The U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program

Download the NOFO .

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.

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

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.  
11.  Performance Measures 

B.    Federal Award Information

1.    Available Funding for the NOFO 
2.    Period of Performance  
3.    Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s)
4.    Projected Period of Performance End Date(s)  
5.    Projected Budget Period(s)  
6.    Funding Instrument Type 

C.    Eligibility Information

1.    Eligible Applicants  
2.    Applicant Eligibility Criteria.  
3.    Subawards and Beneficiaries.  
   a.  Subaward Allowability.  
   b.  Subrecipient Eligibility.  
   c.  Other Subaward Information.  
   d.  Beneficiaries or Participants.  
4.    Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions.  
   a.  National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation.  
   b.  Public Alert and Warning Preparedness.  
   c.  Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership.  
5.    Cost Share or Match. 

D.    Application and Submission Information

1.    Key Dates and Times.  
   a.  Application Start Date:  04/16/2024.  
   b.  Application Submission Deadline: 06/24/2024 at 5 p.m. ET..  
   c.  Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than August 23, 2024.  
   d.  Anticipated Award Date:   No later than September 30, 2024.  
   e.  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.  Pre-Award Costs.  
   c.  Management and Administration (M&A) Costs.  
   d.  Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs.  
   e.  Evaluation Costs  
   f.  Other Direct Costs.  
   g.  Unallowable Costs. 

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.  Initial Review..  
   b.  Overall Review.. 

F.    Federal Award Administration Information

1.    Notice of Award.  
2.    Pass-Through Requirements  
3.    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.  National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation.  
   e.  Mandatory Disclosures  
4.    Reporting.  
5.    Monitoring and Oversight 

G.    DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1.    Contact and Resource Information.  
   a.  Program Office Contact  
   b.  FEMA Grants News  
   c.  Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division.  
   d.  FEMA Regional Offices.  
   e.  Equal Rights.  
f.  Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation.  
2.    Systems Information.  
   a.  FEMA GO..  
   b.  FEMA Preparedness Toolkit 

H.    Additional Information

1.    Termination Provisions  
   a.  Noncompliance.  
   b.  With the Consent of the Recipient  
   c.  Notification by the Recipient  
2.    Program Evaluation.  
3.    Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure.  
   a.  Build America, Buy America Act  
   b.  Waivers.  
   c.  Definitions.  
4.    Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse.  
5.    State Housing Strategy.  
6.    State-Administered Direct Housing Implementation.  
7.    Appendices.  
   a.  EMPG Program Work Plan.  
   b.  EMPG Requirements Matrix.  
 

A.  Program Description

1.   Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

2.   Assistance Listings Number 

 97.042

3.   Assistance Listings Title

Emergency Management Performance Grants

4.   Funding Opportunity Title 

Fiscal Year 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program

5.   Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-GPD-042-01-99

6.   Authorizing Authority for Program

Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), as amended, (Pub. L. No. 109-295) (6 U.S.C. § 762); the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.); the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as amended (Pub. L. No. 95-124) (42 U.S.C. §§ 7701 et seq.); and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended (Pub. L. No. 90448) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.). 

7.   Appropriation Authority for Program

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47, Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (2024 DHS Appropriations Act); Compact of Free Association Act of 2003, as amended (Pub. L. No. 108-188)[1]

8.   Announcement Type

Initial

9.   Program Category

Preparedness: Emergency Management

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

 a. Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program is one of the grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA’s focus on all-hazards emergency preparedness, including the evolving threats and risks associated with climate change. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS. 

Last year, 56 states and territories were awarded EMPG Program funding, as were two Compact of Free Association nations. For a full list of FY 2023 recipients, please refer to Information Bulletin (IB) 490a.

 b. Goals, Objectives. and Priorities

Goals: The goal of the FY 2024 EMPG Program is to provide funds to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies to implement the National Preparedness System (NPS) and to support the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) of a secure and resilient nation.

Objectives: The EMPG funds will address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community by meeting the following objectives: 

1. Building or sustaining those capabilities that are identified as high priority through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process and other relevant information sources (see Priorities section below); 
2. Closing capability gaps that are identified in the state or territory’s most recent SPR; and 
3. Building continuity capabilities to ensure governmental essential functions and services resilience 

DHS/FEMA requires EMPG Program recipients to complete a THIRA/SPR. Additional information on the THIRA/SPR process, including other NPS tools and resources, can be found at National Preparedness System | FEMA.gov and the Preparedness Grants Manual (FM-207-23-001). 

Priorities: All EMPG Program applicants are required to develop and submit a Work Plan as described in the appendix in Section H below. All EMPG Program Work Plans will require final approval by the applicable FEMA Regional Administrator (RA). Prior to submission, the applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to ensure that appropriate regional and state/territory priorities are effectively addressed in the Work Plan.

Priorities, and associated EMPG Program-funded projects, must be mutually agreed to by the recipient and RA. Identification of priorities and development of the EMPG Program Work Plan should involve a collaborative negotiation process through which a common set of priorities will emerge based on a combination of state/territory priorities, regional priorities, and national priorities (as outlined in the table below). State/territory priorities should be primarily driven by the THIRA/SPR process, as explained in the Objectives section above. Other relevant information sources, such as: 1) after-action reports (AARs) following exercises or real-world events; 2) audit and monitoring findings; 3) Hazard Mitigation Plans; and/or 4) other deliberate planning products may also be used to inform state/territory priorities. Additionally, states and territories are urged to consider the funding needs of local governments when developing their funding priorities. Regional priorities will be determined by the RA based on their unique knowledge of the region’s preparedness and emergency management needs, including broader insight into common capability gaps across the region and potential opportunities for economies of scale to capitalize on those commonalities. Regional priorities should also be based on an analysis of THIRA/SPR data and other information sources provided by the states/territories in their area(s) of responsibility. Ideally, all EMPG Program funded projects, as outlined in the approved FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan, will support the priorities identified through this approach.

Through the priority development and negotiation process, each region and state/territory should discuss state/territory, regional, and national priorities. Converging their processes for identifying priorities and reaching consensus on a common set of shared priorities helps the region and each state/territory to realize economies of scale. As a result of these negotiations, the region and state/territory should reach a consensus on three-to-five priorities each recipient will focus on addressing and improving in its EMPG Program Work Plan. 

Federal regulations outlined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200 require federal awarding agencies to measure recipient performance to show achievement of program goals and objectives, share lessons learned, improve program outcomes, and foster adoption of promising practices (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.301, Performance measurement). For FY 2024, there is a continuing emphasis on priorities-based investments. Additionally, recipients must set outcome-oriented performance goals for closing capability gaps related to the three-to-five agreed-upon priorities, aligning funding with high-priority strategic preparedness needs. An outcome-oriented approach will allow recipients to define success, benchmark their projects, and measure their progress in building capability. Recipients will be able to use this to generate a feedback cycle. If projects are not achieving desired outcomes, recipients will have a basis for revisiting plans and assessments and adjusting their projects and other investments. 

Finally, there is a continuing requirement that at least 87.5% of all projects that include Planning, Training, and/or Exercise deliverables align with closing capability gaps identified and documented in the state/territory’s most recent THIRA/SPR submission and other relevant information sources, as explained above. 

When developing state/territory priorities, applicants should also consider the following national priorities, which correspond directly to the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan  and are further described below:

• Equity;
• Climate Resilience; and
• Readiness

Equity

Underserved communities suffer disproportionately from disasters. Disasters compound the challenges faced by these communities and increase their risk to future disasters. By instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management and striving to meet the unique needs of underserved communities, the emergency management community can work to break this cycle of compounding risks and build a more resilient nation. 

Executive Order (EO) 13985 on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (January 20, 2021) defines equity as  “the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment,” and further defines underserved communities as “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life…such as Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American, Alaska Native and Indigenous, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, Middle Eastern, and North African persons. It also includes individuals who belong to communities that face discrimination… (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons)…” The EO definition of underserved communities also includes members of religious minorities, persons with disabilities, persons who live in rural areas, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. See Goal 1: Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan for additional information on this topic.

Equity in emergency management requires proactively prioritizing actions that reinforce cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as reflect the historical context of specific groups of people. To that end, states and territories are strongly encouraged to explore how EMPG Program-funded activities can address the needs of underserved, at-risk communities to help ensure consistent and systematic, fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals before, during, and after a disaster, consistent with applicable law. 

The focus on equity and investing in strategies that meet the needs of underserved communities will strengthen the whole of community system of emergency management. Substantial and ongoing prioritization of, and investment in, underserved communities is essential for the entire system to be effective and efficient. Engaging the whole community requires all members of the community to be part of the emergency management team, including representatives of underserved communities, diverse community members, social and community service groups and institutions, faith-based and disability advocacy groups, academia, professional associations, the private and nonprofit sectors, and government agencies that may not traditionally have been directly involved in emergency management. The whole community includes children; older adults; individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; those from religious, racial, and ethnically diverse backgrounds; people with limited English proficiency; and owners of animals including household pets and service animals. 

To the extent possible, equity considerations must be factored into all FY 2024 EMPG Program-funded investments across all national priority areas. Additionally, applicants are required to designate at least one project in their FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan and budget narrative that exclusively focuses on addressing equity considerations. 

Regarding environmental justice, EO 14096 Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, provides the federal government with a definition of environmental justice. Environmental justice means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

(i) are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and

(ii) have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

Climate Resilience

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing emergency managers today, and it will continue to shape the field of emergency management for the next several decades. To meet this challenge, the emergency management field needs to anticipate the increasing demands generated by more extreme and frequent disasters, from wildfires and coastal storms to inland flooding. Additionally, emergency managers must learn to manage and support climate-related emergencies such as drought and extreme heat. Natural disasters, worsened by the effects of climate change, often disproportionately affect people in underserved communities where weakened infrastructure, fewer resources, and less support invested in hazard mitigation can compound a disaster’s impact. Therefore, FEMA recommends that climate change and resilience considerations be cornerstones of how the nation builds resilient communities. Emergency managers at the federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels need to undertake targeted efforts to increase resilience, including climate resilience, for underserved individuals and communities.

Climate change has both acute and chronic impacts; communities must be resilient against threats as varied as extreme flooding, drought, hurricanes, and wildfires. Many communities are faced with aging infrastructure, which can increase risk from major disasters. As the frequency of these disasters accelerates, FEMA must increase climate adaptation investments across the nation. To have the greatest impact, FEMA encourages smart investments in system-based, community-wide projects to protect those with the most severe and persistent risk. Communities can better target investments to the most transformational projects when they better understand the unique risks posed by climate change.

The future disaster environment will not resemble that of the past, or even what is experienced today. To build long-term resilience, communities must understand their future risk and have the resources and capacity to reduce that risk. Even within the same geographic area, different communities will face differing levels of risk due to their unique demographic, economic, and physical characteristics. It is important for the emergency management community to develop capacity to access and interpret accurate information about this localized risk, specifically in light of future conditions. This information will help communities better understand their own risks and identify the most appropriate resilience actions. See Goal 2: Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan  for additional information on this topic.

Climate resilience considerations will be a continued area of focus for FY 2025.

Readiness

As disasters become more frequent, severe, and complex, the demands placed upon the emergency management community, as well as federal resources, have increased dramatically. To adapt to this trend, FEMA and the emergency management community must expand our approach to readiness, preparedness, continuity, and resiliency by increasing the overall emergency management capabilities at all levels of government, as well as the private sector, the nonprofit sector, and among individuals. The National Capability Targets provide a shared vision of the staff, expertise, tools, and resources required to build a prepared nation. Aligning state and local readiness plans to these targets will ensure agencies can continuously support the needs and priorities identified by whole community partners, in addition to continuity of government across all hazards.

Disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are not the responsibility of just one agency. Rather, these functions are a shared responsibility requiring coordination of federal agencies, private and social sectors, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and other partners. The ability to support communities begins with how emergency management agencies help them prepare before a disaster occurs. Through better coordination of pre-disaster programs, we can all help communities identify, prioritize, and plan to address their specific community-based threats, identify hazards and risks, and mitigate capability gaps. Together, federal assistance can be targeted to address areas of greatest national risk and increase support to the most at-risk communities. See Goal 3: Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan for additional information on this topic.

Additional Guidance on EMPG Program Priorities

Recognizing that every state and territory has its own unique preparedness and emergency management needs, the national priorities outlined above should inform the identification of state/territory priorities and regional priorities when developing the common set of mutual priorities as agreed upon by the RA and each state/territory. Ideally, the regional and state/territory priorities will complement and support the national priorities. In addition to the requirement that at least one project address equity considerations, the only other mandate stemming from these national priorities is the requirement for all EMPG Program recipients to develop and maintain a Distribution Management Plan as an annex to their existing Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). See the Logistics Planning section of the  Preparedness Grants Manual for additional details on this requirement.

Consistent with FY 2023, states and territories are encouraged to identify whether and how each project included in their EMPG Program Work Plan addresses equity-related considerations, or the impacts associated with climate change (as applicable). This guidance is in addition to the requirement that at least one project focus specifically on equity considerations. The reporting of this information will allow FEMA to better understand how states and territories are using EMPG Program funding to support equity and climate resilience. See the appendices of this NOFO for more information about the requirements for addressing these priorities in the EMPG Program Work Plan submission.

The table below provides a high-level breakdown of the national priority areas, the associated core capabilities, as well as examples of project types for each area. Please see Section D of this NOFO for more detailed information about allowable costs for projects.

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

Among the goals noted in theDHS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, the EMPG Program supports the goal to Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines a bold vision and three ambitious goals designed to address key challenges the agency faces during a pivotal moment in the field of emergency management. Wide-ranging and long-term, the goals defined in the plan respond to the changing landscape in which we find ourselves. The goals to meet this challenge are:

• Goal 1 - Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management
• Goal 2 - Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience
• Goal 3 - Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation

The EMPG Program supports all three of these goals from the strategic plan. The goals position FEMA to address the increasing range and complexity of disasters, support the diversity of communities we serve, and complement the nation’s growing expectations of the emergency management community. All EMPG Program recipients are encouraged to review the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan and consider how FY 2024 EMPG Program funding can be used to support the Plan’s goals and objectives as they apply to state/territory’s specific needs and the needs of the whole community.

We invite all stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

11. Performance Measures

Performance metrics for this program are as follows:

• Performance Measure 1: Percent of capability-building EMPG Program-funded projects that align to capability gaps identified by states, territories, and urban areas in their SPR submissions.
• Performance Measure 2: Percent of EMPG Program dollars spent on capability-building projects that align to capability gaps identified by states, territories, and urban areas in their SPR submissions.
• Performance Measure 3: Percent of capability-building EMPG Program-funded projects that address a core capability that has one or more targets rated as high priority. 
• Performance Measure 4: Percent of funding allocated to build or sustain capabilities in EMPG Program national priority areas and RA agreed-upon priority areas.
• Performance Measure 5: Percent of Planning, Training, and/or Exercise related projects that align with closing capability gaps identified and documented in the state/territory’s most recent THIRA/SPR submission, Mitigation Plan, AARs, Audit/Monitoring Findings, Continuity Assessments, or Other Deliberate Plans.

FEMA will analyze the above metrics through the review of state/territory SPR submissions, EMPG Program Work Plans, and required programmatic reports.

B.  Federal Award Information

1.   Available Funding for the NOFO:                                   $319,550,000

EMPG Program awards are based on section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as amended, (6 U.S.C. § 762). All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico receive a base amount of 0.75% of the total available funding appropriated for the EMPG Program. Four territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) receive a base amount of 0.25% of the total available funding appropriated for the EMPG Program. The remaining balance of the funds appropriated for the EMPG Program are distributed on a population-share basis. 

In addition to the $319.5 million available from the 2024 DHS Appropriations Act, FEMA will also make available $50,000 in total from the Disaster Relief Fund for the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement of the Compact of Free Association Act of 2003, as amended (Pub. L. No. 108-188). 

FY 2024 EMPG Program Full-Year and Supplemental Allocations

2.   Period of Performance:                                                     36 months

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to the Preparedness Grants Manual.

3.   Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s):               10/01/2023

4.   Projected Period of Performance End Date(s):                09/30/2026

5.   Projected Budget Period(s)

There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance. 

6.   Funding Instrument Type:                                                Grant 

C.  Eligibility Information

1.   Eligible Applicants

State or territorial governments (the State Administrative Agency [SAA] or the state’s Emergency Management Agency [EMA]). 

2.   Applicant Eligibility Criteria

All 56 states and territories, as well as the Republic of the Marshall Islands (collectively “state or territory”), are eligible to apply for FY 2024 EMPG Program funds. Either the SAA or the EMA is eligible to apply directly to FEMA for EMPG Program funds on behalf of each state or territory. However, only one application will be accepted from each state or territory. 

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

Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance. Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR of the recipient.  

 3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

 a. Subaward Allowability 

Subawards are allowed under the EMPG Program.

 b. Subrecipient Eligibility 

Eligible subrecipients are limited to state and territory government entities, tribes, and local units of government.

 c. Other Subaward Information   

Please see the following sections for additional information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients:

• Section C.4.a “National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation”;
• Section D.4 “Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for Award Management”;
• Section D.12.c “Management and Administration (M&A) Costs”;
• Section D.12.d “Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs”;
• Section D.12.f “Other Direct Costs”;
• Section F.2 “Pass-Through Requirements”;
• Section F.3.b “Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights”;
• Section F.5 “Monitoring and Oversight”;
• Section G.1.f “Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation”;
• Section H.1 “Terminations Provisions”; 
• Section H.2 “Program Evaluation”;
• Section H.3 “Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure”; and
• Section 7.a “EMPG Program Work Plan.”

Additionally, please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for further information on requirements or restrictions related to subawards/subrecipients.

 d. Beneficiaries or Participants 

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

4.   Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions 

a.   National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training .

Relatedly, as a post-award requirement for FY 2024, all recipients and subrecipients in the 50 states and the District of Columbia must work toward achieving the Phase 2 National Qualification System (NQS) implementation objectives and must, at a minimum, execute the Implementation Plan they developed last year as part of the Phase 1 NQS Implementation Objectives. All other jurisdictions (including territories and FY 2024 EMPG Program subrecipients) are required to work toward implementation of NQS by developing an Implementation Plan.

Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on NIMS and NQS implementation requirements.

b.   Public Alert and Warning Preparedness

When applying EMPG funding to exercises, grant recipients and subrecipients shall include exercise objectives centered on practicing and validating their plans and procedures for sending emergency alerts to the public through the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Exercise objectives for public alert and warning should include practice of analysis and decision-making in sending an alert to the public; public alert message writing; procedures for coordination, review, and approval to send the alert; and practice in sending an alert though the IPAWS. Moreover, recipients should clearly outline how they will integrate public alert and warning tests into preparedness efforts and broader exercises. This may include detailed plans for integration and application of the IPAWS Exercise Starter Kit for emergency management planning, completion of training on the IPAWS Message Design Dashboard (MDD) alert message writing tool, and/or plans for incorporating routine IPAWS public alert testing, drills, and exercises as part of overarching preparedness initiatives. Recipients and subrecipients should develop After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans following drills and exercises that identify gaps and successes, and define changes to continue to improve their capabilities to alert the public during emergent incidents that present a risk to the safety of the people and property in their communities. Additional information on IPAWS, including best practices, is available at Integrated Public Alert & Warning System | FEMA.gov.

c.   Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Membership

In support of the Goal, EMPG Program recipients must belong to, be located in, or act as an EMAC temporary member state, except for American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which are not currently subject to these requirements. All assets supported in part or entirely with FY 2024 EMPG Program funding must, where applicable, be readily deployable to support emergency or disaster operations per existing EMAC agreements. 

d. Government Continuity Capabilities Planning 

Recipients are expected to work toward developing continuity plans for the assured performance of government essential functions and services as well as associated supporting activities. These plans should be consistent with the Continuity Guidance Circular and associated Continuity Assessment Tool. For additional information on continuity programs, guidance, and technical assistance, refer to the FEMA Continuity Resource Toolkit or contact FEMA at FEMA-CGC@fema.dhs.gov.

5.   Cost Share or Match

The FY 2024 EMPG Program has a cost-share requirement. The recipient contribution can be cash (hard match) or third-party in-kind (soft match). Eligible EMPG Program applicants shall agree to make available non-federal funds to carry out an EMPG Program award in an amount not less than 50% of the total project cost. In other words, the federal share applied toward the EMPG Program budget shall not exceed 50% of the total budget as submitted in the application and approved in the award. If the total project ends up costing more, the recipient is responsible for any additional costs; if the total project ends up costing less, the recipient may owe FEMA an amount required to ensure that the federal cost share is not in excess of 50%. A state must at least equally match (cash or third party in-kind) the federal contribution pursuant to sections 611(j) and 613(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L. No. 93-288), as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.). Unless otherwise authorized by law, federal funds cannot be matched with other federal funds. The recipient’s contribution should be specifically identified. These non-federal contributions have the same eligibility requirements as the federal share. 

DHS/FEMA administers cost-matching requirements in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306.  To meet matching requirements, the recipient contributions must be verifiable, reasonable, allowable, allocable, necessary under the grant program, and in compliance with all applicable federal requirements and regulations.   

For example, if the federal award were at a 50% cost share and the total approved budget cost was $100,000, then: 

• Federal share is 50% of $100,000 = $50,000 
• Recipient share is 50% of $100,000 = $50,000 

However, with this example, if the total cost ended up being $120,000, the federal share would remain at 50% of the total approved budget at the time of application of $100,000, or $50,000. If the total cost ended up being $80,000, then the 50% federal share would decrease to $40,000, and the recipient cost share would be $40,000. 

In accordance with 48 U.S.C. § 1469a, cost-match requirements are waived for the insular areas of the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

D.  Application and Submission Information

1.   Key Dates and Times

a.         Application Start Date:                       04/16/2024

b.         Application Submission Deadline:     06/24/2024 at 5 p.m. 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 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. 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, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Preparedness Officer or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c.   Anticipated Funding Selection Date:     No later than August 23, 2024

d.   Anticipated Award Date:                         No later than September 30, 2024

e.   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/.

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:

1. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission. 
2. Provide a valid UEI in its application.
3. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process. Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.300, subrecipients are NOT required to go through the full SAM registration process. First-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to obtain a UEI through SAM, but they are not required to complete the full SAM registration in order to obtain a UEI. Recipients may not make subawards unless the subrecipient has obtained and provided the UEI.

Lower-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds passed through by a higher-tier subrecipient) are not required to have a UEI and are not required to register in SAM. Applicants are also not permitted to require subrecipients to complete a full registration in SAM beyond obtaining the UEI.

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:

1. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service; 
2. In the application, provide an UEI number;
3. Have an account with login.gov;
4. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;
5. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the 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/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup;
6. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and
7. 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(c)(2)(iii), 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 fema-grants-news@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 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

1. 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, and an active SAM registration 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. 

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 FEMA GO must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent an applicant from completing the application in FEMA GO. 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://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm. 

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’s 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: 

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/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/startup.

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

·          Google Chrome

·          Internet Explorer

·          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 https://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

a.   Standard Required Application Forms and Information

Generally, applicants have to submit either the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B) or construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D), meaning that applicants that only have construction work and do not have any non-construction work need only submit the construction forms (i.e., SF-424C and SF-424D) and not the non-construction forms (i.e., SF-424A and SF-424B), and vice versa. However, applicants who have both construction and non-construction work under this program need to submit both the construction and non-construction forms. 

The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. They are incorporated into the FEMA GO application module and therefore, do not need to be submitted as separate attachments. The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://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 information is required to be submitted as an attachment in FEMA GO: 

• EMPG Program Work Plan.

i.    EMPG Program Work Plan

All EMPG Program applicants must develop and submit a Work Plan. All EMPG Program Work Plans will require final approval by the RA. Before submitting the EMPG Program Work Plan, the applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to ensure that the common set of agreed-upon priorities, as explained in the Priorities section above, are properly addressed in the EMPG Program Work Plan. All EMPG Program applicants are strongly encouraged to use the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template provided on Grants.gov to submit the required Work Plan, which outlines the state or territory’s emergency management sustainment and enhancement efforts, including new and ongoing activities and projects, proposed for the EMPG Program period of performance. 

