Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ | DHS 18 MT 045 00 01

FY 2018 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ (FEMA) FAQs

What is the FY 2018 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ opportunity?

This is a FEMA grant/cooperative agreement opportunity under the Department of Homeland Security designed to strengthen the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by supporting qualified technical partners. The program focuses on improving how flood hazard and flood risk information is created, updated, and communicated so it can be used for planning, mitigation, and insurance decisions.

What is the main goal of the CTP Program in this announcement?

The core goal is to reduce flood losses and improve community resilience by building and maintaining practical partnerships with state, tribal, regional, and local entities. FEMA emphasizes local and partner involvement in flood hazard information because flood risk reduction works best when communities and their technical partners help produce and maintain the data.

How does this opportunity relate to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

The supported work helps NFIP State Coordinating Agencies and NFIP-participating communities continue required regulatory responsibilities under the NFIP. It also improves the broader ability of states, communities, and stakeholders (public and private) to understand and mitigate flood risk using better flood risk data and mapping products.

What kinds of projects or activities does this funding support?

The opportunity supports activities such as program management, technical flood risk analysis, engineering and mapping tasks, and efforts to communicate flood hazards and risk information in ways communities can use for decision-making. A major emphasis is on flood risk data and mapping products, particularly Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and other flood risk/hazard products aligned with FEMA's Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program.

Which FEMA program areas or product types are emphasized?

The announcement highlights flood risk data and mapping products, especially FIRMs, and related flood risk and hazard products aligned with FEMA Risk MAP. The overall intent is to improve the quality, timeliness, and usability of mapping and risk communication products.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

Awards are made as cooperative agreements. That structure reflects FEMA's expectation of substantial involvement during the project, including coordination on technical standards, deliverables, performance tracking, and mapping platform updates.

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

Eligibility is limited to entities that are already qualified Cooperating Technical Partners. To qualify under this announcement, an applicant must have a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office and must also meet additional criteria described in the notice.

What is required to be considered a "qualified" Cooperating Technical Partner for this funding?

Based on the information provided, qualification requires (1) a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office, and (2) the applicant must either be (or represent) an NFIP community in good standing or be a FEMA-approved nonprofit organization whose primary mission supports NFIP goals and objectives.

Do applicants need to be an NFIP community to be eligible?

Applicants must either be (or represent) an NFIP community in good standing, or be a FEMA-approved nonprofit organization whose primary mission supports NFIP goals and objectives. In addition, the applicant must already be a qualified CTP with a signed Partnership Agreement.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes, qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits are listed among eligible applicant types, and the eligibility description also notes that an applicant may be a FEMA-approved nonprofit organization whose primary mission supports NFIP goals and objectives. Additional eligibility clarification is referenced as being in the full notice.

What types of entities are listed as eligible applicant types in the opportunity summary?

The opportunity summary lists state, county, and local governments; special districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits (with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full notice). However, the announcement also makes clear that only already-qualified CTPs with signed Partnership Agreements can receive funding under this announcement.

What does it mean that FEMA funds are intended to "supplement, not replace" partner resources?

FEMA expects partners to bring their own contributions to projects (for example, staff time, existing datasets, local knowledge, and established technical workflows). FEMA funding is intended to add to those existing capabilities rather than substitute for resources that partners already use to perform similar work.

What partner capabilities does FEMA expect applicants to demonstrate?

Applicants must demonstrate they can realistically deliver the funded activities, meet CTP performance metrics, and submit timely and accurate performance reports. Applicants also need to show they already have non-federally funded processes or systems in place for collecting, developing, evaluating, sharing, and communicating flood hazard and risk assessment data and mapping.

Are there specific platform or workflow requirements for mapping work?

When applicable, partners must agree to conduct work within FEMA's Mapping Information Platform (MIP) and keep project activities updated at least every 30 days in the Studies Workflow, and more frequently when operating in the Revisions Workflow.

Does FEMA expect coordination before an application is submitted?

Yes. FEMA expects applicants to coordinate with the agency before applying so proposed tasks align with FEMA priorities, objectives, and performance measures.

Will FEMA provide technical support to awardees?

FEMA may provide technical assistance, training, and data to help partners successfully complete approved project work.

What compliance obligations apply after an award is made?

Recipients must comply with the announcement requirements, the award's terms and conditions, and the existing CTP Partnership Agreement, along with an approved Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement.

What is a Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement and how is it obtained?

The award is tied to an approved Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement. The templates and specific implementation details are obtained through the applicable FEMA granting office, either FEMA Headquarters or the relevant FEMA Region.

How many awards did FEMA anticipate making under this opportunity?

FEMA anticipated making around 11 awards.

What is the funding ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is shown as 0. In public summaries, that typically indicates the ceiling is not specified there and that actual funding levels are determined by FEMA priorities, available appropriations, and the scope of approved work under each cooperative agreement.

What is the CFDA number for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is identified as CFDA 97.045.

What kind of funding opportunity is this (competitive type/category)?

This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on June 1, 2018, and the original closing date was July 2, 2018.

What is the overall intent or "big picture" purpose of the CTP Program - HQ opportunity?

It is a mechanism FEMA uses to expand and professionalize a network of trusted technical partners who help produce and maintain flood hazard and risk information nationwide. It supports states and communities in meeting NFIP obligations while improving the usability of flood risk mapping and communication products that influence mitigation investments, resilient development, and public understanding of flood risk.