Issuance of one-year Cooperative Agreements for Emergency Repatriation

Publication Date: September 19, 2025
Current as of:

U.S. Repatriation Program - Action Transmittal 

AT#: OHSEPR-AT-2025-02

DATE:  September 19, 2025

TO:  All 50 states and U.S. territories

SUBJECT:  Issuance of 1-year Cooperative Agreements for Emergency Repatriation

Purpose: 

  1. To alert the states and territories (hereinafter referred to as “states”) that OHSEPR is issuing 1-year cooperative agreements for emergency repatriation.
  2. To invite states to submit an application for a cooperative agreement.
  3. To provide a deadline of Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12 pm eastern for submission of application for the cooperative agreement award.

Background 

The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) administers the U.S. Repatriation Program (Program) which provides temporary assistance to eligible U.S. citizens and their dependents (repatriates) returned by the Department of State (DOS) from a foreign country because of (1) destitution, illness, war, threat of war, or a similar crisis, and who are without available  resources, or (2) mental illness.  Temporary assistance is provided upon their arrival in the United States and is available initially for up to 90 days from a repatriate’s date of arrival in the United States.  Temporary assistance is provided in the form of a service loan and is repayable to the U.S. Government.  Repatriates may choose their state of final destination.

Temporary assistance is defined in 42 U.S.C. 1313(c) as money payments, medical care, temporary lodging, transportation, and other goods and services necessary for the health or welfare of individuals, including guidance, counseling, and other welfare services provided to them within the United States upon their arrival in the United States.  Other goods and services may include clothes, food, assistance with obtaining identification (driver’s license, birth certificate), childcare, and translation services. 

OHSEPR leads the planning, coordination, and execution of all domestic repatriation plans and operations conducted as part of the Program. OHSEPR determines all eligibility for the Program.  OHSEPR works with states on the planning and delivery of temporary assistance to repatriates and providing reimbursement for reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs, contingent upon the availability of funding.  The Program has a history of direct coordination with states. 

OHSEPR has a business and operational need for cooperative agreements with states to effectively execute an emergency repatriation mission at a Port of Entry (POE).  States act on OHSEPR’s behalf in providing temporary assistance to repatriates.  States are the only entities that can execute emergency repatriation operations at a POE. 

1-Year Cooperative Agreement Awards

OHSEPR will issue a $1.00, 1-year award ($1.00 is the minimum amount for a monetary grant award action) to a state that submits an application approved by OHSEPR.  In the event of an emergency repatriation, OHSEPR may provide supplemental funding, contingent upon the availability of funding. 

Emergency repatriation may include the following activities:

  • Upon receipt of a written activation notice from OHSEPR, provide support to OHSEPR for emergency repatriation operations (which may include activating the State Emergency Repatriation Plan (SERP));
  • Coordinate with OHSEPR and other partners to mobilize the emergency repatriation center and set up infrastructure required to support the arrival of potential repatriates;
  • Conduct needs assessment for eligible repatriates to determine type and amount of temporary assistance required; and
  • Provide temporary assistance (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1313 (c)) to all eligible repatriates.

Award recipients may use the cooperative agreement award for reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs incurred as a result of either

1. OHSEPR activation of the SERP, or 

2. Agreement with OHSEPR to support an emergency repatriation operation. 

For more information on allowable activities and costs for emergency repatriation, please reference OHSEPR guidance. 

To receive reimbursement for temporary assistance costs, award recipients must submit to OHSEPR form RR-02 Emergency Repatriation Reimbursement Request along with receipts/ invoices.  Receipts/invoices for temporary assistance are required to establish the repatriate’s loan.

Project Period:  September 30, 2025 — September 29, 2026

Budget Period:  September 30, 2025 — September 29, 2026

Reporting Requirements:  Semi-annual and final performance reports are required using SF-PPR.  Also, annual and final financial reports are required using SF-425. 

Application documents to submit: 

Award Funding: All award funding is contingent on the availability of funding. 

Due Date: The application due date is September 26, 2025, at 12 pm eastern.

Where to submit: Please submit all documents to OHSEPR-GRANTS@acf.hhs.gov

How the Application will be Reviewed:  OHSEPR will review each application for completeness, clarity, compliance with statutes and regulations, and allowability and reasonableness of activities.