14 April 2004
From: <homeland@centerdigitalgov.com>
Subject: Homeland Report
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 20:37:53 -0700 (PDT)
4/13/2004
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Announcements
Inter-Operable Communications System for First Responders
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry
announced that some of the $32 million for homeland security that was recently
awarded to the state will be used to enhance critical infrastructure and
provide an inter-operable communications system. The governor stated that
the funds will help take an important step toward the coordination of information
sharing in the first responder community.
DHS Requests Extension for Biometric Passport Requirement
The Bush administration has asked Congress to pass legislation that would
extend for two years, the October 26, 2004 deadline for
Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) countries to have machine-readable passports which include
biometric identifiers, and also for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
to have readers for these biometric passports at all ports of entry. In the
context of this request, DHS announced that it will begin processing visitors
traveling under the VWP in
US-VISIT beginning
September 30, 2004, at air and sea ports of entry.
TSA Seeks Private-Sector Proposals for Registered-Traveler Pilot Program
David M. Stone, acting administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA), announced that the agency is seeking responses from
the private sector to a
request
for proposal, for a Registered Traveler Pilot Program that will begin
in select airports in late June. Interested parties must describe in their
response how they would provide program management, biometric capabilities,
tactical operations and systems integration support.
New Appointments to Homeland Security Committees
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced the appointments of
Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski and Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval to
serve as members of the State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee
(SLSAC) of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. The secretary also appointed
Chuck Canterbury, a current member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council,
to serve as the vice chair of the Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committee.
These two committees, composed of experts representing state and local
government, provide advice on increasing America's security.
Homeland Security Contracting Forum
BNA is holding its second annual forum
"Contracting with
the Department of Homeland Security" on May 10-12, 2004 in Arlington,
Virginia. Featured speakers for the event include DHS Chief Procurement Officer
Gregory Rothwell, DHS Chief Information Officer Steven I. Cooper and DHS
Director of Domestic Preparedness C. Suzanne Mencer.
World Conference on Disaster Management
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness will present the
14th World Conference on Disaster Management
on June 20-23, 2004, in Toronto, Canada. Disaster and emergency assistance
professionals from all over the world are expected to attend.
Grants and Funding
$2.9 Billion in Homeland Security Grants to State and Local Governments
For the last two weeks the Department of Homeland Security has been awarding
grants -- the total of which will be $2.2 billion from the State Homeland
Security Grant Program and $725 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative
-- to state and local governments to help first responders across the nation
better protect their communities. A list of the
recipients
and the amounts is available online.
$26 Million Released for Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency
Preparedness and Response, announced the release of $26 million in Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Competitive (PDM-C) Grant Program funds to states, territories
and federally recognized tribes. The grant program is a presidential initiative
administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for pre-disaster
mitigation planning and projects primarily addressing natural hazards. A
list of recipients
is available online.
$25 Million for Georgia G8 Summit Security Efforts
The state of Georgia was recently awarded $25 million in federal funding
to help reimburse security costs associated with the
G8
Summit planned in Sea Island, Georgia, June 8-10. The funding is earmarked
to assist local and state law enforcement agencies, which will help provide
security for the G8 Summit. Direct overtime for law enforcement personnel
will be given top priority, along with training, meals and lodging, insurance
and equipment.
$16.1 Million in Security Grants for New York's Mass Transit System
New York received $16.1 million to upgrade the state's transit security.
This money is part of $50 million in mass-transit security grants allocated
by the Department of Homeland
Security in FY 04. The transit systems receiving funding were determined
based upon the number of annual riders and overall track mileage. Allowable
uses of funds include installation of physical barricades, area monitoring
systems such as video surveillance, motion detectors, chemical/radiological
material detection systems, lighting, integrated communications systems,
planning, training and exercises. Each transit system is required to conduct
an assessment and preparedness plan.
$4 Million for Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency
Preparedness and Response, also announced $4 million for 112 Fire Prevention
and Safety grants that are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
Program. The Fire Prevention and Safety aspect of the AFG program reserves
the highest priority for projects focusing on the prevention of fire-related
injuries to children.
View
recipients online.
Applications
DHS Announces Development of the Homeland Secure Data Network
DHS announced a contract to initiate the implementation of the Homeland
Secure Data Network (HSDN). The HSDN will provide DHS officials with a modern
IT infrastructure for securely communicating classified information. DHS
selected Northrop Grumman to design, implement and operate the HSDN. The
General Services Administration (GSA) made the award through a
GSA
Millennia contract at a potential value of over $350 million if all options
are exercised by the end of 2005.
DHS Selects Contractors for New Biological Detection Systems
More than a dozen
teams have been selected for contract negotiations with the Homeland
Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA). These contractors will
research and develop biological countermeasures leading to next-generation
detection sensors and systems. Under the agreement the teams will have access
to approximately $48 million to conduct the first phase of projects over
the next 18 months.
Decatur County Integrates 911 System and GIS
Decatur County, Ind.,
recently partnered with Schneider Corp. to integrate the county's enhanced
911 system with the county's geographic information system (GIS). The 911
system has the ability to pinpoint the location of emergency calls from cellular
phones, while the county's GIS incorporates high-resolution, accurate aerial
photography of the entire county. By integrating these two systems the county
will have a single system to address public-safety issues and taxation as
well as other issues such as planning, engineering and daily operations.
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For more information on these and other homeland security developments, visit
www.centerdigitalgov.com or
www.govtech.net.
For information or assistance with the Homeland Report, contact Nick Mudge
at
nmudge@centerdigitalgov.com.
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