Fire grant news from FEMA
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is pleased to provide this update for November 2022. Each month, FEMA supplies information relative to the management of current grants, as well as helpful details on upcoming grant opportunities.
In this month’s update:
- FY 2021 AFG Programs Status Update
- FY 2022 AFG Programs Status Update
- Did You Know? – AFGP Criteria Development Panel
- November Fire Prevention Message – Cooking Safety
- Grant Management Training – GMTA Fundamentals of Grants Management Course
- Closeout Report Function Released
- AFGP Success Stories
FY 2021 AFG Programs Status Update
Processing the FY 2021 AFGP award announcements is still underway. Even though FY 2021 ended Sept. 30, 2022, awards will continue to be made because of the $300 million in supplemental funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (AFG-$90 million, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response-$200 million and Fire Protection & Safety-$10 Million). Awards are expected to continue into December. As award determinations are finalized, notification will be sent to grant recipients. Award information will also be posted on the FEMA website as each round is announced.
Turndown letters will be sent out in concurrence with the final rounds of awards being announced. If you receive a turndown letter and would like more information, please contact your Regional Fire Program Representative.
AFG Award Listings: Assistance to Firefighters Grants | FEMA.gov
SAFER Award Listings: Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) | FEMA.gov
FP&S Award Listings: Fire Prevention and Safety | FEMA.gov
FY 2022 AFG Programs Status Update
The FY 2022 AFG, SAFER and FP&S application periods are slated to open after the first of the year. In preparation, it is recommended that you ensure that you are registered with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). SAM registration must be renewed annually, and failure to register or maintain active status could prevent your organization from applying. For those new to SAM.gov, it is imperative that you start now as this process can take up to four weeks to complete. SAM.gov continues to work through a backlog of registrations and renewals. Start now to avoid any conflicts with the opening of the 2022 AFG application period.
Registering for an account in SAM.gov is FREE. You do not need to contract with an outside entity to register. If you need help with your SAM.gov registration, please visit the Help Pageor call toll free (866) 606-8220, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to ensure it is “Active” well in advance of the application period.
Be on the lookout for Application Development Workshops for the 2022 AFG Program. Once released the schedule will be located HERE. Each workshop is approximately one hour long and provides information on AFG, what is new for 2022, and tips to develop and submit a successful application. These workshops also provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions and network with FEMA Regional Fire Program Specialists from around the country.
Did You Know?
Although the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is administered by FEMA, Funding priorities and programmatic criteria for evaluating AFG Program applications are established based on the recommendations from the Criteria Development Panel (CDP). Each year, FEMA convenes a panel of fire service professionals to develop funding priorities for the AFG Program. The panel makes recommendations about funding priorities as well as developing criteria for awarding grants.
The nine major fire service organizations represented on the panel 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
The CDP is charged with making recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation or modification of previously established funding priorities as well as developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of each year’s NOFO reflects implementation of the CDP’s recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction, and criteria for awards.
Grants Management Training
Grants Management Technical Assistance
The K0705 Fundamentals of Grants Management is a virtual course offered by FEMA to grant recipients. Although not a requirement for accepting an AFG award, the course is designed to assist organizations strengthen their grant management practices. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Improve collaboration among policy, program and financial staff to integrate grant management functions;
- Identify applicable regulations and navigate and apply the Code of Federal Regulations, including 2 CFR Part 200;
- Apply proven business practices related to the grant lifecycle to increase efficiency and meet grant management priorities, such as strategic planning, organization, program implementation, staff training, monitoring, reporting and audits;
- Develop or revise policies, procedures, and practices in critical areas of grants management, such as monitoring, procurement, source documentation, payments, and equipment inventory; and
- Prepare for federal monitoring and sub-recipient monitoring.
Upcoming Course Offerings
| Orientation Dates | Course Dates | Course Start Time | Course Host |
| January 17, 18, 19 | Jan 23 – Feb 16 | 6 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| March 14, 15, 16 | Mar 20 – Apr 13 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| April 18, 19, 20 | Apr 24 – May 18 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| June 28, 29 & July 6 | Jul 10 – Aug 3 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| August 2, 9, 10 | Aug 14 – Sep 7 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
To Apply: https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions
Questions: [email protected]
Closeout Report Function Now Available in FEMA GO
The closeout module has been released in FEMA GO for recipients that have received AFG awards from 2018 to 2020. Recipients with awards that are no longer open will have 90 days to complete the module. If an award still has an open period of performance (POP), the recipient will have to wait until the POP ends to initiate the closeout process and will have 90 to 120 days to complete the process. Do not start your closeout if there is a chance that more funds or an amendment could be requested as these functions will no longer be available. A tutorial on the closeout process is available by clicking here.
For closeout help, contact your Regional Fire Program Representative, or the AFG Helpdesk toll-free at 1-866-274-0960 or email [email protected]
AFGP SUCCESS STORIES
Sunapee Fire Department, Sunapee, New Hampshire
Awarded items: Automatic Chest Compression Device
Submitted by: Captain Steven Marshall, Sunapee Fire Department
After receiving the grant award, the Sunapee Fire Department procured the Physio-Control LUCAS 3 CPR device. The device was received at the end of October and after training and orientation the device was put in service in early November 2021.
On Thanksgiving morning, November 24, 2021, the Sunapee Fire Department and New London Ambulance were toned out for a 19-year-old male, who was COVID positive, unconscious, and unknown if breathing. While responding to the fire station dispatch advised that the patient’s girlfriend was starting CPR. Two Sunapee EMTs were on the initial response along with two paramedics from the ambulance service. The LUCAS 3 CPR Device was deployed and activated in its first use. Due to the COVID positive diagnosis other first responders were told to stage outside the residence. Current NH protocol requires a cardiac arrest be worked for at least 20 minutes on the scene before either death is declared or a transport is initiated. Doing manual CPR for that period would have required several responders and exposed them all to COVID. With the LUCAS 3 CPR Device responders were able to maintain, consistent, effective CPR while the EMTs focused on basic lifesaving support and the paramedics on advanced interventions.
After approximately 30 minutes the decision was made to transport the patient. The carryout was rather difficult as the patient was on the third floor of the residence, which had a tight, narrow stairway with several landings and turns. The carryout took about 8 minutes, but with the LUCAS 3 CPR Device in operation, CPR was never interrupted as it would have been if doing manual compressions. Once the patient was in the ambulance Return of Spontaneous Circulation was established and the LUCAS3 CPR Device was stopped but left in place. The patient was transported to the local community hospital, then airlifted to a higher level of care.
The patient was determined to have a previously undiagnosed cardiac condition and a defibrillator implanted. The patient left the hospital the following Friday fully recovered with no neurological deficits. A CPR save pin presentation was held on December 14, 2021, for the dispatcher, and all the field responders involved in the rescue.