FY26 CTG-ASSURE DRAFT_06.08.2026_clean_RSL_CP_508-6-27-26 - FAPO commented_508.pdf (002).pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due: July 31, 2026

Fiscal Year 26 NOFO

FEMA Version 26-04

Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned

Aircraft Systems through Research

Excellence

Assistance Listing Number: 97.146

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-NPD-146-00-99

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

Contents

Before you begin 2

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 3

Basic information 4

Eligibility 4

Program Description 6

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 13

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 14

Step 3: Write Your Application 17

Application Contents and Format 18

Step 4: Learn About the Award Review Process 19

Application Review Information 20

Intergovernmental Review 21

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award 22

Award Notices 23

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 23

Other Information 32

Contacts and Appendices 39

Contacts 40

Appendices 42

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

Before you begin

If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your System for

Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registration is active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

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

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were before clicking an internal link by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://login.gov/

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 4

Eligibility 4

Program description 6

Jump to a step

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

Basic Information A. Award Facts

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Training and Education Division

(NTED).

Assistance Listing Number: 97.146

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland

Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants

(CTG), Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through

Research Excellence (ASSURE).

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-NPD-146-00-99

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $1,900,000.00 - $1,900,000.00

Expected Total Funding: $1,900,000.00

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

B. Executive Summary The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland

Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants

(CTG), Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence

(ASSURE) provides funding to the eligible applicant to develop and deliver high-quality, evidence-based FEMA-certified training solutions to strengthen core capabilities and close national preparedness gaps to build a secure and resilient nation by ensuring training is available and accessible to a national audience.

Specifically, this notice provides funding for Mississippi State University’s Federal Aviation Administration

Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (hereafter, ASSURE) to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) partners, which supports the objective of the National

Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

Key Dates

Projected Application Start

Date: July 1, 2026

Projected Application End

Date: July 31, 2026

Anticipated Funding Selection

Date: August 15, 2026

Anticipated Award Date:

September 1, 2026

Projected Period of

Performance Start Date:

September 1, 2026

Projected Period of

Performance End Date: August

31, 2029

Budget Period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2029

Have questions? See Contacts and Support

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

Applicant Eligibility

Mississippi State University’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE).

Subapplicant Eligibility

Subapplicants and subawards are allowed.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types

Identify, develop, test, and deliver on-site mobile and web-based training at the awareness, performance, planning and management levels to the state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management and emergency response workforce.

Unallowable Project Types

This program does not allow construction and renovation projects.

C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statues, polices, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

Sub-applicants/subrecipients must submit short biographies and resumes. These should include the type of entity, organizational leadership, and board members along with both the names and addresses of the individuals. Resumes are subject to approval.

D. Maximum Number of Applications One per applicant.

E. Additional Restrictions The primary goal of the ASSURE program under this NOFO is to close national UAS-related preparedness and response capability gaps by developing and delivering FEMA certified UAS training that:

• Builds and sustains UAS-related knowledge, skills, and abilities in the emergency management and first responder community;

• Increases safe, effective, and compliant UAS employment before, during, and after disasters; and

• Supports an integrated, community centric, risk informed, capabilities-based approach to national preparedness.

This purpose frames the expected outcomes of the grant and guides the program goals, objectives, and performance measures.

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

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

1. “Threshold Review Criteria” subsection

2. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

3. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

4. FEMA may request financial information such as the Employer Identification Number (EIN) and bank information as part of the potential award selection. This will apply to everyone who benefits from the award, including subrecipients.

G. Cost Share Requirements There is no cost share requirement.

H. Cost Share Description, Type, and Restrictions Not applicable.

I. Cost Share Example

J. Required Information for Verifying Cost Share

Maintenance of Effort

Program Description A. Program Purpose

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence collection and documentation, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, targeted training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that builds the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students who complete UAS training will be better prepared to employ UAS capabilities safely, effectively, and in alignment with incident objectives. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.

