Loretta K. Hatch, CFM and State Floodplain Coordinator of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, is announcing funding for the new FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant. This grant is replacing the old Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. Through this funding opportunity, DHSEM is soliciting Notices of Interest for natural hazard mitigation plans. Eligible sub-applicants are local governments, special districts, Pueblos, Tribes and Nations. There is a 25% non-federal match requirement. For small impoverished communities, the non-federal match is 10%.
For this first year of BRIC, the State of New Mexico will accept applications for the purposes of creating or updating a natural hazard mitigation plan. The federal Notice of Funding Opportunity limits planning funds to a maximum of $300,000 federal. Depending on the amount of requested funding, award selection may be competitive.
Please note that New Mexico sub-applicants must follow the State application procedure and deadlines. Important dates identified in the Funding Announcement are:
- September 9, 2020 – Webinar at 1:00pm to review this announcement and the instructions for FEMA GO registration. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the DHSEM BRIC webpage for reference.
- September 15, 2020 – Deadline to request individual technical assistance to register your entity in FEMA GO. Participation of your SAM.gov Authorized Organization Representative is mandatory.
- September 20, 2020 – Registration in FEMA GO and State Notices of Interest are due.
- November 1, 2020 – Complete application packets for State review must be submitted in FEMA GO.
- November 30, 2020 – The State will issue Requests For Information (RFI) and offer technical assistance on any corrections or outstanding items needed.
- January 15, 2021 – Complete applications ready for submission to FEMA must be submitted in FEMA GO.
- June 2021 – Estimated FEMA funding selection.
- December 2021 – Estimated FEMA award to the State.
- January 2022 – Estimated DHSEM award to sub-grantees.
Funding: There is $500,000,000 available nationwide for Federal Fiscal Year 2020. The state set-aside for New Mexico is $600,000, with a $300,000 maximum federal share available for planning activities. Each year’s NOFO will outline the available funding and application criteria. The State will reevaluate the New Mexico application criteria in future award years.
Per the State’s Mitigation Administrative Plan, $50,000 total project cost is allocated for the first two jurisdictions participating in a hazard mitigation plan. An additional $5,000 may be requested for each additional participating entity. Participating entities must meet all requirements of 44 CFR (201.6 for local communities, 201.7 for Tribes) and agree to adopt the plan upon FEMA approval.
Please note that Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations have two options for application. Tribes may apply to DHSEM as a sub-grantee for a hazard mitigation plan following the states allocation formula, or can apply direct to FEMA for up to $600,000 in federal set aside and submit applications in accordance with the federal criterial. Applications submitted over the $600,000 set-aside go into the national competition. Tribes that want to apply direct to FEMA should contact Christy King, FEMA Region VI HMA at Christina.L.King@fema.dhs.gov or 940-383-7220.
Cost Share: BRIC is a 75% federal and 25% non-federal grant. Match can be in the form of cash, in-kind, or a combination. Match cannot be federal funds or already used as match for another federal award. If a community meets the requirements of a ‘Small Impoverished Community’, the federal cost share can increase up to 90% federal with 10% non-federal match.
Sub-recipient Management Cost: An additional 5% of the total project cost is available at 100% federal share for management of the sub-grant. For example, if a hazard mitigation plan is awarded at $50,000, the federal share will be $37,500 with a required non-federal match of $12,500. An additional $5,000 in 100% federal share funds can be requested for the purposes of maintaining the sub-grant. This would bring the total project cost to $55,000. Examples of eligible tasks are staff time completing activities such as procurement of a necessary contractor, submitting quarterly reports, or assembling financial data for a reimbursement request.
Period of Performance: The sub-grant Period of Performance will end 33 months from the date FEMA makes the award to the State. However, “Go/No Go” milestones are now required as part of the application schedule. These are key activities (completing procurement, submission of the plan for review, etc.) that must be met within the timeframe set by the sub-grantee and signed off on by the State. These key activities must be accomplished by the deadlines agreed upon or the sub-grant will be terminated.
FEMA GO: All interested entities are required to register and submit applications in the new FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) web tool. Registration of your entity is only possible with the assistance of your Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) identified in SAM.gov. Using the attached guide, your entity AOR must create an account, log into FEMA GO, and assign roles to all individuals within your entity that will be tasked with BRIC activities. Registration in FEMA GO is required by September 20, 2020. The State will conduct a webinar on September 9th at 1:00pm MT and provide one-on-one technical assistance as requested. Requests for individuation technical assistance must be made before September 15, 2020.
Information on FEMA GO is available at: https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go
For questions, please contact the State Mitigation Program at DHSEM.mitigation@state.nm.us , 505-476-9682