City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 18, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of Acceptance of a Grant Award From the Securing the Cities (STC) for the National Capital Region (NCR), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Agency, District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA).
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ISSUE: Consideration of acceptance of a grant award from the Securing the Cities Grant Program, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approves acceptance of a grant award for $4,229; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Securing the Cities (STC) Program seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of a nuclear terrorist weapon against a major metropolitan regions in the United States by establishing sustainable capability among state, local, and tribal agencies to detect and report unauthorized radiological/nuclear materials within their jurisdictions supporting the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA).
The National Capital Region (NCR) has been awarded $30 million dollars to build sustainable steady state Preventative Radiological Nuclear Detection (PRND) capabilities (i.e. equipment, training, protocols) across the region. Approximately $24 million will be focused on purchasing equipment and providing training to participating NCR stakeholders.
The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) has drafted Memorandum’s of Understanding (MOUs) to be signed by the Lead Applicant (HSEMA) and each Principal Partner (participating NCR Jurisdiction) to demonstrate their commitment to the STC Program.
DISCUSSION: The City of Alexandria has entered into a MOU with HSEMA for the purpose of establishing a radiological threat detection capability within the NCR as part of the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA). The City of Alexandria plays a vital role in ensuring that our waterways are protected against terrorism and other threats, particularly in light of its responsibility for providing fire and EMS protection for emergencies on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the thousands of Alexandria citizens and visitors who cross that structure each day.
This is the first stage of several awards for Securing the Cities grant. Future awards for the training of personnel will be coming, likely in Fall 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT: The award for the first phase of this grant is $4,229, which would pay overtime or backfill, in order to send one person for two hours per month for the Executive Steering Committee. The purpose of the monthly Executive Steering Committee meetings is to recognize the need for and encourage information sharing, operational integration, and regional cooperation to implement the STC program effectively. These funds are to be used exclusively to support the STC program implementation and collaboration in the design and operations of STC.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra R. Collins, Deputy City Manager