🛡️ What Does OSG Fund?
All 10 eligible equipment categories under SFY2027 OSG NOFO. Items must be listed in the FEMA AEL (Authorized Equipment List) or pre-approved by Ohio EMA.
1. Access Control Equipment
- Electronic door locks (key fob, card reader, PIN pad)
- Intercom and buzzer entry systems
- Electronic gate openers and controls
- Biometric access systems
- Panic bars and emergency egress hardware
- Turnstiles and controlled-access barriers
2. Surveillance / CCTV Systems
- IP and analog security cameras (indoor & outdoor)
- Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras
- Video management software (VMS) licenses
- Digital video recorders (DVR) / NVR units
- Monitors and displays for live viewing
- Cloud/on-site video storage systems
- License plate recognition (LPR) cameras
3. Intrusion Detection / Alarm Systems
- Perimeter and interior motion sensors
- Glass break detectors
- Door and window contact sensors
- Central alarm panels and keypads
- Silent and audible alarm devices
- Panic buttons (hardwired or wireless)
- Monitoring service setup costs
4. Perimeter Security / Physical Barriers
- Security fencing and gates
- Anti-ram bollards (fixed and removable)
- Jersey barriers and concrete planters used as barriers
- Vehicle barriers and crash-rated posts
- Reinforced perimeter gates with hardware
- Blast-rated and forced-entry-resistant doors
- Security window film and laminate
5. Lighting Systems
- Exterior LED security lighting (parking lots, entrances)
- Motion-activated flood lights
- Lighting for pathways and perimeter dark zones
- Emergency backup lighting systems
- Solar-powered security lighting
6. Communications Equipment
- Two-way radios and handheld communicators
- PA / public address systems for emergency announcements
- Mass notification systems (text/email/siren)
- Interoperable communication devices
- Encrypted radio equipment
7. Training & Exercises
- Active threat / run-hide-fight training for staff and congregants
- First aid and Stop the Bleed certification courses
- Emergency preparedness tabletop exercises
- Security awareness training programs
- NIMS / ICS training (when directly tied to security)
8. Planning & Assessment
- Professional vulnerability / security assessment by qualified firm
- Emergency operations plan (EOP) development
- Site security master plan creation
- Target Hardening Assessment (THA) services
9. Explosive / Weapons Detection
- Walk-through metal detectors
- Handheld wand metal detectors
- Baggage and parcel X-ray machines
- Explosive trace detection (ETD) devices
10. Other AEL-Listed Equipment
- Any equipment on FEMA's Authorized Equipment List (AEL) that directly supports physical security of the facility
- Installation and integration labor costs for eligible equipment (must be itemized)
- Equipment warranties (up to 1 year, if bundled with purchase)
🚫 What OSG Does NOT Fund
The following items are explicitly ineligible under the SFY2027 OSG NOFO. Proposals including these will be disqualified or reduced.
✕General construction or renovation
✕Land acquisition or lease costs
✕Salaries or personnel costs
✕Indirect / administrative overhead costs
✕Computer hardware or software (unless AEL-listed security use)
✕Vehicles or vehicle modifications
✕Firearms, ammunition, weapons
✕Food, beverages, entertainment
✕Travel costs or transportation
✕Insurance or bonding costs
✕Fundraising, lobbying, or political activities
✕Debt, fines, penalties, or judgments
✕Items to be shared with or used at another site
✕Equipment already purchased or ordered before award
✕Duplicate or redundant equipment without justification
✕Research, studies, or surveys (non-security assessments)
✅ Am I Eligible? — Decision Guide
Walk through this decision tree to determine if your organization qualifies for OSG SFY2027 before applying.
OSG SFY2027 Eligibility Decision Tree
Start: Does your organization want to apply for OSG?
↓
Is your org a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Ohio?
YES ↙
Continue ✓
NO ↘
Not Eligible ✗
Must be OH 501(c)(3)
Must be OH 501(c)(3)
↓
Are you applying for ONE physical site only?
YES ↙
Continue ✓
NO ↘
1 Site Per App ✗
Submit separate app per site
Submit separate app per site
↓
Do you have a completed Vulnerability Assessment?
YES ↙
Continue ✓
NO ↘
Complete VA first
Required for application
Required for application
↓
🎉 You Are Eligible — Complete the Application Below
📋 Application Process — Step by Step
The OSG SFY2027 application is submitted online through the Ohio EMA grants portal. Here's exactly how the process works from start to finish.
OSG SFY2027 Application Process Flowchart
1
VA
VA
2
Register
Register
3
Apply Online
Apply Online
4
Review
Review
5
Award
Award
6
Procure
Procure
7
Close
Close
1
Complete the Vulnerability Assessment (VA)
Fill out the 7-page Ohio EMA Vulnerability Assessment Worksheet for your site. This captures your current security posture across 12 tables including perimeter, access control, CCTV, and more. Ikhlas Solutions helps complete this using the intake form below.
Before applying
2
Register / Log In to Ohio EMA Grants Portal
Access the Ohio EMA online grants management system. Your authorized signatory official must have an account. Ikhlas Solutions coordinates with your signatory to ensure portal access is established before the deadline.
Before May 15, 2026
3
Submit Online Application + Upload VA Worksheet
Enter the Investment Justification (IJ) — your proposed budget by category — and upload your completed VA worksheet. The IJ must not exceed $125,000. Deadline is strict: May 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST. Late submissions are not accepted.
By May 15, 2026 @ 4:00 PM EST
4
Ohio EMA Staff Review & Scoring
Ohio EMA program staff review your application for completeness, eligibility, and scoring. They may contact your grant manager or signatory for clarifications. Ikhlas Solutions monitors and responds on your behalf.
May–July 2026 (est.)
5
Award Notification & Grant Agreement Execution
Approved applicants receive an award letter. You must then execute a Grant Agreement with Ohio EMA/ODPS signed by your authorized signatory official. Performance period begins upon execution.
Est. July–August 2026
6
Procurement — Solicit Bids, Select Vendors, Purchase Equipment
Follow Ohio's procurement rules: obtain at least 3 written quotes for purchases over $10,000. Ikhlas Solutions prepares RFPs, manages bid tabulation, and ensures all procurement documentation is grant-compliant before any purchase is made.
After award · Per grant timeline
7
Equipment Installation, Reporting & Grant Closeout
Equipment is received and installed. Ikhlas Solutions prepares all reimbursement requests, progress reports, and the final closeout report. All records are retained for the required period per grant terms.
By June 30, 2028 (performance end)
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
April 2026
NOFO Released by Ohio EMA
SFY2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity published
⚠️ May 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST
APPLICATION DEADLINE — Hard Cut-Off
Online portal only. No extensions. Late submissions rejected.
Est. July–August 2026
Award Notifications Issued
Ohio EMA notifies approved applicants; grant agreements executed
April 1, 2026
Performance Period Begins
Expenditures allowable from April 1, 2026 (retroactive to NOFO date)
March 31, 2028
Performance Period Ends
All equipment must be purchased and installed by this date
June 30, 2028
Final Closeout Report Due
All reporting and reimbursement requests must be submitted
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can we apply for multiple sites under one application?
No. Each application covers exactly one physical site. If your organization has multiple locations, you must submit a separate application for each site. Each site is evaluated independently and may receive up to $125,000.
Is a cost match or co-payment required?
No. OSG SFY2027 does not require any local cost match. Your organization can receive up to $125,000 with no obligation to contribute matching funds. This makes OSG highly accessible for smaller nonprofits and houses of worship.
What is the 10% advance and how does it work?
After your grant agreement is executed, you may request up to 10% of your total award as an advance payment (up to $12,500 on a $125,000 award). This helps cover upfront procurement costs before reimbursement. The advance must be reconciled against actual expenditures in your first progress report.
Does equipment need to be on the FEMA AEL?
Yes — all equipment purchases must be listed in the FEMA Authorized Equipment List (AEL) or receive prior written approval from Ohio EMA. Ikhlas Solutions verifies AEL eligibility for every line item before submitting your Investment Justification to ensure full compliance.
Can we buy equipment before receiving the award?
Purchases made on or after April 1, 2026 (the start of the performance period) are allowable, even if they occur before the formal grant agreement is signed — but they are made entirely at your own risk. If you are not awarded the grant, those costs will not be reimbursed. Ikhlas Solutions recommends waiting until award notification before making any purchases.
How many bids are required for equipment purchases?
