Volunteers Needed for BRIC Virtual National Review Panels
FEMA is accepting applications for volunteers to assist with the virtual National Review Panel for the fiscal year 2022 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, also known as BRIC. The panel reviews submitted subapplications for hazard mitigation projects that aim to reduce the risk from disasters and natural hazards.
Expression of Interest forms, available here, can be submitted until Jan. 15, 2023.
FEMA is seeking current government employee volunteers from state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and other federal agencies to participate on the panels. With each application review, these volunteers will leverage their experience and expertise to assess subapplications.
Volunteering to participate in the national review panel week is a great opportunity for individuals to increase their understanding the BRIC program and review subapplications submitted from across the country. Reviewers will get a glimpse into how communities are implementing innovative mitigation techniques.
FEMA anticipates that participants on the virtual National Review Panel will commit to 5 hours per day over the course of 5 business days. During that time participants will review and score subapplications according to the established qualitative criteria. Panelists will participate in subapplication discussions when prompted.
Each daily session is expected to be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
- Week 1 March 13-17, 2023
- Week 2 March 20-24, 2023
- Week 3 March 27-31, 2023
- Week 4 April 3-7, 2023 (If needed, not guaranteed to run)
Panelists requirements:
- Currently employed by a government sector: federal, state, local, tribal, territory. Employees at federal agencies may apply.
- Complete pre-work prior to attending the national review panel week: sign and send back a conflict-of-interest form, create a FEMA GO user account (instructions will be provided), review the panelist handbook and case study, attend panelist training prior to serving on the panel on how to review subapplications for the qualitative criteria and score them accordingly.
- Selected panelists will attend a two-hours mandatory training before their week of participation.
- Panelists commit to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily over the course of five business days. Full dedication to reviewing and scoring the subapplications are required.
- As this is a virtual environment, panelists use their own computers and need to have internet connection.
Approximately 100 participants a week will review and score subapplications according to the established qualitative criteria. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on these panels and meets the panel participant criteria, complete an Expression of Interest form. FEMA will announce the selected panelists by late February.
If you have additional questions, please email the BRIC Team at hma-ndi-bric-review@fema.dhs.gov.