The National Exercise Program (NEP), a four-year cycle of exercises, is the primary national-level mechanism for validating national preparedness. As part of the National Preparedness System, the NEP is a key component in developing a culture of preparedness, empowering communities, and promoting resilience against threats and hazards Americans face.
How to Request Exercise Support

The National Exercise Program is currently not accepting exercise support requests. The next exercise support request round will be held in 2024. Details about the 2024 round will be posted on this page when they are available.
If you have questions, please email the program staff and include "Exercise Support Question" in your subject line.
Email the Program

The National Exercise Division (NED) accepts exercise support requests once each year. Support request submissions are only reviewed after the submission deadline. The exercise support round deadlines and acceptance notification dates are subject to change.
Exercise Support Round | Submission Deadline | Acceptance Notifications |
---|---|---|
2024 Round* | June 1, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT | August 22, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT |
2025 Round* | June 1, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT | August 22, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT |
* 2024 and 2025 dates are subject to change.
National Exercise Program (NEP) Exercise Support Requests will now be accepted once per year.
How NED Exercise Support Works
State, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) and other whole community partners can receive technical assistance and support for exercises at no cost from expert exercise specialists in the NED.
Support will be tailored to the needs of the partner and can include assistance with exercise planning, design, scenario development, conduct, and evaluation in the form of subject-matter expertise, material production, and/or facilitation for exercises.
Pre-decisional scoping calls will be held for each support request submitted. During these calls, a NED Exercise Program Manager will review the support request with the sponsor to better understand what support is requested.
Support is only provided for exercises that have not begun their planning processes.
National Exercise Program staff are available to answer your specific exercise support request questions.
Write to NEP@fema.dhs.gov and include “Exercise Support Question” in the subject line. Program staff will be in contact answer your question and send you an invite to our weekly online office hours.
Eligibility Requirements and Regional Exercise Officers
Please see the following links for eligibility requirements, as well as the list of FEMA Regional Exercise Officers.
Eligibility Requirements
FEMA Regional Exercise Officers