The primary goal of the ASSURE program under this NOFO is to build a secure and resilient nation that is ready to mitigate, respond to, and recover from hazards and disasters by closing national UAS-related preparedness and response capability gaps and increasing core capabilities by developing and delivering accessible, multi-level, high-quality. FEMA certified UAS training to state, local, territorial, and tribal nation

(SLTT) partner emergency management professionals and stakeholders nationwide that:

• Builds and sustains UAS-related knowledge, skills, and abilities in the emergency management and first responder community;

• Increases safe, effective, and compliant UAS employment before, during, and after disasters; and

• Supports an integrated, community centric, risk informed, capabilities-based approach to national preparedness.

This purpose frames the expected outcomes of the grant and guides the program goals, objectives, and performance measures. Since 2003, ASSURE has developed four instructor-led courses and delivered over

165 classes to first responders, emergency managers, and local leaders.

B. Goals and Objectives The ASSURE program aims to achieve efficiency through state and local preparedness. Executive Order

14239, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness” (March 18, 2025), establishes that preparedness is most effectively managed at the State, local, and individual levels, with support from a capable, accessible, and efficient Federal Government. The policy of the United States emphasizes that

State and local governments, as well as individuals, should take a more active and significant role in national resilience and preparedness. This approach helps save American lives, protect livelihoods, reduce taxpayer costs through increased efficiency, and promote collective prosperity. In alignment with this policy, FEMA’s FY 2026 ASSURE program seeks to advance these objectives by partnering with non-federal, state-based training organizations to develop and deliver training to local communities.

The goal of the ASSURE program is to support the National Preparedness Goal of building a secure and resilient nation by developing and sustaining the capabilities required to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the UAS threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk and inculcating a culture of preparedness needed to strengthen the emergency management workforce through the development, update, and sustainment of a robust, comprehensive portfolio of high-quality, evidence-and risk-based, aligned, operationally relevant, mission-critical, and cost-effective FEMA-certified training solutions driven by modern analytics.

The 2026 CTG program will accomplish this goal by employing and enabling world-class training partners and academic institutions to deliver multi-level and multi-modality training using the ADDIE model - an industry standard instructional framework consisting of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation - and incorporating best practices, methodologies, and technologies for instructional design and delivery to ensure and expand SLTT government and other stakeholder training access at scale to close identified gaps across the preparedness cycle, and reduce risks and vulnerabilities for communities across the nation.

To achieve these goals and fulfill the purpose of the program, FEMA and ASSURE training partners will pursue the following objectives as they relate to UAS training over the three-year period of performance:

1. Address national capability gaps and strategic goals across the preparedness cycle and improve resilience through targeted training solutions based on identified current and emerging threats, core capabilities, and documented deficiencies to reduce risks and vulnerabilities in communities nationwide.

2. Use the ADDIE instructional design process to develop, update, and sustain a robust portfolio of high-quality, operationally relevant, cost-effective FEMA-certified training solutions that address relevant capability gaps and threats and strengthen resilience.

3. Enhance training effectiveness and application using innovative approaches, new methodologies, best practices, and technology.

4. Operate as an integrated networked community of training partners to ensure and expand access to, and availability of outstanding multi-level and multi-modality training at scale in a cost-effective manner to strengthen the Emergency Management Workforce and Community Resilience.

5. Strengthen the emergency management workforce by providing safe, effective, standardized, applicable, repeatable tactics, techniques, and procedures.

6. Demonstrate good financial stewardship and maximize training return on investment by focusing on cost-effective training delivery.

Ultimately, these efforts will support the nation’s first responders, emergency managers, and local leaders’ ability to meet current and future needs to plan and prepare for, mitigate against, employ, respond to, recover from, and integrate UAS into disaster operations, resulting in measurable improvements in responder readiness, competency, and mission performance to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, while demonstrating good financial stewardship and maximizing return on investment.

All equipment and services used in the ASSURE program must comply with federal procurement restrictions as required under Section 889 of the FY 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization

Act and Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. § 200) which prohibits the use of grant funds for certain telecommunications and surveillance technologies.

The ASSURE program’s objectives will be implemented over a three-year period from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2029.

FEMA is committed to reducing complexity, increasing efficiency, and improving outcomes. In simple terms, the training return on investment (ROI) is expressed as, and reflects, the benefit-to-cost ratio of achieving and sustaining fully qualified, mission capable UAS capabilities at the individual, team, jurisdictional, and regional levels. In practice, training ROI is difficult to measure. The cost of training varies significantly depending upon several variables including delivery format (e.g., online, indirect/train-the-trainer, mobile, resident/on-campus) and competency level (e.g., awareness, performance/operations, management, and planning). FEMA uses a systematic approach — grounded in performance measurement and portfolio analysis — to optimize the national preparedness training portfolio, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound ROI from the local to the national level.

