FY 24 FPS NOFO Final _ Clean_508-ed (1).pdf

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program

Fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and other criminal or noncriminal misconduct related to this program may be reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline. The toll-free numbers to call are 1 (800) 323-8603 and TTY 1 (844) 889-4357.

Contents

1. Basic Information A. Agency Name B. NOFO Title C. Announcement Type D. Funding Opportunity Number E. Assistance Listing Number F. Expected Total Funding G. Anticipated Number of Awards H. Expected Award Range I. Projected Application Start Date J. Projected Application End Date K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date L. Anticipated Award Date M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date N. Projected Period of Performance End Date O. Executive Summary P. Agency Contact

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types B. Project Type Eligibility C. Requirements for Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties D. Maximum Number of Applications E. Additional Restrictions F. References for Eligibility Factors within the NOFO G. Cost Sharing Requirement H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

3. Program Description A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History B. Goals and Objectives C. Program Rationale D. Federal Assistance Type E. Performance Measures and Targets

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F. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs G. General Funding Requirements H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) I. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs J. Pre-Award Costs K. Beneficiary Eligibility L. Participant Eligibility M. Authorizing Authority N. Appropriation Authority O. Budget Period P. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services

4. Application Contents and Format A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers B. Application Content and Format C. Application Components D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines A. Address to Request Application Package B. Application Deadline C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline E. Effects of Missing the Deadline

6. Intergovernmental Review A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

7. Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria B. Application Criteria C. Financial Integrity Criteria D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review E. Reviewers and Reviewer Selection F. Merit Review Process G. Final Selection

8. Award Notices A. Notice of Award B. Pass-Through Requirements C. Note Regarding Pre-Award Costs D. Obligation of Funds E. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants

9. Post-Award Requirements and Administration A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions C. Financial Reporting Requirements D. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements E. Closeout Reporting Requirements

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F. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. § 180.335 G. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance H. Single Audit Report I. Monitoring and Oversight J. Program Evaluation K. Additional Performance Reporting Requirements

10. Other Information A. Period of Performance Extension B. Other Information

11. Appendix A – FY 2024 FP&S Program Updates

12. Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities A. Supporting Definitions for this NOFO B. Funding Priorities

13. Appendix C – Award Administration Information A. Help FEMA Prevent Fraud, Waste, and Abuse B. Grant Writer/Preparation Fees C. Maintenance and Sustainment D. Taxes, Fees, Levies, and Assessments E. Excess Funds F. Payments and Amendments G. Disposition of Grant Funded Equipment

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1. Basic Information

A. Agency Name U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA)

B. NOFO Title Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program

C. Announcement

Type

Initial

D. Funding

Opportunity Number

DHS-24-GPD-044-00-97

E. Assistance Listing

Number

97.151

F. Expected Total

Funding

$32,400,000

G. Anticipated

Number of Awards

100 awards

H. Expected Award

Range

The total amount of funding a recipient may receive under an FP&S

Program award is limited to a maximum federal share of $1.5 million set by § 33(d)(2) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of

1974, Pub. L. 93-498, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 2229(d)(2)).

R&D Activity applicants applying under the Early Career Investigator category are limited to a maximum federal share of $600,000 per project.

I. Projected

Application Start

Date

05/23/2025 08:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)

J. Projected

Application End Date

07/03/2025 05:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

K. Anticipated

Funding Selection

Date

No later than Aug 18, 2025

L. Anticipated

Award Date

Beginning on approximately Aug 18, 2025, and continuing thereafter until all FY 2024 FP&S Program grant awards are issued (but no later than September 30, 2025).

Nancy Khalil Cross-Out

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M. Projected Period of Performance Start

Date

Aug 18, 2025 (will vary based on award date and activity type)

The period of performance may be 12-48 months.

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 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 will be 12, 24, 36 or 48 months from the date of award.

N. Projected Period of Performance End

Date

08/18/2026 – 08/18/2029 (will vary based on award date and activity type)

O. Executive

Summary

The focus of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety

(FP&S) Grant Program (hereafter referred to as the FP&S Program) is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The FP&S Program provides grants directly to eligible entities for fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety research and development.

