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General Program Questions
What is the purpose of the FY 2024 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program?
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is one (1) of four (4) grant programs that constitute the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against potential terrorist attacks. The IBSGP provides funds to intercity bus companies to protect surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.
What legislation authorized funding for the FY 2024 IBSGP?
The program is authorized by Section 1532 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) (Pub. L. No. 110-53), codified at 6 U.S.C. § 1182, and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. No. 118-47).
How much funding is available under the FY 2024 IBSGP?
The total amount of funds distributed under the FY 2024 IBSGP will be $1.8 million.
What are the changes in funding levels between FY 2023 and FY 2024?
The FY 2024 funding level for IBSGP is $200,000 less than FY 2023. The FY 2024 IBSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is located online at www.fema.gov/grants.
Where is the FY 2024 IBSGP NOFO located?
Eligible applicants under the FY 2024 IBSGP are private operators providing transportation by an over-the-road bus that have completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan that the DHS Secretary has approved as described in Section 1531 of the 9/11 Act. Applicants must either operate fixed route intercity bus transportation providing services to a historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) urban area or operate a charter bus service using over-the-road buses and provide a minimum of 50 trips annually to one or more of the historically eligible UASI-designated urban areas. All owner/operators that meet the basic eligibility criteria may apply (refer to the FY 2024 IBSGP NOFO for additional details).
What types of security-related activities are allowable under the IBSGP?
Allowable activities and costs will generally fall under one of the following categories:
- Planning;
- Operational Activities;
- Equipment and Capital Projects;
- Training and Awareness Campaigns;
- Exercises; or
- Maintenance and Sustainment.
Please refer to section D-12 of the IBSGP FY 2024 NOFO for detailed information on these allowable cost categories.
What makes a strong Investment Justification (IJ)?
- Clearly identified risks, vulnerabilities, and consequences;
- Description of findings from a previously conducted vulnerability assessment;
- Details of any incident(s) including description, dates etc.;
- Brief description of any supporting documentation (such as police reports or photographs) that is submitted as part of the application, if applicable;
- Explanation of how the investments proposed will mitigate or address the vulnerabilities identified from a vulnerability assessment;
- Clear linkage with investment(s) and core capabilities (See National Preparedness Goal);
- Verification that all proposed activities are allowable costs per the FY 2023 IBSGP NOFO;
- Realistic milestones that consider the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP), if applicable; and
- Description of the project manager(s) level of experience.
How will FY 2024 IBSGP applications be submitted?
Applying for an award under the IBSGP is a multi-step process. Applicants are encouraged to register early in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system, as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. Please refer to Section D in the FY 2024 IBSGP NOFO for detailed information and instructions. All application materials will be posted on Grants.gov. Eligible applicants should submit their application through FEMA GO. For FEMA GO support, applicants should contact FEMAGO@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Completed applications must be submitted in the FEMA GO system no later than 5 p.m. ET on June, 24, 2024.
What are the key dates associated with the FY 2024 IBSGP?
Application start date: 04/16/2024
Application submission deadline: 06/24/2024 at 5 p.m. ET
How will the FY 2024 IBSGP funds be allocated?
IBSGP recipients will be selected for funding through a competitive review process as outlined in the FY 2024 IBSGP NOFO. Applicants will receive a 20% increase to their scores for addressing one or more of the following National Priority Areas in their IJ:
- Enhancing cybersecurity; and
- Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places.
What is the FY 2024 IBSGP period of performance?
The period of performance is 24 months.
What other resources are available to address programmatic, technical, and financial questions?
- For additional program-specific information, please contact FEMA Grants News at (800) 368-6498 or fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov. FEMA Grants News hours of operation are from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
- For support regarding financial grants management and budgetary technical assistance, applicants may contact the DHS/FEMA Award Administration Help Desk via e-mail at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.