FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY GRANT PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE FY 2008 HSGP -FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UPDATED FEBRUARY 28, 2008 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM (HSGP) For the new Urban Areas that have been added for FY 2008, what is the due date when they must have their strategies to DHS for review? Strategies for new Urban Areas will be due on August 1, 2008. Additional guidance will be forthcoming. In the meantime, new Urban Areas are encouraged to work through their SAA in requesting DHS to provide technical assistance relative to the development of homeland security strategies. For more information, please contact your Investment Officer. Can states that have an Urban Area use SHSP funding for Organizational activities? No, states that have an Urban Area are unable to use their SHSP funding for organizational activities. States that have Urban Areas may only use their 20% share of UASI funding to pay for organizational activities which support the Urban Areas (not to exceed 25% of the overall UASI award amount). States that have no Urban Areas may use their SHSP funding to pay for organizational activities (not to exceed 15% of the overall SHSP award amount.) When a state submits the Initial Strategy Implementation Plan (ISIP), does this fulfill the obligation requirement set for in the guidance? Yes. As identified in the FY 2008 HSGP Program Guidance and Application Kit, the SAA is reminded that the ISIP will be due no later than 45 days after HSGP awards are made to the SAA. The ISIP submission will meet the congressional requirement for a 45-day obligation deadline. Per FEMA’s Information Bulletin #279, eligible tribal entities are able to apply for SHSP funds. Are there any materials forthcoming that speak directly to the processes tribes should take in applying for SHSP funds? Yes, information will be released during the week of March 3, 2008. For planning purposes, however, an eligible tribe must meet the following criteria, as identified in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007: (A) any Indian tribe— (i) that is located in the continental United States; (ii) that operates a law enforcement or emergency response agency with the capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or emergency services; (iii) (I) that is located on or near an international border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters; 1 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY GRANT PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE FY 2008 HSGP -FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UPDATED FEBRUARY 28, 2008 (II) that is located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure list established under section 210E(a)(2) or has such a system or asset within its territory; (III) that is located within or contiguous to 1 of the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States; or (IV) the jurisdiction of which includes not less than 1,000 square miles of Indian country, as that term is defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code; and (iv) that certifies to the Secretary that a State has not provided funds under section 2003 or 2004 to the Indian tribe or consortium of Indian tribes for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and (B) a consortium of Indian tribes, if each tribe satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A). In summary, eligible tribes must meet the requirements set forth in (A)(i) and (ii). Tribes also must meet (A) (iii) (I) and (II), and either of (III) or (IV). Finally, (iv) must also be met. (B) may also be satisfied, if each tribe satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (A). Similar to last year, will the SAA’s be able to submit their Investment Justifications (IJs) for a mid-term review process this year? Yes, SAA’s will be able to submit their IJ’s (as well as any UASI IJ’s) for a mid-term review process this year. Details will be released during the week of March 3, 2008, but applicants can plan on submitting their IJ’s to FEMA HQ for mid-term review during the approximate timeframe of March 24-31, 2008, with feedback from HQ to the applicants no later than April 10, 2008. As noted in the FY 2008 HSGP Program Guidance and Application Kit as well as in the previous Frequently-Asked-Questions, new Urban Areas are encouraged to work through their SAA’s in requesting DHS to provide technical assistance relative to the development of IJ planning. For more information, please contact your Investment Officer. Has the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) been updated to reflect the removal of the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP) as a stand-alone program for FY 2008? The AEL reflects allowable equipment for the grant periods of FY 2005 to present. Therefore, the reference to LETPP as an allowable program has remained and is applicable to FY 2005-FY 2007 programs. However, in order to reflect the FY 2008 HSGP 25% minimum spending requirement towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities, the overall title has been expanded to reflect the following: “Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program or FY 2008 SHSP/UASI 25% Quota.” How much funding towards management and administration (M&A) are subgrantees allowed to spend? 2 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY GRANT PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE FY 2008 HSGP -FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UPDATED FEBRUARY 28, 2008 Subgrantees are allowed to spend no more than 3% of their overall HSGP award for M&A purposes. SAAs may also opt to pass down a portion of their M&A funds to subgrantees, however the total M&A amount spent by subgrantees cannot exceed 3% overall. Does the 15% personnel ceiling cap include the 3% cap of M&A? No, the 15% ceiling cap on personnel does not include the 3% cap of M&A. The 15% ceiling cap also does not apply to contractors, and is in addition to eligible hiring of intelligence analysts. Can new Urban Areas request technical assistance in developing their Urban Area Homeland Security Strategies as well as their Investment Justifications? Yes, FEMA provides on-site technical assistance services to new Urban Areas in order to help them through the planning processes of developing their Homeland Security Strategies and Investment Justifications. Requests must be made by the new Urban Area to their respective State Administrative Agency (SAA). The SAA will send the request to their FEMA Investment Officer. These services to new Urban Areas can be provided quickly, usually within a matter of weeks. With respect to the 25% minimum spending requirements relative to the three overarching HSGP Priorities, as well as the 25% minimum spending requirement relative to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities, can projects which are relevant to both categories be simultaneously counted towards both minimum percentage spending requirements? Yes, projects and activities which are relevant to both HSGP Priorities as well as law enforcement terrorism prevention can count in a dual capacity for their associated 25% minimum percentage spending requirements. Are the 25% HSGP Priority spending requirements and the 25% law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities required to be spent from the overall HSGP award provided? The SAA is responsible for ensuring that 25% of the entire HSGP award (which includes SHSP, UASI, Metropolitan Medical Response System, and the Citizen Corps Program) is spent towards the three HSGP Priorities identified in the guidance kit, and that 25% of the SHSP and UASI award is spent towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities. What impact does the Metropolitan Statistical Area data have on the formation of new Urban Areas? New Urban Areas and their SAAs should refer to the list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas identified in the FY 2008 HSGP, Appendix A. Jurisdictions identified should be considered for 3 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY GRANT PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE FY 2008 HSGP -FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UPDATED FEBRUARY 28, 2008 inclusion as members of the new Urban Area, as well as other relevant contiguous jurisdictions, mutual aid partners, port authorities, rail and transit authorities, campus law enforcement, State agencies, Citizen Corps Council(s), and MMRS jurisdictions, as appropriate. It is important to note, however, that geographical areas queried do not equate to minimum mandated membership representation of an Urban Area, nor does this guarantee funding for geographical areas queried. 4