P. Agency Contact a. Program Office Contact

The FP&S Program Help Desk provides technical assistance to applicants for the online completion and submission of applications into FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO), answers questions concerning applicant eligibility, recipient responsibilities, and helps in the programmatic administration of awards. The FP&S Program Help

Desk can be contacted at (866) 274-0960 or by email at

FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET.

Guidance documents such as application tutorials, Self-Evaluation

Guides, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are also provided to further explain the current SAFER Program, assist with the online grant application, and highlight lessons learned and changes for FY

2024. For more details, please visit the FP&S Program website.

b. FEMA Grants News

This channel provides general information on all FEMA grant programs and maintains a comprehensive database containing key personnel contact information at the federal, state, and local levels.

FEMA Grants News Team is reachable at fema-grants-mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov

6 | P a g e FEMA Version 25-02 news@fema.dhs.gov. or (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.

c. Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Award Administration

Division

GPD’s Award Administration Division (AAD) provides support regarding financial matters and budgetary technical assistance. AAD can be contacted at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov

d. FEMA Regional Offices

Assistance to Firefighters Grants Regional Contacts also may provide fiscal support, including pre- and post-award administration and technical assistance. Assistance to Firefighters Grants Regional

Contacts are available at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/regional-contacts.

e. Civil Rights

The FEMA Office of Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement of federal civil rights obligations in connection with programs and services conducted by FEMA. They are reachable at FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov.

f. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

The FEMA Office of Environmental Planning and Historic

Preservation (OEHP) provides guidance and information about the

EHP review process to FEMA programs and recipients and subrecipients. Send any inquiries regarding compliance for FEMA grant projects under this NOFO to FEMA-OEHP-

NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov.

g. Payment and Reporting System

FEMA uses the Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) method of payment to recipients. Payment requests are submitted through FEMA GO.

h. FEMA GO

For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the

FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov. or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET.

mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/regional-contacts https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/regional-contacts mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov

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2. Eligibility

A. Eligible

Entities/Entity Types

Only the following entities or entity types are eligible to apply.

a. Applicants

FP&S Activity

Fire departments operating in any of the 50 states, as well as fire departments in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American

Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico1, or any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization. A fire department is an agency or organization having a formally recognized arrangement with a state, local, tribal, or territorial authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town, or other governing body) to provide fire suppression to a population within a geographically fixed primary first due response area. National, regional, state, local, Tribal Nation and nonprofit interest organizations that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities are eligible applicants.

Both private and public nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under this activity.

R&D Activity

National, state, local, federally recognized Tribal Nation and non-profit organizations, such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, 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 this Activity.

Each activity has its own application and eligibility requirements, as further outlined in Appendix B – Programmatic Information and

Priorities of this NOFO.

b. Subapplicants

Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed.

1 The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are all defined as “States” in the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. See 15 U.S.C. § 2203(10).

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B. Project Type

Eligibility

Applicants and recipients should actively coordinate and collaborate with their local and state authorities to help ensure and prioritize the commitment of future non-federal investments in order to sustain staffing capabilities once an award’s period of performance ends.

a. Unallowable Project Types

Please see Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities of this NOFO for additional information on unallowable project types.

b. Allowable Project Types

FP&S Activity

The FP&S Activity is designed to reach high-risk target groups 2and mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards. The five project categories eligible for funding under this activity are:

1. Community Risk Reduction;

2. Wildfire Risk Reduction;

3. Code Enforcement/Awareness;

4. Origin and Cause Investigation; and

5. National/State/Regional Programs and Projects.

R&D Activity

The R&D Activity is aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or well-being through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries. The four project categories eligible for funding under this activity are:

1. Clinical Studies;

2. Technology and Product Development;

3. Preliminary Studies; and

4. Early Career Investigator.

C. Requirements for

Personnel, Partners, and Other Parties

An application submitted by an otherwise eligible non-federal entity

(i.e., the applicant) may be deemed ineligible when the person that submitted the application is not: 1) a current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the non-federal entity; and 2) duly authorized to apply for an award on behalf of the non-federal entity at the time of application.

2 Per 15 U.S. Code § 2229(j)(3)(A) FEMA shall give priority to applicants who focus on prevention of injuries to high-risk groups from fire. Applicants may choose the following options within the application to include children under 14, adults over 65, firefighters, people with disabilities (e.g., deaf/hard-of hearing), college/university housing, low-income families/neighborhoods, geographic area and/or other populations.

