FY25 CAP-SSSE NOFO_Final.pdf

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Fiscal Year 2025 Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)

Fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and other criminal or noncriminal misconduct related to this program may be reported to the Office of Inspector General Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1 (800) 323-8603 and TTY 1 (844) 889-4357.

Contents

1. Basic Information

A. Agency Name B. Notice of Funding Opportunity Title C. Announcement Type D. Funding Opportunity Number E. Assistance Listing Number F. Expected Total Funding G. Anticipated Number of Awards H. Expected Award Range I. Projected Application Start Date J. Projected Application End Date K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date L. Anticipated Award Date M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date N. Period of Performance End Date O. Executive Summary P. Agency Contact

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types B. Project Type Eligibility C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties D. Maximum Number of Applications E. Additional Restrictions F. References for Eligibility Factors within the Notice of Funding Opportunity G. Cost Sharing Requirement H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

3. Program Description A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History B. Goals and Objectives C. Program Rationale D. Federal Assistance Type:

E. Performance Measures and Targets

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F. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs G. General Funding Requirements H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) I. Management & Administration Costs J. Pre-Award Costs K. Beneficiary Eligibility L. Participant Eligibility M. Authorizing Authority N. Appropriation Authority O. Budget Period P. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services

4. Application Contents and Format A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers B. Application Content and Format C. Application Components D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines A. Address to Request Application Package B. Application Deadline C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline E. Effects of Missing the Deadline

6. Intergovernmental Review A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

7. Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria B. Application Criteria C. Financial Integrity Criteria D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review E. Reviewers and Reviewer Selection F. Merit Review Process G. Final Selection

8. Award Notices A. Notice of Award B. Pass-Through Requirements C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs D. Obligation of Funds E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants

9. Post-Award Requirements and Administration A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions C. Financial Reporting Requirements D. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements E. Closeout Reporting Requirements F. Disclosing Information per 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 180.335

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G. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance H. Single Audit Report I. Monitoring and Oversight J. Program Evaluation K. Additional Performance Reporting Requirements L. Termination of the Federal Award M. Best Practices N. Payment Information

10. Other Information A. Period of Performance Extension B. Other Information

11. Appendices Appendix A. CAP-SSSE Eligible Activities Appendix B. Funding Methodology

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1. Basic Information

A. Agency Name

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience, Hazard Mitigation Directorate, Floodplain Management

B. Notice of Funding Opportunity Title

Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element

C. Announcement Type

Initial

D. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-25-MT-023-01-99

E. Assistance Listing Number

97.023

F. Expected Total Funding

$15 million

G. Anticipated Number of Awards

52 awards

H. Expected Award Range

$65,000– $600,000

I. Projected Application Start Date

July 28, 2025 at 8 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)

J. Projected Application End Date

Aug. 11, 2025 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date

July 25, 2025

L. Anticipated Award Date

No later than Sept. 30, 2025

M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date

July 1, 2025

N. Projected Period of Performance End Date

June 30, 2026

O. Executive Summary

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element program provides funding to states and territories to provide technical assistance (e.g., mapping and regulation support, compliance actions, workshops/training, and more) to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program and to evaluate community performance in implementing National Flood Insurance Program floodplain management activities. This cooperative agreement strives to leverage state and territory knowledge and expertise to provide support to communities through activities that most effectively reduce flood losses.

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The cooperative agreement funds eligible activities to enable State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies to meet the provisions set forth in 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section 60.25 and the goals and performance expectations of the funding agency:

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program.

As a result of Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funding, states and territories have increased the number of community outreach and meetings, workshops and trainings held, contracted dollars for additional capacity, and average grantee investment.

More information, including key information, documents, and details, can be found on FEMA.gov: https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program.

P. Agency Contact

a. Program Office Contact Julie Grauer, Program Manager, julie.grauer@fema.dhs.gov or (202) 568-4396.

b. FEMA Grants News This channel provides general information on all FEMA grant programs and maintains a comprehensive database containing key personnel contact information at the federal, state, and local levels.

FEMA Grants News Team is reachable at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov OR (800) 368-6498, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

c. Grant Programs Directorate Award Administration Division Grand Programs Directorate Award Administration Division provides support regarding financial matters and budgetary technical assistance.

For any questions, email ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.

d. FEMA Regional Offices FEMA Regional Offices also may provide fiscal support, including pre- and post-award administration and technical assistance. FEMA Regional Office contact information is available at https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts.

e. Civil Rights Consistent with Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination & Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the FEMA Office of Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement of federal civil rights obligations in connection with programs and services conducted by FEMA. The contact email is FEMA- CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov.

https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program mailto:julie.grauer@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02097/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02097/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov

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f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation The FEMA office of Environmental Planning and Historic Planning provides guidance and information about the EHP review process to FEMA programs and recipients and subrecipients. Send any inquiries regarding compliance for FEMA grant projects for this funding opportunity to FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov.

g. Payment and Reporting System FEMA uses the Payment and Reporting System (PARS) for financial reporting, invoicing, and tracking payments. The Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer method of payment is used for recipients. For any questions about the system, contact the Customer Service Center at (866) 927-5646 or ask-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.

h. FEMA GO For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET.

i. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit The FEMA Preparedness Toolkit (PrepToolkit) provides access to tools and resources needed to implement the National Preparedness System and provide a collaborative space for communities completing the Unified Reporting Tool. Recipients complete and submit their Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review, and other required assessments using the PrepToolkit. For assistance, contact support@preptoolkit.fema.dhs.gov.

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element has a PrepToolkit site reserved for State Coordinators to access program guidance and materials. These State Coordinators can request membership in the PrepToolkit.

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types

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

a. Applicants Designated State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories are eligible to apply for funding under this funding opportunity.

Collectively, they are referred to as “grantees.”

mailto:FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov https://isource.fema.gov/sf269/execute/LogIn?sawContentMessage=true mailto:ask-GMD@fema.dhs.gov mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/ mailto:support@preptoolkit.fema.dhs.gov

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State Coordinating Agencies are designated by statute or Governor’s declaration as a National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agency as described in 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section 60.25.

b. Subapplicants

Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed.

B. Project Type Eligibility

a. Unallowable Project Types

• Matching or cost sharing for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.306)

• Lobbying or other prohibited activities under Title 18 United States Code Section 1913 or 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.450

• Non-floodplain management exercise related costs

• Construction and renovation costs

• International travel, unless approved in advance otherwise by the managing federal agency

• Conducting floodplain studies and/or developing floodplain maps

• Activities covered under other federal grants (such as Cooperative Technical Partners), such as supporting/maintaining web-based digital mapping platforms

• Association of State Floodplain Managers or other professional association dues/memberships

• Duplication/reimbursement for state or territory-required and state or territory-funded (through appropriation or permit fee income) review activities, such as state or territory permitting

• Purchase of vehicles or office furniture/furnishings

• Activities directly chargeable to disaster funding

b. Allowable Project Types

• Negotiated, eligible activities (listed in detail in Appendix A) completed within the Period of Performance

• Other Direct Costs:

o Planning-related costs are allowed under this program.

o Training-related costs are allowed under this program, including staff attending or conducting training with stakeholders.

8 | Page o Supply costs, as defined in 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.1 and less than $10,000, are allowed under this program.

o Equipment costs, as defined in 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.1 and greater than $10,000, are allowed under this program.

o Support for Information Technology (IT) equipment costs are allowed, such as computers, cameras, geospatial software or mobile applications.

o Domestic travel costs are allowed under this program.

o Certified Floodplain Manager exam and biennial renewal fees.

• Management and Administration costs, defined as those directly relating to the management and administration of CAP-SSSE funds, such as financial management, monitoring, and application development for subsequent funding opportunities. Recipients only may use up to 5% of the amount of the award for Management & Administration costs. More information can be found in section 3.I Management & Administration Costs.

• Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, including 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.414. More information can be found in section 3.H Indirect Costs.

C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties

1) the capability to perform the duties and responsibilities set forth in 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section 60.25(b);

2) expertise in floodplain management or the ability to attain expertise in floodplain management through participation in the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element; and

3) the ability to develop, implement and manage floodplain management activities.

D. Maximum Number of Applications

The maximum number of applications that can be submitted is:

One per State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agency

E. Additional Restrictions

Applicants must have a valid Tiered State Framework Assessment prior to applying for the first time. Applicant must meet the minimum point score to be eligible for the grant. Please refer to the Tiered State Framework Playbook at https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/community-assistance-program/tiered-state-framework.

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

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Applicants/subapplicants or recipients/subrecipients are required to certify their compliance with federal statutes, DHS directives, polices, and procedures.

F. References for Eligibility Factors within the Notice of Funding Opportunity

Please see the following references provided below:

1. “Responsiveness Review Criteria” subsection

2. “Application Criteria” subsection

3. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

4. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

5. FEMA may request financial information such as Employer

Identification Number (EIN) and bank information as part of the potential award selection. This will apply to everyone prospered, including subrecipients.

6. “Appendix A: Eligible Activities” subsection G. Cost Sharing Requirement

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

There is no cost share requirement for “insular areas” per Public Law 96-205, title VI, section 601, Mar. 12,1980, as amended (also noted in Title 48 United States Code Section 1469a) and Office of Management and Budget Controller Alert CA-23-04 Waiving Matching Fund Requirements for Insular Areas. The four insular areas are the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Insular area applicants can propose a voluntary cost share. Please see Application Criteria for more information.

H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions

There is a minimum 25% non-federal cost match required for all recipients of Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funds (excluding insular areas) with no restrictions on the types of costs allowed (e.g., in-kind contribution). Applicants are allowed, encouraged, and incentivized through the Tiered State Framework Assessment to voluntarily match beyond the minimum 25% non-federal cost match.

I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example

The recipient contribution is calculated based on the federal contribution as: Percent recipient contribution multiplied by the value of the federal contribution in U.S. dollars.

For example, this cooperative agreement requires a 25% cost match. If the federal contribution is $100,000, the recipient contribution is calculated as (0.25) X $100,000 = $25,000. The grant is then made up of $100,000 (federal funding) and $25,000 (state cost match) for a total = $125,000.

J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

Applicants should submit their regionally approved Detailed Budget indicating planned cost match with their application. Grantees may, but are not required, to include a cost match letter with their https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/96/205.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/96/205.pdf

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3. Program Description

A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element provides funding to states and territories to provide technical assistance (e.g., mapping and regulation support, compliance actions, workshops/training, and more) to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program and to evaluate community performance in implementing floodplain management activities.

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element derives its authority from the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, and Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Sections 59 and 60. This cooperative agreement funds eligible activities to enable State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies to meet the provisions set forth in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section 60.25 and the goals and performance expectations of the funding agency: FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. As a result of this funding, states and territories have increased the number of community outreach and meetings, workshops and trainings held, contracted dollars for additional capacity, and average annual grantee investment.

While the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element has existed since the 1981 (called the State Assistance Program until 1986), a 2017 Program Evaluation prompted the development of updated products, processes, and guidance to bring added accountability, clarity, and defensibility to the program.

B. Goals and Objectives The goal of the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element is to support State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies to reduce risk and help to avoid losses from flood events as they provide technical assistance and floodplain management support to flood prone and participating communities within their states and territories.

To further this goal, the program will pursue the following objectives:

• Increase state and territory programs’ capability and capacity to effectively manage their programs such that they perform at or above their annual performance measure commitments.

• Increase state and territory programs’ capability and capacity to effectively respond to disaster events.

• Support state and territory programs’ capacity to assist communities with National Flood Insurance Program compliance, including supporting communities’ ongoing administration and enforcement of floodplain management standards as well as auditing community compliance with National Flood Insurance Program minimum standards and assisting local actions to address any issues.

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_CAP-SSSE_program-evaluation-findings-report_2017.pdf

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• Support state and territory programs to ensure that communities adopt updated flood risk data in a timely and consistent manner, including adoption of any updated ordinances or regulations.

• Support state and territory programs to help communities adopt higher floodplain management standards.

• Support state and territory programs’ efforts to increase understanding of floodplain management among local officials and other stakeholders through trainings, outreach, and technical assistance.

• Coordinate with other state or territory agencies and federal agencies to ensure that floodplain management information is benefiting other activities where appropriate.

The Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element priorities detailed below highlight key items that applicants should focus on in administering funding authorized by this funding opportunity. These priorities provide guidance on important topics, tasks, and activities that funding should be allocated towards to support participation and compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.

• 2026 Required Tiered State Framework Assessment: The Fiscal Year 2025 Period of Performance includes compilation and submission of the 2026 Required Tiered State Framework Assessment, which covers activities conducted in Fiscal Years 2022 – 2024.

All grantees are required to submit for all characteristics as part of the Required Cycle.

Grantees should prioritize budgeting time and resources in their Fiscal Year 2025 Statement of Work under eligible activity 5. Planning to prepare and submit their Tiered State Framework Assessment Tool and all associated evidence.

o Upcoming Changes to the 2029 Tiered State Framework: Fiscal Year 2025 is the first Period of Performance that will be scored in the next Required Assessment in 2029. Updates made to the Tiered State Framework Playbook, scorable in 2029, are applicable to Fiscal Year 2025 activities. Grantees should prioritize review and understanding of changes, and plan activities accordingly to ensure benchmarks are met.

• State and Territory Development Compliance: States and territories will continue to support efforts to document and improve compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program regulations for new and existing state and territory-owned and managed property in the Special Flood Hazard Area, by the deadline set in coordination with the region.

• National Flood Insurance Program Compliance Audit Redesign: FEMA has postponed the national implementation of the new National Flood Insurance Program Compliance Audit Program to Fiscal Year 2026. For Fiscal Year 2025, states and territories will be expected to attend webinars, trainings, and other events to increase their knowledge and understanding of the National Flood Insurance Program Compliance Audit Redesign in preparation for implementation in Fiscal Year 2026. In addition to engagements hosted by FEMA, states and territories will be expected to undertake activities within their own state or territory to plan and prepare for implementation, including becoming familiarized

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o Note – As part of the redesign effort FEMA will be phasing out the current Community Assistance Visit and Community Assistance Contact processes and transitioning to the new National Flood Insurance Program Compliance Audit process in Fiscal Year 2026. Community Assistance Contacts and Visits will continue to be processed until implementation of the new program Compliance Audit Program in Fiscal Year 2026, and any audits still open by this time will be closed in line with the previous processes. Once all existing Community Assistance Contacts and Visits have been closed, these processes will be formally ended.

• Community Information System: States and territories are required to enter activities into the Community Information System, FEMA’s system of record. States and territories are expected to participate in training and engagements about the updated system and may be asked to provide feedback about future improvements.

o Community Information System Quality Assurance: Review and quality assurance of Community Information System entries may necessitate updates to reflect correct and accurate data.

C. Program Rationale Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funds and prioritizes mitigation efforts and investment in resilience at the state or territory level, to reduce disaster losses and suffering in communities nationwide participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. By providing financial and technical resources in support of National Flood Insurance Program implementation, the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element helps states and territories support communities through a variety of eligible activities (see Appendix A).

D. Federal Assistance Type:

Cooperative Agreement

Each state or territory receiving a Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element award will sign a cooperative agreement with FEMA describing the terms of the award, including the responsibilities of the recipient. There is substantial FEMA Regional Office involvement throughout the performance period of this cooperative agreement. FEMA retains the authority to manage and direct recipient performance in support of Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element objectives. The FEMA Regional Office determines the appropriate number of activities and ensures performance metrics are being met.

FEMA maintains full approval authority of grantees’ proposed annual statement of work and all included activities, as well as any amendments to the approved statement of work.

Expectations of National Flood Insurance Program participation are outlined in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section 60.25. FEMA may exercise its authority to require a remedial plan, assign corrective actions, and/or stop a state or territory’s funded activity immediately if the state or territory fails to meet these conditions.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-60/subpart-C/section-60.25

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E. Performance Measures and Targets FEMA’s Floodplain Management program monitors performance through four program measures to which State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies are required to set and meet targets, in addition to any other annual performance commitments they have agreed upon with the FEMA Regional office. These include:

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

• Community Engagement. Grantees must have contact with a designated percentage of the communities in their state or territory by community audits, General Technical Assistance, Regulation Assistance, or Workshops. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the percentage of communities that will be engaged during the Period of Performance. These targets will be documented in the Scope of Work.

• Higher Standards Adoption. Grantees must commit to a designated number of communities that will adopt higher floodplain management standards (i.e., standards that are more stringent than those required by the National Flood Insurance Program) as a result of the state or territory’s efforts. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of communities adopting a higher standard during the Period of Performance. These targets will be documented in the Statement of Work. A national Excellence target of 75% is in place.

