FY 2010 Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP) Fact Sheet

Overview
As appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-83), and authorized by Section 1406 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (the 9/11 Act). The Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP) is one of five grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration to help strengthen the Nation’s critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. The FRSGP is an important component of the Department’s effort to enhance the security of the Nation’s critical infrastructure. The FY 2010 FRSGP provides funds to freight railroad carriers and owners and offerors of railroad cars to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies.


Funding
In FY 2010, the total amount of funding distributed under this grant program was $14,562,403. The FY 2010 FRSGP funds were awarded to support creation of sustainable, risk-based efforts to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies.


Eligibility
Eligible applicants under the FY 2010 FRSGP were determined by DHS as Class I, II, and III freight railroad carriers that transport Rail Security-Sensitive Materials (RSSM) and owners and offerors of railroad cars that transport toxic inhalation hazardous (TIH) materials. For purposes of this grant program, “offerors” were entities that lease rail cars in order to ship materials poisonous by inhalation/TIH materials by railroad. 

 
Allowable Costs 
The funding priorities for the FY 2010 FRSGP reflected the Department’s overall investment strategy as well as requirements of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53) (the 9/11 Act), including: 

* Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking
* Vulnerability Assessments and Security Plans
* Security training and exercises for frontline railroad employees  
* Infrastructure hardening on rail bridges spanning the Western Rivers System 

For FY 2010 FRSGP, a maximum of five percent (5%) of funds awarded could be used for Management and Administration purposes associated with the grant award. 


Application Process and Evaluation Criteria
The FRSGP reviewer pool consisted of representatives from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Each Investment Justification (IJ) was evaluated and scored based on a variety of criteria identified in the program guidance. Panelists reviewed applications and where possible, determined scores and documented all comments by completing Rating/Score Sheets, prior to convening the panel session. During panel sessions, panelists discussed projects and agreed on individual final scores, comments, and recommended funding levels. The panel developed a final list of recommended funding, which was provided to the Executive Committee (comprised of TSA leadership), and then to the Secretary of DHS for final approval.




“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”
 


“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”