Territory Public Safety Grant Guide
Puerto Rico Public Safety Grants
Funding pathways and procurement guidance for Puerto Rico law enforcement, emergency management, traffic safety, cybersecurity, surveillance and drone programs.
This Puerto Rico page helps public-safety agencies connect a defined mission to a possible funding source. It covers territory-administered federal programs, selected direct federal opportunities and the security checks that matter when buying cameras, communications equipment or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
Program eligibility, deadlines and allowable costs depend on the current notice and award terms. For the national framework, read MAXSUR’s NDAA, TAA, FCC & Blue UAS guide.
Puerto Rico planning note: We did not identify a general territory-wide blacklist that bans all foreign-made drones by manufacturer. That does not make a locally funded purchase automatically permissible: Puerto Rico’s cybersecurity law and PRITS standards, federal award conditions, FCC equipment rules and agency policies may each affect a particular system. Verify the current requirements before soliciting or deploying equipment.
Territory and Federal Requirements
What Puerto Rico Buyers Should Know About Drones, Cameras & Cybersecurity
Country of origin is one part of the review. The funding source, aircraft status, camera and radio components, data path and agency network all matter.
Cyber Rules Apply
Law 40-2024 reaches executive agencies and municipalities and requires cybersecurity programs. PRITS standards also govern government IT resources.
ASDA Restricts Covered UAS
Since December 22, 2025, federal award funds generally cannot procure or be used in connection with operating a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to specified exceptions and waivers.
Prior Approval for Drones
BJA-funded UAS purchases require express prior approval and the agency’s current certification, including its Blue UAS Cleared List condition.
Separate Equipment Tests
FCC authorization status and covered telecom/video-surveillance restrictions are separate from drone grant eligibility.
Puerto Rico’s Cybersecurity Act
Law 40-2024, as amended, applies to Puerto Rico’s executive branch, political subdivisions and municipalities, and to contractors with respect to covered public work and data. It gives PRITS government-wide security responsibilities and requires agencies to document cybersecurity programs, assess risk and account for third-party IT services.
For a networked camera or UAS, examine cloud hosting, remote access, firmware updates, retention, encryption, credentials and vendor support. The law is a security framework; it is not a named DJI, Autel, Hikvision or Dahua procurement ban.
Federal Grant Funding and ASDA
OMB Memorandum M-26-02, Appendix D, implements the American Security Drone Act restriction for federal awards. The test is whether the aircraft is a FASC-prohibited UAS; it is not a rule declaring every foreign-made drone ineligible.
Read the specific grant terms before paying for aircraft, accessories or operations. A narrowly defined federal exemption or waiver must be documented through the responsible authority.
BJA’s Additional UAS Conditions
Under BJA’s September 2026 guidance, a UAS purchase under a BJA award requires express prior approval, a UAS certification and privacy, civil-liberties and IT cybersecurity policies. BJA’s certification refers to the Blue UAS Cleared List and imposes additional conditions on modifications, accessories and federal information. These are BJA award conditions, not a general Puerto Rico Blue UAS law.
Section 889, FCC & TAA Are Different
NDAA Section 889 concerns covered telecommunications and video-surveillance equipment in federal contracting; federal award recipients must also review applicable award restrictions on covered telecom and video equipment. Screen cameras, recorders, radios and essential components separately from the aircraft.
The FCC Covered List drone action affects new equipment authorizations; it did not itself ban use of previously authorized models. Trade Agreements Act (TAA) rules depend on the purchasing vehicle and contract terms, not a blanket requirement for every Puerto Rico grant purchase.
Practical Puerto Rico Procurement Checklist
- 1Identify every funding source. Record local, territory and federal pass-through dollars and the applicable award terms.
- 2Screen the aircraft. For federal awards, determine whether it is FASC-prohibited; for BJA, complete its separate approval and certification process.
- 3Screen cameras and communications. Check Section 889-related contract duties, federal award restrictions and FCC equipment authorization status.
- 4Review the cyber architecture. Map data storage, remote access, software updates, radios, cloud services and third-party support against PRITS and agency policy.
- 5Confirm operating authority. Check FAA requirements, mission permissions, privacy rules and any conditions for joint operations.
- 6Obtain written approvals. Secure grant-manager consent, procurement clearance and any applicable exception before obligation or purchase.
- 7Keep the record. Retain manufacturer representations, bill of materials, security assessment, funding allocation and approvals.
