Rail and Transit Security Grant Program

The objective of the FY 2023 TSGP is to provide funds to eligible public transportation systems (which include intra-city bus, ferries, and all forms of passenger rail) to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the travelling public from acts of terrorism, and to increase the resilience of the transportation infrastructure itself. The objective of the FY 2023 IPR is to provide funds to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the travelling public from acts of terrorism, as well as to increase the resilience of the transportation infrastructure itself.

Agencies eligible for the FY 2023 TSGP are determined based upon daily unlinked passenger trips (ridership) and transit systems that serve historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions. Certain ferry systems are eligible to participate in the FY 2023 TSGP and receive funds under this program. However, any ferry system electing to participate in and receive funds under the FY 2023 TSGP will not be eligible to participate under the FY 2023 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and will not be considered for funding under the FY 2023 PSGP. Likewise, any ferry system that participates in the FY 2023 PSGP will not be eligible for funding under the TSGP. Sections 1405 (6 U.S.C. § 1134) and 1406 (6 U.S.C. § 1135) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 require that high risk public transportation agencies that receive grant funding develop a security plan based on a security assessment. Additionally, the statutes direct that grant funds be used to address items in the security assessment or the security plan. To be eligible for the FY 2023 TSGP, transit agencies must have developed or updated their security plan. The security plan must be based on a security assessment, such as the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE), which is performed by the Transportation Security Inspectors-Surface Division of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This security assessment must have been conducted within the three years prior to receiving an FY 2023 TSGP award. A copy of the security plan and security assessment must be provided to DHS/FEMA upon request. Please see the Preparedness Grants Manual for more information on security plan requirements. Entities providing transit security (e.g., city/county police departments or the public transportation agencies’ own police departments) for a public transportation agency must approve the security plan. The signature of a responsible official from the agency’s transit security provider serves as this approval. If there is more than one provider in the core service area, all transit security providers must review and concur with the plan. Associated documentation of this approval must be provided to DHS/FEMA upon request. In addition, agencies’ transit security providers are encouraged to review the Investment Justifications (IJs) prior to submission. Each public transportation agency receiving funds through this program must also participate in a Regional Transit Security Working Group (RTSWG) or develop a RTSWG if one does not already exist. The RTSWG should serve as the forum for regional partners to discuss risk, planning efforts, and mitigation strategies. These discussions should be held regardless of funding to continue enhancing the overall security of the region. Regional working groups are a best practice for enhancing security and are encouraged for all jurisdictions. The National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) is the only entity eligible to apply for funding under FY 2023 IPR Program. For more information, refer to the FY 2023 TSGP and IPR Program Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation. In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, Management of Domestic Incidents, the adoption of NIMS is a requirement to receive Federal preparedness assistance, through grants, contracts, and other activities. Prior to allocation of any Federal preparedness awards in FY 2021, grantee must ensure compliance and/or alignment with the NIMS implementation plan. The list of objectives against which progress and achievement are assessed and reported can be found at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/ImplementationGuidanceStakeholders.shtm#item2. The primary recipient/administrator of FY 2023 TSGP and IPR Program award funds is responsible for determining if sub-awardees have demonstrated sufficient progress in NIMS implementation to disburse awards.

Specialized group; general public.

FEMA makes all funding opportunities available on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov. Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. The on-line application includes the following required form: • Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance Applying for FY 2023 TSGP and IPR Program funds require a two-step process. Step 1: initial submission to determine eligibility and Step 2: full application. Step 1 involves submitting a complete Standard Form 424 to www.grants.gov. The Standard Form 424 will be retrieved by ND Grants and the system will automatically populate the relevant data fields in the application. Successful completion of this step is necessary for FEMA to determine eligibility of the applicant. Once FEMA has determined an applicant to be eligible, applicants can proceed to Step 2 which involves submitting the full application package via the ND Grants system. The application must be completed and final submission made through the ND Grants system located at https://portal.fema.gov. Unless otherwise referenced, the ND Grants system includes the following required forms and submissions: • Standard Form 424A, Budget Information (Non-construction) • Standard Form 424B, Standard Assurances (Non-construction) • Standard Form 424C, Budget Information (Construction) • Standard Form 424D, Standard Assurances (Construction) • Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if the grantee has engaged or intends to engage in lobbying activities) • Grants.gov (GG) Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying •

All successful applicants for all DHS grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with DHS Standard Administrative Terms and Conditions. The date the approval of award is entered in the system is the “award date.” Notification of award approval is made through the ND Grants system through an automatic e-mail to the recipient point of contact listed in the initial application. Once an award has been approved and recorded in the system, a notice is sent to the authorized grant official. The authorized grant official should carefully read the award package for instructions on administering the grant and to learn more about the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under Federal awards.

FY 2023 applications were due 05/18/2023, and funding selections are anticipated to be announced on 07/21/2023.