Title
Authorization to Apply for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Grant Program Funds (Ordinance S-53195) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, and accept, if awarded, up to $16,163,830 from federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 Department of Homeland Security grant funds that include the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) through the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, and request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. Further request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to grant an exception to the indemnity and assumption of liability provision of Phoenix City Code Section 42-18, to allow for mutual indemnification pursuant to Phoenix City Code Section 42-20 for public entities.
Report
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security distributes Homeland Security Grant funds to enhance regional authorities' ability to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters.
The Police and Fire departments use UASI and SHSGP grant funds to purchase equipment and vehicles, conduct training and exercises, assess critical infrastructure sites, and implement target hardening measures to protect critical infrastructure. Programs funded under the Homeland Security Grant Program include the Threat Liaison Officer Program, Community Emergency Response Teams, Rapid Response Task Force, and the Metropolitan Medical Response System.
The Fire and Police departments have received Homeland Security Grant awards since 2003. In 2025, the total grant award from both UASI and SHSGP totaled $17,933,562: $12,910,357 from UASI and $5,023,205 from SHSGP. In 2026, the total regional allocation is $16,163,830 for both UASI and SHSGP. As the primary UASI city, Phoenix is expected to receive a large portion of these funds.
Contract Term
The grant period of performance begins October 1, 2026, and ends September 30, 2029.
Financial Impact
No matching funds are required. The Arizona Department of Homeland Security serves as the primary grantee, with the City of Phoenix receiving funding as a subrecipient. Grant expenditures will be reimbursed through the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and administered by the Phoenix Fire Department and Phoenix Police Department.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police and Fire departments.