PKG00252208-instructions.pdf

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

Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant (EMBAG)

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)/Resilience/National Preparedness Directorate (NPD)/National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD)

Assistance Listings Number (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number) 97.131

Assistance Listings Title (formerly CFDA Title)

EMBAG

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title Emergency Management Baseline Assessments Grant (EMBAG)

NOFO Number

DHS-19-NPD-131-00-01

Authorizing Authority for Program Section 503(b)(2)(G) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 313(b)(2)(G))

Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-6), Title III Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations and Support

Program Type New http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title6/USCODE-2015-title6-chap1-subchapV-sec313 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title6/USCODE-2015-title6-chap1-subchapV-sec313 https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres31/BILLS-116hjres31enr.pdf#page=17

Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

Overview The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant (EMBAG) Program’s purpose is to support the development, maintenance, update, revision, and enhancement of national industry standards for emergency management and the assessment of emergency management programs and professionals against those standards. Specifically, the EMBAG Program supports the development, maintenance, update, revision, and enhancement of national industry standards for emergency preparedness and response that are consensus-driven and established, validated, and revised through peer-review; and related efforts to develop or update American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certification for these standards. The EMBAG also supports the assessment of select state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management programs and professionals against these national industry standards.

The EMBAG Program helps ensure that jurisdictions have accredited emergency management programs and certified emergency managers in place in advance of an incident.

The assessment process for the accreditation and certification processes enables jurisdictions to understand the capacity and shortfalls of their emergency management programs and professionals, which allows them to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop a path to accreditation or certification.

Objective The FY 19 EMBAG Program provides funding to eligible applicants to develop, maintain, and update national industry standards for emergency management that align to the seven Community Lifelines (Lifelines) of Safety and Security; Food, Water and Sheltering; Health and Medical; Energy (Power and Fuel); Communications; Transportation; and Hazardous Material. Lifelines are a tool that allows for decision makers across the nation to rapidly determine whether an incident is large or complex; prioritize and focus response efforts to maintain or restore the most critical services and infrastructure; ensure limited resources can go toward a common goal that requires involvement across the whole community; and promote a response that fosters better integration and communication through management that transcends public and private sector boundaries. For more information on Lifelines, use the following link: Community Lifelines Implementation Toolkit.

The FY 2019 EMBAG Program plays an important role in the National Preparedness System (the System) to build, sustain, and deliver core capabilities to achieve the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). The Goal is “a secure and resilient Nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.” The objective of the National Preparedness System is to facilitate an integrated, whole community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness. Complex and far-reaching threats and hazards need the engagement of individuals, families, communities, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and all levels of government (http://www.fema.gov/whole-community). For more information on the System, refer to Appendix A: Relevant FEMA Doctrine and Policy in this NOFO.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1550596598262-99b1671f270c18c934294a449bcca3ce/Tab1b.CommunityLifelinesResponseToolkit_508.pdf http://www.fema.gov/whole-community http://www.fema.gov/whole-community

The assessment and accreditation of emergency management programs and professionals against consensus-based and ANSI-certified national standards enables benchmarking and validation of critical functions necessary to build, sustain, and deliver the 32 core capabilities identified in the Goal. Part of DHS/FEMA’s (FEMA’s) mission is to advance all-hazards preparedness by assessing and communicating the investments, activities, and accomplishments as they relate to national preparedness. This mission is driven and supported by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA).

The EMBAG Program also supports the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Mission to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.

By advancing the Goal through ANSI-certified national standards, the EMBAG Program also supports the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, specifically through the alignment of its activities and tasks with the following goals and objectives:

• Goal 1, Objective 1.3 to “Build a Culture of Preparedness and “Help People Prepare for Disasters;”

• Goal 1, Objective 1.4 to “Build a Culture of Preparedness” and “Better Learn from Past Disasters, Improve Continuously, and Innovate;”

• Goal 2, Objective 2.1 to “Ready the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters” and “Organize the “BEST” (Build, Empower, Sustain, and Train) scalable and capable incident workforce;”

• Goal 2, Objective 2.4 to “Ready the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters” and “Improve Continuity and Resilient Communications Capabilities;” and

• Goal 3, Objective 3.2 to “Reduce the Complexity of FEMA” and “Mature the Disaster Recovery Framework.”

