FY13 Port Security Grant Program Solicitation posted

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.