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Commission approves EUL development grant and Project Ultra task order funding for Grand Sky
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Summary
The commission approved a state EUL development grant covering 2025–2027 for Grand Sky operations and authorized additional funding and a program extension for Project Ultra task order 3, with the county to receive a small administrative fee.
The Grand Forks County Commission unanimously approved a state grant agreement to obligate legislative funds for Grand Sky infrastructure and operations for the 2025–2027 window, and the board also approved two amendments related to Project Ultra: an addition of roughly $4.96 million for further Department of Defense testing under task order 3 and an extension of the program period for another year.
Why it matters: The grant agreement and task-order funding make state and federal dollars available for infrastructure, research and testing at Grand Sky and ensure continuity for the Project Ultra program; the county also noted it will receive a modest administrative fee as part of task order 3.
EUL development grant: County staff described the grant as similar to prior agreements and said carryover funds from the 2023–2025 legislative session add about $6.7 million to the total. Staff provided a total available amount of $9,261,518.44 to be used for infrastructure projects, emergency response capabilities, research and development, UAS operations, software development and equipment purchases. The commission voted to approve the grant and authorized the chair’s signature; one commissioner was recused from the vote at the request of a colleague and that recusal was recorded.
Project Ultra task orders: Staff presented two documents for the Project Ultra program. One amendment adds $4,958,278.88 in funding to allow continued DOD testing under task order 3 (an IDIQ-type arrangement); the second extends the program period another year beyond Sept. 30 to allow work to continue under the federal extension clause. Staff confirmed the county will receive an administrative fee at about a 2% level under task order 3, described in the meeting as just under $100,000, and said such fees will appear with each task order presented to the board.
Board action: Commissioners approved the EUL development grant and the Project Ultra task order amendments in separate votes. The EUL grant approval included a recusal: a motion to recuse "Commissioner Rustin" was made and passed before the grant vote. The Project Ultra amendments passed unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will finalize grant documents, execute the task-order amendments and manage task-order reporting and invoicing processes. Staff said Grama Sky (Grand Sky partner operations) will invoice the county and the county will reimburse and then seek state reimbursement under the grant agreement.
