FEMA has authority to extend the RPA deadline when the request is justified based on extenuating circumstances beyond the applicant’s or the recipient’s control. FEMA established programmatic deadlines across all COVID-19 declarations, stating that RPAs must be submitted to FEMA no later than July 1, 2022. Here, the RPA was submitted by the Applicant past the July 1, 2022 deadline. Neither COVID-19-related staff shortages nor lack of knowledge of the Public Assistance program constitute extenuating circumstances beyond the Applicant’s or Recipient’s control justifying an RPA extension.

FEMA finds that the Applicant submitted its RPA after the programmatic deadline and has not demonstrated extenuating circumstances beyond its control that justify extending the deadline for the submission of the RPA.

Stafford Act § 301. 44 C.F.R. § 206.202(c), (f)(2). PAPPG, at 130; Programmatic Deadlines Policy; Programmatic Deadlines Policy, V.2. Overlook Visiting Nurse Ass’n, Inc., FEMA-4496-DR-MA, at 3; Fla. Polytechnic Univ., FEMA-4337-DR-FL, at 2-3.