Notice2024-00998
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
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
January 19, 2024
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) 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) 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 meeting of the Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which was held July 18-19, 2023. The application period for the FY 2023 AFG Program is Jan. 29, 2024-March 8, 2024, and was announced on the FEMA AFG Program website at https:// www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters, as well as at https:// www.grants.gov.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3677-3682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00998]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2024-0003]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
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) 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant
(AFG) 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 meeting of the Criteria
Development Panel (CDP), which was held July 18-19, 2023. The
application period for the FY 2023 AFG Program is Jan. 29, 2024-March
8, 2024, and was announced on the FEMA AFG Program website at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters">https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters</a>, as well as at <a href="https://www.grants.gov">https://www.grants.gov</a>.
DATES: Grant applications for the FY 2023 AFG Program are being
accepted electronically through the FEMA Grant Outcomes (FEMA GO)
system at <a href="https://go.fema.gov/">https://go.fema.gov/</a>, through 5 p.m. ET on March 8, 2024.
ADDRESSES: DHS/FEMA/GPD, Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, 400
C St. SW, 3N, FEMA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20472-3635.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Parsons, Chief, Assistance to
Firefighters Grants Branch, 1-866-274-0960 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#51173823341623303f25221137343c307f3539227f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="692f001b0c2e1b08071d1a290f0c0408470d011a470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG program awards grants directly to
fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS)
organizations, and state fire training academies (SFTA) for enhancing
the health and safety of first responders and improving their abilities
to the public from fire and fire-related hazards. Applications for the
FY 2023 AFG program are submitted and processed online through <a href="https://go.fema.gov/">https://go.fema.gov/</a>. Before the application period started, the FY 2023 AFG
Program Notice of Funding Opportunity was published on FEMA's AFG
Program website at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants">https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants</a>. The AFG Program website provides
additional information and materials useful for FY 2023 AFG Program
applicants, including a Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions,
Application Checklist, AFG Narrative Development Toolkit, Self-
Evaluation Sheets for Vehicle Acquisition and Operations Safety, and a
Cost-Share Calculator. Based on past AFG Program application periods,
FEMA anticipates receiving 8,000 to 10,000 AFG applications this year
and available funding will support approximately 2,000 grant awards.
Congressional Appropriations
For the FY 2023 AFG program, Congress appropriated $360 million
through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023,
Public Law 117-328. From this amount, $324 million will be made
available for FY 2023 AFG Program awards. In addition, section 33 of
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15
U.S.C. 2229), requires that a minimum of 10% of available funds be
expended for Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Program grants. FP&S
Program awards will be made directly to local fire departments and to
local, regional, state, or national entities recognized for their
expertise in the fields of fire prevention and firefighter safety
research and development. The funds appropriated for FY 2023 are
available for obligation and award until Sept. 30, 2024.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 further directs
FEMA to administer these appropriations according to the following
requirements:
<bullet> Career fire departments: Not less than 25% of available
grant funds.
<bullet> Volunteer fire departments: Not less than 25% of available
grant funds.
<bullet> Combination fire departments and departments using paid-
on-call firefighting personnel: Not less than 25% of available grant
funds.
<bullet> Open competition (career, volunteer, and/or combination
fire departments and departments using paid-on-call firefighting
personnel): Not less than 10% of available grant funds awarded.
<bullet> EMS providers including fire departments and nonaffiliated
EMS organizations: Not less than 3.5% of available grant funds awarded.
<bullet> Nonaffiliated EMS providers: Not more than 2% of the total
available grant funds.
<bullet> SFTAs: Not more than 3% of available grant funds shall be
collectively awarded to SFTA applicants, with a maximum of $500,000 per
applicant.
<bullet> Vehicles: Not more than 25% of available grant funds may
be used for the purchase of vehicles; by policy and based on
recommendations, FEMA intends to dedicate 10% of those vehicle funds
for ambulances.
<bullet> Micro grants: This is a voluntary funding limitation
choice made by the applicant for requests submitted within the
operations and safety activity. It is not an additional funding
opportunity. Micro grants are awards that have a Federal participation
(share) that does not exceed $50,000. Applicants that select micro
grants may receive additional consideration for award. If an applicant
selects micro grants in their application, they will be limited in the
total amount of funding their organization can be awarded. If they are
requesting funding in excess of $50,000 Federal participation, they
should not select micro grants.
Background of AFG
Since 2001, AFG has awarded approximately $8.4 billion in grant
funding to help firefighters and other first responders obtain
critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles,
training, and other resources needed to protect the public and
emergency personnel from fire and fire-related hazards. FEMA awards
grants on a competitive basis to the applicants
[[Page 3678]]
that best address the AFG Program's priorities and provide the most
compelling justification. Applications that best address AFG Program
priorities, as identified in the Application Evaluation Criteria, are
reviewed by a panel composed of fire service personnel. The AFG Program
has three program activities:
<bullet> Operations and Safety;
<bullet> Vehicle Acquisition; and
<bullet> Regional Projects.
The priorities for each activity are fully outlined in the funding
notice.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Before making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3354, as
amended 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 jurisdiction(s)
served. 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 AFG applications are
established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria
Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is composed of fire service
professionals who make recommendations to FEMA regarding creating new,
or modifying previously established, funding priorities, as well as
developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of the funding
notice 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:
<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
AFG applications are reviewed through a multi-phase process. All
applications are electronically pre-scored and ranked based on how well
they align with the funding priorities outlined in the funding notice.
Applications with the highest pre-score rankings are then scored
competitively by no less than three members of a Peer Review Panel.
Applications are also evaluated through a series of internal FEMA
review processes for completeness, adherence to programmatic
guidelines, technical feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness of the
proposed project(s). Below is the process by which applications are
reviewed:
i. Pre-Scoring Process
The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based
on established program priorities listed in the funding notice and
answers to activity-specific questions within the online application.
Application narratives are not reviewed during pre-scoring. Request
details and budget information should comply with program guidance and
statutory funding limitations. The pre-score is 50% of the total
application score.
ii. Peer Review Panel Process
Applications with the highest pre-score undergo peer review. The
peer review is comprised of fire service representatives recommended by
the organizations represented on the CDP. The panelists assess the
merits of each application based on the narrative section of the
application, including the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative
Evaluation Criteria below. Panelists independently score each project
within the application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the
application with their peers, and document the findings. A consensus is
not required. The panel score is 50% of the total application score.
iii. Technical Evaluation Process
The highest ranked applications will be considered within the
fundable range. Applications that are in the fundable range will
undergo both a Technical Review by a subject-matter expert as well as a
FEMA Program Office review before being recommended for award. The FEMA
Program Office will assess the request with respect to costs,
quantities, feasibility, eligibility, and recipient responsibility
prior to recommending any application for award. Once the Technical
Evaluation Process is complete, each application's cumulative score
will be determined and a final ranking of applications will be created.
FEMA will award grants based on this final ranking and the ability to
meet statutorily required funding limitations outlined in the funding
notice.
Narrative Evaluation Criteria
1. Financial Need (25%)
Applicants should describe their financial need and how consistent
it is with the intent of the AFG program. This statement should include
details describing the applicant's financial distress, summarized
budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding, and
proof that their financial distress is out of their control.
2. Project Description and Budget (25%)
This statement should clearly explain the applicant's project
objectives and the relationship between those objectives and the
applicant's budget and risk analysis. The applicant should describe the
activities, including program priorities or facility modifications,
ensuring consistency with project objectives, the applicant's mission,
and any national, state and/or local requirements. Applicants should
link the proposed expenses to operations and safety, as well as the
completion of the project goals.
3. Cost Benefit (25%)
Applicants should describe how they plan to address the operations
and personal safety needs of their organization, including cost
effectiveness and sharing assets. This statement should also include
details about gaining the maximum benefits from grant funding by citing
reasonable or required costs, such as specific overhead and
administrative costs. The applicant's request should also be consistent
with their mission and identify how funding will benefit their
organization and personnel.
