Security Grant Package Released-Due April 16

The FY 2012 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) has been posted on the DHSES website and is ready for immediate action by interested eligible nonprofits.  A maximum of up to $75,000 in grant funds can be applied for.   The RFA and other required documents can be found at  http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/rfa-uasi-nsgp.cfm .

The due date for applications is 11:59 PM on April 16, 2012.  Any applications received after that date and time will not be considered.

Please note that only eligible nonprofits from the NYC UASI region (includes New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester) may apply. 

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
1220 Washington Avenue
State Office Campus, Bldg. 7A
Albany, NY  12242
grants@dhses.ny.gov
1-866-837-9133

 

Nonprofit security grants: details and training

New York Nonprofit Homeland Security Grant application will be available next week and due mid-April 2012 Grant workshops & webinar scheduled for Monday, March 12, 2012

Nonprofit Security Grant Application Workshop Monday, March 12, 2012 Join us in person in Manhattan or Westchester or via a live webinar of the workshop on your desktop computer (you will need a highspeed internet connection and speakers or earphones). Manhattan: 11:30AM-1:00PM, 130 East 59th Street@Lexington Ave. Westchester: 7:30-8:30 PM, Scarsdale Synagogues-Temples Tremont and Emanu-El, 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale Webinar (Sign-on instructions will be sent as reservations are received). Note: Reservations are a must. Click here to reserve. For further information call David Pollock at the JCRC-NY at (212) 983-4800, ext. 132 or email him here. We would like to thank our colleagues at the New York State Office of Homeland Security and all those involved with the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) for helping us provide this important webinar.

Overview: Nonprofit Security Grant Program FY 2012 There have been minimal changes from last year. The basics follow: Grant amounts. Approximately 150 nonprofit organizations nationally will share the $10,000,000 allocated to this grant. Eligible applicants will be able to apply for up to $75,000 to bolster their physical security and conduct preparedness training. There is no match requirement this year. Eligibility. Applicants must be tax exempt organizations (under IRS Section 501(c)(3)) located in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk or Westchester. Unless a New York nonprofit is located within these jurisdictions it is not eligible to apply. Those located outside New York should click here to check whether they are in an eligible jurisdiction. Equipment. The grant funds two categories of security equipment and activities: Physical Security Enhancement Equipment; and/or Inspection and Screening Systems. Any improvements requested under this program must fall within one of these equipment categories. A more detailed list can be found here. Training. Nonprofit organization personnel may only use FY 2012 NSGP funds to attend security-related training courses and programs within the United States. Allowable training topics are limited to the protection of critical infrastructure key resources, including physical and cyber security, target hardening, and terrorism awareness/employee preparedness. Training conducted using FY 2012 NSGP funds must address a specific threat and/or vulnerability, as identified in the nonprofit’s Investment Justification. Previous grantees/new applicants. Organizations that received grants in previous years are eligible to apply again for a FY 2012 award. However, new applicants receive a bonus point on their ranking score. Investment Justification. The key element of the application is the Investment Justification (IJ) which can be viewed here. Applicants are required to submit their answers via an Excel spreadsheet (available when the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services releases its Request for Applications). The questions and requirements are substantially the same as in past years. Ongoing guidance. Remember, check out the JCRC-NY's Security Grant Website often for suggestions on how to start collecting information (e.g., your vulnerability assessment, DUNS number, etc.) even before the application is released. For further information. The Security Grant Website has a wealth of information and tips. Please check it first. If you need further information, call David Pollock at the JCRC-NY at (212) 983-4800, ext. 132 or email him here. Caution. If you choose to download the DHS guidance here, be prepared to be confused. The "Grantee" referred to in the guidance is New York State. Our SAA is the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NY DHSES). Nonprofit organizations will have to submit applications to the NY DHSES to be evaluated, prioritized and forwarded to Washington. Kudos to the movers and shakers. The fact that there is a FY2012 program is due to the ongoing work and incredible professionalism of a coalition, led by the Jewish Federations of North America/JFNA and its Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, Rob Goldberg (with JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation playing active roles). The JFNA Washington Office, directed by William Daroff, is the lynchpin in this process and deserves our collective thanks. We owe a special debt of gratitude to those dedicated public servants who actually administer the grants and answer our questions, especially Shelley Wahrlich, Steve Tierney and Valerie Bloomer. This program could not be successful without their dedication, patience and expertise.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program 2012 announced

On February 17th, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its guidance for a number of preparedness grant programs, including the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

Program Overview and Priorities
The FY 2012 NSGP provides $10,000,000 in funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack and located within one of the specific UASI-eligible Urban Areas. While this funding is provided specifically to high-risk nonprofit organizations under The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, Division D (Public Law 112-74), the program seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader State and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as State and local government agencies.

JCRC comments: Congress cut the allocations of many DHS grant programs this year and the NSGP was cut from $19 million to $10 million (i.e., below the average cut). That translates to approximately 150 successful grantees nationwide. New York generally receives between 25-30% of the grants. New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties are in a UASI-eligible Urban Area; as is Newark, NJ.

In FY 2012, the total amount of funds distributed under this grant program will be $10,000,000. Each nonprofit organization must apply through their SAA (in New York, the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services [DHSES])for up to a $75,000 grant award. The FY 2012 NSGP funds will be allocated to organizations characterized as “Section 501(c)(3)” organizations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.) and deemed at high risk by the Secretary of DHS. Such nonprofit organizations must be located within one of the designated FY 2012 UASI-eligible Urban Areas.

JCRC comments: The maximum grant amount and the geographic eligibility remain the same as last year. Organizations not having received prior years’ NSGP funding will receive a bonus point during scoring.

Approximate timing
DHSES has not yet determined the exact dates. Their guidance is likely to be released during the first week of March and be due mid-April. Start now, there is no reason to wait.

What should you be doing now?
The JCRC is in the process of updating our guidance materials based on the new grant materials at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants, but the changes seem to be minor. The most important components continue to be:

• "Findings from previously conducted risk assessments including threat or vulnerability"; and
• "Identification and substantiation (e.g., police reports or insurance claims) of prior threats or attacks against the nonprofit organization or closely related organizations (within or outside the U.S.) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell."

Make sure that your vulnerability assessment is up to date. Get more information about vulnerability assessments from www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants.

We will schedule trainings and webinars. For further information contact David Pollock here. and the Jewish Federations of North America at: www.jewishfederations.org/homelandsecurity.

The links at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants are customized for the 2011 grant, but there seem to be only minor changes this year. Check back often for updates.

Kudos to the movers and shakers. The fact that there is a FY2012 program is due to the ongoing work and incredible professionalism of a coalition, led by The Jewish Federations of North America/JFNA (with JCRC and UJA-Federation playing active roles) and its Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, Rob Goldberg. The JFNA Washington Office, directed by William Daroff, is the lynchpin in this process and deserves our collective thanks.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to those dedicated public servants who actually administer the grants and answer our questions, especially Shelley Wahrlich, Steve Tierney and Valerie Bloomer. This program could not be successful without their dedication, patience and expertise.

Mitchell Silber: The Iranian Threat to New York City

In The Wall Street Journal, Mitchell Silber, director of intelligence analysis for the NYPD, writes that as the conflict with Iran over its nuclear program heats up, New York City—with its large Jewish population—becomes an increasingly attractive target.

Jewish Week articles re Jewish security

• The Case For Ray Kelly:Tuesday, February 7, 2012 | Alan S. Jaffe, Michael S. Miller and David M. Pollock  
• ‘Soft’ Target Threat Gets Community’s Attention: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 | Adam Dickter | Assistant Managing Editor

 

Worrying about Iran

For years, intelligence sources have concluded that a confrontation over Iran's nuclear program could have spillback here in New York City. The 1994 bombing of the AMIA building in Buenos Aires shows that Iranian intelligence operatives and Hezbollah terrorists have no compunctions about killing Jews. Last summer's interrupted plot to kill the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, DC indicates that Iran's Revolutionary Guards are willing to commission terrorist acts on U.S. soil. Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened the state of Israel during a weekly sermon in Tehran on Friday. "We have intervened in anti-Israel matters, and it brought victory in the 33-day war by Hezbollah against Israel in 2006, and in the 22-day war...From now on, in any place, if any nation or any group confronts the Zionist regime, we will endorse and we will help...[Israel is a] cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut."

While there is no specific threat against the New York Jewish community, the NYPD increased its coverage of Israeli and high-profile Jewish targets on Friday, deploying its Atlas and Sampson units. Consider the following recommendations:

1. The JCRC recommends that Jewish groups should review their security operations, paying particular attention to access control and detecting hostile surveillance. For more tips, see the JCRC Security Resources page at: www.jcrcny.org/securityresources. Remember, if you see something, say something. Call 1-877-NYCSAFE.
2. While the details are currently being negotiated, it is likely that there will be a Nonprofit Security Grant Program for the coming year. The DHS guidance should be released on or about February 23rd. Applicants may not have much time to apply. Therefore review the grant requirements from last year at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants. The most important recommendation is to update your vulnerability assessment. Learn about vulnerability assessments here. 

Prospects for NSGP 2012

Will there be a Nonprofit Security Grant Program in 2012?
On December 23rd, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Bill for FY2012, including funding for Homeland Security. The bill contained contained changes to the 12 current Homeland Security State and Local Grant Programs.

