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 2024 AFG Programs Status Update
- Did You Know? – SAFER has a Recruitment and Retention Activity
- NERIS Update – NERIS – Launch of Version One
- FEMA GO Enhancements Release
- January Fire Prevention Message – Fire Escape Plans
- Grants Management Training – GMTA
- Closeout Module Available in FEMA GO
- AFGP Success Stories
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FY 2024 AFG Programs Status Update
FY 2024 AFG Application Period
The FY 2024 AFG application period closed at 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 20, 2024. There were 7,175 applications submitted for nearly $4 billion.
FY 2024 SAFER and FP&S Application Periods Opening Soon!
The FY 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant and the Fire Prevention & Safety grant application period is expected to open in late January 2025. An E-blast will be forthcoming regarding the release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the start date of the application period.
Did you Know?
The SAFER Grant has a Recruitment and Retention Activity for Combination and Volunteer fire departments.
The purpose of the SAFER Grant is to provide financial assistance directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of the SAFER Grant is to assist fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities so they may respond to emergencies and assure communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. Eligible applicants for the recruitment and retention activity are Combination fire departments, volunteer fire departments, and national, state, local, or Tribal Nation organizations that represent the interests of volunteer firefighters. The purpose of the recruitment and retention activity is to help fund programs and incentives to recruit new and retain current volunteer staff. There is no cost share and the period of performance can be up to four years. High priority program areas for recruitment and retention are:
- Establishing a Recruitment and Retention Coordinator;
- Marketing programs;
- FF I&II Training;
- Leadership Development;
- Train the Trainer;
- Tuition Assistance; and
- PPE for new recruits.
More information on the SAFER Recruitment and Retention activity can be found HERE.
National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) Update
NERIS Version One Deployed
The launch of Version One of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) marks a major milestone in modernizing fire service data. Developed by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), NERIS is a powerful, cloud-based platform built to improve the quality of incident data collection and analysis in collaboration with U.S. fire departments.
From addressing emerging hazards like lithium-ion battery fires to navigating complex wildland-urban interface emergencies, NERIS will provide fire and emergency responders with tools to make informed decisions, improve community safety, and advocate for critical resources. Following extensive beta testing, NERIS Version1 onboarded 100 additional departments from 48 states in 2024. This paves the way for a nationwide rollout this year.
- Read the full update to see a current list of ‘Next 100’ NERIS departments.
- Watch our recent webinar that includes a full user demo on new system.
- Explore the new NERIS website.
FEMA GO Enhancements Release
New Enhancements for Performance Progress Report (PPR)
Here are some of the notable new features and improvements to the Performance Progress Report (PPR) to simplify the user experience. A PPR tasker will be automatically scheduled in FEMA GO based on NOFO reporting periods and due dates, so the user no longer needs to create the task.
Changes on the report itself include:
- There is no longer a text field for entering a date.
- There is no longer a Final Report Yes/No question.
- There is a yellow banner with the due date.
- Due to the transition to Login.gov, users no longer have a text field to enter a password to certify. Once completed with entering your PPR information, ensure you hit the “submit” button in FEMA GO. Until you hit the “submit” button the system treats the changes as a draft because your PPR information will not have a “date submitted entry” generated and therefore cannot be considered a submission.
As a reminder, an additional change to the PPR process is that FEMA will start enforcing PPR reporting requirements; if a PPR is delinquent, the system will block initiating a payment request until the most recent required reports is submitted, in the same manner done for SF-425 non-compliant recipients.
The next report is due Jan. 30 (reporting period July 1 – Dec. 31).
| The newly updated FEMA GO SF-424 and PPR Guide provides instructions for FEMA employees and FEMA grant recipients to log-in to FEMA GO and navigate the system to complete and review the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and Performance Progress Report (PPR).Additional self-guided training resources are available regarding any stage of the grants management life cycle on the FEMA Grants Outcomes Webpage. Visit the FEMA GO Guides – YouTube playlist to view FEMA GO tutorial videos.For users internal to FEMA, training materials are located in the Train-the-Trainer Internal Toolbox. |
New System Enhancements
Here are some of the enhancements released in December and plans for January and February.
Enhancements for December 2024:
- Updated Bi-Annual Strategy Implementation Report (BSIR) schedule to generate BSIR at the end of the reporting period.
- Exposed subgrant closeout data for pass-through programs analytics.
- Updated closeout functionality to apply cost share waivers at time of closeout.
- Enhanced Federal Financial Progress Reporting capabilities to allow users to correct SF-425 submission with complete review workflow (specifically ones with automated reviews completed by FEMA GO).
Enhancements Planned for January/February 2025:
- Enable project formulation during the post-award phase for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP-PF), and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM).
- Prepare for Pre-Disaster Mitigation – Congressionally Directed Spend to onboard to FEMA GO.
- Prepare Competitive Merit Review for FY24 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants, and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER).
- Enable new functionality to meet Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP-PF) national roll out requirements.
- Enable pass-through grant programs to close grants that do not require deobligation at time of closeout.
- Provide disaster programs (Public Assistance and Disaster Case Management) with ability to waive the required waiting period for congressional notifications prior to award.
- Apply features and enhancements identified by the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Program users.
January Fire Prevention Message
Fire Escape Plans
Key messages:
The increasing severity of home fires due to modern building contents and open space configurations makes it crucial that people are prepared to leave their homes immediately in the event of fire.
- Draw a map of your home. Include all doors and windows.
- Find two ways out of every room.
- Make sure doors and windows are not blocked.
- Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
- Practice your home fire drill with everyone in the home.
- Push the test button to sound the smoke alarm and start your home fire drill.
- Get outside to your meeting place.
High-rise residents: Fires in high-rise and condominium buildings are especially dangerous. Encourage residents to know where all the exit stairs are and how to escape in an emergency.
- Leave your apartment. Close the door behind you.
- Pull the fire alarm on your way out to notify the fire department and your neighbors.
- Use the stairs to get out. Do not use the elevator unless directed by the fire department.
- Go to your outside meeting place and stay there. Call the fire department. Tell the fire department if someone is trapped in the building.
For more information, please visit the U.S. Fire Administration’s website for Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction HERE.
Grants Management Training
Grants Management Technical Assistance
K0705 Fundamentals of Grants Management is an online course FEMA offers to grant recipients. Although not a requirement for accepting an AFG award, the course is designed to assist organizations to strengthen their grant management practices. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Improve collaboration across disciplines to support integrating grant management functions;
- Review, navigate and apply the applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements and Cost Principles in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and FEMA Information Bulletins;
- Apply sound practices to increase efficiency and meet grant management priorities;
- Develop or revise policies, procedures and practices in critical areas of grants management and;
- Prepare for federal monitoring and sub-recipient monitoring.
Upcoming Course Offerings:
| Orientation Dates | Course Dates | Course Start Time | Course Host |
| March 18, 19, or 20 | March 24 – April 10, 2025 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| April 22, 23, or 24 | April 28 – May 15, 2025 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| July 8, 9, or 10 | July 14 – July 31, 2025 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
To Apply: National Emergency Training Center Online Admissions Application (fema.gov)
Questions: [email protected]
Closeout Report Available in FEMA GO
The closeout module has been released in FEMA GO for all recipients. 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 days (FY 2019 and before grants) or 120 days (FY 2020 and after grants) 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 866-274-0960 or email [email protected]
AFGP SUCCESS STORIES
Firemen’s Association of The State Of New York – Albany, NY
Awarded items: SAFER Recruitment and Retention Grant
Submitted by: Association Secretary John D’Alessandro
In 2023, Firemen’s Association of The State Of New York contracted Resolution Economic to conduct an analysis of volunteer fire departments in New York State. By analyzing several million incident reports the study provided empirical data that showed the more active responders a volunteer department has the lower their response times are. The study provided a correlation between successfully utilized SAFER grants stating that “an increased number of firefighters would provide a larger pool of available responders to arrive at the scene of an emergency more quickly, as well as deploy supplementary apparatus from the fire station.” The study concluded that the addition of new firefighters as a result of this SAFER award has already reduced response times in all NFPA 1720 categories.