The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program funds address the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high threat, high density urban areas, and assist them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. California is home to five of these urban areas and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated the City and County of San Francisco as the fiscal agent for the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). The County, as a member of the Bay Area UASI, will receive $1,499,329 to further develop interoperable communications, and public safety and medical and health preparedness equipment. This amendment will provide funding for asset inventory management software for interoperable communications equipment.  
  
As the fiscal agent for the grant, the City and County of San Francisco has developed a standard form contract for use with all Bay Area UASI partner agencies requiring full indemnification of the City and County of San Francisco. The County has agreed to previous interagency agreements with the City and County of San Francisco, which contained the same language, to participate in regional homeland security efforts and access important Federal funding.

Should the Board decide not to approve entering into this amendment, the County will not receive the additional allocation of the 2010 UASI Grant funds and the interoperable communications public safety equipment project will need to be either funded through another source or not performed, resulting in an impact on the larger East Bay Regional Communications System project.