Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program

The Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This competitive grant program is designed to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism by providing financial assistance to eligible intercity bus operators. The program emphasizes risk-informed investment, resilience, and collaboration, and it aligns with annually designated National Priority Areas (NPAs). In FY 2025, these NPAs include enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places, supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers, enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency, enhancing election security, and supporting border crisis response and enforcement. The FY 2025 IBSGP has a total expected funding of $1,800,000, with an anticipated number of 14 awards ranging from $20,000 to $1,800,000. The projected application period opens on August 1, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET and closes on August 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The anticipated funding selection date is August 23, 2025, with awards expected no later than September 30, 2025. The projected period of performance is from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027. The grant requires a hard match cost share of at least 50 percent of total project costs, and matching funds must be cash contributions from non-federal sources. In-kind contributions are not permitted. Eligible applicants are private operators providing intercity over-the-road bus transportation that have completed a vulnerability assessment and developed a security plan approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security as required by Section 1531 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Applicants must either operate fixed-route intercity bus transportation services to historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) urban areas or provide at least 50 annual charter bus trips to such areas. Only over-the-road buses meeting specific size and passenger capacity criteria are eligible for security enhancements. Applicants must submit a Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) certification and meet all personnel authorization requirements for application submission. The grant supports allowable costs in categories such as planning, operational activities, equipment and capital projects, training and awareness campaigns, and exercises. Examples include security cameras with live monitoring capability, access control systems, GPS tracking, cybersecurity enhancements, security training for employees, and public awareness campaigns. Certain costs are unallowable, including general maintenance, general-use software or equipment, and pre-award costs except for limited grant writing services. Applications must be submitted via the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system and include all required standard forms, one or two Investment Justifications (IJs) aligned with program goals and NPAs, a detailed budget, and the VASP certification statement. All application documents containing sensitive security information must be labeled and handled in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 1520. FEMA will review applications for eligibility and completeness before scoring them based on criteria such as scope of work, cost-effectiveness, ability to reduce risk, sustainability, timelines, and risk to critical infrastructure. Projects that address NPAs will receive a 20 percent score multiplier. Key contacts for program assistance include FEMA Grants News at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 368-6498, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Additional specialized contacts are provided for financial matters, civil rights compliance, environmental planning and historic preservation, and technical assistance with FEMA GO. All applicants are encouraged to review the Preparedness Grants Manual and ensure compliance with federal grant regulations, procurement standards, and applicable DHS policies.