Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, 11548-11553 [2018-05214]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11548-11553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05214]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2018-0017]


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; Fire Prevention and 
Safety Grants

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 the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) will use for awarding Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) 
grants in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
(AFG) Program. 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 February 28--March 3, 2017. The application period for 
the FY 2017 FP&S Grant Program year will be February 12, 2018--March 
16, 2018, and will be announced on the AFG website (www.fema.gov/firegrants), www.grants.gov, and the U.S. Fire Administration website 
(www.usfa.fema.gov).

DATES: Grant applications for the FP&S Grant Program will be accepted 
electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, from February 12, 2018 at 
8:00 a.m. ET to March 16, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C 
Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FP&S Program is to reduce 
fire and fire-related injuries and prevent deaths among the public and 
firefighters by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting 
firefighter health and safety research and development. The FEMA Grant 
Programs Directorate administers the FP&S Grant Program as part of the 
AFG Program.
    FP&S Grants are offered to support projects in two activities:
    1. Activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and 
mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, and property damage caused 
by fire and fire-related hazards (``FP&S Activity'').
    2. Projects aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or 
wellness through research and development that reduces firefighter 
fatalities and injuries (``R&D Activity'').
    The grant program's authorizing statute requires that DHS publish 
in the Federal Register each year the guidelines that describe the 
application process and the criteria for grant awards. Approximately 
1,000 applications for FP&S Grant Program funding are anticipated to be 
submitted electronically, using the application submission form and 
process available at the AFG e-Grant application portal: https://portal.fema.gov. Specific information about the submission of grant 
applications can be found in the FY 2017 Fire Prevention and Safety 
Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will be available 
for download at www.fema.gov/firegrants and at www.regulations.gov 
under Docket ID: FEMA-2018-0017.

Appropriations

    Congress appropriated $345,000,000 for AFG in FY 2017 pursuant to 
the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2017, Public 
Law 115-31. From this amount, $34,500,000 will be made available for 
FP&S Grant awards, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 2229(h)(5), which states that 
not less than 10 percent of available grant funds each year are awarded 
under the FP&S Grant Program. Funds appropriated for all FY 2017 AFG 
awards, pursuant to Public Law 115-31, will be available for obligation 
and award until September 30, 2018.
    From the approximately 1,000 applications that will be requesting 
assistance, FEMA anticipates that it will award approximately 150 FP&S 
Grants from available grant funding.

Background of the AFG Program

    DHS awards grants on a competitive basis to applicants that best 
address the FP&S Grant 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

    All applications for grants will be prepared and submitted through 
the AFG e-Grant application portal (https://portal.fema.gov).
    The FP&S Grant Program panels will review the applications and 
score them using the following criteria areas:

 Financial Need
 Vulnerability Statement
 Implementation Plan
 Evaluation Plan
 Cost-Benefit
 Funding Priorities

    The applications submitted under the R&D Activity will be reviewed 
first by a panel of fire service members to identify those applications 
most relevant to the fire service. The following evaluation criteria 
will be used for this review:

 Purpose
 Potential Impact
 Implementation by the Fire Service
 Partners
 Barriers

    The applications that are determined most likely to enable 
improvement in firefighter safety, health, or wellness will be deemed 
to be in the ``competitive range'' and forwarded to the second level of 
application review, which is the scientific panel review process. This 
panel will be comprised of scientists and technology experts who have 
expertise pertaining to the subject matter of the proposal.
    The Scientific Technical Evaluation Panel for the R&D Activity will 
review the application and evaluate it using the following criteria:

 Project goals, objectives, and specific aims
 Literature Review
 Project Methods
 Project Measurements
 Project Analysis
 Dissemination and Implementation
 Cost vs. Benefit (additional consideration)
 Financial Need (additional consideration)
 Mentoring (additional consideration for Early Career 
Investigator Projects only)

[[Page 11549]]

Eligible Applicants

    Under the FY 2017 FP&S Grant Program, eligible applicants are 
limited to those entities described below within each activity:
    1. Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Activity: Eligible applicants 
for this activity include fire departments; and national, regional, 
State, local, federally recognized tribal, and nonprofit organizations 
that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire 
prevention and safety programs and activities. Both private and public 
non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funding in this 
activity. For-profit organizations, Federal agencies, and individuals 
are not eligible to receive a FP&S Grant Award under the FP&S Activity.
    2. Firefighter Safety Research and Development (R&D) Activity: 
Eligible applicants for this activity include national, State, local, 
federally recognized tribal, and nonprofit organizations, such as 
academic (e.g., universities), public health, occupational health, and 
injury prevention institutions. Both private and public non-profit 
organizations are eligible to apply for funding in this activity.
    The aforementioned entities are encouraged to apply, especially 
those that are recognized for their experience and expertise in 
firefighter safety, health, and wellness research and development 
activities. Fire departments are not eligible to apply for funding in 
the R&D activity. Additionally, for-profit organizations, Federal 
agencies, and individuals are not eligible to receive a grant award 
under the R&D Activity.

Funding Limitations

    Awards are limited to a maximum federal share of $1.5 million 
dollars, regardless of applicant type, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 
2229(d)(2). FP&S Research and Development applicants applying under the 
Early Career Investigator category are limited to a maximum federal 
share of $75,000 per project year.

Cost Sharing

    Grant recipients must share in the costs of the projects funded 
under this grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(1) and in 
accordance with 2 CFR 200.101(b)(1), but they are not required to have 
the cost-share at the time of application nor at the time of award. 
However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA may contact potential awardees 
to determine whether the grant recipient has the funding in hand or 
whether the grant recipient has a viable plan to obtain the funding 
necessary to fulfill the cost-sharing requirement.
    In general, an eligible applicant seeking an FP&S grant to carry 
out an activity shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to 
carry out such activity in an amount equal to, and not less than, 5 
percent of the grant awarded. Cash match and in-kind matches are both 
allowable in the FP&S Grant Program. Cash (hard) matches include non-
Federal cash spent for project-related costs. In-kind (soft) matches 
include, but are not limited to, the valuation of in-kind services; 
complementary activities; and provision of staff, facilities, services, 
material, or equipment. In-kind is the value of something received or 
provided that does not have a cost associated with it. For example, 
where an in-kind match (other than cash payments) is permitted, then 
the value of donated services could be used to comply with the match 
requirement. Also, third party in-kind contributions may count toward 
satisfying match requirements provided the grant recipient receiving 
the contributions expends them as allowable costs in compliance with 
provisions listed above.
    Grant recipients under this program must also agree to a 
maintenance of effort requirement per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) (referred to 
as a ``maintenance of expenditure'' requirement in that statute). Per 
this requirement, a grant recipient shall agree to maintain during the 
term of the grant, the grant recipient's aggregate expenditures 
relating to the activities allowable under the FP&S NOFO at not less 
than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the 2 
fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are 
received.
    In cases of demonstrated economic hardship and upon the request of 
the grant recipient, the FEMA Administrator may waive or reduce certain 
grant recipient's cost share or maintenance of expenditure requirements 
(15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(A)). As required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(B), the 
Administrator established guidelines for determining what constitutes 
economic hardship and published these guidelines at FEMA's website 
www.fema.gov/grants. Per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(C), FP&S nonprofit 
organization grant recipients that are not fire departments or 
emergency medical services organizations are not eligible to receive a 
waiver of their cost share or economic hardship requirements.

System for Award Management (SAM)

    Per 2 CFR 25.200, all grant applicants and recipients are required 
to register in https://SAM.gov, which is available free of charge. They 
must maintain validated information in SAM that is consistent with the 
data provided in their AFG grant application and in the Dun & 
Bradstreet (DUNS) database. FEMA will not accept any application, 
process any awards, consider any payment or amendment requests, or 
consider any amendment unless the applicant or grant recipient has 
complied with the requirements to provide a valid DUNS number and an 
active SAM registration with current information. The banking 
information, employer identification number (EIN), organization/entity 
name, address, and DUNS number provided in the application must match 
the information that is provided in SAM.

Application Process

    Applicants may only submit one application, but may submit for up 
to three projects under each activity (FP&S and R&D). Any applicant 
that submits more than one application may have all applications deemed 
ineligible.
    Under the FP&S Activity, applicants may apply under the following 
categories:

 Community Risk Reduction
 Fire & Arson Investigation
 Code Enforcement/Awareness
 National/State/Regional Programs and Studies

    Under the R&D Activity, applicants may apply under the following 
categories:

 Clinical Studies
 Technology and Product Development
 Database System Development
 Dissemination and Implementation Research
 Preliminary Studies
 Early Career Investigator

    Prior to the start of the FY 2017 FP&S Grant Program application 
period, FEMA provided applicants with technical assistance tools 
(available at the AFG website: www.fema.gov/firegrants) and other 
online information to help them prepare quality grant applications. AFG 
will also staff a Help Desk throughout the application period to assist 
applicants with navigation through the automated application as well as 
assistance with related questions. Applicants can reach the AFG Help 
Desk through a toll-free telephone number (1-866-274-0960) or email 
([email protected]).
    Applicants are advised to access the application electronically at 
https://portal.fema.gov. The application also is accessible from the 
Grants.gov website

[[Page 11550]]

(https://www.grants.gov). New applicants are required to register and 
establish a username and password for secure access to their 
application. Applicants that applied to any previous AFG or Staffing 
for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funding opportunities 
are required to use their previously established usernames and 
passwords when applying for an FP&S grant.
    In completing an application under this funding opportunity, 
applicants will be asked to provide relevant information on their 
organization's characteristics and existing capabilities. Those 
applicants are asked to answer questions about their grant request that 
reflect the funding priorities, described below. In addition, each 
applicant will complete narratives for each project or grant activity 
requested.
    The following are the funding priorities for each category under 
the FP&S Activity:
     Community Risk Reduction--Under the Community Risk 
Reduction category there are three funding priorities:
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs that target a specific 
high-risk population to conduct both door-to-door smoke alarm 
installations and provide home safety inspections, as part of a 
comprehensive home fire safety campaign.
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs that include sprinkler 
awareness that affect the entire community, such as educating the 
public about residential sprinklers, promoting residential sprinklers, 
and demonstrating working models of residential sprinklers.
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs to conduct community-
appropriate comprehensive risk assessments and risk reduction planning.
     Code Enforcement/Awareness--These are projects that focus 
on first time or reinstatement of code adoption and code enforcement, 
including Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) codes for communities with a 
WUI-wildfire risk.
     Fire & Arson Investigation--These are projects that aim to 
aggressively investigate every fire.
     National/State/Regional Programs and Studies--These are 
projects that focus on residential fire issues and/or firefighter 
behavior and decision-making.
    Under the R&D Activity, in order to identify and address the most 
important elements of firefighter safety, FEMA looked to the fire 
service for its input and recommendations. In June 2005, the National 
Fallen Firefighters' Foundation (NFFF) hosted a working group to 
facilitate the development of an agenda for the Nation's fire service, 
and in particular for firefighter safety. In November 2015, the NFFF 
hosted its third working group to update the agenda with current 
priorities. A copy of the research agenda is available on the NFFF 
website at https://www.everyonegoeshome.com/resources/research-symposium-reports/.
    All proposed projects, regardless of whether they have been 
identified by this working group, will be evaluated on their relevance 
to firefighter health and safety, and scientific rigor.
    The electronic application process will permit the applicant to 
enter and save the application data. The system does not permit the 
submission of incomplete applications. Except for the narrative 
textboxes, the application will use a ``point-and-click'' selection 
process or require the entry of data (e.g., name and address). 
Applicants are encouraged to read the FP&S NOFO for more details.

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 composed of representatives from 
nine major fire service organizations that are charged with making 
recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new funding 
priorities, the modification of existing funding priorities, and the 
development of criteria for awarding grants. The nine major fire 
service organizations represented on the panel:

 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 2017 criteria development panel meeting occurred February 
28-March 3, 2017. The content of the FY 2017 FP&S Notice of Funding 
Opportunity 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 2017 FP&S 
Grant Program are designed to address the following:

 First responder safety
 Enhancing national capabilities
 Risk
 Interoperability

Changes for FY 2017

FY 2017 FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement

    (1) Under the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity, a new priority 
has been added under the Community Risk Reduction Category to add 
community-appropriate comprehensive risk assessments and risk reduction 
planning.
    (2) Under the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity, clarification 
has been provided to the Code Enforcement/Awareness Priority to ensure 
inclusion of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) codes for communities with 
a WUI-wildfire risk.
    (3) Under the Research and Development Activity, a new category has 
been added for Early Career Investigator projects.
    (4) Under the Research and Development Activity, special emphasis 
topics have been added.

Application Review Process and Considerations

    The program's authorizing 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.
    DHS will review and evaluate all FP&S applications submitted using 
the funding priorities and evaluation criteria described in this 
document, which are based on recommendations from the AFG Criteria 
Development Panel.

Peer Review Process

Peer Review Panel Process--Fire Prevention and Safety Activity

    All FP&S activity applications will be evaluated by a peer review 
process. A panel of peer reviewers is composed of fire service 
representatives recommended by the Criteria Development Panel. These 
reviewers will assess each application's merits with respect to the 
detail provided in the Narrative Statement on the activity, including 
the evaluation elements listed in the Evaluation Criteria identified 
below. The panel will independently score each project within the 
application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application, 
and document the findings. A consensus is not required.

[[Page 11551]]

Peer Review Panel Process--Research and Development Activity

    R&D applications will go through a two-phase review process. First, 
all applications will be reviewed by a panel of fire service experts to 
assess the need for the research results and the likelihood that the 
results would be implemented by the fire service in the United States. 
Applications that are deemed likely to be implemented to enable 
improvement in firefighter safety, health, or wellness will be deemed 
to be in the ``competitive range'' and will be forwarded to the second 
level of project review, which is the science review panel process. 
This panel will be composed of scientists and technology experts who 
have expertise pertaining to the subject matter of the proposal.
    Scientific reviewers will independently score applications in the 
competitive range and, if necessary, discuss the merits or shortcomings 
of the project in order to reconcile any major discrepancies identified 
by the reviewers. A consensus is not required.

Technical Evaluation Process

    The highest ranked projects from both Activities will be deemed in 
the fundable range. Applications that are in the fundable range will 
undergo a Technical Review by the FEMA Program Office prior to being 
recommended for award. The FEMA Program Office will assess the request 
with respect to costs, quantities, feasibility, eligibility, and 
recipient responsibility prior to recommending any application for 
award.
    Once the review process is complete, each project's score will be 
determined and a final ranking of project applications will be created. 
FEMA will award grants based on this final ranking. Award announcements 
will be made on a rolling basis until all available grant funds have 
been committed. Awards will not be made in any specified order. DHS 
will notify unsuccessful applicants as soon as it is feasible.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects--Fire Prevention and Safety Activity

    Funding decisions will be informed by an assessment of how well the 
application addresses the criteria and considerations listed below. 
Applications will be reviewed by the peer reviewers using weighted 
evaluation criteria to score the project. These scores will impact the 
ranking of a project for funding.
    The relative weight of the evaluation criteria in the determination 
of the grant award is listed below.
     Financial Need (10%): Applicants should provide details on 
the need for financial assistance to carry out the proposed project(s). 
Included in the description might be other unsuccessful attempts to 
acquire financial assistance or specific examples of the applicant's 
operational budget.
     Vulnerability Statement (25%): The assessment of fire risk 
is essential in the development of an effective project goal, as well 
as meeting FEMA's goal to reduce risk by conducting a risk assessment 
as a basis for action. Vulnerability is a ``weak link'' demonstrating 
high risk behavior, living conditions or any type of high risk 
situation or behavior. The Vulnerability Statement should include a 
description of the steps taken to determine the vulnerability (weak 
link) and identify the target audience. The methodology for 
determination of vulnerability (i.e., how the weak link was found) 
should be discussed in-depth in the application's rrative Statement.
    [cir] The specific vulnerability (weak link) that will be addressed 
with the proposed project can be established through a formal or 
informal risk assessment. FEMA encourages the use of local statistics, 
rather than national statistics, when discussing the vulnerability.
    [cir] The applicant should summarize the vulnerability (weakness) 
the project will address in a clear, to-the-point statement that 
addresses who is at risk, what the risks are, where the risks are, and 
how the risks can be prevented.
    [cir] For the purpose of the FY 2017 FP&S NOFO, formal risk 
assessments consist of the use of software programs or recognized 
expert analysis that assess risk trends.
    [cir] Informal risk assessments could include an in-house review of 
available data (e.g., tional Fire Incident Reporting System) to 
determine fire loss, burn injuries or loss of life over a period of 
time, and the factors that are the cause and origin for each 
occurrence.
     Implementation Plan (25%): Projects should provide details 
on the implementation plan, discussing the proposed project's goals and 
objectives. The following information should be included to support the 
implementation plan:
    [cir] Goals and objectives.
    [cir] Details regarding the methods and specific steps that will be 
used to achieve the goals and objectives.
    [cir] Timelines outlining the chronological project steps.
    [cir] Where applicable, examples of marketing efforts to promote 
the project, who will deliver the project (e.g., effective 
partnerships), and the manner in which materials or deliverables will 
be distributed.
    [cir] Requests for props (i.e., tools used in educational or 
awareness demonstrations), including specific goals, measurable 
results, and details on the frequency for which the prop will be 
utilized as part of the implementation plan. Applicants should include 
information describing the efforts that will be used to reach the high 
risk audience and/or the number of people reached through the proposed 
project.
     Evaluation Plan (25%): Projects should include an 
evaluation of effectiveness and should identify measurable goals. 
Applicants seeking to carry out awareness and educational projects, for 
example, should identify how they intend to determine that there has 
been an increase in knowledge about fire hazards, or measure a change 
in the safety behaviors of the audience. Applicants should demonstrate 
how they will measure risk at the outset of the project in comparison 
to how much the risk decreased after the project is finished. There are 
various ways to measure the knowledge gained including the use of 
surveys, pre- and post-tests, or documented observations.
     Cost-Benefit (10%): Projects will be evaluated based on 
how well the applicant addresses the fire prevention needs of the 
department or organization in an economical and efficient manner. The 
applicant should show how it will maximize the level of funding that 
goes directly into the delivery of the project. The costs associated 
with the project must also be reasonable for the target audience that 
will be reached, and a description of how the anticipated benefit(s) of 
their projects outweighs the cost(s) of the requested item(s) should be 
included. The application should provide justification for all costs 
included in the project in order to assist the FEMA Program Office with 
the Technical Evaluation Panel review.
     Funding Priorities (5%): Applicants will be evaluated on 
whether the proposed project meets the stated funding priority (listed 
below) for the applicable category.
    [cir] Community Risk Reduction Priority: Comprehensive home fire 
safety campaign with door-to-door smoke alarm installations and/or 
sprinkler awareness and/or community risk assessments.
    [cir] Fire/Arson Investigation Priority: Projects that aim to 
aggressively investigate every fire.
    [cir] Code Enforcement/Awareness Priority: Projects that focus on 
first time or reinstatement of code adoption and code enforcement, 
including Wildland

[[Page 11552]]

Urban Interface (WUI) codes for communities with a WUI-wildfire risk.
    [cir] National/State/Regional Programs and Studies Priority: 
Projects that focus on residential fire issues, and/or firefighter 
safety projects or strategies that are designed to measurably change 
firefighter behavior and decision-making.
    [ssquf] Meeting the needs of people with disabilities (additional 
consideration): Applicants in the Community Risk Reduction category 
will receive additional consideration if, as part of their 
comprehensive smoke alarm installation and education program, they 
address the needs of people with disabilities (e.g., deaf/hard-of-
hearing) in their community.
    [ssquf] Experience and Expertise (additional consideration): 
Applicants that demonstrate their experience and ability to conduct 
fire prevention and safety activities, and to execute the proposed or 
similar project(s), will receive additional consideration.

Evaluation Criteria--Firefighter Safety Research and Development 
Activity

    Funding decisions will be informed by an assessment of how well the 
application addresses the criteria and considerations listed below. All 
applications will be reviewed by a fire service expert panel using 
weighted evaluation criteria, and those projects deemed to be in the 
``competitive range'' will then be reviewed by a scientific peer review 
panel evaluation using weighted evaluation criteria to score the 
project. Scientific evaluations will impact the ranking of the project 
for funding.
    Fire Service Evaluation Criteria:
     Purpose (25%): Applicants should clearly identify the 
benefits of the proposed research project to improve firefighter 
safety, health, or wellness, and identify specific gaps in knowledge 
that will be addressed.
     Implementation by Fire Service (25%): Applicants should 
discuss how the outcomes/products of this research, if successful, are 
likely to be widely/nationally adopted and accepted by the fire service 
as changes that enhance firefighter safety, health, or wellness.
     Potential Impact (15%): Applicants should discuss the 
potential impact of the research outcome/product on firefighter safety 
by quantifying the possible reduction in the number of fatal or non-
fatal injuries, or on the projected wellness by significantly improving 
the overall health of firefighters.
     Barriers (15%): The applicant needs to identify and 
discuss potential fire service and other barriers to successfully 
complete the study on schedule, including contingencies and strategies 
to deal with barriers if they materialize. This may include barriers 
that could inhibit the proposed fire service participation in the study 
or the adoption of successful results by the fire service when the 
project is completed.
     Partners (20%): Applicants should recognize that 
participation of the fire service as a partner in the research, from 
development to dissemination, is regarded as an essential part of all 
projects. Applicants should describe the fire service partners and 
contractors that will support the project to accomplish the objectives 
of the study. The specific roles and contributions of the partners 
should be described. Partnerships may be formed with local and regional 
fire departments, and also with national fire-related organizations. 
Letters of support and letters of commitment to actively participate in 
the project should be included in the appendix of the application. 
Generally, participants of a diverse population, including both career 
and volunteer firefighters, are expected to facilitate acceptance of 
results nationally. In cases where this is not practical, due to the 
nature of the study or other limitations, these circumstances should 
clearly be explained.
    Science Panel Evaluation Criteria:
     Project goals, objectives, and specific aims (15%): 
Applicants should address how the purpose, goals, objectives, and aims 
of the proposal will lead to results that will improve firefighter 
safety, health, or wellness. For multi-year projects, greater detail 
should be given for the first year.
     Literature Review (10%): Applicants should provide a 
literature review that is relevant to the project's goals, objectives, 
and specific aims. The citations should be placed in the text of the 
narrative statement, with references listed at the end of the Narrative 
Statement (and not in the Appendix) of the application. The review 
should be in sufficient depth to make it clear that the proposed 
project is necessary, adds to an existing body of knowledge, is 
different from current and previous studies, and offers a unique 
contribution.
     Project Methods (20%): Applicants should provide a 
description of how the project will be carried out, including 
demonstration of the overall scientific and technical rigor and merit 
of the project. This includes the operations to accomplish the purpose, 
goals and objectives, and the specific aims of the project. Plans to 
recruit and retain human participants for research, where applicable, 
should be described. Where human participants are involved in the 
project, the applicant should describe plans for submission to the 
Institutional Review Board (for further guidance and requirements, see 
page 23 of the FY 2017 FP&S NOFO.
     Project Measurements (20%): Applicants should provide 
evidence of the technical rigor and merit of the project, such as data 
pertaining to validity, reliability, and sensitivity (where 
established) of the facilities, equipment, instruments, standards, and 
procedures that will be used to carry out the research. The applicant 
should discuss the data to be collected to evaluate the performance 
methods, technologies, and products proposed to enhance firefighter 
safety, health, or wellness. The applicant should demonstrate that the 
measurement methods and equipment selected for use are appropriate and 
sufficient to successfully deliver the proposed project objectives.
     Project Analysis (20%): The applicant should indicate the 
planned approach for analysis of the data obtained from measurements, 
questionnaires, or computations. The applicant should specify within 
the plan what will be analyzed, the statistical methods that will be 
used, the sequence of steps, and interactions as appropriate. It should 
be clear that the Principal Investigator and research team have the 
expertise to perform the planned analysis and defend the results in a 
peer review process.
     Dissemination and Implementation (15%): Applicants should 
indicate dissemination plans for scientific audiences (such as plans 
for submissions to specific peer review publications) and for 
firefighter audiences (such as websites, magazines, and conferences). 
Also, assuming positive results, the applicant should indicate future 
steps that would support dissemination and implementation throughout 
the fire service, where applicable. These steps are likely to be beyond 
the current study, so those features of the research activity that will 
facilitate future dissemination and implementation should be discussed. 
All applicants should specify how the results of the project, if 
successful, might be disseminated and implemented in the fire service 
to improve firefighter safety, health, or wellness. It is expected that 
successful R&D Activity Projects may give rise to future programs 
including FP&S Activity Projects.
     Cost vs. Benefit (additional consideration): Cost vs. 
benefit in this evaluation element refers to the costs of the grant for 
the research and

