COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program (ICTP) Mike Dame, Assistant Director for Grants Administration

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 1 Program History Investments made by the DOJ COPS Office for discretionary interoperability grants since 2003 total over $250 million: FY $66.5 million awarded to 14 jurisdictions FY $82.6 million awarded to 23 jurisdictions FY $92.7 million awarded to 26 jurisdictions FY $8.8 million awarded to three jurisdictions

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 2 ICTP Grants 2003 thru 2006 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 ICTP Grants

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 3 Purpose Award technology grants to law enforcement for the purpose of enhancing public safety wireless voice interoperability and data information sharing

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 4 Program Characteristics Regional Projects Multi-jurisdictional Multidisciplinary Strong governance structure and sound project management Grant-in-aid (unlike other DOJ resources) 25% local cash match Federal cap of $6 million ($3 million for smaller regions) Targeted program using Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) Large and smaller population centers

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 5 Program Characteristics The COPS Office used a peer review process of public safety practitioners (law enforcement, fire, and EMS) plus technologists to recommend the strongest proposals Types of solutions include: Shared systems Gateways Shared channels Additional subscriber units Regional data projects

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 6 Technical Assistance The COPS Office offers technical assistance through a non-profit provider, SEARCH Group, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics to our grantees Technical assistance activities include: A mandatory kick-off conference for recent awardees to stress technology critical success factors, sound project management principles, best practices, and grants management Advanced series of TA workshops in a smaller setting to continue addressing project implementation issues, setting regional policies, addressing ICS, etc. On-site or remote technical assistance, as requested

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 7 Technical Assistance Direct Technical Assistance Grantees may request specific technical assistance from SEARCH, which may be provided on-site or remotely Categories of assistance include: Development of effective governance structures Strategic Planning Infrastructure assessment and development Needs analysis and assessment Operational requirements development Policy and procedure development Acquisition document review (RFP/RFI)

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 8 Upcoming Technical Assistance Activities Issue Briefs SEARCH has authored a series of issue briefs to assist our ICTP grantees with difficult interoperable communications issues Examples include Project 25 compliant systems, training and exercises, building a regional communications planning, performance measurement, ICS, etc. Training DVD SEARCH will produce a Training DVD to complement the Interoperability Tech Guide It will present keys to success for interoperability projects using self-directed or automatic chapter selection Five ICTP projects funded by COPS will be profiled as case studies Approximately 2,000 DVDs will be produced initially

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 9 ICTP Assessment COPS has awarded a cooperative agreement to ILJ, a non-profit research organization. ICTP Assessment Goals: Develop a survey to assess all ICTP grantees Focus on project implementation, identifying pitfalls and success stories Three “deliverables” from the assessment: Report to COPS on success of projects, plus feedback regarding how to improve future public safety interoperability grant programs Some project case studies suitable for distribution to other Executive Branch agencies and Congress A publication suitable for the entire public safety community that describes best practices and lessons learned from ICTP projects

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program 10 Information on the Web U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics