oppDHS-18-GPD-067-00-02-cfda97.067-instructions.pdf

FY 2018 THSGP NOFO

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2018 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained a

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and/or are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), please take immediate action to obtain a DUNS

Number, if applicable, and then to register immediately in SAM. It may take 4 weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize your information. Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and

SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO, subsection, Content and Form of Application

Submission.

A. Program Description

Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA), Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

97.067

CFDA Title

Homeland Security Grant Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title

Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program

NOFO Number

DHS-18-GPD-067-00-02

Authorizing Authority for Program

Section 2005 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-296, as amended) (6 U.S.C.

§ 606)

Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-141)

Program Type

New

Program Overview, Objectives and Priorities

Overview http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

The FY 2018 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is set against the backdrop of a year in which the United States faced numerous and unprecedented homeland security challenges. These included the three major hurricanes that devastated parts of Texas, Florida, and much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as massive wildfires across the State of California. In addition to these natural disasters, the Nation also responded to multiple incidents as part of the evolving threat landscape, including witnessing the first known terrorist attack executed against mass transportation on our soil; cyberattacks against critical port infrastructure; and mass casualty events involving both vehicles and active shooters.

The National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) defines what it means to be prepared for such diverse and complicated events. The National Preparedness System is the instrument the

Nation employs to build, sustain, and deliver the core capabilities needed to achieve the goal of a more secure and resilient Nation. The development and sustainment of these core capabilities is not exclusive to any single level of government or organization, but rather requires the combined effort of the whole community. To that end, the FY 2018 THSGP represents one part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, the THSGP supports the goal to

Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.

The recently released 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for the field of emergency management and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country. The Tribal Homeland

Security Grant Program supports the goal of Readying the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters.

We invite all of our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a stronger Agency and a more prepared and resilient Nation.

Objectives

THSGP provides funding directly to eligible tribes to support the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities to enable Tribes to strengthen their capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potential terrorist attacks.

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

Percentage of funding building new capabilities

Percentage of funding sustaining existing capabilities

Priorities

DHS/FEMA publishes the annual National Preparedness Report to communicate progress in building, sustaining, and delivering the core capabilities outlined in the Goal. This analysis provides a National perspective on critical preparedness trends for whole community partners to use to inform program priorities, allocate resources, and communicate with stakeholders about issues of shared concern. The National Preparedness Report can be found at http://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-report. The 2017 NPR identified the following subset of core capabilities as national areas for improvement:

Cybersecurity;

https://www.fema.gov/strategic-plan http://www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-report

Infrastructure Systems;

Economic Recovery;

Housing;

Supply Chain Integrity and Security;

Natural and Cultural Resources; and

Risk Management for Protection Programs and Activities.

In developing applications for the FY 2018 THSGP, recipients should consider funding projects that address core capability gaps within the NPR national areas for improvement to the extent that they relate to terrorism preparedness.

DHS/FEMA requires recipients to complete a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk

Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) and prioritize grant funding to support closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities identified in this process.

For additional information on program priorities and objectives for the FY 2018 THSGP, refer to, Appendix A – FY 2018 THSGP Program Priorities

B. Federal Award Information

Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions

Available Funding for the THSGP: $10,000,000

Period of Performance: Thirty-six (36) months

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, refer to Section H of this NOFO, Additional Information - Extensions.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): September 1, 2018

Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): August 31, 2021

Funding Instrument: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

Directly eligible Tribes

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible to receive THSGP funding, recipients must be directly eligible Tribes.

Directly eligible Tribes are Federally recognized Tribes that meet the criteria set forth in Section

2001 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 601).

Federally recognized Tribes are those Tribes appearing on the list published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-

454) (25 U.S.C. § 479a-1).

Per 6 U.S.C. § 601(4), a “directly eligible Tribe” is any Federally recognized Indian Tribe that meets the following criteria:

(A) Any Indian Tribe -

(i) that is located in the continental United States;

(ii) that operates a law enforcement or emergency response agency with the capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or emergency services;

(iii)

a. that is located on or near (50 miles) an international border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters;

b. that is located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure list established under section

210E(a)(2) [of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended] or has such a system or asset within its territory;

c. that is located within or contiguous to one of the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States; or

d. the jurisdiction of which includes not less than 1,000 square miles of

Indian country, as that term is defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code; and

(iv) that certifies to the Secretary [of Homeland Security] that a State has not provided funds under section 2003 [UASI] or 2004 [SHSP] of [the Homeland

Security Act of 2002, as amended] to the Indian Tribe or consortium of Indian

Tribes for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and

(B) A consortium of Indian Tribes, if each Tribe satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A).