4. Statement of Effect on Daily Operations (25%)
This statement should explain how these funds will enhance the
applicant's overall effectiveness. It should address how an award will
improve daily
[[Page 3679]]
operations and reduce the applicant's risks. Applicants should include
how frequently the requested items will be used, and in what capacity.
Applicants should also indicate how the requested items will help the
community and increase the organization's ability to save additional
lives or property. Jurisdictions that demonstrate their commitment and
proactive posture to reducing fire risk, by explaining their code
enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface code enforcement) and
mitigation strategies (including whether the jurisdiction has a FEMA-
approved mitigation strategy) may receive stronger consideration under
this criterion.
Eligible Applicants
Fire Departments: Fire departments 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 organization. A fire department is an
agency or organization having a formally recognized arrangement with a
state, territory, local (city, county, parish, fire district, township,
town or other governing body), or tribal authority to provide fire
suppression to a population within a geographically fixed primary first
due response area.
Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Nonaffiliated EMS organizations
operating in any of the 50 states, as well as 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 organization. A
nonaffiliated EMS organization is an agency or organization that is a
public or private nonprofit emergency medical services entity providing
medical transport that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not
serve a geographic area in which emergency medical services are
adequately provided by a fire department. FEMA considers the following
as hospitals under the AFG Program:
<bullet> Clinics;
<bullet> Medical centers;
<bullet> Medical colleges or universities;
<bullet> Infirmaries;
<bullet> Surgery centers; and
<bullet> Any other institutions, associations, or foundations
providing medical, surgical, or psychiatric care and/or treatment for
the sick or injured
State Fire Training Academies: SFTAs operating in any of the 50
states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be
designated either by legislation or by a Governor's declaration as the
sole fire service training agency within a state, territory, or the
District of Columbia. The designated SFTA shall be the only agency/
bureau/division, or entity within that state, territory, or the
District of Columbia.
Non-Federal airport and/or port authority fire or EMS organizations
are eligible only if they have a formally recognized arrangement with
the local jurisdiction to provide fire suppression or emergency medical
services on a first-due basis outside the confines of the airport or
port facilities. Airport or port authority fire and EMS organizations
whose sole responsibility is suppression of fires or EMS response on
the airport grounds or port facilities are not eligible for funding
under the AFG Program.
Ineligibility
FEMA considers two or more separate fire departments or
nonaffiliated EMS organizations with different funding streams,
personnel rosters, and Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) but
sharing the same facilities as being separate organizations for the
purposes of AFG eligibility. If two or more organizations share
facilities and each submits an application in the same program area
(i.e., Equipment, Modifications to Facilities, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), Training, or Wellness and Fitness Programs), FEMA
reserves the right to review all of those program area applications for
eligibility. This determination is designed to avoid the duplication of
benefits.
Examples of ineligible applications and/or organizations include:
<bullet> Nonaffiliated EMS organization requests for any activity
that is specific or unique to structural/proximity/wildlands
firefighting gear.
<bullet> Fire departments that are a Federal Government entity, or
contracted by the Federal Government, and are solely responsible under
a formally recognized agreement for suppression of fires on Federal
installations or land.
<bullet> Fire departments or nonaffiliated EMS organizations that
are not independent entities but are part of, controlled by, or under
the day-to-day operational command and control of a larger department,
agency or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
[cir] However, if a fire department is considered to be the same
legal entity as a municipality or other governmental organization, and
otherwise meets the eligibility criteria, that municipality or other
governmental organization may apply on behalf of that fire department
as long as the application clearly states that the fire department is
considered part of the same legal entity.
<bullet> Fire-based EMS organization applying as a nonaffiliated
EMS organization.
<bullet> Auxiliaries, hospitals or fire service associations or
interest organizations that are not the AHJ over the applicant.
<bullet> Dive teams, search and rescue squads, or similar
organizations that do not provide medical transport.
<bullet> Fire departments, regional or nonaffiliated EMS
organizations that are for profit.
<bullet> State or local agencies, or subsets of any governmental
entity, or any authority that do not meet the requirements as defined
by 15 U.S.C. 2229(a), (c).