Regions can request additional budget detail information, if necessary, to ensure the proposed projects and associated costs are in alignment with the agreed-upon priorities, address the identified need/capability gaps, and are in compliance with the cost principles.

See the EMPG Program Work Plan appendix in Section H below for additional information on Work Plan requirements. 

11. 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; Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

EMPG Program recipients may only fund projects and activities that are included and approved in the Work Plan. All costs charged to awards covered by this NOFO must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO, the terms and conditions of the award, or the Preparedness Grants Manual. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered, within the period of performance of the award. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h) (referring to budget periods, which for FEMA awards under this program is the same as the period of performance).

Federal funds made available through this award may be used for the purpose set forth in this NOFO, the Preparedness Grants Manual, and the terms and conditions of the 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 awards, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal Government or any other government entity. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on funding restrictions and allowable costs.

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

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on prohibitions on expending FEMA award funds for covered telecommunications equipment or services.

b.   Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are allowable only with the prior written approval of DHS/FEMA and if they are included in the award agreement. To request pre-award costs, a written request must be included with the application and be signed by the AOR. The request letter must outline what the pre-award costs are for, including a detailed budget break-out of pre-award costs from the post-award costs and a justification for approval.  

c.   Management and Administration (M&A) Costs 

M&A activities are those defined as directly relating to the management and administration of EMPG Program funds, such as financial management, reporting, and program and financial monitoring. Some examples of M&A costs include grants management training for M&A staff, equipment and supplies for M&A staff to administer the EMPG Program grant, travel costs for M&A staff to attend conferences or training related to the EMPG Program, travel costs for the M&A staff to conduct subrecipient monitoring, contractual services to support the M&A staff with M&A activities, and auditing costs related to the grant award to the extent required or permitted by statute or 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Characteristics of M&A expenses can include the following: 1) direct costs that are incurred to administer a particular Federal award; 2) identifiable and unique to each Federal award; 3) charged based on the activity performed for that particular Federal award; and 4) not duplicative of the same costs that are included in the approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable. It should be noted that salaries of state and local emergency managers are not typically categorized as M&A costs, unless the state or local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) chooses to assign personnel to specific M&A activities. In this case, personnel and fringe benefits for M&A costs are allowable. 

M&A costs are allowed for both states and territories and local-level EMAs. A state or territory EMA may use up to 5% of the EMPG Program award for M&A purposes. In addition, local EMAs may retain and use up to 5% of the amount they receive from the state for local M&A purposes. If the SAA is not the state or territory-level EMA, the SAA is not eligible to retain funds for M&A costs.

M&A costs are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports. They are directly related to managing and administering the award, such as financial management, reporting, and program and financial monitoring. It should be noted that salaries of state and local emergency managers are not typically categorized as M&A costs unless the state or local EMA chooses to assign personnel to specific M&A activities. 

d.   Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs 

Indirect (F&A) costs (IDC) mean those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. IDC are allowable by the recipient and subrecipients as described in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to the FEMA Point of Contact for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards. For information on procedures for establishing indirect cost rates, see the Preparedness Grants Manual.

i.    Unrecovered Indirect Costs

In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306(c) “[u]nrecovered indirect costs, including indirect costs on cost sharing or matching may be included as part of cost sharing or matching only with the prior approval of the Federal awarding agency. Unrecovered indirect cost means the difference between the amount charged to the Federal award and the amount which could have been charged to the Federal award under the non-Federal entity’s approved negotiated indirect cost rate.” Therefore, unrecovered indirect costs may be applied to meet cost share requirements of the EMPG Program grant with the approval of the Regional Grants Division. To meet the cost sharing requirements, the recipient’s indirect costs contributions must be verifiable, reasonable, allocable, necessary, and otherwise allowable under the grant program, and in compliance with all applicable Federal requirements and regulations.

e.   Evaluation Costs

Evaluation costs are allowable. See Section H.2 “Program Evaluation” for more details.  

f.    Other Direct Costs

Direct costs generally need to fit within one of the categories listed below. For costs that do not explicitly fit within one of the mentioned categories, recipients should consult their Regional EMPG Program Manager to determine whether the cost is allowable under the award. In addition to the descriptions and references below, applicants should refer to the Preparedness Grants Manual.

i.    Planning

Planning costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual. 

Planning spans all five mission areas of the Goal and provides a methodical way to engage the whole community in the development of a strategic, operational, and/or community-based approach to preparedness. EMPG Program funds may be used to develop or enhance emergency management planning activities. Some examples are included below. 

Emergency Operations Plan

1. Maintaining a current EOP that is aligned with guidelines set out in Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans; 
2. Modifying existing incident management and emergency operations plans; and 
3. Developing/enhancing large-scale and catastrophic event incident plans. 

Communications Plans 

1. Developing and updating Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans; and 
2. Developing and updating Tactical Interoperability Communications Plans. 

Administrative Plans

1. Developing/enhancing financial and administrative procedures for use before, during, and after disaster events in support of a comprehensive emergency management program. 

Whole Community Engagement/Planning 

1. Developing or enhancing mutual aid agreements/compacts, including required membership in EMAC;
2. Developing/enhancing emergency operations plans to integrate citizen/volunteer and other Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) resources and participation; and
3. Integrating program design and delivery practices that ensure representation and services for underrepresented, diverse populations that may be more impacted by disasters, including children, seniors, individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs, individuals with diverse culture and language use, individuals with lower economic capacity, and other underserved populations.

Resource Management Planning

1. Developing/enhancing logistics and resource management plans; and
2. Developing/enhancing volunteer and/or donations management plans.

Shelter and Evacuation Planning 

1. Developing/enhancing sheltering and evacuation plans, including plans for alerts/warning, crisis communications, pre-positioning of equipment for areas potentially impacted by mass evacuations, and re-entry.

Recovery Planning 

1. Disaster housing planning, such as creating/supporting a state disaster housing task force and developing/enhancing state disaster housing plans;
2. Pre-event response, recovery, and mitigation plans in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments; and
3. Developing/enhancing other response and recovery plans Developing recovery plans and preparedness programs consistent with the principles and guidance in the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) that will provide the foundation for recovery programs and whole community partnerships. Preparedness and pre-disaster planning were given special attention within the NDRF with specific guidance: Planning for a Successful Disaster Recovery (pages 63-70). For more information on the NDRF see National Disaster Recovery Framework.

Continuity Planning

Continuity planning and operations are an inherent element of each core capability. Continuity operations increase resilience and the probability that organizations can perform essential functions. FEMA develops and promulgates Federal Continuity Directives (FCDs) to establish continuity program and planning requirements for executive departments and agencies and Continuity Guidance Circulars (CGCs) for SLTT governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators. This direction and guidance assist in developing capabilities for continuing the essential functions of federal, state, local, tribal, territorial governmental entities as well as the public/private critical infrastructure owners, operators, and regulators enabling them. 

Presidential Policy 40, FCD 1, FCD 2, and the CGC outline the overarching continuity requirements and guidance for organizations and provide guidance, methodology, and checklists. For additional information on continuity programs, guidance, directives, and available technical assistance, refer to the Continuity Resource Toolkit. 

Allowable continuity planning activities include the development of the following: 

1. Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government planning products for the continuance of essential functions and associated leadership; 
2. Continuity Assessment Tool-Based evaluations of continuity programs capability;
3. Risk-based needs assessments based on the THIRA to inform risk mitigation efforts to ensure the continuity of essential functions and associated leadership; and 
4. Public and private sector outreach and messaging regarding continuity resilience benefits and strategies.

ii.   Organization

Organization costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual. 

Per the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93-288, as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207), EMPG Program funds may be used for all-hazards emergency management operations, staffing, and other day-to-day activities in support of emergency management, including hazard mitigation staffing of the State Hazard Mitigation Officer position; staffing CERT and Citizen Corps positions at the state and local levels to promote whole community engagement in all phases of emergency management; performing closeout activities on FEMA disaster assistance grants; staffing permanent technical advisors on children’s needs at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels; staffing Continuity Coordinators and Managers to lead and coordinate development and integration of continuity readiness across all governmental levels and the private sector; and supporting fusion center analysts who are directly involved in all-hazards preparedness activities as defined by the Stafford Act. Proposed staffing activities should be linked to accomplishing the activities outlined in the EMPG Program Work Plan. Recipients are encouraged to fund at least one dedicated Planner, Training Officer, and Exercise Officer. Personnel costs, including salary, overtime, compensatory time off, and associated fringe benefits, are allowable EMPG Program costs and must comply with 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles.

Federal (and Mutual Aid) Emergency Response Official (F/ERO) Credentialing and Validation 

The following costs related to F/ERO credentialing and validation are allowable under the EMPG Program:

1. Working group meetings and conferences relating to emergency responder credentialing and validation; 
2. Compiling data to enter into an emergency responder repository; 
3. Coordinating with other state, local, territorial, and tribal partners to ensure interoperability among existing and planned credentialing and validation systems and equipment; and
4. Planning to incorporate emergency responder identity and credential validation into training and exercises. 

Organizational Clothing Costs for Emergency Management Personnel

There may be a need for emergency management personnel to wear clothing that clearly identifies their agency, organizational function, and responsibilities when carrying out their official emergency-related duties. EMPG funding may be used to purchase organizational clothing for full-time emergency management personnel who may be deployed for emergency operations, including when:

1. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated; 
2. Emergency management personnel are deployed in the field to conduct damage assessments and response and recovery operations; 
3. Assisting in and delivering official emergency management training and exercises, and; 
4. Providing public information briefs and interviews on behalf of their emergency management agency.

The state or territory emergency management agency should maintain an inventory of such clothing and uniforms to allow for issuance to other personnel who may be deployed for emergency operations.

In addition: 

1. EMPG funding may not be used to purchase clothing that would be used for everyday wear by emergency management employees or other personnel; and
2. Clothing, uniforms, undergarments, jackets, vests, etc. are also allowable for CERT members as listed on the Authorized Equipment List (AEL): 21GN-00-CCEQ | FEMA.gov.

For a complete list of other eligible clothing and protective gear allowable for purchase with EMPG funding, applicants, recipients and FEMA staff are encouraged to refer to the AEL website for the most up to-date information: Authorized Equipment List | FEMA.gov.

iii. Equipment

Equipment costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual.

Allowable equipment categories for the EMPG Program are listed in the AEL. Unless otherwise stated, equipment must meet all mandatory regulatory and/or FEMA-adopted standards to be eligible for purchase using these funds. In addition, agencies will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all necessary certifications and licenses for the requested equipment. Allowable equipment includes equipment from the following AEL categories: 

1. Personal Protective Equipment (Category 1);
2. Information Technology (Category 4);
3. Cybersecurity Enhancement Equipment (Category 5);
4. Interoperable Communications Equipment (Category 6);
5. Detection Equipment (Category 7);
6. Power Equipment (Category 10);
7. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Reference Materials (Category 11); 
8. CBRNE Incident Response Vehicles (Category 12);
9. Physical Security Enhancement Equipment (Category 14);
10. CBRNE Logistical Support Equipment (Category 19); and 
11. Other Authorized Equipment (Category 21).

In addition to the above, general-purpose vehicles may be procured in order to carry out the responsibilities of the EMPG Program. 

If recipients have questions concerning the eligibility of equipment not specifically addressed in the AEL, they should contact their Regional EMPG Program Manager for clarification. Applicants should analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, especially high-cost items and those subject to rapid technical advances. Large equipment purchases must be identified and explained. For more information regarding property management standards for equipment, please reference 2 C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.310, 200.313, and 200.316. Also see 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.471, and FEMA Policy #405- 143-1, Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services, or successor policy, regarding prohibitions on covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Recipients using EMPG Program funds to support emergency communications equipment activities must comply with the SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants, including provisions on technical standards that ensure and enhance interoperable communications. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information.

