FY22 PSGP NOFO_Clean_5_09_2022_508AB.pdf

FY 2022 PSGP NOFO Back to the Top

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Fiscal Year 2022 Port Security Grant Program

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: $100 million

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): September 1, 2022

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): August 31, 2025

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times 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 Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply 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. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.056

3. Assistance Listings Title

Port Security Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2022 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-22-GPD-056-00-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-295, as amended) (46 U.S.C. § 70107)

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. No. 117-103)

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Preparedness: Infrastructure Security

10. Program Overview, Objectives and Priorities

a. Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA’s focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. The PSGP provides funds to state, local, and private sector maritime partners to support increased port-wide risk management and protect critical surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan, the PSGP supports the goal to Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines three bold, ambitious goals in order to position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan management community. The PSGP supports the goal to Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation. We invite our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

For FY 2022, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the “failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism” prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks.1 The threat profile has changed in the past two decades; we now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, threats to our democratic election process and threats from new and emerging technologies. Information sharing and cooperation among state, local, territorial and tribal authorities, and federal agencies, including all DHS officials, is just as vital, and perhaps even more vital, today.

Therefore, for FY 2022, we have identified two priority areas, tied to some of the most serious threats that recipients should address with their PSGP funds for enhancing maritime security. Perhaps most importantly, DHS will be focused on forging partnerships to strengthen information sharing and collaboration in each of these priority areas.

b. Objectives Provide funding to port authorities, facility operators, and state, local, and territory agencies for activities associated with implementing Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSP), facility security plans, and other port-wide risk management efforts.

c. Priorities Given the evolving threat landscape, it is incumbent upon DHS/FEMA to continuously evaluate the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2022, two areas attract the most concern:

1) Enhancing cybersecurity; and

2) Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places.

Likewise, there are several enduring security needs that crosscut the homeland security enterprise. The following are second-tier priorities that help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing critical maritime transportation infrastructure:

3) Effective planning;

4) Training and awareness campaigns;

5) Equipment and capital projects; and

6) Exercises.

1 Homeland Security Act of 2002: Report Together with Minority and Dissenting Views 222, Select Committee on Homeland Security: 107th Congress, U.S. House of Representatives (2002) (H. Rpt. 107-609).

The table below provides a breakdown of these priority areas for the FY 2022 PSGP, showing both the core capabilities impacted, as well as examples of eligible maritime security project types for each area. A detailed description of allowable investments for each project type is included in the Preparedness Grants Manual. As discussed in Section E, projects that sufficiently address one or more of the two National Priorities (enhancing cybersecurity or enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places) will have their final review scores increased by a multiplier of 20%.

FY 2022 PSGP Funding Priorities

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Lifelines Example Project Types National Priorities Enhancing Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity of critical infrastructure to meet minimum levels identified by CISA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework o Cybersecurity training and planning

Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets and Crowded Places

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and

Information Sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Physical security enhancements at cruise and ferry terminals o Explosive detection canine teams o Security cameras (closed circuit television [CCTV]) o Security screening equipment for people and baggage o Access controls Landside fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

Marine (floating) barriers to prevent access to sensitive berthing areas

• Enhanced security aboard ferries o Explosive detection canine teams o Security cameras (CCTV)

• Rapid response boats for preventing or responding to security incidents on waterways, especially in and around https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

Priority Areas Core Capabilities Lifelines Example Project Types airports, cruise terminals, ferry terminals, etc.

Enduring Needs Planning • Planning

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Risk and disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Operational coordination

• Community resilience

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Development of:

o Port-wide Security Risk Management

Plans o Continuity of Operations Plans o Response Plans

• Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

• Assessment of capabilities and gaps in planning for the needs of persons with disabilities and others will access and functional needs

Training and Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Situational assessment

• Community resilience

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Active shooter training, including integrating the needs of persons with disabilities

• Shipboard firefighting training

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

• Maritime domain awareness projects

Equipment and Capital Projects

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Threats and hazards identification

• Infrastructure systems

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Implementing risk management projects that support port resilience and recovery

• Implementing physical security enhancement projects

• Transportation Worker Identification Credential projects

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive prevention, detection, response and recovery equipment

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems detection technologies

Exercises • Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Operational coordination

• Operational

Communications

• Community resilience

• Safety and Security

• Transportation

• Response exercises

11. Performance Measures Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

• Percentage of funding allocated by the recipient to core capabilities to build or sustain the national priorities identified in the section above

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $100 million

2. Period of Performance: 36 months

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

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.”

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): September 1, 2022

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): August 31, 2025

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

All entities subject to an AMSP, as defined by 46 U.S.C. § 70103(b), may apply for PSGP funding. Eligible applicants include but are not limited to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies. A facility operator owns, leases, or operates any structure or facility of any kind located in, on, under, or adjacent to any waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Examples of facility operators include, but are not limited to terminal operators, ferry systems, bar/harbor pilots, and merchant’s exchanges. See the “Applications Submitted by Eligible Entities” section below for further detail.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), Pub. L. No. 107-295, as amended, DHS established a risk-based grant program to support maritime security risk management. Funding is directed towards the implementation of AMSPs, Facility Security Plans (FSP), and Vessel Security Plans (VSP) among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies that are required to provide port security services. In administering the grant program, national, economic, energy, and strategic defense concerns based upon the most current risk assessments available will be considered.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291

Port Area Definition A Port Area is a location on a coast, shore, or inland waterway containing one or more harbors where vessels can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land. For the purpose of PSGP, the presence of MTSA-regulated facilities is the primary consideration of harbors that define a Port Area.

Applications Submitted by Eligible Entities Subject to the information and exceptions in this section, an eligible entity may submit only one application within each Port Area. An application may contain up to five Investment Justifications (IJs). (See Section D, below, for further instructions regarding IJs.)

• A single eligible entity may have multiple facilities, departments, subcomponents, or agencies operating within a Port Area. FEMA will generally view multiple agencies within a local government (e.g., police department, fire department, emergency management office) operating within one Port Area as a single eligible entity. An applicant’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) will help inform FEMA’s determination of which applicants may constitute a single eligible entity.

o An eligible entity operating multiple facilities, departments, subcomponents, or agencies within a single Port Area may choose to submit separate applications for facilities, departments, subcomponents, or agencies within it, but any such separate applications will be considered part of the same eligible entity for purposes of the cost share requirements, as discussed later in this

NOFO.

o If a single eligible entity chooses to have its components submit separate applications, each individual facility, department, subcomponent, or agency of that single eligible entity should submit no more than one application. For example, a police department should submit no more than one collective application. If an individual facility, department, subcomponent, or agency of an eligible entity submits more than one application for a single Port Area, FEMA reserves the discretion to consolidate the projects or determine which application(s) to approve or deny.

• Funding allocation decisions are based partially on Port Area risk. Therefore, no single application should include IJs for projects intended to be implemented in multiple Port Areas. For example, a state agency or facility operator that operates in multiple Port Areas must submit separate applications to fund projects in each Port Area.

o Exception: “Hub and spoke” cybersecurity projects may affect a parent organization’s multiple eligible entities in multiple Port Areas. Such projects may be submitted within a primary Port Area for the project implementation.

Proportionally, costs associated with entities or subcomponents that are not covered under an AMSP and are not instrumental to enhancing maritime security must not be included in the detailed budget worksheet or IJ and thereby prorating the cost of the project only to those facilities that are covered by the AMSP.

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

Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and Signatory Authority (SA) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance. Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR or SA of the recipient. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to keep their points of contact for the organization up-to-date and accurate in all federal systems.

Compliance with Maritime Security Regulations As a condition of eligibility, all PSGP applicants must be fully compliant with relevant Maritime Security Regulations (33 C.F.R. Parts 101-106). Any applicant who, as of the grant application deadline, has an open or outstanding Notice of Violation (NOV) will not be considered for PSGP funding if:

1. The applicant has failed to pay the NOV within 45 days of receipt of the NOV and the applicant has failed to decline the NOV within 45 days of receipt of the NOV, resulting in the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) entering a finding of default in accordance with 33 C.F.R. § 1.07- 11(f)(2); or

2. The applicant appealed the NOV pursuant to 33 C.F.R § 1.07-70 and received a final appeal decision from the Commandant, USCG, as described in 33 C.F.R. § 1.07-75, and failed to come into compliance with the terms of the final appeal decision within the timelines noted herein.

