Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program

The summary for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Department of Homeland Security, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Applicant Eligibility Only the state emergency management agencies or a similar office (i.e., the office that has emergency management responsibility) of the State, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments are eligible to apply to FEMA for assistance as Applicants under this program. In keeping with the intent of FEMA's overall policy, "Government-to-Government Relations with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments," published at 64 FR 2095, January 12, 1999, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments may choose to apply for PDM grants either through the State as a Sub-applicant or directly to FEMA as an Applicant. (This choice is independent of a designation under other FEMA grants and programs.) Some State regulations prohibit the State from acting as an Applicant for an Indian Tribe. In such cases, or if the Tribe chooses, the Tribal government may act as its own Applicant. However, when legally permitted, Indian Tribal governments are encouraged to continue existing relationships with the State as the Applicant. Sub-applicant Eligibility Other state agencies, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and local governments, to include state recognized Indian Tribes, authorized tribal organizations, and Alaska Native villages are eligible to apply to the Applicant as Sub-applicants. Private non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply as Sub-applicants; however, they may request a local government to submit an application for their proposed activity on their behalf. All Applicants and Sub-applicants must be participating in the NFIP if they have been identified through the NFIP as having a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) (a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) has been issued). In addition, the community must not be on probation, suspended or withdrawn from the NFIP. Grant Application Process Potential Sub-applicants should consult the official designated point of contact in their State/Tribe for more information pertaining to their application process. FEMA s electronic grants (e-Grants) system should be used by Applicants and Sub-applicants whenever possible. FEMA has developed the e-Grants system to meet the intent of the eGovernment initiative, authorized by Pub. L. 106 107, passed on November 20, 1999. This initiative requires that all government agencies both streamline grant application processes and provide for the means to electronically create, review, and submit a grant application via the Internet. Use of the e-Grants system will greatly assist FEMA in rapidly reviewing and evaluating the applications for the PDM program. FEMA s e-Grants system incorporates all of the elements noted below for the PDM application in a user-friendly format for both Applicant and Sub-applicant use. The electronic process may substitute for the paper-based process in that Sub-applicants applications are electronically transmitted to the Applicant for review and action. It will be the Applicant s responsibility to determine which sub-applications will be included in their final application to FEMA. The Applicant also must prioritize the sub-applications included in its application to FEMA. FEMA will use the information transmitted through the e-Grants system to evaluate applications and make award decisions, monitor ongoing performance and manage the flow of federal funds, and to closeout the grant award when all work is completed. If an Applicant does not use the e-Grants system, the Applicant may submit a paper application, which can be obtained from the FEMA Regional Office. The grant application should include: Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424; Budget Information - Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-15; or Budget Information - Non-Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-20; Budget Narrative explaining cost items that have been budgeted; Summary Sheet for Assurances and Certification, FEMA Form 20-16; Assurances - Non-Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-16A; or, Assurances - Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-16B; Certification Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsible Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, FEMA Form 20-16C; Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Standard Form LLL; Approved Indirect Cost Agreement, if applicable; Documentation to support Sub-applicant status as a small, impoverished community, if appropriate, for Federal cost share of up to 90 percent; Documentation for the hazard risk assessment determination. This is only required as part of mitigation planning sub-applications; Complete Benefit-Cost Analysis documentation for mitigation projects; The Applicant should include a Program Narrative for all the sub-applications for which PDM funding is requested. The Applicant must rank each sub-application included in the Program Narrative in order of their priority based on the Applicant s mitigation plan. Only one sub-application should be ranked number 1, 2, 3, etc. The Program Narrative should include: 1) Individual activity location and name of Sub-Applicant; 2) Timeline/schedule for each activity; 3) Individual activity costs, including Federal and non-Federal shares; 4) Activity-specific scopes of work, including a list of properties, if applicable; 5) Certification that the Applicant has evaluated the included activities, that they meet all PDM program eligibility criteria, and that they will be implemented in accordance with 44 CFR Part 13, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments; 6) Responses to the Supplemental Questions for each Sub-applicant activity for competitive ranking and evaluation (Supplemental Questions are available for Applicants and Sub-applicants on the FEMA website: www.fema.gov/fima/pdm.shtm); 7) Recommendations and documentation regarding the environmental review required by 44 CFR Part 10, Environmental Considerations, and other applicable laws and executive orders, including responses to Established Questions for mitigation projects and complete environmental/historic documentation (the environmental/historic Established Questions are available for Applicants and Sub-applicants on the FEMA website: www.fema.gov/fima/pdm.shtm); and 8) Assurance that the Sub-application is complete and addresses all program requirements including the Supplemental Questions, thereby meeting the program criteria outlined under section 203(g) of the Stafford Act. National Priority for FY 2003 For FY 2003, FEMA has established a National priority on funding mitigation projects that address NFIP repetitive flood loss properties. By focusing on the mitigation of NFIP repetitive flood loss properties through acquisition, relocation, elevation, floodproofing, and minor structural projects that save lives and protect property, there will be significant reductions to the NFIP claims payments; improvement to the soundness of the National Flood Insurance Fund; and reduction to disaster housing payments, emergency response expenses, and disaster assistance to fund the repair of the infrastructure. In addition, fewer families will lose wages and fewer businesses will suffer reduced profits as a result of flooding. Also, in the case of property acquisition, there will be increased recreational opportunities and an enhancement of the environment through the creation