FY26 TSGP NOFO_Final_508.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due: July 24, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Transit Security Grant Program Assistance Listing Number: 97.075 Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-GPD-075-00-99

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 7

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 19

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 20

Step 3: Write Your Application 23

Application Contents and Format 24

Step 4: Learn About the Award Review Process 29

Application Review Information 30

Intergovernmental Review 32

Step 5: Learn What Happens After Award 33

Award Notices 34

Post-Award Requirements and Administration 34

Other Information 43

Contacts and Appendices 51

Contacts 52

Appendices 54

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 (800) 323-8603 and TTY (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/

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 4

Eligibility 4

Program description 7

Jump to a step

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

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

Basic Information A. Award Facts

Agency Name:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience, Grant Programs Directorate, Preparedness Grants Division, Transportation Infrastructure Security Branch

Assistance Listing Number: 97.075

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title:

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)

Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-26-GPD-075-00-99

Announcement Type: Initial

Expected Award Range: $431,327 - $33,898,500

Expected Total Funding: $88.35 million

Anticipated Number of Awards: 25

B. Executive Summary The FY 2026 TSGP provides funds to public transit agencies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.

Eligibility A. Eligible Entities

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

Applicant Eligibility Eligible applicants are limited to the passenger rail, intra-city bus, and ferry systems identified in Appendix

1. Eligibility does not guarantee grant funding. See Appendix 1: FY 2026 TSGP Allocations for additional information.

Only eligible applicants identified in Appendix 1 may apply for TSGP funding. Applicants will apply for the funding amount specified in Appendix 1. Funding designated for eligible applicants who fail to apply will be distributed among those applicants who apply by the application deadline. Funding may only be used for eligible projects outlined in this NOFO.

Key Dates

Projected Application Start Date: June 24, 2026

Projected Application End Date: July 24, 2026

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: September 03, 2026

Anticipated Award Date:

September 30, 2026

Projected Period of Performance Start Date:

September 01, 2026

Projected Period of Performance End Date:

August 31, 2029

Budget Period:

September 01, 2026 – August 31,

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

Agencies eligible for the FY 2026 TSGP are determined based upon daily unlinked passenger trips (ridership) and transit systems that serve historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) urban areas as indicated below.

Certain ferry systems are also eligible to participate in the FY 2026 TSGP and receive funds under this program. However, any ferry system electing to participate (e.g., submit an application) under the FY 2026 TSGP will not be eligible to participate (e.g., submit an application) under the FY 2026 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and therefore will not be considered for funding under the FY 2026 PSGP. Likewise, any ferry system that participates in the FY 2026 PSGP will not be eligible for funding under the TSGP.

Sections 1405 (6 U.S.C. § 1134) and 1406 (6 U.S.C. § 1135) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 require that high risk public transportation agencies that receive grant funding develop a security plan based on a security assessment.

Additionally, the statutes direct that grant funds be used to address items in the security assessment or the security plan. To be eligible for the FY 2026 TSGP, transit agencies must have developed or updated their security plan. The security plan must be based on a security assessment, such as the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE), which is performed by the Transportation Security Surface Inspectors of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This security assessment must have been conducted within the three years before receiving a FY 2026 TSGP award. A copy of the security plan and security assessment must be provided to DHS/FEMA upon request. Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on security plan requirements.

Entities providing transit security (e.g., city/county police departments, public transportation agencies’ police departments) for a public transportation agency must approve the security plan. The signature of a responsible official from the agency’s transit security provider serves as this approval. If there is more than one provider in the core service area, all transit security providers must review and concur with the plan.

Associated documentation of this approval must be provided to DHS/FEMA upon request. In addition, agencies’ transit security providers are encouraged to review the Investment Justifications (IJs) before submitting.

Each public transportation agency receiving funds through this program must also participate in a Regional Transit Security Working Group (RTSWG) or develop such a group if one does not already exist.

The RTSWG should serve as the forum for regional partners to discuss risk, planning efforts, and mitigation strategies. These discussions should be held regardless of funding to continue enhancing the overall security of the region. Regional working groups are a best practice for enhancing security and are encouraged for all jurisdictions.

Subapplicant Eligibility Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed.