The local USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) will verify security compliance eligibility during the field review process. Eligibility does not guarantee grant funding.

Ferry Systems Ferry systems are eligible to apply for FY 2022 PSGP funds. However, any ferry system electing to participate (e.g., submit an application) under the FY 2022 PSGP will not be eligible to participate (e.g., submit an application) under the FY 2022 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) and will not be considered for funding under the FY 2022 TSGP. Likewise, any ferry system that participates in the FY 2022 TSGP will not be eligible for funding under the FY 2022 PSGP.

Subawards Subawards are prohibited under PSGP. Applicants are also prohibited from applying on behalf of other, separate entities. Notwithstanding this prohibition, however, community-based projects, to include planning, training, exercises, and port-wide cyber vulnerability assessments and cyber interoperability projects that may include multiple beneficiaries (e.g., a port authority hosts a large training session or exercise) in which the applicant applies for and administers the grant award are allowable.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training.

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS.

4. Cost Share or Match

The FY 2022 PSGP has a cost share requirement. The non-federal entity contribution can be cash (hard match) or third-party in-kind (soft match), with the exception of construction activities, which must be a cash (hard) match. In-kind contributions are defined as third-party contributions per 2 C.F.R. § 200.306.

All applicants will be required to commit to the cost share requirement of each project at the time of application. The required cost share is based on and calculated against the total of all PSGP funds awarded to an eligible entity as described in the “Applications Submitted by Eligible Entities” section above during this fiscal year within a single Port Area. For example, if an entity operates multiple facilities under the same UEI within the same Port Area and each facility requests projects exempt of cost share due to being $25,000 or less, FEMA will view these projects collectively for purposes of determining the appropriate cost share and a cost share will be required if the total exceeds $25,000. As a result, multiple components within a single eligible entity (i.e., port authority, facility operator, local government, or state government) are strongly encouraged to coordinate their applications if they apply separately (even if addressing multiple, disparate projects within the Port Area) for these cost share purposes.

Public-Sector Cost Share All public sector and non-governmental, nonprofit PSGP award recipients—meaning recipients other than private, for-profit entities—must provide a non-federal entity contribution supporting 25% of the total of all project costs as submitted in the application and approved in the award. The non-federal contribution should be specifically identified for each proposed project. The non-federal contribution, whether cash or third-party in-kind match, has the same eligibility requirements as the federal share (e.g., operational costs for routine patrols are ineligible, and operational costs for overtime to conduct an approved exercise may be eligible as part of the IJ) and must be justified as part of the project within the investment justification. For example, if the federal award for a public sector recipient requires a 25 percent cost share and the total project cost is $100,000, then:

• Federal share is 75 percent of $100,000 = $75,000

• Recipient cost share is 25 percent of $100,000 = $25,000 https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training

Because the statute at 46 U.S.C. § 70107(c)(1) states that the federal share shall not exceed 75% of the total cost, any application of the percentages that would result in a decimal will be rounded down in favor of the federal share not exceeding 75%, even if normal rounding standards would indicate rounding up in certain instances.

Private-Sector Cost Share Private, for-profit PSGP award recipients must provide a non-federal entity contribution supporting 50% of the total of all project costs as submitted in the application and approved in the award. The non-federal entity contribution should be specifically identified for each proposed project. The non-federal contribution, whether cash (hard) or third-party in-kind (soft), has the same eligibility requirements as the federal share (e.g., operational costs for routine patrols are ineligible, and operational costs for overtime to conduct an approved exercise may be eligible as part of the IJ) and must be justified as part of the project within the IJ. For example, if the federal award for a private sector recipient requires a 50 percent cost share and the total project cost is $100,000, then:

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

• Recipient cost share is 50 percent of $100,000 = $50,000

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

Cash and third-party in-kind matches must consist of eligible costs (i.e., same allowability as the federal share) and must be identified as part of the submitted detailed budget worksheet.