C. Performance Measures and Targets ASSURE is required to collect data that allows FEMA to measure performance and outcomes. FEMA will measure ASSURE’s performance using the following indicators:

1. To prove that the program supports strategic outcomes and capability gaps through operationally relevant, evidence-based, targeted training solutions aligned with identified current and emerging threats, risks, and hazards, ASSURE members and FEMA will determine the number and percentage of courses that are explicitly mapped to at least one National Preparedness Goal core capability through a completed, approved Unified Training Needs Assessment with a goal of 90% of the active portfolio meeting this standard by the end of FY 2028.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr5515/text https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr5515/text

2. To ensure partners are using the ADDIE instructional design method to produce high-quality, operationally relevant, cost-effective FEMA-certified training solutions that strengthen resilience, ASSURE partners and FEMA will:

a. Measure whether the percentage of developed, updated, and sustained courses that are mapped to at least one core capability and outcome articulated in the National Preparedness

Goal meets or exceeds 95%.

b. Measure whether the percentage of courses that have been reviewed and recertified within their three-year recertification window meets or exceeds 90%.

3. To measure training effectiveness, ASSURE partners and FEMA will:

a. Measure whether at least 70% of learners attain post-test scores that reflect at least a 26-point increase over pre-test scores, indicating that sufficient learning has occurred (Kirkpatrick Level

1-Learning) and compare this percentage to previous years to ensure these gains are maintained over time.

b. Measure whether at least 60% of learners self-report applying knowledge or skills on the job within three months of completing training (Kirkpatrick Level 3-Behavior).

4. To determine how well ASSURE partners are operating as an integrated networked community of training partners to ensure and expand access to and availability of high-quality, effective training at scale, FEMA and ASSURE partners will calculate whether the percentage of respondents indicating training met or exceeded expectations (Kirkpatrick Level 1, Reaction) averages at least 75% and has not decreased since previous years.

5. To evaluate how well training helps strengthen the emergency management workforce by providing safe, effective, standardized, applicable, repeatable tactics, techniques, and procedures. CTG partners and FEMA will determine whether at least 40% of delivered courses provided learners with physical or electronic references and tools that they can retain and use outside of training.

6. To ensure good financial stewardship of government resources, CTG partners and FEMA will determine whether the inflation-adjusted average direct cost per course delivery (Kirkpatrick Level 5, ROI) was maintained or reduced annually without impacting satisfaction or learning levels.

D. Federal Assistance Type The CTG ASSURE program, prescribed by this notice, is awarded through a cooperative agreement, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1. Cooperative agreement, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative

Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-224 (codified as amended at 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with all recipients as they carry out activities under the award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. National Training and Education

Division (NTED) Training Partners program managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award. As FEMA will work directly with the award recipient, training will be compliant with agency standards for curriculum design and development and students taking the training will benefit from standardized, high-quality learning.

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs This program does not allow construction and renovation costs and is subject to all Terms and Conditions where restrictions are provided.

Note: The above may not be exhaustive. Please consult the applicable terms and conditions and with https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-and-cooperative-agreement-act-1977 https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-and-cooperative-agreement-act-1977

FEMA for more information.

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

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

1. Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see

2 C.F.R. § 200.306).

2. Lobbying or other prohibited activities under 18 U.S.C. § 1913 or 2 C.F.R. § 200.450.

3. Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity (see 2 C.F.R. §

200.435).

G. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services FEMA provides additional resources regarding the prohibition on covered telecommunications equipment and services in its policy titled Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered

Telecommunications Equipment or Services (FEMA Policy #405-143-1). This policy outlines specific requirements related to the prohibition. Additionally, FEMA's Contract Provisions Guide offers sample language for the required contract provisions.

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which restrict the purchase of covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services. See 2

C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 for more information.

