Applications must meet all threshold criteria below to be scored:

1. Eligible Applicant
2. Eligible Project Location
3. Disaster Tie-Back and Unmet Need
4. The project must include mitigation measures
5. Project must meet a National Objective, as outlined above. Please refer to the CI Program Policies and Procedures for more information.
6. Project must be financially feasible and include a preliminary budget and financing plan that demonstrates readiness and that the project is consistent with cost reasonableness standards;
7. Project must be an eligible activity; and
8. Complete and Timely Submission: Application and all required documentation must be submitted in full by the NOFO deadline.

Applications that fail to meet the threshold criteria shall be disqualified and shall receive a disqualification letter/email sent to the point of contact listed in the application.

• September 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM

• City
• County
• Units of local government
• Water and sewer authority

• Public Buildings & Facilities
• Stormwater & Flood Control
• Transportation & Roads
• Wastewater Systems
• Water Systems

Eligible Activities, as defined in section 1.4 of the CI Program Policies and Procedures, include:

• Restoration of critical services and infrastructure (such as water and sewer facilities, streets, provision of permanent generators, bridges, etc.);
• Demolition, rehabilitation, or construction of programmatically eligible public or semi-public facilities (such as fire stations, shelters, food banks);
• Flood control and drainage repair and improvements, including the construction or rehabilitation of storm water management systems;
• Acquisition (e.g., easement, right-of-way [ROW], etc.); as part of a project;
• Rehabilitation of schools, health care centers, water or wastewater facilities, drainage improvements, etc.;
• Related site preparation and infrastructure improvements;
• Reasonable and customary non-construction (soft cost such as architectural and engineering fees), and,
• Compliance with HUD environmental, construction, and accessibility requirements.

Vehicles, non-permanently installed equipment, and routine maintenance are ineligible unless allowable under 24 CFR 570.201.

Unless clearly related to eligible activities and costs described above, all other activities and associated costs are deemed ineligible for CI Program funding. Ineligible activities are defined in 24 CFR 570.207.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Duplication of benefits from other sources
• Activities without a direct tie to disaster recovery
• Costs incurred prior to environmental clearance, unless approved by DCR as outlined in the program’s policies and procedures,
• Buildings or portions thereof used for the conduct of government;
• General government expenses;
• Political activities;
• Purchase of equipment (except as provided for in 24 CFR 570.201(c));
• Operating and maintenance expenses, and income payments.

DCR reserves the right to make the final determination on cost eligibility based on federal regulations and state program policy.

• Category D – Water Control Facilities: Includes levees, dams, canals, and other flood control structures.
• Category F – Utilities: Restoration of public utility systems, including electrical, water, and wastewater systems.

• Category G – Parks, Recreational, and Other Facilities: Repair or replacement of public parks, recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.

• Category C – Roads and Bridges: Repair or replacement of damaged roads, bridges, and related infrastructure.

• Duplication of Benefits Review: All projects will undergo an initial DOB analysis consistent with HUD requirements to ensure that CDBG-DR funds do not duplicate assistance from FEMA, SBA, private insurance, or other sources. Applicants must disclose all prior disaster recovery funding received. DCR will apply its DOB guidance to adjust awards as needed.
• Risk Assessment: DCR will conduct a risk assessment per 2 CFR 200.206, evaluating financial stability, past performance, audit findings, management capacity, and staffing qualifications.
• Cost Reasonableness Determination: DCR will determine cost reasonableness per 2 CFR 200.403‑404 using professional estimates, industry databases, and internal review.

All projects selected for award and committed to the preliminary award process must comply with federal cross-cutting requirements by the full award contract signing. Cross-cutting requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)
• Section 3 Economic Opportunities
• Section 504 Accessibility and Compliance
• Uniform Relocation Act (URA) and Residential Anti-Displacement
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• 2 CFR Part 200 Financial Management
• Duplication of Benefits (DOB) and cost reasonableness standards
• Force Account Labor
• Civil Rights compliance
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Limited English Proficiency Access
• Minority and/or Women Owned Business
• Protecting Sensitive and Personal Identifiable Information
• Conflict of Interest