In general, with exception of critical emergency supplies and the associated inventory management plan, equipment included in the AEL may be purchased without separate approval from FEMA. However, as with all grant-funded activities, the equipment purchase must be well justified and reasonable. Furthermore, the purchase must be supported by the approved Work Plan. If the equipment is not clearly supported by the approved Work Plan, the recipient must seek advance approval from the applicable FEMA Regional Grant Program Office prior to purchasing the equipment, and an updated Work Plan may be required. 

FEMA will consider requests to purchase equipment that is not listed in the AEL on a case-by-case basis. Such requests should be submitted in writing to the applicable FEMA Regional Grant Program Office. FEMA’s review and approval of such requests will involve both the FEMA regional office and headquarters program staff to ensure nationwide consistency in the decision-making process and to support any necessary updates to the AEL.

Costs associated with the development and maintenance of fixed and mobile contingency communications and information systems as well as investments in hardening and other resilience strategies to ensure the continuance of essential government functions and services are allowed.

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and critical emergency supply costs are also allowable under this program. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information. Additional information and requirements applicable to sUAS purchases can be found in the AEL at 03OE-07-SUAS.

iv. Training and Exercises

Training and exercise costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual. 

EMPG Program funds may be used for a range of emergency management-related training activities to enhance the capabilities of state and local emergency management personnel through the establishment, support, conduct, and attendance of training. Training activities should align to a current, multi-year Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) developed through an annual Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop (IPPW) and build from training gaps identified in the THIRA/SPR process. Further guidance concerning the IPP and the IPPW can be found at Preparedness Toolkit Program Management Templates. Training should: 

1. Foster the development of a community-oriented approach to emergency management that emphasizes engagement at the community level; 
2. Strengthen best practices; and 
3. Provide a path toward building sustainable resilience.

Allowable training-related costs include the following: 

1. Funds Used to Develop, Deliver, and Evaluate Training: Includes costs related to administering training, such as planning, scheduling, facilities, materials and supplies, reproduction of materials, and equipment. Training should provide the opportunity to demonstrate and validate skills learned, as well as to identify any gaps in these skills. Any training or training gaps, including those for children and individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs, should be identified in the multi-year IPP and addressed in the training cycle. States are encouraged to use existing training rather than developing new courses. When developing new courses, states are encouraged to apply the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model for instructional design. More information is available at NTED | Training Resource Development Center; 
2. Overtime and Backfill: Overtime costs, including payments related to backfilling personnel, that are the direct result of attendance at FEMA and/or approved training courses and programs are allowable. These costs are allowed only to the extent the payment for such services is in accordance with the policies of the state or unit(s) of local government and has the approval of the state or FEMA, whichever is applicable. In no case is dual compensation allowable. That is, an employee of a unit of government may not receive compensation from their unit or agency of government and from an award for a single period of time (e.g., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), even though such work may benefit both activities;
3. Travel: Travel costs (e.g., airfare, mileage, per diem, and hotel) are allowable as expenses by employees who are on travel status for official business related to approved training. International travel is not an allowable cost under this program unless approved in advance by FEMA; 
4. Hiring of Full- or Part-Time Staff or Contractors/Consultants: Full- or part-time staff or contractors/consultants may be hired to support direct training-related activities. Hiring of contractors/consultants must follow the applicable federal procurement requirements at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317-200.327. Payment of salaries and fringe benefits must be in accordance with the policies of the state or unit(s) of local government and have the approval of the state or FEMA, whichever is applicable; and 
5. Certification/Recertification of Instructors: Costs associated with the certification and recertification of instructors are allowed. States are encouraged to follow the FEMA Instructor Quality Assurance Program to ensure a minimum level of competency and corresponding levels of evaluation of student learning. This is particularly important for those courses that involve training of trainers.

Additional types of allowable training or training-related activities include, but are not limited to: 

1. Developing/enhancing systems to monitor training programs; 
2. Conducting all-hazards emergency management training;
3. Attending EMI training or delivering EMI train-the-trainer courses; 
4. Attending other FEMA-approved emergency management training;
5. State-approved, locally sponsored CERT training;
6. Participating in FEMA Continuity Excellence Service Certificate Program activities; and 
7. Mass evacuation training at local, state, territorial and tribal level.

Allowable exercise-related costs include:

1. Funds Used to Design, Develop, Conduct and Evaluate Preparedness Exercises: This includes costs related to planning, meeting space and other meeting costs, facilitation costs, materials and supplies, travel, and documentation. Recipients are encouraged to use free public space/locations/facilities whenever available prior to the rental of space/locations/facilities. Exercises should provide the opportunity to demonstrate and validate skills learned, as well as to identify any gaps in these skills. Gaps identified during an exercise, including those for children and individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs, should be included in the AAR/IP and addressed in the exercise cycle; 
2. Hiring of Full- or Part-Time Staff or Contractors/Consultants: Full- or part-time staff may be hired to support direct exercise activities. Payment of salaries and fringe benefits must be in accordance with the policies of the state or unit(s) of local government and have the approval of the state or FEMA, whichever is applicable. The services of contractors/consultants may also be procured to support the design, development, conduct, and evaluation of exercises. Hiring of contractors/consultants must follow the applicable federal procurement requirements at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317-200.327;
3. Overtime and Backfill: The entire amount of overtime costs, including payments related to backfilling personnel, that are the direct result of time spent on the design, development and conduct of exercises are allowable expenses. These costs are allowed only to the extent the payment for such services is in accordance with the policies of the state or unit(s) of local government and has the approval of the state or FEMA, whichever is applicable. Dual compensation is never allowable, meaning, in other words, that an employee of a unit of government may not receive compensation from their unit or agency of government and from an award for a single period of time (e.g., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), even though their work may benefit both entities;
4. Travel: Travel costs (e.g., airfare, mileage, per diem, hotel) are allowable as expenses by employees who are on travel status for official business related to the planning and conduct of the exercise activities;
5. Supplies: Supplies are items that are expended or consumed while planning and conducting the exercise activities (e.g., gloves, non-sterile masks, and disposable protective equipment);
6. HSEEP Implementation: This refers to costs related to developing and maintaining an exercise program consistent with HSEEP; and 
7. Other Items: These costs are limited to items consumed in direct support of exercise activities, such as space/locations rentals for planning and conducting an exercise, equipment rentals (e.g., portable toilets, tents), food/refreshments, and the procurement of other essential nondurable goods.

Costs associated with inclusive practices and the provision of reasonable accommodations and modifications that facilitate full access for children and adults with disabilities are allowable.

Unauthorized exercise-related costs include:

1. Reimbursement for maintenance and/or wear and tear costs of general use vehicles (e.g., construction vehicles) and emergency response apparatus (e.g., fire trucks, ambulances). The only vehicle costs that are reimbursable are fuel/gasoline or mileage;
2. Equipment that is purchased for permanent installation and/or use beyond the scope of exercise conduct (e.g., electronic messaging signs); and
3. Durable and nondurable goods purchased for installation and/or use beyond the scope of exercise conduct.

v.   Travel

Domestic travel costs are allowed under this program, as provided for in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual. International travel is not an allowable cost under this program unless approved in advance by FEMA. 

vi. Construction and Renovation

Construction and renovation costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual. All proposed construction and renovation activities must undergo an Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) review, including approval of the review from FEMA, before undertaking any action related to the project. Failure of a grant recipient to meet these requirements may jeopardize Federal funding.

Construction and renovation projects for a state, local, tribal, or territorial government’s principal Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as defined by the SAA, as well as costs associated with the development and maintenance of capabilities such as alternate sites and associated fixed and mobile communications and information systems as well as investments in hardening and other resilience strategies to ensure the continuance of essential government functions and services are allowable under the EMPG Program. FEMA must provide written approval prior to the use of any EMPG Program funds for construction or renovation. Requests for EMPG Program funds for construction of an EOC must be accompanied by an EOC Investment Justification (located in the Related Documents tab of the EMPG Program Grants.gov posting) to their Regional EMPG Program Manager for review. Additionally, recipients are required to submit a SF-424C Form, SF-424D Form, and Budget detail citing the project costs.

The above examples are not intended to exclude other construction projects as potentially allowable costs. For example, construction of a facility for the storage and distribution of critical emergency supplies and/or to serve as a staging area for deployment of emergency response resources is potentially an allowable expense. Other construction or renovation projects, such as a secondary or local EOC, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as described below in the guidance regarding advance written approval.

Advance Approval Requirement

Recipients must receive advance written approval from FEMA prior to the use of any annual EMPG Program funds for construction or renovation, including such activities at the subrecipient level. Such costs would need to fall within the scope of the recipient’s final approved Work Plan, otherwise an updated Work Plan may be required. Such requests should be submitted in writing to the applicable FEMA Regional Grant Program Office. FEMA’s review and approval will involve both the regional office and the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate. 

Real Property Use and Disposition Requirements

Real property improved under a federal award falls under the 2 C.F.R. Part 200 guidance for real property. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.311, a recipient or subrecipient may only use real property acquired or improved under a federal award for the originally authorized purpose, as long as it is needed for that purpose, during which time the recipient or subrecipient must not dispose of or encumber its title or other interests. However, upon the end of that period where it needs the property for the originally authorized purpose (i.e., the functional use of the property for which FEMA awarded the grant), the recipient or subrecipient will then dispose of the property in keeping with the requirements set forth in 2 C.F.R. § 200.311. When a grant-funded property is no longer needed for the originally authorized purpose, the recipient or subrecipient (through the pass-through entity) must obtain disposition instructions from the cognizant FEMA Regional Administrator or the pass-through entity. For additional information on this, see Information Bulletin 458a, Clarifying Guidance for the Annual Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the FY 2020 COVID-19 EMPG Supplemental (EMPG-S) Programs. 

Construction of Communication Towers

When applying for funds to construct communication towers, recipients and subrecipients must submit evidence that the Federal Communication Commission’s Section 106 review process has been completed and submit all documentation resulting from that review to FEMA prior to submitting materials for EHP review. Recipients and subrecipients are also encouraged to have completed as many steps as possible for a successful EHP review in support of their proposal for funding (e.g., coordination with their State Historic Preservation Office to identify potential historic preservation issues and to discuss the potential for project effects, compliance with all state and EHP laws and requirements). Projects for which the recipient believes an Environmental Assessment may be needed, as defined in Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act, and EHP Directive and Instructions: FEMA Directive 108-1 and FEMA Instruction 108-1-1, must also be identified to the Regional EMPG Program Manager within six months of the award, and completed EHP review materials must be submitted no later than 12 months before the end of the period of performance. EHP review packets should be sent to gpdehpinfo@fema.gov.

Davis-Bacon Act Compliance

EMPG Program recipients using funds for construction projects must comply with the Davis-Bacon Act and subsequent legislation (40 U.S.C. §§ 3141 et seq.). Grant recipients must ensure that their contractors or subcontractors for construction projects pay workers no less than the prevailing wages for laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the state in which the work is to be performed. Additional information regarding compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act, including Department of Labor wage determinations, is available at Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

Accessibility Compliance 

EMPG Program recipients using funds to build or alter buildings must comply with accessibility requirements under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA), as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if applicable, to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to such buildings. Accessibility standards under the ABA and ADA are highly similar. Additional information regarding compliance with the ABA is available at Guide to the ABA. 

vii.  Acquisition of Real Property

Acquisition of real property is permissible if such property is needed to support other allowable program costs or activities. For additional information on this, see Information Bulletin 458a, Clarifying Guidance for the Annual Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the FY 2020 COVID-19 EMPG Supplemental (EMPG-S) Programs.

Advance Approval Requirement

Consistent with the requirements outlined above regarding construction activities, recipients and subrecipients (through the pass-through entity) must obtain advance written approval from the cognizant FEMA Regional Administrator prior to obligating annual EMPG Program funds for acquisition of real property. Additionally, in cases of acquisition or improving real property, recipients are required to submit a SF-429-B, Real Property Status Report, Attachment B providing details of the relevant property to be acquired. 