<bullet> If an applicant submits two or more applications for the
same equipment or other eligible activity (for example, if an applicant
submits two or more applications, one under the Regional activity, and
one under the Operations and Safety activity for self-contained
breathing apparatus [SCBA]), both applications may be disqualified. If
an applicant submits two separate applications for the same activity
(i.e., two separate vehicle applications for the same vehicle) during
the same application period, both applications may be disqualified.
[cir] This is different from when an entity is applying on behalf
of other organizations that are agencies or instrumentalities of the
applicant (e.g., multiple fire departments under the same county, city,
borough, parish, or other municipality). In that situation, the
applicant may request similar or the same equipment as long as the
application clearly states which equipment (including quantities) is
for which agency/instrumentality. This is permissible even if that
entity submits multiple applications across regional versus direct
applications.
[cir] Eligible Fire Department and nonaffiliated EMS applicants may
submit only one application for each of the following application
types: Individual Operations and Safety, Individual Vehicle, Regional
Operations and Safety, and Regional Vehicle. Under the Operations and
Safety applications, applicants may submit for multiple activities and
for multiple items within each activity. Under the Vehicle application,
applicants may submit one application for a vehicle activity (or
activities) for their department and one separate application for a
regional vehicle (the same vehicle(s) may not be
[[Page 3680]]
requested for both purposes). All duplicate application submissions may
be disqualified.
Statutory Limits to Funding
Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that
a grant recipient may receive from AFG in any single fiscal year based
on the population served (15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)). Awards will be limited
based on the size of the population protected by the applicant, as
indicated below. Notwithstanding the annual limits stated below, the
FEMA Administrator may not award a grant in an amount that exceeds 1%
of the available grant funds in such fiscal year, except where it is
determined that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in
an amount that exceeds the 1% aggregate limit.
<bullet> In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
100,000 people or fewer, the amount of available grant funds awarded to
such recipient shall not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year.
<bullet> In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 100,000 people, but not more than 500,000 people, the amount
of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2
million in any fiscal year.
<bullet> In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 500,000 people, but not more than 1 million people, the
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not
exceed $3 million in any fiscal year.
<bullet> In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 1 million people, but not more than 2.5 million people, the
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient is subject to
the 1% aggregate cap of $3.24 million for FY 2023. FEMA may waive this
aggregate cap in individual cases where FEMA determines that a
recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant that exceeds the
aggregate cap. If FEMA waives the aggregate cap, the amount of grant
funds awarded to such a recipient shall not exceed $6 million for any
fiscal year.
<bullet> In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 2.5 million people, the amount of available grant funds
awarded to such recipient is subject to the 1% aggregate cap of $3.24
million for FY 2023. FEMA may waive this aggregate cap in individual
cases where FEMA determines that a recipient has an extraordinary need
for a grant that exceeds the aggregate cap. If FEMA waives the
aggregate cap, the amount of grant funds awarded to such recipient
shall not exceed $9 million for any fiscal year.
<bullet> FEMA may not waive the population-based limits on the
amount of grant funds awarded as set by 15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A).
The cumulative total of the Federal share of awards in Operations
and Safety, Regional, and Vehicle Acquisition activities will be
considered when assessing award amounts and any limitations thereto.
Applicants may request funding up to the statutory limit on each of
their applications.
For example, an applicant that serves a jurisdiction with more than
100,000 people, but not more than 500,000 people, may request up to $2
million on their Operations and Safety Application and up to $2 million
on their Vehicle Acquisition request. However, should both grants be
awarded, the applicant would have to choose which award to accept if
the cumulative value of both applications exceeds the statutory limits.
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 applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR part 200, but
they are not required to have the cost-share at the time of application
nor at the time of award. However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA
validates that the grant recipient has 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 a grant shall agree to
make available non-Federal funds equal to not less than 15% of the
grant awarded. However, the cost share will vary as follows based on
the size of the population served by the organization, with exceptions
to this general requirement for entities serving smaller communities:
<bullet> Applicants that serve populations of 20,000 or less shall
agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not
less than 5% of the grant awarded.
