STRLF_NOFO_DHS_12.27.2024.pdf

FY 2025 Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF NOFO

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

Fiscal Year 2025 Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION

SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW RLF PROGRAM

Program Overview

The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund (Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF) program is part of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant portfolio. This program supports mitigation projects at the local government level and increases the Nation’s resilience to natural hazards and climate change.

Eligible entities will use capitalization grants to establish and administer a revolving loan fund which will provide loans to local governments for hazard mitigation projects.

Goals and Objective

The objective of the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is to capitalize or recapitalize a revolving loan fund for local governments to complete hazard mitigation projects and activities. The program will reduce risks from natural hazards for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities in order to decrease the loss of life and property, the cost of insurance, and federal disaster payments.

Eligible Projects Entities will use Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program grants to establish and administer revolving loan funds to provide loans for projects and activities that mitigate the impacts of natural hazards. Eligible projects and activities for loan funding include but are not limited to construction or modification of natural or built infrastructure to increase resilience, building code adoption and enforcement, local zoning and land use planning changes encouraging low-impact development or watershed-level planning, and developing local hazard mitigation plans.

Deadlines NOFO Availability Window Start Date: 01/14/2025 NOFO Availability Window End Date: 09/30/2025

Application Start Date: 01/14/2025 Priority Funding for Tribes Deadline: 07/1/2025 at 5:00 PM ET

Final Application Deadline: 09/30/2025 at 5:00 PM ET Complete applications will be evaluated as they are received. Applications will be accepted and evaluated on an ongoing basis until the application deadline.

Funding Amount

$178,024,690 plus funds not allocated in previous years or returned to the program.

Priority Funding for Tribal Applications $15,000,000

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION

SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW RLF PROGRAM

Eligible Applicants

Any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Federally Recognized Tribes that have received a direct major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Cost Match No less than 10 percent

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the system. Requesting a UEI using System for Award Management (SAM.gov) can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at: https://www.grants.gov/register.

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is the Unique Entity Identifier.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/register https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

Table of Contents Updates in Grant Application Forms:

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Period of Performance

2. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s)

3. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s)

4. Funding Instrument Type

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Cost Share or Match

4. Entity Loan Fund

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

d. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM.gov)

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

e. Register with SAM:

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

8. Submitting the Application

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

b. Entity Loan Fund

c. Pre-Award Costs

d. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

e. Indirect Costs

f. Funding Restrictions

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

2. Review and Selection Process

a. Priority Funding for Tribal Applicants

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

d. Davis-Bacon Act and Labor Standards

e. Mandatory Disclosures

3. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

4. Monitoring and Oversight G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. FEMA Grants News

c. FEMA Regional Offices

d. Civil Rights

e. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. FEMA GO

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

5. Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards or Subawards

6. Procurement Integrity

a. Important Changes to Procurement Standards in 2 C.F.R. Part 200

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

7. Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure

a. Build America, Buy America Act

b. Waivers

c. Definitions

8. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

9. Actions to Address Noncompliance

10. Audits

11. Payment Information

12. Whole Community Preparedness

13. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

14. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Federal Emergency Management Agency/Resilience/Hazard Mitigation Directorate/Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.139

3. Assistance Listings Title Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title Fiscal Year 2025 Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-25-STORM-139-00-99

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 205 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5135).

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Division J, Title V of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. No. 117-58, 135 Stat. 1386) (2021).

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category

Mitigation: Natural Hazards

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund (Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF) program is part of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant portfolio and supports mitigation projects at the local government level to increase the Nation’s resilience to natural hazards and the effects of climate change1. The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF capitalization grant makes

1 Changes in average weather (https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/appendix-5/#weather) conditions that persist over multiple decades or longer. Climate change encompasses both increases and decreases in temperature, as well as shifts in precipitation, changes in frequency and location of severe weather events, and changes to other features of the climate system.

https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/appendix-5/#weather https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/appendix-5/#weather federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Tribal governments2 to capitalize or recapitalize revolving loan funds for the purpose of financing hazard mitigation projects to reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters.

Eligible entities will use these capitalization grants to establish a revolving loan fund (referred to as an entity loan fund). The entity loan funds will provide direct loans to local governments3 or federally recognized Tribal governments for projects and activities that mitigate the impacts of drought, intense heat, severe storms (including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, cyclones, and severe winter storms), wildfires, floods, earthquakes, high water levels, storm surge, and other natural hazards.

