Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) - Region 5 | DHS 19 MT 023 05 01

FAQs: FY 2019 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) - Region 5

What is the FY 2019 CAP-SSSE - Region 5 grant opportunity?

It is a FEMA grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that funds state-level work to strengthen how states support local floodplain management under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in Region 5.

What is the main purpose of CAP-SSSE?

The core purpose is to fund state efforts that help communities participate effectively in the NFIP, comply with NFIP floodplain management requirements, and improve day-to-day implementation of flood loss reduction practices to reduce future flood damages.

How does CAP-SSSE reduce flood risk in practical terms?

The program supports building stronger state and local capability, improving oversight and technical knowledge, and helping ensure NFIP standards are carried out consistently at the community level, which collectively helps reduce flood risk and future flood damages.

Who is the federal sponsor and program owner for this opportunity?

The opportunity is published by FEMA and is under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

What type of federal award is this?

This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning FEMA generally expects active involvement and coordination with the recipient in carrying out the work.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project is carried out?

Based on the description, it implies FEMA expects to be actively involved and coordinate with the recipient during implementation, rather than simply providing funds with minimal federal engagement.

What activities does CAP-SSSE fund?

Funding supports states as they provide technical assistance to NFIP-participating communities and as they evaluate and document how well those communities perform their floodplain management responsibilities under NFIP standards.

Is the program focused more on assistance or on compliance monitoring?

Both. The emphasis is on capacity-building (technical expertise, training, guidance, knowledge-sharing) and performance monitoring (reviewing community implementation, identifying gaps, and encouraging corrective actions).

What is meant by capacity-building under CAP-SSSE?

Capacity-building refers to state efforts to develop and maintain floodplain management expertise, train or guide local officials, and share knowledge communities can use for permitting, ordinance administration, mapping coordination, and flood risk communication.

What is meant by performance monitoring under CAP-SSSE?

Performance monitoring includes state activities that review and evaluate how communities implement NFIP standards, identify compliance gaps or weaknesses, and encourage corrective actions to keep communities in good standing.

Why does FEMA focus on state-level support for local NFIP implementation?

The program is designed to leverage states as a force multiplier because states often have close working relationships with local governments and can provide tailored, on-the-ground support to NFIP-participating communities.

How does CAP-SSSE relate to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

CAP-SSSE is specifically designed to strengthen NFIP-related floodplain management by helping communities comply with NFIP floodplain management requirements and improve local implementation of flood loss reduction practices.

How does this work benefit residents and property owners?

By supporting community compliance and performance, the program helps communities remain in good standing with NFIP requirements, which is tied in the description to residents being able to continue accessing NFIP flood insurance.

What is the role of the State Coordinating Agency in this program?

The opportunity is closely tied to the State Coordinating Agency role, including designation, duties, and responsibilities described in federal regulation at 44 CFR 60.25.

Which regulation is specifically referenced for state responsibilities?

The notice references 44 CFR 60.25 as the federal regulation describing designation, duties, and responsibilities connected to the State Coordinating Agency role.

What does FEMA expect states to demonstrate under the referenced regulations?

The description indicates states are expected to commit to meeting minimum floodplain management criteria and demonstrate the capability and accountability needed to implement and support NFIP requirements statewide.

Who is eligible to apply for this Region 5 opportunity?

Eligibility is limited to state governments and special district governments.

Is this opportunity open to local city or county governments directly?

Based on the eligibility statement provided, eligibility is limited to state governments and special district governments, not general local governments.

Is this opportunity limited to a specific geographic area?

Yes. The posting is specifically for Region 5.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 97.023.

When was this opportunity published?

It was published by FEMA on April 15, 2019.

What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline listed is May 15, 2019.

How many awards did FEMA anticipate making?

FEMA anticipated making about six awards under this posting.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in the summary record.

If the award ceiling is not specified, where would an applicant look for funding limits or allocation details?

The description indicates applicants would need to refer to the full notice or related guidance for allocation details, budgeting constraints, and any state-by-state funding methodology.

What kinds of community-level topics might states support using CAP-SSSE funds?

The description highlights permitting, ordinance administration, mapping coordination, and general flood risk communication as practical areas where states can share knowledge and guide local officials.

How does CAP-SSSE create improvement over time?

The program is described as creating a consistent feedback loop of assistance, evaluation, and improvement across participating NFIP communities, driven by state support and performance review activities.

What is the overall goal of CAP-SSSE in Region 5?

The overall goal is to help ensure NFIP flood loss reduction goals are met by improving community implementation, strengthening state and community floodplain management capability, and reinforcing consistent support and evaluation across NFIP communities in Region 5.