On the ARRA TSGP application there are several fields for signatures and in them it says “completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Does there need to be a signature in that field or is it implied upon submission?

As long as the application is submitted through grants.gov the electronic signature will be sufficient.

Proposals for Priorities Two and Three are due Monday, June 29, 2009. On the application, do we need to indicate we are applying for Priority Two or will that be assumed based on the inclusion of the EHP and rapid implementation timeline?

The requirements for Priority 2 projects are described on Page 2 of the Guidance and Application Kit. There is a requirement that the applicant “certify that the project can begin within 90 days of the release of funds”, and submit all required EHP documentation, a construction schedule, and a full construction budget.

Under the TSGP would replacing the fence and completely enclosing our facilities to include the bus parking areas with a more secure fence be considered a shovel ready capital project?

Due to the competitive nature of this grant opportunity, FEMA/TSA may not assist you with a direct ruling on the suitability of a specific project to apply within a priority. We can however direct you to the last paragraph on Page 2 of the TSGP ARRA Guidance and Application Kit. This paragraph provides specific criteria for Priority 2 projects and we encourage applicants to demonstrate with your Investment Justification which Priority that you believe your project falls into.

In the detail budget worksheet, under contracts, we are instructed that sole source contracts over $100,000 need further justification. Do we provide the written justification in the narrative section of the budget, or is there something additional we need to provide?

Sole source justification will be a post award requirement prior to release of funds. The process requires coordination with your Program Analyst during the budget review process and does not require documentation during the application process.

When you refer to ‘implementation’ of the project within 90 days, does this mean that the contract for the project installation must be bid and awarded within the 90 day period or that project efforts such as issuing the work order for preparation of the final bid documents or work orders for consultants must be issued that support the installation of the project? I understand that the project must be completed within the 24 or 36 month time period; I am just uncertain as to what activities meet the 90 day restriction.

The situation will be different for each agency, and each project will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, it will mean that procurement is ready to go out for bid, or that the digging of a trench to install a fence is ready to begin. It is important to still note that in order to be considered for Priority 2, applicants must include all appropriate information relevant to EHP and associated EHP reviews, which usually includes a detailed design in order to know exact locations of where items will be installed/ground will be disturbed. However, each situation is different, so we encourage applicants to submit their justification as to why the project is shovel-ready, and any other helpful information such as when funds can be drawdown, impact on the creation/retention of jobs, etc. Also as a reminder, if a project is determined to be non-shovel ready, it will automatically be considered with other Priority 3 projects.

We are unclear about the Sustainability worksheet and Environmental worksheet that are supposed to be completed with the FY09 TSGP ARRA applications. According to the guidance these are supposed to be Excel spreadsheets that we complete for each project. However, we cannot find an Excel version (only the PDF version) which does not allow us to input information. Can you send us or direct us to where we get an Excel version that we may add our information into the spreadsheet?

The forms you refer to were directly related to the ARRA legislation and are not required for the application. Please review the required elements of the application on Pages 13-23 Section B -Content and Form of Application.

On page 32 of the subject application guidance, the documents required for Operational Packages include: Detailed Budget Form; Certification of Sworn Law Enforcement; Certification of Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan; and, Standard Forms "as listed in this guidance". Please elaborate on exactly which Standard Forms (the fourth item above) must be included in the submission to FEMA.

The Standard Forms "as listed in this guidance" that must also be included in the application are:

GG Lobbying Form;
SF424; and,
SF424B.

I am not finding the Investment Justification form for the ARRA TSGP which is due on June 29th. Can I use the IJ form from the 2009 TSGP? Are they the same?

The template for the Investment Justification may be found on Pages 15 – 20 of the FY2009 TSGP ARRA guidance and Application Kit.

Will a local match be looked upon favorably with this grant? I know it did in past TSGP proposals but since this is ARRA, I didn’t know if that would be part of the evaluation criteria.

The review criterion for projects is listed on pages 32-35 of the FY2009 TSGP ARRA Guidance and Application Kit. The offering of cost share or matching funds is not listed as criteria in the review process.

Is there a preferred format grantees should use to certify that a project can begin within 90 days of release of funds?

There is no specific format or template required but please read carefully the section. Eligibility Requirements for Shovel Ready Capital Projects for Asset Hardening on Page 6-7 of the Guidance and provide responses to each requirement in your application.

With regard to the OPacks, Is it required that the agency sustain the project after the 36 month period of performance? If so, what would the ramifications be if funding was not available? Also, after the 3-year grant period expires, is it permissible to lower the size of the police force by 4 officers - back to the force level of 3 years earlier?

Are there forms or templates for the Plan Certification and the Certification for Sworn Personnel, or should we make our own using the language provided on page 14 of the grant guidance?

There are no forms provided in the application kit. In regards to the Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan Certification you may use the template provided on Page 14. In regards to the certification of sworn personnel please include in your budget worksheet a short statement of how many sworn positions the agency had as of January 1, 2009 and the reasoning used to justify that number.

Are Investment Justifications required when submitting a request for OPACK funds? From the information on page 32 of the guidance, they don't appear to be, but we want to be certain.

You are correct in that Investment Justifications (IJs) are not required for OPack requests.

As a dedicated Transit Security Provider and eligible sub-grantee of an eligible transit system, our agency has a federally approved indirect cost rate of approximately 24%. We would incur actual costs (e.g. personnel costs; infrastructure costs) that relate directly to our receipt and management of ARRA TSGP funding. Is it allowable to include a 3% M&A cost in the ARRA TSGP budget and to use that funding to cover a portion of our indirect costs?

The FY2009 ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit does not allow M&A costs for a sub-grantee. The eligible transit system would be the grantee and is allowed 3% for M&A costs. The Transit Security Provider would be providing a contracted service in the form of an OPack to the eligible transit system at the awarded amount for the project and should be inclusive of the costs within the guidelines established by the Guidance and Application Kit.

The cost is set for an Anti-Terrorism (ATT) team at $411,000.00 and in Part VIII it states "(four officers and one canine)". Is that a mandatory element of the package? Also, please clarify the following sentence: "Each Anti-Terrorism team may consist of four individuals, including two overt elements (e.g., uniformed transit sector law enforcement officer, canine team, mobile explosive screeners), and two discreet observer elements."

DHS understands that properties may operate their teams slightly differently in order to optimize the teams’ effectiveness on their system. Some properties chose to use canine teams, some don’t. We ask that you request what you need to optimally operate your ATT’s using the detailed budget based on pre-approved costs outlined in the grant guidance. Plain clothes or covert elements are an integral part of Anti-terrorism teams as defined on page 25 in the FY2009 ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit.

We have a question regarding the Priority 2 – Shovel Ready projects: We have an existing contract that the work is almost complete; however we are doing an amendment for additional work that is ready to go. Since this is an existing contract and the project is ready to go would the funding for the amendment be eligible for the Priority 2 – Shovel Ready funds?

This project is indeed shovel ready but you indicate that you are doing an amendment to an existing contract. It is important to know if any other funds are currently obligated to any work that is to fall under this contract amendment. If no obligations exist then the project would indeed be eligible. If obligation of funds for any portion of work under the proposed contract amendment exists then the project may be considered supplanting and be ineligible.

I participated in the 6/10 ARRA conference call and took careful note of the requirements as it refers flagging. My question deals with in-house electricians who are used in de-electrifying yards and rail areas. Are these employees considered "escorts", (which I'm told can use regular time or overtime)? Also, is there a cap on their services?

After consulting with FEMA counsel, they have determined that allowability of these costs falls under the same decisions that were used for the FY09 TSGP; therefore, these costs are allowable as long as they are directly related to grant projects within the right of way that required electricians' presence to ensure safety of personnel and public.

Section II.B of the investment justification appears to refer back to Table 3: Priority 3 - Other Projects. Priority 1 and 2 projects do not have a Project Effectiveness Group. How do you want us to address this question for Priority 1 and 2 projects?

Priority 1 projects (Operational Packages) do not require an Investment Justification, only the detailed budget based on the pre-approved costs outlined in the Grant Guidance and Application Kit. For Priority 2 projects, please use the same table (Table 3) as for the Priority 3 projects.

Is the following scenario allowable under the TSGP ARRA: A grantee hires and self-funds eight (8) additional police officers. After completion of their academy training these new officers are not assigned to the Transit Bureau but to a patrol precinct. Eight (8) experienced officers are taken out of the patrol precinct and assigned to two (2) newly created Anti-Terrorism Teams on Transit Buses. The straight-time salaries of the eight (8) Anti-Terrorism Team members are billed to the TSGP.

Yes, the scenario you present below is allowable under the ARRA TSGP.

My agency was awarded funding through the FY 2009 TSGP to develop a vulnerability assessment and security plan. Can I assume that we are not yet eligible to pursue DHS capital funds under the TSGP program, that is, until such time as we have completed the vulnerability assessment and security plan awarded to us this year? And therefore, that we are also not eligible to pursue ARRA TSGP funding?

Correct. The requirement, per the 9/11 Act, is that the vulnerability assessment and security plan must be developed in order for the agency to be eligible for other projects, and those projects must address items included in that security assessment (Section 1406 (a)(2)(A)).

What is the make-up of the anti-terrorism team – is it 3 or 4 officers?

The description of Anti-Terrorism Teams includes a requirement for plain clothes officers. Does this apply all of the time or only when we do covert operations?

Plain clothes or covert elements are an integral part of Anti-terrorism teams as defined on page 25 in the FY2009 ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit.

For the anti-terrorism team how much of their time must be dedicated to this activity or can they perform other tasks?

Anti-terrorism teams as defined on page 25 in the FY2009 ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit are funded as a “dedicated transit Anti-Terrorism Team capability on a regular basis”.

Page 14 of the Guidance, bullet B5 states: "Transit police forces or law enforcement providers must certify they employ at least 100 authorized positions dedicated to transit security as of January 1, 2009 and provide this certification with their application." The certification form, however, does not require us to certify that we maintain at least 100 positions dedicated to transit security, but rather that we certify to maintain the headcount specified on the form for the period of the grant. What is the intent of this certification form?

The intent of the form is to certify that the agency will maintain at least the current level of authorized sworn positions as of January 1, 2009, whether that is 100 or 1,000.

I know some agencies are requiring signage identifying ARRA funded projects. Are ARRA TSGP grantees required to display any special signs or logos to identify ARRA funded projects?

The TSGP ARRA Guidance and current OMB Guidance regarding ARRA do not address the issue of posting a sign at construction sites supported with ARRA funds. This does not preclude changes or requirements that may be established before final awards are made.

For Priority 2 projects, the guidance states that applicants must certify that the project can begin within 90 days of the release of funds. What type of activities must begin in 90 days of the release of funds? What exactly does "project can begin" entail?

Clarify the meaning of "Sustainment" as used in Part IV. Application and Submission Information - Investment Justification Template, page # 18 IV.B. Discuss funding resources beyond this grant request that have been identified and will be leveraged to support the implementation and sustainment of this investment. Discuss your long-term sustainability plans for the investment after these grant funds have been expended, if applicable.) Is Sustainment required for Law Enforcement - Operational Packages?

There are no specific sustainment requirements for any project types, including the Operational Packages, outlined in the ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit. However, we would encourage the applicant to consider maintaining the capability as possible after the grant period of performance. Further, per page 32 of the Guidance, only a detailed budget must be completed to request OPacks; an Investment Justification is not required.

Page 2 of the TSGP guidance states, “transit police forces or law enforcement provider must have at least 100 authorized sworn positions dedicated to transit security” in order to qualify for an OPack submittal. My transit agency has 64 full time officers and 65 part time officers strictly dedicated to transit security. All 129 of these officers are sworn/licensed officers. Do we qualify for OPacks?

Yes - You have more than 100 sworn officers dedicated to transit security; the guidance does not distinguish Full Time vs. Part Time officers.

Is there a list of specific equipment for the Anti-terrorism teams?

The Authorized Equipment List (AEL) is the defined source list for allowable equipment. We ask that you request what you need to optimally operate your ATT’s with appropriate equipment for their task.

Please tell me how funds will be made available after awards are made. For instance, if the hiring of a police officer is approved @ $85,000 (plus training, M&A, equipment) for 3 years, what needs to be submitted to TSA by the transit agency, when must it be submitted, and exactly how will the grantee receive the funds?

TSGP ARRA funds will be released and distributed in the same manner as the FY09 TSGP. All requests for reimbursement will be handled through FEMA’s Payment and Reporting System (PARS). Requests for payment and payments are made electronically and the grantee is responsible for maintaining appropriate financial records to support their requests for funds. All funds must be obligated and expended in accordance with appropriate OMB regulations as noted in the ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit. (Funding Restrictions page 24, Award Administration Information pg 36 to 60) If your agency receives an award, further instructions, information, and assistance will be provided by the Grant Management Division of FEMA at the time of the award.

We have reviewed the Guidance package for the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Transit Security Grant Program. Our question is on allowable expenses for an Explosive Detection Canine Team. We were unable to answer the question using the Responder Knowledge Base. We would like to know whether the vehicle and vehicle modifications for an Explosive Detection Canine will be an allowable expense under the ARRA TSGP? Does a vehicle used to transport an ED Canine and its handler constitute a Specialized Mission, CBRNE Vehicle under the AEL?

For a canine OPack, 2009 ARRA TSGP allows $150,000 given for “equipment and support costs” over the period of performance per page 64 of the grant guidance. This cost element is not restrictive, however – a transit agency could use equipment and support funds for any related purpose, including a canine transport vehicle. “Specialized Mission, CBRNE Vehicle” would be the appropriate AEL label.

Is there a minimum project amount for priority 2 or priority 3 projects?

There are no minimum project amounts shown in the ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit.

Can we use the ARRA TSGP grant to support existing efforts that meet the terrorism criteria?

The ARRA TSGP grant could be used to support some types of existing efforts for “phased” Capital projects. For example, if you have previously installed CCTV in 75% of your stations, and want to use ARRA TSGP funding to install CCTV in the rest, that type of supporting an “existing effort” would be allowable. However, using ARRA TSGP to continue an existing K-9 team or other operational team would not be allowable.

My agency is just about finished planning a new, large maintenance facility. Can ARRA TSGP funding be used to add security enhancements? This is a major project for us creating jobs for at least the next 18 months.

The ARRA TSGP Guidance remains silent on whether buildings must already exist before security funding will be considered for the facility. Also, the focus of the ARRA TSGP is different from the FY09 TSGP, as there is an emphasis on funding projects that create/retain jobs. However, the project must be completed, and therefore the funding spent, within the 36-month grant period of performance, so that could be a consideration if the maintenance facility is not built yet.

In several cases, an agency will take an experienced officer and move/promote them into the OPack team, and hire a new officer to backfill the old position. Will the grant pay for the experienced officer’s salary (provided their old position is backfilled and paid for by the agency), or will the grant pay for the new officer who was hired to backfill the position, and the agency still pays for the experienced officer’s salary? Or, are both scenarios allowable, depending on what works best for the agency?

The ARRA funding will be used to compensate the officer taking the new position and the agency must backfill any personnel that they move from their existing workforce to the newly created positions. Based on the cost matrix provided, the ARRA funding may or may not cover the complete costs of an experienced officer taking the new position.

When can an agency consider the “new” capability added, and therefore begin using the grant funding? E.g., is it when the person is moved into the new position, when the agency has increased their authorized level of officers, when a new recruit actually enters the academy, etc?

