FY 26 NOFO NGWSGP_Final 7-17-26_508.pdf

PDF 2 MB Posted Jul 15, 2026

Attached to: Fiscal Year 2026 Next Generation Warning System Grant Program
Opportunity number: DHS-26-IPAWS-138-00-01
Issued by: Federal Emergency Management Agency

About this file

Written by GovTribe AI · Jul 18, 2026

This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year 2026 Next Generation Warning System Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program has $48 million in total funding available for 5-10 awards ranging from $2-10 million each. Eligible applicants are States or Indian Tribes (Tribal Nations) as defined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1, and subapplicants and subawards are permitted with FEMA approval. The application deadline is August 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated award date of September 30, 2026. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029, as a single three-year budget period. The Assistance Listing Number is 97.138 and the Funding Opportunity Number is DHS-26-IPAWS-138-00-01.

The program funds projects to identify capability gaps and implement solutions for public alert and warning systems using modern technologies including IPAWS-compatible sirens, giant-voice systems, emergency alert datacasting, digital signage integration, internet-of-things devices, satellite-based systems, and behavioral science-informed messaging with language translation and artificial intelligence enhancements. Allowable activities include infrastructure installation, coordination with NOAA for weather radios, policy development, training, testing, exercises, rural coverage expansion, and cybersecurity enhancements. Applicants must provide a 15-page maximum project narrative including an executive summary, needs assessment, program design with logic model, budget narrative with detailed cost breakdown, master schedule with deliverables, and any applicable subaward or consumer device procurement descriptions. Key post-award milestones include identifying capability gaps by December 31, 2026, executing regional tests by June 1, 2027, achieving 50 percent gap closure by February 28, 2028, and 100 percent closure by June 15, 2029. Merit review scoring allocates 25 points each for vulnerability addressed and capability gaps, 25 points for ability to improve alert and warning, 15 points for cost and implementation management, and 10 points for learning opportunities. Management and administration costs are capped at 5 percent of the award amount, indirect costs are not allowed, and pre-award costs are prohibited. Recipients must comply with DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, submit quarterly financial and performance reports, and participate in program evaluation activities.

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Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due: August 7, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Next Generation Warning System Grant Program Assistance Listing Number: 97.138 Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-IPAWS-138-00-01

Contents

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

Before you begin 2

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 3

Basic information 4

Eligibility 4

Program Description 6

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 12

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 13

Step 3: Write Your Application 16

Application Contents and Format 17

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 42

Contacts 43

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/ https://Login.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov

1. Review

1. Review Jump to a step

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 6

Basic Information A. Award Facts

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

Assistance Listing Number: 97.138

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Fiscal Year 2026 Next Generation Warning System Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-IPAWS-138-00-01

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $2-10 million

Expected Total Funding: $48 million

Anticipated Number of Awards: 5-10

B. Executive Summary This grant will fund projects to identify capability gaps and implement solutions for alert and warning to deliver timely public warning and emergency information and to protect critical infrastructure. There are rapid changes in technology, cybersecurity threats, and public preferences for consuming content, recipients will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to explore currently available, flexible, innovative, and forward-looking capabilities to craft and disseminate emergency alerts and warnings across existing and new distribution pathways, including streaming services, sirens, giant-voice systems, satellites, internet-connected devices, and other solutions.

Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

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

Applicant Eligibility States or Indian Tribes (Tribal Nations) as defined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

Subapplicant Eligibility

Key Dates

Projected Application Start Date: July 17, 2026

Projected Application End Date: August 7, 2026

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: September 11, 2026

Anticipated Award Date:

September 30, 2026

Projected Period of Performance Start Date:

October 1, 2026

Projected Period of Performance End Date:

September 30, 2029

Budget Period: October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2029

Subapplicants and subawards are allowed. Recipients must receive FEMA approval prior to making any subawards.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types

1. Installation of Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)-compatible sirens and/or “giant-voice systems”;

2. Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to enhance signals and availability for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radios;

3. Integration and deployment of emergency alert datacasting technology;

4. Deployment of systems and technologies that enable the dissemination of advanced visual and audio alerts, such as to digital billboards, signage, and kiosks;

5. Integration of IPAWS alerts in internet of things (IoT) and streaming devices;

6. Development and implementation of policies and procedures (update State Response Plans, Alerting on Behalf, Memorandum of Agreement/Understandings);

7. Integration of satellite-based alert and warning technologies, automated message origination and distribution capabilities, and other emerging capabilities. For example, jurisdictions could incorporate advanced warning lexicons informed by behavioral science for more timely and effective public warning.

8. Development of alert and warning state and local field testing, training, and exercise programming in collaboration with FEMA and federal, state, and local alert and warning partners.

9. Deploying capabilities to increase alert and warning coverage to rural areas and other locations across the state with limited communications access.

10. Integration of behavioral science-informed message lexicon, automatic language translation, audio/visual payloads, American Sign Language (ASL) integration, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based enhancements to implement timely, accurate, secure, and accessible alert messaging.

11. Enhancing the cybersecurity of alert and warning systems at every stage, including message composition, software applications, and the security of dissemination pathways (such as improvements to the Emergency Alert Service). This also includes strengthening system protection, user training, incident response, and coordination with the IPAWS Office.

Unallowable Project Types Grant funds may NOT be used for purchases and services that are not directly related to advancing public alert and warning capabilities.

C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties Subapplicants/subrecipients should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant/subrecipient 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 requirements.

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

Resumes are subject to approval.

D. Maximum Number of Applications Not Applicable

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

F. References to O ther 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

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 Not Applicable

H. Cost Share Description, Type, and Restrictions Not Applicable

I. Cost Share Example Not Applicable

J. Required Information for Verifying Cost Share Not Applicable

Maintenance of Effort Not Applicable

Program Description A. Program Purpose

Our nation’s emergency preparedness depends on having in place a secure and effective system for warning and informing the public of impending natural and man-made disasters. FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) is the national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public. Local radio and television stations, along with cable television, wireless carriers, direct broadcast satellite, other distribution providers and pathways disseminate the public safety messages they receive from IPAWS.

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-143) charged FEMA with upgrading and reinforcing the nation’s public alert and warning system to withstand disruptive events and adapt to advancements in technology and methods of communication. This grant supports projects that aid in creating and maintaining a resilient public alert and warning system that provides timely and effective warnings. The IPAWS public alert and warning system is built on the Common Alerting Protocol standard (CAP) that permits a single CAP-compatible message to activate multiple compliant warning systems.

The Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) Grant Program will help support a reliable, resilient, and consistent capability for local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal public safety officials to deliver timely public warning and emergency information.

This grant will identify capability gaps and implement solutions for alert and warning to deliver timely warning and emergency information to the public and to protect critical infrastructure. There are rapid changes in technology, cybersecurity threats, and public preferences for consuming content, recipients will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to explore available, flexible, innovative, forward-looking capabilities to disseminate emergency alerts and warnings across existing and new distribution pathways, including streaming services, sirens, giant-voice systems, satellites, internet-connected devices, and other solutions.

The recipient and the subrecipients must comply with applicable Federal Communications Commission rules, including, title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 11, FEMA IPAWS best-practices, and telecommunications prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232).

B. Goals and Objectives Goal: The goal of this grant is to enhance alert and warning capabilities and improve resiliency of emergency alert and warning systems through effective services, solutions, and technology to improve the timely delivery of public safety information. The grant will explore and embrace currently available and emerging technology with audio and visual capabilities across all platforms to enable interactive and actionable emergency communications to the public.

Objectives: In coordination with the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Division, the grant recipients will pursue the following objectives:

1. Integrate effective, reliable, available, and timely alert and warning capabilities to enhance public emergency communications;

2. Test and deploy proven common-sense tools, pathways, and technologies that support advanced visual and audio alerts; and

3. Coordinate and execute whole-community public warning field training, testing, exercise, and evaluation in collaboration with IPAWS, federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, including broadcasters and wireless carriers, to support the development of alert and warning governance, policies, plans, and procedures while improving cross-jurisdictional coordination before, during, and after incidents.

C. Performance Measures and Targets

Performance measures for this award are:

i. Number of IPAWS-compatible sirens or “giant-voice” systems installed, with an emphasis on rural, tribal, and other areas with limited communications;

ii. Population covered by newly integrated systems and technologies;

iii. Number of new capabilities evaluated and deployed, with documented assessments of their potential value and feasibility to support emergency alerting and warning;

iv. Number of public alert and warning tests and/or exercises;

v. Number of state and local public safety officials trained in alert and warning technology and capabilities;

vi. The number of projects initiated and the percentage of projects that are on-track based on their individual milestone schedules; and

vii. Percentage of on-time accomplishments of the overall milestone schedule d escribed in subsection

“Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants.”

FEMA will work with recipients to approve targets for each performance measure post-award. Applicants should propose targets in their applications appropriate to the scope of their request.

D. Federal Assistance Type Cooperative Agreement

This award will provide rapid support to recipients to help improve public safety in future disasters, emergencies, and critical events, while enabling FEMA and the recipients to learn from the practical application of proven emergency technology solutions and methods that can inform future IPAWS development and support across the country. FEMA will have substantial involvement throughout the lifecycle of the cooperative agreement. FEMA will participate in the review and selection of proposed projects, ensuring alignment with national priorities and IPAWS objectives, and will collaborate with recipients to refine project scopes, objectives, and implementation strategies. FEMA will provide ongoing technical assistance, subject matter expertise, and guidance during project planning, deployment, and evaluation, including facilitating access to FEMA’s technical resources and convening regular meetings to address challenges and share best practices.

FEMA will also actively engage with recipients to assess project progress through regular reporting, site visits, and performance reviews, working with recipients to establish performance metrics, evaluate outcomes, and identify lessons learned that can inform future IPAWS development and national alerting strategies. In addition, FEMA will collaborate with recipients to assess the applicability of new technologies and approaches for broader adoption and may recommend adjustments to national alerting policies, processes, or infrastructure based on project results. FEMA will facilitate the dissemination of project findings and best practices to other jurisdictions and stakeholders, supporting the continuous improvement of the nation’s emergency alert and warning capabilities. FEMA’s substantial involvement ensures that the cooperative agreement is a true partnership, leveraging the expertise and resources of both FEMA and the recipients to advance national public safety objectives.

Recipients must receive FEMA approval prior to making subawards.

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs This applies to the recipients and any potential subrecipients. Grant funds may NOT be used for purchases and services that are not directly related to advancing public alert and warning capabilities. The award recipient and potential subrecipients must provide procurement and funds management plans for FEMA approval.

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.

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 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 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

Supporting United States Producers.

H. Beneficiary and Participant E ligibility Beneficiary The public may be third-party beneficiaries of the program if subapplicants purchase and distribute consumer devices that can receive emergency alerts (e.g., radios and other devices). The subrecipient assesses the needs of their communities and submits an application stating how the devices would benefit their communities.

Participant Not Applicable

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 award documents for more details.

I. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are not allowed.

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) who 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.

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

L. Management and Administration Costs M&A costs are allowed. M&A costs are activities directly related to implementing the award. FEMA will allow recipients to use up to 5% of the amount of the award for their M&A costs and subrecipients may use up to 5% of the amount they receive for M&A. Funding levels for these costs must be negotiated on a per-project basis with the appropriate awarding office and should include an itemized listing of specific costs 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 associated with M&A.

M&A costs include direct charges to the grant related to the administrative aspects of implementing the award, such as salaries and benefits for human resources, administrative or finance personnel who support the execution of the grant but are not completing specific project activities.

Costs such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries in direct support of the administration of the award are also examples of typically allowable M&A costs. Other M&A costs might include general operating costs when billed directly. However, M&A costs are not allowed as direct charges to the award when these costs are included in a recipient’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

Certain administrative costs are not considered M&A costs and are not subject to the M&A cap of 5% when those costs are directly related to a specific award activity.

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.

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

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

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 13

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

D. How to R egister to A pply 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

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 7, 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern Time

G. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline Not applicable

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.

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

Step 3: Write Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 17

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 should submit the information outlined below in Section C. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information in a single PDF attachment in FEMA GO. Applicants should follow these formatting requirements:

• The page limit for the PDF attachment is 15 pages.

• Spacing: The text should be single-spaced (1.0).

• Typeface: Times New Roman 12 pt. font (exceptions for citations and tables) should be used.

• Margins: Use 1-inch margins.

• Citations (in-text, endnote/footnote): Citations are permitted. Use Times New Roman, 10, 11, or 12

pt. font sizes.

• Graphics such as pictures, models, charts, and graphs will be accepted (within the page limits) but are not required.

• Primary font color is black; however, other colors may be used for emphasis as appropriate.

• Bold or italics may be used.

• Table format is acceptable where appropriate (e.g., logic model, timelines) but not mandatory.

Failure to follow the formatting requirements will result in a loss of up to 5 points in the competitive scoring process.

C. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information Within the PDF attachment, provide the following information in a Project Narrative:

1. Executive Summary: Provide a summary of the proposed projects and expected outcomes of the award and the requested funding (approximately 350 words).

2. Needs Assessment: A needs assessment is a systematic approach used to identify capacity and gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes. Use this section to identify the target https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family population you project aims to serve and identify high-priority capability gaps in alert and warning systems in your jurisdiction.

3. Program Design: Please describe how the proposed program is designed. This should include the following information:

• Problem Statement: This is a clear description of the issue, challenge, or need the program seeks to address.

• Program Goals and Objectives:

o Goals: Visionary, long-term statements that are independent of resources.

o Objectives: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

These are conditions that the program is expected to achieve within the grant’s timeframe, using provided resources.