<bullet> Applicants serving areas with populations above 20,000,
but not more than 1 million, shall agree to make available non-Federal
funds in an amount equal to not less than 10% of the grant awarded.
<bullet> Applicants serving areas with populations above 1 million
shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to
not less than 15% of the grant awarded.
The cost share for SFTAs will apply the requirements above based on
the total population of the state.
The cost share for a regional application will apply the
requirements above based on the aggregate population of the primary
first due response areas of the host and participating partner
organizations that execute a Memorandum of Understanding as described
in Appendix B, Section g., Regional Applications, of the FY 2023 AFG
funding notice.
On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may allow a grant recipient that may
already own assets (equipment or vehicles), acquired with non-Federal
cash, to use the trade-in allowance/credit value of those assets as
``cash'' for the purpose of meeting the cost-share obligation of their
AFG Program award. In-kind, cost-share matches are not allowed. Grant
recipients under this grant 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 funding notice 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 at the request of
the grant recipient, the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce a
grant recipient's cost-share requirement or maintenance of effort
requirement. AFG applicants for FY 2023 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 has published these guidelines on FEMA's
website at <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>.
Before the start of the FY 2023 AFG application period, FEMA
conducted applicant internet webinars to inform potential applicants.
In addition, FEMA provided applicants with information at the AFG
website, <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters">https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters</a>, to help
them prepare quality grant applications. The AFG Program Help Desk is
staffed throughout the application period to assist applicants with the
automated application process as well as answer any questions.
Applicants can reach the AFG Program Help Desk through a toll-free
[[Page 3681]]
telephone number Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET at 866-274-
0960 or electronic mail at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbddd2c9dedcc9dad5cfc8fbddded6da95dfd3c895dcd4cd">[email protected]</a>.
Application Process
Organizations may submit one application per application period in
each of the three AFG Program activities (e.g., one application for
Operations and Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, and/or a separate
application to be a Joint/Regional project host). If an organization
submits more than one application for any single AFG Program activity
(e.g., two applications for Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles),
either intentionally or unintentionally, both applications may be
disqualified.
Applicants may access the grant application electronically at
<a href="https://go.fema.gov/">https://go.fema.gov/</a>. New applicants must register and establish a
username and password for secure access to the grant application.
Previous AFG Program applicants must use their previously established
username and password.
Applicants are expected to answer questions about their grant
request that reflect the AFG Program funding priorities. In addition,
each applicant must complete four separate narratives for each project
or grant activity requested. Grant applicants will also provide
relevant information about their organization's characteristics, call
volume, and existing organizational capabilities.
System for Award Management (SAM)
Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant applicants and recipients must
register at <a href="https://sam.gov/content/home">https://sam.gov/content/home</a>. SAM is the Federal
Government's System for Award Management, and registration is free of
charge.
Effective April 4, 2022, the Federal Government transitioned from
using the Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS number, to a new,
non-proprietary identifier known as a Unique Entity Identifier or UEI.
For entities that had an active registration in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> before this
date, the UEI has automatically been assigned and no action is
necessary. For all entities filing a new registration in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, the
UEI will be assigned to that Entity as part of the <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> registration
process.
FEMA will not make a Federal award until the applicant has complied
with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant's SAM
registration must be active not only at the time of application, but
also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to
make a Federal award.
Criteria Development Panel Recommendations
If there are any differences between the published AFG Program
guidelines and the recommendations made by the CDP, FEMA must explain
them and publish the information in the Federal Register before
awarding any AFG grant.
Adopted Recommendations for FY 2023
Below is a list of changes between FY 2022 and FY 2023 to the AFG
Program. The FY 2023 AFG Program funding notice contains some changes
to definitions, descriptions, and priority categories. Changes include:
<bullet> Under Eligible Applicants: Definition of a state fire
training academy was updated to include that recognition by the
National Fire Training Academy is now an eligibility requirement.