Priorities

The FY 2019 EMBAG Community Lifeline Priority Areas

The FY 2019 EMBAG Program targets solutions that address gaps in capabilities and contribute to efforts to reduce risk and support rapid stabilization and restoration of the following Community Lifeline Priority Areas:

Community Lifeline Priority Area

Primary Lifeline Component

All Planning Operational Coordination

Situational Assessment

All seven Community Lifelines [Safety and Security; Food, Water, and Sheltering; Health and Medical; Energy (Power and Fuel); Communications; Transportation; and Hazardous Waste] align with the common core capabilities for Planning, Operational Coordination, and Situational Assessment. Emergency management programs require these capabilities to successfully execute response operations and emergency management professionals require the ability to support emergency management programs in doing so. FEMA invites applicants to submit applications that identify and address solutions for current and emerging gaps in emergency management program accreditation and emergency management professional certification that empower jurisdictions to better address and prepare for disasters.

Return on Investment The EMBAG Program is designed and delivered to identify and close critical gaps in emergency management. Jurisdictions can use the results of the assessment and accreditation process to build, sustain, and improve preparedness activities, as well as inform proposed investment justifications under other FEMA preparedness grant programs. For example, the results can inform the development of Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews. The assessments provide jurisdictions with an accounting of current capability levels and gaps that jurisdictions can use to prioritize future resource investments. More information on Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews is located at https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review and within this NOFO document in Appendix A: Relevant FEMA Doctrine and Policy, under the paragraph describing the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Guide, Third Edition.

The certification process for emergency managers similarly raises and maintains standards for emergency management professionals. These standards define benchmarks and provide professionals with a tool to document their qualifications and progress towards certification.

Using these standards, professionals achieve the skills necessary to effectively manage emergency management programs.

The return on investment of this program is measured by the percent increase in emergency management programs and professionals that achieve national-level accreditation and certification, respectively, as a result of the FY19 EMBAG Program investment. In administering this grant, FEMA uses a systematic, measurable, and capabilities-based approach to optimize accreditation and certification, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound return on investment.

Through this agreement, FEMA requires EMBAG recipients to collect and submit information necessary to calculate metrics on accreditation or certification to determine the effectiveness of the EMBAG grant program, including the following:

• Number of jurisdiction emergency management programs funded through the EMBAG Program that achieve national-level accreditation;

• Number of jurisdiction emergency management programs funded through the EMBAG that report improvement in their program as a result of the accreditation process);

• Number of emergency management professionals funded through the EMBAG that achieve national-level certification as emergency managers.

Performance Metrics Outcome for Emergency Management Programs:

Jurisdictions’ emergency management programs meet a standardized benchmark of critical functions necessary to prepare to manage disasters.

1. Measure 1: Number of jurisdictions that reported one or more aspects of their emergency management program “noticeably improved as a part of the accreditation process.”

https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/165308 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/165308

2. Measure 2: Percent of jurisdictions participating in the assessment process for the current fiscal year that become accredited.

Outcome for Emergency Management Professionals:

Emergency Management Professionals meet a standardized benchmark of critical functions necessary to manage emergency management programs.

3. Measure 1: Number of Emergency Managers certified through the Certification of Emergency Managers Program.

B. Federal Award Information

Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions Available Funding for the NOFO: $824,379

Projected number of Awards: 2

Period of Performance: 12 months Extensions to the period of performance are permitted. Please refer to “Section H. Additional Information, Extension,” which specifies what steps recipients must follow and what information must be included in the justification for such a request to be considered.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2019

Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2020

Funding Instrument Grant

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

FEMA has determined that Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) are the only entities capable of effectively developing, maintaining, and updating national-level industry standards for accrediting and certifying emergency management programs and professionals and conducting assessments against them. Specifically, EMAP and IAEM retain the sole administrative rights to administer the EMAP Program and the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®), respectively, which are both benchmarks for excellence and the most widely adopted models for assessing and accrediting or certifying state, local, tribal, and territorial programs or professionals in the emergency management community. Based on these qualifications, EMAP and IAEM Program are the only entities eligible to apply.

Maintenance of Effort (MOE) There is no Maintenance of Effort requirement for this program.

Cost Share or Match There is no Cost Share or Cost Match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

Key Dates and Times

Date Posted to Grants.gov: 6/21/2019

Application Submission Deadline: 7/22/2019 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time

(EDT)

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. FEMA will not review applications submitted after the deadline or consider them for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline, upon request, for any applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, or other exigent or emergency circumstances.

