2025 Tropical Storm Helene Private Bridge Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) For Non-Profits

The North Carolina Emergency Management Private Road and Bridge Program (NC-PRB) is now accepting applications from non-profit organizations for the repair and reconstruction of bridges damaged or destroyed from Tropical Storm Helene. The NC-PRB was established for the repair and replacement of private roads and bridges damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene. In accordance with The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I, NC-PRB will prioritize repairs to private roads or bridges that: 

  • Are the sole access for emergency services to residential properties occupied by the property owner for over six months of the calendar year.
  • Provide access to multiple residential homes, recreation, or commercial facilities. 

Beyond the direct NC-PRB program, this NOFO seeks non-profit organizations that are actively involved in actual and ongoing repair and reconstruction of private bridge projects damaged by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. 
Initial funding for this notice is anticipated to be $10,000,000. There is no maximum grant request limit, funding will be allocated to maximize the potential capacity needed. 
Applications must be received by NC-PRB no later than the Close of Business (5PM) on July 18, 2025. 

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants are non-profit 501(c)3 organizations currently active and involved in actual and ongoing repair and reconstruction of bridges within the North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene Disaster Declaration.   

Eligible Categories of Work:

Eligible work is ongoing and proposed Tropical Storm Helene repair and reconstruction project work within the Helene federal disaster declaration areas.  These areas specifically include the following: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey County.  

All projects will be selected with input from NC-PRB and will require Property Owner Agreements. All projects will be reviewed to ensure there are no duplication of benefits (DOB) of funds with other private, state and/or federal funding sources. Once projects are selected in partnership with NC-PRB, non-profit organizations will repair and/or reconstruct the assigned private bridge project(s) damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. Non-profit organizations will be required to follow all permitting requirements as applicable with local government (municipal, county and state), and Federal government agencies. NC-PRB will review and approve individual completed bridge projects to ensure all requirements are met.  

Note: Grant administration costs and/or sole functional disaster case management are not eligible for funding under this NOFO. Interaction with property owners as a result of project administration and project management is eligible for funding under the NOFO.  

Key Target Dates

  • June 27, 2025: NOFO Released
  • June 30, 2025: Technical Assistance Workshop (10:00AM-11:00AM)
  • July 7, 2025: Technical Assistance Workshop (10:00AM-11:00AM)
  • July 18, 2025: Application Deadline
  • July 23, 2025: NC-PRB Review Panel Scoring completed
  • July 25, 2025: Applicant Notifications
  • July – August 2025: Complete and Sign Memorandum of Agreement 

The Period of Performance is up to 24 months, starting on the date of the organization’s award.  

Application

How to Submit Application Materials: 

Applications must be submitted to the following email address: NCEMPRB@ncdps.gov  
by close of business (5PM) on July 18, 2025.  
Application to be submitted to NCEMPRB@ncdps.gov with subject line Applicant name – Organization name – 2025 NP-PRB Grant Program.  
The application email should include a PDF attachment containing the application materials outlined in the five (5) points below. Please follow the 5-point outline for the structure of the PDF, including the necessary information for each point.   
The application email should include the completed Application PDF inclusive of any additional attachments to support the proposal. Please ensure that you address each point and consider the information suggested for a competitive proposal. (Scoring weight in brackets): 

  1. Applicant Name, Address, Contact Information, and Proposal Name. Nonprofit corporations should also include the Certificate of Existence from the NC Secretary of State and bylaws.
  2. Description of the proposed approach and demonstration of bridge construction experience. (30)
  3. Scope of Work (SOW) and cost estimate for the proposal to achieve #2 above, including an understanding of how the estimate was achieved. (40)
  4. Timeline from approval of Grant to proposal completion. (15)
  5. How and who will manage the project if awarded, and their qualifications? Additionally, the applicants should include their experience in managing a grant award. (15) 

Competitive proposals likely will include: 

