FEMA announces FY12 grant guidance

As Sarah Wilson and I return back to our normal daily schedules following the Human Patient Simulation Network Conference , our inboxes have been filling up with guidance documents from several federal grant programs. One of the largest releases was announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as more than $1.3 billion was earmarked for seven separate grant programs. These are the grants announced under the FY12 guidance:

• Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
• Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)
• Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)
• Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
• Intercity Passenger Rail - Amtrak (IPR) Program
• Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)
• Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)

In addition to funds dedicated to the those programs, we also know the funding levels under the FY13 federal budget proposal. The Congressional Fire Services Institute released figures that showed slight decreases in funding levels for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. Under the FY13 budget, these projects will be funded at $335 million each.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

Under this release, the funding level for HSGP is $830,976,000. The Homeland Security Grant Program actually covers three separate areas, including State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG), which “fund a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and management and administration.

Who is eligible to apply:

Each of the grant programs under HSGP (UASI, OPSG, SHSP) are funded as state pass-through funds. To be considered for funding, organizations and communities must approach the state for inclusion in the state application. The State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the collection point and will be the organization that submits the request under the HSGP.

Early collaboration with the SAA is beneficial to the HSGP process for both parties. This will allow the local affiliate to understand the documentation requirements and deadlines for state submissions to coordinate the federal submission, and it will allow for revisions on local and state levels to ensure the application complies with requirements.

Key changes in FY2012:

In the FY12 guidance for HSGP, there are 15 notable changes from the previous fiscal year. Funding opportunities are aligned with information to implement PP8 and the National Preparedness Goal. Furthermore, the funding performance period for HSGP, previously 36 months, changes to 24 months.

Individual changes are also noted for the subgrants that make up the overall HSGP. UASI grants will no longer be broken into Tier I and Tier II based on their relative risks. There are also changes in allowed expenses in both SHSP and UASI, which widen the scope of construction and renovation projects.

Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)

Under the recent release, the funding for EMPG is $339,500,000. This vital program helps communities prepare for the effects of a wide range of hazards. It was authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) as a means to protect life and property by having a comprehensive emergency preparedness program in place.

Who is eligible to apply:

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for this grant states that one application will be received from the state level. Communities may approach the state with funding priorities, and the state may include that request with the overall state outcome. If all approved locations submit applications for these funds, 58 applications will be received. These are from 56 states and territories as well as the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Key Changes for FY2012:

Five key changes are in the 2012 FOA for this grant. The first is more of a cosmetic change as the federal government is moving toward naming the guidance document as "Funding Opportunity Announcement" instead of "Grant Guidance Document." The second delineates the priorities of the EMPG to implement Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8 and the National Preparedness Goal (NPG).  The third key change is a in the reporting requirements for progress.

Another change is the requirement for recipients to “belong to or be located in Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) membership states in support of the NPG only excluding American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."

Remember, this grant is a state pass-through grant.  To apply, see your state agency representative to submit your package.

For more information about these grants, FEMA allows the end user to look at specific information including the FOA, FAQ and information sheets for each program.