[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12553-12560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6172]



  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 50 / Friday, March 14, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 12553]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

AGENCY: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), FEMA, Emergency Preparedness 
and Response, Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability.

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SUMMARY: We, USFA, are publishing this Notice to announce the 
availability of grant funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
Program (AFGP) for fiscal year 2003 and to provide the details and 
guidance regarding the 2003 program year.
    The program is intended to make grants directly to fire departments 
of a State for the purpose of enhancing the departments' ability to 
protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of 
firefighting personnel facing fire and fire-related hazards. A portion 
of this year's grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to the 
applicants that best address the program's priorities as described in 
this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA), then demonstrate financial 
need and maximize the benefits to be derived from the grant funds.

DATES: This notice is effective March 14, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian A. Cowan, Director, Grants 
Program Office, USFA, DHS, 500 C Street, SW., Room 330, Washington, DC 
20472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority: Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, 15 
U.S.C. 2201 et seq., and the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 
2003, Pub. L. 108-7.

Appropriations

    For fiscal year 2003, Congress appropriated $750,000,000 to carry 
out the activities of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program 
(AFGP). From this amount $4,875,000 was rescinded leaving $745,125,000 
to carry out the AFGP. We are also authorized to spend up to 
$37,500,000 for administration of the AFGP (five percent of the 
appropriated amount). In addition, we may set aside as much as 
$27,500,000 of the funds available under the Assistance to Firefighter 
Grant Program in order for us to make grants to, or enter into 
contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local or 
community organizations or agencies, including fire departments, for 
the purpose of carrying out fire prevention and injury prevention 
programs. This leaves approximately $680,000,000 for competitive grants 
to fire departments. We have until September 30, 2004, to obligate the 
appropriated funds.

Background

    The purpose of the AFGP is to award grants directly to fire 
departments of a State to enhance their ability to protect the health 
and safety of the public, as well as that of firefighting personnel, 
with respect to fire and fire related hazards. We will award the grants 
on a competitive basis to the applicants that first address the AFGP's 
priorities then demonstrate financial need and adequately demonstrate 
the benefit to be derived from their projects.
    For the purpose of the AFGP, ``State'' is defined as the fifty 
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands. We will provide the chief executives of the States with 
information concerning the total number and dollar amount of awards 
made to fire departments in their States.
    Applicants may apply for any number of activities within one grant 
proposal that address all of their needs within a programmatic or 
functional area. The programs, and associated activities are as 
follows:
    (a) Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program. Eligible 
activities under this function are Training, Wellness and Fitness, 
Firefighting Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, and Modification 
to Fire Stations and Facilities.
    (b) Fire Prevention Program. Eligible activities under this 
function include, but are not limited to Public Education and 
Awareness, Enforcing Fire Codes, Inspector Certification, Purchase and 
Install Smoke Alarms, and Arson Prevention and Detection.
    (c) Emergency Medical Services Program. Eligible activities under 
this function are Equipment Acquisition, Training, and Wellness and 
Fitness Activities. Vehicles are not eligible in this programmatic 
area.
    (d) Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program. Eligible apparatus 
under this program include, but are not limited to, pumpers, brush 
trucks, tankers, rescue, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and 
fireboats.
    Applicants seeking funding from this grant program in fiscal year 
2003 may apply for assistance in only one of the four programmatic 
areas listed above. Within the selected programmatic area, applicants 
may develop a comprehensive program and include in their application as 
many of the eligible activities as necessary to address their needs. 
For example, if a fire department determines that it has needs in the 
area of fire operations, that fire department could apply for any one 
of the activities, or any combination of activities, or all of the 
activities listed within that program. If a department wants a vehicle, 
it would apply under the vehicle program.
    We anticipate 20,000 to 25,000 fire departments will apply for 
assistance. Of these, we anticipate awarding approximately 7,000 
grants. However, due to the length of time that it will take us to make 
these awards, we anticipate that approximately half of these awards 
will be made before September 30, 2003. We anticipate the balance of 
the awards will be made before June 30, 2004.
    The law requires a certain distribution of grant funds between 
career departments and combination/volunteer fire departments. 
Specifically, we must ensure that fire departments that have either 
all-volunteer forces of firefighting personnel or combined forces of 
volunteer and career firefighting personnel receive a portion of the 
total grant funding that is not less than the proportion of the United 
States population that those departments protect. According to a 2001 
survey by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), volunteer 
and combination departments protect 56 percent of the population of the 
United States and career departments protect 44 percent of the 
population. Therefore, we will ensure that no less than 56 percent of 
the funding available for grants will be awarded to volunteer and 
combination departments.
    In order to fulfill our obligations under the law, we will make 
funding decisions using rank order after the panel evaluation as the 
preliminary basis. We may deviate from rank order and make funding 
decisions based on the type of department (career, combination, or 
volunteer), size and character of the community the applicant serves 
(urban, suburban, or rural), and/or the geographic location of the fire 
department. In these instances where we are making decisions based on 
geographic location, we will use States as the basic geographic unit. 
Geographic location of an applicant may be used primarily as a final 
discriminator, i.e., in cases where applicants have similar 
qualifications, we may use the geographic location of the applicants to 
maximize the diversity of the awardees.

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Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

    In addition to the grants available to fire departments in fiscal 
year 2003 through the competitive grant program, we will set aside as 
much as $27,500,000 of the funds available under the Assistance to 
Firefighter Grant Program in order for us to make grants to, or enter 
into contracts or cooperative agreements with, national, State, local 
or community organizations or agencies, including fire departments, for 
the purpose of carrying out fire prevention and injury prevention 
programs.
    In accordance with statutory requirement to fund fire prevention 
activities, our support to Fire Prevention and Safety Grant activities 
will concentrate on organizations that focus on the prevention of 
injuries to children from fire. In addition to this priority, we are 
also placing an emphasis on funding innovative projects that focus on 
protecting the USFA-identified high-risk populations, i.e., children 
under fourteen, seniors over sixty-five, and firefighters. Since the 
victims of burns experience both short- and long-term physical and 
psychological effects, we are also placing a priority on programs that 
focus on reducing the immediate and long-range effects of fire and burn 
injuries, and primarily those affecting children.
    A separate Notice of Funds Availability will be issued to announce 
the pertinent details of the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant portion 
of this program.

Applicant Eligibility

    Eligible applicants for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
Program are limited to fire departments of a State. Under the existing 
interim final rule, a ``fire department of a State'' is defined as an 
agency or organization that has a formally recognized arrangement with 
a State, local or tribal authority (city, county, parish, fire 
district, township, town or other governing body) to provide fire 
suppression services to a population within a fixed geographical area. 
For the purpose of this program, ``State'' is defined as the fifty 
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
    A fire department can apply for assistance for its emergency 
medical services unit provided the unit falls organizationally under 
the auspices of the fire department. Airport fire departments and port 
authority fire departments are eligible, but only if they have a 
formally recognized arrangement with the local jurisdiction to provide 
fire suppression services, on a first-due basis, outside the confines 
of the airport or port facilities. Airport fire departments and port 
authority fire departments whose sole responsibility is suppression of 
fires on the airport grounds or port are not eligible for this grant 
program.
    Fire departments that are Federal, or contracted by the Federal 
government, and which are solely responsible under their formally 
recognized arrangement for suppression of fires on Federal 
installations, are not eligible for this grant program. Fire 
departments or fire stations that are not independent but are part of, 
or controlled by a larger fire department or agency are typically not 
eligible to apply on their own, but may be included in the larger 
agency's application. Fire departments that are for-profit departments 
(i.e., do not have specific non-profit status or are not municipally 
based) are not eligible to apply for assistance under this program. 
Also not eligible for this program are non-fire based EMS companies, 
ambulance services, rescue squads, auxiliaries, dive teams, urban 
search and rescue teams, fire service organizations or associations, 
and State/local agencies such as a forest service, fire marshal, 
hospitals, and training offices.

Application Process

    Eligible applicants will be able to access the application on 
USFA's e-grant system. This system is accessible from the USFA Internet 
homepages. The application will only be available during the 
application period. Although we do not encourage the use of paper 
applications, paper applications will be available for applicants that 
do not have access to the Internet. If an applicant does not have 
access over the Internet to the USFA Web site, the applicant may 
contact us directly to request a copy via mail. Although we do not 
recommend it due to inherent delays and relatively short application 
period, those fire departments interested in receiving an application 
in the mail must call our toll-free hotline at 866-274-0960.
    Applicants applying via paper application rather than the automated 
e-grant system should complete and submit their applications to us at 
Grant Program Technical Assistance Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, 
Emmitsburg, Maryland, 21727-8998. Faxed applications will not be 
considered. We will not be responsible for applications sent to any 
other address.
    The application period for the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters 
Grant Program is Monday, March 10, 2003, to Friday, April 11, 2003. 
Complete application packages must be submitted electronically or 
otherwise received by us on or before the close of business (5 p.m. 
EST) on Friday, April 11, 2003. Applications submitted by mail must be 
post-marked by April 8, 2003, or received by us on or before close of 
business (5 p.m. EST) on April 11, 2003. We will not accept late, 
faxed, or emailed applications.
    The automated grant application system has features built into it 
that will guarantee that the application is complete when submitted. We 
will not accept incomplete applications submitted by mail. We will not 
be responsible for any application that is not mailed to the address 
specified above.
    We will evaluate each application in the preliminary screening 
process to determine which applications best address the program's 
established priorities. This preliminary screening is based on the 
applicants' answers to the activity-specific questions. Each activity 
within an application will be scored and applications that have 
multiple activities will have the scores prorated based on the amount 
of funding requested for each activity.
    The best applications as determined in this preliminary step will 
be deemed to be in the ``competitive range.'' All applications in the 
competitive range will be subject to a second level review by a 
technical evaluation panel. The panelists will assess the application's 
merits with respect to the clarity and detail provided in the narrative 
about the project, the applicant's financial need, and the project's 
purported benefit to be derived from the cost.
    Using the evaluation criteria included herein, the panelists will 
independently score each application before them and then discuss the 
merits/shortcomings of the application in an effort to reconcile any 
major discrepancies. A consensus on the score is not required. The 
assigned score will reflect the degree to which the applicant: clearly 
relates their proposed project; demonstrates financial need; and, 
details a high benefit to cost value of the proposed activities. The 
highest scoring applications resulting from this second level of review 
will then be considered for award.
    In order to be successful in the panel evaluation, the narrative 
should include a detailed description of the planned activities, uses 
for the grant funds including details of each budget line item. For 
example, if personnel costs are

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included in the budget, please provide a break down of what those costs 
are for. The narrative should also explain why the grant funds are 
needed and why the department has not been able to obtain funding for 
the planned activities on its own. A discussion of financial need 
should include an explanation of any Federal funding received for 
similar activities. Finally, the applicant's narrative should detail 
the benefits the department or community will realize as a result of 
the grant award. In addition to describing the cost effectiveness of 
the grant request, an applicant can demonstrate cost benefit by 
describing, as applicable, how the grant award will (1) Fit in with a 
regional approach, i.e., is consistent with current capabilities and 
requests of neighboring fire departments or otherwise benefits other 
fire departments in the region, (2) promote interoperability of 
equipment/technology with other fire departments and local, state and 
Federal first responders, and (3) allow the fire department to respond 
to all hazards. In addition to fire prevention/suppression, all hazards 
includes incidents involving seismic (earthquake), atmospheric 
(tornados, hurricanes), technological (hazardous materials, nuclear, 
etc.), and terrorism.
    In addition to the project narrative, the applicant must provide an 
itemized budget detailing the use of the grant funds. If an applicant 
is seeking funds in more than one eligible activity within a program, 
separate budgets will have to be generated for each activity and then 
an overall or summary budget would have to be generated. For those 
applicants applying on line, the summary budget will be automatically 
generated by the e-grant system.
    Applicants that need assistance in formulating the justification or 
narrative statement required by this program may contact us for 
technical assistance. We will also be conducting grant workshops in 
each State. We will place the information regarding the workshops on 
the USFA Web site. Our Technical Assistance Center's toll free number 
is 866-274-0960, our email address is [email protected], and our Web 
site addresses are www.fema.gov and www.usfa.fema.gov, respectively.

Eligible Activities

    Specific activities that are eligible for consideration for each 
program area are provided below under the descriptions of this year's 
eligible programs. Each department may only submit one application per 
application period. Applicants may only apply for one program area per 
application but they may seek funding in as many activities within the 
program area as they need. The specific activities eligible for each 
program area are delineated below. Applicants that submit multiple 
applications within one application period or more than one program 
will have each of their applications deemed ineligible. Applications 
submitted under this NOFA does not preclude applications submitted 
under subsequent NOFAs, though multiple awards in one Federal fiscal 
year may be limited.

Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.

    Appropriate activities under this program area include: Training, 
Wellness and Fitness, Firefighting Equipment, Personal Protective 
Equipment, and Modifications to Fire Stations and Facilities. You can 
apply for as many eligible activities under this function as necessary 
to meet your operational needs. There are no bonuses or penalties for 
applying for only one activity or for multiple activities. The purchase 
of any equipment (communications systems and equipment or personal 
protective equipment or firefighting equipment) under this program 
should have the intent and/or goal of solving your interoperability 
problems, as applicable. Any applicant seeking funding for equipment 
herein should provide details in the narrative section of their 
application regarding their local plan to enable interoperability for 
their jurisdiction.
    (a) Training activities: USFA may make grants for the purpose of 
training firefighting personnel. Examples of training activities 
include, but are not limited to firefighting I and II, driver/operator, 
fire officer, hazardous materials response, incident command, 
supervision and safety, arson prevention and detection, handling of 
hazardous materials, or training firefighting personnel to provide 
training in any of these areas.
    Eligible uses of training funds include but are not limited to 
purchase of training curricula, training equipment (including 
trailers), training props, training services, attendance at formal 
training forums, etc. Tow vehicles or other means of transport may be 
eligible as a transportation expense under this activity if adequately 
justified in your grant proposal, but we will limit transportation 
expenses to $6,000 per year. Compensation to volunteer firefighters for 
wages lost as a result of attending training under this program is an 
eligible expense if justified in your grant proposal. Overtime expenses 
paid to career firefighters to attend training, or overtime expenses 
paid to firefighters to cover for their colleagues while their 
colleagues are in training, is an eligible expense if justified in your 
grant proposal. Even though compensation is an eligible expense, 
proposals that contain such compensation expenses may be less favorable 
than similar proposals without compensation expenses due to the 
benefit/cost element in the evaluation process.
    Activities that are not eligible in this area include construction 
of facilities such as classrooms, buildings, towers, etc. Renovations 
to an existing facility necessary to accomplish training activities are 
allowable if the renovations are minor and comply with the definition 
in the final rule and published in the Federal Register (i.e., limited 
to minor interior alterations costing less than $10,000).
    (b) Wellness and fitness activities: USFA may make grants for the 
purpose of establishing or expanding wellness and fitness initiatives 
for firefighting personnel. Applicants will not be eligible for funding 
under the wellness and fitness activity unless they currently provide 
entry level physical examinations, immunization programs, and periodic 
health screenings, or intend to use grant funds to provide these three 
benefits to all their active firefighting personnel including EMS 
staff.
    Eligible expenses in a wellness and fitness activity for 
firefighting personnel may include the procurement of medical services 
to ensure that the firefighting personnel are physically able to carry 
out their duties (purchase of medical equipment is not eligible under 
this category). Expenses to carry out wellness and fitness activities 
may include costs such as personnel (i.e., health-care consultants, 
trainers, and nutritionists), physicals, equipment (including 
shipping), supplies, and other related contract services that are 
directly associated with the implementation of the proposed activity 
are eligible.
    Transportation expenses and fitness club memberships for the 
firefighters or their families are not eligible under the wellness and 
fitness activity. Other expenses that are not eligible in this area 
include construction of facilities to house a fitness program such as 
exercise or fitness rooms, showers, etc. Renovations to an existing 
facility necessary to accomplish wellness and fitness activities are 
allowable if the renovations are minor and comply with the definition 
in the final rule and published in the Federal Register (i.e.,