• Community Compliance Improvement. Grantees must commit to a designated number of communities in which they will conduct community audits, opening new and closing existing community audits. This target will directly support the regional and national goal to assess a certain percentage of the entire National Flood Insurance Program every five years. Grantees and the FEMA Regional Coordinator will negotiate annual “Expected” and “Excellence” targets for the number of audits that will be conducted and closed during the Period of Performance. Annual targets will be documented in the Statement of Work and will roll-up into the five-Period of Performance compliance tracking period.

F. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs The following cost types are unallowable for all grantees.

• Non-floodplain management exercise related costs

• Construction and renovation costs

• International travel, unless approved in advance otherwise by the managing federal agency

• Conducting floodplain studies or developing floodplain maps

• Activities covered under other federal grants (such as Cooperative Technical Partners), such as supporting/maintaining web-based digital mapping platforms

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• Association of State Floodplain Managers or other professional association dues/memberships

• Duplication/reimbursement for state or territory-required and state or territory-funded (through appropriation or permit fee income) review activities, such as state or territory permitting

• Purchase of vehicles or office furniture/furnishings

• Activities directly chargeable to disaster funding G. General Funding Requirements

Costs charged to federal awards (including federal and non-federal cost share funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, policies, this funding opportunity, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered within the budget period.

2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.403(h).

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

1. Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.306).

2. Lobbying or other prohibited activities under Title 18 United States Code Section 1913 or 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.450.

3. Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity (see 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.435).

Recipients must request prior approval for budget and program plan revisions in accordance with 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 200.308.

Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funds can only be used to reimburse state or territory staff for negotiated, eligible activities that they complete within the period of performance. If a recipient does not maintain the necessary expertise and capability to conduct Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element activities, the region and recipient will develop a remedial plan. If the recipient does not agree to implementing the remedial plan and/or fails to develop the necessary expertise and capability required by the region, the state or territory's Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funding may be reduced or withheld.

H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) Indirect costs are allowed for recipients.

Indirect costs are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to specific cost objectives without disproportionate effort. Applicants with a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated agreement, but are required to develop a proposal, must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications.

Applicants without a current negotiated agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title18-section1913&num=0&edition=1999 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.308

15 | Page wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an indirect cost rate proposal must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. As it relates to subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 Code of Federal Regulations Sections 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the indirect cost rate for subawards.

I. Management & Administration Costs Management & Administration costs are allowed per 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section

200. Management & Administration costs are those defined as directly relating to the management and administration of Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funds, such as financial management, monitoring, and application development for subsequent Periods of Performance. Recipients only may use up to 5% of the amount for the award for Management & Administration activities.

Management & Administration activities are not overhead costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program.

As such, these costs can be itemized in financial reports.

J. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are not allowed.

K. Beneficiary Eligibility There are no program requirements for beneficiary eligibility.

This funding opportunity and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary.

L. Participant Eligibility There are no program requirements for participant eligibility.

This funding opportunity and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant.

M. Authorizing Authority The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (Public Law 90-448), as amended, (Title 42 United States Code Section 4001 et. seq.), the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (Pub. L.

No. 93-234), as amended, (Title 42 United States Code Section 4002 et seq.), and 44 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 59 and 60.

N. Appropriation Authority Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub. L. No. 119-4, Section 1101.

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/national-flood-insurance-act-1968.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/93/234.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/93/234.pdf

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P. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services Recipients, sub-recipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which restrict the purchase of covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services. Please see 2 Code of Federal Regulations Sections 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, and FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services for more information.

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers Applicants are required to utilize the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool to develop a reasonable, defensible proposal based in actual financial information. The Activity Planning & Pricing Tool produces both a Statement of Work and a Detailed Budget to be included in the application. FEMA Regional Coordinators will review, provide feedback, and ultimately approve proposals prior to application submission.

Complete, draft Activity Planning & Pricing Tools, including base and discretionary activities are due to FEMA Regional Coordinator for review: July 14, 2025, 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applicants must confirm the correct Unique Entity Identifier number for their State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agency with the Regional Coordinator by: July 14, 2025.

B. Application Content and Format The final version of the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool should be provided to the FEMA Regional Coordinator.

