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Release Date: 09/25/03 00:00:00
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 25, 2003
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide grants totaling $79.6 million to help communities develop interoperable communications systems. The grant program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), provides funding through a competitive grant process to selected jurisdictions for demonstration projects that will explore uses of equipment and technologies to increase interoperability among the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical service communities. These projects will illustrate and encourage the acceptance of new technologies and operating methods to assist communities in achieving interoperability.
FEMA and COPS are collaborating on the grant program in order to maximize the strategic impact of the funding that is available for interoperable communications equipment. Applications were distributed to nominees prior to June 30, 2003, and were due by August 1, 2003. All grants will be awarded by September 30, 2003. The maximum federal share for a grant award is $6 million, with a non-federal cost share of 25%.
The pool of nominees invited to submit for the grant program were culled from three primary sources. The fifty largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the country, as well as the largest MSAs from each respective state were invited to apply for COPS's portion of the funding. In addition, governors from each state were asked to nominate a local jurisdiction to submit an application for an interoperable communications demonstration project to apply for FEMA's portion of the funds. As part of these nominations, governors were encouraged to consider opportunities for innovative and inclusive approaches to achieving interoperability among the public safety community, including regional or other partnerships that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Applicants were encouraged to submit proposals that reflect a multi-jurisdictional and/or multi-disciplinary approach towards achieving interoperability.
Applicants may submit projects that include the purchase of portable gateway solutions and other technologies to be made if the application demonstrates how the proposed technology will improve interoperability among the public safety community.
Applications were evaluated using a peer review process, with panels assembled to include members of the public safety community (fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical) in coordination with the National Institute for Standards and Technology, The Wireless Public Safety Interoperable Communications (SAFECOM) Program, and the National Institute of Justice's AGILE Program. The panels reviewed the applications and provided feedback and recommendations for funding decisions.
This page was last modified on 09/25/03 00:00:00