Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element (CAP SSSE) Region 9 | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element (CAP SSSE) for FEMA Region 9 is a discretionary cooperative agreement program (CFDA 97.023) that provides funding to state governments to strengthen how National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management is carried out at the community level. At its core, the program is designed to help states deliver hands-on technical assistance to participating NFIP communities and to evaluate whether those communities are properly implementing NFIP floodplain management requirements. The larger purpose behind this support is flood loss reduction, meaning fewer people, buildings, and critical services being damaged when floods occur because local rules are adopted correctly and enforced consistently.

For Fiscal Year 2014, the program places a clear emphasis on compliance and enforcement. FEMA notes that while map adoption work, post-disaster activities, and training remain important parts of the broader community assistance strategy, the program is prioritizing a credible, measurable compliance and enforcement approach as essential to meeting NFIP goals. FEMA Regional Offices are expected to work with each state to set appropriate levels of effort across CAP SSSE activities, making sure performance metrics are met, with some measures required and others strongly encouraged depending on the task area.

A central required activity under CAP SSSE is the use of Community Assistance Visits (CAVs) and Community Assistance Contacts (CACs). States participating in CAP SSSE must conduct both, and they must apply a risk-based prioritization approach laid out in FEMA guidance for conducting CAVs and CACs. FEMA Regions and states jointly determine how many visits and contacts will be conducted each year, with selection driven by risk and need. The program pushes states to use CACs and routine community interactions proactively to identify potential compliance issues early and to pinpoint where technical assistance is needed. States are also required to provide follow-up after CAVs and CACs, including technical help to correct program deficiencies and remedy violations to the maximum extent possible. If a state cannot resolve a community compliance issue, the expectation is that the problem will be referred to the FEMA Regional Office. All CAV and CAC activity must be recorded in FEMA's Community Information System (CIS) so FEMA can track performance and monitor floodplain management outcomes.

Ordinance assistance is another major priority, especially tied to flood map updates. FEMA highlights that helping communities review, revise, and adopt local floodplain management ordinances that meet NFIP minimum requirements is critical, particularly before new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) become effective. This includes updating ordinances to reflect new hazard data and any regulatory changes affecting minimum floodplain management criteria. The cooperative agreement for each state must include a map adoption performance measure, specifically tracking the share of participating communities that have adopted an ordinance referencing the updated map by the FIRM effective date. A mandatory benchmark is set: states must include a map adoption rate of 93 percent or higher in their agreement.

Beyond required elements, CAP SSSE includes several optional or encouraged planning and capacity-building tools. Strategic planning is optional and is presented as a way for states to evaluate the current condition of their floodplain management programs, anticipate future demands, find efficiencies, and consider expanded services. FEMA points states to a strategic planning guidance document developed with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). Similarly, states may choose to conduct an annual CAP Gap Analysis using FEMA's CAP GAP tool, which can help document program needs and has historically supported budget justifications. FEMA notes that refined or updated GAP analyses can be submitted to the Region for consideration in future years and that the GAP analysis can also support strategic planning.

The program also addresses the broader regulatory environment that shapes local floodplain management, including state model ordinances and building codes. Many states maintain a state model floodplain management ordinance aligned with the minimum NFIP requirements in 44 CFR 60.3, plus any additional state requirements. CAP SSSE encourages states to keep these model ordinances current, promote higher regulatory standards where appropriate, and assist communities in adopting and updating ordinances. States are also encouraged to monitor legal and policy developments that may affect floodplain regulation, including building code adoption and modifications. Because many states use model building codes such as the International Codes (I-Codes) or standards from the National Fire Protection Association, FEMA emphasizes the need for both FEMA and the states to understand how these codes affect local floodplain requirements in practice. FEMA indicates that a model companion ordinance to coordinate with I-Code based building codes will be provided to Regional Offices, and encourages state NFIP coordinators to coordinate closely with state building code agencies or commissions, especially when interpretations are needed. FEMA Headquarters can support training on flood provisions of the International Codes at Regional CAP Conferences through its Building Science Branch.

