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In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is providing $90 million to promote sustainable, risk-based efforts to protect critical port infrastructure from acts of terrorism.
Overview
The FY 2024 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) is one (1) of four (4) grant programs that constitute the 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 PSGP provides funds to state, local, territorial, and private sector partners to support increased port-wide risk management and protect critical surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism.
Funding
In FY 2024, the total amount of funds under PSGP is $90 million. The FY 2024 program is focused on supporting increased maritime cybersecurity, port-wide maritime security risk management, enhancing maritime domain awareness, supporting maritime security training and exercises, and maintaining or reestablishing maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resilience capabilities. In assessing the national risk profile for FY 2024, two areas warrant the most concern: 1) enhancing cybersecurity; and 2) enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places.
Eligibility
All entities subject to an Area Maritime Security Plan, as defined by 46 U.S.C. § 70103(b), may apply for PSGP funding. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, port authorities, facility operators, and state, territorial, and local government agencies. A facility operator owns, leases, or operates any structure or facility of any kind located in, on, under, or adjacent to any waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Examples of facility operators include, but are not limited to, terminal operators, ferry systems, bar/harbor pilots, and merchant’s exchanges.
Ferry systems that elect to participate under the FY 2024 PSGP are not considered for funding under the FY 2024 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). Likewise, any ferry system that elects to participate in the FY 2024 TSGP is not considered for funding under the FY 2024 PSGP.
Please refer to the FY 2024 PSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for additional information on eligibility.
Funding Guidelines
PSGP recipients will be selected for funding through a competitive review process as outlined in the FY 2024 PSGP NOFO. Applicants will receive a 20% increase to their scores for addressing one or more of the following National Priority Areas in their Investment Justifications:
- Enhancing cybersecurity; and
- Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places.
Projects submitted by a public sector applicant or projects otherwise certified by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port as having a port-wide benefit will have their final scores increased by a multiplier of 10%.
Application Process
Applying for an award under the PSGP 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 PSGP 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.
PSGP Resources
There are a variety of resources available to address programmatic, technical, and financial questions, including:
- The FY 2024 PSGP NOFO is located online at www.fema.gov/grants.
- The FY 2024 Preparedness Grants Manual is located online at www.fema.gov/grants.
- 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 FEMA Award Administration Help Desk via e-mail to ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov.