FY_2019_FPS_NOFO_Final_4.17.2020_508AB.pdf

FY 2019 FP&S NOFO

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Notice of Funding Opportunity

FY 2019 Fire Prevention and Safety

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and/or are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), please take immediate action to obtain a DUNS Number, if applicable, and then to register immediately in SAM. It may take four weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov to recognize your information.

Information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM is available from Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO, subsection, Content and Form of Application Submission.

A. Program Description

Issued By Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

Assistance Listings Number (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number) 97.044

Assistance Listings Title (formerly CFDA Title)

Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S)

NOFO Number

DHS-19-GPD-044-000-98

Authorizing Authority for Program Section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-498, as amended) (15 U.S.C. § 2229)

Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-6)

Program Type New http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

Overview

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The FP&S grant program accomplishes this by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development. The FP&S Program represents one part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the 2018 DHS Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, the FP&S Program supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.

The 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan creates a shared vision for the field of emergency management and sets an ambitious, yet achievable, path forward to unify and further professionalize emergency management across the country.

The FP&S Program supports FEMA Strategic Goal #2: Ready the Nation for Catastrophic Disasters. We invite all of our stakeholders and partners to also adopt these priorities and join us in building a stronger agency and a more prepared and resilient nation.

According to the latest report to Congress by the U.S. Fire Administration, analysis of various fire trends during the past decades reveals remarkable progress in many aspects of the fire-related threats in the U.S. However, there remain several areas where additional efforts can reduce fire-related impacts. Homes built in or near WUI areas are increasing life and property risks as well as firefighting costs. During the past few years, WUI fires have destroyed entire communities; commercial, industrial and residential structures; and essential critical infrastructure in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and other states and tribal lands that experience an expanding WUI risk. This trend could be mitigated by state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions adopting the most current model building codes and requiring homeowner management of the immediate, physical environment and surrounding vegetation. These practices are known as Firewise mitigation concepts. Furthermore, the trend could be mitigated by advocating for public policy that clearly communicates the inherent risk of building in WUI areas, and the public cost of financing emergency response and fire suppression.

Residential fires remain the cause of approximately 80 percent of fire deaths each year.

While this number of residential fire deaths has reduced substantially since the creation of the USFA in 1974, the majority of these losses stem from the lack of the oldest and most reliable defensive technology: automatic fire sprinklers. Automatic fire sprinklers are commonplace in businesses and institutions but have not reached widespread use in all residential occupancies.

https://www.fema.gov/strategic-plan

Adoption of the most current model codes by local jurisdictions would lead to expanded use and more lives saved. Therefore, the 2019 FP&S Program will reward local jurisdictions that are proactively taking steps to adopt and enforce the most current codes by giving additional consideration (i.e., these jurisdictions will score higher) during the competitive review process. FEMA intends to build upon this structure in future NOFO’s.

In awarding these grants, the Administrator of FEMA is required to consider the following:

• The findings and recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP);

• The degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards; and

• The extent of an applicant’s need for an FP&S Grant and the need to protect the

United States as a whole.

FP&S Grants are offered to support projects in two activities:

• Fire Prevention and Safety Activity (FP&S): The FP&S Activity is designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death, injuries and property damage caused by fire and fire-related hazards. Accordingly, the five project categories eligible for funding under this activity are:

1. Community Risk Reduction;

2. Wildfire Risk Reduction;

3. Code Enforcement/Awareness;

4. Fire & Arson Investigation; and

5. National/State/Regional Programs and Studies.

• Firefighter Safety Research and Development (R&D) Activity: The R&D

Activity is aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries. The six project categories eligible for funding under this activity are:

1. Clinical Studies;

2. Technology and Product Development;

3. Database System Development;

4. Dissemination and Implementation Research;

5. Preliminary Studies; and

6. Early Career Investigator.

Objectives

The objectives of the FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program are for grantees to carry out fire prevention education and training, fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, prevention efforts, and research and development.

