2007 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (AFGP)

Main Menu is below the News Flash statements.

• 3-20-2008 News Flash AFG FAQ on the Training Question
•  
   FAQ: I understand that the 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants
  emphasizes training. Since our department is not 100% trained to NFPA
  1001, are we eligible to receive an award for FY2008?
  
  Yes, you are still eligible to receive an award. Even though the FY2008
  AFG Program Guidance states that there is an emphasis on the importance
  of training in 2008 with respect to fire departments, AFG is aware that
  not all departments are 100% fully trained to NFPA 1001 or an equivalent
  State standard. The goal is to get closer to 100%. In fact, the
  program is designed to achieve that goal because AFG can support
  virtually all costs associated with training.
  
  In the FY2008 application, a department will be asked if its members are
  trained to NFPA 1001 or equivalent. If the department replies "No", the
  department will be asked if they are seeking funding for training in
  their grant application. If the department replies "No" again, then the
  applicant is prompted to explain their training program and priorities
  in the Narrative section of their application.
  
  The questions are not meant to weed out departments that lack training
  as there are any number of reasons for a dept to be less than 100% fully
  trained to NFPA 1001. The questions are meant as a prompt to get the
  applicant to think about where they are and again where they should be.

• News Flash  2008 Training - printable copy

  Emphasis on Training as of Saturday, March 01, 2008 5:20 PM
  

• 1*. Are all of your active firefighters trained to NFPA 1001 or equivalent (Firefighter I/Firefighter II, or essentials)?	Yes No
  If not, will you be asking for training funds for this purpose with this application or will you obtain the appropriate training through other sources (if not, please address this training issue in your narrative)?	Yes No

• Question for public distribution FAQ
  

• Page 1 of the PGD (program guidance document)

The criteria development panel recommended that the AFG emphasize the importance of training in the FY 2008 program. As such, the FY 2008 application will contain questions regarding the applicant’s training certification level and interest in attaining higher levels of proficiency. The answers will not affect the preliminary screening of any application, but they will be available for consideration by the technical review panelists in their evaluation. We anticipate that the technical review panelists will not recommend awarding grants for applications where membership is not fully trained (commensurate with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 or an equivalent State standard) and where the applicant is not seeking funding to attain a minimum level of training for their membership.

• Page 24 Last paragraph of the PGD (program guidance document)

  We anticipate that applicants whose membership is not fully trained (commensurate with NFPA 1001 or an equivalent State standard) and not seeking funding to attain a minimum level of training for their membership, will not score well enough during the peer review to be funded.

  Questions;
  

• 1.)    What version of the NFPA 1001 are you holding firefighters to? 

  We would like all FFs trained to the current version of NFPA 1001.  If a FF was trained at some point in the past, and that training was (at the time) consistent with NFPA we’ll accept it as long as the FF has continued to train and this continued training has also been consistent with more recent versions NFPA 1001.

  2.)    If a person has taken a training program like ten years ago and also has maintained department training since then that met an earlier version of NFPA 1001 is that acceptable.

  If the department’s training is “current” (has grown to reflect most recent NFPA requirements), we’re good.

  3.)    What's is the definition of "membership" in regards to numbers, 100 %  50%, 25% or as you mentioned on the phone, at least one person?

  We’re only concerned about “active FFs”.  If they are riding or expected to ride or you plan on relying on their riding, they count.

   

• 2008 Funding Increased AFG program funding is $560 million ($547 million in 2007) and SAFER funding is $190 million ($115 million in 2007).
• Legislation Affecting the AFG Program
  

2007 AFG 4th Round Denial Letters Are Out

• 1st Round MN = 233 applications
  
• 2nd Round MN =  40 applications
• 3rd Round MN =   53 applications
• 4th Round MN =   62 applications Final
•    388 applications turned down
•    182 awards
•    570
  
• 
  
•    574 applications submitted
  
•  - 570 from above
  
•        4 MN applications yet to be awarded
  

2008 MN AFG Workshops Scheduled

• 1199a form update request and 10 question email pre award notice - click here to see what they look like.
  

• Wondering about low bid and the AFG program?  Click here.

Help Desk: 1-866-274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov

AFG, FP&S and SAFER Update

• There's less than 30 more grants to announce nationwide.  Those may takes several weeks, so no telling how many rounds are left.  The AFG don't have a quota or an allotment of "rounds" -- it's merely a factor of the speed in which the grants mgt folks can process the work.
  
• I think FP&S awards will start before the end of the month.
• SAFER turndowns will go out before the end of the month as well.

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MAIN MENU

1. AFGP 2007 Awards to Minnesota Fire Departments - Click here
2. 1199a and email questions
   
3. 2008 Workshop Locations
4. 2008 Workshop Notes, Handouts and Guidance Document
5. Laws, standards, 3rd party gap analysis and statistical data needed for your application
6. NFPA Standards List
   
7. Federal requirements for vehicles and radios needed for your application
8. MN Statewide Radio Board
9. Screen shots from the online application
10. Critical Infrastructure Counties
11. Narrative tips and samples
12. Grant writers and general grant writing tips
13. The panel review process and scoring
14. Information from past years
15. The team that makes it happen and writes the AFG program
16. AFGP 2006 Awards to Minnesota Fire Departments - Click here
17. AFGP 2007 Awards to Minnesota Fire Departments - Click here
18. Comprehensive Driver Program
19. How Long Should It take To Sign An Apparatus Contract?
20. Legislation Affecting the AFG Program

Minnesota Help

Warren Jorgenson     320-894-5071    wrjorgen@tds.net

Bruce Roed                  218-686-7233    broed@gvtel.com

AFG Help Desk 1-866-274-0960

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Comprehensive Driver Program - Information on how to comply.
The Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program requires a comprehensive driver training program if you are awarded a vehicle. This document will provide guidance as how you can comply.

2008 Workshop Notes and Handouts

• 2008 AFG Online Application
  
• 2008 Program Guidance Document
  
• 2008 Workshop Presentation (PDF File: 1.5 MB)
  This presentation is the basis for the AFG workshops being conducted over the next few weeks throughout the country.
• 2008 AFGP FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
• 2008 AFGP PowerPoint File - MFSN Site (same as above)
• 2008 AFGP PowerPoint File - Powerpoint File (1.6meg)
  
• 
• 2008 AFGP Glossary of Terms

• 2008 Tutorial - Click here
  
• Click here - Get your question answered directly by AFGP staff
• FIREGRANTS@DHS.GOV

• Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program -- Final Rule (published in 2003) (PDF Document - 248K)

General Information Needed For 2008 Application

Standards and Laws

• General Duty Clause (Minnesota Statute 182.653 Subd. 2)  - Click here
• MN Law Requiring Two Apparatuses 069.11Sub(4) f. - Click here
• NOTE: This law pertains to qualifying for state aid.
  

• NIOSH, ANSI and MN-OSHA Laws - Click here
• OSHA Standards Minnesota OSHA Rules,  Minnesota OSHA Statutes
• NIOSH CBRNE SCBA Approved Respirators - Click here

• Insurance Service Organization (ISO) - Click here
• League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust LMCIT - Trends in Firefighter Injuries Report  - The following is a summary of findings from a recent LMCIT study of firefighter injuries in Minnesota. LMCIT is still considering options for publishing a full report and possible injury prevention techniques. More information on the study will be presented at LMCIT's annual loss control workshops, located around the state in March and April (there's a fire track as part of the workshops this year). Registration is open at www.lmnc.org. Questions on the study or findings can be directed to Ann Gergen, LMCIT Associate Administrator, at 651-281-1291 or agergen@lmnc.org.

• LMCIT’s firefighter injury evaluation includes data from 290 lost-time firefighter work comp claims from injuries that occurred between 2002 and 2006, excluding high-cost claims exceeding $50,000 (there are so few of these claims and the dollar amount is so great, including them would skew the findings).  Claims included in this analysis had a total incurred value of approximately $10.1 million.  Previous LMCIT research showed no significant differences in injuries based on firefighter status as full-time, paid-on-call, or volunteer.  Costs and claims from all firefighters have been combined for purposes of our analyses.

• List of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards - Click here

• NFPA 1901 Ch 5 Minimum equipment on engines/pumpers - Click here
• NFPA 1901 Ch 9 Minimum equipment on quints - Click here
• NFPA 1901 Ch 7 Minimum equipment on tenders - Click here
• NFPA 1901 Ch 8 Minimum equipment on aerials - Click here

• NFPA 1906 Ch   5 Vehicle requirements for wildland vehicles - Click here
• NFPA 1906 Ch 10 Minimum equipment on wildland vehicles - Click here

• NFPA has made all of their standards available on-line (with or without NFPA membership). You can view the standard(s) but you cannot print, download, or "cut & paste" the language.  Here is how it works: Go to:http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp
  Select the document you want to review.  Scroll down to the heading "Additional information about this document" and click on the link "Preview this document".
  Click on "I agree".

