Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, 3677-3682 [2024-00998]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3677-3682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00998]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2024-0003]


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

AGENCY:  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION:  Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
1974, as amended, the Administrator of FEMA is publishing this notice 
describing the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
(AFG) program application process, deadlines, and award selection 
criteria. This notice explains the differences, if any, between these 
guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national 
fire service leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria 
Development Panel (CDP), which was held July 18-19, 2023. The 
application period for the FY 2023 AFG Program is Jan. 29, 2024-March 
8, 2024, and was announced on the FEMA AFG Program website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters, as well as at https://www.grants.gov.

DATES: Grant applications for the FY 2023 AFG Program are being 
accepted electronically through the FEMA Grant Outcomes (FEMA GO) 
system at https://go.fema.gov/, through 5 p.m. ET on March 8, 2024.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Parsons, Chief, Assistance to 
Firefighters Grants Branch, 1-866-274-0960 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG program awards grants directly to 
fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) 
organizations, and state fire training academies (SFTA) for enhancing 
the health and safety of first responders and improving their abilities 
to the public from fire and fire-related hazards. Applications for the 
FY 2023 AFG program are submitted and processed online through https://go.fema.gov/. Before the application period started, the FY 2023 AFG 
Program Notice of Funding Opportunity was published on FEMA's AFG 
Program website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants. The AFG Program website provides 
additional information and materials useful for FY 2023 AFG Program 
applicants, including a Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions, 
Application Checklist, AFG Narrative Development Toolkit, Self-
Evaluation Sheets for Vehicle Acquisition and Operations Safety, and a 
Cost-Share Calculator. Based on past AFG Program application periods, 
FEMA anticipates receiving 8,000 to 10,000 AFG applications this year 
and available funding will support approximately 2,000 grant awards.

Congressional Appropriations

    For the FY 2023 AFG program, Congress appropriated $360 million 
through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023, 
Public Law 117-328. From this amount, $324 million will be made 
available for FY 2023 AFG Program awards. In addition, section 33 of 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 
U.S.C. 2229), requires that a minimum of 10% of available funds be 
expended for Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Program grants. FP&S 
Program awards will be 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. The funds appropriated for FY 2023 are 
available for obligation and award until Sept. 30, 2024.
    The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 further directs 
FEMA to administer these appropriations according to the following 
requirements:
     Career fire departments: Not less than 25% of available 
grant funds.
     Volunteer fire departments: Not less than 25% of available 
grant funds.
     Combination fire departments and departments using paid-
on-call firefighting personnel: Not less than 25% of available grant 
funds.
     Open competition (career, volunteer, and/or combination 
fire departments and departments using paid-on-call firefighting 
personnel): Not less than 10% of available grant funds awarded.
     EMS providers including fire departments and nonaffiliated 
EMS organizations: Not less than 3.5% of available grant funds awarded.
     Nonaffiliated EMS providers: Not more than 2% of the total 
available grant funds.
     SFTAs: Not more than 3% of available grant funds shall be 
collectively awarded to SFTA applicants, with a maximum of $500,000 per 
applicant.
     Vehicles: Not more than 25% of available grant funds may 
be used for the purchase of vehicles; by policy and based on 
recommendations, FEMA intends to dedicate 10% of those vehicle funds 
for ambulances.
     Micro grants: This is a voluntary funding limitation 
choice made by the applicant for requests submitted within the 
operations and safety activity. It is not an additional funding 
opportunity. Micro grants are awards that have a Federal participation 
(share) that does not exceed $50,000. Applicants that select micro 
grants may receive additional consideration for award. If an applicant 
selects micro grants in their application, they will be limited in the 
total amount of funding their organization can be awarded. If they are 
requesting funding in excess of $50,000 Federal participation, they 
should not select micro grants.

Background of AFG

    Since 2001, AFG has awarded approximately $8.4 billion in grant 
funding to help firefighters and other first responders obtain 
critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, 
training, and other resources needed to protect the public and 
emergency personnel from fire and fire-related hazards. FEMA awards 
grants on a competitive basis to the applicants

[[Page 3678]]

that best address the AFG Program's priorities and provide the most 
compelling justification. Applications that best address AFG Program 
priorities, as identified in the Application Evaluation Criteria, are 
reviewed by a panel composed of fire service personnel. The AFG Program 
has three program activities:
     Operations and Safety;
     Vehicle Acquisition; and
     Regional Projects.
    The priorities for each activity are fully outlined in the funding 
notice.