Prohibition on Covered Foreign Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must also comply with Section 1825 of the American Security Drone Act of 2023, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 (Pub. L. No. 118-31 §§ 1821-33, 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.). This provision mandates that, beginning December 22, 2025, no federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made available may be used to procure a covered unmanned aircraft system

(UAS) that is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. Significantly, no funds may be used in connection with the operation of such a drone or UAS. For more information, refer to Public Law 118-31 and OMB Memorandum M-26-02, Ensuring Government Use of Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems and

Supporting United States Producers.

H. Beneficiary and Participant Eligibility Beneficiary

The direct beneficiary of this grant is Mississippi State University’s Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE). The MSU-ASSURE is the direct recipient of the funding and is responsible for developing and delivering training to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency responders.

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=(title:18%20section:1913%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1913)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_fy24.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/232 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.327 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.471 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/appendix-Appendix%20II%20to%20Part%20200 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/M-26-02-Ensuring-Government-Use-of-Secure-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems-and-Supporting-United-States-Producers.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/M-26-02-Ensuring-Government-Use-of-Secure-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems-and-Supporting-United-States-Producers.pdf

Third-party beneficiaries under this NOFO are the SLTT emergency responders and related personnel who receive the training funded by the grant. These individuals and their respective agencies are not parties to the award or subaward but directly benefit from the training, resources, and enhanced preparedness capabilities provided through the applicant’s activities.

Participant

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary or participant. Please consult the FY26 DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, your awarding agency’s terms and conditions, and your awarding documents for more details.

I. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are allowed for the recipient of this grant.

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

Applicants with a current negotiated IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement, but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal, must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants without a current negotiated IDC rate agreement

(including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards.

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

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

L. Management and Administration Costs M&A costs are allowed at no greater than 5% of award.

M&A are not overhead costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it. This could include travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports.

M. Authorizing Authority Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L. No. 119-86 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414

N. Appropriation Authority Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L. No. 119-86

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 14

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

Submission Requirements and Application

Deadlines A. Registration

You must have an active SAM.gov account which includes having a UEI. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number or to register, go to SAM.gov Entity

Registration and click “Get Started.” From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration

Checklist for the information you will need to register.

You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by step instructions see the

Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

B. Requesting the Application Package The application package is accessible in the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

C. Application and Submission Instructions To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

1. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and EIN from the Internal Revenue Service;

2. Provide their UEI number in the application;

3. Have an account with login.gov;

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

5. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact

(eBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see the FEMA GO Startup Guide;

6. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

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

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

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://grants.gov/help/get-started/ https://go.fema.gov/ https://login.gov/ https://sam.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd_startup_guide_051325.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-25/section-25.110#p-25.110(a)(2)(iv) mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

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

D. How to Register to Apply General Instructions

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

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

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

Obtain a UEI Number

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

Obtain Employer Identification Number

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

Create a login.gov account

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

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

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

Register with SAM.gov

In addition to having a UEI number, all organizations must register with SAM.gov. Failure to register with

SAM.gov will prevent your organization from applying through FEMA GO. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually and must remain active throughout the entire grant life cycle.

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

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

Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR

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

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

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

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

• Google Chrome;

• Mozilla Firefox;

• Apple Safari; and

• Microsoft Edge.

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

E. Submitting the Final Application Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information, and any program-specific information required in FEMA GO.

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

F. Application Deadline July 31, 2026, 12:00 a.m. ET.

G. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline

H. Post Application Requirements Deadline

I. Effects of Missing Deadlines 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 AOR will receive an email with an 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. ET 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.

Step 3: Write Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 18

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

Application Contents and Format A. Application Requirements

The following forms or information are integrated into the application package in FEMA GO. Applicants should review these forms at SF-424 Family | Grants.gov before applying to ensure they are providing all required information.

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

2. Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

3. SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• If construction is permitted under the program, submit SF-424C, Budget Information

(Construction), instead of SF-424A

4. SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• If construction is permitted under the program, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances

(Construction), instead of SF-424B

5. SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

B. Required Documents, Content, and Formatting No limitations for number of pages, font size and typeface, margins, paper size, number of copies.

Sequence and assembly requirements described in Appendix I.

