On behalf of the six (6) Montana Regional Hazardous Material (HazMat) Teams , the Billings Fire Department's HazMat team members submitted an application in the amount of $360,000.00 to acquire a chemical detection monitor for each of the regional teams.  The City of Billings is not required to match this award with any amount of non-Federal funds. The City of Billings will accept and administer the awarded funds and will buy and distribute to the other five (5) HazMat teams the equipment identified in the application. Fire Department staff are asking the Billings City Council to accept the funds and to authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents for the grant.

City Council may:

• Approve accepting the $360,000.00 and approve purchasing the chemical detection/monitors for distribution to the Montana regional HazMat teams. Regional teams are located in the cities of Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula, or;
• Not accept this financial assistance to purchase this tool for the Montana regional Hazmat teams.

City policy requires that the City Council approve accepting financial assistance or grant awards before adjusting the City's budget to account for the funds. There is no local match required for this grant award. The City of Billings Fire Department staff will work with the City's Purchasing Agent to purchase the approved equipment and distribute them to the other regional HazMat teams, after which it will request reimbursement from the grant. The total grant amount is $360,000.00, which is the estimated cost for all equipment.

Staff recommends that the City Council accept the $360,000.00 Homeland Security grant on behalf of six (6) Montana regional HazMat teams to purchase  chemical detection monitors and authorize the Mayor to sign all grant documents.