Detailed Discussion
The Grant Life Cycle
The grant life cycle outlines the process by which Applicants apply for, receive, and use grant funding.
- Applicant Collaboration: The Applicant attends the Applicant Briefing, submits a Request for Public Assistance, participates in an Exploratory Call, and attends the Recovery Scoping Meeting
- Project Formulation: The Applicant is responsible for the identification and damage description (reporting/actual component) of all disaster-related damages
- Project Reviews: After the FEMA Consolidated Resource Center, Environmental Historic Preservation, Mitigation, Insurance, Recipient, and Applicant have reviewed the project and all projects have been funded, FEMA conducts a Recovery Transition Meeting
- Project Funding: FEMA obligates funds to the Recipient who then obligates funds to the Applicant
- Grant Management and Monitoring: The Recipient and Applicant must meet and execute requirements placed on the grant to receive the full award amount
- Closeout: The Recipient certifies completion of the project and FEMA closes it out. FEMA will also close out the Recipient and the Disaster Public Assistance Program Award
Throughout the grant life cycle, Applicants are required to manage and monitor its grants. This also includes meeting certain requirements that are placed on Applicants receiving Public Assistance grant funding. Grant management and monitoring includes:
- Project deadlines
- Time extensions
- Project-specific requirements
- Administrative requirements
Grant management and monitoring is most important after the grant award and project funding have been obligated. This often coincides with the closure of the Joint Field Office, when FEMA transitions Public Assistance operations to the regional office and transitions grant oversight responsibility to the Recipient.
During the Recovery Transition Meeting, the Program Delivery Manager, Applicant, and Recipient discuss insurance requirements, conditions that have been placed on the project, and Determination Memos. This is the formal hand off from the field staff to Regional staff and the Recipient (Applicant Liaison).