In summary, directly eligible Tribes must meet the requirements set forth in (A)(i), (A)(ii), and

(A)(iv). Tribes must also meet one of the requirements set forth in (A)(iii): either (A)(iii)(a), (A)(iii)(b), (A)(iii)(c), or (A)(iii)(d). Finally, under subparagraph (B), a consortium may also be eligible to be a recipient if each Indian Tribe in the consortium meets the criteria for a directly eligible Tribe under subparagraph (A).

In FY 2018, applicants must self-certify as to whether they meet the eligibility requirements.

Self-certification will be provided on the THSGP Eligibility Certification Form as part of the application Investment Justification (IJ). Additionally, DHS/FEMA will verify grant recipient eligibility against this criteria. Any questions regarding an applicant’s proximity to a Critical

Infrastructure (CI) site, as described in the eligibility criteria, may be directed to the State

Administrative Agency (SAA) for the state with which the Tribal Nation shares a border. The

State Administrative Contacts List can be found at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28689?id=6363.

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28689?id=6363 http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28689?id=6363

Other Eligibility Criteria

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any Federal preparedness awards in FY 2018, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. FEMA describes the specific activities involved in NIMS implementation in the Implementation Objectives

(https://www.fema.gov/implementation-guidance-and-reporting).

Emergency incident management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources (personnel, teams, facilities, equipment and/or supplies) to meet incident needs.

Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, credentialing, and inventorying promote a strong national mutual aid capability needed to support delivery of core capabilities. Recipients should manage resources purchased or supported with FEMA grant funding according to NIMS resource management guidance. Additional information on resource management and NIMS resource typing definitions and job titles/position qualifications is available under http://www.fema.gov/resource-management-mutual-aid.

FEMA developed the NIMS Guideline for Credentialing of Personnel to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards.

This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes, and identifies tools which Federal

Emergency Response Officials (FEROs) and emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state, local, tribal, territorial and private sector partners—including nongovernmental organizations—are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so in order to leverage Federal investment in the Federal

Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction. Additional information is available from the http://www.fema.gov/nims-doctrine-supporting-guides-tools.

Cost Share or Match

Cost share or cost match is not required under this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

Key Dates and Times

Date Posted to Grants.gov: May 21, 2018

Application Submission Deadline: June 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline. The Non-Disaster (ND)

Grants System has a date stamp that indicates when an application is submitted. Applicants will receive an electronic message confirming receipt of the full application. DHS/FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider them for funding. DHS/FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any http://www.fema.gov/resource-management-mutual-aid http://www.fema.gov/nims-doctrine-supporting-guides-tools applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline.

Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, or other exigent or emergency circumstances. Applicants experiencing technical issues, must notify the respective FEMA Headquarters (HQ) Program Analyst as soon as possible before the application deadline. Applicants should contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information

Desk (CSID) for FEMA HQ Program Analyst contact information. CSID can be reached by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at askcsid@fema.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: August 27, 2018

Anticipated Award Date: No later than September 30, 2018

Address to Request Application Package

Application forms and instructions are available on Grants.gov (hardcopies of the NOFO and associated application materials are not available.) To access the application package, select

“Applicants” then “Apply for Grants” followed by “Get Application Package.” Enter the

Funding Opportunity Number located on the first page of this NOFO. Select “Apply” and then

“Create Workspace.” Follow the prompts to download the instructions and begin the application.

In addition, the following Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and/or Federal Information

Relay Service (FIRS) number available for this Notice is: (800) 462-7585

Initial applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal. Final applications are completed and submitted through FEMA’s Non-Disaster Grants (ND Grants) System.

Content and Form of Application Submission

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process. To ensure that an application is submitted on time applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission. Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting their application may disqualify their application from funding.

