[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 125 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38910-38916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13976]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2020-0026; Internal Agency Docket No. DHS-19-GPD-044-
000-98]


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; Fire Prevention and 
Safety Grants

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of guidance.

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SUMMARY: This Notice provides guidelines that describe the application 
process for Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants and the criteria 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use to award these 
grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. 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 Dec. 12-13, 2018. The application 
period for the FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program was April 27, 2020, to May 
29, 2020, and was announced on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
(AFG) website (www.fema.gov/firegrants), www.grants.gov, and the U.S. 
Fire Administration website (www.usfa.fema.gov).

DATES: Grant applications for the FP&S Grant Program were accepted 
electronically at https://go.fema.gov from April 27, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. 
ET to May 29, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C 
Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Chief, Assistance 
to Firefighters Grants Branch, (866) 274-0960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FP&S Grant Program is to 
enhance the safety of the public and firefighters by assisting fire 
prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety 
research and development. The FEMA Grant Programs Directorate 
administers the

[[Page 38911]]

FP&S Grant Program as part of the AFG Program.
    FP&S grants are offered to support projects in two activities:
    1. Activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and 
mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, and property damage caused 
by fire and fire-related hazards (``FP&S Activity'').
    2. Projects aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or 
wellness through research and development that reduce firefighter 
fatalities and injuries (``R&D Activity'').
    The grant program's authorizing statute requires that FEMA publish 
the guidelines that describe the application process and the criteria 
for grant awards in the Federal Register each year. In total, 675 
applications for the FP&S Grant Program were submitted electronically, 
using the application submission form and process available at FEMA GO: 
https://go.fema.gov. Although the application period has closed, 
specific information about the submission of grant applications can be 
found in the FY 2019 FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which 
is available for download at www.fema.gov/firegrants and at 
www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: FEMA-2020-0026.

Appropriations

    Congress appropriated $350 million for AFG in FY 2019 pursuant to 
the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019, Public 
Law 116-6. From this amount, $35 million will be made available for 
FP&S Grant awards, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 2229(h)(5), which states that 
not less than 10 percent of available grant funds each year are awarded 
under the FP&S Grant Program. Funds appropriated for all FY 2019 AFG 
awards, pursuant to Public Law 116-6, will be available for obligation 
and award until Sept. 30, 2020.
    FEMA anticipates that it will award approximately 150 FP&S grants 
from the 675 applications.

Background of the AFG Program

    FEMA awards grants on a competitive basis to applicants that best 
address the FP&S Grant Program's priorities and provide the most 
compelling justification. A panel of reviewers evaluate each project in 
accordance with the evaluation criteria. The highest rated projects are 
recommended for funding.

Award Criteria

    All applications for grants will be prepared and submitted through 
FEMA GO (https://go.fema.gov).
    Applications submitted under the FP&S activity will be reviewed by 
a panel of fire service members using the following criteria:

 Financial Need
 Vulnerability Statement
 Project Description
 Implementation Plan
 Evaluation Plan
 Cost-Benefit
    The applications submitted under the R&D Activity will be reviewed 
first by a panel of fire service members to identify those applications 
most relevant to the fire service. The following evaluation criteria 
will be used for this review:

 Purpose
 Potential Impact
 Implementation by the Fire Service
 Barriers
 Partners
    The applications that are determined most likely to enable 
improvement in firefighter safety, health or wellness will be deemed to 
be in the ``competitive range'' and forwarded to the second level of 
application review, which is the science panel review process. This 
panel will be composed of scientists and technology experts who have 
expertise pertaining to the subject matter of the proposal.
The Science Panel for the R&D Activity will review the application and 
evaluate it using the following criteria:

 Project Goals, Objectives and Specific Aims
 Literature Review
 Project Methods
 Project Measurements
 Project Analysis
 Dissemination and Implementation
 Cost vs. Benefit (additional consideration)
 Financial Need (additional consideration)
 Mentoring (additional consideration for Early Career 
Investigator Projects only)

Eligible Applicants

    Under the FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program, eligible applicants are 
limited to those entities described below within each activity:
    1. Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Activity: Eligible applicants 
for this activity included fire departments and national, regional, 
state, local, tribal and nonprofit organizations that are recognized 
for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety 
programs and activities. Both private and public non-profit 
organizations are eligible to apply for funding in this activity. For-
profit organizations, Federal agencies, and individuals are not 
eligible to receive an FP&S Grant Award under the FP&S Activity.
    2. Firefighter Safety Research and Development (R&D) Activity: 
Eligible applicants for this activity include national, state, local, 
federally-recognized tribal, and nonprofit organizations, such as 
academic (e.g., universities), public health, occupational health, and 
injury prevention institutions. Both private and public non-profit 
organizations are eligible to apply for funding in this activity.
    The aforementioned entities are encouraged to apply, especially 
those that are recognized for their experience and expertise in 
firefighter safety, health, and wellness research and development 
activities. Fire departments are not eligible to apply for funding in 
the R&D activity. Additionally, for-profit organizations, Federal 
agencies, and individuals are not eligible to receive a grant award 
under the R&D Activity.

Funding Limitations

    Awards are limited to a maximum Federal share of $1.5 million 
dollars regardless of applicant type, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 
2229(d)(2). FP&S Research and Development applicants that applied under 
the Early Career Investigator category are limited to a maximum Federal 
share of $75,000 per project year.

Cost Sharing

    Grant recipients must share in the costs of the projects funded 
under this grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(1) and in 
accordance with 2 CFR 200.101(b)(1), but they were not required to have 
the cost share at the time of application nor are they required to have 
it at the time of award. However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA may 
contact potential awardees to determine whether the grant recipient has 
the funding in hand or whether the grant recipient has a viable plan to 
obtain the funding necessary to fulfill the cost-share requirement.
    In general, an eligible applicant seeking an FP&S grant to carry 
out an activity shall agree to make available non-Federal funds to 
carry out such activity in an amount equal to, and not less than, 5 
percent of the grant awarded. Cash match and in-kind matches are both 
allowable in the FP&S Grant Program. Cash (hard) matches include non-
Federal cash spent for project-related costs. In-kind (soft) matches 
include, but are not limited to, the valuation of in-kind services; 
complementary activities; and provision

[[Page 38912]]

of staff, facilities, services, material, or equipment. In-kind is the 
value of something received or provided that does not have a cost 
associated with it. For example, where an in-kind match (other than 
cash payments) is permitted, then the value of donated services could 
be used to comply with the match requirement. Also, third party in-kind 
contributions may count toward satisfying match requirements provided 
the grant recipient receiving the contributions expends them as 
allowable costs in compliance with provisions listed above.
    Grant recipients under this program must also agree to a 
maintenance of effort requirement per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) (referred to 
as a ``maintenance of expenditure'' requirement in that statute). Per 
this requirement, a grant recipient shall agree to maintain during the 
term of the grant, the grant recipient's aggregate expenditures 
relating to the activities allowable under the FP&S NOFO at not less 
than 80 percent of the average amount of such expenditures in the 2 
fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are 
received.
    In cases of demonstrated economic hardship and upon the request of 
the grant recipient, the FEMA Administrator may waive or reduce a 
certain grant recipient's cost share or maintenance of expenditure 
requirements (15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(A)). As required by 15 U.S.C. 
2229(k)(4)(B), the Administrator established guidelines for determining 
what constitutes economic hardship and published these guidelines at 
FEMA's website (www.fema.gov/grants). Per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(C), FP&S 
nonprofit organization grant recipients that are not fire departments 
or emergency medical services organizations are not eligible to receive 
a waiver of their cost-share for economic hardship requirements.

System for Award Management (SAM)

    Per 2 CFR 25.200, all grant applicants and recipients are required 
to register in https://SAM.gov, which is available free of charge. FEMA 
required active SAM registration at the time of application in FEMA GO, 
and will not process any awards, consider any payment or amendment 
requests, or consider any amendment unless the applicant or grant 
recipient has complied with the requirements to provide a valid Dun & 
Bradstreet (DUNS) database number and an active SAM registration with 
current information. The banking information, employer identification 
number (EIN), organization/entity name, address, and DUNS number 
provided in SAM will be automatically transferred to the application 
after the entity registers in FEMA GO at https://go.fema.gov.

Application Process

    Applicants were only permitted to submit one application, but were 
permitted to apply for up to three projects under each activity (FP&S 
and R&D). Any applicant that submitted more than one application may 
have all applications deemed ineligible.
    Under the FP&S Activity, applicants could apply under the following 
categories:
 Community Risk Reduction
 Wildfire Risk Reduction
 Fire & Arson Investigation
 Code Enforcement/Awareness
 National/State/Regional Programs and Studies Under the R&D 
Activity, applicants could apply under the following categories:
 Clinical Studies
 Technology and Product Development
 Database System Development
 Dissemination and Implementation Research
 Preliminary Studies
 Early Career Investigator
    Prior to the start of the FY 2019 FP&S Grant Program application 
period, FEMA provided applicants with technical assistance tools 
(available at the AFG website: www.fema.gov/firegrants) and other 
online information to help them prepare quality grant applications. AFG 
also staffed a Help Desk throughout the application period to assist 
applicants with navigation through the automated application as well as 
assistance with related questions. The AFG Help Desk can be reached 
year-round through a toll-free telephone number (866-274-0960) or email 
(firegrants@fema.dhs.gov).
    Applicants were advised to access the application electronically at 
https://go.fema.gov. The application is also accessible from the 
Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov). New applicants were 
required to register and establish a username and password 
electronically at https://go.fema.gov for secure access to their 
application.
    In completing an application under this funding opportunity, 
applicants were asked to provide relevant information on their 
organization's characteristics and existing capabilities. Those 
applicants were asked to answer questions about their grant request 
that reflect the funding priorities, described below. In addition, 
applicants were required to complete narratives for each project 
requested.
    The following are the funding priorities for each category under 
the FP&S Activity:
     Community Risk Reduction-Under the Community Risk 
Reduction category there are three funding priorities:
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs that target a specific 
high-risk population to conduct both door-to-door smoke alarm 
installations and provide home safety inspections, as part of a 
comprehensive home fire safety campaign.
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs that include sprinkler 
awareness that affect the entire community, such as educating the 
public about sprinklers, promoting sprinklers, and demonstrating 
working models of sprinklers.
    [cir] Priority will be given to programs to conduct community-
appropriate comprehensive risk assessments and risk reduction planning.
     Wildfire Risk Reduction - These are education and 
awareness programs that protect lives, property, and natural resources 
from fire in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) (not forestry), 
including Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) or programs 
supporting fire adapted community initiatives.
     Code Enforcement/Awareness-These are projects that focus 
on first time or reinstatement of code adoption and code enforcement, 
including WUI codes for communities with a WUI-wildfire risk.
     Fire & Arson Investigation-These are projects that aim to 
aggressively investigate every fire.
     National/State/Regional Programs and Studies-These are 
projects that focus on residential fire issues and/or firefighter 
safety and wellness.
    Under the R&D Activity, in order to identify and address the most 
important elements of firefighter safety, FEMA looked to the fire 
service for its input and recommendations. In June 2005, the National 
Fallen Firefighters' Foundation (NFFF) hosted a working group to 
facilitate the development of an agenda for the Nation's fire service, 
and in particular for firefighter safety. In November 2015, the NFFF 
hosted its third working group to update the agenda with current 
priorities. A copy of the research agenda is available on the NFFF 
website at http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/resources/research-symposium-reports/.
    All proposed projects, regardless of whether they have been 
identified by this working group, will be evaluated on their relevance 
to firefighter health and safety, and scientific rigor.
    The electronic application process permits the applicant to enter 
and save the application data. The system does not permit the 
submission of incomplete

[[Page 38913]]

applications. Except for the narrative textboxes, the application uses 
a ``point-and-click'' selection process or requires the entry of data 
(e.g., name and address). Applicants were encouraged to read the FP&S 
NOFO for more details.

Criteria Development Process

    Each year, FEMA convenes a panel of fire service professionals to 
develop the funding priorities and other implementation criteria for 
AFG. The Criteria Development Panel is composed of representatives from 
nine major fire service organizations that are charged with making 
recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new funding 
priorities, the modification of existing funding priorities, and the 
development of criteria for awarding grants. The nine major fire 
service organizations represented on the panel:

 Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI)
 International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
 International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
 International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
 National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
 North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD)
    The FY 2019 Criteria Development Panel meeting occurred Dec.12-13, 
2018. The content of the FY 2019 FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity 
reflects the implementation of the Criteria Development Panel's 
recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction and criteria 
for awards. All of the funding priorities for the FY 2019 FP&S Grant 
Program are designed to address the following:

 First responder safety
 Enhancing national capabilities
 Risk
     Interoperability

Changes for FY 2019

    The following changes were made between the FY 2018 and the FY 2019 
FP&S Grant Program:
     Micro Grants are no longer available.
     FY 2019 FP&S Applications are submitted in FEMA GO.
     Fire Departments and Interest Organizations are scored 
differently under the FP&S Activity.
     Wildfire Risk Reduction Programs are an eligible category.
     Wood Chipper Programs are eligible when part of a Wildfire 
Risk Reduction Program. The following costs are eligible under a Wood 
Chipper Program:

[cir] Contract services for fuel reduction or removal (community wood 
chipper), or
[cir] Renting wood chippers, and
[cir] Salary & benefits for employees for dedicated community wood 
chipper duties.
     Occupational Health is included as an R&D Special Emphasis 
Topic.
     The following items and activities are added to the 
ineligible expenses list:

[cir] Entertainment: Electronics, events, etc.
[cir] Props (except as required for educational programs)
[cir] Robotics
[cir] Demonstration tug boats
[cir] Inflatable houses
[cir] Dollar amount for giveaways (plastic fire helmets, stickers, 
plastic badges, etc.) is limited to $2,500 for fire departments, and 
$5,000 for regional grants
[cir] Fire Safety Trailers allowed only as part of a regional project

Application Review Process and Considerations

    The program's authorizing statute requires that each year FEMA 
publish in the Federal Register a description of the grant application 
process and the criteria for grant awards. This information is provided 
below.
    FEMA will review and evaluate all FP&S applications submitted using 
the funding priorities and evaluation criteria described in this 
document, which are based on recommendations from the AFG Criteria 
Development Panel.

Peer Review Process

Peer Review Panel Process--Fire Prevention and Safety Activity

    All FP&S Activity applications will be evaluated by a peer review 
process. A panel of peer reviewers is composed of fire service 
representatives recommended by the Criteria Development Panel. These 
reviewers will assess each application's merits with respect to the 
detail provided in the Narrative Statement on the activity, including 
the evaluation elements listed in the Evaluation Criteria identified 
below. The panel will independently score each project within the 
application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application, 
and document the findings. A consensus is not required.

Peer Review Panel Process--Research and Development Activity

    R&D Activity applications will go through a two-phase review 
process. First, all applications will be reviewed by a panel of fire 
service experts to assess the need for the research results and the 
likelihood that the results would be implemented by the fire service in 
the United States. Applications that are deemed likely to be 
implemented to enable improvement in firefighter safety, health, or 
wellness will be deemed to be in the ``competitive range'' and will be 
forwarded to the second level of project review, which is the science 
review panel process. This panel will be composed of scientists and 
technology experts who have expertise pertaining to the subject matter 
of the proposal.
    Science panel reviewers will independently score applications in 
the competitive range and, if necessary, discuss the merits or 
shortcomings of the project in order to reconcile any major 
discrepancies identified by the reviewers. A consensus is not required.

Technical Evaluation Process

    The highest ranked projects from both Activities will be deemed in 
the fundable range. Applications that are in the fundable range will 
undergo a Technical Review by the FEMA Program Office prior to being 
recommended for award. The FEMA Program Office will assess the request 
with respect to costs, quantities, feasibility, eligibility, and 
recipient responsibility prior to recommending any application for 
award.
    Once the review process is complete, each project's score will be 
determined and a final ranking of project applications will be created. 
FEMA will award grants based on this final ranking. Award announcements 
will be made on a rolling basis until all available grant funds have 
been committed. Awards will not be made in any specified order. FEMA 
will notify unsuccessful applicants as soon as it is feasible.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects--Fire Prevention and Safety Activity

    Funding decisions will be informed by an assessment of how well the 
application addressed the criteria and considerations listed below. 
Applications will be reviewed by the peer reviewers using weighted 
evaluation criteria to score the project. These scores will impact the 
ranking of a project for funding.
    The relative weight of the evaluation criteria in the determination 
of the grant award is listed below.

