The grant could provide up to $2,000,000.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer new technologies to support key mission requirements including preliminary damage assessments, debris measurements and calculations, visual evidence, confirmation analysis, establishing flood levels and damages to structures, search and rescue operations, and logistics and package delivery. As jurisdictions develop UAS programs and integrate this technology in emergency management operations, training is critical. FEMA supports the development and delivery of curriculum that leads to the competencies required for the emergency management and first responder communities to effectively use UAS before, during, and after disasters. Students, after completing UAS training, will be better prepared to effectively use UAS resources to achieve outcomes. The Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), Continuing Training Grants (CTG), Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) provides funding to eligible applicants to develop and deliver training solutions to address national preparedness gaps and ensure training is available and accessible to a national audience. Specifically, this notice provides funding for Mississippi State University's Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (hereafter, ASSURE) to support and target training solutions for state, local, tribal and territorial partners, which supports the objective of the National Preparedness System to facilitate an integrated, whole community, risk-informed, capabilities-based approach to preparedness.The CTG ASSURE program supports the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan, particularly Goal 3: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation and Objective 3.1 to Strengthen the emergency management workforce. The CTG ASSURE program also supports The DHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024, Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.4 Train and Exercise First Responders. Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/.