Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has reappointed Jeff Johnson, former fire chief and CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association; Teri Takai, senior adviser at the Center for Digital Government and Novatel Wireless CEO Sue Swenson to serve on the First Responder Network Authority board.

The Commerce Department said Thursday Johnson, Takai and Swenson will continue on the board through another three-year period while Swenson will have an additional two years as chairperson of the FirstNet board after their current terms expire Aug. 20.

“We are fortunate to have the service of individuals who bring a unique set of skills to the board as it guides FirstNet in its important work,” said Pritzker.

“Their experience is essential as FirstNet moves closer toward launching a nationwide broadband network that will provide first responders with the 21st-century tools they need to save lives.”

FirstNet operates as an independent authority within the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration that formed in response to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and works to develop, build and operate a nationwide wireless public safety broadband network.

The FirstNet board includes the Department of Homeland Security secretary, the U.S. attorney general and the director of the Office of Management and Budget as permanent members.

The First Responder Network Authority has awarded grants worth $26.8 million to eight public safety entities under a program to provide financial assistance for relocating existing radios and systems.

FirstNet said Thursday it will provide funds from the Band 14 Incumbent Spectrum Relocation Grant Program to organizations that have relocated from Band 14 prior to deployment and operation of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.

“Public safety’s needs are our top priority, and we are pleased to be working hand-in-hand with these Band 14 public safety incumbents,” said Mike Poth, FirstNet CEO.

The eight awardees to receive funds include:

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency
• Virginia State Police
• Arkansas State Police
• Massachusetts State Police
• Defense Department in Honolulu County
• Marshall Fire Department in Michigan
• Stamford Fire Department in Connecticut
• Post Falls Police Department Idaho

Awardees will have one year to finish their respective project plans and relocate existing radios and systems under the Band 14 program.

FirstNet will also begin to track the progress of the grantees’ efforts to reprogram, return and reconfigure equipment and offer assistance to meet the clearing goals within the allotted time.

The Department of Health and Human Services will issue a total of $100 million to 1,304 health centers across the U.S. and in associated states to help update primary care service delivery in communities.

HHS said Thursday the funds will support health centers’ efforts to expand care quality systems and infrastructure.

The department selected awardees based on their efforts to maintain Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition; address health equity; and upgrade care quality, access and delivery.

“Health centers are evaluated on a set of performance measures emphasizing health outcomes and the value of care delivered,” said Jim Macrae, Health Resources and Services Administration acting administrator.

“These measures provide a balanced, comprehensive look at services to manage conditions among the vulnerable populations served by health centers,” Macrae added.

Executive Biz reported Aug. 5 HHS granted a total $8.6 million to 246 health centers in the continental U.S., Micronesia and the Northern Mariana Islands to help the centers achieve or increase PCMH recognition.

The Office of Personnel Management is looking for a deputy chief information officer to coordinate OPM’s information technology plans and policies.

OPM said in a USAJobs notice posted Wednesday the deputy CIO will also manage relationships with agency senior executives, contractors and other external business partners as well as monitor progress on meeting IT objectives and strategies.

The Senior Executive Service position also entails oversight of IT human resource, budget and financial management activities at the agency.

OPM added the incumbent will craft and implement a framework for the agency to attract, develop and retain top IT, digital and cybersecurity professionals who can help the agency examine and adopt modern technology.

The chosen candidate will also serve as a principal adviser to the OPM CIO.

OPM appointed David DeVries, former principal deputy CIO of the Defense Department and a 35-year DoD veteran, to serve as the agency’s next CIO.

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency revamp certain practices that GAO says could hinder efficient monitoring of grant programs at the EPA.

GAO said in a report published Monday it found that duplicative reporting by EPA grantees and the manual process to review grantees’ performance reports contribute to the agency’s administrative burden.

EPA awarded $3.95 billion in total grant funds, or about 49 percent of the agency’s annual budget, to various organizations during fiscal year 2015, according to the government watchdog.

Roughly $2.25 billion of the agency’s FY 2015 grant awards primarily supported water infrastructure projects at the state level “based on funding formulas prescribed by law,” the report states.

GAO said the EPA granted $1.09 billion in categorical funds noncompetitively to states and Indian tribes last fiscal year to operate environmental programs as well as provided $513 million in discretionary grants for research activities and another $9 million to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

EPA officials aim to develop a web-based portal where grantees can submit documents such as performance reports to help increase consistency in reports with the environmental results directive as well as mitigate the manual review process, GAO added.