Grant Opportunity

Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program

The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) encourages all local, regional and tribal entities in Washington State to apply for these grant monies to support interoperable emergency communications leadership, governance, protocols, planning, training, and exercise.

Amount: $996,731 for Washington State
Performance Period: 24 months
Application Deadline to WA State EMD: July 10, 2008, 5:00 p.m.

Overview: The Interoperable Emergency Communications grant program (IECGP) provides funding to improve interoperable emergency communications capabilities and supports the implementation of the Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP). Grant funds will help ensure that the goals and initiatives of the SCIP are carried out and that the SCIP is aligned with the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) when completed (due to Congress in July 2008).

The FFY2008 IECGP has two priority groups:

  1. Priority Group #1 - Leadership and governance
    • Establishment of formal interoperable emergency communications governance structures
  2. Priority Group #2 - Common planning and operational protocols and emergency responder skills and capabilities
    • Establishment of common planning and operational protocols
    • Enhancement of emergency responder skills and capabilities through training and exercises

All activities under this grant must be integral to interoperable emergency communications and must be aligned with the goals, objectives, and/or initiatives identified in the Washington State SCIP.

This grant is being jointly administered by the Federal Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Emergency Communications.

Timeline:

June 27th - Grant announcement released statewide
July 10th - Applications due to WA EMD by 5:00 p.m.
July 14th to July 16th - SIEC members review and prioritize applications
July 16th - Applications returned to EMD for final review by 5:00 p.m.
July 21st - Applications submitted by EMD to FEMA/DHS

Program Requirements:

  1. State Priority Group #1 objectives must be achieved prior to selecting projects for Priority Group #2; pass-through recipients may address objectives in either priority group based on the most critical needs consistent with the SCIP.
  2. Allowable costs include:
    • Planning
    • Training
    • Exercise
    • Personnel activities
  3. Equipment acquisition is not allowable in FFY2008
  4. No cash or in-kind match is required; however may be in future years
  5. Minimum 80% pass-through to support local, tribal and/or regional projects
  6. Management and Administration (M&A) of 3% of award will be retained by the State; locals may also retain up to 3% M&A

SIEC Scoring Criteria for Local, Regional and Tribal Applications:

Preference will be given to multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline projects; and additional preference will be given to applications that include letters of support and commitment from participating agencies.

Applications from all geographic areas in Washington will be given equal consideration.

Preference will be given to Priority One projects over Priority Two projects (as stated in the Executive Summary attached)

Projects will be given priority that align and support the goals, objectives, and initiatives in the SCIP. (Please see details below).

Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Alignment:

Related SCIP Goals

For Priority 1:
Goal 1: Establish statewide interoperability as a high priority for all stakeholders.
Goal 2: Maximize the improvements in interoperability by institutionalizing collaborative approaches across the state based upon common priorities and consensus at the regional and state level.

For Priority 2:
Goal 6: Incorporate best current practices approaches to improving interoperability.
Goal 8: Institutionalize use of interoperability training objectives during local and state exercises.
Goal 9: Develop NIMS compliant communications training plans, SOPs and classes for statewide use that achieve Communications Unit Leader (COML) certification.

Related SCIP Objectives

For Priority 1:

  • Emphasizes the importance of training, exercises, and NIMS compliant SOP development at all levels of government.

For Priorities 1 and 2:

  • Recognizes the importance of PSAPs to statewide communications interoperability and encourages closer cooperation and coordination between public safety wireless network operators and supporting PSAPs.
  • Ensure the state's current Strategic Technology Reserve (STR) that prepositions or secures interoperable communications for immediate deployment in an emergency or major disaster is well rehearsed and ready for use.

SCIP Strategic Initiatives relating to Priorities 1 and/or 2:

  • SOPs development, training and interoperability exercises. (Goal 6, 8, 9)
  • Develop processes and procedure to identify and adopt best practices. (SOP, Goal 6, 9)
  • Develop funding for an annual Interoperability Summit. (Governance) (Goal 1, 6, 9 and 10).

f you would like to review these points from the SCIP in context, please see pages 123 through133 of the SCIP at http://isb.wa.gov/committees/siec/WASCIPapproved.pdf.

Application Requirements and Additional Information:

A template for your submission and additional documentation are available at http://www.fema.gov/doc/government/grant/iecgp/fy08_iecgp_app.doc

Please understand that given the very short timeline for this grant, applications will be considered final when received, and should be reviewed, edited, and completed by the submitter understanding that it will be evaluated as submitted.

Application Submittal:

Please submit your application via e-mail to Don MacSparran at Washington State Emergency Management Division at d.macsparran@emd.wa.gov by 5:00 p.m. July 10, 2008

Need Help:

Jennifer Schaal is the Program Manager for this grant. (EMD, Homeland Security Section, 253-512-7465, j.schaal@emd.wa.gov.

For general questions regarding how your proposal may fit into the SCIP, please contact SIEC Project Manager Alan Komenski at alan.komenski@wsp.wa.gov or by phone at 425-378.2201.

If you would like help completing your application as it relates to training and/or exercise resources, please contact Lit Dudley, EMD, Exercise and Training Section, 253-512-7440, l.dudley@emd.wa.gov.