What is the purpose of the FY 2009 FP&S?
The purpose of the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants is to fund Fire Prevention and Research and Development activities.  Fire Prevention Grant Activities are designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate incidences of deaths and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards.  Research and Development Grant Activities are aimed at improvements to firefighter health and safety.
Top

How do I apply for a FP&S grant?
The automated FY 2009 FP&S application is accessible from the AFG Web site (www.firegrantsupport.com), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Web site (www.usfa.fema.gov), and the grants.gov Web site (www.grants.gov). The automated application has been designed with "help screens" and "drop-down menus" to assist you throughout the application process.

Note: If you are using any browser other than Internet Explorer, such as Firefox or Netscape, you may have problems with the drop-down menus in the application.  You can either access our application through Internet Explorer (which is preferred) or you can use the up and down keys on your keyboard to make the selection; then click enter.
Top

Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants for the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity include fire departments, national, regional, state, and local organizations, Native American tribal organizations, and/or community organizations recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities.  Private and public nonprofit organizations and Housing Authorities are eligible.   

Eligible applicants for the Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity include national, regional, state, local, or community organizations, such as academic institutions (i.e. universities), public health, occupational health, and injury prevention institutions, especially those recognized for experience and expertise in firefighter safety research and development programs or whose applications demonstrate strong research and development experience and expertise whose research has potential to improve firefighter safety.  Private and public nonprofit organizations and non-Federal and non-governmental organizations are also eligible to apply for funding. Fire departments are not eligible to apply for funding under this activity.

For-profit organizations and other federal organizations are not eligible to apply for FP&S Grants.
Top

What can I apply for?
Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are separated into two Activities.  Projects that can be funded are:

1. Fire Prevention and Safety:Applicants can apply for up to three projects. Examples of eligible projects include: Smoke Alarms, Sprinkler Awareness, Public Education campaigns, Code Enforcement/Awareness, Firefighter Safety, Training, Wildfire Prevention /Awareness, Arson Prevention/Awareness, Risk Assessments, and General Prevention/Awareness. Applicants requesting Risk Assessments are precluded from applying for additional projects.  Fire departments are subject to the same cost-share requirements as under the AFG Grants.
   


2. Firefighter Safety Research and Development:Applicants can apply for a grant with up to a three-year period of performance, but are limited to $1 million per application. For multi-year projects, they can divide the $1 million over the period of performance however they deem necessary. Projects must address injury outcomes or provide a strong justification the proposed outcomes can be linked to injury outcomes.  Behavioral, Clinical, and Social Science studies, Database/Data Collection and analysis projects/systems, Technology and Product Development Studies, and research regarding dissemination and implementation of effective programs and projects are all examples of eligible projects.

Applicants must submit only one application during this application period and may include requests for either one or both activities.
Top

How many projects can I apply for under FP&S?
Eligible applicants can apply for funding for up to 3 projects under each activity.
Top

Does my project have to address children, seniors or firefighters?
You have to determine the target audience who is at risk in your community. You do not have to conform to national statistics in order to be eligible for funding. You need to justify who is at risk in your community and how your proposed project will address the community vulnerability and benefit the target audience. In addition, you need to ensure you choose an age-appropriate solution for that target audience.
Top

Are sprinkler systems eligible for funding?
onlycan be eligible for funding; but it must be part of a sprinkler educational effort.
Top

How much funding is available for the FY 2009 FP&S?
There is $35 million available for funding FP&S Grant Activities.  Each applicant can submit a request for up to $1 million.
Top

What is the maximum amount of funding an applicant can be awarded?
Each applicant can submit a request for up to $1 million and ultimately receive an award for that amount. However, in addition to the $1 million limitation on FP&S awards, the combined funding level of grant awards through both the AFG and FP&S Grants to any single fire department is limited by the governing statute to an amount of federal share (shown below) for each year based on the population the fire department protects.

Top

I have a federally approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, but am unsure where to send a copy.
You do not need to submit a copy of your Indirect Cost Rate Agreement at the time of application.  If you are awarded a grant, we will request a copy at that time.  However, please ensure the budget portion of your application includes information pertaining to your Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
Top

I haven't heard about the status of my 2009 AFG Grant and I am unsure about how much I can request for my FP&S application.
You should apply for the amount you need to fund your FP&S application. If it is successful, the Program Office will review the status of the AFG Grant and confirm the Federal share amount will not be exceeded.
Top

I was recently awarded a FY 2008 FP&S Grant; can I still apply for a FY 2009 FP&S Grant?
Yes.  However, since the possibility exists that the Period of Performance on the FY 2008 and the FY 2009 grants will overlap, you need to ensure that if you are awarded a FY 2009 grant, the start of your FY 2009 grant does not depend on the completion of your FY 2008 grant.
Top

What changes were made to the FP&S since last year?
There are several key changes to the FP&S application for FY 2009:

• Eligible projects for the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity have been combined into categories.  The eligible categories under the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity are:
  • General Education/Awareness
  • Code Enforcement/Awareness
  • Fire and Arson Investigation
  • National/State/Regional Programs and Studies
• There is no funding priority among the four eligible categories.  However, funding priorities were developed for certain types of projects within each category.  Please see the Program Guidance for additional information.
• The list of ineligible items has been expanded for the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity.  
• The evaluation elements for the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity have been revised to indicate the relative weight of each evaluation criteria.

