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FEMA AFG FY 2025 NOFO

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) 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. General Funding Requirements G. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) H. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs I. Pre-Award Costs J. Beneficiary Eligibility K. Participant Eligibility L. Authorizing Authority M. Appropriation Authority N. Budget Period O. 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 F. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. § 180.335

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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 L. Termination of Federal Award M. Best Practices N. Payment Information O. Immigration Conditions

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

11. Appendices A. Appendix A – Changes B. Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities Supporting Definitions for this NOFO:

Community Classifications:

Restrictions on Uses of Award Funds:

Funding Priorities: Operations and Safety – Training Funding Priorities for Fire Departments and Nonaffiliated EMS Organizations Training Operations and Safety – Equipment Overview Operations and Safety – Wellness and Fitness Overview Operations and Safety – Modifications to Facilities Overview Regional Applications Overview Vehicle Acquisition Guidelines C. Appendix C – Award Administration Information

1. Basic Information

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A. Agency Name U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Resilience/Grant Programs Directorate

(GPD).

B. NOFO Title Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program

C. Announcement Type

Initial

D. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-25-GPD-044-00-98

E. Assistance Listing Number

97.044

F. Expected Total Funding

$291,600,000

G. Anticipated Number of Awards

1,800 awards

H. Expected Award Range

N/A

I. Projected Application Start Date

05/19/2026 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)

J. Projected Application End Date

06/22/2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

K. Anticipated Funding Selection Date

No later than 09/30/2026

L. Anticipated Award Date

Beginning on approximately August 31, 2026, and continuing thereafter until all FY 2025 AFG Program grant awards are issued (but no later than September 30, 2026).

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M. Projected Period of Performance Start Date

Variable Start Date1

N. Projected Period of Performance End Date

Variable End Date

O. Executive Summary

The AFG Program aims to deliver essential resources to equip and train emergency personnel to meet recognized standards. It provides funding to outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment to enhance their safety during incident response, retrofit or modify facilities to address known health hazards, and acquire emergency response vehicles. Additionally, the program supports the development of health, wellness, and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents, improve operational efficiency, promote interoperability, and strengthen community resilience.

P. Agency Contact

a. Fire Grants Program Office Contact

The Fire Grants Program Help Desk provides technical assistance to applicants for completing and submitting applications into FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO), answers questions about applicant eligibility, recipient responsibilities, and provides support for the programmatic administration of awards. The Fire Grants Program Help Desk can be contact at (866) 274-0960 or by email at FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

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-news@fema.dhs.gov OR (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 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.

1 FEMA funds AFG Program awards on a rolling basis; as such, the date the FEMA Assistant Administrator for the Grant Programs Directorate signs the obligating document dictates the unique Period of Performance start and end dates for each award.

mailto:firegrants@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov mailto:ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov

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d. FEMA Regional Offices FEMA Regional Offices also may provide fiscal support, including pre- and post-award administration and technical assistance. FEMA Regional Office contact information is available at https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts.

e. Civil Rights Consistent with Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination & Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the FEMA Integration and Coordination Division (ICD) 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-ocr@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 FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) for financial reporting, invoicing, and tracking payments. The Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) method of payment is used for recipients. For any questions about the system, contact the FEMA GO helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET.

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 AM – 6:00 PM ET.

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Entities/Entity Types

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

a. Applicants The following entities or entity types located in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any federally recognized tribal government or organization are eligible to apply. If you are unsure of https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts mailto:fema-ocr@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov

7 | P a g e your entity, please see: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/part- 152#p-152.1(b). See Supporting Definitions for this NOFO:

• Fire Departments: 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 Rico,2 three 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.

• Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Nonaffiliated EMS organizations operating in any of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,2 three or any federally recognized tribal organization. A nonaffiliated EMS organization is an agency or organization that is a public or private nonprofit emergency medical service entity providing medical transport that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area in which emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department. FEMA considers the following as hospitals under the AFG Program:

• Clinics;

• Medical centers;

• Medical colleges or universities;

• Infirmaries;

• Surgery centers; and

• Any other institution, association, or foundation providing medical, surgical or psychiatric care and/or treatment for the sick or injured. State Fire Training Academies: A SFTA operates in any of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

2 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).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/part-152#p-152.1(b) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-44/part-152#p-152.1(b)

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Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be designated either by legislation or by a governor’s declaration as the sole fire service training agency within a state, territory, or the District of Columbia and recognized by the National Fire Academy. The designated SFTA shall be the only agency, bureau, division or entity within that state, territory, or the District of Columbia, to be an eligible SFTA applicant under the AFG Program.

Non-federal airport and/or port authority fire or EMS organizations are eligible only if they have a formally recognized arrangement with the local jurisdiction to provide fire suppression or emergency medical services on a first-due basis outside the confines of the airport or port facilities. Airport or port authority fire and EMS organizations whose sole responsibility is suppression of fires or EMS response on the airport grounds or port facilities are not eligible for funding under the AFG Program.

b. Subapplicants

Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed.

Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statutes, policies, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

B. Project Type Eligibility

Allowable Project Types

• Operations and Safety;

• Vehicle Acquisition; and

• Regional Projects.

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.

Further, the individual who signs and submits an application must be assigned the role of Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) within the FEMA GO system. The AOR must be a duly authorized

9 | P a g e current employee, personnel, official, staff or leadership of the recipient and provide an email address unique to the recipient at the time of application. 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.

Subapplicants should not have foreign nationals or noncitizens included. If a subapplicant has foreign nationals, they must be properly vetted and must adhere to all government statues, polices, and procedures including “staff American, stay in America” and security requirements.

Subapplicants/subrecipients must submit short bios and resumes.

This should include the type of entity, organizational leadership, and board members along with the both the names and addresses of the individuals. Resumes are subject to approval.

D. Maximum Number of Applications

The maximum number of applications that can be submitted by a single entity is three: one application for Operations and Safety, one application for Vehicle Acquisition, and one application as the host partner for a Regional Project.

E. Additional Restrictions

a. National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) NERIS reporting is not required to apply for the AFG Program.

However, fire departments receiving funding must agree to report to NFIRS or NERIS during the performance period. If unable to report at the time of the award, recipients must establish reporting capacity within 24 months and report for at least 12 months once capable.

FEMA may request proof of compliance, and noncompliance during the performance period may result in remedies under 2 C.F.R. §

200.339. Nonaffiliated EMS organizations and SFTAs are exempt from NFIRS/NERIS reporting requirements.

b. National Incident Management System (NIMS) AFG Program applicants are not required to comply with NIMS to apply for AFG Program funding or to receive an AFG Program award. However, any applicant who receives an FY 2025 AFG 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) prior to the end of the grant’s period of performance.

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Applicants or recipients are required to certify their compliance with federal statutes, DHS directives, polices, and procedures.

F. References for Eligibility Factors within the NOFO

Please see the following references provided below:

1. “Responsiveness Review Criteria” subsection

2. “Financial Integrity Criteria” subsection

3. “Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review” subsection

4. FEMA may request financial information such as Employer Identification Number (EIN) and bank information as part of the potential award selection. This will apply to everyone prospered, including subrecipients.

5. Appendix B – Programmatic Information and Priorities

G. Cost Sharing Requirement

Applicants selected for this award must commit to an acceptable cost share agreement. Otherwise, they will not be funded. See Sections H and G for cost share requirements.

H. Cost Share Description, Type and Restrictions

Recipient cost sharing is required as described below pursuant to 15 U.S.C.§ 2229(k)(1). Recipients shall make available non-federal funds as described below:

• 5 percent for jurisdictions serving a population of 20,000 residents or fewer,

• 10 percent for jurisdictions serving a population of 20,000 up to 1 million residents,

• 15 percent for jurisdictions serving a population of over 1 million residents.

• For SFTAs, the cost share is based on the state's total population. For Regional applications, the cost share is based on the combined population of the primary response areas of the host and partner organizations outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding.

Types of Cost Share

i. Cash (Hard Match): Cost share of non-federal cash is the only allowable recipient contribution for AFG Program activity (Vehicle Acquisition, Operations and Safety, and Regional).

ii. Trade-In Allowance/Credit: On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may allow recipients already owning assets acquired with non-federal cash to use the trade-in allowance/credit value of those assets as cash for the purpose of meeting their cost share

11 | P a g e obligation. For FEMA to consider a trade-in allowance/credit value as cash, the allowance amount must be reasonable, and the allowance amount must be a separate entry clearly identified in the acquisition documents.

In-kind (Soft Match): In-kind cost share is not allowable for the AFG Program.

