Fiscal Year 2026 Emergency Operations Center Grant Program

The Emergency Operations Center Grant Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency under its Resilience Grant Programs Directorate. This federal funding opportunity is designed to strengthen national preparedness by supporting the development, modernization, and sustainment of emergency operations centers at the state and local levels. These facilities serve as centralized coordination hubs during disasters and emergencies, enabling leadership to direct operations and ensure unified responses across multiple jurisdictions and agencies. The primary purpose of this program is to enhance emergency management capabilities by funding projects that improve the functionality, security, and interoperability of emergency operations centers. The program focuses on addressing identified deficiencies in existing facilities and supporting the construction of new centers where necessary. Funded projects include equipping, upgrading, or constructing facilities that allow for coordinated command and control during all hazard incidents. The initiative emphasizes resilience, sustainability, and the ability to support multi agency coordination during large scale emergencies. Funding under this program is limited to specific pre identified projects listed in an appendix of the official notice. The total available funding is allocated across these projects, and only those included are eligible for support. Allowable uses of funds include construction activities, internal facility upgrades, and acquisition of equipment directly tied to emergency operations center functionality. Planning activities that support these efforts are also permitted. Costs unrelated to the approved projects or general operational expenses are not allowable. Recipients must comply with federal regulations governing allowable costs, procurement standards, and environmental and historic preservation requirements. A cost share requirement applies to all funded projects. Recipients must provide a non federal contribution equal to twenty five percent of total project costs. This match may be provided as cash or in kind contributions, although construction related activities require a cash match. Applicants must clearly document how they will meet this requirement within their application, including detailed budget narratives and supporting documentation. Failure to commit to the required cost share will result in ineligibility for funding. Eligibility for this program is restricted to State Administrative Agencies acting on behalf of state and local government entities with projects specifically identified in the program appendix. Subawards are permitted for local units of government included in the approved project list. Each state or territory may submit only one application, and the application must be submitted by an authorized representative of the eligible entity. Additional requirements include maintaining compliance with federal statutes, providing organizational and personnel documentation, and ensuring that all involved parties meet eligibility and security standards. The application process requires registration in federal systems including SAM and FEMA GO, as well as submission of standard federal forms and a program specific investment justification. Applications must include detailed descriptions of project activities, budgets, and supporting documentation. The review process focuses on compliance with program requirements, completeness of the application, and allowability of proposed costs. Funding decisions are predetermined based on congressional allocations, and applications are reviewed primarily for adherence to established criteria. Key dates include an application opening in mid June and a closing deadline in mid July. Awards are expected to be announced by late August, with funding issued shortly thereafter. The period of performance spans approximately three years, during which recipients must complete their projects and comply with reporting requirements. Performance and financial reporting are required on a regular basis, and recipients must adhere to federal oversight and audit standards throughout the lifecycle of the award.

Ensure strict compliance with allowable cost rules and include a complete and detailed Investment Justification with clearly documented cost share commitments