FY22 CAP-SSSE NOFO_Final_Approved Final2.pdf

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

Fiscal Year 2022 Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)

Effective April 4, 2022, the Federal Government transitioned from using the Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS number, to a new, non-proprietary identifier known as a Unique Entity Identifier or UEI. For entities that have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to the April 4 date, the UEI has automatically been assigned and no action is necessary. For all entities filing a new registration in SAM.gov on or after April 4, 2022, the UEI will be assigned to that Entity as part of the SAM.gov registration process.

Unique Entity Identifier registration information is available on GSA.gov at: Unique Entity Identifier Update | GSA.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding UEI and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO.

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. Projected number of Awards:

3. Maximum Award Amount:

4. Period of Performance:

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

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

7. Funding Instrument Type:

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 https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for

Award Management (SAM)

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

7. How to submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

11. Other Submission Requirements

12. Intergovernmental Review

13. 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. Pass-Through Requirements

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

4. Reporting

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

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

6. Procurement Integrity

7. Record Retention

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Appendices

Appendix A. CAP-SSSE Eligible Activities

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) / Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Mitigation Directorate.

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.023

3. Assistance Listings Title Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2022 Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element

5. Funding Opportunity Number

FEMA

Region Opportunity Number

1 DHS-22-MT-023-01-01

2 DHS-22-MT-023-02-01

3 DHS-22-MT-023-03-01

4 DHS-22-MT-023-04-01

5 DHS-22-MT-023-05-01

6 DHS-22-MT-023-06-01

7 DHS-22-MT-023-07-01

8 DHS-22-MT-023-08-01

9 DHS-22-MT-023-09-01

10 DHS-22-MT-023-10-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Pub. L. No. 90-448), as amended, (42 U.S.C.

§ 4001 et seq.)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. No. 117-103

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Mitigation: Community Assistance

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP- SSSE) program provides funding to states to provide technical assistance to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to evaluate community performance in implementing NFIP floodplain management activities. CAP-SSSE aligns with and supports DHS Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience. CAP- SSSE strives to leverage state knowledge and expertise to provide support to communities through activities that most effectively reduce flood losses.

The CAP-SSSE cooperative agreement funds eligible activities to enable state NFIP coordinating agencies to meet the provisions set forth in 44 C.F.R.§ 60.25 and the goals and performance expectations of the funding agency: FEMA and the NFIP.

b. Objectives The CAP-SSSE program goals detailed below align directly to the national Floodplain Management Program multi-year plan. These goals provide the framework for guiding the activities of the FEMA Regions and state NFIP coordinating agencies as they work to meet the vision of the NFIP and the goals of the FEMA Strategic Plan, including instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management, leading the whole community in climate resilience, promoting and sustaining a ready and prepared nation. Annually, and in collaboration with FEMA, states are expected to develop and meet performance commitments for funded activities and community outcomes that align to the achievement of the CAP-SSSE program goals:

• Goal 1: Grow local capacity and capability to improve resiliency through floodplain management: States shall leverage engagements and relationships with communities to build their capability and capacity to manage flood risk by adopting and enforcing at least the minimum standards of the NFIP. States should encourage participation in the NFIP and ensure that communities are maintaining or improving their compliance with the program.

• Goal 2: Build state floodplain management capability and promote strong state interagency coordination and collaboration: State NFIP Coordinating Agencies should invest in growing their own technical expertise and capacity and position the office to better serve as the central coordination point for bringing the entire state’s capabilities and resources together to advance floodplain management and mitigation.

