Grant Programs Directorate U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20472 Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin No. 286, April 11, 2008 TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All Core City/Core County Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors All State Emergency Management Agency Directors FROM: W. Ross Ashley, III Assistant Administrator Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Federal Emergency Management Agency Charlie Payne Chief Office for Bombing Prevention National Protection and Programs Directorate SUBJECT: FY 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Supplemental Guidance Information Focusing on Improvised Explosive Device Deterrence, Prevention, and Protection The FY 2008 HSGP identified three objectives as its highest priorities, namely: 1. Measuring progress in achieving the National Preparedness Guidelines; 2. Strengthening improvised explosive device (IED) attack deterrence, prevention, and protection capabilities; and 3. Strengthening preparedness planning. As outlined in the FY 2008 HSGP Guidance and Application Kit, at least 25 percent of FY 2008 HSGP (SHSP, UASI, MMRS, and CCP) funding must be collectively allocated to objectives 2 and 3. In addition, at least 25 percent of SHSP award funds and 25 percent of UASI award funds must be dedicated toward law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise, and equipment activities. In an effort to maximize the impact of funding on building capabilities to address the IED threat, the DHS Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) and FEMA Grant Programs Directorate (GPD), in concert with representatives from the homeland security community, have developed recommended planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise activities and expenditures. This Recommended IED Grant Guidance provides the homeland security community with a comprehensive approach to strengthening the capabilities needed to deter, prevent and protect against the IED threat. This supplemental guidance focuses on improving capabilities that will address existing gaps identified by professional law enforcement organizations such as the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board, the National Tactical Officers Association, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and through DHS capability analysis. The capabilities of the following public safety and law enforcement organizations directly support explosive device prevention and protection operations: – Public Safety Bomb Squads – Explosives Detection Canine Teams – Public Safety Dive Teams – SWAT Teams The following provides additional guidance related to allowable activities. The guidance describes recommended allowable activities that will enhance counter-IED capabilities, and reflects common gaps within the bombing prevention community on a nationwide basis. While not all capability gaps will apply to all organizations, these gaps have been identified as high priority by various bombing prevention stakeholders. Improving capabilities to combat the IED threat is a fundamental element of the National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Use of Explosives. The following activities are recommended categories of focus that address counter-IED capability gaps: 1. Planning Activities. A. Developing or updating inventories of resources and assets of Public Safety Bomb Squads, Explosives Detection Canine Teams, Public Safety Dive Teams and SWAT Teams (in accordance with typed resource definitions issued by the NIMS Integration Center [NIC], if developed). B. Developing and conducting public education and outreach campaigns, including promoting individual, family and business emergency preparedness; alert and warning education; and evacuation plans as well as IED or bombing prevention awareness. C. Developing Multi-Jurisdiction IED Security Plans (MJIEDSP) to ensure the ability to prioritize the implementation of layered security measures given limited resources. D. Developing and conducting Bombing Prevention Capability Analysis. E. Developing Soft Target security planning with private sector partners to protect commercial facilities and public gatherings. F. Enhancing awareness and outreach programs to inform private sector, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of precursor chemicals if their products can be used to manufacture explosives. 2. Organization Activities (SHSP and UASI only). SHSP and UASI funds may be used to hire intelligence analysts to staff fusion centers focusing on a wide range of issues, which include but are not limited to bombing prevention/ IED related activities and facilitating enhanced collection, exploitation, and dissemination of intelligence related to terrorist use of explosives, States and Territories are required to adhere to SHSP organizational cost allowability guidance as identified in Information Bulletin #281 (issued March 5, 2008); Urban Areas are required to adhere to UASI organizational cost allowability guidance as identified in the FY 2008 HSGP (issued February 1, 2008). Tribes are required to adhere to organizational cost allowability guidance as identified in the State Homeland Security Program Tribal Supplemental (issued March 12, 2008). 