfilling traditional public safety duties such as law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, or other first responder duties;

3. Costs that supplant traditional public safety positions and responsibilities;

4. Activities and projects unrelated to the completion and implementation of the EMPG Program; or

5. Clothing used for everyday wear by emergency management employees or other personnel.

Recipients should consult with their Regional EMPG Program Manager before making any investment that does not clearly meet the allowable expense criteria established in this NOFO and the Preparedness

Grants Manual.

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

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.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual 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

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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 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. See Section 1.A (“Eligible Entities”) for additional eligibility information. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary.

Participant

There are no program requirements. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant.

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 (IDC) are allowed for recipients and subrecipients.

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 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/232 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

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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.

K. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are not allowed.

L. Management and Administration Costs Per FEMA policy, Management and Administration (M&A) costs are allowed for states, territories, and local-level Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs). A state or territory EMA may use up to 5% of the EMPG

Program award for M&A purposes. In addition, local EMAs may retain and use up to 5% of the amount they receive from the state for local M&A purposes. If the SAA is not the state or territory-level EMA, the SAA is not eligible to retain funds for M&A costs.

M&A activities are defined as those directly related to the management and administration of EMPG

Program funds, such as financial management, reporting, and program and financial monitoring. Some examples of M&A costs include grants management training for M&A staff, equipment and supplies for M&A staff to administer the EMPG Program grant, travel costs for M&A staff to attend conferences or training related to the EMPG Program, travel costs for the M&A staff to conduct subrecipient monitoring, contractual services to support the M&A staff with M&A activities, and auditing costs related to the grant award to the extent required or permitted by statute or 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Characteristics of M&A expenses can include the following:

1. Direct costs that are incurred to administer a particular federal award;

2. Identifiable and unique to each federal award;

3. Charged based on the activity performed for that particular federal award; and,

4. Not duplicative of the same costs that are included in the approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable.

M&A costs 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, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports. They are directly related to managing and administering the award, such as financial management, reporting, and program and financial monitoring. It should be noted that salaries of state and local emergency managers are not typically categorized as M&A costs unless the state or local EMA chooses to assign personnel to specific M&A activities.

M. Authorizing Authority

Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), Pub. L. No. 109-295

(codified as amended at 6 U.S.C. § 762); the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414

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Pub. L. No. 93-288 (1974) (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207); the Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-124 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 7701-7709); and the National

Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Pub. L. No. 90448 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 4001-4131).

N. Appropriation Authority Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L. No. 119-86

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Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 16

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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 past three years, if applicable.

Per 2 C.F.R. 25.110(a)(2)(iv), if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevent it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration before 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.

D. How to Register to Apply 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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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.

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

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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• 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 July 15, 2026, 5 p.m. ET

G. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline

H. Post Application Requirements Deadline

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 20

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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 See section below.

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

• EMPG Program Work Plan.

All EMPG Program applicants must develop and submit a Work Plan. All applicants are strongly encouraged to use the FY 2026 EMPG Program Work Plan Template provided on Grants.gov to submit the Work Plan, which outlines the state or territory’s emergency management sustainment and enhancement efforts, including new and ongoing activities and projects, proposed for the EMPG Program period of performance.

All EMPG Program Work Plans will require final approval by the RA. The applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to ensure that the common set of agreed-upon priorities, as explained in the Priorities section above, are properly addressed in the EMPG Program Work Plan.

Regions can request additional budget detail information, if necessary, to ensure the proposed projects and associated costs are in alignment with the agreed-upon priorities, address the identified need/capability gaps, and comply with the cost principles.

See the EMPG Program Work Plan guidance in Appendix B of this document for additional information on

Work Plan requirements.

D. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/

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Step 4: Learn about the Award Review

Process

Application Review Information 22

Intergovernmental Review 23

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Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria

Only state or territorial governments (the State Administrative Agency [SAA] or the state’s Emergency

Management Agency [EMA]) are authorized to submit EMPG applications to FEMA.

a. Unaffiliated or Unauthorized Representatives

Applications submitted by individuals who are not 1) a current employee, personnel, official, staff, or leadership of the non-federal entity; and 2) duly authorized to apply for an award on behalf of the non-federal entity at the time of application (e.g. consultants or contractors acting on behalf of an organization) will be deemed ineligible.

b. Organizations Not Registered in SAM.gov

Applicants that fail to register and maintain an active profile in SAM.gov, or those without a UEI, are not eligible for funding.

B. Application Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

Application evaluation for the EMPG Program focuses on the EMPG Program Work Plan. Please see the Goals and Objectives section, and the EMPG Program Work Plan guidance in Appendix B for more information on Work Plan requirements and process.

b. Review and Selection Process

Recipients must comply with all administrative requirements described herein including the submission of the EMPG Program Work Plan and other application materials as required.

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.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 Regions are responsible for reviewing submitted applications. Each Regional EMPG Program

Manager reviews the FY 2026 EMPG Program Work Plans for their states or territories to assess the proposed EMPG Program investments against the agreed-upon priorities.

F. Merit Review Process Not applicable.

G. Final Selection FEMA uses a population-based allocation formula as dictated by statute. See Appendix 4 for details.

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://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://sam.gov/ https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=43cc1c138155325b42a3a955d345e1e7860474a2770290d46abb1fd8ae77d8f4JmltdHM9MTc1OTE5MDQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=294b42f1-0982-65d0-0900-572608a06432&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub2pwLmdvdi9JbnRlcmdvdmVybm1lbnRhbFJldmlld1NQT0NMaXN0LnBkZg&ntb=1

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Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award

Award Notices 25

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 25

Other 34

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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 45 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 Each state or territory shall obligate 100% of its total EMPG Program allocation to the designated state-level EMA. If the SAA is also the EMA, this requirement is automatically met.