Governor's Crime Commission

Information Systems and Technology Committee

2005 Funding Priorities

THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE IS ENCOURAGING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS (LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES) TO APPLY NOW UNDER THIS SOLICITATION PROCESS FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPLEMENT AN INTEROPERABLE VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VIPER PLAN.  THESE APPLICATIONS WILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED BY JANUARY 31, 2005 TO BE CONSIDERED.  THERE WILL NOT BE A SECOND SOLICITATION FOR THESE PROJECTS .

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Information Systems and Technology Committee is to seek criminal justice agency data integration and information sharing via technology that will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the various criminal justice processes. In accordance with this objective, the Information Systems and Technology Committee has formulated the policy priorities for the purpose of guiding the development and implementation of the 2005 information systems related projects and programs. These policy and programmatic areas are:

Program Priorities

A. Voice Interoperability and 800 MegaHertz Radios

This category will include:
Projects that help develop a statewide voice interoperable system including 800 MHz Radios. This initiative will work in collaboration with the Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER) that has been established by the State to make an 800 MHz Voice Network a statewide reality in the future.

The Information Systems and Technology Committee will be soliciting applications for 800 MHz VIPER Compliant Radio projects.

Agencies must adhere to the following guidelines in order to be eligible to submit a pre-application.

• All applications submitted in this priority area should be part of a multi-agency collaborative effort.

• Applicants will be encouraged to participate in a multi-agency initiative in which all public safety agencies can have the ability to participate in an 800 MHz communications system. This is to ensure that if 800 MHz VIPER Compliant radios are placed into a county or a geographic region, where all participating agencies will be able to communicate with each other. This can be shown with signed Memorandums of Agreements between all the participating public safety agencies in the affected area. The Information Systems and Technology Committee Staff must receive these Memorandums of Agreements no later than January 31, 2005. Applicants who do not submit these MOA’s may not be considered for funding.

• Agencies must already be in a geographic location where access to 800 Mhz VIPER Compliant Voice is readily available. All agencies specified in the proposal will be required to integrate with the Statewide Infrastructure for the VIPER system. This will be verified by the VIPER Team. Radios must be APCO P-25 Compliant, 800 MHz compatible and upgradeable to digital communications. Please refer to VIPER specifications at www.ncshp.org

• All Pre-Applications in this category must state in the Problem Section and the Project Operation section how this technology will be used in the efforts of Terrorism Prevention. This project must address how it will aid the community in both domestic terrorism prevention as well as foreign terrorism prevention. This can be demonstrated by showing how the inter-operability will ensure a better communication link among all of the public safety agencies.

• Applicants should be prepared to match on a 25% Cash Match basis, if end-user devices are requested, such as 800 MHz VIPER Compliant radios.

• Radios will have a federal allocation cap of $ 4,500. This would allow for a total budget of $ 6,000/radio. ($ 4,500 Federal + $ 1,500 Local Match)

• All pre-applications submitted in this category must have the following statements in the Project Operation section of the Pre-Application.

• A statement that agencies are in an 800 MHz area which is VIPER compatible.

• A statement that all Memorandum of Agreements have been mailed along with the Signature Pages.

• A list of all participating agencies.

• A statement showing that all the radios that are to be purchased are APCO P-25 Compliant, 800 MHz compatible, and are upgradeable to digital communications, and that the prices in the budget section of the pre-application are reflective of radios meeting these specifications.

B. Criminal Justice Information Network – Statewide Infrastructure

This category will include:

• Projects primarily used for statewide support network projects

• Will include projects that are used to construct the CJIN Infrastructure

• Will build the information highway

• Utilized by federal, state, and local agencies

Solicitations will be accepted from State agencies only and will be for no more than two years. Projects will be capped at the following amounts.

• Project will have a maximum federal allocation of $ 400,000 per project, with a 25% state match, the total project cost will be $ 533,333.33 ($ 400,000 + $ 133,333.33 = $ 533,333.33)

• Agencies exceeding the cap of $ 400,000 per project must submit a letter, to the staff members of the Information Systems and Technology Committee, from the Chief Executive Officer of the agency justifying the excess amount. Letters must be received by the staff no later than January 31, 2005.

C. General Systems Improvement (GIS)/ Cyber Crime/ Mobile Data Computers/ Other Projects

This category will include other uses of technology to enhance public safety:

I. Geographic Information Systems

GIS Requirements:
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center, housed in the Governor’s Crime Commission, completed a joint study with North Carolina State University. This study surveyed local law enforcement departments across the state and determined what departments have implemented in the field of Geographic Information Systems. This study has now been produced into a publication titled “GIS for Small and Medium Law Enforcement Jurisdictions: Strategies and Effective Practices”. This document serves as an Effective Practices Model for implementing good GIS programs.

Grantees interested in applying for GIS programs will need to go to the Governor’s Crime Commission home page and download the document and read it. The home page is: http://www.ncgccd.org/. Proposals must also be a multi-agency, regional approach to addressing the problems and needs of several communities, not just one agency or community.

II. Cyber Crime

Cyber Crime programs will be allowed in this category. Priority will be given to pre-applications, which involve collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies and/or District Attorney’s Offices. Funding will be provided for equipment and training only to those agencies which demonstrate the existence of an existing cybercrime program or provide plans for permanently sustaining such a program.

Cyber Crime proposals should include the following in the Project Operation section of the on-line Pre-Application:

• A list of all agencies involved in the collaborative effort.

• Document existing unit or program or plan for sustainability of funding after the grant expires.

III. Mobile Data Communications (MDC’s)

This category will include:

• Mobile Data Computers and Supporting Software, including peripherals such as modems, cables, and brackets.

Mobile Data Computers will have a federal allocation cap of $ 7,500 per unit. This would allow for a total budget per computer of $ 10,000 ($ 7,500 Federal + $ 2,500 Local Match).

Requests for Mobile Data Computers will not exceed the ratio of 1 MDC per every 10 sworn officers. Agencies with 20 officers or less will be eligible for 2 MDC’s if they can provide the match.

• Federal Funds will not be used for Replacement Equipment or for upgrading Mobile Data Computers. Grant funds are to be used for new equipment purchases only.

• First time MDC applicants will be given priority in this category and should note that this is a first time Mobile Data Computer grant request in the Project Operation section of the Pre-Application.

• Mobile Data Computers must be connected to the State Criminal Justice Information Mobile Data Network and have DCI connectivity.

IV. Other Projects:

Other allowable proposals are projects related to improving responses to terrorism, criminal history record improvements and general enhancements to improve and expand criminal justice systems data and technology. This includes items like Recognition or Biometric technology, Incident Based Software Programs, and Terrorism Intelligence Systems and Radio Consoles/Control Stations for Dispatch.