3. Equipment Activities. The 21 categories of allowable prevention, protection, response, and recovery equipment as well as the equipment standards for FY 2008 HSGP are listed on the web-based version of the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) on the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB), at http://www.rkb.us. Recommended equipment for enhancing counter-IED capabilities include: A. Robotic vehicles capable of remotely deploying bomb disablement tools. B. Bomb disablement tools; in particular those tools capable of handling a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). C. Equipment to wirelessly receive and disseminate essential elements of information to and from a response team involved in explosive device response operations. Examples include but are not limited to: wireless transfer and receipt of pictures, data, and intelligence reports to team members in real time via data transfer to and from remote locations. Improvement in wireless communications operability and interoperability dramatically increases bomb squad operational capability by enhancing technician safety and diagnostic options, and enabling informed incident command decisions. D. Digital X-Ray Systems to ensure continuity of diagnostic capability of response teams that currently only possess radiograph (film) systems. Equipment items in the Authorized Equipment List (AEL), Category 2 - Explosive Device Mitigation and Remediation - should only be purchased for and used by accredited bomb squads. For information on existing accredited bomb squads or establishing new bomb squad programs, agencies should contact the Special Agent Bomb Technician in the nearest FBI Field Office or JTTF or call directly to the FBI Program Manager at the Hazardous Devices School at (256) 313-1910. Agencies are encouraged to review accreditation standards for bomb squads to ensure that equipment needs that could affect accreditation standards are accounted for in an appropriate manner and timeframe. 4. Training Activities. Training conducted using HSGP funds should focus on closing gaps identified through capability analysis. Organizations are encouraged to provide personnel with the knowledge and tools to counter the threat and enhance their ability to detect, deter, prevent, and protect against an explosives attack. An enhanced training and education program, including the recommended subjects below, ensures standardized training for all responders and will address emerging technologies to adapt to the changing threat environment. A. Enhanced training for Vehicle Borne IEDs (VBIEDs) Person Borne IEDs (PBIEDs) Water-Borne IEDs (WBIEDs) and Remote-controlled IEDs (RCIEDs) B. Enhanced training for post-blast investigation and technical intelligence collection C. Enhanced training for Bomb Squad and SWAT team interoperability D. Explosives Detection Canine Team Training1 1 Each Explosive Detection Canine Team (EDCT), composed of one dog and one handler, must be certified by an appropriate, qualified organization. TSA Certified Explosives Detection Canine Teams will meet or exceed certification standards set forth by the TSA National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP). Grantee Explosive Detection Canine Teams (EDCT) that do not participate in the NEDCTP will be required to certify annually under their respective agency, local, and state regulations. The grantee will maintain certification, utilization, and training data to show compliance in There are a wide variety of courses related to explosive device response operations offered through DHS training partners. Existing courses that will improve known capability gaps include Underwater Hazardous Device Search Course (California), VBIED Security Checkpoint (New York) and Suicide Bomber Response (DHS-FLETC and New Mexico Institute for Mining and Technology.) For information on DHS-approved training courses, agencies should contact their FEMA Headquarters Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Program Analyst. 5. Exercise Activities. Exercises help to validate plans developed and training received. Allowable exercise themes related to IED deterrence, prevention and protection include validating: A. Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) as they relate to Explosive Device Prevention/Protection Operations. B. Multi Jurisdiction IED Security Plans. 6. Personnel Activities. As stated in the FY 2008 HSGP Guidance and Application Kit, personnel hiring, overtime, and backfill expenses are permitted under HSGP (capped at 15 percent of each of the total program funds) in order to perform allowable FY 2008 HSGP planning, training, exercise, and equipment activities (including IED deterrence, prevention, and protection activities). Grantees should refer to Page 22 of the HSGP Guidance and Application Kit for more information. 7. Construction and Renovation. As stated in the FY 2008 HSGP Guidance and Application Kit, use of HSGP funds for construction is generally prohibited except for information outlined on Pages 23-24. Allowable use of HSGP funds for IED deterrence, prevention, and protection purposes may include enhancements to physical security protection at CI/KR sites, specifically designed to enhance protection from an IED attack. Additional questions regarding the allowability of HSGP funds and expenditures may be directed to your GPD Program Analyst or the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at askcsid@dhs.gov or 1-800-368-6498. Additional questions regarding IED deterrence, prevention, and protection capabilities should be directed to OBP at 703-235-5723 or OBP@dhs.gov. meeting or exceeding those guidelines set forth by the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detection Guidelines (SWGDOG), formulated as of August 15, 2007, in addition to requirements set forth in the grant guidance.