$4.4 Million Available in Cooperative Agreements for Cooperating Technical Partners Program in Region Six

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it expects to award up to 13 cooperative agreements for the Cooperating Technical Partners Program to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the National Flood Insurance Program in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

The estimated total program funding available was cited as $4.4 million. The agency said the grant was associated with science and technology and other research and development.

This funding opportunity is open to state, county, city, township and special district governments; private, public and state controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments; and non-profits having a 501(c)3 status with the IRS.

The agency description of the grant states: "The Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program may provide federal assistance, through a grant or cooperative agreement, to an eligible Cooperating Technical Partner (herein referred to as 'CTP', 'partner' or 'grantee') to perform various projects and activities that stimulate and support the ability of NFIP State Coordinating Agencies and NFIP-participating communities (as defined in 44 CFR Part 59.1) to continue their ongoing regulatory NFIP responsibilities as well as support the ability of States, communities and the public and private sector to mitigate flood risk. The CTP Program seeks to enhance the existing capabilities of CTPs to increase local involvement in, and ownership of, the development and maintenance of flood risk data and products, such as the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and other risk related products, as well as other support to advance the goals and objectives of the Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program. Partnerships developed through FEMA's CTP Program are in the best interest of State and local communities, the NFIP and the public. CTPs may be able to perform activities related to program management, technical risk analysis and mapping, and communication of flood risk hazard data and information.

Only qualified partners of the CTP Program are eligible for federal assistance awards through the CTP Program. Recipients must be a CTP (i.e., have a signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA HQ or a FEMA Regional Office); - either be or represent a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community in good-standing, or a FEMA-approved non-profit agency whose primary mission supports the goals and objectives of the NFIP; - have existing non-Federally funded processes and/or systems in place to support the collection, development, evaluation, dissemination and communication of flood hazard and risk assessment data and mapping; - have the capability to perform funded activities; - demonstrate the ability to achieve the CTP Program performance metrics and provide timely and accurate reports to FEMA documenting performance and achievements; and - when applicable, agree to perform work in the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) and update the activities within the MIP every 30 days in the Studies Workflow (and more frequently within the Revisions Workflow). CTPs need to work with FEMA in advance of the application to understand FEMA program priorities, objectives and measures, and to identify specific tasks to undertake. In support of program objectives, FEMA may provide technical assistance, training, and/or data to a CTP to enhance the activities within the project categories.

Any funds FEMA provides through a grant or cooperative agreement to complete project activities are in addition to the leveraged resources and data which may be provided by the CTP to complete the tasks agreed upon. When awarded a grant or cooperative agreement through the CTP Program in support of program objectives and to advance program measures, the CTP must comply with the requirements outlined in the announcement, the terms and conditions of the award, as well as the Partnership Agreement and the associated Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement approved by FEMA. These templates may be obtained from your granting organization, either the FEMA Region or FEMA Headquarters."

The funding opportunity number is DHS-17-MT-045-06-01 (CFDA 97.045). It was posted on June 1 with an application closing date of July 1.

Myron Struck, editor, Targeted News Service, Springfield, Va., 703/304-1897; [email protected]; http://www.targetednews.com