The steps involved in applying for an award under this program are:

1. Applying for, updating, or verifying their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)

Number and Employer ID Number (EIN);

2. Updating or verifying their System for Award Management (SAM) Registration;

3. Establishing an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;

4. Submitting an initial application in Grants.gov; and

5. Submitting the final application in the ND Grants system.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

All applicants for this award must:

1. Be registered in SAM before submitting its application;

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/

2. Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and

3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by DHS/FEMA.

DHS/FEMA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DHS/FEMA is ready to make a Federal award, DHS/FEMA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

Electronic Delivery

DHS/FEMA is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS/FEMA requires applicants to submit their initial applications online through Grants.gov and to submit final applications through ND Grants.

How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

1. Overview: Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS/FEMA funds.

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a DUNS Number, active SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants.

If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

Organization applicants can find complete instructions here:

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

2. Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

3. Register with SAM: In addition to having a DUNS number, all organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

4. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step in the registration process is to create an account with Grants.gov. Applicants must know their organization's DUNS number to complete this process.

For more information, follow the on-screen instructions or refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

5. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

6. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an

Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html

7. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

8. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

How to Submit an Initial Application to DHS/FEMA via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), you can create individual instances of a Workspace. Applicants are encouraged to submit their initial application in Grants.gov at least seven days before the June 20, 2018, application deadline.

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

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

1. Create a Workspace: Creating a Workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission.

3. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace so that they will appear similar to other Standard or

DHS/FEMA forms. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

4. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

5. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS number. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

6. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the

“Sign and Submit” button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least seven days prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

7. Track a Workspace: After successfully submitting a workspace package, a Grants.gov

Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the

Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-

518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support

Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the DHS/FEMA with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

Submitting the Final Application in Non Disaster Grants System (ND Grants)

After submitting the initial application in Grants.gov, eligible applicants will be notified by

DHS/FEMA and asked to proceed with submitting their complete application package in ND

Grants. Applicants can register early with ND Grants and are encouraged to begin their ND

Grants registration at the time of this announcement or at the latest, seven days before the application deadline. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their application.

In ND Grants applicants will be prompted to submit all of the information contained in the following forms. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required:

Standard Form 424A, Budget Information (Non-construction)

Standard Form 424B, Standard Assurances (Non-construction)

Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

In addition, applicants must submit copies of the following in ND Grants:

THSGP Investment Justification (OMB Control Number: 1660-0113/FEMA Form:

089-22) (see Appendix C – FY 2018 THSGP Investment Justification (IJ) Outline for a description of the IJ and the IJ submission process);

Self-certification form stating the Tribe’s eligibility per the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (the self-certification is contained within the THSGP

Investment Justification);

Standard Form 424D, Standard Assurances (Construction) if applying for funds to use for construction;

Standard Form 424 C Budget Information (Construction) if applying for funds to use for construction; and

Indirect Cost Agreement, if applicable.

For assistance registering for the ND Grants system, please contact ndgrants@fema.gov or (800)

865-4076.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/ file:///C:/Users/sheath/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/TROS8IAK/at%20https:/portal.fema.gov https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home mailto:ndgrants@fema.gov

Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All applications must be received in ND Grants by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on June 20, 2018.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by ND Grants. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by ND

Grants. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their initial application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov and ND Grants receive your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the systems time to process the application.

Applicants needing assistance with the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.gov or

(800) 865-4076.

Intergovernmental Review

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372 (See http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf).

Funding Restrictions

Federal funds made available through this award may be used only for the purpose set forth in this award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other Federal award, lobbying, or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, Federal funds may not be used to sue the

Federal Government or any other government entity.

For additional information on allowable costs and Funding Restrictions, refer to https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf

Appendix B – FY 2018 THSGP Funding Guidelines.

Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

As a Federal agency, DHS/FEMA is required to consider the effects of its actions on the environment and historic properties to ensure that all activities and programs funded by the agency, including grant funded projects, comply with Federal EHP regulations, laws and

Executive Orders as applicable. Recipients and subrecipients proposing projects that have the potential to impact the environment, including but not limited to construction of communication towers, modification or renovation of existing buildings, structures and facilities, or new construction including replacement of facilities, must participate in the DHS/FEMA EHP review process. The EHP review process involves the submission of a detailed project description along with supporting documentation so that DHS/FEMA may determine whether the proposed project has the potential to impact environmental resources and/or historic properties. In some cases, DHS/FEMA is also required to consult with other regulatory agencies and the public in order to complete the review process. The EHP review process must be completed and approved before funds are released to carry out the proposed project; otherwise, FEMA may not be able to fund the project due to non-compliance with EHP laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies.

