FEMA has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2027 Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) grant program.  This year, FEMA has opened the applications to all eligible applicants.  Texas is eligible for $10.5 million, with $8.4 passed through to sub applicants.  This year, eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government entities, include city and county agencies, law enforcement, correctional agencies, fire services, emergency medical services, emergency management, and other qualifying public safety organizations.

The authority to purchase this equipment is not the same to operationally utilize the equipment. Subawards for mitigation equipment, or for detection equipment or services that require the authority of 6 U.S.C. § 124n, may be issued to any eligible subrecipient, including a regional or intergovernmental consortium, provided that the application identifies, for each such system, the SLTT law enforcement or correctional agency that will exercise operational control of the system (the designated operating agency). Only an SLTT law enforcement or correctional agency may be accredited under 6 C.F.R. Part 124, and only its own certified officers or employees may operate the system, make credible threat determinations, or execute mitigation actions (6 C.F.R. § 124.4). A subrecipient that is not itself the designated operating agency may own, house, maintain, and transport the equipment but may not exercise operational control of it. The subrecipient and each designated operating agency must execute a written agreement, submitted with the Investment Justification, establishing the designated operating agency’s custody and control of the system during operations. FEMA will verify the accreditation and certification status of each designated operating agency with the National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC). (Reminder: The designated operating agency must be accredited under 6 C.F.R. § 124.6 before the system is operated.) 

Please note there are numerous program-specific projects that are not allowed under this grant.  They are listed in the NOFO on pages 17 and 18.

The application deadline is Monday, November 16, 2026.  The three-year performance period for these grants is anticipated to begin on December 10, 2026 and end on December 9, 2029.  

Link to NOFO: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_fy-2-27_c-uas_grant-program_nofo.pdf