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

1. Project Narrative - Executive Summary and other sections described in Appendix I (submit as a separate attachment labeled as Project Narrative)

2. Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative – Budget information described in Appendix I (submit as a separate attachment labeled as Budget Narrative)

3. Active Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (submit as a separate attachment described as Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement)

D. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

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

Step 4: Learn about the Award Review

Process

Application Review Information 20

Intergovernmental Review 21

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

Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria

B. Application Criteria This notice provides funding for ASSURE to develop, deliver, and evaluate mission critical and mission essential training for SLTT partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, community-centric, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.

The applicant must submit all (100%) required application forms and program specific documents as described above.

C. Financial Integrity Criteria Before making an award, the awarding agency is required to review OMB-designated databases for applicants’ eligibility and financial integrity information. This is required by the Payment Integrity

Information Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-117, § 2 (2020), 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and the “Do Not Pay Initiative” (31

U.S.C. 3354). For more details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

Thus, the Financial Integrity Criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

1. Financial stability.

2. Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

3. History of performance in managing federal award.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

5. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Risk Review Before making an award expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, defined at 41 U.S.C. §

134, over the period of performance:

1. The awarding agency is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 to review or consider certain information found in SAM.gov. For details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2).

2. An applicant may review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

3. Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.206, the awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant.

E. Merit Review Process https://www.congress.gov/116/statute/STATUTE-134/STATUTE-134-Pg113.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-section3354&f=treesort&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjMxIHNlY3Rpb246MzM1MSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSkgT1IgKGdyYW51bGVpZDpVU0MtcHJlbGltLXRpdGxlMzEtc2VjdGlvbjMzNTEp%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-section3354&f=treesort&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjMxIHNlY3Rpb246MzM1MSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSkgT1IgKGdyYW51bGVpZDpVU0MtcHJlbGltLXRpdGxlMzEtc2VjdGlvbjMzNTEp%7CdHJlZXNvcnQ%3D%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://sam.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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

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. No further action is needed if you do not find a contact for your state in the latest version of the SPOC list.

Note: This requirement does not apply to tribal governments.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=43cc1c138155325b42a3a955d345e1e7860474a2770290d46abb1fd8ae77d8f4JmltdHM9MTc1OTE5MDQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=294b42f1-0982-65d0-0900-572608a06432&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub2pwLmdvdi9JbnRlcmdvdmVybm1lbnRhbFJldmlld1NQT0NMaXN0LnBkZg&ntb=1

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

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award

Award Notices 23

Post-award requirements and administration 23

Other 32

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

Award Notices A. Notice of Award

The AOR should carefully read the federal award package before accepting the federal award. The federal award package includes instructions on administering the federal award as well as terms and conditions for the award.

By applying, applicants agree to comply with the prerequisites stated in this NOFO and the material terms and conditions of the federal award, should they receive an award.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically in FEMA GO. Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and Obligating Document. An award package notification email is sent by the grant application system to the submitting AOR.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 30 days from the award date. Recipients shall notify

FEMA of their intent to accept the award and proceed with work in the FEMA GO system.

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award in FEMA GO and all other conditions of the award have been satisfied, or until the award is otherwise rescinded. Failure to accept a grant award within the specified timeframe may result in a loss of funds.

B. Pass-Through Requirements

C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs Even if pre-award costs are allowed, beginning performance prior to award is at the applicant or sub-applicant’s own risk.

D. Obligation of Funds The grant funds are obligated in accordance with applicable laws, and no later than upon award.

E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants

Post-Award Requirements and Administration A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Presidential Executive Orders

Recipients must comply with the requirements of Presidential Executive Orders related to grants (also known as federal assistance and financial assistance), the full text of which are incorporated by reference.

Pursuant to the preliminary injunction order issued on November 21, 2025, in County of Santa Clara et al.

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

v. Noem, et al., No. 25-cv-08330-WHO (N.D. Cal.), this requirement does not apply to awards or subawards issued to any of the plaintiffs subject to the preliminary injunction order while the order remains in effect.

