Stage 4 · Accept your award · SHSP · UASI · EMPG
Signing your award
From the award email to an active award: what's on hold, the FFATA step, signing the funding agreement with DocuSign or on paper, and GOHSEP's review.
18 of 23 steps on your routeYour route: Online with DocuSign
When GOHSEP issues your award, GMPro prepares your funding agreement. GOHSEP's part is already signed; your Authorized Representative signs for your organization and ticks three certifications. GOHSEP then reviews the signed agreement, and your award becomes active.
The steps are the same for SHSP, UASI and EMPG. Two extras depend on your award: the FFATA certification when your federal share is $30,000 or more, and the LETPA certification for SHSP and UASI.
Your route
How will you sign the funding agreement?
Showing the 18 steps for “Online with DocuSign”.
- Online with DocuSignSign in your browser. Nothing to print or scan.Your route · 18 steps
- On paperPrint it, sign in ink, and upload the scan.17 steps
What each program asks for
| Step | SHSP | UASI | EMPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| FFATA certification (federal share $30,000 or more) | |||
| Sign the funding agreement (DocuSign or paper) | |||
| Tick three certifications as you sign | |||
| GOHSEP reviews the signed agreement | |||
| LETPA certification, signed with your sheriff |
Only your organization's Authorized Representative certifies FFATA and signs the agreement. If that's no longer the right person, an owner updates it first.
Words you'll see
- Funding agreement
- The document your Authorized Representative signs. It arrives as a package with reference documents you read but don't sign: the SAA Special Conditions, the Federal Agreement Articles, the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and the DHS Standard Terms and Conditions.
- HoldDon't spend yet
- A condition GOHSEP or FEMA needs met before some or all of the award can be reimbursed — for example an environmental review for installed equipment, or the LETPA certification. You can still sign while something is on hold; just don't spend on what's held until the hold clears.
- Active
- Everyone has signed and GOHSEP has approved the signed agreement. You can request reimbursement for what isn't on hold.
Jump to a step (18)
Your award is issued
FFATA (federal share $30,000 or more)
Sign the funding agreement
Part 1
Your award is issued
- 1
Watch for the award email
GMPro emails your Authorized Representative when GOHSEP issues your award. It says how much was awarded, the period of performance, what to do first and, when your program sets one, the date every step of accepting the award must be done by. Anything on hold is listed under “Program holds”, with why and what clears it. The button opens the exact step in GMPro.
SHSP and UASI emails call your Authorized Representative the “Authorized Agent”. It's the same person.
- 2
Under $30,000? You go straight to signing
If your award's federal share is under $30,000, there's no FFATA step: the first email asks your Authorized Representative to open the funding agreement and choose how to sign it, with DocuSign or on paper.
- 3
Your team gets a heads-up
Everyone else on your grant team gets a short note saying who needs to act. Nothing is needed from them.
- 4
See your steps and what's on hold
Open the award (“My grants”, then “Award”). The top shows the amount, the period of performance and the closeout liquidation date. “Accept your award” lists every step: issued, FFATA, signing, GOHSEP's check and, for SHSP and UASI, LETPA. Yours is marked “You are here”, with the date everything is due. “Before you spend” lists each hold: what's held, why, and who acts — “Your team acts” or “Nothing needed from you”.
A hold doesn't stop you from signing. It means those costs can't be reimbursed until the hold is cleared.
- 5
Your budget marks what's held
Your Budget and Project Application pages mark every held line and project with an amber edge and “On hold”. Click it to see what clears it and who acts, then “Go to it on your award” to take care of it. A hold on the whole award, such as LETPA, is noted once above your budget.
Part 2
FFATA (federal share $30,000 or more)
- 6
Complete the FFATA certification
Your Authorized Representative confirms your SAM.gov details, answers up to three yes-or-no questions about federal revenue, and certifies. It takes a minute or two. Signing opens as soon as it's done, and GMPro emails them to choose how to sign the funding agreement. See Completing the FFATA certification.
Part 3
Sign the funding agreement
- 7
Open the agreement and choose how to sign
Open the award. Under “Accept your award”, the FFATA certification is checked off and “Sign the award packet” is marked “You are here”. Click “Choose how to sign” in that step.
Anyone on your grant team can send it with DocuSign; it still goes to your Authorized Representative to sign. Only your Authorized Representative can choose paper. You can change your choice until someone signs.
- 8
Read the package
That step lists everything in your award packet, and each document opens right there. Only the funding agreement is signed; open and read the reference documents too, because the certifications you tick say you've reviewed them.
- 9
Choose “Sign online with DocuSign”
Choose “Sign online with DocuSign” and check the signing order: your Authorized Representative, with their name and email. Click “Send for signatures”, then “Sign with DocuSign” on the signing page — DocuSign opens with each place to sign marked.
If “Sign online with DocuSign” is marked unavailable, sign on paper instead. Both are accepted.
- 10
Changed your mind? Change how it's signed
Until your Authorized Representative signs, you can take it back and sign on paper instead. Open the award: under “Signatures”, click “Change how it's signed”. Anyone on your grant team can do this.
Once someone has signed, it can't be changed here. Ask your GOHSEP grant specialist if it must be signed again.
- 11
Say why, then cancel and choose again
Say why you're changing it and click “Cancel and choose again”. GMPro cancels the DocuSign request, so the link in DocuSign's email stops working, and records who cancelled it and why.
- 12
Choose how to sign again
You're back at “Choose how to sign”, and your Authorized Representative gets the step back in their tasks. To sign on paper, they click it and choose “Print and sign on paper”.
- 13
Sign and tick the three boxes in DocuSign
In DocuSign, agree to sign electronically, click “Start”, then the “Sign” tag, and adopt your signature. Tick the three certification boxes and click “Finish”. Every DocuSign screen is in Signing with DocuSign.
- 14
DocuSign brings you back to GMPro
GMPro confirms your signature with DocuSign and files the signed agreement and DocuSign's completion certificate for you.
Part 4
GOHSEP's review
- 15
GOHSEP reviews the signed agreement
Once everyone has signed, “Accept your award” checks off the award packet, and a GOHSEP grant specialist checks the signed copy and the certifications. The award page says who is reviewing it. Nothing is needed from you.
- 16
You'll get an email at each step
GMPro emails your team when the agreement is signed and GOHSEP is reviewing it, and again when GOHSEP has verified it.
- 17
You're told when it's verified
When GOHSEP approves the signed agreement, GMPro emails your team. For SHSP and UASI it says your funding agreement has been verified: projects with no hold can start, and anything still on hold is listed under “Program holds”. Don't spend on what's held until each hold is lifted. EMPG's email says “Your award is active”.
- 18
Your award is active
When GOHSEP approves the signed agreement, the award becomes active and “Request reimbursement” appears. The signed agreement is saved under “Award documents”.
SHSP and UASI: your award stays on hold until your LETPA certification is approved. See Signing the LETPA certification.