Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program HQ | Apply Online

FY 2015 FEMA Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program HQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the FY 2015 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program HQ opportunity?

It is a FEMA grant/cooperative agreement opportunity designed to strengthen the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by building and expanding practical partnerships among federal, state, tribal, regional, and local entities. The program emphasizes improving the quality, usefulness, and local ownership of flood hazard and flood risk information to reduce flood losses and improve community resilience.

2) What is the main purpose of the CTP Program?

The overall purpose is to reduce flood losses and improve community resilience by increasing the quality, usefulness, and local ownership of flood hazard and flood risk information. FEMA uses the program to expand partner capabilities so local communities share more of the technical work and long-term stewardship of flood mapping and flood risk data.

3) How does this program support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

The program supports partners that can help NFIP state coordinating agencies and NFIP-participating communities keep up with ongoing regulatory responsibilities, while also improving broader public and private sector capacity to understand and mitigate flood risk.

4) What kinds of work does the CTP Program focus on?

The core focus is flood risk data and products, especially the development, maintenance, and communication of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and related flood risk datasets. FEMA emphasizes that the program is not only about producing maps, but also about ensuring risk information is credible, current, well-documented, and effectively communicated.

5) What types of activities can be supported with CTP funding?

The opportunity describes work that can include program management activities, technical risk analysis and mapping tasks, and efforts that communicate flood hazard and flood risk information to stakeholders.

6) Is FEMA support limited to funding only?

No. FEMA notes it may provide non-financial support such as technical assistance, training, and data to strengthen partner performance across project categories.

7) Are awarded funds meant to replace local or partner resources?

No. FEMA states that any funds awarded are intended to complement, not replace, resources and data that partners can leverage themselves. The program is structured around the idea that Cooperating Technical Partners bring meaningful capability and contribution rather than relying entirely on federal funding.

8) Who is eligible to apply for this FY 2015 CTP Program HQ opportunity?

Eligibility is limited to qualified Cooperating Technical Partners. Applicants must already have a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office. In addition, recipients must either be (or represent) an NFIP community in good standing, or be a FEMA-approved nonprofit whose primary mission supports NFIP goals and objectives.

9) Do applicants need to have an existing CTP Partnership Agreement before applying?

Yes. Applicants must already have a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office to be considered a qualified Cooperating Technical Partner for this opportunity.

10) What does it mean to be an NFIP community "in good standing" for eligibility?

The announcement states that recipients must either be (or represent) an NFIP community in good standing, but it does not provide additional criteria or definitions within the information provided.

11) Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes, eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits are listed as eligible applicant types, with additional eligibility details subject to FEMA Headquarters approval. The announcement also states recipients can be a FEMA-approved nonprofit whose primary mission supports NFIP goals and objectives.

12) What applicant organization types are listed as eligible?

The opportunity lists eligible applicant types including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits (with additional eligibility details subject to FEMA HQ approval).

13) What capability expectations does FEMA have for applicants?

Beyond organizational status, FEMA expects applicants to demonstrate they can carry out the proposed work, meet CTP Program performance metrics, and submit timely, accurate performance reports.

14) Are applicants expected to already have systems and processes in place?

Yes. FEMA expects applicants to have established, non-federally funded processes or systems already in place to support collecting, developing, evaluating, distributing, and communicating flood hazard and flood risk assessment data and mapping.

15) Are there specific FEMA tools partners may need to use?

Yes, where applicable, partners must agree to use FEMA tools such as the Mapping Information Platform (MIP). Partners must also keep workflow activity updates current, including updates at least every 30 days for Studies Workflow and more frequently for Revisions Workflow.

16) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement instrument, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

17) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 97.045 (Cooperating Technical Partners).

18) How much funding was expected to be available, and how many awards were anticipated?

FEMA anticipated making about 11 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $2,518,850.

19) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed in the information provided.

20) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on June 15, 2015. The original closing date was August 20, 2015, later adjusted to a closing date of August 14, 2015. The opportunity was archived on September 15, 2015.

21) Why does FEMA encourage applicants to coordinate with FEMA before applying?

FEMA strongly encourages prospective applicants to coordinate with FEMA before applying so proposed tasks can be aligned with FEMA priorities, objectives, and performance measures.

22) If selected, what requirements must an award recipient follow?

If selected, the recipient must follow the requirements in the announcement, the terms and conditions of the award, and the existing Partnership Agreement, including the FEMA-approved Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement.

23) What kinds of decisions or outcomes is this program meant to improve at the community level?

The program is intended to help communities make better decisions related to land use, floodplain management, mitigation investments, and resilience planning by improving the credibility, currency, documentation, and communication of flood risk information.

24) Who is the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed point of contact for access issues was FEMA's GMD Systems Branch at GMDSystemsBranch@fema.gov.

25) Is there a program information link referenced for more information?

Yes. FEMA provided a program information link to its Cooperating Technical Partners program webpage (the specific URL is not included in the information provided here).