B. Project Type Eligibility Allowable Project Types https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/manual

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

Under this program, specific investments made in support of the NOFO funding priorities must generally fall into one of the following allowable cost categories:

• Planning;

• Operational Activities;

• Equipment and Capital Projects;

• Training and Awareness Campaigns; and

• Exercises.

Please see Appendix 2: Allowable Costs for more information on allowable costs.

Applicants who have questions about whether a cost is allowable under this program should contact their Preparedness Officer.

Unallowable Project Types

• Personnel costs (except as detailed in Appendix 2);

• Activities unrelated to the completion and implementation of the TSGP; and

• Other items not in accordance with the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) or not previously listed as allowable costs.

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

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

D. Maximum Number of Applications The maximum number of applications that can be submitted is one per eligible Transit Agency

E. Additional Restrictions National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation. Before allocating any federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency- managers/nims/implementation-training.

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

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

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

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. Additionally, any voluntary cost share or match will not impact an application’s potential for funding.

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

The TSGP is one of four grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA’s focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.

The TSGP provides funds to public transit agencies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. Examples of recent TSGP accomplishments include agencies increasing their mass notification and critical incident management system, thereby enabling more quick and effective emergency alerts and sharing of critical information via multiple channels (e.g., text message, email, voice, desktop, social media, etc.). Other examples of TSGP accomplishments include organizations providing surge support (law enforcement personnel) for special events (e.g., Super Bowl, concerts, etc.), as well as tunnel hardening.

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

DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration in building a national mindset of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism” prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks. However, the threat profile has changed in the past two decades.

We now face continuous cyberattacks by sophisticated actors, as well as ongoing threats to soft targets and crowded places, such as public transportation. The TSGP reflects DHS’s commitment to risk-informed investment, collaboration, and resilience. To ensure that priorities reflect the current threat environment, FEMA’s Preparedness Grant Programs are guided by annually designated National Priority Areas (NPAs).

The FY 2026 NPAs are:

1. Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places. (This includes faith-based organizations and election sites);

2. Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers;

3. Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency;

4. Enhancing election security; and

5. Border Crisis Response and Enforcement Support.

For FY 2026, the Administration encourages applicants to propose innovative solutions that support the broader homeland security mission reflected in the NPAs, as applicable.

B. Goals and Objectives Goals: Protecting critical transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and increasing the resilience of the transportation infrastructure itself.

Objectives: TSGP achieves this through the following objectives:

1. Building and sustaining core capabilities (identified in the National Preparedness Goal (NPG)) relevant to transit security and annual NPAs (see priorities below);

2. Addressing and closing gaps identified in transit agency vulnerability assessments and the agency’s Public Transportation Risk Assessment Methodology (PT-RAM); and

3. Continuously engaging in a process of emergency related planning, exercising, and training, and using this cycle to test plans, validate capabilities, identify gaps, inform investments, and continuously update plans to reflect organizational changes, as well as findings from exercises and real-world events.

Priorities: Given the evolving threat landscape, DHS/FEMA continuously evaluate the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. The FY 2026 NPAs reflect FEMA’s broader mission across all preparedness efforts. Applicants should be familiar with these NPAs, as they represent DHS’s current focus areas and may shape future guidance:

1. Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places,

(a) This includes faith-based organizations and election sites;

2. Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers;

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

3. Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency;

4. Enhancing election security; and

5. Border Crisis Response and Enforcement Support.

(a) Example activities under border crisis response and enforcement support may include:

i. Participation in the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs

Enforcement 287(g) training program;

ii. Cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers; and

iii. Other jurisdictional responsibilities to support the enforcement of United States immigration law.

Enduring needs include:

• Effective planning;

• Training and awareness campaigns;

• Equipment and capital projects; and

• Exercises.

The section below provides a breakdown of the NPAs, and core capabilities impacted, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. More information on allowable investments can be found in the Funding Restrictions located in the Preparedness Grants Manual as well as Allowable Costs section.

FY 2026 TSGP Funding Priorities

All priorities listed below concern the Safety and Security and Transportation Lifelines.

Priority Area

Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets and Crowded Places

Core Capabilities

• Operational coordination

• Public information and warning

• Intelligence and Information Sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

Example Project Types

• Physical security enhancements at rail and bus stations located in Urban Area Security Initiative urban areas

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts o Security cameras (closed circuit television) o Security screening equipment and technology for people and baggage o Access controls: Fencing, gates, barriers, etc.

• Use of visible, unpredictable deterrence, to include Operational Packages o Explosive detection canine teams o Mobile Screening Teams o Anti-terrorism Teams

• Directed/Surge Patrols on Overtime.

Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and Fusion Centers (HSTFs)

• Intelligence and information sharing

• Interdiction and disruption

• Public information and warning

• Establishing or enhancing multi-agency HSTFs, including operational coordination centers

• Enhancing capabilities and integration with local fusion centers

• Procurement of technology or equipment to support surveillance, communications, and data analysis

• Development of standard operating procedures for information sharing, joint operations, and immigration enforcement coordination

• Personnel training, credentialing, and certification to improve interoperability and mission alignment

• Intelligence analysis, reporting, and suspicious activity monitoring

• Exercises and simulations focused on joint operations, intelligence sharing, or interdiction/disruption of criminal or smuggling networks

• Community engagement efforts to foster trust and encourage threat reporting

• Information sharing with all DHS components; fusion centers; other operational, investigative, and analytic entities; and other federal law enforcement and intelligence entities

• Cooperation with DHS and other entities in intelligence, threat recognition, assessment, analysis, and mitigation

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

• Identification, assessment, and reporting of threats of violence

• Intelligence analysis training, planning, and exercises

• Coordinating the intake, triage, analysis, and reporting of tips/ leads and suspicious activity, to include coordination with the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI)

Enhancing Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity

• Planning

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Risk management for protection programs and activities

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Cybersecurity risk assessments

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments o Improving cybersecurity to meet minimum levels identified by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (Version 1.1) or equivalent o Adoption of cybersecurity performance goals (CISA's Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals)

• Cybersecurity training and planning

Priority Area

Enhancing Election Security https://www.dhs.gov/nationwide-sar-initiative-nsi

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

• Cybersecurity

• Planning

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Situational assessment

• Infrastructure systems

• Community resilience

• Prioritize compliance with the VVSG 2.0 established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

• Complete testing through a VSTL accredited by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

• Physical security planning and exercise support

• Physical/site security measures – e.g., locks, shatter proof glass, alarms, access controls, etc.

• General election security navigator support

• Cyber and general election security navigator support

• Cybersecurity risk assessments, training, and planning

• Projects that address vulnerabilities identified in cybersecurity risk assessments

• Iterative backups, encrypted backups, network segmentation, software to monitor/scan, and endpoint protection

• Distributed Denial of Service protection

• Migrating online services to the “.gov” internet domain

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns discussing election security and integrity measures

• Long-term vulnerability reduction and community resilience

Priority Area

Supporting Border Crisis Response and Enforcement

• Training and awareness

• Operational coordination

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

• Staffing support to expand 287(g) screening operations within correctional facilities

• Operational overtime costs directly tied to 287(g) screening, processing, and enforcement activities

• Training programs for state and local law enforcement officers in immigration law, civil rights and civil liberties protections, and 287(g) procedures

• Developing or enhancing information- sharing platforms between ICE and local agencies

• Procuring screening, detection, and communications technology to support immigration enforcement activities

• Establishing secure and dedicated communication networks with ICE Field Offices

• Conducting joint training exercises with ICE and local law enforcement to test operational coordination

• Supporting facilities upgrades, such as creating dedicated interview rooms and secure processing spaces

• Community engagement and public briefings to promote transparency and understanding of

287(g) operations and protections

Enduring Needs

Planning

• Planning

• Risk and disaster resilience assessment

• Threats and hazards identification

• Development of:

o System-wide Security Risk Management Plans o Continuity of Operations Plans o Response Plans o System-wide and/or asset-specific vulnerability assessments o Efforts to strengthen governance integration between/among regional partners

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

Training and Awareness

• Long-term vulnerability reduction

• Public information and warning

• Operational coordination

• Situational assessment

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

• Security training for employees, to include Basic security awareness

• Public awareness/preparedness campaigns

Equipment and Capital Projects

• Infrastructure systems

• Operational communications

• Interdiction and disruption

• Screening, search, and detection

• Access control and identity verification

• Physical protective measures

• Supply chain integrity and security

• Threats and hazards identification

• Infrastructure systems

• Top Transit Asset List risk remediation

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

• Protection of other high-risk, high-consequence areas or systems that have been identified through system-wide risk assessments

• Sharing and leveraging intelligence and information

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

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems and detection technologies

Priority Area

Exercises

• Operational communications

• Response exercises

C. Performance Measures and Targets Performance metrics for this program are as follows ((Targets vary on a case by case basis):)

1. Performance Measure Name 1: Cybersecurity vulnerabilities reduced at TSGP funded Transit Agencies (Target: 100 Cybersecurity vulnerability reduced);

2. Performance Measure Name 2: Number of Dedicated Surge Force Hours (Target: 10,000 Dedicated Force Hours);

3. Performance Measure Name 3: Number of Security Exercises conducted (Target: 10 Security Exercises conducted);

4. Performance Measure Name 4: Number of Security Personnel trained (Target: 1000 Security Personnel trained);

5. Performance Measure Name 5: Number of Physical Security Hardening improvements completed (Target: 25 Physical Security Hardening improvements).

D. Federal Assistance Type Grant

E. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs Specific unallowable costs for the TSGP include:

• Personnel costs (except as detailed in Appendix 2);

• Activities unrelated to the completion and implementation of the TSGP; and

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

• Other items not in accordance with the AEL or not previously listed as allowable costs.

Note: The above may not be exhaustive. Please consult the applicable terms and conditions and with 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 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

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

There are no program requirements.

Participant There are no program requirements.

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary or participant. Please consult the 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 recipients of the TSGP.

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.

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on establishing indirect cost rates.

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 allowable.

L. Management and Administration Costs Management and administration (M&A) costs are allowed. Recipients may use up to 5% of the amount of the award for their M&A, and subrecipients may use up to 5% of the amount they receive for M&A. M&A activities are defined as directly relating to the management and administration of TSGP funds, such as financial management and monitoring. M&A expenses must be based on actual expenses or known contractual costs. Requests that are simple percentages of the award, without supporting justification, will not be allowed, or considered for reimbursement. M&A costs are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it. Examples 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414

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

Other M&A cost examples include preparing and submitting required programmatic and financial reports, establishing and/or maintaining equipment inventory, documenting operational and equipment expenditures for financial accounting purposes, responding to official informational requests from state and federal oversight authorities, and grant performance measurement or evaluation activities. If an applicant uses an outside consultant or contractor to provide pre-award grant writing services or post-award grant management services, additional considerations and restrictions shall apply as detailed below.

Additionally, funds may be used in the hiring of full-time or part-time staff, including contractors and consultants, to execute the following:

• Management of the current fiscal year award;

• Design and implementation of the current fiscal year submission meeting compliance with reporting/data collection requirements, including data calls;

• Information collection and processing necessary to respond to FEMA data calls;

• Travel expenses (domestic travel only) related to grant administration, in compliance with 2

C.F.R. Part 200; and

• Acquisition of authorized office equipment, including personal computers or laptops for M&A purposes

M. Authorizing Authority Section 1406 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Pub. L. No. 110- 53 (6 U.S.C. § 1135).

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Submission Requirements and Application Deadlines 20

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 24, 2026, 11:59 p.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

Application contents and format 24

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 See subsection C, “Program-Specific Required Documents and Information.”

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

• Investment Justifications;

• Detailed budget(s);

• Five-Year Security Capital and Operational Sustainment Plan, if applying for Operational Packages

(OPacks);

• Public Transit Risk Assessment completed within the past three years or implement one in conjunction with their FY 2026 TSGP award; and

Investment Justification As part of the FY 2026 TSGP application process, applicants must develop a formal IJ that addresses each initiative being proposed for funding, including a project’s M&A costs. An agency may submit up to eight IJs.

Agencies may also submit up to five additional IJs for projects related to law enforcement providers that are not part of the public transportation agency. Law enforcement providers may only submit projects that support a transit system’s operational security capability and capacity. IJs must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps and deficiencies (identified in a current vulnerability assessment) and must link to one or more core capabilities identified in the NPG. Please see grants.gov for the IJ template.

