TO:	All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors
FROM:	C. Suzanne Mencer
	Director
SUBJECT:	Homeland Security Information Technology and Evaluation Program (ITEP)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), in collaboration with DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), is pleased to announce the Homeland Security Information Technology and Evaluation Program (ITEP). As part of its Fiscal Year 2004 budget, the DHS OCIO was provided with funding to conduct information technology projects. The OCIO is specifically interested in working through state and local public safety agencies to fund novel uses of existing, "state-of-the-market" information technology that will remove barriers and improve information sharing and integration.

Since 1998, the DHS Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) has worked with state, territory, tribal, urban area and local public safety agencies to identify homeland security needs and provide the resources required to address these needs. To leverage this experience, and to ensure the program's alignment with the Department's desire to create a one-stop-shop for state and local homeland security resources, the OCIO and ODP have agreed to collaboratively manage and administer the funds provided to the OCIO for information technology pilot projects.

Additional information on the program is contained in the attached fact sheet. If you have any further questions regarding this grant program, please contact ODP's Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at 1-800-368-6498 or via e-mail at askcsd@ojp.usdoj.gov.

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