Additionally, all recipients are required to comply with DHS/FEMA EHP Policy Guidance, FEMA Policy 108-023-1. The EHP screening form is located here and further EHP guidance can be found at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85376.

Emergency Communications and Resilience

All entities using THSGP funding to support emergency communications investments are required to comply with the SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants

(SAFECOM Guidance). The SAFECOM Guidance provides current information on emergency communications policies, eligible costs, best practices, and technical standards for State, local, tribal, and territorial grantees investing Federal funds in emergency communications projects. It is also designed to promote and align with the National Emergency Communications Plan

(NECP). Conformance with the SAFECOM Guidance helps ensure that Federally-funded investments are compatible, interoperable, resilient, and support national goals and objectives for improving emergency communications.

FirstNet

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-96, as amended

(codified in part at 47 U.S.C. §§ 1401-1473) established the First Responder Network Authority

(hereinafter FirstNet Authority) as an independent authority within the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”).1 The FirstNet Authority’s statutory mission to establish a nationwide public safety broadband network (FirstNet).2 FirstNet uses the 700 MHz D block spectrum to provide Long-Term Evolution (LTE)-based broadband services and applications to public safety entities.3 FirstNet became operational in March 2018

1 47 U.S.C. § 1424(a).

2 47 U.S.C. § 1426(b).

3 47 U.S.C. §§ 1401(2), 1421(a).

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1501003650506-853eeedee8632ebd25408cd0241683c4/FEMA_Form_024-0-1_Final_Version_7-25-2017.pdf https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85376 https://www.dhs.gov/safecom/funding https://www.dhs.gov/safecom/funding https://www.dhs.gov/national-emergency-communications-plan and is based on a single, national network architecture that will evolve with technological advances and initially consist of a core network and radio access network (RAN).

FirstNet will provide public safety entities with mission critical broadband data capabilities and services including, but not limited to messaging, image sharing, video streaming, group text, voice, data storage, application, location-based services, and Quality of Service, Priority and

Preemption. Public safety entities seeking to enhance their operational capabilities using broadband technology may seek grant funding to support the following:

Planning for integration of information technology (IT) infrastructure, software, and site upgrades necessary to connect to FirstNet.

Handheld broadband devices including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, wearables, push-to-talk (PTT) devices.

Vehicle-mounted or otherwise field operated data devices such as ruggedized laptops.

Network access devices including portable Wi-Fi devices, Universal Serial Bus (USB) modems/dongles, trunk-mounted modems, routers.

Customer Owned and Managed (COAM) broadband deployable equipment, enabling public safety to own and dispatch coverage expansion or capacity enhancement equipment within their jurisdiction.

Broadband device accessories that enable efficient and safe public safety operations such as headsets, belt clips, ear pieces, remote Bluetooth sensors, ruggedized cases.

Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs)/Universal Integrated Circuit Cards

(UICCs) to allow public safety users to update existing devices to operate on public safety prioritized services.

One-time purchase and subscription-based applications for public safety use which could include, among a number of other options, enterprise mobility management

(EMM), mobile device management (MDM), mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN), identify services, or cloud service tools.

As FirstNet is built out in all 56 states and territories and coverage and capacity for first responders expands, recipients are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the Statewide

Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) and FirstNet on (1) the planning, deployment timelines, and operational availability of the network deployment within a specific state or territory; (2) to ensure the project does not conflict with network planning efforts; and (3) that the project complies with all technical requirements. FirstNet requires participating agencies to demonstrate a subscription to public safety-prioritized broadband services to purchase FirstNet broadband devices or applications. Information Bulletin #386 is hereby rescinded as the technical requirements and nationwide network architecture has been developed, and FirstNet is operational. Recipients, however, must coordinate with FirstNet in advance of any strategic acquisition of broadband LTE equipment to ensure that purchases adhere to all applicable standards for public safety entities. Recipients with questions on FirstNet should contact info@firstnet.gov. Please refer to the SAFECOM Guidance for additional guidance.

Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are not allowable and will not be approved, with the exception of costs resulting from pre-award grant writing services provided by an independent contractor that shall not mailto:info@firstnet.gov https://www.dhs.gov/safecom/funding exceed $1,500. See Authorized Use of Contractual Grant Writers and/or Grant Managers below for additional details and restrictions.

Cost Principles

Costs charged to this award must be consistent with the Cost Principles for Federal Awards located at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E.

Direct Costs

Planning

Planning related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Organization

Organization costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Equipment

Equipment costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Training

Training related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Exercise

Exercise related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Personnel Activities

Personnel hiring, overtime, and backfill expenses are permitted under this grant in order to perform allowable THSGP planning, training, exercise, and equipment activities. See

Appendix B – FY 2018 THSGP Funding Guidelines for additional details.

Travel

Domestic travel costs are allowed under this program, as provided for in this NOFO.

International travel is not an allowable cost under this program unless approved in advance by DHS/FEMA.

Construction and Renovation

Construction and renovation costs to achieve capability targets related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism are allowed under this program. For construction costs to be allowed, they must be specifically approved by

DHS/FEMA in writing prior to the use of any program funds for construction or renovation.

See

Appendix B – FY 2018 THSGP Funding Guidelines for additional details. Additionally, recipients are required to submit a SF-424C Form and Budget detail citing the project costs.

Operational Overtime

Operational Overtime costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Maintenance and Sustainment

Maintenance and Sustainment related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Critical Emergency Supplies

Critical emergency supply related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Secure Identification

Secure Identification project related costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Management and Administration (M&A)

Management and administration costs are allowed. Recipients may use up to five percent

(5%) of the amount of the award for M&A. Where applicable, subrecipients may use up to five percent (5%) of the amount they receive for M&A. M&A activities are those defined as directly relating to the management and administration of THSGP funds, such as financial management and monitoring. Management and administrative expenses must be based on actual expenses or known contractual costs. M&A 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, they are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. 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; and responding to official informational requests from state and Federal oversight authorities.

Authorized Use of Contractual Grant Writers and/or Grant Managers

A grant applicant may procure the services of a contractor to provide support and assistance for pre-award grant development services (grant writing) or post-award grant management and administrative services (grant management). As with all Federal grant-funded procurements, grant writer or grant management services must be procured in accordance with the Federal procurement standards at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317 – 200.326. See Section H regarding Procurement

Integrity, particularly the sections applicable to non-state entities that discuss organizational conflicts of interest under 2 C.F.R. § 200.319(a) and traditional conflicts of interest under 2

C.F.R. § 200.318(c)(1).

DHS/FEMA considers a contracted grant-writer to be an agent of the recipient for any subsequent contracts the recipient procures under the same Federal award in which the grant-writer provided grant writing services. Federal funds cannot be used to pay a contractor to carry out the work if that contractor also worked on the development of such specifications. A State must follow the same policies and procedures it uses for procurements of its non-Federal funds, pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.317.

Regardless of whether an applicant or recipient uses grant writing and/or grant management services, the recipient is solely responsible for the fiscal and programmatic integrity of the grant and its authorized activities and expenditures. They must ensure adequate internal controls, including separation of duties, to safeguard grant assets, processes, and documentation, in keeping with the terms and conditions of its award, including this NOFO, and 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

Grant Writers

Grant writing contractors may assist the applicant in preparing, writing, and finalizing grant application materials and assisting the applicant with handling online application and submission requirements in Grants.gov and ND Grants. Grant writers may assist in a variety of ways up to and including the actual submission of the application. Ultimately the applicant that receives an award is solely responsible for all grant award and administrative responsibilities.

By submitting the application, applicants are certifying all of the information contained therein is true and an accurate reflection of the organization, and that regardless of the applicant’s intent, the submission of information that is false or misleading may result in actions by DHS/FEMA. These actions include but are not limited to the submitted application not being considered for award, temporary withholding of funding under the existing award pending investigation, or referral to the DHS Office of Inspector General.

Grant Managers

Grant management contractors provide support in the day-to-day management of an active grant and their services may be incurred as Management and Administration costs

(M&A) of the award. Additionally, grant recipients may retain grant management contractors at their own expense.

