U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
Washington, DC 20528 


Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. 
What is the purpose of the FY 2009 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)? 
The purpose of the FY 2009 PSGP is to create a sustainable, risk-based effort to protect 
critical port infrastructure from terrorism, particularly attacks using explosives and non-
conventional threats that could cause major disruption to commerce. 

2. 
How much funding was available under the FY 2009 PSGP? 
The total amount of funds distributed under the FY 2009 PSGP is $388,600,000. 

3. 
What are the priorities for the FY 2009 PSGP? 
The Department has identified the following four points as its priority selection criteria for 
FY 2009 PSGP: 

. 
Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) 
MDA is the critical enabler that allows leaders at all levels to make effective 
decisions and act early against threats to the security of the nation’s seaports. In 
support of the National Strategy for Maritime Security, port areas should seek to 
enhance their MDA through projects that address knowledge capabilities within the 
maritime domain. This could include access control/standardized credentialing, 
command and control, communications and enhanced intelligence sharing and 
analysis. 

. 
Enhancing Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Weapons of Mass Destruction 
(WMD) prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities 
Port areas should seek to enhance their capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to and 
recover from terrorist attacks employing IEDs, WMDs and other non-conventional 
weapons. Of particular concern in the port environment are attacks that employ IEDs 
delivered via small craft (similar to the attack on the U.S.S. Cole), by underwater 
swimmers (such as underwater mines) or on ferries (both passenger and vehicle). 

. 
Training and Exercises 
Port areas should first seek to ensure that appropriate capabilities exist among staff 
and managers, and then regularly test these capabilities through emergency drills and 
exercises. Emergency drills and exercises (such as those in the Transportation 

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Security Administration (TSA) Port Security Exercise Training Program) test 
operational protocols that would be implemented in the event of a terrorist attack. The 
efforts include live situational exercises involving various threat and disaster 
scenarios, table-top exercises and methods for implementing lessons learned. 

. 
Efforts supporting implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification 
Credential (TWIC) 
The TWIC is a congressionally-mandated security program through which DHS will 
conduct appropriate background investigations and issue biometrically enabled and 
secure identification cards for individuals requiring unescorted access to U.S. port 
facilities. Regulations outlining the initial phase of this program (card issuance) were 
issued by TSA in cooperation with the Coast Guard in 72 Federal Register 3492 
(January 25, 2007). 

4. 
Who was eligible to apply for FY 2009 PSGP funds? 
Eligible applicants under the FY 2009 PSGP included Group I and Group II Fiduciary 
Agents (FA), ports within Group III or “All Other Port Areas,” and the pre-designated ferry 
systems. Tables 2 and 3 in the FY 2009 PSGP Guidance and Application Kit list the specific 
port areas and ferry systems, by group, that were eligible for funding through the FY 2009 
PSGP. 

“All Other Port Areas” within Group I, II or III were allowed to receive grant funds from 
their geographically proximate higher Group if the project has regional impact across the 
entire port area, but not from both funding groups for the same project. Eligible ferry 
systems identified in the FY 2009 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) Guidance that 
elected to participate and receive funds under the FY 2009 TSGP could not participate in the 
FY 2009 PSGP, and were not considered for funding under the FY 2009 PSGP. 

5. 
How were the FY 2009 PSGP awards determined? 
Each Group I and Group II port area was designated a specific amount of money based upon 
the FY 2009 risk analysis. Ports and ferry systems not identified in Group I or II (including 
new Group II port areas that chose to opt out of the FA process) were eligible to apply as a 
Group III, “All Other Port Areas” or Ferry System applicant. Group III port areas, “All 
Other Port Areas” and Ferry Systems competed for the funding identified in their 
corresponding group. 

6. 
What legislation authorized funding for the FY 2009 PSGP? 
The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 
(Public Law 110-329) provided funding for this program. 

7. 
Where is the FY 2009 PSGP Guidance and Application Kit located? 
The FY 2009 PSGP Guidance and Application Kit is located online at 
http://www.fema.gov/grants as well as on http://www.grants.gov. 


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8. 
What other resources are available to address programmatic, technical and financial 
questions? 
. 
For additional program-specific information, please contact the Centralized 
Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) help line at (800) 368-6498 or 
askcsid@dhs.gov. CSID hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, 
Monday through Friday. 

. 
For financial-related questions, including pre-and post-award administration and 
technical assistance, please contact the FEMA Call Center at (866) 927-5646 or via 
e-mail to ASK-GMD@dhs.gov. 

9. 
What is the FY 2009 PSGP period of performance? 
The period of performance of this grant program is 36 months. Extensions to the period of 
performance will be considered only through formal requests to FEMA with specific and 
compelling justification why an extension is required. 

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