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Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program - One of several grant programs that expressly fund Tribal initiatives

Chickasaw Nation Fire Marshall Dewayne Price and a team of emergency responders develop a strategy to help citizens and employees of the Chickasaw Nation recover from the May 2013 tornado that struck near Moore, Oklahoma.   Tribal Homeland Security Grants fund a laundry list of security, preparedness, and response capabilities, and it is incumbent on the applicant organization to decide how best to use their funds to achieve their operational objectives.  (Photo: Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Analysis

As a Tribal law enforcement organization, it’s important to be diverse when pursuing grant funding.  All too often Tribal law enforcement organizations rely on a select few grant programs year after year to fund important projects, but due to limitations on funding, those programs don’t always provide enough support for the projects.  The Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is an excellent opportunity for Tribes to diversify their law enforcement grant funding portfolio.

THSGP funding can be utilized for a wide range of activities related to public safety and law enforcement; everything from planning activities, organizational activities, equipment purchases, training, exercises, personnel activities, and maintenance.  Establishment or outfitting of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and large scale interoperability projects are some examples of projects that can be undertaken with THSGP funds.

With a deadline date of May 23rd 2014, there’s still plenty of time for a Tribe to take inventory on current law enforcement and public safety initiatives, fully form projects, and drive an application to the program.  Speaking of the application, it’s fairly simple and straight forward.  The Department of Homeland Security has developed an Excel-based Investment Justification (IJ) that applicants use to express project details, gaps, and budget.  There are some other standard forms that have to accompany the IJ, but the IJ provides an excellent lay out for your project details and is easy to use.  Even if your Tribe is not selected as one of the anticipated 50 awardees, the work you put forth in the construction of your IJ would make an excellent starting point for other law enforcement and public safety grants.

 More Details on the Opportunity 

The Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program is one tool among a comprehensive set of initiatives authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration to help strengthen the Nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. Funding under this program is provided to strengthen tribes’ capacity to prepare for and respond to emergency situations.

 

The FY 2014 program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient Nation. Delivering core capabilities requires the combined effort of the whole community, rather than the exclusive effort of any single organization or level of government. The program’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas.

 

The objective of THSGP is to implement the National Preparedness System and support efforts that build and sustain core capabilities such as:

 

  • Advancing a whole community approach to security and emergency management
  • Strengthening governance integration by working with local and regional preparedness partners
  • Improving immediate emergency victim care at mass casualty events
  • Sustaining support innovation and sustaining support for the National Campaign for Preparedness

 

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive THSGP funding, grantees must be considered “directly eligible Tribes” as well as “Federally recognized Tribes,” and must not have received funds through a state from the Department of Homeland Security’s State Homeland Security Program or Urban Areas Security Initiative.

 In addition, directly eligible tribes must be located in the continental United States, operate a law enforcement or emergency response agency with the capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or emergency services, and meet one of the following criteria:

  • Be located within 50 miles of an international border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters
  • Be located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized critical infrastructure list or have such a system or asset within its territory
  • Be located within or contiguous to one of the 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States
  • Have a jurisdiction which includes not less than 1,000 square miles of Indian country

Consortia of Tribes that meet all these requirements are also eligible to apply.

Award Information 

In FY14, the Department of Homeland Security has made $10,000,000 available for the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program. Tribal grantees are required to ensure that at least 25 percent program award funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention planning, organization, training, exercise, and equipment activities. Cost sharing is not required.

For more information, visit: www.grantsoffice.com/GrantDetails.aspx?gid=31122