The $100m Port Security Grant Scramble

 

Eligibility Criteria is established pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, as amended (MTSA) wherein Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established a risk-based grant program to support maritime security risk management. 

 

This year funding is directed towards the implementation of AMSPs and Facility Security Plans (FSP) among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies that are required to provide port security services.

 

The application submission deadline is May 19, 2015 at 11:59 PM EDT.

 

In administering the grant program, national, economic, energy and strategic defense concerns based upon the most current risk assessments available will be considered. 

 

This year there will be no port area group designations. Instead, all port areas will be selected for funding through the FY 2015 PSGP competitive review process. 

 

For the most part, those who here eligible to apply in 2014 will be eligible this year, except: “Applications for the purpose of providing a service, product, project or investment justifications (IJ) on behalf of another entity such as sub-recipients or a consortia are ineligible for funding. Applications will only be accepted and considered for funding from direct recipients.”

 

Only one application per eligible entity within each port area is permitted. Each application may contain multiple IJs. An investment justification supports the funding of a proposed project. The location where the project is primarily implemented is considered the port area of the application. Applicants with facilities in multiple port areas may submit one application per port area. 

 

Since program funding is risk based by port area, no single application should include investment justifications for projects intended to be implemented in multiple port areas. For example, state entities that operate in multiple port areas within the state must submit separate applications to fund projects in each of these port areas.

 

There is a cost-match requirement for this program. All PSGP award recipients must provide a non-federal match (cash or in-kind) supporting at least 25 percent of the total project cost for each proposed project. Exceptions to the cost match requirement may apply. The non-federal share can be cash or in-kind, with the exception of construction activities, which must be a cash-match (hard).

 

The steps involved in applying for an award under this program are: 

 

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov by selecting Apply for Grants. Enter the CFDA number or the Opportunity ID Number noted in this NOFO, select Download Application Package, and follow the prompts to download the application package. The information submitted in Grants.gov will be retrieved by ND Grants, which will allow DHS/FEMA to determine if an applicant is eligible. Applicants are encouraged to submit initial applications in Grants.gov at least 10 days before the May 19, 2015, application deadline.

 

FEMA requires both the EIN and a DUNS number prior to the issuance of a financial assistance award and for grant award payment; both EIN and DUNS are also required to register with SAM.

 

The EIN base for an organization is the IRS Tax ID number, for individuals it is the social security number, (both the EIN and social security number are nine-digit numbers). Organizations and individuals submitting their applications must correctly differentiate the EIN from the DUNS since both are nine-digit numbers. If these numbers are not correctly identified in the application, this may result in a delay in the issuance of the funding award or incorrect payment to a recipient organization. 

 

Organizations applying for an EIN should plan on a minimum of two full weeks to obtain an EIN. Those who need assistance registering an EIN can contact the IRS helpline. FEMA cannot assist applicants with questions related to obtaining a current EIN.