A cash-match includes cash spent for project-related costs, while a third-party in-kind match includes the valuation of in-kind services. The cost match requirement for the PSGP award may not be met by funds from another federal grant or assistance program, or by funds used to meet matching requirements for another federal grant program, unless otherwise permitted by federal statute. Likewise, third-party in-kind matches used to meet the matching requirement for the PSGP award may not be used to meet matching requirements for any other federal grant program. Additionally, normal routine operational costs cannot be used as a cost match unless a completely new capability is being awarded and must be justified as “reasonable and necessary” to complete the project. Please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306, as applicable, for further guidance regarding cost matching.

Exceptions to the Cost Match Requirements The following exceptions to the cost match requirement may apply:

• Port-Wide Benefit: The cost match requirements for projects that have a port-wide benefit need only to be funded at the public-sector matching fund level of 25 percent (with a federal share not to exceed 75% per 46 U.S.C. § 70107(c)(1)). These projects must be certified by the COTP as having a port-wide benefit. Examples of projects with a port-wide benefit include, but are not limited to:

o Port-wide planning, training, and exercises;

o Security camera systems with shared access;

o Response vessels; and o Other maritime domain awareness systems.

• $25,000 or Less: There is no matching requirement for grant awards where the total project cost for all projects under the award is $25,000 or less in accordance with 46 U.S.C. § 70107(c)(2)(A). If multiple small projects for the same Port Area by the same entity (i.e., same UEI) are submitted totaling more than $25,000 under this exemption, a cost match is required to be demonstrated at the time of application.

• Public Safety Personnel Security Zone Training: There is no matching requirement for grants to train public safety personnel in the enforcement of security zones as defined by 46 U.S.C. § 70132 or in assisting in the enforcement of such security zones. Per 46 U.S.C. § 70132(d), the term “public safety personnel” includes any federal, state (or political subdivision thereof), territorial, or tribal law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency response provider.

• Waiver Requests: Requests for cost match waivers as outlined in 46 U.S.C. § 70107(c) may be considered for successful applicants only after awards have been made. Applicants must have demonstrated the ability to comply with the cost match requirement at the time of application and since being awarded the grant, have experienced significant financial constraints as outlined in DHS/FEMA Information Bulletin (IB) 376, (i.e., specific economic issues preclude provision of the cost share identified in the original grant application). Cost share waiver requests that do not demonstrate new, post-award difficulties and cost share waivers submitted at the time of application will not be considered. Cost share waiver requests must comply with the process identified in IB 376.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: May 13, 2022

b. Application Submission Deadline: June 13, 2022 at 5 p.m. 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 https://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info376.pdf https://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info376.pdf the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems within ND Grants 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 and in accordance with the “Other Key Dates” table below.

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 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET. For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Preparedness Officer 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 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ET.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than August 17, 2022

d. Anticipated Award Date: No later than September 30, 2022

e. Other Key Dates:

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Date for FY 2022 Cycle

Obtaining an UEI number Four weeks before actual submission deadline

May 16, 2022

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

May 16, 2022

Registering in SAM or Updating SAM registration

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

May 16, 2022

Registering in Grants.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline

May 16, 2022

Starting application in Grants.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline

May 23, 2022

Submitting initial application in Grants.gov

One week before actual submission deadline

May 31, 2022

Submitting the final application in ND Grants By the submission deadline June 10, 2022 mailto:NDGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for requesting and submitting an application.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number from SAM.gov and Employer

Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. 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.

https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.login.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home

Specific instructions on how to apply for, update, or verify an 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 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 obtaining an 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 an UEI number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

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

For this funding opportunity, FEMA requires applicants to submit initial applications through Grants.gov and a final application through ND Grants.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov For information on how to register to apply through Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

7. How to Submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov Standard Form 424 (SF-424) is the initial application for this NOFO.

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using a workspace. A workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each Notice of Funding Opportunity, you can create individual instances of a workspace. Applicants are encouraged to submit their initial applications in Grants.gov at least seven days before the application deadline.

In Grants.gov, applicants need to submit the following forms:

mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

For further information on how to submit an initial application via Grants.gov, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

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 p.m. 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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178291 mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

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 o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information (Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424A

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants o For construction under an award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances (Construction), submitted via the forms generated by ND Grants, in addition to or instead of SF-424B

• 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.

Generally, applicants have to submit either the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B) or construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D), meaning that applicants that only have construction work and do not have any non-construction work need only submit the construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D) and not the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B), and vice versa. However, applicants who have both construction and non-construction work under this program need to submit both the construction and non-construction forms.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

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

• Associated Investment Justifications (IJs)

• Detailed budgets

• Associated Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)/Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)

I. PRIORITY INVESTMENTS

• Cybersecurity Cybersecurity investments must support the security and functioning of critical infrastructure and core capabilities as they relate to achieving target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

Additional resources and information regarding cybersecurity are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

• Soft Targets and Crowded Places Soft targets and crowded places are increasingly appealing to terrorists and other violent extremist actors because of their relative accessibility and the large number of potential targets. This challenge is complicated by the prevalent use of simple tactics and less sophisticated attacks. Segments of our society are inherently open to the general public, and by nature of their purpose do not incorporate strict security measures. Given the increased emphasis by terrorists and other violent extremist actors to leverage less sophisticated methods to inflict harm in public areas, it is vital that the public and private sectors collaborate to enhance security of locations such as transportation centers, parks, restaurants, shopping centers, special event venues, and similar facilities. Additional resources and information regarding securing soft targets and crowded places are available through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

II. INVESTMENT JUSTIFICATION

As part of the FY 2022 PSGP application process, applicants must use the formal IJ template to address each initiative being proposed for funding, including a project’s management and administration (M&A) costs. A separate tab within the IJ template should be used for each proposed project. The detailed budget worksheet noted below is included in the IJ template.

Please refer to the “Applications Submitted by Eligible Entities” language in Section C above regarding the limitations on the number of applications per eligible entity or facilities, departments, subcomponents, or agencies within a single eligible entity. No single application or IJ may include projects intended to be implemented in different Port Areas, subject to the provisions of this section, below. Applicants may submit up to five IJs within a single application. Due to limited available funds, applicants are encouraged to include a statement within the IJ project description identifying a minimum funding level for a project to be feasible in the event that a project can only be partially funded based on available funds.

IJs must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps and deficiencies in one or more of the core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). In the IJ, the https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework https://www.cisa.gov/securing-public-gatherings applicant must demonstrate the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by DHS/FEMA. PSGP projects must be both 1) feasible and effective at reducing the risks for which the project was designed; and 2) able to be fully completed within the thirty-six (36) month period of performance. For information on the feasibility and effectiveness determination, please see the Review and Selection Process as outlined in this funding notice.

For the purposes of a PSGP application, a Port Area is selected for funding based on the project location. Eligible entities that have facilities in multiple Port Areas should apply for projects based on the Port Area where the project/asset will be implemented, housed, or maintained, not the entity’s headquarters location. For entities submitting applications for a single project that spans multiple Port Areas, such as one patrol vessel that may be deployed outside of the primary Port Area, the project location is considered to be the Port Area that will see the most benefit from the project. Large projects that implement multiple components in multiple Port Areas, such as state agency purchases of multiple patrol vessels for multiple Port Areas, must be submitted as separate applications (e.g., State Police vessel project in Port Area #1 is one application; State Police vessel project in Port Area #2 is a separate application). All eligible and complete applications will be provided to the applicable COTP for further review.

Applicants seeking to participate in large-scale regional projects requiring the purchase of services or equipment should directly reference this need in their applications. Applicants should specify their portion of the requested project funding and role in the project.

Applicants should also note if their portion of a project can be completed independently of the large-scale regional project.

Applicants will find the IJ template on Grants.gov in the “Related Documents” tab of the PSGP posting. This IJ template must be used for each project submitted. Applicants must provide information in the following categories for each proposed investment:

1. Background;

2. Strategic and Program Priorities;

3. Impact; and

4. Funding/Implementation Plan.

Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting an IJ as part of the FY 2022 PSGP:

Name of Applicant_Name of Project_ IJ Number (Example: XYZ Oil_Fencing_IJ#1)

III. DETAILED BUDGET

Detailed budget worksheets are incorporated within the PSGP IJ template. Applicants must use the IJ template provided. All applicants must complete the detailed budget worksheets for each corresponding project requested at the time of application.