The open application period began 25 April 2007 and ended 2359EDT 29 June 2007.
•CEDAP Basics
•CEDAP Application Process
•Ten Reasons CEDAP Applications are Declined

CEDAP Basics:

This Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) assists smaller communities’ responder agencies as well as college and university campus security forces and state and local detention facilities in the opportunity to acquire commercially available equipment to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorist attacks, as identified in state homeland security strategies.

This is a direct assistance program, not a grant program. That means that awardees receive assets – the equipment needed to meet the mission – not money. DHS provides the equipment and technical assistance directly to the awardees. Current and prior phases of the program have offered equipment in the following categories:

• personal protective equipment
• thermal imaging, night vision, and video surveillance tools
• chemical and biological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools
• interoperable communications equipment

CEDAP Application Process

For CEDAP information and future phase applications, go to the Responders Knowledge Base website (login required)

Register with the Responder Knowledge Base. In order to access CEDAP information and applications, you must register yourself and your agency at this website. Registration is easy. Once registered, you will have access to the CEDAP pages including detailed information on the products offered.

Eligibility is based on several criteria. CEDAP equipment will be provided mainly to small agencies, departments and jurisdictions. Jurisdictions will have to show they have not been able to purchase this equipment through other sources such as the DHS State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) or Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) program. Not sure if you're in a UASI area? Go to http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/grants-2007-program-overview-010507.pdf to see if your jurisdiction falls under any of the UASI funded areas. Even if your agency falls within a UASI area, if you have not received UASI related funding you may still be eligible.

If you cannot determine your eligibility status, contact your State Administrating Agency (SAA). You can find that contact information at http://www.dhs.gov/xgovt/grants/index.shtm. The State SAA will check applications for consistency with their State’s homeland security strategy. To insure this process goes smoothly contact you SAA prior to applying for CEDAP.

Apply online at the Responder Knowledge Base website. All applications must be completed on line at the RKB web site. No paper submittals are allowed.

CEDAP Eligible technologies can be found on the Responder Knowledge Base website. To find eligible products, log in to the Responder Knowledge Base, go to the CEDAP area and look for “Eligible Products” under “Knowledge Links” in the navigation area.

Demonstration of use. Applying responder agencies must demonstrate in their application that the technologies requested will be used in collaboration with other first responders, including activities such as plans for sharing of equipment, joint training or use of equipment, joint operational planning and so forth.

Complete applications. Applying agencies must answer ALL questions clearly and fully. Incomplete applications are removed from processing.

Only one application per jurisdiction will be accepted.

Unsuccessful CEDAP Applications

Here are some of the most common reasons why CEDAP applications may have received lower scores or been rejected:

1. Incomplete answers
2. Lack of detail as to how the equipment would be used in daily operations
3. The response was generic or obviously cut-and-paste from suggested standard text.
4. The answers did not address the equipment requested
5. The answer conveyed a lack of understanding of the equipment requested
6. Insufficient assertion of need or planned use.
7. The response was unclear
8. The answer failed to describe integration of the equipment requested into routine ongoing agency operations
9. The application indicated a lack of coordination between regional agencies
10. Lack of detail regarding the agency's ability to maintain the equipment from a staffing, financial and infrastructure perspective

Need additional help or information? Contact Tracy Williams at tracy_williams@bullard.com.