Recovery.gov - Track the Money

The ARRA TSGP is authorized by section 1406 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53) (the 9/11 Act).

Specific investments made in support of the funding priorities generally fall into one of three allowable cost categories:

1. Operational Activities
2. Capital projects submitted as part of the FY 2009 TSGP not previously funded
3. Management and Administration

The 9/11 Act limits how funds can be used for certain operating projects, especially those projects which include operational costs associated with security and counterterrorism duties. Not more than 30 percent of the funds appropriated for this grant program in FY 2009 may be used for “operating uses” as outlined in section 1406(b)(2) of the 9/11 Act which includes security training, exercises, public awareness campaigns, canine patrols, development of security plans, overtime reimbursement, and operational costs associated with security or counter-terrorism duties. Further, within the “operational costs” subcategory of “operating uses,” which includes reimbursement of State, local, and tribal governments for costs for personnel assigned to full-time or part-time security or counterterrorism duties related to public transportation, there is a limitation that grant funding used for this expense cannot total more than 10 percent of the total grant funds received by a public transportation agency in any one year. Projects funded under the ARRA TSGP must be consistent with the limitations imposed by the 9/11 Act.

As the Transit Security Grant Program is an existing GPD grant program, FEMA will follow the monitoring protocols as currently prescribed for the program. This includes site visits to the transit systems to ensure compliance with programmatic goals. Each grantee is assigned a FEMA Program Analyst to work as the direct liaison and assist with any issues that arise.

The application process provides for detailed budget reviews to ensure that projects and equipment are allowable, as well as the Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review, if applicable.

Grantees submit quarterly financial status reports (SF269s), as well as the semi-annual progress reports through the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT). This system captures progress against the projects that are funded.

FEMA will continue to collect both programmatic and financial information via the standard financial status report and the quarterly progress report that is located in FEMA’s Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).

FEMA Grant Programs Directorate will be directly responsible for the timely application and obligation of these funds.

Our specific plans to meet the following objectives are as follows:

• Funds Obligated Timely: FEMA plans to obligate 100% of the grant funds to recipients by the end of the first quarter of FY 10;
• Funds Expended Timely: FEMA will work with all transit recipients to ensure a 100% expenditure rate within the 36-month performance period of the grant;
• Competitive Opportunities Maximized: FEMA will compete 100% of the TSGP grant dollars;
• Undelivered Orders Minimized: N/A

Each eligible application received under the Port Security Grant Program will be reviewed for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, among other requirements prior to the application approval and release of grant funds. Grant Program guidance to be released for the FY 2009 ARRA PSGP will notify potential applicants that FEMA will need detailed project information with regard to these requirements, particularly for construction projects. Where potential grantees may need to incur costs to provide detailed information regarding these requirements, planning funds may be released to fund the information gathering.

Consultation may be required with other Federal and State agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Historic Preservation Offices, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as other agencies and organizations responsible for protecting natural and cultural resources. For projects with the potential to have significant adverse effects on the environment and/or historic properties, the compliance process may result in an agreement between the involved parties outlining how the grantee will avoid, minimize, or, if necessary, mitigate the effects. Failure of a grant recipient to meet these requirements may jeopardize Federal funding.


ARRA also added additional reporting requirements for environmental compliance and sustainability. The two excel spreadsheets will be added to the applicable grant guidance, and grantees will be required to complete the information before funds can be expended.