Grant Programs Directorate 

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


Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin 
No. 283, March 07, 2008 


TO: 
All Prospective FY 2008 FRSGP Applicants 

FROM: 
Tracey Trautman 
Director, Grant Development and Administration 
Federal Emergency Management Agency 

Doyle Raines 
General Manager- Transportation Sector Network Integration 
Transportation Sector Network Management 
Transportation Security Administration 

SUBJECT: 
Clarification to the FY 2008 FRSGP Guidance and Application Kit: 
Removal of Section C under Appendix E (Vulnerability Assessment 
Methodologies) and select text from Question II.B. in the Investment 
Justification Template 

On February 1, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the availability of 
the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP). The purpose of this 
Information Bulletin is to redact select text from Appendix D and Appendix E of the FY 2008 
FRSGP Guidance and Application Kit. 

This information bulletin redacts the following text from Appendix E, Section C, page E-2 from 
the FY 2008 FRSGP Guidance and Application Kit: 

“C. Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies 

The rail carrier vulnerability assessment must be conducted using a tool or 
methods which meets the above criteria and must be accepted by DHS/TSA. 

Some examples of the publicly available methodologies that meet these criteria 
include, but are not limited to, the DHS Transit Risk Assessment Module 
(TRAM) and the Intelligence Community’s Analytical Risk Management (ARM) 
Process. Various commercially available tools meet these criteria.” 

Freight railroad carriers must still meet all other criteria included in Appendix E. 

www.fema.gov 


The “Response Instructions” for Question II.B. of the Investment Justification (IJ) from 
Appendix D, Section B, page D-4 of the FY 2008 FRSGP Guidance and Application Kit 
currently reads: 

“For vulnerability assessment and security plan requests, please explain the status of your current 
vulnerability assessment and security plan with regard to the requirements detailed in Appendix 
E (Vulnerability Assessment) and Appendix F (Security Plan). If you deem your current 
vulnerability assessment and security plan do not meet the requirements contained herein, please 
describe those aspects of the plan that will be created and/or improved with grant funds. 

• 
If using a vulnerability tool/methodology other than those identified in Section C of 
Appendix E, you must request provide the commercial name of the assessment 
tool/methodology in the response to facilitate evaluation of your proposed methodology; 
• 
If it is not a commercial product, explain why you are not using one of the approved 
methodologies and how your chosen methodology will comply with the outlines in 
Appendices E and/or F; and, 
• 
DHS may require the applicant to submit the entire vulnerability assessment 
tool/methodology requested above.” 
This information bulletin changes the response instructions to read: 

“For vulnerability assessment and security plan requests, please explain the status of your current 
vulnerability assessment and security plan with regard to the requirements detailed in Appendix 
E (Vulnerability Assessment) and Appendix F (Security Plan). If you deem your current 
vulnerability assessment and security plan do not meet the requirements contained herein, please 
describe those aspects of the plan that will be created and/or improved with grant funds.” 

For other questions regarding the FY 2008 FRSGP, please contact the Grant Programs 
Directorate Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at 1-800-368-6498, or via e-mail at 
askcsid@dhs.gov.