Keep the assessment grounded in the site.

Sources checked September 21, 2026 · FY 2026 reference

Read the funding notice first

FY 2026 required a site-specific vulnerability assessment and Investment Justification, submitted through the State Administrative Agency (SAA). The federal deadline was July 24, 2026; state deadlines differ. Requests were capped at $200,000 per site, three sites per funding stream, and $600,000 per state. Assessment and Investment Justification development costs were unallowable. Read the FY 2026 NOFO (PDF).

SAAs review applications; federal scoring includes a first-time-status bonus. Past awards do not promise renewal. Confirm acceptable assessment age and format with the SAA before starting.

Separate advice from procurement

The notice restricts contractors who draft specifications or assist with applications, plans, or budgets from competing for the resulting procurements. A properly procured contract explicitly covering both development and execution may qualify for the stated exception. Have the applicant’s procurement adviser check applicability before promising follow-on work. See “Contractors Drafting Requirements” in the NOFO.

Build an evidence trail

• Confirm the physical address and the boundaries of your scope.
• Record what you observed, when, and where; distinguish observation from stakeholder statements. Document relevant threats honestly rather than constructing a funding narrative.
• Explain how each proposed improvement responds to the documented vulnerability.
• Have the applicant verify project eligibility, procurement requirements, and submission completeness with the SAA.

Do not dismiss a free self-assessment or local agency tool. Ask the SAA what it accepts, and choose an approach appropriate to the site and the assessor’s qualifications.

Where CPTED NOW fits

Use the software to organize observations, inspect draft analysis, and assemble an assessment report. The practitioner owns its conclusions. The software does not submit an application, determine eligibility, or predict award likelihood.

FEMA’s program page links current guidance. Recheck it before relying on a prior year’s rules.