AFG fire grant news from FEMA
Each month, FEMA supplies information regarding the management of current Assistance to Firefighters Grants, as well as helpful details on upcoming grant opportunities.
In this month’s update
- FY 2022 AFG Programs Status Update
- Report Reminders for period ending June 30, 2023
- AFG Staff at Fire Rescue International
- New FEMA GO Feature: Primary Contact Change
- FEMA Grants News to Replace AskCSID
- Did You Know? – Economic Hardship Waivers of Cost Share
- August Fire Prevention Message – Smoking Safety
- Webinar: Build America Buy America Act (BABAA) Requirements
- Grant Management Training – GMTA Fundamentals of Grants Management Course
- AFGP Success Stories
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FY 2022 AFG Programs Status Update
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
Round 4 of the 2022 AFG was awarded on July 21, 2023
Awards are expected to continue for the next several weeks. Turndown letters for those applications that did not go to peer-panel review are expected to go out soon. If you receive a turndown letter and would like more information, please contact your Regional Fire Program Representative.
Most high scoring applications are still in the technical review or award recommendation phase. Through this process it is likely that applicants will receive correspondence regarding pre-award costs requests (see article below) and/or be prompted to complete an Environmental and Historical Preservation (EHP) screening form. Click to download the EHP Screening Form. Completed forms must be sent to [email protected] for consideration.
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and
Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S)
Awards are expected to begin soon
The highest scoring applications are in Technical Review, where program specialists are examining the applications for eligibility, cost reasonableness, and accuracy. Once technical review is completed, the highest scoring applications will be recommended for award and move through the final processes before the award can be issued.
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
Semi-Annual Programmatic Performance Report (PPR)
Due July 30
Recipients who received an award through the FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO) system must prepare and submit the PPR through FEMA GO for the following programs:
- Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG);
- Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants; and
- Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants.*
General instructions for completing a PPR are available online at FEMA GO Programmatic Performance Report Guide.
PPR requirements have changed from the FY 2018, FY 2019, and FY 2020 AFG NOFO per Information Bulletin 468. Future PPR deadlines will be Jan. 30 and July 30 of each calendar year the grant period of performance (POP) is open.
FY 2021 and FY 2022 grant recipients whose POP has begun are required to submit a PPR by July 30 regardless of how long the POP has been open.
Recipients must submit programmatic performance reports as a condition of their award acceptance. Future awards and funds drawdown may be withheld if these reports are delinquent.
*SAFER grant recipients should be cognizant of the separate forms for the Hiring and the Recruitment & Retention activities and ensure selection of the correct form before submitting.
Federal Financial Report (FFR) (SF-425)
Due July 30
Recipients are required to submit a Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425) semi-annually. The FFR must be submitted through FEMA GO based on the calendar year beginning with the period after the award is made. Grant recipients are required to submit an FFR throughout the entire period of performance of the grant and for closeout. Reports that are due:
- No later than July 30 (for the period Jan. 1 – June 30)
- No later than Jan. 30 (for the period July 1 – Dec. 31)
- Also, within 120 calendar days after the end of the Period of Performance
Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if these reports are delinquent, demonstrate lack of progress, or are insufficient in detail.
A detailed instructional guide for submitting an SF-425 report can be found on the Grants.gov website at Post-Award Reporting Forms | GRANTS.GOV. On the Grants.gov website, please select the Instructions document for “Federal Financial Report (SF-425).”
AFG Staff at IAFC Fire Rescue International
The International Association of Fire Chiefs will host the 2023 Fire Rescue International on August 16-18 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO. AFGP Branch Director, Cathie Patterson along with Program Analyst Cathy Severs will be available in the U.S. Fire Administration Booth #3409 to answer questions and discuss the program.
New FEMA GO Feature: Primary Contact Change
FEMA GO has added a new function that will allow recipients to submit an amendment request within the system to change the primary contact for a specific application. The change will be in the review panel of amendment request. After submission, AFG Program staff will select the type of amendment request, then select the new primary contact from the organization profile as a part of the review. AFG Grants Management Staff will verify and give final approval for the change. The new primary contact must already be listed as an Authorized Organization Representative for the organization at the time the amendment is processed. The amendment process is only available after the award has been made.