The “new” capability is added as soon as the new position is filled, assigned to duty, and actively working. Backfill should occur within a reasonable time based on each agency’s hiring processes.

Can Traditional TSGP Tier I properties continue to contact their TSA and FEMA points of contact for assistance during the application phase?

No. Since the ARRA program is competitive DHS staff can't personally answer your questions as interactively as they have in previous TSGP grant years. We can't engage directly so we don't give anyone a competitive advantage through one-on-one conversations.

However we will be having the calls every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:00PM EST to answer questions and you can always email tsagrants@tsa.dhs.gov and askCSID@dhs.gov for questions you think of in the meantime. Due to the competitive nature of the program we will post all Questions and Answers we receive on the web as well so you can see what others are asking.

However you can continue to engage your TSA and FEMA POCs on FY 2006 through FY2009 TSGP questions.

Are the agencies listed in Table 4 the only agencies that can apply for TSGP grants?

Yes, only the transit agencies listed in Table 4 in the ARRA TSGP Guidance and Application Kit are eligible to apply for grant funding.

Will the transit agencies directly apply for the FY 2009 ARRA Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) or go through the SAA?

Per page 2 of the ARRA TSGP Grant Guidance, the transit agencies will apply directly for the funding, and the awards will be made directly to transit agencies.

Under the ARRA TSGP guidance it states that you are required to have 100 sworn officers (as of Jan 1, 2009) to be eligible for OPacks. We have 95 sworn officers. But, we do have about 40 firefighters that are sworn and armed Peace Officers for the purpose of providing additional security when needed. The Police and Peace Officers are utilized in both our transit system and our airport based on staffing/security needs at any given time. Can we include the firefighters in the total to bring us over the minimum requirement of 100 sworn officers?

Yes.

Regarding the Capital portion of subject grant: Is the purchase of equipment (e.g., video security cameras and related equipment - installed on transit vehicles and/or in stations by the vendor) eligible under the announced guidelines?

The purchase and installation of video security cameras and related equipment are allowable uses of funds under the Capital portion of the ARRA TSGP.

6/19/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 19, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

Can we have multiple projects in one application or do we submit multiple applications?

You may submit up to ten investments in one application.

When we have multiple projects in one application do we submit more than one Project Abstract form and Detailed Budget Worksheet?

You would address the various different projects that are submitted under one application in the Investment Justification (IJ). The project abstract and budget would address all projects submitted under that one application.

Our timelines are different from those of our sub-recipient. Do we need to wait for the sub-recipient to complete their part of the application before we can submit our application?

Yes. You would need to wait for the application to be complete with the information from the sub-recipient included before you hit the “submit” button in grants.gov, as you are only allowed to submit one application. Once you hit the “submit” button, you cannot alter your application in any way.

6/12/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 12, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

We are an eligible security provider and we have 2 transit agencies within our jurisdiction. We are looking at putting in place 2 separate Anti-Terrorism Teams (ATTs); one for each transit agency. Is there anything that we need to do as far as separating the two requests? I am hoping that we can submit the 2 requests in one application through one of the transit agencies.

Yes. You would need to submit the application through one of the transit agencies. The two requests can be combined into one application just be sure to clearly indicate in the application that the ATTs are for the two separate agencies.

As far as the salary and equipment categories for the ATTs go, can the costs be broken out separately for each team and can we go over the pre-approved amount? For instance, in the guidance, there is talk of a team of four and a maximum amount that may be requested for each team of 1-4 people.

The guidelines we have provided are what we recommended. If your costs are different or higher that those that we have recommended, detail those costs out in your budget and we will take a look at it. Just be sure to provide more detail on the costs and an explanation of why the costs are above those costs recommended in the guidance.

6/10/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 10, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

In reference to the budget that agencies submit for the Operational Packages (OPacks) which are due on Monday, is it correct that we do not have to include a detailed explanation of the costs if we are requesting the “pre-approved” costs as outlined in the Grant Guidance?