Eligible activities include the construction or modification of natural or built infrastructure to increase resilience and reduce risk of harm and non-construction activities such as land use planning. A full description of allowable costs under this NOFO is provided in Section D.12.

The entities will programmatically and financially administer their respective entity loan funds. FEMA will monitor the administration of the entity loan funds during the period of performance per the reporting requirements described in Section F.3. Due to the revolving nature of this program, FEMA will continue to monitor administration of the entity loan funds after the period of performance through biennial audits (described in Section G.10) and post-closeout reporting (described in Section F.3.c.i).

As an entity-led program, the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program allows participating entities more autonomy to prioritize and execute their hazard mitigation funding needs. Entity loan funds can be leveraged to meet needs not covered by other FEMA HMA programs. This includes, but is not limited to, funding non-Federal cost-share requirements for other Stafford Act mitigation grants, upfront project design costs, smaller projects that may not qualify for other HMA grant programs, or projects that do not meet the cost-effectiveness requirements applicable for other programs.

Awards made under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are funded with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Pub. L. No.

117-58, 135 Stat. 1386 (2021), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy by enhancing U.S.

2 The term “federally recognized Tribal government,” as used in this funding opportunity, has the same meaning as “Indian tribal government,” as defined at 42 U.S.C. § 5122(6).

3 The term “local government,” as defined at 42 U.S.C. § 5122(8), means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity; an Indian tribe or authorized Tribal organization or Alaska Native village or organization, that is not an Indian tribal government; and a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity, for which an application for assistance is made by a State or political subdivision of a State.

competitiveness, driving the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, and ensuring stronger access to economic and environmental benefits for disadvantaged communities. The BIL appropriates billions of dollars to FEMA to promote resilient infrastructure, respond to and prepare for the impacts of climate change, and equip our nation with the resources to combat its most pressing threats. The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF grant program receives $100 million of this funding annually from 2022-2026. This Notice of Funding Opportunity makes available all funds for fiscal year 2025 and any funds remaining from previous fiscal years.

For more detailed program information, please go to Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program (https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/storm-rlf).

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities The objective of the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is to capitalize or recapitalize entity-established revolving loan funds that will provide low-interest loans to local governments most in need of financing assistance to complete hazard mitigation projects and activities. The program aims to reduce risks from natural hazards for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities in order to decrease the loss of life and property, the cost of insurance, and federal disaster payments.

FEMA’s primary priority for the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is to capitalize entity revolving loan funds that will provide local governments most in need of financing assistance with low-interest loans to finance hazard mitigation projects in their entirety, or the non-federal cost share requirement for other FEMA HMA or Stafford Act mitigation grants (see Section D.12 for more information).

Other priorities include collaborating with participating entities to understand programmatic capacity and capability needs; supporting community-driven decision-making; promoting equity in the distribution of loan funds; and supporting the delivery of innovative and transformational hazard mitigation projects addressing the priorities established in 42 U.S.C. § 5135(d)(3).

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan

The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program aligns with the goal of promoting resilience and adaptation in light of current and future risks, including those posed by climate change, and Goal 5 of the 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan (https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024): Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience. The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program supports Objective 5.1: Build a National Culture of Preparedness, specifically Sub-Objective 5.1.1: Incentivize investments that reduce risk and increase pre-disaster mitigation, including expanding the use of insurance to manage risk through funding hazard mitigation projects, particularly ones that reduce risk to infrastructure. By focusing on increasing resilience and reducing harm to the https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/storm-rlf https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 built environment, this program will help residents of disadvantaged communities,4 who might be at heightened risk to current hazards, including those associated with climate change.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan (https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan) outlines three goals that address key challenges in emergency management: Goal 1 - Instill equity as a foundation of emergency management, Goal 2 - Lead the whole of community in climate resilience, and Goal 3 - Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation. The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program specifically supports 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Objective 1.2: Remove barriers to FEMA programs through a people first approach, Objective 1.3: Achieve equitable outcomes for those we serve, and Objective 2.2: Build a climate resilient nation.

The program framework has incorporated key components of FEMA’s agency-wide strategic priorities to minimize administrative burden on entities. At the grant level, FEMA will provide technical assistance allowable under 42 U.S.C. § 5135(d)(2) to work with entities during the application period outlined in Section D.1 of this NOFO to continue to simplify the grant application process while complying with statutory requirements and equity priorities. Application requirements are provided in more detail in Section C of this NOFO.

11. Performance Measures The performance measures for the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program focus on evaluating the success of the entity loan funds in reaching local governments most in need of financing assistance and the effectiveness of projects funded. Performance measures align with program objectives through the life of the fund, even as it extends beyond the Period of Performance (POP) of the capitalization grant. The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program requires entities to effectively monitor and evaluate the revolving loan fund program during the POP through publication of project information, Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR), an annual audit, and a biennial audit. FEMA will evaluate the performance of the entity loan funds, and, under 42 U.S.C. § 5135(h)(3)(C), as needed, may make recommendations for or require specific changes to improve the effectiveness of the fund.

4 Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, 86 Fed. Reg., 7619 (Feb. 1, 2021), established the Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain covered federal investments flow to “disadvantaged communities” that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Pursuant to M-21-28 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21- 28.pdf) and M-23-09 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf) issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget, White House Council on Environmental Quality, and White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, “disadvantaged communities” are as the census tracts that are identified as disadvantaged by the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), as well as all Federally Recognized Tribes. For the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program, applicants are encouraged to use the CEJST methodology to define a community as disadvantaged. The methodology, data, and indicators CEJST uses to define disadvantaged communities can be found here:

https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/methodology.

https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/methodology

Entities would report the following data and performance measures, which FEMA would use to evaluate program performance:

• Number and total dollar value of executed loans, to inform the performance measure of loans executed as a percent of funds available;

• Number and total dollar value of disbursed loans, to inform the performance measure of disbursements as a percent of executed loans;

• Number and total dollar value of loan repayments, and number and total dollar value of delinquent loan repayments, to inform the loan repayment delinquency ratio;

• Staffing and implementation capacity narrative;

• Number and total dollar value of loans distributed in low-income geographic areas5 and/or disadvantaged communities;

• Equity benefits narrative; and

• Hazard mitigation benefits narrative, supported with available data such as but not limited to insurance premium reductions, expected avoided losses, and reduction in hazard risk and vulnerability. The hazard mitigation benefits narrative should clearly describe the pre-mitigation conditions and the post-mitigation conditions created by the project, supported by data as applicable.

Although the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is not currently included in the Justice40 Initiative, FEMA has included equity-specific performance measures to align with Executive Order (EO) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad).

The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF performance measurement process aims to ensure that the program’s intended goals are met. As each entity loan fund will operate beyond the period of performance of the grant, long-term monitoring is necessary to verify that the program is operating as intended, including monitoring the financial position of the fund and the use of federal dollars. Therefore, evaluating the performance of the fund administration, the promotion of loans going to the local governments most in need of financing assistance, and the effectiveness of projects, require monitoring throughout the life of the fund. Performance reporting, including requirements after the period of performance of the grant, are discussed further under Section F.3 of this NOFO.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

$178,024,690 (Plus funds not allocated in previous years or returned to the program) Priority Funding for Tribal Applicants: $15,000,000

5 Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5135(m)(5), a “low-income geographic area” is an area, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3161(a)(1), that meets one of the two following criteria: (1) “the area has a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national average”; or (2) “the area has an unemployment rate that is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available, at least 1 percent greater than the national average unemployment rate.”

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad

1. Period of Performance 24 months from date of award.

Within the period of performance for capitalization grants awarded under this NOFO, recipients must use the full federal and non-federal share of funding made available to execute loan agreements. This requires establishing the entity loan fund if it does not already exist. Entities may reserve allowable administrative costs as outlined in Section D.12.d of this NOFO. Projects funded by the loans do not need to be completed within the period of performance for capitalization grants. Loans do not need to be fully repaid during the period of performance for capitalization grants.

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

FEMA awards under most programs, including this program, only include one budget period, so it will be the same as the period of performance. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 for definitions of “budget period” and “period of performance.”

2. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s) Will vary by award

3. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s) 24 months from date of award unless otherwise approved by FEMA

4. Funding Instrument Type

Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• States

• District of Columbia

• U.S. Territories

• Federally recognized Tribal governments

Agencies responsible for emergency management for eligible states, territories, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized Tribal governments may apply for Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF funding. Each eligible applicant may submit one Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF grant application per Fiscal Year. While partnerships between two or more eligible entities to carry out a project or similar project are a priority for the program, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the capitalization grant award and administering the entity loan fund.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

• States, territories, the District of Columbia and federally recognized Tribal governments that have had a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford https://www.fema.gov/disaster/stafford-act

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are eligible to apply to FEMA for federal assistance under the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF Program.

• Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 201 at the time of application submission and at the time of obligation of the award.

• Applicants must submit an Intended Use Plan that has been published for review and comment as required by 42 U.S.C. § 5135(g).

• For each application submitted, applicants must provide a Project Proposal List that results from a public notice of no less than six weeks, inviting hazard mitigation project proposals from local governments as required by 42 U.S.C. § 5135(b)(1)(A).

3. Cost Share or Match

Once an applicant receives notification from FEMA of a potential grant award, the applicant must confirm its intent to contribute not less than 10 percent of the proposed grant to the entity loan fund as required by 42 U.S.C. § 5135(c)(4). If the applicant indicates it will contribute less than 10 percent of the proposed grant amount, FEMA will reduce the amount of the capitalization grant to an amount that is 10 times that of what the applicant proposes to contribute. For example, if the proposed federal award is $9,000,000, the applicant must confirm that it intends to contribute at least $900,000 in order to receive the full $9,000,000 award. If the applicant indicates they intend to contribute less than that amount, for example, $500,000, FEMA would reduce the capitalization grant to $5,000,000.

The applicant entity must deposit the cost-match funds into the entity loan fund on or before the date FEMA issues capitalization grant funds to the entity. The entity share must be deposited into the entity loan fund before the amount of the capitalization grant will be deposited into the entity loan fund. If the entity deposits an amount that is less than 10 percent of the capitalization grant, the amount of the capitalization grant will be reduced to ten times the amount that the entity deposited.

The source of the entity contribution may include entity programs or budgets, private investment, or other available sources. Entities may not use contributions from potential loan recipients to source the entity contribution. Any source of funding an applicant uses towards the 10 percent contribution must comply with the requirements in 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

4. Entity Loan Fund Prior to receipt of a capitalization grant award, the applicant agency responsible for emergency management must establish and thereafter administer an entity loan fund pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5135(c). More information on entity loan fund management is included in Section D.12.b of this NOFO.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

FEMA will accept applications under this NOFO on an ongoing basis and will evaluate applications as they are received until all funds are expended or the final application deadline has passed.

https://www.fema.gov/disaster/stafford-act

Applications will not be considered until the application is complete and all required documents have been submitted. FEMA strongly encourages eligible applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. Submission by the deadline is not a guarantee of funding. Any award is subject to the availability of funds. More information on funding amounts and the selection process is available in Section E.2. of this NOFO.

FEMA may award additional funding if available to entities that submit applications by the application deadline.

See section E. Application Review Information for FEMA’s review and selection process.

a. Application Start Date: 01/14/2025

b. Priority Funding for Tribes Submission Deadline: 07/1/2025 at 5:00 PM ET

c. Final Application Submission Deadline: 09/30/2025 at 5:00 PM ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative role who submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on 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, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award.

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following: prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact 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 fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

d. Other Key Dates

2. 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.

3. Address to Request Application Package

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

Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR §25.110, must:

a. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process.

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in SAM or updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering Organization in FEMA GO Prior to beginning application

Submitting complete application in FEMA GO One week before actual submission deadline mailto:at%20fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/home

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award Management (SAM), and Submit an Application Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Please review the table above for estimated deadlines to complete each of the steps listed.

Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting an application may disqualify that application from funding.

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

a. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

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

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the AOR.

The organization’s electronic business point of contact (Ebiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

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

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, 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.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110, if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting askcsid@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain an UEI https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

6. 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 or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity.

For this funding opportunity, FEMA requires applicants to submit applications through

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for 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. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

Organizations must have an UEI number, an EIN, an active SAM registration and Grants.gov account to apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity.

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to: SAM.gov.

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number All entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

d. Create a login.gov account:

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

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3

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

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

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

e. Register with SAM:

All applicants applying online through FEMAGO.gov must register with SAM.

Failure to register with SAM will prevent an applicant from completing the application in Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

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

https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/organization-registration.

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

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is “ACTIVE.” SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.”

Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain an UEI number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current.

Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, and EIN are up to date in SAM and that the UEI number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient having a current SAM registration.

II. HELP WITH SAM

The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration (GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

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

AOR:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/organization-registration https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

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

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

8. Submitting the Application

Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required as described in Section D.10 of this NOFO, “Content and Form of Application Submission.” The Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family). Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the application. Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives your application.

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application Submission” under Section D of this NOFO.

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the AOR role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application.

Applicants who experience system-related issues will be addressed until 3:00 PM ET on the date applications are due. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO.

The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction) o For construction under an award, submit SF-424C, Budget Information (Construction), in addition to or instead of SF- 424A

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction) o For construction under an award, submit SF-424D, Standard Assurances (Construction), in addition to or instead of SF-424B

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

The following program-specific forms or information are required to be submitted in

FEMA GO:

• A Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF capitalization grant application form. The application, together with the applicant’s current FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan, must document an assessment of recurring major disaster vulnerabilities impacting the applicant that demonstrate a risk to life and property.

The application and Hazard Mitigation Plan should also include a proposal of the systematic and regional approach to achieve resilience in a vulnerable area. If this information is not in the current approved Hazard Mitigation Plan, an applicant may provide additional relevant vulnerability assessment information within the capitalization grant application form.

• A link to access the applicant’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. If the Hazard Mitigation Plan is not publicly available online, applicants may contact FEMA- STORMRLF@fema.dhs.gov to coordinate submission of their Hazard Mitigation Plan.

• An Intended Use Plan. The Intended Use Plan must be provided to the public for review and comment before it is submitted with the application. The Intended Use Plan provides information to FEMA, potential loan recipients, and other interested parties on goals for the entity loan fund and the applicant’s approach to programmatic and financial administration of the loan fun.

At a minimum, the Intended Use Plan must address each of the criteria in 42 U.S.C. § 5135(g)(2) and the following topics:

o how the entity will apply interest rates (not to exceed 1%);

o loan amortization schedules and repayment timelines;

o requirements for repayment sources;

o the entity’s approach to fees;

o the entity’s criteria and methods for selecting and awarding loans;

https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family mailto:FEMA-STORMRLF@fema.dhs.gov o how the entity will ensure loan funds are distributed to local governments with the greatest financial need; and o the process for management of the loan fund.

FEMA will review the applicant’s Intended Use Plan to ensure it is developed in accordance with the requirements outlined in 42 U.S.C. § 5135(g). The Intended Use Plan must address each of the criteria set forth at 42 U.S.C. § 5135(g)(2) and must establish the criteria and methods for loan distribution. The Intended Use Plan must establish the applicant’s plan to target distribution of loan funds to local governments with the greatest financial need and how they will support the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of loan funds flow to disadvantaged communities.

The Intended Use Plan should provide enough information to inform FEMA that the applicant is sufficiently prepared to administer the revolving loan fund as soon as the capitalization grant is awarded. Entities will be required to update their Intended Use Plan on an annual basis to ensure continued compliance with statutory requirements.

• A Project Proposal List that complies with 42 U.S.C. § 5135(b). The Project Proposal List should contain information on the project proposals received from local governments to which the entity may award loans. Potential loan recipients must be within the entity’s jurisdiction and the entity must have legal authority to provide a loan to the proposed loan recipient6. Proposed projects must be an allowable project type or activity as described in Section D.12.b of this NOFO.

Only projects on the entity’s Project Proposal List may receive a loan from the entity loan fund. The Project Proposal List should identify how the proposed projects conform to the Hazard Mitigation Plan of the applicant and the local government. Local governments that receive a loan under the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program must have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 at the time the loan agreement is executed unless the loan is for Hazard Mitigation Planning activities.

A well-developed Project Proposal List allows an entity to focus limited loan funds to the local governments most in need of financial assistance, to promote equity, and to prioritize loans for projects ready for financing. A benefit-cost analysis is not required as part of the Project Proposal List.

• Documentation that the applicant provided the Intended Use Plan for public comment and review pursuant to 42 U.S.C.