U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Overview: FY 2008 Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program September 2008 Grant Programs Directorate Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program Overview Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) Total Funding Available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008: $48,575,000 Purpose: The goal of IECGP is to improve local, tribal, regional, statewide, and national interoperable emergency communications, including communications in response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. According to the legislation that created IECGP, funding will enable states, territories, local units of government, and tribal communities to implement their Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP) and align with the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP). IECGP will also advance near-term priorities established by DHS deemed critical to improving interoperable emergency communications, consistent with goals put forth in the NECP. In FY 2008, IECGP has two priority groups: 1) Leadership and Governance; 2) Common Planning and Operational Protocols, and Emergency Responder Skills and Capabilities. ¦ Establishment of formal interoperable emergency communications governance structures Governing bodies for interoperable emergency communications efforts are essential to ensure coordinated and consistent planning, implementation, and resource allocation for emergency communications solutions. States and territories should establish interoperability committees that include multi-jurisdictional, multidisciplinary, and intergovernmental representation in order to effectively manage interoperable emergency communications efforts statewide. ¦ Establishment of common planning and operational protocols Common planning and operational protocols provide emergency responders with the procedures necessary to guide agency interaction and the use of emergency communications solutions. Grantees should continue strategic and tactical emergency communications planning efforts (e.g. SCIPs and Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans) and are expected to establish common operational protocols through activities such as the development of standard operating procedures (SOP), consistent use of interoperability channels, plain language protocols, common channel naming, and others. SOPs should be National Incident Management System Incident Command System-compliant. ¦ Enhancement of emergency responder skills and capabilities through training and exercises Many public safety agencies do not conduct regular training or exercises to ensure that emergency responders have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate emergency communications solutions or follow procedures, potentially resulting in ineffective performance during an actual emergency, as reported in recent 1 assessments including the National Communications Capabilities Report. Interoperable emergency communications-specific training and exercises that are Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program-compliant on technology solutions and operational protocols should be offered and conducted on a regular basis. Eligible Applicants: The governor of each state and territory has designated a State Administrative Agency (SAA), which applied for and will administer the funds under IECGP. The SAA is the only agency that was eligible to apply for IECGP funds. Application Evaluation: Applications underwent a joint Office of Emergency Communications and FEMA Grant Programs Directorate review process to ensure that all applications were compliant with program requirements and to assess effectiveness of proposed investments before the funds are awarded. Program Allowability: For FY 2008, there are four allowable costs categories: planning, training, exercise, and personnel. Equipment acquisition is not an allowable cost category for IECGP in FY 2008. All activities proposed under IECGP must be integral to interoperable emergency communications and must be aligned with the goals, objectives, and/or initiatives identified in the grantee’s approved SCIP. Program Awards: FY 2008 IECGP funds were allocated based on risk and statutory minimums, per the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will receive a minimum of 0.50 percent of the total funds allocated. Four territories (American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) will receive a minimum allocation of 0.08 percent of the total funds allocated. Funds are expected to be awarded by Sep. 30, 2008. FY2008 Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program Allocations State/Territory Allocation State/Territory Allocation Alabama $538,731 Montana $242,875 Alaska $278,294 Nebraska $293,557 American Samoa $54,033 Nevada $500,868 Arizona $797,224 New Hampshire $242,875 Arkansas $309,053 New Jersey $1,443,315 California $6,107,351 New Mexico $290,478 Colorado $609,616 New York $7,835,108 Connecticut $545,234 North Carolina $866,572 Delaware $242,875 North Dakota $242,875 District of Columbia $629,619 Northern Mariana Islands $53,935 Florida $2,004,978 Ohio $1,201,262 Georgia $1,120,474 Oklahoma $362,815 Guam $77,241 Oregon $483,699 Hawaii $251,038 Pennsylvania $1,587,026 Idaho $242,875 Puerto Rico $394,293 Illinois $1,827,339 Rhode Island $242,875 Indiana $730,005 South Carolina $439,948 Iowa $330,399 South Dakota $242,875 Kansas $369,007 Tennessee $670,566 Kentucky $531,180 Texas $3,508,771 Louisiana $887,944 U.S. Virgin Islands $60,654 Maine $242,875 Utah $366,269 Maryland $1,036,871 Vermont $242,875 Massachusetts $978,519 Virginia $1,240,055 Michigan $1,080,797 Washington $996,731 Minnesota $658,690 West Virginia $259,907 Mississippi $361,909 Wisconsin $532,340 Missouri $642,535 Wyoming $242,875 Total $48,575,000