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The following are definitions for the terms used in this grant guidance: • Hiring. State and local entities may use grant funding to cover the salary of newly hired personnel who are exclusively undertaking allowable FEMA program activities as specified in this guidance. This may not include new personnel who are hired to fulfill any non-FEMA program activities under any circumstances. Hiring will always result in a net increase of FTEs. • Overtime and Backfill. The entire amount of overtime costs, including payments related to backfilling personnel, which are the direct result of time spent on the design, development and conduct of exercises, in addition to attendance at FEMA and/or approved training courses and programs, are allowable. These costs are allowed only to the extent the payment for such services is in accordance with the policies of the State or unit(s) of local government and has the approval of the State or the awarding agency, whichever is applicable. In no case is dual compensation allowable. That is, an employee of a unit of government may not receive compensation from their unit or agency of government AND from an award for a single period of time (e.g., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), even though such work may benefit both activities. • Supplanting. This refers to replacing a State and/or locally budgeted position with one or more full-time employees or contractors supported in whole or in part with Federal funds. Supplanting with grant funds is prohibited. 5. Equipment Planning and Purchase. In addition to purchasing interoperable emergency communications equipment, adequate technical and financial planning is needed to ensure that interoperable communications systems meet the needs of public safety agencies. Consistent with the OEC Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs (SAFECOM Guidance for Grant Programs), grantees must develop a communications system life-cycle plan when using IECGP funds to purchase communications systems. In addition, grantees are encouraged to migrate to approved open architecture and to leverage existing and emerging technologies to expand and integrate disaster communications capabilities. Finally, grantees must demonstrate how their procurements will comply with the applicable standards for land mobile radio systems and data-related information sharing systems or provide compelling reasons for using non-standards-based solutions. For applicable standards information, please see the Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs (SAFECOM Guidance for Grant Programs) available at www. safecompro.gram.gov. Grant-funded systems, developmental activities, or services related to emergency response information sharing should conform as much as possible with the OASIS Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) suite of data messaging standards and National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines. Additional information on data messaging standards and their applicability may be found at www.oasis-open.orq. The NIMS Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (NIMS STEP) provides objective evaluations of commercial software and hardware products, and reports on product 20 55A-26