ARRA Grant Programs Overview The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, is designed to jumpstart the U.S. economy, create or save millions of jobs and address national needs—while supporting unprecedented levels of transparency, oversight and accountability. In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS grant programs funded under ARRA will further strengthen the nation’s ability to protect critical infrastructure facilities and transit systems and assist fire departments in improving their response capability/capacity and strengthening firefighter safety. * ARRA Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) * ARRA Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) * ARRA Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) Together, the ARRA TSGP, ARRA PSGP, and ARRA SCG fund a range of preparedness activities centered around capital projects, Operational Packages, equipment acquisition, and new and upgraded fire stations. These grants support objectives outlined in post-9/11 laws, strategy documents, plans, Executive Orders, Homeland Security Presidential Directives, the National Preparedness Guidelines and associated work products, including the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and its transportation sector-specific plans and Executive Order 13416 (Strengthening Surface Transportation Security). FY 2009 ARRA Funding Program FY 2009 ARRA Funds Available ARRA Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) $150,000,000 ARRA Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) $150,000,000 ARRA Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) $210,000,000 TOTAL $510,000,000 ARRA Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) Total Funding Awarded in FY 2009 ARRA: $150,000,000 Purpose: The purpose of the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP is to focus on the use of visible, unpredictable deterrence through the funding of Operational Packages for canine teams, mobile explosives detection screening teams, and Anti-Terrorism Teams, both due to their effectiveness in reducing risk to transit systems and their potential for job creation. In addition, funding will be provided for capital projects including Multi-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Single-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Key Operating Asset Protection, and Other Mitigation Activities. Eligible Applicants: With the exception of ferry systems, those eligible for funding through the FY 2009 TSGP and Amtrak were eligible for funding through the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP. Ferry systems were not eligible under ARRA TSGP as they were eligible under ARRA PSGP and competed for a separate allocation under that program. Eligibility for Shovel Ready Capital Projects for Asset Hardening required applicants to certify that the project can begin within 90 days of the release of funds. Applicants must also have certified that the project will be completed within 24 months of the release of funds date, with the underlying goal of funding construction projects that can quickly create job opportunities. As part of this fast-tracked project, applicants must have submitted all required Environmental and Historic Preservation documentation, construction schedule, and full construction budget at the time of application. Program Awards: Funds are being awarded through a fully competitive process. Final allocations for ARRA TSGP Capital Projects total $72,188,025. Final allocations for FY 2009 ARRA TSGP Operational Packages totaled $77,811,975 and were announced on July 29, 2009. This funded approximately 240 new law enforcement officers at 15 transit systems across the country to enhance the nation's ability to guard against acts of terrorism. The projects awarded funding were aligned with the national priorities and create or save jobs. The projects also were the most risk-effective in addressing known vulnerabilities at high-risk locations. The risk methodology for ARRA TSGP is consistent across modes and is linked to the risk methodology used to determine eligibility for the core DHS State and local grant programs. ARRA Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) Total Funding Awarded in FY 2009 ARRA: $150,000,000 Purpose: The purpose of the FY 2009 ARRA PSGP is to create a sustainable, risk-based effort to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, particularly attacks using explosives and non-conventional threats that could cause major disruption to commerce, through projects that can be implemented quickly and create jobs. Eligible Applicants: 46 U.S.C. §70107 states that all entities covered by an Area Maritime Security Plan (AMSP) may submit an application for consideration of funding. A facility that was not expressly identified in an AMSP was considered covered under an AMSP if the facility in question had a risk analysis completed by the United States Coast Guard. Program Awards: Awards were made on a fully competitive basis. Final allocations for FY 2009 ARRA PSGP total $150,000,000. Applications were evaluated through field-level reviews, as well as a National Review Panel. The projects awarded funding were aligned with the national priorities and create or save jobs. The panel specifically looked at the number of jobs created from each project when recommending projects for funding. A risk-based algorithm was applied to the National Review Panel’s validated, prioritized list for each port area and ferry system. The algorithm considers the following factors to produce a comprehensive national priority ranking of port security proposals: ? Relationship of the project to one or more of the national port security priorities ? Relationship of the project to the local port security priorities ? Captain of the Port (COTP) ranking (based on each COTP’s prioritized list of projects) ? Risk level of the port area in which the project would be located (based on a comprehensive risk analysis performed by DHS) ? Once notice to proceed is provided by FEMA, the number of days it will take for the project to be started and number of days it will take for it to be completed.