FY23 EOCGP NOFO_updated AppA_table_5082.pdf

FY 2023 EOCGP NOFO Back to the Top

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

Fiscal Year 2023 Emergency Operations Center Grant Program

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the SAM system. Requesting a UEI using SAM.gov can be found at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

On April 4, 2022, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This new identifier is the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

Table of Contents Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

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

a. Overview

b. Objectives

c. Priorities

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $89,140,285

2. Period of Performance: 36 Months

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): No later than 06/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): No later than 05/31/2026

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

a. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

4. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 03/01/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 04/14/2023 at 5:00 PM ET

c. Anticipated Award Date: 06/30/2023

d. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM)

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

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

f. Create a Grants.gov Account:

g. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account:

h. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles:

i. Track Role Status:

j. Electronic Signature:

8. How to Submit an Initial Application to FEMA via Grants.gov

a. Create a Workspace:

b. Complete a Workspace:

c. Adobe Reader:

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms:

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First:

f. Submit a Workspace:

g. Track a Workspace:

h. Additional Training and Applicant Support:

9. Submitting the Final Application in ND Grants

10. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

11. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

12. Intergovernmental Review

13. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

b. Pre-award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs

f. Other Direct Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Pass-Through Requirements

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

4. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Program Performance Reporting Periods and Due Dates

d. Closeout Reporting Requirements

e. Additional Reporting Requirements

5. Monitoring and Oversight G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID)

c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division

d. FEMA Regional Offices

e. Equal Rights

f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. Grants.gov

b. Non-Disaster (ND) Grants

c. Payment and Reporting System (PARS)

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

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

a. Important Changes to Procurement Standards in 2 C.F.R. Part 200

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

8. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

9. Actions to Address Noncompliance

10. Audits

11. Payment Information

12. Procedures for Establishing Indirect Cost Rates

13. Whole Community Preparedness

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

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

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.052

3. Assistance Listings Title Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2023 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

FY 2023 EOC Grant Program NOFO Number

Region 1 DHS-23-GPD-052-001-01

Region 2 DHS-23-GPD-052-002-01

Region 3 DHS-23-GPD-052-003-01

Region 4 DHS-23-GPD-052-004-01

Region 5 DHS-23-GPD-052-005-01

Region 6 DHS-23-GPD-052-006-01

Region 7 DHS-23-GPD-052-007-01

Region 8 DHS-23-GPD-052-008-01

Region 9 DHS-23-GPD-052-009-01

Region 10 DHS-23-GPD-052-010-01

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196c) as amended by section 202 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328)

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category Preparedness: Community Security

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The fiscal year (FY) 2023 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure coordination and unity of effort among multiple emergency management organizations and across multiple jurisdictions during major disasters or emergencies caused by any hazard. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, the EOC Grant Program supports the goal to Strengthen National 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 management community. The EOC Grant Program supports Goal 3: Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and a Prepared Nation.

The FY 2023 EOC Grant Program will provide $89,140,285 for equipping, upgrading, or constructing the EOC projects included in Appendix A of this NOFO. Per the National Fire Protection Association, an EOC is defined as a “facility or capability from which direction and control is exercised in an emergency. This type of center or capability is designated to ensure that the capacity exists for leadership to direct and control operations from a centralized facility or capability in the event of an emergency.” “Construction,” as defined in this program, refers to building a new facility or any changes to the footprint of an existing facility, while “upgrading” refers only to internal improvements to an existing facility.

