[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 5204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1548]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Advance Notice of Availability of Security Improvement Grants and 
Application Process

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: DHS is announcing that it will issue guidance and accept 
applications for surface transportation security improvement grants and 
that applicants must submit the applications pursuant to procedures to 
be made available on or about February 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

New and Extended Programs

    On or about February 1, 2008, DHS will announce a new grant program 
for the freight rail industry and extensions of, and possible changes 
to, two existing surface transportation grant programs: Trucking 
(Trucking Security Program or TSP) and Intercity Bus (Intercity Bus 
Security Grant Program or IBSGP). By this notice, DHS is encouraging 
entities owning, operating, or having interest in systems in these 
transportation sectors to review the forthcoming guidance and, as 
appropriate, apply for grants under the programs.
    DHS will soon be initiating a new grant program called the Freight 
Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP). It is a component of the Transit 
Security Grant Program (TSGP), which is a part of DHS's FY 2008 
Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP). The FRSGP was created as a 
result of the ``Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act 
of 2007'' (9/11 Commission Act), Public Law 110-53. Sec. 1513 of the 9/
11 Commission Act directs DHS to make funds for security improvement 
grants available to certain entities involved in or with the freight 
railroad industry and specifies the uses to which the funds may be 
applied.
    At the same time that DHS announces grant guidance, DHS will 
announce extensions of the existing TSP and the IBSGP. Currently, TSP 
funds are used to service an anti-terrorism and security awareness 
program for professionals and operating entities within the highway 
sector to include: (1) Participant identification and recruitment; (2) 
training; (3) communications; and (4) information analysis and 
distribution. Per The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying HR 2764 
the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the FY 2008 program must 
be a competitive program and open to any entity that can demonstrate 
the financial and resource capabilities to service the program within 
the highway sector. The IBSGP awards funds to expand security for bus 
services to fixed route over-the-road buses and charter bus operations 
with a minimum of 50 trips into an Urban Area Security Initiative 
(UASI) jurisdiction. An UASI jurisdiction is defined in the Homeland 
Security Grant Program (HSGP) FY 2008 Program Guidelines and 
Application Kit.

General Information

    In grant guidance to be released on or about February 1, 2008, DHS 
will identify the categories of freight rail, trucking, and intercity 
bus entities that are eligible for funding under the programs and the 
uses to which funding may be applied. With respect to the TSP and 
IBSGP, eligibility will not necessarily be limited to entities that 
have been eligible for funding under previous DHS grant programs.
    To apply for grant funding under the FRSGP, TSP, or IBSGP, each 
eligible applicant must first register as a grant applicant with the 
Federal government at http://www.grants.gov. Several additional steps 
are required to complete this registration, including registering with 
the Central Contractor Registration (http://www.ccr.gov) and obtaining 
a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number. Please visit www.grants.gov for more 
detailed information about this registration process. Please be advised 
that the entire process can take several weeks. DHS will also post 
additional information about registration when we issue the grant 
guidance on or about February 1, 2008. After that date, you may obtain 
an electronic copy of the grant guidance at http://www.tsa.gov/grants.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on January 24, 2008.
John Sammon,
Assistant Administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management.
[FR Doc. E8-1548 Filed 1-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P