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


Grant Programs Directorate 
Information Bulletin No. 343 
June 21, 2010 


MEMORANDUM FOR: 
All State Administrative Agency Heads 
All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 
All Urban Areas Security Initiative Points of Contact 
All State Homeland Security Directors 
All State Emergency Management Agency Directors 
All Eligible Regional Transit Agencies 
All Private Sector Transportation Security Partners 
All Public and Private Sector Port Security Partners 

FROM: 
Elizabeth M. Harman 
Assistant Administrator 
Grant Programs Directorate 

SUBJECT: 
Interim Guidance for Ports, Facilities and Vessels on 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Projects 
Funded through the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and the 
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) 

This Information Bulletin (IB) provides guidance to Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and 
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) grantees and sub-grantees that have received funding for 
the installation and operation of TWIC readers, networks, and support systems in their port 
area(s), facility(ies), and vessel(s). 

Collaboratively, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Coast 
Guard (USCG), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are issuing the following 
interim guidance. 

TSA is pilot testing TWIC systems in a number of port locations throughout the country. This 
pilot program is expected to be complete in early 2011. It is estimated that the Final Rule 
specifying the use of TWIC qualified products and equipment—primarily TWIC card readers— 
will not be finalized prior to Calendar Year 2012. 

A number of grantees and sub-grantees have PSGP and TSGP awards for the installation of 
TWIC readers, networks, support systems, and other related hardware. Based on the current 
estimate, the Final Rule will not be published in time for grantees to purchase equipment from a 
TWIC Qualified Products List prior to the expiration of availability of funds in accordance with 
31 USC 1552. 

www.fema.gov 


To ensure successful completion of these projects and timely expenditure of grant funds, the 
following guidance is provided: 

. 
When contracting for card readers, require that the TWIC readers are on the TSA 
Initial Capability Evaluation (ICE) list. The ICE list is posted on the TWIC section of 
TSA’s public internet site at: http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twic_ice_list.pdf. The 
ICE list is updated each time a reader is submitted for evaluation and satisfactorily 
demonstrates its ability to process TWIC card information correctly. It is strongly 
recommended that TWIC equipment purchasers develop an agreement with vendor(s) 
to ensure procured equipment will be upgradeable or exchangeable to meet the Final 
Rule specification when published. TWIC equipment purchasers are advised to 
conduct a suitability analysis for their facility prior to entering into an agreement with 
one or more vendors. Among the things the analysis should include are: 

o 
Compatibility with planned or legacy physical access control system 
o 
Ability of fixed readers to withstand environmental conditions anticipated 
if installed outdoors 
o 
Ability to view reader screen in bright or low light conditions if installed 
outdoors 
. 
If a grantee requests to re-scope an existing award, all new projects must meet 
maritime security risk mitigation within the port area or the facility. Projects funded 
by re-scoping will not be eligible for additional grant funding. The re-scoping request 
must include a revised budget, a revised timeline of milestones for completion, 
justification for the changes requested and the Captain of the Port’s (COTP) 
determination. Re-scoping projects may take several months and will include 
financial and Environmental Historical Preservation (EHP) reviews. Re-scoping will 
be approved at the Program Analyst’s discretion with consideration for time available 
within the grant period of performance, Captain of the Port (COTP) determination, 
and applicability to PSGP priorities for the Fiscal Year of the award. 

If you have additional questions, please contact your FEMA GPD Program Analyst. 

www.fema.gov