To change the primary contact for the award, the recipient will follow these steps:
- Login to FEMA GO and select the award that requires the primary contact change.
- Go to the “select an action” button and choose “request an amendment from the drop-down menu.
- In the narrative section indicate that the amendment is to change the primary contact for the award and provide the contact information for the new primary contact. Ensure that two phone numbers are provided.
FEMA Grants News Replacing AskCSID
Many have come to rely on FEMA’s AskCSID (Ask the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk, [email protected]) for key information about our grant programs. AskCSID provides an important service, but we believe it could be more easily understood. We are going to continue delivering the content you need, but with a new name: FEMA Grants News! FEMA Grants News will cover everything you already rely on, including webinar and meeting invitations, funding notices, resources, and more.
This new name also comes with a new feature: subscription links on fema.gov! FEMA has heard requests about signing up for different grant topics that are relevant to grant recipients. Those interested can now sign up to receive announcements by grant program topic.
Please add [email protected] to your address book and put it on your safe senders list to make sure you never miss important grant news.
You can still call (800) 366-6498, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, with questions about FEMA grants.
Did You Know?
AFGP applicants can request Economic Hardship Waivers of Cost Share
In cases of demonstrated economic hardship, and upon the request of the recipient, the FEMA Administrator may waive or reduce an AFG Program cost share requirement for certain recipients (15 U.S.C. § 2229(k)(4)(A)). As required by statute, the FEMA Administrator established guidelines for determining what constitutes economic hardship and published these guidelines in Information Bulletin No. 427.
The applicant is required to submit documentation supporting their request for an Economic Hardship Waiver at the time of the application by attaching the supporting document to the grant application.
To receive an Economic Hardship Waiver the applicant must address the specific conditions as well as format the waiver request submission as specified in Section III – Guidance, Part D: Eligibility – Demonstrating Economic Hardship of Information Bulletin No. 427.
Failure to provide documentation at the time of application or address the conditions or following the prescribed format in Information Bulletin No. 427 may result in a denial of the waiver.
August Fire Prevention Message
Smoking safety: Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths.
Key messages:
If you smoke, smoke outside. Make sure to extinguish cigarettes in an approved container. Do not throw out cigarettes into vegetation, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, mulch, leaves, or other similar items—they can easily catch fire.
Webinar: Build America Buy America Act (BABAA) Requirements
FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) is offering a series of one-hour virtual briefings on the requirements and applicability of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) on FEMA grant programs.
BABAA applies a new purchasing preference for American-made products that could impact recipients’ and subrecipients’ execution of infrastructure projects under certain FEMA grant programs. It provides that “none of the funds made available for a Federal financial assistance program for infrastructure may be obligated for a project unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.”
The purpose of these briefings is to provide information on how to determine if BABAA applies to your FEMA projects and deliver information on how to document compliance.
Upcoming Webinars:
| Webinar Dates | Webinar Time | Registration Link |
| Aug 10 | 1 – 2 p.m. ET | Register Here |
| Aug 15 | 2 – 3 p.m. ET | Register Here |
| Aug 23 | 3 – 4 p.m. ET | Register Here |
For additional information and guidance on the “Buy America” preference in FEMA financial assistance programs for infrastructure, please visit the FEMA Website.
Grants Management Training
Grants Management Technical Assistance
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 Times | Course Host |
| Aug. 2, 9, & 10 | Aug 14 – Sept 7, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
To Apply: National Emergency Training Center Online Admissions Application (fema.gov)
Questions: [email protected]
AFGP Success Stories
Oley Fire Company – Oley, PA
Awarded items: Regional for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Submitted by: Deputy Chief Todd M. Kegerise
In 2019, the Oley Fire Company was the host of an AFG regional grant for SCBA. The funding was distributed among the four regional departments. Shortly after delivery the region had a structure fire that required nearly all of the new SCBA to be used. During our incident debrief, the firefighters expressed how pleased they were with the SCBA and how relieved they were to be using SCBA that would not fail.
The SCBA is a critical piece of equipment that we continue to rely on to keep our firefighters safe. On April 11, 2023 our firefighters used SCBA at three consecutive working residential fires in a single day.