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Further, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be a duly authorized current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application and upon any change in assignment during the period of performance. Consultants or contractors of the recipient are not permitted to be the AOR of the recipient.

Federal employees are prohibited from serving in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on the development of any proposal submitted under this program.

D. Maximum

Number of

Applications

The maximum number of applications that can be submitted is:

1. One application per eligible entity, per activity (up to one application under the FP&S Activity and up to one application under the R&D Activity)

Each application may include up to three projects. Each project within an application must be presented separately as a free-standing proposal. Each project requires its own separate supporting budget and narrative statement.

If an applicant submits two or more applications for the same activity, both applications may be disqualified.

• This is different from when an entity is applying on behalf of other organizations that are agencies or instrumentalities of the applicant (e.g., multiple fire departments under the same county, city, borough, parish, or other municipality)

• In that situation, the applicant may request similar or the same costs as long as the application clearly states which costs

(including quantities) are for which agency/instrumentality

• This is permissible even if that entity submits multiple applications across regional versus direct applications

E. Additional

Restrictions

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

FP&S Program applicants are not required to comply with NIMS to apply for FP&S Program funding or to receive an FP&S Program award. Any applicant who receives a FY 2024 FP&S Program award must achieve the level of NIMS compliance required by the Authority

Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) over the applicant’s emergency service operations (e.g., a local government) before the end of the grant’s performance period.

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 https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims

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Note: Reporting to other sources, (E.g., National Fire Operations

Reporting System [NFORS]) does not satisfy the requirement for reporting to NFIRS.

F. References for

Eligibility Factors within the NOFO

Please see the following references provided below:

1. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

2. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

3. Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities

G. Cost Sharing

Requirement

Applicants selected for this award must agree to an acceptable cost share agreement. Otherwise, they will not be funded.

H. Cost Share

Description, Type and Restrictions

Recipient cost sharing is generally required as described below and under 15 U.S.C.§ 2229(k)(1). In general, eligible applicants shall agree to make available non-federal funds to carry out an FP&S

Program award in an amount equal to not less than 5% of the grant award.

Types of Cost Share

Cash (Hard Match): Cost share of non-federal cash is allowable for

FP&S Program grants.

In-kind (Soft Match): In-kind cost share is allowable for FP&S

Program grants, including the value of the following:

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

• Provision of staff, facilities, services, materials, equipment.

In-kind is the value of something received or provided that does not have a cost associated with it. For example, 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, if the recipient expends them as allowable costs.

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Recipients who use in-kind contributions for their 5% cost share must comply with all applicable regulations and 2 C.F.R. Part 200.306 regarding matching or cost-sharing.

I. Cost Sharing

Calculation Example

FEMA has developed a cost share calculator tool to assist applicants with determining their cost share. The cost share tool is available on the FEMA website at Fire Prevention and Safety Documents.

J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

Applicants should submit their plan for cost share within the Request

Details (budget) section of the grant application.

Maintenance of Effort

Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 2229(k)(3), an applicant seeking an FP&S

Program grant shall agree to maintain, during the term of the grant, the applicant’s aggregate expenditures relating to activities allowable under this NOFO, at not less than 80% of the average amount of such expenditures in the two fiscal years before the fiscal year an FP&S

Program grant is awarded.

In other words, an applicant agrees that if it receives a grant award, the applicant will keep its overall expenditures during the award’s period of performance for activities that could be allowable costs under this

NOFO at a level that is at least 80% or more of the average of what the applicant spent on such costs for those activities in FYs 2022 and

2023. This includes those funded with non-federal funding for activities that could be allowable costs under this NOFO.

3. Program Description

A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program (hereafter referred to as the FP&S Program) is one of three grant programs that constitute the DHS and FEMA’s focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The FP&S Program provides financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments, national, regional, state, local, tribal, and non-profit organizations such as academic (e.g.

universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions for fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety research and development such as clinical studies that address behavioral or physiological and medical research activities.

