FY2027 Support and Incentive Grant Guidelines - Final.docx

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security State 911 Department

Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants Guidelines

Fiscal Year 2027

Maura T. Healey Governor

Gina K. Kwon Secretary, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Frank Pozniak Executive Director, State 911 Department

151 Campanelli Drive, Suite A Middleborough, MA 02346 Phone (508) 828-2911 Fax (508) 947-1452 www.mass.gov/e911

COMMBUYS BID # BD-26-1044-EPS90-1044E-125755

All applications shall be mailed, hand delivered or submitted via Commbuys.

No applications will be accepted via fax or email.

All applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 30, 2026.

WHAT’S NEW for the Fiscal Year 2027

PSAP and RECC Support and Incentive Grants

· Language updated throughout for consistency across grants (pp. 4, 18, 19, 20)

· $40,491,171 allocated to the Support grant for Fiscal Year 2027 (p.7).

· Call Volume Year 2025 is used. Grantees that would be impacted by a decrease in call volume will receive the allocation equivalent to their Fiscal Year 2026 award (p.7).

· TERT incentive added to the Support Grant (p. 8)

· Incentive for consolidation of police, fire and ems dispatch within a municipality (p. 8)

· Language added relative to electronic signature (pp. 14-15)

· Budget modification processing timeline extended to 15 business days (p. 18)

· Clarification added to reimbursement for expenses incurred language (p. 18)

· “District” added to reimbursement section (p. 18)

· Reimbursement processing timeline extended to 45 business days (p. 20)

· Language regarding payment notification has been updated (p. 20)

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

Governor Maura T. Healey, Secretary, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Gina K. Kwon, and Executive Director of the State 911 Department Frank Pozniak are pleased to announce the availability of funding for the Fiscal Year 2027 State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grant Programs.

The State 911 Department is a department within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and is responsible for administering the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grant Programs. The Department invites eligible entities to submit applications for grant funds under the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grant Programs. All information needed to apply, including program guidelines, is contained in these guidelines and the application package.

The following guidelines have been developed for the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants and are applicable for Fiscal Year 2027.

The guidelines and funding levels will be reviewed annually by the State 911 Department and are subject to change, with State 911 Commission approval, with each funding cycle.

Note: The Fiscal Year 2027 Grant will begin on July 1, 2026 and run through June 30, 2027. The “Effective Date” of the individual awards shall be determined in accordance with Section 1 of the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions, which provides as follows: “The effective start date of performance under a Contract shall be the date a Contract has been executed by an authorized signatory of the Contractor, the Department, a later date specified in the Contract or the date of any approvals required by law or regulations, whichever is later.” There shall be no reimbursement for costs incurred prior to the Effective Date of the Contract, and all goods and services MUST be received on or before June 30, 2027.

II. Definitions

Throughout this document and related application, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

Commission: the State 911 Commission.

Commonwealth: the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Computer Aided Dispatch or CAD: a computer-based system intended to increase the efficiency and accuracy of public safety call handling and dispatching.

Coordination: assignment or request for assignment of police, fire, emergency medical resources or any combination thereof, from multiple jurisdictions to a specific incident or incidents.

Customer Premises Equipment or CPE: enhanced 911 call processing equipment located at a PSAP.

Department: the State 911 Department.

Dispatch: upon receipt of a telephone, radio, alarm signal or other request for emergency services, provide a decision as to the proper action to be taken and directly select, identify and assign a specific police, fire, emergency medical resource or resources, mobile behavioral health crisis response service, or any combination thereof to respond to such request for service.

Enhanced 911 Fund: the fund established under M.G.L. c. 10, section 35JJ.

Enhanced 911 Service: a service consisting of communication network, database and equipment features provided for subscribers or end users of communication services enabling such subscribers or end users to reach a PSAP by dialing the digits 911, or by other means approved by the department, that directs calls to the appropriate PSAPs based on selective routing and provides the capability for automatic number identification and automatic location identification.

Enhanced 911 Telecommunicator: individual who acts in the capacity of an enhanced 911 call taker.

Electrostatic Discharge or ESD: sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two objects that are at different electrical potentials.

Executive Director: the executive director of the State 911 Department.

Governmental Body: a state board, committee, special committee, subcommittee or commission, however created or constituted within the executive or legislative branch of the commonwealth or the governing board or body of any authority established by the general court to serve a public purpose in the commonwealth or any part thereof; a board, commission, committee or subcommittee of any district, city, region or town, however elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, and the governing board of a local housing, redevelopment or similar authority, provided that such entity currently operates a PSAP or RECC or seeks approval from the Department to operate a PSAP or RECC.

Grantee: an eligible applicant that has contracted with the State 911 Department to receive funds under the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grant Programs. Only governmental bodies and municipalities are eligible to be grantees.

Jurisdiction: A municipality, the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, or any other agency or entity established by legislation to carry out similar municipal purposes and powers as the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.

Limited Secondary PSAP: a PSAP equipped, at a minimum, with automatic number identification and automatic location identification display or printout capability. It receives 911 calls only if transferred from the primary PSAP. Data sent to a limited secondary PSAP cannot be re-routed to another location and may not necessarily be transmitted simultaneously with the voice call.

Municipality: Any city or town within the Commonwealth.

Primary PSAP: a PSAP equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays, and is the first point of reception of a 911 call. It serves the municipality in which it is located.

Private Safety Department: an entity, except for a municipality or public safety department that provides emergency police, fire, ambulance or medical services.

Program: the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants Program.

Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP: a facility assigned the responsibility of receiving 911 calls, and as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency response services or transferring or relaying emergency 911 calls to other public or private safety agencies or other PSAPs.

Public Safety Department: a functional division of a municipality or a state that provides firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical or other emergency services.

Radio Console: the control panel or interface comprised of hardware, including common control hardware, and software components used to monitor, control, and integrate multiple public safety radios or radio systems by a dispatcher in a PSAP using a common microphone, speaker and user interface. This does not include any radio system components.

Radio Systems: base station, portable and mobile radios and related components, including but not limited to, antennas, antenna towers, amplifiers, receivers, and repeaters.

Regional Dispatch: providing dispatch services for two or more public safety departments that serve two or more jurisdictions.

Regional Emergency Communication Center or RECC: a facility operated by or on behalf of 2 or more municipalities or governmental bodies, or combination thereof, as approved by the Department, that enter into an agreement for the establishment and provision of regional dispatch and coordination of emergency services for all such municipalities or governmental bodies including, but not limited to, a regional PSAP that provides enhanced 911 service and police, fire protection, and emergency medical services dispatch, including services provided by a private safety department. The regional PSAP portion of the center shall be equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays, as approved by the department, and is the first point of reception of a 911 call.

Regional PSAP: a PSAP operated by or on behalf of 2 or more municipalities or governmental bodies, or combination thereof, approved by the Department, for the operation of enhanced 911call taking and call transfer activities. A regional PSAP may also be engaged in, by agreement, the dispatching or control of public safety resources serving some or all of the municipalities or governmental bodies that comprise the regional PSAP, including where services are provided by a private safety department. If the regional PSAP serves all such municipalities or governmental bodies for the operation of enhanced 911 call taking and call transfer activities and dispatch services including where some dispatch services are provided by a private safety department, it shall be considered a regional emergency communication center. The regional PSAP shall be equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays, as approved by the department, and is the first point of reception of a 911 call.

Regional Secondary PSAP: a facility operated by or on behalf of 3 or more municipalities or governmental bodies, or a combination thereof, approved by the Department, that enter into an agreement for the establishment and provision of regional dispatch and coordination of either police, fire protection or emergency medical services, or any combination thereof. A regional secondary PSAP is equipped with automatic number identification and automatic location identification displays. It receives 911 calls only when transferred from a primary or regional PSAP or on an alternative routing basis when calls cannot be completed to the primary or regional PSAP.

Ringing PSAP: a PSAP equipped for receipt of voice communications only, and may not operate 24 hours each day. It receives 911 calls that are transferred from the primary PSAP.

Salary: compensation paid to full-time and part-time employees to include straight time, overtime, contract differentials, sick, vacation, and personal leave; associated fringe benefits and/or indirect costs as applied by a municipality or the Commonwealth. Salary does not include contractual reimbursements prior to the contract effective date, lump sum payments (e.g., lump sum educational incentive payments, longevity payments, etc.), stipends, buy-outs and/or extended sick, extended vacation, extended personal leave, jury duty, active duty, or attendance at conferences/meetings.

Secondary PSAP: a PSAP equipped with ANI and ALI displays. It receives 911 calls only when they are transferred from the primary PSAP or on an alternative routing basis when calls cannot be completed to the primary PSAP.

Wireless State Police PSAP: a state police facility assigned the responsibility of primarily or entirely receiving wireless 911 calls and, as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency response services or transferring or relaying emergency 911 calls to other public or private safety departments or other PSAPs.

Wireline Enhanced 911 Service: service provided by a wireline carrier that connects a subscriber dialing or entering the digits 911 to a PSAP.

III. Eligibility

A. Support Grant

Primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs are eligible to participate in the Program and are eligible to receive support grant funding.

For Fiscal Year 2027, $40,491,171[footnoteRef:2] of the total surcharge revenues of the previous fiscal year shall be allocated to the support grant awards. [2: Increased to 23.93% - .2% of which is dedicated to allocation to Regional PSAPs and RECCs; 1.99% to be held for dispatch of mobile behavioral health crisis response service; 0.08% to be held for TERT incentive,; and 1% to be held for Primary PSAP consolidation efforts.]

Support grant awards shall be disbursed according to a formula that weighs both 911 call volume and population served.[footnoteRef:3] [3: 2025 Call Volume and 2020 U.S. Census will be utilized for Fiscal Year 2027. For Fiscal Year 2027, awards will be adjusted so that awardees impacted by a decrease in population and/or call volume will receive the allocation equivalent to their Fiscal Year 2026 award.]

A complete listing of eligible award amounts by PSAP can be found in Appendix A - Award Amounts by PSAP.

In addition to the allocations noted in Appendix A, Primary PSAPs, Regional Secondary PSAPs, Regional PSAPs, and Regional Emergency Communications Centers that dispatch mobile behavioral health crisis response services shall receive additional support grant funding to be used for allowable expenses as follows:

Primary PSAPs, Regional Secondary PSAPs, Regional PSAPs, and Regional Emergency Communication Centers shall provide a copy of its policy/procedure detailing the dispatching of mobile behavioral health crisis response services.

(The calendar year 2025 call volume is available on our website at www.mass.gov/e911.)

Further, additional funding above that noted in Appendix A, is available to Primary PSAPs, Regional Secondary PSAPs, Regional PSAPs, and Regional Emergency Communications Centers that have a credentialed Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force (TERT) member(s) to compensate PSAPs and RECCs for costs that may be incurred with participation in a TERT deployment (including a mock deployment). Primary PSAPs, Regional Secondary PSAPs, Regional PSAPs, and Regional Emergency Communications Centers shall receive an additional allocation of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per credentialed TERT member. Cost may be utilized in compliance with costs categories noted below, as identified on the Appendix C of the Application Packet. Applicant shall include MA COMU TERT credential letter for each employee noted on this worksheet.

Finally, additional funding may be available to primary PSAPs seeking to consolidate dispatch services (police, fire, ems) within a municipality. Such PSAP shall petition the Executive Director for consideration of additional funding not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the project cost. Said petition shall clearly document the PSAP’s plan, including proposed budget, to consolidate such services, addressing how said consolidation maximizes effective emergency 9-1-1 and dispatch services thereby enhancing public safety. The petition shall address, at a minimum, staffing, how the proposed consolidation effort reduces transfers, and how emergency medical dispatch will be provided. The Department reserves the right to request additional documentation to assist it with the evaluation of said petition. Awarded funding may be utilized in compliance with costs categories noted below. Consideration of petition is subject to the availability of funds at the time the petition is received.

B. Incentive Grant

In addition to amounts allocated as part of the above support grant, existing regional PSAPs and RECCs are eligible to receive additional incentive grant funding through the Program based on the following allocation formula:

i) for regional PSAPs serving 2 municipalities, 1 percent of the total surcharge revenues of the previous fiscal year;

ii) for regional PSAPs serving 3 to 9 municipalities, 3 percent of the total surcharge revenues of the previous fiscal year;

iii) for regional PSAPs serving 10 or more municipalities, 3 percent of the total surcharge revenues of the previous fiscal year; and

iv) for regional emergency communication centers, 18 percent of the total surcharge revenues of the previous fiscal year.

Further, in recognition of the significant investment the Department has made in Regional PSAPs and RECCs through the Development Grant, Regional PSAPs and RECCs may apply for a one-time increase in its allocation to support up to sixty percent (60%) of one (1) maintenance contract which meets all other eligibility criteria of these guidelines. However, no such request shall exceed three hundred and fourteen thousand dollars ($314,000). This additional funding shall be used solely for the purpose for which it was applied and shall not be subject to the provisions noted in Section VIII budget modifications.

Funds shall be disbursed according to a formula that weighs both 911 call volume and population served. A listing of the allocations available under the incentive grant by category i to iv above can be found in Appendix A- Award Amounts by PSAP.

The percentages in clauses i to iv, inclusive, and the percentages of the total amounts allocated to each grantee eligible within such clauses i through iv may be adjusted by the State 911 Commission to ensure a proper allocation of incentive funds as more regional PSAPs and RECCs are added.

The amount allocated to a grantee or grantees under the Support and/or Incentive Grants may be adjusted or capped. In addition, should the status and/or dynamic of a primary PSAP, regional PSAP, RECC or regional secondary PSAP change during this funding cycle, the State 911 Department may take the following actions:

· Should a primary PSAP, regional PSAP, RECC, or regional secondary PSAP cease to exist, said PSAP will no longer be eligible for funding under the Support and/or Incentive Grants. The contract shall be terminated immediately.

· Should a primary PSAP, regional PSAP, RECC, or regional secondary PSAP increase its capacity through consolidation with another PSAP(s) or accepting wireless 911 calls directly, the State 911 Department will re-calculate the eligible award amount taking into account the increased population, call volume and documented additional need, if any, to ensure the success of the regionalization effort. This new allocation as determined by the Department would then be off-set by the funding already received and the difference would be pro-rated to allow for funding for the balance of the grant cycle.

· The State 911 Department may limit allowable expenses and/or approved categories of expenses for a PSAP that is regionalizing.

IV. Purpose

Funding for the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants comes from a portion of revenues received pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 6A, Section 18H. The purpose of the State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants is to assist PSAPs and RECCs in providing enhanced 911 service and to encourage the development of regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs.

Further, in support of the Commonwealth’s Environmental Justice goal, all applicants shall incorporate the Commonwealth’s Environmental Justice principles, where applicable. For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-environmental-justice-equity-oeje

V. Use of Funding

Grantees may only use grant funds for the purposes listed below. Use of all grant funding shall be: (a) related to the provision of enhanced 911 service; and (b) approved by the State 911 Department. Funds shall not be used for any equipment, personnel or services that are not directly related to the provision of enhanced 911 service. The State 911 Department reserves the right to reject the funding of items that are equivalent to items that have been purchased with State 911 Department grant funds and are still within their industry standard accepted shelve lives. Additionally, the State 911 Department reserves the right, consistent with these guidelines, to provide or deny funding for types or classes of items that have been permitted or denied in prior grant cycles.

The State 911 Department will allow funding for the purchase or lease of equipment and for debt service on equipment, including without limitation, principal and interest payments on loans, notes, and bonds. The State 911 Department will allow grantees to assign lease, debt service, and/or incremental purchase costs to this grant. However, any and all funding requested under this grant program shall be for goods and/or services received. Funding will not be disbursed for obligations made without receipt of goods/services. The State 911 Department makes no guarantee of funding from year to year and does not assume any obligation, as guarantor or otherwise, under any purchase, lease, or debt instrument.

Allowable Expenses Unless otherwise noted, primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs shall be eligible to receive reimbursement of allowable expenses related to the categories below. Primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, and RECCs who transfer 911 calls to a secondary PSAP or when 911 calls are routed to a secondary PSAP on an alternative routing basis may be reimbursed for the allowable expenses of such secondary PSAP. Funding shall not be available for expenses of a ringing PSAP or a limited secondary PSAP, except where such limited secondary PSAP is the certified emergency medical dispatch resource for the PSAP, unless otherwise approved by the State 911 Department in situations where such limited secondary PSAP or ringing secondary PSAP is transitioning to combined dispatch or to a regional PSAP or RECC.

The State 911 Department reserves the right to request modifications to specifications and/or quantities contained in the quotes/statement of works submitted under this grant program. Further, the State 911 Department reserves the right to limit funding for the purchase of commodities and services noted in the quotes/statement of works submitted under the grant program.

A. Enhanced 911 Telecommunicator Personnel Costs – to defray the costs of salary for enhanced 911 telecommunicator personnel, including enhanced 911 telecommunicators who are emergency communications dispatchers or supervisors or certified telecommunicators who are conducting quality control/quality assurance for the applicant. In order to be eligible for such funding, a grantee shall show that the personnel costs to be reimbursed: (1) cover only personnel who are trained and certified as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator in accordance with the requirements of the State 911 Department, or are in the process of obtaining such certification, in accordance with the requirements of the State 911 Department; and (2) except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department, are solely for hours in which such personnel are working in the capacity of an enhanced 911 telecommunicator as their primary job function; and (3) except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department, are solely for hours in which such personnel are conducting quality control/quality assurance of 911 calls. Reimbursement may be allowed for straight time costs for on the job training for new telecommunicators who are in the process of obtaining certification as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator, in accordance with the requirements of the State 911 Department. Reimbursement for personnel costs related to on the job training may be allowed only for training courses that have been approved by the State 911 Department under the Fiscal Year 2027 State 911 Department Training Grant, or with the prior written approval of the State 911 Department. Reimbursement for personnel costs for individuals who have other primary job duties not directly related to enhanced 911 service, such as firefighters or police officers who may occasionally be assigned PSAP enhanced 911 telecommunicator duty, may be allowed only for the documented hours in which the employee is acting primarily in the capacity of an enhanced 911 telecommunicator. For example, if a police officer or firefighter is assigned to work as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator 1 day a week, funding from these grants may only be used to cover the portion of such firefighter or police officer’s salary for the 1 day a week that he or she is assigned to enhanced 911 telecommunicator duty. Funding awarded through these grants shall be assigned to specific identified personnel, and the funding shall be applied to the personnel costs associated with such specific identified personnel.

All wage reimbursements authorized under this Program shall be allocated by the grantee in adherence with applicable collective bargaining agreements. However, the State 911 Department is not bound by or required to adhere to grantee collective bargaining agreements when determining allocations or reimbursements.

Certified enhanced 911 telecommunicators for whom reimbursement requests are submitted shall be identified on the Personnel Costs form contained in the Application Package. A PSAP may add a certified enhanced 911 telecommunicator following the award of the grant by submitting a request to 911DeptGrants@mass.gov. Said request shall contain the information noted on the Personnel Costs form contained in the Application Package and shall provide documentation of the required certifications received from attendance at courses hosted by an entity other than the State 911 Department. Such request shall be submitted by an authorized signatory. The State 911 Department will review the request and advise, in writing, whether or not the request has been approved.

B. Heat, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Other Environmental Control Equipment – to defray costs associated with the acquisition and maintenance of heat, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment and other environmental control equipment. Such funds may only be used to purchase, install, replace, maintain, operate and/or upgrade such equipment used in the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service.

C. Computer-aided Dispatch Systems – to defray costs associated with the purchase, installation, replacement, maintenance and/or upgrade of CAD hardware and software used by emergency communication dispatchers, call takers, and 911 operators in primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs to initiate public safety calls for service and dispatch, and to maintain the status of responding resources in the field. Funds may be used for mobile devices that are linked to a CAD system. Primary PSAPs may not use funding for records management systems, whether or not part of a CAD system. Regional PSAPs and RECCs may apply for funding for records management systems.

D. Radio Consoles – to defray costs associated with the purchase, installation, replacement, maintenance, and/or upgrade of radio consoles to be used at primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs. Such funds may only be used to purchase, install, replace, maintain, and/or upgrade such radio consoles used in the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service. All radio consoles shall comply with EOPSS Statewide Interoperability Emergency Committee (“SIEC”) special conditions, as may be amended from time to time. The State 911 Department will submit requests for such funding to the SIEC and/or the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (“SWIC”) for review and confirmation that the requested item(s) comply with the SIEC special conditions.

Applicants requesting funds for interoperable communications components, such as the purchase of radios, or other communication system components, are subject to an additional approval process per Massachusetts Executive Order 493, by the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) or a representative thereof. Applicants must complete the Interoperable Communications Investment Proposal (ICIP) template and submit it as part of its application. The template is available at HTTPS://www.mass.gov/statewide-office-of-public-safety-interoperability.

Questions relating to the SIEC special conditions should be directed to the SWIC. You may e-mail the SWIC at MA.SWIC@mass.gov.

E. Console Furniture and Dispatcher Chairs – to defray costs associated with the purchase, installation, replacement, maintenance, and/or upgrade of console furniture and dispatcher chairs necessary for enhanced 911 telecommunicators working at primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs to perform their jobs effectively and in an ergonomically appropriate manner. Such funds may only be used to purchase, install, replace, maintain, and/or upgrade such console furniture and dispatcher chairs, including shelving, storage cabinets, and rotary resource files, used in the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service, except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department, based on supporting documentation that the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service is inadequate to house the equipment, or except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department based on supporting documentation.

F. Fire Alarm Receiving and Alerting Equipment Associated with Providing Enhanced 911 Service – to defray costs associated with the purchase, installation, replacement, maintenance, and/or update of fire alarm receiving and alerting equipment used at primary PSAPs, regional PSAPs, regional secondary PSAPs, and RECCs. Funding may be used to purchase, install, replace, maintain, and/or update systems used by such PSAPs to alert remote station personnel of emergency responses, including hardware and components installed within remote station locations. Funding for street or structure-based cable or radio fire alarm boxes and related hardware is not permitted.

G. Other Equipment and Related Maintenance Associated with Providing Enhanced 911 Service– to defray costs associated with the purchase, installation, replacement, and/or maintenance of other equipment used in the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service, except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department, based on supporting documentation that the physical space used for the provision of enhanced 911 service is inadequate to house the equipment, or except as otherwise approved by the State 911 Department based on supporting documentation. Funding may be used for, but is not limited to: support technology (such as printers, headsets, and call recorders); supplies (such as disc and printer cartridges); hardware and support costs (excluding monthly recurring telephone service costs) for telephones; acoustic wall and/or ceiling coverings; ESD-resistant flooring; lighting; and security equipment used for securing access to the PSAP to prevent entry by the public or unauthorized personnel.

H. Regional PSAPs and RECCs ONLY:

Public Safety Radio Systems – to defray costs associated with the acquisition and maintenance of radio systems (including circuit costs for connectivity) used for police, fire, emergency medical services, and/or emergency management communications. All radio systems shall comply with EOPSS Statewide Interoperability Emergency Committee (“SIEC”) special conditions, as may be amended from time to time. The State 911 Department will submit requests for such funding to the SIEC and/or the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (“SWIC”) for review and confirmation that the requested item(s) comply with the SIEC special conditions.

Applicants requesting funds for interoperable communications components, such as the purchase of radios, or other communication system components, are subject to an additional approval process per Massachusetts Executive Order 493, by the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) or a representative thereof. Applicants must complete the Interoperable Communications Investment Proposal (ICIP) template and submit it as part of its application. The template is available at HTTPS://www.mass.gov/statewide-office-of-public-safety-interoperability.

Questions relating to the SIEC guidelines should be directed to the SWIC. Send email to MA.SWIC@mass.gov.

Only Regional PSAPs and RECCs are eligible for funding in this category.

I. Regional Secondary PSAPs ONLY:

Regional Secondary PSAP 911 Customer Premises Equipment Maintenance – to defray costs associated with maintaining PSAP 911 customer premises equipment. ONLY regional secondary PSAPs are eligible for funding in this category.

(The Department assumes the responsibility of all costs for maintenance of CPE at all primary PSAPs and regional PSAPs and RECCs). Note: Regional Secondary PSAPs are eligible for the purchase, installation and/or upgrade of CPE equipment under the State 911 Department Regional PSAP and Regional Secondary PSAP and RECC Development Grant.

All goods and services SHALL be received on or before June 30, 2027 to be eligible for reimbursement under the Fiscal Year 2027 State 911 Department Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communication Center Support and Incentive Grants.

The State 911 Department may grant an extension, not to exceed ninety (90) days from the end of the contract period, for the receipt of goods and services after June 30, 2027 if the grantee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the State 911 Department that the goods and services will not be received on or before June 30, 2027 solely as the result of the vendor’s inability to deliver such goods and services, through no fault of the grantee, on or before June 30, 2027. Any request for an extension shall be made on or before March 31, 2027 and shall be supported by appropriate documentation. Failure to request an extension on or before March 31, 2027 may result in denial of said request and denial of reimbursement for any and all costs associated with goods/services not received on or before June 30, 2027.

All technology or telecommunications related goods or services must be compliant with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards. Grantees shall specify that they have referenced https://www.mass.gov/it-accessibility, https://www.access-board.gov/, the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board regulations at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/architectural-access-board, and the

Massachusetts Office on Disability standards and best practices at https://www.mass.gov/disability-rights-resources to determine what laws, rules, and standards apply and what efforts they have made to ensure specific compliance therewith. Failure to make adequate ascertains of compliance will result in denial of funding for the requested goods or services.

VI. Application Process

All applicants shall submit to the State 911 Department one (1) original, including budget worksheet and detail narrative, supporting documentation, a fully executed Commonwealth of Massachusetts Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Form, and completion of the highlighted areas of the Commonwealth’s Standard Contract Form signed by an authorized signatory for the grant.

In addition, regional PSAPs and RECCs shall submit, with their grant application, a copy of the current fiscal year and previous fiscal year’s detailed Departmental budget supporting the applicant, a five (5) year capital budget and an organizational chart that clearly defines all positions. Other applicants shall provide this information upon request. Submissions must be detailed by line item showing all operational costs, including salaries and related overtime in support of running the operations. All funding sources, including 911 funds, must be included in this submission. Regional PSAPs and RECCs shall provide, upon request, a current inter-municipal agreement, district agreement, joint service agreement, service exchange agreement, or other equivalent formal, binding contract (“IMA”).

Budget Worksheet and Detail Narrative:

· Use the worksheet provided to summarize the amounts planned to be spent in each category.

· Use the narrative section to explain, in detail, the basis of the funding in each category. Be as specific as possible and include quotes, brand names and model numbers where applicable and available. For example, if the grantee has $1,000.00 in the “furniture, chairs” column, the grantee shall justify the computation of that budget item in the narrative such as “4 Acme model EZ dispatch chairs at $250.00 per chair.”

DO NOT SUBMIT BLANK PAGES FOR WHICH NO FUNDING IS REQUESTED.

THE APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION SHALL NOT BE DOUBLE SIDED.

All applications must be signed and submitted by an authorized signatory of the applicant.

All applications shall be mailed, hand-delivered to the address below, or submitted via Commbuys (www.commbuys.com). No applications will be accepted via fax or email. Original signatures or electronic signatures (approved by the Office of the State Comptroller) are required.

There are three types of electronic signatures:

1) Traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper);

2) Electronic signature that is either: a. hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or b. An upload picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature; and

3) Electronic signature affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign.

Typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool, computer generated cursive, or an electronic symbol are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

151 Campanelli Drive, Suite A Middleborough, MA 02346

ALL GRANT APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE STATE 911 DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2026.

The State 911 Department reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to extend the application deadline.

VII. Grant Review and Selection Process

The State 911 Department staff will review all applications and make selection recommendations to the Executive Director or his designee. The State 911 Department staff will use its best efforts to review grant applications and to take the following action within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the grant application: 1) request additional information from the applicant in the event that the grant application is not complete; 2) recommend approval of the grant; or 3) recommend denial of the grant, in part or in its entirety. If the State 911 Department staff determines, based upon its review of the grant application, that the grant application is not complete, the State 911 Department will notify the applicant by telephone and/or e-mail of the need to provide additional information and will notify the applicant that such additional information shall be provided to the State 911 Department staff in order to complete the application. If the applicant fails to provide the requested information necessary to complete the application, the State 911 Department may consider the application closed and return the application to the applicant. If the application is closed and returned to the applicant, the applicant may resubmit the application, in which case the application will be considered a new application, and the review period will begin again.

Any denial of a grant application, in whole or in part, may be appealed to the Executive Director, or his designee, with supporting documentation. The Executive Director will use his best efforts to respond to the appeal within five (5) business days. All decisions of the Executive Director are final.

The State 911 Department reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or extend any of the above timelines.

Adherence to the conditions detailed within the grant application package and other factors will be considered. These factors include:

· a reasonable, properly completed budget and application;

· applicant’s adherence to filing requirements of the PSAP/RECC Annual Certification of Compliance;

· applicant’s adherence to MassGIS reporting and filing requirement;

· applicant’s documentation of its due diligence to comply with MassGIS directive and any other issued directive;

· applicant’s adherence to filing requirements of its Primary PSAP, Regional PSAP, or RECC Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP);

· applicant’s acknowledgement of its alternate; and

· applicant’s adherence to grant guidelines and reporting requirements.

VIII. Grant Funding Process

Upon completion of the grant review process, the State 911 Department will enter into contracts with approved applicants. As of the effective date of the contract, the grantee can incur costs and seek reimbursement from the State 911 Department, provided that all award conditions have been satisfied.

In addition:

· Grantees are expected to provide MassGIS with the following information: 1) updated standardized parcel mapping that includes a current MassGIS extract from the assessor’s database or, if the maps were not updated in the prior calendar year, a standardized extract from the assessor’s database current as of January 1 of the calendar year of the grant application; and 2) timely notification of all new or changed addresses or notice that there have been no new or changed addresses. At a minimum, MassGIS shall be notified twice a year by the addressing authority of all new or changed addresses, or if there are no changes in the community. Regional PSAPs and RECCs are also expected to make reasonable efforts by communicating to their member municipalities that they must provide MassGIS with such information. Please note that funding under the State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant shall not be awarded until the Grantee’s compliance with the aforementioned requirement has been demonstrated, or as otherwise authorized by the State 911 Department’s Executive Director. A list of PSAPs’/RECCs’ compliance status can be found on the MassGIS website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/check-your-911-grant-eligibility-status) under the section titled “What would you like to do” click on “Check your State 911 Grant Eligibility Status”. Open the link “Excel Document”. This list or other documentation demonstrating compliance shall be submitted as part of the PSAP’s/RECC’s application. Primary PSAPs, Regional PSAPs, Regional Secondary PSAPs, and RECCs should contact MassGIS via e-mail at massgismail@mass.gov for assistance. Please note “911 Grant” in the subject line.

· Please note that funding under the State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant shall not be awarded until the Grantee has received the State 911 Department’s written approval of the Grantee’s PSAP/RECC Annual Certification of Compliance Form, or as otherwise authorized by the Department.

· The State 911 Department will not reimburse for costs incurred prior to the effective date of the contract, except as requested by the applicant and approved by the State 911 Department, or as otherwise noted herein.

· All funding is subject to the availability of funds.

· Grantees shall maintain and retain accounting and other records of Program-related information as required by applicable state and local laws and regulations and are subject to examination, audit, and inspection by the State 911 Department and/or any other local, state, or federal agency that has appropriate jurisdictional authority.

· The State 911 Department reserves the right to withhold future grant funding and/or disqualify grantee from participating in future grant awards if any grant funds received by grantee are not properly accounted for, and/or if grantee fails to meet reporting requirements, including without limitation, annual submission of PSAP’s COOP as well as other reporting and/or certification requirements set forth in regulations and/or standards established by the State 911 Department.

· Grantees are advised that the State 911 Department may escalate any and all non-compliance issues should the non-compliance not be immediately resolved upon notification and may suspend funding under this grant program and/or any other grant program administered by the State 911 Department.

· Should a Grantee withdraw from a regional project (through dissolution, termination, or amendment of the IMA, or otherwise), the State 911 Department reserves its rights to seek reimbursement (including from non-Grantees) of any and all grant funding disbursed to the Grantee.

· All goods and services shall be received on or before June 30, 2027, except as otherwise expressly noted herein.

· Any funding received for which goods and or services are not received on or before June 30, 2027 shall be promptly returned to the State 911 Department, unless otherwise approved by the State 911 Department.

· Funding of reimbursement requests received after September 1, 2027, the close of the fiscal year under which costs were incurred, cannot be guaranteed.

· Disposal of Equipment Purchased with Grant Funding: Grantees may replace and/or dispose of equipment purchased with funds under the State 911 Department grant programs only if such equipment has reached the end of its useful life, in accordance with the manufacturer’s warranty or industry expected useful life, whichever is longer. Disposal shall comply with municipal guidelines, and equipment may be transferred to public entities for public municipal purposes only.

Budget Modifications

After contract execution, the grantee is permitted to reallocate not more than 25% of the total award amount between approved categories of use set forth in Section V. “Use of Funding” above for approved items without requesting prior approval from the State 911 Department. For example, if a PSAP is awarded a $10,000 contract to fund $5,000 in personnel costs (category A) and $5,000 for dispatcher chairs (category E) and determines that reimbursement of additional personnel costs is warranted, it may reallocate $2,500 (25% of the award) from category E to category A without receiving approval from the State 911 Department. The PSAP’s new budget becomes $7,500 for category A and $2,500 for category E.

A grantee shall be permitted to reallocate funding through a budget modification when:

1) reallocation is between previously approved budget categories and approved items but exceeds 25% of the total contract award;

2) reallocation is for an item or quantity not previously approved that falls within a previously approved budget category; or

3) reallocation falls within a budget category not previously requested in the initial grant application.

Such budget modifications shall be subject to the prior written approval of the State 911 Department, and such approval shall be sought and obtained PRIOR to implementation of such reallocation or new budget items/expenses.

Budget modification forms can be found at www.mass.gov/e911. This form should be completed and forwarded along with a brief narrative explaining the requested changes. Budget modifications along with requested narrative and quotes (if applicable) MUST be submitted to:

151 Campanelli Drive, Suite A Middleborough, MA 02346 Attn: State 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant Program or 911DeptGrants@mass.gov

Although the State 911 Department will endeavor to provide authorization or denial of authorization to the PSAP within fifteen (15) business days of the request, failure of the State 911 Department to respond within such fifteen (15) business days does not confer authorization. No authorization for reimbursement will be made without the prior express written approval of the State 911 Department.

Grantees are strongly encouraged to submit final, year-end budget modification requests on or before March 31, 2027.

The State 911 Department reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or extend any of the above timelines.

Reimbursement Process

A. Reimbursement for Expenses Incurred

After contract execution by the State 911 Department, the grantee can incur costs and seek reimbursement from the Department. Approval of reimbursement is conditional on the reasonableness of the request and adequacy of documentation at the time funds are to be disbursed.

Reimbursement requests should be submitted to the Department within thirty (30) days of the date on which the cost is incurred. Failure to submit requests within the noted timeframe may result in a delay of the funding process as detailed above.