Program Priorities

For information on program priorities and objectives for the FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program, refer to Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for this program:

• FP&S Activity o Community Risk Reduction:

1. Decrease in fire incidents per 1,000 residents in target population

2. Decrease in fire deaths per 1,000 residents in target population

3. Percent of whole community population trained

4. Percent of target population trained

5. Local number of lives saved o Code Enforcement/Awareness:

1. Decrease in percentage of total fire losses occurring in inspectable occupancies

2. Decrease in structural fires per 1,000 residents of inspectable occupancies

3. Decrease in fire deaths per 1,000 residents of inspectable occupancies

4. Decrease in inspectable property structure fires with at least

$25,000 in loss o Fire and Arson Investigation:

1. Increase in percentage of fires where cause is determined

2. Increase in arson arrest and conviction rates o National/State/Regional Programs and Studies:

1. Number of firefighters trained

• R&D Activity (All Categories)

1. Number of Training Academies adopting training materials developed through FP&S Research (breakout by Career and Volunteer)

2. Number of firefighters trained with materials developed through FP&S Research (breakout by Career and Volunteer)

3. Industry standards influenced, changed, or added through FP&S Research

Data for these metrics will be collected throughout the life of the grant during reporting and closeout.

B. Federal Award Information

Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions

Available Funding for the NOFO: $35,000,000.001

Projected Number of Awards: 150

Period of Performance: 12 – 36 months. Extensions are permitted. For additional information on period of performance extensions, refer to Section H: Additional Information.

• FP&S Activity: The period of performance for projects funded under the FP&S

Activity is generally 12 months. Eligible applicants who propose complex projects, such as those under the National/Regional/State Programs and Studies project category, may apply for up to a 24-month period of performance from the date of award.

• R&D Activity: The period of performance for projects proposed under the R&D Activity is 12, 24, or 36 months from the date of award.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 07/01/2020

Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 06/30/2021-06/30/2023

Funding Instrument: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

The following entities are eligible to apply directly to FEMA under this NOFO:

1. Fire Prevention and Safety Activity (FP&S) Fire departments and national, regional, state, local, tribal and non-profit 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 an FP&S Grant Award under the FP&S Activity.

1 Note that this figure differs from the total amount appropriated under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-6. $350,000,000 is the total amount appropriated by Pub. L. No. 116-6 to meet the statutory requirements of § 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 2229). A portion of these “available grant funds” will be allocated to the Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) program, which will have a separate NOFO and application period. $35,000,000 will be allocated to FP&S for FY 2019.

2. Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity (R&D) National, state, local, federally recognized tribal, and non-profit 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. 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.

Eligibility Criteria

FP&S Grants are offered to support projects in two activities:

• Fire Prevention and Safety Activity: FP&S Projects are designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards.

• Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity: R&D Projects are aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries.

Each activity has its own application and eligibility requirements. These requirements are outlined in Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities.

Other Eligibility Criteria

National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) NFIRS reporting is not a requirement to apply for any FP&S Program; however, fire departments that receive funding under this program must agree to provide information to the NFIRS for the period covered by the assistance. If a recipient does not currently participate in the incident reporting system and does not have the capacity to report at the time of the award, that recipient must agree to provide information to the system for a twelve-month period commencing as soon as possible after they develop the capacity to report. Capacity to report to the NFIRS must be established prior to the termination of the performance period. The recipient may be asked by FEMA to provide proof of compliance in reporting to NFIRS. Any recipient that stops reporting to NFIRS during their grant’s period of performance may be subject to the remedies for noncompliance at 2 C.F.R. § 200.338, unless it has yet to develop the capacity to report to NFIRS, as described above.

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation FP&S Grant Program applicants are not required to comply with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to apply for funding under this NOFO or to be awarded a grant under this NOFO. However, any applicant that receives an FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program award must achieve the level of NIMS compliance required by the authority having command and control jurisdiction over the applicant’s emergency service https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system operations (e.g., a local government), prior to the end of the grant’s period of performance.

Maintenance of Effort

A maintenance of effort is required under this program for all recipients, unless modified by a waiver, subject to waiver eligibility. An applicant seeking an award under this NOFO shall agree to maintain during the term of the grant, the applicant’s aggregate expenditures relating to the activities allowable under this NOFO at not less than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant award is received. For more information on waiver eligibility, please see Appendix C – Award Administration Information, Section I.

Economic Hardship Waivers of Cost Share and Maintenance of Effort Requirements for the FP&S Grant Program for more information.

Cost Share or Match An eligible applicant seeking an FP&S Grant Program award 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. FEMA’s new grant application portal, FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) may be accessed at https://go.fema.gov. FEMA GO automatically calculates the cost share in the Budget section of the application.

All recipients should ensure that they are thoroughly familiar with FEMA’s cost sharing requirements identified below, as well as the appropriate cost principles as identified at 2 C.F.R. § 200.101(b)(1). The recipient is not required to have the cost share at the time of application. However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA may contact potential awardees to determine whether the recipient has the funding in hand or if the recipient has a viable plan to obtain the funding necessary to fulfill the cost sharing requirement.

Cost Share Calculator

FEMA provides a cost share calculator for use while developing an application. The Cost Share Calculator is available online at https://www.fema.gov/fire-prevention-safety-grants-documents.

Types of Cost Share

1) Cash Cost share match (cash or “hard match”), including non-federal cash spent for project-related costs.

2) In-Kind Cost share match (also known as “soft match” or non-cash) are allowable for FP&S grants. This includes using the values for the following in-kind contributions to meet the cost share requirement:

• Complementary activities (such as providing additional smoke alarms for installation or education materials for public education); and

• Provision of staff, facilities, services, material or equipment.

https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/fire-prevention-safety-grants-documents

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 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 recipient receiving the contributions expends them as allowable costs in compliance with provisions listed above.

Recipients who use in-kind contributions for their five percent cost share must comply with all applicable regulations and 2 C.F.R. Part 200 regarding matching or cost-sharing. Applicants who are under consideration for award and plan to use in-kind as their method for cost sharing will be asked to submit their plan for documenting and verifying in-kind contributions prior to award. Please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306, as applicable, for further guidance regarding cost matching.

For more information on 2 C.F.R. Part 200, please visit https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d0069c71db0a011854b3d1a2b5019133&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Titl e02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Economic Hardship Waivers The Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce cost share requirements in cases of demonstrated economic hardship. Please see Appendix C – Award Administration Information.

D. Application and Submission Information

Key Dates and Times Date Posted to Grants.gov: April 21, 2020 Application Start Date: April 27, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time Application Submission Deadline: May 29, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Anticipated Funding Selection Date: June 1, 2020 Anticipated Award Date: July 1, 2020

In general, DHS/FEMA will not review applications received after the deadline or consider them for funding. DHS/FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline at the request of an applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, or other exigent or emergency circumstances. If applicants experience technical issues, they must notify the AFG Help Desk as soon as possible. The AFG Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-274-0960 or by e-mail: firegrants@fema.dhs.gov. The AFG Help Desk is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d0069c71db0a011854b3d1a2b5019133&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d0069c71db0a011854b3d1a2b5019133&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d0069c71db0a011854b3d1a2b5019133&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d0069c71db0a011854b3d1a2b5019133&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl mailto:firegrants@fema.dhs.gov

Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Obtaining DUNS Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid EIN Eight weeks before actual submission deadline

Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Submitting complete application in FEMA GO One week before actual submission deadline

Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

Address to Request Application Package The online FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program application is available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program’s FEMA GO (FEMA Grant Outcomes) application portal at https://go.fema.gov.There are several ways to access application information:

• AFGP website (http://www.fema.gov/firegrants)

• Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)

• U.S. Fire Administration (http://www.usfa.fema.gov)

Hard copies of the application are not available. However, the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and/or Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) number available for this Notice is: (800) 462-7585.

FEMA will process applications through FEMA GO. Application tutorials and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) explain the current FP&S Grant Program, assist with the online grant application, and highlight lessons learned and changes for FY 2019.

For more details, please visit the AFGP website at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.

Content and Form of Application Submission DHS makes all funding opportunities available on the Internet, accessible at http://www.grants.gov. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, call the customer support hotline 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (except Federal holidays) at (800) 518- 4726 or e-mail at support@grants.gov.

The Grants.gov website will direct applicants to FEMA GO application portal at https://go.fema.gov, which contains the online FP&S application. All required forms have been incorporated into the online FP&S application.

FEMA GO will allow the applicant’s authorized representative(s) to log in and create their own account. This account is specific to the authorized user and must not be shared with other personnel. The FEMA GO account is separate from any previous accounts created in the eGrants system. Applicants can save, retrieve, update, and revise their work https://go.fema.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/firegrants http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/ http://www.fema.gov/firegrants http://www.grants.gov/ https://go.fema.gov/ through the end of the application period. The automated system does not allow applicants to submit incomplete applications. The system alerts applicants when required information has not been entered. Prior to final submission, an online application may be saved, retrieved or edited up to the application deadline.

Technological Note: FEMA GO is compatible with Internet Explorer (version 11 or higher), Firefox (version 73 or higher), or Chrome (version 80 or higher). Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using

FEMA GO.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

All applicants for this award must:

1. Be registered and active in SAM in order to apply;

2. Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and

3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by DHS.

DHS/FEMA may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DHS/FEMA is ready to make a federal award, DHS/FEMA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making the federal award to another applicant.

Electronic Delivery DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative that provides the grant communities a single site to find grant funding opportunities. Before applying for a DHS Grant, applicants must have a Data Universal Number System, or DUNS number, and must be registered and active in SAM.

DUNS

Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number can be found at the following Website:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

System for Award Management (SAM) Applicant registration in SAM is free. All applicants must be registered and active in order to apply online. Step-by-step instructions for registering with SAM can be found here: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html. Please remember that SAM registration is only active for one year and must be renewed annually.

Existing SAM.GOV account holders should check their account to make sure it is “ACTIVE.” SAM registration should be completed at the beginning of the application https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html period and renewed annually to avoid becoming "INACTIVE."

Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain a DUNS number and then to register in SAM. It may take four weeks or more after the applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, then an additional 24 hours for Grants.gov and FEMA GO to recognize the information.

FEMA may not make an award to an entity until the entity has complied with the requirements to provide a valid DUNS number and maintain an active SAM registration with current information. If the applicant is noncompliant with this requirement at the time of award offer, then FEMA may determine the applicant is not qualified to receive an award.

IMPORTANT: The SAM registration process must be completed by the applicant. It is imperative that the information provided by the applicant is correct and current. Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, DUNS number, and Employer Identification Number, or EIN, are up to date in SAM and that the DUNS number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. The organization’s name on the SF 1199A Direct Deposit Form must be entered as it appears in SAM. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

Help with SAM The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration (GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

How to Get a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code To get a CAGE code, applicants must first be registered in SAM, which is a requirement for doing business with the Federal Government. Applicants will be assigned a CAGE code as part of the SAM validation process, and as soon as the registration is active, applicants may view the CAGE code online by logging in to the SAM account.

Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission All applications must be received by 5/29/2020 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application. Applications received by FEMA GO after the established due date will not be considered for funding.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do

Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives your application. FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the application. The FEMA GO Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Do not do this – it may cause your application to fail to be submitted and consequently not be considered for funding. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

Intergovernmental Review An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372 (see https://www.archives.gov/Federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html; https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC- February-2019.pdf.).

Funding Restrictions Federal funds made available through this award may only be used for the purpose set forth in this award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award.

Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other federal grants/cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.

In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other government entity. Failure to adhere to the award conditions will cause the recipient to be considered in default of the grant agreement and may require the return of all federal funds disbursed under the grant.

Applicants may only submit one application but may submit 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. Applicants who request funding to conduct a risk assessment may not request funding for any additional projects under the FP&S Activity. For more information on restrictions on use of award funds, please see Appendix B – Ineligible Projects and Appendix C – Award Administration Information.

Construction or Remodeling/Renovation Costs Construction costs are not eligible under the FP&S Grant Program. Construction includes major alterations to a building that changes the profile or footprint of the structure. To support eligible awarded activities, remodeling/renovations to an existing facility are limited to minor interior alterations costing less than $10,000 and should be requested under Modification to Facilities. Some of these activities may require an Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review; certain costs associated with an EHP review are eligible for reimbursement.

Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance As a federal agency, DHS/FEMA is required to consider the effects of its actions on the environment and historic properties to ensure that all activities and programs funded by the agency, including grants-funded projects, comply with federal EHP regulations, https://www.archives.gov/Federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.archives.gov/Federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf laws, and Executive Orders as applicable.

Recipients proposing projects for DHS/FEMA funding that have the potential to impact the environment, including, but not limited to modification or renovation of existing buildings, structures, and facilities, must participate in the GPD EHP review process.

The GPD EHP review process involves the submission of a screening form that includes a detailed project description that explains the goals and objectives of the proposed project along with supporting documentation so that DHS/FEMA may determine whether the proposed project has the potential to impact environmental resources and/or historic properties. Recipients proposing projects that have the potential to impact the environment will be able to attach the screening form within the FEMA GO system as part of their grant application; in cases where recipients do not attach the screening form to their applications, completed screening forms can be submitted via email to GPDEHPInfo@fema.dhs.gov after the application has been submitted. In some cases, GPD also is required to consult with other regulatory agencies and the public in order to complete the review process. The EHP review process must be completed before funds are released to carry out the proposed project.

DHS/FEMA GPD may not fund projects that are initiated without the required EHP review.

Additionally, all recipients are required to comply with GPD EHP Policy Guidance.

GPD EHP Policy Guidance can be found in FEMA Policy (FP) 108-023-1, Grants Programs Directorate Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Policy Guidance.

FP&S Grant Program projects that involve the installation of equipment not specifically excluded from a FEMA EHP Review, per the GPD Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), such as ground-disturbing activities, or modification/renovation of existing buildings or structures, must undergo a FEMA EHP Review.

No facilities modification or renovation projects can proceed, with the exception of project planning, prior to formal FEMA approval. Funds for activities that do not require an EHP Review may be requested by the recipient. The following activities would not require the submission of the GPD EHP Screening Form:

• Planning and development of policies or processes

• Management, administrative, or personnel actions

• Classroom-based training

• Acquisition of mobile and portable equipment (not involving installation) on or in a building

Pre-Award Costs Only costs incurred during the period of performance are allowable. However, recipients may request to be reimbursed for grant writer fees (see Appendix C – Award Administration Information, Section II. Grant Writer/Preparation Fees; see also Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities).

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85376

Award Limits Applications and awards under the FP&S Grant Program are limited to a maximum federal share of $1.5 million. 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.

Management and Administration (M&A) Costs Management and administrative (M&A) expenses are not operational costs but are necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of it. As such, these costs can be itemized in financial reports. M&A expenses should be based only on actual expenses or known contractual costs; requests that are simple percentages of the award, without supporting justification, will not be allowed or considered for reimbursement. Salaries and fringe benefits for personnel directly supporting the grant are not required to be included in the M&A budget line item. No more than 3 percent of the federal share of FP&S funds awarded may be expended by the recipient for M&A associated with the FP&S award.

Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs Indirect F&A costs are those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective. These costs are not readily assignable to the costs objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved.

Indirect costs are allowable under this program as described in 2 C.F.R. pt. 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414.

Applicants with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R. pt. 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. pt. 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application. Copies of the indirect cost rate agreements or proposals, along with the AFG application number, must be submitted electronically to FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov. Post-award requests to charge indirect costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based upon the submission of an agreement or proposal as discussed above.

Indirect costs will be evaluated as part of the application for federal funds and must be included as a line item in the Request Details section of the application, to determine if they are allowable, reasonable, or disproportionally impact an application’s cost benefit.

Multiple Projects Eligible applicants (identified by unique federal tax identification numbers) may only submit one application. Applicants may submit an application for up to three projects under each activity (FP&S and R&D). Applicants applying for funding under both the FP&S and R&D Activities must do so within the same application. Each project within an application must be presented separately as a free-standing proposal. Any applicant that submits more than one application may have all applications deemed ineligible. Risk mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov assessments are eligible for funding under the FP&S Activity; however, if selected as an activity project, no other projects may be eligible for funding under the FP&S Activity in the 2019 FP&S Grant Application year.

Example 1 A community has a strategic goal of reducing the number of fires caused by the use of barbecue grills on the balconies of apartments. Attainment of this goal will be supported through two projects.

The applicant plans to:

• Launch a public education project

• Strengthen code enforcement activities

Although both projects aim to reach the same goal, the projects are independent of one another and will be funded as such. Therefore, the public education items would be listed as one supporting project and the code enforcement items listed as the second supporting project.

Although both projects will be included in one application, the projects must be independent in that the completion of one project, or any tasks within that project, does not depend on the funding of the other project. Each project requires its own separate supporting budget and Narrative Statement explaining how accomplishing these independent projects will help achieve the overall goal.

Example 2 A community or organization may have more than one strategic goal depending on its audience or risk. For example, a national organization may have a goal to reduce firefighter fatalities through a national outreach project. It may also have a goal studying the effectiveness of public education messages. The organization would create one project for firefighter safety initiatives and a second project for national public education efforts.

E. Application Review Information

Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating applications submitted under this NOFO are established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria Development Panel, as well as applicable laws and regulations. Each year, FEMA convenes a panel of fire service professionals to develop funding priorities for the FP&S Grant Program. The panel makes recommendations about funding priorities as well as developing criteria for awarding grants.

The nine fire service organizations represented on the panel are:

• International Association of Fire Chiefs

• International Association of Fire Fighters

• National Volunteer Fire Council

• National Fire Protection Association

• National Association of State Fire Marshals

• International Association of Arson Investigators

• International Society of Fire Service Instructors

• North American Fire Training Directors

• Congressional Fire Service Institute

The Criteria Development Panel is charged with making recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation or modification of previously established funding priorities as well as developing criteria for awarding grants. The content of this NOFO reflects implementation of the Criteria Development Panel’s recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction, and criteria for awards.

i) Application Evaluation Criteria Prior to making a federal award, the federal awarding agency is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3321 note, 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 to review information available through any OMB-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.

1) Supplemental Financial Integrity Review

Prior to making a federal award where the anticipated federal share of a federal award will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000 (see Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-91, OMB Memorandum M-18-18 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf; see also FEMA Information Bulletin No. 434, Increases and Changes to the Micro- Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds):

• DHS/FEMA is required to review and consider any information about the applicant in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM), which is currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) and is also accessible through the SAM website.

• An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered.

• DHS/FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants, as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-18-18.pdf

ii) Review and Selection Process All applications submitted under this NOFO are competitively scored by no less than three members of the Peer Panel. Applications will also be evaluated through a series of internal FEMA review processes for completeness, adherence to programmatic guidelines, technical feasibility, costs/quantities, and anticipated effectiveness of the proposed project(s). The process by which applications will be reviewed is outlined below:

1) Peer Review Panels

i. Peer Review Panel Process – Fire Prevention and Safety Activity Projects All FP&S activity applications will be evaluated by a peer review process. A panel of peer reviewers is comprised of fire service representatives recommended by the CDP. These peer reviewers will assess the merits of each project application with respect to the detail provided in the Narrative Statement on the activity, including the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative Evaluation Criteria below.