Application Evaluation Criteria

    Before making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3354, as 
amended by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, Public Law 
116-117 (2020), 41 U.S.C. 2313, and 2 CFR 200.206 to review information 
available through any Office of Management and Budget-designated 
repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial 
integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may 
include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: (1) 
financial stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to 
meet management standards; (3) history of performance in managing 
Federal awards; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability 
to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.
    FEMA will rank all complete and submitted applications based on how 
well they align with program priorities for the type of jurisdiction(s) 
served. Answers to activity-specific questions provide information used 
to determine each application's ranking relative to the stated program 
priorities.
    Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating AFG applications are 
established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria 
Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is composed of fire service 
professionals who make recommendations to FEMA regarding creating new, 
or modifying previously established, funding priorities, as well as 
developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of the funding 
notice reflects implementation of the CDP's recommendations with 
respect to the priorities and evaluation criteria for awards.
    The nine major fire service organizations represented on the CDP:

 Congressional Fire Service Institute
 International Association of Arson Investigators
 International Association of Fire Chiefs
 International Association of Fire Fighters
 International Society of Fire Service Instructors
 National Association of State Fire Marshals
 National Fire Protection Association
 National Volunteer Fire Council
 North American Fire Training Directors

Review and Selection Process

    AFG applications are reviewed through a multi-phase process. All 
applications are electronically pre-scored and ranked based on how well 
they align with the funding priorities outlined in the funding notice. 
Applications with the highest pre-score rankings are then scored 
competitively by no less than three members of a Peer Review Panel. 
Applications are also evaluated through a series of internal FEMA 
review processes for completeness, adherence to programmatic 
guidelines, technical feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness of the 
proposed project(s). Below is the process by which applications are 
reviewed:

i. Pre-Scoring Process

    The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based 
on established program priorities listed in the funding notice and 
answers to activity-specific questions within the online application. 
Application narratives are not reviewed during pre-scoring. Request 
details and budget information should comply with program guidance and 
statutory funding limitations. The pre-score is 50% of the total 
application score.

ii. Peer Review Panel Process

    Applications with the highest pre-score undergo peer review. The 
peer review is comprised of fire service representatives recommended by 
the organizations represented on the CDP. The panelists assess the 
merits of each application based on the narrative section of the 
application, including the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative 
Evaluation Criteria below. Panelists independently score each project 
within the application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the 
application with their peers, and document the findings. A consensus is 
not required. The panel score is 50% of the total application score.

iii. Technical Evaluation Process

    The highest ranked applications will be considered within the 
fundable range. Applications that are in the fundable range will 
undergo both a Technical Review by a subject-matter expert as well as a 
FEMA Program Office review before 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 Technical 
Evaluation Process is complete, each application's cumulative score 
will be determined and a final ranking of applications will be created. 
FEMA will award grants based on this final ranking and the ability to 
meet statutorily required funding limitations outlined in the funding 
notice.

Narrative Evaluation Criteria

1. Financial Need (25%)

    Applicants should describe their financial need and how consistent 
it is with the intent of the AFG program. This statement should include 
details describing the applicant's financial distress, summarized 
budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding, and 
proof that their financial distress is out of their control.

2. Project Description and Budget (25%)

    This statement should clearly explain the applicant's project 
objectives and the relationship between those objectives and the 
applicant's budget and risk analysis. The applicant should describe the 
activities, including program priorities or facility modifications, 
ensuring consistency with project objectives, the applicant's mission, 
and any national, state and/or local requirements. Applicants should 
link the proposed expenses to operations and safety, as well as the 
completion of the project goals.

3. Cost Benefit (25%)

    Applicants should describe how they plan to address the operations 
and personal safety needs of their organization, including cost 
effectiveness and sharing assets. This statement should also include 
details about gaining the maximum benefits from grant funding by citing 
reasonable or required costs, such as specific overhead and 
administrative costs. The applicant's request should also be consistent 
with their mission and identify how funding will benefit their 
organization and personnel.

4. Statement of Effect on Daily Operations (25%)

    This statement should explain how these funds will enhance the 
applicant's overall effectiveness. It should address how an award will 
improve daily

[[Page 3679]]

operations and reduce the applicant's risks. Applicants should include 
how frequently the requested items will be used, and in what capacity. 
Applicants should also indicate how the requested items will help the 
community and increase the organization's ability to save additional 
lives or property. Jurisdictions that demonstrate their commitment and 
proactive posture to reducing fire risk, by explaining their code 
enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface code enforcement) and 
mitigation strategies (including whether the jurisdiction has a FEMA-
approved mitigation strategy) may receive stronger consideration under 
this criterion.

Eligible Applicants

    Fire Departments: Fire departments operating in any of the 50 
states, as well as fire departments in the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any federally 
recognized Indian Tribe or tribal organization. A fire department is an 
agency or organization having a formally recognized arrangement with a 
state, territory, local (city, county, parish, fire district, township, 
town or other governing body), or tribal authority to provide fire 
suppression to a population within a geographically fixed primary first 
due response area.
    Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Nonaffiliated EMS organizations 
operating in any of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any 
federally recognized Indian Tribe or tribal organization. A 
nonaffiliated EMS organization is an agency or organization that is a 
public or private nonprofit emergency medical services entity providing 
medical transport that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not 
serve a geographic area in which emergency medical services are 
adequately provided by a fire department. FEMA considers the following 
as hospitals under the AFG Program:
     Clinics;
     Medical centers;
     Medical colleges or universities;
     Infirmaries;
     Surgery centers; and
     Any other institutions, associations, or foundations 
providing medical, surgical, or psychiatric care and/or treatment for 
the sick or injured
    State Fire Training Academies: SFTAs operating in any of the 50 
states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be 
designated either by legislation or by a Governor's declaration as the 
sole fire service training agency within a state, territory, or the 
District of Columbia. The designated SFTA shall be the only agency/
bureau/division, or entity within that state, territory, or the 
District of Columbia.
    Non-Federal airport and/or port authority fire or EMS organizations 
are eligible only if they have a formally recognized arrangement with 
the local jurisdiction to provide fire suppression or emergency medical 
services on a first-due basis outside the confines of the airport or 
port facilities. Airport or port authority fire and EMS organizations 
whose sole responsibility is suppression of fires or EMS response on 
the airport grounds or port facilities are not eligible for funding 
under the AFG Program.

Ineligibility

    FEMA considers two or more separate fire departments or 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations with different funding streams, 
personnel rosters, and Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) but 
sharing the same facilities as being separate organizations for the 
purposes of AFG eligibility. If two or more organizations share 
facilities and each submits an application in the same program area 
(i.e., Equipment, Modifications to Facilities, Personal Protective 
Equipment (PPE), Training, or Wellness and Fitness Programs), FEMA 
reserves the right to review all of those program area applications for 
eligibility. This determination is designed to avoid the duplication of 
benefits.
    Examples of ineligible applications and/or organizations include:
     Nonaffiliated EMS organization requests for any activity 
that is specific or unique to structural/proximity/wildlands 
firefighting gear.
     Fire departments that are a Federal Government entity, or 
contracted by the Federal Government, and are solely responsible under 
a formally recognized agreement for suppression of fires on Federal 
installations or land.
     Fire departments or nonaffiliated EMS organizations that 
are not independent entities but are part of, controlled by, or under 
the day-to-day operational command and control of a larger department, 
agency or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
    [cir] However, if a fire department is considered to be the same 
legal entity as a municipality or other governmental organization, and 
otherwise meets the eligibility criteria, that municipality or other 
governmental organization may apply on behalf of that fire department 
as long as the application clearly states that the fire department is 
considered part of the same legal entity.
     Fire-based EMS organization applying as a nonaffiliated 
EMS organization.
     Auxiliaries, hospitals or fire service associations or 
interest organizations that are not the AHJ over the applicant.
     Dive teams, search and rescue squads, or similar 
organizations that do not provide medical transport.
     Fire departments, regional or nonaffiliated EMS 
organizations that are for profit.
     State or local agencies, or subsets of any governmental 
entity, or any authority that do not meet the requirements as defined 
by 15 U.S.C. 2229(a), (c).
     If an applicant submits two or more applications for the 
same equipment or other eligible activity (for example, if an applicant 
submits two or more applications, one under the Regional activity, and 
one under the Operations and Safety activity for self-contained 
breathing apparatus [SCBA]), both applications may be disqualified. If 
an applicant submits two separate applications for the same activity 
(i.e., two separate vehicle applications for the same vehicle) during 
the same application period, both applications may be disqualified.
    [cir] This is different from when an entity is applying on behalf 
of other organizations that are agencies or instrumentalities of the 
applicant (e.g., multiple fire departments under the same county, city, 
borough, parish, or other municipality). In that situation, the 
applicant may request similar or the same equipment as long as the 
application clearly states which equipment (including quantities) is 
for which agency/instrumentality. This is permissible even if that 
entity submits multiple applications across regional versus direct 
applications.
    [cir] Eligible Fire Department and nonaffiliated EMS applicants may 
submit only one application for each of the following application 
types: Individual Operations and Safety, Individual Vehicle, Regional 
Operations and Safety, and Regional Vehicle. Under the Operations and 
Safety applications, applicants may submit for multiple activities and 
for multiple items within each activity. Under the Vehicle application, 
applicants may submit one application for a vehicle activity (or 
activities) for their department and one separate application for a 
regional vehicle (the same vehicle(s) may not be

