Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions

Preliminary studies of one-year duration may be proposed to obtain a sufficient amount of evidence to justify a future larger, more comprehensive project. The preliminary study category supports researchers' need to answer questions or establish methods prior to determining the need for a larger comprehensive research investigation. This is particularly true when there is little evidence already available in the literature or from other sources to support an idea. For example, when little or no research existed on women firefighters, a preliminary project established the need for specific areas of research, such as reproductive health. Data from preliminary work likely would strengthen a subsequent application for a larger (clinical or technology) study.

In another example, this category was used effectively to gain support for evaluation of advanced sensors that could be candidates for building a practical gas and particulate hazard warning system. The preliminary study allowed the researchers to identify and eliminate risks associated with sensor performance so that the follow-on major proposal was able to build and test a practical new product for deployment.

Note: If an application could be competitive without the results of a preliminary study (such as when adequate information and methods are already established with prior research in this area), then the clinical or technology category should be used.

Information from databases can inform the fire service about where there are challenges, and what specific factors influence firefighter safety, health, and well-being. For example, a database system may be developed to identify firefighters’ use of hospital emergency departments nationwide. Such epidemiologic information potentially could result in changes to fire service programs, policies, and products, leading to reduced fatal and non-fatal injuries nationwide. Researchers who apply for funding in this category also should consider resources and strategies for continued support and maintenance of the database system after the initial one to three-year funding period. These grants should be considered as start-up and demonstration funding only.

Note: If you intend to develop a dataset as a function of your specific research study, without data collection with the same participants post-study, then your proposal likely fits the clinical or technology category rather than the database systems category.

The R&D Activity is aimed at improving the safety, health, and well-being of firefighters throughout the nation. Most projects will need to select or sample participants in a way that is feasible for the results to be generalized nationwide for firefighters. These projects, if successful, are expected to lead to new or improved programs, policies, and products that have potential for widespread adoption and use. Exceptions may occur but the reason for the exception must be clearly explained in the application. An example of an exception may be preliminary studies or proof of concept designs. Another example may be an Early Career Investigator project that focuses on a local fire service group to develop their project due to the funding limitations of their award.

• Assistance to Firefighters Grants Awards Awards
• Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Awards
• Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Awards

The NOFO specifies what types of studies are ineligible under the R&D Activity. These include:

• Projects that focus primarily on curriculum development and delivery of education or training materials;
• A descriptive study about the fire service or any study without reduced firefighter injury or enhanced firefighter safety aims;
• Projects with local emphasis and little or no indication of application to the broader fire service;
• Projects that emphasize funding for service delivery;
• Applications that include violations of intellectual property;
• Projects requiring international travel to attend conferences or disseminate results; and
• Projects to purchase stock in any entity.

The Appendix may include the following:

• Investigator biosketches using the template in the NOFO.
• Letters from partners and other supporting organizations.
• Data collection instruments, additional tables and figures, illustrations, or specifications for product designs.
• If the project is a resubmission, applicants may use the Appendix to address how the proposal was adapted to address reviewer concerns from a previous year. Resubmission information should be located at the beginning of the Appendix.

Early career investigator applications are required to have the mentor(s) signed letter of support and commitment along with their biosketch to include in the Appendix.

The Appendix is limited to 25 pages per project. Applicants may reduce the size of full-page support letters to allow no more than two images placed side by side on a landscape format page. The reduced size letters must have a font of sufficient resolution to be read easily.

Note that the Appendix may not be used to continue the Narrative statement in response to the science panel evaluation criteria. All narrative text, including pertinent footnotes, must be in the Narrative Statement.