Secure federal funding for your agency

In March 2021, the Federal Government made new funds available for local public safety agencies – law, 911, fire, and more – across the country through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The $1.9 trillion package is designed specifically to combat the public health and economic impact felt due to COVID-19, and can support first responders by enabling them to acquire new, advanced technologies built to support their operations – and their service to their communities. 

First responders make it their mission to help people in need – aiding them at their most vulnerable. They dedicate their time, energy, and emotional investments into saving the lives of others – and it takes resources to do so effectively. This article details how to apply for and receive these funds in order to purchase cutting-edge products and services – with no impact to your budget. 

How to receive funding

1. A representative from your group must submit the government’s information for verification through the Treasury Submission Portal. 
   Even if you are not directly involved in the process of submitting the government’s required information, you can influence your representative by showcasing the needs of your agency and the opportunity for the government funds. The verification process may take a few business days.
2. If any errors are found in the paperwork, your representative will be contacted via email to correct the information before the payment can be processed.
3. Once verification is complete, your representative will receive an email notifying them that their submission has been verified.

Payments are generally scheduled for the next business day after this verification email, though funds may not be available immediately due to processing time of their financial institution.

How this applies to your agency

In this unprecedented time of uncertainty and vulnerability, and the added risk to emergency workers to properly respond while keeping safe, making investments in your agency is a need – not a want. 

Command Sourcing and SafeCities™ develop products, programs, and services designed specifically for the public safety industry, which can now be accessed through the ARP funds in order to recover from the impacts of COVID, improve service to your communities, and protect your budget and your workforce.

UV Disinfection by Command Sourcing: Reduce labor demand on personnel, increase speed and range of disinfecting square footage, lower chemical and PPE costs and risks to the facility, and improve disinfecting thoroughness.

Schedule Express by SafeCities™: Designed by first responders, eliminate overtime challenges and effectively manage fatigue using a system designed for public safety with the level of detail, depth, and dimension needed to deliver accurate and effective scheduling automation.

Although budgetary restraints can often impede the implementation of new technology, through easy access to funding through this newly-enacted government program, now is the time your operation has every reason to upgrade technology solutions and develop infrastructure to offer the best services to those who need it most – first responders.

Requirements to apply

Your organization will need to provide the following:

• Jurisdiction name, taxpayer ID number, DUNS Number, and address

• Authorized representative name, title, and email

• Contact person name, title, phone, and email

• Funds transfer information, including recipient’s financial institution, address, phone, and routing number and account number

• Completed award terms and conditions (to be signed by the authorized representative)

  
  

Jurisdictions must submit a request to receive funding, even if they have previously applied for other programs through the Treasury Submission Portal. Eligible jurisdictions will receive further communications regarding the status of their submission via the email address provided in the Treasury Submission Portal.

Determining eligibility 

In order for the Treasury Department to assess whether your intended use of the funds are eligible, they’ll need to answer: How does the program or service your agency needs respond to the COVID-19 emergency?

Acceptable responses will identify a need, or demonstrate the negative impact of the COVID-19 emergency, and then demonstrate how the program or service would resolve or counteract these effectives. Some examples include:

• Key safety measures enacted at hot spot settings, such as: nursing homes, schools, congregate living settings, dense worksites, incarceration settings, and in other public facilities.
• Implementation of infection prevention measures, including making ventilation improvements in congregate settings, health care settings, or other key locations.
• Other response and adaptation costs, including capital investments in public facilities and service and software needs to meet pandemic operational costs
• Physical plant improvements to public hospitals and health clinics or adaptations to buildings implementing COVID-19 mitigation tactics

With a total of $350 billion in support, the funds would be distributed in two waves: 50% of the monies delivered no later than 60 days from the date of enactment (March 11, 2021), and the remainder to be received no later than one year later. These funds can be used by your agency to cover costs for purchased equipment, software, and services incurred by Dec. 31, 2024 – including items such as:

• Responding to the COVID-19 emergency and addressing its economic effects, including aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries such as tourism and hospitality.
• Providing premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers, which cannot exceed $13 per hour or $25,000 per worker.
• Providing government services affected by revenue reduction resulting from COVID-19.
• Making investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

For more information

For questions about the Treasury Submission Portal or for technical support, please email covidreliefITsupport@treasury.gov

 For general questions about the program, please email SLFRP@treasury.gov