2012 Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Program
IAFC Metro Chiefs Conference
May 24, 2012
1
Metro Departments:
Successfully Navigating Your
AFG Grant
Assistance to Firefighters Grant
David Gudinas
Section Chief
202-786-9611
david.dudinas@fema.dhs.gov
Glenn Gaines
Deputy US Fire Administrator
301-447-1018
glenn.gaines@fema.dhs.gov
Today's Objectives
– AFG FY12 Program Funding Overview
– AFG FY11 Award Overview
– FY12 AFG Changes
– Metro Departments & AFG
– Best Practices & Common Mistakes
– Understanding Narratives & Narrative Scoring Exercise
Grant Programs Offered by AFG
Assistance to Firefighters
Grants (AFG)
Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response Grants
(SAFER)
Fire Prevention and
Safety Grants (FP&S)
Total FY 2012 Appropriation
AFG $285 million
SAFER $320 million
FP&S $35 million
Maximum Funding Levels
Population less
than 500,000
$1,000,000
Population 500,001
to 1,000,000
Population 1,000,001
or greater
$1,750,000
$2,750,000
Required Cost Share is
Based on Population
5%
10%
20%
AFG Application & Awards
Year-to-Year
Year
Applications
Req (Fed Share) Awards
2009
19,782
$3.17B
5,211
2010
16,231
$2.55B
2,934
2011
16,491
$2.85 B
1,714
AFG Application & Awards
Year-to-Year
Year
Average Award (Federal Share)
2009
$97,447
2010
$115,387
2011
$199,447
AFG Program Overview
AFG Funding Levels
Appropriated
Available for Award
• AFG
FY11 = $404,190,000 / $345,746,980
FY12 = $337,500,000 / $285,625,000
• SAFER
FY11 = $404,190,00 / $380,746,980
FY12 = $337,500,000 / $325,625,000
• FP&S
FY11 = $35,000,000 (funded out of AFG)
FY12 = $35,000,000 (funded out of AFG)
New Items for 2012
FY 2012 AFG Changes
•The Program Guidance has a new format, known as the
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which still accents
the funding priorities as High (H), Medium (M),
or Low (L).
•When requesting training that accompanies PPE, vehicles,
etc., you will now make that request under Additional Funding
in the same Request Details section.
•When requesting multiple vehicles, there will now be
separate line items with separate narratives.
Metro Departments and AFG
Metro Departments & AFG
Metro Departments From 2008 – 2011
• 58 departments submitted applications
– 72% submission rate of IAFC Metro members
• 239 Applications received
– 20 of those were “regional”
• 95 awards to fire departments (43% success)
• 8 regional awards (40% success rate)
Metro Departments & AFG
Metro Departments From 2008 – 2011
• 72% of IAFC Metro Departments applied
– 51% of those applied each of the last 4 years
– 27% applied 3 out of 4 years
– 12% applied 2 out of 4 years
– 10% applied only once out of the 4 years
Metro Departments & AFG
Metro Departments From 2008 – 2011
• 47 departments applied as “Urban”
• 9 departments applied as “Suburban”
• 2 departments applied as “Rural”
Metro Departments & AFG
Metro Chiefs Fire Dept
Applications
2008
2009
2010
2011
# of Apps Submitted
55
58
48
58
# of Apps Awarded
17
33
23
22
29%
56%
48%
38%
Success Rate
Total Fed Share Approved
$7,954,653
$16,042,860
$11,904,971
$19,581,282
Average Fed Share Awarded $497,166
$501,336
$517,607
$890,058
Min Fed Share Awarded
$78,400
$62,000
$98,340
$96,585
Max Fed Share Awarded
$1,248,000
$1,716,388
$1,392,000
$1,750,000
Median Fed Share Awarded
$357,331
$424,272
$368,160
$833,200
Top 10 Best Practices
1. Assign someone to be the primary owner of your grants. Make it
part of their primary responsibility.
2. Start preparing early and read the Program Guidance and
related help documents.
3. Align your department’s Needs Assessment with the
current funding priorities.
4. Tell your department’s story.
5. Read each question carefully, then answer.
Top 10 Best Practices
6. Have your application read by someone else
before submitting.
7. Submit your application before the deadline.
8. Make sure you include all eligible costs as part of your
application, including:
– EHP review
– State taxes
– Vehicle performance bonds
– Expenses associated with an A133 audit
Top 10 Best Practices
9. Make sure your project can and will be done within your grant’s
period of performance and have your bid specifications ready
when you receive your award.
(be proactive).
10. Ensure you have support from your local government leaders.
BONUS: Call the AFG Help Desk or regional representative
with ANY questions!
Funding Priorities
The single most important thing you can do to ensure
your department has the best opportunity for success
in the AFG Program is to match your highest needs to
AFG Funding Priorities.
DO NOT DEVIATE
AFG Timeline
• FY12 AFG – June/July 2012 (tentative)
• FY12 SAFER – July/August 2012 (tentative)
• FY12 FP&S – Winter 2012
• AFG & SAFER awards to start by 9/30/12
AFG Resources
• Website
• www.fema.gov/firegrants
• Get Ready Guides
• Quick Reference Guides
• Quick Facts
• Tutorials & Videos
AFG Help Desk
• Phone: 866-274-0960
• Email: firegrants@fema.gov
Questions?
Thank You