WASHINGTON - The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has announced the availability of $9.9 million worth of federal grants to improve over-the-road bus security.
These are the same sort of grants the TSA parceled out to operators in 24 states last August. At that time, the TSA announced it was awarding nearly $20 million in grants, but that amount was cut to $14.85 after $5 million was reallocated elsewhere within TSA.
The TSA Intercity Bus Security Grant Program money is to be used by operators to improve security for their businesses and passengers, and to provide training for employees of coach companies.
Applications for the fiscal 2004 grants must be received by the TSA by July 7.
Operators applying for the money will have to jump through normal federal bureaucratic hoops. The best place to start is to go to the TSA Web site. Here's the drill to find all of the pertinent information - and there's a lot of it:
* Go to www.tsa.gov.
* Near the top of the home page, look for a link called Business Opportunities. Click on that.
* When the Business Opportunities page pops up, look for a link on the left side the page called Contracting with TSA. Click on that.
* When that page pops up, look in the center of the page for the words Bus Security Grants. Click on those words.
You'll arrive at a page announcing that applications for the Intercity Bus Security Grants are now being accepted. Below the announcement are more than a dozen links to various forms, instructions, checklists, explanations and other documents to guide applicants.
There's also a document that explains who can apply, a list of frequently asked questions, and a sample proposal.
Last year, 57 coach companies were awarded grants ranging from $9,900 to $5 million. Additional, the United Motorcoach Association and the American Bus Association received hefty awards, along with New Jersey Transit.
UMA and ABA used their money to develop security training programs that they made available free to thousands of operators.
Operators receiving grants used the money for a variety of purposes, including installing GPS systems, buying cell phones and other communications systems, adding driver protection, passenger and baggage screening, security assessments and plans, and training for personnel to recognize and respond to criminal attacks and terrorist threats.
Grants also paid for physical security enhancements such as fencing, lighting and surveillance equipment at locations where coaches are parked and maintained.