Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Fire departments, EMS groups, and fire training schools can apply for the 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to get money for gear, training, and safety upgrades. Applications are open now and must be submitted online by December 20, 2024. This program helps first responders stay safe and ready to protect communities, with clear guidelines and helpful tools available on FEMA’s website.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
Total FY2024 Funding and Expected Awards
Congress appropriated $324,000,000 for the FY 2024 AFG Program; FEMA made $291,600,000 available for awards. FEMA anticipated receiving 8,000 to 10,000 applications and that about 2,000 grant awards would be supported. FY 2024 funds are available for obligation and award until Sept. 30, 2025.
Set Allocation Percentages and Caps
Statutory allocation limits require not less than 25% of funds for career departments, 25% for volunteer departments, 25% for combination/paid-on-call departments, and at least 10% for open competition; EMS providers must receive not less than 3.5% and nonaffiliated EMS not more than 2% of available funds. Vehicles may use not more than 25% of funds, with FEMA intending to dedicate 10% of vehicle funds to ambulances. SFTAs collectively may receive not more than 3% of funds, with a maximum of $500,000 per SFTA applicant.
Population-Based Award Limits
Awards are limited by population served: jurisdictions ≤100,000 may receive up to $1,000,000; >100,000 to ≤500,000 up to $2,000,000; >500,000 to ≤1,000,000 up to $2.91 million. Recipients serving >1 million are subject to a 1% aggregate cap (FY2024 cap noted as $2.91M) but FEMA may waive the aggregate cap for extraordinary need up to $6 million (for >1M pop) or up to $9 million (for >2.5M pop); FEMA may not waive statutory population-based limits in 15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A).
Cost-Share and Maintenance Requirements
Recipients generally must provide non-Federal funds equal to at least 15% of the grant, but applicants serving populations ≤20,000 need only 5%, those >20,000 up to 1,000,000 require 10%, and those serving >1,000,000 require 15%. Recipients must maintain aggregate expenditures at not less than 80% of the average of the two prior fiscal years. FEMA may waive or reduce cost-share or maintenance requirements for economic hardship if the applicant requests a waiver at application, per FEMA guidance.
Who May Apply for AFG Grants
Fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs), and certain non‑federal airport/port authority fire or EMS organizations are eligible to apply for FY 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants. Eligibility extends to entities in the 50 states, DC, territories (including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands), and federally recognized Indian Tribes or tribal organizations.
Micro Grants Option and Limits
Applicants may voluntarily select 'micro grants' for Operations and Safety requests where Federal participation does not exceed $75,000; selecting micro grants may provide additional consideration but limits the total federal participation an organization may receive. Applicants requesting more than $75,000 federal participation should not select micro grants.
Equipment and Wellness Priority Changes
FY 2024 clarifies FEMA will consider only 'High' priority equipment items for funding; several EMS items were added as High priority (suction unit non-disposable, CPAP device, power stair chair, patient carbon monoxide monitor, capnography device). Some EMS items were added as Medium (O2 Kit, non-disposable splints) and Low (stretcher, backboard, trauma bag, mass casualty kit). Wellness & Fitness funding now requires Priority 1 programs be in place or requested before Priority 2 will be considered, and saunas, hyperbaric chambers, ice baths, and purchase of medical equipment are ineligible. Grant writer/preparation fees are subject to cost share.
Limits on Duplicate Applications
Eligible fire department and nonaffiliated EMS applicants may submit only one application per activity type (Individual Operations & Safety, Individual Vehicle, Regional Operations & Safety, Regional Vehicle). Submitting more than one application for the same activity (e.g., two Operations & Safety applications) may result in disqualification; submitting duplicate requests for the same equipment across applications may also disqualify both.
Application Deadline and Online Process
FY 2024 AFG applications had to be submitted online through FEMA GO at https://go.fema.gov/ by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 20, 2024; the application period opened Nov. 12, 2024. Applicants must register (new users create credentials) and comply with SAM.gov registration and UEI requirements for award eligibility.
Application Scoring and Narrative Weights
Applications are pre-scored (50%) based on program priorities and activity-specific questions, with the highest pre-score applications undergoing peer review (the peer review score is 50%) and additional technical and FEMA Program Office reviews. Narrative evaluation is weighted: Financial Need 25%, Project Description and Budget 25%, Cost Benefit 25%, and Effect on Daily Operations 25%.
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