Property Use, Reporting, and Disposition Requirements

The acquisition, use, and disposition of real property shall be subject to the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200, recipients and subrecipients are required to report on the status of the acquired property on an annual basis using SF-429-A, Real Property Status Report, Attachment A (General Reporting). Such reporting shall continue as long as the property is being used for the originally authorized purpose. 

The same use and disposition guidance as outlined in Sections III.D.3 above applies to real property acquired with annual EMPG Program funds. For additional information on this, see Information Bulletin 458a, Clarifying Guidance for the Annual Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the FY 2020 COVID-19 EMPG Supplemental (EMPG-S) Programs.

viii.  Leasing of Real Property

Leasing of real property is permissible if the property is needed to support other allowable annual EMPG Program activities. 

Advance Approval Requirement 

Recipients and subrecipients (through the pass-through entity) must obtain advance written approval from the cognizant FEMA Regional Administrator prior to obligating annual EMPG Program funds for the leasing of real property. 

Allowable Period of Lease Expenses 

In cases where a property will be leased and the lease will be paid in full or in part using annual EMPG Program, any costs associated with the lease that are charged to an annual EMPG Program award must occur within the period of performance of the associated award(s). Real property lease costs must also comply with 2 C.F.R. Part 200

ix.   Operational Overtime

Operational overtime costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual.

x.   Whole Community Preparedness

EMPG Program recipients should engage with the whole community to advance community and individual preparedness and to work as a nation to build and sustain resilience. Recipients should consider the three goals of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan in their program design and delivery. Recipients should integrate program design and delivery practices that ensure representation and services for underrepresented diverse populations that may be more impacted by disasters including children, seniors, individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs, individuals with diverse culture and language use, individuals with lower economic capacity, and other underserved populations.

Individual preparedness should be coordinated by an integrated body of government and nongovernmental representatives as well, including but not limited to, elected officials, the private sector (especially privately owned critical infrastructure), private nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations (including faith-based, community-based, and voluntary organizations), advocacy groups for under-represented diverse populations that may be more impacted by disasters including children, seniors, individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs, individuals with diverse culture and language use, individuals with lower economic capacity, and other underserved populations. By engaging these stakeholders, EMPG Program recipients can help FEMA develop and promote a suite of well-targeted solutions for individuals and communities to adopt. Recipients should coordinate preparedness initiatives with FEMA and whole community partners to efficiently apply federal funding to reach the goal of individual and community resilience.

The following preparedness programs are allowable expenses and resources: 

1. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs, which educate volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and train them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
2. Financial Preparedness Activities that encourage and assist Americans in preparing for the true cost of disasters. Allowable activities include encouraging emergency savings, promoting home and renter’s insurance, and promoting flood insurance for individuals and families. Partnerships with local financial wellness organizations such as credit unions, financial counselors, community banks, and others that reach a variety of audiences are encouraged.
3. Preparedness of Community-Based Organizations that serve as a critical safety net for Americans disproportionately impacted by disasters. Examples of community-based organizations include but are not limited to food banks, food pantries, homeless shelters, school readiness and after school centers, adult day care centers, job training centers, legal assistance centers, and cultural centers. Allowable activities include Whole Community exercises, trainings, and activities focused on staff preparedness, information sharing with clients and government, and continuity of essential functions in the event of an emergency. 
4. Youth Preparedness Resources are available on Ready Kids. Bolstering youth preparedness across the nation is a priority for FEMA as the Agency works with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to create a culture of preparedness in the United States. Information on youth-centric educational curricula, games, planning materials, and other relevant resources can be found at Ready Kids. Furthermore, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division and regional-based Community Preparedness Officers are available to provide grant recipients with guidance and assistance. Please email FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov to contact one of the Agency’s subject matter experts.

The following are examples of youth preparedness activities that recipients are encouraged to undertake as allowable costs:

1. Outreach to a local school board or elementary school to encourage the adoption of the Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) curriculum. STEP is a classroom-based emergency preparedness curriculum for 4th - and 5th -graders in an easy, ready-to-teach format. Students will learn about disasters, emergencies, and hazards, and how to create a disaster supply kit and family emergency communication plan. An overview of the STEP program along with the instructor guide and student activity book is available at Ready STEP. 
2. Sponsor the creation of a Teen for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in your jurisdiction. The CERT Program is a national program of volunteers trained in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life, including teenagers. Additional information, including a step-by-step guide on how to start a Teen CERT, is available at Ready Teen CERT.

The following tools are available to order from FEMA’s warehouse free of charge: 

1. “Prepare with Pedro” is a joint product of FEMA and the American Red Cross. The “Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book” is designed to teach young children and their families about how to stay safe during disasters and emergencies. The book follows Pedro around the United States and offers safety advice through crosswords, coloring pages, matching games, and more. Additional information, including an ordering form, is available at Ready - Prepare with Pedro. 
2. The Ready 2 Help card game is a fun way for kids to learn how to respond to emergencies by working with friends and using skills that will help in a real emergency. Ready 2 Help teaches five simple steps to stay safe and make a difference until help arrives:
   • Stay Safe
   • Stay Calm 
   • Get Help 
   • Give Info
   • Give Care

Ready 2 Help is designed for children ages 8 and up. Additional information, including an ordering form, is available at Ready 2 Help. 

xi.   Maintenance and Sustainment

Maintenance and sustainment costs are allowed under this program only as described in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual.

xii.   Amendments for EMPG Program Costs

In 2 CFR 200.308(f) it states that the Federal awarding agency may, at its option, restrict transfer of funds among direct cost categories where the Federal share exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, and the cumulative amount of the transfer exceeds 10% of the total budget last approved by the awarding agency. For purposes of 2 CFR 200.308(f), the term “budget” includes both the federal and non-federal cost share. For EMPG Program awards (which include a 50% cost share), if the recipient wants to revise their budget and there are transfers between the direct cost categories exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold and the cumulative amount of the transfers exceeds 10% of the total project costs (federal and non-federal), then EMPG recipients must request prior written approval from their Regional EMPG Program Manager for those transfers and amendments. Recipients should consult with their Regional EMPG Program Manager prior to making any changes to their EMPG Program Work Plan. For more information on EMPG Program Work Plans, please see the appendix in Section H of this NOFO.

g.   Unallowable Costs 

Grant funds may not be used for the following: 

1. Grant funds must comply with FEMA Policy 207-22-0002, Prohibited or Controlled Equipment Under FEMA Awards, and may not be used for the purchase of firearms, ammunition, grenade launchers, bayonets, or weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind with weapons installed; 
2. Expenditures for weapons systems and ammunition;
3. Costs associated with hiring, equipping, training, etc. sworn public safety officers whose primary job responsibilities include fulfilling traditional public safety duties such as law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, or other first responder duties; 
4. Costs that supplant traditional public safety positions and responsibilities; 
5. Activities and projects unrelated to the completion and implementation of the EMPG Program; or
6. Clothing used for everyday wear by emergency management employees or other personnel.

Recipients should consult with their Regional EMPG Program Manager prior to making any investment that does not clearly meet the allowable expense criteria established in this NOFO and the Preparedness Grants Manual.

E.  Application Review Information

1.   Application Evaluation Criteria

a.   Programmatic Criteria

Application evaluation for the EMPG Program focuses on the EMPG Program Work Plan. Please see sections A.10.b, D.9.b, and the EMPG Program Work Plan appendix in Section H for more information on Work Plan requirements and process.

b.   Financial Integrity Criteria

Prior to making a federal award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3354, as enacted by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-117 (2020); 41 U.S.C. § 2313; and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206 to review information available through any Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-designated repositories of governmentwide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, including whether SAM.gov identifies the applicant as being excluded from receiving federal awards or is flagged for any integrity record submission.  FEMA may also pose additional questions to the applicant to aid in conducting the pre-award risk review. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: 

i.    Financial stability. 

ii.   Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

iii.  History of performance in managing federal award. 

iv.  Reports and findings from audits.

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

c.   Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review 

Prior to making a federal award where the anticipated total federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000: 

i.    FEMA is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2) to review and consider any information about the applicant, including information on the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors, if applicable, that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM), which is currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

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

iii.  FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, 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. § 200.206.

2.   Review and Selection Process

Recipients must comply with all administrative requirements described herein including the submission of the EMPG Program Work Plan and other application materials as required. The following process will be used to make awards for the EMPG Program:

 a. Initial Review 

The Regional EMPG Program Managers conduct all pre-award reviews for EMPG Program grant awards. All EMPG Program Work Plans require final approval by the RA. Prior to submission of the EMPG Program Work Plan, the applicant must work with the RA or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to ensure that regional or state priorities are properly addressed in the EMPG Program Work Plan.

Funds for recipients will not be released until such Work Plan is received, reviewed, and approved by DHS/FEMA. Recipients will be notified by the RA or their Regional EMPG Program Manager should any component of the EMPG Program application require additional information. 

 b. Overall Review 

FEMA Regions are responsible for reviewing submitted applications. Each Regional EMPG Program Manager reviews the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plans for their states or territories to assess the proposed EMPG Program investments against the agreed upon priorities. This will include a financial review using the following criteria:

• Allowability, allocability, and financial reasonableness of the proposed budget and investment information; and
• Whether a recipient meets the financial and legal requirements listed in 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

F.   Federal Award Administration Information

1.   Notice of Award

Before accepting the award, theAOR and recipient should carefully read the award package. The award package includes instructions on administering the grant award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under federal awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this NOFO  and the Preparedness Grants Manual as well as any specific terms and conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on Notice of Award.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically via FEMA GO. Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and Obligating Document. An email notification of the award package will be sent through FEMA’s grant application system to the AOR that submitted the application. 

Recipients must accept their awards no later than 60 days from the award date. The recipient shall notify FEMA of its intent to accept and proceed with work under the award through the FEMA GO system. 

Funds will remain on hold until the recipient accepts the award through the FEMA GO system and all other conditions of the award have been satisfied or until the award is otherwise rescinded. Failure to accept a grant award within the specified timeframe may result in a loss of funds.

2.   Pass-Through Requirements

Each state or territory shall obligate 100% of its total EMPG Program allocation to the designated state-level EMA. If the SAA is also the EMA, this requirement is automatically met. If the SAA is a separate agency or has a separate budget process, then all EMPG Program funds must be obligated to the EMA within 15 days of the grant award date. In instances where the state EMA is making subawards to local jurisdictions, DHS/FEMA expects the state EMA to make these subawards as expeditiously as possible.

3.   Administrative and National Policy Requirements

In addition to the requirements of in this section and in this NOFO, FEMA may place specific terms and conditions on individual awards in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

In addition to the information regarding DHS Standard Terms and Conditions and Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights, see the Preparedness Grants Manual for additional information on administrative and national policy requirements, including the following:

·    Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

·    FirstNet

·    National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

·    SAFECOM

a.   DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

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. What terms and conditions will apply for the award will be clearly stated in the award package at the time of award.

b.   Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

As the Nation works towards achieving the National Preparedness Goal, it is important to continue to protect the civil rights of individuals. Recipients and subrecipients must carry out their programs and activities, including those related to the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities, in a manner that respects and ensures the protection of civil rights for protected populations. 

Federal civil rights statutes, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, along with DHS and FEMA regulations, prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, limited English proficiency, or economic status in connection with programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance from FEMA, as applicable. 

The DHS Standard Terms and Conditions include a fuller list of the civil rights provisions that apply to recipients. These terms and conditions can be found in the DHS Standard Terms and Conditions. Additional information on civil rights provisions is available at https://www.fema.gov/about/offices/equal-rights/civil-rights.

Monitoring and oversight requirements in connection with recipient compliance with federal civil rights laws are also authorized pursuant to 44 C.F.R. Part 7 or other applicable regulations.