[[Page 38914]]

     Financial Need (Departments-10 percent, Interest 
Organizations-0 percent): Applicants must have provided details on the 
need for financial assistance to carry out the proposed project(s). 
Included in the description might be other unsuccessful attempts to 
acquire financial assistance or specific details of the applicant's 
operational budget.
     Vulnerability Statement (Departments-20 percent, Interest 
Organizations-25 percent): The assessment of fire risk is essential in 
the development of an effective project goal, as well as meeting FEMA's 
goal to reduce risk by conducting a risk assessment as a basis for 
action. Vulnerability is a ``weak link'' demonstrating high risk 
behavior, living conditions or any type of high risk situation. The 
Vulnerability Statement should have included a description of the steps 
taken to determine the vulnerability and identify the target audience. 
The methodology for determination of vulnerability (i.e., how the 
vulnerability was found) should have been discussed in-depth in the 
application's Narrative Statement.
    [cir] Fire Department applicants should note that 5 percent of the 
available 20 percent for this narrative element will be provided to 
those applicants that can demonstrate their commitment and proactive 
posture to reducing fire risk. Applicants must have explained their 
code adoption and enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface and 
commercial/residential sprinkler code adoption and enforcement) and 
mitigation strategies (including whether or not the jurisdiction has a 
FEMA-approved mitigation strategy) to receive the full 20 percent. 
Also, note that departments can have demonstrated their commitment to 
reducing fire risk by applying to implement fire mitigation strategies 
(code adoption and enforcement) via the application.
    [cir] The specific vulnerability that will be addressed with the 
proposed project can be established through a formal or informal risk 
assessment. FEMA encourages the use of local statistics, rather than 
national statistics, when discussing the vulnerability.
    [cir] The applicant should have summarized the vulnerability the 
project will address in a clear, to-the-point statement that addresses 
who is at risk, what the risks are, where the risks are, and how the 
risks can be prevented, reduced, or mitigated.
    [cir] For the purpose of the FY 2019 FP&S NOFO, formal risk 
assessments consist of the use of software programs or recognized 
expert analysis that assess risk trends.
    [cir] Informal risk assessments could include an in-house review of 
available data (e.g., National Fire Incident Reporting System) to 
determine fire loss, burn injuries, or loss of life over a period of 
time and the factors that are the cause and origin for each occurrence, 
including a lack of adoption and enforcement of certain codes.
     Project Description (Departments-20 percent, Interest 
Organizations-25 percent): Applicants must have described in detail not 
only the project components but also how the proposed project addresses 
the identified capability gap, due to financial need and/or the 
vulnerabilities identified in the vulnerability statement. The 
following information should have been included:
    [cir] Project components.
    [cir] Review of any existing programs or models that have been 
successful.
    [cir] Detailed description of how the proposed project components 
fill the identified capability gap.
    [cir] If working with Fire Service Partners/Organizations, identify 
each partner/organization and the role(s) they will fill in the 
successful completion of the proposed project.
     Implementation Plan (Departments-25 percent, Interest 
Organizations-30 percent): Projects should have provided details on the 
implementation plan, discussing the proposed project's goals and 
objectives. The following information should have been included to 
support the implementation plan:
    [cir] Goals and objectives.
    [cir] Details regarding the methods and specific steps that will be 
used to achieve the goals and objectives.
    [cir] Timelines outlining the chronological project steps (this is 
critical for determining the likeliness of the project's completion 
within the period of performance).
    [cir] Where applicable, examples of marketing efforts to promote 
the project, who will deliver the project (e.g., effective 
partnerships), and the manner in which materials or deliverables will 
be distributed.
    [cir] Requests for props (i.e., tools used in educational or 
awareness demonstrations), including specific goals, measurable 
results, and details on the frequency for which the prop will be 
utilized as part of the implementation plan. Applicants should include 
information describing the efforts that will be used to reach the high 
risk audience and/or the number of people reached through the proposed 
project (examples of props include safety trailers, puppets, or 
robots).
     Evaluation Plan (Departments-15 percent, Interest 
Organizations-15 percent): Projects should have included a plan for 
evaluation of effectiveness and identify measurable goals. Applicants 
seeking to carry out awareness and educational projects, for example, 
should have identified how they intend to determine that there has been 
an increase in knowledge about fire hazards, or measure a change in the 
safety behaviors of the audience. Applicants should have demonstrated 
how they will measure risk at the outset of the project in comparison 
to how much the risk decreased after the project is finished. There are 
various ways to measure the knowledge gained about fire hazards, 
including the use of surveys, pre- and post-tests, or documented 
observations. Applicants are encouraged to attend training on 
evaluation methods, such as the National Fire Academy's ``Demonstrating 
Your Fire Prevention Program's Worth.'' In addition to a detailed 
evaluation plan as described above, if awarded, grant recipients are 
required to report on specific performance metrics through performance 
reports and at closeout.
     Cost-Benefit (Departments-10 percent, Interest 
Organizations-5 percent): Projects will be evaluated and scored by the 
Peer Review panelists based on how well the applicant addresses the 
fire prevention needs of the department or organization in an economic 
and efficient manner. The applicant should have shown how it will 
maximize the level of funding that goes directly into the delivery of 
the project. The costs associated with the project also must be 
reasonable for the target audience that will be reached, and a 
description should have been included of how the anticipated project 
benefit(s) (quantified if possible) outweighs the cost(s) of the 
requested item(s). The application should have provided justification 
for all costs included in the project in order to assist the Technical 
Evaluation Panel with their review.
    [ssquf] Meeting the needs of people with disabilities (additional 
consideration): Applicants in the Community Risk Reduction category 
will receive additional consideration if, as part of their 
comprehensive smoke alarm installation and education program, they 
address the needs of people with disabilities (e.g., deaf/hard-of-
hearing) in their community.
    [ssquf] Experience and Expertise (additional consideration): 
Applicants that demonstrated their experience and ability to conduct 
fire prevention and safety activities, and to execute the proposed or 
similar project(s), will receive additional consideration.

[[Page 38915]]

Evaluation Criteria--Firefighter Safety Research and Development 
Activity

    Funding decisions will be informed by an assessment of how well the 
application addresses the criteria and considerations listed below. All 
applications will be reviewed by a fire service expert panel using 
weighted evaluation criteria, and those projects deemed to be in the 
``competitive range'' will then be reviewed by a science panel using 
weighted evaluation criteria to score the project. Science panel 
evaluations will impact the ranking of the project for funding.
    Fire Service Panel Evaluation Criteria:
     Purpose (25 percent): Applicants should have clearly 
identified the benefits of the proposed research project to improve 
firefighter safety, health, or wellness, and identify specific gaps in 
knowledge that will be addressed.
     Implementation by Fire Service (25 percent): Applicants 
should have discussed how the outcomes/products of this research, if 
successful, are likely to be widely/nationally adopted and accepted by 
the fire service as changes that enhance firefighter safety, health, or 
wellness.
     Potential Impact (15 percent): Applicants should have 
discussed the potential impact of the research outcome/product on 
firefighter safety by quantifying the possible reduction in the number 
of fatal or non-fatal injuries, or on the projected wellness by 
significantly improving the overall health of firefighters.
     Barriers (15 percent): The applicant should have 
identified and discussed potential fire service and other barriers to 
successfully complete the study on schedule, including contingencies 
and strategies to deal with barriers if they materialize. This may 
include barriers that could inhibit the proposed fire service 
participation in the study or the adoption of successful results by the 
fire service when the project is completed.
     Partners (20 percent): Applicants should have recognized 
that participation of the fire service as a partner in the research, 
from development to dissemination, is regarded as an essential part of 
all projects. Applicants should have described the fire service 
partners and contractors that will support the project to accomplish 
the objectives of the study. The specific roles and contributions of 
the partners should have been described. Partnerships may be formed 
with local and regional fire departments, and also with national fire-
related organizations. Letters of support and letters of commitment to 
actively participate in the project should have been included in the 
appendix of the application. Generally, participants of a diverse 
population, including both career and volunteer firefighters, are 
expected to facilitate acceptance of results nationally. In cases where 
this is not practical, due to the nature of the study or other 
limitations, these circumstances should have been clearly explained.
    Science Panel Evaluation Criteria:
     Project goals, objectives, and specific aims (15 percent): 
Applicants should have addressed how the purpose, goals, objectives, 
and aims of the proposal will lead to results that will improve 
firefighter safety, health, or wellness. For multi-year projects, 
greater detail should have been given for the first year, however 
specific goals and objectives are required for the second and third 
years (if applicable).
     Literature Review (10 percent): Applicants should have 
provided a literature review that is relevant to the project's goals, 
objectives, and specific aims. The citations should be placed in the 
text of the Narrative Statement, with references listed at the end of 
the Narrative Statement (and not in the Appendix) of the application. 
The review should be in sufficient depth to make it clear that the 
proposed project is necessary, adds to an existing body of knowledge, 
is different from current and previous studies, and offers a unique 
contribution.
     Project Methods (20 percent): Applicants should have 
provided a description of how the project will be carried out, 
including demonstration of the overall scientific and technical rigor 
and merit of the project. This includes the operations to accomplish 
the purpose, goals and objectives, and the specific aims of the 
project. Plans to recruit and retain human subjects, where applicable, 
should have been described. Where human subjects are involved in the 
project, the applicant should describe plans for submission to the 
Institutional Review Board (for further guidance and requirements, see 
the FY 2019 FP&S NOFO).
     Project Measurements (20 percent): Applicants should have 
provided evidence of the technical rigor and merit of the project, such 
as data pertaining to validity, reliability, and sensitivity (where 
established) of the facilities, equipment, instruments, standards, and 
procedures that will be used to carry out the research. The applicant 
should have discussed the data to be collected to evaluate the 
performance methods, technologies, and products proposed to enhance 
firefighter safety, health, or wellness. The applicant should have 
demonstrated that the measurement methods and equipment selected for 
use are appropriate and sufficient to successfully deliver the proposed 
project objectives.
     Project Analysis (20 percent): The applicant should have 
indicated the planned approach for analysis of the data obtained from 
measurements, questionnaires, or computations. The applicant should 
have specified within the plan what will be analyzed, the statistical 
methods that will be used, the sequence of steps, and interactions as 
appropriate. It should be clear that the principal investigator and 
research team have the expertise to perform the planned analysis and 
defend the results in a peer review process.
     Dissemination and Implementation (15 percent): Applicants 
should have indicated dissemination plans for scientific audiences 
(such as plans for submissions to specific peer review publications) 
and for firefighter audiences (such as websites, magazines, and 
conferences). Also, assuming positive results, the applicant should 
have indicated future steps that would support dissemination and 
implementation throughout the fire service, where applicable. These 
steps are likely to be beyond the current study, so those features of 
the research activity that will facilitate future dissemination and 
implementation should be discussed. All applicants should have 
specified how the results of the project, if successful, might be 
disseminated and implemented in the fire service to improve firefighter 
safety, health, or wellness. It is expected that successful R&D 
Activity Projects may give rise to future programs including FP&S 
Activity Projects.
     Cost vs. Benefit (additional consideration): Cost vs. 
benefit in this evaluation element refers to the costs of the grant for 
the research and development project as it relates to the benefits that 
are projected for firefighters who would have improved safety, health, 
or wellness. Applicants should have demonstrated a high benefit for the 
cost incurred and effective utilization of Federal funds for research 
activities.
     Financial Need (additional consideration): In the 
Applicant Information section of the application, applicants should 
have provided details on the need for Federal financial assistance to 
carry out the proposed project(s). Applicants may have included a 
description of unsuccessful attempts to acquire financial assistance. 
Applicants should have provided detail about the organization's 
operating budget, including a high-level breakdown of the budget; 
describe the