I. Cost Sharing Calculation Example

The cost share calculator is located here: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd-fy23-afg-cost-share-calculator.pdf

Total Allowable Costs ÷ Percentage Cost Share = Federal Share to be requested $10,000 ÷ 1.05 (5%) = $9,523.80 $10,000 ÷ 1.10 (10%) = $9,090.90 $10,000 ÷ 1.15 (15%) = $8,695.65

J. Required information for verifying Cost Share

Applicants must 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 AFG 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 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the two fiscal years before the fiscal year an AFG 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 percent or more of the average of what the applicant spent on such costs for those activities in FY 2023 and 2024. This includes those funded with non-federal funding for activities that could be allowable costs under this NOFO.

Applicants must provide budget information for the year they are applying, as well as the two preceding years. For FY25, that would include the yearly budgets for 2025, 2024, and 2023.

3. Program Description

A. Background, Program Purpose, and Program History https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd-fy23-afg-cost-share-calculator.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_gpd-fy23-afg-cost-share-calculator.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2010-title15-section2229&num=0&edition=2010

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The AFG Program provides financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs). The program aims to enhance the safety of firefighters and the public in relation to fire and fire-related hazards.

Since its inception, the AFG Program has awarded over $9 billion to help equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, improve operational efficiency, foster interoperability, and support community resilience. The program has provided fire apparatuses, personal protective equipment, facility modifications, wellness and fitness activities, and other fire equipment to more than 8,000 unique recipients.

For information about program success stories, visit FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants page: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants.

B. Goals and Objectives Goal: Enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards.

Objectives: Provide critically needed resources to:

• Equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards,

• Outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment to increase responders’ physical protection against hazards during incident response,

• Retrofit or modify facilities to protect personnel from known health hazards,

• Acquire emergency response vehicles,

• Design and implement health, wellness, and resiliency programs that prepare responders for incident response,

• Enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and

• Support community resilience.

C. Program Rationale The AFG Program represents part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS. By increasing the number of trained firefighters, the AFG Program improves deployment capabilities to respond to emergencies and provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The AFG Program also aims to support the following objectives:

• Coordinate Federal Response to Incidents

• Strengthen National Resilience

• 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.

https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants

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D. Federal Assistance Type Grant

E. Performance Measures and Targets Grant recipients must collect data to allow FEMA to measure performance of AFG Program grants. These metrics align with the program’s objectives and priorities. FEMA may request information throughout the period of performance. At closeout recipients must submit a final performance report with enough information to show they met the performance goals outlined in their award.

FEMA will assess performance by comparing the number of items, supplies, projects, and activities requested in its application with the number acquired and delivered by the end of the performance period. The following program metrics will be used:

• Percentage of active-duty members equipped with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-compliant personal protective equipment (PPE) for each department that received AFG Program funding.

• Percentage of active-duty members who were equipped with NFPA and OSHA compliant equipment for each department that receives AFG Program funding.

• Number of fire vehicles successfully replaced per industry standards at each department funded to replace fire vehicles.

• Percentage of new active-duty members achieving Firefighter Training Levels I and II within one year of coming into service at each department funded for training.

• Percentage of the facility modifications required to comply with state, local, NFPA, or OSHA standards on housing and readiness posture that were successfully made for each department funded for facility modifications.

• Percentage of active-duty members meeting physical/mental readiness requirements through health programs at each department funded for wellness and fitness.

F. 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 incurred, and products and services must be delivered within the budget period. 2 C.F.R. § 200.403(h).

Population of the jurisdiction served by the recipient

Maximum award in FY

Statutory waiver available subject to extraordinary need?

100,000 or fewer No more than $1 million

None available

100,001 – 500,000 people No more than $2 million

None available

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500,001 – 1,000,000 people No more than $2.91 million

None available

1,000,001 – 2,500,000 people No more than $2.91 million

Yes, but no more than $6 million

More than 2,500,000 people No more than $2.91million

Yes, but no more than $9 million

Regional applicants will be subject to the funding limitations based on the total population served by the host of the application and the participating partners. For example, if the host and partners serve a population of 100,000 or fewer and are the recipients of a Regional award for $1 million, then the host has met their cap and is no longer eligible for additional funds under the AFG Program.

