Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 21 GPD 042 05 02

The Emergency Management Performance Grant Program - American Rescue Plan Act (EMPG-ARPA) - Region 5 is a FY 2021 Department of Homeland Security/FEMA grant opportunity designed to strengthen day-to-day emergency management capability using an all-hazards approach. It sits within FEMA's broader preparedness portfolio and is framed as part of the agency's long-term effort to improve how communities prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies of all types. In practical terms, the program is meant to support core emergency management functions and the systems that keep preparedness efforts coordinated across partners, rather than focusing on a single hazard or a narrowly defined project type.

This opportunity is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically FEMA, and is listed under Funding Opportunity Number DHS 21 GPD 042 05 02. The assistance listing is CFDA 97.042. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary. The posting indicates an expected six awards for the Region 5 competition. While an "award ceiling" value is shown as 0 in the provided record, that figure typically reflects how the listing was entered rather than a meaningful statement that awards are capped at zero; applicants normally need to consult the full notice of funding opportunity and any regional guidance to understand how funding amounts are calculated, allocated, or limited.

EMPG-ARPA is explicitly tied to FEMA and DHS strategic priorities. It supports the DHS Strategic Plan objective to "Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience" by investing in the capacity of emergency management programs to plan, coordinate, train, exercise, and manage incidents effectively. It also aligns with the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes professionalizing emergency management and creating a shared, nationwide direction for preparedness. The opportunity highlights three major FEMA goals the program is intended to advance: building a culture of preparedness (encouraging sustained readiness and shared responsibility), readying the nation for catastrophic disasters (improving the ability to manage severe, complex incidents), and reducing the complexity of FEMA (streamlining how stakeholders engage with FEMA programs and processes). The language also signals that FEMA expects collaboration, encouraging partners and stakeholders to adopt these priorities so preparedness improvements are consistent and mutually reinforcing.

On eligibility, the listing states "Others" with a note to consult additional eligibility details in the full opportunity materials. That wording usually means the eligible applicant pool is defined more specifically in the complete announcement or associated guidance (for example, it may be limited to certain governmental emergency management agencies, jurisdictions, or designated entities within Region 5). Anyone considering applying would need to rely on the official eligibility section of the full notice to confirm whether they qualify and what documentation or designations are required.

Key administrative details in the record show the opportunity was created April 15, 2021, with an original closing date of May 14, 2021. The short application window suggests FEMA intended this to move quickly, consistent with many ARPA-related initiatives that aimed to accelerate support to jurisdictions. The activity category is listed as "Other," which typically indicates the grant supports a range of emergency management performance and capability-building activities that do not fit neatly into a single standard category, again reinforcing that this program is about sustaining and improving emergency management operations broadly.

Overall, EMPG-ARPA Region 5 can be understood as a FEMA preparedness grant aimed at bolstering the performance and professionalism of emergency management programs, ensuring communities and partner organizations are better coordinated, more resilient, and better positioned to handle both routine incidents and large-scale disasters. The emphasis is less on one-off purchases and more on strengthening the underlying preparedness system: the people, plans, coordination structures, and operational capabilities that make effective emergency management possible.

  • The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security - FEMA in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Management Performance Grant Program - American Rescue Plan Act (EMPG-ARPA) - Region 5" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.042.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program - American Rescue Plan Act (EMPG-ARPA) - Region 5?

EMPG-ARPA - Region 5 is a FY 2021 Department of Homeland Security/FEMA grant opportunity intended to strengthen day-to-day emergency management capability using an all-hazards approach. It is positioned as part of FEMA's broader preparedness portfolio and supports improvements across prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery for disasters and emergencies of all types.

Which federal agency administers this grant?

This opportunity is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for EMPG-ARPA - Region 5?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this grant is DHS 21 GPD 042 05 02.

What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 97.042.

Is this a grant or another type of federal funding instrument?

The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.

Is this opportunity competitive or formula-based?

The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, which generally indicates a competitive process rather than a formula distribution, based on the program design described in the listing.

How many awards does FEMA expect to make for Region 5?

