FY 2011 PSGP Solicitation Issued

Yesterday DHS/FEMA issued the solicitations for the FY 2011 Preparedness Grants. The port security grant guidelines can be found at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/2011/fy11_psgp_kit.pdf.The total amount of funds distributed under the FY 2011 PSGP will be $235,029,000.Because FEMA will need to conduct an initial review of the application prior to the submission deadline of June 20, 2011, grantees are encouraged to initiate and complete the Standard Form 424 submission within Grants.gov by no later than June 13, 2011. There is once again no cost match for this grant, it is deemed waived. Priorities for this grant are:

· Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

· Enhancing Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) prevention, protection, response and supporting recovery capabilities

· Port Resilience and Recovery Capabilities

· Training and Exercises

· Efforts supporting implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Regarding training and exercises, it is noted that MARAD-approved training is not eligible to be funded under this grant. Regarding using PSGP funds for TWIC issues, applicants need to read the fine print in the FEMA guidance documents cited in the solicitation. Fees associated with the application for and issuance of the TWIC cards themselves are ineligible for award consideration. Allowable costs under this section include those projects that will ensure the safe and secure transit of foreign seafarers and shore staff/support [who are not eligible for TWIC] to and from the vessel while at MTSA regulated facilities. PSGP TWIC funding recipients may be required to provide data and lessons learned from the application of card readers and associated systems. Systems implemented with grant funding may be used by recipients to comply with all TWIC rulemaking requirements once established.