In accordance with civil rights laws and regulations, recipients and subrecipients must ensure the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.

c.   Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on EHP compliance.

d.   National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation 

In expending funds under this program, recipients that are state, local, tribal, or territorial governments must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The state, local, tribal, or territorial government must show adoption of NIMS during any point of the period of performance. See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information about NIMS implementation.

e.   Mandatory Disclosures

The non-Federal entity or applicant for a Federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award. (2 CFR 200.113)

Please note applicants and recipients may report issues of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or other criminal or noncriminal misconduct to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1 (800) 323-8603, and TTY 1 (844) 889-4357.

4.   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. 

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on reporting requirements.

5.   Monitoring and Oversight

The regulation at 2 C.F.R. § 200.337 provides DHS and any of its authorized representatives with the right of access to any documents, papers, or other records of the recipient and any subrecipients that are pertinent to a federal award in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts, and transcripts. The right also includes timely and reasonable access to the recipient’s or subrecipient’s personnel for the purpose of interview and discussion related to such documents. Pursuant to this right and per 2 C.F.R. § 200.329, DHS may conduct desk reviews and make site visits to review project accomplishments and management control systems to evaluate project accomplishments and to provide any required technical assistance. During site visits, DHS may review a recipient’s or subrecipient’s files pertinent to the federal award and interview and/or discuss these files with the recipient’s or subrecipient’s personnel. Recipients and subrecipients must respond in a timely and accurate manner to DHS requests for information relating to a federal award.

See the Preparedness Grants Manual for information on monitoring and oversight.

G.  DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1.   Contact and Resource Information

a.   Program Office Contact

FEMA has assigned region specific Preparedness Officer for the EMPG Program. If you do not know your Preparedness Officer, reference FEMA Regional Grant Program Office or contact FEMA Grants News by e-mail at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov OR by phone at (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

b.   FEMA Grants News

FEMA Grants News is a non-emergency comprehensive management and information resource developed by FEMA for grants stakeholders. This channel provides general information on all FEMA grant programs and maintains a comprehensive database containing key personnel contact information at the federal, state, and local levels. When necessary, recipients will be directed to a federal point of contact who can answer specific programmatic questions or concerns. FEMA Grants News can be reached by e-mail at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov OR by phone at (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c.   Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration Division

GPD’s Award Administration Division (AAD) provides support regarding financial matters and budgetary technical assistance. Additional guidance and information can be obtained by contacting the AAD’s Help Desk via e-mail at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.

d.   FEMA Regional Offices 

FEMA Regional Offices manage, administer, and conduct the application budget review, create the award package, approve, amend, and close out awards, as well as conduct cash analysis, financial and programmatic monitoring, and audit resolution for the EMPG Program. The Regions also provide technical assistance to EMPG Program recipients.

FEMA Regional Office contact information is available at FEMA Regional Grant Program Office.

e.   Equal Rights

The FEMA Office of Equal Rights (OER) is responsible for compliance with and enforcement of federal civil rights obligations in connection with programs and services conducted by FEMA and recipients of FEMA financial assistance. All inquiries and communications about federal civil rights compliance for FEMA grants under this NOFO should be sent to FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov.

f.    Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

GPD’s EHP Team provides guidance and information about the EHP review process to recipients and subrecipients. All inquiries and communications about GPD projects under this NOFO or the EHP review process, including the submittal of EHP review materials, should be sent to gpdehpinfo@fema.dhs.gov.

2.   Systems Information 

a.   FEMA GO

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, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET.

b.   FEMA Preparedness Toolkit

The FEMA Preparedness Toolkit (PrepToolkit) provides access to the tools and resources needed to implement the National Preparedness System and provide a collaborative community space for communities completing the Unified Reporting Tool (URT). Recipients complete and submit their Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), and other required assessments using the tools on PrepToolkit. For assistance, contact support@preptoolkit.fema.dhs.gov.

H.  Additional Information 

GPD has developed the Preparedness Grants Manual to guide applicants and recipients of grant funding on how to manage their grants and other resources. Recipients seeking guidance on policies and procedures for managing preparedness grants should reference the Preparedness Grants Manual for further information. Examples of information contained in the Preparedness Grants Manual include:

·    Actions to Address Noncompliance

·    Audits

·    Case Studies and Use of Grant-Funded Resources During Real-World Incident Operations

·    Community Lifelines

·    Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards and Subawards

·    Disability Integration

·    National Incident Management System

·    Payment Information

·    Period of Performance Extensions

·    Procurement Integrity

·    Record Retention

• Termination Provisions

·    Whole Community Preparedness

·    Report issues of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse 

·    Hazard Resistant Building Codes

·    Other Post-Award Requirements

1.   Termination Provisions

FEMA may terminate a federal award in whole or in part for one of the following reasons. FEMA and the recipient must still comply with closeout requirements at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.344-200.345 even if an award is terminated in whole or in part. To the extent that subawards are permitted under this NOFO, pass-through entities should refer to 2 C.F.R. § 200.340 for additional information on termination regarding subawards. Note that all information in this Section H.1 “Termination Provisions” is repeated in the Preparedness Grants Manual.

a.   Noncompliance

If a recipient fails to comply with the terms and conditions of a federal award, FEMA may terminate the award in whole or in part. If the noncompliance can be corrected, FEMA may first attempt to direct the recipient to correct the noncompliance. This may take the form of a Compliance Notification. If the noncompliance cannot be corrected or the recipient is non-responsive, FEMA may proceed with a Remedy Notification, which could impose a remedy for noncompliance per 2 C.F.R. § 200.339, including termination. Any action to terminate based on noncompliance will follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.341-200.342 as well as the requirement of 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(c) to report in FAPIIS the recipient’s material failure to comply with the award terms and conditions. See also the section on Actions to Address Noncompliance in the Preparedness Grants Manual. 

b.   With the Consent of the Recipient

FEMA may also terminate an award in whole or in part with the consent of the recipient, in which case the parties must agree upon the termination conditions, including the effective date, and in the case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated. 

c.   Notification by the Recipient

The recipient may terminate the award, in whole or in part, by sending written notification to FEMA setting forth the reasons for such termination, the effective date, and in the case of partial termination, the portion to be terminated. In the case of partial termination, FEMA may determine that a partially terminated award will not accomplish the purpose of the federal award, so FEMA may terminate the award in its entirety. If that occurs, FEMA will follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.341-200.342 in deciding to fully terminate the award. 

2.   Program Evaluation

Federal agencies are required to structure NOFOs that incorporate program evaluation activities from the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and measure their progress towards meeting agency priority goal(s) and program outcomes.

OMB Memorandum M-21-27, Evidence-Based Policymaking: Learning Agendas and Annual Evaluation Plans, implementing Title I of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-435 (2019) (Evidence Act), urges federal awarding agencies to use program evaluation as a critical tool to learn, improve equitable delivery, and elevate program service and delivery across the program lifecycle. Evaluation means “an assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and organizations intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.” Evidence Act, § 101 (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 311). 

As such, recipients and subrecipients are required to participate in a DHS-, Component, or Program Office-led evaluation if selected, which may be carried out by a third-party on behalf of the DHS, its component agencies, or the Program Office. Such an evaluation may involve information collections including but not limited to surveys, interviews, or discussions with individuals who benefit from the federal award program operating personnel, and award recipients, as specified in a DHS-, component agency-, or Program Office-approved evaluation plan. More details about evaluation requirements may be provided in the federal award, if available at that time, or following the award as evaluation requirements are finalized. Evaluation costs incurred during the period of performance are allowable costs (either as direct or indirect). Recipients and subrecipients are also encouraged, but not required, to participate in any additional evaluations after the period of performance ends, although any costs incurred to participate in such evaluations are not allowable and may not be charged to the federal award. 

3.   Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure 

a.   Build America, Buy America Act

Recipients and subrecipients must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), which was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act §§ 70901-70927, Pub. L. No. 117-58 (2021); and Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers. See also 2 C.F.R. Part 184 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-24-02, Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure.

None of the funds provided under this program may be used for a project for infrastructure unless the iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in that infrastructure are produced in the United States.

The Buy America preference only applies to articles, materials, and supplies that are consumed in, incorporated into, or affixed to an infrastructure project. As such, it does not apply to tools, equipment, and supplies, such as temporary scaffolding, brought to the construction site and removed at or before the completion of the infrastructure project. Nor does a Buy America preference apply to equipment and furnishings, such as movable chairs, desks, and portable computer equipment, that are used at or within the finished infrastructure project but are not an integral part of the structure or permanently affixed to the infrastructure project.

For FEMA's official policy on BABAA, please see FEMA Policy 207-22-0001: Buy America Preference in FEMA Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_build-america-buy-america-act-policy.pdf  To see whether a particular FEMA federal financial assistance program is considered an infrastructure program and thus required to include a Buy America preference, please see Programs and Definitions: Build America, Buy America Act | FEMA.gov. and https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_build-america-buy-america-act-policy.pdf

b.   Waivers

When necessary, recipients (and subrecipients through their pass-through entity) may apply for, and FEMA may grant, a waiver from these requirements. 

A waiver of the domestic content procurement preference may be granted by the agency awarding official if FEMA determines that:

• Applying the domestic content procurement preference would be inconsistent with the public interest.
• The types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality.
• The inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25%.

For FEMA awards, the process for requesting a waiver from the Buy America preference requirements can be found on FEMA’s website at: "Buy America" Preference in FEMA Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure | FEMA.gov.

c.   Definitions

For BABAA specific definitions, please refer to the FEMA Buy America website at: “Programs and Definitions: Build America, Buy America Act | FEMA.gov.”

Please refer to the applicable DHS Standard Terms & Conditions for the BABAA specific term applicable to all FEMA financial assistance awards for infrastructure. 

4.   Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

Please note, when applying to this notice of funding opportunity and when administering the grant, applicants may report issues of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or other criminal or noncriminal misconduct to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1 (800) 323-8603, and TTY 1 (844) 889-4357.

5.   State Housing Strategy

EMPG Program recipients are strongly encouraged to update their State Housing Strategy using the State Housing Strategy Template as part of their EOP or as a standalone document. In addition to the State Housing Strategy Template, recipients are encouraged to define and emphasize sheltering, short term, and permanent housing planning.

The State Housing Strategy Template helps states identify priorities and document critical, jurisdiction specific processes and procedures to promote an efficient disaster housing mission. The template walks recipients through the following planning considerations as seen in the table below. See the State Administered Direct Housing Grant Guide, July 2020 for the template and other supporting information.

State Housing Template Sections and Planning Considerations

6.   State-Administered Direct Housing Implementation 

FEMA encourages states to develop the capacity to administer FEMA Direct Housing Assistance through a reimbursable Inter-Governmental Service Agreement (IGSA). Under this arrangement, FEMA determines disaster survivors’ eligibility for specific direct housing options and makes all determinations regarding continuing eligibility, appeals, and eligibility terminations. FEMA also monitors the state’s administration of approved Direct Housing Options to ensure compliance with federal environmental, historic preservation, and floodplain management requirements as well as program conditions specified within the IGSA. States that choose to administer Direct Housing Assistance through an IGSA are required to develop a Direct Housing Administrative Plan and are encouraged to establish pre-placed contract to support the delivery of direct housing. Any contracts for this work would need to comply with the federal procurement requirements at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317-200.327. For more information, regarding Direct Housing Assistance, please visit Chapter 5 of the Individuals and Households Program Unified Guidance and Chapter 3 of the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG)

7.   Appendices

a. EMPG Program Work Plan

Submission of an EMPG Program Work Plan is mandatory. It is a required component of the EMPG Program application. The Work Plan outlines the state’s emergency management sustainment and enhancement efforts, including new and ongoing activities and projects, that are driven by identified preparedness priorities and proposed for the EMPG Program period of performance. An FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template (available on the Grants.gov EMPG Program application page and on the EMPG Program page on FEMA.gov) is provided to facilitate the work plan development process. The submitted Work Plan must address all the data and information requirements included in the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template and in the supplemental guidance included in this section. Therefore, EMPG Program applicants are strongly encouraged to use the provided FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template.

