U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20472 Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin No. 298 November 7, 2008 TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors All TSGP Eligible Transit and Law Enforcement Agencies All FRSGP Grantees FROM: W. Ross Ashley III Assistant Administrator Grant Programs Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency SUBJECT: FY 2008 Transit Security Grant Program Match Requirements Removed *Note: This Information Bulletin applies to States with transit systems with approved projects under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) for both Tier I and Tier II. It also applies to all grantees under the FY2008 FRSGP. The purpose of this Information Bulletin (IB) is to clarify available options for grantees and sub- grantees in regard to the legislative removal of match requirements for projects in the FY 2008 TSGP. On September 30, 2008, the President signed the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 110-329), providing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year (FY) 2009. This legislation appropriated $400 million for the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) and directed specific program changes and implementation deadlines. The legislation 1) directs that awards be made directly to transit agencies (as opposed to through State Administrative Agencies) and 2) prohibits requiring cost share – or matching – from transit and rail agencies for both the FY 2009 and, retroactively, the FY 2008 TSGP. Transit agencies and grantees with approved projects are now presented with two options: 1) An agency may elect to continue with its project and budget as previously approved. In doing so, the agency commits itself to a match in accordance with its submitted and approved project budget. Where FEMA/TSA (Tier I) or the NRP (Tier II) has already reviewed and approved the project, FEMA will proceed with final budget review and Environmental Historical Preservation (EHP) review and facilitate the release of funds for the projects. By committing to the match, the grantee must adhere to all requirements for matching funds within 44 CFR Part 13 and must understand that the cost share is subject to audit. 2) An agency may elect to resubmit its project and budget (including revised investment justification and budget detail worksheet) removing the match and revising the project scope and budget to reflect only the amount of the federal award. In doing so, the project and budget will then require a review by FEMA/TSA as to cost effectiveness, project scope, and allowable costs. After project approval it will then be forwarded to FEMA for final budget review, Environmental Historical Preservation (EHP) review, and processing the release of funds for the project. It should be understood that no additional federal funding is available for these projects, so grantees should not request funding over and above the federal share originally approved. Each TSGP sub-grantee must inform the SAA of which option they will choose for each of their approved projects. The SAA must submit a list of all projects submitted and approved with the option selected for each project to askcsid@dhs.gov by December 1, 2008. The revised investment justification and detailed budget, if applicable, are not due by this date, but DHS must know the intention of the SAA and sub-grantees by this date All FRSGP grantees must inform DHS which option they will choose for each of their approved projects. The grantee must submit a list of all projects submitted and approved with the option selected for each project to askcsid@dhs.gov by December 1, 2008. The revised investment justification and detailed budget, if applicable, are not due by this date, but DHS must know the intention of the grantee by this date For questions regarding the removal of the match requirement, or for other questions regarding the FY 2008 TSGP, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at 1-800368- 6498, or via email at askcsid@dhs.gov.