[[Page 3680]]

requested for both purposes). All duplicate application submissions may 
be disqualified.

Statutory Limits to Funding

    Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that 
a grant recipient may receive from AFG in any single fiscal year based 
on the population served (15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)). Awards will be limited 
based on the size of the population protected by the applicant, as 
indicated below. Notwithstanding the annual limits stated below, the 
FEMA Administrator may not award a grant in an amount that exceeds 1% 
of the available grant funds in such fiscal year, except where it is 
determined that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in 
an amount that exceeds the 1% aggregate limit.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
100,000 people or fewer, the amount of available grant funds awarded to 
such recipient shall not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 100,000 people, but not more than 500,000 people, the amount 
of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2 
million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 500,000 people, but not more than 1 million people, the 
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not 
exceed $3 million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 1 million people, but not more than 2.5 million people, the 
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient is subject to 
the 1% aggregate cap of $3.24 million for FY 2023. FEMA may waive this 
aggregate cap in individual cases where FEMA determines that a 
recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant that exceeds the 
aggregate cap. If FEMA waives the aggregate cap, the amount of grant 
funds awarded to such a recipient shall not exceed $6 million for any 
fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 2.5 million people, the amount of available grant funds 
awarded to such recipient is subject to the 1% aggregate cap of $3.24 
million for FY 2023. FEMA may waive this aggregate cap in individual 
cases where FEMA determines that a recipient has an extraordinary need 
for a grant that exceeds the aggregate cap. If FEMA waives the 
aggregate cap, the amount of grant funds awarded to such recipient 
shall not exceed $9 million for any fiscal year.
     FEMA may not waive the population-based limits on the 
amount of grant funds awarded as set by 15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A).
    The cumulative total of the Federal share of awards in Operations 
and Safety, Regional, and Vehicle Acquisition activities will be 
considered when assessing award amounts and any limitations thereto. 
Applicants may request funding up to the statutory limit on each of 
their applications.
    For example, an applicant that serves a jurisdiction with more than 
100,000 people, but not more than 500,000 people, may request up to $2 
million on their Operations and Safety Application and up to $2 million 
on their Vehicle Acquisition request. However, should both grants be 
awarded, the applicant would have to choose which award to accept if 
the cumulative value of both applications exceeds the statutory limits.

Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort

    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 applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR part 200, 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 
validates that the grant recipient has provided sufficient evidence 
that the cost-share requirement will be fulfilled during the 
performance period of the grant award.
    In general, an eligible applicant seeking a grant shall agree to 
make available non-Federal funds equal to not less than 15% of the 
grant awarded. However, the cost share will vary as follows based on 
the size of the population served by the organization, with exceptions 
to this general requirement for entities serving smaller communities:
     Applicants that serve populations of 20,000 or less shall 
agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not 
less than 5% of the grant awarded.
     Applicants serving areas with populations above 20,000, 
but not more than 1 million, shall agree to make available non-Federal 
funds in an amount equal to not less than 10% of the grant awarded.
     Applicants serving areas with populations above 1 million 
shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to 
not less than 15% of the grant awarded.
    The cost share for SFTAs will apply the requirements above based on 
the total population of the state.
    The cost share for a regional application will apply the 
requirements above based on the aggregate population of the primary 
first due response areas of the host and participating partner 
organizations that execute a Memorandum of Understanding as described 
in Appendix B, Section g., Regional Applications, of the FY 2023 AFG 
funding notice.
    On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may allow a grant recipient that may 
already own assets (equipment or vehicles), acquired with non-Federal 
cash, to use the trade-in allowance/credit value of those assets as 
``cash'' for the purpose of meeting the cost-share obligation of their 
AFG Program award. In-kind, cost-share matches are not allowed. Grant 
recipients under this grant program must also agree to a maintenance of 
effort requirement as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) (referred to as 
a ``maintenance of expenditure'' requirement in that statute). A grant 
recipient shall agree to maintain during the term of the grant the 
applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the activities allowable 
under the funding notice at not less than 80% of the average amount of 
such expenditures in the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in 
which the grant amounts are received.
    In cases of demonstrated economic hardship, and at the request of 
the grant recipient, the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce a 
grant recipient's cost-share requirement or maintenance of effort 
requirement. AFG applicants for FY 2023 must indicate at the time of 
application whether they are requesting a waiver and whether the waiver 
is for the cost-share requirement, for the maintenance of effort 
requirement, or both. As required by statute, the Administrator of FEMA 
is required to establish guidelines for determining what constitutes 
economic hardship. FEMA has published these guidelines on FEMA's 
website at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Eco_Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_FINAL.pdf.
    Before the start of the FY 2023 AFG application period, FEMA 
conducted applicant internet webinars to inform potential applicants. 
In addition, FEMA provided applicants with information at the AFG 
website, https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters, to help 
them prepare quality grant applications. The AFG Program Help Desk is 
staffed throughout the application period to assist applicants with the 
automated application process as well as answer any questions.
    Applicants can reach the AFG Program Help Desk through a toll-free

[[Page 3681]]

telephone number Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET at 866-274-
0960 or electronic mail at [email protected].

Application Process

    Organizations may submit one application per application period in 
each of the three AFG Program activities (e.g., one application for 
Operations and Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, and/or a separate 
application to be a Joint/Regional project host). If an organization 
submits more than one application for any single AFG Program activity 
(e.g., two applications for Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles), 
either intentionally or unintentionally, both applications may be 
disqualified.
    Applicants may access the grant application electronically at 
https://go.fema.gov/. New applicants must register and establish a 
username and password for secure access to the grant application. 
Previous AFG Program applicants must use their previously established 
username and password.
    Applicants are expected to answer questions about their grant 
request that reflect the AFG Program funding priorities. In addition, 
each applicant must complete four separate narratives for each project 
or grant activity requested. Grant applicants will also provide 
relevant information about their organization's characteristics, call 
volume, and existing organizational capabilities.

System for Award Management (SAM)

    Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant applicants and recipients must 
register at https://sam.gov/content/home. SAM is the Federal 
Government's System for Award Management, and registration is free of 
charge.
    Effective April 4, 2022, the Federal Government transitioned from 
using the Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS number, to a new, 
non-proprietary identifier known as a Unique Entity Identifier or UEI. 
For entities that had an active registration in SAM.gov before this 
date, the UEI has automatically been assigned and no action is 
necessary. For all entities filing a new registration in SAM.gov, the 
UEI will be assigned to that Entity as part of the SAM.gov registration 
process.
    FEMA will not make a Federal award until the applicant has complied 
with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant's SAM 
registration must be active not only at the time of application, but 
also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to 
make a Federal award.

Criteria Development Panel Recommendations

    If there are any differences between the published AFG Program 
guidelines and the recommendations made by the CDP, FEMA must explain 
them and publish the information in the Federal Register before 
awarding any AFG grant.