Training, outreach, and workshops are strongly encouraged and can include a wide range of local and professional audiences. CAP SSSE supports states in educating local officials and other stakeholders such as insurance agents, lenders, adjustors, realtors, land surveyors, and design professionals, with the goal of improving day-to-day implementation and enforcement of floodplain management rules, increasing hazard awareness, providing NFIP insurance training, and supporting local and state planning. Training schedules and locations should be coordinated with the FEMA Region. The opportunity also highlights ASFPM involvement and professional credentialing: FEMA encourages state floodplain staff to obtain Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) credentials, and CAP SSSE funds may be used for initial exam costs and biennial renewal fees, though not for individual ASFPM membership dues. States are encouraged to sponsor and proctor CFM exams in coordination with ASFPM. CAP SSSE may also, at the Region's discretion and with negotiation in the annual agreement, support limited costs for local officials to attend or assist with ASFPM conferences held within their state. In addition, CAP SSSE funds may reimburse travel for state floodplain staff attending the ASFPM National Conference, FEMA Regional CAP SSSE coordination meetings, and state Silver Jackets coordination meetings, with other related meetings potentially eligible if approved in advance by Regional CAP SSSE staff.

Other eligible activities span ongoing NFIP support work. States are expected to provide general technical assistance to communities and individuals on NFIP-related floodplain management issues, and they may help communities enroll in the NFIP by guiding them through minimum eligibility requirements. CAP SSSE also supports Community Rating System (CRS) work, where states can assist communities with CRS participation through technical assistance, entry CAVs, and support for activities that earn CRS credit. Mapping coordination assistance is included as well: states must coordinate with FEMA Regions to develop flood mapping priorities and participate in community meetings related to the mapping process tied to Flood Map Modernization and the Risk Map initiative. FEMA notes that states may also be eligible for Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) Program Management funding for mapping-related responsibilities, but CAP SSSE plans must be developed separately while still coordinating closely with CTP plans to avoid duplication and ensure responsibilities are covered. Importantly, neither CAP SSSE nor CTP Program Management funds may be used to conduct floodplain studies or develop flood maps, although both programs can support related activities like map adoption, training, and outreach.

The program encourages states to coordinate CAP SSSE work with other state programs and agencies that influence floodplain outcomes. Examples include Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs (such as Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, and Flood Mitigation Assistance), dam safety programs, land use, building code and water resources agencies, and operational agencies that work in floodplains like departments of transportation or port authorities. Coordination is also encouraged around state executive orders and regulations that help meet NFIP requirements. Disaster-related support is also recognized: states are encouraged to assist NFIP communities post-disaster, including help with substantial damage determinations (including use of FEMA's Substantial Damage Estimating Software), guidance for communities newly enrolling in NFIP, general floodplain management technical assistance, promoting Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage, and help connecting to hazard mitigation programs. FEMA notes these disaster activities are generally not built into the annual CAP SSSE agreement by default, but can be negotiated when a disaster occurs, with the agreement formally modified to reflect the changes.

On how communities are selected for CAVs and CACs, FEMA emphasizes that a risk-based approach is intended to direct limited staffing toward the communities most in need, in a cost-effective way. The CAV Tier 1 Prioritization Tool must be used as the basis for selecting communities for CAVs, though states and Regions may select Tier 2 communities as an exception if they document justification in the CAV comment field within CIS. FEMA also flags specific compliance issues that warrant extra attention during evaluations: NFIP evaluation findings showed that the most common building compliance violations involved mechanical, electrical, and utility equipment installed below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and flood openings that do not meet the requirements of 44 CFR 60.3(c)(5). These two issues together represented about half of the violations found in the assessed sample, so FEMA instructs that these items receive special consideration during CAVs to strengthen enforcement and reduce recurring problems.

Administratively, this opportunity was posted May 8, 2014, with an application closing date of July 1, 2014, and it was archived July 31, 2014. The estimated total funding amount listed is $10,400,000, with expected awards noted as 52, and a cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated as yes (specific match details would typically be defined in the cooperative agreement terms or related guidance). The award ceiling and floor are listed as $0, which generally signals that awards vary by agreement and allocation rather than being capped in the public synopsis. Eligible applicants are state governments, and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, reflecting ongoing collaboration and oversight between FEMA and the states. The FEMA Region 9 point of contact listed is Patricia Rippe, Region 9 Mitigation Division CAP SSSE Coordinator, reachable at 510-627-7015 and Patricia.Rippe@fema.dhs.gov, with additional information available through Grants.gov.

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