CISA Announces the FY 2022 Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project (REMCDP) Grant Recipient

Earlier this year, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reestablished the Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project (REMCDP) grant to work with up to two public and state-controlled institutions of higher education to examine communications barriers and identify solutions that enhance existing emergency communications infrastructure. The REMCDP Notice of Funding Opportunity was open on grants.gov from June 1, 2022, through July 29, 2022.

Following a competitive review process, CISA awarded $1,892,500 to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) for a two-year period of performance beginning in September 2022. UMMC will use REMCDP funds to build on the successes of its previous REMCDP awards. UMMC will continue and enhance the First Hands Program, First Voice Program, and Mississippi Center for Emergency Services mobile application, as well as explore push-to-talk over cellular options to supplement land mobile radio coverage and expand crucial communications capabilities for frontline responders. Similar to the 2016, 2018, and 2020 REMCDP awards, lessons learned from these demonstration projects will be shared to serve as repeatable models for addressing rural population healthcare needs.

In accordance with the legislation, CISA is also leveraging funds from this fourth round of REMCDP funding for technical assistance services to assist rural communities across the nation to implement project successes.

Additional information about REMCDP can be found on cisa.gov/remcdp.