Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants with a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application.

Applicants must negotiate an indirect cost agreement with their cognizant federal agency (the federal agency that provides them with the most federal funding).

FEMA does not negotiate indirect cost rates itself. If FEMA is the cognizant federal agency (the Federal agency responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and approving cost allocation plans or indirect cost proposals on behalf of all Federal agencies), FEMA has an Interagency Reimbursable Work Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate and establish indirect cost rates on behalf of FEMA.

Questions regarding an indirect cost rate agreement should be directed to HHS, Program Support, Financial Management, Cost Allocation Services (Indirect Cost Negotiations).

If you have information about instances of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving FEMA programs or operations, you should contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; by fax at 202-254-4297; or online. All procurement activity must be conducted in accordance with Federal Procurement Standards at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317 – 200.326.

Fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations have a voluntary funding limitation choice (within the application) for any AFG Program Operations and Safety program activity of no more than a cumulative federal share of $75,000. Micro Grants are not an additional funding opportunity, but applicants may receive additional consideration for an award.

The selection of the voluntary Micro Grant option for eligible Operations and Safety activities does not impact an applicant’s request or federal participation under the Vehicle Acquisition or Regional programs.

Applicants required to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that desire to charge indirect costs to an award must provide a copy of their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement at the time of application. Applicants that are not required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement but are required by 2 C.F.R. Part 200 to develop an indirect cost rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal at the time of application.

Copies of the indirect cost rate agreements or proposals, along with the FP&S Program application number, must be submitted electronically to Fire Grants. Please ensure that the request details budget portion of your application includes information pertaining to your indirect cost rate agreement or proposal. Post-award requests to charge indirect costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based upon the submission of an agreement or proposal as discussed above or based upon on the de minimis rate or cost allocation plan, as applicable.

Effective April 4, 2022, the Federal Government transitioned from using the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, to a new, non-proprietary identifier known as a Unique Entity Identifier or UEI. For entities that had an active registration in SAM.gov prior to April 4, 2022, the UEI has automatically been assigned and no action is necessary.

For all entities now filing a new registration in SAM.gov, the UEI will be assigned to that entity as part of the SAM.gov registration process. UEI registration information is available on GSA.gov at: Unique Entity Identifier Update | GSA.

Applicant registration in SAM is free. All applicants must be registered and active in order to apply online. Please remember that SAM registration is only active for one year and must be renewed annually.

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is active.

An applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review and awarding process, as well as throughout the entire award management phase.

Relevant standards that should be referenced in your applications may be viewed at NFPA.org. A non-exhaustive list is also provided below:

P-25 Compliance for Communications Equipment

AFG-funded radios (mobile and portable) must be P-25 compliant. The procurement of equipment that does not meet P-25 compliance is unallowable; there are no waivers for P-25 compliance.

Ambulances

Ambulances must meet NFPA 1917: Standard for Automotive Ambulances, Edition 2019 or GSA Federal Standard KKK-A-1822 - Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance | Engineering360 (globalspec.com).

Fire Vehicles

Vehicles purchased with AFG Program funds must be compliant with NFPA 1901 (Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus), NFPA 1906 (Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus).