On May 22, 2013 FEMA
posted the details of this year’s (FY13) Port Security grant program. The file
is available at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7471. Below are
some important points:
Key Dates and Times:
Application Start Date:
05/21/2013
Application Submission Deadline
Date: 06/24/2013 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST
Anticipated Funding Selection
Date: 08/02/2013
Anticipated Award Date: 09/01/2013
Award Amounts, Important
Dates, and Extensions
Available Funding for this FOA:
$93,207,313
Projected Number of Awards: 210
Projected Award Start Date(s):
09/01/2013
Projected Award End Date(s):
08/31/2015
Period of Performance: 24 months
Cost Match:
Public Sector. Public sector applicants must provide a non-Federal
match (cash or in-kind) supporting at least 25 percent (25%) of the total
project cost for each proposed project.
Private Sector. Private sector applicants must provide a non-Federal
match (cash or in-kind) supporting at least 50 percent (50%) of the total
project cost for each proposed project.
Cash and in-kind matches must consist of eligible costs (i.e., purchase
price of allowable contracts, equipment). A cash match includes cash spent for
project-related costs while an in-kind match includes the valuation of in-kind
services. The cost-match requirement for the PSGP award may not be met by costs
borne by another Federal grant or assistance program. Likewise, in-kind matches
used to meet the matching requirement for the PSGP award may not be used to
meet matching requirements for any other Federal grant program (e.g., FY 2013
funds are used to purchase a mobile command center from a vendor, the vendor
contributes or donates communications equipment associated with the mobile
command center, the value of the donated equipment may be considered as an
in-kind match for the PSGP award only).
Program Objectives
The FY 2013 PSGP plays an
important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System (NPS)
by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities
essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) of a secure and
resilient Nation. Delivering core capabilities requires the combined effort of
the whole community, rather than the exclusive effort of any single
organization or level of government. The FY 2013 PSGP’s allowable costs support
efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across Prevention, Protection,
Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas.
Grantees under the FY 2013 PSGP
are encouraged to build and sustain core capabilities through activities such
as:
• Strengthening governance
integration;
• Enhancing Maritime Domain
Awareness (MDA)
• Enhancing IED and Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) prevention, protection,
response and supporting recovery capabilities within the maritime domain
• Enhancing cybersecurity
capabilities
• Maritime security risk
mitigation projects that support port resilience and recovery capabilities
• Training and exercises
• Transportation Worker
Identification Credential (TWIC) implementation
Application Review
Information
The four core PSGP funding
priorities for applications are:
• Funding Priority #1. Projects that support development and sustainment of
the core capabilities in the NPG and align to PSGP funding priorities
identified in Appendix B –PSGP Priorities. These include:
• Enhancing MDA
• Enhancing IED and CBRNE prevention, protection,
response and recovery capabilities within the maritime domain
• Enhancing cybersecurity capabilities
• Maritime security risk mitigation projects that
support port resilience and recovery capabilities
• Training and exercises
• TWIC implementation
• Funding Priority #2. Projects that address priorities outlined in the
applicable AMSP, FSP, and Vessel Security Plan (VSP), as mandated under the
MTSA and/or the Port-Wide Risk Mitigation Plans (PRMP)
- Funding
Priority #3. Projects
that address additional maritime security priorities based on the COTP’s
expertise and experience of the COTP within the specific Port Area
• Funding Priority #4. Projects that are eligible and feasible
based on program priorities, Port Area plans and priorities, and available
period of performance
Port Area Group Designations
For FY 2013, there will be two
Port Area Group Designations, rather than the traditional four groupings in
prior years. Table 2 lists the specific Port Areas by Group that are eligible
for funding through the FY 2013 PSGP and the competitive funding amount available
within each Group. This change helps ensure funding is made available to the
highest risk ports and funding is awarded to projects that are rated most
effective in addressing program priorities and mitigating port security risks.
DHS/FEMA reserves the right to re-allocate funding from one group to the other
should the applications within a particular group prove insufficient in terms
of quality, number, and/or total project costs.
Group I Port Areas
Eight Port Areas have been selected as Group I (highest risk) and will
be allocated 60 percent (60%) of funding available. Each Group I Port Area will
compete for the target funding allocation assigned to the group. The amount of
available funding for the group is based on the FY 2013 DHS risk analysis. This
will allow applicants to submit IJs for projects without being confined to a
set dollar amount, providing DHS the opportunity to conduct field and national
reviews of each project and make awards based on the two overarching priorities
of PSGP, risk-based funding and regional security cooperation, as well as
evaluating the extent to which each IJ decreases risk for the Port Area.
Group II Port Areas
The legacy Group II, III, and
All Other Port Areas are combined into a single Port Grouping known as Group
II, which will receive the remaining 40 percent (40%) of funds available. These
Port Areas will compete for the target funding allocation assigned to Group II.
As is the case with the Group I Port Areas, available funding is based on
results of the FY 2013 DHS risk analysis. The number of legacy Group II and III
ports will be adjusted to, 47 and 35, respectively; thus the total number of
Group II ports under the new grouping methodology is 82. Note: The total number
of Group II ports does not include All Other Port Areas.
Ineligible Entities
The PSGP will not accept
applications or IJs from an applicant or sub-applicant for the purpose of
providing a service or product to an otherwise eligible entity
Port-Wide Risk Management
Planning for legacy Group I and Group II Port Areas
Legacy Group I and II Port Areas are encouraged to maintain their PRMPs
and to use them to identify projects that will serve to address remaining
maritime security vulnerabilities. These ports are also highly encouraged to
develop a Business Continuity/Resumption of Trade Plan (BCRTP). For purposes of
regional strategic and tactical planning, these plans must take into
consideration all other Port Areas covered by their AMSP.
Depending on the number of highly rated IJs received within each Port
Grouping, funding may adjusted between groups to ensure the most highly
effective, risk based maritime security projects are funded.