of open space along rivers and streams. Most importantly, communities and their residents will be safer from flood hazards. Eligible Activities and Associated Costs Mitigation Planning. Applicants may request mitigation planning funds to provide mitigation planning assistance to Sub-applicants, including delivery of mitigation planning workshops and assistance in the development of mitigation plans. Applicants and Sub-applicants may request mitigation planning funds to develop State, Tribal, and local multi-hazard mitigation plans that meet the planning criteria outlined in 44 CFR part 201 pursuant to section 322 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5133, including the development of risk assessments for mitigation plans. Proposals may be submitted for countywide or multi-jurisdictional plans since many mitigation issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards in a more comprehensive fashion, however, multi-jurisdictional plans must be adopted by all jurisdictions covered by the plan. Multi-hazard mitigation planning must primarily focus on natural hazards but may also address hazards caused by non-natural forces. Because FEMA s National priority for FY 2003 is to fund proposals that address NFIP repetitive flood loss properties, communities with NFIP repetitive flood loss properties are urged to address those properties in their risk assessment and planning process. As part of the competitive grant program, up to 10 percent of the funds requested in the mitigation planning sub-application may be used for information dissemination activities regarding cost-effective mitigation technologies. These activities may include marketing and outreach (brochures and videos, etc.), related to the proposed mitigation planning activity. Mitigation Projects. Multi-hazard mitigation projects must primarily focus on natural hazards but may also address hazards caused by non-natural forces. Funding is restricted to a maximum of $3 million of Federal funds per project. The following are eligible types of mitigation projects: Property acquisition or relocation of hazard prone property for conversion to open space in perpetuity; Structural and non-structural retrofitting (including designs and feasibility studies when included as part of the construction project) for wildfire, seismic, wind or flood hazards (e.g., elevation, storm shutters, hurricane clips); Minor structural hazard control or protection projects that may include vegetation management, and stormwater management (e.g., culverts, floodgates, retention basins); and, Localized flood control projects, such as certain ring levees and floodwall systems, that are designed specifically to protect critical facilities and that do not constitute a section of a larger flood control system. Mitigation projects must also meet the following general criteria: 1) Be cost-effective and substantially reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering resulting from a major disaster, consistent with 44 CFR 206.434(c)(5) and related guidance, and have a Benefit Cost Analysis that results in a benefit cost ratio of at least 1.0. Mitigation projects without a Benefit Cost Analysis or with a benefit cost ratio less than 1.0 will not be considered for the PDM competitive grant program. Mitigation projects with higher benefit cost ratios will be more competitive. Applicants may use programs or mechanisms other than the FEMA benefit-cost model to conduct the Benefit Cost Analysis; however the methodology used must be consistent with the FEMA benefit-cost model and approved in advance by FEMA. To facilitate the review and approval of eligible mitigation activities, FEMA has developed an alternative approach to determine cost effectiveness for mitigating certain NFIP repetitive loss properties (information on the alternative approach to determine cost effectiveness is available for Applicants and Sub-applicants on the FEMA website: www.fema.gov/fima/pdm.shtm); 2) Be in conformance with the current FEMA-approved State hazard mitigation plan; 3) Solve a problem independently or constitute a functional portion of a solution where there is assurance that the project as a whole will be completed, consistent with 44 CFR 206.434(c)(4); 4) Be in conformance with 44 CFR Part 9, Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands, 44 CFR Part 10, Environmental Considerations; 5) Not duplicate the assistance that another Federal agency or program has the primary authority to provide, consistent with 44 CFR 206.434(g); 6) Be located in a community that (a) does not have a SFHA, or (b) is participating in the NFIP if the community has an identified SFHA (a FHBM or FIRM has been issued). The community must not be on probation, suspended or withdrawn from the NFIP; and, 7) Meet the requirements of Federal, State, and local laws. As part of the competitive grant, up to 10 percent of the funds requested in the project sub-application may be used for information dissemination activities regarding cost-effective mitigation technologies. These activities may include marketing and outreach (brochures and videos, etc.), related to the proposed mitigation project. Applicant Management Costs. Applicants may request up to 10 percent of the total planning and project grant funding requested for management costs to support the solicitation, review and processing of PDM sub-applications and awards, and to provide technical assistance to Sub-applicants, including assisting Sub-applicants with Benefit Cost Analysis and environmental and historic documentation. Care must be taken not to provide more technical assistance to one Sub-applicant than another to avoid the appearance of pre-selection. If requested, indirect costs must be included as part of management costs and must be supported with a current Indirect Cost Rate approved by a Federal Cognizant Agency. However, in no case will the amount of funding awarded for management costs exceed 10 percent of the total amount awarded for mitigation planning and project sub-grants. There is no waiver to increase Applicant Management Costs. Applicants that request management costs must submit a separate sub-application for their management costs. Management costs will not factor into the competitive evaluation of planning or project proposals submitted by the Applicant and do not need a Benefit Cost Analysis. Funding for Applicant management costs will not be awarded until all planning and project sub-applications have been awarded to ensure that Applicant management costs do not exceed 10 percent of the total planning and project sub-grant awards. Management costs will be cost shared with up to 75 percent of eligible costs provided by FEMA and at least 25 percent provided by a non-Federal source to the maximum Federal share approved by FEMA. Sub-applicant Management Costs. Sub-applicants may request a maximum of 5 percent of the total grant funding requested for management costs to support approved planning activities or projects. Sub-applicant management costs must be included as part of the planning activity or project costs and, therefore, must be included in the Benefit Cost Analysis for projects. If requested, indirect costs must be included as part of the Management Costs and must be supported with a current Indirect Cost Rate approved by a Federal Cognizant Agency. However, in no case will the total Federal share for any project, including management costs, exceed $3 million. There is no waiver to increase Sub-applicant Management Costs. For more information or to view the full announcement please visit the funding opportunity URL identified in this notice.