Integrating Web-Based Emergency Management Collaboration Software into Airport Operations--A Primer (2013)

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20 In order to purchase a WBEMCT, airports need to be apprised of avail- able funding options. Funding sources may include emergency management project funding mechanisms and budgets. Airports can seek support through passenger or customer facility charges, Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs)/ National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), emergency manage- ment agencies (DHS/FEMA), bond issues, state block grants, public/private enterprises, strict revenues, special facilities charges and the like. Airport Capital Purchase Large hub airports often use their own revenue streams to purchase emergency management software systems that are usually tied into each airport’s jurisdiction. Many airports receive fund- ing for their systems through their city/county EMAs. Other grant opportunities exist from the DHS and state aeronautical agencies. Airport Improvement Program WBEMCTs are not eligible for Airport Improvement Program funding. Passenger facility charge personnel and training for emergency management are not eligible needs. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant Funding DHS programs that provide grants to fund emergency management soft- ware systems include the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP); these programs are administered by the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). Another grant program that may provide funding for WBEMCTs is the Operation Stonegarden program, which is also administered by HSGP. Additional information on HSGP can be found at http://www.fema.gov/fy-2012-homeland-security-grant-program. • UASI: The 31 eligible urban areas are identified in the HSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement. – Total Funding Available: $490,376,000 (FY 2012). – Purpose: UASI program funds address the unique planning, organization, equipment, train- ing, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas and assist stakeholders in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. C H A P T E R 3 How to Fund a WBEMCT The City of Indianapolis Division of Homeland Security’s system was pur- chased using a combination of SHSP and UASI grants. The El Paso City and County Emergency Management Agency purchased a system for the El Paso International Airport (ELP) with funding from a UASI grant.

How to Fund a WBEMCT 21 – Eligible Applicants: The State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the only entity eligible to apply to FEMA for UASI funds. A total of 31 high-threat, high-density urban areas were eligible for funding under the FY 2012 UASI program. – Program Awards: The allocation methodology for FY 2012 UASI is based on DHS’s risk methodology and anticipated effectiveness based on the strength of the investment jus- tification (IJ). Eligible candidates for the FY 2012 UASI program had been determined through an analysis of relative risk of terrorism faced by the 100 most populous metropoli- tan statistical areas in the United States, in accordance with the 9/11 Act. • SHSP: The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296), as amended by sec- tion 101 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub- lic Law 110-53), provides funds for eligible applicants. – Total Funding Available: $294,000,000 (FY 2012) – Purpose: SHSP supports the implementation of state Homeland Security Strategies to address the identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. SHSP also provides funding to implement initiatives in the State Pre- paredness Report. – Eligible Applicants: The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply to FEMA for SHSP funds. Recipients include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. – Program Awards: The allocation methodology for FY 2012 SHSP was based on three factors: minimum amounts as legislatively mandated, DHS’s risk methodology, and anticipated effectiveness based on the strength of the IJ. Each state and territory received a minimum allocation under SHSP using the thresholds established in the 9/11 Act. All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico received 0.35 percent of the total funds allocated for grants under Section 2003 and Section 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by the 9/11 Act, for SHSP. Four territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) received a minimum allocation of 0.08 per- cent of the total funds allocated for grants under Section 2003 and 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by the 9/11 Act, for SHSP. • Investment Justification (UASI and SHSP): As part of the FY 2012 HSGP application process for SHSP and UASI funding, the IJ needed to demonstrate how proposed projects addressed gaps and deficiencies in delivering one or more core capabilities outlined in the National Pre- paredness Goal. Applicants were also required to describe engagement with and/or impacts on the general population, including children and persons with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. A successful IJ demonstrates the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by FEMA. – In FY 2012, DHS required that at least one fusion center investment from a state provide funding support to the state’s primary fusion center, as designated by the governor. In addition, FY 2012-eligible UASI urban areas were required to provide an IJ for the DHS- recognized fusion center within the urban area. Note that fusion center-related funding requests were required to be consolidated into a single investment for state or urban areas in which recognized fusion centers reside. Grantees were required to coordinate with the fusion center when developing a fusion center investment prior to submission. – The following process was used to evaluate the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed investments and to make awards under the UASI and SHSP: 77 FEMA verified compliance with all administrative and eligibility criteria identified in the funding opportunity announcement, including required submission of the IJ by the established due dates. 77 IJs were evaluated for completeness, adherence to program guidelines, and anticipated effectiveness of proposed investments. Only the information included in the IJ was

22 Integrating Web-Based Emergency Management Collaboration Tools into Airport Operations—A Primer assessed in the review process. State and urban area homeland security strategies were reviewed to ensure overall strategic alignment of the investments, but were not scored. Acquiring a System or the Rights to a System Under a Regional Entity (City or County) Financial support from airports’ representative state aeronautical agencies may provide a source of funding for WBEMCTs. The flexibility of these agencies applies only to state appro- priations that they control, not to federal pass-through funds or block grants.