• Logic Model: A logic model is a tool to systematically document and visually represent program investments, activities, desired results, and the relationship between them.

Logic models must include:

o Theory of Change: A brief statement that ties the logic model together by summarizing why the changes described in the logic model are expected to occur. These are often written as “if/then” statements that link existing conditions to desired changes.

o Short- and Long-term Outcomes:

Short-term Outcomes: Immediate effects of the program, such as raising awareness, increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, or behaviors.

These are typically linked to program objectives. Inclusion of optional performance measures will result in additional points.

Long-term Outcomes: The ultimate results or goals of the program.

o Outputs: Direct, tangible results of program activities, often quantifiable (e.g., the number of people trained, the number of briefings held, etc.).

o Activities: Actions/events undertaken by the program to produce desired outcomes, often with a clear link to the problem statement.

o Inputs: Resources invested to initiate and maintain program implementation, including finances, time, personnel, materials, supplies, etc. These influence the program’s scope, activities, and achievable outputs/outcomes.

o Contextual Factors and Underlying Assumptions: Conditions, stakeholders, funding, or other factors that are inherent to the program design and execution that may influence its success.

o Likelihood of Success: Evidence demonstrating that the proposed strategy and approach are likely to lead to the anticipated outcomes.

For more information on developing a logic model please see:

https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/Programs/Public-Health- Infrastructure/KelloggLogicModelGuide_161122_162808.pdf

4. Budget Narrative: The narrative should include sufficient information for FEMA to evaluate how the funds requested align with each of the proposed projects. Please include a detailed cost breakdown for each proposed project to include amounts intended for personnel, fringe benefits, travel, supplies, equipment, contracts, subawards, and other costs. Include information on which https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/Programs/Public-Health-Infrastructure/KelloggLogicModelGuide_161122_162808.pdf https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/Programs/Public-Health-Infrastructure/KelloggLogicModelGuide_161122_162808.pdf projects are the highest priority and which projects or portions may be severable in case the full request cannot be funded.

5. Master Schedule/Deliverable Table: Include a schedule of planned activities with milestones and expected dates for completion, along with their associated deliverables (e.g., people trained, publications distributed, conferences/workshops/drills held, policies made, website improvements, etc.). Ensure this includes all milestones in Section D below, Post Application Requirements for Successful Applicants.

If applicable:

6. Competitive Subaward Process Description: A description including a planned schedule and evaluation criteria detailing the recipient plans to solicit and review applications and issue subawards with funding focused on the areas of greatest need and greatest likelihood to benefit communities.

7. Describe the overall approach for managing the purchase and redistribution of consumer devices that can receive emergency alerts. If the applicant intends to use the grant to procure such devices, the applicant should describe how they intend to evaluate subaward applications that include consumer receivers. FEMA understands that innovative uses and applications may be proposed by subapplicants, so this section should describe the general evaluation approach rather than trying to account for all approaches for the use of consumer receivers. Transparency and frequent program reporting helps FEMA assess performance of the subaward process and of subrecipients’ effective use of funds.

D. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants

• No later than December 31, 2026, each recipient must identify alert and warning capability gaps and develop a comprehensive plan to close those gaps, particularly in rural and tribal communities, and communities that lack communications infrastructure.

• No later than June 1, 2027, each recipient must execute coordinated regional alert and warning test(s) for capabilities that have been deployed to date, The recipient must evaluate findings and share the results no later than 60 days after the test(s) are performed.

• No later than February 28, 2028, each recipient must have executed at least 50% of their plan to close the capability gaps identified and share a report on enhancements to alert and warning through technology adoption, training, testing, and exercise.

• No later than June 15, 2029, each recipient must have executed 100% of their plan to close the capability gaps identified and share a report on enhancements to alert and warning through technology adoption, training, testing, and exercise.

• No later than the end of the period of performance, each recipient must submit a report sharing insights and lessons learned from the development and implementation of innovative, forward-looking capabilities to support effective alert and warning and identify potential future deployments to other states.

Recipients who cannot make these milestones may request an extension from FEMA that includes a justification for the delay and includes a plan for meeting the requested extension date.

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Step 4: Learn about the Award Review Process

In this step

Application Review Information 21

Intergovernmental Review 23

A pplication Review Information A. Threshold Criteria

FEMA will review submitted applications for eligibility, completeness, and alignment with the goals and objectives of the NGWS Grant Program.

B. Application Criteria FEMA will review complete, eligible applications on the following merit criteria. Applicants can score a maximum of 100 points in this evaluation process:

Vulnerability Addressed: 0-25 points How does this project address critical vulnerabilities in alert and warning?