• Goal 3: Promote the benefits and drive demand for strong floodplain management development standards and insurance: States shall ensure they are employing opportunities to most effectively educate communities and the public on the value (e.g., economic, environmental, social benefits) of higher standards and insurance coverage.

c. Priorities

• CAP-SSSE Transformation: Since 2017, CAP-SSSE has implemented a series of transformative program changes to better incentivize and invest in state capability https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 growth. States are expected to adhere to new guidance and business processes set forth by the CAP-SSSE transformation, including:

o CAP-SSSE Tiered State Framework (TSF): The TSF defines the characteristics of foundational, proficient, and advanced state floodplain management programs and sets forth a process by which states are assessed and aligned to a tier which subsequently guides the work activities and performance expectations for the grant period of performance. Beginning in FY20, States are required to complete the TSF assessment every three years and collaborate with the FEMA Regions to establish annual performance commitments that will be monitored on a quarterly basis primarily through Community Information System (CIS) reporting.

o CAP-SSSE Funding Methodology and Tools: The new CAP-SSSE funding methodology establishes a transparent and performance-based set of funding factors for State NFIP Coordinating Agencies. Concurrent with the next increase to overall CAP-SSSE program funding, the amount of funding made available to each state will be based on the funding methodology which considers such factors as exposure to flood hazards, the probability and impact of flood events, a state’s TSF tier, and the FEMA Region’s discretionary priorities. States must propose work activities and other allowable costs under this NOFO to demonstrate their plan to effectively utilize their available funding. States are expected to use and submit the State Activity Planning & Pricing Tool which standardizes Statements of Work (SOWs), Budget Details, and the Regional review process.

• Substantial Damage Compliance: States will be expected to ensure community compliance with substantial damage provisions of floodplain management regulations.

• State Development Compliance: States will continue to support efforts to document and improve compliance with the NFIP regulations for new and existing state-owned and managed property in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), including adherence to the timeline agreed to in coordination with the FEMA Regions.

• NFIP Compliance Audit Redesign: FEMA is currently redesigning the Community Assistance Visit (CAV) and Community Assistance Contact (CAC) processes into the new NFIP Compliance Audit process. States will be expected to attend webinars and other events to increase their understanding of the new process and provide input into the design of an initial pilot project. States may also be requested to participate in the Compliance Audit Process pilot project.

11. Performance Measures FEMA’s Floodplain Management program monitors performance through four (4) program measures to which state NFIP Coordinating Agencies are required to contribute in addition to any other annual performance commitments they have agreed upon with the FEMA Regional office. These include:

• Map Adoption. States must meet the national metric of at least 93% map adoptions for those participating communities that receive Letters of Final Determination (LFDs) in their state. Each Regional office may set higher targets for map adoption.

• Community Engagement. States must have contact with a designated percentage of the communities in their State by Community Assistance Visits (CAVs), Community Assistance Contacts (CACs), General Technical Assistance (GTA), Regulation Assistance, or Workshops. States and the FEMA Regional CAP Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the percentage of communities that will be engaged during the POP. These targets will be documented in the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Higher Standards Adoption. States must commit to a designated number of communities that will adopt higher floodplain management standards (i.e., standards that are more stringent than those required by the NFIP) as a result of the state’s efforts. States and the FEMA Regional CAP Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of communities adopting a higher standard during the POP. These targets will be documented in the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Community Compliance Improvement. States must commit to a designated number of communities in which they will conduct new and close existing community assistance contacts and visits (CACs and CAVs). This target will directly support the Regional and National goal to assess a certain percentage of the entire NFIP every five years. States and the FEMA Regional CAP Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of CAVs and CACs that will be conducted and closed during the POP. These targets will be documented in the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Additionally, in order to promote CAP-SSSE transformation success, the states will support all transformation activities and attend at least two CAP Transformation engagement activities: the annual Hazard Mitigation (HM) Workshop, State Coordinators Session at Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Conference, or national CAP-SSSE webinars held by FEMA.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $15,000,000.00

Allocation Amount Funding for basic floodplain management activities Maximum of $10,000,000

Discretionary funding for special projects, TSF improvements, or additional eligible activities as approved by each FEMA Region

Minimum of $ 1,000,000

2. Projected number of Awards: 52

3. Maximum Award Amount: (N/A)

4. Period of Performance: 12 months Extensions to the period of performance are allowed but may impact the state’s TSF score and tier. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this NOFO.

FEMA awards under most programs, including this program, 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.”

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 07/01/2022

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 06/30/2023

7. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Each state receiving a CAP-SSSE award will sign a cooperative agreement with FEMA describing the terms of the award, including the responsibilities of the recipient. There is substantial FEMA Regional Office involvement throughout the performance period of the CAP-SSSE Cooperative Agreement. FEMA retains the authority to manage and direct recipient performance in support of CAP-SSSE objectives. The FEMA Regional Office determines the appropriate number of activities and ensures performance metrics are being met.

FEMA maintains the following approval authorities on activities conducted by recipients:

• FEMA retains the authority to decide whether to admit communities to the NFIP, including determinations related to state-reviewed, community-submitted regulations supporting a community’s application.

• FEMA retains the authority to decide whether to admit communities to the Community Rating System (CRS), including determinations related to state-reviewed, community-submitted regulations and activities supporting a community’s CRS application.

• FEMA requires states receiving CAP-SSSE awards to incorporate a mandatory Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) adoption rate of 93% or higher into their CAP- SSSE cooperative agreements. This requirement helps to ensure that communities applying to join the NFIP have an adopted flood regulation referencing the most current updated flood map.

• FEMA collaborates with States but retains final approval as to which communities receive state-provided training and technical assistance funded under the CAP-SSSE.

• FEMA requires all States to conduct Community Assistance Visits and approves the annual number States will conduct. FEMA retains final approval for the community locations for these visits, based on application of FEMA’s priority list and after consultation with the States.

• FEMA approves compliance follow-up actions conducted by states and requires advance approval before any follow-up actions that lead towards FEMA placing a community on probation or suspension from the NFIP.

• FEMA retains final approval for states affected by declared disasters to provide CAP technical assistance to communities and negotiates these levels with states.

• FEMA provides continuous technical assistance and feedback to states on the performance of CAP activities.

• FEMA requires detailed activity descriptions (submitted via the State Activity Planning & Pricing Tool) and approvals of state recipient’s selections for sub-contracts to achieve program goals.

• FEMA requires state recipient’s close collaboration with FEMA mitigation staff for the purpose of monitoring all aspects of the recipient’s performance of program activities.

• FEMA must approve state requests to vary or substitute activities performed including staffing, overtime, and other management processes of the state recipient.

• FEMA may exercise its authority to require a remedial plan, assign corrective actions, and/or stop a state’s funded activity immediately if the state fails to meet one or more of the above conditions.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for CAP-SSSE funding.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria State agencies designated by statute or Governor’s declaration as a National Flood Insurance Program State Coordinating Agency as described in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria Applicants must complete a Tiered State Framework (TSF) assessment prior to applying for the first time. Please refer to the TSF Playbook at https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/financial-help/community-assistance-program/tiered-state-framework for more information about the TSF assessment process.

4. Cost Share or Match There is a minimum 25 percent non-federal cost match required for all recipients of CAP-SSSE funds with no restrictions on the types of costs allowed (e.g., in-kind contribution). For a cost match the recipient contribution is calculated based on the federal contribution as: Percent recipient contribution multiplied by the value of the federal contribution in U.S. dollars. For example, the CAP-SSSE requires a 25% cost match. If the federal contribution is $100,000 the recipient contribution is calculated as (0.25) X $100,000 = $25,000. The grant is then made up of $100,000 (federal funding), $25,000 (state cost match) for a total =$125,000.

https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/financial-help/community-assistance-program/tiered-state-framework https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/financial-help/community-assistance-program/tiered-state-framework

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 05/2/2022

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/18/2022 at 5:00PM ET All applications must be received by the established deadline.

The Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System has a date stamp that indicates when an application is submitted. Applicants will receive an electronic message confirming receipt of their 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. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award.

