Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) - Continuing Training Grants (CTG) - Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) | DHS 23 NPD 005 00 99

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 23 NPD 005 00 99

The Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) Continuing Training Grants (CTG) opportunity focused on the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) is a FEMA funding effort designed to strengthen nationwide preparedness by improving how emergency management and first responder communities are trained to use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. The core idea behind the grant is that UAS are increasingly valuable in disasters and emergencies, but the benefits only materialize when agencies have consistent, competency-based training that matches real operational needs. FEMA, through this program, aims to expand and standardize training that helps personnel use UAS effectively before, during, and after disasters, so that drone resources translate into better decisions, faster operations, and safer outcomes.

The opportunity emphasizes the practical mission uses of UAS in emergency management. It highlights applications such as preliminary damage assessments, debris measurement and calculation, capturing and managing visual evidence, conducting confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels, documenting damage to structures, supporting search and rescue, and enabling logistics missions like supply movement and package delivery. These examples signal the types of operational scenarios the funded training is expected to cover, with a strong focus on helping jurisdictions integrate UAS into day-to-day readiness and into incident operations when disasters occur.

A key feature of this notice is that it provides funding specifically to Mississippi State Universitys Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, known as ASSURE. In other words, the program is structured to support ASSURE in developing and delivering training solutions targeted to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. The intent is not limited to a single locality; it is meant to address national preparedness gaps and ensure training is available and accessible to a national audience. This aligns with the National Preparedness System goal of a whole-community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach, meaning the training should be broadly usable across different jurisdictions and operating environments while still being grounded in real risks and required capabilities.

The grant is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through FEMA, and it uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically indicates a more hands-on partnership approach between the federal government and the recipient compared to a standard grant. The program is categorized under education and is listed under CFDA number 97.005. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with the narrative making clear that this particular award supports Mississippi State University in its role as the FAAs Air Transportation Center of Excellence for UAS.

Strategically, the opportunity is explicitly tied to major federal preparedness priorities. It supports the 2022 to 2026 FEMA Strategic Plan, especially Goal 3 (promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation) and Objective 3.1 (strengthen the emergency management workforce). It also aligns with the DHS Strategic Plan for FY 2020 to 2024, specifically Goal 5 (strengthen preparedness and resilience) and Objective 5.4 (train and exercise first responders). This framing shows FEMA is treating UAS training as workforce development and readiness infrastructure, not as a stand-alone technology project.

On the administrative side, applications for this opportunity were submitted through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO) system at https://go.fema.gov/. The funding opportunity number is DHS 23 NPD 005 00 99. The opportunity was created on 2023-05-15, with an original closing date of 2023-06-14. The listed award ceiling is 2,000,000. The notice did not specify the number of expected awards in the provided source data, but the description indicates the funding is directed to support ASSUREs work in delivering these training solutions for partners nationwide.

• The Department of Homeland Security - FEMA in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) - Continuing Training Grants (CTG) - Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.005.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DHS 23 NPD 005 00 99

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