The motorcoach industry continually strives to improve the safety and security of bus operations. Over the past few years, enhancing motorcoach security has become a key issue for all operators and a priority issue for the nation as a whole as motorcoaches visit nearly all of our nation's historic landmarks, pass along or through much of our critical infrastructure, and transport nearly 750 million passengers.

Since 2003, over $83 million in grants have been awarded to the motorcoach industry by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP).

Starting on December 8, 2009, DHS has begun accepting applications for the FY 2010 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program. Some key features of the FY 2010 program include:

• Applications must be submitted online through www.grants.gov, the CFDA # is 97.057.
• Applications may be submitted until 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, February 18, 2010. The submission deadline has been extended 1 week to the 18th.
• $11.52 million has been made available for FY 2010.
• There is a cost-sharing/in-kind match requirement of at least 25% for submitted projects.
• A recent security plan and a vulnerability assessment must be completed and certified to DHS in order to apply for FY 2010 grant funding for other projects. A free sample template can be downloaded here. DHS defines recent as being within the last 3 years.

For FY 2010, the $11.5 million in IBSGP funding has been split along two-tiers, and will be awarded through a competitive grants selection process within each tier.

• To qualify as a Tier I carrier: Applicants must have in-service fleets of more than 250 over-the-road-buses as well as provide fixed route service to at least one FY 2010 UASI jurisdiction or provide at least 50 charter trips annually to designated FY 2010 UASI jurisdiction.
• $6.3 million is available to tier I applicants.
• To qualify as a Tier II carrier: Applicants must provide fixed route service to at least one FY 2010 UASI jurisdiction; or provide a minimum of 50 trips annually to designated FY 2010 UASI jurisdiction.
• $5.2 million is available to tier II applicants.

Operators are encouraged to apply for FY 2010 IBSGP funding that can be used towards a variety of eligible projects across several funding categories, including:

• Training & Exercises (hiring security consultants for training programs, tabletop exercises, drills, etc.)
• Facility Security Enhancements (lights, fences, id badges, cctv, etc.)
• Vehicle Security (GPS, kill switch technology, streaming video, panic buttons, driver shields, etc.)
• Passenger Screening (wanding devices, detection technology, canine patrols, etc.)
• Security Planning (development of security plans, vulnerability assessments, etc.)

Operators may only request funding for up to 3 projects.

In addition to providing the grant guidance and application instructions, DHS will also be holding weekly teleconferences regarding the grants and the application process. To access those conference calls please use the following information:

DATE	TIME	CALL-IN NUMBER	PASSCODE
December 8, 2009	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
December 15, 2009	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
December 22, 2009	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
December 29, 2009	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
January 5, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
January 12, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
January 19, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
January 26, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
February 2, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433
February 9, 2010	1:00-2:00 pm EST	877-988-9660	6827433

 

Additional questions may be directed to DHS at askcsid@dhs.gov or (800) 368-6498, as well as ASK-GMD@dhs.gov and (866) 927-5646.

As a reminder, it is necessary to obtain a DUNS number and to register with both www.grants.gov and the Central Contract Registry (CCR), www.ccr.gov to create an account in order to complete and submit your application online. The registration process can take up to 3 weeks for first time registrants. All applications must be submitted online.

Several of the requirements tied to this grant program have come out of law. You can check out some of the legislative highlights related to motorcoach security below.

Save the Bus Security Grants

Related Resources

FY 2010 Grant Recipients Listing FY 2009 Grant Recipients Listing PL 110-53 PL 110-53 Highlights FY 2010 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program Fact Sheet FY 2010 Grant Application Guidance FY 2010 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (Please note that DHS will continue to add to these with feedback from the conference calls.) FY 2010 IBSGP Application Investment Justification Sample FY 2010 IBSGP Application Budget Detail Sample FY 2010 IBSGP Application Vulnerability Assessment/Security Plan Certification Statement Sample FY 2010 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Jurisdictions ABA's Security Page: Information on motorcoach security, disaster preparedness and other security-related items

Contact:

Brandon Buchanan
Manager Special Projects
202-218-7227