Allocations and Restrictions of Available Grant Funds by Organization Type

• Fire Departments: Not less than 25% of available grant funds shall be awarded to career, combination, or volunteer department types (total of 75%).

• Nonaffiliated EMS Organizations: Not more than 2% of available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to all nonaffiliated EMS organization recipients.

• Emergency Medical Services Providers: Not less than 3.5% of available grant funds shall fund emergency medical services provided by fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations.

• State Fire Training Academy: Not more than 3% of available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to all SFTA recipients. Further, not more than $500,000 of available federal grant funds may be awarded per SFTA applicant.

• Vehicles: Not more than 25% of available grant funds may be used by recipients for the purchase of vehicles. Of that amount, based on stakeholder recommendations, FEMA intends to allocate 10% of the total vehicle funds for ambulances.

• Micro Grants: The selection of the voluntary Micro Grant option (cumulative federal funding of $75,000) for eligible High Priority Operations and Safety activities does not impact an applicant’s request or participation under the Vehicle Acquisition or Regional projects. Applicants who select Micro Grants under Operations and Safety as a funding opportunity choice may still apply for a Vehicle Acquisition or Regional project. Of the 25% allocated to each of the career, combination, and volunteer departments, FEMA will aim to fund no less than 25% of the allocation for Micro Grants.

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

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

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

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

C.F.R. § 200.435).

G. Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs) Indirect costs are NOT allowed.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.450 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.435

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H. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs M&A costs are allowed.

M&A costs are allowed by Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub.

L. No. 119-4. M&A activities are those directly related to the management and administration of the AFG award funds, such as financial management and monitoring.

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 considered for an award.

M&A are not overhead/operational costs but are necessary direct costs incurred in support of the federal award or because 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.

I. Pre-Award Costs The following pre-award costs are allowable:

1. Fees for Grant Writers (capped at $1,500 of federal funds per application)

The recipient must request approval from FEMA to incur such pre-award costs. Requests must be sent via email to FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov and include the application number and justification narrative. Please note, the recipient must seek approval at the time of acquisition and before the award is announced.

FEMA must provide written confirmation that the costs have been reviewed and determined the costs are justified, unavoidable, and consistent with the grant’s scope of work.

Pre-award costs must comply with 2 C.F.R. § 200.458, ensuring they are necessary for the efficient and timely performance of the grant.

J. Beneficiary Eligibility There are no program requirements to be an eligible beneficiary. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary.

K. Participant Eligibility There are no program requirements to be an eligible participant. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant.

L. 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).

M. Appropriation Authority Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Pub. L. No. 119-4 § 1101.

N. Budget Period mailto:FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov

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

O. 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 nor encouraged 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/.

Applications must include information regarding department and program-specific priorities, details demonstrating department eligibility, and four narratives: Financial Need, Project Description, Cost/Benefit, and Statement of Effect. Each narrative section has a limit of 4,000 characters, including spaces.

C. Application Components All applicable forms are in the FEMA GO system and filled out as part of the application submission process. The forms below do not require separate upload. The following forms will be filled out during the application process in FEMA GO:

• 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 For program specific updates and information please see Appendices A, B, and C.

E. Post-Application Requirements for Successful Applicants Applicants likely to be funded may receive a request for additional information by email prior to award. Applicants must respond to the request to move forward with the grant review process.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines 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/login?redirect=%2F

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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:

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 System for Award Management (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 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

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(a)(2)(iv), 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 fema-grants-news@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.

https://go.fema.gov/login?redirect=%2F https://login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-25/section-25.110#p-25.110(a)(2)(iv)

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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 UEI number, EIN, and an active 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.

Obtain Employer Identification Number:

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

https://sam.gov/ 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://sam.gov/entity-registration https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-25.200 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema-go_user-registration-login_reference-guide.pdf

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• Google Chrome;

• Mozilla Firefox;

• Apple Safari; and

• Microsoft Edge.

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

GO.

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 | 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 06/22/2026 05:00 PM 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 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.

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.

https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=43cc1c138155325b42a3a955d345e1e7860474a2770290d46abb1fd8ae77d8f4JmltdHM9MTc1OTE5MDQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=294b42f1-0982-65d0-0900-572608a06432&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub2pwLmdvdi9JbnRlcmdvdmVybm1lbnRhbFJldmlld1NQT0NMaXN0LnBkZg&ntb=1 https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=43cc1c138155325b42a3a955d345e1e7860474a2770290d46abb1fd8ae77d8f4JmltdHM9MTc1OTE5MDQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=294b42f1-0982-65d0-0900-572608a06432&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub2pwLmdvdi9JbnRlcmdvdmVybm1lbnRhbFJldmlld1NQT0NMaXN0LnBkZg&ntb=1

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7. Application Review Information A. Threshold Criteria Automatic disqualification of the application will occur if any of the conditions and instructions are not followed in Appendix B of this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Examples of ineligible applications and/or organizations include:

• Nonaffiliated EMS organization requests for any activity that is specific or unique to structural/proximity/wildfire firefighting gear.

• 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 or nonaffiliated EMS organizations 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.

• 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.

• Fire-based EMS organization applying as a nonaffiliated EMS organization.

• Auxiliaries, hospitals, or fire service associations or interest organizations that are not the

AHJ over the applicant.

• Dive teams, search and rescue squads, or similar organizations that do not provide medical transport.

• Fire departments, regional, or nonaffiliated EMS organizations that are for profit.

• State or local agencies, or subsets of any governmental entity, or any authority that do not meet the requirements as defined by 15 U.S.C. §2229 (a), (c).

• Submitting multiple applications for the same equipment or activity (e.g., self-contained breathing apparatus [SCBA] under both Regional and Operations and Safety activities, or two applications for the same vehicle) may result in disqualification of both applications.

This rule does not apply if an applicant is applying on behalf of multiple agencies (e.g., fire departments within the same county or city). In such cases, the applicant can request similar equipment, as long as the application clearly specifies the equipment and quantities for each agency. Multiple applications across regional and direct categories are allowed in this scenario.

B. Application Criteria FEMA sets funding priorities and evaluation criteria for AFG Program applications based on recommendations from the Criteria Development Panel (CDP). Each year, FEMA brings together a panel of fire service professionals to establish these priorities and criteria. The panel provides input on funding priorities and helps develop the criteria used to award grants.

The nine major fire service organizations represented on the panel are:

• International Association of Fire Chiefs

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• 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

CDP and Application Evaluation CDP advises FEMA on creating or updating funding priorities and developing criteria for awarding grants. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) reflects the CDP’s recommendations regarding priorities, direction, and award criteria.

FEMA ranks all complete applications based on how well they align with the program priorities for the specific activity. Responses to the activity-specific questions in the application are used to determine each application’s ranking relative to these priorities.

AFG Program applications go through a multi-phase review process:

1) Electronic Pre-Scoring

2) Peer Review

3) FEMA Internal Review

1. Electronic Pre-Scoring

The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based on established program priorities listed in Appendix B and answers to activity-specific questions within the online application. Application Narratives are not reviewed during the pre- score process. “Request Details” and “Budget” information should comply with program guidance and statutory funding limitations. The pre-score is half of the total application score.

2. Peer Review

Applications with the highest rankings from the pre-scoring process will undergo a Peer Review Panel process. A panel of peer reviewers is composed of fire service personnel recommended by national fire organizations. Peer reviewers will assess each application’s merits based on the narrative statement on the requested activity. The evaluation elements listed in the “Narrative Evaluation Criteria” below will be used to calculate the narrative’s score for each activity requested. Peer reviewers will independently score each requested activity within the application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application with his or her peers, and document the findings. A consensus is not required. The panel score is half of the total application score. Peer reviewers will evaluate and select a score of Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree for each narrative section based on the following narrative elements within each activity.

3. FEMA Internal Review

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Applications within the fundable range undergo a Technical Review by subject-matter experts and a FEMA Program Office review. The FEMA Program Office evaluates costs, quantities, feasibility, eligibility, and recipient responsibility before recommending awards. During TEP, Appendix B is used to address eligibility corrections, though this phase is not scored. Partial funding may be recommended based on assessment findings.

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.

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, defined at 41 U.S.C. § 134, 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. A panel of peer reviewers is comprised of fire service representatives recommended by the CDP.

F. Merit Review Process Applications with the highest rankings from the pre-scoring process will undergo a Peer Review Panel process.

Narrative Evaluation Criteria

Narrative Statements are a key part of the application process and must provide clear, detailed, and specific information about the proposed activities for which funding is requested. Applicants https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-116publ117 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-116publ117 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3354&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3354&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206…