The funding categories for FP&S are:

1. Community Risk Reduction;

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards/documents

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2. Wildfire Risk Reduction;

3. Code Enforcement/Awareness;

4. Origin and Cause Investigation; and

5. National/State/Regional Programs and Projects.

The funding categories for R&D are:

1. Clinical Studies;

2. Technology and Product Development;

3. Preliminary Studies; and,

4. Early Career Investigator.

Abstracts and results of research and development grants that have been funded under this program can be found at Fire Prevention and Safety | FEMA.gov.

B. Goals and Objectives

Goals: The goal of the FP&S Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by providing grants to eligible fire departments, national, regional, state, local, Tribal Nation and non-profit organizations such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions. The FP&S Program strives to strengthen community fire prevention programs and enable innovative solutions to improve firefighter safety, health and well-being.

Objectives: The objectives of the FP&S Program are to:

• Reduce community fire risk through assessments, education, and tools;

• Reduce wildfire risk through property assessments, education, and fuel reduction;

• Increase code awareness, adoption, reinstatement, and enforcement;

• Increase fire origin and cause investigations;

• Enhance the safety of the public and firefighters through national programs that aim to improve behaviors and decision-making regarding fires; and

• Increase research to improve firefighter safety, health, or well-being.

Priorities: Information on program priorities for the FY 2024 FP&S Program can be found in

Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities of this NOFO.

C. Program Rationale

The FP&S Program represents part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS. Among the six DHS Missions noted in the Department of Homeland

Security’s Strategic Plan, the FP&S Program supports Mission Five: Build a Resilient Nation and Respond to Incidents. By enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards, the FP&S program provides critically needed resources to strengthen community fire prevention programs and enables scientific research on innovations that improve firefighter safety, health, and well-being. The FP&S Program also aims to support objectives outlined under Mission Five in the Strategic Plan including:

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards/research-development https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2023-2027 https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2023-2027

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• Objective 5.2: Strengthen National Resilience

• Objective 5.4: Enhance Training and Readiness of First Responders

Through these objectives, FEMA creates a 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. We invite all our stakeholders and partners to join us in building a more prepared and resilient nation.

D. Federal Assistance Type

Grant

E. Performance Measures and Targets

The grant recipient is required to collect data to allow FEMA to measure performance of the awarded grant. To measure performance, FEMA may request information throughout the period of performance. In its final performance report submitted at closeout, the recipient must submit sufficient information to demonstrate it has met the performance goal as stated in its award.

FEMA will measure the recipient’s performance of the grant by comparing the number of items, supplies, projects, and activities needed and requested in its application with the number of items, supplies, projects, and activities acquired and delivered by the end of the period of performance using the following programmatic metrics.

FP&S Activity

• Community Risk Reduction: Percent of target population receiving an intervention.

• Wildfire Risk Reduction: Percent of target population receiving an intervention.

• Code Enforcement/Awareness: Percent of properties inspected.

• Origin and Cause Investigation: Percent of fires where cause is determined.

• National/State/Regional Programs and Projects: Number of firefighters receiving interventions.

The target for these measures is set by each applicant within the grant application. For example, “we plan to install smoke alarms in 500 households, reaching a total of 2,000 individuals.”

Research and Development (R&D) Activity

• All Categories: Percent of research project aims met.

F. Program-Specific Unallowable Costs

Please see Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities for additional information on funding restrictions and allowable costs.

G. General Funding Requirements

Costs charged to federal awards (including federal and non-federal cost share funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, policies, this NOFO, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be

14 | P a g e FEMA Version 25-02 incurred, and products and services must be delivered within the budget period. 2 C.F.R. §

200.403(h).

Recipients may not use federal funds or any cost share funds for the following activities:

1. Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306).

2. Lobbying or other prohibited activities under 18 U.S.C. § 1913 or 2 C.F.R. § 200.450.

3. Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity (see 2

C.F.R. § 200.435).

H. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs)

Indirect costs are allowed for recipients and subrecipients.

Indirect costs (IDC) are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to specific cost objectives without disproportionate effort. Applicants with a current negotiated IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications.

Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement, but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal, must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants without a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to

FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the

IDC rate for subawards.

I. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

M&A costs are allowed.

No more than 3% of the federal share of FP&S Program funds awarded may be expended by the recipient for M&A for purposes associated with the FP&S Program award. 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 or adequate documentation, will not be allowed or considered for reimbursement. Salaries and fringe benefits for personnel/contractors directly supporting the grant are not required to be included in the M&A budget line item.

