State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

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SLED, the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for the Federal Government in South Carolina, on 16 September, received a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) with an application due date of 15 November 2022. According to the NOFO, all subrecipient projects for this grant must support and reference a Statewide Cybersecurity Strategic Plan (the Plan) consistent with CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) guidance. As is the case with most states at this time, the South Carolina plan does not include all the items newly required by CISA/DHS. In accordance with the grant guidance and recommendations, SLED is working to establish a Cybersecurity Planning Committee and develop a Charter that must be submitted as part of the initial application by the 15 November deadline. SLED will submit  Investment Justifications (IJs) for cybersecurity objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4 which will need to be updated once the Cybersecurity Plan is completed and approved by the State Cybersecurity Planning Committee. When SLED is awarded the grant, all the funds will be on hold by the federal government, except for those supporting the Cybersecurity Planning Committee.

Once the Cybersecurity Planning Committee approves the Plan (in the next few months), the Plan will be provided to applicants together with an application proposal form (to get on the distribution list send an e-mail to rconnell@sled.sc.gov). Applicants will have approximately 30 days to fill out their proposal form. Applicant proposals must be consistent with and specifically reference the Plan for every objective. SLED will collect all applicant proposals/projects and update the drafts previously provided to FEMA. SLED must submit the updated plan and investment justification supporting all cybersecurity objectives to DHS for approval not later than 30 September 2023. Once DHS reviews and approves all, the grant hold will be removed, and grants will be awarded to local, rural, and state agency subrecipients in accordance with the NOFO guidance.