FY27 Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Investment Justification (IJ) form for the FY27 Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program (FY27 C-UAS Grant Program). North Carolina Department of Public Safety / North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) is the designated State Administrative Agency (SAA) administering this federal funding for the state of North Carolina.

Please review the NOFO and IJ form in detail before applying for funding under this grant program.

The FY27 C‑UAS Grant Program addresses growing security risks associated with the unlawful or unsafe use of unmanned aircraft systems. This funding is to support state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments as they enhance their capabilities to detect, identify, track, monitor, and—when authorized—mitigate UAS threats.

This funding directly supports national preparedness and airspace security efforts, including major events such as National Special Security Events (NSSEs), SEAR‑rated events, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Eligible local governments and state agencies in North Carolina may apply for funding to enhance airspace domain awareness near critical infrastructure, public venues, major events, and other high‑risk locations. The program prioritizes building layered detection, tracking, and monitoring capabilities statewide, including radar, electro ‑optical/infrared systems, passive RF systems, Remote ID, acoustic sensors, and allowable mobile mitigation systems.

The FY27 C‑UAS Grant Program aims to:
Improve statewide low-altitude airspace domain awareness
Support deployment of layered detection systems, including radar, EO/IR, acoustic, and passive RF solutions
Build capacity for authorized UAS mitigation where permitted
Protect North Carolina’s critical infrastructure, mass gatherings, and public safety operations
Ensure personnel using C‑UAS capabilities meet all required training, certification, and accreditation standards

Application Timeframe

Deadline Date: November 25, 2026 @ 11:59 PM EST

APPLICATION TIMELINE

Application Period: October 30 – November 25, 2026
Deadline: November 25, 2026 @ 11:59 PM EST

SUBRECIPIENT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP)

December 10, 2026 – October 31, 2029 (final requests for reimbursement due November 30, 2029)
Projects requiring longer than POP for complete implementation will not be considered for funding
FEMA’s scoring matrix gives weight based on timely & expedient project implementation

FY27 C-UAS Grant Program Application Webinar Schedule

Wednesday, November 04, 2026

Application Walk-through/Office Hours
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Meeting Link

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Application Walk-through/Office Hours
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Meeting Link

Funding

Program Funding Overview

FY27 federal allocation for North Carolina: $4,596,469.
Pass through at least 80% of awarded funds to eligible local governments: $3,677,175.20.
No match or cost share is required.
No max. funding cap for eligible applicants, but applicants should only request funding necessary for clearly justified, appropriately sized projects.
Projects must have demonstrated a nexus to identification, detection, tracking or monitoring of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and a connection to terrorism prevention, protection, preparedness, or response.

Funding Focus Areas & Priorities

State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in North Carolina are encouraged to apply.
Priorities include protecting public venues, crowded places and critical infrastructure, and developing coordinated capabilities that can support other jurisdictions.
FEMA’s scoring matrix gives weight to projects supporting federally designated major security events in 2027–2029 and projects providing authorized mobile capabilities to counter threatening drones. Detection-only projects are also eligible, and DHS strongly encourages radar-based detection.
The 2028 Olympic torch relay is planned to visit all 50 states, including North Carolina (specific routes and dates are pending). Applicants should describe any anticipated event-security or mutual aid role without assuming a particular event qualifies for scoring.
Regional projects supporting multiple jurisdictions in NC are encouraged, with the lead or primary eligible agency submitting the application for the regional project.
See FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 33–37 for review and scoring criteria.

Eligibility

State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government entities, including city and county agencies, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, emergency management, and other qualifying public safety organizations.
Mitigation Projects. Based on federal requirements regarding mitigation technology use and the limited amount of funding available to North Carolina for this grant program, only the three following organizations are eligible to apply for both mitigation and detection equipment:
- City of Charlotte
- State Bureau of Investigation
- North Carolina Highway Patrol
Detection Projects (including detection, identification, monitoring, tracking). Based on federal requirements regarding mitigation technology use and the limited amount of funding available to North Carolina for this grant program, the following organizations are limited to applications for detection equipment:
- City / county / tribal agencies
- Law enforcement agencies
- Correctional agencies
- Fire services
- Emergency medical services
- Emergency management agencies
- Other qualifying public-safety organizations
Correctional agencies are eligible to apply for funding, but the C-UAS Grant Program is not primarily intended to support correctional facility enforcement activities (see FY27 C-UAS NOFO, p. 6 for correctional agencies).

Training & Certification Requirements

FBI National Counter‑UAS Training Center (NCUTC) Requirements

Requirement	Details
Mitigation Certification	Required for any personnel conducting mitigation under 6 U.S.C. 124n.
Detection & Warning Certification	Required for RF detection systems needing §124n authority.
Agency Accreditation	Operating agencies must complete accreditation under 6 C.F.R. 124.6.
Annual Attestation	Accredited agencies must renew through the Federal C-UAS Coordination Portal (FBI’s LEEP Justice Connect Portal: justiceconnect.cjis.gov/ each year.

For Detection Systems Requiring Authority Under 6 U.S.C. 124n

NCUTC Detection & Warning Certification or enrollment required before procurement
Enrollment allows procurement but not operation

For Mitigation Systems

Personnel must hold NCUTC Mitigation Certification
Personnel must have a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Agency must be accredited under 6 C.F.R. Part 124
Only certified personnel of the accredited operating agency may perform mitigation actions

Operational Use Requirements

Must meet FCC and FAA coordination standards
Must follow federal reporting and privacy/civil rights guidelines
Systems not used according to requirements may be recalled or disallowed

Eligible applicants are required to submit all required NCUTC certification/enrollment documentation.

Procurement of Equipment Does Not Authorize Operation

Before conducting any operation under 6 U.S.C. § 124n(a)(2), requirements include complete agency accreditation under § 124.6: adopt an agency implementation policy (or, for detection and warning only, a detection and warning policy under § 124.6(g)), obtain legal counsel review, and attest through the Federal C-UAS Coordination Portal. The attestation must be renewed annually. Model policies are available on the portal.

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO Appendix 5, p. 73 and p. 10 for C-UAS system certification details.

FEMA Verification of Training & Certification Requirements

FEMA will verify enrollment, certification, and accreditation status with NCUTC. The NCUTC certification database records all certifications issued under § 124.5 of 6 C.F.R. Part 124, and the Federal C-UAS Coordination Portal records each agency’s accreditation attestation under § 124.6. Upon request from FEMA to ncutc@fbi.gov, the NCUTC will confirm Detection and Warning Certification, Mitigation Certification, mitigation course enrollment, and accreditation status (including attestation date and renewal status) for each designated operating agency identified in an application and will re-verify upon any reported change in designated operating agency.

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 10 - 11 for training/certification requirements and details.

Equipment Requirements

Authorized Technologies List (ATL) & Authorized Systems List (ASL) Requirements

Requirement	Details
Authorized Technology List (ATL)	Mitigation systems must fall within an ATL technology category.
Authorized Systems List (ASL)	Where populated, purchased systems must appear on the ASL.
System Nomination	Accredited agencies may nominate systems for ASL evaluation.
Technology Category Restrictions	Only mobile mitigation systems are allowable under this NOFO.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) & Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Requirements

All federal aviation safety and airspace laws and regulations administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that affect the deployment or use of C-UAS hardware or software.
All laws & regulations governing radiofrequency spectrum usage, interception, transmission, or jamming administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

All equipment purchased under DHS/FEMA grants must be listed in the Authorized Equipment List (AEL). The AEL can be searched for specific types of equipment for listed grant programs, such as counter UAS equipment (for the C-UAS grant program). Applicants can also refer to the Standardized Equipment List (SEL) maintained by the InterAgency Board (IAB) for additional information: 03OE-08-DAAS, 03OE-08-SUAD, 03OE-08-UMIT.

The ATL, ASL, FCC & FAA requirements are in addition to the AEL.

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 10-12, 66 for ATL, ASL & FCC requirements & details.

Federal Data Sharing Requirements

Federal Data‑Sharing Requirements

Requirement	Details
DHS Access Requirement	Systems must allow DHS access to detection data as specified in the NOFO.
Data Types Required	Includes UAS tracks, Remote ID, metadata, and alert details.
Permitted Mechanisms	API, secure transfer, cloud access, or vendor‑managed pathways.
Compliance Responsibilities	Recipients must ensure privacy, civil liberties, and cybersecurity compliance.

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 12 - 13 for federal data sharing requirements & details.

Costs

Allowable Costs (POETE)

Planning (P)

Statewide C‑UAS strategy development
SOP development
Risk assessments
Interagency coordination plans

Organization (O)

Program management
Operational overtime directly related to approved projects funded by this grant

Equipment (E)

Radar
Electro‑Optical/Infrared cameras
Passive RF sensors
Acoustic sensors
Remote ID receivers
Mobile mitigation systems (ATL/ASL compliant)
Deployment infrastructure: vehicles, trailers, generators, networking systems

Training (T)

NCUTC certifications
Vendor/operator‑level equipment training

Exercises (E)

Workshops, seminars
Tabletop exercises
Functional and full‑scale exercises validating operational capability

Management and Administration (M&A)

Subrecipients may use up to 3% of their C-UAS Grant Program funds for M&A purposes. M&A are not overhead costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports.

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO Appendix 2, p. 62-67 for allowable costs details.

Unallowable Costs

The following projects and costs are considered ineligible for award consideration:

C-UAS mitigation equipment is not authorized if it is not mobile.
General-use facility expenditures, to include, but not limited to ordinary facility maintenance, contracts for maintenance, and specifically backup or emergency generators.
General vehicle maintenance, service contracts, or warranties for projects or equipment not funded by the grant award.
Expenditures for items such as general-use software (word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, etc.), general-use computers and related equipment (other than for allowable M&A activities, or otherwise associated preparedness or response functions), general-use vehicles, licensing fees, recurring operating costs (e.g., cell phone services, maintenance contracts). Note: the purchase and modification of vehicles to permit the use of vehicle-mounted C-UAS DTIM-Ms system is authorized; vehicles and trailers dedicated to equipment transportation are allowable.
Organizational operating expenses.
Personnel costs are generally unallowable, unless the personnel costs are for operational overtime directly related to approved projects funded by this grant. Any other overtime and backfill costs are unallowable. Subrecipients may also use approved M&A funding (limited to 3% of their total award) for salaries of staff directly supporting management & administration of their approved project.
Activities not directly related to the completion or implementation of C-UAS Grant Program-funded projects and activities.
Other indirect costs (meaning property purchase, depreciation, or amortization expenses).
Initiatives in which federal agencies are the beneficiary or that enhance federal property.
Initiatives which study technology development.
Proof-of-concept initiatives.
Weapons, ammunition, or weaponized platforms (Refer to FEMA Information Bulletin No. 530).

See FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 16 – 17 for unallowable costs details.

How to Apply

Register/Log into Salesforce Grants Portal
Complete the application and upload the four Required Documents (plus any additional optional supporting documentation) in Salesforce before the application deadline:
FY27 C-UAS Investment Justification(IJ) Form
* The IJ form includes sections for implementation plan and detailed budget
Mission Statement of organization applying for funding
Short bios/resumes for organizational leadership/Board members
NCUTC training certification/enrollment documentation for C-UAS personnel

Other requirements from DHS/FEMA:

Sub-applicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included: If a sub-applicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statutes, polices, and procedures (see FY27 C-UAS NOFO, p. 6 for foreign nationals).

Security Review. DHS receives a list of potential subrecipient organizations, which it reviews against U.S. intelligence community reporting. The security review occurs after the selection process is complete. The information provided for the security review is limited to the organization’s name and physical address, as submitted by the organization. Any potentially derogatory information, as well as any potentially mitigating information, that could assist in determining whether a security risk exists is sent to FEMA and any such sub-applicants shall be prohibited from receiving funding under this grant (see FY27 C-UAS NOFO, p. 37 for security review).

EHP Screening Form - This form is submitted by grantees to initiate the environmental & historic preservation (EHP) compliance review if required. The form is required for any project funded by a FEMA grant that could have an impact on the environment or historic properties. This includes projects such as new construction, modifications to existing structures, and certain ground-disturbing activities, including installation of equipment in buildings & structures. The form must be completed and EHP approval received before the project is initiated, as starting work without review can lead to project expenditures not being reimbursed. Grantees should submit this form to NCEM with their project in Salesforce, and NCEM will forward the form to FEMA for review. For more information, see EHP One-Page Quick Reference (see FY27 C-UAS NOFO, p. 50 - 51 for EHP).

Incomplete applications, and applications containing more than one project will be rejected. If an applicant attempts to submit more than one application, all applications submitted by that applicant will be rejected. If you have inadvertently created more than one application in Salesforce, make sure to withdraw the extraneous applications before the deadline of November 25, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

Competitive Scoring

Applications will be scored based on specific criteria, including the inclusion of allowable activities, alignment with program goals, and the effectiveness of proposed projects. 

