The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) FY2019 Announced

The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) is one of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) grant programs that directly support maritime transportation infrastructure security activities, as appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-6 and as authorized by Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), Pub. L. No. 107-295 (codified as amended at 46 U.S.C. § 70107). The PSGP is one tool in the comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration to strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. The FY 2019 PSGP provides funds for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies required to provide port security services.

The FY 2019 PSGP plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. The FY 2019 PSGP’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery mission areas.

Funding

In FY 2019, the total amount of funds under this grant program is $100 million. The FY 2019 PSGP is focused on supporting increased port-wide maritime security risk management; enhancing maritime domain awareness; supporting maritime security training and exercises; and maintaining or reestablishing maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities. PSGP investments must address U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) identified vulnerabilities in port security.

Priority Areas:

  • Enhancing the Protection of Soft Targets/Crowded Places
  • Enhancing WMD & IED Prevention, Detection, Response & Recovery Capabilities
  • Enhancing Cybersecurity
  • Addressing Emergent Threats, such as UAS

Enduring Needs

  • Effective Planning
  • Training & Awareness Campaigns
  • Equipment & Capital Projects
  • Exercises

Eligibility

The following entities are encouraged to participate in the FY 2019 PSGP:

Owners or operators of Federally-regulated terminals, facilities, U.S. inspected passenger vessels or ferries as defined in the MTSA and Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Parts 101, 104, 105, and 106.

Members of an AMSC, per 33 C.F.R. Part 103, who are recognized as such by the USCG Captain of the Port (COTP), and are required to provide port security services. Specifically, eligible applicants include port authorities, port police, local law enforcement agencies, port and local fire departments, and facility fire brigades that have jurisdictional authority to respond to incidents in the port.

Certain ferry systems are eligible for FY 2019 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) funds. However, any ferry system receiving funds under the FY 2019 TSGP is not eligible to participate under the FY 2019 PSGP. Likewise, any ferry system participating in the PSGP is not eligible for funding under the TSGP.

Funding Guidelines

The FY 2019 PSGP focuses on enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA); port resilience and recovery capabilities; training and exercises; cybersecurity; enhancing Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities; and Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Implementation. A maximum of 5 percent of PSGP funds awarded may be retainable by recipients for Management and Administration (M&A) associated with the grant award.

The period of performance for the PSGP is 36 months.

Application Process and Evaluation Criteria

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts an initial review of all FY 2019 PSGP applications for completeness. Field-level reviews are then led by the respective U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP). Field review project scores and prioritized lists are submitted to FEMA at the conclusion of this process for a national level review. The national review encompasses a detailed administrative/financial review of applications recommended for funding, as well as a review by subject-matter experts from DHS and other federal partners that validates and normalizes the COTP field review results. A risk-based algorithm is applied to the validated and prioritized project lists for each port area. FEMA then evaluates and validates the consolidated and ranked project list resulting from the application of the algorithm and submits the recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security for final approval.

PSGP Resources

There are a variety of resources available to address programmatic, technical, and financial questions, which can assist with the PSGP.

  • The FY 2019 PSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity is located online at http://www.fema.gov/grants as well as on http://www.grants.gov.
  • For additional program-specific information, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) help line at (800) 368-6498 or AskCSID@fema.gov. CSID hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
  • For support regarding financial grant management and budgetary technical assistance, applicants may contact the DHS/FEMA Grant Operations Help Desk via e-mail to ASK-GMD@fema.gov.

Key Changes

Notice of Funding Opportunity and Preparedness Grants Manual Layout

The FY 2019 Notices of Funding Opportunity have been streamlined to include only the information needed in order to submit an application. Additionally, GPD has developed the Preparedness Grants Manual to guide applicants and recipients of grant funding on how to manage their grants and other resources. Recipients seeking guidance on policies and procedures for managing preparedness grants should reference the Preparedness Grants Manual for further information. The Preparedness Grants Manual will include common information for all NOFOs as well as supplemental information on each specific preparedness grant program. Examples of information contained in the Preparedness Grants Manual include:

  • Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards and Subawards;
  • Extensions;
  • Monitoring;
  • Procurement Integrity; and
    Other Post-Award Requirements.

Applications Submitted By Eligible Entities

An eligible entity may submit only one application within each Port Area. An application may contain up to five investment justifications. Applicants are encouraged to review the NOFO for additional information and exceptions.

Please click on the links below for important documents:

For more information, please visit https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/178524