[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28028-28031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10044]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2020-0022]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program--COVID-19 Supplemental
(AFG-S)
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of
Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (``CARES Act'').
This bill provides $100 million for AFG-S to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally. Specifically,
AFG-S funds shall be for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) and related supplies, including reimbursements for previously
purchased PPE back to January 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended, the Administrator of
FEMA is publishing this notice describing the AFG-S application
process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. This notice explains
the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended
by representatives of the national fire service leadership during a
Criteria Development meeting, which was held April 20, 2020. The
application period for the FY 2020 AFG-S Program opened on April 28,
2020, and will close on May 15, 2020, and was announced on the AFG
website at: https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program, as well as at www.grants.gov.
DATES: Grant applications for AFG-S will be accepted electronically at
https://go.fema.gov, from April 28, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard
Time through May 15, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C
Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief,
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, 1-866-274-0960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FY 2020 AFG-S is a supplemental funding
opportunity under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).
The AFG is one of three grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA's focus
on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to
fire and fire-related hazards. AFG-S accomplishes this by providing
financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments,
nonaffiliated emergency medical service (NAEMS) organizations, and
State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs) for critical PPE and supplies
needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 public
health emergency. Applications for AFG-S will be submitted and
processed online at https://go.fema.gov. Before the application period
started, the FY 2020 AFG-S Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was
published on the AFG website. The AFG website provides additional
information and materials useful to applicants including Frequently
Asked Questions. FEMA anticipates receiving 1,000-5,000 applications
for AFG-S, and the ability to award approximately 1,000 grants.
Congressional Appropriations: Congress appropriated $100 million
for AFG-S (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,
Div. B (Pub. L. 116-136)). The CARES Act provides an additional amount
of Federal assistance through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus,
domestically or internationally. Accordingly, the amount provided shall
be for the purchase of PPE and related supplies, including
reimbursements.
Allocations and Restrictions of Available Grant Funds by
Organization Type:
Aggregate Cap: Awards are capped at 1 percent of the total AFG-S
grant funding.
Nonaffiliated EMS (NAEMS) Organizations: Not more than 2 percent of
available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to all NAEMS
organization recipients.
Emergency Medical Services Providers: Not less than 3.5 percent of
available grant funds shall fund emergency medical services provided by
fire departments and NAEMS organizations.
State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs): Not more than 3 percent of
available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to all SFTA
recipients. Further, not more than $500,000 of available grant funds
are eligible per applicant.
Micro Grants: The selection of the voluntary Micro Grant option
(cumulative Federal funding of $3,000) for eligible activities does not
impact an applicant's request or Federal participation under regional
projects. Applicants who select Micro Grants as
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a funding opportunity choice may still apply for a regional project.
Further, at least $150,000 of the available funds will be allocated
toward this applicant type.
Regional Projects: A regional application is an opportunity for a
Fire Department or a NAEMS organization to act as a host and apply for
funding on behalf of itself and any number of other participating AFG
eligible organizations (a NAEMS organization who is a host regional
applicant can only host other NAEMS organizations). Fire Departments
that serve as host regional applicants can apply on behalf of other
eligible fire departments and NAEMS organizations within the same
application. SFTAs are not eligible to apply under the regional
activity. Regional activities should achieve cost effectiveness,
support regional efficiency and resilience, and benefit more than one
local jurisdiction (county, parish, town, township, city, or village)
directly from the activities implemented with the grant funds.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Prior to making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3321
note, 41 U.S.C. 2313, and 2 CFR 200.205 to review information available
through any Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated
repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial
integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may
include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: (1)
Financial stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to
meet management standards; (3) history of performance in managing
Federal awards; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability
to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.
Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating AFG-S applications
are established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria
Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is comprised of fire service
professionals that make recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation
of new or the modification of previously established funding
priorities, as well as developing criteria for awarding grants. The
content of the NOFO reflects implementation of the CDP's
recommendations with respect to the priorities and evaluation criteria
for awards.
The nine major fire service organizations represented on the CDP
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
Review and Selection Process
AFG applications will be reviewed through a multi-phase process.
All applications will be electronically pre-scored and ranked based on
how well they align with the funding priorities outlined in the NOFO.
Applications with the highest pre-score rankings will then be scored
competitively by (no less than three) members of the Peer Review Panel
process. Applications will also be evaluated through a series of
internal FEMA review processes for completeness, adherence to
programmatic guidelines, technical feasibility, and anticipated
effectiveness of the proposed project(s). Below is the process by which
applications will be reviewed.
i. Pre-Scoring Process
The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based
on established program priorities listed within the NOFO and answers to
activity-specific questions within the online application. Application
narratives are not reviewed during pre-scoring. Request details and
budget information should comply with program guidance and statutory
funding limitations. The pre-score is 50 percent of the total
application score.
ii. Peer Review Panel Process
Applications with the highest pre-score will undergo peer review.
The peer review panel is comprised of fire service representatives
recommended by CDP national organizations. The panelists assess the
merits of each application based on the narrative section of the
application, including the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative
Evaluation Criteria below. Panelists will independently score each
project 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 50 percent of the total
application score.
iii. Technical Evaluation Process
The highest ranked applications are considered within the fundable
range. Applications that are in the fundable range undergo both a
technical review by a subject-matter expert, as well as a FEMA AFG
Branch review prior to being recommended for an award. The FEMA AFG
Branch will assess the request with respect to costs, quantities,
feasibility, eligibility, and recipient responsibility prior to
recommending an application for award. Once the technical evaluation
process is complete, the cumulative score for each application will be
determined and FEMA will generate a final application ranking. FEMA
will award grants based on this final ranking and the statutorily
required funding limitations listed in this notice and the NOFO.
Narrative Evaluation Criteria
1. Financial Need (25 Percent)
Applicants should describe their financial need and how consistent
it is with the intent of the AFG-S Program. This statement should
include details describing the applicant's financial distress, such as
summarized budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other
funding, and proving that the financial distress is out of their
control.
2. Project Description and Budget (25 Percent)
The Project Description and Budget statement should clearly explain
the applicant's project objectives and its relationship to the
applicant's budget and risk analysis. Applicants should link the
proposed expenses to operations and safety, as well as to the
completion of the project's goals. Applicants should describe how their
current response capabilities are impacted by COVID-19 as well as the
overall rate of COVID-19 in their community. Applicants can reference
data supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
through referencing state level data from the following website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html. This
data will be taken into consideration when prioritizing funding.
3. Cost Benefit (25 Percent)
Applicants should describe how they plan to address the operations
and personal safety needs of their organization, including cost
effectiveness and sharing assets. This statement should also include
details about gaining the maximum benefits from grant funding by citing
reasonable or required costs, such as specific overhead and
administrative costs. The applicant's request should also be
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consistent with their mission and identify how funding will benefit
their organization and personnel.
4. Statement of Effect on Daily Operations (25 Percent)
The Statement of Effect on Operations should explain how this
funding request will enhance an organization's overall effectiveness.
It should address how an award will impact the daily operations and
reduce an organization's risk(s). Applicants should include how
frequently the requested item(s) will be used and in what capacity.
Applicants should detail whether award funding will seek reimbursement
of pre-award expenses related to the acquisition of eligible PPE,
acquire PPE for immediate use, or acquire PPE resources to strengthen
future response capabilities. Applicants will be evaluated on the
current inventory of supplies, response usage of requested supplies,
and anticipated future needs (i.e., actual or anticipated burn rate
percentage of PPE resources).
Eligible Applicants
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, 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.
NAEMS organizations: NAEMS 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, or any Federally-recognized
Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.
A nonaffiliated EMS organization is an agency or organization that
is a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services 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-S Program:
Clinics
Medical centers
Medical colleges or universities
Infirmaries
Surgery centers
Any other institutions, associations, or foundations providing
medical, surgical, or psychiatric care and/or treatment for the sick or
injured.
State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs): An SFTA operates 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, 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. 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 AFG-S SFTA applicant. SFTAs are
limited to applying for activities that are directly associated with
Personal Protective Equipment and supplies needed to respond to the
COVID-19 public health emergency.
Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort
Grant recipients must share in the costs of the projects funded
under this grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(1) and in
accordance with applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR part 200, but
they are not required to have the cost-share at the time of application
nor at the time of award. However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA will
contact potential awardees to determine whether the grant recipient has
the funding in hand or if the grant recipient has a viable plan to
obtain the funding necessary to fulfill the cost-sharing requirement.
In general, an eligible applicant seeking a grant shall agree to
make available non-Federal funds equal to not less than 15 percent of
the grant awarded. However, the cost share will vary as follows based
on the size of the population served by the organization, with
exceptions to this general requirement for entities serving smaller
communities:
Applicants that serve populations of 20,000 or less shall
agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to not
less than 5 percent of the grant awarded.
Applicants serving areas with populations above 20,000,
but not more than 1 million, shall agree to make available non-Federal
funds in an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the grant
awarded.
Applicants serving areas with populations above 1 million
shall agree to make available non-Federal funds in an amount equal to
not less than 10 percent of the grant awarded. The cost share for SFTAs
will apply the requirements above based on the total population of the
State.
Cost share of non-Federal cash is the only allowable recipient
contribution for AFG-S activity. 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 the cost-share 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 entity clearly
identified in the acquisition documents. In-kind cost share is not
allowable for AFG-S.
In cases of demonstrated economic hardship, and at the request of
the grant recipient, the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce
certain recipient's AFG-S cost-share requirement or maintenance of
expenditure requirement. FY 2020 AFG-S applicants must indicate at the
time of application whether they are requesting a waiver and whether
the waiver is for the cost-share requirement, maintenance of effort
requirement, or both. The FEMA Administrator is required by statute to
establish guidelines for determining what constitutes economic
hardship. FEMA has published these guidelines at FEMA's website:
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1518026897046-483d76a37022b8a581ffb7d42fa9b17e/Eco_Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_FINAL.pdf.
Prior to the start of the FY 2020 AFG-S application period, FEMA
conducted applicant workshops and/or internet webinars to inform
potential applicants AFG-S. In addition, FEMA provided applicants with
information at the AFG website: https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program to help them prepare quality
grant applications. The AFG Help Desk is staffed throughout the
application period to assist applicants with the automated application
process as well as assistance with any questions.
Applicants can reach the AFG Help Desk through a toll-free
telephone number during normal business hours (1-866-274-0960) or
electronic mail at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.
Application Process
Organizations may submit one application per application period in
each of the three AFG program activities (e.g., one application for
Operations and Safety, and/or a separate application to
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be a Joint/Regional Project host). If an organization submits more than
one application for any single AFG program activity (e.g., two
applications for Operations and Safety, two for Joint/Regional Project,
etc.), either intentionally or unintentionally, both applications may
be disqualified.
Applicants can access the grant application electronically at
https://portal.fema.gov. The application is also accessible from the
U.S. Fire Administration's website http://www.usfa.fema.gov and http://www.grants.gov. New applicants must register and establish a username
and password for secure access to the grant application. Previous AFG
grant applicants must use their previously established username and
passwords.
Applicants must answer questions about their grant request that
reflect the AFG-S funding priorities, described above. In addition,
each applicant must complete a separate narrative for each project or
grant activity requested. Grant applicants will also provide relevant
information about their organization's characteristics, call volume,
and existing organizational capabilities.
System for Award Management (SAM)
Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant applicants and recipients must
register in https://SAM.gov. SAM is the Federal Government's System for
Awards Management, and registration is free of charge. Applicants must
maintain current information in SAM that is consistent with the data
provided in their AFG-S grant application and in the Dun & Bradstreet
(DUNS) database. FEMA may not accept any application, process any
awards, and consider any payment or amendment requests, unless the
applicant or grant recipient has complied with the requirements to
provide a valid DUNS number and an active SAM registration. The grant
applicant's banking information, EIN, organization/entity name,
address, and DUNS number must match the same information provided in
SAM.
Pete Gaynor,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020-10044 Filed 5-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P