FY2021_Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities_NOFO_080521.pdf

FY 2021 BRIC NOFO Back to the Top

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained an Employer Identification Number (EIN), a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), or your SAM registration is not active, please take immediate action to obtain an EIN and DUNS Number, if applicable, and then register immediately in SAM or, if applicable, renew your SAM registration. It may take four weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS, EIN, and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “How to Register to Apply.” Detailed information regarding the time required for each registration is also provided in Section D of this NOFO under the subsection titled “Other Key Dates.”

Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

2. Period of Performance

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s):

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s):

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

4. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply

7. Submitting the Application

8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

9. Content and Form of Application Submission

10. Other Submission Requirements

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

2. Period of Performance Extensions

3. Disability Integration

4. Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards or Subawards

5. Procurement Integrity

6. Record Retention

7. Actions to Address Noncompliance

8. Audits

9. Payment Information

10. Whole Community Preparedness

11. Extraordinary Circumstances

12. Phased Projects

13. Integrating Mitigation and Planning

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

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

(FEMA)/Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA)/Mitigation Directorate/Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.047

3. Assistance Listings Title Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

4. Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-21-MT-047-00-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5133).

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-6); Section 203(i) of the Stafford Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5133).

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category Mitigation: Natural Hazards

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local communities for hazard mitigation activities. It does so with a recognition of the growing hazards associated with climate change1, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience with respect to those hazards. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed

1 Climate change is defined as “Changes in average weather conditions that persist over multiple decades or longer. Climate change encompasses both increases and decreases in temperature, as well as shifts in precipitation, changing risk of certain types of severe weather events, and changes to other features of the climate system.” (National Climate Assessment) and are expected to increase in the future.

FEMA will provide financial assistance to eligible BRIC applicants for the following activities: (1) Capability- and Capacity-Building (C&CB) activities, which enhance the knowledge, skills, expertise, etc., of the current workforce to expand or improve the administration of mitigation assistance. This includes activities in the following sub-categories: building codes activities, partnerships, project scoping, mitigation planning and planning-related activities, and other activities; (2) Mitigation Projects – cost-effective projects designed to increase resilience and public safety; reduce injuries and loss of life; and reduce damage and destruction to property, critical services, facilities, and infrastructure from natural hazards and the effects of climate change; and (3) Management Costs – financial assistance to reimburse the recipient and subrecipient for eligible and reasonable indirect costs, direct administrative costs, and other administrative expenses associated with a specific mitigation measure or project in an amount up to 15 percent of the total amount of the grant award, of which not more than 10 percent of the total award amount may be used by the recipient and 5 percent by the subrecipient for such costs generally. FEMA will also provide non-financial Direct Technical Assistance to communities to build a community’s capacity and capability to improve its resilience to natural hazards and to ensure stakeholders are capable of building and sustaining successful mitigation programs, submitting high-quality applications, and implementing new and innovative projects that reduce risk from a wide range of natural hazards. For more information about uses of assistance under BRIC, including how to submit various project types in FEMA’s Grant Outcomes System (FEMA

GO), refer to BRIC program support materials accessible at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities/resources.

The BRIC Program aligns with the general goal of promoting resilience and adaptation in light of current risks, including those posed by climate change, and the 2020-2024 DHS

Strategic Plan through pursuing Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.

Specifically, Objective 5.1: Build a National Culture of Preparedness has several sub-objectives that the BRIC Program supports. BRIC serves primarily to bolster Sub-Objective

5.1.1: Incentivize investments that reduce risk and increase pre-disaster mitigation, including expanding the use of insurance to manage risk through funding mitigation projects, particularly ones that reduce risk to Community Lifelines and infrastructure. Additionally, the capability- and capacity-building (C&CB) activities that BRIC funds also contribute to other sub-objectives. For example, planning, partnerships, and project scoping efforts help improve awareness initiatives to encourage public action to increase preparedness (Sub-Objective

5.1.2), use lessons from past disasters and exercises to inform community investment decisions and anticipate challenges that may emerge during future disasters (Sub-Objective

