Under the March 13, 2020, Coronavirus (COVID-19) nationwide emergency declaration and subsequent major disaster declarations for COVID-19, tribal, state, local, and territorial government entities and certain private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for assistance under the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

On January 21, 2021, the President issued the “Memorandum to Extend Federal Support to Governors’ Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19 and to Increase Reimbursement and Other Assistance Provided to States,” which authorized FEMA to provide funding to Public Assistance applicants, including tribes, for the safe opening and operation of eligible facilities (e.g., eligible schools, child-care facilities, non-congregate shelters, domestic violence shelters, transit systems, and other eligible applicants). Such assistance “may include funding for the provision of personal protective equipment and disinfecting services and supplies.”

FEMA is developing an interim policy, COVID-19 Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance, which defines the framework, policy details, and requirements for determining the eligibility of work and costs incurred to facilitate the safe opening and operation of eligible facilities. FEMA funding under this interim policy will be provided for costs incurred between January 21, 2021, to September 30, 2021 and will be provided at 100% Federal funding.

FEMA is seeking tribal input on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance (Interim), FEMA FP Policy 104-21-0003. Therefore, FEMA is hosting a teleconference tribal consultation session to receive input from tribal nations on this interim policy. This consultation session will take place on Friday, March 19, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00 ET.

During the event, FEMA staff will provide an overview of key provisions of the proposed interim policy, and the delivery process and procedures that will be utilized for implementation.

Teleconference Information:
To join the teleconference tribal consultation session, please dial (800) 458-4121; confirmation code: 766-0603. To ensure the conference begins in a timely manner, please dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start time of the session, which is at 3:00 ET.

Written Comments:
Questions and written comments may be directed to the Public Assistance Division at fema-recovery-pa-policy@fema.dhs.gov or through FEMA Regional Tribal Liaisons until Monday, March 24, 2021. Contact information for FEMA Tribal Liaisons may be found at www.fema.gov/about/contact.

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov.