Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, 71048-71056 [2011-29500]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71048-71056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29500]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2011-0028]


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of guidance.

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SUMMARY: This Notice provides guidelines that describe the application 
process for grants and the criteria for awarding grants in the fiscal 
year (FY) 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program year. It 
explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those 
recommended by representatives of the Nation's fire service leadership 
during the annual Criteria Development meeting, which was held October 
6-7, 2010. The application period for the FY 2011 AFG Program year was 
open from August 15, 2011, to September 23, 2011, and was announced on 
https://www.grants.gov. Approximately 16,491 applications for AFG 
funding were submitted electronically, using the application submission 
form and process available at https://portal.fema.gov. Before the 
application period, the FY 2011 AFG Guidance and Application Kit was 
published on the AFG Web site (https://www.fema.gov/firegrants). 
Additional information to assist applicants also was provided on the 
AFG Web site, including an applicant tutorial, a Get Ready Guide, and a 
Narrative Assistance Guide. The AFG Program makes grants directly to 
fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) 
organizations for the purpose of enhancing the abilities of first 
responders to protect the health and safety of the public as well as 
that of first-responder personnel facing fire and fire-related hazards. 
In addition, the authorizing statute requires that a minimum of 5 
percent of appropriated funds be expended for fire prevention and 
safety grants, which are also 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.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229, 2229a.

DATES: Grant applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants 
were accepted electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, August 15, 
2011 to September 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, Stop 3620, DHS/
FEMA, 800 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20472-3620.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Chief, Assistance 
to Firefighters Grants Branch, 1-(866) 274-0960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the AFG Program is to provide 
grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations 
to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the 
public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with respect to 
fire and fire-related hazards. The governing statute requires that each 
year DHS publish in the Federal Register the guidelines that describe 
the application process and the criteria for grant awards.
    Approximately 16,491 applications for AFG funding were submitted 
electronically, using the application submission form and process 
available at https://portal.fema.gov. Specific information about the 
submission of grant applications can be found in the FY 2011 Assistance 
to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Guidance and Application Kit, which is 
available for download at https://www.fema.gov/firegrants and at https://www.regulations.gov under docket ID FEMA-2011-0028.
    Paper applications were accepted but discouraged due to the 
inherent delays with processing them and because they lack the 
applicant ``help'' features that are built into the electronic 
application. Applicants were able to obtain a copy of the of the 
official paper application form by calling 1-(866) 274-0960. Paper 
applications were sent via regular mail only; no application forms were 
sent via overnight delivery, fax, or email. Applicants were allowed to 
submit only the FY 2011 AFG application form that was mailed to them by 
the AFG. No other version of the application was accepted. Applicants 
were instructed not to use any paper application that they did not 
receive directly from the AFG and were instructed not to use a previous 
year's application. Paper applications had to be postmarked no

[[Page 71049]]

later than September 23, 2011, and mailed to the following address:

Cabezon Group, ATTN: AFG Grant Program, 11821 Parklawn Drive, Suite 
230, Rockville, MD 20852.
    The AFG informed applicants that it would not be responsible for 
applications sent to any other address and that late, incomplete, or 
faxed applications would NOT be accepted.

Appropriations

    Congress appropriated $404,190,000 for the FY 2011 AFG. From this 
amount, $380,747,000 will be made available for AFG awards. Funds 
appropriated for the FY 2011 AFG (pursuant to Public law 112-10) are 
available for obligation and award until September 30, 2012. FEMA 
received approximately 16,491 applications for assistance and 
anticipates that it will award approximately 4,000 grants with the 
grant funding available.
    Congress directed DHS to administer the appropriations:
     Up to 5.8 percent of funds may be used for program 
administration.
     Up to 2 percent of funds may be used for awards to 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations.
     No more than 25 percent of funds may be used for vehicle 
awards. Of that amount, up to 15 percent may be used for fire-based EMS 
emergency transport vehicles (with a cap of $120,000 per unit).
     No less than 3.5 percent of funds must be awarded for 
equipment and training grants for both fire-based EMS and nonaffiliated 
EMS.
     No less than 5 percent of funds must be made available to 
make grants supporting eligible fire prevention activities (Fire 
Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants) and research and development 
activities that improve firefighter safety. However, due to the 
importance of mitigation activities, the FY 2011 FP&S will be allocated 
$35 million for grants. The FP&S Grants are not part of this AFG 
solicitation. The FP&S Grant application period is expected to commence 
in the fall of 2011.

Background of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

    DHS awards the 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 the Program's 
priorities will be reviewed by a panel composed of fire service 
personnel.

Award Criteria

    The panel will review the application and evaluate it using the 
following criteria:
     Proposed project and the project budget.
     Financial need for the project.
     Benefits that would result from the project.
     Extent to which the grant would enhance daily operations.
     How the grant will positively impact the regional ability 
to protect life and property.
    The AFG Program for FY 2011 generally mirrors the AFG Program of 
previous years. DHS again will have a separate application period 
devoted solely to FP&S, which will is projected to occur in the fall of 
2011. All applications for grants will be prepared and submitted 
through the AFG e-Grants system (https://portal.fema.gov).

Statutory Limits to Funding

    Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that 
a grantee may receive from the AFG Program in any single fiscal year 
(15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(10)). These limits are based on the population 
served. Awards will be limited based on the size of the population 
protected by the applicant, as indicated below.
     An applicant that serves a jurisdiction with 500,000 
people or less may not receive grant funding in excess of $1 million 
for any fiscal year.
     A grantee that serves a jurisdiction with more than 
500,000 but not more than 1 million people may not receive grants in 
excess of $1,750,000 in any fiscal year.
     A grantee that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1 
million people may not receive grants in excess of $2,750,000 in any 
fiscal year.
    DHS may waive these established limits to any grantee serving a 
jurisdiction of 1 million people or less if the agency determines that 
an extraordinary need for assistance warrants the waiver. No grantee, 
under any circumstance, may receive ``more than the lesser of 
$2,750,000 or one-half of 1 percent of the funds appropriated under 
this section for a single fiscal year.'' (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(10)(B)).

Cost Sharing

    Grantees must share in the costs of the projects funded under this 
grant program (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(6)). Fire departments and 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations that serve populations of less than 
20,000 must match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal 
funds equal to 5 percent of the total project cost. Those fire 
departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations serving areas with a 
population between 20,000 and 50,000, inclusive, must match the Federal 
grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 10 percent of 
the total project cost, and those that serve populations of more than 
50,000 must match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal 
funds equal to 20 percent of the total project costs. Regional project 
cost share will be based on the total population and demographics of 
the entire region. All non-Federal funds must be in cash, i.e., in-kind 
contributions are not acceptable as matching funds. No waivers of this 
requirement will be granted except for applicants located in Insular 
Areas as provided for in 48 U.S.C. 1469a.

Statutory Requirements for Funding Distribution

    The authorizing statute imposes additional requirements on ensuring 
a distribution of grant funds among career, volunteer, and combination 
(volunteer and career personnel) fire departments, and among urban, 
suburban, and rural communities. More specifically with respect to 
department types, DHS must ensure that all-volunteer or combination 
fire departments receive a portion of the total grant funding that is 
not less than the proportion of the United States population that those 
departments protect (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(11)). There is no corresponding 
minimum for career departments. Therefore, subject to the other 
statutory limitations on the ability of DHS to award funds, DHS will 
ensure that, for the 2011 program year, no less than 33.5 percent of 
the funding available for grants will be awarded to combination 
departments, and no less than 19.5 percent will be awarded to all-
volunteer departments. These figures were obtained from the National 
Fire Protection Association report entitled U.S. Fire Department 
Profile Through 2009, issued October 2010. If, and only if, other 
statutory limitations inhibit the ability of DHS to ensure this 
distribution of funding, DHS will ensure that the aggregate combined 
total percentage of funding provided to both combination and volunteer 
departments is no less than 53 percent.
    DHS generally makes funding decisions using rank order resulting 
from the panel evaluation. However, DHS may deviate from rank order and 
make funding decisions based on the type of department (career, 
combination, or volunteer) and/or the size and character of the 
community the

[[Page 71050]]

applicant serves (urban, suburban, or rural) to the extent it is 
required to satisfy statutory provisions.

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

    Since October 1, 2003, it has been federally mandated that any 
organization wishing to do business with the Federal government under a 
FAR-based contract must be registered in CCR before being awarded a 
contract. This includes applicants and grantees for the Assistance to 
Firefighters Grant Program. To submit a new registration. go to: https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/grantees.aspx.

Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program

    In addition to the grants available to fire departments in FY 2011 
through the competitive grant program, DHS must set aside no less than 
5 percent ($20,250,000) of AFG Program funds for the FP&S Grant 
Program. However, due to the importance of mitigation activities, DHS 
will allocate $35 million for the FY 2011 FP&S Grant Program. The FP&S 
funds will be available to make grants to, or enter into contracts or 
cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, or community 
organizations or agencies, including fire departments.
    In accordance with the statutory requirement to fund fire 
prevention activities, the FP&S Program offers grants to support 
activities in two categories: (1) Activities designed to reach high-
risk target groups and mitigate incidences of death and injuries caused 
by fire and fire-related hazards (``Fire Prevention and Safety 
Activity''); and (2) research and development activities aimed at 
improving firefighter safety (``Firefighter Safety Research and 
Development Activity''). DHS will issue an announcement regarding 
pertinent details of the FY 2011 FP&S Grant portion of the AFG Program 
prior to the start of the application period, which is tentatively 
scheduled for fall of 2011.

Application Process

    Prior to the start of the FY 2011 AFG application period, DHS 
conducted applicant workshops across the country to inform potential 
applicants about the AFG Program. In addition, DHS provided applicants 
with an online web-based tutorial (available at the AFG Web site: 
www.fema.gov/firegrants) and other online information to help them 
prepare quality grant applications. The AFG also staffed a Help Desk 
throughout the application period. The AFG Help Desk staff members 
provided assistance to applicants with navigation through the automated 
application as well as assistance with any questions they had. 
Applicants could reach the AFG Help Desk through a toll-free telephone 
number (1-(866) 274-0960) or electronic mail (firegrants@dhs.gov).
    Applicants were advised to access the application electronically at 
https://portal.fema.gov. New applicants had to register and establish a 
username and password for secure access to their application. 
Applicants that applied to any previous AFG funding opportunities had 
to use their previously established usernames and passwords. In 
completing the application, applicants provided relevant information on 
their organization's characteristics, call volume, and existing 
capabilities. Applicants were asked to answer questions about their 
grant request that reflected the AFG funding priorities, which are 
described below. In addition, each applicant had to complete four 
separate narratives for each Request Details activity. These narratives 
addressed statutory competitive factors: project description and 
budget, cost benefit, effect on the organization, and additional 
information. The electronic application process permitted the applicant 
to enter and save the application. The system did not permit the 
submission of incomplete applications. Except for the narrative 
textboxes, the application used a ``point-and-click'' selection 
process, or required the entry of information (e.g., name and address, 
call volume numbers, etc.).
    Applicants were encouraged to read the AFG Guidance and Application 
Kit for more details.

Application Review Process

    DHS first will evaluate all applications received through an 
automated preliminary screening process to determine which applications 
best address the AFG Program's announced funding priorities. The 
automated preliminary screening will evaluate and score the applicants' 
answers to the activity-specific questions. Applications containing 
multiple activities will be given prorated scores based on the amount 
of funding requested for each activity. The applications that best meet 
the AFG Program priorities as determined by the preliminary screening 
will be deemed to be in the ``competitive range.'' Once the competitive 
range is established, DHS will review the list of applicants that were 
not included in the competitive range to determine if any are 
responsible for protecting DHS-specified critical infrastructure or key 
resources. All applications will be evaluated against the award 
criteria described in this document.
    All applications deemed to be in the competitive range will be 
subjected to a second level of review by a technical evaluation panel 
(TEP) made up of individuals from the fire service, including, but not 
limited to, firefighters, fire marshals, and fire training instructors. 
The panelists, or peer reviewers, will assess each application's merits 
with respect to the clarity and detail used to describe the project and 
its budget, the project's purported benefits relative to its cost (cost 
benefit), the extent to which the project would enhance daily 
operations, and additional information provided by the applicant. Using 
the evaluation criteria described below, the panelists will evaluate 
and score independently each application referred for peer review and 
then discuss the merits and shortcomings of each application in an 
effort to reconcile any major discrepancies. However, a consensus among 
reviewers on the scores is not required.
    Applications will receive two reviews that comprise their total 
application score. The first review will evaluate the application to 
see if its requests meet the funding priorities. This will count for 50 
percent of the application's total score and will determine whether or 
not the application goes to a peer review panel for further evaluation. 
The second review is the peer review panel score, which is 50 percent 
of the application's total score. Applications then will be ranked 
according to the total application scores, and DHS will consider the 
highest-scoring applications for awards.
    Applications that involve interoperable communications projects 
will undergo a separate review by the responsible State Administrative 
Agency to assure that the communications project is consistent with the 
Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP). If the State 
determines that the project is inconsistent with the SCIP, the project 
will not be funded.
    After the completion of the TEP reviews, DHS will select a 
sufficient number of awardees from this application period to obligate 
all of the available grant funding. DHS will announce the awards over 
several months and will notify unsuccessful applicants as soon as 
feasible. DHS will not make the awards in any specified order, i.e., 
awards will not be made by State, program, etc.

[[Page 71051]]

Environmental and Historic Preservation Review

    Applications seeking assistance to modify facilities or to install 
equipment requiring renovations may undergo additional screening. 
Modification to facility projects (including renovations associated 
with equipment installations) will be subject to all applicable Federal 
requirements for environmental and historic preservation (EHP). No 
project that involves a modification to facility can proceed--except 
for project planning--without prior formal written approval from DHS 
and the completion of any required EHP review. If an award includes a 
modification to a facility, the applicant will be responsible for 
contacting the AFG staff to receive instructions on how to proceed. 
Noncompliance with these provisions may jeopardize an applicant's award 
and subsequent funding.

Criteria Development Process

    Each year, DHS convenes a panel of fire service professionals to 
develop the funding priorities and other implementation criteria for 
AFG. The Criteria Development Panel is comprised of representatives 
from nine major fire service organizations, who are charged with making 
recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new, and/or 
modification of, previously funded priorities as well as developing 
criteria for awarding grants. The nine major fire service organizations 
represented on the panel are:
     Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI)
     International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
     International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
     International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
     International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
     National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)
     National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
     National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
     North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD)
    The FY 2011 criteria development panel meeting occurred October 6-
7, 2010. The content of the FY 2011 AFG Guidance and Application Kit 
reflects the implementation of the Criteria Development Panel's 
recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction, and criteria 
for awards. All of the funding priorities for the FY 2011 AFG are 
designed to address the following:
     First responder safety
     Enhancement of national capabilities
     Risk
     Interoperability

Changes for FY 2011

     FY 2011 AFG Guidance. The FY 2011 AFG Guidance and 
Application Kit is condensed into two sections. Section I contains 
application and review information, and Section II contains award 
administration information.
     Online Tools for Applicants. A ``Get Ready Guide'' and a 
``Quick Reference Guide'' are online reference documents designed to 
help applicants prepare for completing the AFG application.
     Application Scoring. In a change from previous years, 
applications will receive two reviews that comprise their total 
application score. The first review will measure the application 
request to see if it meets the funding priorities. This will count for 
50 percent of the total score and will measure whether or not the 
application goes to panel review. The second review is the panel review 
score, which is 50 percent of the application's total score. 
Applications then will be ranked according to the total application 
scores, and DHS will consider the highest-scoring applications for 
awards.
     Regional Projects. Personal protective equipment is now an 
eligible expense.
     Operations and Safety.
    (1) Boats (20 feet and under). Eligible for request in the 
Equipment activity.
    (2) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). SCBAs that are 
manufactured before the NFPA 2002 standard are a high priority for 
funding.
    (3) Wellness and Fitness Programs. Firefighter and EMS wellness and 
fitness programs will be required to offer a fourth component--a 
behavioral health program--in addition to periodic health screenings, 
entry physical exams, and immunizations.
    (4) Flashover Simulators. No longer eligible for funding.
     Vehicle Acquisition
    (1) In fire-based EMS, ambulances will be the equivalent to a 
pumper as a high priority item.
    (2) Applicants may request more than one vehicle per station.
    (3) Applicants that do not have drivers and operators trained to 
current NFPA 1002 or equivalent standards, and do not plan to have a 
training program in place by the time the requested vehicle is 
delivered, will not be eligible to receive a vehicle grant.
    (4) Extended warranties and service agreements are eligible 
expenses.

Changes to Criteria Development Panel Recommendations

    DHS must explain any differences between the published guidelines 
and the recommendations made by the criteria development panel and 
publish this information in the Federal Register prior to making any 
grants under the Program (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(14)). DHS accepts and is 
implementing all of the Criteria Development Panel's recommendations, 
with the exception of the two that we recommended be revised (discussed 
below).
    (1) Panel members recommended adding value at the prescore level 
for applications that answer a question indicating that they will buy 
equipment or vehicles made in the U.S. This recommendation requires 
inserting new questions into the AFG application and asking applicants 
to indicate whether it is their intention to purchase equipment or 
vehicles made in the U.S. When the preliminary assessment is performed, 
applications that contain affirmative answers to those questions will 
receive a higher score than those that do not.
    DHS acknowledges this Panel recommendation but was unable to 
implement this scoring change with the FY 2011 AFG application. DHS 
will work with the Criteria Development Panel and internal DHS policies 
to determine the feasibility of this recommendation in future grant 
programs.
    (2) Panel members recommended that the formal driver training 
programs required of AFG vehicle awardees (fire and EMS) include the 
minimum U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) (649-F) medical 
examination report or equivalent.
    DHS acknowledges this recommendation but was concerned that small, 
rural fire departments may be disadvantaged by this requirement because 
they may not have easy access to medical professionals who can provide 
examinations that meet the required standard to all of the individuals 
in the driver training program. DHS will work with the Criteria 
Development Panel to achieve compliance with the USDOT standard but 
also allow some flexibility for grantees having difficulty meeting that 
standard.

Application Review Considerations

    The governing statute requires that each year DHS publish in the 
Federal Register a description of the grant application process and the 
criteria for grant awards. This information is provided below.

[[Page 71052]]

Fire Department Priorities

    Specific rating criteria for each of the eligible programs and 
activities are discussed below. The funding priorities described in 
this Notice have been recommended by a panel of representatives from 
the Nation's fire service leadership and have been accepted by DHS for 
the purposes of implementing the AFG. These rating criteria provide an 
understanding of the Grant Program's priorities and the expected cost-
effectiveness of any proposed project(s). The activities listed below 
are in no particular order of priority. Within each activity, DHS will 
consider the population served by the applicant, with applicants that 
serve larger populations afforded a higher consideration than 
applicants that serve smaller populations. DHS further explained the 
Program priorities in the Guidance and Application Kit that was 
published separately.
    (1) Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.
    (i) Firefighter Training Activities. The Criteria Development Panel 
recommended that AFG continue to emphasize the importance of training 
in the FY 2011 program with respect to fire departments.

Funding Priorities

    Due to inherent differences among urban, suburban, and rural 
firefighting needs, AFG has different priorities in the Firefighting 
Training program area for departments that serve different types of 
communities. These are described in detail in the FY 2011 AFG Guidance 
and Application Kit.
    The highest priorities for training in all types of communities 
include NFPA 1001, 1002, 472, 1581, 1021; confined space awareness; 
wildland firefighting (basic and red card training); rapid intervention 
or RIT; first responder; firefighter safety and survival; safety 
officer; driver/operator; fire prevention; fire inspector; fire 
investigator; and fire educator; NIMS/ICS; firefighting physical 
ability program; emergency scene rehab; critical incident debriefing; 
firefighter physical agility training; and training needed to comply 
with State-mandated and federally mandated programs. Please see the 
Guidance and Application Kit for additional information on the high, 
moderate, and low priorities for training in urban, suburban, and rural 
communities. Additional consideration include factors such as multiple 
departments will be trained, instructor-led vs. media-led, call volume, 
number of firefighters trained, and population served. Large 
departments with a high number of active firefighters will receive 
additional consideration.
    (ii.) Firefighting Equipment Acquisition. AFG funds are available 
for equipment to enhance the safety or effectiveness of firefighting, 
rescue, and fire-based EMS functions. Equipment requested must meet all 
mandatory requirements as well as any national and/or state DHS-adopted 
standards. See NFPA standards at https://www.NFPA.org. The equipment 
requested should improve the health and safety of the public and 
firefighters.

