REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 1, 2022
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Subaward Face Sheet and the Standard Assurances for grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program.
2. Authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Emergency Services Manager to execute and file documents with California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the submittal of grant application in the amount of $60,000 for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program.
3. Authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Emergency Services Manager to execute any non-substantive project modifications and amendments in relation to the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant application and subsequent grant award, upon review by County Counsel.
4. Authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Emergency Services Manager to act as signatories for grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the grant.
5. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Emergency Services Manager to transmit the documents identified in Recommendation Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Brent Martin, Emergency Services Manager, 356-3998)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This grant application in the amount of $60,000 is specifically for the purchase and installation of high frequency communications equipment and the training of staff on the use of such equipment. There is no local match requirement associated with this grant. If this application is successful and grant funds are awarded, related budget adjustments will be presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval as a separate item or part of the 2022-23 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On January 12, 2022, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) issued a Request for Applications soliciting Alerting Authorities, Emergency Operation Centers (EOC), and County Sheriff’s Offices to apply for up to $60,000 in funding under the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program. The purpose of this program is to provide funding to those qualifying entities for equipment that will allow local governments to be included in an integrated high frequency radio network service that utilizes frequencies authorized by the Federal Communications Commission and intended to be capable of communications with state, local, and federal agencies. This secure, high frequency network is intended to be used during emergency events when other forms of emergency communication are down or overwhelmed. Currently, San Bernardino County (County) does not possess any system capable of interfacing with the State’s high frequency network. The purchase of this equipment would give the County’s EOC the ability to operate within the integrated high frequency system and communicate with other connected agencies.
Board approval of this item would authorize the submittal of a grant application to Cal OES in the amount of $60,000 for the purchase of high frequency communications equipment and related installation/training costs. Pursuant to County Policy 05-13, Board approval of the Cal OES Grant Award Face Sheet and Standard Assurances is needed because these documents legally bind the County to the grant program and are a required component of the grant application process. These documents will also serve as the grant award agreement if funds are awarded to the County. Additionally, as this application acts as an acceptance of the award, Board approval of this item is required.
Implementation of grant funding is contingent upon application approval from Cal OES. The 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program has a performance period of April 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Assuming that this application is successful, the grant-funded equipment, installation, and training will be obtained in accordance with the County’s existing procurement policies.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Miles Kowalski, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 16, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on February 16, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on February 17, 2022.