UASI Information
The Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program funds most RDPO projects.
Our Program Management Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) articulates how this funding is applied.
ABOUT UASI
Most of the RDPO’s funding comes from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which is part of the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This program provides funding to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in designated high-threat, high-density areas. All UASI projects must have a clear connection to counterterrorism related to preventing, preparing for, and responding to a terrorist incident.
SUBRECIPIENTS
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is the recipient of the RDPO region’s UASI grants. OEM is the State Administrative Agency (SAA). The City of Portland hosts the RDPO and is the subrecipient of OEM’s UASI grant awards. RDPO partner organizations are sub-subrecipients.
Visit OEM’s federal changes page for updates related to national-level changes that are impacting the UASI grant program.
REQUIREMENTS & TIMELINES
All UASI funded projects must be sponsored by an RDPO work group and meet local, state, and federal requirements. To see if your project qualifies for UASI funding, view the Application Instructions for the current funding cycle (see the Funding tab in the main menu above).
Please note that process from application to receiving funds is lengthy. Application review and decision-making involves dozens of subject matter experts and leaders in the emergency management and response community. And it can take months to establish subrecipient and sub-subrecipient agreements. Since 2025, this process has taken an exceptionally long time. So, while OEM’s UASI grant period technically extends up to 36 months, in practice, RDPO sub- and sub-subrecipients only have about 16-24 months to complete their work. View the RDPO UASI Timelines for details of active and anticipated upcoming awards.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
If your project receives funding, you may find the following resources helpful:
PROCUREMENT
MEALS & REFRESHMENTS
In order to receive reimbursement for meal- or refreshment-related costs for any UASI-funded events, including meetings, trainings, conferences, and planning activities, RDPO UASI subrecipients must comply with FEMA HSGP guidance, OEM reimbursement rules, and their UASI subrecipient agreement. Use the following documents for guidance.
AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS
Anyone using UASI funds should be aware of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). This law requires applicable, federally funded infrastructure projects to use American-made iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials. Understanding these requirements early is critical. It helps you meet federal mandates, prevent costly procurement delays, and support successful delivery of your FEMA-funded infrastructure projects.
Five-Part BABAA Video Training Series
To help grant recipients, subrecipients and contractors apply these standards, FEMA released a set of animated short videos. They are available on the FEMA Buy America web page and the FEMA YouTube Channel.
More Tools and Training
For additional guidelines and support, please visit the FEMA Procurement Under Grants Training Webpage to access:
Two self-paced National Disaster and Emergency Management University certified training courses (Essentials of Procurement Under Grants and Build America, Buy America & Procurement Under Grants: Exigency and Emergency Circumstances).
A schedule of upcoming live training opportunities and interactive webinars.
For additional information on the BABAA, please visit FEMA's Buy America Preference Webpage. Please share these resources with your grants, purchasing, and project management teams to help navigate the requirements successfully.