M&A activities are those directly related to the management and administration of the FP&S award funds, such as financial management and monitoring. M&A are not overhead costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in direct support of the federal award or as a consequence of it, such as travel, meeting-related expenses, and salaries of full/part-time staff in direct support of the program. As such, M&A costs can be itemized in financial reports.

J. Pre-Award Costs

The following pre-award costs are allowable:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title18-section1913&num=0&edition=1999 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.435 mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414

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1. Fees for grant writers.

Generally, grant funds cannot be used to pay for products and services contracted for or obligated prior to the effective date of the award.

See Appendix C – Award Administration Information for further information regarding grant writer fees and Section 10.B Other Information of this NOFO for information about procurement integrity.

K. Beneficiary Eligibility

To be an eligible beneficiary, there are no program requirements. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary.

L. Participant Eligibility

To be an eligible participant, there are no program requirements. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant.

M. Authorizing Authority

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

N. Appropriation Authority

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47, Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Assistance (2024 DHS Appropriations Act)

O. Budget Period

There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance.

P. Prohibition on Covered Equipment or Services

Recipients, sub-recipients, and their contractors or subcontractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which restrict the purchase of covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services. Please see 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and

Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending

FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services for more information.

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Pre-Application, Letter of Intent, and Whitepapers

Pre-applications, letters of intent, and whitepapers are not required to be eligible to apply.

B. Application Content and Format

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://go.fema.gov/

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Additional application and program guidance documents are available at the FP&S Program website.

C. Application Components

The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO. The Standard

Forms (SF) are also available at Forms | Grants.gov SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

D. Program-Specific Required Documents and Information

The following program-specific document is required to be submitted as an attachment in FEMA

GO for each regional project under the FP&S Activity:

1. Regional host applicants and participating partner agencies must execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or equivalent document signed by the host and all participating organizations participating in the award.

The following program-specific documents are required to be submitted as attachments in FEMA

GO for each project under the R&D Activity:

1. No more than a five-page Narrative Statement that responds to the Fire Service Panel

Evaluation Criteria;

2. No more than a 20-page Narrative Statement that responds to the Science Panel

Evaluation Criteria; and

3. No more than a 35-page Appendix.

The required formatting and content instructions for these documents can be found in the Tips and Guidelines for FP&S R&D Applicants, available at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards.

E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants

Applicants likely to be funded may receive a request for additional information by email before award. Applicants must respond to the request to move forward with the grant review process.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Address to Request Application Package

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Steps Required to Apply for an Award Under This Program and Submit an Application:

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards https://go.fema.gov/

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To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and Employer

Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR). The organization’s electronic business point of contact (eBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see the FEMA GO Startup Guide.

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

g. 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 a federal awarding agency. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110, if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible. Contact FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov and provide the details of the exigent circumstances.

How to Register to Apply:

General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Below are instructions for registering to apply for FEMA funds. Read the instructions carefully and prepare the requested information before beginning the registration process. Gathering the required information before starting the process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, Employer Identification

Number (EIN), and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Obtain a UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI number.

Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to SAM.gov.

https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema-go_user-registration-login_reference-guide.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110 mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov https://sam.gov/content/home

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Obtain Employer Identification Number:

In addition to having a UEI number, all entities applying for funding must provide an Employer

Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

Create a login.gov account:

Applicants must have a login.gov account in order to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account at:

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd.

Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For existing SAM users, use the same email address for both login.gov and SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

Register with SAM:

In addition to having a UEI number, all organizations must register with SAM. Failure to register with will prevent your organization from applying through FEMA GO. SAM registration must be renewed annually and must remain active throughout the entire grant life cycle.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: Register with SAM.

Note: per 2 C.F.R. § 25.200, applicants must also provide the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the past three years, if applicable.

Register in FEMA GO, Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR:

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (eBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see FEMA GO Startup Guide.

Note: FEMA GO will support only the most recent major release of the following browsers:

Google Chrome;

Mozilla Firefox;

Apple Safari; and

Microsoft Edge.

Applicants using tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA

GO.