Extensions based on exigent or emergency circumstances will be made on case-by-case basis, with the final determination resting with FEMA. If applicants experience technical issues, they must notify their FEMA program manager referenced in Section G: DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information. If this contact is not available or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) by phone at 800 368-6498 or by e-mail at askcsid@fema.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: 7/29/19

Anticipated Award Date: 8/9/2019

Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline:

(6/24/2019)

Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline:

(6/24/2019)

Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline:

(6/24/2019)

Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline:

(7/15/2019)

Submit final application in ND Grants

One week before actual submission deadline:

(7/15/2019) mailto:askcsid@fema.gov

Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

Address to Request Application Package Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.gov, select “Applicants” then “Apply for Grants.” To obtain the application package, select “Download a Grant Application Package.” Enter the Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA) and/or the funding opportunity number located on the cover of this NOFO, select “Download Package,” and then follow the prompts to download the application package.

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.

FEMA will process initial applications through the Grants.gov portal and the complete application through the ND Grants System.

Content and Form of Application Submission Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. To ensure that FEMA will consider your application for funding, applicants should start the prerequisite steps required to submit an application well in advance of the submission deadline, leaving enough time to submit an application by the deadline in the event a technical or other issue arises. The registration process can take four weeks or longer to complete. Please review the table above under “Submission Dates and Other Key Dates and Times” for estimated deadlines to complete each of the prerequisite steps listed below. Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the application deadline may disqualify their application from funding.

The following prerequisite steps are required to apply for an award under this program:

1. Applying for, updating, or verifying their DUNS Number

2. Applying for, updating, or verifying their EIN Number

3. Updating or verifying their System for Award Management (SAM) Number

4. Create a user name and password with Grants.gov to become an Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR)

5. Submitting an initial application in Grants.gov, and

6. Submitting the complete application in Non-Disaster Grants.

FEMA will only accept electronic applications. It will not accept hard copy applications.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

1. Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number.

Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number are available at the following website:

http://www.grants.gov//web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html. The DUNS number must be included in the data entry field labeled http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

"Organizational DUNS" on the Standard Forms (SF)-424 forms submitted as part of this application.

2. Employer Identification Number (EIN) FEMA requires both the EIN and a DUNS number prior to the issuance of a financial assistance award and for grant award payment; both EIN and DUNS are also required to register with SAM (see below). The EIN base for an organization is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax ID number, and for individuals it is their social security number (both the EIN and social security number are nine-digit numbers). Organizations and individuals submitting their applications must correctly differentiate the EIN from the DUNS, as both are nine-digit numbers. Please differentiate your EIN number from your DUNS number or this may result in a delay in the issuance of the funding award or incorrect payment to a recipient organization.

Organizations applying for an EIN should plan on a minimum of two full weeks to obtain an EIN. For assistance in registering an EIN, please contact the IRS helpline:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-to-apply-for-an-ein.

FEMA cannot assist applicants with questions related to obtaining a current EIN.

3. System for Award Management (SAM) Step-by-step instructions for registering with SAM can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html. Failure to register with SAM will result in the rejection of your application by Grants.gov during the submission process.

4. Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).

The next step in the registration process is to create a username and password with Grants.gov to become an AOR. AORs will need to know the DUNS number of the organization for which they will be submitting applications to complete this process.

Applicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the AOR. Applicants often miss this step; however, it is crucial for valid submissions. To read more detailed instructions for creating a profile on Grants.gov visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

AOR Authorization. After creating a profile on Grants.gov, the E-Biz Point of Contact (POC), who is a representative from your organization listed as the contact for SAM, will receive an email to grant the AOR permission to submit applications on behalf of their organization. The E-Biz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and approve an individual as the AOR, thereby giving him or her permission to submit applications. After receiving the POC’s approval, the AOR will be able to apply online. To learn more about AOR Authorization, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html. To track AOR status, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

Electronic Delivery. DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages applicants to submit their applications online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-to-apply-for-an-ein http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://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/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html through Grants.gov. Applications submitted through Grants.gov constitute a submission as electronically signed applications. When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your AOR on file will be inserted into the signature line of the application.

If you experience difficulties accessing information or have any questions, please call the Grants.gov customer support hotline at (800) 518-4726 or email Grants.gov at support@grants.gov.

The Federal awarding agency will not grant 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 the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency 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.

How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

1. Instructions: Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS 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.

mailto:support@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 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 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 Application to DHS via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can 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, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

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 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 24- 48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

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 tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

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

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 for which you are applying.

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 DHS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

Submitting an Initial Application in Grants.gov

All applicants must submit their initial application through Grants.gov. If do you not already have a user profile on Grants.gov, you will need to create one by visiting the Get Registered section of the Grants.gov website. Successful completion of this step is necessary for FEMA to determine eligibility of the applicant. Applicants should complete this initial step on-line, which requires completing:

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424), Application for Federal Assistance.

Funding Restrictions

The form is available in the Forms tab under SF-424 Family. The initial application cannot be started or submitted in Grants.gov unless the applicant’s registration in SAM is confirmed.

ND Grants will retrieve the information submitted in Grants.gov, which will allow FEMA to determine if an applicant is eligible.

Applicants experiencing difficulties accessing information should call the Grants.gov customer support hotline at 800-518-4726 or email Grants.gov at support@grants.gov.

FEMA cannot assist applicants with questions related to registering with Grants.gov.

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

FEMA will notify eligible applicants after the initial application is submitted in Grants.gov 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. Early registration will allow applicants to have adequate time to start and complete their application.

ND Grants will prompt applicants to submit all the information contained in the following forms. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they include all required information. Forms are located at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html#sortby=1.

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

• Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html#sortby=1 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html#sortby=1

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable

Applicants will also be required to submit copies of the following in ND Grants:

• Program and Budget Narrative

• Program Work Plan

• Project Objectives

• Detailed budget.

Applicants needing assistance registering for the ND Grants system should contact ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 865-4076.

Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission Online Submissions. All applications must be received by 7/22/2019 at 11:59:59 PM EDT on the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. 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 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.

When DHS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DHS.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives 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 system time to process the application.

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 https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf).

Funding Restrictions Federal funds made available through this award may only be used 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 mailto:ndgrants@fema.gov https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf

Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other government entity.

Management and Administration (M&A) Costs.

M&A activities are those directly relating to the management and administration of the EMBAG funds, such as financial management and monitoring. Recipients may retain a maximum of 15 percent of EMBAG funds awarded for M&A purposes associated with the EMBAG award.

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 those 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 FEMA before indirect costs are charged to the award

Other Submission Requirements EMBAG-specific application instructions for proposal submission are included in Appendix C: EMBAG-Specific Application Instructions for Submitted Proposal.

Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs are NOT allowable.

Direct Costs Please note that Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO contains additional information on direct costs allowed and not allowed under this program.

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

Please refer to Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO for additional information.

Organization Organization-related costs are NOT allowed under this program.

Equipment Equipment costs are NOT allowed under this program.

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

Please refer to Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO for additional information.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=8d294ca70f05ffbab8f39000ec33839a&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1414

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

Please refer to Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO for additional information.

Personnel Personnel costs are allowable under this program only as described in this NOFO. Please refer to Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO for additional information.

Travel Domestic travel costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO.

Please refer to Appendix B: Detail of Allowable Direct Costs Under EMBAG of this NOFO for additional information.

International travel is NOT allowed under this program.

Construction and Renovation Construction and renovation costs are NOT allowed under this program.

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.

E. Application Review Information

Financial Integrity Criteria 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 and performance in managing federal awards.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

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

Application Evaluation Criteria FEMA will review and recommend applications for funding based on the following factors:

• The applicant demonstrates the expertise necessary to fulfill the requirements of the EMBAG Program.

• The applicant meets the Eligibility Criteria in Section C: Eligibility Information of this NOFO.

• Proposed activities and tasks employ sound concepts and techniques; present realistic timetables; and are deliverable, sustainable, and compatible with the goals and objectives of the EMBAG Program.

• Proposed activities comply with the Application Submission information presented in Section D: Application and Submission Information and Appendix C: EMBAG- Specific Instructions for Submitted Proposals.

• Proposed costs are complete, reasonable and cost-effective in relation to proposed activities and tasks.

Review and Selection Process Initial Review FY 2019 RCPGP applications will receive an initial screening to verify applicant eligibility by FEMA prior to application consideration. FEMA will not process incomplete applications for further review and will not consider them for funding.

Eligibility Screening FEMA will conduct an initial review of all applications to verify applicant eligibility and ensure each application is complete. All eligible and complete applications will progress to the applicable FEMA program office for further review. FEMA staff will review the following during the eligibility screening:

• Applicant demonstrates the expertise necessary to fulfill the requirements of the EMBAG Program and is eligible as defined under the Eligible Applicants header of Section C: Eligibility Information of this NOFO.

• Applicant has submitted all required assurances and standard forms.

