Board hears of DHS and SHSP grant applications to replace radios and update command‑bus IT

Staff told the board they will apply for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to replace handheld radios that are not P25 Phase 2 compliant and that EMA is preparing a separate State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) application with a funding limit of up to $150,000.\n\nBecause a full replacement of the center’s aging command bus would exceed factory constraints, staff said they plan to use grant funds to upgrade the bus’s internal IT “guts” — communications and IT equipment that could later be transferred to a replacement vehicle or trailer. An IT staff member told the board that equipment installed for electronics and IT would remain useful if the agency later procures a different vehicle form factor.\n\nWhy it matters: Staff said the proposed equipment upgrades would address aging radios and command‑post systems and improve interoperability and longevity of deployed systems; grant limits and vendor constraints will shape the scope of work.\n\nFollow‑up: Staff will finalize grant applications with EMA and other partners and report back on award status and procurement plans if grants are approved.