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://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-B/section-25.200 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema-go_startup-guide.pdf

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Submitting the Final Application:

Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required. Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the Forms tab under the

SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they are providing all required information.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message, or an email to the submitting AOR confirming the transmission was successfully received.

B. Application Deadline

07/03/2025 05:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time

C. Pre-Application Requirements Deadline

Not applicable

D. Post-Application Requirements Deadline

Not applicable

E. Effects of Missing the Deadline

All applications must be completed and submitted in FEMA GO by the application deadline.

FEMA GO automatically records proof of submission and generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives an application. The submitting AOR will receive via email the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number to serve as proof of timely submission prior to the application deadline.

Applicants experiencing system-related issues have until 3:00 PM ET on the date applications are due to notify FEMA. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any 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, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award. Applicants with these issues must notify FEMA before to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

6. Intergovernmental Review

A. Requirement Description and State Single Point of Contact

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://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

20 | P a g e FEMA Version 25-02 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf).

7. Application Review Information

A. Threshold Criteria

If two or more entities have different funding streams, personnel rosters, and EINs but share the same facilities, FEMA considers them as being separate organizations for the purposes of FY

2024 FP&S Program eligibility.

FEMA will review applications for duplication of benefits if two or more organizations share facilities and each submit an application in the same activity.

Examples of ineligible applications and/or organizations include:

• For-profit organizations, federal agencies, and individuals

• Fire departments that are a Federal Government entity, or contracted by the Federal

Government, and are solely responsible under a formally recognized agreement for suppression of fires on federal installations or land

• Fire departments that are not independent entities but are part of, controlled by, or under the day-to-day operational command and control of a larger department, agency or AHJ o However, if a fire department is considered to be the same legal entity as a municipality or other governmental organization, and otherwise meets the eligibility criteria, that municipality or other governmental organization may apply on behalf of that fire department as long as the application clearly states that the fire department is considered part of the same legal entity

• Non-federal airport or port authority fire departments whose sole responsibility is the suppression of fires on the airport grounds or port facilities, unless the airport/port fire department has a formally recognized arrangement with the local jurisdiction to provide fire suppression on a first-due basis outside the confines of the airport or port facilities.

B. Application Criteria

a. Criteria Development

Funding priorities and programmatic criteria for evaluating FP&S Program applications are established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria Development Panel

(CDP). The nine major 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 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf

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The CDP 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 CDP’s recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction, and criteria for awards.

FEMA will rank all complete submitted applications based on how well they respond to the evaluation criteria. Answers to the application’s activity specific questions provide information used to determine each application’s ranking

b. Peer Review Panel Process

FP&S Program applications go through the following Peer Review Panel process:

1. FP&S Activity Projects

Peer reviewers will independently grade each narrative statement within each project. The evaluation elements listed in the “Narrative Evaluation Criteria” below will be used to calculate the score for each project. If needed, peer reviewers will meet as a team to discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application. A consensus is not required.

2. R&D Activity Projects

The Peer Review Panel process is composed of a Fire Service Panel Review and a Science Panel

Review. Narratives within the application will be evaluated through the following processes:

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 and priority 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 well-being 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. A consensus is not required.

Science Panel Review

This panel will be comprised of scientists and technology experts who have expertise pertaining to the subject matter of the proposal. Scientific reviewers will independently score projects in the competitive range and, if necessary, discuss the merits or shortcomings of the project to reconcile any major discrepancies identified by fellow reviewers. A consensus is not required. Scientific peer review evaluations will impact the ranking of a project for funding.

C. Financial Integrity Criteria

Before making an award, FEMA is required to review OMB-designated databases for applicants’ eligibility and financial integrity information. This is required by the Payment Integrity

Information Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-117, § 2 (2020)), 41 U.S.C. § 2313, and the “Do Not

Pay Initiative” (31 U.S.C. 3354). For more details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/117 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/117 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/41/2313 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3354 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/31/3354 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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Thus, the Financial Integrity 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 award.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

5. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

D. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

Before making an award expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently a total federal share of $250,000) over the period of performance:

1. FEMA is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 to review or consider certain information found in

SAM.gov. For details, please see 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2).

2. An applicant may review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

3. Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.206, FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant.

E. Reviewers and Reviewer Selection

All applications will be evaluated through the Peer Review Panel process.