Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)
🏛 Department of Homeland Security - FEMA (DHS-DHS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Mississippi State University's Federal Aviation Administration Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ASSURE).
The grant supports development and delivery of UAS training curriculum. Training must equip emergency managers and first responders with competencies to use UAS effectively. Activities include curriculum design, pilot training programs, and competency assessments.
UAS applications include damage assessments, debris measurement, search and rescue, and logistics support during disasters. Training should prepare students to operate UAS before, during, and after emergency events.
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Program description
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project narrative (curriculum design, delivery plan, competency framework)
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from emergency management partners
Program contact
- 👤 Daphine Jackson Grantor
- 📧 femago@fema.dhs.gov
- 📞 202-604-0457
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 97.146 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 97.146). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2023 | $2,000,000 | |
| 2024 est. | $2,000,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $18,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only Mississippi State University, designated as the FAA Air Transportation Center of Excellence for UAS, is eligible. This is a targeted grant for this specific institution.
What activities does this grant support?
The grant funds curriculum development and delivery for UAS training. Training must address emergency management and first responder competencies for disaster response operations.
What is the funding amount?
The award is $1,900,000 as a fixed amount. This is not a competitive funding pool divided among multiple winners.
What deadline applies?
The deadline is July 31, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling acceptance.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus curriculum on competencies emergency responders need for disaster operations. Include search and rescue, damage assessment, and logistics applications.
- Design training that covers pre-disaster, active response, and post-disaster UAS use cases. Practical scenarios strengthen competency development.
- Emphasize measurable student outcomes. Document how graduates apply UAS skills in emergency management operations.
- Build partnerships with emergency management agencies and first responder organizations. These connections validate training relevance and support recruitment.
- Include hands-on training components and realistic disaster simulations. Classroom instruction alone is insufficient for emergency response competencies.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Curriculum focused only on UAS technical operation instead of emergency management context. Applications must connect training to disaster response, damage assessment, and rescue operations. Weak evaluation plans that do not measure competency acquisition. Include pre- and post-training assessments to demonstrate learning outcomes.
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