Fiscal Year 2022 Intercity Bus Security (IBSGP) Grant Program FAQs

Release Date:
May 13, 2022

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against potential terrorist attacks. The IBSGP provides funds to intercity bus companies to protect surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.

About the Program

  1. What is the purpose of the FY 2022 IBSGP?

    The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against potential terrorist attacks. The IBSGP provides funds to intercity bus companies to protect surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.

  2. What legislation authorized funding for the FY 2022 IBSGP?

    IBSGP is authorized by Section 1532 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) (Pub. L. No. 110-53), codified at 6 U.S.C. § 1182, and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. No. 117-103).

  3. How much funding is available under the FY 2022 IBSGP?

    The total amount of funds distributed under the FY 2022 IBSGP will be $2 million.

  4. What are the changes in funding levels between FY 2021 and FY 2022?

    The FY 2021 IBSGP funding amount is the same as FY 2021.

  5. Where is the FY 2022 IBSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) located?

    The FY 2022 IBSGP NOFO is located here.

  6. Who is eligible to apply for FY 2022 IBSGP funds?

    Eligible applicants under the FY 2022 IBSGP are private operators providing transportation by an over-the-road bus that have completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan that the DHS Secretary has approved as described in Section 1531 of the 9/11 Act.

    Applicants must either operate fixed route intercity bus transportation providing services to a historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) urban area or operate a charter bus service using over-the-road buses and provide a minimum of 50 trips annually to one or more of the historically eligible UASI-designated urban areas. All owner/operators that meet the basic eligibility criteria may apply (refer to the FY 2022 IBSGP NOFO for additional details).

  7. What types of security-related activities are allowable under the IBSGP?

    Please refer to the Preparedness Grants Manual for detailed information on these allowable cost categories.

    Allowable activities and costs will generally fall under one of the following categories:

    • Planning
    • Operational Activities
    • Equipment and Capital Projects
    • Training and Awareness Campaigns
    • Exercises
    • Maintenance and Sustainment
  8. What makes a strong Investment Justification (IJ)?

    Clearly identified threats, vulnerabilities and consequences;

    Description of findings from a previously conducted vulnerability assessment;

    Details of any incident(s) including description, dates, etc.;

    A brief description of any supporting documentation (such as police reports or photographs) that is submitted as part of the application, if applicable;

    Explanation of how the investments proposed will mitigate or address the vulnerabilities identified from a vulnerability assessment;

    A clear linkage between investment(s) and core capabilities (See National Preparedness Goal);

    Verify all proposed activities are allowable costs per the FY 2022 IBSGP funding notice;

    Realistic milestones that consider the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) review process, if applicable; and

    Description of the project manager(s) level of experience.

  9. How will the FY 2022 IBSGP applications be submitted?

    Applying for an award under the IBSGP is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the ability to meet required submission deadlines. Please refer to Section D in the FY 2022 IBSGP NOFO for detailed information and instructions.

    Eligible applicants must submit their initial application through the grants.gov portal at least 7 days before the final application deadline at www.grants.gov. Applicants needing grants.gov support should contact the grants.gov customer support hotline at (800) 518- 4726.

    Eligible applicants will be notified by FEMA and asked to proceed with submitting their complete application package in the Non Disaster (ND) Grants System. Applicants needing technical support with the ND Grants System should contact ndgrants@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 865-4076, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

    Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on June 13, 2022.

  10. What are the key dates associated with the FY 2022 THSGP?

    May 13, 2022: Release date for the FY 2022 IBSGP NOFO.

    June 13, 2022, 5 p.m. ET: Applications for the FY 2022 IBSGP due to FEMA.

  11. How will the FY 2022 IBSGP funds be allocated?
    IBSGP recipients will be selected for funding through a competitive review process as outlined in the FY 2022 IBSGP NOFO. Applicants will receive a 20% increase to their scores for addressing one or more of the following National Priority Areas in their IJs:
    • Cybersecurity
    • Soft targets and crowded places
  12. What is the FY 2022 IBSGP period of performance?

    What is the FY 2022 IBSGP period of performance?

  13. What other resources are available to address programmatic, technical, and financial questions?

    For additional program-specific information, please contact the FEMA Grants Information Desk at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov OR at (800) 368-6498. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
     

    For support regarding financial grants management and budgetary technical assistance, applicants may contact the FEMA Award Administration Help Desk via e-mail at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.

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