Assistance to Firefighters Grant Workshop 2006

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Assistance to Firefighters GrantWorkshop 2006
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2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

• Office of Grants and Training
• Preparedness Directorate
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

• Fire Program Specialist
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Office of Grants and Training

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Overview of This Presentation

• Purpose - Overview of the 2006 AFG
• Areas of Emphasis
• Introduction
• Changes in 2006
• Program Guidance
• Regional Applications
• Successful Grant Writing
• Narrative Development
• SAFER
• Fire Prevention and Firefighter Safety

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INTRODUCTION
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For AFG Help

• www.firegrantsupport.com
• and
• Regional Fire Program Specialist
• and
• Help Desk at 866-274-0960
• and
• firegrants_at_dhs.gov

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Grants Administered by AFG Program Office

• Provides Assistance for
• The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
• Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
  (SAFER)
• Fire Prevention and Firefighter Safety Research
  and Development (FPS)

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Statistics of the AFG 2001-2005

• Number of applications 112,570
• Awards since 2001 29,509
• (one in four AFG applicants are awarded)
• Number of vehicles requested 34,343
• Number of vehicle awards 4,173
• (one in eight vehicle applicants are awarded)
• of Ops and Safety requested 75,227
• of Ops and Safety awarded 25,336
• (one in three Ops applications are awarded)

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2006 Appropriation

• Total 2006 Appropriation
• 655 million
• Fire 499 million
• EMS 19 million
• FPS 27 million
• 2006 SAFER 110 million
• Max to EMS agencies- 10.9 million

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Statutory Limits on EMS Funding

• A minimum of 3.5 of the appropriated funds must
  be awarded for EMS activities
• A maximum of 2 of the funding may be awarded to
  nonaffiliated EMS organizations

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Fire and EMS Vehicles

• Only 25 of AFG appropriated funds (545
  million) can be expended on vehicles.
• 133.5 million - Fire
• 2.7 million - EMS

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AFG Match

• Under 20,000 population 5
• 20,000-50,000 population 10
• Over 50,000 population 20
• Note
• Regional Projects will be based on the total
  population of the applicants region.
• Match does not apply to FPS grants and is
  different for SAFER.

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Maximum Federal Share

• Population
• Less than 500,000
• 500,000-1,000,000
• More than 1,000,000

• Federal Share
• 1,000,000
• 1,750,000
• 2,750,000

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AFG Program Cycle

• Appropriation (Fall 2005)
• Program Development (Fall 2005)
• Workshops (Jan Mar 2006)
• Application (Mar Apr 2006)

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AFG Annual Schedule

• Application Scoring (April 2006)
• Peer Review (April - May 2006)
• Technical Review (May - June 06)
• Award (June December 2006)

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AFG Program Guidance

• The Program Guidance is essential to successful
  grant application
• Download and review Program Guidance
• Use the Program Guidance to plan your application
• www.firegrantsupport.com

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AFG Online Tutorial

• Highlights Program Guidance
• Explains navigating application screens
• Highlights changes in 2006 Grant Program
• Linked to the online application
• www.firegrantsupport.com

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AFG FAQs

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Provide more detailed information about specific
  policies needed to complete successful
  application
• Monitor www.firegrantsupport.com
• FAQs are added throughout the grant application
  period and the year as circumstances dictate
• www.firegrantsupport.com

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Review 1

• What are the three most important documents for
  my department to review and understand?
• What is the most competitive activity or program
  area?
• What is the website address?

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Changes in 2006
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Changes to the 2006 AFG

• Regional Project Applications
• Unique application
• Match based on population of region
• Regional Project limited to training,
  equipment, and PPE
• Thermal Imaging Cameras - limits eliminated
• Training Requirements - added

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Program Guidance
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AFG Eligibility

• Fire departments
• Non-affiliated EMS organizations
• Regional applicants
• Host may be a fire department or
  nonaffiliated EMS organization
• Only one application per organization or
  department

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2006 AFG Programs

• AFG
• Fire Operations and Safety (fire-based EMS
  needs may be included here)
• Fire Vehicles
• EMS Operations and Safety
• EMS Vehicles
• SAFER- (Spring/Summer 2006)
• Fire Prevention- (Fall 2006)

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Stick to the PrioritiesAFG Funding

• Note
• Funding of the 2006 AFG is less than in 2005.
  This may make 2006 grants more competitive.

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AFG Program Areas

• Each eligible applicant may choose one of the
  following program areas
• Operations and Safety
• Vehicle Acquisition
• .

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Fire and EMS Operations and Safety Eligible
Activities

• Training
• Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Wellness and Fitness
• Modifications to Stations and Facilities
• Note Applicants may apply in all activities

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EMS Vehicles
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Fire Apparatus Priorities
 
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Previous Vehicle Recipients

• Take Notice
• Previous AFG vehicle awardees are not eligible
  for another vehicle award this year.

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Review 2

• Can my fire department apply as both a fire and
  EMS agency?
• Can I apply for more than one item in the
  Operations and Safety activity?
• I received a new brush truck in 2001 may I apply
  for a pumper this year?

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Regional Applications
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Regional Applications

• Eligible fire departments and
• nonaffiliated EMS organizations may serve as the
  host applicant
• Host is responsible for all aspects of the grant

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Regional Applications

• Eligible Activities
• Training
• Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Examples
• Region-wide communication system
• Region-wide purchase of hose

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Regional Applications

• Host shall enter statistics of entire region
  represented in the application
• Host may not apply for their own needs beyond the
  items necessary to address the regional project

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Regional Applications

• Project must have a region-wide impact on
  interoperability
• Match requirements based on the total population
  served by the defined region
• Note Vehicles,
• Modifications to Facilities,
• Wellness Fitness are not eligible

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Review 3

• Can 12 fire stations in a county fire department
  file an application as a region?
• Can I submit a regional application for a
  technical rescue vehicle or a hazmat vehicle?
• Can I submit for a regional project and a local
  project on one application?

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• Break

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Success in Grant Writing
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Application and Narrative

• Be accurate
• Be complete
• Be honest
• Start groundwork now
• Note
• Read the instructions carefully and follow the
  Program Guidance, Tutorial and FAQs.
• www.firegrantsupport.com

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Application Evaluation Phase-One

• Questions in application are electronically
  scored
• Preliminary scoring is based on program
  priorities
• Applications focused on funding priorities have a
  better chance of reaching the competitive range

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Application Evaluation Phase-One

• The successful applicants stick to the grant
  priorities
• Mixing low priority requests with high priority
  requests will erode your score
• Item scores will be rated based on the relative
  cost/merit of each activity/item

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Application Evaluation Phase-Two

• Highest scoring applications in Phase-One qualify
  for the competitive range
• Applications that make it into the competitive
  range are evaluated by panel of at least three
  peer reviewers

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Application Evaluation Phase-Two

• Peer review panelists focus on the Project
  Narrative
• But also consider
• Answers to the general questions
• Answers to activity-specific questions.

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Application Peer Review

• Panelists rate applications on the quality of
• 1. Project description and budget
• 2. Financial Need
• 3. Cost/Benefit
• 4. Improvements to Daily Operations
• NOTE You must address ALL FOUR!

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State Review

• State Homeland Security Office reviews
• Applications containing CBRNE
• Applications for major communications projects
• Applications inconsistent with the State plan or
  that duplicate a States assistance will not be
  funded

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Narrative Development
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Critical Narrative Elements

• Link to the Program Guidance
• Begin with performing a risk assessment
• Effective applications are based upon addressing
  the gap between
• Community Risk Assessment
• and
• Department Need/Capability Assessment

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Identifying Risk

• Successful applicants match their greatest risks
  to program priorities
• The Risk Assessment identifies gaps in
  organization capability
• AFG is designed to fill capability gaps
• Match gaps to AFG priorities
• Grant Funding
• Risk ----gap---- Grant Priority

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Identifying Needs

• Example
• Department identified needs
• Roof of station needs replacement
• Personnel are currently wearing worn out PPE
• The chief wants to replace a 2001 pumper

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Analyzing Needs

• Roof Critical however, not eligible
• Pumper is not old enough to warrant replacement
• PPE for personnel that is
• old, worn
• does not meet current standards
• is a high priority

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Before You Start Your Application

• Username/password
• EIN/Tax ID Number
• DUNS number

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Summary Before You Start Your Application

• Determine risk and needs
• Read the Program Guidance, Tutorial and FAQs
• Determine highest eligible priority(ies) that
  match the AFG

