In a catastrophic disaster, and if the governor requests, federal resources can be mobilized through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for aid to state or local governments to pay part of the costs of rebuilding a community's damaged infrastructure. Generally, public assistance programs pay for 75 percent of the approved project costs. Public Assistance may include debris removal, emergency protective measures and public services, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.
Effective January 1, 2009, it is a requirement that any entity receiving monies from a federal grant must have a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. In the future, this number will replace the identification number the Federal Emergency Management Agency has created for each applicant (NEMIS or FIPS number).
Dun & Bradstreet keeps track of more than 70 million businesses world-wide through DUNS. In recent years, the DUNS number has become increasingly important to both federal and local governments. The federal government recently adopted a new policy that requires all organizations to provide a DUNS number as part of their grant applications and proposals. Because of these actions, all applicants need a DUNS number, and need to include it on all applications.
There is no fee for registering for a DUNS number. Organizations may register by phone or online. However, online registrations may take up to 30 days. It only takes a day to get a DUNS number from D&B by phone (you may be on hold), but Internet applications can take up to 30 days. Note that an authorizing official, not a project director, of the organization should request a DUNS number.
Call Dun & Bradstreet's special toll-free number for federal grant applicants: 1-866-705-5711.
When you call, tell the operator that you are applying to a federal grant program, and need to register for a DUNS number. The process will take about ten minutes.
You will be asked to provide the following information (subject to minor changes):
• Legal name of organization
• Physical address (and Post Office Box if you have one)
• Telephone number
• Web address
• Name of the authorizing official (e.g., president, director)
• The purpose of your organization (e.g., non-profit dance company to perform and create work)
• Total number of employees
Your organization can also register for a DUNS number via Dun & Bradstreet's Web site. Choose the "DUNS number only" option. Please note that registration via the website may take up to 30 business days to complete.
Some applicants have experienced difficulties locating the Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance (CDFA) number. FEMA's is under Dept of Homeland Security, rather than FEMA.
The following link may answer some questions regarding the DUNS number:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf
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