# Presentation: 042989

## COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program (ICTP)

- Mike Dame, Assistant Director for Grants Administration

## Program History

- Investments made by the DOJ COPS Office for discretionary interoperability grants since 2003 total over $250 million:
- FY 2003 -- $66.5 million awarded to 14 jurisdictions
- FY 2004 -- $82.6 million awarded to 23 jurisdictions
- FY 2005 -- $92.7 million awarded to 26 jurisdictions
- FY 2006 -- $8.8 million awarded to three jurisdictions

## ICTP Grants 2003 thru 2006

## Purpose

- Award technology grants to law enforcement for the purpose of enhancing public safety wireless voice interoperability and data information sharing

## 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

## 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

## 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

## 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)

## 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

## 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

## Information on the Web

- U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
- _[www.cops.usdoj.gov](http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/)_
- SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics
- _[www.search.org](http://www.search.org/)_