FY2026_FMA Swift Current_NOFO_Final_07-10-2026_508.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Application due: Varies by Applicant

FY 26 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current (FMA Swift Current) Assistance Listing Number: 97.029 Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-MT-144-000-99

OMB Number: 1660-0170 Expiration Date: 08/31/2028

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

Contents Before you begin 2

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 3

Basic information 4

Eligibility 5

Program Description 12

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 19

Step 3: Write Your Application 23

Application Contents and Format 24

Step 4: Learn About the Award Review Process 27

Application Review Information 28

Intergovernmental Review 31

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award 32

Award Notices 33

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 33

Other Information 43

Contacts and Appendices 54

Contacts 55

Appendices 57

Before you begin

PAPERWORK BURDEN DISCLOSURE NOTICE

Public reporting burden for this data collection is estimated to average 375 hours per response. The burden estimate includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and submitting this form. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed on this form.

Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to: Information Collections Management, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street. SW, Washington, DC 20472-3100, Paperwork Reduction Project (1660-0170) NOTE: Do not send your completed form to this address.

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://Grants.gov

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 4

Eligibility 5

Program description 12

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Basic Information A. Award Facts

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience, Hazard Mitigation Directorate (HMD), Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division (HMA)

Assistance Listing Number: 97.029

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Fiscal Year 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current (FMA Swift Current)

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-MT-144-000-99

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $5,000,000 - $40,000,000

Applicants may receive a set-aside of up to $40 million but can choose a lower amount. To qualify, the applicant must have a major disaster declaration or emergency declaration for a flood-related event between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027. Applicants cannot receive a set-aside for both a major disaster declaration and an emergency declaration for the same event. FEMA will distribute the available FY 2026 FMA Swift Current funding amount as follows until the total available funding amount is exhausted.

FEMA will determine the maximum set-aside based on these criteria:

• Up to $10 million: The applicant has at least $1 million in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims paid in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event, or 500 or more NFIP claims submitted from the declared flood-related disaster event.

• Up to $20 million: The applicant has at least $5 million in NFIP claims paid in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event; or at least $1 million in NFIP claims paid in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster declaration and 500 or more claims submitted from the declared flood-related disaster event.

• Up to $40 million: The applicant has at least $5 million in NFIP claims paid in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration and 500 or more claims submitted from the declared flood-related disaster event.

• Federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories: Up to $5 million if they have at least one paid NFIP claim in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration, Key Dates

Projected Application Start Date: Varies by applicant

Projected Application End Date: Varies by applicant

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: Variable

Anticipated Award Date:

Variable

Projected Period of Performance Start Date:

Variable

Projected Period of Performance End Date: Variable

Budget Period: 36 months from date of award

Have questions? See Contacts and Support or at least one structure defined as Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) or Repetitive Loss (RL) by NFIP or Flood Mitigation Assistance.

• Special consideration: Up to $5 million for applicants who request special consideration from their FEMA Regional Administrator, subject to approval from the FEMA Assistant Administrator of the Federal Insurance Directorate.

After the final application period, FEMA may review eligible applications that exceed the maximum set-aside. FEMA will prioritize these based on property damage, available funding, program priorities and policy factors.

FEMA may provide additional funding in the event of a cost overrun.

Expected Total Funding: $600,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: Variable.

B. Executive Summary The FMA Swift Current program aims to better align flood mitigation funding with the needs of disaster survivors. This grant program provides federal funds to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal nations, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program and within NFIP-participating communities.

Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

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

Applicant Eligibility Eligible applicants include:

• States

• District of Columbia

• U.S. Territories

• Federally recognized tribal nations

Each eligible applicant must designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA Swift Current funding. The eligible applicant is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with NFIP participating communities prior to and during the application process. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one FMA Swift Current grant application to FEMA at a time.

To qualify for a FMA Swift Current activation, an applicant must:

• Receive a major disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event (such as coastal storms, hurricanes or floods) between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027; and

• Meet at least one of the following conditions:

o Have at least $1 million in NFIP flood insurance claims paid in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration; or o Have 500 or more NFIP flood insurance claims from the declared flood-related disaster event; or o Be a U.S. territory, territory, or federally recognized tribal nation with at least one paid

NFIP claim in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a disaster or emergency declaration, or at least one SRL or RL property.

If an applicant does not meet these conditions, they may submit a request for special consideration to their FEMA Regional Administrator within 60 days of the disaster or emergency declaration, certifying that any FMA Swift Current funding will align with the applicant's SRL, RL and substantially damaged plans and strategies. The FEMA Regional Administrator will review the request and forward their recommendation to the FEMA Assistant Administrator of the Federal Insurance Directorate. If the request is approved, the applicant may receive up to $5 million.

Applicants who experience more than one flood-related disaster or emergency declaration under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding opportunity may be eligible for additional FMA Swift Current activations, as long as they meet the required criteria. Applicants can receive multiple activations if they qualify. If additional activations happen during an open application period, FEMA may combine the application periods.

For subsequent activations, the applicant must:

• Receive another flood-related major disaster or emergency declaration between their previous activation and May 31, 2027; and

• Meet at least one of these conditions:

o Have at least $1 million in NFIP claims since the last activation disaster or emergency declaration date for a flood-related event to the incident period start date of the new subsequent disaster declaration;

o Have 500 or more NFIP claims from the new declared flood-related disaster event; or o Be a U.S. territory, or federally recognized tribal government applying directly to FEMA.

The applicant’s eligibility period for subsequent activation starts 60 days after the new disaster or emergency declaration, once criteria are confirmed. In some cases, it may take longer than 60 days to confirm if the applicant meets the activation criteria.

All applicants must participate in the NFIP and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified at Community Status Book.

Subapplicant Eligibility Eligible subapplicants may include:

https://www.fema.gov/about/contact https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-nfip/community-status-book

• Cities

• Communities

• Counties

• Local governments

• Townships

• Special district governments

• Tribal nations

Certain political subdivisions (for example, regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Subapplications involving multiple entities are allowed, but only one entity can be the primary subapplicant responsible for the award.

All subapplicants must be participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified at Community Status Book.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types

• Individual flood mitigation projects

• Management costs

Structures eligible for individual flood mitigation projects must have a National Flood Insurance Program policy, including a Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP), in effect before the application period begins. The policy must be maintained for the life of the structure, even if the property changes ownership. If the subapplicant does not comply with this requirement, FEMA may take actions to address non-compliance, such as disallowing all or parts of the cost of the activity or project. For more details on National Flood Insurance Program requirements, see Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 77.6.

Unallowable Project Types

• Localized flood risk reduction projects

• Capability and capacity building projects

C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties Subapplicants/subrecipients should not include foreign nationals or non-U.S. citizens. If a subapplicant/subrecipients has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statutes, policies, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

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

https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-nfip/community-status-book https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/section-77.6

D. Maximum Number of Applications Not applicable.

E. Additional Restrictions Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved state or tribal (standard or enhanced) hazard mitigation plan in accordance with 44 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 the award for hazard mitigation projects. Multi-jurisdictional plans (e.g., watershed plans) may be accepted, as appropriate, as long as each jurisdiction has participated in the process and has officially adopted the plan. Statewide plans will not be accepted as multi-jurisdictional plans.

All activities must be in conformance with all applicable federal, state, tribal, local floodplain and land use laws; criteria established by FEMA that are specific to the proposed activity, found in Version 2.1 of the HMA Program and Policy Guide (HMA Guide); and aligned with the current administration and program priorities and policy factors.

Properties included in individual flood mitigation project subapplications must meet one of the following criteria:

• They are insured under the NFIP and determined to be substantially damaged after the applicant’s disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event incident period start date.

• They are NFIP-insured properties that qualify as SRL or RL properties as defined by National Flood Insurance Program or Flood Mitigation Assistance.

All activities where a structure remains after mitigation (such as elevation, reconstruction, or floodproofing) must be designed according to NFIP standards in 44 CFR Part 60 and the most recently adopted edition of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24. The scope of work narrative should clearly state the structure will be designed to meet ASCE 24 requirements.

Subapplicants can direct any questions about the proposed hazard mitigation project location in the floodplain to their local floodplain manager, State Hazard Mitigation Officers or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Officers.

When eligible subapplications include an information technology or operational technology component as part of a larger project, FEMA may allow activities that improve community resilience through cybersecurity as eligible costs. These activities must follow the cybersecurity performance goals for critical infrastructure and control systems directed by the National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. Subapplicants should address cybersecurity in their planning, design, and project oversight for awards that include a technology nexus that may pose a cyber risk that would affect the reliability or operability of a project.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-201 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-201 https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/guide https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/guide https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/part-60 https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/codes-and-standards/asce-sei-24-24 https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/state-local-territorial-governments/state-contacts https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/tribal-affairs/contacts https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/tribal-affairs/contacts https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/national-security-memorandum-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/national-security-memorandum-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience

Subsequent Activation Set-Aside and Application Period Applicants who experience more than one flood-related disaster or emergency declaration under this funding opportunity, and who meet the required criteria, may be eligible for a subsequent FMA Swift Current activation. After an initial activation for funding, there is a maximum subsequent activation set-aside for applicants of up to an additional $30 million. Applicants may choose to accept a lower set-aside than their maximum. All set-asides for subsequent activations require a major disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event declared between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2027. FEMA will determine the maximum subsequent activation set-aside based on the following criteria:

• Up to $10 million: The applicant has at least $1 million in NFIP claims paid from the disaster or emergency declaration date of the previous FMA Swift Current activation to the subsequent flood-related disaster or emergency declaration incident period start date; or the applicant has 500 or more NFIP flood insurance claims submitted resulting from the subsequent declaration date. The application submission deadline is 120 days after the eligibility period start date.

• Up to $30 million: The applicant has 2,500 or more NFIP claims submitted as a result of the subsequent declared flood-related disaster event. The application submission deadline is 150 days after the eligibility period start date.

Exception: U.S. territories and federally recognized tribal nations applying directly to FEMA that are activated for subsequent FMA Swift Current offerings and do not meet the criteria above may receive a maximum set-aside of up to $5 million. To qualify, they must have either:

• At least one paid NFIP claim submitted in the 12 months before the incident period start date of a flood-related disaster or emergency declaration; or

• At least one structure defined as a SRL or RL structure by the National Flood Insurance Program or Flood Mitigation Assistance.

• The application deadline for this exception is 150 days after the eligibility period start date.

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

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

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 Applicants, and if applicable, subapplicants, selected for this award must commit to an acceptable cost share agreement. Otherwise, they will not be funded.

H. Cost Share Description, Type, and Restrictions FEMA calculates the non-federal cost share contribution based on the total cost of the proposed activity.

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 non-federal cost share unless the other federal statutory authority allows the funds to be used to meet cost share requirements. Refer to the HMA Cost Share Guide for more information. FEMA encourages innovative use of public and private-sector partnerships to meet the non-federal cost share.

Funding cannot be used as matching funds for another federal award. Additionally, third-party in-kind matches used to meet the matching requirement may not be used to meet matching requirements for any other federal program.

FEMA's Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program loans are not eligible for non-federal cost share funding.

Generally, the cost share for this program is up to 75% federal and 25% non-federal funding. Exceptions are as follows:

FMA Defined Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Properties Severe repetitive loss properties are eligible for an increased cost share up to 100% federal funding. A SRL property, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 4104c(h)(3)(B)(i) or (B)(ii), is a structure that:

1. Is covered under a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP; and

2. Has incurred flood-related damage:

a. For which four or more separate claims payments (includes building and contents) have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claim payments exceeding $20,000; or

b. For which at least two separate claims payments (includes only building) have been made under such coverage, with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure.

To receive an increased federal cost share under these provisions, properties must meet the Flood Mitigation Assistance SRL definition. Applicants and subapplicants that are requesting an increased federal cost share must submit documentation with their application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet the definition.

FMA Defined Repetitive Loss (RL) Properties Repetitive loss properties are eligible for an increased cost share up to 90% federal and 10% non-federal funding. A RL property, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 4121(a)(7), is a structure covered by a contract for flood insurance made available under the National Flood Insurance Program that:

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_hma_cost-share-guide.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-1994-title42-section4104c&num=0 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-1994-title42-section4104c&num=0 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:4121%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section4121)&f=treesort&num=0&edition=prelim

1. Has incurred flood-related damage on two occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25% of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event; and

2. At the time of the second incidence of flood-related damage, the contract for flood insurance contains Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage.

To receive an increased federal cost share under these provisions, properties must meet the Flood Mitigation Assistance RL definition. Applicants and subapplicants that are requesting an increased federal cost share must submit documentation with their application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet the definition.

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.

I. Cost Share Example If the total cost of the activity is $400,000 and the non-federal cost share is 25%, then the non-federal contribution is $100,000 (25% 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% of $400,000 is $300,000). This amount would be provided by FEMA.

Structures with different federal cost share requirements can be included in a single project subapplication. The overall project federal cost share for the project, as documented in the cost share section of the subapplication, should reflect the combined federal cost shares of all structures.

For example, if an individual flood mitigation project includes $100,000 in costs for one SRL structure funded at 100% federal cost share, and $100,000 in costs for one RL structure funded at 90%, the overall federal cost share for the project would be 95%. This means the federal contribution would be $190,000 (95% of $200,000 total cost for both structures is $190,000).

J. Required Information for Verifying Cost Share To meet cost share requirements, the non-federal contributions must be verifiable, reasonable, allowable, allocable and necessary under the federal program, and compliant with all federal requirements and regulations.

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

• Budget narrative

The applicant and subapplicant must ensure they provide the correct cost share for their actual project costs. If the actual project costs are higher than the estimated costs in the federal award, the applicant and subapplicant will not receive extra federal funding and must cover any additional costs beyond the required cost share. If the actual project costs are lower than the estimated costs, the applicant and subapplicant must provide a cost share based on a percentage of the actual costs. For more details and examples, see the HMA Cost Share Guide.

Maintenance of Effort Not Applicable.

Program Description A. Program Purpose

FMA Swift Current provides federal funds to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal nations, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and within NFIP-participating communities.

This program recognizes the increasing flood risks to communities, the expected rise in flood-related damage and repetitive losses, and the need for mitigation activities that reduce financial exposure to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Repetitively flooded properties account for roughly 30% of all NFIP claims but represent less than 2% of insured properties. The cost of acquiring and demolishing all Repetitive Loss and Severe Repetitive Loss properties would be significant, but the long-term savings to the NFIP could exceed $20 billion over 30 years, based on avoided claims, reduced administrative costs, and decreased disaster recovery expenditures. Additional benefits include increased community resilience, reduced risk to life and property, and reduction to displacement costs associated with flooding.

FMA Swift Current is different from the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program, which has an annual grant cycle and funds a broader range of flood mitigation activities, including capability and capacity building activities, localized flood risk reduction projects, and individual flood mitigation projects through a competitive selection process. FMA Swift Current streamlines funding by using disaster or emergency declarations for flood-related events, flood insurance claims-based eligibility criteria, shorter application periods, and limiting project type eligibility to individual flood mitigation projects that are severe repetitive loss (SRL), repetitive loss (RL), or substantially damaged.

B. Goals and Objectives The goal of FMA Swift Current is to:

1. Reduce or eliminate the flood risk to NFIP-participating communities and repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the NFIP following a flood-related disaster event; and

2. Enhance community flood resilience within NFIP-participating communities.

The FMA Swift Current opportunity provides allocated funds to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal nations, and local governments. Funding is based on the applicant’s flood-related disaster or emergency declaration status, and flood insurance claims status. The program aims to meet the following objectives:

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_hma_cost-share-guide.pdf

1. Implement individual flood mitigation projects for RL, SRL, or substantially damaged properties shortly following the applicant’s flood-related disaster declaration or emergency declaration for a flood-related event; and

2. Fund individual flood mitigation projects which aim to reduce flood risk to NFIP policyholders.

C. Performance Measures and Targets The following key performance indicators inform decisionmakers and stakeholders about FMA Swift Current's progress and success in achieving its goals and objectives. These indicators are based on measurable data that is available or can be collected:

• Total number of NFIP-insured properties selected that are deemed substantially damaged after the applicant's disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event, as well as properties defined as SRL or RL by NFIP or FMA. (>230 properties)

• Number of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTT) that participated in FEMA’s tailored pre-application support and outreach activities. (>12 attendees)

• Timeliness of funding obligation following the disaster or emergency declaration for a flood-related event date. (<12 months)

• Total dollar amount of flood losses avoided in projects or communities funded by FMA Swift Current subapplications. (Target to be determined, based on a Loss Avoidance Study or BCA)

FEMA will further assess recipient performance against the program objective during the award closeout process as described in the “Closeout Reporting Requirements” subsection of this funding opportunity.

D. Federal Assistance Type Grant

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs

1. Exercise-related costs;

2. Operational overtime costs;

3. Any expenses not directly tied to the approved flood mitigation project activities; and

4. Costs that are not considered necessary or directly related to the project's goals, like personal use of goods or services, entertainment expenses, and excessive administrative costs.

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

F. General Funding Requirements Costs charged to federal awards (including federal and non-federal cost share funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, policies, this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered within the budget period (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h)).

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403

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 Supporting United States Producers.

H. Beneficiary and Participant Eligibility Beneficiary There are no program requirements for beneficiary eligibility.

Participant There are no program requirements for participant eligibility.

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

I. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are allowed for recipients and subrecipients.

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

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

Applicants with a current negotiated IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement, but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal, must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants without a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards.

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

K. Pre-Award Costs The following pre-award costs are allowable:

• Pre-award costs to prepare an application or subapplication

Pre-award costs are expenses incurred before the start date of a federal award or subaward, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.458. These costs are only allowed if they would have been approved after the start date of the award, and with written approval from FEMA.

Demolition, construction and ground disturbing activities that were implemented, initiated or completed prior to an award generally are not eligible, and FEMA generally does not reimburse costs for these activities.

To be eligible for assistance, all pre-award costs must be reasonable and listed in a separate line item, including the date the cost was incurred, and a description of the task completed. Pre-award costs may be cost shared, or applicants and subapplicants may identify them as their non-federal cost share. If approved, these costs must be included in the initial budget period of the award.

Applicants and subapplicants who are not awarded will not receive reimbursement for pre-award costs related to developing and submitting applications and subapplications.

L. Management and Administration Costs Management and administration (M&A) costs are indirect or direct costs, and other administrative expenses that are reasonably incurred in managing an award or subaward. Management costs are not overhead expenses, but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it. M&A costs are allowed per 44 C.F.R § 77.7, and are subject to a federal and non-federal cost match.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.458 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/section-77.7

Eligible applicant or subapplicant management cost activities may include:

• Solicitation, review, and processing of subapplications and subawards;

• Subapplication development and technical assistance to subapplicants regarding feasibility, effectiveness, and benefit-cost analysis;

• Geocoding hazard mitigation projects identified for further review by FEMA;

• Delivery of technical assistance (e.g., plan reviews, planning workshops, training) to support the implementation of hazard mitigation activities;

• Managing awards (e.g., quarterly reporting including closeout);

• Technical monitoring (e.g., site visits, technical meetings);

• Purchase of equipment, per diem and travel expenses, and professional development that is directly related to the implementation of FEMA's hazard mitigation programs; or

• Staff salary costs directly related to performing the activities listed above.

Recipient Management Costs Applicants, who are referred to as recipients during the award stage, may apply for up to 10% of the total costs (federal and non-federal shares) for management costs. The applicant’s federal cost share of management cost is based on the overall federal cost share to total cost share ratio of all subapplications submitted. Applicant requests for management costs must be submitted in a separate management costs subapplication in FEMA GO.

Management costs are inclusive of the FMA Swift Current maximum set-aside, not in addition to it.

See Appendix 1 for cost share examples.

Subrecipient Management Costs Subapplicants, who are referred to as subrecipients during the award stage, may apply for up to 5% of the project costs, inclusive of the federal and non-federal cost shares, for subrecipient management costs. The subapplicant’s federal cost share of management cost is the same as the federal cost share of the total project cost. Subrecipient management cost must be submitted as their own budget line item in the subapplication. Subrecipients must use subrecipient management costs to manage their subaward activities.

If the recipient is also acting as the subrecipient, they may apply for up to 5% of the total project or activity budget for subrecipient management costs and up to 10% for recipient management costs. These costs must be used for separate purposes, even if claimed by the same entity. The combined management costs cannot be more than 15% of the total budget.

FEMA will adjust management cost awards to ensure that the amount available for management costs does not exceed the permitted percentage. If the total grant award amount is adjusted for any reason, FEMA will de-obligate any management costs that exceed the allowed amounts. FEMA will not reimburse applicants and subapplicants who do not receive awards or subawards.

M.Authorizing Authority Section 1366 of The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended Pub. L. No. 90-448, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 4104c.

N. Appropriation Authority Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47; Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub. L. No. 119-4 § 1101; Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L. No. 119-86; and Division J, Title V of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. No. 117-58, 135 Stat. 1387–1388 (2021).

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 19

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 Register to Apply General Instructions Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Below are instructions for registering to apply for FEMA funds. Read the instructions carefully and prepare the requested information before beginning the registration process. Gathering the required information before starting the process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

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

Organizations must have a UEI number, EIN, and an active SAM registration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (eBiz POC) from the SAM.gov registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see the FEMA GO Startup Guide.

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

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 When FMA Swift Current is activated, FEMA will provide applicants with their eligibility period start date and application deadline. Each eligible event has its own application window, called the applicant eligibility period, during which applicants can submit their applications for FY 2026 FMA Swift Current. The overall availability window is from July 14, 2026 to January 31, 2028. To qualify, a major disaster or emergency declaration for a flood event must occur between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2027. After an eligible event, FEMA will notify applicants about eligibility, deadlines and other important details within 60 days of the declaration. In some cases, it may take longer than 60 days to confirm eligibility or activation criteria.

The applicant eligibility period is the timeframe when applications can be submitted. It usually begins 60 days after the flood-related disaster or emergency declaration and lasts about 120 days, but this period may vary for each applicant.

General Application Submission Deadline The application submission deadline varies by applicant. When FMA Swift Current is activated, FEMA will notify the applicant of their deadline. Usually, the deadline is 120 days after the eligibility period begins. For subsequent activation submission deadlines, see Additional Restrictions section under the Eligibility section in Step 1.

Exception Application Submission Deadline The application submission deadline varies by applicant. The exception application submission deadline is 150 days after the eligibility period start date if the applicant meets the following criteria:

• A U.S.