FY 2011 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM

FY 2011 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM
• FY 2011 SAFER GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FY 2011 SAFER HIRING GRANT APPLICANTS
• NEW VIDEO: SAFER GRANTS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
• STATUS OF FY 2011 AFG AWARDS
• FY 2012 AFG FUNDING APPROVED
• AFG CALENDAR
FY 2011 SAFER GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN
Applications may be submitted through February 24, 2012, 5 p.m. Eastern Time
For information on how to apply, see the FY 2011 SAFER Grant Program Guidance and Application Kit. Applicants may choose from a variety of resources available on the SAFER Grants Web page to help them develop an application, including SAFER Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), a SAFER Quick Guide, a Recruitment and Retention of Volunteers video, applicant self-evaluations, and more. SAFER Help Desk specialists can answer questions by telephone (toll-free at 1-866-274-0960) or by e-mail (firegrants@dhs.gov.) The Help Desk hours of operation during the application period are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FY 2011 SAFER HIRING GRANT APPLICANTS
Note Corrections to the Online Application!
In late December, 2011, Congress and the President approved waivers for the FY 2011 SAFER Grant Program, which reduced the period of performance for Hiring Grants and eliminated the commitment to retain the firefighters for 1 year beyond the period of performance. The statements in the SAFER Program Guidance and Application Kit on these issues are CORRECT. Unfortunately, the text in the online application could not be revised before the grant application period opened. Therefore, the statements in the online application about the 4-year period of performance and the need to retain firefighters are INCORRECT for FY 2011.
For FY 2011 grantees, the period of performance is TWO (2) years, not four (4), and grantees will NOT be required to retain newly hired firefighter beyond the 2-year period of performance.
1. Specific Corrections to the SAFER Hiring Grant Application:
o Request Details, Question 1:
"Grants awarded under the hiring category require the grantees to maintain their staffing and incur no lay-offs during the four year period of performance. In addition, all grants awarded under the new hire category are required to retain the SAFER-funded firefighters for one full year after the end of the period of performance." As stated above, the text in the online application about the 4-year period of performance and the need to retain firefighters is INCORRECT for FY 2011; for FY 2011 grantees, the period of performance is 2 years, not 4 years, and grantees will NOT be required to retain newly hired firefighter beyond the 2-year period of performance. The prohibition against layoffs throughout the period of performance remains.
o Budget Screen.
Applicants must enter data for 4 budget years even though only 2 years of funding can be awarded for the Hiring of Firefighters Category. Applicants should follow these instructions on how to complete the application:
? For budget years one (1) and two (2), input the requested salary and benefits for each line item;
? For budget years three (3) and four (4) insert $1.00 for both the salary and benefits
NOTE: The system will not allow an input of $0 value. If an applicant submits a budget request for year three (3) and year four (4), the budget will be reduced prior to the grant award.
2. Ongoing Support for SAFER Applicants.
The AFG has notified potential applicants in the fire service of the issues with the online SAFER application through e-mail announcements to the AFG mailing list, information on the AFG/SAFER Website, and announcements on the initial privacy screen of the online application. Fire program specialists on the SAFER Grants Help Desk have been briefed on the issues with the SAFER online application and are prepared to answer applicants' questions. Periodic updates and reminders about the application and other SAFER-related issues will continue throughout the application period.

NEW VIDEO
Safer Grants Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters
Volunteer fire departments and firefighter interest organizations have a new resource available to help them understand the requirements of SAFER Recruitment and Retention Grants. A new educational video, SAFER Grants Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters, is available on the SAFER Grants Website or on the FEMA Media Library. It covers information such as who is eligible to apply, the types of costs can be covered, grant requirements, and other information. The application period for all SAFER Grants closes on February 24.

STATUS OF FY 2011 AFG AWARDS
As of February 6, a total of 991 FY 2011 AFG grants totaling approximately $186 million have been awarded to fire and EMS departments for equipment, training, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness projects, modifications to facilities, and emergency vehicles. The amount awarded to date represents about 55 percent of total grant funds available. Award recommendations are still being processed, and award announcements will continue until all available funds have been committed. Every applicant will be notified about the decision on their grant request regardless of whether they will receive funding.

FY 2012 AFG FUNDING APPROVED
In December 2011, Congress appropriated FY 2012 funding for the AFG Program, Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants, and SAFER Grants. Here is the breakdown of the funding allocations:

FY 2012 AFG (includes at least.5% for FP&S Grants) $337,500,000
FY 2012 SAFER Grants $337,500,000
TOTAL $675,000,000

The application period for the FY 2012 AFG is projected for April/May 2012.

AFG CALENDAR
Going to FDIC in April? Mark Your Calendar.
AFG staff members will be presenting a workshop on "Successfully Navigating AFG Grants" at the 2012 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) being held in April at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, 2012; 1:30 to 3:15 P.M. For more information, visit the AFG onsite at exhibit booth 308.
2012 AFG CALENDAR
NOTE: All dates and projected application periods are subject to change.
FY 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Award Announcements
Status: Ongoing
FEBRUARY 2012
FY 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants
Status: Accepting applications through February 24, 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time
MARCH 2012
FY 2011 Fire Prevention and Safety (F&PS) Grants
Status: Guidance/Application Kit drafted; currently undergoing official review
Projected Application Period: March 2012
April 2012
FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grants
Status: Guidance/Application Kit is under development
Projected Application Period: April/May 2012

Workshop: "Successfully Navigating AFG Grants"
Thursday, April 19, 2012; 1:30 to 3:15 P.M.
Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), Indianapolis
For more information, visit the AFG at exhibit booth 308
May 2012
Vision 20/20 Models in Fire Prevention Symposium
May 4-6, 2012, Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, Virginia

Thank you.