The panel will independently score each project within the application, discuss the merits or shortcomings of the application, and document the findings. A consensus is not required.

ii. Peer Review Panel Process – Research and Development Activity

Projects The peer review process is comprised of a Fire Service Panel Review and a Science Panel Review.

Fire Service Panel Review All eligible project applications will first be reviewed and scored 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. The projects that are determined most 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 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. A consensus is not required.

Science Panel Review Scientific reviewers will independently score projects in the competitive range and, if necessary, discuss the merits or shortcomings of the project in order to reconcile any major discrepancies identified by fellow reviewers. A consensus is not required.

2) Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) 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. Additionally, FEMA will review whether the project duplicates other federally funded research or prevention activities in order to avoid duplication.

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.

3) Narrative Evaluation Criteria All complete and eligible applications are evaluated relative to FP&S Grant Program funding priorities (see information on the funding priorities in Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities, Section III. Funding Priorities).

The Narrative Statement of the application must provide specific details about the activity for which applicants seek funding, including budget details. The weighted evaluation criteria used by the peer reviewers in the determination of the grant award, as described below, make up the elements of the Narrative. The FEMA GO system includes a time out feature. If no browser activity is detected for a period of time, you will be logged out of the system. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants type the Narrative Statement information offline using a word processing program to avoid being logged out of the system. Once the Narrative Statement is complete, applicants can then cut-and-paste the text into the appropriate sections within the Narrative Statement section of the online application.

Please note the Narrative Statement blocks do not allow for formatting. Do not type the Narrative Statement using only capital letters. Additionally, do not include tables, special fonts (e.g., quotation marks, bullets), or graphs. Space for the Narrative Statement is limited. While each element must have a minimum of 200 characters, the maximum amount of characters varies based on the questions being asked. Once the Narrative Statement is saved to the online application, log-out and then log back in to the application to verify that the information was successfully saved.

Fire Departments and Interest Organizations are assigned differing weights for each scored element. Peer Review Panelists will evaluate and score each activity based on the following narrative elements within each activity:

i. Evaluation Criteria for Projects - Fire Prevention and Safety Activity

• Financial Need (Departments-10%, Interest Organizations-0%): Applicants must provide details in the Applicant Information section of the application on the need for financial assistance to carry out the proposed project(s). Applicants may include other unsuccessful attempts to acquire financial assistance. Applicants should: provide detail about the applicant’s operating budget, including a high-level breakdown of the budget; describe the applicant’s inability to address financial needs without federal assistance; and discuss other actions the applicant has taken to meet their needs (e.g., state assistance programs or other grant programs). While interest organizations do not receive points for their financial need, they must provide all details listed above in their application regarding their financial need to be considered for funding.

• Vulnerability Statement (Departments-20%, Interest Organizations-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. The Vulnerability Statement should include a description of the steps taken to determine the vulnerability and identify the target audience. The methodology for determination of vulnerability (i.e., how the vulnerability was found) should be discussed in-depth in the application’s Narrative Statement.

o Fire Department applicants: note that 5% of the available 20% for this narrative element will be provided to those applicants that can demonstrate their commitment and proactive posture to reducing fire risk. Applicants must explain their code adoption and enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface and commercial/residential sprinkler code adoption and enforcement) and mitigation strategies (including whether or not the jurisdiction has a FEMA-approved mitigation strategy) to receive the full 20%. Also, note that departments can demonstrate their commitment to reducing fire risk by applying to implement fire mitigation strategies (code adoption and enforcement) via this application.

o The specific vulnerability 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.

o In a clear, to-the-point statement, the applicant should summarize the vulnerability the project will address, including who is at risk, what the risks are, where the risks are, and how the risks can be prevented, reduced, or mitigated.

o For the purpose of the FY 2019 FP&S NOFO, formal risk assessments consist of the use of software programs or recognized expert analysis that assess risk trends.

o Informal…