[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6042-6046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02703]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID: FEMA-2018-0008]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of
Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability of grant application and application
deadline.
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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) 2017 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, which was held February 27, 2017. The application
period for the FY 2017 AFG Program was December 26, 2017, through
February 2, 2018, and was announced on the AFG website at www.fema.gov/firegrants, as well as at www.grants.gov.
DATES: Grant applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program were accepted electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, from
December 26, 2017, through February 2, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C
Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief,
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, 1-866-274-0960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG Program awards grants directly to
fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS)
organizations, and State fire training academies (SFTAs) for the
purpose of enhancing the health and safety of first responders and
improving their abilities to protect the public from fire and fire-
related hazards.
Applications for the FY 2017 AFG Program will be submitted and
processed online at https://portal.fema.gov. Before the application
period starts, the FY 2017 AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was
published on the AFG website. The AFG website provides additional
information and materials useful to applicants including Frequently
Asked Questions, a Get Ready Guide, and a Quick Reference Guide. Based
on past AFG application periods, FEMA anticipates the receipt of 10,000
to 15,000 applications for the FY 2017 AFG Program, and the ability to
award approximately 2,500 grants.
Congressional Appropriations
For the FY 2017 AFG Program, Congress appropriated $345,000,000
(Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2017, Pub. L. 115-
31). From this amount, $310,500,000 will be made available for AFG
awards. In addition, the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), requires that a minimum of 10
percent of available funds be expended for Fire Prevention and Safety
Grants (FP&S). FP&S 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. Funds appropriated for FY
2017 will be available for obligation and award until September 30,
2018.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 further directs
FEMA to administer these appropriations according to the following
requirements:
Career fire department: Not less than 25 percent of
available grant funds.
Volunteer fire department: Not less than 25 percent of
available grant funds.
Combination fire department and departments using paid-on-
call firefighting personnel: Not less than 25 percent of available
grant funds.
Open Competition (career, volunteer, and/or combination
fire departments and departments using paid-on-call firefighting
personnel): Not less than 10 percent of available grant funds awarded.
Emergency Medical Services Providers including fire
departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Not less than 3.5
percent of available grants funds awarded, with nonaffiliated EMS
providers receiving no more than 2 percent of the total available grant
funds.
State Fire Training Academies: Not more than 3 percent of
available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to State fire
training academy applicants, with a maximum of $500,000 per applicant.
Vehicles: Not more than 25 percent of available grant
funds may be used for the purchase of vehicles; 10 percent of those
vehicle funds will be dedicated to the funding of ambulances. Vehicle
funds will be distributed as equally as possible among urban, suburban,
and rural community applicants.
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 $25,000. Only fire departments and
nonaffiliated EMS organizations are eligible to choose Micro Grants,
and the only eligible Micro Grants requests are for Training,
Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Wellness and
Fitness activities. Applicants that select Micro Grants as a funding
opportunity may receive additional consideration for
[[Page 6043]]
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 $25,000 federal
participation, they should not select Micro Grants.
Background of the AFG Program
Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders
to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency
vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public
and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. FEMA awards
grants on a competitive basis to the applicants that best address the
AFG Program's priorities and provide the most compelling justification.
Applications that best address AFG priorities, as identified in the
Application Evaluation Criteria, will be reviewed by a panel composed
of fire service personnel.
AFG has three program activities:
Operations and Safety
Vehicle Acquisition
Regional Projects
The priorities for each activity are fully outlined in the NOFO.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Prior to making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3321,
and 41 U.S.C. 2313 to review information available through any Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 match 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). CDP is comprised of fire service professionals
that make recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new, or the
modification of, previously established funding priorities, as well as
developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of the NOFO
reflects implementation of CDP's recommendations with respect to the
priorities and evaluation criteria for awards.
The nine major fire service organizations represented on the CDP
are:
International Association of Fire Chiefs
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Volunteer Fire Council
National Fire Protection Association
National Association of State Fire Marshals
International Association of Arson Investigators
International Society of Fire Service Instructors
North American Fire Training Directors
Congressional Fire Service Institute
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 this notice.
Applications with the highest pre-score rankings are then scored
competitively by (no less than three) members of the Peer Panel Review
process. Applications will also be 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 will be reviewed:
1. Pre-Scoring Process
The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based
on established program priorities listed within the NOFO 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 percent of the total
application score.
2. Peer Review Panel Process
Applications with the highest pre-score will undergo peer review.
The peer review is comprised of fire service representatives
recommended by CDP national organizations. 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 will independently score each
project within the application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings
of the application with his or her peers, and document the findings. A
consensus is not required. The panel score is 50 percent of the total
application score.
Narrative Evaluation Criteria
1. Financial Need (25 Percent)
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 Percent)
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. Operations and Safety/Cost Benefit (25 Percent)
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/Impact on Daily Operations (25 Percent)
This statement should explain how these funds will enhance the
organization's overall effectiveness. It should address how an award
will improve daily operations and reduce the organization'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
[[Page 6044]]
help the community and increase the organization's ability to save
additional lives or property.
