US DHS releases Notices of Funding Opportunity for preparedness grants

The US Secretary of Homeland Security has issued Notices of Funding Opportunity for eight DHS preparedness grant programmes totaling over $1.6bn for this financial year.

The grant programmes offer funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organisations, and private sector.

These programmes are intended to bolster the country’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from terrorist attacks and major disasters or emergencies.

According to the department, the grants highlight its focus on funding for those programmes that address the security concerns of the communities.

US Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen said:  “The administration remains committed to strengthening the security and resilience of our state and local communities.

“The DHS grant programs are flexible by design and will be used to help address evolving threats.  They will go toward building and sustaining capabilities across all levels of government and the whole community to maximize preparedness.”

Under the Preparedness Grant Programme, the allocations for this year have been to Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), Homeland Security Grant Programme (HSGP), Nonprofit Security Grant Programme (NSGP), Intercity Passenger Rail – Amtrak (IPR) Programme (IPR), Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), and Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP).

EMPG offers over $350m to help governments at state, local, tribal, territorial levels in bolstering emergency management capabilities. HSGP offers $1bn for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism and any other major threats.

NSGP offers $60m to support target hardening and other enhancements for nonprofit organisations that stand at risk of a terrorist attack. IPR programme offers $10m to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure from terrorist attacks.

PSGP offers $100m to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism and boost security risk management. TSGP provides $88m to operators of transit systems to safeguard their infrastructure. IBSGP offers $2m to owners and operators of intercity bus systems.