Federal Requirements

• Responder Knowledge Base - Click here
• EMS Vehicle Standards Requirements must meet the GSA KKK-A-1822E standard.
• SAFETEA-LU, the federal highway plan.
  
• The SAFECOM grant guidance materials are available in their entirety on the SAFECOM website (http://www.safecomprogram.gov) in the electronic library.  They can also be accessed through DHS Information Bulletin #113, posted at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/bulletins.htm drawing links between AFG and other G&T Programs.

• Statewide Radio Coordination Board and Plan - Click here

Application Screens

• On Line Application Web Site - Click here
  
• Get a D&B D-U-N-S Number  - Click here
• Your Fire Departments Identification Number  FDID Number
• Your Fire Departments Identification Number (FDID is the same as NFIRS)  FDID Number

Narrative Tips

• AFG Narrative Samples MN Winners - Click here
• 
  
• For Specific Tips To Match Questions (Important) - Click here
• 
  
• Sample Winning Narratives From The Idea Bank - Click here
• 
  
• SAFER Narrative Tips - Click here

Grant Writers and Grant Writing

• Grant Writers Specializing in the AFG Program

• General Information on Grant Writing - Click here

The Panel Review Process

• The panel review process - Grant Process is Competitive

• Specific Information Used For Past Applications
  

• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2006
• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2005
• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2004
• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2003
• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2002
• Fire Act Grant News and Info - 2001

• The person who makes it all work and his team.

• Tom Harrington
• Historic Awards Data
  

We recognize that normal build times for custom/semi-custom fire apparatus is 270 to 360 days depending on the type of vehicle and the various specifications included in the vehicle. 

We also recognize that the Federal government requires open and fair competition which can take 30 to 60 days.  Given these two ‘givens’, it is not always possible to have a vehicle purchased and delivered within the 12-month performance period provided with the grants.  BUT, there is very little excuse for not completing the project within 15 months. 

We are willing to work with grantees that need the extra three months IF the grantee does everything in their power to assure that the project is completed in the most expeditious manner. 

We see no reason why a vehicle grantee couldn’t meet the following schedule:  develop specs and advertise their purchase within the first 30 days of the performance period; receive and evaluate bid proposals within 60 days; and, sign a contract for purchase within 90 days.

In the past, we’ve heard the excuses like, “We’ve never had the opportunity to buy a new vehicle before, so we wanted to make sure the vehicle meets all of our needs.”  But wrestling over the placement of the chrome bell shouldn’t take the entire 12-month performance period. 

All awards are made on the premise of urgency, i.e., based on claims that if the applicant doesn’t replace this vehicle immediately, lives will be lost. 

If a grantee has the luxury of delaying action on their vehicle award, then we believe we have reasonable doubt about any statements in their application regarding the urgency.    

If a grantee doesn’t get a signed contract within 90 days, they should hope that their build time is relatively short. 

Currently, grantees that seek extensions to their period of performance when little or nothing has been done during the original POP are being denied and the grantee is being instructed to find a commercial vehicle that fits their scope of work.

Money for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants will be available again next year as the Fiscal Year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill heads to President Bush's desk for signing.

The money is part of the Department of Homeland Security funding section and is slightly more then last year. AFG program funding is $560 million ($547 million in 2007) and SAFER funding is $190 million ($115 million in 2007).

Grant administrator Brian Cowan said the rule written to govern applications will be much like last year's adding that discussions with fire service officials suggested a greater interest in fire prevention and safety. Normally five percent of the AFG funds are set aside for specific FP&S grants but that might increase this year.

Otherwise, Cowan said, the timeline for the programs will be much like previous years. In February workshops for AFG applicants will be held around the country. Applications will be taken in March and peer review from April into May. Look for the first awards to come out in mid June. The final 2007 grants should awarded toward the end of January, 2008

It is expected that SAFER program application submissions for 2008 will begin sometime in June. SAFER grants for 2007 have not yet been awarded but are expected to start soon and be finished toward the end of February, 2008.

The 2008 Fire Prevention and Safety grant applications will be taken beginning sometime in September, 2008. FP&S 2007 applications have not yet been through peer review but that is set to happen toward the end of January. Schedule for awards has not been set.

DHS Funding: The bill includes the following funding levels:

$ In Millions

AFG Program Information

SAFER Program Information

Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

February 5, 2007, 11: 40 am 

Today, the President's Budget request for FY 2008 was released. The information below is based on the budget documents released this morning by the Office of Management and Budget, particularly the Budget Appendix.  

You will notice large reductions in the funds for the Firefighter grants.

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