Top

How does an eligible applicant obtain help with the application?
Call the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 with your questions. During the application period (September 21, 2009 – October 23, 2009), the Help Desk will be staffed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. However, the hours may change as the application period progresses. The toll-free number also accepts voice mail messages after hours or if the lines are busy. Questions may also be faxed to 1-866-274-0942 or e-mailed to FireGrants@dhs.gov.

An online tutorial is available to assist applicants with completing the automated application. This tutorial explains the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant’s priorities and eligibility criteria and provides tips for navigating the application screens. There are two versions of the tutorial: enhanced and text. The enhanced version is designed for individuals with high-speed Internet connections and features a narrator. The text version is designed for individuals with dial-up modem Internet connections and has no sound.
Top

What is the deadline for FY 2009 FP&S applications to be submitted?
All applications must be completed and submitted online by 5:00 p.m. EST on October 23, 2009.   If you are submitting a paper application, it must be postmarked on or before October 23, 2009.
Top

How are FP&S Grants reviewed?
The evaluation criteria are listed in the FP&S Program Guidance. Review the Program Guidance and focus on these criteria in order to develop a competitive application for panel reviews. All eligible FP&S applications go to panel reviews.
Top

When will the awards be announced?
Award announcements will be made beginning January 2010 and on a continuous basis until all available funds have been awarded.
Top

Is there a cost share for fire departments?
Yes. Fire departments are subject to the same cost-share requirements applied under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire departments may only apply in the Fire Prevention and Safety Activity. 15 U.S.C. 2229(b) (6). Fire departments serving populations of less than 20,000 must match the federal grant funds with an amount of nonfederal funds equal to five percent of the total project cost. Fire departments serving areas with a population between 20,000 and 50,000, inclusive, must match the federal grant funds with an amount of nonfederal funds equal to ten percent of the total project cost. Fire departments serving populations over 50,000 must match the federal grant funds with an amount of nonfederal funds equal to twenty percent of the total project cost. All nonfederal funds must be in cash, i.e., in-kind contributions are not eligible. No waivers of this requirement will be granted except for applicants located in Insular Areas as provided for in 48 U.S.C. 1469a.  Please Note: There is no cost-share for grants under this activity to eligible national, regional, state, local, or community organizations.
Top

Will there be a match requirement for national, regional, state, and local organizations this year?
No. Private and public nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, nonfederal governmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations are eligible to apply for funding, and there is no cost share required for these organizations for FP&S Grants under either activity. The federal share for Research and Development grants is limited to $1,000,000 per application.
Top

Are multi-year projects eligible under the Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity?
Yes. Applicants can propose projects (limited to $1 million) with up to three years of performance requirements. Multi-year requests should provide greater detail for the first year and describe the study purpose, goals and objectives, and specific aims.  Specific goals and objectives should be provided for subsequent year(s). A literature review including citations in the text and references at the end of the application should also be provided.

Additional information provided should include:

• Contingency plan with examples of what may be the key challenges and plans to address and overcome them;
• Monitoring plan identifying progress toward achieving established goals that ensures costs are monitored; and
• A spending plan corresponding with the overall project and specific-year goals and objectives.

Top

I am applying for the Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity and the Curriculum Vitae (CV) will not fit into the narrative section. Can I attach this as a file?
Yes, the system accepts attachments. Research & Development Activity applicants should upload their narrative in the space provided on the narrative screen.  The narrative for the Research and Development (R&D) Activity is limited to twenty pages per project. 
The first page of the narrative must include an abstract (250 words maximum) addressing Purpose and Aims, Relevance, Methods, (Projected) Results, and Conclusions.
Additionally, R&D applicants may supply appendices, which may include data collection instruments, data tables, illustrations and specifications for product designs.  Curriculum Vitae (CV’s) for Project Investigators (PI) and lead scientists should also be included in the appendices, but are limited to a maximum of two pages per CV.  Researchers are strongly encouraged to follow the biographical sketch sample (Appendix 2) in preparing CV’s.  Applicants should provide one appendix for each project submitted. The sum number of pages for each appendix is limited to 20 pages per project.  Any material requiring formatting can be submitted in the appendix.  Font: Times New Roman or other standard font. Font Size: Minimum font size is 12 points (12 pt). Margins: top, bottom, left, and right of at least 1” (2.54cm) Header or footer on every page with university or institution name, project title, and page number.
Top

Will a letter of support from my political leaders increase my chance for an award?

Support letters from political leaders do not increase the chance of award.  FEMA feels however an applicant having communications regarding their local community or organizational needs with political leaders is important.  It provides insight to the overall public safety picture and AFG encourages that dialogue. If an elected political official wants to provide a letter of support acknowledging your application and local needs, the support letter should be sent to:

Mr. Timothy W. Manning, Deputy Administrator
DHS/FEMA/National Preparedness Directorate
500 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20472
(202) 786-9938 (fax)
Top