Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: The grant recipient, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), began developing the First Hands Project, a training program designed to use medical education along with communications education and exercises to empower first providers giving medical care in rural communities. Accomplishments included: Began the search to hire staff such as the program manager and field support specialists, started outreach and engagement with public safety groups throughout the state regarding the First Hands training program, designed and developed First Hands Training program content and objectives, procured six vehicles to be located at Mississippi Center for Emergency Services? operational bases to support First Hands training travel across the state, and evaluated options and solutions for capturing and evaluating participant feedback on the First Hands training program, as well as baseline comparison data on current emergency communications practices. Fiscal Year 2017: The grant recipient will finalize beta testing for the First Hands training program, hire key staff necessary to oversee and conduct the training, and officially launch the training program. Fiscal Year 2018: The grant recipient will collect best practices and lessons learned to refine the First Hands training program and work with OEC to determine how this training program can be used by similar stakeholders to support rural communities.

Uses and Use Restrictions

The improvement of medical communication systems and existing infrastructures, and of rural communities? ability to access medical services.

Refer to program guidance for further information.

Non-Competitive grant program.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refer to program guidance for further information.

Credentials/Documentation

Refer to program guidance for further information. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

An environmental impact statement is required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, 'Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.' An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.

Award Procedures

Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in the application have been negotiated with the successful applicant prior to the award being issued.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Authorization

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Public Law 114-113.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The BIDP application period has closed and the FY16 REMCDP application period will be opened for a new award.

Appeals

Refer to program guidance for further information.

Renewals

Refer to program guidance for further information.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payment based on project need.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports.

Quarterly ?Progress Reports? must include the progress of each sub-grant award.

Reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter: January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.

Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant award.

States are responsible for reporting on the status of the funding distribution to the Department of Homeland Security no later than 90 days after an award is made to a State.

In addition, projects selected for funding are required to report on and share lessons learned.

Refer to program guidance.

Refer to program guidance.

Refer to program guidance.

Refer to program guidance.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records

Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues that arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.

Financial Information

Account Identification

70-0565-0-1-999.

Obigations

(Salaries) FY 16 $0; FY 17 est $0; and FY 18 est $0 - FY2016 appropriation for the Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project has been authorized and one new award will be obligated.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Refer to program guidance.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 13 ?Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;? OMB Circular A-87, relocated to 2 CFR Part 225. ?Cost Principles for State, Local, and Tribal Governments;? OMB Circular A-133, ?Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.?

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Cyber Security and Communications (CS&C)/Office of Emergency Communications (OEC), NPPD 4601 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201 Email: OECGrants@hq.dhs.gov Phone: (703) 235-4025

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Refer to program guidance.