The National Exercise Program (NEP) is a two-year cycle of exercises across the nation that examine and validate capabilities in all preparedness mission areas. Each NEP cycle is guided by Principals’ Strategic Priorities, established by the Principals Committee of the National Security Council and informed by preparedness data from jurisdictions across the nation. FEMA's National Exercise Division administers the NEP on behalf of the federal government, facilitating the design, coordination, conduct, evaluation and analysis of NEP exercises.
Request Exercise Support through the National Exercise Program
The NEP accepts nominations for exercise support twice a year. Nominations are only reviewed after the submission deadline.
| Round | Submission Deadline | Decisions Sent By |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2020 Round | November 1, 2020 | December 1, 2020 |
| Spring 2021 Round | April 1, 2021 | May 3, 2021 |
| Fall 2021 Round | November 1, 2021 | December 1, 2021 |
To submit a nomination to the NEP
- Download and Complete the Exercise Nomination Form – The NEP Exercise Nomination Form is an Adobe PDF file that can be saved and revised by sponsoring organizations as needed until ready to submit. Exercise sponsors should also coordinate their nomination with the appropriate FEMA Regional Exercise Officer.
- Submit the Exercise Nomination Form – All completed exercise nomination forms must be emailed to nep@fema.dhs.gov. Please include “National Exercise Program Exercise Nomination” in the email subject line.
How the National Exercise Program Works
State, local, tribal, territorial and other whole community partners can receive technical assistance and support for exercises at no cost from experienced exercise specialists in the National Exercise Division.
Support could include assistance with exercise design, scenario development, planning, conduct, and evaluation in the form of subject-matter expertise, material production, or facilitation for selected exercises.
Exercises are selected for the NEP based on their alignment to the Principals’ Strategic Priorities for each two-year cycle set by the National Security Council and resource availability.
Exercises in the NEP contribute evaluation data to the National Preparedness System to provide a clearer picture of the nation's readiness, such as through the National Preparedness Report.
As a culmination of each NEP cycle, the National Exercise Division leads a biennial National Level Exercise that builds off of exercises and other preparedness activities conducted during the cycle.
For further questions, please see our FAQs.