WASHINGTON Motorcoach operators have until about the middle of this month to apply for the fiscal 2010 Intercity Bus Security Grants to be awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Applications for the $11.50 million in grants must be submitted before midnight (eastern time) Friday, Feb. 18.

All applications have to be submitted online at www.grants.gov. Necessary to apply is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 97.057.

The Intercity Bus Security Grant program has a match requirement of at least 25 percent, meaning that those awarded the grants must come up with at least 25 percent of the project cost.

Additionally, companies must have an approved security plan and vulnerability assessment on file with the Department of Homeland Security to be eligible to apply. The plan must be less than three years old.

The department is continuing the practice of awarding more than half of the money to large over-the-road motorcoach companies. This year, $6.3 million is available for companies that operate more than 250 coaches.

The so-called Tier One applicants also must provide fixed-route service to at least one area of the U.S. that the Department of Homeland Security considers to be of higher risk for a terrorist attack, or make at least 50 charter trips annually to a designated high-risk location.

The remaining $5.2 million will be awarded to smaller (Tier Two) operators that provide either fixed-route service or 50 trips annually to at least one high-risk area.

The grant money can be used for a wide variety of projects, including training and security-related exercises or drills; facility security enhancements; vehicle security; passenger screening, and security planning. Operators can request funding for as many as three projects.

Operators applying for the money must have a DUNS number and must register with both www.grants.gov and the federal government Central Contract Registry to create an account.

Questions can be directed to the Department of Homeland Security by e-mail at askcsid@dhs.gov, or by calling (800) 368-6498.

Motorcoach trade associations also can provide information on the grants program.