Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

The Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG) Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE) is a funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This program focuses on the development and delivery of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training for emergency management and first responder communities. The grant is issued as a cooperative agreement, allowing FEMA to maintain substantial involvement throughout the project lifecycle, including oversight of training content, instructional design, delivery formats, and program evaluations. The CTG ASSURE program is designed to address preparedness gaps and support national capabilities by providing FEMA-certified UAS training. These trainings are intended to enhance the operational use of UAS technology in disaster management across all stages—before, during, and after incidents. This includes activities such as damage assessments, debris measurements, flood level evaluations, search and rescue missions, and logistics support. The program emphasizes community-centric and risk-informed preparedness, aligning with the objectives of the National Preparedness System. The 2025 funding cycle will exclusively support Mississippi State University’s ASSURE, the Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for UAS. The program targets State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) partners, focusing on mission-critical training at the awareness, performance, planning, and management levels. Training will be delivered in various modalities including mobile, resident, and web-based formats. All courses developed under this program must comply with federal procurement laws, FEMA curriculum standards, and instructional models such as ADDIE and the Kirkpatrick evaluation framework. The total funding available under this grant is $1.8 million, and a single award will be issued in this cycle. The grant period spans from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028. There is no cost-sharing or match requirement for this opportunity. The program does not allow the use of funds for construction or renovation and prohibits certain technology purchases in compliance with Section 889 of the FY 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. The application process is handled through the FEMA GO system. Applications will be accepted beginning August 1, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET and must be submitted no later than August 15, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. ET. There are no pre-application requirements, and no white papers or letters of intent are required. The award decision is anticipated on or around September 1, 2025. Eligibility for this grant is highly restricted. Only Mississippi State University’s ASSURE is eligible to apply. However, subapplicants and subawards are allowed, provided they adhere to stringent federal and security requirements, including vetting of foreign nationals. The application package must include standard federal forms (SF-424, Lobbying Certification, and SF-LLL if applicable), a program narrative, work breakdown structure, equipment plan, and detailed budget. Performance will be evaluated based on cost per student and levels 1 through 3 of the Kirkpatrick model to assess satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, and practical application. For additional information, applicants may contact Ms. Jessica Sterling at (202) 212-3042 or jessica.sterling@fema.dhs.gov, or Mr. Samuel Phillips at (202) 507-2324 or Samuel.Phillips@fema.dhs.gov. Technical support for the FEMA GO system is available via femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242. Questions about the program's compliance, fiscal support, or civil rights requirements should be directed to the relevant FEMA offices listed in the notice.

Include detailed evaluation metrics and justification for training-related costs.