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority for funding will be first-time equipment purchases 
to support an existing mission and/or replace obsolete, broken/
inoperable equipment. A moderate priority will be equipment purchases 
to increase capabilities within the department's existing mission or to 
meet a new risk. Low priority for funding will be requests for 
equipment for a new mission to meet an existing risk and/or request 
additional supplies or reserve equipment. A department takes on a ``new 
mission'' when it expands its services into areas not previously 
offered, such as a fire department seeking funds to provide EMS for the 
first time. A ``new risk'' presents itself when a department must 
address risks that have materialized in the department's area of 
responsibility, e.g., the construction of a new nuclear power plant 
could constitute a ``new mission.''
    Additional consideration will be given for the following factors:
     Equipment that has a direct effect on firefighters' health 
and safety
     Frequency of use and type of jurisdiction served
     Age of equipment being replaced
     Equipment that benefits other jurisdictions
     Equipment that brings the department into compliance with 
nationally recommended standards (i.e., NFPA) or statutory compliance 
(i.e., Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA))
     Call volume
     Population served
    (iii.) Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Acquisition. 
AFG funds are available to acquire primarily OSHA-required and NFPA-
compliant PPE for firefighting personnel. Equipment requested must meet 
all current mandatory requirements, as well as any national and/or 
state DHS-adopted standards. Equipment requested should have the goal 
of increasing firefighter safety. Information on the relevant NFPA 
standards can be obtained from the organization's Web site at https://www.NFPA.org. If requesting training for any items in this section, 
please list them under Additional Funding for each item to which it 
applies.

Funding Priorities

    The highest priorities for funding will be departments requesting 
new PPE for the first time and departments replacing or updating 
obsolete PPE to the current standard. The moderate priority for funding 
will be requests to replace torn, tattered, damaged, or contaminated 
PPE. PPE requested to address a new risk also will be considered a 
moderate funding priority. A low priority for funding will be requests 
to replace worn but usable PPE that is not compliant to the current 
edition of the NFPA standard and/or to handle a new mission, or to 
increase current inventory.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

    Awards will be based on number of seated positions in the 
department's vehicle fleet and the age of existing SCBAs, limited to 
one spare cylinder (unless justified otherwise in the Request Details 
narrative for the PPE activity). New SCBAs must have automatic-on or 
integrated Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) devices and be CBRNE-
compliant to the current edition of the NFPA 1981 standard.

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority will be to replace SCBAs that are compliant with 
NFPA 1981, pre-2002 Edition. All requests must be justified in the 
Request Details narrative for the PPE activity. Somewhat lower priority 
will be to replace SCBAs that are compliant with the 2007 edition of 
NFPA 1981. It will be a low priority to replace SCBAs that are 
compliant with the 2002 edition of NFPA 1981 (the need for which must 
be justified in the PPE narrative).
    (iv.) Firefighter Wellness and Fitness Activities. Wellness and 
Fitness programs are intended to strengthen first responders so that 
their mental, physical, and emotional capabilities are resilient enough 
to withstand the demands of emergency services response. To be eligible 
for FY 2011 funding of this activity, fire departments must offer, or 
plan to offer, all four of the following basic programs:
     Periodic health screenings.
     Entry physical examinations.
     Immunizations.
     Behavioral health programs.

Funding Priorities

    The highest priority will be to fund requests from applicants that 
currently do not have any of the four basic

[[Page 71053]]

programs listed above and seek funds to offer all four programs. A 
moderate priority will be to support requests from applicants that 
currently offer some of the four basic programs and want to begin to 
offer the remaining programs. Low priority will be given to requests 
from applicants that want to obtain physical fitness equipment but do 
not offer the four basic wellness and fitness programs. Additional 
consideration will be given to applicants with regard to their call 
volume, population served, and whether they make member participation 
in the wellness and fitness programs mandatory.
    (v.) Modifications to Fire Stations. FY 2011 AFG Grants may be used 
to modify and retrofit existing fire stations and other structures 
built prior to 2003. New fire station construction is not allowed. No 
modification may change the structure footprint or profile. If 
requesting multiple items in this activity, total funding for all 
project and activities cannot exceed $100,000 per fire station. 
Eligible projects under this activity must have a direct effect on the 
health and safety of firefighters.
    FEMA is legally required to consider the potential impacts of all 
grant-funded projects on environmental resources and historic 
properties. For AFG and other preparedness grant programs, this is 
accomplished via FEMA's environmental and historic preservation (EHP) 
review. Grantees must comply with all applicable EHP laws, regulations, 
and Executive Orders (EOs) in order to draw down their FY 2011 AFG 
grant funds. Any project with the potential to impact natural resources 
or historic properties cannot be initiated until FEMA has completed the 
required FEMA EHP review.

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority for funding will be requests to install 
modifications such as sole-source capture exhaust systems, sprinkler 
systems, or smoke/fire alarm notification systems in stations that are 
occupied 24/7 and offer sleeping quarters, including maritime/air 
operations facilities. Somewhat lower priority will be given to 
requests from departments for air quality systems and/or emergency 
generators that are occupied on a daily basis and may or may not offer 
sleeping quarters. Low priority will be given to requests for the 
modifications cited above from departments whose facilities are 
occupied 24/7 but do not offer sleeping quarters as well as requests 
from training facilities. Additional consideration will be provided for 
the age of the building, with older facilities receiving greater 
priority; call volume and the population served also will receive 
additional consideration.
    (2) Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program.
    AFG provides grants for new firefighting vehicles, used fire 
apparatus originally designed for firefighting, or refurbished 
apparatus originally designed for firefighting. Funds also may be used 
to refurbish a vehicle the department currently owns, but only if the 
vehicle to be refurbished was designed originally for firefighting. New 
vehicles purchased with AFG funds must be compliant with NFPA 1901 
(Standard for Automotive Apparatus) or NFPA 1906 (Standard for Wildland 
Fire Apparatus). Used apparatus must be compliant with NFPA 1901 or 
1906 for the year the vehicle was manufactured. Refurbished apparatus 
must meet the current NFPA 1912 (Standard for Fire Apparatus 
Refurbishing).
    Applicants were allowed to apply for more than one vehicle, but 
requests cannot exceed the financial cap based on population listed in 
the application. If a department submits multiple applications and more 
than one of those requests are approved, the department will be held to 
the same financial cap.
    New in FY 2011: Due to nationwide statistics indicating the high 
number of fire-based EMS calls, ambulances have been elevated from 
being a low funding priority to being a high priority vehicle. In other 
words, for fire-based EMS, ambulances will be the equivalent to a 
pumper as a high priority item.

