Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program-HQ | DHS 16 MT 045 00 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): FY 2016 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ (FEMA)

1) What is the FY 2016 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ?

The FY 2016 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - HQ is a discretionary FEMA funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It uses cooperative agreements to strengthen and expand the effectiveness of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by building and maintaining partnerships across federal, state, tribal, regional, and local entities.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The main purpose is to help communities better understand flood hazards, reduce flood-related losses, and improve long-term resilience by improving how flood risk data is created, updated, managed, and communicated. The program emphasizes strong working partnerships and increased local involvement in flood risk mapping and related products.

3) How does this opportunity relate to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

This opportunity supports NFIP responsibilities and flood risk mitigation. It helps NFIP State Coordinating Agencies and NFIP-participating communities continue regulatory duties under NFIP rules, while also supporting efforts that reduce flood risk for states, communities, and other stakeholders.

4) How does the CTP Program connect to FEMA Risk MAP?

The CTP Program is closely tied to FEMA's flood risk mapping work and the broader Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program. It focuses on improving flood risk data and products, including how they are produced, updated, managed, and communicated to the public.

5) What kinds of projects or activities can be funded under this program?

The opportunity supports work in broad categories such as program management functions, technical risk analysis and mapping tasks, and improved communication of flood hazard and risk data. The intent includes producing technical outputs (such as mapping-related products) and ensuring those outputs are understandable and usable by communities, planners, and residents.

6) Does the program focus only on producing maps?

No. While flood risk mapping and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are a major focus, the program also emphasizes making flood risk data usable and effectively communicated so communities and stakeholders can understand risk and take action.

7) What flood risk products are specifically highlighted?

The opportunity highlights Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and related risk information products, with an emphasis on increasing local involvement and ownership in producing and maintaining these flood risk data products.

8) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already qualified CTP partners and can demonstrate readiness to deliver. The listing identifies eligible applicant types as state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education); and other eligible entities as allowed under program rules.

9) Is being an eligible government or nonprofit enough to apply?

No. In addition to being an eligible entity type, an applicant must already be a qualified CTP partner and must have a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office to receive an award.

10) What is required regarding a CTP Partnership Agreement?

To receive an award, the applicant must have a signed CTP Partnership Agreement with FEMA Headquarters or a FEMA Regional Office. This is a core eligibility requirement for award.

11) What NFIP status must the applicant (or represented community) have?

The recipient must either be (or represent) an NFIP community in good standing, or be a FEMA-approved nonprofit whose primary mission aligns with NFIP goals and objectives.

12) Are nonprofits eligible, and if so, what kind?

Yes, qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education) may be eligible. However, award eligibility is restricted to nonprofits that are FEMA-approved and whose primary mission aligns with NFIP goals and objectives, and that meet the program's other requirements (including having a signed CTP Partnership Agreement).

13) What does FEMA mean by "ready to deliver"?

Based on the announcement, "ready to deliver" means the applicant already has non-federally funded processes and/or systems that support collecting, developing, evaluating, disseminating, and communicating flood hazard and risk assessment data and mapping, and can demonstrate the ability to perform funded activities, meet CTP performance metrics, and provide timely and accurate performance reporting.

14) Do applicants need existing systems and processes in place before applying?

Yes. Applicants must already have non-federally funded processes and/or systems that support the collection, development, evaluation, dissemination, and communication of flood hazard and risk assessment data and mapping. FEMA is looking for capable partners with operational infrastructure, not organizations starting from scratch.

15) What kind of reporting or performance expectations are included?

Recipients must demonstrate that they can meet CTP performance metrics and submit timely, accurate performance reporting to FEMA. The cooperative agreement structure also anticipates ongoing coordination and transparent tracking of progress.

16) Is coordination with FEMA required before applying?

Yes. Prospective applicants are expected to engage FEMA early to understand current program priorities, objectives, and measures, and to identify tasks that align with FEMA priorities.

17) Are there special requirements for projects that involve FEMA mapping workflows?

Yes. For projects involving FEMA mapping workflows, partners may be required to work in FEMA's Mapping Information Platform (MIP) and keep project activities updated at least every 30 days in the Studies workflow (and more frequently for Revisions).

18) How often do partners need to update project activity information in MIP?

The announcement notes that partners may be required to update project activities at least every 30 days in the Studies workflow, and more frequently for Revisions.

19) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity uses cooperative agreements, which reflects the expectation of ongoing coordination with FEMA, alignment to program priorities, transparent tracking of activities, and consistent progress updates while work is underway.

20) Can FEMA provide support beyond funding?

Yes. FEMA may also provide non-financial support such as technical assistance, training, and/or data to help partners succeed within the supported project categories.

21) Is the funding meant to replace what partners already spend on flood mapping or NFIP-related work?

No. FEMA states that award funds are intended to complement, not replace, partner contributions. Funding is described as being in addition to leveraged resources and data the CTP brings to complete agreed-upon tasks.

22) What rules and documents govern the work after an award is made?

Once selected, the CTP must follow the requirements in the funding announcement and the award's terms and conditions, and must also comply with the existing Partnership Agreement and the FEMA-approved Statement of Work or Mapping Activity Statement that governs the specific deliverables.

23) What is the opportunity number and CFDA number for this program?

This FY 2016 opportunity is identified as DHS 16 MT 045 00 01 and is listed under CFDA 97.045.

24) When was this funding opportunity released and when did it close?

The opportunity was released on March 25, 2016, with an original closing date of June 10, 2016.

25) About how many awards did FEMA anticipate making?

FEMA anticipated making about 11 awards under this opportunity.

26) Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. As described in the opportunity summary, this typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in the public synopsis or would be defined through FEMA internal allocation decisions and negotiated project scopes rather than a single fixed maximum.

27) What are the main benefits FEMA expects from CTP partnerships?

FEMA describes partnerships as mutually beneficial because they support community decision-making and planning, improve the quality and timeliness of flood hazard data, and strengthen the NFIP as a national program.

28) What stakeholders are expected to benefit from the work funded under this program?

The opportunity describes benefits to communities, planners, residents, NFIP-participating communities, NFIP State Coordinating Agencies, and both public and private stakeholders who rely on accurate and well-communicated flood hazard and risk information.