Prior to submission of the EMPG Program Work Plan, the applicant must work with the Regional Administrator or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager to identify three-to-five priority areas which will serve as the focus for EMPG Program-funded investments. The priorities must be mutually agreed to by the applicant and Regional Administrator and should be driven by the THIRA/SPR process – specifically, the outputs from the THIRA/SPR process – and other relevant information sources such as AARs, audit and monitoring findings, Hazard Mitigation Plans and other deliberate planning products. Priorities should also reflect those included in each recipient's IPP so that recipients are focusing all investments, projects, and other resources on a common set of priorities. As they select priorities, applicants should consider which capability gaps would be most operationally consequential, must be closed most urgently, and could be meaningfully addressed within the period of performance. Applicants should refer to Section A.10.b above for further guidance on the priority identification process. 

Applicants must set at least one performance goal for each RA agreed-upon priority area that achieves a specific outcome. Each goal must be specific, measurable, and achievable within the period of performance, relevant to the priority area, and have a target date for completion. Applicants must describe how achieving each goal or objective will impact the priority area it supports by the end of the period of performance. Each goal must include an estimate quantifying the extent to which the supporting investments will close capability gaps (e.g., “Increase the percentage of people who can find and secure long-term housing by 10% within 1 year of an incident”). The FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template includes instructions and examples to help guide this process so that recipients can develop goals that focus on achieving specific outcomes. 

The Regional Administrator or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager will ensure that the mutually agreed priorities are fully addressed in the EMPG Program Work Plan. In addition, the Regional Administrator must approve final Work Plans before states may draw down EMPG Program funds. Grant funds will be released upon approval of the state’s final Work Plan. 

Following Work Plan approval, regional EMPG Program Managers will work closely with recipients to monitor progress toward goals and activities in the Work Plans during the performance period and may request further documentation from the recipients to clarify the projected Work Plan. Further, in accordance with 2 C.F.R. §200.308 – Revision of budget and program plans, any changes to the approved Work Plan – including changes in project scope and budget changes within any direct cost category exceeding 10% of the total award amount – will require advance approval from the Regional Administrator or designated Regional EMPG Program Manager.

Instructions

The FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template has been updated to support the collection of objective information and quantitative data that will allow FEMA to measure program effectiveness and investment impacts more effectively. This also enables compliance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.301, which requires federal awarding agencies to measure recipient performance to show achievement of program goals and objectives, share lessons learned, improve program outcomes, and foster adoption of promising practices. To this end, the FY 2024 EMPG Program guidance in the NOFO and Work Plan requires recipients to link EMPG Program-funded investments to THIRA/SPR results and other relevant materials that inform capability priorities and needs and to include specific performance measures that will allow FEMA to measure the impact of those investments based on the core capabilities that are addressed. 

The FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template largely complements the THIRA/SPR process outlined in the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201, Third Edition (CPG 201, v3). As noted in CPG 201, v3, a coordinated approach to track investments, and understand the return on investments, can help improve the effectiveness of those investments. Tracking how EMPG Program-funded investments result in specific, quantitative changes in capabilities can help guide communities’ strategic planning considerations and inform resource allocation decisions that will maximize effectiveness in building or sustaining capabilities. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to refer to CPG 201, v3, along with their most recent THIRA and SPR, when developing their EMPG Program Work Plan. 

The FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template consists of the following tabs: Definitions and Guidance, Quick Links, Grant Investment Strategy, Grant Activities Outline, Detailed Budget – Excluding M&A, Budget Narrative – Excluding M&A, Detailed Budget – M&A Only, Budget Narrative – M&A Only, EMPG Program Summary, Implementation Schedule, Training Data Table, and Exercise Data Table. As explained above, the focus of the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template is on improving data collection to better enable measurement of grant outcomes. Therefore, the narrative content is minimized and many of the cells include dropdowns for selecting applicable data. This approach also helps to simplify the Work Plan development process.

Instructions for each Work Plan section are provided below. Additional guidance and instructions are provided in the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template on Grants.gov.

Definitions and Guidance

The Definitions and Guidance tab collects applicant information and provides instructions for completing each subsequent tab.

Quick Links

The Quick Links Tab uses the link functionality in Excel to allow users to navigate throughout the template quickly and minimize the need to scroll through projects and implementation schedules.

Grant Investment Strategy

The intent of the Grant Investment Strategy tab of the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template is to provide an overview of the state/territory's preparedness investment strategy. It should serve as the foundation for completing the remainder of the Work Plan. It includes separate sections to explain the following:

• The performance goals associated with each priority area; 
• The most recent THIRA/SPR results; 
• Significant risks and capability gaps that currently exist; 
• Resulting preparedness priorities; and
• The anticipated impact of the proposed EMPG Program-funded investments.

For the Performance Goals section, the applicant should identify the three-to-five priorities that were mutually agreed to and approved between the Regional Administrator and the state/territory. These goals serve as the focus for the EMPG Program-funded investments. The reference materials used to identify the priorities should be cited and their relevance explained in this section. At least one performance goal should be identified for each priority area. Each goal must be specific, measurable, achievable within the period of performance, relevant to the priority area, and have a target date for completion (i.e., SMART goal). It should describe how achieving each goal will impact the priority area it supports by the end of the period of performance.

Grant Activities Outline

The Grant Activities Outline is used to capture the proposed EMPG Program-funded projects and link them to the identified priorities, performance goals, and gaps or needs. Coupled with the Implementation Schedule, the Grant Activities Outline supports identification and tracking of EMPG Program-funded project outcomes, which will enable better understanding of the impacts of those investments relative to the performance goals and the associated core capabilities. Identifying and tracking project outcomes also supports compliance with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policy Making Act of 2018 and changes to 2.C.F.R related to performance, evaluation, and risk for federal grants. Applicants can also designate whether a project addresses equity considerations and/or climate change impacts. Examples of allowable activities and associated core capabilities for projects that address the FY 2024 EMPG Program national priorities of equity, climate resilience, and readiness.

The Grant Activities Outline includes sections that allow the applicant to identify the performance goals that are supported by each project and the milestones that are critical to accomplishing each goal. Additional guidance on performance goals and milestones, including specific examples of each, are provided below.

The Grant Activities Outline also requires the applicant to explain the objective and anticipated impact of each project relative to the associated priorities, performance goals, and related core capabilities:

• The “Project Objective” should explain what the project will accomplish; specifically, how the project will address the identified gap or need and how it supports one or more of the identified performance goals. 
• The “Anticipated Project Impact” should explain the expected project outcome relative to the associated priorities and performance goals. 
  • The impact statement should include a quantitative estimate of the degree to which the project will contribute to achieving the identified performance goal (see hierarchy example below).

Effective completion of the Grant Activities Outline requires an understanding of the established planning hierarchy. Priorities are at the top of the hierarchy, followed by performance goals that define a clear outcome or end-state and provide the basis for addressing each priority. Project proposals should be identified based on the performance goals. High priority capability gaps or needs identified through the THIRA/SPR process, particularly SPR Step 2, and other assessments are also used to inform project selection and to identify specific project objectives. Project objectives, and accompanying impact statements, should complement the performance goals by including similar outcome-focused metrics, as explained above. Lastly, identifying the specific project activities are the last step in the process of completing the GAO. Project activities are key components and/or milestones that are critical to successful completion of the project. 

An example of this planning hierarchy for completing the GAO is provided below:

• Priority: Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Performance Goal: Within 24 hours of an incident, identify and mobilize life-sustaining commodities, resources, and services to 10,000 people requiring shelter and 100,000 people requiring food and water. Maintain distribution system for at least 30 days.
    • Project: Update State Logistics and Distribution Management Plan and qualify 40 additional personnel for logistics operations in NQS. 
      • Project Objective/Impact: Increase capacity to identify and mobilize life-sustaining commodities, resources, and services to people requiring shelter, food, and water by 50%, allowing the state to do so for 7,500 people requiring shelter and 75,000 requiring food and water within 24 hours of an incident and maintain that distribution system for at least 30 days. 
        • Activity: Convene cross-discipline working group meeting on May 30, 2024, to review current State Logistics and Distribution Management Plan

All EMPG Program-funded investments must be accounted for in the Grant Activities Outline. However, recognizing that some sustainment activities, such as funding of emergency manager salaries, may not align to a specific priority or performance goal, applicants are not required to identify priorities and performance goals for such investments. However, all other portions of the Grant Activities Outline must be completed to justify the applicable sustainment costs.

In cases where emergency management personnel are not assigned to support specific projects included in the Work Plan, the applicant may choose to create a single project (e.g., Emergency Management Personnel Project) to encompass the majority of the EMPG Program-funded salaries and fringe benefits costs. This single project would be populated on the Grant Activities Outline and include the associated activities, priorities, goals, anticipated outcomes, milestones, etc. for the applicable EMPG Program-funded emergency management staff, including staff supporting the M&A activities. 

The various elements of the Grant Activities Outline tab are outlined below, along with basic instructions for completing the required entries. Supplemental guidance and instructions are included in the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template.

• Project Name: Provide a descriptive name for each planned project. Examples include “Development of Emergency Function Annexes,” “Development of Earthquake Scenario Loss Estimations,” “Implementation of Statewide Interoperability Plan,” “NIMS Training for Emergency Management Personnel,” “Development of Emergency Preparedness Plan for Individuals with Disabilities,” etc.
• Brief Project Description: Provide further details on the project, particularly where the project name does not sufficiently describe the project.
• Gap or Need Addressed: Briefly describe the specific gap or need addressed by the project.
• Reference for Identified Gap or Need: Select the documentation used to identify the cited gap or need from the drop-down menu.
• Project Objective: Explain how the project addresses the identified gap or need, and how it supports the identified priorities and performance goals.
• Anticipated Project Impact: Explain the expected project outcome relative to the associated priorities and performance goals.
• Build or Sustain: Select whether the project will build or maintain/sustain the identified core capability(ies).
• Equity: Select whether the project will address equity considerations. For FY 2024, at least one project must specifically address equity considerations. 
• Climate Change: Select whether the project will address the impacts of climate change.
• EMPG Program National Priority Area: Select the applicable National Priority Area from the drop-down menu.
• Regional Administrator (RA) Agreed Upon Priority Area: Select from a drop-down list of the 32 core capabilities and other priorities identified in the latest version of the National Preparedness Report. If the priority is not included in the drop-down list, enter “other” for Primary, Secondary and/or Tertiary, and then enter the priority in the adjacent cell.
• POETE Category: Select whether the project relates to Planning, Organization, Equipment, Training, or Exercises. Multiple POETE categories can be selected to accommodate projects that span multiple categories. For example, building capability often involves a combination of planning, training, and exercise activities. Space is provided to populate the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary POETE category.
• Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) Standard Element: This field is optional. It is made available to those states/territories that are EMAP certified and want to continue tracking their investments by EMAP Standard Elements. Select the appropriate EMAP Standard Elements from the drop-down menu, if applicable. 
• Mission Area: Select the appropriate preparedness mission area supported by the project:  Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, or Recovery. Multiple mission areas can be selected to accommodate projects such as plans and exercises that involve multiple mission areas, and space is provided to populate the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Mission Areas. 
• Core Capabilities: Select up to five core capabilities supported by the project. Indicate whether the Core Capability has a target with a gap rated as high priority.
• Performance Goals: Select the performance goal(s) from the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu will consist of the performance goals as entered in the Grant Investment Strategy.
• Current Capability Metrics: Identify capability metrics prior to the project implementation.
• Milestones: Identify key project activities and other deliverables or outputs that are critical to accomplishing the identified performance goal and can be tracked to demonstrate progress toward achieving the performance goal.

Detailed Budget – Excluding M&A

The Detailed Budget – Excluding M&A tab enables a full accounting of all project activity costs, excluding M&A costs. This tab contains an itemization of non-M&A costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, construction, other, and indirect costs. For personnel and fringe benefits, the position title and percentage of time or fringe allocated to the EMPG Program grant is required. Each line item is assigned to its relevant project, allowing the information in mission areas, core capabilities, priorities, EMAP, and POETE categories to populate accordingly. This enables a breakdown of the full EMPG Program budget into various categories: Mission Area, Core Capabilities, National Priority Area, RA Agreed Upon Priority, EMAP Standard Elements, and POETE Category. The cells for each of these categories are automatically populated based on the project number as identified in the Grant Activities Outline.

