FEMA is seeking qualified partners to collaborate in maintaining up-to-date flood hazard maps and other flood hazard information. This page contains information on the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program and how to get involved.
With over 20,000 communities in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), there is a significant challenge keeping flood hazard maps current. The CTP Program is an innovative approach to creating partnerships between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and participating NFIP communities, regional agencies, state agencies, tribes and universities that have the interest and capability to become more active participants in the FEMA flood hazard mapping program.
If you would like to learn more about the FEMA map production processes or view FEMA’s guidelines and standards to support the Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (MAP) program that are required for flood projects, visit FEMA's Guidelines and Standards for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping page.
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CTP Program Information
Each fiscal year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issues a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document to announce the availability of the CTP cooperative agreement funding opportunity. The NOFO describes the available funding, priorities, requirements and process for eligible applicants to request funding for program activities. FEMA has developed a PowerPoint presentation that provides general information on the CTP Program.
CTP Partnership Agreement Template
The Partnership Agreement is a broad statement of principle, emphasizing the value of the three components of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): Flood Insurance, Floodplain Management and Flood Hazard Mapping. If you have a current Partnership Agreement, please consider signing up for the CTP Collaboration Center. The CTP Collaboration Center is a one-stop shop encouraging both collaboration and information dissemination. The center is set up to facilitate collaboration through a variety of channels: important announcements, an events calendar, upcoming training options, mentoring opportunities, a discussion board, and links to resources that are pertinent to the CTP community.
CTP Mapping Activity Statement Template
As partners and FEMA identify specific mapping activities to perform under the Partnership Agreement, they will develop Mapping Activity Statements (MASs) to define the roles and responsibilities of all partners involved in a study/mapping project. FEMA has developed MAS Templates to help Project Teams document the planned activities, roles and responsibilities for each project.
Estimating the Value of Partner Contributions to Flood Mapping Projects (Blue Book)
FEMA developed the Blue Book, dated September 2011, to outline the unit cost approach FEMA uses in estimating the value of contributions made by communities, tribal nations, regional agencies and state agencies for updated Flood Insurance Rate Map production.
Digital Technical Support Data Notebook (TSDN) Submittal Requirements
For FEMA-contracted studies/mapping projects (including projects initiated under the CTP Program), FEMA mapping partners and contractors must organize deliverable materials in a standardized format. This allows FEMA to maintain nationwide standards for mapping under the NFIP. The current FEMA standard is the TSDN. The TSDN contains all of the support data for a community for which FEMA published a flood map and revisions to that flood map. The requirements for the TSDN are documented in FEMA's Appendix M: Guidance for Technical and Administrative Support Data.
A partner may submit a digital TSDN, in lieu of the hard copy; all materials that are not in digital format must be submitted in hard copy format. A transmittal letter clearly identifying the project and the materials provided must be submitted along with the TSDN.
For More Information
For more information or additional assistance:
- Contact a Map Specialist in the FEMA Map Information eXchange
- Please register to receive updates on FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping activities via e-mail.
- CTP Key Contacts