5. Technical Evaluation Process
The highest ranked applications are considered within the fundable
range. Applications that are in the fundable range undergo both a
technical review by a subject matter expert, as well as a FEMA AFG
Branch review prior to being recommended for an award. The FEMA AFG
Branch will assess the request with respect to costs, quantities,
feasibility, eligibility, and recipient responsibility prior to
recommending an application for award. Once the technical evaluation
process is complete, the cumulative score for each application will be
determined and FEMA will generate a final ranking of applications. FEMA
will award grants based on this final ranking and the required funding
limitations in statute.
Eligible Applicants
Fire Departments: Fire departments operating in any of the 56
States and territories (which include any State of the United States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam, or American Samoa) and federally recognized American Indian and
Alaska native tribes, or any tribal organization, are eligible grant
applicants.
A fire department is an agency or organization having a formally
recognized arrangement with a State, territory, local, or tribal
authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town, or
other governing body) 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 56 States and territories (which include any
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) and any federally
recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization are eligible applicants.
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:
Clinics
Medical centers
Medical colleges or universities
Infirmaries
Surgery centers
Any other institutions, associations, or foundations providing
medical, surgical, or psychiatric care and/or treatment for the sick or
injured.
State Fire Training Academies: A SFTA operating in any of the 56
States (which includes any State of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico) are eligible applicants. Applicants must be designated either by
legislation or by a Governor's declaration as the sole State fire
service training agency within a State. To be eligible, the designated
SFTA shall be the only State agency/bureau/division, or entity within
that State.
Ineligibility
To avoid a duplication of benefits, FEMA reserves the
right to review all program areas for grant applications where two or
more organizations share a single facility. To be eligible as a
separate organization, two or more fire departments or nonaffiliated
EMS organizations will have different funding streams, personnel
rosters, or Employee Identification Numbers (EINs). If two or more
organizations share facilities and each submits an application in the
same program area (i.e. Equipment, Modify Facilities, Personal
Protective Equipment, Training, and Wellness and Fitness Programs) FEMA
will carefully review each program for eligibility.
Fire-based EMS organizations are not eligible to apply as
nonaffiliated EMS organizations. Fire-based EMS training and equipment
must be requested by a fire department under the AFG component program
Operations and Safety.
Eligible applicants may submit only one application for
each activity (e.g., Operations and Safety or Regional), but may submit
for multiple projects within each activity. Under the Vehicle Activity,
applicants may submit one application for vehicles for their department
and one separate application to host a Regional vehicle. Duplicate
applications (more than one application in the same activity) may be
disqualified.
An Operations and Safety applicant may submit one
application for an eligible project (i.e., turn out gear); it may not
submit a Regional application for the same project.
Statutory Limits to Funding
Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that
a grant recipient may receive from the AFG Program in any single fiscal
year (15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)) based on the population served. 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 one percent of the available grants 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 one percent aggregate
limit.
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.
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.
In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 500,000, 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.
In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 1 million people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not
exceed $6 million for any fiscal year, but is subject to the one
percent aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2017.
In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with
more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of available grant funds awarded
to such recipient shall not exceed $9 million in any fiscal year, but
is subject to the one percent aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2017.
FEMA may not waive the caps on the maximum amount of
available grant funds awarded based upon population.
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
[[Page 6045]]
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 will
contact potential awardees to determine whether the grant recipient has
the funding in hand or if the grant recipient has a viable plan to
obtain the funding necessary to fulfill the cost-sharing requirement.
In general, an eligible applicant seeking a grant shall agree to
make available non-federal funds equal to not less than 15 percent of
the grant awarded. However, the cost share will vary as follows based
on the size of the population served by the organization:
Applicants serving areas with populations above 20,000,
but not more than 1 million, shall agree to make available non-federal
funds equal to not less than 10 percent of the total project cost.
Applicants that serve populations of 20,000 or less must
match the federal grant funds with an amount of non-federal funds equal
to 5 percent of the total project cost.
The cost share for SFTAs and joint/regional projects will be based
on the population of the entire State or region, respectively, not the
population of the host organization.
On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may allow a grant recipient that may
already own assets (equipment or vehicles) 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 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 NOFO at not less than 80 percent 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 on the application
of the grant recipient, the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce a
grant recipient's cost share requirement or maintenance of expenditure
requirement. As required by statute, the Administrator of FEMA will
establish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship
and will publish these guidelines at FEMA's website www.fema.gov/grants.
Prior to the start of the FY 2017 AFG application period, FEMA
conducted applicant workshops and/or internet webinars to inform
potential applicants about the AFG Program. In addition, FEMA provided
applicants with information at the AFG website www.fema.gov/firegrants
to help them prepare quality grant applications. The AFG Help Desk was
staffed throughout the application period to assist applicants with the
automated application process as well as assistance with any questions
they had.
Applicants can reach the AFG Help Desk through a toll-free
telephone number during normal business hours (1-866-274-0960) or
electronic mail [email protected].
Application Process
Organizations may submit one application per application period in
each of the three AFG Program areas (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 area
(e.g., two applications for Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles,
etc.), either intentionally or unintentionally, FEMA will deem all
applications submitted by that organization for the particular program
to be ineligible for funding.
Applicants accessed the grant application electronically at https://portal.fema.gov. The application was also accessible from the U.S.
Fire Administration's website http://www.usfa.fema.gov and http://www.grants.gov. New applicants must register and establish a user name
and password for secure access to the grant application. Previous AFG
grant applicants must use their previously established user name and
passwords.
Applicants answered questions about their grant request that
reflect the AFG funding priorities, described below. 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 in https://SAM.gov. SAM is the Federal Government's System for
Awards Management, and registration is free of charge. Applicants must
maintain current information in SAM that is consistent with the data
provided in their AFG grant application and in the Dun & Bradstreet
(DUNS) database. FEMA may not accept any application, process any
awards, and consider any payment or amendment requests, unless the
applicant or grant recipient has complied with the requirements to
provide a valid DUNS number and an active SAM registration. The grant
applicant's banking information, EIN, organization/entity name,
address, and DUNS number must match the same information provided in
SAM.
Criteria Development Panel (CDP) Recommendations
If there are any differences between the published AFG guidelines
and the recommendations made by the CDP, FEMA must explain them and
publish the information in the Federal Register prior to awarding any
grant under the AFG Program. For FY 2017, FEMA accepted, and will
implement, all of the CDP's recommendations for the prioritization of
eligible activities.
Adopted Recommendations for FY 2017
Equipment/Personal Protection Equipment
The FY 2017 NOFO revises and, in some places changes, the
priorities for applications submitted for equipment and PPE
acquisitions under the Operations and Safety Activity. Under these
changes, the FY 2017 NOFO and application now include questions
designed to solicit pertinent information from the applicant with
regard to the purpose of the request. The criteria are designed to be
easier to understand and will assist FEMA in obtaining the necessary
information to assess the application request. The numerical scores for
each activity line item requested are based on objective criteria in
order to reduce the subjectivity of the category itself. The following
changes for 2017 are as follows:
The purposes for applicant's request to acquire equipment have
been revised. These new purposes for FY 2017 are ranked by priority as
follows:
Obtain equipment to achieve
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minimum operational and deployment standards for existing missions
(high),
Replace inoperable/broken/damaged to current standard
(high),
Replace obsolete/non-compliant to upgraded technology
(medium),
Increase supply for minimum service requirement due to
community growth (low),
Obtain equipment for new mission (low).
The purposes for an applicant's request to acquire personal
protective gear have been revised. These new purposes for FY 2017 are
ranked by priority as follows:
Replace damaged broken inoperable equipment to current
standard (high),
Replace obsolete/non-compliant to upgrade technology
(medium),
Increase supply for new hires and/or existing firefighters
that do not have one set of turnout gear (PPE) or allocated seated
positions (high).
Call volume is a consideration, but only between like
departments, i.e. career, combination, and/or volunteer. Additional
consideration for call volume can contribute to the justification of a
new risk and/or the primary first due response area or region.
Age of equipment terminology changed from ``medium'' to
``intermediate.'' This was done to avoid confusion within similar name
in other parts of the NOFO, i.e. (Medium) priority.
Vehicle mounted exhaust systems are now listed under the
equipment activity.
Fire departments and SFTA will have separate lists of
allowable equipment that each type of entity may apply for and acquire
with AFG funds.
The following items are now considered a ``medium'' priority
for fire department applicants: Props, simulators, mobile data
terminals (MDT), and computers used in training and mobile computing
devices used on scene.
EMS training aids with an age category of ``short'' (5-7 year
life expectancy) are now eligible expense for FY 2017 (i.e., CPR
mannequins, airway training equipment, IVs, etc.).
Monitoring and sampling devices are now categorized as
``Sampling Devices.'' This was done to avoid confusion within similar
specialized monitoring devices, for use in ``medium'' and ``low''
priorities.
Tow vehicles are now listed under a separate chart in the
equipment section to clarify the priority levels between application
types, i.e. fire department and SFTA.
Nozzles, appliances, foam inductors are all high priorities
and listed in one category. These items were combined and defined with
an age category of ``long.''
Wellness and Fitness Micro Grants
Wellness and Fitness activities are now eligible when applying
for a Micro Grant.
Cancer screening is now available under the Wellness & Fitness
activity.
All NFPA 1583 training has been moved to Wellness & Fitness.
This request was previously requested under ``Training.''
Vehicles
Quint apparatus has been added as a high priority in the
Vehicle Acquisition activity.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229.
Dated: February 5, 2018.
Brock Long,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-02703 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
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