Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

This Notice provides guidelines that describe the application process for grants and the criteria for awarding grants in the fiscal year (FY) 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program year. It explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the Nation's fire service leadership during the annual Criteria Development meeting, which was held October 6-7, 2010. The application period for the FY 2011 AFG Program year was open from August 15, 2011, to September 23, 2011, and was announced on http://www.grants.gov. Approximately 16,491 applications for AFG funding were submitted electronically, using the application submission form and process available at https://portal.fema.gov. Before the application period, the FY 2011 AFG Guidance and Application Kit was published on the AFG Web site (http://www.fema.gov/firegrants). Additional information to assist applicants also was provided on the AFG Web site, including an applicant tutorial, a Get Ready Guide, and a Narrative Assistance Guide. The AFG Program makes grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations for the purpose of enhancing the abilities of first responders to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of first-responder personnel facing fire and fire-related hazards. In addition, the authorizing statute requires that a minimum of 5 percent of appropriated funds be expended for fire prevention and safety grants, which are also made directly to local fire departments and to local, regional, State, or national entities recognized for their expertise in the fields of fire prevention and firefighter safety research and development.