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limited to minor interior alterations costing less than $10,000).
    (c) Firefighting equipment acquisition: USFA may make grants for 
the purpose of acquiring additional firefighting equipment, including 
equipment needed directly for fire suppression or to enhance the safety 
or effectiveness of firefighting or rescue activities.
    Eligible expenses include those expenses necessary to acquire 
additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for individual 
communications and monitoring equipment. Compressor systems, cascade 
systems, or similar SCBA refill systems are eligible expenditures in 
this area. Small boats (under 13 feet in length), jet-skis, and all-
terrain vehicles (ATVs) may be considered firefighting or rescue 
equipment if properly justified in the narrative section of the 
application.
    Renovations to an existing facility necessary to accommodate new 
firefighting equipment are allowable if the renovations are minor and 
comply with the definition in the final rule and published in the 
Federal Register (i.e., limited to minor interior alterations costing 
less than $10,000).
    Thermal imaging cameras are eligible, but the number of cameras 
that can be applied for and/or purchased with grant funds will be 
limited based on the population served by the department applying for 
assistance. Departments that serve communities of less than 20,000 can 
purchase one thermal imaging camera with grant funds if awarded a 
grant; departments serving communities between 20,000 and 50,000 can 
purchase two cameras with grant funds if awarded a grant; and 
departments serving communities of over 50,000 can purchase three 
cameras with grant funds if awarded a grant.
    Activities that are not eligible in this area include construction 
of facilities such as buildings, towers, etc. Vehicles, as defined in 
the final rule and published in the Federal Register, are not eligible 
under this activity. Signage and outdoor warning sirens or systems are 
also not eligible. Personal protective equipment, including clothing 
for structural and/or wildland fire suppression such as ``Turnout 
Gear'' or ``Bunker Gear'' (including boots, pants, coats, gloves, 
hoods, goggles, vests, helmets, coveralls, and fire shelters), self-
contained breathing apparatus, spare cylinders, and personal alert 
safety systems, is not eligible under this activity, but is eligible 
under the Personal Protective Equipment Acquisition activity.
    Integrated communications systems (or parts thereof), such as 
computer-aided dispatch, base stations, repeaters, etc., are eligible 
under this activity. Portable radios and/or mobile communications 
equipment (including mobile repeaters) are also eligible. Personal 
accountability systems are eligible as well. The cost of shipping 
equipment purchased under this program is also an eligible expense.
    The purchase of any equipment under this program must have the 
intent and/or goal of satisfying local problems with interoperable 
systems. Any applicant seeking funding for communications systems and/
or equipment must provide details regarding their local plan to enable 
interoperability for their jurisdiction in the narrative section of 
their application.
    (d) Personal protective equipment acquisition: USFA may make grants 
for the purpose of acquiring personal protective equipment required for 
active firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, and other personal protective equipment for 
firefighting personnel.
    Eligible personal protective equipment includes clothing for 
structural and wildland fire suppression such as ``Turnout Gear'' or 
``Bunker Gear'' (including boots, pants, coats, gloves, hoods, goggles, 
vests, helmets, coveralls, and fire shelters), self-contained breathing 
apparatus, spare cylinders, and personal alert safety systems. 
Protective clothing for response to hazardous materials incidents and 
other specialized incidents are also eligible under this activity.
    The purchase of three-quarter length rubber boots is an ineligible 
expenditure under this activity since it precludes the effective use of 
the eligible PPE cited above. Uniforms (formal/parade or station/duty) 
or uniform items (hats, badges, etc.) are also not eligible 
expenditures under this activity. Personal communications equipment 
such as radios and pagers are not eligible under this activity, but 
eligible under firefighting equipment acquisition activity.
    The purchase of any equipment under this program must have the 
intent and/or goal of satisfying local problems with interoperable 
systems. Any applicant seeking funding for communications systems and/
or equipment must provide details regarding their local plan to enable 
interoperability for their jurisdiction in the narrative section of 
their application.
    (e) Modifications to fire stations and facilities activities: 
Eligible measures under this activity are limited but focused on 
promoting fire and life safety in fire stations and facilities. We 
believe that each of the eligible measures, if incorporated, would make 
any facility safer for firefighters. Measures that are eligible for 
funding are the installation of sprinkler systems, installation of 
vehicle exhaust extraction systems, the installation of smoke and/or 
fire alarm notification systems, and minor renovations to facilities 
that are necessary in order to accomplish other activities under this 
grant. The grant funds are to be used to retrofit existing structures 
that do not have the eligible safety features or to upgrade facilities 
whose features are dated. The funds are not to be used to supplement 
new construction.
    There are no monetary limits on the individual initiatives under 
this activity such as vehicle exhaust systems, sprinkler systems or 
smoke/fire alarm systems, but no applicant can request more than 
$100,000 in the modifications per fire station under their 
jurisdiction.

Fire Prevention Program.

    USFA may make grants for the purpose of establishing or enhancing a 
fire prevention program. Appropriate activities in this program 
include, but are not limited to the following: public education, public 
awareness, enforcing fire codes, inspector certification, purchase and 
installation of smoke alarms and fire suppression systems, and arson 
prevention and detection activities. Applicants can apply for as many 
related activities under this function as necessary.
    Eligible expenses to carry out these activities would include costs 
such as a fire education/safety trailer, personnel, transportation, 
equipment (including appropriate personal protective equipment), 
supplies, and contracted services which are directly associated with 
the implementation of the proposed activity. Tow vehicles or other 
means of transport may be eligible as a transportation expense if 
adequately justified in the proposal, but transportation expenses will 
be limited to $6,000 per year.
    Construction is not eligible under this program. A safety village 
that is not transportable would be considered construction, and 
therefore, not eligible. Firearms are also not eligible.

Emergency Medical Services Program.

    USFA may make grants for the purpose of establishing or enhancing a 
fire department's emergency medical services program. Applicants can 
apply the training activity, the equipment acquisition activity, or the 
wellness and fitness activity or all of these activities under this 
program area.

[[Page 12557]]

    Eligible expenses for the training activities under this program 
could include instructional costs (i.e., books, materials, equipment, 
supplies, and exam fees), certification/re-certification expenses, and 
continuing education programs. Eligible expenses for equipment 
acquisition in this program could include defibrillators, basic and 
advanced life support equipment, universal precaution supplies (i.e., 
medical PPE) mobile and portable communication equipment, computers, 
expendable supplies (but not medications), and infectious disease 
control and decontamination systems.
    Integrated communications systems (or parts thereof), such as 
computer-aided dispatch, base stations, repeaters, etc., are eligible 
under this activity. Portable radios and/or mobile communications 
equipment (including mobile repeaters) are also eligible. The purchase 
of any equipment under this program must have the intent and/or goal of 
satisfying local problems with interoperable systems. Any applicant 
seeking funding for equipment must provide details regarding their 
local plan to enable interoperability for their jurisdiction in the 
narrative section of their application.
    Wellness and fitness activities under the EMS program: USFA may 
make grants for the purpose of establishing or expanding wellness and 
fitness initiatives for firefighting and EMS personnel of a fire 
department. An applicant will not be eligible for funding under this 
wellness and fitness activity unless the applicant currently provides 
entry-level physical examinations, immunization programs, and periodic 
health screenings, or intends to use grant funds to provide these 
benefits to all firefighting personnel including active EMS staff.
    Eligible expenses in a wellness and fitness activity for EMS 
personnel may include the procurement of medical services to ensure 
that the EMS personnel are physically able to carry out their duties 
(purchase of medical equipment is not eligible under this category). 
Expenses to carry out wellness and fitness activities may include costs 
such as personnel (i.e., health-care consultants, trainers, and 
nutritionists), physicals, equipment (including shipping), supplies, 
and other related contract services that are directly associated with 
the implementation of the proposed activity are eligible.
    Not eligible in this program are medications and vehicles, such as 
ambulances. Vehicles must be applied for under the Vehicle Acquisition 
Program detailed below. Transportation expenses and fitness club 
memberships for the EMS personnel or their families are not eligible 
under the wellness and fitness activity. Other expenses that are not 
eligible in this area include construction of communication towers or 
facilities to house a fitness program such as exercise or fitness 
rooms, showers, etc. Renovations to an existing facility necessary to 
accomplish wellness and fitness activities are allowable if the 
renovations are minor and comply with the definition in the final rule 
and published in the Federal Register (i.e., limited to minor interior 
alterations costing less than $10,000).

Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program

    USFA may make grants for the purpose of acquiring new firefighting 
vehicles, used fire apparatus, or refurbished apparatus. The funds may 
also be used to refurbish a vehicle that the department currently owns. 
Applicants may apply for only one vehicle per year under this program. 
A listing of the eligible vehicles and their relative priority is 
contained in the Evaluation Criteria section below.
    Eligible expenses under this program would include the cost of the 
vehicle and associated equipment necessary to conform to applicable 
national standards. New, used or refurbished vehicles are eligible, 
however any used or refurbished vehicles must conform to national 
standards that were in effect the year the vehicle was manufactured. 
Custom vehicles are eligible, but due to benefit/cost considerations 
during review, they may not be as favorably evaluated as a lower 
costing standard model commercial vehicle. An allowance for 
transportation to inspect a vehicle under consideration or during a 
vehicle's production would be eligible if justified and included in the 
grant proposal. Also eligible would be the additional costs associated 
with the purchase and installation of a vehicle-mounted exhaust 
filtration system for any vehicle purchased with grant funds.
    Applicants will not be allowed to modify the scope of work of a 
vehicle award, i.e. change the type of vehicle requested. Aircraft, 
bulldozers, and construction-related equipment are not eligible.

Other Eligible Costs

    Administrative Costs. Administrative costs are allowable under any 
of the program areas listed above, in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 
or OMB Circular A-122, as applicable. Applicants may apply for 
administrative costs if the costs are directly related to the 
implementation of the program for which they are applying. Applicants 
must list their costs under the ``other'' category in their budget and 
explain what the costs are for in their project narrative. Examples of 
eligible administrative costs would be shipping, computers, office 
supplies, etc. We will assess the reasonableness of the administrative 
costs requested in each application and determine if it is in the best 
interest of the program to fund all or a portion of the requested 
expenses.
    Indirect Costs. Applicants that have an approved indirect cost rate 
may charge indirect costs to the grant if they submit the documentation 
that supports the rate to us. Indirect cost rates must be formally 
established and approved by the applicant's cognizant Federal agency. 
We will allow the rate to be applied as long as it is consistent with 
its established terms. For example, some indirect cost rates may not 
apply to capital procurements; in this case, indirect cost rates would 
not apply for a grant to purchase equipment or a vehicle.
    Audit Costs. Some applicants with large awards may be required to 
undergo an audit in accordance with OMB Circular A-133, specifically, 
recipients of Federal funding that spends in excess of $300,000 of 
those funds in a year. The costs incurred for such an audit would be an 
expenditure that is eligible for reimbursement if included in the 
budget proposal.
    Grant Writer Fees. Fees for grant writers may be included as a pre-
award expenditure (as provided in section 152.7(b)), but fees payable 
on a contingency basis are not an eligible expense that can be charged 
to the grant. For grant writers' fees to be eligible as a pre-award 
expenditure, the fees must have been paid prior to award. Applicants 
may be required to provide documentation to support these pre-award 
expenditures.
    Reasonableness of Costs. The panelists will review the applications 
that make it into the competitive range and judge each application on 
its own merits. The panelists will consider all expenses budgeted, 
including administrative and indirect, as part of the cost-benefit 
determination and may recommend appropriate adjustments. Regardless of 
eligibility of any costs requested, we reserve the right to reduce any 
requests for assistance, in whole or in part, that we deem to be 
excessive or otherwise contrary to the best interests of this program.
    Pre-award Costs. Generally, fire departments cannot use grant funds 
to pay for products and services contracted for, or purchased prior to 
the effective date of the grant. However, we will

[[Page 12558]]

consider requests for reimbursement for these on an exception basis. 
Expenses incurred after the application deadline but prior to award may 
be eligible for reimbursement if the expenses were justified, 
unavoidable (i.e., urgent and compelling), consistent with the scope of 
work, and specifically approved by the Assistance Officer. Expenses, 
obligations, commitments or contracts incurred or entered into prior to 
the application deadline are not eligible to be included as an expense.