Yes. It is correct that at the time of application, you do not need to include a detailed budget breakdown of pre-approved (equipment) costs. In your budget, simply reference that you are requesting the preapproved costs for OPacks as provided in the ARRA TSGP guidance.

Are flaggers and escorts bound by the same rules regarding overtime as they were in the FY 2009 TSGP grant guidance?

At this time, we are sticking to the rules as provided to us by our (FEMA) legal counsel which are the same as those in the FY2009 guidance.

In case we experience any problems with the submission of our application, who is the technical contact for the portal application grants.gov?

We recommend that you contact the grants.gov Help Desk first for assistance with any technical issues that you experience when you are submitting your application. Then if you are still experiencing issues, contact your FEMA representative.

What do you mean by shovel ready capital projects? Does that include design or should the design be complete by the time of application?

Capital Asset Hardening Projects are shovel ready when your agency can certify that the implementation of those projects can begin within 90 days of the release of grant funds. All requests submitted for shovel ready capital projects must be accompanied by the appropriate EHP documentation at the time of application. The EHP documentation usually is not complete, and therefore cannot be submitted until after the design is done. Therefore, this will likely vary by project. If you can submit the EHP documentation before the design is done for your project, submit it. If not, complete the design before submitting your EHP documentation. Also, any projects that are deemed as not “shovel-ready” will automatically be considered as a Priority 3 Capital Project.

As to the 90 day start requirement for shovel ready projects, is that 90 days after the award is made?

That is 90 days after the grant funding is released. Keep that in mind when you are requesting funding for these types of projects that a truly shovel ready project will have a considerably shorter turn around time for the release of funds than other types of projects and as such, you may expect a shorter turn around time between the award date and the release of funds for those shovel ready projects.

Do ARRA TSGP funded projects have a sustainment requirement for OPacks?

There is no strict sustainment requirement in the ARRA TSGP guidance. We would however encourage you to sustain the increase in force gained by the ARRA funded projects beyond the 3 year period of performance.

Could we fill new positions created by the ARRA TSGP funded OPacks with existing experienced personnel, and then backfill those positions?

Yes. You could move an existing officer into a new position and then backfill the old position.

What is the time gap between the award and the release of funds? Is there a range of time that we could anticipate as this could affect the shovel ready projects and their implementation in 90 days?

Once the National Review Panel (NRP) has concluded and the funding decisions have been finalized, FEMA will be issuing the awards on a rolling basis. Once the awards are announced, the EHP and budget reviews of the projects will begin along with any other reviews that FEMA is required by law to conduct prior to the release of funds. Due to the diverse nature of the projects, these times will vary and therefore, cannot be predicted at this time.

6/05/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 5, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

My question is regarding if there is a requirement to track the non-grant funded new-hires that we would hire to backfill positions created by the OPacks. With other stimulus funding, one big indicator reviewed by the government is how many jobs are being created. Do we have a dual reporting requirement, to track the OPack capability and our new-hires?

No, you will be required to report on the new capability created or new job position that was created by the OPack, but not about the backfill by the new-hire. You will be required to keep records of how you backfilled the position, but in terms of reporting on the grant funding, we are only interested in new capability/new position created.

Is the K-9 team a mandatory element of the Anti-Terrorism Team (ATT)?

No. DHS understands that properties may operate their teams slightly differently in order to optimize the teams’ effectiveness on their system. Some properties chose to use canine teams, some don’t. We ask that you request what you need to optimally operate your ATT’s using the detailed budget based on pre-approved costs outlined in the grant guidance.

If I am reading page 32 of the grant guidance correctly, does that mean that Investment Justifications are not required to apply for OPacks?

Correct. You will need to submit a detailed budget based on the costs outlined in the grant guidance for OPacks, but an Investment Justification is not required.

Can we apply for just OPacks, or do we need to apply for both OPacks and Capital projects?