For the first time, Congress included the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), as a stand alone program, one of the 12 that is no longer attached to the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). UASI is a program with geographic limitations that may no longer apply to NSGP in FY2012.

1. The changes give the Secretary of Homeland Security new discretionary authority to determine both the allocations to be dispersed among the 12 grant programs (virtually all of the state and local funding distributed by DHS), and, for NSGP, the geographic areas for inclusion (Last year NSGP applicants were required to be located in a Tier 1 UASI. Congress gave the Secretary discretion to define the areas or to require no area at all). 
2. Total funding for the 12 grant programs was provided this year as a single allocation, at a significantly reduced amount (a cut near $860 million or 43%). The Secretary will determine how the allocation will be split among the grant programs.

By law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the grant programs, must publish its grant guidance for these programs on or about February 23rd. The reforms of the DHS grant programs raise questions about the future direction  of the NSGP. In advance of this guidance, the Washington Office of JFNA will be meeting with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security to advocate for a strong NSGP program. All of us owe the Washington Office of JFNA our deepest gratitude.

JCRC-NY guidance
Once the guidelines are published at the end of February, JCRC-NY will update our guidance materials based on the new grant materials and schedule tranings. For further information contact David Pollock at pollockd@jcrcny.org. You may obtain guidance from the JCRC at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants and the Jewish Federations of North America at: www.jewishfederations.org/homelandsecurity.

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White supremacist may pose a threat

UPDATE: December 29. Danny Warner was arrested by local police in Lake Havasu, Arizona without incident. He is being charged with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, and there are additional charges expected.

A known White supremacist might pose a security threat to Jews or Jewish institutions, probably in the South. He is considered armed and dangerous.

While the available information indicates that he intends to head to the South, it is worthwhile to review your security procedures, especially those dealing with access control and hostile surveillance. See the JCRC resources available at www.jcrcny.org/securityresources.

The ADL bulletin below has some excellent suggestions in their alert.

Traveling with Personal Internet-Enabled Devices

National Cyber Alert System

Cyber Security Tip ST11-001

Holiday Traveling with Personal Internet-Enabled Devices The internet is at our fingertips with the widespread use of internet-enabled devices such as smart phones and tablets. When traveling and shopping anytime, and especially during the holidays, consider the wireless network you are using when you complete transactions on your internet-enabled device. Know the risks Your smart phone, tablet, or other internet-enabled device is a full-fledged computer. It is susceptible to risks inherent in online transactions. When shopping, banking, or sharing personal information online, take the same precautions with your smart phone or other internet-enabled device that you do with your personal computer — and then some. The mobile nature of these devices means that you should also take precautions for the physical security of your device (see Protecting Portable Devices: Physical Security for more information) and consider the way you are accessing the internet. Do not use public Wi-Fi networks Avoid using open Wi-Fi networks to conduct personal business, bank, or shop online. Open Wi-Fi networks at places such as airports, coffee shops, and other public locations present an opportunity for attackers to intercept sensitive information that you would provide to complete an online transaction. If you simply must check your bank balance or make an online purchase while you are traveling, turn off your device's Wi-Fi connection and use your mobile device's cellular data internet connection instead of making the transaction over an unsecure Wi-Fi network. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use Bluetooth-enabled accessories can be helpful, such as earpieces for hands-free talking and external keyboards for ease of typing. When these devices are not in use, turn off the Bluetooth setting on your phone. Cyber criminals have the capability to pair with your phone's open Bluetooth connection when you are not using it and steal personal information. Be cautious when charging Avoid connecting your mobile device to any computer or charging station that you do not control, such as a charging station at an airport terminal or a shared computer at a library. Connecting a mobile device to a computer using a USB cable can allow software running on that computer to interact with the phone in ways that a user may not anticipate. As a result, a malicious computer could gain access to your sensitive data or install new software. Don't Fall Victim to Phishing Scams If you are in the shopping mode, an email that appears to be from a legitimate retailer might be difficult to resist. If the deal looks too good to be true, or the link in the email or attachment to the text seems suspicious, do not click on it! What to do if your accounts are compromised If you notice that one of your online accounts has been hacked, call the bank, store, or credit card company that owns your account. Reporting fraud in a timely manner helps minimize the impact and lessens your personal liability. You should also change your account passwords for any online services associated with your mobile device using a different computer that you control. If you are the victim of identity theft, additional information is available from http://www.idtheft.gov/. For even more information about keeping your devices safe, read Cybersecurity for Electronic Devices. Produced in 2011 by US-CERT, a government organization. US-CERT is part of the Department of Homeland SecurityTerms of use

Another parcel bomb in Europe

The reports of a second parcel bomb in Europe raises obvious concerns. Organizations should be reviewing their mail handling procedures. See the links on the previous blog posting or at the JCRC Security Resources page.