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 prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For additional assistance using the ND Grants System, please contact the ND Grants Service Desk at (800) 865-4076 or NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov. The ND Grants Service Desk is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants 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 Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Begin SOW planning by submitting an initial draft proposal in the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool to the Regional Office

Eight (8) weeks before actual submission deadline mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtain a valid EIN Four (4) weeks before actual submission deadline Create an account with login.gov Four (4) weeks before actual submission deadline Register in SAM or Updating SAM registration

Four (4) weeks before actual submission deadline

Start application in Grants.gov Three (3) weeks before actual submission deadline Submit final draft proposal in the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool to the Regional Office

Three (3) weeks before actual submission deadline

Submit the final application in ND Grants

Two (2) weeks before actual submission deadline

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 Initial applications are processed through the Grants.gov portal. Final applications are completed and submitted through FEMA’s Non-Disaster Grants (ND Grants) System.

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.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.

4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for Award Management (SAM) 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 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number from SAM.gov and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide a valid UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

https://www.login.gov/

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

e. Create a Grants.gov account;

f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account;

g. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;

h. Register in ND Grants;

i. Submit an initial application in Grants.gov;

j. Submit the final application in ND Grants, including electronically signing applicable forms; and

k. 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.

Specific instructions on how to apply for, update, or verify a UEI number or SAM registration or establish an AOR are included below in the steps for applying through Grants.gov.

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI 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 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 UEI 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 UEI number and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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 initial applications through Grants.gov and a final application through ND Grants.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. General Instructions

Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. 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. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a UEI Number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, prior to April 4, 2022, must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to: Sam.gov.

c. Obtain Employer Identification 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.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online 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 All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (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.

f. Create a Grants.gov Account The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

See also Section D.8 in this NOFO, “Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants,” for instructions on how to register early in ND Grants.

g. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI Number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

h. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

i. Track Role Status To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

j. Electronic Signature When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

7. How to submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

a. Create a Workspace Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and UEI number. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace:

An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

g. Track a Workspace Submission:

After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission.

Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

h. Additional Training and Applicant Support For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant to which you are applying.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist FEMA with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov

8. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants After submitting the initial application in Grants.gov, eligible applicants will be notified by FEMA and asked to proceed with submitting their complete application package in ND Grants. Applicants can register early with ND Grants and are encouraged to begin their ND Grants registration at the time of this announcement or, at the latest, seven days before the application deadline. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their applications.

Applicants needing assistance registering for the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 865-4076. For step-by-step directions on using the ND Grants system and other guides, please see https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system.

In ND Grants, 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) are auto generated in ND Grants, but applicants may access these forms in advance through 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.

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application Submission” under Section D of this NOFO.

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission As application submission is a two-step process, the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application in Grants.gov will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of its initial application. This notification does not serve as proof of timely submission, as the application is not complete until it is submitted in ND Grants. Applicants can also view the ND Grants Agency Tracking Number by accessing the Details tab in the submitted workspace section in Grants.gov, under the Agency Tracking Number column. Should the Agency Tracking Number not appear, the application has not yet migrated from Grants.gov into the ND Grants System. Please allow 24 hours for your ND Grants application tracking number to migrate.

All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 PM ET on the application deadline. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by ND Grants. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by ND Grants. Additionally, the applicant(s) listed as contacts on the application will receive a system-generated email to confirm receipt.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The following forms or information are required to be submitted in either Grants.gov or ND Grants. The Standard Forms (SF) are submitted either through Grants.gov, through forms generated in ND Grants, or as an attachment in ND Grants. Applicants may also access the SFs at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

I. GRANTS.GOV

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, initial application submitted through Grants.gov

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying, submitted through Grants.gov

II. ND GRANTS

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal submitted as an attachment in ND Grants if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. If the applicant does not have or is not required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal, please see Section D.13 of this NOFO, “Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs,” for further information regarding allowability of indirect costs and whether alternatives to an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal might be available or contact the relevant FEMA staff identified in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” for further instructions.

