7 changes for 2014 AFG fire grants

Hopefully your department has set aside some time during the first nine months of this year to plan and prepare for your 2014 AFG application because opening day is right around the corner.

Micro grants made their debut in 2013 and they will have an expanded role in AFG 2014. Micro grants are applications that request less than $25,000 federal share for their projects.

This year micro grant activities have been expanded to include equipment, modifications to facilities, PPE, training, and wellness and fitness activities. Here's a look at those and other new things for 2014 AFG that can help you prepare a competitive application for funding when the grant opens this fall.

1. Equipment
Any equipment requested must meet the relevant NFPA, OSHA, and ANSI standards. Communications equipment must be P-25 compliant.

Cell phones are not an eligible communications expense. Any equipment that you want to replace must be at least 15 years old to receive consideration.

2. Modifications to facilities
Requests for direct source-capture exhaust systems, sprinkler and smoke/fire alarm systems will receive priority. Older buildings will receive a higher priority for funding.

Stations built after 2003 will not be eligible to apply. Depending on the extent of your project, you may be required to do an environmental and historic preservation review. The cost of this study is an allowable expense under AFG.

3. Training
The highest priority will be given to request that include instructor-lead training and lead to a national or state certification. Priority also will be given to request that benefit the highest percentage of personnel within a department and are open to other departments in the region.

Starting in 2014, all requests for simulators, as well as mobile or fixed fire evolution props have been moved from the training activity to the equipment activity.

4. Wellness and fitness
Applicants must offer, or plan to offer, all four of the following activities for priority consideration: periodic health screenings, entry-level physicals, immunizations and, behavioral health programs

5. Regional applications
Eligible projects include training, equipment, PPE and vehicles. This year you must have a memorandum of understanding in place that is signed by all of the regional partners.

6. Vehicle
Used and refurbished vehicles will no longer be an eligible activity under AFG. A non-transport vehicle for a community paramedic is a high priority.

7. PPE
To be consider obsolete, PPE and SCBA must be a minimum of two NFPA cycles and 10 years or older. This year ballistic protective equipment is an eligible request under PPE.

A set of BPE will be comprised of one vest, one helmet, one triage bag and one pair of goggles. To be considered for funding applicants must be properly trained and qualified in the use of BPE and active shooter and mass casualty incident tactics and procedures. Training and qualifications must be explained in your narratives for the application to be competitive.

FEMA monitoring
The 2014 application will see increased monitoring by FEMA personnel.

If you are selected for an award, FEMA will check your last three applications to see if there are drastic changes to call volume, budget, coverage area, and vehicle age. Several applicants have been caught in recent years inflating or falsifying these numbers.

If you are requesting PPE and received a grant for PPE in the past, the number of PPE awarded in a past AFG must show up on your inventory under the appropriate year of award.

Get good estimates because starting in 2014 you will not be able to keep over $10,000 in excess funds. Any amount over $10,000 will be recaptured by FEMA.

I highly suggest that you attend a workshop if possible. If you can't, there are several opportunities to do so online. In addition, read the program guidance, which will now be known as the funding opportunity announcement.

Finally, as always FireGrantsHelp is only a phone call or email away to assist with your application.