Funding Priorities

    Inherent differences exist between urban, suburban, and rural 
firefighting conventions. For this reason, DHS has developed different 
priorities in the Firefighting Vehicles Program for departments that 
serve different types of communities. The chart below delineates the 
priorities for firefighting vehicles for each type of community.
    New for 2011: Due to nationwide statistics indicating the high 
number of fire-based EMS calls, ambulances have been moved from a low 
priority to a high priority.
Firefighting Vehicle Program Priorities
    Within each category (high, medium, or low priority), vehicles are 
listed in order of their funding priority for the community type 
listed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Priority                   Urban communities       Suburban communities        Rural communities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.................................  Pumper..................  Pumper..................  Pumper.
                                    Ambulance...............  Ambulance...............  Ambulance.
                                    Aerial..................  Aerial..................  Brush-Attack.
                                    Quint (Aerial < 76')....  Quint (Aerial < 76')....  Tanker-Tender.
                                    Quint (Aerial > 76')....  Quint (Aerial > 76')....  Quint (Aerial < 76').
                                    Rescue..................  Tanker-Tender...........
M.................................  Command.................  Rescue..................  Command.
                                    Hazmat..................  Command.................  Hazmat.
                                    Light/Air Unit..........  Light/Air Unit..........  Rescue.
                                    Rehab Unit..............  Brush-Attack............  Light/Air Unit.
                                    Foam truck..............  Rehab Unit..............
L.................................  Aircraft Rescue and Fire  ARFFV...................  Foam Truck.
                                     Fighting Vehicle
                                     (ARFFV).
                                                              Foam truck..............  Aerial.
                                                              Highway Safety Unit.....  Highway Safety Unit.
                                    Brush-Attack............  Fire Boat...............  ARFFV.
                                    Foam Truck.                                         Rehab Unit.
                                    Fire Boat.                                          Fire Boat.
                                    Tanker-Tender.
                                    Highway Safety Unit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional consideration will be given to the following factors:
     Have automatic aid agreements, mutual aid agreements or 
both.
     Request the replacement of open cab/jump seat 
configurations.

[[Page 71054]]

     Converted vehicles not designed or intended for use in the 
fire service.
     Age of the vehicle being replaced; older equipment.
     Age of the newest vehicle in the department's fleet that 
is like the vehicle to be replaced.
     Average age of the fleet; older equipment within the same 
class.
     Call volume.
     Population served.
    (3) Administrative Costs.
    Panelists will assess the administrative costs requested in any 
application and determine if the request is reasonable and in the best 
interest of the Program.

Nonaffiliated EMS Organization Priorities

    AFG funds may be used to enhance emergency medical services 
provided by nonaffiliated EMS organizations, but the authorizing 
statute limits funding for these organizations to no more than 2 
percent of the appropriated amount.
    The Criteria Development Panel recommended that it is more cost-
effective to enhance or expand an existing EMS organization, by 
providing training or equipment, than it is to create a new service. 
Therefore, communities attempting to initiate EMS services will receive 
the lowest competitive rating. Requests for equipment and training to 
prepare for response to incidents involving CBRNE are available under 
the applicable Equipment and Training activities.
    Specific rating criteria and priorities for each of the grant 
categories are provided below following the descriptions of this year's 
eligible programs. The rating criteria, in conjunction with the program 
description, provide an understanding of the evaluation standards. In 
each activity, the size of the population served by the applicant will 
be taken into consideration, with larger populations afforded more 
consideration than smaller populations. DHS will explain further the 
priorities in the Guidance and Application Kit. Applicants may apply 
for as many of the activities within this program as they deem 
necessary.
    (1) EMS Operations and Safety Program.
    Five different activities may be funded under this program area:
     First responder/Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) 
training.
     EMS equipment acquisition.
     EMS personal protective equipment.
     EMS wellness and fitness.
     Modifications to EMS facilities.
    (i) First Responder/EMS Training Activities. AFG provides grants to 
train EMS personnel. Examples of training activities include, but are 
not limited to, first responder, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced 
Life Support (ALS), Paramedic, Hazmat Operations, or Rescue Operations.

