Last Friday, the Department of Homeland Security announced more than $844 million in grant awards to a variety of agencies and jurisdictions. The grants were part of DHS' Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. The money is allocated to these agencies and jurisdictions to strengthen security at ports and enhance transit, trucking, and intercity bus systems. Providing funding that allows agencies and jurisdictions to properly prevent, protect, and respond to terroristic attacks, major disasters, and emergencies, are the goals of the grant program. DHS has stated that they are encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize communication capabilities, information sharing, and regionally based security cooperation.

The $844 million has been allocated accordingly:

Port Security Grant Program ($388.6 million)-To create a sustainable program for the protection of regulated ports from terrorism, especially explosives and non-conventional threats which would result in major loss of life and severe disruption.

Transit Security Grant Program ($380.1 million)- The objective of the Rail and Transit Security Grant Programs are to create sustainable programs for the protection of critical infrastructure from terrorism, especially explosives and non-conventional threats which would result in major loss of life and severe disruption. Programs included under the CFDA number are the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) and the Intercity Passenger Rail Security Grant Program.

Freight Rail Security Grant Program ($4.9 million)- This grant program provides awards to railroad operators that transport security-sensitive materials through high-density population areas. This is the first year of funding for the FRSGP, which will prioritize the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans, as well as security training of railroad front-line employees.

Intercity Passenger Rail Program ($25 million)- This grant program will fund the National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) to harden underground and underwater track and tunnels against IEDs, train key employees in counter-terrorism, and expand visible deterrence activities.

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program ($11.2 million)- This grant provides awards to operators of fixed route intercity and charter bus companies serving one or more defined UASI jurisdictions. Money is awarded for the protection of intercity bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism, especially explosives and non-conventional threats which would result in major loss of life and severe disruption.

Buffer Zone Protection Program ($48.5 million)- This program will provide funding for the planning, equipment, and management of protective actions, with the objective of protecting, securing, and reducing the vulnerabilities of identified critical infrastructure and key resource (CI/KR) sites.

Trucking Security Grant Program ($15.5 million)- This program is to promote security awareness among all segments of the commercial motor carriers and transportation community. Funding will support participation identification and recruitment, planning, training, communications, and information analysis and distribution.

We recently released our Industry Insight titled "$3.2 Trillion in Federal Grants will underwrite Major State & Local IT Spending between 2008 and 2013," which provides additional grant information and suggestions to vendors when dealing with federal grants. The major take-away regarding federal grants such as these is that vendors need to fully understand the federal grant process/program in order to effectively provide solutions the can be replicated across jurisdictional lines.

Gain more insight into homeland security grants within state and local governments at INPUT's 3rd Annual State & Local MarketView event on June 4, 2008 in Tysons Corner, Virginia.