Notice2022-10193
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentFederal Emergency Management Agency
Abstract
Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended, the Administrator of FEMA is publishing this notice describing the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service leadership during the annual Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which was held June 25, 2021. The application period for the FY 2021 FP&S Program was January 18, 2022, to February 18, 2022, and was announced on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP) website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters, as well as www.grants.gov.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29164-29169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10193]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2022-0016]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; Fire Prevention and
Safety Grants
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of
Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974, as amended, the Administrator of FEMA is publishing this notice
describing the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S)
Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria.
This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines
and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service
leadership during the annual Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which
was held June 25, 2021. The application period for the FY 2021 FP&S
Program was January 18, 2022, to February 18, 2022, and was announced
on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP) website at
<a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters">https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters</a>, as well as
<a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>.
DATES: Grant applications for the FP&S Program were accepted
electronically at <a href="https://go.fema.gov">https://go.fema.gov</a> from January 18, 2022, through
February 18, 2022, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Branch, DHS/FEMA,
400 C Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief,
Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Branch, 1-866-274-0960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA awards FP&S Program grants directly to
eligible fire departments, and national, regional, State, local, Tribal
governments and nonprofit organizations such as academic (e.g.,
universities), public health, occupational health, and injury
prevention institutions to enhance the safety of the public and
firefighters, by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting
firefighter health and safety research and development. Eligible
organizations must be operating in any of the 50 states, as well as
fire departments in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any federally recognized
Indian Tribe or Tribal government.
Applications for the FY 2021 FP&S Program were submitted and
processed online at <a href="https://go.fema.gov">https://go.fema.gov</a>. Before the application period
started, the FY 2021 FP&S Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
was published on the FEMA FP&S Program website at Fire Prevention &
Safety Documents [verbar] <a href="http://FEMA.gov">FEMA.gov</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a>. The FP&S
Program website provides additional information and materials useful
for FY 2021 FP&S Program applicants including Frequently Asked
Questions, Application Checklist, Self-Evaluation Sheet, and a Cost
Share Calculator. FEMA received 491 applications for the FY 2021 FP&S
Program, and anticipates awarding approximately 150 grants.
Congressional Appropriations
The funding for the FP&S Program is through the Assistance to
Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. For the FY 2021 AFG Program, Congress
appropriated $360 million through the Department of Homeland Security
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) and $100 million through the
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) for a total of $460
million. From these amounts, a total of $46 million was made available
for FY 2021 FP&S Program awards, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 2229(h)(5),
which states that not less
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than 10% of available grant funds each year are awarded under the FP&S
Program. Funds appropriated for FY 2021 will be available for
obligation and award until September 30, 2022.
Background of the FP&S Program
Since FY 2002, the FP&S Program has provided grant funding to
provide critically needed resources to fire departments and nonprofit
organizations to carry out fire prevention education and training, fire
code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and
health programming, prevention efforts, and research and development.
FEMA awards grants on a competitive basis to applicants that best
address the FP&S Program's priorities and provide the most compelling
justification. Applications that best address FP&S Program priorities,
as identified in the Application Evaluation Criteria section of the
FP&S Program NOFO, are reviewed by a panel composed of fire service
personnel.
The FP&S Program activities include:
1. FP&S Activity: Activities designed to reach high-risk target
groups and mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, and property
damage caused by fire and fire-related hazards. The five project
categories eligible for funding under this activity are:
<bullet> Community Risk Reduction;
<bullet> Wildfire Risk Reduction;
<bullet> Code Enforcement/Awareness;
<bullet> Fire and Arson Investigation; and,
<bullet> National/State/Regional Programs and Projects.
2. Research and Development (R&D) Activity: Projects aimed at
improving firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and
development that reduce firefighter fatalities and injuries. The five
project categories eligible for funding under this activity are:
<bullet> Clinical Studies;
<bullet> Technology and Product Development;
<bullet> Database System Development;
<bullet> Preliminary Studies; and,
<bullet> Early Career Investigator.
The priorities for each activity are fully outlined in the NOFO.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Before making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3354, as
enacted by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, Public Law
116-117 (2020), 41 U.S.C. 2313, and 2 CFR 200.206 to review information
available through any Office of Management and Budget designated
repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial
integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may
include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: (1)
Financial stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to
meet management standards; (3) history of performance in managing
Federal awards; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability
to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.
FEMA will rank all complete and submitted applications based on how
well they align with program priorities for the type of activity
requested. Answers to activity-specific questions provide information
used to determine each application's ranking relative to the stated
program priorities.
Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating FP&S Program
applications are established by FEMA based on the recommendations from
the CDP. The CDP is comprised of fire service professionals that make
recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new, or the
modification of previously established, funding priorities, as well as
developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of the FP&S
Program NOFO reflects implementation of the CDP's recommendations with
respect to the priorities and evaluation criteria for awards.
The nine major fire service organizations represented on the CDP
are:
<bullet> Congressional Fire Service Institute
<bullet> International Association of Arson Investigators
<bullet> International Association of Fire Chiefs
<bullet> International Association of Fire Fighters
<bullet> International Society of Fire Service Instructors
<bullet> National Association of State Fire Marshals
<bullet> National Fire Protection Association
<bullet> National Volunteer Fire Council
<bullet> North American Fire Training Directors
Review and Selection Process
FP&S Program applications will be scored competitively by no less
than three members of a Peer Review Panel. Applications with the
highest score rankings per activity will also be evaluated through a
series of internal FEMA review processes for completeness, adherence to
programmatic guidelines, technical feasibility, costs/quantities, and
anticipated effectiveness of the proposed project(s). Below is the
process by which applications will be reviewed:
i. Peer Review Panel Process
FP&S Activity Projects: All applications will be evaluated through
the Peer Review Panel process. The panelists will assess the merits of
each project within the application based on the narrative section of
the application using the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative
Evaluation Criteria below will be used to calculate the narrative's
score for each activity requested. Panelists will independently score
each requested project within the application, discuss the merits and/
or shortcomings of the application with his or her peers, and document
the findings. A consensus is not required.
R&D Activity Projects: The Peer Review Panel process is composed of
a Fire Service Panel Review and a Science Panel Review.
Fire Service Panel Review
All eligible project applications will first be reviewed and scored
by a panel of fire service experts to assess the need for the research
results and the likelihood that the results would be implemented by the
fire service in the United States. The projects that are determined
most likely to be implemented to enable improvement in firefighter
safety, health, or well-being will be deemed to be in the ``competitive
range'' and will be forwarded to the second level of project review,
which is the scientific panel review process. A consensus is not
required.
Science Panel Review
This panel will be comprised of scientists and technology experts
who have expertise pertaining to the subject matter of the proposal.
Scientific reviewers will independently score projects in the
competitive range and, if necessary, discuss the merits or shortcomings
of the project in order to reconcile any major discrepancies identified
by fellow reviewers. A consensus is not required.
ii. Technical Evaluation Process
The highest scoring project(s) for both activities, will be
considered within the fundable range. Projects that are in the fundable
range will undergo a technical review by the FEMA FP&S Program Office
before being recommended for award. The FEMA FP&S Program Office will
assess the request with respect to costs, quantities, feasibility,
eligibility, and recipient responsibility prior to recommending any
application for award. Additionally, FEMA will review whether the
project duplicates other federally funded research or prevention
activities in order to avoid duplication.
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Once the technical evaluation process is complete, each project's final
score is determined, and a final ranking of projects will be created.
FEMA will award grants based on this final ranking and the ability to
meet statutorily required funding limitations listed in this notice and
the NOFO.
