Fiscal Year 2025 National Dam Safety Program State Assistance Spring Grant

The National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) State Assistance grant, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), provides financial assistance to state dam safety programs to reduce risks to life, property, and the environment from dam-related hazards. Established under the National Dam Safety Program Act (Pub. L. No. 104-303, codified at 33 U.S.C. § 467 et seq.), the NDSP aims to strengthen state programs, encourage maintenance and safety of dams, and increase national resilience to dam failure risks. The primary objectives of this program are to improve dam safety inspections, assessments, and emergency action planning; enhance public awareness of dam-related hazards; and support technical improvements to state safety programs. The program funds inspections of high hazard potential dams, development or updates of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), enforcement actions against non-compliant dam owners, risk assessments, and professional development initiatives such as training or workshops. Funds can also support cybersecurity initiatives in dam operations and tools to evaluate public outreach effectiveness. Importantly, the program excludes any construction or repair of dams, whether federal or non-federal. Only official state dam safety programs meeting the definition of “state” under 33 U.S.C. § 467(10)—which includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam—are eligible to apply. Subrecipients and subawards are not permitted. States must demonstrate program authority, including the ability to approve dam plans, conduct inspections, enforce safety measures, and maintain emergency response protocols. Additionally, states must comply with a Maintenance of Effort requirement by showing consistent state-level funding for dam safety activities. Applications must be submitted through FEMA’s online portal, FEMA GO (https://go.fema.gov), and include the SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, a detailed scope of work, a milestone work plan, budget narrative and worksheets, and an official letter affirming compliance with the Maintenance of Effort requirement. The projected application period opens on July 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. ET and closes August 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Applications not submitted by the deadline will not be accepted. FEMA anticipates selecting recipients and issuing awards on September 19, 2025. The period of performance begins on the award date and lasts 12 months. Funding for FY 2025 totals approximately $7.48 million, with 50 awards anticipated. Awards are expected to range from $40,000 to $550,000. There is no required cost share; however, a state's award cannot exceed four times its state-level dam safety expenditures. Matching documentation must be provided on official letterhead. Indirect costs are allowed with appropriate documentation, but pre-award and management and administration (M&A) costs are unallowable. Applications are reviewed for eligibility, alignment with NDSP objectives, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to FEMA requirements. FEMA regional staff perform merit reviews and make funding recommendations, with final award decisions issued by regional executives. Program contacts include Jena’i Jordan (jenai.jordan@fema.dhs.gov), regional FEMA dam safety officers, and the FEMA Grants News Team (fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, 800-368-6498). Technical help with the FEMA GO system is available via femago@fema.dhs.gov or 877-585-3242. This program is recurring annually, with similar timelines and application requirements expected in future years. Applicants should mark July 2026 for the likely next cycle and internally check for updates by June 2026. For questions or assistance, state officials should reach out to their FEMA regional contacts as listed in Appendix C of the NOFO document.

Submit MOE letter on official letterhead; align cost estimates to work plan and milestones; use PrepToolkit if required