Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Director’s Office
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator or assigned Authorized Official designated in writing to accept a grant award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, pursuant to the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Port Security Grant Program, in the amount of $1,411,111, and requiring $470,370 in matching non-Federal funds from the County for a total approved project cost of $1,881,481, for expenses related to Port security enhancements between October 1, 2024 through August 31, 2027; to take all administrative or budgetary actions necessary to accept and implement the grant; and to execute the grant agreement, subject to review and approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
ACTION: (T-11:08 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Port’s Capital Fund in the amount of $1,411,111 for port security enhancement projects and to transfer funds from reserves.
ACTION: (T-11:08 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2024-450.
VOTE: 9-0.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners approval is required to authorize the County Administrator or designee to accept the grant award for funding under the Fiscal Year 2024 Port Security Grant Program.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes the County Administrator to accept a grant to provide funding for high priority security enhancements at Port Everglades that were identified and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port and the Miami Area Maritime Security Committee.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This item supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners' (“Board”) Value of “Building partnership and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the Goal of “Ensuring economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward’s lower and middle class.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) Fiscal Year 2024 Preparedness Grant Programs Final Allocation Announcements were released on August 23, 2024, in Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin No. 517 (see Exhibit 1). Broward County and the Port Everglades Department was awarded grant funding by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA under the Port Security Grant Program (“PSGP”) in an amount of up to $1,411,111 to fund specific priorities to address the prevention of, protection against, response to, and recovery from, incidents or other natural or man-made disasters (to include all hazard compatibility) affecting Port Everglades.
The PSGP grant will provide funding to enhance cybersecurity protection in the Port Everglades security information technology network, both physically and through intelligence-based software. Port Everglades has a robust security network that manages an access control system, CCTV network, and maritime domain awareness. The intent is to mitigate potential vulnerabilities by upgrading the hardware and firmware and adding robust AI-based software which, when implemented, can seamlessly integrate with other cybersecurity solutions. The funding will also be used to upgrade equipment such as network switches and their supporting network modules that are at end of life to improve control of network traffic and assist with control over malicious activities and unauthorized access, and to provide more robust monitoring capabilities to enable better detection of suspicious activities and potential security threats within the network.
Funding for projects approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA require a 25% cost share ($470,370) from Broward County. Total estimated project cost for the approved security projects, including the County matching funds, is $1,881,481.
Approval of this item will allow the County Administrator to approve and delegate digital grant acceptance for the Grant Award Letter (see Exhibit 2) by the Broward County designated Authorized Official to approve the grant award documents. Note that the Grant Award Letter has certain information redacted since it is considered Sensitive Security Information.
In addition to the approved PSGP funding for the County, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (“BSO”) received a separate grant to support their activities at Port Everglades. The $887,500 received by BSO will be used for replacing a boat assigned to the Harbor Patrol Unit at the Port, All-Hazard Incident Management Team training, and for a full-scale cybersecurity exercise.
Source of Additional Information
Rob Jenkins, Security Manager, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-0119
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funding for the required local match will be transferred from Capital Reserves and will be available in the Port Everglades Capital Fund.