Fiscal Year 2023 Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) Region 9 | DHS 23 MT 023 09 99

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Fiscal Year 2023 CAP-SSSE Region 9 grant?

The Fiscal Year 2023 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) Region 9 opportunity is a FEMA grant that funds state governments to strengthen how communities carry out floodplain management under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

2) What is the main purpose of CAP-SSSE funding?

The core purpose is practical and performance-focused: states use the funding to (1) provide technical assistance to NFIP-participating communities and (2) evaluate how well those communities are implementing NFIP floodplain management requirements. The broader intent is to reduce flood losses over time, improve compliance with NFIP standards, and build lasting floodplain management capability at both state and local levels.

3) Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

Eligibility is limited to state governments. This reflects that CAP-SSSE is a state support element rather than a direct-to-local grant program.

4) What kinds of activities does CAP-SSSE support?

Based on the program description, CAP-SSSE supports state-led activities that help communities administer NFIP floodplain management requirements. This includes technical assistance to NFIP-participating communities and community evaluations to assess implementation of NFIP floodplain management requirements.

5) How does CAP-SSSE relate to NFIP floodplain management requirements?

CAP-SSSE is designed specifically to strengthen community floodplain management under the NFIP. The state uses the grant to help communities understand requirements, apply best practices, correct gaps identified in reviews, and maintain effective local floodplain management programs aligned with NFIP rules.

6) What is the role of the State Coordinating Agency in this program?

A key feature of CAP-SSSE is reinforcing the formal role of the State Coordinating Agency, including duties and responsibilities described at 44 CFR 60.25. In practice, the state serves as a connector between FEMA and local jurisdictions and is expected to show commitment to minimum floodplain management criteria and demonstrate capability and accountability to implement and oversee program-related activities.

7) What does 44 CFR 60.25 have to do with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity references 44 CFR 60.25 as the federal regulation that frames FEMA's expectations for state responsibilities supporting NFIP administration. It outlines duties and responsibilities tied to how states support communities and oversee program-related work.

8) Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This funding opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

9) Is this grant competitive or formula-based?

It is described as a discretionary award. Discretionary awards are generally competitive or otherwise awarded based on the agency's discretion, as opposed to being automatically allocated by formula.

10) What type of award is CAP-SSSE for this opportunity?

The award type is a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates FEMA expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as coordination, oversight, or programmatic guidance while the state carries out technical assistance and community evaluations.

11) What does FEMA's "substantial involvement" mean in a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity notes that cooperative agreements commonly involve FEMA participation during the period of performance. Examples provided include coordination, oversight, or programmatic guidance as states deliver technical assistance and conduct community evaluations.

12) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 97.023.

13) What public purpose areas are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with multiple public purpose areas, including disaster prevention and relief, environment, education, regional development, and research and development-related categories. This reflects how floodplain management intersects with planning, mitigation, public administration, and community resilience.

14) How many awards did FEMA anticipate making?

For this posting, FEMA anticipated making about 52 awards.

15) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $900,000.

16) When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 3, 2023.

17) What was the original application deadline?

The original application closing date was June 16, 2023.

18) How do applicants submit an application?

Applications are submitted through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO), FEMA's online grants management system used for application submission and related award administration.

19) What is the FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO) website?

The application portal is FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO) at https://go.fema.gov/.

20) Is FEMA GO used only for applying, or also for managing the award?

The opportunity states that FEMA GO is used for application submission and related award administration, indicating it supports both applying and post-award grant management tasks tied to the award.

21) How does CAP-SSSE aim to reduce flood losses?

By funding states to provide technical assistance and to evaluate community implementation of NFIP floodplain management requirements, the program is designed to improve compliance with NFIP standards over time and strengthen floodplain management capability, which in turn is intended to reduce flood losses.

22) What does CAP-SSSE mean by building "lasting" capability?

The opportunity frames CAP-SSSE as a way to build floodplain management capability at both the state and local levels. This includes strengthening the state's support function and helping local jurisdictions maintain effective floodplain management programs aligned with NFIP rules.

23) Does this opportunity fund local governments directly?

No. The eligibility described is limited to state governments, which is consistent with CAP-SSSE being a state support element rather than a direct-to-local program.

24) What is the relationship between FEMA, the state, and local jurisdictions under this program?

The opportunity describes the state as the connector between FEMA and local jurisdictions. The state helps communities understand NFIP requirements, apply best practices, correct gaps found in reviews, and maintain local programs aligned with NFIP rules, while FEMA provides involvement typical of a cooperative agreement (coordination, oversight, and/or guidance).

25) What kinds of community reviews or evaluations are contemplated?

The opportunity broadly describes evaluations of how well NFIP-participating communities are implementing NFIP floodplain management requirements. The information provided does not specify a particular evaluation method, frequency, or named review type, only that states are funded to perform community evaluations tied to implementation and compliance.