Funding Priorities

    Since training is a prerequisite to the effective use of EMS 
equipment, organizations that request items more focused on training 
activities will receive a higher competitive rating than organizations 
that focus on equipment.
    A high competitive rating will be given to nonaffiliated EMS 
organizations that are planning to upgrade services to ALS level of 
response. Specifically, organizations that are seeking to elevate the 
response level from EMT-B to EMT-I will receive the highest priority, 
and organizations that are seeking to elevate the response level from 
EMT-I to EMT-P will receive a high priority.
    Requests for support of Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic 
(EMT-P) training will receive high priority. The second priority is to 
elevate emergency responders' capabilities from first responder to a 
BLS level of response, i.e., EMT-B. Due to the time and cost, upgrading 
an organization's response level from EMT-B to EMT-P is a lower 
priority. Organizations seeking training in rescue or Hazmat operations 
will receive lower consideration than organizations seeking training 
for medical services.
    The lowest priority is to fund first responder training. 
Organizations seeking to train a high percentage of the active first 
responders will receive additional consideration when applying under 
the EMS Training Activity.
    Copies of NFPA standards may be reviewed at https://www.NFPA.org.
    (ii) EMS Equipment Acquisition. AFG funds are available for 
equipment to enhance the safety or effectiveness of EMS response. 
Equipment requested must meet all mandatory requirements as well as any 
national, state, or DHS-adopted standards. Equipment requested should 
solve interoperability or compatibility problems as may be required by 
local jurisdictions. Equipment requested, particularly decontamination 
and Hazmat equipment, is fundable to the current level of an 
organization's capabilities.

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority in the EMS Training activity will be given to 
requests to upgrade service from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced 
Life Support (ALS), i.e., EMT-I and EMT-P. With regard to compliance 
with NFPA standards, requests for equipment that brings the department 
into compliance with national, state or local jurisdictional 
requirements will receive high priority. Of moderate priority will be 
requests for equipment that brings a department into voluntary 
compliance with NFPA/OSHA standards and requests to expand current EMS. 
Low priority will be given to requests to begin a new service, to 
replace used or obsolete equipment, and to buy equipment that does not 
affect statutory compliance or voluntary compliance with a national 
standard. Also low in priority will be requests for equipment for 
HAZMAT operations/technicians and for rescue operations/technicians.
    Additional consideration will be given to requests that support a 
regional collaboration and to the applicant's call volume and 
population served.
    (iii) EMS Personal Protective Equipment. AFG funds are available to 
acquire EMS PPE for first responder personnel. Equipment requested must 
meet all mandatory requirements, as well as any current national and/or 
state DHS-adopted standards or local EMS protocols.

Funding Priorities

    High priority for funding will be requests to buy new PPE for the 
first time and requests to buy PPE for the first time and/or for 
applicants that need to replace or update obsolete PPE to the current 
standard. Moderate priority will be given to requests to replace torn, 
tattered, damaged, or contaminated PPE. Low priority will be given to 
replacing worn but still usable PPE that is not compliant to the 
current edition of NFPA standard and/or to handle a new mission or to 
increase the PPE inventory.
    Applicants must indicate grant-purchased equipment will be operated 
by sufficiently trained staff. Failure to meet this requirement will 
result in ineligibility for funding. Additional considerations will be 
given to the percentage firefighters/EMS personnel served by the 
project, age of equipment, call volume, and population served.

SCBA Priorities

    Awards will be based on the number of seated positions in 
department's vehicle fleet and the age of existing SCBAs, limited to 
one spare cylinder (unless justified in the PPE activity narrative). 
Highest priority for funding of SCBAs will be to replace SCBA that are 
compliant with the pre-2002 edition of NFPA 1981. Moderate priority 
will be given to replacing SCBA that are compliant with the 2002 
edition of NFPA 1981. Low priority will be given

[[Page 71055]]

to requests to replace SCBA that are compliant with the 2007 edition of 
NFPA 1981 (requests must be justified in the PPE narrative).
    (iv) EMS Wellness and Fitness Activities. Wellness programs are 
intended to strengthen uniformed personnel so the mental, physical, and 
emotional capabilities are resilient to withstand the demands of 
emergency services response. To be eligible for funding under this 
activity in FY 2011, organizations must offer, or plan to offer, all 
four of the following basic wellness and fitness programs:
     Periodic health screenings
     Entry physical examinations (compliant with current NFPA 
1582)
     Immunizations
     Behavioral health programs

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority will be given to requests from departments that do 
not offer any of the four basic programs and want to use requested 
funds to establish all four programs. Moderate priority will be given 
to requests from departments that offer some of the four basic programs 
but request funds to offer the remaining activities. Low priority will 
be given to requests from departments that want to purchase physical 
fitness equipment but do not offer the four basic programs.
    Priority consideration will be given to departments that have some 
of the Priority 1 programs in place, i.e., initial medical exams, job-
related immunization program, as required by the department, or law; 
annual medical/fitness evaluations; behavioral health programs; and 
requiring that participation in the Wellness and Fitness programs be 
mandatory for their members. Applicants must apply for funds to 
implement the Priority 1 activities before applying for funds for any 
additional program or equipment. In addition, funded medical exams must 
meet current NFPA 1582, as required by DHS standards. Priority 2 
programs include candidate physical ability evaluations, formal fitness 
and injury prevention programs and equipment, requests from departments 
having a plan to sustain their wellness and fitness programs, and 
requests from those that make it mandatory for all members to 
participate in the wellness and fitness programs.
    (v) Modification to EMS Facilities. Grants may be used only to 
modify or retrofit existing EMS facilities that were built before 2003 
and do not have specific safety features. The construction of new 
facilities is not eligible for funding. Grant funds may only be used to 
retrofit existing structures built prior to 2003 that do not have the 
requisite safety features. If requesting multiple items in this 
activity, funding cannot exceed a maximum of $100,000 per station. 
Remodeling to fulfill other grant initiatives is limited to $10,000. 
Eligible projects under this activity must have a direct effect on the 
health and safety of first responders.
    FEMA is legally required to consider the potential impacts of all 
grant-funded projects on environmental resources and historic 
properties. For AFG and other preparedness grant programs, this is 
accomplished via FEMA's EHP Review. Grantees must comply with all 
applicable EHP laws, regulations, and Executive Orders (EOs) in order 
to draw down their FY 2011 AFG grant funds. Any project with the 
potential to impact natural resources or historic properties cannot be 
initiated until FEMA has completed the required FEMA EHP review. 
Grantees that implement projects prior to receiving EHP approval from 
FEMA risk de-obligation of funds.
    AFG projects that involve the installation of equipment, ground-
disturbing activities, and new construction, including communication 
towers, or modification/renovation of existing buildings or structures 
must undergo a FEMA EHP review. Activities not specifically excluded 
from a FEMA EHP review also will require an EHP review per the GPD 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). For more information on 
the PEA, see Information Bulletin 345 at https://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info345.pdf.

Funding Priorities

    Highest priority in this activity will go to departments requesting 
direct sole-source capture exhaust systems, sprinkler systems, or 
smoke/fire alarm notification systems for stations with sleeping 
quarters, including maritime/air operations facilities, that are 
occupied 24/7. Moderate priority will be given to departments (with or 
without sleeping quarters) that request air quality systems and/or 
emergency generators. Low priority will be given to departments 
requesting funding of one of the high or moderate priorities listed 
above but do not have facilities that are occupied 24/7 and do not have 
sleeping quarters and also to requests from training facilities. 
Additional consideration will be given to departments (with or without 
sleeping quarters) that request air quality systems and/or emergency 
generators; additional consideration also will be given concerning the 
factors of call volume and population served.
    (2) EMS Vehicles Acquisition Program.
    Due to inherent differences among urban, suburban, and rural 
firefighting needs, AFG has different priorities in the Vehicles 
program area for departments that serve different types of communities. 
Applicants requesting vehicles that do not have driver/operators 
trained to U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Vehicle 
Operators Course (EVOC) National Standard Curriculum, or equivalent, 
and are not planning to have a training program in place by the time 
the vehicle is delivered, will not receive an award.
    To be eligible for funding, new vehicles purchased with AFG funds 
must be compliant with current General Services Administration 
standards, specifically KKK-A-1822E (Guide for Emergency Medical 
Services and Systems).
    Funds may be used to acquire new, used, or refurbished EMS 
vehicles. Funds may also be used to refurbish a vehicle the 
organization currently owns. Refurbished apparatus must meet currently 
applicable standards (NFPA, GSA KKK-1822F Specification standards).

Funding Priorities

    The following chart shows the priorities in the EMS Vehicle Program 
for FY 2011. The priorities are the same for all types of communities: 
Urban, suburban, and rural.

[[Page 71056]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16NO11.000

    Applicants may request funding for a training program in the 
Vehicles section of the application, but it must be listed in the 
Additional Funding area in the Request Details section. Driver training 
programs must be in place prior to vehicle delivery.
    (3) Administrative Costs.
    Panelists will assess the administrative costs requested in each 
application and determine whether the request is reasonable and in the 
best interest of the Program.

Regional Project Priorities

    A regional project is one in which multiple organizations serving 
more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from the activities 
implemented with the grant funds. Regional projects are designed to 
facilitate efficiency and communications on the fire ground among 
multiple jurisdictions. Any eligible applicant may act as a host 
applicant and apply for a regional project. Note that a county fire 
department applying for a countywide communications system would NOT be 
considered a regional project because it does not benefit multiple 
jurisdictions.

Funding Priorities

    The funding priorities for regional requests are the same 
priorities as indicated previously for fire and EMS but are limited to 
the following areas:
    (1) Training.
     Training that benefits multiple jurisdictions and/or all 
regional partners.
     Training props.
     Training trailers, to include manufactured burn trailers.
     EMS training throughout the region to meet local 
jurisdictional standards.
    (2) Equipment.
     Communications equipment to include infrastructure 
(dispatch centers), handheld portables, pagers, repeaters, etc.
     Standardization of EMS equipment to meet local 
jurisdictional standards.
     Other equipment that would be beneficial the mission of 
all regional partners.
    (3) Personal Protective Equipment.
     SCBA (face piece, voice amp, harness/PASS device, one 
spare cylinder).
     Accountability systems.
     PPE that meets NFPA and OSHA blood-borne pathogen 
standards.
     Firefighting PPE.
    Not Eligible for Regional Funding: Wellness and fitness, 
modification to facilities, and vehicle acquisition are not eligible as 
regional projects.

Award Information

    Applications for regional projects will not be included in the host 
applicant's funding limitations detailed in Part II of the Guidance and 
Application Kit. However, regional applicants will be subject to their 
own limitation based on the total population that the regional project 
will serve. For example, a regional project serving a population of 
fewer than 500,000 people will be limited to $1 million. A regional 
project's cost share will be based on the total population of the 
entire region rather than on the population served by the host 
applicant.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-29500 Filed 11-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P