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in ND Grants:

• Statement of Work (SOW): The applicant’s proposal for cooperative agreement funding that identifies the eligible activities (see Appendix A) and performance metrics that the state proposes to achieve during the period of performance. The SOW shall be produced using the State Activity Planning & Pricing Tool. The SOW should also include the applicant’s most recent validated Tiered State Assessment which will be provided by the Regional Office.

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

If revision of the statement of work or budget is required as a result of the negotiation process (discussions between FEMA and Applicant following the submission of the application), these documents may be re-submitted directly by email to the appropriate FEMA Regional CAP-SSSE Program Manager and Grants Specialist.

This review and negotiation process may continue until the applicant’s proposed

Statement of Work and supporting budget is approved by the FEMA Regional CAP- SSSE Program Manager and Grants Specialist.

11. Other Submission Requirements Not applicable.

12. Intergovernmental Review An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372.

(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf).

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO, or the terms and conditions of the award.

This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered, within the period of performance of the award. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h) (referring to budget periods, which for FEMA awards under this award is the same as the period of performance).

In general, the Cost Principles establish standards for the allowability of costs, provide detailed guidance on the cost accounting treatment of costs as direct or administrative costs, and set forth allowability principles for selected items of cost. More specifically, except as otherwise stated in this NOFO, the terms and condition of an award, or other program materials, costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must be consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal Awards located at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E. In order to be allowable, all costs charged to a FEMA award or applied to the cost share must be reasonable in nature and amount and allocable to the particular FEMA award.

Additionally, all costs charged to awards must comply with the grant program’s applicable statutes, policies, requirements in this NOFO as well as with the terms and conditions of the award. If FEMA staff identify costs that are inconsistent with any of these requirements, these costs may be disallowed, and FEMA may recover funds as appropriate, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

As part of those requirements, grant recipients and subrecipients may only use federal funds or funds applied to a cost share for the purposes set forth in this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, and those costs must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award.

Grant funds may not be used for matching funds for other federal grants/cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.

In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity.

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf

CAP-SSSE funds cannot be used for: conducting floodplain studies, developing floodplain maps, supporting/maintaining web-based digital mapping platforms, Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) or other professional association dues/memberships. CAP- SSSE funds cannot be used to duplicate/reimburse states for state-required and state-funded (through appropriation or permit fee income) review activities, such as state permitting.

Recipients must request prior approval for budget and program plan revisions in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.308.

CAP-SSSE funds can only be used to reimburse state staff for negotiated, eligible activities that they complete within the period of performance.

If a recipient does not maintain the necessary expertise and capability to conduct CAP- SSSE activities, the Region and recipient will develop a remedial plan. If the recipient does not agree to implementing the remedial plan and/or fails to develop the necessary expertise and capability required by the Region, the state's CAP-SSSE funding may be reduced or withheld.

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services Recipients and subrecipients of FEMA federal financial assistance are subject to the prohibitions described in section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 2019 NDAA), Pub. L. No. 115-232 (2018) and 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part

200. Beginning August 13, 2020, the statute – as it applies to FEMA recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors – prohibits obligating or expending federal award funds on certain telecommunications and video surveillance products and contracting with certain entities for national security reasons.

Guidance is available at Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services (Interim) FEMA Policy #405-143-1, or superseding document.

Effective August 13, 2020, FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards to:

(1) Procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system;

(2) Enter into, extend, or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system; or https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text?format=txt https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_prohibitions-expending-fema-award-funds-covered-telecommunications-equipment-services.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_prohibitions-expending-fema-award-funds-covered-telecommunications-equipment-services.pdf

(3) Enter into, extend, or renew contracts with entities that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.

b. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are not allowed under the CAP-SSSE cooperative agreement.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs Management and Administration activities (M&A) are those defined as directly relating to the management and administration of CAP-SSSE funds, such as financial management, monitoring, and application development for subsequent NOFOs.

Recipients only may use up to five percent (5%) of the amount of the award for M&A.

d. Indirect Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application.

Applicants who do not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to the FEMA Regional CAP Coordinator and Grants Management Specialist for further…