SUBJECT: 2014 STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM - EXTENSION OF TIME FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security (SPSHS) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) are announcing an additional time extension of the grant proposal period for local governments under some investment areas of the 2014 State Homeland Security Grant.
The original grant proposal period closed June 25, 2014. After reviewing all 158 proposals received, SPSHS and VDEM have determined that some of the investment areas—particularly those in priority focus areas of the current Administration—were under-represented. This extension is intended to allow local governments to offer additional proposals in the following areas:
· Rail hazard responseor training needs (Planning, Training, and CBRNE Investments
Proposals focused on improved rail incident response, including the rail transportation of Bakken Crude Oil. Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Booms (containment, directional, and absorbent)
o Boom accessories (rope, anchors, markers)
o Trailers (equipped specifically for rail response)
o Training (in house)
o Training (specialized rail training at SERTC, Pueblo, CO.)
o Exercises (TTX and full scale)
o Leak control devices (for rail cars)
o Detection and monitoring equipment
o Portable educators and nozzles for foam application
· Sheltering (Mass Care)
Proposals focused on improving the sheltering capability and capacity within localities, examples include but are not limited to:
o For developing and enhance Shelters/refuges of last resort to be retrofitted to meet current ADA requirements.
o Exercises and trainings to enhance sheltering capabilities and capacity.
· Access and Functional needs/Inclusive Emergency Planning
Access and Functional needs expands beyond solely sheltering considerations and should be integrated within each investment to ensure that the access and functional needs and requirements of individuals with disabilities are being properly included and addressed in all aspects of emergency preparedness, disaster response, recovery, and mitigation. Examples include but are not limited to:
o Planning, training, and exercises to identify and support enhanced preparedness for individuals with access and functional needs to ensure equal access to programs, services, and activities related to emergencies and disasters;
o Supplies and equipment for the shelter and personal care during emergencies for people with disabilities.
· Public messaging and crisis communications
Public messaging and crisis communications investments to ensure that all citizens, including individuals with functional and access needs, receive accurate and timely information. Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Virtual Joint Information Center (JIC) platform to coordinate public messaging with other jurisdictions/agencies prior to dissemination
o Translation of terrorism preparedness materials into other languages
o Printing terrorism preparedness publications in Braille or large print
o Closed captioning of terrorism preparedness videos
o Crisis communication training for key leadership and subject matter experts
o Equipment for public information officers in shelters that would help to communicate with the public
o Use of consultant to develop a public preparedness campaign that targets the whole community (to include people with disabilities)
· Cross-Jurisdictional Preparedness Planning and Training(Planning, Training, and CBRNE Investments) Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Development of Regional Incident Management Teams (IMT) in those regions without one (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 6).
o Development of a seminar/training for local elected officials on emergency management (to include expectations, limitations, and responsibilities)
· Other Documented Preparedness Gaps (based on after action reports, assessments/gaps studies, reports, and other strategic reviews) Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Address communication gaps in rural areas with limited capabilities
All of these proposals will be subject to the same review and scrutiny as the original proposals. The funding is highly competitive and the total requested amount of all 158 proposals already exceeds the available funding by a factor of three. All additional proposals must provide a regional/multi-jurisdictional approach (at least two jurisdictions, and preferably more, must receive direct benefit from the project) and must contain a terrorism/homeland security nexus. For this additional call for proposals, there will be a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $100,000 for each proposal submitted. This provision is only for the additional proposals; all original proposals will remain the same. All of the federal and state restrictions on the grant funding distributed with the original proposal materials will apply.
Timeline & Process
· Statewide Conference Call, Wednesday August 6th @ 4:00 p.m.
o Participant Event Plus Dial-In Number: (855) 705-6338
o Your Conference ID 83881929
o Joining the Conference:
1. In the 10 minutes prior to call start time, call the Dial-In Number listed in the Conference Details section above.
2. Provide the Operator with the Conference ID Number.
3. This is a listen only call, with questions at the end.
· The due date for the additional proposals is close of business (COB) on August 20, 2014.
· The proposals must be submitted through the electronic project proposal system (as the original grant submission) https://vmasc-as02.vmasc.odu.edu/fmi/iwp/res/iwp_home.html.
· Project proposal form and instructions can be found in VDEM’s website at http://www.vaemergency.gov/em-community/grants/2014Homeland-security-Grant
· New proposals from Project Managers - due by COB August 20, 2014
o August 4 – 20th – Reviewers will be identified and training materials provided for electronic scoring system.
· Preliminary Review – by September 10, 2014
· Final Decisions made and communicated to Stakeholders – by the week of September 22, 2014