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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is providing $210 million in funding as part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program - National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) for facility hardening and other physical and cyber security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack.
Overview
The NSGP-NSS supplements one of three grant programs that support the DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to terrorist or other extremist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s communities against potential terrorist or other extremist attacks.
In the National Security Supplemental (Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024), DHS received an additional funding package to supplement NSGP funding. $180 million of the funding was added to the fiscal year (FY) 2024 NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The remaining $210 million will be awarded as part of the NSGP-NSS.
Funding
The total amount of funding available under NSGP-NSS is $210 million. $105 million in NSGP-NSS-Urban Area (UA) funding will be awarded to subapplicants that are located within one of the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)-designated high-risk urban areas. $105 million in NSGP-NSS-State (S) funding is designated for subapplicants located outside the UASI-designated high-risk urban areas. The NSGP-NSS NOFO includes a list of the UASI high-risk urban areas.
Eligibility
The State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the only entity eligible to apply for NSGP-NSS funds. The SAA applies to FEMA on behalf of eligible nonprofit organizations (subapplicants) that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack. Eligible nonprofit organizations are those organizations described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
A consortium of nonprofit organizations is also an eligible subapplicant. A consortium application is an opportunity for an eligible nonprofit organization to act as a lead and apply for funding on behalf of itself and any number of other participating NSGP-NSS eligible nonprofit organizations. All nonprofit organizations in the consortium application must be compliant with the NSGP-NSS eligibility requirements. Nonprofit organizations may not apply both individually and as part of a consortium. The lead nonprofit organization and its partners must be the intended beneficiaries of the requested funding. The lead nonprofit organization shall not distribute grant-funded assets or provide grant-funded contractual services to non-compliant partner nonprofit organizations or other ineligible organizations.
For NSGP-NSS-UA, subapplicants must be located within one of the NSGP-NSS UASI-designated high-risk urban areas listed in the NSGP-NSS NOFO. For NSGP-NSS-S, subapplicants may be located anywhere within a state or territory outside of a UASI-designated high-risk urban area.
Consortium Award Management
If successful, the lead consortium member will accept the subaward on behalf of the consortium, implement the approved projects/contracts for all consortium member sites, and manage the subaward throughout the period of performance, to include ensuring that all terms and conditions of the subaward are met.
In the case of awards over $250,000, the consortium must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). For more information, see the NSGP-NSS NOFO.
For additional information, see the NSGP-NSS Consortium Application Guide.
Management and Administration
SAAs can use up to 5% of their total NSGP-NSS-S and NSGP-NSS-UA awards for management and administration (M&A) purposes. Subrecipients may also continue to use up to 5% of their subaward for M&A purposes.
Technical Assistance
SAAs can use up to 2% of their total NSGP-NSS-S and NSGP-NSS-UA awards for technical assistance and outreach. Outreach and technical assistance sourced with this additional funding should prioritize rural and underserved communities and nonprofit organizations that are traditionally underrepresented in the program. States can choose to opt in or out of this funding, and states that want to receive the 2% technical assistance must indicate this in the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system.
Funding Guidelines
NSGP-NSS allowable costs are focused on security-related activities. Funding can be used for contracted security personnel; security-related planning, exercises, and training; and the acquisition and installation of security equipment (including improvements) and cybersecurity measures on real property (including buildings) owned or leased by the nonprofit organization at the time of application.
Application Process
Applying for an award under the NSGP-NSS is a multi-step process. Applicants (SAAs only) are encouraged to register early in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and in FEMA GO, as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. Please refer to Section D in the NSGP-NSS NOFO for detailed information and instructions.
All application materials will be posted on Grants.gov. Eligible applicants should submit their application through FEMA GO. Applicants needing technical support with the FEMA GO system should contact FEMAGO@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET.
Completed applications must be submitted in the FEMA GO system no later than 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 24, 2025.
NSGP-NSS Resources
There are a variety of resources available to address programmatic, technical, and financial questions, which can assist with NSGP-NSS applications:
- The NSGP-NSS NOFO is located online at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security/nss/fy-24-nofo
- The FY 2024 Preparedness Grants Manual is located online at www.fema.gov/grants.
- For additional resources on FEMA preparedness grant programs, visit Preparedness Grants | FEMA.gov.
- For additional resources on FEMA procurement and grant processes, visit Contracting with Federal Funds for Goods and Services Before, During and After Disasters | FEMA.gov.
For additional program-specific information, please contact the FEMA Grants News at (800) 368-6498 or fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov. FEMA Grants News hours of operation are from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
- For support regarding financial grants management and budgetary technical assistance, applicants may contact the FEMA Award Administration Help Desk at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.
- To contact the FEMA staff overseeing the NSGP-NSS, e-mail FEMA-NSGP@fema.dhs.gov.