Pre-Award Cost of up to $1,500 Eligible for Reimbursement

To assist applicants with the cost of grant writing services, DHS/FEMA is permitting a one-time pre-award cost of no more than $1,500 per applicant per year for contractual grant writing services as part of the recipient’s M&A costs. This is only intended to cover costs associated with a grant writer and may not be used to reimburse the applicant for their own time and effort in the development of a grant application. Additionally, the applicant may be required to pay this fee with their own funds during the application preparation and submission period; if the applicant subsequently receives an award, they may then request to be reimbursed once grant funds become available for that cost, not to exceed $1,500. If the applicant does not receive an award, this cost will not be reimbursed by the Federal government. The applicant must understand this risk and be able to cover this cost if an award is not made.

http://www.grants.gov/

If an applicant intends to request reimbursement for this one-time pre-award cost, it must include this request in its application materials, including in the budget section in each

Investment Justification. Failure to clearly identify this as a separate cost in the application may result in its disallowance. This is the only pre-award cost eligible for reimbursement. Recipients must maintain grant writer fee documentation including, but not limited to: a copy of the solicitation, such as a quote request, rate request, invitation to bid, or request for proposals, if applicable; a copy of the grant writer’s contract agreement; a copy of the invoice or purchase order; and a copy of the cancelled check or proof of payment. These records must be made available to DHS/FEMA upon request.

Indirect (Facilities & Administrative [F&A]) Costs

Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. With the exception of recipients who have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate as described in 2

C.F.R. § 200.414(f), recipients must have an approved indirect cost rate agreement with their cognizant Federal agency to charge indirect costs to this award. A copy of the approved rate (a fully executed, agreement negotiated with the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency) is required at the time of application, and must be provided to DHS/FEMA before indirect costs are charged to the award.

E. Application Review Information

Application Evaluation Criteria

FY 2018 THSGP applications will be evaluated through a three part review and selection process:

1. Applications will first be reviewed by a FEMA HQ Program Analyst to ensure the applicant meets all eligibility requirements. To determine eligibility, the FEMA HQ

Program Analyst will review submitted applications for completeness.

Completeness is determined by the FEMA HQ Program Analyst by confirming:

The applicant has submitted the self-certification form stating the Tribe’s eligibility per the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (see Section C.

Eligibility Criteria, for further information);

The information provided in the self-certification form is accurate;

Activities under each investment are allowable; and

The application meets all of the administrative criteria identified in this

NOFO, to include the required submission of an IJ by the established due dates.

2. Eligible and complete applications will then be reviewed through a review process, in which proposed investments will be individually scored. Scoring is based on the following four criteria (see Appendix C – FY 2018 THSGP Investment Justification

Outline for more details):

Overview (description of the investment);

Baseline (goals/objectives/capabilities of the investment);

Project management and milestones (funding amount/core capabilities/projects); and

Accomplishments and impacts (outcomes).

3. FEMA HQ Grants Management Specialists will conduct a financial risk assessment of the top scoring investments using the following criteria:

Allowability, allocability, and financial reasonableness of the proposed budget and investment information; and

Whether the recipient meets the financial and legal requirements listed in 2

C.F.R. Part 200.

Prior to making a Federal award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3321 note, 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information.

Therefore application evaluation 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; and (5) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

Supplemental Financial Integrity Review

Prior to making a Federal award where the Federal share is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $150,000, DHS/FEMA is required to review and consider any information about the applicant in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information

System (FAPIIS), which is also accessible through the SAM website.

An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered.

DHS/FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the FAPIIS information, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants, as described in 2 CFR § 200.205.

Review and Selection Process

A panel of reviewers will analyze and score the investments from all applications that the

Program Analysts determine to be complete and eligible. DHS/FEMA will assign reviewers who meet one or more of the following criteria:

Experience working with tribes and tribal professionals;

Federal employees experienced in a variety of disciplines, including homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, fire and rescue, etc.; and/or

Familiar with applications for funding and the application review process.

The reviewers will analyze and score the anticipated effectiveness of each individual proposed investment. Effectiveness is determined based on completeness and adherence to programmatic guidelines.

https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

Reviewers will score each investment individually using six questions to assess how well the investments satisfy the four criteria sections in the Investment Justification template: Overview, Baseline, Project Management and Milestones, and Accomplishments and Impact.

The questions the reviewers will score are:

A. Overview Section of…