National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
• System task forces used cooperative agreement funding to pay the salaries and benefits of their full-time, part-time and casual (ad hoc) staff.
• System task forces used cooperative agreement funding to pay their warehouse leases, utilities, contracts, etc.
• System task forces used cooperative agreement funding to ensure members meet the minimum training and certification requirements.
• System task forces used cooperative agreement funding to procure equipment as listed on the FEMA US&R Equipment Cache List.
• System task forces used cooperative agreement and supplemental funding to replace their obsolete SCBA back frame assemblies and multi-threat hazmat suits.
Program Objective
The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System (the System) provides funding to ensure adequate management, training, exercise, procurement (vehicle and equipment) and storage and maintenance for the 28 national task forces staffed and equipped to assist state and local governments, tribes and territories to conduct around-the-clock search-and-rescue operations following a major disaster or emergency declared under the Stafford Act (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills and catastrophic structure collapses). When deployed, these task forces support State and local emergency responders' efforts by leading the U.S. response to natural and man-made incidents, conducting mass search and rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of and incident, and assisting with stabilization and restoration of community lifelines immediately following an incident.
This program supports DHS Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.2: “Respond During Incidents” as provided in the DHS Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2020-2024. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf.
This program also supports Goal 3 of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation, https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan.
The objective of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide for the sustainment and readiness of the System and local jurisdictions, through the funding of administration and management, training, equipment, and storage and maintenance.
Performance Measures
Performance will be evaluated annually through the FEMA US&R Annual Self-Evaluation; the Self-Evaluation results will be validated triennially through the FEMA US&R Administrative Readiness Evaluation (ARE).
Factors to be evaluated:
Operations
• Complement of Rostered Task Force Members
• Complement of Trained Task Force Members
• Complement of Deployable Task Force Members
• Complement of Deployable Canine Search Specialist Teams
• Members Participating in Annual Training and Exercises
• Members Participating in Training/Drill Sessions Logistics
• Complement of Cache Equipment Items
• Adequacy of Transportation Resources
• Cache Mobilization – Training/Exercise
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Government (general)
- Other public organizations
Only the 28 sponsoring agencies currently designated by FEMA as members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System are eligible for readiness and response cooperative agreements.
Beneficiaries
- 16
- 4
- 5
Only the 28 sponsoring agencies currently designated by FEMA as members of the US&R are eligible for readiness and response cooperative agreements.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
Application deadline and other information are contained within the yearly Notice of Opportunity Announcement. Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.
To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:
a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;
b. In the application, provide an UEI number;
c. Have an account with login.gov;
d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;
e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;
f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and
g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.
Award Procedure
Applications and budget plans are reviewed by FEMA US&R Branch and the Grant Programs Directorate. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the applicants prior to issuance of the award.
Approximately 30 - 60 days from time of submission.
Program details & compliance
Description
The purpose of this Readiness Cooperative Agreement is to support the continued development and maintenance of a national urban search and rescue capability among the 28 task forces within the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System (US&R). This program supports Mission Area: Response, Mass Search and Rescue Operations, with the target of conducting search and rescue operations in order to locate and rescue persons in distress, based on the requirements of the state and local authorities.
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Civil Defense/Disaster Prevention and Relief/Emergency Preparedness Rescue Response System Sponsoring Agencies may jointly develop one or more US&R Task Force(s), as defined in the National US&R Response System Operations Manual. Use of cooperative agreement funding is to support program management/administration, training, equipment acquisition, and storage and maintenance of equipment, to meet task force position criteria, and conduct and participate in meetings determined to benefit US&R. Equipment acquisitions are limited to those included in FEMA's approved equipment cache list, including equipment for management/administration and other items approved by the FEMA US&R Branch. Training requirements as included in the Statement of Work, Training Program Administrative Manual and current US&R Program Directives. Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity. Use of readiness cooperative agreement funding is restricted to program management/administration, training, equipment acquisition, and storage and maintenance of equipment, to meet task force position criteria, and conduct and participate in meetings determined to benefit US&R. Equipment acquisitions are limited to those included in FEMA’s approved equipment cache list, including equipment for management/administration and other items approved by the FEMA US&R Branch. Training requirements as included in the Statement of Work, Training Program Administrative Manual and current US&R Program Directives. Refer to annual Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Required Documentation
Only the 28 sponsoring jurisdictions currently designated by FEMA as members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System are eligible for readiness and response cooperative agreements.
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