U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20531 G&T Information Bulletin No. 246 March 8, 2007 TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All Core City/Core County Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Advisors All Office of Grant Operations Financial Points of Contact FROM: Corey Gruber Acting Assistant Secretary Office of Grants and Training Preparedness Directorate SUBJECT: G&T Reorganization News The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to provide G&T stakeholders with preliminary notice regarding a change in current business practice that will go into effect on or about April 1, 2007. As you may know, the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (the Act) was enacted in October, 2006. The Act mandates a number of reorganizations across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, it directs the realignment of G&T’s mission, staff, and programs from the Preparedness Directorate to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). During the past few months an integrated team of G&T and FEMA staff have been working to ensure a smooth and transparent merger. For the most part, the grant-related services you are accustomed to will remain unchanged. All stakeholders will continue to access G&T’s program guidance and submit applications through Grants.gov and the Grants Management System (GMS) respectively. However, due to technical challenges, the Phone Activated Paperless Request System (PAPRS), operated by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, will no longer be available to G&T’s grantees. As a result, please be aware that the last day G&T grantees may request payments through PAPRS will be MARCH 22, 2007. Future requests for payment will be done through G&T’s new web-enabled payment system called the Payment Request Application (PRA). This new payment system will be accessible through the current 269 Reporting Module. G&T anticipates the new system will facilitate the streamlining of internal and external business processes. In addition, it is expected that the PRA will advance G&T toward the desired end-state of having all G&T grantees request payments through Smartlink. A follow-up Information Bulletin will be sent to all G&T stakeholders next week. It will provide detailed instructions on how to access the new PRA system and how to activate your new account(s). While the FEMA merger will result in changes within G&T, we are eager to integrate our state and local preparedness missions and programs within FEMA’s core operating strategy and are committed to keeping stakeholders informed of anticipated business process changes. We are confident this realignment with improve the overall grant management business process and services we furnish to our stakeholders.