The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are soliciting volunteers to serve as panelists to review and provide feedback related to the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. Specifically, the panelists will review PSIC Investment Justifications (IJ) and Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIP).

NTIA, in consultation with DHS, has established and implemented a $1 billion grant program to assist public safety agencies in the planning and coordination, acquisition of, deployment of, and training for the use of interoperable communications systems that utilize - or enable interoperability with communications systems that can utilize - reallocated public safety spectrum for radio communications or otherwise improve or advance the interoperability of public safety communications systems that utilize other public safety spectrum bands. The PSIC Grant Program seeks solutions from public safety agencies that (1) achieve meaningful and measurable improvements in the state of interoperability for public safety communications and (2) fill interoperability gaps identified in the SCIPs.

NTIA and DHS jointly announced PSIC awards on July 18, 2007, and awarded funds on September 30, 2007. The majority of funds, however, will not be released to awardees until their SCIPs and related PSIC IJs are approved. States and Territories have until December 3, 2007 to submit detailed SCIPs and IJs. To ensure coordination and alignment between proposed PSIC Investments and the SCIP, NTIA and DHS (specifically the Grant Programs Directorate and the Office of Emergency Communications) are conducting review panels from February 11, 2008 through February 15, 2008.

As a reviewer, you will play a critical role in the evaluation of SCIPs and IJs. Your recommendations will be used by DHS and NTIA in determining whether to approve the IJs and SCIPs. In order to be considered as a reviewer--

• You must be a public sector employee (i.e., local, state, or federal government employee; not a contractor or consultant)
You must have expertise and/or experience with emergency operations, interoperable communications, public safety, or grants management.

All potential reviewers must submit a resume or bio with the information below. Potential reviewers should email this information to PSIC@dhs.gov.

• Name
• Residence (city and State)
• Email / phone number
• Position (i.e., Federal, State, or local government position, including elected government official)
• Years of experience
• Type of experience (e.g., public safety operations, communications interoperability, communications system deployment, spectrum management, grants management)
• Availability for Training Teleconference (weeks of December 5, 2007, and December 12, 2007)
• Availability for Review Panel (week of February 11, 2008)

NTIA and DHS will be accepting applications on a rolling basis to PSIC@dhs.gov through November 9, 2007. NTIA and DHS will review and approve reviewer applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If selected as a reviewer, you will receive electronic copies of the SCIPs and IJs for your assigned States and Territories (a maximum of 3) in December 2007 and be responsible for individually reviewing the material and providing detailed comments and feedback by January 22, 2008. Additionally, you must be available to participate in a reviewer training/orientation conference call in early December 2007 and to attend the review panel meeting, which will be held during the week of February 11, 2008, at a location to be determined. Reimbursement for travel, as well as meal and incidental expenses, will be provided; however, please note that it is your responsibility to cover any costs associated with the time for your participation.

We appreciate your valuable time and input in making this effort a success and look forward to working with you. If you have any questions, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1-800-368-6498 or askcsid@dhs.gov.