COVID-19 Public Assistance Forms and Resources

UPDATE: The Request for Public Assistance (RPA) deadline has closed as of July 1, 2022.  PEMA is no longer accepting late RPA requests.

FEMA's Public Assistance program provides reimbursement at a minimum of 75 percent of eligible costs to eligible applicants for expenses associated with the response to a federally declared emergency or disaster. The applicant is responsible for the remaining non-federal cost share up to 25 percent of the expense.

For the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration in Pennsylvania (DR-4506), FEMA shall provide 100 percent federal cost share for all eligible work for assistance under Public Assistance Category B through July 1, 2022. Work completed after July 1, 2022 FEMA shall provide 90 percent federal cost share for all eligible work for assistance under the Public Assistance program.

Content on this page is specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. Inquiries about other incidents should be directed to PEMA.

Basic Information

• COVID-19 Event Summary:  DR-4506
• Incident Period:  January 20, 2020-May 11, 2023 (CLOSED)
• Assistance Authorized:  Category B, Emergency Protective Measures
• Request for Public Assistance Deadline:  July 1, 2022 (CLOSED)

DAP-01 and DAP-02 Forms for COVID-19

• COVID-19 DAP-01 Designation of Applicant Agent (PDF)
• COVID-19 DAP-01 SAMPLE Designation of Applicant Agent (PDF)
• COVID-19 DAP-02 Public Assistance Application and Agreement for Financial Assistance (PDF)
• COVID-19 DAP-02 SAMPLE Public Assistance Application and Agreement for Financial Assistance (PDF)

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, and certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations. 

PNPs must have “an effective ruling letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, granting tax exemption under sections 501(c), (d), or (e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or satisfactory evidence from the State that the non revenue producing organization or entity is a nonprofit one organized or doing business under State law.” Additionally, for a PNP operated facility to be eligible, the PNP must demonstrate the facility provides a critical service or provides a non-critical, but essential government service and is open to the general public. A facility that provides a critical service is defined as one used for an educational, utility, emergency, or medical purpose.

What costs are eligible for reimbursement?

Under the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration identified above, FEMA may provide assistance for emergency protective measures including but not limited to the following, so long as they are not funded by the HHS/CDC or another federal agency:

(Please note - while some activities listed may be eligible for funding through HHS/CDC, final reimbursement determinations will be coordinated by HHS/CDC and FEMA. FEMA will not duplicate any assistance provided by HHS/CDC.) 

Management, control and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety:

• Emergency Operations Center costs; 
• Training specific to the declared event;
• Disinfection of eligible public facilities; and
• Technical assistance to state, tribal, territorial or local governments on emergency management and control of immediate threats to public health and safety.

Emergency medical care:

• Non‐deferrable medical treatment of infected persons in a shelter or temporary medical facility;
• Related medical facility services and supplies;
• Temporary medical facilities and/or enhanced medical/hospital capacity (for treatment when existing facilities are reasonably forecasted to become overloaded in the near term and cannot accommodate the patient load or to quarantine potentially infected persons);
• Use of specialized medical equipment;
• Medical waste disposal; and
• Emergency medical transport.

Medical sheltering (e.g. when existing facilities are reasonably forecasted to become overloaded in the near future and cannot accommodate needs):

• All sheltering must be conducted in accordance with standards and/or guidance approved by HHS/CDC and must be implemented in a manner that incorporates social distancing measures;
• Non‐congregate medical sheltering is subject to prior approval by FEMA and is limited to that which is reasonable and necessary to address the public health needs of the event, is pursuant to the direction of appropriate public health officials and does not extend beyond the duration of the Public Health Emergency; and
• Household pet sheltering and containment actions related to household pets in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Purchase and distribution of food, water, ice, medicine, and other consumable supplies, to include personal protective equipment and hazardous material suits

Movement of supplies and persons

Security and law enforcement

Communications of general health and safety information to the public

Search and rescue to locate and recover members of the population requiring assistance

Reimbursement for state, tribe, territory and/or local government force account overtime costs

What is NOT Eligible?

• Loss of Revenue
• Loss of Useful Service Life
• Tax Assessments
• Increased Operating Costs

How do you apply?

You must start your application process using the FEMA Grants Portal.

What’s next?

If not already completed (and if you are an eligible applicant as described above), you can request your Grants Portal account and submit your Request for Public Assistance (RPA) in the Grants Portal by going to the Grants Portal website (https://grantee.fema.gov) and selecting "Register Your Organization for Public Assistance." NOTE: Select DR-4506 as the disaster event.

Further guidance regarding the reimbursement process has not been provided, but will be posted here when FEMA provides it.

Special Considerations:

• Non-congregate sheltering
• Applicants may apply donated resources to offset the 25% applicant share if ALL of the following conditions are met:
• the donated resource is from a third-party (a private entity or individual that is not a paid employee of the Applicant or Federal, State, Territorial, or Tribal government);
• the donated resource is necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of the project;
• the Applicant uses the resource in the performance of eligible work and within the respective project’s period of performance;  and
• the Applicant or volunteer organization tracks the resources and work performed, including description, specific locations, and hours (if applicable).

Resources

For All Eligible Applicants:

• Eligible Emergency Protective Measures (PDF)
• FEMA Disaster Financial Management Guide
• Emergency Procurement Fact Sheet (PDF)

For All Eligible Private Nonprofits (PNP):

• COVID-19 PNP Public Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF)

Special Considerations for Government Agency Applicants (State and Local):

• FEMA Region III approved a request to conduct non-congregate sheltering within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If a county is unable to provide this service and is in need of assistance, they should contact PEMA Logistics with a resource request, which will likely be assigned to PA DHS. This is to be used in the event that another funding stream (HHS Cares, VOAD or similar) is not available. 
• Food Bank Guidance Fact Sheet (PDF)

For All Eligible PNP Medical Facilities:

• Medical Facility Summary of Eligibility
  
• Medical Care Costs Eligible for Public Assistance (PDF)
  
• Emergency Medical Care - FEMA News Release 
• Environmental Historic Preservation Fact Sheet
• Considerations for Temporary Critical Facilities in a Flood Plain

For Eligible PNP Volunteer Fire Companies:

• Volunteer Fire Company Summary of Eligibility (PDF)

For Private Businesses and PNPs with Ineligible Costs:

• U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance