A key mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to enhance the ability of state and local governments to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and large-scale disasters. To help accomplish this mission, FEMA coordinates the national Homeland Security Grant Program (pdf) to assist state and local governments and first-responders in their efforts to procure equipment and training. For fiscal year 2008, the federal government has allocated almost $1.7 billion of grant funding to be disseminated through this program.

The Authorized Equipment List (AEL) is produced by the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security. It is the generic list of equipment items allowable under several DHS grant programs, including the Homeland Security Grant Program. For a complete listing of Blauer products that are certified to standards included on the Authorized Equipment List, click here.

State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP)

FY 2008 Funding: $861,280,000

This program provides funding to build and enhance terrorist attack and mass incident response at the state and local levels in accordance with the goals and objectives included in state homeland security strategies and initiatives in the State Preparedness Report. Applications are submitted and awarded on the state level. For more information click here.

Urban Areas Security Initiative

FY 2008 Funding: $781,630,000

The UASI program allocates funding for the 60 major metropolitan areas that are identified each year by the Department of Homeland Security as being at the highest risk for terrorist attack on critical infrastructure. The UASI program is intended to promote regional collaboration in developing integrated systems for emergency prevention, protection, response, and recovery. Click here for more information.

Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP)

FY 2008 Funding: $16,000,000

The CEDAP program provides equipment and training directly to emergency responders and public safety agencies in smaller jurisdictions and metropolitan areas not included under the UASI program. Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies, fire, and other emergency responders who demonstrate that the equipment will be used to improve their ability and capacity to respond to a major critical incident or work with other first responders. Awardees must not have received technology funding under the Urban Areas Security Initiative, or the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program since Oct. 1, 2006. Organizations must submit applications through the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB).

Metropolitan Medical Response System

FY 2008 Funding: $39,831,104

The MMRS program provides funding to 124 metropolitan areas to enhance regional mass casualty incident response capabilities during the first hours of an incident. The program prepares jurisdictions for response to mass casualty incidents such as terrorism, natural disasters, and major hazardous materials incidents. Each of the 124 recipient areas received $321,221 in funding to enhance their response readiness. Click here for more information.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the release of application guidance for the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) totaling an estimated $253 million—funds for state, local and territorial governments and private sector entities to strengthen the nation’s transportation infrastructure and protect the traveling public from acts of terrorism and other major disasters.

“These transit grants play a major role in our efforts to work with our state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners to build a national culture of readiness and resilience,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This year’s guidance focuses on maximizing efficiency and value while prioritizing risk in awarding grants to strengthen our nation’s transportation security.”

TSGP awards funds to owners and operators of transit systems—including intercity bus, commuter bus, ferries and all forms of passenger rail—based on their capabilities to reduce risk through training, operational deterrence, drills and public awareness activities; key critical infrastructure and asset protection; and other mitigation activities.

Eligible agencies were determined by the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) urban areas list and the National Transit Database. TSGP Tier I is comprised of the transit agencies in the eight highest-risk urban areas, and will continue to utilize the cooperative agreement process, while Tier II will consist of all other eligible transit agencies.

Applications for the TSGP programs are due Feb. 18, 2010.

On Tuesday, Secretary Napolitano announced the release of fiscal year 2010 grant application guidance kits for 13 additional DHS grant programs totaling more than $2.7 billion. The guidance packages incorporate the input of DHS’ state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners and include specific steps undertaken by DHS to improve the ability of state and local partners to apply for and utilize grant funding.

The fiscal year 2010 guidance announced by Secretary Napolitano this week has increased tribal funding, reduced administrative paperwork for state and local government, and enabled local jurisdictions to use preparedness funding for ongoing maintenance contracts, warranties, repair or replacement costs, upgrades and user fees for equipment purchased with previous DHS grants.

The fiscal year 2010 application guidance packages reflect DHS’ strategic priorities, as well as the National Preparedness Guidelines and the National Response Framework.

DHS oversees more than 50 grant and financial assistance programs representing approximately $4 billion in non-disaster grant funding annually to help state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector entities strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.

For more information about TSGP and other preparedness grant programs, visit www.dhs.gov and www.fema.gov/grants.