[[Page 38916]]

department's inability to address financial needs without Federal 
assistance; and discuss other actions the department has taken to meet 
their staffing needs (e.g., state assistance programs, other grant 
programs, etc.).
     Mentoring (additional consideration for Early Career 
Investigator Projects only): An important part of Early Career 
Investigator projects is the integration of mentoring for the principal 
investigator by experienced researchers in areas appropriate to the 
research project, including exposure to the fire service community as 
well as support for ongoing development of knowledge and skills. 
Mentoring is regarded as critical to the research skills development of 
early career principal investigators. As part of the application 
Appendix, the applicant should have identified the mentor(s) who have 
agreed to support the applicant and the expected benefit of their 
interactions with the researcher. A biographical sketch and letter of 
support from the mentor(s) were encouraged and should have been 
included in the Appendix materials.

Other Selection Information

    Awards will be made using the results of peer-reviewed applications 
as the primary basis for decisions, regardless of activity. However, 
there are some exceptions to strictly using the peer review results. 
The applicant's prior AFG, SAFER, and FP&S grant management performance 
will also be taken into consideration when making recommendations for 
award. All final funding determinations will be made by the FEMA 
Administrator, or the Administrator's designee.
    Fire departments and other eligible applicants that have received 
funding under the FP&S Grant Program in previous years are eligible to 
apply for funding in the current year. However, FEMA may take into 
account an applicant's performance on prior grants when making funding 
decisions on current applications.
    Once every application in the competitive range has been through 
the technical evaluation phase, the applications will be ranked 
according to the average score awarded by the panel.
    The ranking will be summarized in a Technical Report prepared by 
the AFG Program Office. A Grants Management Specialist will contact the 
applicant to discuss and/or negotiate the content of the application 
and SAM.gov registration before making final award decisions.

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2229.

Pete Gaynor,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2020-13976 Filed 6-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P