<bullet> Under Management and Administration (M&A) Costs:
Reimbursement for fees associated with hiring grants management
services is now capped at $1,500. Requests that are simple percentages
of the award, without supporting justification or adequate
documentation, will not be allowed or considered for an award.
<bullet> Under Other Direct Costs, Allocations and Restrictions of
Available Grant Funds: Micro Grants cumulative funding threshold was
raised from $50,000 to $75,000.
<bullet> Under Restrictions on Uses of Awarded Funds: Clarification
was added that items must be requested using correct dropdown
selections in the application and that bundled items must have details
regarding type, cost and quantity of all items in the bundle to be
considered for funding.
<bullet> Under Supporting Definitions: Definition of Authority
Having Jurisdiction was updated to match NFPA 101, 2021 edition.
<bullet> Under Training Activity: Various NFPA standards were
updated to reflect the most recent editions.
<bullet> Under Equipment Activity: Various priority changes were
made to equipment for Fire Department and Regional Fire Department
applicants. The following items remain as High Priority:
[cir] Appliance(s)/Nozzle(s)
[cir] Basic Hand Tools (Structural/Wildland)
[cir] Hose (Attack/Supply)
[cir] Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Monitoring
Equipment
[cir] IDLH Protection for Investigators (This is single-use respiratory
protection)
[cir] PPE Washer/Extractor/Dryer (Turnout)
[cir] Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Pack/Cylinder
[cir] Thermal Imaging Camera (Must be NFPA 1801 compliant)
[cir] Portable Radios (must be P-25 compliant)
[cir] Vehicle Mounted Exhaust Systems
[cir] Skid Unit
[cir] Air Compressor/Fill Station/Cascade (fixed or mobile) is High
Priority for Regional Fire Department applicants and Medium Priority
for Fire Department applicants.
Other equipment items were moved to Medium Priority. EMS equipment
priority levels remain unchanged. Priority changes did not affect SFTA,
and NAEMS applicants.
[cir] Phones (telephone/satellite/cell), carrier plans and vehicle
mounted fans were added as ineligible items.
[cir] Clarity for reason for funding request (purpose) was added.
Funding notice and application text updated from ``Obtain equipment to
achieve minimum operational and deployment standards for existing
missions'' to ``Obtain equipment needed but not currently owned or
replace equipment that is broken and/or damaged beyond repair to
achieve minimum operational and deployment standards for existing
missions'' to better define the funding priorities.
[cir] Computing devices necessary to operate the awarded equipment
were added as eligible.
<bullet> Under Personal Protective Equipment Activity:
[cir] Replacement of damaged/unsafe/unrepairable PPE (including
SCBA) regardless of age is now allowable.
[cir] Language regarding PFAS in PPE was moved from the Application
Tips section to PPE Activity section and updated to encourage award
recipients to seek acquisition of PFAS-free gear when possible.
[cir] NFPA standard was added to the Chemical/Biological Suites
under Specialized PPE.
<bullet> Under Wellness and Fitness Activity: Whole-body MRI was
added to Ineligible activities.
<bullet> Under Vehicle Acquisition Activity: NFPA standards 1901,
1906 and 1917 were replaced by the consolidated NFPA standard 1900.
Recommendations Not Adopted for FY 2023
<bullet> Recommendation to allow applicants replacement or new
purchase of a second set of firefighter PPE was not adopted for FY
2023. This recommendation requires predictive modeling not currently
available.
<bullet> Combination of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
training line
[[Page 3682]]
item with the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive
(CBRNE) training line item into one line item was not adopted. Both
line items will remain available separately.
<bullet> Addition of the following EMS equipment line items as a
Medium Priority was not adopted:
[cir] O2 kit
[cir] Stair chair
[cir] Stretcher (non-powered)
[cir] Backboard
[cir] Trauma bag
[cir] Mass casualty kit
[cir] CPAP
[cir] Suction unit
[cir] Non-disposable splints
<bullet> Recommendation from the National Volunteer Fire Council to
reduce application requirements to simplify the process for the
applicants was deferred until FEMA Grants Outcomes system is operating
at full capacity.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229.
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-00998 Filed 1-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 19, 2024.
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.