FY 2025 NGWSGP Application Information
Applications close in Salesforce at 11:59PM on April 30, 2026
To apply for FY25 NGWSGP (NOFO) funding, counties and federally recognized Tribes in North Carolina must complete an application through our NCEM Preparedness Grants Portal (NCPGP) powered by Salesforce beginning on March 01, 2026, and ending at 11:59pm on April 30, 2026.
Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
This short video instructs individuals on how to register in Salesforce for a user account if they do not already have one.
There is no cap on the amount of FY25 NGWSGP funding for which eligible applicants may apply, not to exceed the local pass-through amount of $4,633,172 under the federal award for North Carolina. There is no match or cost share requirement for FY25 NGWSGP.
Eligible applicants can only submit one application with one project for FY25 NGWSGP.
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.
FY25 NGWSGP application outreach events:
Application Assistance Webinar
March 10, 2026 from 2:00PM - 3:15PM
Microsoft Teams meeting
Dial in by phone
+1 984-204-1487,,163448102# United States, Raleigh
Phone conference ID: 163 448 102#
Office Hours – Open Question & Answer Session
April 22, 2026 from 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Microsoft Teams meeting
Dial in by phone
+1 984-204-1487,,640181244# United States, Raleigh
Phone conference ID: 640 181 244#
Overview
North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) is working towards the goal for all 100 Counties and federally recognized Tribes in North Carolina to become Public Alert Authorities (PAA).
The FY25 Next Generation Warning System Grant Program (NGWSGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was published by DHS/FEMA on August 07, 2025. The FY25 NGWSGP federal award for North Carolina is $8,000,000, with $4,633,172 being passed through to eligible subrecipients by NCEM. There is no required match or cost share for FY25 NGWSGP.
Counties and federally recognized Tribes in North Carolina are eligible to apply for FY25 NGWSGP funding. Eligible applicants are required to complete the FY25 NGWSGP application via Salesforce.
Public Alert Authorities (PAA) Map
A county map of the current Public Alert Authorities is available on Power DMS [folder path: Emergency Management -> Non-Disaster Preparedness Grants –> Public Alert Authorities (PAA) Map].
North Carolina Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Usage Guidelines
These guidelines provide the framework for incorporating Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) into North Carolina local and State alert and warning processes and procedures as well as an overview of the requirements and process for local governments to be recognized as an alerting authority and gain credentials to access the IPAWS-OPEN platform.
IPAWS Usage Guidelines are available on Power DMS [folder path: Emergency Management -> Non-Disaster Preparedness Grants –> Alert & Warnings Guidelines].
Background, Program Purpose, and Program History
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-143) charged FEMA with upgrading and reinforcing the nation’s public alert and warning system to withstand disruptive events and adapt to advancements in technology and methods of communication. This grant supports projects that aid in creating and maintaining a resilient public alert and warning system that provides timely and effective warnings. The IPAWS public alert and warning system is built on the Common Alerting Protocol standard (CAP) that permits a single CAP compatible message to activate multiple compliant warning systems.
The Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) will help support a reliable, resilient, and consistent capability for local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal public safety officials to deliver timely public warning and emergency information.
This grant will identify capability gaps and implement solutions for alert and warning to deliver timely warning and emergency information to the public and to protect critical infrastructure. There are rapid changes in technology, cybersecurity threats, and public preferences for consuming content. Subrecipients will work with NCEM to explore available, flexible, innovative and forward-looking capabilities to disseminate emergency alerts and warnings across existing and new distribution pathways, including streaming services, sirens, giant-voice systems, satellites, internet-connected devices, and other solutions.
Subrecipients shall comply with applicable Federal Communications Commission rules, including 47 Code of Federal Regulations Part 11, FEMA IPAWS best-practices, and telecommunications prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.
Goals & Objectives
The goal of this grant is to enhance alert and warning capabilities and improve resiliency of emergency alert and warning systems through effective services, solutions, and technology to improve the timely delivery of public safety information. The grant will explore and embrace currently available and emerging technology with audio and visual capabilities across all platforms to enable interactive and actionable emergency communications to the public.
In coordination with the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Division, grantees will pursue the following objectives:
- Integrate effective, reliable, available, and timely alert and warning capabilities to enhance public emergency communications,
- Test and deploy proven common-sense tools, pathways, and technologies that support advanced visual and audio alerts; and
- Coordinate and execute whole-community public warning field training, testing, exercise, and evaluation in collaboration with IPAWS, federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, including broadcasters and wireless carriers, to support the development of alert and warning governance, policies, plans, and procedures while improving cross jurisdictional coordination before, during, and after incidents.
Funding
North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), a division of NC Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), is charged with managing this grant for the state. The FY25 NGWSGP federal award for North Carolina is $8,000,000, with $4,633,172 being passed through to eligible subrecipients by NCEM. There is no required match or cost share for FY25 NGWSGP.
Application Procedures
Eligible Applicants
All 100 Counties and all Federally recognized tribes in North Carolina are eligible to apply for FY25 NGWSGP funding. PBS North Carolina (an affiliate of the UNC System) has also been designated as eligible to receive funding under this grant program.
Application Procedures
Eligible applicants are required to complete the FY25 NGWSGP application via Salesforce. You will not be able to submit an FY25 NGWSGP application unless/until you have created an account for your eligible organization and registered as a contact for that account in Salesforce.
This short video instructs individuals who need Salesforce access how to request a new user-ID, if they are not already a registered user in the system.
Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59PM on April 30, 2026.
Applicants must complete and submit the FY25 NGWSGP application form by the application deadline.
Eligible applicants may only submit one application with a single project for FY25 NGWSGP funding.
Application Criteria
The Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) will evaluate FY25 NGWSGP applications through a review process for completeness, adherence to programmatic guidelines, and anticipated effectiveness of the proposed investments
Applicants can score a maximum of 100 points in this evaluation process.
How does this project address critical vulnerabilities in alert and warning?
- Description of need based on presence or history of hazards
- Population threatened
- Critical infrastructure threatened
- Population threatened
- Critical infrastructure threatened
How significant is the existing capability gap that this project addresses?
- Description of gaps based on history of alert and warning efforts
- Gaps in current alert and warning system coverage
- Gaps in high-need areas with limited communications access or few sources of emergency information available, such as rural communities
How well does this project support the NGWS program goals and objectives?
- Alignment of solutions with NOFO goals
- Assessed appropriateness of solutions relative to the need
How confident can NCEM and FEMA be that this project will be completed as planned?
- Confidence in successful and transparent implementation within the specified timeline
- Confidence in cost reasonableness relative to the scope of the solution
How will this project enhance capabilities and share lessons learned?
- Proposal of proven alert and warning capabilities or innovative solutions with a focus on increased effectiveness
- Capability for the applicant, NCEM, FEMA, and other stakeholders to share lessons learned
Merit Review Process
NGWSGP is a competitive grant program. All properly completed applications submitted by eligible applicants will be reviewed and scored by the SIEC, and the top scoring applicants will receive funding.
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.
The SIEC will review the applications received against the criteria described above and assign scores based on those criteria. The scores will be used to inform final selection of subrecipients and subaward amounts.
Allowable Project Types
Per the FY25 NGWSGP NOFO, project activities are limited to the following:
- Installation of IPAWS-compatible sirens and/or “giant-voice” systems;
- Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to enhance signals and availability for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radios;
- Integration and deployment of emergency alert datacasting technology;
- Deployment of systems and technologies that enable the dissemination of advanced visual and audio alerts, such as digital billboards, signage, and kiosks;
- Integration of IPAWS alerts in internet of things (IoT) devices;
- Integration of satellite-based alert and warning technologies, automated message origination and distribution capabilities, and other emerging capabilities. For example, jurisdictions could incorporate advanced warning lexicons informed by behavioral science for more timely and effective public warning.
- Development of alert and warning state and local field testing, training, and exercise programming in collaboration with FEMA and federal, state, and local alert and warning partners.
- Deploy capabilities to increase alert and warning coverage to rural areas and other locations across the state with limited communications access.
Unallowable Costs
Per the FY25 NGWSGP NOFO, grant funds may NOT be used for purchases and services that are not directly related to advancing public alert and warning capabilities.
Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP)
FY25 NGWSGP grantees are required to comply with DHS/FEMA EHP requirements. NCEM will provide grantees with an EHP screening form that grantees will be required to submit for their FY25 NGWSGP projects. Grantees cannot start their projects unless/until the EHP approval process is completed by DHS/FEMA.
Other Requirements from DHS/FEMA:
- Sub-applicants must submit short bios and resumes. This submission should include the type of entity, organizational leadership, and list of board members (if applicable) along with the names and business addresses of the individuals. Sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) such as personal addresses, phone numbers, etc. should not be included with this information. Sub-applicants will upload this information with their application in Salesforce.
- 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 statues, polices, and procedures.
- If awarded funds, subrecipients may be required to provide their mission statement and purpose, along with the amount allocated and the specific role or activity being reimbursed. Subrecipients may also be required to provide information on whether their work or mission involves supporting immigrants [DHS/FEMA uses the term “aliens” instead of immigrants] - regardless of whether FEMA funds support such activities - and whether any FEMA funding was used for an activity involving support to immigrants. Additionally, subrecipients may also be required to disclose if they have any “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” (DEI) practices.
FY25 NGWSGP – National Timeline (subject to change)
| Subrecipient Period of Performance (POP) | October 01, 2025 - February 28, 2028 |
| Application Period | March 01, 2026 - April 30, 2026 |
| Committee Scoring | May 01, 2026 - May 30, 2026 |
| Award Notification | By June 30, 2026 |
| Memorandum of Agreement (MOAs) (in Salesforce | By July 30, 2026 |
Questions should be directed to the NGWSGP email box: NGWSGP@ncdps.gov