Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin 

No. 319 

June 23, 2009 

 

TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads 

All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

All Statewide Interoperability Coordinators 

All Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan Points of Contact 

 

FROM: W. Ross Ashley, III 

Assistant Administrator 

Grant Programs Directorate 

Federal Emergency Management Agency 

 

Chris Essid 

Director 

Office of Emergency Communications 

National Protection and Programs Directorate 

 

SUBJECT: Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant 

Program (IECGP) Reporting Requirement 

 

The Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) within the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency and the Department’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC), as part of 
the FY 2009 IECGP, request the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators and/or the 
Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) point of contact to report on 
progress on SCIP Implementation by July 30, 2009. 

 

OEC prepared a SCIP Implementation Report for each State based on a comprehensive 
review of the State’s respective SCIP. These reports describe the current status of 
interoperable communications across the five lanes of the SAFECOM Interoperability 
Continuum to include capabilities, interoperability gaps, strategic initiatives, and next 
steps to be taken in each State. 

 

OEC will provide the most recent updated SCIP Implementation Report on file for your 
State or territory. Updating the report will meet the reporting requirement referenced in 
the FY 2009 IECGP Grant Guidance and Application Kit on page 91. It is critical that 
the report accurately represent the interoperability efforts within your State or territo

1 Grant Guidance and Application Kit: http://fema.gov/txt/government/grant/iecgp/fy09_iecgp_guidance.txt 

 


 

OEC and GPD recommend the review of the report be coordinated with the statewide 
interoperability governing body and other relevant stakeholders as appropriate, since 
these governance structures are essential to strengthen partnerships required to address 
interoperable communications and achieve buy-in to the SCIP. Specifically, please 
review and comment on the report to ensure that: 

 

1) Current status of interoperable communications information is up-to-date. 


2) Each SCIP initiative accurately reflects the gap it will address, has an owner, and 
identifies the expected completion date. 


3) New initiatives planned since the submission of your SCIP Implementation 
Report (such as IECGP projects) are included. 


4) Current status of each initiative (i.e. complete, in progress, not started, etc.) is 
included. 




 

Additional information will be forthcoming from OEC and questions can be directed to 
OEC at oec@hq.dhs.gov.