Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DHS-26-NPD-146-00-99
- Agency
-
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,900,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Education
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- FEMA GO Help Desk femago@fema.dhs.gov (877) 585-3242
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is awarding a $1.9 million grant to develop and deliver unmanned aircraft systems training curriculum for emergency managers and first responders, with applications due July 31, 2026. Eligibility is restricted to Mississippi State University's ASSURE center, though subapplicants and subawards are permitted. Management and administration costs are capped at 5 percent of the award; indirect costs are allowable. The single award carries a three-year period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.
FEMA seeks training solutions addressing preparedness gaps in safe and compliant UAS employment before, during, and after disasters. Training must span awareness, performance, planning, and management levels for state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management and first responder communities. Targeted UAS applications include preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence confirmation, flood level and structural damage analysis, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery.
Applicants must use the ADDIE instructional design model and the Kirkpatrick evaluation framework. Recipients must register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, submit applications through the FEMA Grants Outcomes system, and provide SF-424 forms, a Project Narrative with executive summary and program details, a detailed budget narrative, and proof of an active indirect cost rate agreement. FEMA maintains substantial involvement throughout the award lifecycle, including approval of course content, learning objectives, and training delivery methods. Compliance requirements include federal procurement standards, environmental planning and historic preservation review, quarterly financial reporting, semi-annual performance reports, and adherence to DHS Standard Terms and Conditions. The Assistance Listing number is 97.146.
Synopsis
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.
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