FY 2014 Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element Region 2 | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The FY 2014 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP SSSE) for FEMA Region 2 is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 14 MT 023 002 99; CFDA 97.023) designed to strengthen how National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements are carried out at the local level. The core purpose is twofold: to fund State-delivered technical assistance to participating NFIP communities and to support evaluations of how well communities are implementing NFIP floodplain management standards. FEMA’s underlying goal is flood loss reduction, and the program is structured around practical, on-the-ground support paired with performance oversight.

For FY 2014, FEMA made it clear that the program emphasis is compliance and enforcement. While activities like map adoption support, disaster-related assistance, and training continue to matter, FEMA framed credible compliance and enforcement as essential to achieving measurable reductions in flood damage over time. FEMA Regional Offices are expected to set the level of effort for each activity and ensure performance metrics are met, with some requirements being mandatory and other tasks encouraged as optional enhancements depending on State capacity and regional priorities.

A central required component is the State’s completion of Community Assistance Visits (CAVs) and Community Assistance Contacts (CACs). States must use a risk-based approach to decide which communities receive these visits and contacts, following the NFIP guidance for conducting CAVs and CACs and using the CAV Tier 1 Prioritization Tool. Tier 1 prioritization is required for CAV selection, although Regions and States can choose Tier 2 communities in limited cases if they document justification in the Community Information System (CIS). FEMA also encourages States to make strong use of CACs and other routine touchpoints to spot potential compliance issues early and direct technical assistance where it is most needed. An important operational requirement is that all CAVs and CACs must be entered into CIS so FEMA can track and monitor this work. States are also expected to provide follow-up assistance after CAVs and CACs to correct deficiencies and remedy violations as much as possible, and to elevate unresolved compliance problems to the FEMA Regional Office.

Another major priority area is ordinance assistance, particularly tied to flood map updates. States are expected to help communities review and revise floodplain management ordinances so they remain compliant with NFIP minimum standards and incorporate new FEMA hazard data before updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) become effective. FEMA requires cooperative agreements to include a map adoption performance measure, specifically tracking the percentage of participating communities that adopt an ordinance referencing the updated map by the FIRM effective date. A key required benchmark is a mandatory map adoption rate of 93 percent or higher, making this one of the clearest numeric performance expectations in the announcement.

The opportunity also outlines several optional but strongly encouraged planning and program-improvement tools. Strategic planning is presented as an optional task that can help States assess the maturity and effectiveness of their floodplain management programs, prepare for future workload, find efficiencies, and identify ways to expand services. FEMA and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) developed a strategic planning guidance document for this purpose. States may also choose to perform an annual CAP Gap Analysis using FEMA’s CAP GAP tool. FEMA notes that GAP analysis results have supported budget justifications for program funding, and States that want to refine or update their analysis may submit revised results to the Region for consideration in future years. FEMA also points out that GAP analysis can support and inform strategic planning.

States are encouraged to keep their State model floodplain management ordinances up to date and to monitor the broader State regulatory environment affecting floodplain management. This includes aligning local regulatory approaches with NFIP minimum requirements in 44 CFR 60.3 and, where possible, promoting higher regulatory standards. A specific focus is coordination with State building code systems, since many States adopt codes based on International Code Council (I-Codes) or National Fire Protection Association models. Because these codes often contain NFIP-consistent provisions unless modified, FEMA expects States to understand how code adoption and enforcement affects local floodplain regulation and to help communities navigate how building codes and floodplain ordinances interact in practice. FEMA also signals support resources such as a model companion ordinance intended to coordinate with I-Code-based building codes, and it notes that FEMA Headquarters’ Building Science Branch can provide training on flood provisions of the International Codes at Regional CAP conferences if requested.

Training and outreach is another major eligible activity area. States are encouraged to deliver workshops and other training for local officials and key partners who influence floodplain outcomes, including insurance agents, lenders, adjusters, realtors, land surveyors, and design professionals. The intent is to reinforce consistent implementation and enforcement of floodplain regulations, improve hazard identification and risk communication, and strengthen NFIP insurance knowledge and planning coordination. Training schedules and locations are expected to be coordinated with the FEMA Region to avoid duplication and to align with regional strategies. Within training support, FEMA encourages professional credentialing through ASFPM’s Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) program. CAP SSSE funds may cover the initial CFM exam and biennial renewal fees for State floodplain staff involved in floodplain management work, and States are encouraged to sponsor and proctor CFM exams in coordination with ASFPM. However, the funding cannot reimburse individual ASFPM membership fees. Travel support may also be allowable for State floodplain personnel to attend the ASFPM National Conference, FEMA Regional CAP SSSE coordination meetings, and in-State Silver Jackets coordination meetings, with other related meetings potentially eligible if pre-approved by the Region. In some cases and at regional discretion, limited funding may be negotiated to help local officials attend or assist with an ASFPM conference held within their State.

Beyond visits, ordinances, and training, the eligible activity list includes general technical assistance to communities and individuals on NFIP-related floodplain management issues, assistance with enrolling communities into the NFIP (helping them meet minimum eligibility requirements), and support for the Community Rating System (CRS). CRS support can include helping communities pursue CRS entry, providing general technical assistance, conducting entry CAVs, and supporting activities that receive CRS credit. The program also includes mapping coordination assistance tied to FEMA’s Flood Map Modernization and Risk MAP initiatives, where States work with Regions to set mapping priorities and participate in community meetings connected to the mapping process. FEMA highlights an important boundary here: CAP SSSE and Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) Program Management funds must be planned separately but coordinated carefully, and neither funding source can be used to conduct floodplain studies or to develop floodplain maps. Some overlapping support activities, such as map adoption, training, and outreach, may be allowable under both programs, but FEMA stresses the need for coordination to prevent duplication of effort.

FEMA also encourages States to coordinate CAP SSSE work with other State programs and agencies that affect floodplain management, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs (such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation, and Flood Mitigation Assistance), as well as dam safety, land use, building code authorities, water resources programs, transportation agencies, port authorities, and other entities active in floodplains. Coordination around State executive orders and regulations that support NFIP requirements is also encouraged, reflecting FEMA’s interest in aligning the broader State policy environment with local NFIP implementation.

Disaster-related assistance is addressed as a flexible, situational set of activities. States are encouraged to help NFIP communities after disasters, for example by assisting with substantial damage determinations (including use of FEMA’s Substantial Damage Estimating Software), providing NFIP technical assistance during recovery, promoting and supporting Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, and connecting communities to hazard mitigation assistance options. FEMA notes these activities are generally not part of the standard annual CAP SSSE agreement but can be negotiated when disasters occur, with the agreement modified accordingly.

Finally, FEMA calls out a specific compliance issue that should receive extra scrutiny during CAVs: mechanical, electrical, and utility equipment located below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), as well as flood openings that do not meet the requirements at 44 CFR 60.3(c)(5). FEMA cites NFIP evaluation findings indicating these two problem types made up about half of observed violations in the sampled assessments, so States are encouraged to treat them as focal points for improved enforcement and corrective technical assistance.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was posted May 8, 2014, with an application closing date of July 1, 2014, and an archive date of July 31, 2014. The estimated total funding was $10.4 million, with 52 expected awards. Award floor and ceiling are listed as $0, reflecting that award sizing is determined through FEMA-State negotiation rather than a single fixed grant amount. Cost sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is limited to the State agency designated by statute or the Governor’s declaration as the NFIP State Coordinating Agency under 44 CFR 60.25. For Region 2, the listed program contact was Kim Rizzo (FEMA Region 2 Mitigation Division CAP SSSE Coordinator), with contact information provided in the announcement.

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