Narrative Evaluation Criteria
FP&S Activity Projects
1. Financial Need (Fire Departments-10%; Interest Organizations-0%)
Applicants must describe with particularity their unique financial
need in the Applicant Information section of the application and detail
how consistent it is with their need for financial assistance to carry
out the proposed project(s). Applicants may include other unsuccessful
attempts to acquire financial assistance. Applicants should provide
detail about the applicant's operating budget, including a high-level
breakdown of the budget, the applicant's inability to address financial
needs without federal assistance, and other actions the applicant has
taken to meet their needs (e.g., state assistance programs or other
grant programs).
2. Commitment to Mitigation (Fire Departments Only-5%)
Fire department applicants that can demonstrate their commitment
and proactive posture to reducing fire risk will receive higher
consideration. Applicants must explain their code adoption and
enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface and commercial/
residential sprinkler code adoption and enforcement) and mitigation
strategies (including whether or not the jurisdiction has a FEMA-
approved mitigation strategy). Applicants can also demonstrate their
commitment to reducing fire risk by applying to implement fire
mitigation strategies (code adoption and enforcement) via this
application.
3. Vulnerability Statement (Fire Departments-15%, Interest
Organizations-25%)
The assessment of fire risk is essential in the development of an
effective project goal, as well as meeting FEMA's goal to reduce risk
by conducting a risk assessment as a basis for action. Vulnerability is
a ``weak link,'' demonstrating high-risk behavior, living conditions,
or any type of high-risk situation. The Vulnerability Statement should
include a detailed description of the steps taken to determine the
vulnerability and identify the target audience. The methodology for
determination of vulnerability (i.e., how the vulnerability was found)
should be discussed in-depth in the application's Narrative Statement.
4. Project Description (Fire Departments-20%, Interest Organizations-
25%)
Applicants must describe in detail not only the project components
but also how the proposed project addresses the identified capability
gap due to financial need and/or the specific vulnerabilities
identified in the vulnerability statement. The following information
should be included:
<bullet> Project components;
<bullet> Review of any existing programs or models that have been
successful;
<bullet> Detailed description of how the proposed project
components fill the identified capability gap; and,
<bullet> If working with Fire Service Partners/Organizations,
identify each partner/organization and the role(s) they will fill in
the successful completion of the proposed project.
5. Implementation Plan (Fire Departments-25%, Interest Organizations-
30%)
Each project proposal should include nuanced details on the
implementation plan that discusses the proposed project's goals and
objectives. The following information should be included to support the
implementation plan:
<bullet> Goals and objectives;
<bullet> Details regarding the methods and specific steps that will
be used to achieve the goals and objectives;
<bullet> Timelines outlining the chronological project steps (this
is critical for determining the likelihood of the project's completion
within the period of performance);
<bullet> Where applicable, examples of marketing efforts to promote
the project, who will deliver the project (e.g., effective
partnerships), and the manner in which materials or deliverables will
be distributed;
<bullet> Requests for props (i.e., tools used in educational or
awareness demonstrations), including specific goals, measurable
results, and details on the frequency for which the prop will be
utilized. Applicants should include information describing the efforts
that will be used to reach the high-risk audience and/or the number of
people reached through the proposed project (examples of props include
safety trailers, puppets, or costumes); and,
<bullet> Where human subjects are involved, describe plans for
submission to the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
6. Evaluation Plan (Fire Departments-15%, Interest Organizations-15%)
Projects should include a plan for evaluation of effectiveness and
identify measurable and quantifiable goals. Applicants seeking to carry
out awareness and educational projects, for example, should identify
how they intend to determine that there has been an increase in
knowledge about fire hazards, or measure a change in the safety
behaviors of the audience. Applicants should demonstrate how they will
measure risk at the outset of the project in comparison to how much the
risk decreased after the project is finished. There are various ways to
measure the knowledge gained about fire hazards, including the use of
surveys, pre- and post-tests, or documented observations. Applicants
are encouraged to attend training on evaluation methods, such as the
National Fire Academy's ``Demonstrating Your Fire Prevention Program's
Worth.''
