1. Operations and Safety Program. Eligible activities are Training, Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, Wellness and Fitness and Modifications to Facilities.
2. Vehicle Acquisition Program. Eligible apparatus for fire departments include but are not limited to pumpers, aerials, quints, rescue vehicles, command vehicles, brush/attack units, tanker/tenders, ambulances, foam trucks and HAZMAT units. Eligible apparatus for nonaffiliated EMS organizations includes ambulances, rescues, and command vehicles.

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Can I submit multiple applications?
If your organization is planning on submitting an application for more than one of the three grant opportunities - Operations and Safety Activity, Vehicle Acquisition Activity, Regional application – a separate application must be submitted for each program area. In 2009, you may work on the applications concurrently if you choose.
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When requesting breathing apparatus, how many SCBAs should I request for our firefighters?
The number of breathing apparatus needed for entry into environments immediately dangerous to life or health is directly linked to the number of firefighters who are trained and certified to conduct fire suppression or entry operations. Firefighters who are not trained and certified to conduct operations in these environments should not be issued breathing apparatus. For many departments, this equates to the number of firefighters reasonably expected to show up at an event, i.e., the shift on duty or the number of seated positions in your fleet of vehicles.
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Is funding available for construction?
Grant funds may NOT be used for construction of any kind. This includes site preparation for the placement of generators or the erection of a radio tower. Funding is ineligible for any activity where the profile or the footprint of a structure will be changed. However, the costs for renovations to an existing facility are allowable if they support a grant activity or program and involve only the minor interior changes necessary to fulfill the scope of work. Renovations are limited to $10,000.
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Are there any special requirements to qualify for a regional communications project?
Yes. Regional communication projects must comply or be consistent with the State Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP). Applicants in states that do not have a SCIP are not eligible for regional communication projects.
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Where can I find out more information regarding CBRNE preparedness training?
DHS provides CBRNE training at the Awareness, Performance, and Planning and Management levels FREE OF CHARGE for eligible applicants. This training is listed in the ODP Course Catalog (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/coursecatalog.pdf) or may be obtained by calling the Helpline at 1-800-368-6498.
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With the changing technology in communications, why are cell phones not allowed in the AFG Program?
There are several issues with allowing cell phones in the grant program. Traditionally, they are not used for emergency communications. They are considered an ancillary device that may assist a fire department member for personal communications but not the primary means for emergency communications, especially at a fire scene. There is also the issue of multiyear user agreements for cell phones; the grant program has a limited performance period of one year.

The AFG Program will accept applications that include the 800 MHz trunked radio systems and wireless technologies in support of interoperability. As with all grant requests, the burden of justification for the cost-benefit of this request is the applicant’s responsibility. If awarded, a technical review will be conducted to ensure the system requested meets the state and local interoperability requirements. The grant funds can be used to purchase the equipment but cannot be used to pay for the service contract or annual usage agreements.
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Are there targeted funding amounts for the two program areas?
There are no target allocations. It is the intent of DHS to fund the best applications regardless of the program area. In fiscal year 2009, Congress appropriated a total of $565,000,000 to the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the activities of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. As part of this authorization, nonaffiliated EMS organizations (i.e., EMS organizations that are not-for-profit and not affiliated with a hospital) are eligible to receive as much as two percent (2%) of the appropriated funds.
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