Available Funding Pathways
Puerto Rico Public-Safety Grant Opportunities
Start with the administering agency and the current notice. The project must match the program purpose; a general law-enforcement equipment need does not automatically qualify for a specialized grant.
| Program | Route | Administrator | Potential Fit / Limits | Status / Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Byrne JAG — Territory Formula | Federal to territory | BJA / Puerto Rico DOJ | Justice technology, equipment, training and other approved JAG uses; UAS needs BJA approval. | FY2026 deadlines passed Sept. 18 / 25, 2026; ask DOJ about subawards. |
| Puerto Rico JAG Subawards | Territory-administered | Puerto Rico DOJ | Municipal and territory justice projects, subject to DOJ priorities and approved costs. | Ask DOJ about current solicitations; FY2026 BJA table lists no direct Puerto Rico local allocation. |
| Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program | Federal to territory | BJA / Puerto Rico DOJ | Eligible crisis-intervention, court, behavioral-health and implementation activities. | Contact Puerto Rico DOJ for subaward plans and allowable costs. |
| State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) | Federal to territory | FEMA / OASP | Terrorism preparedness, interoperable communications, detection and approved response capabilities. | Coordinate through OASP; check FY2026 investment priorities and equipment rules. |
| Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) | Federal to territory | FEMA / territory | Emergency management capacity, planning, training and program support. | Ask territory administrator about subrecipient participation and current award terms. |
| State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) | Federal / territory | FEMA / OASP / PRITS | Cyber risk reduction, assessments and eligible security projects; not a general drone-equipment fund. | Review PRITS’s Puerto Rico cybersecurity plan and current project intake. |
| Puerto Rico Highway Safety Proposals | Federal / territory | NHTSA / CST | Traffic enforcement, impaired driving, speed, occupant protection and traffic data. | CST page currently shows 2025–2026 materials; ask for next notice. |
| Body-Worn Camera Program | Direct federal | BJA | Body cameras, policy implementation, training and storage where authorized. | Monitor BJA for a new notice; verify territory eligibility and match. |
| Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program | Direct federal | BJA | Substance-use response, deflection, treatment coordination and approved technology. | Check the current site-based notice and specific eligible applicants. |
| Paul Coverdell Forensic Science | Federal / territory | BJA / Instituto de Ciencias Forenses | Forensic laboratory quality, capacity and eligible equipment. | Consult the territory’s designated Coverdell administrator. |
| School Violence Prevention Program | Direct federal | COPS Office | Eligible school security equipment and coordination; not a general police-drone grant. | Monitor the next COPS notice and confirm local eligibility. |
Direct Local JAG clarification: BJA’s FY2026 state-and-local allocation table shows Puerto Rico’s $2,096,916 territory allocation and no separate direct local amount. The open FY2026 Local JAG notice is only for eligible jurisdictions with direct allocations; Puerto Rico municipalities should ask the territory JAG administrator about available funding rather than assume direct eligibility.
Funding Intelligence
Published Puerto Rico Allocation & Planned Project Examples
These figures show the scale and types of public-safety work in official funding documents. They are not individual agency award announcements or evidence that a UAS purchase was approved.
| Recipient / Project | Source | Purpose | Amount | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico — territory JAG | BJA FY2026 allocation table | Justice assistance formula funding | $2,096,916 | FY2026 territory allocation; not a municipal award |
| Puerto Rico Police Traffic Bureau | NHTSA FY2026 annual grant application | High-visibility traffic enforcement and equipment / training | $900,000 | Planned federal project amount |
| Municipal police departments | NHTSA FY2026 annual grant application | Impaired-driving overtime enforcement | $350,000 | Planned amount across municipalities |
| Puerto Rico Department of Justice | NHTSA FY2026 annual grant application | DWI prosecution enhancement across judicial regions | $2,100,000 | Planned federal project amount |
| Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission | NHTSA FY2026 annual grant application | Road Safety Observatory and traffic-data access | $582,000 | Planned federal project amount |
Puerto Rico Procurement FAQ
Common Drone and Grant Questions
Use these answers for planning and confirm the requirements for the specific aircraft, agency and award.
Is every foreign-made drone banned in Puerto Rico?
We did not identify a general territory-wide manufacturer ban. Puerto Rico’s cybersecurity rules, agency policy, FCC rules and federal award conditions may still limit a specific system.
Can a municipality buy a drone with local funds?
Local funding changes which federal award restrictions apply to that purchase. It does not displace Puerto Rico cyber duties, agency procurement rules, FAA requirements or conditions governing a later federally funded use.
Can federal grant funds pay to operate an existing restricted drone?
OMB M-26-02, Appendix D generally prohibits federal award funds from being used in connection with operation of a FASC-prohibited UAS, subject to its specified exceptions and waivers.
Is Blue UAS certification required for every Puerto Rico purchase?
No general territory-wide Blue UAS mandate was identified. BJA’s UAS approval and certification requirements expressly use the Blue UAS Cleared List for purchases under BJA awards.
Did the FCC ground previously authorized drones?
The FCC’s December 2025 Covered List action concerns new equipment authorizations. It did not itself prohibit continued lawful use of previously authorized models; other funding and security rules still need review.
Can a Puerto Rico municipality apply directly for FY2026 Local JAG?
BJA’s FY2026 allocation table shows no separate direct Local JAG allocation for Puerto Rico. Ask the Puerto Rico Department of Justice about territory-administered opportunities.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Puerto Rico Funding to Field Capability
Match the mission and the approved budget to an appropriate system. Product selection and grant allowability require separate review.
Procurement Pathway
Plan the Purchase Alongside the Grant
MAXSUR can help agencies scope mission requirements, document product architecture and identify procurement options for eligible public-safety projects.
BuyBoard participation, territory procurement authority, federal grant allowability and TAA or Section 889 terms depend on the specific buyer and purchasing vehicle. Confirm with the procurement office and grant administrator.