7. Cost-Benefit (Fire Departments-10%, Interest Organizations-5%)
Projects will be evaluated and scored by the Peer Review Panelists
based on how well the applicant addresses the fire prevention needs of
the department or organization in an economic and efficient manner. The
applicant should show how it will maximize the level of funding that
goes directly into the delivery of the project. The costs associated
with the project also must be reasonable for the target audience that
will be reached, and a description should be included of how the
anticipated project benefit(s) (quantified if possible) outweighs the
cost(s) of the requested item(s). The application should provide
justification for all costs included in the project in order to assist
the Technical Evaluation Panel with their review.
R&D Activity Projects
Fire Service Panel Evaluation Criteria
1. Purpose (25%)
Applicants should clearly identify the specific benefits of the
proposed research project to improve firefighter safety, health, or
well-being. The discussion should include:
<bullet> The specific risk to firefighter safety, health, or well-
being that the project will address;
<bullet> The expected benefits of the project, including how the
project will prevent, reduce, or mitigate the specific risk;
<bullet> The gaps in knowledge that will be addressed; and,
[[Page 29167]]
<bullet> The general project methods planned to produce the
intended results.
2. Potential Impact (15%)
Applicants should discuss the potential impact of the research
outcome/product on firefighter safety by quantifying the possible
reduction in the number of fatal or non-fatal injuries or on projected
well-being by significantly improving the overall health of
firefighters.
3. Implementation by the Fire Service (25%)
Applicants should discuss how the outcomes/products of this
research, if successful, are likely to be widely/nationally adopted and
accepted by the fire service as changes that enhance firefighter
safety, health, or well-being.
4. Barriers (15%)
Applicants should identify and discuss potential fire service and
other barriers to successfully completing the study on schedule,
including contingencies and strategies to deal with barriers if they
materialize. This may include barriers that could inhibit the proposed
fire service participation in the study, barriers that could inhibit
the adoption of successful results by the fire service when the project
is completed, or project components most likely to cause delay in
successful completion.
5. Partners (20%)
Applicants should recognize that participation of the fire service
as a partner in the research from development to dissemination is
regarded as an essential part of all projects. Describe the fire
service partners and contractors that will support the project to
accomplish the objectives of the study. The specific roles and
contributions of the partners to the project should be described.
Partnerships should be formed with national fire-related organizations,
in addition to local and regional fire departments. Letters of support
and letters of commitment to actively participate in the project should
be included in the Appendix of the application. Generally, participants
of a diverse population, including both career and volunteer
firefighters, are expected to facilitate acceptance of results
nationally. In cases where this is not practical due to the nature of
the study or other limitations, these circumstances should be clearly
explained.
Science Panel Evaluation Criteria
1. Project Goals, Objectives and Specific Aims (15%)
Applicants should address how the purpose, goals, objectives, and
specific aims of the proposal will lead to results that will improve
firefighter safety, health, or well-being. Describe the specific goals
and objectives for each year of the project.
2. Literature Review (10%)
Applicants should provide a literature review that is relevant to
the project's goals, objectives, and specific aims. The citations
should be placed in the narrative text and references listed at the end
of the Narrative Statement (and not in the Appendix) of the
application. The review should be of sufficient depth to make it clear
that the proposed project is necessary, adds to an existing body of
knowledge, is different from current and previous studies, and offers a
unique contribution.
3. Project Methods (Early Career Investigator Applicants-15%, All Other
Applicants-20%)
Applicants should provide a description of how the project will be
carried out, including demonstration of the overall scientific and
technical rigor and merit of the project. This includes the operations
to accomplish the purpose, goals, and objectives, and the specific aims
of the project. Plans to recruit and retain human subjects, where
applicable, should be described.
4. Project Measurements (Early Career Investigator Applicants-15%, All
Other Applicants-20%)
Applicants should provide evidence of the technical rigor and merit
of the project, such as data pertaining to validity, reliability, and
sensitivity (where established) of the facilities, equipment,
instruments, standards, and procedures that will be used to carry out
the research. The applicant should discuss the data to be collected to
evaluate the performance methods, technologies, and products proposed
to enhance firefighter safety, health, or well-being. The applicant
should demonstrate that the measurement methods and equipment selected
for use are appropriate and sufficient to successfully deliver the
proposed project objectives.
5. Project Analysis (Early Career Investigator Applicants-15%, All
Other Applicants-20%)
The applicant should indicate the planned approach for analysis of
the data obtained from measurements, questionnaires, or computations.
Specify within the plan what will be analyzed, the statistical methods
that will be used, the sequence of steps, and interactions as
appropriate. It should be clear that the Principal Investigator (PI)
and research team have the expertise to perform the planned analysis
and defend the results in a peer review process.
6. Dissemination and Implementation (15%)
Applicants should indicate dissemination plans for scientific
audiences (e.g., plans for submissions to specific peer review
publications) and for firefighter audiences (e.g., via websites,
magazines, and conferences). Also, assuming positive results and where
applicable, indicate future steps that would support dissemination and
implementation throughout the fire service. These are likely to be
beyond the current study, so those features of the research activity
that will facilitate future dissemination and implementation should be
discussed. All applicants should specify how the results of the
project, if successful, might be disseminated and implemented in the
fire service to improve firefighter safety, health, or well-being.
7. Mentoring (Early Career Investigator Applicants Only-15%)
An important factor in the evaluation of Early Career Investigator
projects is the participation of a mentor(s) in the project. A mentor
for the PI should be an experienced researcher in areas appropriate to
the research project and be able to provide support to the PI for
ongoing development of knowledge and skills throughout the project. The
mentor needs to have relationships with the fire service community
sufficient to assist the PI in building relationships with fire
departments and fire service organizations. The mentor has a role to
support the applicant from submitting the application for funding
through the completion of a funded project. The applicant should
identify the mentor(s) that has agreed to support the applicant and the
project. The applicant should discuss the role of the mentor(s) in the
project and the expected benefits of the mentoring relationship to the
applicant and the project. A biographical sketch and letter of
commitment/support from the mentor(s) are required to be included in
the Appendix document.
Eligible Applicants
FP&S Activity: Fire departments operating in any of the 50 states,
as well as fire departments in the District of
[[Page 29168]]
Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
or any federally recognized Indian Tribe or Tribal government. A fire
department is an agency or organization having a formally recognized
arrangement with a state, local (city, county, parish, fire district,
township, town, or other governing body), Tribal government, or
territorial authority to provide fire suppression to a population
within a geographically fixed primary first due response area.
National, regional, state, local, Tribal government, and nonprofit
interest organizations that are recognized for their experience and
expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities are
eligible applicants.
Firefighter Safety R&D Activity: National, state, local, federally
recognized Tribal government, and nonprofit organizations, such as
academic (e.g., universities), public health, occupational health, and
injury prevention institutions.
Ineligibility
<bullet> To avoid a duplication of benefits, FEMA reserves the
right to review all program activities or grant applications where two
or more organizations share a single facility. To be eligible as a
separate organization, two or more fire departments, national, state,
local, federally recognized Tribal government, and nonprofit interest
organizations, and other nonprofit organizations, such as academic
(e.g. universities), public health, occupational health, and injury
prevention institutions will have different funding streams, personnel
rosters, or Employer Identification Numbers (EINs). If two or more
organizations share facilities and each submits an application in the
same activity (e.g., Community Risk Reduction, Wildfire Risk Reduction,
Code Enforcement/Awareness, Fire and Arson Investigation, or National/
State/Regional Programs and Projects), FEMA will carefully review all
of those program area applications for eligibility.
<bullet> For-profit organizations, federal agencies, and
individuals are not eligible to apply for FP&S Program funding.
Statutory Limits to Funding
FP&S Program awards are limited to a maximum federal share of $1.5
million dollars regardless of applicant type, in accordance with 15
U.S.C. 2229(d)(2). FP&S R&D Activity applicants that applied under the
Early Career Investigator category are limited to a maximum federal
share of $200,000 per project year.
Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort
Grant recipients must share in the costs of the projects funded
under this grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(1) and in
accordance with the applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR part 200,
but they were not required to have the cost share at the time of
application nor are they required to have it at the time of award.
However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA validates that the grant
recipient provided sufficient evidence that the cost-share requirement
will be fulfilled during the performance period of the grant award.
In general, an eligible applicant seeking an FP&S Program grant
shall agree to make available non-federal funds equal to not less than
5% of the grant awarded. Cash match and in-kind matches are both
allowable. Cash (hard) matches include non-federal cash spent for
project-related costs. In-kind (soft) matches include, but are not
limited to, the valuation of in-kind services; complementary
activities; and provision of staff, facilities, services, material, or
equipment. In-kind is the value of something received or provided that
does not have a cost associated with it. For example, where an in-kind
match (other than cash payments) is permitted, then the value of
donated services could be used to comply with the match requirement.
Also, third party in-kind contributions may count toward satisfying
match requirements provided the grant recipient receiving the
contributions expends them as allowable costs in compliance with
provisions listed above.
Grant recipients under the FP&S Program must also agree to a
maintenance of effort requirement as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3)
(referred to as a ``maintenance of expenditure'' requirement in that
statute). A grant recipient shall agree to maintain during the term of
the grant the applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the
activities allowable under the NOFO at not less than 80% of the average
amount of such expenditures in the two fiscal years preceding the
fiscal year in which the grant amounts are received.
In cases of demonstrated economic hardship, and upon the request of
the grant recipient, the FEMA Administrator may waive or reduce a
certain grant recipient's cost share or maintenance of expenditure
requirements (15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(A)). FP&S Program applicants for FY
2021 must indicate at the time of application whether they are
requesting a waiver and whether the waiver is for the cost share
requirement, for the maintenance of effort requirement, or both. As
required by statute, the Administrator of FEMA is required to establish
guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship. FEMA
published these guidelines on the FEMA website at (Grant Programs
Directorate Information Bulletin No. 427): <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Eco_Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_FINAL.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Eco_Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_FINAL.pdf</a>.
Per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(C), FP&S Program nonprofit organization grant
recipients that are not fire departments or emergency medical services
organizations are not eligible to receive a waiver of their cost share
for economic hardship requirements.
Application Process
Organizations may apply for funding under both eligible activities
(FP&S and R&D) but must complete separate applications for each
eligible activity. Each application may be for up to three projects
under that activity, however each project within an application must be
presented separately as a free-standing proposal. Organizations are
limited to one application per activity, per application period. If an
organization submits more than one application for the same activity,
either intentionally or unintentionally, both applications may be
disqualified.
Applicants access the grant application electronically at <a href="https://go.fema.gov">https://go.fema.gov</a>. The application is also accessible from the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
website at <a href="http://www.grants.gov">http://www.grants.gov</a>. New applicants must register in the
FEMA Grants Outcomes system (FEMA GO) and establish a username and
password for secure access to the grant application. Previous FP&S
Program applicants must use their previously established username and
password for FEMA GO.
Applicants are expected to answer questions about their grant
request that reflect the FP&S Program funding priorities. In addition,
applicants must complete narratives for each project requested.
During the FY 2021 FP&S Program application period, FEMA conducted
applicant internet webinars to inform potential applicants about the
FP&S Program. In addition, FEMA provided applicants with information at
the FP&S Program website, <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards/documents">https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards/documents</a>, to help them prepare quality
grant applications. The FP&S Program Help Desk is staffed throughout
the application period to
[[Page 29169]]
assist applicants with the automated application process as well as
answer any questions.
