Emergency Management Baseline Assessments Grant (EMBAG)

The purpose of the 2024 EMBAG cooperative agreement is to support the use of national-level standards for emergency management to help ensure that state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) communities have accredited emergency management programs and certified emergency managers in place before an incident occurs. To achieve this purpose, the EMBAG supports voluntary national-level standards and peer review assessment processes that communities can use to identify the capacity and shortfalls of their emergency management programs and emergency managers and develop a path to compliance with these standards. These national-level standards fall under “other assistance” called out under Section 503 (b)(2)(G) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to “build tribal, local, State, regional, and national capabilities…necessary to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.” See 6 U.S.C. § 313(b)(2)(G).

The EMBAG directly supports the DHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024, Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.1: Build a National Culture of Preparedness and Objective 5.2: Respond During Incidents, by supporting efforts that can help ensure that state, tribal, territorial, and local communities have accredited emergency management programs and certified emergency managers in place before an incident occurs. The EMBAG program reinforces FEMA’s mission of advancing all-hazards preparedness, consistent with the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) and Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8), National Preparedness.

The performance of the EMBAG is measured against the intended outcomes identified in the Objectives section of Section A: Program Description in the 2024 EMBAG NOFO. Applicants should refer to Appendix B: Detail on EMBAG Performance Measurement of the 2024 EMBAG NOFO for additional information on these metrics, including guidance and a template for reporting. Please refer to the 2024 NOFO for additional information:
https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/356059.

The following are eligible applicants for this funding opportunity:
• Nonprofits as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1; and
• Institutions of higher education as defined by 2 CFR § 200.1.
Also see NOFO Section C, Eligibility Information, for additional criterion based on demonstrating competence in emergency management program accreditation and/or emergency manager certification.

Funding under this program is ultimately intended to benefit U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial emergency management programs and emergency managers.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.
Please refer to Section D: Application and Submission Information of the 2024 EMBAG Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for additional information about how to apply for the 2024 EMBAG: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/356059.

Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the successful applicant – including approval of any project narrative and budget updates – prior funds being made available for obligation, expenditure, or drawdown.

The representative range of days required for applications to be approved or not approved for funding is approximately 30 days.