Fiscal Year 2025 Port Security Grant Program

The Fiscal Year 2025 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a federal funding initiative focused on strengthening the security of maritime facilities located within navigable waterways of the United States. Since its inception in 2001, the PSGP has awarded approximately $3.38 billion through nearly 5,000 grants, reinforcing the security posture of the nation’s marine transportation system against threats including terrorism, natural disasters, and other major emergencies. The 2025 funding round continues this mission by offering $90 million in grant funding to support the implementation of Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSPs), Facility Security Plans (FSPs), and Vessel Security Plans (VSPs) by eligible entities including port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies. The purpose of the PSGP is to support projects that improve port-wide risk management, maritime infrastructure protection, and emergency preparedness. For FY 2025, the program emphasizes investment in five National Priority Areas (NPAs): protection of soft targets and crowded places, support for Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers, cybersecurity resiliency, election security, and border crisis response. Projects that directly align with these NPAs may receive a 20% scoring boost during evaluation. Additionally, projects benefiting an entire port area or led by public-sector entities can receive a 10% scoring multiplier. The PSGP supports a wide range of eligible costs including planning, operational activities, equipment, capital projects, training, exercises, and public awareness initiatives. Eligible applicants include entities subject to an AMSP under 46 U.S.C. § 70103(b), such as port authorities, MTSA-regulated facility operators, and state, local, and territorial governments. Ferry systems are eligible if not applying to the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). Applications must be submitted by a current, authorized employee of the entity. Only one application per eligible entity per Port Area may be submitted, and each application can include up to five Investment Justifications (IJs). Each IJ must use the OMB-approved template and include a detailed budget and narrative. Subapplicants and subawards are prohibited. The grant has a cost-sharing requirement: public-sector and nonprofit recipients must provide a 25% non-federal match, while private-sector applicants must contribute 50%. Certain exemptions apply, such as for awards totaling $25,000 or less, training for public safety personnel under 46 U.S.C. § 70132, and projects certified by the Captain of the Port as having port-wide benefits. Cost-sharing contributions may be cash or third-party in-kind and must be justified in the IJ. Matching waivers may be requested only post-award under specific hardship conditions. The application period begins August 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET and closes August 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. Awards are expected to be selected by August 23, 2025, and issued by September 30, 2025. The performance period will run from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. Applications must be submitted via FEMA GO, with required forms including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and the PSGP Investment Justification and Detailed Budget Worksheet. Indirect costs and up to 5% of the federal share may be used for management and administration expenses. Contact for general questions is the FEMA Grants News Team (fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov, 800-368-6498). For financial matters, applicants may contact the Grant Programs Directorate Award Administration Division (ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov). Region-specific Preparedness Officers are also available through FEMA regional offices. Additional guidance is provided in the Preparedness Grants Manual. All applicants must be compliant with federal regulations and program-specific security requirements at the time of submission.

Projects aligning with National Priority Areas receive 20% scoring boost; use official IJ template; limit one application per Port Area