Ohio procurement rules generally require a minimum of 3 written quotes or bids for purchases over $10,000 from a single vendor. Ikhlas Solutions manages the entire bid process — preparing RFPs, soliciting vendors, reviewing responses, and producing a formal bid tabulation document for the grant file.
What is the role of the Vulnerability Assessment?
The VA Worksheet is a required attachment to the OSG application. It documents your current security conditions and identifies specific vulnerabilities. The equipment listed in your Investment Justification (IJ) must directly address the vulnerabilities identified in your VA. Ohio EMA uses the VA to verify that proposed purchases are justified and appropriate for your site.
What happens after I submit this intake form?
After you submit the intake form below, Ikhlas Solutions will contact you within 2 business days to review your responses, discuss your specific security needs, and begin preparing your Vulnerability Assessment Worksheet and Investment Justification. We handle all communication with Ohio EMA, manage procurement, and guide you through closeout.
📝 OSG SFY2027 Intake Form
Complete this form so Ikhlas Solutions can prepare your Vulnerability Assessment Worksheet and Investment Justification. We only ask what's needed for those two documents.
⚠️ Important: This intake form collects the information Ikhlas Solutions needs to prepare your Ohio EMA application. Your authorized signatory official will still need to submit through the Ohio EMA online portal. The deadline is May 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST — no exceptions.
OSG SFY2027 — Vulnerability Assessment & Investment Justification Intake
7 sections · Matches exactly to VA Worksheet Tables 1–12 + IJ form fields
1. Org & Contacts
2. Site Details
3. Assessment Info
4. Preparedness & Personnel
5. Perimeter & Parking
6. Entry, CCTV & Other
7. Vulnerabilities & Budget
Section 1 — Organization & Contact Information
VA Worksheet Table 1 · IJ Grant Manager & Signatory fields
ℹ️ This information populates VA Table 1 (Organization Information) and the Investment Justification contact fields.
Grant Manager (Primary Point of Contact)
Authorized Signatory Official (IJ Form — must have Ohio EMA portal access)
Section 2 — Site / Facility Details
VA Worksheet Table 4 — Site Information
ℹ️ This section populates VA Table 4 (Site/Facility Information). Provide details about the specific physical location you are applying for.
Building & Property Details
Section 3 — Assessment & Participant Information
VA Worksheet Tables 2 & 3 — Assessment Details and Assessment Participants
ℹ️ This section populates VA Table 2 (Assessment Information) and VA Table 3 (Assessment Participants). Enter info about who conducted or participated in the self-assessment.
Table 2 — Assessment Information
Table 3 — Assessment Participants
Section 4 — Security Preparedness & Personnel
VA Worksheet Tables 5 & 6 — Security Preparedness and Personnel
ℹ️ Answer Yes, No, or N/A for each question. These directly populate VA Tables 5 and 6. Be honest — gaps drive your funding justification.
Table 5 — Security Preparedness
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Table 6 — Personnel / Staffing
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Section 5 — Perimeter, Parking & Lighting
VA Worksheet Tables 7 & 8 — Perimeter/Access and Parking/Barriers/Lighting
Table 7 — Perimeter & Access Control
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Table 8 — Parking, Vehicle Barriers & Lighting
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Section 6 — Entry/Exit, CCTV & Other Considerations
VA Worksheet Tables 9, 10 & 11
Table 9 — Entry / Exit Controls
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Table 10 — CCTV / Video Surveillance
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Table 11 — Other Security Considerations
| Question | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|
Section 7 — Vulnerabilities & Proposed Budget
VA Worksheet Table 12 · Investment Justification (IJ) Budget
ℹ️ VA Table 12 requires identifying specific vulnerabilities and proposed mitigations. The Investment Justification is your proposed budget — each line item must correspond to a vulnerability/mitigation identified in Table 12.
Table 12 — Vulnerabilities & Mitigations (minimum 3 required)
Investment Justification (IJ) — Proposed Budget
Budget Cap: $125,000 maximum. Each line item must be tied to a specific vulnerability above. All equipment must appear on the FEMA AEL. Installation costs can be bundled with equipment line items.
| Equipment / Item Description | Category | Qty | Unit Cost ($) | Total ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL REQUEST: | $0 | ||||
⚠️ Your total exceeds the $125,000 maximum award. Please reduce your budget before submitting.