5.1.3), and coordinate and guide continuity of operations activities through partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders (Sub-Objective 5.1.5). The BRIC Program is also meant to promote the goal of equity, by helping members of particularly disadvantaged groups, who might be at special risk as a result of current hazards, including those associated with climate change.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities/resources

The 2018–2022 FEMA Strategic Plan provides a framework for supporting the United States before, during, and after disasters and improving the Agency’s execution of its fundamental mission of helping people and again by promoting equity (including by helping the most disadvantaged members of society). BRIC also supports the National Mitigation Investment Strategy and the FIMA FY 21-23 Mitigation Strategy by advancing mitigation investment to reduce risks posed by natural hazards and increasing the nation’s resilience to natural hazards. One of BRIC’s purposes is to help achieve 2018–2022 FEMA Strategic Plan

Objective 1.1: incentivize investments that reduce risk, including pre-disaster mitigation, and reduce disaster costs at all levels. The BRIC program is also an instrumental part of achieving other FEMA strategic objectives, including Objective 1.3, help people prepare for disasters, and Objective 1.4, better learn from past disasters, improve continuously, and innovate.

For more detailed program information, please go to Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) | FEMA.gov.

b. Objectives

With a general focus on disasters, risks, and hazards, including those associated with climate change, the guiding principles of the program are to (1) support state and local governments, tribes, and territories through capability- and capacity-building to enable them to identify mitigation actions and implement projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards; (2) encourage and enable innovation while allowing flexibility, consistency, and effectiveness;

(3) promote partnerships and enable high-impact investments to reduce risk from natural hazards with a focus on critical services and facilities, public infrastructure, public safety, public health, and communities; (4) provide a significant opportunity to reduce future losses and minimize impacts on the Disaster Relief Fund; (5) promote equity, including by helping members of disadvantaged groups and prioritizing 40 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities as referenced in Executive Order (EO) 14008 in line with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative; and (6) support the adoption and enforcement of building codes, standards, and policies that will protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public, taking into account future conditions, prominently including the effects of climate change, and have long-lasting impacts on community risk reduction, including for critical services and facilities and for future disaster costs.

In accordance with the BRIC program’s guiding principle of promoting equity and in implementing the Justice40 Initiative, the BRIC program is prioritizing assistance that benefits disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008. A disadvantaged community may be characterized by variables including, but not limited to: low income, high and/or persistent poverty, high unemployment and underemployment, racial and ethnic segregation, particularly where the segregation stems from discrimination by government entities, linguistic isolation, high housing cost burden and substandard housing, distressed neighborhoods, high transportation cost burden and/or low transportation access, disproportionate environmental stressor burden and high cumulative impacts, limited water and sanitation access and affordability, disproportionate impacts from climate, high energy cost burden and low energy access, jobs lost through the energy transition, access to health care, and all geographic areas within Tribal jurisdictions.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities

Four of the six BRIC qualitative evaluation criteria reflect the need for subapplications to speak to how the project will benefit disadvantaged communities: (1) Risk

Reduction/Resiliency Effectiveness, (2) Population Impacted, (3) Outreach Activities, and

(4) Leveraging Partners. Furthermore, BRIC reduces the non-Federal cost share from 25 percent to 10 percent for Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities (EDRC) (as referenced in 42 U.S.C. § 5133(a) as small impoverished communities). BRIC also provides non-financial Direct Technical Assistance to up to 20 communities in FY21 to help build capacity and capability at the local level.

c. Priorities

For FY2021, the priorities for the program are to incentivize natural hazard risk reduction activities that mitigate risk to public infrastructure and disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008; mitigate risk to one or more community lifelines; incorporate nature-based solutions; enhance climate resilience and adaptation; and to increase funding to applicants that facilitate the adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of building codes. BRIC encourages mitigation projects that meet multiple program priorities.

11. Performance Measures BRIC aims to implement projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to reduce future losses, by funding priority projects and activities. Priorities include risk reduction of both acute events and chronic stressors, driven by climate change, which are either observed or expected. To achieve these goals, for FY21 BRIC is prioritizing the following types of projects: infrastructure2 projects, those that mitigate risk to lifelines, projects that benefit disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008, projects that incorporate nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation and resilience projects, and projects proposed by applicants who adopt and enforce mandatory tribal-, territory-, or state-wide building codes based on the latest published editions of building codes. FEMA will measure the percent of dollars invested in these priorities, which will indicate that BRIC projects expect to meet the goal of reducing both risks posed by natural hazards and future losses. Results are based on

1) federal dollars requested for priority projects selected and 2) total federal dollars of eligible projects applied for through the BRIC national competition.

B. Federal Award Information

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

a. State/Territory Allocation Subtotal: $ 56,000,000

b. Tribal Set-Aside Subtotal: $ 25,000,000

c. National Competition Subtotal: $919,000,000 Any funds that are not awarded from the Tribal Set-Aside may be re-allocated to the non-financial Direct Technical Assistance for tribes or to the national competition.

2 Infrastructure is defined by the BRIC Program as critical physical structures, facilities, and systems that provide support to a functioning community, its population, and its economy.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/lifelines https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_riskmap_nature-based-solutions-guide_2020.pdf

State/Territory Maximum Allocation & Activity Caps $1,000,000

• The maximum allocation for a state or territory under this category is $1,000,000, covering all activities/projects.

• Each state/territory may apply for up to $1,000,000 in the State/Territory Allocation. The State/Territory Allocation may be used for C&CB activities and/or mitigation projects. The combined cost for any C&CB activities and/or mitigation projects under the State/Territory Allocation must not exceed $1,000,000 federal cost share per applicant. Additionally, the applicant’s highest ranked subapplication (C&CB activity or mitigation project) for the State/Territory Allocation must not exceed $1,000,000 federal cost share.

• Up to $500,000 of the State/Territory Allocation may be used for mitigation planning and planning-related activities per applicant.

• Up to 10 percent of any subapplication may be used for information dissemination activities, including public awareness and education (brochures, workshops, videos, etc.) related to a proposed C&CB activity or mitigation project.

Tribal Set-Aside Activity Caps

• The combined cost for any C&CB activities under the Tribal Set-Aside must not exceed $1,000,000 federal cost share per applicant. Additionally, the applicant’s highest ranked subapplication (C&CB activity) for the Tribal Set-Aside must not exceed $1,000,000 federal cost share.

• Up to $500,000 of the Tribal Set-Aside may be used for mitigation planning and planning-related activities per applicant.

• Up to 10 percent of any subapplication may be used for information dissemination activities, including public awareness and education (brochures, workshops, videos, etc.) related to a proposed C&CB activity or mitigation project.

• In the event that more than $25,000,000 in subapplications is submitted under the Tribal Set-Aside, the C&CB activities and highest-ranked mitigation project subapplications up to $25,000,000 will be selected. Once the $25,000,000 is selected, all remaining tribal mitigation project subapplications will be evaluated under the national competition.

National Competition Cap $50,000,000 Applicants may submit an unlimited number of mitigation project subapplications each valued up to $50,000,000 federal share to the national competition.

• Up to 10 percent of any subapplication may be used for information dissemination activities, including public awareness and education (brochures, workshops, videos, etc.) related to a proposed mitigation project.

Management Costs Subapplicants may submit up to 5 percent of the total budget of the C&CB activity or mitigation project for subapplicant management costs. The total budget refers to the sum of non-federal and federal shares of the proposed C&CB activity or mitigation project.

Subapplicants must use subapplicant management costs to manage their subaward activities.

Applicants may submit up to 10 percent of the application budget inclusive of subapplicant management costs for applicants to administer and manage award and subaward activities.

The subapplicant management costs (up to 5 percent) must be added to the subapplication total budget prior to the calculation of the applicant management costs (up to 10 percent).

If the applicant is also acting as the subapplicant, the applicant is allowed to claim subapplicant (up to 5 percent) and applicant management costs (up to 10 percent). Uses of the applicant management costs must be distinct from subapplicant management costs and must adhere to the stated uses, even if being used by the same entity. The tota l management cost still may not exceed 15 percent of the total award.

For additional information, please refer to Section D.13.b, Management Costs.

2. Period of Performance: 36 months The Period of Performance (POP) is 36 months, starting on the date of the recipient’s federal award. Any subsequent amendments to the federal award will not extend the POP unless explicitly stated. The applicant may submit a request for a longer POP in the application for

FEMA to review and approve. A longer POP must be requested, documented, reasonable, and justified.

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this NOFO.

FEMA awards only include one budget period, so it will be same as the period of performance. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 for definitions of “budget period” and “period of performance.”

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): Will vary by award

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 36 months from date of the award unless otherwise approved by FEMA

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• States

• District of Columbia

• U.S. territories

• Federally recognized tribal governments

Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for BRIC funding. The designate is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 prior to and during the application process. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one BRIC grant application to FEMA. Subapplications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award.

Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants) are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications for financial assistance to their state/territory/tribal Applicant agency. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

• States and territories that have had a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act in the 7 years prior to the annual application period start date are eligible to apply to FEMA for federal assistance under BRIC (applicants). As a result of numerous major disaster declarations, all states, territories, and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply in FY2021.

• Federally recognized tribal governments that have had a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act in the 7 years prior to the annual application period start date or are entirely or partially located in a state or territory that had a major disaster declaration in the 7 years prior to the annual application period start date are eligible to apply to FEMA for federal assistance under BRIC as applicants or subapplicants to eligible states and territories. As a result of numerous major disaster declarations, all federally recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply in FY2021.

• Local governments are eligible to apply to eligible states and territories for federal assistance under BRIC (subapplicants). Individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply for BRIC funds; however, an eligible applicant or subapplicant may apply for funding on behalf of individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

• Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of the award.

• Subapplicants are required to have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds for mitigation projects and C&CB activities

(with the exception of mitigation planning). Mitigation plan integration, while not required, is encouraged. See section H.14 for additional information.

• To be considered for financial assistance, all applicants must submit their FY2021 BRIC grant applications to FEMA via FEMA GO (see Section D, Application and Submission Information).

• To be considered for non-financial Direct Technical Assistance, communities such as local governments including cities, townships, counties, special district governments and tribal governments may submit one letter of interest to http://www.fema.gov/state-hazard-mitigation-officers

FEMA-BRICDirectTechnicalAssistance@fema.dhs.gov (see Section D, Application and Submission Information). Communities are eligible to request this assistance even if they are not applying for financial assistance under this NOFO.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

• All activities under BRIC must be in conformance with all applicable environmental planning and historic preservation (EHP) laws, regulations, executive orders, and agency policies including 44 C.F.R. Part 9; DHS Directive 023-01 Rev 01, Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (October 31, 2014), and Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01 Rev 01, Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (November 6, 2014); FEMA Directive 108-1, Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Responsibilities and Program Requirements (October 10, 2018); FEMA Instruction 108-1-1, Instruction on Implementation of the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Responsibilities and Program Requirements (October 10, 2018), accessible at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/118323. EHP Job Aids and Supplements are available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/job-aids

• All activities under BRIC must be in conformance with all applicable federal, state, tribal, and local floodplain and land use laws and regulations including 44 C.F.R. §

60.3 (floodplain management criteria).

o All non-critical structure elevation, dry floodproofing, and mitigation reconstruction projects in a Special Flood Hazard Area must apply, at a minimum, the flood elevations of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standards Freeboard Value Approach unless doing so would cause the project to be unable to meet applicable program cost-effectiveness requirements. All other types of projects may choose to apply the flood elevations of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard’s Freeboard Value Approach.

o For critical actions in the Special Flood Hazard Area, the elevation requirements from 44 CFR § 9.11 continue to apply. For any new construction or substantial improvement of structures, the lowest floor of the structure (including the basement) must be at or above the level of the 500-year flood3.

• Activities under BRIC must not duplicate activities that another federal agency or program has more specific authority to conduct.

• All activities under BRIC must be in conformance with any other criteria established by FEMA that is specific to the proposed activity.

