FEMA PA APPEAL SHORT SUMMARY & LINKS TO FEMA PA APPEAL WEBSITE

This is in response to a letter from your office dated August 25, 2014, which transmitted the above referenced second appeal on behalf of the University of Texas Medical Branch (Applicant). The Applicant is appealing the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of $3,480,678.86 in Public Assistance funding for costs associated with campus wide emergency protective measures. As explained in the enclosed analysis, this appeal is remanded to address contract procurement issues identified and for Region VI to make a new first appeal decision on whether the generator costs incurred by the Applicant were reasonable. Pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206, an applicant may first appeal any eligibility determination to the Regional Administrator and second appeal any first appeal decision to the Assistant Administrator for Recovery. By virtue of the first appeal decision, the Regional Administrator will afford the Applicant with two levels of appeal on the procurement issues as well as the generator cost reasonableness issue. Please inform the Applicant of my decision. The Applicant’s right to a second appeal on all issues is preserved for 60 days following receipt of a new first appeal decision, in accordance with 44 C.F.R. § 206.206, Appeals.