Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) Continuing Training Grants (CTG) for the Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE). Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this cooperative agreement provides $1.9 million in federal funding to the sole eligible applicant, Mississippi State University’s ASSURE program, for a three-year period of performance from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2029. The primary objective is to develop, test, and deliver FEMA-certified Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training solutions for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency responders. This curriculum aims to close national preparedness gaps, enhance core capabilities, and ensure safe, compliant UAS operations before, during, and after disasters. The program utilizes the ADDIE instructional design model and is evaluated across multiple levels of the Kirkpatrick model to measure learning, behavior changes on the job, and return on investment. Applications must be submitted electronically through the FEMA GO system by July 31, 2026. Eligible project types include on-site mobile and web-based training, while construction and renovation are strictly prohibited. Recipients and subrecipients must comply with all federal procurement guidelines, including prohibitions on purchasing certain foreign-manufactured UAS under the American Security Drone Act of 2023. Management and administration costs are capped at 5% of the total award, and there is no cost-share requirement.