Evaluation Criteria

    Specific rating criteria for each of the eligible programs and 
activities follow below. These rating criteria will provide an 
understanding of the grant program's priorities and the expected cost 
effectiveness of any proposed projects.
    (1) Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.
    (i) Training Activities. We believe that more benefit is derived 
from the direct delivery of training than from the purchase of training 
materials, equipment or props. Therefore, applications focused on 
direct delivery of training will receive a higher competitive rating. 
We will also accord higher rating to programs achieving benefits from 
statutorily required training over non-mandatory or strictly voluntary 
training. We will rate more highly those programs that benefit the 
highest percentage of targeted personnel within a fire department. 
Training designated for Rapid Intervention Teams will have a slightly 
higher competitive advantage. It should be noted that on average the 
sending of trainees away for training will be less cost effective than 
delivery of the same training on-site.
    Due to the inherent differences between urban, suburban, and rural 
firefighting characteristics, we have developed different priorities in 
the training activity for departments that service these different 
types of communities. For departments serving rural communities, we 
believe that funding of basic, operational-level firefighting, rescue, 
and responder training (i.e., training in basic firefighting duties or 
operating fire apparatus) has greater benefit than funding of officer 
training, safety officer training, or operations training. Likewise, we 
feel there is a greater cost-benefit to officer training than for other 
specialized training such as mass casualty, HAZMAT, WMD awareness, 
advance rescue, or inspector training. Conversely, for departments that 
are servicing communities that are suburban or urban, we believe there 
is a higher benefit to be gained by funding specialized training such 
as mass casualty, HAZMAT, advance rescue, or inspector training than 
the funding of officer training, safety officer training, or operations 
training, which in turn has a higher benefit than basic, operational, 
or awareness level activities.
    (ii) Wellness and Fitness Activities. We believe that in order to 
have an effective wellness/fitness program, fire departments must offer 
an entry physical examination, an immunization program, and periodic 
health screenings. Accordingly, applicants seeking funding in this 
category must currently offer all three benefits, or must propose to 
initiate any of these benefits not currently offered with these grant 
funds in order to receive additional consideration for funding this 
activity. We believe the greatest benefit will be realized by 
supporting new wellness and fitness programs, and therefore, we will 
accord higher competitive ratings to those applicants lacking wellness/
fitness programs over those applicants that already possess a wellness/
fitness program. We believe that programs with annual physicals and 
general health screening provide high benefits and programs including 
employee assistance-type offerings, incident rehabilitation, formal 
fitness regiments, and/or injury prevention components offer 
significant benefits. Injury rehabilitation is eligible but provide a 
low cost benefit. Finally, since participation is critical to achieving 
any benefits from a wellness or fitness program, we will give higher 
competitive rating to departments whose wellness and fitness programs 
mandate participation as well as programs that provide incentives for 
participation.
    (iii) Firefighting Equipment Acquisition. The stated purpose of 
this grant program is to protect the health and safety of the public 
and firefighters from fire and fire related hazards. As such, we 
believe that this grant program will achieve the greatest benefits if 
we provide funds to fire departments purchasing basic firefighting 
equipment before any other type of equipment. We will afford 
departments buying basic firefighting equipment for the first time 
(equipment never owned before) a higher competitive rating than 
departments buying replacement equipment or equipment that will be used 
to expand the department's capabilities into new mission areas. We 
believe there is more benefit realized to bring a department up to the 
applicable minimum standard (i.e., as required by statute, regulation, 
or professional firefighting guidance), rather than to the department 
that is replacing equipment or enhancing capabilities. Equipment 
designated for Rapid Intervention Teams will have a slightly higher 
competitive advantage.
    (iv) Personal Protective Equipment Acquisition. A stated purpose of 
this grant program is to protect the health and safety of firefighters 
from fire, fire related hazards and other hazardous conditions. The 
goal is to provide active firefighters with a complete set of 
equipment, breathing apparatus as well as turnout gear. As such, this 
grant program will achieve the greatest benefits if we provide funds to 
fire departments purchasing basic protective equipment for firefighting 
before other types of protective equipment. In order to achieve the 
goal and maximize the benefit to the firefighting community, we believe 
that we must fund those applicants needing to provide personal 
protective equipment (PPE) to a high percentage of their personnel. 
Accordingly, we will give a high competitive rating in this category to 
fire departments in which a large percentage of their active 
firefighting staff do not have any personal protective equipment and to 
departments that wish to purchase enough PPE to equip 100 percent of 
their active firefighting staff. We will also give a higher competitive 
rating to departments that are purchasing the equipment for the first 
time as opposed to departments replacing obsolete or substandard 
equipment (e.g., equipment that does not meet current NFPA and OSHA 
standards), or purchasing equipment for a new mission. Departments that 
are replacing used gear that is very old, will be afforded a higher 
competitive rating than a department whose gear is relatively new. We 
will provide a higher competitive rating to departments requesting 
integrated PASS devices than to those departments that are requesting 
non-integrated PASS devices. We also believe it is more cost beneficial 
to fund departments that have a high volume of fire related responses 
per year before funding less active departments. With respect to call 
volume, departments will be compared to departments with similar 
characteristics, i.e., urban compared to urban, suburban compared to 
suburban, and rural compared to rural. Equipment designated for Rapid 
Intervention Teams will have a slightly higher competitive advantage.
    (v) Modifications to Fire Stations and Facilities. The stated 
purposes of this grant program is to protect the health and safety of 
firefighters, as such, eligible projects under this activity that are 
designed to directly protect the health and safety of firefighters. We 
believe that more benefit would be

[[Page 12559]]

derived from modifying fire stations than would be realized by 
modifying fire-training facilities or other fire-related facilities. 
Facilities that would be open for broad usage and have a high occupancy 
capacity would receive a higher competitive rating than facilities that 
have limited use and/or low occupancy capacity. The frequency of use 
would also have a bearing on the benefits to be derived from grant 
funds. The frequency and duration of a facility's occupancy have a 
direct relationship to the benefits to be realized from funding in this 
activity. As such, facilities that are occupied or otherwise in use 24-
hours-per-day/seven-days-a-week would receive a higher competitive 
rating than facilities used on a part-time or irregular basis.
    (2) Fire Prevention Program. We believe that the public as a whole 
will receive the greatest benefit by creating new fire prevention 
programs. Therefore, our priority is to target these funds to fire 
departments that do not have an existing fire prevention program as 
opposed to those departments that already have such a program. Also, we 
believe the public will benefit greatly from establishing fire 
prevention programs that will continue beyond the grant year as opposed 
to limited efforts. Therefore, we will give a higher competitive rating 
to programs that will be self-sustaining after the grant period.
    Because of the benefits to be attained, we will give a higher 
competitive rating to programs that target one or more of USFA's 
identified high-risk populations (i.e., children under fourteen years 
of age, seniors over sixty-five and firefighters), and programs whose 
impact is/will be periodically evaluated. We believe that the purchase 
or development and/or implementation of public education programs 
provides the highest benefits to a community therefore, applications 
that propose this type of project will receive the highest competitive 
rating. Programs that develop and enforce fire codes and standards, and 
arson prevention and detection programs typically provide long-term 
effect on fire prevention, therefore, they will receive a high 
competitive rating. We also believe programs that purchase and install 
residential and public detection and suppression systems provide 
significant benefits.
    Programs that are limited to the purchase of public information 
materials and presentation aids and equipment achieve the least 
benefit; therefore, these types of activities will receive a lower 
competitive rating.
    (3) Emergency Medical Services Program. Our overall objective in 
this program is to help fire departments start or expand EMS service 
delivery by providing training and equipment necessary to achieve their 
desired level of capacity. Because of the inherent benefits, the 
primary goal of this program is to train and equip all firefighters to 
the basic EMS certification level (i.e., first responder and EMT) and 
work toward an EMT-B level of capacity before assisting departments 
with established EMS programs in upgrading existing services.
    In this program area, we will give the highest competitive rating 
to fire departments that are planning on acquiring a basic life-support 
level of service over upgraded or expanded services. We believe that 
enhancing or expanding an existing service that currently meets basic 
life-support to an intermediate life-support system would a higher 
benefit than enhancing existing services to the paramedic level.
    Higher priority will be given to departments with a high call 
volume relative to departments of similar characteristic (i.e., urban, 
suburban, or rural). Also, departments that strive to comply with a 
State, Federal, or national standard will be afforded a slightly higher 
competitive standing.
    (1) Firefighting Vehicle Program. In recognition of the inherent 
differences between urban, suburban, and rural firefighting 
conventions, we have developed different priorities in the vehicle 
acquisition program for departments that service these different types 
of communities. The following chart delineates our priorities in this 
program area for each type of community. Due to the competitive nature 
of this program and the imposed limits of funding available for this 
program, it is unlikely that we would fund many vehicles that are not 
listed as a priority-one or a priority-two this year.

                                     Vehicle Acquisition Program Priorities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Urban                    Suburban                    Rural
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priority One.....................  Pumper                     Pumper                    Pumper.
                                   Quint                      Quint                     Tanker.
                                   Rescue-pumper              Rescue-pumper             Brush.
                                   Aerial                                               Rescue-pumper.
                                   Rescue                                               Pumper-tanker.
Priority Two.....................  HAZMAT                     Brush                     Rescue.
                                   Light/Air                  Rescue                    Light/Air.
                                   Rehab                      Aerial                    Quint.
                                                              HAZMAT
Priority Three...................  ARFF                       Light/Air                 HAZMAT.
                                   Foam                       Tanker                    Rehab.
                                   Brush                      Pumper-tanker             Command.
                                   Command                    Rehab
                                   Fire Boat                  Command
Priority Four....................  Tanker                     ARFF                      ARFF.
                                   Pumper-tanker              Foam                      Foam.
                                   Watercraft                 Watercraft                Aerials.
                                   Ambulance                  Fire Boat                 Watercraft.
                                                              Ambulance                 Fire Boat.
                                                                                        Ambulance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regardless of the type of community served, we believe that more 
benefit will be realized by funding fire departments that own few or no 
firefighting apparatus than by providing funding to a department with 
numerous vehicles. Therefore, we will give a higher competitive rating 
in the apparatus category to fire departments that have

[[Page 12560]]

few or no firefighting vehicles relative to other departments servicing 
similar types of communities. We consider vehicles that are on long-
term loan or assignment to the applicant to be part of the applicant's 
fleet.
    We will also give higher competitive rating to departments that 
have not recently purchased a new firefighting vehicle, and departments 
that wish to replace or relegate an old, high-mileage vehicle. We will 
also provide a higher competitive rating to departments seeking a 
vehicle that incur a significant number of responses relative to other 
departments servicing similar communities.
    We believe that more benefit will accrue to a community that needs 
a new vehicle (i.e., the initial purchase of a new or used vehicle) as 
its first vehicle or to relegate a non-compliant vehicle to reserve 
status, i.e., relegate a vehicle that does not conform to applicable 
standards. Relegating a compliant vehicle has a lower priority than 
relegating a non-compliant vehicle. But replacing a compliant vehicle 
has more benefit than purchasing a vehicle to expand the operational 
capacity of a department into a new mission area.
    While no competitive advantage has been assigned to the purchase of 
commercial vehicles versus custom vehicles, or used vehicles versus new 
vehicles in the preliminary evaluation of applications, it has been our 
experience that depending on the type and size of department, the 
technical evaluation panelists often prefer low-cost vehicles when 
evaluating the cost/benefit section of the project narratives. 
Panelists may be provided with guidance for use in their evaluation on 
the reasonableness of vehicle costs. We may also instill funding limits 
on requests for vehicles that we deem excessive or otherwise not in the 
best interest of the program.
    Finally, we believe that it would be more beneficial to the 
nation's fire service if we gave these vehicle awards to as many fire 
departments as possible, therefore, we will allow each fire department 
to apply for only one vehicle per year.

Reporting Requirements

    The grantees may be required to submit a progress report regarding 
the financial and performance status of their project after six months 
of performance and at the closure of the grant. The due dates will vary 
from grantee to grantee, based on the performance period as indicated 
in the Articles of Agreement. These performance reports should provide 
us with a comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
approved in the grant scope of work. Any issues that may affect a 
timely close out of the award should be reported at this time.
    The mid-term report is due within 30 days of the end of the first 
six-months. All grantees will be required to submit a final report 
within 90 days of completion of the grant performance period or the 
closure of the grant, whichever comes first.

    Dated: March 7, 2003.
Michael D. Brown,
Acting Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness and Response 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 03-6172 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6719-08-P