Regional Phone call

[SBLGFD]

Hello to all,
I received a phone call yesterday regarding our regional communications grant. The caller gave me the standard " This phone call does not constitute notification of award" verbiage. He then identified himself as a private contractor for FEMA gathering more information on certain grants. He asked for me to provide more details as to equipment and to clarify what departments are participating in the regional proposal and who else may benefit from the proposal.
He was obviously well versed in what he was doing , very polite and helpful.
The phone call was followed by a email confirming our phone conversation and reiterating what information he was seeking.
Thoughts?
SBLGFD

[LVFD301]

Was it communications to get you narrowbanded before the deadline?

[ktb9780]

More than likely that is a good sign. Apparently that information was missing from your grant application. The contractor more than likely was from Cabezon who sub-contracts to FEMA/AFG for Fire Program Specialists. These questions are typical if not explicitly explained in your narratives. They have to check for P-25 compliance, make sure you are not asking for "antenna towers", don't plan on purchasing property etc. More than likely you have scored competitively at computer scoring and the peer panel rated you well. I would think this is "technical review" phase. It is not going to be surprising to see the large regional comm grants being awarded in initial rounds as FEMA is sensitive to he FCC mandate for January 2013 compliance and if your grant was to "put you into compliance" they will more than likely award those early, in the hopes that you have the project off, running and close to completion by January. I would not be making press announcements but, from my perspective, the call sounds encouraging that you may be awarded.

[SLY4420]

Had someone else get the same call for a Regional comm grant.

[ktb9780]

Had someone else get the same call for a Regional comm grant.

First call I have heard of John

[SBLGFD]

Consulting company was McKing

http://mcking.com/content/html/services/scientific.asp

Regional request is for a simul-cast paging system, not specifically for narrow banding as most of what we have is already done. We did specify that all radio reprogramming will be in FCC compliance with the mandate.

[BC79er]

They were doing tech review last week so this week has been follow-ups with those that have questions on P25 compliance, narrowband, making sure there are no construction line items, etc. Push is on for awards to be out before the end of September so of course that means 3-4 weeks prior at a minimum the questions have to be answered and 1199As handled.

[EastKyFF]

They were doing tech review last week so this week has been follow-ups with those that have questions on P25 compliance, narrowband, making sure there are no construction line items, etc. Push is on for awards to be out before the end of September so of course that means 3-4 weeks prior at a minimum the questions have to be answered and 1199As handled.

You're talking regionals only, right?

[BC79er]

No, they're doing all awards but most questions will only come up about communications apps since that's the only sticky wicket in the bunch. Both SAFER and AFG should come flying out over the next couple of weeks.