The posting indicates an expected six awards for the Region 5 competition.

What is the purpose of EMPG-ARPA in practical terms?

In practical terms, the program is meant to support core emergency management functions and the systems that keep preparedness efforts coordinated across partners. The focus is on sustaining and improving emergency management operations broadly rather than targeting a single hazard or a narrowly defined project type.

Does EMPG-ARPA focus on a single hazard (for example, floods or hurricanes) or multiple hazards?

It is designed around an all-hazards approach, meaning it is intended to strengthen emergency management capability for a wide range of disasters and emergencies rather than one specific hazard.

How does FEMA describe the kinds of activities this grant supports?

The listing frames the program as supporting capability-building and performance-focused emergency management activities. It emphasizes strengthening the underlying preparedness system, including people, plans, coordination structures, and operational capabilities that enable effective emergency management.

What does the activity category "Other" mean in this posting?

The activity category is listed as "Other," which typically signals the grant supports a range of emergency management performance and capability-building activities that do not fit neatly into one standard activity label. This aligns with the program's broad, system-strengthening intent.

How does EMPG-ARPA align with DHS strategic priorities?

The opportunity is tied to the DHS Strategic Plan objective to "Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience" by investing in emergency management program capacity to plan, coordinate, train, exercise, and manage incidents effectively.

How does this grant align with FEMA's strategic plan?

It aligns with the FEMA 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes professionalizing emergency management and creating a shared, nationwide direction for preparedness.

What FEMA goals does this opportunity highlight?

The opportunity highlights three major FEMA goals it is intended to advance: (1) building a culture of preparedness, (2) readying the nation for catastrophic disasters, and (3) reducing the complexity of FEMA by streamlining how stakeholders engage with FEMA programs and processes.

Is collaboration with partners and stakeholders encouraged?

Yes. The language signals FEMA expects collaboration and encourages partners and stakeholders to adopt FEMA's preparedness priorities so improvements are consistent and mutually reinforcing.

Who is eligible to apply?

The listing states eligibility as "Others" and notes that applicants should consult additional eligibility details in the full opportunity materials. This usually means the eligible applicant pool is defined more specifically in the complete announcement or associated guidance.

Why does the eligibility field say "Others" instead of naming specific applicant types?

Based on the listing, "Others" indicates that eligibility is not fully described in the summarized record and is instead clarified in the official notice of funding opportunity and any related regional guidance.

Does the provided record confirm which types of entities qualify in Region 5?

No. The summary notes that eligibility may be limited to certain governmental emergency management agencies, jurisdictions, or designated entities within Region 5, but it also states that applicants must rely on the eligibility section of the full notice to confirm qualification and required documentation or designations.

When was this opportunity created and when did it close?

The record indicates the opportunity was created on April 15, 2021, and had an original closing date of May 14, 2021.

What does the short application window suggest about the program?

The short window suggests FEMA intended the opportunity to move quickly, which is described as consistent with many ARPA-related initiatives aimed at accelerating support to jurisdictions.

The award ceiling is shown as 0. Does that mean awards are capped at zero dollars?

No. The information provided notes that an award ceiling value of 0 in the record typically reflects how the listing was entered rather than a meaningful statement that awards are capped at zero. Applicants are directed (by the commentary in the listing) to consult the full notice of funding opportunity and any regional guidance for how funding amounts are calculated, allocated, or limited.

Where should applicants look to confirm funding amounts, limits, and allocation rules?

The provided information indicates applicants should consult the full notice of funding opportunity and any Region 5 guidance to understand how funding amounts are calculated, allocated, or limited.

Is EMPG-ARPA described as supporting one-off purchases or broader capability and system improvements?

The description emphasizes strengthening the underlying preparedness system (people, plans, coordination structures, and operational capabilities) rather than focusing primarily on one-off purchases.

What is the overarching outcome FEMA is aiming for with EMPG-ARPA - Region 5?

Overall, the program is described as aiming to bolster the performance and professionalism of emergency management programs so communities and partner organizations are better coordinated, more resilient, and better positioned to handle routine incidents and large-scale disasters.

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