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Miscellaneous
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I'm planning to submit an application as a host for a regional project. When I answer the questions in the Department Characteristics section of the online application, do I use the statistics for the entire region that will be affected by the project, or do I use my department's local statistics? |
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I'm applying as the host for a regional project, but I also need some equipment for my own department. Can I submit a second application for my own department's needs? |
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The 2005 Program Guidance highlights "regional projects" whereby a county fire department acting as the host department could apply for a grant on behalf of all departments in its jurisdiction. According to the Guidance, the other benefiting departments may still apply for other needs as long as their applications did not duplicate the host applicant's request. But, the Program Guidance also states that a fire district may apply on behalf of the departments under its purview, or the individual departments may apply on their own, but not both. Isn't this contradictory? |
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It has been the AFG policy to allow up to 50 percent of the grant funds to be used for a down payment. Has that changed for this year's program? |
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Will preference be given to those who applied for fire grants last year and didn't receive them? |
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What are the requirements for matching funds? |
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Is funding available for construction? |
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Where can I find out more information regarding CBRNE preparedness training? |
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With the changing technology in communications, why are cell phones not allowed in the AFG Program? |
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If our department was contacted by the Program Office during the approval process and negotiated to a lower number of a particular item, but then after purchasing everything, had additional funds, can we purchase the original "pre-negotiated" number of items? |
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If I negotiated a lower number of a particular item – as in the above scenario where gear was reduced from 20 sets to 10 sets because, at the time of application, I only had 10 active members – can I buy more than the negotiated number of items or equipment for new members? |
I'm planning to submit an application as a host for a regional project. When I answer the questions in the Department Characteristics section of the online application, do I use the statistics for the entire region that will be affected by the project, or do I use my department's local statistics?
When applying as a host for a regional project, you should provide your department's statistics when responding to the Department Characteristics questions, but you should elaborate on the wider benefits in the narrative portion of your application.
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I'm applying as the host for a regional project, but I also need some equipment for my own department. Can I submit a second application for my own department's needs?
No, we only allow one application per eligible applicant, and the application for the regional project counts as the one application. A host applicant that wishes to apply for equipment for its own department may include those items as an addendum to the regional application. The host applicant should make sure to adequately address these items in the narrative separate from the narrative describing the regional project.
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The 2005 Program Guidance highlights "regional projects" whereby a county fire department acting as the host department could apply for a grant on behalf of all departments in its jurisdiction. According to the Guidance, the other benefiting departments may still apply for other needs as long as their applications did not duplicate the host applicant's request. But, the Program Guidance also states that a fire district may apply on behalf of the departments under its purview, or the individual departments may apply on their own, but not both. Isn't this contradictory?
Yes, it is contradictory, but we believe that interoperability is important; therefore, we will allow host departments to apply as well as the benefiting departments—as long as there is no duplication.
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It has been the AFG policy to allow up to 50 percent of the grant funds to be used for a down payment. Has that changed for this year's program?
Yes. To encourage better cash management practices, grantees may only request 25 percent for down payments.
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Will preference be given to those who applied for fire grants last year and didn't receive them?
No. This is a competitive grant program. We will view all applications independently. Applicants that best address the program's priorities and provide the best narrative explaining the project with the project's budget details, demonstrating financial need, showing the best cost-benefit, and showing the most significant outcomes will win out in a competitive process.
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What are the requirements for matching funds?
- Fire departments in areas serving populations over 50,000 must agree to match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 20 percent of the total project cost.
- Fire departments serving areas with a population between 20,001 and 50,000 (inclusive) will have to match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 10 percent of the total project cost.
- Fire departments service areas with a population of 20,000 or less must match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 5 percent of the total project cost.
- All cost-share contributions must be cash. No "in-kind" contributions will be considered for the statutorily required cost-share. No waivers of this requirement will be granted except for fire departments of Insular Areas as provided for in 48 U.S.C. 1469a.
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Is funding available for construction?
No. No grant funds may be used for construction of any kind. This includes site preparation for the placement of generators or the erection of a radio tower. We will not participate in any activity where the profile or the footprint of a structure will be changed. However, the costs of renovations to an existing facility are allowable if they support a grant activity or program and involve only the minor interior changes necessary to fulfilling their scope of work. Renovations are limited to $10,000.
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Where can I find out more information regarding CBRNE preparedness training?
DHS provides CBRNE training at the Awareness, Performance, and Planning and Management levels FREE OF CHARGE for eligible applicants. This training is listed in the ODP Course Catalog (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/coursecatalog.pdf) or may be obtained by calling the Helpline at 1-800-368-6498.
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With the changing technology in communications, why are cell phones not allowed in the AFG Program?
There are several issues with allowing cell phones in the grant program. Under traditional means, they are not normally used for emergency communications. They are considered an ancillary device that may assist a fire department member for personal communications, but it is not the primary means for emergency communications, especially at a fire scene. There is also the issue of multiyear use agreements for cell phones, which is at odds with the fact that the program has a performance period of one year.
The AFG Program will accept applications that include the 800 MHz trunked radio systems and wireless technologies in support of interoperability. As with all grant requests, the burden is on the applicant to provide justification for the cost-benefit of this type of request. If awarded, a technical review will be conducted to ensure the system requested meets the state and local interoperability requirements. The grant funds can be used to purchase the equipment but cannot be used to pay for the service contract or annual usage agreements.
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If our department was contacted by the Program Office during the approval process and negotiated to a lower number of a particular item, but then after purchasing everything, had additional funds, can we purchase the original "pre-negotiated" number of items?
No. If the program office negotiated a lower number of items, it was because the Program Office Subject Matter Specialists determined that the original request contained either excessive or duplicative equipment. Saving funds does not eliminate the rationale for the reduction in items. For example, a department with 10 active members sought 20 sets of turnout. The Program Office reduced the request to 10 because purchasing a second set of gear is a poor use of limited grant funds when so many other departments have unmet needs. If this department received quotes sufficient to purchase 20 sets of gear, we would only pay for 10, based on the negotiated agreement. The only exception to this situation would be the use of excess funds. Grantees are allowed discretion in their use of up to $5,000 in excess funds. See the Program Guidance for more details on the eligible uses of excess funds.
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If I negotiated a lower number of a particular item – as in the above scenario where gear was reduced from 20 sets to 10 sets because, at the time of application, I only had 10 active members – can I buy more than the negotiated number of items or equipment for new members?
Many applicants' situations change between the submittal of their application and the ultimate award. Unfortunately, we cannot take these changing conditions into consideration when making award decisions. We can only consider the information contained in the original proposal. If we allow one applicant to update their application to reflect current conditions, we would have to allow ALL applicants to do the same. So, in this scenario, we would only allow the grantee to purchase equipment for the number of members listed in their application. The only exception to this situation would be the use of excess funds. Grantees are allowed discretion in their use of up to $5,000 in excess funds. See the Program Guidance for more details on the eligible uses of excess funds.
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