REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 13, 2022
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept subaward (Subaward No. FH21 01 0360) in the amount of $60,000 from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program with a grant performance period of April 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the Office of Emergency Services to execute any non-substantive project modifications and amendments in relation to the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant, upon review by County Counsel.
3. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the Office of Emergency Services to act as signatory for grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant.
4. Direct the Chief Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the Office of Emergency Services to transmit the documents identified in Recommendation No. 2 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Daniel Muñoz, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-5807)
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), as the proposed actions include the acceptance of a $60,000 grant award.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On January 12, 2022, the 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. This program provides 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 would be used during emergency events when other forms of emergency communication are down or overwhelmed. This equipment would give the San Bernardino County EOC the ability to operate within the integrated high frequency system and communicate with other connected agencies.
On March 1, 2022 (Item No. 31), the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Emergency Services Manager to:
• Execute and file documents with Cal OES pertaining to the County’s submittal of a grant application in the amount of $60,000 for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program.
• 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.
• Act as signatories for grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant.
The Board also approved the Cal OES Grant Award Face Sheet and Standard Assurances that legally bound the County to the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant and would serve as the grant award agreement should funds be awarded.
On May 9, 2022, Cal OES notified the County that its grant application was successful and $60,000 had been awarded to the County under the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program. Pursuant to County Policy 05-13, Board approval is needed to accept the grant award. The performance period of this grant is April 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023.
Approval of this item would authorize acceptance of grant and add the Chief Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer overseeing the Office of Emergency Services to the list of County officials authorized to execute documents for the 2022 High Frequency Communications Equipment Program grant.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Miles Kowalski, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 29, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on August 29, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 29, 2022.