HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM

Grant: Homeland Security Grant Program
Agency: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Division: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Deadline: June 24, 2013

Description: The purpose of the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is to develop and sustain the Nation’s national preparedness capabilities, as outlined in the National Preparedness Goal. As a means to support their mission, FEMA will fund activities that address the prevention, protection against, response to, mitigation and recovery from potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.

Under this program, funds can be used to enhance existing or establish new alert and warning programs. This can be done through the national Integrated Public Alert and Warnings system, or through other pre-established alert and communication programs. All public alert and warning activities should address the following:  

• Expand reach across jurisdictions.
• Expand coverage to unserved and underserved areas.
• Enable communication across all levels of government.
• Connect local systems and responders to regional or statewide systems.

Applicants wishing to develop or improve emergency communications activities should comply with the FY2013 SAFECOM Guidance for Emergency Communication Grants. Emergency communications activities include the purchase of interoperable communications equipment and technologies such as voice-over-internet protocol bridging or gateway devices, or equipment to support the build out of wireless broadband networks.

The HSGP is comprised of three interconnected grant programs:

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) supports projects that address the planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needed to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI): supports projects that address the planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism.
• Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): supports the cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders in the States bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as states and territories with international water borders.

Activities and projects that previously fell under the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) are now acceptable under the HSGP. The IECGP supported states and territories as they implemented their statewide communication interoperability plans, as well as the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan.

Be sure to review the program notice for more specific details on each of the three grant programs listed above. Please note the HSGP is a formula grant program, with funds going directly to a state and/or region. Interested stations must contact their State Administrative Agency (SSA) to find out whether they can play a role.

Fit for Public Broadcasting: Stations will find a natural fit as partners here. As key communicators in the community, stations can work with state agencies to improve emergency alert and communication efforts on the local and/or state level. DHS strongly encourages the use of partnerships through their “Whole Community” approach to security and emergency management, looking for a collaborative effort to improve the community’s overall well-being. Stations with experience or an interest in public alerts and warnings should reach out to their State Administrative Agency to partner.

Eligibility: Stations cannot apply directly to this program. Only State Administrative Agencies (SSA) are eligible to apply. A full listing of the different SSAs can be found, here. 

Under the UASI program, only SAAs in high-threat, high-density urban areas are eligible. A list of these regions can be found in Appendix A of the Program Notice. Under OPSG, only SAAs in states bordering Canada, southern states bordering Mexico, and states and territories with international water boarders are eligible to apply. A full list of eligible states can be found in Appendix A of the Program Notice.

Anticipated Funding: The HSGP is a formula grant program that goes directly to a state and/or region. In 2012 a total of $968,389,689 was allocated: $354,644,123 million for SHSP; $558,745,566 for UASI; and $55 million for OPSG. A full list of the breakdown of allocated funds by state can be found in Appendix A of the Program Notice. These numbers are the maximum amount states are eligible to receive under this program. They do not illustrate the final amount states actually received.

How to Apply: Applicants are required to submit a Standard Form 424 via Grants.gov to determine eligibility no later than June 17, 2013. Once eligibility has been verified, applicants must submit the full application package via the Non Disaster (ND) Grants system through FEMA. Applicants are encouraged to begin their ND Grants registration when the solicitation is released to ensure they have adequate time to start and complete their application submission. If you need assistance registering for the ND Grants system please contact ndgrants@fema.gov or (800) 865-4076. 

Resources:
Program Notice
Program Website
SAA Point of Contact Resource
Office of Emergency Communications FY13 SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants
Integrated Public Alert And Warning FY13 Supplemental Guidance