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97.023 COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STATE SUPPORT SERVICES ELEMENT (CAP-SSSE)

FEDERAL AGENCY
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

AUTHORIZATION
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended. 42 U.S.C. 4002 et seq.

OBJECTIVES
To ensure that communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are achieving flood loss reduction measures consistent with program direction. The CAP-SSSE is intended to identify, prevent and resolve floodplain management issues in participating communities before they develop into problems requiring enforcement action.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
The CAP-SSSE is a product-oriented program directly related to the flood loss reduction objectives of the NFIP. Available CAP-SSSE funding is provided on a 75 percent maximum Federal and 25 percent minimum State cost-sharing basis. Both cash and in-kind resources must be specifically identified to designated activities. States estimate product completion as described in a mutually negotiated grant agreement.

Applicant Eligibility
FEMA's ten Regional Offices will provide each State Governor's Office with the grant application package. The CAP-SSSE is administered through the Mitigation Division of each FEMA Regional Office. FEMA's Regional Offices will contact eligible States to negotiate a mutually acceptable grant agreement. Funding is made available when the grant agreement is negotiated and agreed upon. Continued participation in the CAP-SSSE is dependent upon completing activities described in the grant agreement. The SSSE is designed to utilize the floodplain management capabilities of individual States in a cost effective cooperative agreement with FEMA. A State's participation in the SSSE is voluntary and is contingent upon need and skill level capability.

Beneficiary Eligibility
The direct beneficiary of the CAP-SSSE is the individual State receiving financial assistance. In addition, participating NFIP communities and local governments which receive flood plain management and flood loss reduction assistance provided by the State are also (indirect) beneficiaries as a consequence of the services they receive.

Credentials/Documentation
A State's participation in the CAP-SSSE is voluntary and is contingent upon need and skill level capability as determined by FEMA. In addition, applicant states are required to provide any relevant documentation contained in the grant agreement. package provided by FEMA.

Preapplication Coordination
Need and skill level capability will be determined through consultation with States and FEMA Regional Office Mitigation Division points of contact. An Environmental Impact Statement is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure
Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.

Award Procedure
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 prior to the award being issued.

Deadlines
Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Refer to program guidance document.

Appeals
Appeals can be made to the appropriate FEMA Regional Office.

Renewals
Participation in the CAP-SSSE can be renewed each year contingent upon meeting requirements.

Formula and Matching Requirements
Funding is provided on a 75 percent Federal, 25 percent State cost-sharing basis. Both cash and in-kind resources may meet the 25 percent cost-share.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures.

Reports
Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. Quarterly Progress Reports must include the progress of each sub-grant award. Reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter: January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30. Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant award.

Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records
Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.

Account Identification
70-4236-0-4-453.

Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $7,500,000; FY 08 est. $7,500,000; and FY 09 $ est. not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Refer to program guidance.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In preceding fiscal years, approximately 50 applications have been awarded.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
CAP-SSSE reference guidance is contained in the CAP-SSSE grant agreement application.

Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV for list for FEMA Regional Office addresses and phone numbers. In addition, you may contact the State office responsible for coordinating CAP-SSSE activities.

Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane Bldg. #410, Washington, DC 20528.

Web Site Address
http://www.dhs.gov

RELATED PROGRAMS
97.022, Flood Insurance.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
Community Assistance Visits/Contacts (CAV/CAC), Floodplain Management, Ordinance Assistance, Coordination Meeting with Regional Office, Community Rating System Application Assistance and Review/Workshops, Flood Loss Reduction Assistance and Publications, General Technical Assistance.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
Refer to the program guidance for information on criteria for selecting proposals.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)