Adopted Recommendations for FY 2023

    Below is a list of changes between FY 2022 and FY 2023 to the AFG 
Program. The FY 2023 AFG Program funding notice contains some changes 
to definitions, descriptions, and priority categories. Changes include:
     Under Eligible Applicants: Definition of a state fire 
training academy was updated to include that recognition by the 
National Fire Training Academy is now an eligibility requirement.
     Under Management and Administration (M&A) Costs: 
Reimbursement for fees associated with hiring grants management 
services is now capped at $1,500. Requests that are simple percentages 
of the award, without supporting justification or adequate 
documentation, will not be allowed or considered for an award.
     Under Other Direct Costs, Allocations and Restrictions of 
Available Grant Funds: Micro Grants cumulative funding threshold was 
raised from $50,000 to $75,000.
     Under Restrictions on Uses of Awarded Funds: Clarification 
was added that items must be requested using correct dropdown 
selections in the application and that bundled items must have details 
regarding type, cost and quantity of all items in the bundle to be 
considered for funding.
     Under Supporting Definitions: Definition of Authority 
Having Jurisdiction was updated to match NFPA 101, 2021 edition.
     Under Training Activity: Various NFPA standards were 
updated to reflect the most recent editions.
     Under Equipment Activity: Various priority changes were 
made to equipment for Fire Department and Regional Fire Department 
applicants. The following items remain as High Priority:

[cir] Appliance(s)/Nozzle(s)
[cir] Basic Hand Tools (Structural/Wildland)
[cir] Hose (Attack/Supply)
[cir] Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Monitoring 
Equipment
[cir] IDLH Protection for Investigators (This is single-use respiratory 
protection)
[cir] PPE Washer/Extractor/Dryer (Turnout)
[cir] Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Pack/Cylinder
[cir] Thermal Imaging Camera (Must be NFPA 1801 compliant)
[cir] Portable Radios (must be P-25 compliant)
[cir] Vehicle Mounted Exhaust Systems
[cir] Skid Unit
[cir] Air Compressor/Fill Station/Cascade (fixed or mobile) is High 
Priority for Regional Fire Department applicants and Medium Priority 
for Fire Department applicants.

    Other equipment items were moved to Medium Priority. EMS equipment 
priority levels remain unchanged. Priority changes did not affect SFTA, 
and NAEMS applicants.
    [cir] Phones (telephone/satellite/cell), carrier plans and vehicle 
mounted fans were added as ineligible items.
    [cir] Clarity for reason for funding request (purpose) was added. 
Funding notice and application text updated from ``Obtain equipment to 
achieve minimum operational and deployment standards for existing 
missions'' to ``Obtain equipment needed but not currently owned or 
replace equipment that is broken and/or damaged beyond repair to 
achieve minimum operational and deployment standards for existing 
missions'' to better define the funding priorities.
    [cir] Computing devices necessary to operate the awarded equipment 
were added as eligible.
     Under Personal Protective Equipment Activity:
    [cir] Replacement of damaged/unsafe/unrepairable PPE (including 
SCBA) regardless of age is now allowable.
    [cir] Language regarding PFAS in PPE was moved from the Application 
Tips section to PPE Activity section and updated to encourage award 
recipients to seek acquisition of PFAS-free gear when possible.
    [cir] NFPA standard was added to the Chemical/Biological Suites 
under Specialized PPE.
     Under Wellness and Fitness Activity: Whole-body MRI was 
added to Ineligible activities.
     Under Vehicle Acquisition Activity: NFPA standards 1901, 
1906 and 1917 were replaced by the consolidated NFPA standard 1900.

Recommendations Not Adopted for FY 2023

     Recommendation to allow applicants replacement or new 
purchase of a second set of firefighter PPE was not adopted for FY 
2023. This recommendation requires predictive modeling not currently 
available.
     Combination of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) 
training line

[[Page 3682]]

item with the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive 
(CBRNE) training line item into one line item was not adopted. Both 
line items will remain available separately.
     Addition of the following EMS equipment line items as a 
Medium Priority was not adopted:

[cir] O2 kit
[cir] Stair chair
[cir] Stretcher (non-powered)
[cir] Backboard
[cir] Trauma bag
[cir] Mass casualty kit
[cir] CPAP
[cir] Suction unit
[cir] Non-disposable splints

     Recommendation from the National Volunteer Fire Council to 
reduce application requirements to simplify the process for the 
applicants was deferred until FEMA Grants Outcomes system is operating 
at full capacity.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229.

Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-00998 Filed 1-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P