The Detailed Budget and Statement of Work should be uploaded as .pdf files in FEMA GO.

C. Application Components The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at Forms | Grants.gov.

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

• Indirect Cost Agreement or Proposal, if the budget includes indirect costs and the applicant is required to have an indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. See section 3.H Indirect Costs for more information.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.grants.gov/forms

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D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in FEMA

GO:

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

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

As noted in Section 2, applicants are required to have a valid Tiered State Framework Assessment to apply for the grant.

E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants States and territories are required to enter floodplain management activities into Community Information System, FEMA’s system of record. States and territories are also expected to participate in programmatic trainings and meetings, as offered, to ensure understanding of requirements, expectations, and updates. If changing the statement of work or budget is needed during the negotiation process (discussions between FEMA and Applicant following the submission of the application), these documents may be re-submitted directly by email to the appropriate FEMA Regional Program Manager and Grants Specialist. This review and negotiation process may continue until the applicant’s proposed Statement of Work and supporting budget is approved by the FEMA Regional Program Manager and Grants Specialist. Final, approved versions of the Statement of Work and Detailed Budget should be uploaded to FEMA GO.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Address to Request Application Package

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Steps Required to Apply for An Award Under This Program and Submit an Application:

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and EIN from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide a Unique Entity Identifier number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.login.gov/

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e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact (eBiz point of contact) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

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

Per 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 25.110(a)(2)(iv), if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible. Contact fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov and provide the details of the exigent circumstances.

How to Register to Apply:

General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Below are instructions for registering to apply for FEMA funds.

Read the instructions carefully and prepare the requested information before beginning the registration process. Gathering the required information before starting the process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

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

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

Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a Unique Entity Identifier number. Applicants must enter the Unique Entity Identifier number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier number, refer to SAM.gov.

Obtain Employer Identification Number:

In addition to having a UEI number, all entities applying for funding must provide an EIN.

The EIN can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service by visiting https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110 mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://sam.gov/content/home 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

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Create a login.gov account:

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

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd.

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

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to General Services Administration Federal Service Desk Service Portal.

Register with SAM:

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

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

Note: per 2 Code of Federal Regulations Section 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 past three years, if applicable.

Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the Authorized Organizational Representatives:

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

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

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Applicants using tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using

FEMA GO.

Submitting the Final Application:

Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information, and any program-specific information required. Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the Forms tab under the: SF-424 Family | Grants.gov.

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_category&kb_category=ae2747041b43a4108aa3a8eae54bcba2 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_category&kb_category=ae2747041b43a4108aa3a8eae54bcba2 https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-B/section-25.200 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema-go_startup-guide.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema-go_startup-guide.pdf https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

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Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they are providing all required information.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message, or an email to the submitting Authorized Organizational Representative confirming the transmission was successfully received.

B. Application Deadline Aug. 11, 2025 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time

C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline The following requirements must be completed by the deadlines given below:

Complete, draft Activity Planning & Pricing Tools including both base and discretionary activities, are submitted to FEMA Regional Coordinators: July 25, 2025 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline Not applicable.

E. Effects of Missing the Deadline All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of submission and generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives an application. The submitting Authorized Organizational Representative will receive via email the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number to serve as proof of timely submission prior to the application deadline.

Applicants experiencing system-related issues have until 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the date applications are due to notify FEMA. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

6. Intergovernmental Review

A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

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.

7. Application Review Information

A. Threshold Criteria

Applicants must be designated State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinating Agencies who develop and submit a reasonable, defensible Fiscal Year 2025 application using the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool. Applicants must have a valid Tiered State Framework assessment and have earned at least the minimum score for eligibility.

All applicants, except for Insular Areas, must include at least a 25% state match to be eligible. All activities included in the Activity Planning & Pricing Tool must be eligible https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SPOC-list-as-of-August-2024.pdf https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SPOC-list-as-of-August-2024.pdf

21 | Page activities, as listed in Appendix A and as reviewed and approved by the Regional Coordinators.

B. Application Criteria Applications will be reviewed to ensure conformance with the eligibility criteria in Section 2 and application submission requirements in Sections 4 and 5 of this funding opportunity.

Applicants that do not meet eligibility or application submission requirements will be removed from consideration.

Applicants will be evaluated and selected for funding based on their ability…