The application should include, in narrative, outline, and/or graph form, a general description of the proposal and the approach to accomplishing the tasks outlined in a Scope of Work section. A description of each task and deliverable and the schedule for accomplishing each shall be included.   
Organizations shall supply bridge design plans certified (sealed, signed, and dated) by a Professional Engineer licensed in the State of North Carolina demonstrating that the newly designed and installed private bridge/culvert provides conveyance greater than or equal to the original destroyed crossing. Organizations performing bridge repair/construction must also have a State of NC General Contractor license with Highway Contractor Classification. Organizations should also be familiar with permitting requirements as applicable with local government (municipal, county and state), and Federal government requirements. 
The application should describe the organizational and operational structure it proposes to utilize for the management of this grant and identify the responsibilities to be assigned to each person the non-profit organization proposes to staff the work. 
The application should describe in narrative, outline, and/or graph form, the system that will be used to track and monitoring project progress. The successful applicant will be required to report tangible quarterly progress to NC-PRB. 
The organization must certify that it has the financial capacity to perform and to continue to perform its obligations under the Grant Agreement; that the organization has no constructive or actual knowledge of an actual or potential legal proceeding being brought against it that could materially adversely affect the execution of this agreement; and that entering into this agreement is not prohibited by any contract, or order by any court of competent jurisdiction.  
The organization shall demonstrate experience with similar or greater size and complexity projects as proposed in the grant application. The organization shall also show past efforts to do outreach to and to collaborate with partners to gain support for projects similar or greater in size and complexity of the proposed project. 
The organization shall provide information as to the qualifications and experience of all executive, managerial, legal, and/or professional personnel to be assigned to manage this project, including resumes citing experience with similar projects and the responsibilities to be assigned to each person. 

Additional applicant information: 

Projects that are selected will require applicants to sign a Grant Agreement (MOA) and will be expected to comply with the terms of the agreement, including quarterly reporting and interim and final inspections as necessary or risk timely payment or funding. The funds awarded under this grant must be used in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and tribal laws, and regulations, including N.C.G.S. §§ 143C-6-21, 143C-6-22, 143C-6-23 and 09 NCAC 03M. By accepting this award, the applicants agree to use these funds in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. 
Also, applicants will be required to submit the below listed North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management required documents/forms with the signed MOA if awarded a grant under this funding opportunity: 

  1. State of NC Substitute W-9 Form
  2. Supplier Electronic Payment Request Please email the completed form directly to OSC for processing: ncfsepay@osc.nc.gov with copy to NCEMPRB@ncdps.gov  
  3. Conflict of Interest Policy (G.S. 143C-6-23.(b))
  4. Sworn (Notarized) No Overdue Tax Debt Certification (G.S. 143C-6-23.(c)) 

A grantee should expect to meet for Project Review meetings with the assigned NC-PRB Grant Manager. The purpose of these meetings will be to review project progress reports, address outstanding issues, review problem resolution, provide direction, evaluate continuous improvement and cost-saving ideas, and discuss any other pertinent topics. 
 

Workshops for NP-PRB Grant Program Funding Opportunity

June 30, 2025, at 10 a.m.: NP-PRB NOFO Workshop 

Meeting ID: 272 263 771 535 9 Passcode: Cb2np365

Dial in by phone 
+1 984-204-1487,711230241# United States, Raleigh 
Find a local number 
Phone conference ID: 711 230 241# 

Join on a video conferencing device 
Tenant key: ncgov@m.webex.com 
Video ID: 116 551 341 4 
 

July 7, 2025, at 10 a.m.: NP-PRB NOFO Workshop 

Meeting ID: 272 263 771 535 9 Passcode: Cb2np365 

Dial in by phone 
+1 984-204-1487,711230241# United States, Raleigh 
Find a local number 
Phone conference ID: 711 230 241# 

Join on a video conferencing device 
Tenant key: ncgov@m.webex.com 
Video ID: 116 551 341 4 
 

Please send any questions to NCEMPRB@ncdps.gov

PDF version of the PRB NOFO for Non-Profits