[[Page 11553]]

development project as it relates to the benefits that are projected 
for firefighters who would have improved safety, health, or wellness. 
Applicants should demonstrate a high benefit for the cost incurred, and 
effective utilization of Federal funds for research activities.
     Financial Need (additional consideration): In the 
Applicant Information section of the application, applicants should 
provide details on the need for Federal financial assistance to carry 
out the proposed project(s). Applicants may include a description of 
unsuccessful attempts to acquire financial assistance. Applicants 
should provide detail about the organization's operating budget, 
including a high-level breakdown of the budget; describe the 
department's inability to address financial needs without Federal 
assistance; and discuss other actions the department has taken to meet 
their staffing needs (e.g., State assistance programs, other grant 
programs, etc.).
     Mentoring (additional consideration for Early Career 
Investigator Projects only): An important part of Early Career 
Investigator projects is the integration of mentoring for the principal 
investigator by experienced researchers in areas appropriate to the 
research project, including exposure to the fire service community as 
well as support for ongoing development of knowledge and skills. 
Mentoring is regarded as critical to the research skills development of 
early career principal investigators. As part of the application 
Appendix, the applicant should identify the mentor(s) who have agreed 
to support the applicant and the expected benefit of their interactions 
with the researcher. A biographical sketch and letter of support from 
the mentor(s) are encouraged and should be included in the Appendix 
materials.

Other Selection Information

    Awards will be made using the results of peer-reviewed applications 
as the primary basis for decisions, regardless of activity. However, 
there are some exceptions to strictly using the peer review results. 
The applicant's prior AFG, SAFER, and FP&S grant management performance 
will also be taken into consideration when making recommendations for 
award. All final funding determinations will be made by the FEMA 
Administrator, or the Administrator's designee.
    Fire departments and other eligible applicants that have received 
funding under the FP&S Grant Program in previous years are eligible to 
apply for funding in the current year. However, DHS may take into 
account an applicant's performance on prior grants when making funding 
decisions on current applications.
    Once every application in the competitive range has been through 
the technical evaluation phase, the applications will be ranked 
according to the average score awarded by the panel.
    The ranking will be summarized in a Technical Report prepared by 
the AFG Program Office. A Grants Management Specialist will contact the 
applicant to discuss and/or negotiate the content of the application 
and SAM.gov registration before making final award decisions.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229.

    Dated: March 9, 2018.
Brock Long,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-05214 Filed 3-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-64-P