Applicants can reach the FP&S Program Help Desk through a toll-free
telephone number during normal business hours (1-866-274-0960) or email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2848b90878590838c9691a284878f83cc868a91cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="15737c67707267747b616655737078743b717d663b727a63">[email protected]</span></a>.
System for Award Management (SAM)
Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant applicants and recipients must
register at <a href="https://SAM.gov">https://SAM.gov</a>. SAM is the Federal Government's System for
Award Management, and registration is free of charge. Applicants must
maintain current information in SAM that is consistent with the data
provided in their FP&S Program grant application, and for purposes of
this particular application period, in the Dun & Bradstreet database,
which previously provided the official unique entity identifier, the
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. As of April 4, 2022, SAM
has transitioned from the DUNS number to a nonproprietary Unique Entity
Identifier (UEI) obtained through <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>. For entities that had an
active registration in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> prior to April 4, 2022, the UEI was
automatically assigned and no further action is necessary. Per 2 CFR
25.205, FEMA may not make a federal award or make any financial
modifications to an existing award unless the applicant or grant
recipient complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM
requirements. The grant applicant's banking information, EIN,
organization/entity name, address, and unique entity identifier must
match the same information provided in SAM.
Criteria Development Process Recommendations
If there are any differences between the published FP&S Program
guidelines and the recommendations made by the CDP, FEMA must explain
them and publish the information in the Federal Register prior to
awarding any grant under the FP&S Program. For FY 2021, FEMA accepted,
and will implement, all of the CDP's recommendations for the
prioritization of eligible activities.
Adopted Recommendations for FY 2021
The FY 2021 FP&S Program NOFO contains some changes to definitions,
descriptions, and priority categories. Changes to the FY 2021 FP&S
Program NOFO include:
<bullet> Under Applicant Eligibility Criteria:
[cir] Added information on application submittal and Authorized
Organization Representatives.
<bullet> Under section E--Narrative Evaluation Criteria:
[cir] Added information on FEMA's review of Narrative Statements.
[cir] Added guidance regarding R&D Activity Fire Service Panel
Evaluation Criteria.
[cir] Reorganized R&D Activity Fire Service Panel Evaluation
Criteria to include Potential Impact in advance of Implementation by
Fire Service.
[cir] Updated the weighted evaluation criteria for R&D Activity
Early Career Investigator applicants, including a new Science Panel
Evaluation criterion for Mentoring.
[cir] R&D Activity Early Career Investigator applicants are
required to submit a biological sketch of the mentor and a signed
letter of commitment from the mentor.
<bullet> Under section F--Environmental Planning and Historic
Preservation (EHP) Compliance:
[cir] Added examples of activities that require EHP review.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--Supporting Definitions:
[cir] Updated definition of Human Subject.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--FP&S Activity, Community Risk Reduction
Category:
[cir] Added guidance regarding smoke alarm installation.
[cir] Added guidance regarding LED/electronic signs.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--FP&S Activity, Code Enforcement/
Awareness Category:
[cir] Added pre-planning.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--FP&S Activity, National/State/Regional
Programs and Projects:
[cir] Added guidance regarding IRB exemption determinations.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--FP&S Activity, Ineligible Projects and
Items:
[cir] Clarified that remodeling/renovations to an existing facility
is only eligible if limited to minor interior alterations costing less
than $10,000.
[cir] Included emergency medical services equipment/supplies/
vehicles, firefighter physicals, Research and Development, creation of
new databases, projects requiring IRB approval to work with human
subjects, fuel or vegetation removal/reduction on public land, and
evacuation roads.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--R&D Activities Overview:
[cir] Absorbed the Dissemination and Implementation Research
category into the Clinical Studies category.
<bullet> Under Appendix B--R&D Activity, Ineligible Projects and
Items:
[cir] Included international travel to attend conferences or
disseminate results, and projects to purchase stock in any entity.
<bullet> Under Appendix C:
[cir] Added additional information on allowability of costs under
Grant Writer/Preparation Fees.
(Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229)
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2022-10193 Filed 5-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 12, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.