This page provides guidance and instructions for the entire process of performing a full BCA using the BCA Toolkit, from download and installation of the BCA Add-In to exporting and attaching your completed BCA to your project subapplication.
Unless you use a methodology that does not require you to use the BCA Toolkit, you will need to have the BCA Toolkit installed on your computer.
BCA Toolkit Download and Installation Requirements
For All Users
Click the “Download BCA Toolkit Version 6.0 Template” button and open the Excel file.
Download BCA Toolkit Version 6.0 Template
For FEMA Users
Do not follow the instructions below. Instead, either (a) open the BCA Toolkit 6.0 template and select the FEMA BCA 6.0 icon in the top ribbon, or (b) download the Add-in from the FEMA Software Center, which will write a folder with the template file and some instructions to your desktop.
For Non-FEMA Users
Select the button below to view or access a printable file that explains how to install the BCA Toolkit for Excel Desktop or Excel Online.
BCA Toolkit 6.0 Excel Installation Instructions
System Requirements and BCA Toolkit Environments
The BCA Toolkit is an add-in for Microsoft Excel. The Add-in performs the best when using Excel 2016 or later. The BCA Toolkit can be run in one of two user environments:
- Excel Online via an internet browser
- Excel Desktop via a computer that runs Excel
Within both environments, there is capability to import and export BCA files as a zip file, Excel Workbook, and as text. Therefore, both environments allow exported BCA files to be attached to a project subapplication in FEMA GO.
Note:
Excel 2016 build numbers follow the format, “16.0.major number.minor number”. Exporting a zip file is available only for Excel Online and for Microsoft 365 versions of Excel Desktop with a major Note: Excel 2016 build numbers follow the format, “16.0.major number.minor number”.
Exporting a zip file is available only for Excel Online and for Microsoft 365 versions of Excel Desktop with a major build number greater than or equal to 13628. Excel Desktop users with major build numbers lower than 13628 will have the option to export a BCA file to an Excel Workbook or text within the Excel template.
See the help content for how to determine your Excel build number.
Due to different agency security settings, some users will not be able to access the BCA Toolkit Excel Add-in via their computers and will have to use Excel Online. If a user does not have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Microsoft offers users the ability to create a free account and use a free version of Excel Online.
Subapplicants should find out what their Applicant agency’s (State’s, Tribe’s, or Territory’s) preferred exported BCA file format is because that may determine which environment is best for performing a BCA. For example, if the Applicant agency only accepts exported zip files, all subapplicants under that Applicant must use either Excel Online or an Excel major build version greater than or equal to 13628.
Generating BCA reports also varies depending on the user environments. Reports can be generated as a PDF file when using either Excel Online or a Microsoft 365 build version greater than or equal to 13628. If you are using other versions of Excel, BCA reports will be written to a worksheet in the template file, which can be printed as a normal worksheet from Excel.
Important:
It is advisable to save a copy of the file to your local hard drive by selecting File, then Save As, then Download a Copy, and then choose the option for Open with Microsoft Excel. Once the file opens, select File and then Save As, and save a copy to your local machine. Excel will maintain the file in Excel Online and will maintain a version history, which can be viewed with the file open in Excel Online. To open a file from your local hard drive in Excel Online, select Upload a Workbook and navigate to the file you wish to upload.