Video Demonstration: Submitting a Request for Public Assistance

This demonstration will show how to submit a Request for Public Assistance in Grants Portal.

There will be no audio in this demonstration.

Grants Portal Dashboard

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  • Left: Grants Portal logo
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Body
  • Alert: Your organization has been assigned as the primary Grantee for one or more disasters and you may submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to FEMA for any of your subrecipients. Click here to submit a RPA on behalf of your subrecipients.
  • Alert: your dashboard has no tiles! The Dashboard is a great place to put the Grants Portal data that you care about the most. The Dashboard is made up of tiles that display the most important info about a particular item or set of items in the system. Any time you fine data that you want to keep track of, click the Add to Your Favorites button at the top of the page or section - a tile will be created for that particular data.
  1. After signing into Grants Portal, the Grants Portal Dashboard will load.
  2. Start the process by selecting the hyperlinked text that states, "Please click here to begin the RPA submission process."
    1. Begin RPA submission process hyperlink highlighted.
    2. The user selects the begin RPA submission process link and the "Request Public Assistance" page loads.
"Request Public Assistance" Page

"1 Start" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (current)
      • Welcome to the FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA) process. Over the next few minutes we will ask you a series of questions regarding your organization, contacts, mailing address, and supporting information. Once complete, you will be provided with the opportunity to review your submission and, once you are satisfied, you will then be able to directly submit your RPA to FEMA.

        Following submission you will receive automatic notifications and will be able to track the progress of your RPA review. If your organization is deemed eligible for Public Assistance by FEMA, you will be automatically notified and will be able to use this system to collaborate with your FEMA partners.

        Prior to starting this process, you may wish to click here (hyperlink) to review your Organization Profile to ensure that all your information is up-to-date. To get started, press the Next button at the bottom of this form.
    • 2) General Info
    • 3) Contacts
    • 4) Addresses
    • 5) Other Info
    • 6) Submit
  • Controls
    • PREV (inactive)
    • NEXT
    • CANCEL
  1. Read the instructions on the "Request for Public Assistance" page.
    1. Start Section text highlighted.
  2. Select the hyperlinked text in the instructions that states, "click here" to review the Organizational Profile to ensure the information and contacts are listed correctly.
    1. "Click here" hyperlink highlighted.
  3. When finished reviewing, select the "Next" button to proceed to the "General Information" section.
    1. NEXT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects NEXT and the General Info section loads.

"2 General Info" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (complete)
    • 2) General Info (current)
      • Either your organization or one of your subordinate organizations may be eligible to apply for Public Assistance. Below, please indicate the Event for which you are applying for assistance as well as the organization on whose behalf you are applying, as well as confirming the DUNS# and FEMA PA Code (i.e., FIPS Code). Also, please indicate whether a Preliminary Disaster Assessment (PDA) has already been prepared and submitted to FEMA. Pre-submission of a PDA is not required to be considered eligible for Public Assistance.
      • Organization: Practice 3 - PDMG0640 - PDMGTRAIN (PDMGTRAIN - 640) (drop-down list)
      • FEMA PA Code: PDMGTRAIN - 640
      • DUNS #: TX-TRN-0640
      • Event: Drop-down list, "Select..."
      • Participated in PDA? Drop-down list, "Select..."
    • 3) Contacts
    • 4) Addresses
    • 5) Other Info
    • 6) Submit
  • Controls
    • PREV
    • NEXT
    • CANCEL
  1. The "General Information" section displays information associated with the Applicant's request, including the FEMA PA Code, DUNS number, Event, and PDA participation.
  2. Select the drop-down list next to "Event" and choose the applicable event.
    1. "Event" drop-down highlighted.
    2. The user selects "4332DR-TX (4332DR)."
  3. Select the drop-down list next to "Participated in PDA?" and choose "Yes" or "No" to indicate if a Preliminary Damage Assessment has already been submitted.
    1. "Participated in PDA?" drop-down highlighted.
    2. The user selects "Yes."
  4. Select the "Next" button to proceed to the "Contacts" section.
    1. NEXT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects NEXT and the Contacts section loads.

"3 Contacts" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (complete)
    • 2) General Info (complete)
    • 3) Contacts (current)
      • Please indicate your primary and alternate contacts. These individuals will receive regular notifications and will be able to use this system to track the progress of your request as well as collaborate with your designated FEMA partners. Following submission, you will have the option of specifying additional team members. If you do not see appropriate personnel in the dropdown lists below, or if their email or phone contact information is incorrect, please click here (hyperlink) to manage the Contacts currently assigned to you Organization Profile.
      • Primary Contact
        • Name: Drop-down list, "Choose Contact..."
        • Title: --
        • Email: --
        • Phone: --
      • Alternate Contact
        • Name: Drop-down list, "Choose Contact..."
        • Title: --
        • Email: --
        • Phone: --
    • 4) Addresses
    • 5) Other Info
    • 6) Submit
  • Controls
    • PREV
    • NEXT
    • CANCEL
  1. Under "Primary Contact," select the drop-down list next to "Name" and choose the desired primary contact.
    1. Primary Contact Name drop-down list highlighted.
    2. The user selects "Doe, Jane." The corresponding contact information populates the Primary Contact fields:
      • Title: FEMA Local Applicant
      • Email: 119242Jane@PDMG0640.gov
      • Phone: (555) 555-5555
  2. Under "Alternate Contact," select the drop-down list next to "Name" and choose the desired alternate contact.
    1. Alternate Contact Name drop-down list highlighted.
    2. The user selects "Doe, John." The corresponding contact information populates the Alternate Contact fields:
      • Title: FEMA Local Applicant
      • Email: 113242John@PDMG0640.gov
      • Phone: (555) 555-5555
  3. If the Organization's contacts need to be managed for any reason, select the hyperlinked text that states, "click here."
    1. "Click here" hyperlink highlighted.
  4. Select the blue "Next" button to proceed to the "Addresses" section.
    1. NEXT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects NEXT and the Address section loads.

"4 Addresses" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (complete)
    • 2) General Info (complete)
    • 3) Contacts (complete)
    • 4) Addresses (current)
      • Please indicate your physical and mailing addresses. These may be the same, of course. These addresses will be used for meeting scheduling and for sending formal correspondence. Following submission, you will have the option of modifying these addresses. If you do not see appropriate addresses in the dropdown lists below, or if they are incorrect, please click here (hyperlink) to manage the Locations currently assigned to your Organization Profile.
      • Primary Location, CHANGE button
        • Address: 12 Main St.
        • City: Houston
        • State: Texas
        • Zip: --
        • County: Sheckelford County
      • Mailing Address. CHANGE button
        • Address: 12 Main St.
        • City: Houston
        • State: Texas
        • Zip: --
        • County: Sheckelford County
    • 5) Other Info
    • 6) Submit
  • Controls
    • PREV
    • NEXT
    • CANCEL
  1. Verify the address in the "Primary Location" section.
    1. "Primary Address" section highlighted.
  2. Select the "Change" button to change the address, if needed.
    1. Change Primary Address button highlighted.
  3. Verify the address in the "Mailing Address" section.
    1. "Mailing Address" section highlighted.
  4. Select the "Change" button to change the address, if needed.
    1. Change Mailing Address button highlighted.
  5. Select the "Next" button to proceed to the "Other Information" section.
    1. NEXT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects NEXT and the Other Info section loads.
"5 Other Info" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (complete)
    • 2) General Info (complete)
    • 3) Contacts (complete)
    • 4) Addresses (complete)
    • 5) Other Info (current)
      • Please use the area below if you would like to provide additional information; for instance, you may provide a brief narrative describing why your organization is requesting assistance. This is optional, and you may press next at the bottom of the form to skip this step.
      • Comments: Text entry box (selected); Limit 500 characters
    • 6) Submit
  • Controls
    • PREV
    • NEXT
    • CANCEL
  1. If necessary, select the box next to "Comments" and enter any additional information. This is optional.
    1. "Comments" text entry box selected.
  2. Select the "Next" button to proceed to the "Submit" section and review all the information that was completed.
    1. NEXT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects NEXT and the Submit section loads.

"6 Submit" Section

Request for Public Assistance Wizard

  • Tabs
    • 1) Start (complete)
    • 2) General Info (complete)
    • 3) Contacts (complete)
    • 4) Addresses (complete)
    • 5) Other Info (complete)
    • 6) Submit (current)
      • Please ensure all information listed below is accurate before clicking the Submit button at the bottom of the form. By clicking the Submit button, a notification will be sent to FEMA of your organization's desire to receive Public Assistance. In addition, your designated primary and alternate contacts will receive a confirmation. Following submission, you will receive additional guidance describing the FEMA Public Assistance process.
      • General Info
        • Applicant: Practice 3 - PDMG0640 - PDMGTRAIN (PDMGTRAIN - 640)
        • Event: 4332DR-TX (4332DR)
        • Participated in PDA? Yes
      • Primary Contact
        • Doe, Jane
        • Title: FEMA Local Applicant
        • Email: 119242Jane@PDMG0640.gov
        • Phone: (555) 555-5555
      • Alternate Contact
        • Doe, John
        • Title: FEMA Local Applicant
        • Email: 113242John@PDMG0640.gov
        • Phone: (555) 555-5555
      • Primary Location
        • Address: 12 Main St.
        • City: Houston
        • State: Texas
        • Zip: --
        • County: Sheckelford County
      • Mailing Address
        • Address: 12 Main St.
        • City: Houston
        • State: Texas
        • Zip: --
        • County: Sheckelford County
      • Other Info
        • Comments: --
  • Controls
    • PREV
    • SUBMIT
    • CANCEL
  1. Review all the information on the page and go back if needed.
    1. "General Info," "Primary Contact," and "Alternate Contact" sections highlighted.
  2. When finished reviewing the information, select the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page.
    1. SUBMIT button highlighted.
    2. The user selects SUBMIT.

Congratulations Page

Congratulations! Your Request for Public Assistance has been successfully processed and has been submitted for review. Once reviewed by your Recipient Organization it will then be submitted onward to be process by FEMA.

Over the next several days you will receive additional information on the status of your Request for Public Assistance eligibility. If your organization is deemed eligible for Public Assistance, you will be assigned a Program Delivery Manager (PDMG who will serve as your single point of contact for FEMA Public Assistance Program. The PDMG will call you to briefly discuss your disaster damages and set up a face-to-face meeting called the Recovery Scoping Meeting. This meeting is designed to discuss in detail your damages and documentation needed to support your claim.

In preparation for the call with the PDMG, please develop a list of damages your organization has sustained from the event and enter them on the Event PA request Profile accessible here (hyperlink). Your PDMG will discuss this list with you during the call and emphasize the development of your Damage Inventory using the Grants Portal

Thank you for your submission, and we look forward to working with you and your organization.

  1. After selecting "Submit," a Congratulations screen appears stating that the Request for Public Assistance has been successfully processed and submitted.
    1. Congratulations text highlighted.
  2. You've completed the video demonstration on submitting a Request for Public Assistance in Grants Portal. Please close the video window to return to the course.
END OF DEMONSTRATION