If the preliminary injunction is extended to cover additional plaintiffs, this provision will also not apply to any awards or subawards issued to those plaintiffs. If the preliminary injunction is stayed, vacated, or extinguished, this requirement will immediately become effective. Also, pursuant to the preliminary injunction order issued on November 21, 2025, in City of Chicago et al. v. Noem, et al., No. 25-CV-12765

(N.D. Ill.), this requirement does not apply to awards or subawards issued to any of the plaintiffs subject to the preliminary injunction order while the order remains in effect. If the preliminary injunction is extended to cover additional plaintiffs, this provision will also not apply to any awards or subawards issued to those plaintiffs. If the preliminary injunction is stayed, vacated, or extinguished, this requirement will immediately become effective.

In accordance with Executive Order 14305, Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty (June 6, 2025), and to the extent allowed by law, eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial grant recipients under this NOFO are permitted to purchase unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones, or equipment or services for the detection, tracking, or identification of drones and drone signals, consistent with the legal authorities of state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies. Recipients must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and adhere to any statutory requirements on the use of federal funds for such unmanned aircraft systems, equipment, or services.

Subrecipient Monitoring and Management

Pass-through entities must comply with the requirements for subrecipient monitoring and management as set forth in 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.331-333.

Termination of a Federal Award

1. The termination condition below applies to the grant award and the “Termination of a Federal

Award” term and condition in the FY 2026 DHS Standard Terms and Conditions does not.

2. Termination of the federal award by FEMA

FEMA, in its sole discretion, may terminate the federal award in whole or in part for one of the following reasons consistent with 2 C.F.R. § 200.340:

1. If the recipient or subrecipient fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the federal award.

2. With the consent of the recipient, in which case FEMA and the recipient must agree upon the termination conditions. These conditions include the effective date and, in the case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated.

3. If the federal award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities. Under this provision, FEMA may terminate the award for these purposes if any of the following reasons apply:

i. FEMA determines that a specific award objective is ineffective at achieving program goals as described in this NOFO;

ii. FEMA determines that an objective of the award as described in this NOFO will be ineffective at achieving program goals or agency priorities;

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/2025-10803/restoring-american-airspace-sovereignty https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.340

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

iii. FEMA determines that the design of the grant program is flawed relative to program goals or agency priorities;

iv. FEMA determines that the grant program is not aligned to either the DHS Strategic

Plan, the FEMA Strategic Plan, or successor policies or documents;

v. FEMA changes or re-evaluates the goals or priorities of the grant program and determines that the award will be ineffective at achieving the updated program goals or agency priorities; or

vi. For other reasons based on program goals or agency priorities described in the termination notice provided to the recipient pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.341.

4. For convenience, including if the award no longer advances the national interest.

Termination for convenience only applies to discretionary awards, as that term is defined at 2

C.F.R. § 200.1. The term “discretionary award” does not include grants where legislation establishes an entitlement to the funds on the part of the recipient, such as block grants or those awarded based on a statutory formula.

3. Termination of a Subaward by the Pass-Through Entity

a. The pass-through entity may terminate a subaward in whole or in part for one of the following reasons identified in 2 C.F.R. § 200.340:

i. If the subrecipient fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the federal award.

ii. With the consent of the subrecipient, in which case the pass-through entity and the subrecipient must agree upon the termination conditions. These conditions include the effective date and, in the case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated.

b. If the pass-through entity’s award has been terminated the pass-through entity must terminate its subawards.

4. Termination by the Recipient or Subrecipient

The recipient or subrecipient may terminate the federal award in whole or in part as identified in 2

C.F.R. § 200.340 upon sending FEMA or pass-through entity a written notification of the reasons for such termination, the effective date, and, in the case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated. However, if FEMA or pass-through entity determines that the remaining portion of the federal award will not accomplish the purposes for which the federal award was made, FEMA or pass-through entity may terminate the federal award in its entirety.

5. Impacts of Termination

a. When FEMA terminates the federal award in whole or in part before the end of the period of performance due to the recipient’s or subrecipient’s material failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the federal award, FEMA will report the termination in SAM.gov in the manner described at 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(c).

b. When the federal award is terminated in part or its entirety, FEMA or pass-through entity and recipient or subrecipient remain responsible for compliance with the requirements in 2 C.F.R.

§§ 200.344 and 200.345.

6. Notification requirements

FEMA or the pass-through entity must provide written notice of the termination in a manner consistent with 2 C.F.R. § 200.341. The federal award will be terminated on the date of the notification unless stated otherwise in the notification.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-2…