Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) - Region 6 | DHS 20 MT 023 06 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY 2020 Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) - Region 6?

It is a discretionary FEMA funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The purpose is to strengthen how states support local floodplain management under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), with an emphasis on state-level technical assistance and oversight of NFIP-participating communities in Region 6.

What is the main goal of CAP-SSSE?

The program is intended to reinforce consistent implementation of NFIP standards and reduce flood losses by investing in state expertise and state-led support to communities, paired with structured evaluations of how communities are carrying out required floodplain management activities.

Which two core functions does the program focus on?

The opportunity centers on: (1) helping communities that participate in the NFIP through technical assistance, and (2) assessing how well those communities are performing required floodplain management activities.

How does this program support NFIP-participating communities?

The funding supports states working directly with local governments on floodplain management topics such as interpreting flood maps, applying floodplain development standards, improving local ordinances and permitting practices, and promoting stronger compliance with NFIP requirements.

What does the “assessment” or “evaluation” component include?

It supports states as they review and document community performance to identify gaps and improve overall NFIP program integrity, focusing on whether communities are carrying out required floodplain management activities.

What is the State Coordinating Agency and why is it important for this opportunity?

The State Coordinating Agency is a central feature of the opportunity. Its designation, duties, and responsibilities are outlined in federal regulation at 44 CFR 60.25, which describes what a state must commit to in order to support NFIP participation statewide.

Where are the State Coordinating Agency requirements defined?

The notice references federal regulation 44 CFR 60.25 as the source that outlines the State Coordinating Agency’s designation, duties, and responsibilities.

What kinds of state commitments are reflected in 44 CFR 60.25 (as described in the notice)?

As summarized in the opportunity description, the rules describe what a state must commit to for NFIP participation support, including upholding minimum floodplain management criteria and demonstrating the capability and responsibility to implement the program statewide.

Is CAP-SSSE offered as a grant or something else?

The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant.

What does it mean that this opportunity uses a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description, it generally indicates FEMA expects an ongoing, collaborative relationship with award recipients during the period of performance.

What types of public purposes does the funding instrument align with?

The funding instrument aligns with a broad set of public purposes, including community development, disaster prevention and relief, environmental and natural resource management, education and training, and related technical or research-supported activities.

What is the CFDA number listed for this program?

The listed CFDA number is 97.023.

Who is eligible to apply for CAP-SSSE - Region 6?

Eligible applicants are state governments and special district governments in Region 6. The program design emphasizes state-level leadership and coordination.

How many awards did FEMA anticipate making?

FEMA anticipated making about five awards.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The notice lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically means a specific maximum amount was not stated in the public synopsis.

If the award ceiling is listed as 0, how should applicants interpret that?

As explained in the opportunity description, this typically indicates that the maximum award amount was not provided in the public synopsis and that applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement or FEMA guidance for budgeting expectations and allowable cost details.

What is the funding opportunity number for this CAP-SSSE notice?

The funding opportunity number is DHS 20 MT 023 06 01.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 1, 2020.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline listed was June 15, 2020.

What geographic area does “Region 6” refer to in this opportunity?

The notice specifies Region 6 as the applicable region for this opportunity and limits eligibility to Region 6 applicants (state governments and special district governments). The description does not further define which states or jurisdictions are included in Region 6.

How does CAP-SSSE contribute to reducing flood risk?

By strengthening state-led technical assistance and oversight for NFIP-participating communities, and by evaluating community performance to identify and address gaps, the program supports more consistent implementation of NFIP standards and helps advance flood loss reduction objectives.

What is the relationship between CAP-SSSE and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

CAP-SSSE is designed to strengthen how states support local floodplain management under the NFIP, helping communities comply with NFIP requirements and assessing whether required floodplain management activities are being carried out.

What kinds of community-level improvements does the program aim to support?

The description highlights improvements such as better interpretation and use of flood maps, stronger application of floodplain development standards, improvements to local ordinances and permitting practices, and stronger compliance with NFIP requirements.

What is the overall intended outcome of CAP-SSSE - Region 6?

The overall intent is to build and sustain state and community floodplain management capability, use state knowledge of local conditions to improve community compliance with NFIP requirements, and support FEMA’s broader goal of reducing flood risk and flood losses.