• Construction activities for which ground disturbance has already been initiated or completed are not eligible for funding. Non-construction activities that have already started may not be considered for funding.

3 In accordance with Section 2(a)(1) of Executive Order (EO) 11988, as amended by EO 13690, before taking an action, FEMA must determine whether a proposed action will occur in a floodplain.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/118323 https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.fema.gov_grants_mitigation_job-2Daids&d=DwMFAg&c=TQzoP61-bYDBLzNd0XmHrw&r=noRtC8-THA-H11WyuYaSr40b4IhhRP0KiVBbSggC-WE&m=dsDSdZmS9IWo4WeKmSXUFzLeVYQp7rBxUthDldxG8HA&s=6YnIUY2_GPd3352tHwJUtzHc4T4aIbSovH8vBmwc1us&e=

• C&CB activities must result in a resource, strategy, or tangible mitigation product that will reduce or eliminate risk and damage from future natural hazards, increase resilience, and promote a culture of preparedness.

• Mitigation projects must align with State Mitigation Plan and Local or Tribal Mitigation Plan approved under 44 C.F.R. Part 201, or for federally recognized tribal government acting as applicants, align with the Tribal Mitigation Plan approved under 44 C.F.R. § 201.7. Applicants must identify in the BRIC application where specifically the needs for the proposed project types are referenced or included in the State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (page number, section title, etc.).

• Mitigation projects must, at a minimum, be in conformance with the latest published editions (meaning either of the two most recently published editions) of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs.

• Mitigation projects must be technically feasible and effective.

• Mitigation projects must solve a problem independently or constitute a functional portion of a long-term solution for which there is assurance that the project as a whole will be completed or there is a reasonable plan and available funding for completion.

• Mitigation projects must be cost-effective and designed to increase resilience and reduce risk of injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property, including critical services and facilities. This means the project, as documented by the applicant, achieves the following goals:

• Addresses a problem that has been repetitive or that poses a risk to public health and safety and improved property if left unresolved;

• Satisfies applicable cost-effectiveness requirements in compliance with OMB Circular A-94;

• Contributes, to the extent practicable, to a long-term solution to the problem it is intended to address; and

• Accounts for long-term changes to the areas and entities it protects and has manageable future maintenance and modification requirements.

• If the mitigation project is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, it must meet both of the following conditions:

i. The project is in a jurisdiction participating in the National Flood

Insurance Program that is not on probation, suspended, or withdrawn.

ii. The property owner obtains and maintains flood insurance for the life of the structure, regardless of transfer of ownership, in an amount at least equal to the project cost or to the maximum limit of coverage made available with respect to the mitigated property, whichever is less.

• Applicants should consider the effects of climate change including high winds and continued sea level rise and ensure responsible floodplain and wetland management based on the history of flood mitigation efforts and the frequency; duration, and intensity of precipitation events; exposure and sensitivity to extreme temperatures;

drought; and wildfire.

• Non-financial Direct Technical Assistance must result in improvement of the community’s capacity and capability to conduct mitigation activities; increase of the community’s resiliency to natural hazards; or identification of projects that will holistically improve the community’s resiliency and risk reduction efforts.

4. Cost Share or Match

a. General

Cost share is required for all subapplications funded under this program. Generally, the cost share for this program is 75 percent federal / 25 percent non-federal. This means federal funding is available for up to 75 percent of eligible costs. The remaining 25 percent of eligible costs must be derived from non-federal sources. For example, if the total cost of the activity is $400,000 and the non-federal cost share is 25 percent, then the non-federal contribution is $100,000: 25 percent of $400,000 is $100,000. This amount would be provided by the applicant. Likewise, the federal share of that activity would be $300,000: 75 percent of $400,000 is $300,000. This amount would be provided by FEMA. FEMA will provide 100 percent federal funding for management costs.

The non-federal cost share may consist of cash, donated or third-party in-kind services, materials, or any combination thereof. Cash and third-party in-kind matches must consist of eligible costs (i.e., same eligibility as the federal share). Applicants cannot apply other federal award funds toward the BRIC non-federal cost share unless the other federal statutory authority allows the funds to be used to meet cost-share requirements. Likewise, third-party in-kind matches used to meet the matching requirement may not be used to meet matching requirements for any other federal grant program. FEMA encourages innovative use of public and private-sector partnerships to meet the non-federal cost share.

Ultimately, the recipient is responsible for ensuring that it contributes the proper cost share to its actual project costs. If actual total project costs exceed the projected total project costs stated in the federal award, the recipient will not receive any additional federal funding and will be responsible for contributing additional funds above the required cost match. If actual total project costs are less than the projected total project costs stated in the federal award, the recipient will be responsible for contributing a cost match calculated as a percentage of those actual project costs.

b. Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities

The BRIC program identified title “Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities” is synonymous with small impoverished communities as used in the Stafford Act.

Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities are eligible for an increase in cost share up to 90 percent federal / 10 percent non-federal. The definition of an Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community is a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals identified by the applicant that is economically disadvantaged, with residents having an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80 percent of the national per capita income, based on best available data.

Applicants and subapplicants who apply as an Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community must request the increased federal cost share amount in the Cost Share section of their C&CB activity and mitigation project subapplication(s). Management costs are already

100 percent funded. Applicants must certify subapplicants’ Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community status and provide documentation with the subapplication(s) to justify the increased federal cost share. If documentation is not submitted with the subapplication, then

FEMA will provide no more than 75 percent federal cost share of the total eligible costs.

Federally recognized tribal governments meeting the definition of an Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community that apply to FEMA directly as applicants are eligible for a

90 percent federal cost share for their subapplications, which make up their overall BRIC grant application.

c. Insular Areas

For insular areas, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, FEMA automatically waives the non-federal cost share for the recipient when the non-federal cost share for the entire award is under $200,000. If the non-federal cost share for the entire award is $200,000 or greater, FEMA may waive all or part of the non-federal cost share at the request of the recipient. The recipient may request the waiver in its application.

For more detailed program information, please go to Building Resilient Infrastructure and

Communities (BRIC) | FEMA.gov.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 09/30/2021

b. Application Submission Deadline: 01/28/2022 at 03:00:00 PM ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline. Please note that FEMA deadlines listed in this NOFO refer to application deadlines for the applicants. Subapplicants should consult with their applicant agency to confirm subapplication deadlines to the applicant if applicable.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following: prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue. FEMA may extend the application deadline for technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission by the deadline.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency

Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the

FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the

Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at askcsid@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

For a hardcopy of the full NOFO, please submit a request to:

Angela Gladwell Director, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division, Mitigation Directorate

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining DUNS Number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in SAM or Updating

SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in FEMA GO Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Submitting the final application in

FEMA GO

By the submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency 400 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20472

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Please review the table above for estimated deadlines to complete each of the steps listed.

Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting an application may disqualify that application from funding.

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal

Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide a valid DUNS number, which is currently the unique entity identifier;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the 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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, FEMA may determine https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(c)(2)(iii), if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from receiving a DUNS number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting askcsid@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain a DUNS number and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

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

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

FEMA GO.

6. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for FEMA funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

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

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

b. Obtain a DUNS Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

Note: At some point, the DUNS Number will be replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID. Grants.gov has begun preparing for this transition by educating users about the upcoming changes and updating field labels and references to the DUNS Number (the current identifier) within the Grants.gov system. Users should continue using the DUNS Number in UEI fields until further notice. To learn more about SAM’s rollout of the UEI, please visit https://gsa.gov/entityid.

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

In addition to having a DUNS number, all entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

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

d. Create a login.gov account:

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

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

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

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

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

e. Register with SAM:

In addition to having a DUNS number, all organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

Note: As a new requirement per 2 C.F.R. § 25.200, applicants must also provide the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is “ACTIVE.”

SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.” Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain a DUNS number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM https://gsa.gov/entityid https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current. Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, DUNS number, and Employer Identification Number, or EIN, are up to date in SAM and that the DUNS number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

II. HELP WITH SAM

The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration (GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

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

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

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

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

7. Submitting the Application

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

Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the application. Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives your application.

https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content…