COVID-19 Fire Grant for combination and Volunteer Fire Departments only

Assistance to Firefighter Grant Supplemental Coronavirus Fire Grant application round opens Oct. 5, 2020 and closes Nov. 4, 2020

The Notice of Funding Opportunity will be out soon. While similar to the first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for AFG-S Round 1, Round 2 excludes career departments. FEMA is expecting $31 million dollars for awards in the second round.

FEMA advised that a final round of awards for AFG, AFG-S, SAFER, and FP&S will happen possibly this Friday, Sept. 25. FEMA also advised all money needs to be allocated by September 30, 2020, and departments not receiving grants will soon start to get the turn-down notice.

Micro-grants will be allowed.

FEMA will allow micro-grants for AFG-S for up to $3,000 or less.

Only PPE is eligible for consideration.

Only Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on the Notice of Funding Opportunity will be awarded. FEMA will reimburse departments for PPE that has been purchased from January 1, 2020 until the grant opens.

Round 1 winners may apply again.

If you were awarded on the first round of AFG-S you can reapply.

The application process will be the same as the first round of AFG-S which is the same as the AFG application, so you will need to apply using FEMA GO.

Pay attention to cost-share requirements.

The cost share on the application advises:

• When serving a jurisdiction of 20,000 residents or fewer, the applicant shall agree to make available non-federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 5 percent of the grant awarded;
• When serving a jurisdiction of more than 20,000 residents, but not more than 1 million residents, the applicant shall agree to make available non-federal funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant awarded.

Personal Protective Equipment is allowed on this grant

Your AFG-S Round 2 application should focus on PPE, but some PPE is consideration a higher priority than other gear, equipment, or supplies:

High Priority for funding

• Eye Protection: Appropriately fitted, indirectly vented goggles or single use disposable face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face.
• Isolation Gowns: Nonsterile, single use fluid-resistant and impermeable disposable patient isolation gown.
• Protective Coveralls: 360-degree protection of the whole body, including the back, lower legs and feet.
• Gloves: Single-use, disposable patient examination gloves.
• Footwear Covers: Single-use, disposable medical footwear covers.
• Respirators: Any NIOSH-approved particulate respirator (i.e., N-95 or higher level respirator). Includes the purchase of filters appropriate for use.
• Surgical-Type Face Masks: Loose-fitting, single-use disposable physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer to allow fire and EMS personnel to meet. Must meet CDC recommendations and/or state mandates for face covering when in a public setting other than direct patient contact.

Low priority for funding

Other supplies are also eligible, however they will be considered a lower priority than items listed above. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Decontamination supplies and services for PPE, station-quarters, and vehicles.
• Replacement High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters and other types of disposable filtration supplies used on EMS respiratory and/or ventilator equipment.
• Personally-issued antiseptic hand washes, antiseptic hand rubs such as alcohol based hand sanitizers, foams or gels, and reasonable refill supply.

Grant writer fees may be reimbursed from the grant

FEMA will allow the grant writer fee to be reimbursed on this grant up to $1,500 if you have not been awarded the grant writer fee this year.

Combination and volunteer fire departments of sizes nationwide may be able to benefit from this second round of FEMA AFG coronavirus fire grant funding.

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