Program Overview
The School Access for Emergency Response program (SAFER) enacted by SB18-158 provides funding for interoperable communication hardware, software, equipment maintenance and training to allow for seamless communications between existing school communications systems and first responder communications systems. Grant recipients may use the money received through the grant program to deliver training programs to teach effective communications with first responders in an emergency, to implement an interoperable technology solution to provide or upgrade a system for effective communication with first responders in an emergency, to maintain, improve, or provide interoperable communications hardware or software and for any necessary radio system capacity expansions where school loading has been determined to have a significant impact on public safety system loading.
Eligibility
Schools (school district/public school/charter school/board of cooperative services) and public safety communications system owners.
Allowable Use
Purchase and install interoperable communication hardware, software, equipment maintenance and training for communications between school communication systems and first responder communication systems.
Program Timeline:
Please see application and award timeline below.
- Announcement and Application Handbook Available April 1,2024
- Application Submission Deadline May 6, 2024
- Notification of Funding Recommendations June 10, 2024
- Requests for Reconsiderations June 17, 2024
Webinar
There will be a 1.5 hour webinar on April 11, 2024, at 10:30 am MST to give an intro to the OSS Grant Unit, go over the SSD Grant Program, review resources and commitments to the grant then end with questions.
You can register for the webinar online
Grant Documentation:
- Schools and School District Application
- Public Safety Communications System Owners Application
- Application Handbook
- W-9
NOTE: Please clear your browser cache / history before downloading the application materials to ensure access to the latest updates.