Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
- 70 courses delivered (8 courses are to be Mobile Training)
- 13 courses already delivered
- 92 students already trained
8-10 speaking engagements
8-10 conference attendances
Program Objective
The mission and goal of the CTG ASSURE program is to enable communities to address specific evolving and emerging threats and hazards and close capability gaps through development and delivery of learning solutions that strengthen the nation’s preparedness. The CTG ASSURE program identifies to identify, develops, tests and delivers training to the SLTT emergency management and emergency response workforce, and provides on-site and mobile training at the performance and management and planning levels. The objectives of the CTG ASSURE program are:
• Identify, develop, test, and deliver on-site mobile and web-based training at the awareness, performance, planning and management levels to the SLTT emergency management and emergency response workforce.
• Support FEMA strategic priorities to instill equity as a foundation of emergency management and lead whole of community climate resilience; and
• Analyze and address current and emerging capability gaps and risks identified in the 2023 National Preparedness Report.
FEMA is committed to reducing complexity, increasing efficiency, and improving outcomes. In simple terms, the training return on investment (ROI) is expressed as the benefit to cost ratio for individuals, teams, departments, jurisdictions and regions across the nation to reach and maintain fully qualified/mission capable status. In practice, training ROI is difficult to measure. The cost of training varies significantly depending upon several variables including delivery format (i.e., online, indirect/train-the-trainer, mobile, resident/on-campus) and competency level (i.e., awareness, performance/operations, management). FEMA uses a systematic approach to optimize the national preparedness training portfolio, align resources to address capability gaps through the most effective and efficient means available, and ensure a sound ROI from the local to the national level. Collaboration with FEMA’s training partners is integral to that effort.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Government (general)
Mississippi State University as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Refer to the HSNTP ASSURE NOFO published on grants.gov
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 30 to 60 days
Program details & compliance
Description
The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG), Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) provides funding to eligible applicants to develop and deliver training solutions to address national preparedness gaps and ensure training is available and accessible to a national audience.
Specifically, this notice provides funding for Mississippi State University’s Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (hereafter, ASSURE) to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal and territorial partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, whole community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Civil Defense/Disaster Prevention and Relief/Emergency Preparedness
Civil Defense/Disaster Prevention and Relief/Emergency Preparedness Provides funding through cooperative agreements to the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, and Continuing Training Grants program for the purpose of the development and delivery of all-hazards training for Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency responders. Refer to the ASSURE NOFO for specific information on eligibility. These funds must be used to develop and deliver all hazards training to State, local, tribal, and territorial whole communities. Other special conditions will apply to the recipients of the award. ASSURE: These funds must be used to develop and deliver all hazards training to State, local, tribal, and territorial whole communities. Other special conditions will apply to the recipients of the award. A portion of these funds will be awarded in specific focus areas identified in the NOFO. Grant funds must be used in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200.
Required Documentation
Training Expertise. Applicants must currently administer an existing training program, consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), relevant to the selected training goals and objectives, have demonstrable expertise to create and administer a training program capable of developing and delivering training for a national audience, and relevant to the selected training focus areas. For the purposes of the CTG program, the minimum standard for training expertise is defined as the principal activities that an organization conducts which are primarily focused on the development and delivery of training for an external audience, but may include an internal audience, resulting in a change or increase of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. Training types/modes that meet this definition include web-based training, instructor-led courses conducted in classrooms and/or training areas (to include mobile courses), and seminars and workshops that measure a change in knowledge, skill, and/or abilities. Drill and exercise-only type activities, without a learning component, do not meet the definition of training expertise for the CTG program. Organizations that do not describe suitable expertise in training are ineligible. Organizational Partnerships. Eligible applicants may apply individually or as the submitting member (e.g., executive agent) of a partnership such as a consortium. However, only one organization may serve as the applicant.
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements