Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin
No.  367
July 11, 2011

TO:		All State Administrative Agency Heads
                        	All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact
                     	All State Homeland Security Directors
                        	All State Emergency Management Agency Directors
                    All Urban Areas Security Initiative Points of Contact
             		All Tribal Nation Points of Contact
                        	All Public and Private Sector Port Security Partners
                        	All Private Sector Transportation Security Partners   
                        	All Eligible Regional Transit Agencies

FROM:	Elizabeth M. Harman
		Assistant Administrator
      Grant Programs Directorate
		Federal Emergency Management Agency

SUBJECT:	Impact of National Terrorism Advisory System on Homeland Security Grant Programs


On April 20, 2011, Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the development of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)—a robust terrorism advisory system that provides timely information to the public about credible terrorist threats and replaces the former color-coded alert system known as the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS).  

The NTAS took effect on April 26, 2011.  The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to provide information about how the implementation of NTAS impacts the use of operational overtime costs allowed under FEMA grant programs resulting from an NTAS alert.
Under NTAS, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue detailed alerts to the public when the federal government receives information about a credible terrorist threat. NTAS alerts provide a concise summary of the potential threat including geographic region, mode of transportation, or critical infrastructure potentially affected by the threat, actions being taken to ensure public safety, as well as recommended steps that individuals, communities, business and governments can take to help prevent, mitigate or respond to a threat. NTAS alerts will include a clear statement on the nature of the threat, which will be defined in one of two ways:
* “Elevated Threat”: Warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States 
* “Imminent Threat”: Warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States
More information on NTAS is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm . As of the date of this Information Bulletin, there are no current NTAS alerts.

Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by the 9/11 Act, allows the use of State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) funds for necessary operational overtime costs in response to an increase in threat level under the HSAS (now NTAS).  Once an elevated or imminent threat alert is issued by DHS, FEMA will contact the State Administrative Agency(s) (SAA) and THSGP grantee impacted by the alert as soon as possible authorizing in writing the expenditure of SHSP, THSGP and/or UASI funds for operational overtime costs. It will not be necessary for the SAA or THSGP grantee to request the use of grant funds for this purpose. This authorization will be in effect until the alert expires or is canceled by DHS. Use of SHSP, THSGP  and/or UASI grant funds must be reported by the SAA or THSGP grantee on the next scheduled Biannual Strategy Implementation Report (BSIR) and all subsequent BSIRs until such time as the grant is closed. 

This guidance applies to all currently open SHSP, THSGP and UASI grant funds (i.e. FY 2006 to FY 2010) and supersedes references to the HSAS in the program guidance for these grants. Operational overtime charged to FEMA grants based on the HSAS and already approved in writing by FEMA may continue until such time as the grant is closed. New requests for use of SHSP, THSGP or UASI funds for operational overtime costs not associated with an NTAS alert must receive prior approval in writing by the FEMA Administrator.

Questions regarding the use of operational overtime should be referred to your FEMA Grant Program Analyst.


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        	U.S. Department of Homeland Security
 Washington, DC  20472




www.fema.gov