You can only apply for OPacks. You do not need to apply for both types of projects.

Is there a requirement to have four officers in an Anti-Terrorism Team? We would like to have our teams composed of six officers.

DHS understands that properties may operate their teams slightly differently in order to optimize the teams’ effectiveness on their system, including the number of officers per team. Request what you need to optimally operate your ATT, and explain your rationale through your detailed budget.

When will the performance period start for this grant?

There is no set start date; FEMA will issue the awards on a rolling basis.

6/03/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 3, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

For Priority 3 projects, do those have to be shovel-ready in 90 days?

No, they do not need to be shovel-ready. Only Priority 2 projects must begin within 90 days of the release of funds.

For Priority 3 projects, is the project completion time (period of performance) 24 months or 36 months?

The period of performance for Priority 3 projects is 36 months; the period of performance for Priority 2 projects is 24 months.

My question is regarding the BASE Assessments, security plans, and vulnerability assessments. Page 9 of the guidance says that an agency either needs to have undergone a BASE assessment, OR developed/updated a security plan within the last 3 years. However, page 14 implies that both the BASE assessment and security plan are required. Which is it?

Only one or the other is required, not both.

For Priority 2 projects, what qualifies as “beginning” a project within 90 days – what do we need to certify to?

We are drafting a response for that currently, and will email it to you and post it on our website as soon as we have a final approved response.

Some agencies are requiring signage identifying ARRA funded projects. Are ARRA TSGP grantees required to display any special signs or logos to identify ARRA funded projects?

Please submit the question in writing to AskCSID@dhs.gov and TSAGrants@tsa.dhs.gov so we can refer back to the law and confer with counsel appropriately.

My transit agency is ramping up our own transit police force, but we currently only have 30 authorized sworn positions. If I am reading the guidance correctly, then we would not be eligible, correct?

Correct – per the guidance, you would need to have at least 100 authorized sworn positions.

We have a dedicated security provider with over 100 positions in the transit bureau, but not all of those positions are for sworn officers. Would we qualify for OPacks?

The eligibility requirement as stated in the guidance is for sworn officers, but sends us your situation in writing and we can evaluate it further.

6/01/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
June 1, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

Is the Anti-Terrorism Team (ATT) operational package different from VIPR teams which have previously been funded through the TSGP?

No. The teams operate in fundamentally the same way. The name was altered to ATT in order for a distinction to be made moving forward between local anti-terrorism teams (ATTs) and federal anti-terrorism teams (VIPR).

Do ATTs require canine handlers to be a part of the request?

DHS understands that properties may operate their teams slightly differently in order to optimize the teams’ effectiveness on their system. Some properties chose to use canine teams, some don’t. Some properties ask for four officers and some ask for less. We ask that you request only what you need to optimally operate your ATT’s using the detailed budget based on pre-approved costs outlined in the grant guidance.

Can OPack related training funds be used to fund a training supervisor for the k9 teams?

No. That is not an eligible use of funds.

Are directed patrols on overtime eligible uses of funds?

No. No overtime costs associated with operational packages are eligible through the FY2009 ARRA TSGP.

Are flagging costs an eligible use of funds for capital projects?

The eligibility of flagging costs will be made on a case by case basis by your FEMA program analyst. Submit a justification prior to the application deadline to your program analyst for a determination of eligibility.

5/29/09 Conference Call

ARRA TSGP Conference Call
May 29, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.

For the OPacks, we would like to move experienced officers into those roles, and use the grant funding to pay for new-hires to backfill the positions vacated by the experience officers. Is that an acceptable use of the grant funding?

Yes, that is an acceptable use of the funding.

My transit agency does not have its own police department or use a Law Enforcement agency/police department for transit security, but we do contract with a security force that has sworn officers. Would we be eligible for OPacks?

No, only transit agency police departments or law enforcement entities that have dedicated transit bureaus and serve as the primary security provider for a transit agency are eligible for OPacks, provided that their authorized sworn level is 100 officers or greater.