Budget Narrative – M&A Only

The purpose of the Budget Narrative – M&A Only tab is to: 1) justify the need for each line item and the cost estimates; 2) explain how costs relate to the programmatic goals of the project(s); and 3) supplement other budget information provided on the Detailed Budget– M&A Only tab. For the Cost Share, applicants must include a detailed description of the source of the cost share/matching funds. If funds or services are to be provided by a third party for in-kind match, a dated letter of commitment is required to document the donation. This tab will include a narrative for each cost category of the budget. 

Information for the Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative 

This section of the Work Plan is a detailed description of the budget found in the SF-424A and must include a detailed discussion of how EMPG Program funds will be used. Applicants must itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, other direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs. 

Applicants should use the following instructions and budget cost category descriptions to complete the Budget Detail section of the Work Plan.

Personnel: List each position with a brief description of the duties and responsibilities (no personnel names), as well as the salary computation for staff. If a Cost-of-Living Adjustment increase and/or merit pay increase in salary will be provided for the position, include those costs in calculations for personnel and the associated fringe benefits on the applicable Detailed Budget and the Budget Narrative.

Fringe Benefits: List the computation for fringe benefits for each of the personnel listed in the budget worksheet. Estimated rates for fringe are allowable but provide the basis for that estimation in the budget narrative (e.g., average percent fringe paid for most employees within the agency). If not using an estimate, list fringe benefit and the associated costs for each employee that will be paid by EMPG Program funding (e.g., Social Security/FICA, Unemployment Compensation, Medicare, Retirement, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, etc.). Also, in cases where fringe benefits costs are included in an indirect cost rate agreement, the fringe benefits cannot also be charged as a direct cost for reimbursement. 

Travel: Specify the mileage, per diem, estimated number of trips in-state and out-of-state, number of travelers, and other costs for each type of travel for staff. Travel may be integral to the purpose of the proposed project (e.g., management, monitoring and/or oversight of grant award and/or subrecipients) or related to propose project activities (e.g., attendance at training or meetings related to management of the EMPG Program award). Travel costs identified in this section are for employees of the applicant/recipient only. For travel costs related to staff training, include as many details as possible about each proposed training cost, including the name of the training course(s), training provider, personnel who will attend the training, proposed dates (estimates are accepted), etc. Travel category costs do not include 1) costs for travel of consultants, contractors, consortia members, or other partner organizations, which are included in the “Contractual” category; or 2) travel costs for employees of subrecipient agencies (those should be included in the Contractual category, if applicable).

Equipment: List each equipment item for EMPG Program purposes only by Line-Item Name and in the same order as listed on the Detailed Budget. Include a brief description of each equipment item (no brand names); per unit cost, quantity and total cost; location of equipment (if other than the direct recipient agency); and how the equipment will be utilized. Equipment is defined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

Supplies: Include all tangible personal property other than those described in the definition of “equipment” as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1. Supplies are also defined in 2 C.F.R. § 200.1. The budget detail should identify categories of supplies to be procured for EMPG Program purposes only (e.g., printing supplies, office supplies, etc.) and the calculation of those costs (e.g., based on monthly rates or based on an average of previous years’ similar costs). Non-tangible goods and services associated with supplies, such as printing service, photocopy services, and rental costs should be included in the “Other” category. Provide the basis for calculation of supplies including the Line-Item Name and list supplies in the Budget Narrative in the same order as listed on the Detailed Budget. Subrecipient M&A and non-M&A costs should be included in the “Other” category.

Contractual: Identify each proposed contract related to EMPG Program purposes only and specify its purpose and estimated cost. Contractual/consultant services are those services to be carried out by an individual or organization (do not include company or individual names in budget narrative), other than the applicant, in the form of a procurement relationship. Leased or rented goods (equipment or supplies) for EMPG Program purposes should be included in the “Other” category. The applicant should list the proposed contract activities along with a brief description of the scope of EMPG Program work or services to be provided and proposed duration. Include the basis for the calculation of contractual services costs (e.g., contractor training instructor speaking fee, contractor travel costs and contractor instructional materials).

Other: This category should include only those types of direct costs that do not fit in any of the other budget categories and are related to EMPG Program purposes only. Include a description of each cost by Line-Item Name and in the same order as listed on the applicable Detailed Budget. Include the basis for calculation of the costs. Examples of costs for EMPG Program purposes that may be in this category include the following: insurance, rental/lease of equipment or supplies, equipment service or maintenance contracts, printing or photocopying rental, etc. Subrecipient M&A and non-M&A costs from their subawards (e.g., subgrants) are a distinct type of cost under this category. The term “subaward” means an award of financial assistance (money or property) by any legal agreement made by the recipient to an eligible subrecipient. This term does not include procurement purchases, technical assistance in the form of services instead of money, or other assistance in the form of revenue sharing, loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, insurance, or direct appropriations. Subcontracts are not subawards and belong in the contractual category. Applicants must provide the aggregate amount they propose to issue as subaward work and a description of the types of M&A and non-M&A activities to be supported.

Construction: Include construction costs, including renovation projects for a state or territorial government’s principal EOC. Include a description of the types of construction or renovation services proposed and the calculation of these costs (no company or individual names). Subrecipient construction costs should be included in the Other category. M&A funding cannot be used for construction or renovation costs.

Indirect Costs: If indirect charges are budgeted, indicate the approved rate and base (the cost categories for which this indirect cost percentage rate will be applied.) Indirect costs are those incurred by the recipient for a common or joint purpose that benefit more than one cost objective or project and are not readily assignable to specific cost objectives or projects as a direct cost. In order for indirect costs to be allowable, the applicant must have a federal or state negotiated indirect cost rate (e.g., fixed, predetermined, final or provisional), or must have submitted a proposal to the cognizant federal or state agency. An approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement signed by the recipient agency and the cognizant agency for the recipient, or a copy of the proposal to the cognizant federal or state agency for an indirect cost rate, must be included in the submission of the Work Plan Template for application purposes.  

Examples of Indirect Cost Rate calculations are shown below: 

1. Personnel (Indirect Rate x Personnel = Indirect Costs) 
2. Personnel and Fringe (Indirect Rate x Personnel & Fringe = Indirect Costs) 
3. Total Direct Costs (Indirect Rate x Total Direct Costs = Indirect Costs)

Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an indirect cost rate must also reach out to the FEMA Grants Management Specialist for further instructions. Per 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix VII, paragraph D.1.b, state and local governments are not permitted to use the de minimus rate without seeking and receiving FEMA’s approval of a case-by-case exception. Applicants who wish to request the case-by-case exception should reach out to their FEMA Grants Management Specialist for further instructions.

Post-award requests to charge indirect costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based upon the submission of an agreement or proposal as discussed above or based upon the de minimis rate or cost allocation plan, as applicable.

EMPG Program Summary

This tab includes summary information for the award as entered in the budget tabs and the Grant Activity Outline. The overall budget summary will include the total award amount, federal amount, non-federal amount (cost share), and M&A amount, along with the calculated percentage of each. The additional budget summary tables will calculate the amount allocated for federal funds, non-federal funds (cost share) and total project costs for each cost category. There is also a budget summary table with similar information for each primary mission area and core capability. 

The EMPG Program Summary tab also provides users with an overview of their progress in the FY 2024 EMPG Program Performance Metrics. The metrics are automatically populated from the calculations of information provided in the Grant Activities Outline. These metrics aim to provide the count, percentage, and associated dollar amount affiliated with the following performance metrics: 1) Capability-building Projects for Alignment to Capability Gaps in SPR; 2) Funding Spent on Capability-building Projects Aligned to Capability Gaps in SPR; 3) Building Capabilities for High Priority Targets; 4) Regional and National Priority Area Alignment; and 5) Plans-Training-Exercise Alignment. The EMPG Program Summary Tab further provides a count of all projects that address equity considerations and climate change impacts. 

Implementation Schedule

The Implementation Schedule includes the basic elements of a project management plan. It is used to capture key project activities to include both EMPG Program-funded activities that are critical to accomplishing the project objectives as identified in the Grant Activities Outline, as well as tasks that are essential to effective project management. Thus, this product can be used as a basic project management tool to plan and track the progress of key project activities and associated tasks. Key project activities should generally correlate with the “Milestones” identified for each project included in the Grant Activities Outline.

The Implementation Schedule enables the applicant to identify key project activities by year/quarter, the associated tasks, timelines, status reports, and challenges or risks that may affect successful completion of the activity as planned. It also allows for the tracking of project progress by including estimated and actual completion dates for each activity and the ability to enter quarterly accomplishments relating to the activity. This functionality allows for quarterly reporting of project progress, in accordance with the programmatic requirements of the EMPG Program. Also, data from the Implementation Schedule should be completed and submitted to FEMA as a component of quarterly reporting on grant activities.

The Implementation Schedule further allows the applicant to explain how their project addresses equity considerations. Possible examples include: 1) conducting vulnerability assessments to identify and fully understand the vulnerabilities and needs of underserved communities relating to emergency preparedness; and 2) updating emergency operations plans to ensure the needs of underserved communities are adequately addressed.

The Implementation Schedule also provides the applicant with the ability to explain how their project addresses the impacts of climate change. 

Training Data Table 

To facilitate consistent data reporting and performance measures collection, the FY 2024 EMPG Program Work Plan Template includes a Training Data Table. This table should reflect training activities outlined in the multi-year IPP and completion of required EMPG Program training courses. The data requirements are defined in the section below. Applicants/recipients are not required to report EMPG Program-funded personnel costs associated with training. Training related to the NQS is not reported on the Training Data Table. Also, data from the Training Data Table should be completed and submitted to FEMA as a component of quarterly reporting on grant activities. Upon entering the project name or number in the template, the cells located to the right of the main Training Data Table will auto-populate the associated priority, mission area, capabilities, and functional areas based on the project data included in the Grant Activities Outline.

Training Data Table Template

Training Data Table Definitions

Column 1 – Project Number from the Grant Activities Outline

Column 2 – Project Name from the Grant Activities Outline

Column 3 – Name of training course

Column 4 – Scheduled date of training course                            

Column 5 – Date training was conducted or completed

Column 6 – Is the training course required by the EMPG Program?

Column 7 – Number of personnel trained                                   

Column 8 – NIMS Training Course Number (if applicable)

Column 9 – Is the training identified in the multi-year IPP?

Exercise Data Table 

To facilitate consistent data reporting and performance measure collection, an Exercise Data Table should be completed for any exercises that meet EMPG Program requirements and/or exercises conducted in whole or part with EMPG Program funds. The Exercise Data should include EMPG Program-funded exercises and costs to run the exercise (e.g., planning, materials, props, contractual services for conducting the exercise, AAR and IP, etc.). Any exercise planned or conducted during the grant period of performance should be reported on the Exercise Data Table. Applicants/recipients are not required to report EMPG Program-funded personnel costs associated with exercises. Data from the Exercise Data Table should also be completed and submitted to FEMA as a component of quarterly reporting on grant activities. The data requirements are defined in the section below. Upon entering the project name or number in the template, the cells located to the right of the main Exercise Data Table will auto-populate the associated priority, mission area, capabilities, and functional areas based on the project data included in the Grant Activities Outline.

Exercise Data Table Template

Exercise Data Table Definitions:

Column 1 – Project Number from the Grant Activities Outline

Column 2 – Project Name from the Grant Activities Outline

Column 3 – Exercise Name

Column 4 – Scheduled date of exercise

Column 5 – Date exercise conducted/completed

Column 6 – Type of exercise (select from drop-down menu)

Column 7 – Is the exercise part of a progressive exercise series? 

Column 8 – Is exercise identified in the multi-year IPP?

Column 9 – When was the AAR submitted to FEMA?

1. EMPG Requirements Matrix