Subject:
Title
Grant Application with the United States Department of Homeland Security for the BioWatch program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the Public Works Director of the Grant Application with the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) for the BioWatch program.
• Application requests $209,954.00 in continued support of Pinellas County’s (County) existing BioWatch program for pre-award and program costs.
• USDHS agrees to cost share one hundred percent (100%) of approved costs; no County match is required.
• Grant Application is not attached due to security requirements. Public Works (PW) Director will execute and submit on County’s behalf.
• PW staff will ensure Department Director’s wet signature requirement is met on Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Assurances and SF424 application documents.
• Funding for this grant is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget for Public Works in the Air Quality program General Fund.
PID No. 003906A; Request in the amount of $209,954.00; pre-award period June 1, 2025, to January 27, 2026; program period January 28, 2026, to July 31, 2026.Body
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
The purpose of this Grant Application is for continued USDHS funding of the County’s BioWatch Program. BioWatch program field operations and sample collection activities are conducted by the County’s Air Quality Section. Work under this award involves access to sensitive information from the federal government, which must be protected and safeguarded from public disclosure, in compliance with local, state, or federal laws. The continuation application package requires final submittal via grantsolutions.gov by January 16, 2026.
Background/Explanation:
The BioWatch program has been ongoing since 2003 and is subject to certain information security restrictions per USDHS. All information is considered sensitive, but unclassified, for official use only, and not for public disclosure. Any public records requests made relating to this Application should be directed to USDHS.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding request is for $209,954.00 for expenses incurred during the pre-award project period, June 1, 2025 to January 27, 2026, and for project period January 28, 2026 to July 31, 2026. The grant provides 100% reimbursement of eligible costs. No County match is required.
Funding for this grant is included in the FY25-FY26 budget for Public Works in the Air Quality program General Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Director of Public Works to approve this Grant Application is granted under Code Chapter II, Article III, Section 2-62(a)(4) as further delegated per Administrative Memo dated March 28, 2016.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
USDHS
Attachments:
Assurances
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Department Approval Memo
OMB Approval of Intent to Apply
Prior Awards and Amendments
Delegated Grant Authority Memo
OMB Review