HHS unit outlines $1 cooperative agreement to pre-authorize emergency repatriation funding for states

The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OSEPR) outlined a new cooperative-agreement funding opportunity designed to let states draw down funds quickly to support emergency repatriation operations.

At a webinar presentation, the presenter said the award is nominally set at $1 so that OSEPR can "rapidly fund a state for operational expenses during an emergency repatriation incident by supplementing the cooperative agreement." The action transmittal for the opportunity is listed as OSEPRAT-twenty20; the transmittal contains the application deadline and takes precedence over the webinar in the event of discrepancies.

The program administered by OSEPR provides temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents returned by the Department of State because of destitution, illness, war or the threat of war. "All temporary assistance is provided in the form of a loan for up to 90 days," the presenter said. Eligible assistance may include food, shelter, medical care, counseling, clothing, cash assistance and domestic travel.

Eligible applicants for the cooperative agreement are all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the listed U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. The cooperative agreements described in the webinar have a one-year project period; the presenter identified a funding period beginning 09/30/2026 and ending 09/29/2027 and said existing cooperative agreements have a project period ending 09/29/2026.

The presenter emphasized that the cooperative agreement is intended to change the funding mechanism rather than states' day-to-day roles: under a cooperative agreement, states can draw down awarded funds to obtain reimbursement for operational expenses during an activated mission; MOUs and prior arrangements allow only reimbursement of actual costs after submission of invoices, which may occur after a mission ends.

After a written activation notice from OSEPR, states awarded a cooperative agreement could be asked to establish and maintain an emergency repatriation center (ERC) at or near a port of entry, provide case management at the ERC and procure and provide temporary assistance to eligible repatriates.

Reporting requirements specified for the cooperative agreement include semiannual performance progress reports using the SF-PPR template and annual and final financial reports using the SF-425 template. The presenter noted that the cooperative agreement aligns with existing MOUs with states but does not replace them.

To apply, the webinar instructed states to submit applications to asepergrants@acf.hhs.gov and to consult the action transmittal for the application deadline. Required application materials listed in the webinar include a cover letter, SF-424 (mandatory application for federal assistance), SF-424A (budget information for nonconstruction programs), SF-424B (assurances), SF-LLL (disclosure of lobbying activities), a certification regarding lobbying and the project performance site location form. The presenter said a project narrative and budget narrative are not required for this application.

The presenter provided guidance for completing the SF-424: enter the project director and contact information in item 7F; use assistance listing number 93.579 and assistance listing title "US repatriation" on the form; the estimated federal funding amount is listed as $1 and the match amount can be 0. The webinar reminded applicants that the authorized representative must sign required forms (electronic signatures are acceptable) and cannot be the same person as the project director.

Applications will be reviewed for completeness, clarity, compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, and the allowability and reasonableness of proposed activities. For additional information, the presenter directed attendees to the action transmittal and provided the contact email asepergrants@acf.hhs.gov. The webinar concluded with a thank-you to participants.