5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference

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5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications
Conference
September 30-October 1, 2008 Norfolk, VA
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• Finding Grant Funds
• A discussion on how localities can best use their
  resources to find grants that apply to their
  needs
• October 1, 2008
• 1115am
• Moderator Bill Bullock, State Interoperability
  Executive Committee
• Panelists Bill Lawson, Virginia Department of
  Emergency Management
• Amanda Davis, Virginia Office of Emergency
  Medical Services
• Dorothy Spears-Dean, Virginia Information
  Technologies Agency

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• INTEROPERABILITY/COMMUNICATIONS
• GRANT FUNDS
• Strategic Plan for State-Wide Communications
  Interoperability
• Commonwealth Communications Baseline Survey
  (Baseline)
• State Interoperability Executive Committee
  (SIEC)
• Regional Preparedness Advisory Committee
  Interoperability (RPAC-I)

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Bill Lawson

• Virginia Department of Emergency Management

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Review of the Grant Programs

• Homeland Security Grants 2003- 2005
• Base plus population
• Distribute and purchase off the allowable
  equipment list
• Homeland Security Grants 2006 - current
• Major Changes
• New message
• throw out everything you know about the
  Homeland Security Grant Process, its a whole new
  ball game

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Review of the Grant Programs

• 2006 Congress asks 
• How prepared are we?
• How prepared do we need to be?
• How do we prioritize efforts to close the gap?
• DHS Responds
• Regionalism
• Capabilities Assessment

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3 Objectives

• FY 2008 HSGP is focused on three objectives as
  its highest priorities. These three objectives
  are
• Measuring progress in achieving the National
  Preparedness Guidelines
• Strengthening improvised explosive device (IED)
  attack deterrence, prevention, and protection
  capabilities
• Strengthening preparedness planning

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Regional Stakeholders Meetings

• What priorities emerged?
• Planning/Measuring
• Evacuation/Shelters/Special Populations
• Critical Infrastructure
• Communications
• Training Exercise
• Law Enforcement/Information Sharing
• CBRNE

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Getting Involved

• Regional Preparedness Advisory Committee Meetings
  (RPAC RPAC-I)
• Stakeholders Meetings
• -partner/collaborate with neighbors
• Grant Workshops
• Local Regional Meetings
• VDEMs List Serve
• Web Searches
• Know the grant you are applying for!

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• List service for all grant communications
• http//www.vaemergency.com/grants/index.cfm

• Communications include
• Grant announcements
• Grant allocations
• Informational Bulletins
• Changes in grants
• Workshops and TA Courses

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Grants on the Web

• Using the web as a reference tool
• Trying variable searches
• Search Engines Google, Yahoo
• Grants.gov
• rkb.us Responder Knowledge Base
• Other sites

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Other Resources

• State and Local experiences
• Vendors can be a valuable resource
• Knowledgeable about subject matter
• May have overcome across similar challenges
• Grant Guidance and Information
• Read it and know it
• Find it on sponsors website
• D/L forms and guidance
• Write to it like a job application

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Amanda Davis

• Office of Emergency Medical Services

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Finding Grants For You

• Define Your Need
• Be aware of state and federal grant guidelines
• Look at priorities of Granting Agency/Organization
  
• Identify what you should have to fill Your Need
• Remember to Identify Extra Costs that may be
  needed
• Look for partners that have similar interests to
  your Project and have the resources to Help!
• Dont forget about your local stores, hospitals
  and community organizations
• Write a Good Proposal
• Remember Grants are Competitive

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Private Funding

• http//www.cpsb.org/scripts/abshire/grants.asp
• Lists category search of grants from federal,
  state and private foundations
• 10 Essential Website for Grantseekers
• Firstgov, The Nonprofit Gateway, The Foundation
  Center, Daily Federal Register Contents, Federal
  Register Search, The Catalog of Federal Domestic
  Assistance, State and Local Government on the
  Net, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The
  Grantsmanship Center, Hoovers Online Corporate
  Directory
• Dont forget about your community
• Target, WalMart, Exxon-Mobil

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Were Here to Help

• Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
  (OEMS)
• Grants awards to governmental and non-profit
  agencies benefiting the EMS system
• 40 of these requests are for communication
  equipment/training/projects
• 2 grant cycles per year
• March 15
• September 15
• www.vdh.virginia.gov/oems/grants

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• Virginia Communications Index for Public Safety
  (VCIPS)
• Grant Directory of funding available for
  communications equipment/training/projects
• Web-Based and searchable by item
• Available at all State Public Safety web-sites
  via link
• Piece-meal approach of multiple grant funding
  streams available for one project

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Dorothy Spears-Dean

• Virginia Information Technologies Agency

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Virginias 9-1-1 Comprehensive Plan

• This statewide plan defines key strategic
  initiatives for improving 9-1-1 services and
  functionality across Virginia and is an outgrowth
  of other previous interoperability planning
  efforts
• The Plan describes a future for 9-1-1 to include
  NG9-1-1 and will influence Virginias statewide
  decisions concerning 9-1-1
• The successful achievement of the Plans
  initiatives will result in Virginias ability to
  continue to meet the publics high level of
  expectations for 9-1-1 emergency service, provide
  a consistent level of emergency service across
  the Commonwealth, and contribute to excellent
  public safety capabilities

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Vision Future for Virginia 9-1-1

• Virginias 9-1-1 Centers receive, process, and
  dispatch requests for emergency aid quickly
  accurately
• From any geographical location
• From any communication device
• In any language
• This vision represents the ideal operational
  picture for 9-1-1 emergency response
  functioning at an optimal level of interoperable
  service and capability
• Components of this future vision include
• Services and capabilities
• Infrastructure, equipment, and technology
• Operations
• Staffing and training
• Governance
• Funding

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Goals for Virginia 9-1-1

• Goal A Provide a standard level of emergency
  response service to the public
• When achieved, this goal will provide consistent
  emergency response services to anyone residing in
  or passing through the Commonwealth, at any time
  of day, and during any event
• Goal B Position 9-1-1 centers to continuously
  meet the publics expectations
• When achieved, this goal will allow Virginia to
  keep up with the rapid pace of technology
  innovation and therefore the constant changes in
  customer expectations

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Strategic Initiatives for Virginia 9-1-1

• The strategic initiatives are the actionable
  elements of the short-term strategy and provide
  the incremental steps needed to achieve the
  strategic goals
• Conduct a baseline assessment of 9-1-1
  capabilities and services
• Develop and apply statewide guidelines to foster
  a minimum level of 9-1-1 emergency response
  service across Virginia
• Implement a recruitment and retention program
• Enable Next Generation services by connecting
  9-1-1 centers to the statewide IP backbone

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Overview of PSAP Grant Program

• Emergency PSAP Grants
• Only Continuity Program available
• 16 grant awards totaling 1.9M
• FY 08 PSAP Grants
• Continuity and Enhancement Programs
• 46 applications were received that encompassed a
  broad range of projects, including 8 regional
  grants
• Grant awards totaled 5.5M
• FY09 PSAP Grants
• Consolidation Program added
• 102 separate projects submitted for funding that
  included 9-1-1 equipment, personnel projects,
  GIS, NG9-1-1, CAD, radio consoles, fixed and
  transportable back-up, microwave link, and
  pictometry
• Grant awards totaled 7.8M
• Anticipating 12M for FY10 PSAP Grants

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PSAP Grant Program Funding Tiers

• Replacement of out of service wireless E-911
  equipment to enable primary PSAPs to maintain
  current service levels to the public
• Replacement of non-vendor supported wireless
  E-911 equipment to enable primary PSAPs to
  maintain current service levels to the public
• Consolidation

• Replacement of technically outdated wireless
  E-911 equipment to enable primary PSAPs to
  maintain current service levels to the public
• Strengthen current equipment and service delivery
  capability by upgrading existing wireless E-911
  related equipment or services
• Broaden or increase the delivery of wireless
  E-911 equipment or service beyond established
  minimum functional standards

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Continuity and Consolidation Program

• The Board will provide funding to primary PSAPs
  for projects designed to replace or upgrade
  wireless E-911 equipment and services that are
  technically outdated, without vendor support, or
  can no longer perform at an established minimum
  functional standard to sustain an acceptable
  level of service to the public or, the initial
  purchase of items specifically listed on this
  programs priority list. The Board will also
  provide funding for primary PSAPs to utilize in
  consolidation projects.

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Continuity Consolidation Priorities

• CPE
• Mapping system
• Mapping servers and workstations
• GIS high priority (refer to GIS-related Grant
  Request Prioritization Matrix for a description
  of GIS projects that would have a high funding
  priority)
• Voice recorders and logging system
• Computer-Aided Dispatch
• Call accounting equipment
• GIS medium priority (refer to GIS-related Grant
  Request Prioritization Matrix for a description
  of GIS projects that would have a medium funding
  priority)
• Time Synchronization
• Computer system networking improvements for items
  included in this program

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Enhancement Program

• The Board will provide funds to primary PSAPs
  for projects designed to enhance
  cross-jurisdictional information sharing and
  collaboration among PSAPs, PSAP staff
  development, and new capabilities beyond those
  currently available with wireless E-911 or,
  upgrades/replacements of existing Enhancement
  projects.

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Enhancement Priorities

• Next Generation 9-1-1
• Recruitment of personnel
• Training of personnel
• Transportable back-up for PSAP primary
  operational items
• Fixed back-up for primary PSAP operational items
• Radio consoles
• GIS high priority
• GIS low priority
• EMD/ Police Dispatch/Fire Dispatch software or
  protocols (not funded through another grant
  program)
• Other Enhancement items

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Highlights of FY 10 Funding Cycle

• The deadline to apply for a grant for the FY 10
  Funding Cycle is October 31st
• In order to increase participation among the most
  financially challenged PSAPs in this grant
  program, there is no longer any required local
  match
• The funding limits for regional initiative and
  consolidation grant awards have increased
• 325,000 for a regional initiative involving two
  primary PSAPs or a currently consolidated PSAP
• 475,000 for a regional initiative involving
  three primary PSAPs and/or two primary PSAPs and
  a currently consolidated PSAP
• 625,000 for a regional initiative involving four
  primary PSAPs and/or three primary PSAPs and a
  currently consolidated PSAP
• 775,000 for a regional initiative involving five
  or more primary PSAPs and/or four or more primary
  PSAPs and a currently consolidated PSAP
• 800,000 for a consolidation project

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Questions?
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5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications
Conference
September 30-October 1, 2008 Norfolk, VA