Staffing for Adequate Fire and 
Emergency Response (SAFER)
FEMA Grant Application Get Ready Guide 2011

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Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG)

SAFER GrantsGrant Application Get Ready Guide 2011Prepare for your grant application todayThe Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program’s (AFG) • Percentages of where the annual operating budget is 
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response derived from (e.g., taxes, grants, donations, fund drives, 
(SAFER) application period will be opening soon. This fee for service, etc.). Be sure these amounts total 100%.
handy guide will give you a kick-start in preparing your grant 
application and to help you thoroughly answer all the grant Department Informationapplication questions.• What is the square mileage of your first-due 
The primary goal of the SAFER grants program intends response area?
to improve or restore local fire departments’ staffing and • What is the permanent resident population of your 
deployment capabilities so they may more effectively primary/first-due response area or jurisdiction served?
respond to emergencies. With the enhanced or restored 
• Department call volume for the last three years? (Do not staffing, a SAFER grantee’s response time will be reduced 
include mutual/automatic aid calls).sufficiently and an appropriate number of trained personnel 
will be assembled at the incident scene. Grant funds 
are available in two categories: Hiring Firefighters and Duns Number 
Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.Effective October 1, 2003, all federal grant applications 
must contain a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 
Basic Information – Start Preparing NowSystem (DUNS) number. The DUNS number helps the 
federal Government identify organizations that receive • Call the Help Desk at 866-274-0960 or e-mail 
federal funding, and ensures consistent name and address firegrants@dhs.gov for answers to your questions, or 
data for electronic grant applications. Additional information contact your Fire Program Specialist. Locate your 
about DUNS numbers can be found on the Dun & Bradstreet e-Grants system username and password established 
Web site at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomeP- from previous grant years. Use the same username and 
age.do;jsessionid=B9E740A165. password on your new application. 
There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number and it is your • Decide on a main point of contract. 
organization’s responsibility to obtain one. Extensions will 
• Become familiar with the SAFER Program Guidance. not be granted for applicants who are unable to obtain a 
The guidance will be available one week prior to the start DUNS number prior to the end of the application period. 
of the application period at www.fema.gov/firegrants. 
You are encouraged to apply for a DUNS number as soon as 
Financial Informationpossible by calling 1-866-705-5711, or you can apply online; 
however, it may take several weeks to obtain the number 
• What is your department’s operating budget (including online. The DUNS number must be entered in a special data 
personnel costs) for your current fiscal year? What was field on the AFG application. 
your budget for the last three fiscal years?


Firefighters fighting fire
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 
Per OMB guidance from August 27, 2010, federal agencies 
must require prime recipients of federal grants to register 
in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system. The 
CCR system is the primary registrant database for the U.S. 
Federal Government. The CCR collects, validates, stores, 
and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition 
missions. Registration is FREE and must be conducted 
online at: www.CCR.gov.
It is your organization’s responsibility to register during 
the application period. The CCR is not required prior to 
application but will be required if you are selected for a 
grant award.
For NEW registrations, go to: www.bpn.gov/ccr/grantees.
aspx 
• A DUNS number is required to apply for a grant and to 
register in CCR. 
• The new CCR registration is NOT a requirement to 
apply for a grant, but as a potential grantee you 
should register. 
• CCR registration is required to be awarded a grant. 
• If your city or governing organization has a DUNS 
number, check to see if it is registered in CCR and if the 
CCR is current. 
• CCR registrants must renew their registration annually to 
maintain an active status.
Step 1: Access the CCR online registration through the 
CCR home page at www.CCR.gov. Click on Start New 
Registration. You must have a DUNS number to begin the 
registration process. 
Step 2: Complete and submit the online registration. If 
you have the necessary information (see below), the 
online registration takes approximately one hour to 
complete, depending upon the size and complexity of 
your organization.
The required information includes: 
1. General Information – Includes, but is not limited to, 
your DUNS number, Commercial and Government Entity 
(CAGE) Code, organization name, Federal Tax 
Identification Number (TIN), location, receipts, number of 
employees, and Web site address.

2. Corporate Information – Includes, but is not limited to, 
your organization or business type and SBA-defined 
socioeconomic characteristics.
3. Goods and Services Information – Includes, but is not 
limited to, your North American Industry Identification 
(NAICS) code, Product Service (PSC) code, and Federal 
Supply Classification (FSC) code. 
4. Financial Information – Includes, but is not limited to, 
financial institution, American Banking Association (ABA) 
routing number, account number, remittance address, 
lock box number, Automated Clearing House (ACH) 
information, and credit card information.
5. Point of Contact (POC) Information – Includes, but is 
not limited to, the primary and alternate points of contact 
and the electronic business, past performance, and 
government points of contact. 
6. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Information* – 
Includes, but is not limited to, the EDI point of contact, 
telephone, e-mail, and physical address. 
*Note: EDI Information is optional and may be provided only 
for those businesses interested in conducting transactions 
through EDI.
Once a grantee has registered within CCR, the registration is 
valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.
If a grantee’s registration is expired or inactive, the user 
must get the registration reset by calling the CCR helpline at 
866-606-8220. 
Corresponding “Get Ready Guides” and “Self Evaluation 
Tools” for the grant activity you will be applying for will 
be available soon with additional information to help you 
prepare your application.

Questions regarding the SAFER Grants can be directed 
to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Grant 
Programs Directorate (GPD) AFG Program staff at 
1-866-274-0960 or e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov.

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2011