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Helpful Hints

• Call together a team to work on the application
  and assign tasks
• Plan to submit your application early

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Helpful Hints

• Write the narrative off-line
• Avoid the templates from other sources
• Bullets and other fonts will not transfer into
  the online application

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Helpful Hints

• Look for gaps -- never leave the panelists
  wondering
• Print application and ask someone to read it
  before submitting
• Do not submit the application before it is
  reviewed

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Elements of the Narrative

• Project Description
• Financial Need
• Cost/Benefit
• Operational Outcomes

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Composition and Grammar

• Sentence structure
• Avoid fragments and run-ons
• DO NOT CAPITALIZE THE NARRATIVE
• Be concise and clear
• Be yourself -- dont embellish
• Use spell and grammar check

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The Narrative

• Applicant Background Information
• Who are you?
• Where are you?
• What type of agency are you?
• What are your risks?
• What are your needs?

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Elements of the Project Description

• Details of the project (needs)- Paint a picture
• Details on the cost of the various elements of
  the project (budget)
• Itemize costs by activity

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Elements of the Project Description

• Can the project be completed within
• the Period of Performance?
• Where necessary, has management and/or labor
  agreed on the project?
• Does the local political leadership support your
  request?

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Elements of the Project Description

• What goals will be met?
• What Standards/Regulations will be met?
• (NFPA, OSHA, DOT, State or Local requirements)

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Elements of the Project Description

• Is your department trained to use the equipment
  you are proposing?
• Example Requesting ALS equipment when the
  department is First Responders only.

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Elements of Financial Need

• Justifying Federal assistance or, why does
  your
• fire department need the money?
• Provide info on how much funding you receive in a
  typical year and the sources
• Provide info on how much money you spend in a
  typical year and on what type of expenses
• Provide info about savings or reserves
• Explain community trends or changes (increases in
  responsibilities and/or population that affect
  finances)

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Elements of Cost/Benefit

• Frequency of use vs. cost
• Efficiency of operation
• Interoperability
• Regional approach
• Consequences of not receiving award

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Operational Outcomes

• How will the AFG grant enhance day-to-day fire
  department operations?
• How will the AFG grant enhance protection of
  lives and property?
• What are the measurable results?

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Review 4

• When should I conduct a risk assessment?
• What is the number one reason why applicants do
  not get funded?
• What are the four areas that must be addressed in
  your narrative?
• What are the five elements of cost/benefit?

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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response(SAFER)
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SAFER Grants

• FY2006 Appropriation provides 110 million to
  SAFER Grants
• 2 SAFER Activities
• Hiring new career firefighters
• Recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters

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SAFER Grants

• We will use existing AFG application review and
  award procedure
• Separate program guidance
• Application period is planned for June 2006
• Peer Review is scheduled for July 2006

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Fire Prevention and Firefighters Safety Research
and Development
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Fire Prevention and Firefighters Safety Research
and Development

• Guidance for
• Fire Prevention and Safety Program will be
  available late summer 2006 in advance of the
  application period.

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Fire Prevention and Firefighters Safety Research
and Development

• Examples of eligible projects
• Public education
• Code enforcement/awareness
• Arson prevention/awareness
• Sprinkler awareness
• Smoke alarm distribution
• Burn prevention

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Fire Prevention and Firefighters Safety Research
and Development

• Important elements to consider in your
  Application and Narrative Statement
• Support your request with data
• Define your fire prevention problem
• Create your plan for delivering or implementing
  your project
• Create a plan for evaluating your success

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Review 5

• The SAFER grant provides funding for?
• A separate Program Guidance will be published for
  SAFER and Fire Prevention grants. T or F
• Where do I get answers to my questions?
• What activities are eligible in a FP grant?

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For AFG Help

• www.firegrantsupport.com
• and
• Regional Fire Program Specialist
• and
• Help Desk at 866-274-0960
• and
• firegrants_at_dhs.gov

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Interested in Being a Panelist?

• Int. Assn of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
• Int. Assn of Firefighters (IAFF)
• National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
• National Fire Protection Assn (NFPA)
• National Assn of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)
• National Assn of Arson Investigators (NAFI)
• Int. Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
• North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD)
• Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI)

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AFG Success Stories

• Go to Fire Grant Websitehttp//www.firegrantsupp
  ort.com
• Click on AFG Success Stories

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Questions?
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Thank You