Anyone who has dealt with Homeland Security Grants can tell you that nothing is static when it comes to these grants. Since I became involved with Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) it has been as dynamic as the rest.
I'm expecting that the FY 2012 funding announcements will be announced on Friday, February 17th. The AAPA has announced two conference calls on FY 2012 Port Security Grants for next week. Based on what I've read to date it looks to that dramatic changes are coming beginning in 2012 and then full fledged revisions in 2013. See my blog post from yesterday on FY 2013 Vision documents
For the Port Security aspect of this I see the following impacts:
- Only two years for grant performance with no extensions. This means that you will have to buy equipment and construction projects will be very difficult to accomplish in the allotted time available.
- They may open up the grant criteria to allow more options for how the funding will be used. We'll have to see what the guidance says.
- If there are "regional funds" they will be based on FEMA Regions and not the Captain of the Port Coast Guard Sectors. FEMA Regions may start to play a role in port security grants.
- It remains to be seen if states will play any role in port security grants.
- The final review of individual projects will be done back in D.C. by a consortium of people and organizations with expertise in their respective areas of interest.
- It is possible that the Fiduciary Agent option that has been used for Port Security may go by the wayside.
- There could be even more emphasis on disaster resiliency for ports and all-hazards with respect to what funds can be used for. Security will remain a primary objective, but not the only one.
Stand by for more news!