State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) are the only entities eligible to apply for FY 2023 EOC Grant Program funding. Such applications will be submitted on behalf of the state and local governments (subrecipients) identified to receive funding as outlined in Appendix A of this NOFO. See Section C of this notice for additional program eligibility information and Section D for detailed application instructions.

b. Objectives The objective of the FY 2023 EOC Grant Program is to improve EOC operations through funding the EOC projects included in Appendix A of this NOFO. These projects fund equipping, upgrading, and/or construction of EOCs to provide fully capable facilities to support command, control, and coordination of multi-agency responses to major disasters or emergencies.

c. Priorities The priorities of the FY 2023 EOC Grant Program are to fund equipping, upgrading, and/or construction of the emergency operations center projects identified in Appendix A of this

NOFO.

https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan

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

• Percentage of funded projects that result in fully operational emergency operations centers

• Percentage of funded projects that provide an enhanced level of EOC services and capabilities

FEMA will calculate and analyze the above metrics through a review of recipient Performance Progress Reports and award monitoring to ensure that the funds are expended for their intended purpose and achieve the stated outcomes in the grant application.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $89,140,285

2. Period of Performance: 36 Months

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. 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.”

3. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): No later than 06/01/2023

4. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): No later than 05/31/2026

5. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Only State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) (on behalf of state and local units of government) with identified projects in Appendix A of this NOFO are eligible to apply.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria Eligible EOC projects were identified in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Those EOC projects are identified in Appendix A of this NOFO.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

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 NIMS Implementation and Training | FEMA.gov.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training

Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources (personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs. Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, credentialing, and inventorying, promote a strong national mutual aid capability needed to support delivery of core capabilities. Additional information on resource management, NIMS resource typing definitions, job titles, and position qualifications is on FEMA’s website at NIMS Components - Guidance and Tools | FEMA.gov.

FEMA developed the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National Qualification System to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards. This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes and identifies tools that Federal Emergency Response Officials and emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state (including territorial), local, tribal, and private sector partners (including nongovernmental organizations) are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so to leverage the federal investment in the Federal Information Processing Standards 201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction.

Additional information about NIMS in general is available on FEMA’s website at National Incident Management System | FEMA.gov.

4. Cost Share or Match

The FY 2023 EOC Grant Program has a cost share requirement. All award recipients must provide a non-federal entity contribution supporting 25% of the total project costs (federal amount plus cost share amount). 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. The required cost share amount, by project, is included in the project funding table in Appendix A.

All applicants are required to commit to the cost share requirement for each activity under each project at the time of application. The non-federal contribution should be specifically identified for each proposed activity. The non-federal contribution, whether cash or third-party in-kind match, must consist of eligible costs (i.e., same allowability as the federal share).

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 03/01/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 04/14/2023 at 5:00 PM ET https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1523470612203-906948554492c1f2663c9e69eb636401/NIMS_NQS_Guideline_April2018.pdf https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1523470612203-906948554492c1f2663c9e69eb636401/NIMS_NQS_Guideline_April2018.pdf https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims

All applications must be received by the established deadline. Prior to application submission, SAAs must coordinate with applicable subrecipients identified in Appendix A to collect the information required for completion of the State’s application and may impose separate deadlines to ensure timely application submission.

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 FEMA Regional EOC Grant Program Manager. 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. Anticipated Award Date: 06/30/2023

d. Other Key Dates

The suggested deadlines outlined in the table below apply only to the SAA as the eligible applicant. As noted in Section D.1.b. above, SAAs may impose separate deadlines on the subrecipients identified in Appendix A to ensure timely collection of the information required for application submission.

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 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 Home | 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. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR 25.110, must:

1) Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission;

2) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in its application; and

3) Continue to always maintain an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration with current information during the Federal Award process.

5. 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 can take four weeks or more to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early to ensure they meet the 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.

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Initial registration in SAM.gov includes UEI issuance Four weeks before actual submission deadline Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) Four weeks before actual submission deadline Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in SAM or updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in Grants.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in ND Grants Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline Submitting application in Grants.gov Three days before actual submission deadline Submitting the final application in ND Grants By the submission deadline https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

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 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.

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.

6. Electronic Delivery https://www.login.gov/ mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

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.

7. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. General Instructions:

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

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

Organizations must have an UEI number, an EIN, an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and Grants.gov account to apply for grants.

Organizations must also have a Grants.gov account to apply for an award under this program.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but UEI and 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:

Organization Registration | Grants.gov.

If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, refer to Applicant Registration | Grants.gov.

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, 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: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).

d. Create a login.gov account:

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

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: Create your account - Login.gov.

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 SAM.gov | Home.

e. Register with SAM:

All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to Step 2: Register with SAM | Grants.gov.

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

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

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

SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.” Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain an UEI number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

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

II. HELP WITH SAM

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

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://sam.gov/content/home?api_key=ROEXk2SBBROUbVQ4L38wSJsGEvZ3oWtLxva9h0zV https://sam.gov/content/home?api_key=ROEXk2SBBROUbVQ4L38wSJsGEvZ3oWtLxva9h0zV 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.fsd.gov/gdit_tss/?id=gdit_tss_landing https://www.fsd.gov/gdit_tss/?id=gdit_tss_landing

f. Create a Grants.gov Account:

The next step in the registration process is to create an account with Grants.gov. If applicable, applicants must know their organization’s UEI number to complete this process.

For more information, follow the on-screen instructions or refer to: Applicant Registration | Grants.gov.

See also Section D.9 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, if applicable, enter the UEI number for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile.

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

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 POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the Authorized Organization Representative (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 EBiz POC Authorizes Profile Roles | Grants.gov.

i. Track Role Status:

To track your role request, refer to Track Profile Role Status | Grants.gov.

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 individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR;

this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

8. 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html 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:

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; and

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

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

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.

c. Adobe Reader:

If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace so that they will appear similar to other Standard or DHS forms. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your 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 Adobe Software Compatibility | Grants.gov.

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.

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

g. Track a Workspace:

After successfully submitting a workspace package, 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: Applicant Training | Grants.gov.

Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 (except federal holidays) support via the toll-free number (800) 518-4726, email at support@grants.gov and the website at Support | Grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

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.

9. 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, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET. For step-by-step directions on using the ND Grants system and other guides, please see Non-Disaster Grants Management System | FEMA.gov.

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.

10. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support.html https://www.grants.gov/support.html mailto:ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/tools/non-disaster-grants-management-system https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

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.

11. 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 SF-424 Family | Grants.gov.

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

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

• As part of the FY 2023 EOC Grant Program application process, applicants must develop a formal Investment Justification (IJ) that addresses the construction, upgrading, or equipping activities and costs. FEMA has developed an Excel-based template that establishes the required IJ content and helps ensure that submissions are organized in a consistent manner while addressing key data requirements. Use of the template is not mandatory but recommended to ensure all appropriate information is submitted. If applicants choose to not use the template, they must ensure their application submission includes all fields and data elements that are included in the template. All applications must use the following file naming convention when submitting required documents as part of the FY 2023 EOC Grant Program: “FY 2023 EOC <State Abbreviation> - <EOC Name>.”

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 Executive Orders | National Archives; Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

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 this 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, with the exception of approved pre-award costs (see Section 13.b Pre-award Costs). Also see 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h) (referring to budget periods, which for FEMA awards is the same as the period of performance). For the EOC Grant Program, the budget period is the same as the period of performance.

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

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.

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, FEMA Policy #405-143-1, or superseding document.

Additional guidance is available at Contract Provisions Guide: Navigating Appendix II to Part 200 - Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards (fema.gov).

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

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_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf#405-143-1%20-%20Prohibitions%20on%20Expending%20FEMA%20Award%20Funds%20for%20Covered%20Telecommunications%20Equipment%20or%20Services https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf#405-143-1%20-%20Prohibitions%20on%20Expending%20FEMA%20Award%20Funds%20for%20Covered%20Telecommunications%20Equipment%20or%20Services https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf

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

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.

I. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

FEMA grant funding may be permitted to procure replacement equipment and services impacted by this prohibition, provided the costs are otherwise consistent with the requirements of the NOFO.

II. DEFINITIONS

Per section 889(f)(2)-(3) of the FY 2019 NDAA and 2 C.F.R. § 200.216, covered telecommunications equipment or services means:

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

ii. For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such…