Office of Grants and Training Preparedness Directorate U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20531 G&T Information Bulletin No. 242 February 12, 2007 TO All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors All Port Security Grant Points of Contact and Authorized Representatives FROM: Corey D. Gruber Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants and Training SUBJECT: FY 2007 Port Security Grant Program The information contained in this bulletin should be considered an addendum to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) Program Guidelines and Application Kit. The instructions and directions contained herein are not suggestions – they are mandatory requirements. On January 9, 2007 the Department of Homeland Security announced the availability of the FY 2007 Port Security Grant Program. This Information Bulletin is intended to clarify several issues relating to the PSGP Program Guidelines and Application Kit. 1. Eligibility Based on the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Port Criticality List, the FY 2007 PSGP guidance identifies 72 port areas as specifically eligible to compete for funds within Tiers IIII of the program. The FY 2007 PSGP guidance further states that entities not located within one of these port areas, but operating under an Area Maritime Security Plan (AMSP), are eligible to compete for funding within Tier IV. However, questions have been raised concerning which Tier entities covered by an AMSP of a port area included on the USCG Port Criticality List, but not located within the boundaries of that port, should apply. To address this issue, the FY 2007 PSGP guidance is clarified as follows: Eligible entities NOT located within the generally defined boundaries of one of the port areas identified on the USCG Port Criticality List or any other port area, but covered by the AMSP of one of the port areas on the USCG Port Criticality List, may apply for PSGP funds as part of that port area. Example: A nuclear plant is NOT located within the defined boundaries of the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, but is covered by the AMSP of that port area. The nuclear plant is also NOT located within the defined boundaries of another port area. Therefore, the owners/operators of that nuclear plant would apply for a PSGP grant as part of the Port of Baltimore. Eligible entities located within the defined boundaries of a port area that is NOT on the USCG Port Criticality List, may apply for funds as part of Tier IV. Example: An eligible entity is located within the Port of Humboldt Bay, California. The Port of Humboldt Bay is NOT on the USCG Port Criticality List. However, the Port of Humboldt Bay is covered by the same AMSP as the Ports of San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Stockton – all ports that are on the USCG Port Criticality List. In this case, eligible entities within the Port of Humboldt Bay would apply for funds as part of Tier IV. 2. Tier 1 Review Process The FY 2007 PSGP guidance states that Tier II-IV applicants will be subject to a series of reviews by local and national subject matter experts to ensure the most effective distribution of funding among the eligible applicants and appropriate coordination with regional and State homeland security planning efforts. The guidance further states that Tier I grants will be finalized using a cooperative agreement. During the rollout of the FY 2007 PSGP guidance, questions have arisen about how Tier I cooperative agreements will be determined. To address this issue, the FY 2007 PSGP guidance is clarified as follows: While Tier I awards will be made from the allocation specified for that port area in the form of a cooperative agreement to allow the greatest flexibility possible in defining and executing approved projects, the process for determining which projects will receive funding will mirror that used for Tiers II-IV as defined on pages 11-13 on the FY 2007 PSGP guidance. 3. Maritime Security Regulatory Compliance Based on experience with the FY 2006 PSGP, DHS has determined that funding should not be provided to entities that are not in full compliance with relevant Maritime Security Regulations (33 CFR parts 101-106). To address this issue, the FY 2007 PSGP guidance is clarified as follows: Any open or outstanding Notices of Violation (NOVs) that have not been resolved prior to the application submission deadline will result in the applicant being denied for consideration of FY 2007 PSGP funding. Please do not hesitate to contact the G&T Central Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1800- 368-6498 or askcsid@dhs.gov with any questions. As a reminder, applicants are strongly encouraged to log onto and register at the Grants.gov website as soon as possible. There may be a 5-10 day waiting period between registration and the applicant’s ability to enter the system and work on the application. 2