Applicants may attach the vulnerability assessment or cite relevant sections/passages within an IJ to demonstrate the linkage between the project request and the identified vulnerability. IJs should also describe an agency’s current security posture to demonstrate why the proposed project is necessary and appropriate. IJs must demonstrate the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by DHS/FEMA. Applicants shall submit a separate IJ for each proposed https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Write 4. Learn 5. Award Contacts project. TSGP projects must be both 1) feasible and effective at reducing the risks for which the project was designed; and 2) able to be fully completed within the period of performance. Applicants must ensure that IJs are consistent with all requirements outlined in this funding notice. Applicants must provide information in the following categories for each proposed investment:

1. Background;

2. Strategic and Program Priorities;

3. Impact; and

4. Funding/Implementation Plan.

Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting the IJs as part of the FY 2026 TSGP: Region_Agency Name_IJ Number (Example: Chicago_CTA_IJ 1)

Detailed Budget Applicants must provide a detailed budget for the funds requested. The detailed budget must be submitted with the grant application as a file attachment within FEMA GO. The budget must be complete, reasonable, and cost-effective in relation to the proposed project. The budget should provide the basis of computation of all project-related costs, any appropriate narrative, and a detailed justification of M&A costs. A recipient may not obligate, expend, or draw down funds until a budget and budget narrative have been approved by DHS/FEMA. The budget detail worksheet may be used as a guide to assist applicants in the preparation of the budget and budget narrative. Note: Design and Planning/Engineering costs must be clearly identified in a separate line item in order for partial funding to be released prior to Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) review and approval. Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on the EHP review process.

Detailed budgets must be submitted with the grant application as a file attachment within FEMA GO.

Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting detailed budgets as part of the TSGP: Applicants must use the following file naming convention when submitting detailed budgets as part of the TSGP: Region_Agency Name_IJ Number_Budget (Example: Chicago_CTA_IJ _1_Budget)

Operational Packages (OPacks) Applicants that meet basic OPack eligibility requirements may elect to pursue OPack funding for Canine Teams, Mobile Explosives Detection Screening Teams, and Anti-Terrorism Teams, for new capabilities as well as to sustain existing OPacks. Applicants pursuing both new OPacks and sustainment funding for existing OPacks must indicate in their IJs which option is the higher priority for their agency. Additionally, applicants pursuing either new teams or sustainment of existing teams must include the number of OPack teams already in place (either funded by the agency or by TSGP). In addition, recipients must commit to minimum training standards for all federally funded OPack positions. For an application for an OPack to be considered eligible, it must include a Five-Year Security Capital and Operational Sustainment Plan.

Please see www.grants.gov for the required template. Please refer to the Operational Activities section below for more information.

Public Transit Risk Assessment Methodology (PT-RAM) FEMA has spent the past several years working with TSA to develop and test a process for identifying risk and prioritizing investments unique to the suite of surface transportation security programs. This process was implemented as a requirement for all TSGP recipients beginning in FY 2024. Recipients of FY 2026

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

TSGP funding will also be required to provide a Public Transit Risk Assessment completed within the past three years or implement one in conjunction with their FY 2026 TSGP award. Many potential recipients of FY 2026 TSGP funding have already completed the process and are considered compliant. For those that have not yet completed the process, technical assistance is available to assist with compliance during the period of performance of the FY 2026 TSGP award. Please contact your FEMA headquarters Preparedness Officer following acceptance of your award to discuss.

Sensitive Security Information (SSI) Requirements A portion of the information that is routinely submitted in the course of applying for funding or reporting under certain programs or that is provided in the course of an entity’s grant management activities under those programs that are under federal control may be subject to protection under an SSI marking and must be properly identified and marked accordingly. SSI is a control designation used by DHS/FEMA to protect transportation security-related information. It is applied to information about security programs, vulnerability and threat assessments, screening processes, technical specifications of certain screening equipment and objects used to test screening equipment, and equipment used for communicating security information relating to air, land, or maritime transportation. Further information can be found at 49 C.F.R. Part 1520, Protection of Sensitive Security Information.

For the purposes of the TSGP, and due to the high-frequency of SSI found in TSGP-related IJs, all TSGP IJs shall be considered SSI and treated as such until they have been subject to review for SSI by DHS/FEMA.

Therefore, applicants shall label all application documents as SSI in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 1520.13.

The FY 2026 TSGP aligns with the Administration’s priorities by directing resources toward the most urgent threats facing the Nation. TSGP supports the development and sustainment of core capabilities essential to achieving the NPG: “A secure and resilient Nation.”

To ensure strategic focus, DHS has identified five NPAs that reflect the evolving risk landscape and national policy objectives.