NCEM, as the SAA, will review all sub-applications for eligibility, completeness, legal and programmatic compliance, feasibility, alignment with the NOFO, and state priorities before submitting the consolidated state application and projects to DHS/FEMA for final review and selection of subawards. DHS/FEMA determines all final subawards.

Category	Max Points	What Earns It
Support for High-Priority Events (NSSE/SEAR 1-2)	40	Proposal specifies support in cities hosting an event of National significance, including the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with an NSSE, SEAR 1 or 2 level designation (applicant must specify name, date, and city of event and verify project implementation prior to the event). Only events occurring 2027 - 2029 will be considered for score.
Mitigation Capability	30	Proposal includes mobile mitigation (kinetic or non kinetic) equipment. Equipment is limited to technology categories on the Authorized Technologies List and, where populated, systems on the Authorized Systems List under section 124.7 of 6 CFR and 28 CFR part 124. Points are awarded only where the proposal identifies (1) the Authorized Technologies List category and, where populated, the Authorized Systems List entry for each system; (2) the designated operating agency and its named personnel who hold, or are enrolled for, NCUTC Mitigation Certification; and (3) the designated operating agency’s accreditation status or planned attestation date under section 124.6. Only mobile mitigation equipment receives points. Kinetic equipment is not scored unless and until a kinetic technology category is added to the Authorized Technologies List through the interagency process.
Detection / Tracking / Identification Features	8	Each capability may include an additional 2 points: Radar with a mission-appropriate use case and basic siting/coverage concept EO/IR with day/night operations and a simple integration/cueing concept. Passive RF (non-content) with direction-finding that inspects physical waveforms only (no content/payload reading) and names at least one DF method (TDOA, FDOA, POA, or AOA). These systems do not require the authority of 6 U.S.C. 124n and are not subject to the list requirement of section 124.7. Remote ID/broadcast beacon receivers, compliant with ASTM F3411-22a or vendor
DTI Chain	2	Proposal clearly describes how it will detect, track, and identify UAS
DTIM Chain	4	Proposal clearly describes how it will detect, track, identify, and mitigate UAS.
Deployment & Connectivity Plan	4	Proposal includes needed deployment and connectivity elements (e.g., networking gear, point-to-point or mesh links, specialized vehicles/trailers/generators) to support the sensors.
Wide‑Area Awareness / Data Sharing Services	6	Wide-area UAS airspace awareness services and Data sharing as a Service (DaaS) alignment: Proposal enables lawful data sharing with DHS, DOJ, DOE, and DOW C-UAS operating entities (e.g., data outputs/viewer/cloud access) and, if using DaaS, aligns with the described service model and local records/retention rules. Proposal includes a service which has applied for or received FAA approval as a provider of unmanned traffic management (UTM) data through the FAA’s Near-Term Approval Process (NTAP) for UTM Services program. Proposal covers a major metropolitan area of at least 100 square miles.
Training & Operator Readiness	2	Proposal provides a role-based training plan mapped to the proposed systems (operators/maintainers/supervisors), covers safety and applicable legal constraints for signal handling, and includes an exercise or validation component. If mitigation is proposed, operator qualifications are credited only where the proposal documents the designated operating agency, NCUTC Mitigation Certification or enrollment for its named personnel, and that agency’s accreditation status under section 124.6
New or Improved Capability	2	2 points for a new capability: Introduces a function not currently present in the jurisdiction (e.g., first-time passive RF DF, first Remote ID deployment) with a clear deployment plan; OR 1 point for enhancement/maintenance: Measurably expands coverage, improves detection/tracking quality, adds DF nodes, replaces end-of-life units, or sustains critical capability with a clear integration and sustainment plan.
Timely Implementation	2	2 points where proposal includes a realistic schedule and contracting/readiness steps to fully implement (procure, install, train, and operationalize) within 6 months of award. OR 1 point if proposal includes a realistic schedule and contracting/readiness steps to fully implement (procure, install, train, and operationalize) within 12 months of award.
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE	100

See FEMA FY27 C-UAS NOFO p. 34 – 37 for scoring details.

FY27 C-UAS Grant Program Resources

Contact Information

Questions regarding FY27 C-UAS and the application process should be submitted to: NCEMCUASGP@ncdps.gov .