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CONTRACT K-1920-45: A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY REGARDING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $854,000 RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO BE ASSIGNED FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF STATEWIDE INFORMATION SHARING, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION, CYBER SECURITY PROJECTS
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BACKGROUND: Generally, the United States Department of Homeland Security guidelines require 80% of grant funds to be awarded to local units of government. However the State can retain a portion of those local funds if approved by a local agency for the benefit of local units of government. Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) have been utilized for the building of the Regional Response System, Interoperability, Information Sharing, Citizen Preparedness with various local jurisdictions throughout the state, with previous City of Norman MOU’s being for the Information Sharing and Critical Infrastructure projects. If approved by the City of Norman a portion of the funds may be retained by the State if those funds are to be used for the benefit of local units of government. In order to accomplish this, the State must obtain an agreement with a partner city through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of the state’s application for the grant. The City of Norman, or other partner local units of government, will not receive funds from this grant as the projects they support benefit all of the local agencies, not just a specific one. Through the grant cycle, however, some funds may be distributed to local units of government through individual sub awards. This MOU and similar MOUs from other partner units of local government, is required for the State’s grant application.
DISCUSSION: The City of Norman is an important partner in the State of Oklahoma’s Fusion Center. The Fusion Center is a central repository of law enforcement-sensitive information that is housed and managed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Other local partners include the City of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Stillwater. Grant funds will be used to fund salaries and benefits, training expenses, oversight, and other costs associated with continued Fusion Center operations.
The City of Norman receives assistance from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Program through initiatives that harden schools and other identified critical assets. Additional initiatives include vulnerability assessments, and emergency planning associated with respect to schools, places of worship, businesses, and other critical assets within the state.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is providing a Cyber Security initiative this year. The focus is to use funding for salaries and benefits, equipment, training, planning, and other operational needs to protect critical cyber assets within the state.
OKOHS respectfully requests that this MOU be approved so they can continue to provide resources that will benefit the entire State. This MOU will assign $854,000 in grant funds to OKOHS to fund applicable salary/benefits, training, equipment, and operational costs related to (1) the Oklahoma Information Fusion Center (OIFC), (2) the School Security Critical Infrastructure Program, and (3) the Cyber Security Program.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that this MOU be signed and returned to the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.