Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Cooperating Technical Partners Program Region 3 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): FY 2013 FEMA Region 3 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program (DHS 13 MT 045 003 01)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program opportunity for FEMA Region 3, Funding Opportunity Number DHS 13 MT 045 003 01. It was a discretionary FEMA funding opportunity offered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support flood hazard and risk analysis, mapping, and related program management work through a cooperative agreement.

2) What was the main goal of the opportunity?

The basic goal was to ensure eligible partners had the resources to carry out FEMA-aligned activities that strengthen flood risk identification and mapping efforts. This included both technical work (flood risk analysis and mapping) and the administrative/program management work needed to keep projects moving, tracked, and properly documented.

3) Which FEMA region did this apply to?

This opportunity was specific to FEMA Region 3.

4) What type of funding instrument was used?

The funding instrument type was a cooperative agreement. This indicates recipients should expect substantial FEMA involvement in coordination, oversight, and delivery requirements, rather than a hands-off grant structure.

5) What is the CFDA number for this program?

Funding was provided under CFDA 97.045, Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP).

6) How much total funding was expected to be available?

The estimated total program funding amount was $750,000.

7) About how many awards were expected?

The synopsis indicated an expectation of roughly 11 awards.

8) Was there a minimum or maximum award amount stated?

The award ceiling and award floor were both listed as $0. In practice, this typically means the announcement synopsis did not set fixed per-award bounds, and that award sizes would be determined based on project scope, available funds, and FEMA decisions.

9) Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning applicants needed to be prepared to contribute eligible non-federal resources consistent with program rules.

10) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was effectively limited to entities that were already part of the CTP Program. To apply, an entity had to be a Cooperating Technical Partner with a signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office.

11) What is required to be considered a Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) for this opportunity?

To be a CTP for purposes of this opportunity, the organization needed to have a signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office.

12) What NFIP status was required?

Recipients had to either be a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community in good standing or represent an NFIP community in good standing.

13) Which applicant types were listed as eligible (in general)?

The eligible applicant types listed were broad and included: state governments; county governments; city/township governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education).

14) If eligibility categories are broad, why does eligibility still feel narrow?

Although many organizational types were listed, the requirement to already be a Cooperating Technical Partner with a signed FEMA Partnership Agreement, plus the requirement related to NFIP good standing (or representation of an NFIP community in good standing), effectively narrowed who could successfully compete.

15) What kinds of work did FEMA intend to fund?

The work supported by the program centered on two main areas: (1) program management and (2) technical flood risk analysis and mapping. The funding was intended to support FEMA-aligned activities that strengthen flood risk identification and mapping efforts, including technical and administrative work.

16) Did projects have to be focused on geospatial issues?

No. The announcement clarified that eligible projects or initiatives could, but did not have to, involve geospatial issues. This means the scope could include mapping and GIS-related work, but was not limited to geospatial-only initiatives as long as the work supported flood hazard and risk identification, management, and delivery.

17) What was the funding activity category?

The funding activity category was listed under science and technology and other research and development, reflecting the technical nature of flood risk analysis and mapping (even when the work is applied rather than purely academic research).

18) What did FEMA emphasize regarding performance and accountability?

FEMA emphasized performance and accountability. Applicants needed to demonstrate they could meet CTP Program performance metrics and provide timely, accurate reporting to FEMA documenting progress and results.

19) Did applicants need existing internal capacity before applying?

Yes. FEMA expected applicants to already have non-federally funded processes and/or systems in place that support flood hazard and risk identification work. The funding was aimed at capable partners with established internal capacity, not organizations starting from scratch.

20) What FEMA system did recipients have to use?

Recipients needed the capability to perform the funded activities and agree to use FEMA's Mapping Information Platform (MIP) for the work.

21) How often did project activities need to be updated in the MIP?

Recipients were required to keep project activities updated in the MIP at least every 30 days within the Studies Workflow, and even more frequently within the Revisions Workflow.

22) What does the MIP update requirement suggest about FEMA expectations?

The MIP update requirement highlights that FEMA prioritized consistent project tracking, transparency, and current status information as part of the cooperative agreement.

23) When was the opportunity posted?

The posted date was July 25, 2013.

24) What was the application deadline?

The original closing date was August 11, 2013. FEMA extended the deadline, ultimately setting the closing date to August 20, 2013 (with an intermediate extension referenced to August 16 before the final extension to August 20).

25) When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on September 11, 2013.

26) Where could applicants find official program background information?

For official program background, FEMA pointed applicants to its CTP program webpage.

27) Who was the contact for help accessing the full announcement electronically?

The contact listed for help accessing the full announcement electronically was FEMA's GMD Systems Branch, reachable by email at GMDSystemsBranch@fema.gov.

28) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was DHS 13 MT 045 003 01.

29) Which federal agency offered the opportunity?

The opportunity was offered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

30) Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the provided dates, the closing date was August 20, 2013 and the opportunity was archived on September 11, 2013.