Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Cooperating Technical Partners Program Region 8 | Apply Online

FY 2013 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program Region 8 (DHS 13 MT 045 008 01) - FAQs

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program Region 8 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 13 MT 045 008 01; CFDA 97.045). It is a FEMA discretionary award issued as a cooperative agreement through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2) What is the main purpose of the CTP Program funding in this notice?

The central goal is to fund organizations that already participate in FEMA's CTP framework so they can carry out work related to flood risk analysis, flood hazard mapping, and supporting program management tasks. The intent is to strengthen FEMA and partner capacity to identify, analyze, and communicate flood hazards and risk, including mapping products and workflows that help communities manage floodplain risk and support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

3) Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement, and why does that matter?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant). That generally means recipients should expect substantial FEMA involvement in coordination, deliverables, and oversight for the funded work.

4) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already Cooperating Technical Partners (CTPs). To qualify, an applicant must have a signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office.

5) What does it mean to be an existing Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP)?

For this notice, it means the applicant already has a signed Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office. This opportunity is not described as open to organizations that are not already within the CTP framework.

6) Are there NFIP-related eligibility requirements?

Yes. Applicants must either be an NFIP community in good standing or represent an NFIP community in good standing. This ties the funded work directly to communities participating appropriately in the National Flood Insurance Program framework.

7) What types of organizations are listed as eligible applicant types (assuming they meet the CTP requirement)?

The notice lists the following eligible applicant types (provided they meet the requirement to already be a CTP):

• State governments
• Local governments (city/township governments and county governments)
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Special district governments
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education)

8) What kinds of activities or projects can be funded?

The funding is meant for work tied to flood risk analysis, flood hazard mapping, and program management activities that support those technical efforts. FEMA also notes that eligible projects or initiatives may or may not involve geospatial issues, so projects do not have to be strictly GIS-focused as long as they fit CTP objectives related to flood hazard and risk identification and communication.

9) Is this funding specifically connected to flood mapping and flood risk products?

Yes. In practical terms, the work is intended to support flood hazard mapping and the associated products and workflows that help communicate risk, manage floodplain risk, and support NFIP-related needs.

10) What capacity or performance expectations are described for recipients?

FEMA emphasizes capacity and accountability. Recipients must be able to meet CTP Program performance metrics, submit timely and accurate reports documenting progress and accomplishments, and demonstrate they already have non-federally funded processes or systems that contribute to flood hazard and risk identification.

11) Are there reporting requirements?

Yes. The notice states recipients must submit timely and accurate reports that document progress and accomplishments.

12) What is the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), and is it required for this opportunity?

The notice requires recipients to be able to work in FEMA's Mapping Information Platform (MIP). Recipients must keep project activities updated in the MIP at least every 30 days in the Studies Workflow, and more frequent updates are expected for activities in the Revisions Workflow.

13) How often do MIP updates need to be made?

At a minimum, project activities must be updated in the MIP every 30 days for items in the Studies Workflow. For activities in the Revisions Workflow, the notice indicates updates are expected more frequently.

14) Does this opportunity require applicants to already have certain systems or processes in place?

Yes. FEMA indicates recipients must demonstrate they already have non-federally funded processes or systems that contribute to identifying flood hazards and flood risk.

15) How many awards were anticipated, and what was the total expected funding?

The opportunity anticipated making about 11 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $1,328,000.

16) Was an award floor or ceiling specified?

No award floor or ceiling was specified in the provided listing. That typically means applicants would need to rely on the full program guidance and FEMA coordination to understand likely award sizing and scope expectations under the cooperative agreement structure.

17) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?

The posted date was July 25, 2013. The closing date was originally listed as August 11, 2013 and was later extended (with FEMA manager approval) to August 16, 2013.

18) Where can applicants find official program details and reference materials?

For further details and official materials, FEMA directed applicants to its Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) program webpage (as referenced in the listing).

19) Who is the contact for access issues or questions about the full announcement?

The contact provided was FEMA's GMD Systems Branch. Email: GMD Systems Branch@fema.gov.

20) What is the relationship between this funding and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

The funded work is intended to support community floodplain risk management and NFIP-related objectives by improving the ability to identify, analyze, and communicate flood hazards and risk through mapping products and supporting workflows. In addition, eligibility is tied to being (or representing) an NFIP community in good standing.