It depends on the grant.
Some grants can be used for any type of radio equipment. Other grants can only be used for P25 equipment. The grants that go 'through' a state government will have 'rules' attached that are made by the state, not the feds, and that has a great bearing on how the grant money can be spent.
For example, the Safecom Grant Guidance allows for federal grants to be used for analog equipment for narrowbanding or for 'add-on' to existing analog systems. It does NOT 'mandate' P25 equipment in all cases, as some people claim.
Yet, here in Missouri, any grant money that has to go 'through' the state can't be used to purchase any mobiles that are not P25 trunking-capable or upgradeable. But, non-P25 portables, repeaters, and base stations can be purchased with this grant money, as long as the agency shows that they have, or will have, a way of communicating with the statewide P25 system. A few years ago, Missouri would allow only P25 conventional or P25 trunking equipment to be purchased with federal grant money that was coming through the state. So, even these 'state rules' have changed over the last 4 to 5 years (since federal grant money started to become available for communications equipment/systems).
In this case, the State of Missouri has put these 'rules' on what this federal grant money can be used to purchase, not the feds.
There are have also been grants given out by state agencies, such as the Dept. of Conservation, here in Missouri. These grants had no 'strings attached' as to what type of communications equipment could or could not be purchased.
Simply put, the idea that ALL grant money must be used for P25 equipment is not true. Even some federal grants can be used for non-P25 equipment, in some cases.
John Rayfield, Jr. CETma
Can TRBO radios for Law Enforcement Agencies be Grant Funded? I was thinking that TRBO radio were not Grant funded. Thanks for any info.