• Application complies with the Application Submission information presented in

Section D: Application and Submission Information and Appendix C: EMBAG- Specific Instructions for Submitted Proposals.

Application Review Process Applications will be reviewed by staff from the applicable FEMA program office at FEMA headquarters. Applicants that do not meet eligibility and application submission requirements will not be reviewed.

Application Selection Process FEMA will select applications that comply with the Application Submission information presented in Section D: Application and Submission Information and Appendix C: EMBAG- Specific Instructions for Submitted Proposals from applicants that conform to the Eligibility Criteria in Section C: Eligibility Information of this NOFO.

Supplemental Financial Integrity Review If the anticipated federal share of a federal award will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000 (see Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal year 2008, Pub. L. No. 115-91, OMB Memorandum M-18-18 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf):

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf

• Prior to making a federal award with a total amount of federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, DHS is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS).

• An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.

• DHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, 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 C.F.R. § 200.205 federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Notice of Award The ND Grants system will notify applicants of award approval through an automatic electronic mail to the awardee-authorized official listed in the initial application. The “award date” for the FY 2019 EMBAG Program will be the date that FEMA approves the award.

The awardee should follow the directions in the notification to confirm acceptance of the award.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 60 days from the award date. The recipient shall notify the awarding agency of its intent to accept and proceed with work under the award through the ND Grants system. For instructions on how to accept or decline an award in the ND Grants system, please see the ND Grants Recipient Training Manual.

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award through the ND Grants system and satisfies all other conditions of award, or if the award is otherwise rescinded.

Failure to accept the grant award within the 60-day timeframe may result in a loss of funds.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements All successful applicants for DHS grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, which are available online at: DHS Standard Terms and Conditions.

The applicable DHS Standard Terms and Conditions will be those in effect at the time the award was made, unless the application is for a continuation award. In that event, the terms and conditions in effect at the time the original award was made will generally apply. What terms and conditions will apply for the award will be clearly stated in the award package at the time of award.

Before accepting the award, the AOR should carefully read the award package for instructions on administering the grant award and the terms and conditions associated http://www.dhs.gov/publication/fy15-dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions http://www.dhs.gov/publication/fy15-dhs-standard-terms-and-conditions with responsibilities under federal awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this NOFO as well as any special terms and conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

Reporting Recipients are required to submit various financial and programmatic reports as a condition of award acceptance. Future awards and funds drawdown may be withheld if these reports are delinquent.

Within 90 days after the end of the period of performance, or after an amendment has been issued to close out a grant, whichever comes first, recipients must submit a final (Federal Financial Report) FFR and final progress report detailing all accomplishments and a summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the period of performance, as well as the following documentation:

1) Final request for payment, if applicable;

2) SF-425 – Final Federal Financial Report;

3) Final Performance Progress Report attached in ND Grants;

4) Other documents required by program guidance or terms and conditions of the award. See Additional Program Requirements below.

Federal Financial Reporting Requirements

Recipients must report obligations and expenditures on a quarterly basis through the FFR (SF-425) to FEMA. Recipients must file the FFR electronically using the Payment and Reporting System (PARS). An FFR must be submitted quarterly throughout the period of performance, including partial calendar quarters, as well as for periods where no grant award activity occurs. The final FFR is due 90 days after the end of the performance period. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if these reports are delinquent, demonstrate lack of progress, or are insufficient in detail.

Recipients may review the FFR at https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/Federal-financial-report.

Financial Reporting Periods and Due Dates

The following reporting periods and due dates apply for the FFR:

Reporting Period Report Due Date October 1 – December 31 January 30 January 1 – March 31 April 30 April 1 – June 30 July 30 July 1 – September 30 October 30

Financial and Compliance Audit Report

For audits of fiscal years beginning on or after December 26, 2014, recipients that expend $750,000 or more from all Federal funding sources during their fiscal year are required to https://isource.fema.gov/sf269/execute/LogIn?sawContentMessage=true https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/federal-financial-report https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/federal-financial-report submit an organization-wide financial and compliance audit report. The audit must be performed in accordance with the requirements of Government and Accountability Office’s (GAO) Government Auditing Standards, located at http://www.gao.gov/govaud/ybk01.htm, and the requirements of Subpart F of 2 C.F.R. Part 200, located at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=sp2.1.200.f.

Program Performance Reporting Requirements

Recipients are responsible for providing updated performance reports to FEMA in Microsoft Word document summary on a quarterly basis.